A linked manufacturing system for processing parts is disclosed having at least a first processing station for performing a first processing operation, and having a second processing station for performing a second processing operation. At least a first gantry extends in a first direction for linking at least a first and a second processing station. Also at least a second gantry is provided extending transversely to the first direction in a second direction for linking a plurality of first and second processing stations. Each second gantry is coupled to a storage device for receiving parts, wherein slides are displaceable along each second gantry that have a gripper displaceable at least in vertical direction and allowing at least an additional handling operation, while slides are displaceable along the first gantries that are coupled with a gripper for picking up or placing parts and for moving parts along the first gantries.

The invention is directed to a linked manufacturing system for processing parts, comprising at least a first processing station for performing a first processing operation, at least a second processing station for performing a second processing operation and further comprising at least a gantry for linking two of the processing stations.
Linked manufacturing systems are utilized in series production to allow reliable and cost-effective processing within a plurality of processing stations. Typical applications for linked manufacturing systems can for instance be found in the car industry, for instance for providing a highly efficient motor and gear parts manufacturing.
As a classic example for a linked manufacturing system the line production is known, wherein the parts flow between individual processing stations is controlled via a conveyor belt which is also utilized as a buffer. From the conveyor belt gantries depart sideways toward individual processing stations.
As a further example for a linked manufacturing system the coupling of a plurality of processing stations via gantries is known, wherein between single or several processing stations belt-buffers are provided for decoupling. Such belt-buffers are configured as transport conveyor belts which may transport individual parts or may buffer same. Such buffers usually can receive 10 to 20 parts and may absorb some variations which are caused by delays at the respective processing stations linked therewith.
However, a drawback is given by the fact that the belt-buffers are only designed for a small number of parts so that in case of larger disruptions at a single or several processing stations of the manufacturing system the whole system comes to a halt very soon. It is also detrimental in the case of breakdown of a conveyor belt or in the case of a transport jamming on a conveyor belt, that there is no substitute transport capacity, whereby the availability of the total system is impaired. Finally, the utilization of conveyor belts is expensive and does not allow a direct transport of individual parts. Also the accessibility of individual processing stations is effected adversely thereby.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,257, a lattice production line is known that includes a plurality of workstations, each connected to adjacent workstations by more than two conveyor belts. Each workstation includes a manufacturing robot, an outer turntable with workpiece storage, and an inner turntable aligned with the robot.
Although, such a system is very flexible, it suffers from the principal drawbacks of the conveyer belts, as outlined before.
It is a first object of the invention to provide an improved linked manufacturing system for processing parts that allows a fast transportation of parts between the respective processing stations.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a linked manufacturing system that provides for a high availability and safety against breakdown.
It is a third object of the invention to provide a manufacturing system that allows short throughput times for the total system at low cost.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved linked manufacturing system of a space-saving design.
It is still another object of the invention to disclose an improved linked manufacturing system comprising a gantry of extremely simple and cost-saving design allowing particularly fast transportation of parts.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a linked manufacturing system for processing parts, comprising at least a first processing station for performing a first processing operation, at least a second processing station for performing a second processing operation, further comprising at least a first gantry (logistics gantry) extending in a first direction (Y-direction) and coupling at least a first and a second processing station, further comprising at least a second gantry (handling gantry) extending transversely to the first direction and a second direction (X-direction) and coupling a plurality of first or second processing stations, wherein a storage device for receiving parts is assigned to at least each handling gantry, wherein slides are displaceable on the handling gantries, the slides comprising at least a gripping device displaceable at least in vertical direction (Z-direction) and allowing at least one additional handling operation, such as displacing in Y-direction or turning, and wherein slides are displaceable along the logistics gantries, the slides being adapted for lifting or placing of parts for moving the parts in Z-direction.
Sufficient buffer capacity is provided by storage devices that are, preferably, located at crossing points formed between the logistics gantries and the handling gantries.
Contrary to systems that are linked via conveyor belts, the linkage of the total system in the direction of the main parts flow as well as in transverse direction thereto via gantries, allows for a fast exchange of parts between different processing stations, so that in case of breakdown of individual processing stations the respective processing operations can be performed by other processing stations, without any noticeable influence on the efficiency of the total system. In this way parallel capacities can be provided in the direction of the parts flow as well as transversely thereto, thereby allowing an effective utilization. Also so-called linkage losses are avoided which emerge in prior art systems when different processing stations are linked by different devices. Due to the fact that the logistics gantries must have only slides which allow moving of parts in Z-direction and which allow a gripping operation for picking up or placing of parts, the total cost of the manufacturing system is reduced remarkably.
Necessary additional handling operations can be performed by the handling gantries in combination with the storage devices, since the handling gantries may carry slides with more complicated handling devices. The slides on the handling gantries allow at least a displacing in vertical direction and an additional handling operation, such as a displacing in Y-direction or a turning about one or more axes, as well as a gripping operation. Thereby more complex handling operations can be performed by the handling gantries, while simple transport of parts for loading and unloading individual processing stations and also buffering of parts in the storage devices can be performed by logistics gantries which are designed more simple and cost effective.
In an advantageous further development of the invention a plurality of handling gantries and logistics gantries are configured crossing each other at crossing points, wherein a storage device is assigned to each crossing point.
Due to this measure an additional redundancy is introduced into the manufacturing system, since in the direction of the main parts flow as well as transversely thereto a linked total system is achieved which is designed as a net-like structure having storage devices at the network crossing points, thereby providing very high flexibility.
Such a system provides for a very simple design while having a high flexibility and an extremely effective utilization of the total space covered by the manufacturing system at the same time.
According to a further advantageous development of the invention in the storage devices additional devices such as cleaning devices, positioning devices, blowing devices, washing devices, marking devices etc. are provided, which cooperate with the gripping devices on the slides of the handling gantries for performing handling operations.
In this way additional handling cells for performing such handling operations can be avoided. Supplementary transport devices within such handling devices, necessary in prior art systems, become superfluous, since the transport functions can be performed by the gripping devices provided on the slides of the handling gantries. The gripping devices provided on the slides of the handling gantries can also cooperate with supplementary devices at the same time, so that additional supplementary transport means necessary in prior art handling devices can be avoided to a large extent.
According to an advantageous improvement of the invention the slides and gripping devices displaceable on the logistics gantries are adapted only for displacing parts along the logistics gantries, for moving parts vertically and for transferring parts.
Thereby the logistics gantries are designed solely for transferring parts between processing stations, for vertical displacement and for picking up and placing of parts, whereby on the one hand cost is reduced remarkably, and on the other hand drive systems can be utilized which are particularly tailored and which allow for a high conveying velocity and availability.
According to an improvement of this design on at least one logistics gantry a plurality of controllably displaceable slides is arranged, at least two adjacent ones of which are linked via braces with an articulated joint, whereon a gripping device is received.
Thereby a particularly fast transportation of parts in horizontal direction as well as in vertical direction is made possible in a cost-effective way.
A particularly fast displacement is achieved while reducing masses at the same time, when the slides are configured as travelers of a direct drive, the inductor rail of which being provided at the logistics gantry.
In this design the logistics gantry must only have a horizontal brace that carries the inductor rail which is configured at the same time as a guidance along which the slides are guided.
In this way an extremely fast transportation velocity of parts is reached in combination with a simplified design.
In addition, such logistics gantries can be provided with a drip pan for collecting fluids, to avoid the spreading of coolant during transportation between individual processing stations and storage devices. Herein the logistics gantries are preferably supported on vertical bracings from below, or are held from above on a suitable ceiling structure, so that the transportation of parts along the logistics gantries practically does not impart any other room within the manufacturing system, so that the respective processing stations can be loaded and unloaded from above.
By the particular construction of the logistics gantry utilized the necessary design height is reduced remarkably, since additional guides in vertical direction are completely superfluous.
According to a further variation of the invention the logistics gantries are divided into a plurality of single sections each ending in a storage device, wherein in each storage device a transfer means is provided for transferring parts between the respective end sections of the single sections of a logistics gantry.
This design has the advantage that the transportation steps between the handling gantries and the logistics gantries are decoupled from each other, so that no particular measures must be taken for avoiding collisions. Herein the transport means within the storage devices provide for a free transport of parts along the logistics gantries. Also there is a possibility to arrange the logistics gantries and the handling gantries roughly on the same operating height, so that unnecessary large vertical movements at the logistics gantries and at the handling gantries can be avoided.
In an advantageous improvement of this design between the respective end sections of a logistics gantry within the storage device a slider is provided for transferring parts.
Thereby transportation is effected between the end sections in a particularly simple way.
Needless to say, the features of the invention mentioned before and to be explained hereinafter can be utilized not only in the given combination but also in other combinations or alone, without exceeding the teachings of the invention.

Linked manufacturing system for processing parts


The present invention includes a method and system for providing home shopping programs to a viewer. An exemplary method includes receiving personalized data from a viewer, generating a home shopping program list that identifies a plurality of home shopping programs related to the personalized data, and transmitting the home shopping program list and a home shopping program that is listed in the program list to the viewer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to providing home shopping motion picture video. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing personalized home shopping motion picture video to viewers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, on broadcast television, there are programs that advertise a product and provide viewers with the ability to make a purchase by ordering over the phone, the internet, or directly over the television set. A program that advertises a product and gives the viewer the ability to purchase the item is a home shopping program. Some examples of such programs are infomercials, advertisements, and broadcast shopping channels.
Infomercials are typically the same duration as a regular television program. An infomercial usually runs for about thirty minutes to an hour. An infomercial is essentially an extended commercial about a particular product. The seller of the product produces and airs the infomercial with the goal of informing the viewer about the product for sale, and persuading the viewer to purchase the product. Every so often, during the infomercial, a phone number or website will be displayed allowing the viewer an opportunity to make the purchase.
An advertisement is commonly a fifteen second to one minute segment that attempts to sell a particular product by discussing the product and finally providing a phone number or website where the product can be purchased.
Broadcast shopping channels are broadcast channels dedicated to selling products around the clock. These shopping channels are usually live and spend a few minutes on a particular product, before moving on to the next product. Broadcast shopping channels can essentially be defined as continuous, back to back, home shopping programs.
As noted in the above examples, home shopping programs come in many forms. Also note that all home shopping programs inform the viewer about a product and give the viewer the ability to purchase the product without leaving the home (if the viewer is watching the home shopping program at home).
There are several disadvantages in the way home shopping programs are distributed on television today.
A first disadvantage is that since advertisements and infomercials are not aired on broadcast television on a given channel around the clock, the viewer must either find these home shopping programs, or by chance come across these home shopping programs. If the viewer wants to shop using the television set at a particular time, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to find these home shopping programs. This, of course, is not a problem with broadcast shopping channels since they are airing home shopping programs around the clock.
A second disadvantage that applies to all of today""s home shopping programs is the inefficient xe2x80x9cshotgunxe2x80x9d distribution of products and advertisements. A home shopping program for a particular product is aired on a broadcasting channel to everybody. This means that all viewers will see the same home shopping program whether or not they are interested in the product. For example, both a twenty year old male living in California and a sixty year old female living in Ohio will see the same home shopping program while watching shopping channel X.
A third disadvantage is that a viewer does not have the ability to shop for a particular type of product. For example, if a viewer is looking for baseball equipment to buy as a birthday gift for his friend, it will be nearly impossible for the viewer to find baseball home shopping programs.
A fourth disadvantage is that a viewer, while watching a broadcast shopping channel, cannot skip home shopping programs that do not interest the viewer. For example, if a viewer is watching broadcast shopping channel X, and a home shopping program selling jewelry is being shown, the viewer is unable to skip the home shopping program. The viewer must wait the appropriate amount of time before being shown the next home shopping program.
The subject invention is directed to a method and system that overcomes the above-described disadvantages.
The present invention provides a method and system for delivering home shopping programs to a viewer. The home shopping programs include, for example, infomercials, advertisements, and broadcast shopping channels.
A disclosed method includes the steps of receiving personalized data from the viewer, generating a home shopping program list that identifies a plurality of home shopping programs related to the personalized data, and transmitting the home shopping program list and a home shopping program identified in the program list to the viewer. The home shopping program can be viewed immediately upon its receipt.
The method may be carried out over a client/server network architecture, wherein the client is a general purpose computer or a television, the server is a general purpose computer, and the network is the Internet or an intranet.
Personalized data may include data descriptive of the viewer such as his/her gender, sports interests, and age. Personalized data may also include information descriptive of shopping occasions of interest to the viewer such as shopping for himself/herself, for a specific item, for a birthday gift, for a mother""s day gift, for a wedding gift, for an anniversary gift, and shopping for a baby shower gift.
Another disclosed method includes the step of providing a client in communication with a server over a data network, transmitting personalized data over the client to the server, receiving a home shopping program list that identifies a plurality of home shopping programs related to the personalized data, and displaying a home shopping program, the program listed on the home shopping program list, on a display means of the client.
The viewer may select a home shopping program from the home shopping program list and display the selected home shopping program for viewing on the display means. In addition, the viewer may transmit to the server an order to purchase a product or service offered in a home shopping program. Further, the viewer may modify a home shopping program list by selecting a function for inserting a new home shopping program into, removing a home shopping program from, or moving a home shopping program within the home shopping program list. Thereafter, the viewer may transmit the modified home shopping program list to the server for storage.
A disclosed system includes a memory for storing personalized data, home shopping program lists, and home shopping programs, and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor is operative to receive personalized data from the viewer, generate a home shopping program list that identifies a plurality of home shopping programs related to the personalized data, and transmit a home shopping program identified in the home shopping program list to the viewer.
These and other embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in greater detail herein below.

Method and system for providing home shopping programs


The present invention is directed to a surround view system and method thereof. The surround view system comprises a surround image sensing module which obtains images of surrounding view and output image data, a vehicle status retrieval module which retrieves vehicle status information, a processing module which generates adaptive surround view based on the image data and the vehicle status information; and an outputting module which outputs the adaptive surround view.

In recent years, use of driver assistance, especially use of surround view systems has been proliferating. The existing surround view systems usually present a synthetic scene with a predetermined or fixed viewport. However, the driver may expect synthesized surround views with different details when the vehicle is moving at different speeds or turning in different directions. For example, when the vehicle is moving at a relatively low speed, the driver may expect synthesized surround views with more details regarding the nearby fields. Or, when the vehicle is turning in a different direction, the driver may expect synthesized surround views with more details in the direction to which the vehicle is turning. Therefore, there is a need for a system and a method for adaptive surround view transformation.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


A semiconductor device includes a superjunction structure formed using simultaneous N and P angled implants into the sidewall of a trench. The simultaneous N and P angled implants use different implant energies and dopants of different diffusion rate so that after annealing, alternating N and P thin semiconductor regions are formed. The alternating N and P thin semiconductor regions form a superjunction structure where a balanced space charge region is formed to enhance the breakdown voltage characteristic of the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor devices incorporating superjunction structure to achieve improved electrical characteristics are known. For example, metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices can be incorporated with vertical or horizontal superjunction structure to optimize the on-resistance and the breakdown voltage characteristics of the transistor. As an example, Fujihira describes configurations of the vertical super junction devices in the paper entitled "Theory of Semiconductor Super Junction Devices" (Japan Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 36, October 1997 PP 6254-6262). U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,063 also describes a vertical semiconductor device having a drift region in which a drift current flows if it is in the ON mode and which is depleted if it is in the OFF mode. The drift region is formed as a structure having a plurality of first conductive type divided drift regions and a plurality of second conductive type compartment regions in which each of the compartment regions is positioned among the adjacent drift regions in parallel to make p-n junctions, respectively.
Challenges remain in the manufacturing of superjunction semiconductor devices. These challenges include the difficulties in forming the nanotubes of the superjunction structure, such as inter-diffusions of the N and P impurities in the superjunction structure at high temperatures, difficulties of integrating different devices on a same chip, and high product costs when epitaxial processes are used, among others.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor device and method of forming including superjunction structure formed using angled implant process

ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED


Air cavity packages and methods for producing air cavity packages containing sintered bonded components, multipart window frames, and/or other unique structural features are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an air cavity package includes the step or process of forming a first metal particle-containing precursor layer between a base flange and a window frame positioned over the base flange. A second metal particle-containing precursor layer is further formed between the base flange and a microelectronic device positioned over the base flange. The metal particle-containing precursor layers are sintered substantially concurrently at a maximum processing temperature less than melt point(s) of metal particles within the layers to produce a first sintered bond layer from the first precursor layer joining the window frame to the base flange and to produce a second sintered bond layer from the second precursor layer joining the microelectronic device to the base flange.

Air cavity packages are usefully employed to house semiconductor die and other microelectronic devices supporting radio frequency (RF) functionalities. Notably, air cavity packages may provide certain performance benefits when housing microelectronic devices operable at relatively high radio frequencies, such as radio frequencies exceeding 100 megahertz and possibly approaching or exceeding 2.1 gigahertz. By conventional design, a leaded air cavity package includes a base flange, a window frame, a plurality of leads, and a cover piece, which are assembled and bonded in a stacked configuration. The base flange may serve as a substrate, a heat sink, and an electrically-conductive terminal of the package. Accordingly, the base flange may be realized as a monolithic or multilayer structure, which is predominately composed of copper or another metal having a relatively high thermal conductivity. In contrast, the window frame is produced from a dielectric material, such as a ceramic, to provide electrical insulation between the base flange and the package leads. The window frame may have a rectangular planform geometry and a central opening, which helps define an outer perimeter of the sealed air cavity. The cover piece is bonded over the window frame and package leads to enclose the air cavity. Prior to attachment of the cover piece, one or more microelectronic devices (e.g., RF semiconductor die) are installed within the air cavity, attached to an upper surface of the base flange, and electrically interconnected to the package leads by, for example, wirebonding.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the invention described in the subsequent Detailed Description. It should further be understood that features or elements appearing in the accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale unless otherwise stated. For example, the dimensions of certain elements or regions in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements or regions to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.

Air cavity packages and methods for the production thereof


A conjugate drive mechanism of a scotch yoke type motion converter includes a conjugate driver, which is rotatably mounted on a crankpin, and a bearing conjugate, which is mounted on a linearly movable shuttle. The conjugate driver moves relative to the bearing conjugate between a pair of end points. A motion arrester functions to arrest the motion of the conjugate driver as it reaches each of its end points of travel relative to the bearing conjugate.

The scotch yoke has been used for many years as a means for converting reciprocating linear movement to rotary motion and vice versa. It has found application in a variety of machines, such as motors, pumps, and compressors which utilize a piston articulated within a closed cylinder (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 283,558; 813,736; 999,220; and 2,628,602), as well as in compactors, pumps, punch presses, robots, sewing machines, generators, and material handlers.
The essential components of a scotch yoke are a crankpin rotated about a crankshaft center at an axial offset and a shuttle having a slot therein through which the crankpin is positioned. The motion of the shuttle is constrained to a linear path by a guide, frequently, a pair of opposing parallel guide surfaces. The crankshaft and crankpin move in rotary motion and may be either the driven elements or the driving elements. The shuttle moves in rectilinear motion and likewise may be the driven element or the driving element. Thus, the scotch yoke provides a means for converting linear to rotary motion and vice versa.
The slot within the shuttle must be at least as wide as the crankpin diameter and long enough to accommodate the crankpin dimension and its travel. A pair of competing objectives in the design of scotch yokes is to eliminate friction, as well as clearance at the crankpin/slot interface. Friction results in energy loss in the conversion from linear to rotary motion or vice versa and also in wear of the scotch yoke. Clearance at the interface results in a loss of motion translation, commonly called "backlash", when converting from rotary to linear motion and vice versa (i.e., there is no translation during traversal of the clearance gap), and in brinelling, spalling and vibrations when the unrestrained driving element accelerates across the clearance gap and collides into the driven element. As has been recognized for many years, the consequences of clearance and friction at the slot/crankpin interface are energy inefficiency and excessive wear and tear.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,342 to Douglas C. Brackett, the inventor herein, discloses a unique scotch yoke device having a pair of opposing, offset bearing conjugates, one on either side of the crankpin slot in the shuttle. A corresponding pair of conjugate drivers is arranged on the crankpin, the conjugate drivers being coaxially and laterally displaced from one another such that each aligns with a corresponding one of the bearing conjugates. As the conjugate drivers move back and forth along their corresponding bearing conjugates within a pre-defined range, tracking profiles on the conjugate drivers and mating profiles on the bearing conjugates mesh in conjugation throughout the motion of the device; and, thus, the conjugate drivers cooperate with the bearing conjugates to form a "conjugate drive mechanism"as that term is defined herein. While the device disclosed in the Brackett '342 Patent minimizes clearance at the crankpin/slot interface to that attributable to manufacturing tolerances and also reduces friction between the crankpin and the shuttle slot to the rolling friction of a roller bearing, these advantages are realized without providing the conjugate drive mechanism with means adapted to minimize any backlash which may be present at each end of the range of motion of the conjugate drivers relative to their associated bearing conjugates.

Motion arrester for a conjugate drive mechanism


In extrusion apparatus for producing a continuous film of thermoplastic material, either as part of an extrusion coating or laminating process or to cast a continuous film, a chill roll which receives the film directly from the extruder is mounted on a wheeled carriage whereon it can be moved lengthwise into and out of operating relation with the other components of the apparatus without requiring lifting thereof or of other parts of the apparatus. The carriage may be proportioned to move directly between the apparatus in which it is to be used and the floor of the mill, or it may be mounted on a separate wheeled cart on which it is transported to and from the extrusion apparatus. Particularly in the latter case, provision is made for both vertical and lateral adjustment of the base structure on which the carriage is supported in its operating relation with the extruder.

In conventional apparatus for producing a continuous film of thermoplastic material, either as part of an extrusion coating or laminating process or to cast a continuous film, it is essential that the film be chilled as promptly as possible in order to maintain its extruded dimensions if it is to remain an independent film, or to set it in bonded relation to a web or between webs if it is used as a coating or adhesive layer. This is conventionally effected by extruding the film directly onto the surface of a drum-type roll which is hollow, and therefore includes hollow journals, so that a coolant (water) can be continuously circulated therethrough.
Such a chill roll is the largest, the heaviest, the most expensive and the most easily damaged component in the entire line of related apparatus. Its surface characteristics are critical to the quality of the plastic film whenever that film is used as a coating or as a separate product, and it therefore has a highly polished surface finish, which may be either chrome plated, matte finished, or provided with an embossed surface to be reproduced on the film. It is therefore of great importance that this surface be provided with maximum protection against injury, such as is most likely to occur during removal and replacement of the chill roll.
As an example of the practical problems involved in the handling of chill rolls, the assignee of this invention manufactures chill rolls as large as 36 and 40 inches in diameter, which have face widths as large as 180 inches, and which weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. Prior to the present invention, however, all apparatus known to the assignee thereof which incorporate chill rolls have no provision for the handling of such roll during removal and replacement except by means of an overhead crane and chain hoists. Such technique, however, involves high risks of damaging the roll surface, especially as the roll is being lifted away from or lowered back into its operating position and may therefore very easily swing into contact with associated parts of the apparatus.

Film extrusion apparatus including a quickly replaceable chill roll


An apparatus and method for damping slider-gimbal coupled vibration of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension at a gimbal structure. In addition, a damping zone is provided at a stress point on the gimbal structure, the damping zone having a damping material thereon, wherein the damping material reduces vibration of the slider and the gimbal structure.

Hard disk drives are used in almost all computer system operations. In fact, most computing systems are not operational without some type of hard disk drive to store the most basic computing information such as the boot operation, the operating system, the applications, and the like. In general, the hard disk drive is a device which may or may not be removable, but without which the computing system will generally not operate.
The basic hard disk drive model was established approximately 50 years ago and resembles a phonograph. That is, the hard drive model includes a storage disk or hard disk that spins at a standard rotational speed. An actuator arm with a suspended slider is utilized to reach out over the disk. The arm carries a head assembly that has a magnetic read/write transducer or head for reading/writing information to or from a location on the disk. The complete head assembly, e.g., the suspension and head, is called a head gimbal assembly (HGA).
In operation, the hard disk is rotated at a set speed via a spindle motor assembly having a central drive hub. Additionally, there are tracks evenly spaced at known intervals across the disk. When a request for a read of a specific portion or track is received, the hard disk aligns the head, via the arm, over the specific track location and the head reads the information from the disk. In the same manner, when a request for a write of a specific portion or track is received, the hard disk aligns the head, via the arm, over the specific track location and the head writes the information to the disk.
Over the years, the disk and the head have undergone great reductions in their size. Much of the refinement has been driven by consumer demand for smaller and more portable hard drives such as those used in personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, and the like. For example, the original hard disk drive had a disk diameter of 24 inches. Modern hard disk drives are much smaller and include disk diameters of less than 2.5 inches (micro drives are significantly smaller than that). Advances in magnetic recording are also primary reasons for the reduction in size.
However, the decreased track spacing and the overall reduction in HDD component size and weight have resulted in problems with respect to the HGA. Specifically, as the component sizes shrink, a need for tighter aerial density arises. In other words, the HGA is brought physically closer to the magnetic media. In some cases, the HGA will reach "ground zero" or contact recording. However, one of the major problems with contact recording or near contact recording is the effect of vibration on the head portion of the HGA when it encounters the magnetic media or disk. That is, when the slider contacts the disk, dynamic coupling between the slider and the gimbal structure could make the interface unstable and generate a strong or even a sustained slider vibration. The vibration will result in slider flying height modulation thereby degrading read/write performance. This problem is particularly egregious when the drive is a load/unload drive and the gimbal includes a nose limiter extending from the flexure tab under the slider providing an additional moment arm thereby increasing the vibration characteristics.
What is needed is a reliable and repetitive method for damping the vibration due to coupling between the slider and the gimbal structure after disk surface contact. This contact may be generated either during "normal" steady state operation of the hard drive due to the low fly heights or because of loading or unloading events in a load/unload drive, or a shock event during operational state.

Apparatus and method for damping slider-gimbal coupled vibration of a hard disk drive

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A technique is described herein for providing implicit quality signals over a span of time that reflect quality of service provided by a collection of BOTs to a group of users. The technique can then leverage these implicit quality signals in various application-phase uses. In one use, an abandonment-determination component can leverage the implicit quality signals to provide an output result which indicates whether a current user has abandoned use of a current BOT with which he or she has been interacting, or is about to abandon use of that current BOT. In another use, a search engine or a recommendation engine can use the implicit quality signals to help identify an appropriate BOT for use by the current user. The implicit quality signals can include: one of more user-behavior implicit signals; one of more BOT-behavior implicit signals; and/or one of more transaction-summary implicit signals.

A BOT refers to a computer-implemented agent that provides a service to a user. For example, a hotel may provide an Internet-accessible BOT to assist a user in reserving a hotel room through a conversational "chatbot" interface or some other type of interface. Presently, there are a large number of BOTs from which a user may choose in performing a given task. Moreover, this number can be expected to increase with the growing popularity of BOTs. While this trend increases the breadth of services available to users, it may also lead to complications. For instance, a user may have difficulty finding and accessing BOTs that have sought-after capabilities in an efficient manner.

Providing and leveraging implicit signals reflecting user-to-BOT interaction


The present invention relates to an image enhancement apparatus for enhancing an input image of a sequence of input images. To provide the ability to increase the resolution of an input image and/or to temporally reduce artifacts and/or noise in an input image, the apparatus comprises a motion compensation unit, a weighted selection unit, a feature analysis unit, an image model unit configured to generate a modelled image by applying an image model on said input image and/or said weighted selection image, a spatio-temporal detail signal generation unit configured to generate a detail signal from said input image and said weighted selection image, and a combination unit configured to generate said enhanced output image from said input image, said detail signal and said modelled image.

Super-resolution can enhance the resolution in images and video sequences. The specific characteristic of super-resolution is that it is able to create high resolution frames which have high spatial frequencies not present in each low resolution input frame.
There are several possible strategies to increase the (overall) resolution per image: (a) adding of synthetic detail signals, e.g. to sharpen edges (LTI, see e.g. H. Schröder, H. Elsler, and M. Fritsch, "Nonlinear Picture Enhancement Techniques for Vertically Interpolated TV-Signals", EUSIPCO Conf. Proceedings, pp. 841-844, 1986) (b) on-line or off-line optimization utilizing image models as e.g. described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,905 to create edges with higher steepness and less staircase artifacts and (c) reconstruction of high frequency information by using alias and sub-pixel motion between consecutive frames as e.g. described in S. Borman and R. Stevenson, "Simultaneous Multi-frame MAP Super-Resolution Video Enhancement using Spatio-temporal Priors, IEEE Int. Conference on Image Processing, 1999. All these procedures incorporate the generation of most likely information based on previously made assumptions.
A challenging task is to check the validity of these assumptions and qualify the given input video and to separate false information caused by artifacts from novel image content. Especially when multiple input frames are utilized, robust motion estimation to align the consecutive frames to one (anchor) frame is required. Mainly all known methods (e.g. as described in S. Farsiu, M. Elad, and P. Milanfar, "Video-to-Video Dynamic Superresolution for Grayscale and Color Sequences", EURASIP Journal of Applied Signal Processing, Special Issue on Superresolution Imaging, Vol. 2006) rely on robust global motion models, but if this estimation fails or the input sequence has e.g. motion of several objects, severe artifacts will be present in the output video.
A known method for image enhancement is back-projection super-resolution as e.g. described in S. C. Park, M. K. Park, and M. G. Kang, "Super-Resolution Image Reconstruction: A Technical Overview", IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 3, May 2003, pp. 21-36. Back-projection super-resolution obtains high frequency information via an iterative process. In this algorithm the degradation process between high resolution and low resolution sequence is modelled by motion compensation, blurring, and down-sampling. Then, in an iteration loop the current (received) low resolution images are compared to (modelled) low resolution frames obtained by applying the degradation process to the actual high resolution image. The difference between modelled and received images is utilized to update the current high resolution image. This is done until convergence. The first guess for the high resolution image can be computed by e.g. standard interpolation techniques.
Another known method for image enhancement is maximum-a-posteriori super resolution as e.g. described in S. Borman and R. Stevenson, "Simultaneous Multi-frame MAP Super-Resolution Video Enhancement using Spatio-temporal Priors, IEEE Int. Conference on Image Processing, 1999. Maximum-a-posteriori (MAP) super-resolution has an additional image model but otherwise a strong similarity to back-projection. Thus, the disadvantages are also the same, a required large number of input frames and a high computational load due to a large number of iterations per frame.
Still another known method for image enhancement is Kalman filter based super-resolution as e.g. described in S. Farsiu, M. Elad, and P. Milanfar, "Video-to-Video Dynamic Superresolution for Grayscale and Color Sequences", EURASIP Journal of Applied Signal Processing, Special Issue on Superresolution Imaging, Vol. 2006. Kalman filter based super-resolution utilizes Kalman theory to compute the super-resolution frames. This algorithm also uses a temporal feed-back loop.
Another known method is described in US 2009/0245375 A1. This method has an integrated artifact reduction in the super-resolution process. For computing the current high resolution output frame, the following input signals (frames) must be available: current and next low resolution input frames, previous detail signal added to the input to obtain the previous high resolution frame and an initial high resolution frame. Then, four separate main processing blocks are utilized to obtain the output signals for the next frame: 1. Artifact suppression in the output high resolution frame by masking the current detail signal based on motion vectors and the previous detail signal. 2. Computing the next initial high resolution frame by a weighting between current motion compensated high resolution frame and next low resolution frame. 3. Detail signal generation for the current frame based on filtering, weighting of initial current high resolution frame and current low resolution frame. 4. Adding the weighted current detail signal to the current initial high resolution frame to obtain the current high resolution output frame.


A device and method are described for measuring changes association with a gap between a lead-in optical fiber and a lead-out optical fiber. A hybrid fiber optic sensor is created by inserting the lead-in and lead-out optical fibers into a small tube such that a gap is provided between the fibers. Laser pulses incident on the gap create two interfacial reflections that interfere with one another, thus providing a method of measuring changes in gap length in the same was as a typical Fabry-Perot type interferometer. Moreover, a reflection from the far end of the lead-out fiber gives gap information in the same way as typical intensity-based sensor. Together the two measurements overcome the limitations that occur when each technique is used separately, and are made possible by means of the above hybrid fiber optic sensor which contains both a Fabry-Perot interferometer portion and an intensity-based sensor portion.

This invention relates to fiber optic sensors for characterizing a gas-filled gap between a lead-in optical fiber and a lead-out optical fibers. More particularly, this invention relates to a hybrid fiber optic sensor that characterizes the gas-filled gap length by combining the features of a Fabry-Perot interferometer and an intensity-based sensor.
One method of measuring changes in the length of an air gap between a lead-in optical fiber and a lead-out optical fiber is to determine the number of interference fringes arising from the two air-glass interfaces associated with the air gap. Existing interferometric methods, while able to accurately detect changes in air gap length, suffer from an inability to determine whether the air gap length is increasing or decreasing in direction.
Another method for measuring the length of the air gap is by measuring of the intensity of a reflected signal associated with a third interface at the remote end of the lead-out fiber. The amplitude of the reflected signal decreases with an increase in air gap length. Such intensity-based methods, however, are subject to errors arising from intensity changes due to loss mechanisms affecting the lead fibers.

Hybrid fiber optic sensor including a lead out optical fiber having a remote reflective end


Wheelchair apparatus which is manually separable into four main units namely a lifting device, a seat unit, a wheeled chassis and a portable battery/compressor unit, of which the device and unit can be employed as static lifting apparatus, e.g. a bath-lift, when the unit and the chassis are detached; and the chassis has hand operated wheel-brakes and an automatic actuating mechanism to apply the brakes when the seat is raised.

Wheelchairs are known which comprise power operated lifting devices for adjusting the height of a seat of the wheelchair, to enable a seated person to be raised or lowered. However, such wheelchairs are of restricted utility, because of their size and complexity, and are expensive.
Lifting apparatus is disclosed in GB-A No. 2166415; and primarily comprises an inflatable bellows, disposed between a base and a platform which are mechanically linked by a stabilizing mechanism (contained in the bellows) to keep the platform parallel with the base. The apparatus is intended primarily for use in a bath, and for this purpose the base is provided with suckers. Although the base may instead be provided with castors or wheels, instead of the suckers, to permit mobile use of the apparatus, such use is restricted and the apparatus is not a satisfactory substitute for a wheelchair.
The specification also discloses the possibility that the base could form part of a wheelchair, trolley or vehicle. Thus the apparatus could be integrally constructed into a mobile unit such as a wheelchair instead of one of the known forms of power-operated lifting devices.
However, the problems of cost and apparatus storage and transportation are still considerable for those users who need both lifting apparatus for use in a bath and a wheelchair with an elevating seat.


An object linkage system including: a database that stores objects and a linkage map; a unit for extracting an already-registered object to be linked with a new object from already-registered objects and copying a first linkage attribute value of the already-registered object to the new object as a second linkage attribute value of the new object; a unit for registering the new object into the linkage map by associating the new object with an identification value which identifies an object set which contains objects having the second linkage attribute value in common; and a unit for receiving a linkage request from a user terminal, obtaining an object set from the linkage map, and launching creation systems for operating element objects of the object set so as to enable the user terminal to browse the element objects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for linking a plurality of objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to an object linkage system, an object linkage method and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for efficiently linking related objects with each other to enable an information processing apparatus to process the linked objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many different kinds of objects in a work environment. For example, as these objects, there are a schedule, an event, a meeting, a document, a forum, a workflow, a calendar, and a project. Each object includes its contents and metadata in which the object is described for easy searching. For example, as to a schedule object, its metadata includes "heading", "person in charge" and "deadline". As to an event object, its metadata includes "heading", "place" and "date and time". As to a meeting object, its metadata includes "participant" in addition to the metadata ("heading", "place" and "date and time") of the event object.
Typically, the above-mentioned different kinds of objects are handled by different systems. For example, a calendar (scheduler) system processes the schedule, event and meeting objects, a system related to documents/contents processes the document object, a discussion aid system (chat system) processes the forum object, and a workflow system processes the workflow object. Further, a project management system processes the project object.
On the other hand, each system can be also used for processing metadata/contents of the object handled by the system. However, most systems do not have a capability for processing metadata/contents of an object processed in a different system. For example, the calendar (scheduler) system handles entries on the meeting object, but the calendar system cannot be used for changing a participant list in minutes of a corresponding meeting. The participant list needs to be handled by the document management system.
Systems in which cooperative work is performed among a plurality of users have been proposed in the past. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-346199 discloses an information editing apparatus for saving time and effort for inputting information. The disclosed information editing apparatus includes a table update unit for updating registration information in accordance with agreement/disagreement between input title and stored title using a related table that stores schedule titles. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-352730 discloses an information processing apparatus for executing an application using an intuitive operation. The disclosed information processing apparatus detects a category of a selected character string to display information, specified by the character string, corresponding to the category. Further, Japanese Patent No. 3547159 discloses a cooperative work aid system including a plurality of computer systems providing cooperative work areas on display screens. The disclosed cooperative work aid system provides cooperative work areas corresponding to characteristics of business.
However, in the above-mentioned techniques, many systems handling different kinds of objects are independent from each other. Thus, even though objects handled by different systems are related with each other, the related objects cannot be linked with each other. More particularly, although the document management system stores meeting minutes of particular meetings, the meeting minutes are not linked with corresponding meeting entries in the calendar (scheduler) system.
So, there has been no conventional technique, based on a computer system, for accessing the meeting minutes from the calendar system or for accessing meeting entries from the document management system, or the like. Thus, in conventional techniques, it takes time and requires manual work to access related objects in different systems.
In addition, even though an object in a system is connected with a related object in a different system, there has been no technique for reflecting changes applied to the object in the related object of the different system, that is, there has been no technique for linking the object with the related object in the different system. As an example for this, a case is considered in which a Gantt chart of a project activity in a project management system is connected with a presentation document processed by a document management system for discussion in a meeting. Even though the Gantt chart is changed as a result of the discussion, there is no system based technique for reflecting the change in the project management system. Thus, it requires not only time but also interactive operations to reflect changes of the object in a related object in a different system, which tends to cause mistakes.
In addition to that, even if changes applied to an object in a system are reflected in a related object in a different system using a conventional manual method, it takes time to perform switching between two systems since the two systems are independent from each other, and two objects cannot be synchronized with each other in real time. Thus, these two objects are recognized and operated sequentially in a conventional technique.
As to this problem, a case can be taken as an example in which a user is watching a Gantt chart of a project activity using a project management system, and another user is watching a presentation including a copy of the Gantt chart using a document management system. In this case, when a user changes the Gantt chart, another user instantly watches a version of a Gantt chart which is not the newest one, and the other user does not know that the Gantt chart is not the newest. Also, the user who changed the Gantt chart does not become aware that the other user is watching the old version at the same time using a different system.
As a result, it is realistically impossible for users to maintain synchronization between related objects in different systems with reliability.
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an object linkage system, an object linkage method and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for efficiently linking related objects such that the related objects can be processed in an information processing apparatus.

Object linkage system, object linkage method and recording medium


A modified mounting structure for a heat-dissipating device. The heat-dissipating device has a motor and a seat with a slot mounted on a base or the cover portion of a stator thereof. The seat secures a motor controller of the heat-dissipating device detecting phase changes of the magnetic poles of the motor. The structure of a heat-dissipating device reduces required components, manufacturing cost and assembly time, and the control circuit is greatly simplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container for a motor controller of a heat-dissipating device, and in particular to a motor controller and a container for a DC brushless motor in a heat-dissipating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
DC brushless motors are used in many electronic devices, such as heat-dissipating fans. FIG. 1A shows a conventional fan using a DC brushless motor. In FIG. 1A, the fan includes a frame 11, a printed circuit board 12 (PCB), a stator 13, and a rotor 14. When assembling the fan, the PCB 12, stator 13 and rotor 14 are sequentially assembled to a sleeve 111 on a base portion of the frame 11.
Unlike a conventional DC motor, a brushless DC motor includes a Hall sensor to detect the phase change of magnetic field and a driving circuit to convert current direction in the stator winding, rather than the brushes used in the conventional DC motor. The converted current in the stator winding induces a magnetic field to drive the rotor. The Hall sensor in the conventional DC brushless motor is generally disposed on a PCB. In FIG. 1A, the pins of the Hall sensor 15 are surface-mounted on the relative contacts on the bottom surface 121 of the PCB 12, and the Hall sensor 15 is then bent upward, extending into the stator 13.
FIG. 1B shows another structure to fix a Hall sensor on a PCB of the conventional DC brushless motor. In FIG. 1B, a plurality of holes 16 are formed on the PCB 12. The pins 151 of the Hall sensor 12 pass through the holes 15 and are soldered to the bottom surface of the PCB 12.
The circuit of the above conventional mounting methods for Hall sensors is, however, complicated, which reduces available layout area on the PCB and increases fabricating cost. The complicated layout on the PCB also increases impedance and causes considerable power loss. Moreover, since the Hall sensors are not consistently bent to predetermined angles during fabrication, their position corresponding to the position of the magnetic poles will be easily displaced resulting from externally careless collision.
Hence, there is a need for a better DC brushless motor with lower cost, precise angling of a Hall sensor and precise speed control.

Mounting structure for motor controller of heat-dissipating device


Disclosed herein, inter alia, compounds and methods of use thereof for the modulation of USP7 activity.

Ubiquitination is an important form of post-translational modification that can determine a protein's fate. While ubiquitin itself is a small and conserved protein, its covalent conjugation to protein substrates and to other ubiquitin molecules is a tightly controlled process involving complex cellular machinery. Perhaps the most prominent and well-known function of ubiquitin is to target a protein for degradation by the 26S proteasome. This is done via isopeptide bond formation between the carboxy-terminal Gly on the ubiquitin and ε-amino group of lysine side chains of the protein substrate.
The ubiquitin-substrate system is further diversified via the process of polyubiquitination, during which a ubiquitin molecule's C-terminal Gly is conjugated with one of the seven Lys residues on another ubiquitin (Lys6, Lys11, Lys27, Lys29, Lys33, Lys48, or Lys63) or with the N-terminus to form linear chains. While Lys48-linked and Lys11-linked polyubiquitination has been shown mostly to target protein substrates for 26S-mediated degradation, other functions of ubiquitination continue to unfold. For example, Lys63-polyubiquitination is involved in DNA repair and endocytosis, while both Lys63-linked and linear polyubiquitination has been demonstrated to regulate immunity via NF-κB activation. Accordingly, the biological complexity of ubiquitination is complex and suggests that enzymes involved in this process must have remarkable specificity to correctly carry out their unique functions. E1, E2, and E3 are enzymes that together facilitate the multistep process of ubiquitin-substrate conjugation, and deubiquitinat-ing enzymes (deubiquitinases or DUBs) carry out the reverse steps of breaking the isopeptide bond.
There are approximately 100 DUBs known in the human genome, any of which could be playing a key role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as other biological processes. The main functions for which DUBs are responsible include: (a) liberation of ubiquitin from protein substrates (e.g., to remove degradation signal), (b) editing of polyubiquitin signal on protein substrates to change the fate of the protein, (c) disassembling polyubiquitin chains to free up ubiquitin monomers, (d) cleaving ubiquitin precursors or adducts to regenerate active ubiquitin.
The DUBs are subdivided into five families: ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs), ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), ovarian tumor proteases (OTUs), Josephins and JAB1/MPN/MOV34 metalloenzymes (JAMM/MPN+). The first four families (UCH, USP, OTU, and Josephin) are cysteine proteases, while JAMM/MPN+ are zinc metalloproteases. Among these, UCHs and USPs are the best characterized, and USPs represent more than half of the known human DUBs. The reaction mechanism of the cysteine protease DUB families is the same as that of the cysteine protease superfamily. Each enzyme active site requires the interplay between three conserved residues forming the catalytic triad: a cysteine, a histidine, and an aspartic acid. The initial attack creates a negatively charged transition state stabilized by the oxy-anion hole. The intermediate is a thiohemiacetal stabilized through interactions with the active site residues as an incoming water molecule liberates the lysine side chain from the conjugated ubiquitin or substrate. A nucleophilic attack of the water creates another negatively charged transition state, which rearranges to free up the carboxylate terminus of the N-terminal ubiquitin and restores the enzyme to its apo form.
Recently, increased biological understanding has led to numerous DUBs being implicated in various diseases spanning oncology, neurodegeneration, hematology, and infectious diseases. Most recently, Bingol et al. carried out elegant experiments in vitro and in vivo to illustrate the role of USP30 as an antagonist of Parkin-mediated mitophagy, suggesting the inhibition of USP30 as a potential therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). The hunt for DUB antagonists is thus actively carried out by academic and pharmaceutical companies alike. This is illustrated through chemically diverse small molecules that have been reported to inhibit one or more of the UCH and USP family members.
Indeed, the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to proteins is an important step in the degradation of proteins via the 26S proteasome. See e.g., Metzger M B et. al. [J Cell Sci. 2012; 125:531-7] Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), also known as deubiquitinating peptidases, deubiquitinating isopeptidases, deubiquitinases, ubiquitin proteases, ubiquitin hydrolases, ubiquitin isopeptidases, are a large group of proteases that cleave ubiquitin from proteins and other molecules. [Nijman S M, et al. Cell. 2005; 123:773-86] DUBs can prevent the degradation of proteins by cleaving the peptide or isopeptide bond between ubiquitin and its substrate protein. In humans there are nearly 100 DUB genes, which can be classified into two main classes: cysteine proteases and metalloproteases. The cysteine proteases comprise ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs), Machado-Josephin domain proteases (MJDs) and ovarian tumour proteases (OTU). The metalloprotease group contains only the Jab1/Mov34/Mpr1 Pad1 N-terminal+ (MPN+) (JAMM) domain proteases.
Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7), also known as ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 7 or herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the USP7 gene. USP7 or HAUSP is a DUB enzyme that cleaves ubiquitin from its substrates. Since ubiquitylation (polyubiquitination) is most commonly associated with the stability and degradation of cellular proteins, USP7 activity generally stabilizes its substrate proteins. [Shi D et. al. Cancer Biology and Therapy 2010 10:8 737-747]
USP7 is most popularly known as a direct antagonist of Mdm2, the E3 ubiquitin ligase for the tumor suppressor protein, p53. Normally, p53 levels are kept low in part due to Mdm2-mediated ubiquitylation and degradation of p53. In response to oncogenic insults, USP7 can deubiquitinate p53 and protect p53 from Mdm2-mediated degradation, indicating that it may possess a tumor suppressor function for the immediate stabilization of p53 in response to stress.
In addition, USP7 also plays a key role in the immunoregulatory transcription factor protein FOXP3. By de-ubiquitylating and preserving FOXP3, USP7 increases T regulatory cell (Treg) mediated suppression of tumor-infiltrating T effector cells, the latter being associated with improved clinical outcome for many solid tumors. Thus, USP7 functions to limit immune cell-mediated antitumor defenses. The observation that the accumulation of FOXP3+ Treg cells at the tumor or in draining lymph nodes signals poor prognosis further highlights the significance of this recently described second oncogenic mechanism of USP7. Thus, inhibitors of USP7 can exert in vivo antitumor activity by: 1) directly inhibiting tumor cell proliferation via Hdm2 and other targets; and 2) suppressing T regulatory cells via FOXP3, thereby facilitating the antitumor function of T effector cells.
Another important role of USP7 function involves the oncogenic stabilization of p53. Oncogenes such as Myc and E1A are thought to activate p53 through a p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF, also called ARF)-dependent pathway, although some evidence suggests ARF is not essential in this process. A possibility is that USP7 provides an alternative pathway for safeguarding the cell against oncogenic insults.
USP7 can deubiquitinate histone H2B and this activity is associated with gene silencing in Drosophila. USP7 associates with a metabolic enzyme, GMP synthetase (GMPS) and this association stimulates USP7 deubiquitinase activity towards H2B. The USP7-GMPS complex is recruited to the polycomb (Pc) region in Drosophila and contributes to epigenetic silencing of homeotic genes.
USP7 was originally identified as a protein associated with the ICP0 protein of herpes simplex virus (HSV), hence the alternate name Herpesvirus Associated USP (HAUSP). ICP0 is an E3-ubiquitin ligase that is involved in ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of itself and certain cellular proteins. USP7 has been shown to regulate the auto-ubiquitination and degradation of ICP0.
More recently, an interaction between USP7 and the EBNA1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (another herpes virus) was also discovered. This interaction is particularly interesting given the oncogenic potential (potential to cause cancer) of EBV, which is associated with several human cancers. EBNA1 can compete with p53 for binding USP7. Stabilization by USP7 is important for the tumor suppressor function of p53. In cells, EBNA1 can sequester USP7 from p53 and thus attenuate stabilization of p53, rendering the cells predisposed to turning cancerous. Compromising the function of p53 by sequestering USP7 is one way EBNA1 can contribute to the oncogenic potential of EBV. Additionally, human USP7 was also shown to form a complex with GMPS and this complex is recruited to EBV genome sequences. USP7 was shown to be important for histone H2B deubiquitination in human cells and for deubiquitination of histone H2B incorporated in the EBV genome. Thus, USP7 may also be important for regulation of viral gene expression. The fact that viral proteins have evolved so as to target USP7, underscores the significance of USP7 in tumor suppression and other cellular processes.

Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) modulators and uses thereof


A device, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device comprises one or more error receiving units, each operable to receive error requests from a given layer in a protocol and synchronize the received error requests to a common clock domain for all layers, and an arbiter unit operable to receive the synchronized error requests from the one or more error receiving units, encode the error requests onto on a common error interconnect, and route the encoded error requests across the interconnect to configuration space.

Error reporting in computer systems generally takes up many interconnect lines and inefficiently utilizes multiple clock domains. In particular, PCI Express™ protocol error handling involves errors in all three layers (physical, link, and transaction layers) and there is a different clock domain and separate interconnect lines for each layer. Currently, there must be an error handling block for each PCI Express™ layer. The multiple error handling blocks create redundant logic, increase the number of interconnect lines utilized for logging errors in the device/function configuration space, and slow down error transactions because the clock domains are not synchronized.


A tool for removing particle residue from a cylindrical container includes a handle, configured to be grasped in the hand of a user to position the tool and to rotate the tool around an axis of rotation aligned substantially parallel to the handle, and at least one blade section extending from the handle at an angle to the axis of rotation. A user manipulates the handle in use to cause the tool to rotate about the axis of rotation so that the leading edge of the blade section moves into and through compacted particle residue within the cylindrical container.

There are several different ways to prepare coffee. It is common for most individuals and businesses to use pre-roasted pre-ground coffee beans. There are common steps to most of the preparation methods. Firstly (after roasting and grinding) the ground coffee is mixed with hot water for a certain time so that the chemicals and oils from the ground beans infuse into the water (the coffee beverage is 'brewed'). The used remains of the grounds are then separated from the liquid coffee before it is ready to drink.
There are several ways of mixing and then separating the ground coffee and the water. One common method is to use a filter, usually cone-shaped, which is filled with ground coffee, with hot water then allowed to percolate through the ground coffee and filter. The filter retains the ground coffee particles, while allowing the liquid coffee to pass through into a container such as a jug or cup. The filter can then be removed and disposed of, along with the retained used grounds.
Another way of preparing coffee is to force water through compacted ground coffee under pressure, for example by using an espresso machine or a stovetop coffee-maker.
One other common way is to use a device known as a cafetière, cafetière a piston, French press, or coffee plunger. These devices have a cylindrical container body with an open top into which a perforated plunger is removably located. Ground coffee is placed in the container body, and mixed with hot water. After a short brewing interval, the perforated plunger is pushed down through the mix of ground coffee and hot water, pressing the grounds down towards the bottom of the container but allowing the infused liquid (the coffee) to pass through the perforations into the upper part of the container. Once the plunger has been fully depressed, the coffee can be poured out from the container for drinking.
One issue with using non-filter devices such as a cafetière is that of removing and disposing of the compacted solid mass of used wet grounds that is left at the bottom of the cylindrical container after preparation. The grounds become compacted during the plunging process, and this results in a hardened mass that is resistant to removal or being broken up. It can also be difficult to remove compacted grounds from the containers used in espresso machines and stovetop coffee makers for similar reasons.
In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Tool for removing compacted particle residue from a cylindrical container


Provided is an optical system, including, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, which is configured to move during focusing, and a third lens unit having a positive or negative refractive power, the first lens unit consisting of, in order from the object side to the image side, a positive lens (Gp1), a positive lens (Gp2), and a subunit including a plurality of lenses, the subunit including at least one negative lens, in which an Abbe number νdGp1 of a material of the positive lens (Gp1), an Abbe number νdGn1 of a material of a negative lens (Gn1) closest to the object side among the negative lenses of the subunit, and a partial dispersion ratio θgFGn1 of the material of the negative lens (Gn1) are each appropriately set.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system and an image pickup apparatus including the same, which are suitable for, for example, an image pickup optical system to be used for an image pickup apparatus, e.g., a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a television (TV) camera, or a monitoring camera.
Description of the Related Art
Optical systems to be used for image pickup apparatus are demanded to have a small total length of a zoom lens and small weight as a whole. Here, the "total length of a zoom lens" refers to a length obtained by adding a value of air-equivalent back focus to a distance from a first lens surface to a final lens surface of the zoom lens. In general, telephoto lenses (telephoto optical systems) with a large aperture ratio tend to have a large total length of the zoom lens and a large total weight of the zoom lens.
In general, in optical systems that are small in size and weight, chromatic aberrations such as an axial chromatic aberration and a lateral chromatic aberration tend to be generated by a large amount, leading to deterioration in optical characteristics. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-119092, there is described an optical system that employs a lens made of a material having an extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic in order to reduce chromatic aberrations.
Specifically, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-119092, there is described a telephoto optical system that employs, in order to reduce chromatic aberrations, a positive lens made of a low dispersion optical material having an extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic, e.g., fluorite, and a negative lens made of a high dispersion optical material. In telephoto lenses, chromatic aberrations are generally corrected with lenses on an object side that axial paraxial rays and pupil paraxial rays enter at relatively high incident heights. Here, the "axial paraxial ray" is a paraxial ray that is light entering an optical system in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system at a height 1 from the optical axis, with a focal length of the entire optical system being normalized to be 1. Further, the "pupil paraxial ray" is a paraxial ray that is one of light rays entering the optical system at an angle of 45° to the optical axis, and passes through an intersection between an entrance pupil of the optical system and the optical axis, with the focal length of the entire optical system being normalized to be 1.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-81064, there is described an optical system that employs, in addition to a lens made of a low dispersion optical material having an extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic, a lens made of a high dispersion optical material having an extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic in order to correct chromatic aberrations, and reduce the entire optical system in weight.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-193065, there is disclosed a high dispersion optical material having a high refractive index and a low extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic. Hitherto, high dispersion materials having a high refractive index tend to have a strong extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic. Using a high dispersion material having a high refractive index as a material of a negative lens arranged on a relatively object side in a telephoto lens is effective for primary achromatization, but has a difficulty in reducing a secondary spectrum effectively. Meanwhile, the material disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-193065 has a weak extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic although the material is a high dispersion material having a high refractive index. Thus, chromatic aberrations can be satisfactorily corrected with the use of lenses made of such a material.
In telephoto optical systems, as a focal length of the telephoto optical system is increased, lenses arranged on an object side in the optical system are increased in size and weight, leading to an increase in generation amount of chromatic aberrations. In order to obtain a telephoto optical system with high optical characteristics, which is small in size and weight as a whole and is configured to satisfactorily correct chromatic aberrations, it is important to appropriately set the structure of the lenses arranged on the object side in the optical system.

Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same


A method, apparatus and program product use a first index associated with a field in a database table to identify a range of records in the database table that includes instances of a first key value in the field and use the identified range of records to subset a second index associated with another field in a database table. The database query identifies the first key value for the field in the database table and the second key value for the other field in the database table. By doing so, information from an index may be carried over and applied to another index to subset the other index, often reducing the quantity of entries that are searched in the other index and improving performance.

Databases are used to store information for an innumerable number of applications, including various commercial, industrial, technical, scientific and educational applications. Many databases are relational databases, which organize information into formally-defined tables consisting of rows (i.e., records) and columns (i.e., fields), and which are typically accessed using a standardized language such as Structured Query Language (SQL). Database management systems (DBMS's) are the computer programs that are used to access the information stored in the databases and to process searches, or queries, against the databases.
In general, a database query references one or more database tables in a database and includes one or more predicates. Each predicate includes an expression that references a field of a database table and a key value of the database table, and an operator (e.g., equal, etc.). Operators (e.g., AND, etc.) may also be applied to multiple predicates. To execute the query, many DBMS's perform query optimization, in which multiple execution plans or access plans for satisfying the database query are examined to determine the most efficient way to execute the query.
One type of optimization that may be utilized in an access plan includes the use of a database index. A database index is usually built over one or more fields of the database table, and in many cases includes sufficient information about which particular records in a database table likely match a particular predicate without having to retrieve and scan all of the individual records of the database table. One type of index that may be utilized is an encoded vector index ("EVI"). An EVI is a data structure that is made up of two primary components: a symbol table and a vector table. The symbol table contains the distinct key values in the rows of a table covered, as well as statistical information about each key. The statistical information typically includes a numeric byte code identifying the key, the first and last rows of the table where the key is found (i.e., the relative record number (RRN)), and the number of times the key appears in the table (i.e., count). The vector table contains a list of byte codes indicating which key is contained in each row, and as the byte codes are generally in the same ordinal position as the rows in the table, the vector table corresponds to the actual rows in the table. Additionally, the byte codes are often utilized to dynamically create a bitmap index when the database query is run or executed against the table.
Another type of index that may be utilized is a radix index or radix tree index. Radix indexes, like bitmap indexes, typically utilize binary (i.e., 1's and 0's) to indicate the presence of a given key value, with a "1" indicating that the key value is present and a "0" indicating that it is not present. In some systems, radix indexes often have a field, usually a hidden key field as the last key field in the index, that contains the relative record numbers corresponding to the actual rows in the table.
Just as an index in a book facilitates locating information on a specific topic quickly and without blindly paging through the book, database indexes provide similar benefits by providing a method to quickly locate data of interest in a database. In particular, the shorter entries of an index may be quickly searched for data (e.g., a key value) that satisfies the database query, and then the corresponding locations in the database table may be searched to retrieve the results. Thus, only a subset of the database table is searched. Without an index, a DBMS performs a full table scan of the database table, blindly searching through every row in the database table until the target data is located. Depending upon where the data resides in the database table, such a table scan can be a lengthy and inefficient process.
To perform an indexed scan of a database table, techniques such as key selection and key positioning are often utilized on an index. For example, with a radix index, key selection (or a radix index scan) is an operation similar to a table scan in which all of the entries in the index are sequentially processed to identify the key values specified in the database query. Afterwards, the subset of entries from the index that contain the key value may be identified and the corresponding rows in the database table may be searched to retrieve the results for the query. As such, for a given key value, the decision to select or omit an entry from the index to search in the database table is based upon the key value sought.
With key positioning (or radix index probe), only a portion of the index is searched based upon the criteria in the database query. In particular, the structure of the radix index and its collating (i.e., sorted) sequence may be directly probed to find the starting and stopping values of a range of a key value specified in the database query. For example, as the radix index has a sorted collating sequence, if the query references an "x" key value, the range of x's in the index may be probed directly without having to scan the entire radix index as with key selection. The subset of entries from the radix index that contain the given key value may be searched in the database table to retrieve the results for the query.
Indexes have traditionally been utilized individually. For example, during typical query optimization, an index built over a field or an index built over multiple fields may be selected for an execution plan. After selection of the index, key selection or key positioning may be applied to the selected index and the database query may be executed to retrieve the results. No information is typically shared between two or more indexes, except for maybe estimate information or RRN information.
However, as the reliance on information increases, both the volume of information stored in most databases, as well as the number of users wishing to access that information, likewise increases. Moreover, as the volume of information in a database, and the number of users wishing to access the database increases, the amount of computing resources required to manage such a database increases as well. Thus, new ways to use database indexes, which often require many system resources to build, are needed in order to continue to provide significant improvements in query performance; otherwise, database users will be hampered in their ability to maximize intelligent information retrieval.

Database query optimization using index carryover to subset an index

International Business Machines Corporation


A system includes a ring magnet having magnetic segments and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein adjacent segments have different magnetic polarities, The system can further include a substrate positioned so that a top surface of the substrate is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and a center plane passing through the ring magnet and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ring magnet intersects the top surface at an intersection line. The system can further include four magnetic field sensing elements supported by the substrate and electrically coupled to form a first bridge circuit, wherein two of the four magnetic field sensing elements are positioned on one side of the intersection line and the other two of the four magnetic field sensing elements are positioned on the other side of the intersection line.

Magnetic field sensors can be used in various types of devices to measure and monitor properties of systems in a wide variety of different applications. For example, sensors have become common in products that rely on electronics in their operation, such as motor control systems and automobile control systems. Common examples of motor control applications include detection of the position and/or rotation of a motor and common examples of automotive applications include detection of ignition timing from a position or rotation of an engine crankshaft and/or camshaft, detection of wheel speed for anti-lock braking systems and four-wheel steering systems, detection of window positioning, and other applications.
As an example, a target ring magnet may be placed at the end of a rotating shaft so that it rotates as the shaft rotates. A magnetic field sensor can be positioned within the magnetic field produced by the ring magnet to detect the rotation.
Many sensors must operate in the presence of external, stray magnetic fields that can interfere with the operation of the magnetic field sensor. Thus, it is beneficial if the magnetic field sensor has reduced sensitivity or immunity to the external field so that the output signal produced by the magnetic field sensor can more accurately reflect detection of the target.
Also, many magnetic field sensors must be placed near the target magnet. Magnetic field sensors that can operate with increased air gap distances between the magnetic field sensor and the target magnet may be beneficial in certain applications.

Magnetic field sensor with stray field immunity and large air gap performance


A linear drive has a drive housing and a carriage guide for relative motion in the direction of a principal axis. The carriage possesses a row of openings on it with several first carriage openings, whereas the drive housing has a row of openings on the housing side with mutually spaced first housing openings. Given suitable positioning of the carriage it is possible for attachment screws to be inserted right through the first carriage openings and inserted into the first housing openings. Second carriage openings belonging in addition to the row of openings on the carriage side are designed in the form of threaded openings, which render possible screwing in of attachment screws, that are inserted in the first housing openings of a further similar linear drive directly fitted to the carriage in a piggy-back fashion, through the first carriage openings thereof.

The invention relates to a linear drive comprising a drive housing and a carriage guided for movement in the direction of a principal axis, said carriage being arranged with at least a part of its length in the direction of an upright axis adjacent to the drive housing and having at least one linear row of openings on the carriage side with first carriage openings spaced apart in the direction of the principal axis, said drive housing having at least one linear row of openings on the housing side with first housing openings spaced from each other in the direction of the principal axis, such spaced first housing openings being able to be so brought, by suitable positioning of the carriage, into an assembly position flush in the direction of the upright axis with one respective carriage opening that attachment screws serving for the attachment of the linear drive may be completely inserted through the first carriage openings and insert inserted into the first housing openings.


One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting an event; determining, using a processor of a wireless node, one or more other wireless nodes within wireless range; generating, after the event, a packet of data including identifications of the one or more wireless nodes and positional data associated therewith; and transmitting, over a network connection, the packet of data to at least one of the one or more wireless nodes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Internet communication, e.g., automated messages, emails, etc., is used for reporting abnormal conditions or events at a location, e.g., a home location or a business location. This type of reporting is often used in place of more traditional communication, e.g., phone communication (landline or mobile). Internet messages, e.g., delivered through a cable-modem, usually come with only municipality-level geo-location information, unless some specific measurements have been applied. In many situations, it is immensely valuable to have an estimate of the scale of an event, such as the number of houses affected by a power outage or network interruption, their relative locations, etc.

Ascertaining a region of interest in a wireless network


The present invention relates to an indexable cutting insert for an end mill for machining of contours in a workpiece and to a milling tool. The cutting insert is asymmetrical in respect of a line through a hole in the cutting insert. The cutting insert comprises two cutting edge portions. Each cutting edge portion comprises a substantially straight cutting edge and a curved cutting edge along respective intersecting lines between a clearance surface and a rake face. The curved cutting edges have different lengths. The cutting insert has a bottom side and a first and a second opposite corner. The second corner is defined in plane view by a radius that is greater than, preferably at least twice as great as a radius of the first corner.

The present invention relates to an indexable cutting insert for an end mill for the machining of contours in a workpiece, which is based on EP-B1-504 608.
An end mill is used during complicated, and severe conditions with intensely fluctuating cutting forces under heavy demands regarding the machining precision. If indexable cutting inserts are used for an end mill, it is important to place such indexable cutting inserts precisely in relation to the tool body and to clamp the cutting insert rigidly on the tool body.
A conventional indexable cutting insert for an end mill, see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,355 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,121, has two cutting edges, each comprising a curved edge and a substantially straight edge connecting to one end thereof. In its entirety, the cutting insert has an oval shape as seen in top view. Thus, if the cutting insert is a positive cutting insert, i.e. a cutting insert having a leaning side, it is very difficult to precisely position the cutting insert on a tool body and clamp the same rigidly.
It is desirable to provide a durable cutting insert for a tool body.
It is desirable to provide an easy-cutting cutting insert.
It is desirable to provide a cutting insert that makes precise positioning of the cutting insert in the tool body possible.
It is desirable to provide a cutting insert that may be clamped rigidly in the tool body.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an indexable cutting insert for a milling tool is provided. The cutting insert is asymmetrical in respect of a line through a hole in the cutting insert, the cutting insert comprising two cutting edge portions, each cutting edge portion comprising a substantially straight cutting edge and a curved cutting edge along respective intersecting lines between a clearance surface and a rake face, the curved cutting edges having different lengths, the cutting insert having a bottom side and a first and a second opposite corner, wherein the second corner is defined in plane view by a radius that is greater than, preferably at least twice as great as, a radius of the first corner.

Indexable insert with corners with different radii


Information may be provided to a telephony customer from an overlay service by causing a second stream of audio information to be overlayed on a primary stream of audio information. The overlayed information may be whispered to the user by causing the overlayed information to be compressed into a limited frequency spectrum which is inserted into a manufactured gap in the primary audio stream. This allows the user to continue to hear the main audio stream while also hearing the overlayed information. The overlay service may provide administrative information, advertisements, music, and/or Internet search results via the overlayed audio. Users may issue commands to the overlay service, to have particular information transmitted via overlayed audio. Where the user is also associated with a telephony application running on a computer platform, the overlayed information may be incorporated onto the information being shown to the user on a computer display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for overlaying whispered audio onto a telephone call.
2. Description of the Related Art
Telephone networks have been in use for many years and have evolved considerably over time. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a circuit network that allows telephone calls to be placed between two or more parties. Voice traffic may also be carried on a packet network such as the Internet using a networking protocol commonly referred to as Voice over IP (VoIP). In addition, cellular and other wireless networks have been developed and deployed to allow users to place and receive telephone calls wirelessly. All of these networks, and other private telephone networks, are interconnected to allow individuals on different types of networks to make and receive telephone calls.
As telephone services are developed, they are deployed on the network so that the new services may be sold to telephone customers. For example, telephone conferencing has been developed which allows two or more parties to be interconnected by a bridge. The bridge senses which person is talking and causes that audio stream to be sent to the other participants to the conference call. The bridge may also interject audible information by interrupting the speaker. For example, the bridge may interject that the conference call will end in five minutes, or provide other administrative information. Similarly, the bridge may interrupt the speaker by sending a beep when someone leaves or joins the call. Additionally, on a large conference call with many participants or with unfamiliar participants, it may be difficult for people participating on the call to determine who is speaking.
Other telephone services such as call waiting also generate a beep or other audible signal that temporarily interrupts the person who is speaking, so that the listeners may be provided with a signal associated with the service. In the example of call waiting, the telephone switch may temporarily stop transmitting the voice signal from the other person on the call and generate a Beep that is interpreted by the person receiving the second call as a signal that another call is on the other line. Since the beep is transmitted instead of the normal voice signal, the person receiving the second call may lose half a second or more of the audio and may need to have the person repeat what was being said at that point in the conversation.

Method and apparatus for overlaying whispered audio onto a telephone call