An attachment device (1) for an apparatus (10), which apparatus (10) comprises a fixed cable (2) with a connector (12) at its free end. The attachment device (1) comprises a first plate member (3) and a second plate member (4), which by means of a hinge member (7) are rotatably connected to each other about a hinge axis (5). Hereby, they can rotate between a closed position, in which the plate members (3, 4) lie against each other, and in which the attachment device (1) defines a through-going opening (6) for the cable (2), and an open position, in which the cable (2) can be removed from the attachment device (1). The first plate member (3) comprises a first locking slot (83) and the second plate member (4) comprises a second locking slot (84). The first and second locking slots (83, 84) are aligned in the closed position, whereby a locking member (13) can be inserted through both locking slots (83, 84) and lock the attachment device (2) in the closed position, in which the cable (2) cannot be out pulled through the through-going opening (6). The hinge axis (5) is parallel with the first and second plate members (3, 4) and that the through-going opening (6) is tubular.

Attachment devices of the above art are also referred to as anti-theft devices and are used for preventing stealing or just removal of small or portable electronics equipment such as laptops, computer monitors, speakerphones etc. from f. ex. meeting rooms or office desks, to which multiple people have access. For this purpose, many of these products today are provided with a so-called Kensington Security Slot, which is small, often metal-reinforced hole, which can receive a metal anchor of a key or combination lock that is connected to a wire. The wire has a loop and can be looped around a fixed object, such as furniture. The Kensington slot is 7 mm long and 3 mm wide, and I can be difficult to provide small devices with such a slot, especially because the relatively large lock may hamper the usability or appearance of such small devices.
In order to secure devices with no Kensington® slot, attachment devices such as CableSaver™ have been developed. This attachment device is a scissor-like construction, which comprises two hinged plate-like metal parts, which can rotate between an open position, in which one or more cables can be placed between the plate-like parts, and a closed position in which the cables are encircled by cut-outs in the edges of the plate-like parts. In the closed position, the device can be locked by inserting and locking the anchor of a Kensington® lock through aligned Kensington® slots in the two plate-like parts. A disadvantage with this device is that the relatively sharp edges of the cut-outs of the plate parts may exert strain on and wear the cables and in worst case cause a 180 degrees bend of the cable.


A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a ferrite magnet motor and a rare earth magnet motor. When the vehicle is cruising at a steady speed, an electrically variable transmission mode of a transmission configures the rare earth magnet motor to provide a reaction force to the ferrite magnet motor so that the ferrite magnet motor operates at a high speed/low torque condition to minimize torque dependent losses in the ferrite magnet motor. When the vehicle is accelerating at higher speeds, a first torque transmitting mechanism provides a reaction torque to the ferrite magnet motor to eliminate the torque dependent losses in the ferrite magnet motor.

Vehicles include a drivetrain that may include a charge sustaining or charge depleting (CS/CD) hybrid propulsion configuration (which may or may not be designed to accept battery charge power from an external electric energy source, i.e., a plug in hybrid) or a range extended full electric propulsion configuration to propel the vehicle. In either configuration, the drivetrain includes an internal combustion engine, and an electrically variable transmission including a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator. The range extended full electric configuration, used in an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), must be capable of propelling the vehicle on battery power alone until the battery charge is depleted. At that time it transitions to an operating strategy similar to a conventional hybrid in which the engine is operated during some driving conditions to provide drive power and maintain battery state-of-charge. The CS/CD hybrid configuration generally requires the engine to operate in order to provide full vehicle power, and is designed to be capable of operating as an electric vehicle only at lower powers. In either configuration, vehicle propulsion may come from any of the internal combustion engine, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, or any combination thereof. Either configuration is also capable of charging the battery by operating one or both electric motors as a generator while the engine is running. Hybrid propulsion configurations generally require a larger internal combustion engine, and utilize smaller batteries than vehicles utilizing the full electric propulsion configuration. For example, a passenger car vehicle utilizing the full electric propulsion configuration may include a battery having a power output of greater than 100 KW, whereas vehicles utilizing the hybrid propulsion configuration may only require a battery having a power output of between 30 and 40 KW. The additional available battery power may be used to reduce the power required from the engine to provide the same vehicle performance.
The different operating strategies between the differing propulsion systems lead to substantially different usage of the electric motor/generators. For example, the electric motor/generators of the full electric propulsion configuration tend to operate at higher speeds and higher powers during operation as an electric vehicle, whereas electric motor/generators of the hybrid propulsion configuration tend to operate at lower speeds and lower powers. Additionally, one or both of the motor/generators in a full electric propulsion configuration typically require a high torque capability to provide adequate launch and reverse gradeability performance. The high torque required from the motor/generator tends to reduce the power and efficiency of the motor/generator at high speeds. Accordingly, the full electric propulsion configuration and the hybrid propulsion configuration generally employ different transmission power flows, and utilize different electric motors.
The hybrid electrically variable transmission typically includes either strong rare earth permanent magnet motors, or large induction motors, in order to attain the desired efficiency. Rare earth magnets are expensive, thereby increasing the costs of the rare earth permanent magnet motors, while the induction motors are larger and require additional packaging space.

Multimode electrically variable transmission having a ferrite magnet motor and method of operating the same


Methods, systems, and devices for automatically customizing operation of a robotic vehicle are described. The method may include identifying an operator, retrieving an operator profile and associated metadata for the operator from a database, where the metadata includes operator habit information, and configuring the robotic vehicle based on existing preference-based and performance-based settings, where the existing preference-based and performance-based settings are based on the metadata. The methods may include identifying operator habit information during operation of the robotic vehicle, deriving updated preference-based and performance-based settings for the operator based on the identified operator habit information, and providing, to the database, modifications to the metadata associated with the operator profile of the operator.

Aerial vehicles such as robotic vehicles may be used for performing surveillance, reconnaissance, and exploration tasks for military and civilian applications. Such vehicles may carry a payload configured to perform a variety of different activities desired by operators, such as capturing aerial images/video, participating in remote control racing, etc. Despite the many different capabilities, each individual operator typically uses a robotic vehicle primarily for a limited number of activities or applications, each of which can have different performance settings and operational characteristics. Further, conventional robotic vehicles may be manually controlled by an operator via a control device, or may operate in a flight mode with varying degrees of autonomy.
While an operator may perform a manual setup or mode selection to configure features such as functionality, flight control, and performance settings, the robotic vehicle is typically configured with default or standard capabilities and settings each time the robotic vehicle is activated. Further, the robotic vehicle may be configured to implement defaults for features if not specifically set by the operator that could be poorly suited for the operator's planned activity or application using the robotic vehicle.

Systems and methods for automatically customizing operation of a robotic vehicle


A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon and readable a computer of a terminal device, the computer program, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform: controlling a display unit to display a first image as a selection image including first and second items for receiving instructions relative to image processing; controlling the display unit to display a second image as the selection image if the terminal device and the first image processing device are connected using the second wireless communication system; instructing a first image processing device to perform the image processing in response to receiving a performance instruction. In the first image, the first item is displayed preferentially. In the second image, the second item is displayed preferentially.

Terminal devices such as smart phones are used to issue printing instructions to image processing devices such as multi-function devices by use of wireless communication. At this point, for some purposes such as improvement of convenience for users, items to be displayed on the display units of terminal devices are being devised. For example, there has been proposed a technology for changing the display order of function names to be displayed on a function selection screen of a terminal device such as a mobile phone, according to the surrounding environment of the terminal device. Specifically, by use of near field communication such as infrared communication, a mobile phone detects the number of other mobile phones positioned in the vicinity of the corresponding mobile phone. According to the detected number of other mobile phones, the mobile phone preferentially displays the names of functions to be more likely to be selected.

Terminal device and control of setting selection images of terminal device


Various implementations described herein relate to systems and methods for providing data protection and recovery for drive failures, including receiving, by a storage device, a write request from a host operatively coupled to a storage device, and determining, by the storage device instead of the host, an XOR result by performing an XOR operation of new data and existing data. The new data is received from the host. The existing data is stored in the non-volatile storage.

Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) can be implemented on non-volatile memory device based drives to achieve protection from drive failures. Various forms of RAID can be broadly categorized based on whether data is being replicated or parity protected. Replication is more expensive in terms of storage cost because replication doubles the number of devices needed.
On the other hand, parity protection typically require storage cost lower than that of replication. In the example of RAID 5, one additional device is needed to provide protection for a single device failure at a given time by holding parity data for a minimum of two data devices. When RAID 5 parity protection is employed, the additional storage cost as a percentage of the total cost is typically reduced as the number of devices being protected in a RAID group increases.
In the case of RAID 6, which offers protection for up to two devices failing at the same time, two additional devices are needed to hold parity data for a minimum of two data devices. Similarly, when RAID 6 parity protection is employed, the additional storage cost as a percentage of the total cost is reduced as the number of devices being protected in a RAID group increases. To alleviate the risk of failure of the drives holding the parity data, the drives on which the parity data is stored are rotated.
Other variations of parity protection include combining replication with parity protection (e.g., as in RAID 51 and RAID 61), to vary the stripe sizes used between devices to match a given application, and so on.

Systems and methods for parity-based failure protection for storage devices


To achieve high-resolution lithography, the temperature of a sample is controlled with heater wires during electron-beam lithography, the adverse effect of a magnetic field induced by the heater current is suppressed. Namely, heater wires are used to control the temperature of a sample so that the temperature will be maintained constant. In order to minimize the adverse effect of a magnetic field during the passage of currents through the heater wires, two heater wires are layered with the arrangement of the upper and lower sides, currents are fed to flow through the heater wires in mutually opposite directions, and the ratio of the current flowing through the upper heater wire to the one flowing through the lower heater wire is slightly changed from zero.

In recent years, for example in semiconductor devices fabricated by electron-beam lithography, lithography patterns with high-resolution have been required high positional precision along with improvement in a high degree of integration of the semiconductor devices. Electron-beam lithography system is a system in which an electron beam is focused with an electron lens and deflected with a deflector while moving the sample, to draw high-resolution patterns on a sample with high positional precision. The positional precision is required in nanometers.
The coefficient of linear expansion of a silicon is 4×10−6[1/K]. Therefore, the sample whose diameter is 300 mm expands 1.2 nm by an increase of 1/1000° C. in the temperature of the sample. Likewise, since the coefficient of linear expansion of a ceramic is 3×10−6[1/K], the ceramic structural member expands 0.9 nm by an increase of 1/1000° C. in the temperature of the ceramic. Consequently, in order to suppress an error (the thermal distortion) dependent on an ambient temperature to 1 nm, the sample and stage structural must be kept temperature-stable despite a thermal variation change in temperature of 1/1000° C.
Heat dissipated during lithography includes heat dissipated from an electrostatic chuck, rolling frictional heat dissipated from a stage guide, and heat dissipated from a motor. However, such heat is hardly released in a sample chamber because the chamber is held vacuum. According to a conventional technology, a coolant is circulated around a stage to keep the temperature of a sample constant. However, since a long time constant is required until heat is conveyed to a structural member after adjusting the temperature of the coolant. Consequently, the temperature of a top table at the stage or the temperature of the sample deviates by a few hundredth of a degree C.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-353116 (Patent Document 1) has disclosed a technology of placing heater wires on a stage and compensating a temperature of the sample by the passage of electric current through a heater wire during a period of time where lithography is not performed.
In addition, the above-Document 1 has described that a magnetic field, which is induced by the passage of electric current through the heater wire, have an adverse effect on electron-beam lithography (drawing) on a sample, and described how to prevent such a effect. Particularly in the Document 1, a heater wire having the same current-carrying capacities is disposed with turns in parallel, and current is fed through the turned heater wire potions in mutually opposite directions, whereby the adverse effect of the magnetic field is minimized.

System and method for electron-beam lithography


Induction cooktops and operational methods are provided herein. A method of determining material composition of cookware on an induction cooktop can include determining that a piece of cookware is on the induction cooktop, inducing a current within the piece of cookware with an induction coil of the induction cooktop, and obtaining a peak induction coil current, a smoothed input line current, and a phase shift of current flowing in the induction coil. The method can further include comparing the peak induction coil current, the smoothed input line current, and the phase shift each to a set of predetermined ranges, and determining candidate material compositions for the cookware based on the comparing of each of the peak induction coil current, the smoothed input line current, and the phase shift.

Induction cook-tops heat conductive cookware by magnetic induction. An induction cook-top applies radio frequency current to a heating coil to generate a strong radio frequency magnetic field on the heating coil. When a conductive vessel, such as a pan, is placed over the heating coil, the magnetic field coupling from the heating coil generates eddy currents on the vessel. This causes the vessel to heat.
An induction cook-top will generally heat any vessel of suitable conductive material of any size that is placed on the induction cook-top. Since the magnetic field is not visible, unless some secondary indicator is provided, it is not readily apparent whether the induction cook-top is powered (on) or off. Thus, it is possible for items placed, on the induction cook-top to be heated unintentionally, which could damage such items and create other problems.
There are multiple methods of vessel or pan detection on an induction cook-top. Some of these include mechanical switching, current detection, phase detection, optical sensing, and harmonic distortion sensing. In pan sensing methods that utilize phase detection and amplitude measurements, a current transformer can be used. When the system is operating at resonance, the optimal power transfer between the heating coil and the vessel will occur. However, resonance is dependent upon the load presented by the vessel. Furthermore, actual temperature of the cookware is also dependent upon composition of the vessel. Therefore, it may be desirable to be able to determine material composition of cookware in induction heating systems and appliances.

Determining material composition of cookware in induction heating systems


An organic light emitting device that obtains stable image qualities through prevention of any significant decrease in brightness at high temperature. The organic light emitting device includes an anode; a cathode facing the anode; an organic emitting layer interposed between the anode and the cathode; an electron transport layer interposed between the organic emitting layer and the cathode and comprising an alkali metal compound or an alkali earth metal compound; and a buffer layer interposed between the organic emitting layer and the electron transport layer.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting device, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting device which obtains stable image qualities through prevention of any significant decrease in brightness.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, CRT devices have been replaced by thin and portable flat panel display devices, such as electroluminescent display devices. Electroluminescent display devices are self-emission display devices that have wide viewing angle, excellent contrast properties, and quick response speed. Because of these advantages, electroluminescent display devices are considered to be the next-generation display devices. Among electroluminescent display devices, organic light emitting devices including an organic emitting layer have higher brightness, lower operating voltage, and quicker response speed than inorganic light emitting devices. In addition, organic light emitting devices can produce a full range of colors.
On the other hand, organic light emitting devices deteriorate over time, and thus their light efficiency decreases. Furthermore, when organic light emitting devices are operated at high temperature, they tend to deteriorate more easily. Such deterioration occurs at normal temperature even after initial use. Therefore, long-term stable image qualities cannot be obtained. For example, AMOLED devices have a substantial decrease in green brightness or green efficiency at about 85° C., and thus the white color changes because of a decrease in green brightness and the white efficiency decreases because of a decrease in green efficiency.


A touch screen module which includes an LCD panel working as a touch screen, a protector window disposed over the LCD panel, and an adhesive to affix the protector window to the LCD panel. The LCD panel may be a hybrid Touch Screen Pad (hTSP) type touch screen and have a first substrate comprising a first surface on which a plurality of switching elements are formed, a second substrate comprising a second surface that faces the first surface, and liquid crystal material disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The protector window may have a plurality of pressing patterns on a third surface facing the second substrate. In operation, pressure from a touch applied to the protector window engages the pressing patterns against the second substrate, transferring touch pressure to the second substrate as well.

Since a user of a device to which a touch screen is mounted can input an order or information on the screen itself, touch screens are particularly suitable to a Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the use of touch screens as an input device is generally easier than use of a mouse or a keyboard. Accordingly, touch screens have been used in various devices such as cellphones, PDAs, public information providing devices installed at airports, government offices, etc.
In a hybrid Touch Screen Pad (hTSP) type touch screen (such as a register type or a capacitor type touch screen), pressure from a touch is detected by the LCD panel itself FIG. 1 shows an example of an hTSP type touch screen (100). The hTSP type touch screen (100) includes a TFT substrate (110) having a plurality of Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) (not shown), an opposite substrate (120), and liquid crystal material (130). In addition, the hTSP type touch screen (100) has a plurality of column spacers (140) to maintain the gap between the TFT substrate (110) and the opposite substrate (120), and a plurality of conductive spacers (150, 151) which sense touches on the opposite substrate (120).
As can be seen from FIG. 2, when an hTSP type touch screen (100) is mounted to a set (10) like a cellphone or a PDA, a protector window (200) is disposed over the touch screen to protect the screen from impact. However, this protector window worsens the sensitivity of the hTSP type touch screen.

Touch screen module with protector window


In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 2 and a non-aqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode active material wherein a particle of at least one compound selected from Er hydroxide, Er oxyhydroxide, Yb hydroxide, Yb oxyhydroxide, Tb hydroxide, Tb oxyhydroxide, Dy hydroxide, Dy oxyhydroxide, Ho hydroxide, Ho oxyhydroxide, Tm hydroxide, Tm oxyhydroxide, Lu hydroxide, and Lu oxyhydroxide is dispersed and adhered on a surface of a positive electrode active material particle containing Li is used.

In recent years, miniaturization and weight saving of mobile information terminals, such as cellular phone, notebook-size PC, and PDA have been remarkably advanced. In accordance with such an advance, demands for higher capacity of a battery as a driving power source have been increasing. In order to meet such demands, as one type of new secondary batteries with high output and high energy density, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which employ a non-aqueous electrolyte and are adapted for charging and discharging by way of transfer of lithium ions between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, have widely been used.
Generally, the positive electrode active material used for the positive electrode of such a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is lithium cobalt oxide LiCoO2, lithium manganese oxide LiMn2O4 having a spinel structure, lithium composite oxide of cobalt-nickel-manganese, lithium composite oxide of aluminum-nickel-manganese, lithium composite oxide of aluminum-nickel-cobalt, and the like. The negative electrode active material of the negative electrode used includes carbon materials such as graphite, materials to be alloyed with lithium, such as Si and Sn, and the like.
In recent years, because of advancement of amusement function such as moving image reproduction and game function by mobile information terminal, electric power consumption tends to rise more steadily. As a result, demands for further higher capacity and higher function in a battery have been increasing. In order to further increase capacity of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, it is thought to charge the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery to a high voltage and to increase the filling density of the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material to be filled into the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.
In a case where the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to the high voltage as described above, oxidizing force of the positive electrode active material becomes strong. Further, in a case where the positive electrode active material contains a transition metal having a catalytic property, for example, Co, Fe, Ni, Mn and the like, the non-aqueous electrolyte reacts with the transition metal having catalytic property and decomposes on the surface of positive electrode active material. As a result, charge-discharge cycle characteristics, preservation characteristics and characteristics after sequential charging of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery are greatly deteriorated, gas is generated inside of the battery, and an expansion of the battery is caused. Particularly, the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is further deteriorated under high temperature environment.
In addition, in a case where the filling density of the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material to be filled into the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is increased, penetration of the non-aqueous electrolyte into the positive electrode and the negative electrode is not sufficient and an adequate charge-discharge reaction is not attained, so that charge-discharge characteristics are deteriorated. Further, disproportion of the charge-discharge reaction occurs, so that one part of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to high voltage. As a result, there exists the same problem as in the case of charging the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery to the high voltage.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode active material wherein rare-earth oxides such as La2O3 are contained in complex oxides including Li and Ni or a positive electrode active material wherein rare-earth oxide particle such as La2O3 is adhered on the surface of complex oxide particle including Li and Ni, for the purpose of restricting a reaction between the positive electrode active material and a non-aqueous electrolyte in the case of excessive charging (See, for example, Patent Document 1, JP 2005-196992(A)).
However, even if the positive electrode active material of patent document 1 is used, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to the high voltage, the reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte still occurs. Particularly, under high temperature environment, the charge-discharge cycle characteristics, the preservation characteristics and the characteristics after sequential charging of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery are greatly deteriorated, and gas is generated inside of the battery, so that the expansion of the battery is caused.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode active material containing LixCoO2 and LiyNisCOxMuO2 and having 10-45 wt. % of LiyNisCOxMuO2 against a total amount of LixCoO2 and LiyNisCOtMuO2. Further, M in LiyNisCOtMuO2 are at least one element selected from a group of B, Mg, Al and the like and lanthanoid element, and the elements M form solid solution in the positive electrode active material (See, for example, Patent Document 2, JP 3712251(B)).
However, in such a case, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to the high voltage, oxidization decomposition of the non-aqueous electrolyte is not fully suppressed. As a result, as to the non-aqueous secondary battery of Patent Document 2, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to the high voltage, the charge-discharge cycle characteristics, the preservation characteristics and the characteristics after sequential charging are greatly deteriorated, and gas is generated inside of the battery, so that the expansion of the battery is caused.
Further, there has been proposed a lithium secondary cell positive activator comprising a core containing lithium compound having the certain particle diameter and being coated with a surface-treated layer containing oxide containing coating element such as Ma, Al, Co and the like, and hydroxide, oxyhydroxide, oxycarbonate, and hydroxycarbonate (See, for example, Patent Document 3, JP 2002-158011(A)).
However, even in Patent document 3, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged to the high voltage, the positive electrode still reacts with the non-aqueous electrolyte. Particularly, under high temperature environment, the charge-discharge cycle characteristics, the preservation characteristics and the characteristics after sequential charging are greatly deteriorated, and gas is generated in the inside of the battery, so that the expansion of the battery is caused.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode which contains lithium-cobalt composite oxide and a rare earth compound selected from a group of lanthanum, cerium and neodymium for the purpose of obtaining a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high charge-discharge capacity and excellent heat stability (See, for example, Patent Document 4, JP 2004-207098 (A)). In patent document 4, the positive electrode is fabricated by mixing lithium-cobalt composite oxide with rare earth compound such as lanthanum oxide, a conductive material and a binder.
However, if the positive electrode is fabricated the same as patent document 4, rare earth compound such as lanthanum oxide is not adequately dispersed nor adhered on the surface of lithium-cobalt composite oxide. Accordingly, a contact property between lithium-cobalt composite oxide and rare earth compound such as lanthanum oxide is deteriorated, so that sufficient effects can not be obtained. As a result, the amount of rare earth compound such as lanthanum oxide to be mixed with lithium-cobalt composite oxide necessitates being large, and therefore, there exists a problem that the proportion of the positive electrode active material in the positive electrode is decreased.
Further, if the positive electrode fabricated in patent document 4 is used, when the charging voltage is increased, a reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte occurs. As a result, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is sequentially charged under high temperature environments, preservation characteristics and charge-discharge cycle characteristics are not sufficiently improved.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode active material wherein the surface of a lithium transition metal complex oxide having a spinel structure contains at least one element selected from zinc, yttrium, niobium, samarium and neodymium (See, for example, Patent Document 5, JP 2005-216651(A)). This positive electrode active material restricts elution of manganese from the lithium transition metal complex oxide, so that a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having superior characteristics under high temperature environment can be obtained.
However, in patent document 5, a compound to be used as the compound of elements, such as zinc, is not specified. Accordingly, when the charging voltage is increased, a reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte is not fully restricted. As a result, even in patent document 5, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is sequentially charged under high temperature environment, the preservation characteristics and the charge-discharge cycle characteristics are not sufficiently improved.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode active material wherein a lanthanoid element-containing compound is adhered on at least one part of surfaces of a particle containing lithium-manganese composite oxide. (See, for example, Patent Document 6, JP 2005-174616 (A)). Patent document 6 describes that lithium-manganese composite oxide is mixed with an oxide of lanthanoid element such as La2O3, Nd2O3, and Sm2O3 and burned at 550° C. or more. By such a way, the lanthanoid element forms solid solution in lithium-manganese composite oxide and the oxide of lanthanoid element is adhered on one part of the surface thereof.
However, in patent document 6, when the charging voltage is increased as mentioned above, a reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte occurs. As a result, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is sequentially charged under high temperature environmentsufficient preservation characteristics and charge-discharge cycle characteristics can not be obtained.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode wherein lanthanum is added to lithium-cobalt compound oxide for the purpose of obtaining a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high charge-discharge cycle characteristics and excellent preservation characteristics under high temperature (See, for example, Patent Document 7, JP H04-319259 (A)). In patent document 7, in the fabrication of lithium-cobalt composite oxide, lanthanum hydroxide is added and the mixture is burned at high temperature, 900° C. Thus, a positive electrode active material wherein the surface of lithium-cobalt compound oxide is covered with compound oxide of lanthanum oxide, lithium and lanthanum and compound oxide of lanthanum and cobalt is fabricated. Here, the additional ratio of lanthanum against cobalt is 1 to 10 mol %.
However, if the positive electrode is fabricated the same as patent document 7, the additional ratio of lanthanum against cobalt is required to be large and lanthanum forms solid solution in the inside of lithium-cobalt compound oxide. Accordingly, characteristics of the positive electrode active material are deteriorated and charge-discharge efficiency is lowered.
Further, even if the surface of lithium-cobalt compound oxide is covered with compound oxide of lanthanum oxide, lithium and lanthanum and compound oxide of lanthanum and cobalt, when the charging voltage is increased as mentioned above, a reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte is not fully restricted. As a result, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is sequentially charged under high temperature environment, the preservation characteristics and the charge-discharge cycle characteristics are not sufficiently improved.
It has been proposed to use a positive electrode active material wherein yttrium oxide or compound oxide of lithium and yttrium is added to LiCoO2 and the additional amount of yttrium against LiCoO2 is within the range of 1 to 10% in mol ration, for the purpose of restricting destruction of crystal structure of the positive electrode active material (See, for example, Patent Document 8, JP H05-6780(A)).
There has been proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery wherein lanthanum, yttrium and zinc are adhered on the surface of positive electrode active material of lithium manganese spinel compound and wherein the metal concentration is not less than 0.01 mol % to less than 5 mol % for the purpose of enhancing charge-discharge cycle characteristics thereof (See, for example, Patent Document 9, JP 2001-6678(A)).
However, even in patent documents 8 and 9, when the charging voltage is increased as mentioned above, the reaction between the positive electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte is not fully restricted. As a result, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is sequentially charged under high temperature environment, the preservation characteristics and the charge-discharge cycle characteristics and the like are not sufficiently improved.

Positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having rare earth hydroxide and/or oxyhydroxide


This disclosure relates to an electronic driver device for an external load to which an input signal is applied at its input and that produces an output signal to the external load from its output. Such an electronic driver device includes elements that reduce dependence of the slew rate of the output signal on the external load capacitance.

Most output buffers comprise a control function to adjust a maximum slew rate of the output voltage in response to a voltage step applied at the input to the buffer.
The electrical diagram for a conventional output buffer 100 according to the state of the art is presented with reference to FIG. 1. This output buffer 100 is powered by a power supply VDC and it comprises an input 101 onto which an input signal 1011 is applied and an output 102 on which the maximum slew rate can be measured starting from the voltage of the output signal 1021 measured at the terminals of the capacitor C1 of a load (placed between the output potential 102 and the ground 104).
This output buffer 100 comprises an output stage 103 that itself comprises a first PMOS type of output transistor 1031 and a second NMOS type of output transistor 1032.
The output buffer 100 also includes a block 105 comprising eight transistors M10 to M17 (block 105 being powered by the power supply voltage VDC). This processing block 105 controls the maximum slew rate of the output signal 103. It uses the input signal 1011 to output the control for the first gate 10311 and the second gate 10321 of the first and second transistors 1031 and 1032 of the output stage 103.
FIGS. 2A to 2E present curves of the output voltage 1021 (FIG. 2B), the first gate voltage 10312 (FIG. 2D), the second gate voltage 10322 (FIG. 2C) and the drain current 106 (FIG. 2E) from the transistor M17 of the output buffer in FIG. 1 in response to an input signal 1011 in the form of a voltage step changing from 0 to VDC (FIG. 2A), as a function of time t (in milliseconds).
The voltage curves are shown in V and the current 106 in mA. The time steps of the curves in FIGS. 2A to 2D are the same as the time steps of the curve in FIG. 2E.
The voltage step (FIG. 2A) from 0 to VDC applied at the input 101 corresponds to a transition from a logical 0 to a logical 1.
Starting from such a transition from a logical 0 to a logical 1 at the input signal 1011, the transistor M11 becomes conducting and the second gate voltage 10322 drops quickly from VDC to 0 (as shown in FIG. 2C).
Due to the fact that the output voltage 1021 is zero before the transition, the transistor M17 is conducting at the time of the transition. Thus, the sum of the internal resistances of transistors M17 and M16 forms a voltage divider bridge with the internal resistance of transistor M14, to reduce the drop in the first gate voltage 10312 (plateau in FIG. 2D) and reduce the increase in the drain current from the first output transistor 1031. The current in the divider bridge is shown by the drain current 106 from transistor M17 (FIG. 2E).
The result is to limit the slew rate of the output signal 1021.
When the output voltage level becomes sufficiently high, the transistor M17 is cut off and the drain current 106 from transistor M17 drops to zero (FIG. 2E). The signal 10311 applied to the gate of the output transistor 1031 changes to zero.
FIGS. 3A to 3E present curves showing the output voltage 1021 (FIG. 3B), the first gate voltage 10312 (FIG. 3D), the second gate voltage 10322 (FIG. 3C) and the drain current (FIG. 3E) from transistor M10 of the output buffer in FIG. 1 in response to an input signal 1011 in the form of a voltage step changing from 5 V (VDC) to 0 V (FIG. 3A), as a function of time t (in milliseconds).
In these curves, the voltage is shown in V and the current 107 is shown in mA. The time step of the curves in FIG. 3A to 3D is the same as for the curve in FIG. 3E.
The voltage step (FIG. 3A) from VDC equal to 0 applied to input 101 corresponds to a transition from a logical 1 to a logical 0.
Starting from such a transition from a logical 1 to a logical 0 at the input signal 1011, the transistor M15 becomes conducting and the first gate voltage 10312 rises quickly from 0 to VDC (as shown by FIG. 3D).
Due to the fact that the output voltage 1021 is equal to VDC before the transition, the transistor M10 becomes conducting at the time of the transition. Thus, the sum of the internal resistances of transistors M10 and M12 forms a voltage divider bridge with the internal resistance of transistor M13 that reduces the increase in the second gate voltage 10322 (plateau in FIG. 3C) and reduces the increase in the drain current from the second output transistor 1032. The current in the divider bridge is shown by the drain current 107 from transistor M10 (FIG. 3E).
The consequence is to limit the slew rate of the output signal 1021.
When the output voltage level reaches a sufficient value, the transistor M10 is cut off and the drain current 107 from transistor M10 drops to 0 (FIG. 3E). The signal 10322 applied to the gate of the output transistor 1032 changes to 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B present curves 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 showing the output voltage 1021 (FIG. 4B) from the output buffer 100 in response to an input signal 1011 in the form of a voltage step from 0 to VDC (FIG. 4A) for capacitances C1 equal to 0 pF, 50 pF, 100 pF, 150 pF, 200 pF, 250 pF and 300 pF respectively, as a function of time t (in milliseconds).
Voltage curves are shown in V. The time step of the curve in FIG. 3A is the same as the time step of the curve in FIG. 3B.
When the capacitance C1 increases, the divider bridge formed by the sum of the internal resistances of transistors M17 and M16 and by the internal resistance of transistor M14 limits the drop of the first gate voltage 10312 and the increase in the drain current from the first control transistor 1031, regardless of the value of C1.
When the capacitance C1 increases, the divider bridge formed by the sum of internal resistances of transistors M10 and M12 and by the internal resistance of transistor M13 limits the increase in the second gate voltage 10322 and the increase in the drain current from the second control transistor 1032 regardless of the value of C1.
Note that the following expression is true during a transition from 0 to VDC:Voutput=Idp·t/C1  (1)
where Voutput is the output voltage 1021, Idp is the drain current from the first control transistor 1031 and t is time.
The voltage Vgs applied on the gate of transistor 1031 in the output stage only depends on the divider bridge formed by transistors M16, M17 and M14.
The following expression is true during a transition from VDC to 0 takes place:Voutput=Idn·t/C1  (2)
where Idn is the drain current from the second control transistor 1032.
The drain current Id from a transistor is given by the following expression:Id=K·W/L·(Vgs−Vt)  (3)
where K and Vt are constants that depend on the manufacturing process of the transistor, Vgs is the voltage between the gate and the source of the transistor and W and L are the width and length respectively of the transistor channel.
The voltage Vgs applied to the gate of transistor 1032 in the output stage depends only on the divider bridge formed by transistors M10, M12 and M13.
Thus, relations (1), (2) and (3) show that the maximum slew rate of the output voltage 1021 depends on the capacitance C1 of the load at the output from the buffer 100 (as shown in FIG. 4B) and also depends on the parameters of the process for manufacturing of the first control transistor 1031 and the second control transistor 1032.
This dependence of the output voltage on the load capacitance C1 is a problem when making an output buffer.
In particular as shown in FIG. 4B, when the value of the load capacitance at the output is low, the maximum slew rate of the output signal is high, which generates a high noise level through the output buffer 100.
This high noise level can disturb operation of other devices around the periphery of the output buffer 100. This is particularly annoying for example for onboard electronics, and is unfavourable for EMC (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility).

Electronic driver device for an external load for which the slew rate of the output signal is independent of the external load capacity and the corresponding integrated component


An electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls. A rear surface of the front wall extends rearward to form a tongue portion. A receiving space is formed among the front wall, the top wall, the bottom wall and the side walls, wherein the tongue portion is located in the receiving space. A plurality of probe pins is assembled in the insulating housing. A magnetic block has a shape matched with the receiving space and is assembled in the receiving space. A metal plate is placed behind the magnetic block by passing a rear end of the tongue portion therethrough. A metal shell encloses the insulating housing and further electrically resists against a rear side of the metal plate to secure the magnetic block and the metal plate in the insulating housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector adapted to a mated connector by virtue of magnetic attraction.
2. The Related Art
A traditional electrical connector connected with a mated connector by magnetic attraction generally includes an insulating housing, a plurality of probe pins and a magnetic mechanism assembled in the insulating housing respectively. In use, the interconnection between the electrical connector and the mated connector is apt to be influenced by the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism. However, the size of the magnetic mechanism often affects the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism. Moreover, the rapid developments of electronic products call for more stringent requirements to miniaturization of the electrical connector. As a result, the traditional electrical connector generally fails to meet the requirements of both miniaturization and strong magnetic force at the same time.


A process for removing metals from a waste including uranium and a second metal comprising dissolving the uranium and the second metal in a first aqueous solution, removing the dissolved uranium from the first aqueous solution by redissolving in an organic solvent, stripping the uranium from the organic solvent by redissolving in a second aqueous solution, precipitating the uranium from the second aqueous solution, and removing the second metal from the first aqueous solution.

Depleted uranium has been used for years in the production of munitions. The neutralized waste products from such processes typically include metals such as copper and uranium in oxide or hydroxide form. Disposal of these wastes has increasingly become a problem.
Disposal options to date include burying the waste in liquid or dried form in a secure, lined, capped landfill to prevent water from percolating through the waste. Such disposal is problematic because there is always the chance that the basin will leak, there are fewer and fewer sites that will take such wastes, and the disposal is extremely expensive, running from $25.00 to $300.00 per cubic foot of waste. Often times this also involves trucking the waste across country, which adds to the expense and potential hazard. Another disposal option is glassification or state transformation in which the waste is first mixed with sand and then current is applied to melt the sand. The glassified solid waste product is more stable and thus is easier to dispose of. However, this process does not work well and is extremely expensive to conduct.

Process for removing uranium and other metals from wastes


Devices and methods for inserting a pre-loaded intracanalicular plug for the treatment of dry eyes. In one embodiment, an intracanalicular plug inserter device includes: (a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, the body having: an inserter end, wherein the inserter end has an opening therein; and a distal end, wherein the distal end is longitudinally opposing the inserter end; and (b) a plug ejector, wherein the plug injector comprises: a slider; and a rod coupled to a first end of the slider, wherein the plug ejector is configured to be moveable between a first position adjacent an opening in the inserter end and a second position that is further from the opening. The plug is mounted within the body and abuts first end of the rod adjacent the opening in the inserter end.

Dry eye syndrome affects millions of people each year, causing discomfort, redness, corneal irritation, and contact lens intolerance. Tears normally drain by passing through two lacrimal orifices or puncta (upper and lower) on the medial surface of each eyelid, then through vertical and horizontal canaliculi into the nasal cavity. Dry eye syndrome can be treated by occluding the puncta using punctal occluders or by placing implants into the canaliculi.
Plugs are very tiny, biocompatible devices that can be used to treat dry eyes. There are two common types of plugs depending on their location. Surface plugs sit at the surface of the tear duct and they may be visible just outside the tear duct. Canalicular or intracanalicular plugs, on the other hand, are placed deep inside/within the canaliculus (either the vertical or the horizontal canaliculus).
Currently, intracanalicular plugs are pushed or inserted into the canaliculi using a pair of forceps. This procedure is very cumbersome—for example, an eye doctor (such as, an optometrist, ophthalmologist or another eye care professional), while performing a slit-lamp examination, has to first open a package containing the canalicular plug. This is followed by picking up and inserting the plug into the canaliculus using forceps. Since the plug is a tiny device, it presents a likely scenario where the eye doctor inadvertently drops the plug before it is inserted into the canaliculus. Some eye doctors may also lack the experience to perform the procedure and may be intimidated when trying to insert the plug into the canaliculus because of its small size.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,484 discloses a device for inserting a surface plug. The device includes a metal or plastic wire or any other wiring capable of being flexed. The plug is positioned at a tip of the wire. The wire is embedded within a trough having a backstop for holding the wire in place. An adhesive is applied to the area of contact between the wire and the trough for holding the wire in place. When a button is depressed, it applies a downward force on the wire proximate the backstop. Because one end of the wire is held in place at the backstop, the downward force applied by the button produces a tensile force on the wire, pulling it inwards. Complete depression of the plug ejector causes the withdrawal of the tip of the wire from the plug, thereby releasing the plug. A drawback with the device is that it involves the use of a wire for holding the plug. The patented device is configured for the placement of a surface plug. Since the device is not configured to enter the opening of the canaliculus, it will not push the plug into the canaliculus.
Accordingly, there is a need for a convenient device that can facilitate the placement of an intracanalicular plug into the canaliculus without using forceps or without the use of insertion devices that include wires for holding the plug. Ideally, the device is provided with pre-loaded plugs and does not rely on the eye doctor to load them onto the device.

Intracanalicular dissolvable punctum plug inserter


The inhibitory RNA for inhibiting the expression of ZFAT gene according to this invention is a siRNA comprising a sense RNA having a base sequence of contiguous 20 to 20 bases, preferably 23 to 27 bases, of ZFAT mRNA and an anti-sense RNA having a base sequence complementary to the base sequence of the sense RNA or a shRNA comprising a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with the sense RNA connected to the anti-sense RNA via a loop sequence.

The understanding of molecular identification and molecular mechanisms regarding proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, etc., leads to the understanding of malignant transformation and pathological conditions of cells. Modifications of molecular function (molecular target) focusing on particular genes or signal channels are one of methods for artificially controlling dynamics of cells and normalizing pathological conditions of cells.
Many anti-cancer agents as have been applied so far are derived from natural substances and chemical compounds. They, however, have drawbacks that they may react to cancer cells and to normal cells, too, causing severe side effects. Recent years, therefore, trials have been made of clinical applications of molecular target agents with the attempt to reduce such side effects, however, the current state of such molecular target agents is not yet satisfactory in terms of efficacy and reduction of side effects.
ZFAT gene (zinc-finger gene in autoimmune thyroid disease susceptibility region: ZNF406) identified as a gene associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases is a Zn finger protein coding for a protein composed of 1,243 amino acid residues and having one AT hook domain and 18 Zn finger domains. The distribution of the ZFAT proteins in mouse tissues is characterized in that it is strongly expressed in the thymus gland and the spleen yet the expressing cells are limited to B cells and T cells (Non-Patent Literature No. 1). The mechanism of ZFAT protein is not yet identified.
RNAi (RNA interference) is noted as an effective method for analyzing genetic functions. RNAi is a phenomenon in that a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) consisting of a sense RNA and an anti-sense RNA, homologous to a gene, destroys a homologous portion of a transcription product (mRNA) of the gene, thus leading to inhibition of the expression of a gene having a sequence identical thereto, that is, to inhibition of the synthesis of a protein (for example, Non-patent Literature Nos. 2, 3, 4). In other words, RNAi is a unique method that can search for functions of genes by performing a knock-out of (destroying) mRNA of a target gene having a known sequence.
Further, RNAi can confirm results at a cell level so that it is advantageous to achieve result in more precise way, at lower costs and in shorter time, compared to conventional gene knock-out method that confirms results using animals. In addition thereto, the RNAi method has the merits that results can be expected to be achieved at a low concentration, and only mRNA can be destroyed without affecting any adverse influence on the genomic gene itself.    [Non-patent Literature No. 1] Koyanagi, M., Nakabayashi, K., Fujimoto, T., Gu, N., Baba, I., Takashima, Y., Doi, K., Harada, H., Kato, N., Sasazuki, T., and Shirasawa, S. (2008) Genomics 91, 451-457    [Non-patent Literature No. 2] Fire, A/, et al: Nature (1998) 391:806-811    [Non-patent Literature No. 3] Ui-Tei, K., et al: FEBS Lett (2000) 479: 79-82    [Non-patent Literature No. 4] Elbashir S M., et al: Nature (2001) 411:494-498

Inhibitory RNA for modulating the molecular function of ZFAT gene

Abstract: The inhibitory RNA for inhibiting the expression of ZFAT gene according to this invention decreases a rate of cell proliferation of cancer cells, etc., induces apoptosis of cells including cancer cells, or inhibits an immunoresponse by inhibiting the expression of the ZFAT gene. Therefore, the inhibitory RNA of this invention is useful for development of molecular target agents particularly for cancer cells or immunosuppressive agents.


In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for thermal protection in a power system may be provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for thermal protection in a power system having a plurality of power modules selectively enabled and disabled in accordance with an efficiency policy may be provided. The method may include determining if an operating temperature for the power system is greater than a first threshold temperature. The method may also include enabling one or more power modules disabled in accordance with the efficiency policy in response to a determination that the operating temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems often incorporate power systems with multiple individual power modules to ensure that information handling resources are consistently supplied with necessary electrical current. For example, an information handling system may incorporate a voltage regulator with multiple phases, each phase capable of delivering a particular amount of electrical current. As another example, an information handling system may incorporate a power supply system with multiple redundant power supplies, each redundant power supply capable of delivering a particular amount of electrical current.
Some traditional multi-phase voltage regulators utilize phase shedding, whereby such voltage regulators are configured to cease supplying electrical current from unneeded phases. Phase shedding occurs when electrical current demand decreases to a threshold level in which the multi-phase voltage regulator can disable a phase and still supply the necessary electrical current. In a manner similar to phase shedding in voltage regulators, a traditional power supply system may selectively disable or power down one or more of its redundant power supplies when electrical current decreases to a threshold level in which the power supply system can disable a redundant power supply and still supply the necessary electrical current. Such phase shedding or disabling of power supplies may be desirable in order to maximize power efficiency of a power system.
One disadvantage of disabling power modules (e.g., shedding of regulator phases or disabling of redundant power supplies) is that the current demands of the individual power modules that remain enabled may increase. In other words, a power module that remains enabled may be required to supply an electrical current greater than such power module would need to supply if all power modules were enabled. In supplying such increased demand, a power module may experience increased operating temperatures. As a result of operating at increased temperatures, a power system may experience lower than expected efficiencies, decreased reliability, or decreased lifetime. Traditional responses to exceeding a temperature threshold include forcing a shutdown of the power system, which may lead to undesired downtime or other undesired effects.

System and method for thermal protection in a power system


An electromagnetic pressure control module for a pressure-medium-actuated brake system of a motor vehicle, having at least two channels, the module being controlled electrically in undisrupted operation and pneumatically in the event of a fault in the electrics, and also from a method for operating the electropneumatic pressure control module.

Such a pressure control module is discussed for example in DE 40 30 980 A1. The two-channel pressure control module has a respective channel for a brake actuator of a right-hand wheel and a brake actuator for a left-hand wheel on an axle and contains, per channel, an electropneumatic valve unit which controls a relay valve and which has in each case one inlet valve and one outlet valve and also a backup valve.
In undisrupted operation, i.e. with the electrics and voltage supply intact, depending on a driver's request, an electric brake request signal is input into a control device which outputs control commands for the inlet valve or outlet valve, in order to ventilate or vent a control chamber of the associated relay valve. In the process, a pressure sensor connected to the control chamber of the relay valve measures the working pressure generated in a working chamber of the relay valve and sends a corresponding signal to the control device, in order to realize pressure control for the respective channel. In undisrupted operation, i.e. with the electrics intact, the backup valves are in the blocking position, i.e. a pneumatic brake request signal generated in parallel with the electric brake request signal is not transmitted to the control chambers of the relay valves. The pneumatic brake request signal and the electric brake request signal are generated by a foot brake module.
If the voltage supply fails or there is a fault in the electrics, the control device is deenergized and the backup valves switch under spring loading into their passage position, such that the pneumatic brake request signal switches as control pressure onto the control chambers of the relay valves, which thereupon generate an uncontrolled working pressure as braking pressure in their working chambers.
For separate control of the braking pressure in the two channels, the working chambers of the relay valves are connected to in each case one pressure sensor, such that a separate pressure sensor is available per channel and separate control of the two channels of the pressure control module is realized. However, as a result, the structure of such a pressure control module is relatively complex.

Multi-channel pressure control module having only one pressure sensor

Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


A micropost microcavity device has a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer as well as a small mode volume. The device has an approximately half-wavelength thick low-index spacer [400] sandwiched between two quarter wave stacks [410, 420]. The low-index spacer has a high-index subspacer layer [470] positioned at its center. The subspacer layer has a thickness smaller than a quarter wavelength. As a result, the electric field intensity remains a maximum at the center of the spacer where the high-index subspacer is positioned. A quantum dot or other active region [480] may be embedded within the subspacer [470]. The microcavity devices provide, for example, single photon sources, single dot lasers, low-threshold quantum dot or quantum well lasers, or devices for strong coupling between a single quantum dot and the cavity field which can be used as components of photonic integrated circuits, quantum computers, quantum networks, or quantum cryptographic systems.

Photonic crystal microcavities exhibiting cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) phenomena can be used to construct optical devices such as high-efficiency light emitting diodes, low-threshold lasers, and single photon sources. During the growth process of a solid-state microcavity, a single narrow-linewidth emitter (quantum dot) can be embedded in the device, enabling cavity-field interaction with the quantum dot. The coupling between the quantum dot and the electric field in the cavity enhances the radiative transition rate of the quantum dot. The coupling is enhanced by a strong electric field intensity located at the quantum dot. The coupling is also increased if the volume of the fundamental electromagnetic mode in the cavity is small. Thus, for many applications of microcavities, it is desirable that the microcavity has a high quality factor (Q) and a low mode volume (V) for the fundamental mode. In other words, it is desirable that the ratio Q/V is large. For example, increasing Q/V can lead to a reduction in laser threshold. Controlling the Q/V is also useful in single-photon sources for enhancing the coupling efficiency of the dot to an output mode of interest.
A standard microcavity is the cylindrical micropost design, as illustrated in FIG. 1a. The micropost microcavity has a spacer region 100 positioned between two dielectric mirrors, a top mirror 110 and a bottom mirror 120. One or more quantum dots, or one or more quantum wells 180 are embedded at the center of the spacer region 100. The dielectric mirrors 110 and 120 are distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) made by stacking quarter-wave thick layers of alternating high index (nh) material 130 and low index (n1) material 140. In fabricating the device, alternating high and low index quarter-wave layers are deposited, and the spacer region 100 is made by increasing the thickness of a high index layer to a full wavelength (λ/nh). Presently used quantum dots or quantum well materials are required to be embedded in the high refractive index material (for example, InxGa1-xAs quantum dots or quantum wells embedded in GaAs, with emission wavelength typically ranging from 900 nm to 980 nm, or InxGa1-xAsyN1-y quantum wells embedded in GaAs, with emission wavelength ranging from 1300 nm to 1550 nm). The spacer region 100 is thus preferably a high-refractive index material. To maximize the quality factor, the spacer normally is designed to have a thickness of one wavelength (λ/nh). Light at the device operating wavelength λ is confined to the structure by the combination of distributed Bragg reflection in the longitudinal (vertical) direction, and total internal reflection in the transverse (horizontal) direction. The electromagnetic mode of interest is the fundamental (HE11) mode.
FIG. 1b is a graph of refractive index and corresponding electric field intensity along the longitudinal length of the device shown in FIG. 1a. The electric field intensity is a maximum 160 at the center of the high refractive index spacer region 150. This device, therefore, advantageously combines a high-index spacer and maximum field intensity at the center of the spacer where the active layer (quantum dot or quantum well) is located. However, although the Q factor for this design is high, it has the disadvantage that the mode volume V is large due to the wavelength-thick spacer region, and this large mode volume offsets the high quality factor.
To reduce the mode volume, one could design an alternative micropost microcavity as shown in FIG. 2a. The micropost of FIG. 2a has a high-refractive index spacer region 200 whose thickness is a half-wavelength. An active region 280 comprising, for example, quantum dots or quantum wells, is embedded in the spacer region 200. As with the device of FIG. 1a, the spacer region 200 is sandwiched between top 210 and bottom 220 DBR mirrors made of quarter-wave stacks of alternating high refractive index material 230 and low refractive index material 240. FIG. 2b is a graph of refractive index and corresponding electric field intensity for the design of FIG. 2a. As illustrated in the graphs, the electric field intensity is at a minimum 260 at the center of the high-refractive index region 250. Thus, although the mode volume is smaller in this design, the electric field intensity is at a minimum where the active layer is located. Because the electric field will not interact with the active layer, this design is not useful. Moreover, it is impossible to relocate the active layer to the field maximum, as the maximum is in the low index material.
To obtain an electric field maximum in a half-wavelength spacer, one could design an alternative micropost design as shown in FIG. 3a. Like the design of FIG. 2a, this design has a half-wavelength spacer 300 sandwiched between DBR mirrors 310 and 320 made of quarter-wave stacks of high index 330 and low index 340 materials. The spacer 300 in this design, however, is made of a low index material. As a result, the electric field has a maximum 360 at the center of the low index region 350, as shown in FIG. 3b. Although this design provides an electric field maximum at the center of a half-wavelength spacer, the spacer material has a low refractive index. Because the active layer (e.g., quantum dot or quantum well) needs to be embedded in the high refractive index material, as explained previously, this design is not useful.
In summary, although it is possible to achieve a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer, as shown in the graph of FIG. 1b, this device has a large mode volume. If the mode volume is decreased by using a half-wavelength spacer, however, the resulting device either has a minimum field intensity at the center of the spacer, as shown in FIG. 2b, or has a spacer with a low refractive index that is not suitable for an embedding active layer, as shown in FIG. 3b. Thus, according to conventional design principles known in the art, it is not possible to obtain a micropost microcavity device that has a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer whose thickness is half a wavelength, i.e., it is impossible to locate an active layer at the field maximum of the device with half-wavelength spacer (of either low or high-index). Consequently, although it is desirable to design microcavity devices with higher Q/V values, the design trade-offs have prevented the realization of this goal.

Half-wavelength micropost microcavity with electric field maximum in the high-refractive-index material

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A respirator has a bypass gas flow and respective valves in the inspiration and expiration lines for setting the gas flow through these lines. A control unit actuates the valves so that a respiratory cycle is produced and such that the bypass gas flow is maintained during expiration. The expiration pressure is identified by a pressure sensor. When this expiration pressure falls below a prescribed value, a new inspiration phase is triggered. To improve this triggering, the patient gas flow is identified by a flow meter, and the prescribed pressure value is varied dependent on the identified patient gas flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a respirator of the type wherein expiration pressure is identified by means of a pressure sensor, and a new inspiration phase is triggered when the expiration pressure falls below a prescribed value.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Respirators are known which include an inspiration line and an expiration line connectable to the respiratory paths of humans or animals, with the inspiration line having a first valve for setting the gas flow through the inspiration line, and the expiration line having a second valve for setting the gas flow through the expiration line. A control unit actuates the two valves in coordination so that a respiratory cycle having an inspiration phase and an expiration phase can be produced, the first valve remaining open to such an extent during the expiration phase that an adjustable bypass gas flow is produced. At least one pressure sensor identifies the expiration pressure and a trigger unit triggers a new inspiration phase during the course of the expiration phase when the pressure in the expiration line, as measured by the pressure sensor, falls below a prescribed value. A commercially available respirator is manufactured by Siemens known as Servo Ventilator 900 D (described in the Instruction Manual for the Servo Ventilator 900 D, Second German Edition, October 1988) which has an adjustable trigger level for the pressure in the expiration line. The trigger level is the relative underpressure which determines the pressure at which an inspiration shall be triggered. This pressure at which an inspiration is triggered is referred to as the trigger limit. The pressure in the expiration line is measured, and if the measured value falls below the trigger limit which has been set by virtue of, for example, a patient producing a corresponding underpressure due to an attempted inspiration, the respirator automatically switches from the expiration phase to the inspiration phase. In many instances, a positive end-expiration pressure (PEEP) is used during the expiration phase in order, for example, to prevent atelectasis. The PEEP range of adjustment, for example, may be from 0 through 50 mbar. The trigger level is thus dependent on the PEEP level. If, for example, a PEEP level of +10 mbar is selected and a trigger level of -2 mbar is selected, this means that a patient must produce an under pressure of 2 mbar, in comparison to the setting of the PEEP level, in order to trigger a breath. In other words, the trigger limit is +8 mbar.
The trigger level can be set to a fixed value by a rotary knob. Such setting can become difficult under certain circumstances. If the trigger level is set too low, i.e., if the spacing from the PEEP level to the trigger limit is selected too small, pressure fluctuations in the expiration line may cause (incorrectly) the triggering of a new breath, which should, of course, be avoided. Conversely, a trigger level which is too high, i.e., too large a spacing exists between the trigger limit and the PEEP level, can result in the patient having to exert a considerable force when attempting to breath, in order to generate the necessary underpressure in the expiration line. This is also undesirable. Due to the gas flow in the inspiration line which occurs even during the expiration phase, known as the bypass gas flow, the patient could initially inhale this gas quantity without the occurrence of a pressure drop in the expiration line.
The use of such a bypass gas flow is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,116. The operation of a respirator with bypass gas flow is described in "Option 50" for the Model 7200a Ventilator manufactured by Puritan Bennett, Inc. This option is known as "flow-by". In contrast to the pressure-dependent triggering of a new breath described above, triggering dependent on gas flow is employed in this option. The gas flow in the inspiration line and in the expiration line is measured by means of two gas flow sensors, and a net gas flow is calculated therefrom. This corresponds to the patient gas flow, i.e., to the gas flow that is either absorbed when the patient inhales, or is expelled when the patient exhales. The net gas flow is zero during the respiratory pause, i.e., when the patient is neither inhaling nor exhaling.
When the patient begins to inhale, part of the bypass gas flow proceeds into the lungs of the patient, and the exhalation gas flow is correspondingly reduced. The net gas flow, or the patient gas flow, thus becomes negative. When this value reaches an adjustable sensitivity value, a new breath is triggered. For safety reasons, pressure-dependent triggering is always additionally provided as a back-up. These two trigger methods, which operate in parallel, make the setting and the manipulation of the ventilator even more complicated.

Respirator having a trigger sensitivity dependent on the patient gas flow


A system and method are provided for employing a hand-held wireless device to assess a vulnerability of a wirelessly-accessible target network to intrusion and/or cyber-attack. The system and method are directed at providing discrete, covert and fully-automated wireless access to the target network via one or more wireless access points and to assessing characteristic of the one or more wireless access points and the target network in support of a vulnerability assessment. The hand-held wireless device is configured to collect appropriate data regarding the wirelessly-accessible network, including network and portal scans, and higher-level programmed data collection. The hand-held wireless device is further configured to analyze the collected data and to produce at least a first level vulnerability assessment of the target network without interaction by the user.

1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for using hand-held wireless devices to discretely scan for wireless access points and to collect various details regarding the scanned wireless access points and the networks that are accessible via those scanned wireless access points. The collected various details may include basic security implementations, signal strengths and other like details regarding the scanned wireless access points and networks.
2. Related Art
All manner of wireless devices are used to access various networks and network-connected systems via random wireless access points. There has emerged a need for entities to accurately assess certain characteristics regarding specific wireless access points and the networks that are accessible via those wireless access points.
These assessment capabilities can be used to a number of beneficial purposes. Among the benefits of assessing characteristics of a particular wireless access point is to assist commercial enterprises operating local networks, government agencies and law enforcement entities in performing overall vulnerability assessments on networks, and the systems connected thereto, that may be accessed through one or more wireless access points. Vulnerability assessments can be used to determine weaknesses in particular target local networks, or devices connected to the target local networks, in order to evaluate susceptibility of the a particular target network, or individual device in communication with the particular target network, to cyber-attack.
Conventionally, vulnerability assessments have been carried out on specific networks, or otherwise in specific network environments, using desktop computer systems or laptop computers. For example, existing programs for personal computers are available to perform extensive vulnerability scans on networks of computers. One example of such a system was developed by Tenable Network System and is marketed under the trade name Nessus® as a proprietary comprehensive vulnerability scanning program. These vulnerability assessment systems include capabilities to detect, for example, potential vulnerabilities on tested network systems that may allow an intruder into the network to gain access to, and potentially exercise control of, sensitive data in a particular targeted network system. These vulnerability assessment systems may also detect other areas of exposure including, for example, weaknesses in password protocol, to include existence of common, default or missing passwords.
Significant drawbacks exist in these conventional vulnerability assessment systems. Such conventional vulnerability assessment systems are generally very extensive requiring excessive time, and manipulation by a trained operator, in order to provide an accurate assessment. These conventional vulnerability assessment systems also generally require significant computing power. It is for this reason that the conventional vulnerability assessment systems are generally hosted on a large and conspicuous specifically-configured desktop and/or laptop computer. These computer systems are rendered more conspicuous when they are introduced into the network/workplace environment by a trained operator whose manipulation of the system is generally required to provide effective assessment and analysis of the results.
Adding to the above physical drawback in employing such conventional systems and methods is that the use of these clearly visible conventional devices, most often introduced into the network environment by the equally conspicuous outside assessor, can cause disruption in the network/workplace environment in which the evaluation device is employed. In such instances, users and administrators alike have been known to modify systems and/or individual behaviors when it is clear from the use of conspicuous methods and systems that some sort of assessment is underway.
This modification in behavior by individuals operating monitored systems and networks can have adverse effects on the results of any evaluation, which can be at least in part attributed to the conspicuously-undertaken nature of the assessment. The results of any evaluation can be, for example, improperly skewed, thereby lessening the effectiveness of the assessment.
Additionally, use of additional conspicuous evaluation devices in certain secure environments can cause an individual assessor to be harassed, or otherwise bothered, by individual system operators and/or regular security personnel, the latter including being independently detained while access and equipment protocols receive heightened scrutiny.
Another conventional manner by which vulnerability assessments are undertaken is through installation of specific hardware appliances installed on-site to perform routine vulnerability scans on the connected network and any devices connected to the network. Drawbacks to this conventional solution include that such hardware installations tend to be less agile and are rarely accessible by entities outside the specific organization, such as a company, that operates or maintains the local network.

Automated wireless vulnerability assessment using hand-held wireless devices


A surgical system for assisting a user in performing a surgical procedure at a surgical site, comprising a tool having a checkpoint, a pointer having a tip, and a localizer to determine a position of the pointer within a field of view. A memory comprises identification data associated with a plurality of tools. A controller is configured to prompt the user to position the tip of at the checkpoint, to receive position data from the localizer associated with the pointer within the field of view, to compare position data associated with the pointer against the identification data of the memory to determine an identity of the tool, and to present the user with the identity of the tool.

Surgical robots are frequently used to assist medical professionals in carrying out various conventional surgical procedures. To this end, a surgeon may use a surgical robot to guide, position, move, actuate, or otherwise manipulate various tools, components, prostheses, and the like during surgery.
It will be appreciated that surgical robots can be used to assist surgeons in performing a number of different types of surgical procedures. By way of illustrative example, surgical robots are commonly used in procedures involving the correction, resection, or replacement of degenerated joints to help improve patient mobility and reduce pain. For example, in hip replacement procedures, the surgeon replaces portions of the patient's hip joint with artificial prosthetic components. To this end, in total hip arthroplasty, the surgeon typically removes portions of the patient's femur to accommodate a prosthetic femoral component comprising a head, and resurfaces the acetabulum of the pelvis with a reamer to facilitate installing a prosthetic cup shaped to receive the head of the prosthetic femoral component.
Depending on the specific procedure being performed, the surgeon may attach different types of tools to the surgical robot to help facilitate approaching the surgical site, removing portions of joints and/or bone, installing prosthetic components, and the like. For example, an end effector which supports a reamer tool may be used to resurface the acetabulum of the pelvis, and an end effector which supports an impactor tool may be used to facilitate installing the prosthetic cup into the reamed acetabulum of the pelvis. Here, the surgical robot helps keep the reamer tool and the impactor tool aligned relative to the surgical site along a trajectory, and the surgeon closely monitors the trajectory and depth of reaming and impacting to ensure proper installation and alignment of the cup into the reamed acetabulum.
Depending on the configuration of the prosthetic components, the impaction tools, and the surgical robot, ensuring that the cup is implanted properly can be complicated by a lack of visibility and limited access to the surgical site. Moreover, maintaining a set trajectory can be difficult with certain approaches and surgical techniques. In order to accommodate different approaches and techniques, toolsets are provided to afford the surgeon with options for a particular type of tool. By way of example, a reamer toolset may comprise different sizes, shapes, and/or styles of reamer tools for the surgeon to select from for a particular surgical procedure, and an impactor toolset may comprise different sizes, shapes, and/or styles of impactor tools for the surgeon to select from for a particular surgical procedure.
Because different tools of a given toolset have respectively different configurations, the surgeon generally needs to input the selected tool's identity into one or more controllers in communication with the surgical robot so that the surgical robot can properly maintain the position, orientation, and/or trajectory of the tool with respect to the surgical site. Here, it will be appreciated that the process of properly inputting the identity of the selected tool into the controller takes time and may be susceptible to human error, such as where a toolset comprises a large number of visually-similar tools.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for addressing one or more of these deficiencies.

Surgical systems and methods for identifying tools guided by surgical robots


A universal control unit for driving a brushed or a brushless DC motor, such as the type commonly employed in a vehicle fuel pump or other vehicle application. According to exemplary embodiments, a universal control unit includes a processing device and an output stage, and is connected to either a brushed or a brushless DC motor in a manner that accommodates the two different motor types so that a common or universal controller can be used.

There are many different types of electric motors including those that are AC or DC, brushed or brushless, sensored or sensorless, and that serve open- or closed-loop applications, to cite a few examples. Some common electric motor applications for vehicles include fuel pumps, blowers, cooling fans, etc., but electric motors have been used throughout the vehicle in other applications as well. In the case of fuel pumps, most electric fuel pump motors were traditionally brushed DC motors, however, there is currently an effort to transition from brushed to brushless DC motors. The algorithms and circuitry that control a brushed DC motor are somewhat different from those that control a brushless DC motor, thus, different software and hardware are usually required when switching from one motor type to the other.
It would be desirable to develop a universal control unit that is capable of driving either a brushed or a brushless DC motor so that the system can be used with either motor type, thereby reducing costs and facilitating reusability.

Universal control unit for brushed or brushless DC motor