A switching mode power supply and a corresponding method of protection operation is presented. A switching controller of the switching mode power supply receives current sensing information corresponding to the current flowing through a main switch and feedback information corresponding to an output voltage through a single terminal, and performs a protection operation when the voltage at the terminal is maintained to be lower than a reference voltage for more than a predetermined time frame. The power supply requires a low number of terminals, while preserving the protection operation function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching mode power supply (SMPS). More specifically, the present invention relates to a switching mode power supply for performing a protection operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
An SMPS converts a DC voltage into at least one other DC voltage. The DC output voltage can be controlled to be greater or less than the input voltage. The SMPS is applied to power electronic devices, in particular, battery power supply devices such as mobile phones and laptop computers.
In general, the SMPS has a protection circuit to protect the system and to maintain the security thereof against protection operation conditions such as overloads, short circuits, and open loops. When the SMPS has no protection circuit, elements may be damaged because of electrical stress. Therefore, the effective operation of the protection circuit has become increasingly important.
The general SMPS controls the output voltage by sensing the output voltage, receiving information regarding the sensed output voltage at a feedback terminal of a PWM controller, and controlling the turn-on time of a main switch according to the voltage of the feedback terminal. When the above-noted protection operation condition occurs, the voltage at the feedback terminal is saturated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,051, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference, discloses a protection circuit of an SMPS in which the voltage at the feedback terminal is saturated under the protection operation condition. In this system, two current sources with different current levels are used to distinguish a long protection operation condition (which indicates that the protection circuit operation condition is maintained) and a short protection operation condition (which indicates that the protection circuit operation condition is not maintained). The protection circuit is controlled to be operable in the case of the long protection operation condition.
However, the system of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,051 has a feedback terminal for receiving information on the output voltage from the PWM controller and an additional terminal for sensing and receiving information on the current that flows through the main switch. The use of the additional terminal increases the number of elements which increases complexity and cost.

Switching mode power supply and method for performing protection operation thereof


A system for full duplex communication using a single-ended communications link is described. The system includes a first link interface configured to generate a signal for transmission via the single-ended communications link. The signal includes data encoded in a forward channel. The system also includes a second link interface configured to receive the signal from the first link interface via the single-ended communications link and modulate the signal to encode data in a reverse channel so that the signal includes the forward channel data and the reverse channel data simultaneously.

In many applications, high speed data is transferred from a source to a sink substantially simultaneously with the transfer of low speed data. For example, in video applications, video data (e.g., relatively high speed data) is transferred from a video source (e.g., a camera) to a video sink (e.g., a display). Simultaneously with the transfer of the video data, control data (e.g., relatively low speed data) may be transferred, in both directions, between the video source and the video sink. For example, control data from the video source to the video sink may dictate how the video data is to be displayed. While, for example, control data from the video sink to the video source may dictate the view angle, exposure, focus of the camera, or status of video device. The high speed and the low speed data is typically transmitted via physical cables.

Full-duplex single-ended serial link communication system


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for verifying a digital object obtained from a remote host. A system configured to practice the method downloads a first object from a first remote source and presents the user with a first request to allow access to the first object. Upon user approval, a multitude of characteristics associated with the object are stored to facilitate future uses of the object. When a second object is downloaded from a second remote source, the system checks the database for a stored user approval. Access to the second object is allowed if the multitude of characteristics associated with the first and second objects match. If the system does not find a match, the user is presented with a second request to allow access to the object.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to object verification and more specifically to verifying the integrity of a digital object obtained from a remote host.
2. Introduction
As the Internet becomes an integral part of people's lives, more and more content on personal computers is obtained via Internet download. This is advantageous in that users are able to quickly and easily obtain access to a wide variety of content. However, it also leads to a plethora of potential security risks that deter many users from downloading legitimate content. For example, when a user downloads content from a website the user has to trust that the content will not harm their computer or improperly access data. In this scenario, many users will base their trust on the perceived origin of the content.
One approach to increasing a user's level of trust for an object obtained from a remote source is to include a digital certificate with the object. A digital certificate provides at least a minimal level of assurance due to the fact that a certification authority issues it and the user's system can authenticate it prior to accessing the object. However, even though the certificate is authenticated, the user must still make a decision as to whether they trust the certificate.
One method for conducting the verification is to present the user with a dialog box seeking permission to use the object. Such a dialog box presents information regarding the validity of the certificate. Additionally, the dialog box might contain an option to "always allow" a particular object. As long as nothing changes about the object, the user can reuse the object without encountering the dialog box again. When certain features of the object change, the user is once again presented with the dialog box to provide notification of the change and to verify that the object's use is permitted on the system. This method of verification fails when other aspects associated with the object change, potentially exposing computer users to security risks.

System and method for incorporating an originating site into a security protocol for a downloaded program object


A method of collecting yield data from a harvesting machine includes the steps of establishing a first data set comprising raw data by continuously recording yield and position data periodically at data points when the harvesting machine is in a harvesting area. Each data point is tagged with a code indicative of a harvesting parameter of the said harvesting machine. A filtering process is applied to the first data set to create a second data set, wherein invalid data is removed by the filtering process. The filtering process includes the step of identifying all data points in the filtering process where the status of at least one harvesting parameter indicates that the harvester is not harvesting.

This invention relates to yield mapping, and is particularly concerned with improving the accuracy of yield maps.
In recent years it has become customary to monitor a crop""s yield during the course of harvesting. In a combine harvester this is often done using a yield monitor, which measures the amount of crop material harvested. There are many types of yield monitors available. One such monitor is described in International Patent application No. 96/38714.
Over the years there has been a tendency for field sizes to increase. Formerly there would have been little variation in yield in any one given field, and as such the farmer could plan his inputs so that they were uniform across the field. However, field sizes have increased by eliminating the boundaries between fields and creating one large field where three or four smaller fields had existed before. The result is that in fields presently farmed, there are often large variations in yield capability across the field.
The availability of reasonably accurate yield monitors, and the need to treat different areas of the same field differently led to the farm management practice known as xe2x80x9cprecision or site-specific farmingxe2x80x9d, whereby the farmer tailors inputs to requirements.
Precision farming often involves the farmer in equipping his harvesting machine (such as a combine harvester) with a yield monitor and a positioning system so that the crop yield at any given position can be established. The farmer can then use this information to establish a yield map, and in turn an application map. Inputs are then applied to the crop at varying rates according to the application map.
The philosophy behind precision farming is to reduce the total cost of inputs by selecting the amount of inputs according to need. Since inputs are often based on yield maps it is important for the maps to be accurate. It has been noted that there are several possibilities for error in yield monitoring when harvesting a crop with a harvesting machine.
Existing yield meters used on-board combine harvesters have a number of problems, which may lead to errors in yield maps. Existing yield meters function as set out below:
a. Data is only recorded when the machine is harvesting, i.e., the threshing mechanism is engaged, the table is engaged, the combine is travelling more than 1 km/h and the table is below 0.5 m.
b. It is assumed that only valid data is recorded when the combine is in harvest mode.
c. Simple filtering is used to delete large errors in the raw data set.
d. Any remaining errors in the raw data are smoothed during the interpolation process by amalgamating them with accurate data. The interpolation process hides errors in the data set.
Seven different types of error have been identified when monitoring yield and position on a combine harvester, and these errors are listed below:
1. Measured areaxe2x80x94the measured area is calculated by multiplying the cutter bar width by the distance travelled by the combine wheels. The width of the cutter bar and the rolling circumference of the wheel are entered into the combine""s computer by the operator. As these values are not monitored during harvesting, they are assumed to be constants until manually adjusted. If they deviate from the programmed values, then errors are introduced into the raw yield data set when converting grain flow (kg/s), measured at the yield meter, into grain yield (t/ha).
2. Delay for yieldxe2x80x94this is the true position related to the measured grain flow. This represents the time delay from the crop being cut (true position), and travelling through the combine to the point where the grain flow is measured by the yield meter.
3. Lead timexe2x80x94there is a period of time that is required for the combine to fill with grain once it has entered the crop. This lead time is, therefore, the time lapse that is required for the combine to reach a stage when it has filled with grain and is giving a true reading on the yield meter. From this point reliable yield data can be logged.
4. Lag timexe2x80x94this is time required by the combine to empty of grain once it has stopped cutting the crop at the cutter bar. The lag time therefore, represents the time that true yield data can be logged once the combine""s cutter bar has left the standing crop.
5. Delayed positioningxe2x80x94this is the offset of the GPS antenna. For practical reasons it is not possible to mount the GPS antenna directly over the cutter bar and it is normally mounted on the cab roof of the combine harvester. The location of the GPS antenna on the cab roof introduces a xe2x80x9cpositioning offsetxe2x80x9d.
6. Turing on headlands without cutting any cropxe2x80x94errors are recorded in raw data when the combine is turning on the headland with no grain being cut. In this instance 0 t/ha (zero) will be recorded in the data string which will influence the processed yield map.
7. Tramlinesxe2x80x94although not an actual error, because of any reduced yield resulting from wheelings, tramlines could have potential to cause a stripping effect in a resulting yield map.


An exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for generating a denoised magnetic resonance (MR) image(s) of a portion(s) of a patient(s) can be provided, which can include, for example, generating a plurality of MR images of the portion(s), where a number of the MR images can be based on a number of MR coils in a MR apparatus used to generate the MR images, generating MR imaging information by denoising a first one of the MR images based on another one of the MR images, and generating the denoised MR image(s) based on the MR imaging information. The number of the MR coils can be a subset of a total number of the MR coils in the MR apparatus. The number of the MR coils can be a total number of the MR coils in the MR apparatus. The MR information can be generated by denoising each of the MR images based on the other one of the MR images.

MRI is a super-resolution imaging technique. Contrary to optical and X-ray imaging, the spatial resolution of MRI is not limited by the radio frequency (RF) wavelength. Instead, the resolution of MRI is limited by the signal-to-noise ratio ("SNR") (see, e.g., References 11-14), which is proportional to the imaging voxel volume for a given field strength and coil/body geometry. A reduction of a voxel by twofold in each dimension likely requires a 23=8-fold SNR increase. Unfortunately, SNR increase by designing better MRI receivers (e.g., RF coils or coil arrays) has already achieved near-optimal SNR efficiency, approaching 90% of the Ultimate Intrinsic SNR (see, e.g., Reference 24), as observed experimentally (see, e.g., Reference 25), and validated in simulations. (See, e.g., Reference 13, 26). The signal can also be enhanced by imaging at greater field strength. (See, e.g., Reference 27). Cost and engineering constraints (see, e.g., Reference 28), such as magnetic field inhomogeneity and bore size, as well as physiological constraints (see, e.g., References 29 and 30), such as nerve stimulation, nausea and nystagmus, make this route challenging, with the clinical MRI scanners dominated by 1.5-3 T magnets.
Alternatively, SNR can be increased by reducing the noise for a given hardware setup. The most direct way to lower the noise level is by averaging images together. This is costly, however, as SNR grows slowly, as a square root of the number of averages, for example, doubling spatial resolution would likely require a clinically prohibitive 82=64-fold scan time increase. Longer scans further complicate the measurement through motion and physiological artifacts (e.g., cardiac and respiratory motion).
Thus, it may be beneficial to provide an exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for noise reduction in magnetic resonance imaging, which can overcome at least some of the deficiencies described herein above.

System, method and computer-accessible medium for facilitating noise removal in magnetic resonance imaging


A modified polynucleotide containing at least one cleavable or abasic site as shown below. ##STR1## DNA.sub.1 is a first segment of DNA; DNA.sub.2 is a second segment of DNA; and R.sub.m is C.sub.1 to C.sub.16 alkylene or an oxytheylene oligomer --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.z -- where z is an interger in the range of 1 to 16 inclusive, and R.sub.n is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Such polynucleotides are useful in solid phase hybridizations because they permit the release of a label from the solid support after the hybridization reaction.

Incorporation of selectably cleavable sites into oligonucleotide and polynucleotide chains has been described in related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 251,152, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,605 on Jun. 2, 1992, and in great-grandparent U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,619, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. Selectably cleavable sites are useful in a number of different types of hybridization assay formats. For example, in one type of assay in which hybridization gives rise to a solid-supported duplex of a labeled probe and sample DNA, a selectably cleavable site contained within the hybrid structure will enable ready separation of the label from the solid support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,619 is primarily directed to the use of restriction endonuclease-cleavable sites in such assays, while application Ser. No. 251,152, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,605 on Jun. 2, 1992, concerns chemically cleavable sites, e.g., disulfide linkages, 1,2-diols, and the like. These chemically cleavable sites can be introduced during oligonucleotide synthesis, and are cleavable with particular chemical reagents, e.g., with thiols, periodate, or the like.
The present invention is also directed to selectably cleavable sites. However, the present method involves introduction of sites which are cleavable by photolysis as well as sites which are cleavable by other means, e.g., using chemical or enzymatic reagents, e.g., reducing agents. The cleavable sites of the invention are created by incorporation of chemical moieties, preferably photolabile moleties, into oligonucleotide or polynucleotide chains. The novel photolabile moieties are useful in a number of different types of hybridization assay formats, including those described in the above-cited applications, as well as in the amplification nucleic acid hybridization assay described in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 252,638, filed Sep. 30, 1988, (now abandoned) also incorporated by reference herein.
Another use of the reagents of the invention is, in general terms, the creation of abasic sites within oligonucleotides. By "abasic site" is meant an ether moiety --OR at a position which normally contains a hydroxyl group --OH or a nucleobase. The utility of such derivatization is extensive as will be disclosed in detail hereinbelow.
Still another use of the reagents of the invention is in chemical phosphorylation. In many different aspects of oligonucleotide chemistry, chemical phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups is necessary. For example, in oligonucleotide synthesis, after synthesis and deprotection, the free 5'-hydroxyl group of the oligonucleotide must be phosphorylated for use in most biological processes. Also, phosphorylation of the 3'-hydroxyl functionality is necessary: (1) to prevent extension of the 3' terminus by a polymerase; and (2) in the chemical ligation of DNA, i.e., a 3' phosphate moiety is typically required in the coupling of oligonucleotides using chemical means.
5'-phosphorylation has conventionally been carried out with T4 polynucleotide kinase and ATP, a reaction that is not particularly reliable or efficient. Several methods for chemical 5'-phosphorylation are also known, including those described by Nadeaux et al., Biochemistry 23:6153-6159 (1984), van der Marel et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 22:1463-1466 (1981), Himmelsbach and Pfleiderer, Tetrahedron Letters 23:4793-4796 (1982), Marugg et al., Nucleic Acids Research 12:8639-8651 (1984), and Kondo et al., Nucleic Acids Research Symposium Series 16:161-164 (1985). However, most of these methods involve the use of unstable reagents or require extensive modification of standard deprotection and purification procedures. Similar problems have been found with monofunctional and bifunctional 3'-phosphorylating reagents (see Sonveaux, supra, at 297).
Thus, in addition to utility in providing cleavable and/or abasic sites within oligonucleotide or polynucleotide chains, many of the compounds of the present invention are additionally useful as phosphorylating reagents which overcome the limitations of current phosphorylation procedures (and may also be useful in phosphorylation reactions that are used in conventional dimethoxytrityl [DE] purification schemes).

Oligonucleotides with selectably cleavable and/or abasic sites


A method of monitoring transmissions across a network by recording a history of user-selected network transmission requests to a network client in a trace object, wherein the history of user-selected network transmission requests includes a trace of one or more network links, assigning a unique identifier to the trace object, and saving the trace object. In the embodiment wherein the network is the Internet, the method records a sequence of links to sites on the World Wide Web. A web browser can allow toggling between a logging mode and a non-logging mode, in order to start and stop recording of link traces. Multiple traces from different network sessions can thus be merged into a single link sequence which can thereafter be used to revisit a network link contained in the history of network transmissions. Different link sequences can be combined to form procedures. Supervisors (e.g., parents) can control the creation and maintenance of trace objects and link sequences by requiring a security signature or password to enable toggling between the logging and non-logging modes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method and system for creating, maintaining and using a history of user-selected network transmission requests across a computer network. The present invention is adapted for use with the Internet""s World Wide Web, but it is generally applicable to any computer (client) which receives transmissions across any type of network.
2. Description of Related Art
A generalized client-server computing network 2 is shown in FIG. 1. Network 2 has several servers 4, 6, 8 and 10 which are interconnected, either directly to each other or indirectly through one of the other servers. Each server is essentially a stand-alone computer system (having one or more processors, memory devices, and communications devices), but has been adapted (programmed) for one primary purpose, that of providing information to individual users at workstation clients 12. A client is a member of a class or group of computers or computer systems that uses the services of another class or group. Clients 12 can also be stand-alone computer systems (like personal computers, or PCs), or xe2x80x9cdumberxe2x80x9d systems adapted for limited use with network 2 (like network computers, or NCs). As used herein, xe2x80x9cPCxe2x80x9d generally refers to any multi-purpose computer adapted for use by a single individual, regardless of the manufacturer, hardware platform, operating system, etc. A single, physical computer can act as both a server and a client, although this implementation occurs infrequently.
The information provided by a server can be in the form of programs which run locally on a given client 12, or in the form of data such as files used by other programs. Users can also communicate with each other in real-time as well as by delayed file delivery, i.e., users connected to the same server can all communicate with each other without the need for the network 2, and users at different servers, such as servers 4 and 6, can communicate with each other via network 2. The network can be local in nature, or can be further connected to other systems (not shown) as indicated with servers 8 and 10.
The construction of network 2 is also generally applicable to the Internet. In the context of a computer network such as the Internet, a client is a process (i.e., a program or task) that requests a service which is provided by another program. The client process uses the requested service without having to xe2x80x9cknowxe2x80x9d any working details about the other program or the service itself. Based upon requests by the user, a server presents filtered electronic information to the user as server responses to the client process.
Conventional protocols and services have been established for the Internet which allow the transfer of various types of information, including electronic mail, simple file transfers via FTP, remote computing via TELNET, gopher searching, Usenet newsgroups, and hypertext file delivery and multimedia streaming via the World Wide Web (WWW). A given server can be dedicated to performing one of these operations, or running multiple services. Internet services are typically accessed by specifying a unique address, or universal resource locator (URL). The URL has two basic components, the protocol to be used, and the object pathname. For example, the URL xe2x80x9chttp://www.uspto.govxe2x80x9d (home page for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) specifies a hypertext transfer protocol (xe2x80x9chttpxe2x80x9d) and a pathname of the server (xe2x80x9cwww.uspto.govxe2x80x9d). The server name is associated with a unique numeric value (a TCP/IP address, or xe2x80x9cdomainxe2x80x9d).
The present invention relates to the monitoring or recording of the history of user-selected network transmission requests which have occurred across a network like the Internet, but is particularly applicable to the World Wide Web, which provides files that are conveniently linked for user access. A group of documents (or web xe2x80x9cpagesxe2x80x9d) can be interrelated by providing hypertext links in each of the files. A hypertext link is an image that is viewable on the workstation""s display, which can be selected by the user (e.g., using a pointing device or xe2x80x9cmousexe2x80x9d) and which then automatically instructs the client workstation to request another page associated with that particular hypertext link (i.e., issue another URL). A hypertext link may appear as a picture, or as a word or sentence, possibly underlined or otherwise accentuated to indicate that it is an embedded link and not just normal, informative text. Hypertext files are commonly written in hypertext markup language (HTML).
A WWW page may have text, graphic (still) images, and even multimedia objects such as sound recordings or moving video clips. A hypertext page, if more than just text, is usually constructed by loading several separate files. For example, the hypertext file xe2x80x9cmain.htmlxe2x80x9d might include a reference to a graphic image file xe2x80x9cpicture.gifxe2x80x9d or to a sound file xe2x80x9cbeep.wavxe2x80x9d. When a client workstation sends a request to a server for a page, the server first transmits (at least partially) the main hypertext file associated with the page, and then loads, either sequentially or simultaneously, the other files associated with the page. A given file may further be transmitted as several separate pieces via TCP/IP protocol. The fully constructed page is then displayed on the workstation monitor. A page may be xe2x80x9clargerxe2x80x9d than the physical size of the monitor screen, and techniques such as scroll bars are used by the network communications software to view different portions of the page. This software, commonly referred to as a web browser, provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for transmitting and receiving information across the Internet.
A wide variety of methods are employed to maintain histories of web sites visited using a browser. For example, a list of favorite places, or xe2x80x9cbookmarks,xe2x80x9d can be constructed by clicking on a toolbar icon in the GUI (or using a pull-down menu command, or a keystroke combination) to add the current URL to a special file having a list of URLs which the user might want to repeatedly download, at later times. Many browsers also maintain a cache of various downloaded files (main hypertext files, multimedia files, etc., forming respective pages) so that, if a page is reloaded by the user, the client computer does not have to actually download the files across the network again, but can construct the page locally.
Another manner in which a history can be maintained is by keeping a list or table of every URL which is downloaded by the browser. These URLs can be, for example, a running trace of pages that were requested when a user selected a hypertext link, or pages that were delivered as a result of CGI (Common Gateway Interlace) programs running at various servers which generated ad hoc HTML pages, or pages that were requested by manual (keyboard) entry of the URLs. The history table can be emptied or deleted at the end of a session, or be saved and the data updated with URLs from future sessions. Some browsers allow a user to create a bookmark by selecting an entry in the history table, and then selecting a xe2x80x9cCreate Bookmarkxe2x80x9d icon or button. The URL is then copied from the history table to the bookmark file. Many browsers also allow a user to conveniently recall a page from the history table by simply selecting an entry and then selecting a xe2x80x9cGo Toxe2x80x9d icon or button (or double-clicking on the entry using a pointer device).
Yet another manner in which a user may be made aware of historical links is to compare the contents of a history table to hypertext links that are currently being displayed by the browser (i.e., links embedded in the currently loading web page), such that those links which have previously been visited can be specially highlighted. This highlighting can take the forming of underlining, bolding, or changing the color of the previously visited links. Highlighting of visited links can be made to expire when, e.g., a certain period of time has passed for the given link (like ninety days).
Sometimes a user will go through several links in a session, then end the session, and the history table will be automatically deleted (or perhaps the user will clear the table as its contents have gotten excessively large from merging the URLs visited over many different sessions). Later, the user may wish that a bookmark had been kept or that a sequence of links had been kept. Recreating the desired sequence of links can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Alternatively, a user may wish that no record be kept of a link or link sequence for privacy reasons, e.g., when the browser is shared between family members. Conversely, supervisors (or parents) might like to have a trace of links to see what their subordinates (or children) have been viewing, even if the subordinates had cleared the browser""s history table/cache. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a more flexible method of organizing and saving link sequences. It would be further advantageous if the method allowed the sequences to be easily incorporated into other processes.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of maintaining a history of user-selected network transmission requests across a network, particularly to a given client in a client-server network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method that is adapted for use with the World Wide Web, and implemented in associated communications software or web browsers.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a method wherein link traces can be kept, and sequences of links can be organized and saved, such that they can be reused and added together to form procedures.
The foregoing objects are achieved in a method of monitoring transmissions across a network, generally comprising the steps of connecting a client to a network, recording a history of user-selected network transmission requests to the client in a trace object, wherein the history of user-selected network transmission requests includes a trace of one or more network links (representative of user-selected network requests), assigning a unique identifier to the trace object, and saving the trace object. The network can be a client-server network such as the Internet, and the recording step can record a sequence of links to sites on the World Wide Web. The client uses communications software, such as a web browser, to interface with the network, and the software can allow toggling between a logging mode and a non-logging mode, in order to start and stop recording of link traces. Multiple traces from different network sessions can thus be merged into a single link sequence. The sequence can thereafter be used to revisit a network link contained in the history of user-selected network transmission requests. A first link sequence from the history of user-selected network transmission requests can be combined with a second link sequence to form a procedure. Supervisors can control the creation and maintenance of trace objects and link sequences by requiring a security signature to enable toggling between the logging and non-logging modes.
The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Method to keep a persistent trace of weblink use per user

International Business Machines Corporation


An x-ray contrast media catheter, for example a cardiac catheter, comprises a flexible tube defining a lumen and a plurality of side apertures in the tube for fluid flow therethrough. The side apertures are each defined by a tubular surface extending through the side wall from the lumen of the exterior, in which the tubular surface defines a longitudinal axis which forms a forward angle of about 30.degree. to 60.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. Also, the distal end preferably defines an open aperture which, in turn, is defined by a bevelled tip of the catheter distal end. This provides improvements in the fluid flow dynamics when x-ray contrast media is being administered to a heart chamber.

X-ray contrast media catheters are used in various medical situations to provide x-ray imagining of organs of the human body. Particularly in the field of cardiology, x-ray contrast media is applied to the heart by means of a catheter which extends therein, so that the presence of the x-ray contrast media can provide an x-ray image of the heart action and condition.
Particularly, the left ventricle is a difficult chamber of the heart to obtain x-ray imaging. At the present time, so-called pigtail catheters are used, being threaded through the aorta, around the aortic arch, and through the aortic valve until the distal tip of the catheter resides in the ventricle. Then, with the patient under an x-ray machine such as a fluoroscope, a bolus of x-ray contrast fluid is injected through the catheter at a high pressure (700-900 psi) into the ventricle, to quickly fill the ventricle with x-ray contrast media. For a moment, details of the heart structure and action become visible by x-ray imaging, until the contrast media is pumped out of the ventricle.
It has been found that, even with the best pigtail-type catheters of the prior art, difficulties have been encountered in getting good filling of the apex of the ventricle in combination with good filling of the rest of the ventricle such as the midsegmental ventricle portion. Because of this, difficulties have been obtained in obtaining accurate measurement of the ejection fraction of particularly the left ventricle. This information is critically needed for cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and surgeons as they treat heart disease.
By this invention, a catheter is provided which exhibits significant clinical improvements in the filling of heart chambers such as the left ventricle, including significantly improved apical filling. Additionally, the catheter of this invention exhibits improvements in handling and advancement through the aortic arch and the aortic valve, particularly in the situation when stenosis is present in the aortic valve.
Because of these improvements, it has become possible to obtain more accurate ejection fraction data, and to generally provide better imaging of heart structure and action, which of course provides better opportunities for accurate diagnosis and successful surgery.


An electro-galvanic hydrogen generator system that has two or more anode materials; a cathode material; and an electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent. Hydrogen gas is generated whenever an anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected, and the different anode materials can be used separately or in combination to control the quantity and rate of hydrogen generation. An insulating shield may be used to catch reaction debris from the anodes. A removable inert layer may cover the electrodes. The use of cell pressure may regulate the rate of hydrogen generation. The hydrogen generator may have a separate catalyst chamber, and the hydrogen generator may also function as a battery.

Hydrogen is a "clean fuel" because it can be reacted with oxygen in hydrogen-consuming devices, such as a fuel cell or combustion engine, to produce energy and water. Virtually no other reaction byproducts are produced in the exhaust. As a result, the use of hydrogen as a fuel may solve many environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum based fuels. Cost-effective, safe and efficient storage of hydrogen gas is important for many applications that use hydrogen. In particular, minimizing the volume and weight of hydrogen storage systems is important in mobile applications.
Several methods of storing hydrogen currently exist but are either inadequate or impractical for consumer applications. For example, hydrogen can be stored in liquid form at very low temperature or hydrogen can be stored under high pressure in cylinders, however, both of such storage methods are not practical for most consumer applications for a number of well known reasons related, for example, to safety and economics. Other methods of hydrogen storage include the use of chemical compounds that either: (a) chemically react with water or other species to generate hydrogen; or (b) reversibly adsorb and then release hydrogen. However, these methods are also not practical for most consumer applications for a number of well known reasons related, for example, to safety and economics.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,033 issued Mar. 18, 2003, discloses a hydrogen generation system that includes a stabilized metal hydride solution and a hydrogen generation catalyst system which includes a supported hydrogen generation catalyst having molecules of a hydrogen generation catalyst bound to, entrapped within, and/or coated onto a substrate. In one disclosed system, mechanical pumps pump a sodium borohydride solution through a catalyst chamber containing precious metal catalysts. One disadvantage of such a system is that mechanical pumps are not only unreliable and heavy, but tend to leak and/or clog in the presence of the highly caustic solutions used. This reduces the reliability of the device. In addition, precious metal catalysts tend to wash out of the catalyst chamber due to the abrasive nature of the solution. This loss of precious metal catalyst is not only expensive but also results in seriously reduced catalytic activity and reduced hydrogen output. In further addition, the catalyst chamber must be periodically replaced.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0009392 A1, published on Jan. 15, 2004, (the "'392 Application"), discloses a compact and efficient hydrogen generator operating on the electro-galvanic principle in which hydrogen is generated by establishing an electrical connection between a cathode material and an anode material that is at least partially submerged in a stabilized metal borohydride electrolyte solution, wherein the cathode material forms at least part of the inner surface of the electrolyte container. '392 Application FIGS. 1 and 1A. Further embodiments provided in the '392 Application include the use of an anode fabricated from many types of anode material ('392 Application FIG. 3); the use of internal and external water storage and release into the electrolyte to replenish water consumed during hydrogen production ('392 Application FIGS. 4-6); the use of multiple anodes fabricated from the same anode material and an electrolyte storage and release tank made of different materials ('392 Application FIG. 7); and the implementation of a mechanism for raising or lowering the anodes from or into the electrolyte solution ('392 Application FIG. 8). The teachings of the '392 Application are incorporated herein by reference into the present application.

Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen


Method and system aspects for mapping tasks to iteratively improve task assignment in a heterogeneous computing (HC) system include identifying a current machine that defines a makespan in the HC system. Further included is the reassigning of at least one task from the current machine to at least one alternate machine in the HC system according to a predefined reassignment constraint. Reassigning also includes reassigning the at least one task when the at least one alternate machine can perform the at least one task in addition to previously assigned work while finishing in less time than the time of the makespan reduced by time required for the task being reassigned.

The problem of optimally allocating a set of heterogeneous computing resources to the execution of a collection of heterogeneous tasks has been shown to be NP-complete (a problem that becomes exponentially more difficult as the number of variables in the problem increases). Therefore, prior research has focused on developing heuristic approaches to address the problem in specific contexts. In this work, the goal of the heuristic is to minimize the total execution time of a meta-task, where a meta-task is defined to be a collection of independent sub-tasks. Some have proposed using the results of a known successful heuristic as a seed, or starting place, for a search of related solutions in an attempt to more readily find an improvement in overall system performance. System performance is determined by the inverse of the required system execution time to complete all sub-tasks in a given meta-task. Although these prior search techniques may improve on system performance they may require an arbitrarily large execution time to realize any improvement in overall system performance. Additionally, they may require arbitrarily large compute resources to execute properly.
Related approaches include attempts to minimize task lateness in a hard, real-time system by beginning from an arbitrary starting place and performing a depth-first search with no backtracking. However, these approaches do not always find a feasible solution in a reasonable amount of time. A feasible solution refers to one that satisfies all of the system constraints and a reasonable amount of time refers to the amount of time determined to be the system time available for scheduling.
Accordingly, a need remains for a task mapping technique for independent tasks in a heterogeneous computing system that can be executed in reasonable time producing a feasible task mapping and schedule.

Method and system for task mapping to iteratively improve task assignment in a heterogeneous computing system


A rolling bearing which has excellent performance at high-temperatures and has high-speed durability and quietness, is capable of effectively preventing hydrogen brittleness-caused peeling from occurring on a rolling surface thereof, and has a low environmental load. The rolling bearing (1) is constructed of an inner ring (2) having a rolling surface on its peripheral surface, an outer ring (3) having a rolling surface on its inner peripheral surface, a plurality of rolling elements (4) disposed between both rolling surfaces, and a cage (5) retaining the rolling elements (4). The inner ring (2), the outer ring (3), the rolling elements (4) or the cage (5) are metal-made bearing members. Film-coating treatment is conducted on a sliding surface or a rolling surface of at least one of these metallic bearing members with plant-derived polyvalent alcohol compounds such as curcumin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolling bearing and particularly a rolling bearing of home electric appliances, industrial equipment, and the like used in a high-temperature and high-speed rotation. More particularly the present invention relates to a rolling bearing for a motor supporting a rotor thereof and a rolling bearing for electric parts and auxiliary machines of a car such as an alternator, an electromagnetic clutch for a car air conditioner, a fan coupling apparatus, an intermediate pulley, and an electromotive fan motor.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR§§1.97 and 1.98
The lubricating composition is packed inside rolling bearings to be incorporated in various industrial machines and vehicles to impart lubricity thereto. The lubricating composition is obtained by kneading base oil and a thickener, and an additive as necessary. As the base oil, synthetic lubricating oil such as mineral oil, ester oil, silicone oil, and ether oil is generally used. As the thickener, a metal soap such as lithium soap and urea-based compounds are generally used. As the additive, an antioxidant, a rust proof agent, a metal deactivator, a viscosity index improver, and the like are used as necessary. As the antioxidant, organic zinc compounds such as zinc alkyldithiophosphate and amine compounds such as alkylated diphenylamine are used singly or in combination.
In recent years, rolling bearings for use in home electric appliances and industrial equipment are used in a high-temperature and high-speed rotation and demanded to be excellent in quietness and durability at high temperatures and high speeds. As a lubricating composition such as grease which is excellent in the high-temperature durability, restrains abnormal noise when it is cold, and is excellent in a peeling resistance property at a high temperature and under a high load, a lubricating composition composed of base oil consisting of synthetic hydrocarbon oil and ester oil and a urea-based thickener added to the base oil is known (see patent documents 1 and 2).
As a lubricating composition having a long life until before seizing occurs in a high-temperature and high-speed rotation condition, a composition containing ester oil as its base oil and 3 to 30 wt % of a thickener essentially containing an aliphatic diurea compound (see patent document 3) is known.
A sliding member or a rolling member having a chemical reaction film layer of a compound having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 μm formed on the surface thereof by a chemical bond reaction of at least one kind selected from among an organic phosphorus compound, an organic sulfur compound, an organic chlorine compound, and an organic metal compound is known (see patent document 4). A metal material for a bearing having a film of a metal salt of a thiophosphorus acid formed on the surface thereof is also known (see patent document 5).
In recent years, there is a tendency for motors to be made smaller. A bearing supporting the rotor of a motor tends to be operated at a higher speed and under a higher surface pressure. Motors for home electric appliances and equipment for cars are required to be quiet. Motors for industrial machines are required to have high-temperature durability in addition to quietness. Conventionally the grease compositions as described in the patent documents 1 and 2 are mainly used to lubricate rolling bearings for these motors.
Because use conditions such as a high-speed rotation, a high surface pressure have become strict owing to the growing demands for downsizing and high performance, there arises a problem that a peculiar peeling phenomenon occurs with the rolling surface of the bearing turning into white in its texture. Unlike peeling which occurs inside the rolling surface owing to metal fatigue, the peculiar peeling phenomenon is a destructive phenomenon which occurs from the rolling surface at a comparatively shallow portion thereof with the rolling surface turning into white in its texture and is considered a hydrogen brittleness caused by hydrogen generated by the decomposition of grease.
As a method of preventing the peculiar peeling phenomenon which occurs in an early stage with the rolling surface turning into white in its texture, the method of adding the passivating agent to the grease composition (see patent document 6) and the method of adding the bismuth dithiocarbamate thereto are known (see patent document 7).
Owing to a recent growing demand for downsizing of vehicles, weight saving thereof, and the improvement of quietness, attempts are being made to manufacture smaller and more lightweight electric parts and auxiliary parts of a car and make the engine room airtight. On the other hand, there is a growing demand for a high output and a high efficiency for the performance of various apparatuses of the car. Thus the present tendency is to compensate the miniaturization-caused reduction of the output of the electric auxiliary machines of the car provided inside the engine room by rotating them at high speeds. As examples of rolling bearings for use in the electric auxiliary machines of the car, the outline of each of a rolling bearing for a fan coupling apparatus, a rolling bearing for an alternator, a rolling bearing for an idler pulley is described below.
In the fan coupling apparatus, a viscous fluid is sealed inside it. A housing having an air-feeding fan mounted on its peripheral surface is coupled to a rotor directly connected to the engine through a bearing. By utilizing the shear resistance of the viscous fluid which increases and decreases in response to an atmospheric temperature, the amount of a driving torque transmitted from the engine and the number of rotations of the fan are controlled. Thereby the fan coupling apparatus feeds optimum air corresponding to the temperature of the engine. Therefore the rolling bearing for use in the fan-coupling apparatus is demanded to have a high heat resistance, grease-sealing performance, and durability so that the rolling bearing withstands a high rotational speed change in the range from 1000 rpm to 10000 rpm in dependence on a fluctuation of the temperature of the engine and in addition withstands very strict environment in which it is driven in summer at a high speed not less than 10000 rpm at a high temperature not less than 180° C.
The alternator for use in a car receives the rotation of an engine and generates electricity, thus supplying an electric power to an electric load of the car and has a function of charging a battery. Therefore the rolling bearing for use in the alternator is demanded to have a high heat resistance, grease-sealing performance, and durability so that the rolling bearing withstands a very strict environment in which it is rotated at a high speed not less than 10000 rpm at a high temperature not less than 180° C.
The idler pulley of the car is used as a belt tensioner for the driving belt transmitting the rotation of the engine to electric auxiliary machines thereof. The idler pulley has the function of a pulley for imparting a tensile force to the driving belt when the distance between rotating shafts is fixed. The idler pulley has another function of an idler used to change the travel direction of the belt or avoiding interference of obstacles to reduce the volume inside the engine chamber. Therefore the rolling bearing for use in the idle pulley is demanded to have a high heat resistance, grease-sealing performance, and durability so that the rolling bearing withstands a very strict environment in which it is rotated at a high speed not less than 10000 rpm at a high temperature not less than 180° C.
A grease composition is mainly used to lubricate the rolling bearings for use in electric parts and auxiliary machines of the car. Because the use conditions such as a sudden acceleration/deceleration, high-temperature rotation, a high-speed rotation, and the like have become strict, similarly to the rolling bearing for the motor, there arises a problem that the peculiar peeling phenomenon occurs with the rolling surface of the bearing turning into white in its texture. In the rolling bearings, as a method of preventing the peculiar peeling phenomenon which occurs in an early stage with the rolling surface thereof turning into white in its texture, the method of adding the passivating agent to the grease composition (see patent document 6) and the method of adding the bismuth dithiocarbamate thereto are known (see patent document 7) as in the case of the rolling bearing for the motor.


Disclosed is a dynamic searching method including the steps of: extracting and storing index information of a stream receiving and storing an image source therein; extracting a shot change point from the index information; and performing a reproduction while varying a speed depending on a generation frequency of the shot change point.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dynamic searching method and a dynamic searching device, and more particularly, to a dynamic searching method, and a dynamic searching device of a storage medium in which a stored program is reproduced at a high speed while a wanted point can be searched in a large capacity storage unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as a multimedia is widely used, a demand for recording a variety of multimedia data of a mobile image, music, a still image and the like in a storage unit is increased.
Among the storage unit, tape media of a video tape, an audio tape and the like is mainly used, but a disc device such as a hard disc is recently increasingly used as a recording medium.
Currently, media such as a personal video recorder (PVR) having a large capacity digital storage unit such as the hard disc is generally used, and particularly, the PVR has an advantage in that reproduction can be repetitively performed without deterioration of a screen quality unlike a conventional VCR (video cassette recorder).
Further, as a technology develops, the storage unit tends to be in a large capacity, and a data compression rate is also increased to allow an image to be recorded into one storage unit up to several tens of hours.
Furthermore, the PVR has an advantage in that since access can be allowed to an arbitrary point on a characteristic of a digital device unlike the VCR, the reproduction can be not only performed at once for watching at a user's wanting point, but a reproduction function is performed at 50 to 100 times speed such that the wanted point can be easily searched for watching.
However, the above high speed reproducing function is merely to simply increase a reproduction speed to reduce a total searching time, and is not to facilitate to search the user's wanting point.
Accordingly, it is required to suggest a method and device for allowing the user's wanting point to be searched fast and easily.

Dynamic searching method and dynamic searching device of storage medium


The invention relates to of a process and related apparatus for conditioning a fibrous web in order to improve the efficiency of drying and calendering thereof. In the process, a moving fibrous web is conditioned after the drier unit of a papermaking machine by applying a flow of moistened gas through one or more arrays of radial jet reattachment nozzles placed in close proximity to the web surface prior to a calendering unit or prior to a steaming unit placed between the nozzles and the calender unit to cool the web and/or increase its moisture content. Webs treated according to the invention exhibit improved properties including less moisture streaking, enhanced smoothness and avoidance of optical property loss.

The conventional process of papermaking involves formation of a web of fibers on a papermaking machine using a moving porous formations support wherein water is drained from a dilute slurry of fibers deposited on the support with further water removal from the web in a press roll section and final removal of water in a dryer section of the machine. In a typical papermaking process, the fibrous web from the press roll section contains about 32 to 45 wt. % solids. The solids may include wood pulp and/or synthetic fibers along with various additives such as sizing agents, binders, fillers, pigments and the like. The wet web is then passed through a series of internally heated rolls or steam-filled cylinders in the dryer section where the web is dried to about 94% to about 99% solids content by weight. The number of drying cylinders in the dryer section is determined by the amount of water to be evaporated based on a typical evaporation rate of about 3 to about 5 pounds per hour per square foot of total dryer surface.
In the dryer section of the paper machine, water is removed from the web mainly by evaporation. Typically, the wet web is alternately contacted on its opposite sides in serpentine fashion with a series of heated co-rotating cylinders to heat the web to a temperature sufficient to evaporate water from the web to the desired dryness.
Once dried, the paper or paperboard is often further treated to improve various properties such as smoothness, gloss, wet strength and folding endurance. This further treatment may include adjusting the moisture content of the dried web, densification on high pressure rolls, calendering and/or heat-treating the product.
Various problems have persisted in the drying and calendering of paper webs on large, high-capacity paper machines. For example, drying and calendering of the products remains a high energy, capital intensive operation. Hence, the industry is challenged to develop newer and more energy efficient drying and calendering techniques. Such techniques include high-intensity drying methods where high temperatures and mechanical pressure is applied to the web during drying. Examples of currently used high-intensity drying techniques include press drying, impulse drying, and thermal/vacuum drying. However, the use of high temperature dryers and/or impulse dryers has led to additional problems such as delamination of multiply board products.
Furthermore, in the presently used drying and calendering processes, the paper may shrink in width by as much as 5 to 6% which can lead to a significant reduction in the overall production rate, and adversely affect product quality.
Accordingly, even with modern, state-of-the-art drying and calendering techniques, there remains a need to further improve the drying and calendering of paper and paperboard products to reduce energy costs and limit paper shrinkage without adversely affecting the physical properties of the finished product.
Uneven drying and streaking are other problems which have persisted in production of paper and paperboard webs. The weight and moisture irregularity of the fiber web before drying and calendering, irregularities in the heat transfer from the cylinders, edge effects and variations in the ventilation of the papermaking machine all tend to cause nonuniform drying in the cross-machine direction of the product. Such nonuniformity of drying can lead to further adverse effects on paper quality and increased waste.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,639 to Walker and U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,643 to Lindblad propose a solution to the problem of uneven drying across the width of the web by periodically spraying water on the web in selected areas across width of the web where low moisture or dry streaks have been detected. Because the water sprays are intermittent and used only when necessary to prevent streaks, such techniques do not effectively increase the drying rate of the web and can introduce nonuniformity in the web surface properties. These and other such approaches also present problems in that the spray nozzles can drip onto the web or otherwise tend to wet the paper in spots or unevenly, resulting in poor efficiency and surface discontinuities in the rewetting, drying and calendering steps, as well as other operational problems.
It is therefore an object of the invention is to improve the efficiency, uniformity and product quality of drying and/or calendering steps in a papermaking process.
A further object of the invention is to provide a more effective method for conditioning paper and paperboard products prior to rewetting the products.
Yet another object of the invention is to increase the drying efficiency of a papermaking process.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for conditioning a paper or paperboard product for calendering which reduces operational problems associated with prior methods, and improves surface finishing.
Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient means of cross-directional moisture profiling of a paper or paperboard product on a papermaking machine.

Method for conditioning paper and paperboard webs


A robot vision system provides images to a remote robot viewing station, using a single long wave infrared camera on-board the robot. An optical system, also on-board the robot, has mirrors that divide the camera's field of view so that the camera receives a stereoscopic image pair. An image processing unit at the viewing station receives image data from the camera and processes the image data to provide a stereoscopic image.

With the rising use of robots for various applications, the need exists for improved robot vision technology. Robot vision enables robots to be operated under a wide range of conditions and to have information that maximizes situational awareness. Robot vision is important for accurate and fast navigation through complex terrains, for better interpretation of the robot's surroundings, for rapid recognition of objects of interest, and for improved ability to interact with objects with manipulators or by other means.
For robot vision, a combination of cameras or other image detection equipment and vision algorithms are used. Robot vision systems can range from a simple guidance application to a more complex application that uses data from multiple sensors.
A common implementation of robot vision uses a single visible light video camera. Typically, a monoscopic image is displayed on a monitor viewed by the robot operator. There are a number of limitations to this approach. Because the video is monoscopic, it does not provide depth or shape information other than what can be gleaned for the relative position of objects in the image. Also, the quality of visible and near-infrared video varies significantly depending on illumination levels and direction. High sensitivity image intensifiers can improve video quality under low light conditions, but become saturated if an illumination source enters the field of view and may not even work in full sunlight. Onboard light sources can compensate for low lighting, but require more power, have limited range, and would reveal the robot's location in covert operations.

Robot vision with three dimensional thermal imaging


A zoom lens camera has a zoom switch which is operated to drive a zoom lens. A photometric device measures light from an object to drive an aperture in accordance with the result of the photometry that is conducted by the photometric device. The driving of the zoom lens and the driving of the aperture are controlled so that the driving of the zoom lens is temporarily suspended when an instruction is given to drive the aperture. After the aperture has been driven in accordance with the photometry result, the driving of the zoom lens is resumed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens camera having a power zoom function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic still cameras (i.e., still video camera), have appeared in recent years, the image of one frame (one or two fields) being recorded on one track of a magnetic disk. Accordingly, the magnetic disk is controlled so that it makes one revolution at the period of one field (1/60 sec. according to NTSC).
Since the magnetic disk, which serves as a recording medium, is rotated at such a high speed, a large number of frames can be shot in quick succession (i.e., continuous shooting mode), such as 1, 2 or 5 frames per second, for a desired period of time.
By combining this continuous shooting mode with zooming, a series of images which are gradually enlarged or reduced can be photographed.
In addition, it is possible to check a change in the image before it is actually photographed, by setting a monitor mode in which the image that is read out from an imaging device is displayed on a monitor.
It is noted that zooming causes the luminance to change in accordance with a change in the angle of view and therefore necessitates changing the aperture.
However conventional electronic still cameras suffer from the problem that when zooming is to be conducted, as described above, the aperture is controlled while the zoom lens is being moved, and consequently associated elements, i.e. the imaging circuit, recording circuit, aperture motor, tracking motor, spindle motor, etc. , are simultaneously activated, resulting in an increase in the peak current consumed.
Accordingly, the load on the power supply circuit increases and the rated capacity thereof must be increased, which results in an increase in the overall size of the camera and an increase in the manufacturing cost.


A system incorporating a robot to inspect ferrous surfaces. Preferably, the robot is an articulated device having a tractor module for motive power and steering, a power module for electrical power and communications and additional motive power, and a third module for cleaning and inspection. The robot uses sensors and generates and transmits signals to a computer through a tether and receives direction from an operator via the computer and tether. The computer continuously monitors the location of the robot and supports the robot during deployment. In a specific application, the robot travels the interior of a tank on a set of magnetized wheels. Prior to inspection, the tank surface is cleaned of deposits by rotary cutters and rotary brushes on the third module. The robot obtains thickness measurements via onboard ultrasonic transducers that contact the cleaned surface. A method for implementing inspection of ferrous surfaces is also described.

In recent years, many tanks used for the underground storage of liquids have been made of fiber reinforced synthetic resins, and so will not rust or otherwise degrade over time. Traditionally, storage tanks were made of steel, thus these tanks can corrode to the point of perforation. Once corrosion has caused perforation, tank contents leak into the ground and gradually leach into nearby underground aquifers. Replacement or repair of these tanks to correct the damage involves extensive effort and attendant expense. In the United States, approximately 700,000 underground storage tanks are estimated to be in service. Most store petrochemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) enforces regulations that protect against dangers inherent in defective underground storage tanks.
40 CFR §§ 280 et seq. requires that new underground storage tanks (USTs) meet stringent standards and that all existing USTs be certified to be within specified tolerances for leak resistance integrity. Certification of existing tanks requires that the tanks in current service be inspected to determine whether they meet the applicable federal standard. Traditional methods for inspection of USTs require access into the tank by a worker to visually assess the surface. For a person to enter a UST, sometimes a portion of the earth covering a tank must be excavated and the stored liquid removed. Excavation is laborious and even after the liquid removal potentially toxic residual fumes remain in the tank, especially-in tanks storing petrochemicals.
After an UST has been inspected and certified under 40 CFR §§280 et seq., a cathodic protection system may be required to reduce subsequent tank corrosion, extend tank life, and comply with updated Federal standards.
One example of a remotely controllable, self-propelled vehicle for inspecting the interior of USTs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,405 to Schempf et al. The '405 patent describes a mobile vehicle having endless drive tracks that are selectively magnetically actuated during travel on the inner surfaces of a UST. As its endless drive tracks are driven in one direction, a clutch is intermittently engaged to cause a hollow shaft to rotate to intermittently activate a magnetic circuit. The vehicle is capable of climbing a vertical wall and traveling in an inverted orientation in a ferrous structure by utilization of its magnetic tracks. It is able to enter and operate in a tank that is filled with liquid and carries a camera and an ultrasonic tester. The vehicle has its basic components enclosed in a hermetically sealed and pressurized compartments to prevent explosion of the stored liquid and to keep the liquid from seeping into the electrical and mechanical parts. It is able to communicate signals indicative of its findings to an external computer.
The '405 vehicle is equipped with acoustic means facilitating navigation within an enclosed structure containing a liquid. Calibration of the navigational system is necessary when operating in multiple fluid types since sound travels at different speeds in materials of different densities. While ultrasonic transducers used by the'405 vehicle facilitate measurement of wall thickness without determining a fixed point of reference, deployment of ultrasonic sensors alone to measure thickness to assess corrosive condition may be unreliable in an underground storage tank environment. Particular frequency readings may be affected by causes unrelated to wall thickness. For example, readings may be compromised by equipment operator produced sounds or vehicles traveling nearby. Another source of error may be unknown amounts of corrosive buildup on the tank surface. The'405 vehicle incorporates no means to remove accumulated rust or sediment before measuring wall thickness. Thus a need exists for a mobile device to travel within a liquid filled tank to measure and report actual tank wall thickness by performing the necessary tasks for making reliable measurements to include removing any corrosive buildup prior to measurement.
Further, a need exists for the remote inspection of ferrous structures other than underground storage tanks. These other structures include bridges, building frames, utility towers and the like. Select embodiments of the present invention address such applications.

System and method for accessing ferrous surfaces normally accessible only with special effort

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A method for coating a surface of a substrate may involve coating the surface of the substrate with a wet coating by way of a coating station, conveying the substrate by way of a conveying device, and detecting the surface coated with the wet coating by producing a thermal image of a detection region that comprises part of the surface. The thermal image may be recorded in a spectral range that includes a wavelength between 1 micrometer and 20 micrometers. Further, the detection region may be located directly downstream of the coating station, or the detection region may at least partially include the coating station.

Metal strips are usually coated, in order to be able to bring about desired functionalities, in particular on the surface of the metal strips. Depending on the type, nature and desired functionality of the surface, various methods of pretreatment are used. Common important desired aims of surface treatments are cleaning the surface to be coated, providing the surface with corrosion protection, optimum bonding conditions between the surface and the subsequent coating and also for example providing the surface with some other functional coating.
Increasing requirements for the metal strips, including with regard to their mechanical and thermal stability, for example during forming processes involving great deformation loading, require very high quality of the coatings with regard to their bonding on the treated surfaces. For this reason, it is required for example that pretreatment layers have a uniform and uninterrupted application, in order to ensure continuous and good bonding for subsequent coatings of the surface. Inspection of the coated surfaces is of great importance in this connection, to allow coating defects to be ruled out, or largely ruled out.
A known method for inspecting the quality of applied coatings, for example coatings applied by means of roller application, is analytics of the coated surfaces by means of infrared radiation for NIR analytics, NIR being the abbreviation for a wavelength range of the infrared radiation that is used. However, the measurements that are typically performed with such methods have the disadvantage that, with different coatings, great differences in the infrared spectra are obtained, whereby the evaluation of the infrared spectra requires great effort. A further disadvantage of NIR analytics is often that a measurement of individual points is performed, for example a traversing point measurement. This entails the disadvantage that uninterrupted monitoring of the coating is not possible. This measuring method is consequently inadequate for application areas in which surfaces without coating defects or largely without coating defects are required.
An example of a method for coating a metal strip is presented in WO 2009/112452. The method explained comprises recording IR-spectroscopic measurement data on the basis of Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Although continuous recording is possible during the coating of the metal strip, in the case of the method described it has proven to be disadvantageous on the one hand that there is a necessity inherent in the method for comparatively complex evaluation of the measured spectra, and on the other hand that the area coverage is limited by the chosen type of spectrometer.
A method for ascertaining defects in a surface of a moving material, in particular a metal strip, is disclosed by WO 2010/033113. The method explained comprises heating the metal strip with subsequent thermography. However, because of the required process of active heating, the method described is complex, and therefore does not allow uninterrupted checking of the surface quality of the coated surface, or only allows it with great effort.
Thus a need exists for a method for coating a surface of a metal strip where the method makes it possible for the surface quality of the coated surface to be checked uninterruptedly, preferably both with regard to the surface coverage and with regard to the time dimension.

Method for coating a surface of a metal strip and a metal strip-coating device


A stall for an animal comprises a substantially closed frame for surrounding the animal while feeding and a pivot arrangement for allowing the frame to be lifted out of the way when not in use. The stall is provided with a trough pivotally mounted on a support whereby the trough opening moves between positions which are accessible and inaccessible to the animal as the stall is moved from the use to the out of use positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feeding stall for restraining animals whilst feeding.
Feeding stalls are used for controlling animals when they are feeding side-by-side from, for example, a trough.
2. Description of the Related Art
One known stall comprises a pair of upright grids respectively positioned either side of the feeding animal and a rear gate which is liftable to allow the animal to enter or leave the device. The front of the apparatus may be closed by another grid or by a feed dispenser. Using a plurality of such stalls, several beasts may be positioned side by side for feeding. The stalls effectively prevent aggressive behaviour between the animals.
The aforementioned known apparatus takes up a significant amount of space which therefore cannot be used for the animals to rest together or to move about freely. Also, because the animals cannot turn around in the restraint, when the rear gate is lifted, they have to back out. This tends to make the animals fractious.


The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for fastening a gas generator (11) in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module. A fastening ring (12) provided for fastening the gas generator (11) has at least one elastic section (14) and at least one reinforcement insert (15) for reinforcing the fastening ring (12) and securing the fastening ring (12) to the gas generator. A surface of the reinforcement insert (15) is made at least in part of plastic.

The invention relates to an apparatus for fastening a gas generator in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module, to an airbag module, to a vehicle occupant safety system, to a method of manufacturing an apparatus for fastening a gas generator in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module as well as to a method of manufacturing an airbag module.
Apparatuses for fastening a gas generator in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module are known in which a fastening ring is provided which at the same time serves as a vibration absorber. Usually fastening rings of this type consist of a metal ring being insert-molded in silicone and crimped to the generator flange. Such solution is known, for example, from DE 10 2009 030 601 A1. Concretely, in DE 10 2009 030 601 A1 an annular reinforcement insert ("retaining member") is described which includes axially projecting extensions in the form of bent tongues which are embedded in a stop lip. The stop lip comprises plural circular segments made from silicone and arranged along the periphery of the retaining member. Further, fastening feet made from elastic material and being fastened to a generator support are injection-molded to the retaining member. Alternatively, in DE 10 2009 030 601 A1 it is also suggested for the stop lip to be integrally transformed into the respective fastening foot and thus to be integrally circumferential in a closed manner (i.e. equally forms a ring in which the retaining member is received).
It is a problem in this context that for safe adhesion of the elastic material (especially silicone) to the metal ring the latter has to be intricately cleaned and kept clean until over-molding. This is related with rather high expenses. Furthermore, the effort for manufacturing the fastening ring and for mounting an appropriate airbag module including such fastening ring is considered to be in need of improvement.

Apparatus for fastening a gas generator in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module


A multi-functional match cell is responsive to first and second n-bit operands and configured so that the match cell operates as an n-bit range match cell when the first and second n-bit operands are equivalent, as an n-bit NOR-type CAM cell when the second n-bit operand is masked and as an n-bit NAND-type CAM cell when the first n-bit operand is masked, where “n” is a positive integer greater than one.

Packet classification operations are frequently performed in high performance routers to determine how packets received at an input of a router are classified. This classification typically determines both an output port to which a packet should be sent and also determines what, if any, special handling the packet should receive. Typical packet classification operations utilize packet filters. Such filters may specify values of source and destination address fields of an IP header, a protocol field and source and destination port numbers, for example. Conventional packet classification operations have frequently utilized only a limited number of packet filters, which makes it possible to match every incoming packet against a predefined and ordered sequence of filters. Unfortunately, these conventional packet classification operations typically do not scale efficiently to systems having high packet processing rates and/or large packet filtering requirements.
Ternary content addressable memories (TCAMs) support packet processing operations by enabling comparisons to be performed in parallel between an applied search key (e.g., packet or field within a packet) and a plurality of stored data patterns (i.e., CAM entries), which are typically configured as a plurality of value and bit mask pairs within a corresponding plurality of TCAM cells. However, the typical drawbacks of TCAMs are relatively high power consumption and relatively inefficient representation of filters containing ranges to be matched. Such filters are typically handled by using multiple TCAM entries for each stored data pattern having at least one field therein that specifies a range to be matched. But, representing each data pattern using multiple TCAM entries can reduce the effective capacity of a TCAM by a factor of two or typically much greater than two in most applications. These shortcomings associated with TCAMs are more fully described in an article by Ed Spitznagel et al., entitled "Packet Classification Using Extended TCAMs," Proceedings of the 11th IEEE International Conference on Network Protocols (2003). As described in this article, one way to better handle filters when performing packet processing is to expand TCAM functionality to directly incorporate range check circuits within a TCAM core. These range check circuits are also described in a technical report by Ed Spitznagel, entitled "CMOS Implementation of a Range Check Circuit," Washington University, Report No. WUCSE-2004-39 (2004). In particular, this report describes storing lower and upper bounds for each range to be matched and using dedicated range check circuitry, which performs a comparison using a set of stages. Techniques for performing range matching are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,105 to Ott, entitled "Method and System for Range Matching;" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,317 to Sharma et al., entitled "Range Check Cell and a Method for The Use Thereof."

Packet processors having multi-functional range match cells therein


The present invention relates to compositions and methods of treating and diagnosing disorders characterized the by the presence of antigens associated with inflammatory diseases and/or cancer, and nucleotide sequences, including expressed sequence tags (ESTs), oligonucleotide probes, polypeptides, vectors and host cells expressing such antigens PRO301, PRO362 or PRO245.

The inflammatory response is complex and is mediated by a variety of signaling molecules produced locally by mast cells, nerve endings, platelets, leucocytes and complement activation. Certain of these signaling molecules cause the endothelial cell lining to become more porous and/or even to express selections which act as cell surface molecules which -recognize and attract leucocytes through specific carbohydrate recognition. Stronger leucocyte binding is mediated by integrins, which mediate leukocyte movement through the endothelium. Additional signaling molecules act as chemoattractants, causing the bound leucocytes to crawl towards the source of the attractant. Other signaling molecules produced in the course of an inflammatory response escape into the blood and stimulate the bone marrow to produce more leucocytes and release them into the blood stream.
Inflammation is typically initiated by an antigen, which can be virtually any molecule capable of initiating an immune response. Under normal physiological conditions these are foreign molecules, but molecules generated by the organism itself can serve as the catalyst as is known to occur in various disease states.
T-cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte culture or mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) is an established indication of the ability of a compound to stimulate the immune system. In an inflammatory response, the responding leucocytes can be neutrophilic, eosinophilic, monocytic or lymphocytic. Histological examination of the affected tissues provides evidence of an immune stimulating or inhibiting response. See Current Protocols in Immunology, ed. John E. Coligan, 1994, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to collectively describe gut disorders including both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease, both of which are classified as distinct disorders, but share common features and likely share pathology. The commonality of the diagnostic criteria can make it difficult to precisely determine which of the two disorders a patients has; however the type and location of the lesion in each are typically different. UC lesions are characteristically a superficial ulcer of the mucosa and appear in the colon, proximal to the rectum. CD lesions are characteristically extensive linear fissures, and can appear anywhere in the bowel, occasionally involving the stomach, esophagus and duodenum.
Conventional treatments for IBD usually involve the administration of antiinflammatory or immunosuppressive agents, such as sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, 6-mercaptopurine/azathoprine, or cyclosporine all of which only bring partial relief to the afflicted patient. However when antiinflammatory/immunosuppresive therapies fail, colectomies are the last line of defense. Surgery is required for about 30% of CD patients within the first year after diagnosis, with the likelihood for operative procedure increasing about 5% annually thereafter. Unfortunately, CD also has a high rate of reoccurrence as about 5% of patients require subsequent surgery after the initial year. UC patients further have a substantially increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Presumably this is due to the recurrent cycles of injury to the epithelium, followed by regrowth, which continually increases the risk of neoplastic transformation.
A recently discovered member of the immunoglobulin superfamily known as Junctional Adhesion Molecule (JAM) has been identified to be selectively concentrated at intercellular junctions of endothelial and epithelial cells of different origins. Martin-Padura, I. et al., J. Cell Biol. 142(1): 117-27 (1998). JAM is a type I integral membrane protein with two extracellular, intrachain disulfide loops of the V-type. JAM bears substantial homology to A33 antigen (FIG. 1 or FIG. 18). A monoclonal antibody directed to JAM was found to inhibit spontaneous and chemokine-induced monocyte transmigration through an endothelial cell monolayer in vitro. Martin-Padura, supra
It has been recently discovered that JAM expression is increased in the colon of CRF2-4 −/− mice with colitis. CRF 24 −/− (IL-10R subunit knockout mice) develop a spontaneous colitis mediated by lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Several of the animals also developed colon adenocarcinoma. As a result, it is foreseeable likely that the compounds of the invention are expressed in elevated levels in or otherwise associated with human diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, other inflammatory diseases of the gut as well as colorectal carcinoma.
The compounds of the invention also bear significant homology to A33 antigen, a known colorectal cancer-associated marker. The A33 antigen is expressed in more than 90% of primary or metastatic colon cancers as well as normal colon epithelium. In carcinomas originating from the colonic mucosa, the A33 antigen is expressed homogeneously in more than 95% of all cases. The A33 antigen, however, has not been detected in a wide range of other normal tissues, i.e., its expression appears to be organ specific. Therefore, the A33 antigen appears to play an important role in the induction of colorectal cancer.
Since colon cancer is a widespread disease, early diagnosis and treatment is an important medical goal. Diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer can be implemented using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific therefore having fluorescent, nuclear magnetic or radioactive tags. Radioactive gene, toxins and/or drug tagged mAbs can be used for treatment in situ with minimal patient description. mAbs can also be used to diagnose during the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. For example, when the serum levels of the A33 antigen are elevated in a patient, a drop of the levels after surgery would indicate the tumor resection was successful. On the other hand, a subsequent rise in serum A33 antigen levels after surgery would indicate that metastases of the original tumor may have formed or that new primary tumors may have appeared.
Such monoclonal antibodies can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with surgery and/or other chemotherapies. For example, preclinical analysis and localization studies in patients infected with colorectal carcinoma with a mAb to A33 are described in Welt et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 8: 1894-1906 (1990) and Welt et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 12: 1561-1571 (1994), while U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,827 and U.S. Ser. No. 424,991 (E.P. 199,141) are directed to the therapeutic administration of monoclonal antibodies, the latter of which relates to the application of anti-A33 mAb.

Compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases characterized by A-33 related antigens


A phased array antenna for providing a radiation pattern having at least one communication beam, includes a plurality of antenna elements, each with an antenna element signal having a phase relationship and an amplitude relationship to the other element signals; a digital signal processing arrangement providing a digital beamforming network; and an analog beamforming network arranged to reduce exposure of the digital signal processing arrangement to an interfering signal. Analog beamforming weights are selected to generate a null in the radiation pattern in a direction corresponding to the interfering signal.

It is often desired to generate multiple spot beams in commercial communication satellites. Multiple spot beams can be generated by using a multi-element antenna and beamforming the signals received or transmitted by the antenna.
By using digital beamforming techniques and applying complex digital weights to the antenna element signals for each communication frequency channel, a large number of narrow spot beams can be achieved. However, digital beamformers have a limited dynamic range. A typical dynamic range for a digital beamformer is around 50 dB. Because of the limited dynamic range, digital beamformers can be vulnerable to high power interfering signals when operating in receive mode. The dynamic range can be increased but at high costs. Moreover, a sufficiently strong interfering signal, directed at the communication satellite, can render the digital beamformer inoperative. Interfering signals with a high power can also saturate other digital signal processing components of the antenna.
It is known to partition elements of a multi-element antenna into a number of subarrays in order to reduce the number of beamforming control points in the digital beamforming network and thereby simplify the beamforming network.
The invention was made in this context.


A free jet of air is disturbed at a frequency that substantially matches natural turbulences in the free jet to increase the entrainment, mixing, and spreading of air by the free jet, for example in a room or other enclosure. The disturbances are created by pulsing the flow of air that creates the free jet at the desired frequency. Such pulsing of the flow of air can be accomplished by sequentially occluding and opening a duct that confines and directs the flow of air, such as by rotating a disk on an axis transverse to the flow of air in the duct.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) and more particularly to an apparatus and method for increasing entrainment, mixing and spreading of air directed into a room or other enclosure.
2. Description of the State of the Art
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are installed in modern buildings to enhance comfort. Those systems not only provide warm or cool air, as needed to maintain room temperature within desired ranges, but also supply fresh air to dilute and replace ambient room air that becomes depleted of oxygen due to human consumption, and that becomes polluted by human habitation and other sources, such as chemical release from carpets, paint, copy machines, and the like. Current standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) set in 1989 require a minimum fresh air ventilation rate of 7.1 liters/second/person (15 cfm/person) for general buildings and 9.4 liters/second/person (20 cfm/person) for office buildings.
Adequate exhausting of pollutants from a room or building is necessary and is accomplished by diluting the pollutants inside with fresh air from outside, while drawing some air out of the room through a return duct. To do so efficiently, the fresh air from outside must be properly distributed in the room to prevent a short circuit of the incoming air flowing directly to the return duct. Such short circuited air streams that flow directly from the fresh air inlet to the outlet or return duct without mixing adequately with the other air in the room cause stagnant air zones, relative discomfort, and inefficient use of energy. Consequently, it is necessary to achieve effective mixing of the incoming air with the ambient air to achieve good ventilation, exhaustion of pollutants, and effective distribution of heated or cooled air.
Introducing or injecting air into a room through a narrow, elongated nozzle or duct outlet to produce a substantially planar (narrow, elongated) jet of air into the room has been found to be a reasonably effective way to achieve mixing of the incoming air with the ambient air in a room by the process of air entrainment. Entrainment is a process of vortex generation, engulfment of ambient fluid, and turbulent transport and includes the dissipation of turbulent energy and momentum transfer from the interior of the jet. However, there is still a need for substantial further improvement.
There have been some apparatus and methods developed for controlling and enhancing the distribution of moving streams of air, in addition to the planar jet and air entrainment process described above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,846 issued to Bunn and U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,681 issued to Gore utilize rotating disks located in or near the nozzle outlet of a fresh air ducts to continuously deflect the flow direction of the jets. The Hinden patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,358 discloses a fixed mechanical apparatus for directing the flow of air through ducts. U.S. Pat. No. 681,215 issued to Goll discloses an apparatus for equalizing air flow in rooms or ducts caused by unequal pressure drops. Air is forced through conduits of somewhat equal path lengths resulting in equal pressure drops and more uniform flow distribution. The Ferris patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,212,468 discloses an adjustable disk that both deflects air and controls the flow rate by constricting the diffuser opening.
The above patents address the issue of poor air distribution by physically deflecting the air to continuously changing directions. A disadvantage of merely deflecting the air is that the fluid structure of the jet (other than being redirected), remains unaffected, thus the mixing and entrainment of the jet remains substantially unchanged. If entrainment could be increased, mixing would be enhanced and should lead to better room air distribution, enhanced dilution and removal of contaminants, and sufficiently low jet velocities to ensure occupant comfort.

Increasing jet entrainment, mixing and spreading