The disclosure is directed toward an optical transmission system comprising a primary path disposed between a first end and a second end. The primary path is configured to transmit optical signals between the first end and the second end. A secondary path is disposed between the first end and the second end. The secondary path is configured to transmit optical signals between the first end and the second end, e.g., in the event of a break in the primary path. A first variable ratio coupler is coupled to the primary path and the secondary path between the first end and the second end. The first variable ratio coupler is configured to adjust a coupling ratio between the primary path and the secondary path.

The present invention relates to protection of point-to-point unidirectional and bi-directional fiber-optic transmission lines, and particularly to replacement of commonly used optical switches with variable ratio couplers for the protection of the fiber-optic transmission lines and up to about 3 dB insertion loss improvements.
Currently, transmission systems employed in the cable television (CATV) industry provide two-way transmission of information (e.g., video, audio, multimedia and/or data) between a head end and a plurality of subscribers. The head end transmits the information destined for individual subscribers in optical format (i.e., downstream information) through one or more fiber optic links to one or more optical nodes. Each node converts the optically-formatted downstream information into electrical signals for distribution, typically via a coaxial cable plant having a tree and branch architecture, to individual subscribers. In addition to receiving the downstream information, each individual subscriber may generate information in the form of voice, video, data, or any combination thereof, destined for the head end. The subscriber-generated information (i.e., upstream information) is aggregated by the coaxial cable plant and passes to the node for conversion into an optical format for transmission to the head end.
CATV service providers and their subscribers are accustomed to high reliability service. One way in which high reliability service is achieved is by providing two optical paths between the head end and each optical node; a first serving as a primary optical path and a second serving as a secondary (or backup) optical path. An optical switch routes the optical information signals from the primary path to the secondary path in the event of an unanticipated failure in the primary path. The optical switches are often located in the head end and the optical nodes.
The optical switches generally employ an opto-mechanical switching component that switches between the primary path and the secondary path based on the electrical voltage that is applied. A portion of the optical signal in the primary and secondary paths is monitored and converted to an electrical voltage. The voltages are monitored and if a threshold condition is violated, indicating a failure in the primary path, the switch is activated so that traffic is transferred to the secondary path. However, the optical switch does not include any arrangement for switching back from the secondary path to the primary path after the primary path has been restored. Rather, an operator or technician must perform a manual power cycle to restart the optical switches in both the head end and the optical node so that the switches return to the primary path. Restoration in this manner can be difficult because the head end and the optical node may be located 50 to 100 kilometers apart. Also, there may be many such optical switches in both the head and the nodes, thus requiring the operator to take proper care to ensure that the correct combination of switches are power cycled so that there is no interference with traffic on the other paths.
The prior art solution to the above difficulty with responsive switching is to use automatic switches that provide protection based on detection of a change in power level in one of the two optical paths.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a unidirectional point-to-point prior art transmission system. An optical transmission system 10 is illustrated having a primary path 12 and a secondary path 14 adapted to receive signals transmitted via an optical path that may include, e.g., an Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) 11. A conventional 3 dB optical coupler 13 couples the transmitted signal to the paths 12, 14. An optical protection switch module 16 having a 1×2 configuration is operatively coupled to both the primary path 12 and the secondary path 14. The optical protection switch module 16 includes a primary port 18 coupled to the primary path 12 and a secondary port 20 coupled to the secondary path 14. The optical protection switch module 16 includes a switch element 22 coupled to both the primary port 18 and the secondary port 20 and configured to switch between one of the two ports 18 and 20 in order to maintain the optical transmission system 10 operable. A primary detector 24 is coupled to the primary port 18 and configured to perform basic power level detection of the primary path 12. A secondary detector 26 is coupled to the secondary port 20 and configured to perform basic power level detection of the secondary path 14. In the event of a break in the primary path 12, the primary detector 24 detects low power in the primary path 12. The switch element 22 of the optical protection switch module 16 actuates and switches from the primary path 12 to the secondary path 14. The optical protection switch module 16 functions to maintain the optical transmission system 10 by switching to the better path based on power level detection.
Although the optical protection switch module 16 is a useful means of protection for the optical transmission system 10, there are losses (e.g., 2 decibels (dB)) associated with the use of the optical protection switch module 16.
A prior art solution for the protection of a bi-directional point-to-point transmission system is illustrated in FIG. 2. A block diagram of a bi-directional point-to-point optical transmission system 30 is illustrated. The optical transmission system 30 includes a primary path 32 and a secondary path 34. The transmission system 30 has a first optical switch 36 coupled at a head end 38 of the transmission system 30 to both the primary path 32 and the secondary path 34. A second optical switch 40 is coupled to both the primary path 32 and the secondary path 34 at an optical node end 42. The first optical switch 36 includes a switch element 44, a primary directional coupler 46, a secondary directional coupler 48, a primary optical detector 50, and a secondary optical detector 52. A coupler 51 is provided to couple the input signal λ1 to primary path 32 when switch 44 is in the upper position. Coupler 51 also couples a portion of the return signal λ2 from path 32 to the primary optical detector 50. A coupler 53 couples the input signal λ1 to secondary path 34 when switch 44 is in the lower position. Coupler 53 also couples a portion of the return signal λ2 from path 34 to the secondary optical detector 52. The second optical switch 40 has a similar configuration, including a switch element 56, four couplers 58, 60, 61, 65 and two detectors 62, 64.
The first optical switch 36 utilizes the directional coupler 46 to couple the input signal λ1 to the primary path 32 or the directional coupler 48 to couple the input signal λ1 to the secondary path 34, depending on the position of switch 44. In the event that the secondary path 34 is in use to carry the input signal λ1 (switch 44 in lower position), a small portion of the input signal λ1 is coupled via path 54 and couplers 46, 51 to the primary path 32. In this way, optical detector 62 at the second optical switch 40 can be used to verify when the primary path 32 has been repaired after a break. If the signal λ1 is detected by the detector 62, then the primary path is successfully communicating the signal, and switch 44 can be switched back to the upper position to couple the full power of input signal λ1 to the primary path.
Similarly, directional coupler 60 of second optical switch 40 couples a small portion of the return signal λ2 to the primary path 32 (via directional coupler 58) for detection by optical detector 50 when the secondary path 34 is being used (switch 56 in lower position). If detector 50 detects the return signal λ2 in the primary path 32 when the switch 56 is in the lower position, this will indicate that the primary path is functioning, and switch 56 can be switched back to the upper position to couple the full power of the return signal λ2 to the primary path.
A break in the primary path 32 will be detected by the detectors 50, 62. In response to such a break, the switch elements 44, 56 are actuated and switch to the secondary path 34. The transmission of the optical signals is thereby maintained in the bi-directional optical transmission system 30. In response to the repair and restoration of the primary path 32, the switch elements 44, 56 are actuated to switch back to the primary path 32. The primary state of transmission is automatically restored without the need to power cycle at the head end 38 or at the optical node end 42.
The bi-directional point-to-point optical transmission system 30 is effective in preventing transmission failure in the event of a single break in the primary path 32. However, by employing two switches and four tap couplers, the system incurs significant link insertion losses (e.g., up to about 6 dB).
What is needed in the art is an optical transmission system that eliminates the losses of the prior art structure while maintaining system reliability.

Use of variable ratio couplers for network protection and recovery


Virtual smart cards (VSC) are generated by a VSC control program with each VSC addressable by a unique identifier (ID). Using the VSC control program, personalized VSC data is accessed via a secure channel using the ID and a password. A real smart card is personalized by a personalization program that reads data from the VSC. Personalization data contained in the VSC may be tested in an application environment before a personalized real smart card is available.

The present invention is related to a method and system for personalization of smart cards, especially when the collection and creation of the personalization data objects and the personalization of smart cards take place at different locations.
Increasing numbers of organizations which issue transaction cards to their users, customers, or employees require cards tailored to meet the requirements of their particular service or application. These organizations also want the cards to contain data about the cardholder. Existing transaction cards encode such data in a magnetic stripe on the back of the card but the amount of data that can be held by a magnetic stripe is limited. A new type of transaction card (so called smart cards) embeds a microprocessor computer chip in the plastic of the card to greatly increase the card""s data storage capacity. Additionally, sophisticated card applications specific to the card issuer can execute in certain varieties of the chips, and the chip may also contain a type of operating system.
Transaction cards with embedded chips are referred to in the industry as portable programmed data carriers, more commonly called xe2x80x9csmart cardsxe2x80x9d (the term, smart cardxe2x80x9d used in the present invention also covers any programmed data carrier used in any portable device, like handy, digital personal assistant etc., to securely hold subscriber specific information). The chip in a smart card is programmed with initialization and/or personalization data.
The initialization data comprises three major types of information: application data, security data, and printed data. The application data is common to all cards for a given card application and includes application program code and variables. The security data prevents fraudulent use of the card and is usually provided in the form of xe2x80x9csecure keysxe2x80x9d.
Smart cards are also programmed with information specific to an individual cardholder through a process called xe2x80x9cpersonalizationxe2x80x9d. The personalization information for a smart card is similar to the personalization information currently contained on non-smart cards, such as the cardholder""s name, account number, card expiration date, and so on. Because of its increased storage capacity, the chip in a smart card can contain additional data beyond the basic information on the standard transaction card including a graphical representation of the individual""s signature, data defining the types of service the cardholder is entitled to, and account limits for those services.
Personalization of a smart card normally requires that the card issuer collects the personalization data and prepares the personalization records in specific data files. The personalization records are in a format, that depends on the card personalization program, preferably used at the personalization side, e.g. by the card manufacturer.
Each personalization record for a smart card contains at least data objects concerning the smart card holder and additionally a smart card identifier (ID).
An example for a typical structure of a personalization record is as follows:
Smart card ID, surname, name, street, zip, city
Another part of the personalization data is the description on which address the data objects of each personalization record is written into the EEPROM of the smart card. This description is called personalization table.
An example of the personalization table is as follows:
The personalization table contains the smart card commands to personalize data objects on a specific address and additionally an index pointing to a column within the personalization record.
The personalization record and personalization table are sent to the personalization side on a tape, floppy disk or via network.
The personalization side transfers the personalization records using personalization table with the personalization program to the smart card. This is done by generating smart card type specific APDUs (Application Protocol Data Units) using personalization table and merging the respective data object. The APDUs are sent to the operating system of the smart card.
The personalization program must be configured for different card operating systems to communicate to different smart card types.
Thus for each set of card in mass production, a static file layout for the data objects to be personalized is given. Inside the static file, there are dedicated addresses where data objects are to placed.
To personalize data objects on a smart card, a static file layout for these data objects is given.
Changing objects, e.g. changing size of a data object to be personalized, require a change of the static file layout of the personalization program. This will generate effort by the smart card issuer because the personalization tables and personalization records must be changed, too.
Personalization of different data objects is difficult. Each set of cards have the same static file structure and requires the same file structure layout of the personalization program. No decentralized personalization is possible without the personalization program.
Personalization data cannot be tested in a real application environment.
In summary, a smart card issuing system must be tailored to meet the requirements of a specific card application that will be programmed on a specific type of smart card under the control of a specific card operating system and to format the data for the card to be compatible with a specific type of personalization
equipment chosen to issue the card. The entire issuing system must be re-configured whenever any one of these variables (issuer application, smart card/card operating system, and/or personalization equipment) is changed, increasing the time and cost incurred by the issuer of the card in delivering personalized smart cards to its customers.
Furthermore, the smart card issuing systems in use today utilize a proprietary approach developed by either the card manufacturer or the personalization equipment manufacturer. To encourage sales of their respective cards or equipment, each manufacturer develops a unique personalization solution for a particular card application, and each solution is specific to a particular card issuer.
These unique solutions are intended to optimize performance of the cards or equipment and thus do not permit a more inclusive, generalized personalization process that accepts any card operating system and/or work with any personalization equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,748 discloses a smart card personalization system which contains a database containing card issuer data format templates, card applications, card operating systems commands, and personalization equipment specification and provides a centralized interface of inputs and outputs to a card issuing process which dynamically adjusts to changes in the issuing process to easily permit a card issuer to change data formats, card applications, card operating systems and/or personalization equipment in the card issuing process. The system interfaces to any card issuer management system, manages transfer of cardholder data and card applications to the particular personalization equipment used, maintains statistics for real-time and off-line inquiries to support critical management and reporting functions. A disadvantage of such system is that personalized smart cards may only be tested in their application environment when the personalization of the smart card is already finished. Errors in the personalization process may require several insertions of the respective smart card into the reader and repeating the personalization process again. This may be very time consuming and expensive.
Furthermore data objects used within the personalization process are not concurrently provided by the smart issuer side to the personalization side with the result that the personalization process can take some time requiring several insertions of the smart card into the reader. This may be also very time consuming and expensive.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for personalization of smart cards avoiding disadvantages of the prior art personalization systems.
This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are laid down in the subclaims.
The present invention discloses a system and method for personalization of smart cards by using virtual smart cards (VSC) containing all data objects (card holder specific data objects) required to personalize real smart cards. The VSC is a software implemented version of a real smart card providing the equivalent functionality of a real smart card. The VSC is generated and used by a VSC control program handling the generation, the security and the read/write process of the VSC.
VSCs being generated by the VSC control program having a logical file structure comprising a public area, a private area, a secure key area, password area, and an unique identifier area. The data objects contained in the public area having no access restrictions, data objects placed into the private area are encrypted and can be accessed by using a password, and the data objects placed into secret key area are encrypted and only accessible by the VSC control program. Each VSC may be addressed by unique identifier (ID). Card holder specific data objects being preferably stored in the same format on a storage media, e.g. database, are transferred into the assigned area of the defined file structure of the VSC by using the VSC control program (personalized VSC). Thus, the personalized VSC as well as their assigned ID and passwords are accessible via the personalization side considering that the access of the IDs and the password is accomplished via a secure channel. At the personalization side, already pre-initialized real smart cards having the same defined logical file structure as their assigned VSCs are personalized by a personalization program reading the data objects of the VSCs and using smart card specific commands for writing the data objects into the EEPROM of the real smart card. An main advantage of the present invention is that the personalization data contained in the VSC may be tested in the application environment before personalized real smart card is already available. Changes to the data objects set can be done without amending the personalization program.

System and method for personalization of smart cards

International Business Machines Corporation


A device and method is provided for iterative inter-cell interference cancellation and channel equalization in the mobile communication system. A downlink receiver of a mobile communication system according to the present invention includes a channel estimator for estimating channel impulse response of a selected cell from channel signals of respective cells; an equalizer for equalizing the channel impulse response output by the channel estimator using an equalization coefficient; a despreader for generating a symbol observation value per code channel by despreading the output of the equalizer with a code of the selected cell; and a cell interference estimator for estimating a symbol signal power and noise power of a data code channel from the symbol observation value and generates the estimated MMSE as a chip level regeneration sample.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an equalization device and method of a mobile communication system and, in particular, to a device and method for iterative inter-cell interference cancellation and channel equalization in the mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a mobile terminal performs channel estimation for the serving cell and a predetermined number of interfering cells at a predetermined period (e.g. 512 Tc) in a mobile communication system. The mobile terminal calculates the equalization coefficient of the chip level equalizer for the serving cell with the channel estimation value of the serving cell and the recent channel estimation value of the interfering cell such that the chip level equalization coefficient is set as equalization filter coefficient. The equalizer performs chip level equalization operation with a predetermined number of samples input by an input sample buffer. After equalization, the serving cell performs descrambling and Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) code despreading on the signal to be transmitted.
Such a conventional equalizer mitigates the interference by applying the channel estimation information of the interfering cell to the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) chip equalization coefficient derivation process. That is, the conventional equalizer is used to mitigate rather than cancel the inter-cell interference completely and has a limit in the level of improvement of Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) and throughput.

Device and method for receiving downlink signal in wireless communication system


A mechanism is provided for run-time task-level dynamic energy management. An instruction address for a first instruction of the application is mapped to a portion of application code in the application in response to an application being marked for energy management. A monitoring of the hardware resource activities is done for the portion of the application code. A level of energy management is then implemented for the portion of the application code based on a value of the tick indicator, resource activities, and an intensity indicator.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for run-time task-level dynamic energy management.
Power optimization is directed to optimizing (reducing) power consumption of a digital design, such as that of an integrated circuit, while preserving functionality. That is, the increasing speed and complexity of today's integrated circuit designs implies a significant increase in the power consumption of very-large-scale integration (VLSI) chips. To meet this challenge, researchers have developed many different design techniques to reduce power.
One key feature that led to the success of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, or CMOS, technology is intrinsic low-power consumption. With CMOS technology, circuit designers and electronic design automation (EDA) tools are able to concentrate on maximizing circuit performance and minimizing circuit area. Another interesting feature of CMOS technology is its nice scaling properties, which has permitted a steady decrease in the feature size, allowing for more and more complex systems on a single chip, working at higher clock frequencies.
However, in light of the newest technologies, the increasing size of integrated circuits has contributed to the rise of power as a major design parameter. In fact, power consumption is regarded as the limiting factor in the continuing scaling of CMOS technology. To respond to this challenge, in the last decade or so, intensive research has been put into developing tools and techniques that address the problem of power optimization. But these techniques, system-wide and external, have often led to non-optimal results when deployed. That is, current power optimization techniques are currently blind to numerous aspects, such as applications and application workload.

Run-time task-level dynamic energy management

International Business Machines Corporation


Stamping of a layer (2) of package material, such as cardboard or plastics, for forming one or more bending edges may take place according to the invention by a method wherein a stamping tool (8), which is provided with preferably three ribs (9a, b, c), is pressed down into the layer (2) and thereby forms slots (11a, b, c) in the bending edge in one working cycle. The stamping may take place very precisely, and since the stamping is carried out in one working cycle, an uprecedentedly high production rate may be achieved. Since the stamping tool does not need a lower tool part, but merely a support (10), the stamping may be performed simultaneously with the punching in one and the same working cycle.

The invention relates to a method of stamping a bending edge in a layer of package material, such as cardboard or plastics, for use in the manufacture of a box or the like, formed with bends, by means of a stamping tool which is pressed down for forming the bending edge, as well as to a tool for performing the method.
In principle, package boxes are made by punching a cardboard workpiece in a punching tool. This workpiece is dimensioned such that by folding it can form the finished box.
To ensure a predetermined position of the bending edge, the workpiece is stamped to form a downwardly pressed bending edge in the bending line in a stamping tool. This is normally a working process which takes place at the same time as the punching of the cardboard workpiece.
Normally, this stamping takes place by means of a tool having a rib and cooperating lower part having a groove in which the downwardly pressed cardboard material and the rib may be received.
This method therefore requires a high degree of precision of the tool as well as of the machine, since the tool parts must be arranged and controlled very precisely in order to make the completely uniform slot at the right location in the cardboard workpiece.
Since, as mentioned, the stamping normally takes place at the same time as the actual punching of the workpiece, there are physical limits as to how far the stamping can proceed toward the end where the punching takes place. The reason is that the tool does not allow a procedure that permits full extension of the stamping tool since there is simply no room for the punching tool. Therefore, the stamped slot cannot extend in the full extent of the bending line but must stop a distance before the end edge at the cutting.
The only way of solving this will be to stamp in an independent working process, but since this is both an uneconomic and inaccurate way of production, this is normally not possible in practice.
The stamped slot itself, which consists of a downwardly pressed slot, forms a longitudinally extending bead on the lower side. When the workpiece is to be folded or bent, this normally takes place over the bead, which will thereby constitute an internally extending thickening in the bending line, while the outer side is formed by the bottom of the slot.
The actual folding or bending takes place over the downwardly pressed material part and will not be perfectly sharp in case of thick cardboard. This is caused partly by the width of the slot and partly by the different fiber direction that results in various tensile stresses in the edge area. In addition to this there are the problems involved by the circumstance that the slot does not extend right out to the end, so that in these areas the bending takes place entirely without stamping. All in all, this results in a disuniform external edge.
A further consideration is the tensile impact to which the cardboard is subjected by the bending, and which is so great that the cardboard has to be dimensioned to be able to accommodate this tensile stress. Therefore, the load is frequently the parameter according to which the entire cardboard must be dimensioned.
The specification of EP 0 189 909 A2 discloses an apparatus for stamping one or more slots in a layer by means of one or more balls or rolls which are advanced across the cardboard to form the slot. The advancement takes place by means of a programmable control of a carriage having a holder in which the stamping tool is mounted, said parts being movable in the x- and y-directions of the cardboard.
The stamping thus takes place in a progressing movement in the track of the bending line. This is a slow method which has been developed for the stamping of individual pieces. Therefore, this method cannot be used for a rational production of workpieces, since the apparatus can only stamp individual workpieces by a progressing downward pressing of the slot.

Method for stamping a bending edge in a package material


A portable stick-type vacuum cleaner includes an elongated housing and a substantially triangular nozzle which is selectively securable to the housing. The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a bottom surface and a top surface. A V-shaped suction opening is located on the bottom surface of the nozzle body. The nozzle body also has a plurality of casters located on its bottom surface. An air outlet member is in fluid connection with the suction opening. The air outlet member includes a sleeve pivotally mounted to the top surface of the nozzle body and a coupling for selective fluid connection with the housing. The coupling is rotatably mounted on the sleeve. A motor is mounted in the housing for effecting a suction of air through the nozzle.

The invention relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, the present invention relates to small portable lightweight vacuum cleaners adapted to be hand carried.
The invention is particularly adapted for use with an elongated stick-type or broom-type vacuum cleaner. However, it should be appreciated by those of average skill in the art that the invention could also be utilized on a variety of other types of vacuum cleaner products.
Elongated stick or broom-type vacuum cleaners generally comprise an upstanding dust collecting assembly having a nozzle mounted on the lower end thereof. The nozzle generally comprises a housing which is rotatable in relation to the dust collecting assembly so that the dust collecting assembly can be manipulated relative to the nozzle. In this way, the nozzle can be moved under or around furniture in confined spaces and the like.
The ease of manipulation and maneuverability afforded by stick type vacuum cleaners has resulted in widespread use of such products. However, with conventional stick type vacuum cleaners, certain problems were faced either from the standpoint of efficiency in cleaning or from the standpoint of expense of manufacture. One problem has been that the nozzles of such stick vacuums could not successfully clean corners. Another problem has been the difficulty of pushing the nozzle back and forth on a carpeted surface.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved stick type vacuum cleaner which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.


The application discloses a device that determines how much material is dispensed from a container by measuring the angle at which the container is tilted. The device includes an accelerometer for measuring an angle by which the container is tilted, and an electronic component for transmitting data based on the angle measured by the accelerometer. In some embodiments, the accelerometer measures the angle by which the container is tilted at a multiple different times.

Liquids, gels, powders and solids are dispensed from containers in various industries for retail, commercial and industrial use. The measurement and centralized tracking of the amounts of materials dispensed is important to a business to control costs, ensure quality control, monitor employee performance, manage inventories, and ensure revenue.
Examples of materials that need to be measured and tracked include liquor, wine, beer, coffee, juices and premixed drinks in the hospitality industry, oil, fluids, materials used in industrial and machine environments, and liquids required in the creation of solutions in the medical and veterinary environments.
In some of the commercial uses of liquids, gels, powders, and solids, dispensing devices use various methods to control or portion the quantities of materials dispensed. In some cases, the amount of materials to be dispensed is not predetermined and is variable based on the arbitrary actions of a human operator or randomly or variably dispensed by a machine.
Therefore, a need exists for better methods and processes for monitoring, measuring, and tracking the dispensing of random and/or variable quantities of a liquid, gel, powder, or solid, and storing that information for various business purposes.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for measuring the amount of material dispensed from a container using an accelerometer


A remote operation system includes responders that detect the pressure of tires of a vehicle, an interrogator that is provided in a main body of the vehicle and communicates with the responders so as to process pressure data, a plurality of antennas that are provided in the vicinities of the tires, respectively, and are connected to the interrogator, and a portable transmitter for a remote operation that communicates with the interrogator and unlocks the doors of the vehicle. The interrogator has a reception intensity detector that detects an intensity of a received signal from the transmitter received by each antenna. When each antenna receives an unlock signal to be transmitted from the transmitter, a door closest to one of the antennas which receives a signal having the highest reception intensity is unlocked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote operation system for unlocking the doors of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 4, a remote operation system according to the related art has a portable transmitter 1, and a receiver 3 and a moving mechanism 4 mounted on a vehicle 2. When an automatic operation mode button C of the transmitter 1 is pressed, a signal is periodically outputted from the transmitter 1. When the transmitter 1 enters an automatic operation mode region, the receiver 3 receives the signal, and then the doors of the vehicle 2 are unlocked. Further, when the transmitter 1 is moved outside the automatic operation mode region, the receiver 3 does not receive the signal periodically outputted from the transmitter 1, and thus the doors are locked.
Here, one or several signals to be transmitted first when the instruction button C is pressed have high output intensity. Accordingly, even when the instruction button C of the transmitter 1 is pressed at a position outside the automatic operation mode region, the signal to be transmitted first is received by the receiver 3, and thus the receiver 3 enters a state capable of receiving the automatic operation mode. Then, when the transmitted signal is not received by the receiver 3, the door lock operation is performed (for example, see JP-A-5-153664 (FIG. 1)).
Since the receiver does not have a function of discriminating the position of the transmitter, when the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter, all doors are unlocked. For this reason, the door of the vehicle on a side where a person is not riding is also unlocked, which causes a problem in security.

Remote operation system with enhanced door lock security of vehicle


A fault inspection system for the rotary machine is disclosed in which the rotational speed or a physical quantity related thereto of the rotary machine drive with changing rotational speeds is detected as a first detection signal, and the sound pressure or mechanical vibration from the rotary machine as a second signal. A reference line representing the relationship between the values of the first and second detection signals is determined on the basis of the same values. A fault of the rotary machine is detected on the basis of a third detection signal associated with an area corresponding to the region where the first or second detection signal exceeds the reference line.

The present invention relates to a fault inspection system for inspecting an abnormal noise of a vehicle generator or the like.
A conventional fault inspection system of this type has been disclosed, in which the rotational speed of a rotary machine as a product to be inspected is changed in stages for frequency analysis. On the basis of the result of the frequency analysis, a frequency component corresponding to any abnormal noise of the rotary machine is detected to inspect an abnormality of the rotary machine. (See JP-A-59-97017, for example).
In the conventional inspection systems Configured as above, in which the rotational speed is changed and fixed in multiple stages, the inspection is both complicated and time consuming. As an improvement over these conventional systems, an idea may be suggested that the rotational speed of a rotary machine is changed continuously, a frequency component corresponding to an abnormal noise which may be generated from the rotary machine is extracted by way of a filter, and the level of the abnormal noise is inspected on the basis of such factors as a peak value, an impulse value and the average value of the extracted frequency component. In view of the fact that the sound pressure level of an abnormal noise is subject to change with the rotational speed, however, the detection sensitivity against the abnormal noise of the rotary machine is not satisfactory, resulting in a low detection accuracy.

Fault inspection system for rotary machines


An extracorporeal ultra-high-speed ultrasound hyperthermia treatment method consisting in transmitting and focussing on the tumor ultrasound wave trains at frequencies between 0.5 and 10 MHz with peak electric powers which may reach 20 Kw or more, the parameters which define the concentration of the treatment beam in the focal spot and the power being determined so that, irrespective of the depth and the nature of the tissue, the treatment time is in the order of that enabling significant destruction, preferably total destruction, of the target during the linear part of a curve showing the temperature increase as a function of time.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns an ultra-high-speed extracorporeal ultrasound hyperthermia method and treatment device.
2. Description of the prior art
It is known, in particular from RE 33,590, to use a focussed ultrasound beam to cause extremely localized heating of biological tissue in order to destroy tumors. The beam is transmitted in the form of periodic wave trains having a predetermined frequency peak power and duration.
In the device described in the patent referred to above, the beam high frequency ranges between 0.5 and 5 MHz, for example, the lower frequencies being used to destroy the deeper structures within the body and the electric peak power which excites the transducer is comparatively low (10 to 100 watts, the higher powers being used to destroy the deeper structures).
These wave trains, the duration of each of which is about 1 second, are separated by intervals of about 1/10 second during which it is possible to carry out real time (usually type B) ultrasound scanning to relocate the focus relative to the target (which is affected by natural movements of the tissues caused by breathing) or to examine the damage sustained by the tissues in the treated area.
With the power level and frequencies employed--which depend on the depth of the target area--the target temperature is increased to approximately 45.degree. C., a temperature which is sufficiently high in principle to destroy malignant cells. It has been thought previously that an excessive increase in the temperature of the target area could cause serious burns in the surrounding area as the result of thermal diffusion.
As a result, treatment times are relatively long, possibly several tens of minutes or even several hours.
The invention is based on the discovery that increasing the peak power of the waves used by a factor of 10 to 200 or more, depending on the depth and the absorbing power of the target area, makes it possible, by causing an ultra-high-speed temperature rise, to significantly reduce the effects of thermal diffusion and to destroy the target area in time periods in the order of one second or less.

Ultra-high-speed extracorporeal ultrasound hyperthermia treatment method


An optoelectronic semiconductor chip (12) is disclosed comprising a thin-film semiconductor body (8), which comprises a semiconductor layer sequence (2, 20) having an active region (3) suitable for generating radiation, and comprising a carrier layer (7), which is formed on the semiconductor layer sequence and carries the thin-film semiconductor body.

In order to fix a prefabricated semiconductor body of the semiconductor chip on a separate carrier body prefabricated separately from the semiconductor body, complicated process steps for fixing the carrier body, for instance adhesive bonding or soldering of the carrier body onto the semiconductor body, are often required during the production of the chip.

Optoelectronic semiconductor chip and method for producing it


An optical apparatus of an optical pickup including a semiconductor laser, a collimate lens to obtain a parallel light from a laser beam emitted from said semiconductor laser, an objective for collecting on a recording surface of an optical disk the parallel light obtained through the collimate lens, and a light receiving element for detecting a reflection light reflected on the recording surface of the optical disk wherein a numeric aperture NA of said collimate lens is set as 0.14<NA<0.2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup for use with a compact disk player, a video disk player, or an optical disk memory apparatus, and in particular, to an optical apparatus capable of preventing a crosstalk between adjacent tracks on a recording surface of a disk without using an apodized filter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of elements in an optical apparatus of an optical pickup for a conventional video disk player.
A laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser 1 passes through a polarized beam splitter 2 and then travels through a collimate lens 3 to be collimated to a parallel light, which is then collected by an objective 5 so as to form a fine spot on a recording surface Da of an optical disk D. A diffraction grid 7 is disposed in a light path of the laser beam so as to attain three spots associated with the laser beam on the recording surface Da of the optical disk D. A reflection beam reflected from the optical disk D passes through a 1/4 wavelength plate 4 and then is reflected by the polarized beam splitter 2 to a direction having a right angle with respect to the incident direction of the laser beam; thereafter, the resultant beam passes through a light receiving lens 9 and is then detected by a light receiving element 6 such as a photodiode. The light receiving element 6 reads an RF signal recorded in a form of pits on the recording surface Da of the optical disk D.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 8 indicates an apodized filter, which is integrally structured with a diffraction grid 7. The apodized filter 8 includes a transparent plate 8a at a central portion thereof, the plate 8a being transparent with respect to the beam and a semi-transparent plates 8b respectively disposed on both sides of the transparent plate 8a.
FIG. 7A shows a distribution of the amount of light of a laser beam incident to the objective 5 in a case where the apodized filter 8 is not provided; whereas FIG. 8A is a graph depicting a distribution of the amount of light of a laser beam incident to the objective 5 in a case where the apodized filter 8 is provided. In addition, FIG. 7B shows a distribution of the amount of light of a beam spot formed on the recording surface Da of the optical disk in a case where the apodized filter B is not provided: whereas FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating a distribution of the amount of light of a beam spot formed on the recording surface Da of the optical disk in a case where the apodized filter 8 is provided When the apodized filter 8 is not disposed, due to the diffraction phenomenon of the beam passed through the diffraction grid 7, a spot K.sub.1 is formed around a main spot K.sub.0 of the beam due to the primary diffraction as shown in FIG. 7B. Consequently, when the main spot K.sub.0 is scanning a track T.sub.2, there possibly occurs a case where the spot K.sub.1 associated with the primary diffraction covers pits of the adjacent tracks T.sub.1 and T.sub.3 respectively disposed on the right and left. In an apparatus such as a video disk player, since information is recorded in a form of analog signals, when the spot K.sub.1 associated with the primary diffraction covers the adjacent tracks T.sub.1 and T.sub.3, a crosstalk possibly occurs and the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio is deteriorated in reproduction of the RF signal; consequently, there arises a phenomenon such as an occurrence of a noise in the screen.
When using the apodized filter 8, as shown in FIG. 6, the quasi-transparent plates 8b (with transmittivity of 50%, for example) restricts the light amount in the both sides of the effective portion 10 of the laser beam; consequently, as shown in FIG. 8A, of the laser beam incident to the objective 5, the amount of light on the right and left sides thereof is reduced. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the beam spot associated with the primary diffraction is prevented from being formed in the beam spot attained on the recording surface Da of the optical disk D.
However, in the conventional optical apparatus of FIG. 5, when an apodized filter 8 is disposed as means to lower the intensity level of the spot due to the primary diffraction, the number of parts constituting the optical section is increased by the elements of the apodized filter 8 and hence the cost is increased.
Moreover, when the apodized filter 8 is employed, the numerical aperture of the objective 5 is substantially varied because of the quasi-transparent plates 8b; as a result, the diameter of the spot .phi. of FIG. 8B is increased and the intensity level of the spot is lowered. The decrease in the intensity level of the spot causes lowering of the detection level of the light receiving element 6, and the increase in the spot diameter .phi. lowers the degree of modulation.
Furthermore, the utilization of the apodized lens leads to an increase of the aberration associated with the quasi-transparent plates 8b.


A method of controlling the operation of a heat exchanger with evaporative and non-evaporative sections. The method includes the following steps: providing desired values of temperature or pressure; comparing present values of temperature or pressure to the desired values of temperature and pressure; and manipulating an air flowrate to the heat exchanger and load to the evaporative heat exchanger to optimize total energy and water costs while maintaining an outlet fluid at the desired temperature or pressure.

The present invention relates to heat exchangers and, more particularly, to combine evaporative and non-evaporative heat exchangers. The evaporative section of the heat exchanger may have both a direct and indirect portion.
Waste heat from industrial processes such as condensers or heat exchangers may itself be released to the atmosphere by non-evaporative or so called dry heat exchangers. In such non-evaporative heat exchanger and air stream is in indirect contact with a process fluid stream. In a close system, the process fluid stream is enclosed so that there is no direct contact between the air stream and the process fluid stream. The enclosing structure is usually a coil of tubes. Heat is exchanged as an air stream is passed over the coil structure enclosing the process fluid stream.
Waste heat may also be rejected to the atmosphere by evaporative heat exchangers which offer significant process efficiency improvements over non-evaporative heat exchangers. One type of evaporative heat exchanger is a direct evaporative direct heat exchanger. In a direct evaporative heat exchanger, an air stream is in contact with an process fluid stream. The process fluid stream is usually water and the two streams come into direct contact with each other.
Another type of evaporative heat exchanger is an indirect close circuit evaporative heat exchanger wherein an air stream passes over an enclosed process fluid stream while an evaporative liquid also passes over the enclosed process fluid stream. The enclosed fluid exchanges heat with the evaporative liquid through indirect heat transfer, since it does not directly contact the evaporative liquid and then the air stream.
Such combined evaporative and non-evaporative heat exchangers consume energy in the form of electricity for fan and pump operation and water during the process of rejecting heat. It is desirable to operate such combined evaporative and non-evaporative heat exchangers in an efficient matter to minimize the combined consumption of energy and water. Heat rejection equipment must be selected for the maximum heat loaded summer peak air temperatures. In combined evaporative and non-evaporative heat exchangers, it is desirable to operate such heat exchangers as efficiently as possible. To date, control mechanisms for such operation have not addressed both energy savings and water savings.


An ultrasonic osteotome in accordance with the present invention comprises a shaft having a distal end portion with a lateral outer surface and further comprises a cutting blade connected to the distal end portion of the shaft at least in part at the lateral outer surface. The lateral outer surface extends so far on opposite sides of the blade as to block or stop penetration of the shaft into an incision formed in bone tissue by the blade. The blade can include a cutting notch or have a variable cutting depth depending on the angle of the distal end of the instrument to the surface of a target tissue mass.

This invention also pertains to an ultrasonic surgical blade utilizable for incising bone.
In the field of orthopedics, the cutting of living bone is a prerequisite for many procedures. Such procedures include the reconstruction of damaged tissue structures due to accidents, the grafting of healthy bone into areas damaged by disease, or the correction of congenital facial abnormalities like a receding chin line. Over several centuries, these tasks were performed through the utilization of devices called bone saws.
Traditional bone saws are categorized into several basic categories. Hand powered saws or drills are just that, hand held devices which require the operator to move the device in a fashion similar to that used for carpentry tools. Powered devices, whether electric or pneumatic, are of either the reciprocating or rotary type. The reciprocating devices use a flat, sword like blade where the back and forth motion is provided by a motor instead of the hand. The rotary devices use a rotating motor to spin a drill bit or a blade which has teeth arranged around its circumference similar to a table saw blade. All of these traditional bone saws are used today in medical procedures around the world.
While traditional saws are functional, they have many disadvantages. With either the band or reciprocating saws, for instance, it is not easy to initiate and direct a cut. A cut must start from an edge or, alternatively, a starting hole must be used. To create a starting hole, a drill or similar instrument is operated to bore into the bone. Subsequently, a cutting blade is inserted into the bored hole. The user can then proceed to cut. Alternatively, a rotary type blade may be used. However, when a rotary blade is used, the cut must follow a relatively straight path to prevent the blade from binding in the cut. With all blades the ability to create a curved or compound angle cut is extremely limited by the blade chosen. The relatively thick blades have a wide kerf; so that a significant thickness of the viable bone is lost in the cutting procedure. Physicians would like this width to be as thin as possible in most procedures where reconstruction is necessary.
Over the past 30 years, several ultrasonic tools have been invented which can be used to ablate or cut tissue in surgery. Wuchinich et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,676 and Idemoto et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,102 disclose such devices.
Ultrasonic surgical devices generally fall into two categories. One is a blunt tip hollow probe that vibrates at frequencies between 20 kc and 100 kc, with amplitudes up to 300 microns or more. Such devices ablate tissue by either producing cavitation bubbles which implode and disrupt cells, tissue compression and relaxation stresses (sometimes called the jackhammer effect) or by other forces such as microstreaming of bubbles in the tissue matrix. The effect is that the tissue becomes liquefied and separated. It then becomes emulsified with the irrigant solution. The resulting emulsion is then aspirated from the site. Bulk excision of tissue is possible by applying the energy around and under unwanted tumors to separate it from the surrounding structure. The surgeon can then lift the tissue out using common tools such as forceps.
A second kind of ultrasonic device uses a flat blade instead of a blunt hollow probe. Here a cutting action takes place. Such a flat ultrasonic blade is the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,379,371 and 6,443,969. As disclosed therein, the blade shape is semicircular at the distal portion with two straight sides parallel to the longitudinal axis and extending back to the shoulder that contacts the vibrating probe. Male threads are shown which mate with the female threaded socket of the probe (or transducer) to allow tight intimate contact of the probe and blade tip shoulder. When the two are torqued together, they form a single resonant body that will vibrate in sympathy with the transducer and generator combination. The distal end of the blade will vibrate with an amplitude set by the mechanical gain of the probe/tip geometry and the input amplitude provided by the transducer generator combination. This motion provided the cutting action for the tissue in question.
The blade of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,379,371 and 6,443,969 was intended for the cutting or excising of bone or similarly hard tissue in surgical applications. In tests conducted in vitro and in vivo, it was noted that the blade, when sharp, cut both hard and soft tissue with similar ease. In delicate operations, such as sinus lift surgery or craniotomies where the goal is to cut an aperture in the front of the skull to expose sinus tissue or brain but not cut the membrane directly beneath the bony structure, this is very important. It is also important in spinal and brain surgery where bone tissue must be cut with a minimum of damage to underlying soft tissues such as the dura mater. It was noted in early in vitro testing that the blade, as it plunged through the cortex of the bone punctured the membrane or ripped it. After some experience, competent surgeons were able to master the technique, but the learning curve was steep.
In certain applications, such as sinus cavity lifts and maxillofacial surgery such as third molar extraction, a tool would be useful which could cut the harder bony material with less trauma while sparing the soft tissues underneath.


An method for storing and retrieving data in memory includes receiving the address of a first memory location in the data memory storing a first portion of the data and obtaining, from a location in a link memory specified by the address of the first memory location, a second address of a second memory location in the data memory storing a second portion of the data. The method also includes retrieving the first and second portions of the data in the first and second memory locations in the data memory.

This invention relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to a method and system for storing data in memory.
Telecommunications is becoming increasingly important in today""s society. The increased use of the Internet allows people to communicate data between home or business to remote locations. One format for communicating data is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) format. Many other formats also exist.
Among other criteria, when communicating information according to ATM, cells of data of a specified size are transmitted from one location to another. Often times the cells are stored in memory at an intermediate location before being transferred to the desired destination. An example of such a procedure is the use of an ATM switch at a telecommunications central office for switching data originating from a user""s home over the Internet to an appropriate destination over an Internet backbone. Such cells are often stored in a sequential manner such that data that are received first by the memory are distributed first. To effect such sequential transmission, queues are formed that designate which cells are transferred first. In some implementations, a queue exists for each destination.
Linked lists are used in some systems that store queues of ATM cells to facilitate such sequential transmissions. Traditionally, a linked list includes two entries. A first entry in the linked list specifies a corresponding memory location in data memory in which the corresponding data cell is stored. The second entry in the linked list stores the address of the next memory location in the linked list.
A problem with such an approach is that memory is required to store these addresses in the linked list. Additionally, reading and writing the addresses stored in the linked list contribute to switch latency.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a method and system for storing data. The present invention provides a method and system for storing and retrieving data that addresses disadvantages of prior systems and methods.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for retrieving data stored in a plurality of memory locations in data memory includes receiving the address of a first memory location in the data memory storing a first portion of the data and obtaining, from a location in a link memory specified by the address of the first memory location, a second address of a second memory location in the data memory storing a second portion of the data. The method also includes retrieving the first and second portions of the data in the first and second memory locations in the data memory.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for storing data in a plurality of memory locations in data memory includes storing a first portion of the data in a memory location in data memory having a first address and storing a second address in a memory location in link memory specified by the first address. The method also includes storing a second portion of the data in a memory location in data memory having the second address.
Some embodiments of the invention provide numerous technical advantages. Other embodiments may realize some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to one embodiment, a memory system is provided with reduced memory requirements. Such a system allows storing of data indexed by a linked list that does not require additional memory to designate the address of the location in data memory in which the data is stored. Additionally, in some embodiments, such an approach reduces the amount of logic needed to control the data memory. Furthermore, the number of pins required may be reduced by implementing such a linked list. Because the address in data memory in which a desired portion of data is stored does not need to be read from a linked list, reading and writing data may occur more rapidly. This reduces switch latency.
Other advantages may be readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art and the following FIGURES, description, and claims.

Method and system for storing and retrieving data using linked lists


The image-forming apparatus and an image-forming method of the present invention stably provides a high-quality image having a surface with a uniform gloss value, without reduction in image density, and with good fixability. The image-forming apparatus and image-forming method of the present invention provide are characterized in that white toner or transparent toner is used under the conditions that the storage elastic modulus of the white toner or transparent toner at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip at the time of an fixing step is set to be higher than the storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each colored toner at the time of the fixing step, and that the storage elastic modulus G′(T) (W) or G′(T) (To) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the white toner or the transparent toner at the time of the fixing step is in the range of 1.0×104 to 1.0×106 dyn/cm2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system such as a copying machine or a printer, and to an image-forming method to be used for the image-forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Various image-forming apparatuses each intended for forming a color image on a transfer material by means of an electrophotographic recording system have been proposed, and some of them have been put into practical use. (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-183885)
FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of a color image-forming apparatus adopting an in-line system. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing the main internal structure of the apparatus. The image-forming apparatus is constituted as a quadruple photosensitive drum-intermediate transfer type color printer of an in-line system.
The color printer of this in-line system includes an intermediate transfer belt 106. The intermediate transfer belt 106 is suspended by a driver roller 107, a driven roller 109, and a tension roller 108, and is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow A shown in FIG. 7. Four photosensitive drums 101a to 101d serving as image-bearing members are arranged in series along the intermediate transfer belt 106. The photosensitive-drums-101 and other image-forming means constitute arrangement stations PY, PM, PC, and PK on which image-forming means for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are respectively arranged.
The image-forming means on the arrangement stations PY, PM, PC and PK are respectively constituted by the photosensitive drums 101a to 101d, and charging devices 102a to 102d, exposing devices 103a to 103d, developing devices 104a to 104d, and photosensitive drum cleaners 105a to 105d arranged around the corresponding photosensitive drums. The image-forming means for the respective colors have substantially the same structure except that yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner are stored in the developing devices 104a to 104d, respectively.
The operation of forming a full-color (four-color) image will be described. At first, each of the photosensitive drums 101 rotates, and its surface is uniformly charged by the corresponding one of the charging devices 102. Next, each of the exposing devices 103 irradiates a laser beam modulated in accordance with image data, so a desired electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 101. The electrostatic latent images on the respective photosensitive drums 101 are developed at developing positions by the respective developing devices 104 with colored toners so as to be visualized as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, respectively.
The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 101 are electrostatically transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 106 at respective transfer nip portions opposed to the photosensitive drums 101 by transfer rollers 110 of transferring means in such a manner that the toner images are sequentially superimposed on each other. A transfer material P is fed from sheet-feeding means to a secondary transfer nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 106 and a secondary transfer roller 112 via conveying means, and then the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 106 are electrostatically and collectively transferred onto the transfer material P.
Residual toner on the photosensitive drums 101 after the transfer is removed by the photosensitive drum cleaners 105 each equipped with a cleaning blade or the like so as to be ready for a next image-forming step.
Residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 106 after the secondary transfer is removed by an intermediate transfer belt cleaner 111 so as to be ready for a next image-forming step.
As shown in FIG. 8, the toner images of the four colors are collectively transferred onto the transfer material P as described above to be formed on the transfer material P. In FIG. 8, M denotes magenta toner, C denotes cyan toner, Y denotes yellow toner, and K denotes black toner.
Here, a toner layer is pressurized and heated in a fixing nip by a fixing roller 126 and a pressure roller 127 in a fixing unit 125 shown in FIG. 7 to be fixed on the transfer material P.
At this time, in the case where the storage elastic modulus G′(T) at a saturated temperature (T) in the fixing nip of each toner at the time of a fixing step is low, the excessive impregnation of the toner layer into the transfer material may occur as shown in FIG. 9 when the toner layer is pressurized and heated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, a paper fiber appears on the surface of an image, so the uniformity of the gloss value of the surface of the image is lost and an image density reduces. Thus, there may arise a problem in that a desired image cannot be obtained.
In view of the foregoing, attempts have been made to increase the storage elastic modulus G′(T) at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip of each toner at the time of a fixing step by means of a method involving reducing a saturated temperature in the fixing nip at the time of the fixing step or changing the kind of the toner itself. In this method, however, toner insufficiently melts to reduce the gloss value of the surface of an image or to generate a factor of the deterioration of the fixability of a toner image on a transfer material. As a result, there may arise a problem in that a desired image cannot be obtained.

Image-forming apparatus and image-forming method


By using a bioluminescence, a method for detection of a monovalent cation is provided and the method is a high sensitive and simple method. According to the present invention, an amino acid sequence of symplectin and a base sequence encoding the protein are provided. Symplectin is a photoprotein derived from Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis (okinawan squid). By using the photoprotein of the present invention, a monovalant cation can be detected by luminescence in the presence of a chromophore.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to symplectin, which is a photoprotein derived from okinawan squid (Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis: Tobi-Ika). Moreover, this invention relates to an amino acid sequence of symplectin and a base sequence of gene encoding the protein. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for detection of a monovalent cation by monitoring luminescence, generated using said photoprotein in the presence of a chromophore.
2. Prior Art
Bioluminescence has been applied for various purpose, such as monitoring of concentration of a metal ion in a living cell, because some complementary factor is requisite for generation of luminescence. A chromophore is oxidized and then a high energy state intermediate (luminescent intermediate) is formed. It collapses to form a basal state and emission of luminescence occurs accompanied with such alteration of energy state. In a photogenic organism, emission of luminescent occurs efficiently using an enzyme.
The most classical bioluminescence is observed in firefly, which is well-known as luciferin-luciferase reaction. In luciferin-luciferase reaction, luciferin is converted to oxyluciferin via enzymatic reaction of luciferase in the presence of ATP and magnesium ion. It is the essential phenomenon involved in the photo-reaction. As the reaction mediated by firefly luciferase enables detection of luminescence with extremely high sensitivity, it is an important tool for investigation in the field of biochemistry. The gene encoding firefly luciferase has been already cloned. Then, heat-stable type luciferase is produced by genetic engineering technique using E. coli and it is commercially available.
For another example, aequorin, a blue fluorescent protein of jellyfish (Aequorea victoria) capable of emitting blue color luminescence, has been also known. Aequorin has a relatively low molecular mass of 21 kDa. Aequorin uptakes a chromophore such as coelenterazine and oxygen, then it is converted to an exited state (high energy state) using calcium ion as a trigger, thereby emits blue color luminescence. The color of jellyfish luminescence is actually blue color and not green color. However, green fluorescent protein (GFP) is assumed to receive energy from aequorin, thereby emitting green color luminescence.
The above luminescent system of jellyfish has been applied in the field of cell physiology and biochemistry. Emission of luminescence caused by aequorin is triggered by calcium ion. Then aequorin has been utilized to detect alteration of calcium ion concentration, such as for analysis on alteration of cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration caused by agonistic stimulation of intact cells, for example, by various hormones, agonists such as neurotransmitters or growth factors. Therefore, aequorin has attracted attention as a calcium sensor or a gene reporter, in the field of clinical biochemistry and cell physiology.
The above-mentioned method, utilizing luciferin or aequorin, is an excellent method for its high sensitivity. However, the ions which serves as the trigger of luminescence are magnesium ion and calcium ion for luciferin and aequorin, respectively. These are both divalent cations. Thus, there has been no means which enables detection of a monovalent cation using a photoprotein. The method utilizing a photoprotein is advantageous, because its sensitivity is extremely high and it is free from danger like experiments using a radioisotope. Therefore, a photoprotein which can detect a monovalent cation has been desired.
Thus, the inventors have noticed bioluminescent system of okinawan squid (Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis: Tobi-ika) from Okinawa, Japan. The luminescence of the squid was trigged by monovalent cations such as potassium, sodium or etc. and the inventors investigated on the luminescent system. In the luminescent system of okinawan squid, a monovalent cation acts as a trigger. Thus, the luminescent protein derived from okinawan squid is considered to be an excellent tool for detection of a monovalent cation.
One aspect of this invention of a protein derived from Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis (okinawan squid) having the following characteristics:
(1) emitting luminescence at wavelength of 470 nm by binding to dehydrocoeleneterazine or a dehydrocoeleneterazine derivative in the presence of potassium ion or sodium ion:
(2) having a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis:
(3) dissolving into a solvent containing KCl at a concentration of 0.6M or higher while maintaining ability to emit luminescence: and
(4) decomposing by trypsin digestion to produce fragments having molecular masses of 40 kDa and 15 kDa.
According to the present invention, said dehydrocoeleneterazin derivative can be a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following formula (1), (2) or (3):
wherein X is a halogen atom or methoxy group, a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y and Z each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that a case where both of Y and Z are hydrogen atoms is excluded, and
a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X and A each represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y, Z, B and C each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that cases where Y and Z are substituents selected from an atom or groups described above with both of B and C being hydrogen atoms and the case where all of Y, Z, B and C are hydrogen atoms are excluded.
Further aspect of this invention is a protein derived from Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis (okinawan squid) consisting of an amino acid sequence of following (a) or (b):
(a) an amino acid sequence represented by amino acid numbers 1 to 501 shown in SEQ:ID NO:1 in a sequence list, or (b) an amino acid sequence in which a part of said amino acid sequence (a) is deleted or another amino acid sequence is added to said amino acid sequence (a) or a part of amino acid sequence (a) is substituted with another amino acid sequence, the amino acid sequence (b) having characteristics that binds with dehydrocoeleneterazine by covalent bonding in the presence of potassium ion or sodium ion thereby emitting luminescence. The functional 40 kDa fragment of this protein, represented by amino acid numbers 1 to 370 shown in SEQ:ID NO:2 in a sequence list, is also within the range of this invention.
Moreover, further aspect of this invention is a method for detection of a monovalent cation, the method comprising formation of a conjugate adduct comprising the protein described above and an chromophore, thereby emitting luminescence from said conjugate adduct in the presence of a monovalent cation.
According to the present invention, said chromophore can be a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following formula (4), (5), (6) or (7):
compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X is a halogen atom or methoxy group, a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y and Z each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that a case where both of Y and Z are hydrogen atoms is excluded, and
a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X and A each represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y, Z, B and C each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that cases where Y and Z are substituents selected from an atom or groups described above with both of B and C being hydrogen atoms and the case where all of Y, Z, B and C are hydrogen atoms are excluded.
Moreover, further aspect of this invention is a gene derived from Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis (okinawan squid) consisting of a base sequence of following (e), (f) or (g):
(e) a base sequence represented by base numbers 1 to 1646 shown in SEQ:ID NO:3 in a sequence list,
(f) a base sequence in which a part of said base sequence (e) is deleted or another base sequence is added to said base sequence (e) or a part of base sequence (e) is substituted with another base sequence, the base sequence (f) encoding a protein having characteristics that binds with dehydrocoeleneterazine by covalent bonding in the presence of potassium ion or sodium ion thereby emitting luminescence, or
(g) a base sequence that hybridizes with the base sequence (e) under stringent conditions.
Moreover, further aspect of this invention is a method for detection of a monovalent cation, the method comprising introduction of the gene described above into a cell, expression of protein encoded by said gene in the cell, formation of a conjugate adduct of the protein and a chromophore, thereby emitting luminescence from said conjugate adduct in the presence of a monovalent cation.
According to the present invention, said chromophore can be a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following formula (8), (9), (10) or (11):
a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X is a halogen atom or methoxy group, a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y and Z each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that a case where both of Y and Z are hydrogen atoms is excluded, and
a compound represented by the following formula:
wherein X and A each represents a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, and Y, Z, B and C each represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, methoxy group or hydroxyl group, with the proviso that cases where Y and Z are substituents selected from an atom or groups described above with both of B and C being hydrogen atoms and the case where all of Y, Z, B and C are hydrogen atoms are excluded.
Moreover, further aspect of this invention is a transformed Escherichia coli wherein the gene described above is introduced.
Moreover, further aspect of this invention is a method to produce a recombinant protein, the method comprising introduction of the gene described above succeeded by expression of protein encoded by said gene in Escherichia coli, said recombinant protein binds with dehydrocoeleneterazine by covalent bonding in the presence of potassium ion or sodium ion to form a conjugate adduct, thereby emitting luminescence from said conjugate adduct.

Photoprotein derived from okinawan squid and gene encoding the photoprotein


A radiofrequency (RF) localization system can include an RF sensing component, a signal-processing module and a visualization element. A plurality of antennas mounted on a belt, or on a helmet, or at least one extendable antenna attached within a backpack could be used for the RF sensing component. The signal-processing module can receive an RF Signal-of-Interest (SOI), and can further compute localization information for the RF SOI such as line of bearing, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and SSID information. The visualization element can be an augmented reality (AR) visor mounted on the helmet, or AR glasses. The signal-processing module can be mounted to the helmet, visor, or glasses, as applicable. The RF sensing component, signal module and said visualization element can be worn by the user, and can cooperate to provide hands free RF localization information in an AR format to an end user.

The United States Navy operates in a dense radio frequency (RF) environment. However, there may often be occasions where it can be desired to operate in an RF free environment, or in an environment where portions of the RF spectrum must be secured for certain periods of time. One such example could be during the transfer of munitions that may be sensitive to certain portions of the RF spectrum. Another example could be when the United States Naval vessel commanding officer imposes a communications blackout for tactical or operational security reasons. Still other reasons could be situations where shipboard repairs must be accomplished in the RF emission path, and the RF emission must be secured for personnel safety (radiation hazard, or RADHAZ) reasons. Worker aloft scenarios for antenna maintenance are one such example, among many.
In these situations, once the RF emission control condition is set, it can be advantageous to continually monitor compliance status of the RF emission control posture. Current own force monitoring operations can be typically accomplished by trained users/subject matter experts, who can be familiar with both radio frequency signals collection and the shipboard equipment that is generating the RF signal. But in some cases, it may be advantageous for users with little or no radio frequency signal training to be able to find signal emitters. And even with trained users, it may be desirable for the trained user to have his/her hands free to accomplish the work requiring the expertise, instead of holding the equipment that monitors the RF emission control status that is a perquisite to the work being accomplished. The "worker aloft" scenario cited above is one such scenario.
Additionally, localizing radio frequency emitters can often be critical for setting emission control, detecting adversary or hostile forces and locating targets. Currently, a well-trained operator must examine a multitude of sources to determine active signals. Further, none of these sources overlay signal information in the augmented world or analogous display with graphical information indicating origin of signal. And still further, the display is often on the handheld device, in the prior art. This can be extremely disadvantageous for the warfighter, as the warfighter will almost certainly need to use his/her hands in engaging hostile forces. Additionally, Displaying RF information and signal direction finding (DF) data in an augmented reality (AR) display will allow sailors to localize emission control violations while maintaining situational awareness (SA) without distracting their focus by looking away to a display peripheral such as laptops or handheld device displays.
In view of the above, it can be an object of the present invention to provide an RF detection and localization system that can provide the user with a line of bearing to an RF source that is radiating. Another object of the present invention can be to provide an RF detection and localization system that can be worn by the user, and that can be operated in a hands free mode. Yet another object of the present invention can be to provide an RF detection and localization system that can provide the user with a display output in an Augmented Reality format, with the system output superimposed over the end user field of vision. Still another object of the present invention can be to provide an RF detection and localization system that can use signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios to convert the RF line of bearing into an RF location bearing and range, relative to the end user. Another object of the present invention can be to provide an RF detection and localization system that can be easy to manufacture in a cost-effective manner, and that can be easy to use by an end user with very little to no training.

Radio frequency detection and localization using augmented reality display

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


A washing machine is disclosed. A washing machine includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof; a tub installed in the cabinet to hold wash water therein; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein; at least one venting portion provided in an upper portion of the tub to communicate with an outside of the tub; and a ventilation part (300) provided in a lower portion of the tub to communicate with an inside of the tub. The above configuration enables convection current of internal air of the tub generated via the venting portion and the ventilation part (300).

Generally, a washing machine may be categorized into a top loading type and a front loading type, based on laundry loading.
Top loading type washing machine may be categorized into a drum type washing machine having a rotatable drum in washing and rinsing processes, a pulsator type washing machine having a pulsator rotatable in a drum and a combined type washing machine having a rotatable drum and a rotatable pulsator.
A rotatable drum type washing machine out of top/front loading type washing machines has less laundry abrasion and less water usage than a pulsator type washing machine advantageously.
According to such the drum type washing machine, a drum is rotatably mounted in a tub configured to hold wash water and wash water is supplied to the drum to be drained outside via a predetermined portion of the tub.


A boat hull cleaner comprises a pole having at least two parts 2, 3 which can be set at an angle with respect to one another, a float 6, and a brush 7, the float having a buoyancy portion which gives a minimum buoyancy to the float. The float has an opening or openings arranged to admit water into the float when it is tilted while under water with the result that effective buoyancy of the float is adjusted. The hull cleaner is formed such that when it is in use a human operator can hold one end of the pole from above water level and move it to manipulate the float and the brush beneath water level such that the float encourages the brush against a boat hull to assist the operator to clean the hull.

A problem with yachts, launches and other pleasure craft is that the parts which are submerged beneath the water for long periods of time can become covered in undesirable matter, for example with algae or other marine life. It is accordingly an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards dealing with this.


A method of forming a contact through a material includes forming a via through a dielectric material and cleaning the via using a dilute hydrofluoric (DHF) acid solution. The method further includes depositing a barrier layer within the via and depositing metal adjacent the barrier layer.

In many existing semiconductor devices, interlayer dielectrics (ILDs) are formed between different layers of conductors. Subsequent to formation of an ILD, various "backend" processes may be performed to complete the formation of the semiconductor device(s). For example, one backend process includes etching the ILD to create a via for a contact between the semiconductor devices, or between conductors that interconnect various conductive structures in a semiconductor device. Creation of a contact conventionally involves etching the ILD to create the via, and using existing techniques, such as a plasma clean, or argon sputtering, for cleaning the via prior to depositing a barrier metal layer within the via. Such existing techniques, however, lead to an undesirable, high contact resistance. These existing techniques, such as argon sputtering, additionally may induce device damage that causes charge loss in the resulting semiconductor device.

Aggressive cleaning process for semiconductor device contact formation


A power supply for a consumable electrode arc welding system includes a power transformer adapted to be coupled to an AC source and having a rectified secondary coupled through a series inductor to the electrode. The rectified current is chopped by a MOSFET switch array controlled by a relatively high frequency pulse width modulator having a selectively variable pulse width to supply a pulsed unidirectional current flow to the welding gun. A bridge rectifier is connected across an auxiliary winding of the transformer to provide a supply voltage to the modulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power supplies for providing precision control of high DC welding currents. The invention relates, in particular, to power supplies for consumable electrode arc welding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
DC welding machines are used in many types of electric arc welding. One common type of DC power supply for such welding machines is the transformer-rectifier type, which utilizes a step-down voltage transformer coupled to an AC supply, with a rectifier connected in the transformer secondary. This type of power supply is used with various consumable electrode arc welding systems, such as metal inert gas ("MIG") . Various methods have beer used to adjust or control the welding current in such a power supply. Typically, control is exercised in the transformer primary, such as by the use of a tapped primary or by primary phase control, to vary the secondary voltage and current. This is done because of the problems encountered in attempting to control the high welding current of the transformer secondary circuit directly. But a tapped transformer winding provides only a step-type control and does not afford continuous adjustment. In primary phase control, the control is continuous but the adjustment is based on the sine wave AC input to the transformer, and the slope of the sine wave is usable only over about one-third of a cycle. Thus, the adjustment provided is non-linear, and is not smooth.
Furthermore, both of these types of transformer primary control also affect the available peak voltage. Thus, in applications such as the welding of thin metals where the power output has to be lowered to prevent burn-through of the workpiece, this also lowers the output voltage available to initially strike the arc, which may create weld problems in the case of poor conductors or dirty metal. Furthermore, the welding control is effected on a 60 Hz AC supply voltage, the frequency of which is low enough that the arc, once struck, can follow the 60 Hz variations and may tend to sputter or quench.
Also, with transformer primary control, the primary is connected to the AC supply only when the welding gun trigger is actuated, but the trigger actuation will be effective only if the trigger mechanism is supplied with power. This requires the use of a control transformer in addition to the power transformer and a contactor or relay responsive to trigger actuation for connecting the primary to the AC supply.
It is known to provide a tapped winding or phase control of the secondary of the power transformer, but the tapped winding still provides a stepped discontinuous control and the phase control is still operating on a sinusoidal waveform and provides a non-linear output with a very small and critical range of adjustment. Furthermore, the tendency to sputtering and quenching remains. Also, such secondary control techniques retain the disadvantage of affecting the peak voltage available.
With respect to the latter problem, some prior welding machines have utilized high frequency control characteristics in the primary of the transformer at a frequency too high for the arc to follow. However, such machines are extremely expensive, since the magnetic components and all of the semiconductors, especially the power semiconductors, must be able to function at the high frequency rate.

Precision linear variable current control


Systems and methods are provided for aggregating digital access rights owned by a group of individuals and for correlating access rights to physical presence of the users to more accurately control access and distribution of copyrighted media. The intersection of content authorization information associated with each individual of a group may be analyzed. The aggregation and analysis of digital access rights enables multiple users to share the cost of a digital access right to access a content asset in a common area.

Traditional DRM systems may assign an access right for a content asset to a user that enables the user to access the content asset on a personal user device. Traditional DRM systems are deficient in enabling a group of users, each of whom may own an access right to a content asset, to share their access rights.

Systems and methods for managing digital rights based on a union or intersection of individual rights