An object is to provide a non-aqueous inkjet ink composition which offers excellent fine print reproducibility, solid fill property, and anti-mottling property on printed matters, even when it is printed, at high speed, on materials whose printing surface is constituted by a polyvinyl chloride polymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, or other vinyl polymer, etc., and which also offers excellent rub resistance, solvent resistance, discharge stability, and resolubility of dried coating film, and has a high flash point. To achieve the object, a non-aqueous inkjet ink composition is provided which contains an acrylic resin, a ketone resin, a pigment, and a pigment dispersant, as well as propylene carbonate and diethylene glycol alkyl ether as an organic solvent.

An increasing number of recent signboard ads feature logos and patterns of vivid colors and sophisticated designs, as well as photographic images of products and human faces. In addition, a considerable number of signboards are now large in size, so that they can give strong impact on the viewers.
Traditionally, signboard ads are produced by cutting out colored sheets in the shapes of letters and attaching them to generate logos, or by using various types of printing presses to create photographic images, in general. However, these production methods present problems in that they require a lot of time and cumbersome steps, as well as large-scale equipment such as printing presses.
Accordingly, attempts are made to utilize the inkjet method, which allows designs created on a personal computer to be printed directly on a base material, to make it easier to produce signboards featuring vivid images.
One feature of the inkjet method is that it accommodates a wide range of materials to be used as base materials for printing, thus providing a convenient way to print on sheets made of both hard and soft materials such as paper, polymers and metals. Particularly when printed signboard ads are installed outdoors and thus have a range of performance requirements including light weight, excellent strength and durability, resistance to rain, and affordable cost, the inkjet method presents a great advantage in that it makes it easy to print on polymer sheets that have these properties.
In addition, recent years have seen the emergence of super-wide-format inkjet printers having a printing width of 2,000 mm or even greater, and these inkjet printers permit production of large-size printed matters with a single swoop, instead of printing smaller segments and attaching them together as before, and this is one of the reasons that are making signboard production much easier.
In general, tarpaulins are commonly used as polymer sheets for signboard ads. It should be noted that a tarpaulin is a composite sheet produced by laminating the top and bottom of a polyester or polyamide core material with a polyvinyl chloride polymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, or other vinyl polymer.
Among the inkjet ink compositions used for printing on these composite sheets are non-aqueous inkjet ink compositions based on organic solvents (or more recently, environmentally-friendly organic solvents). Non-aqueous inkjet ink compositions require use of materials having good wettability, drying property, fixing property, etc., with respect to polyvinyl chloride polymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and other vinyl polymers that are used as the surface materials for composite sheets.
Known methods to meet this requirement include using alkylene glycol monoether monoester and cyclic ester as an organic solvent (refer to Patent Literature 1), using a vinyl polymer as a binder resin, and an organic solvent that contains a specified quantity of environmentally-friendly polyalkylene glycol dialkyl ether (refer to Patent Literature 2), and blending specified quantities of diethylene glycol ethyl methyl ether and propylene carbonate as an organic solvent (refer to Patent Literature 3).
In recent years, however, the demand for higher printing speeds has given rise to the problems of insufficient filling of solid areas (hereinafter referred to as "solid fill"), poor discharge stability and mottling, as well as the problem of solidification of ink in the waste tube, when conventional non-aqueous inkjet ink compositions (especially non-aqueous inkjet ink compositions using environmentally-friendly organic solvents) are printed.
In addition, prior art is associated with maintenance problems, because when the ink remains in the printer for an extended period of time, the ink deposits on the maintenance members of the printer become dry and break away, to accumulate in, and consequently clog, the waste tube, etc.


One or more systems and methods for knowledge pattern search from networked agents are disclosed in various embodiments of the invention. A system and a related method can utilizes a knowledge pattern discovery process, which involves analyzing historical data, contextualizing, conceptualizing, clustering, and modeling of data to pattern and discover information of interest. This process may involve constructing a pattern-identifying model using a computer system by applying a context-concept-cluster (CCC) data analysis method, and visualizing that information using a computer system interface. In one embodiment of the invention, once the pattern-identifying model is constructed, the real-time data can be gathered using multiple learning agent devices, and then analyzed by the pattern-identifying model to identify various patterns for gains analysis and derivation of an anomalousness score. This system can be useful for knowledge discovery applications in various industries, including business, competitive intelligence, and academic research.

The present invention relates to new and critical information discovery, processing, and analysis. In particular, various embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and a method for knowledge pattern search from networked agents, wherein the knowledge pattern search is associated with a pattern-identifying analysis model construction and application and real-time data analysis. Furthermore, various embodiments of the present invention are also related to constructing knowledge patterns identified through data mining and text mining, supervised or unsupervised machine learning, and pattern recognition methods.
One of the disadvantages of using conventional search engines for a computer-networked environment (e.g. data network such as the Internet, intranets, LAN's, and etc.) is that they typically sort documents based on the popularity of documents among linked or relevant documents. The conventional popularity-based relevance ranking in conventional search engines for a computer-networked environment is often based on the assumption of linked documents or databases (e.g. Google's PageRank algorithm is largely based on how many in-coming links a page has), and not based on semantics among the documents or databases. Therefore, it may not satisfy search needs or relevance among pieces of information, if the links among the documents or databases are not available. For example, documents in a typical enterprise among different business categories, which are not cross-linked like in the world wide web, may not show up in search results together coherently, even if there are pieces of information in the contents (e.g. semantics) of the documents which render them to be mutually relevant.
Machine-based understanding of semantics and extracting meaning from the semantics among pieces of information to discover events, patterns, and trends can be a challenging task, which is currently only performed in small scales for a small amount of information. At best, there are a number of extant tools for data and text mining in the advanced search engines such as keyword analysis and tagging. These conventional search engines may employ search assistant and language tools, but only offer suggestions of keywords as a user types a certain term into a search engine. However, these conventional keyword analysis and tagging are unable to provide pattern identifications or predictive capabilities to a user.
Furthermore, there is increasing need to share data mining results and search indexes across multiple organizations and businesses that require analysis of open-source data, which may comprise uncertain, conflicting, partial, and unverified data. Organizations and businesses increasingly comprise culturally and geographically-diverse partners with rapidly changing team members and various organizational structures. Because real-time information present in computer networks, including structured data from databases and unstructured data such as text, is enormous and often distributed among millions of computers around the world, a method to collect relevant data to a centralized location has been devised (e.g. a web crawler), but these methods are generally expensive to implement and maintain.
Therefore, the conventional search engine business is generally expensive to operate and maintain, because computer systems associated with the conventional search engine has to copy and store all the data locally before it can index them. In order to respond to this challenge, more powerful information analysis tools which can quickly extract meaning and intent from an origin of data may be beneficial. It may be even more beneficial, if the data mining results or indexes can be accessed across a data network without leaving local computers, or other origins of localized data.
Because a popular piece information is not usually new or unique, the conventional method of searching information in a computer-networked environment may not be useful for certain types of information discovery applications in which a user seeks new, unique, and/or interesting information which may be not popular or well-known by other users. Searching for new, unique, and/or interesting information regardless of their popularity may enable more accurate predictions for early warnings systems for data anomaly detection, competitive intelligence, and business analysis. Furthermore, utilizing localized data mining results or search indexes in each learning agent (e.g. a local computer, an electronic device connected to a local computer, and etc.) to produce collaborate search returns without moving large amounts of data among different learning agents may also be beneficial.
Therefore, a novel system and a related method, which can discover useful information patterns and data anomalies based on semantical analysis and collaborative search returns of various pieces of disjointed yet new and unique information from multiple information sources (i.e. "learning agents"), may be highly beneficial for users in the field of data anomaly detection, competitive intelligence, and business analysis.

System and method for knowledge pattern search from networked agents


A multi-catalytic material that includes a polyelectrolyte membrane and methods of preparing the same are provided herein.

The development and use of novel polymeric membranes as suitable permselective diffusion barriers has been an engineering challenge in the area of new protective materials. These membranes must provide high water vapor permeability and be impermeable to chemical warfare agents (CWA).
The present invention provides solutions to the challenges in the field by providing multicatalyst polyelectrolyte membrane (MC-PEM) containing materials that may transmit water vapor therethrough. These materials may further prevent the transmission of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) through such materials by decomposing and/or degrading the CWAs.

Multicatalyst polyelectrolyte membranes and materials and methods utilizing the same

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


A package for dispensing solid products, such as solid crystal deodorant, includes a first hollow main body portion having a uniform cross section throughout its length. Both ends of the package are open; and a slide member is located within the main body portion. The bottom end of the main body portion of the package has an inwardly turned flange to prevent the movement of the slide member outwardly from the main body portion through the bottom end. The solid crystal deodorant is mounted on the slide member, and is configured to freely move from the bottom end of the main body portion outwardly through the upper end. Drain holes are placed through the slide member to permit fluid, such as water, to pass downwardly from the sides of the crystal deodorant and out through the holes when the package is stored in an upright position. A chamber in the slide member is filled with a sponge-like material for receiving fluid which passes from the crystal deodorant through the holes in the slide member.

A number of personal care products, which are solid at room temperature, are packaged in tubular containers constructed to expose a small amount of the product at the open upper end of the container. Typically, these containers have a cap over the open end to enclose the product when it is stored or not in use. Products of this type typically are lipstick, stick deodorant, eye color, facial blushes and the like. The typical containers for these products usually have the product attached to or mounted on a lower platform, which is moved up and down in the main hollow container by means of a rotational screw-like apparatus. The product is moved upwardly beyond the upper edge of the main container when it is to be used. Some of these containers permit the product to be retracted back into the container when it is not in use. Most products of the type mentioned above, while they are solid at room temperature, are somewhat soft gels, of a wax-like consistency. Such products comprise colloidal solutions which have set into semi-solid jellies.
Three patents which are directed to packages for gel-type deodorant sticks and lipsticks are the U.S. patents to Small U.S. Pat. No. 1,969,331 and Lorscheidt U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,311, and the British patent specification No. 681,439. These three patents all are directed to "push-up" dispensers for either deodorant or lipstick, in which a piston is mounted inside an elongated cylinder for movement within the cylinder. The deodorant gel or lipstick then is carried by the piston, which may be pushed upwardly out of the cylinder from the open bottom of the cylindrical container to present the deodorant stick gel or lipstick for application.
None of the products of the prior art, which are mentioned above and which are known to applicant, however, are intended to be wetted with water prior to their use. Most of them contain a substantial amount of moisture, inherently bound into the product; so that external application of water to permit use of the product is not required.
In the field of personal deodorants, however, solid rock-like crystal deodorants are gaining increasing acceptance. In contrast to gels, crystals comprise mineral bodies which have a regular repeating, interlinked molecular, geometric form. These crystal deodorants are made in a variety of shapes, typically from postassium alum, ammonium alum or other similar alum salts, the molecular structure of which has assumed a regular, repetitive interlinked geometric form. They are hard and somewhat brittle. To use such crystal deodorants, the user either immerses them briefly in water, or places them under running water from a tap. The crystal then is rubbed over the area of the body to which the deodorant is to be applied. After use, the still wet crystal typically is placed on a sponge or in a storage container, where it is allowed to dry out. When such crystal deodorants are wet, they tend to be somewhat slippery, and sometimes slip out of the hands of the user. Because they are brittle, if they fall onto a hard counter top surface or a hard floor, parts may chip off, or the crystal may shatter.
It is desirable to provide a push-up container for use with solid crystal deodorants, which overcomes the handling disadvantages of solid crystal deodorants and permits use of such deodorants in a uniquely designed push-up package.


A hybrid fluorescent-LED lighting system comprising a controller, LED elements, fluorescent lamp, and a color/brightness sensor, wherein the color/brightness sensor measures a combined light output of both the fluorescent lamp and the LED elements. A method for controlling the hybrid fluorescent LED lighting system includes receiving a request for brightness/color, setting a fluorescent lamp output to a particular brightness level, setting output of LEDs to a particular brightness level, measuring a combined output of the fluorescent lamp and LEDs; and adjusting the output of LEDs until the total output of the fluorescent lamp and LEDs matches the request for brightness/color. Adjusting the output of LEDs may include the step of driving a specific spectrum range of the LEDs as necessary in order to fill-in variances in a spectrum range of the fluorescent lamp. The method further allows modifying the color of light output. The method also provides a smooth transition from a current state of the lighting system to the received request for brightness/color by over-driving the LEDs beyond a steady state design rating of the LEDs.

Traditional airplane interior lighting systems typically use fluorescent lamps. This technology currently provides the best efficiency available, requiring less electrical power, and producing less heat than other methods. However, fluorescent lamps can have a significant variance in brightness and color, and these properties can change with age. This can be quite noticeable in a system with multiple fluorescent lamps, and can detract from an interior design. Additionally, control of fluorescent lamps is limited. Typical installations will have three modes: off, bright, and dim, without any smooth transitions between. Continuously dimmable systems are available, but with a significant cost and weight penalty, and such systems still cannot be dimmed smoothly to and from an off condition.
Dynamic LED lighting systems (as used, for example, on the Boeing 787 aircraft) utilize multi-color LED elements to allow finely variable brightness and to introduce color-changing capabilities. Additionally, most dynamic LED systems include a calibration feature to ensure consistency across the installation. Calibration may be performed during manufacturing, or the system may include self-sensing to perform automatic and continuous calibration during operation.
The primary drawback to this type of dynamic LED lighting system is that the LEDs currently in use are not particularly energy-efficient when the design goal is to create large amounts of white light. Use of dynamic LED lighting systems increases power demands and waste heat, which in turn increases weight in the electrical power generation, distribution, light housings, heat sinks, and cooling systems, in comparison to a purely fluorescent-based system.
Previous consideration has been made to using a hybrid system that uses both LEDs and fluorescent lights. Typically, when full brightness is needed, white light is also desired. The fluorescent lights are utilized to improve efficiency during peak demand times. The LED elements are used for lower brightness levels, when the inefficiency is less of an issue, and when the full spectrum color variability would be used to provide enhanced mood lighting not possible with the fluorescent lamps. In effect, they operate as if they were two separate systems that are installed side-by-side, and current designs are not taking the full benefit of using them together.
A hybrid system has not been implemented, primarily because the "bright" fluorescent mode still exhibits all the consistency problems of a traditional fluorescent system. LED systems were introduced as a means to solve these problems as well as provide highly distinguishing mood lighting. Their combination together in the currently available hybrid designs has never attracted much interest, however, because such current designs seem to have the worst of all problems associated with both technologies.
It is therefore desirable to take a new approach of marrying the technologies together as if they were a single light source to allow for an improved hybrid design that takes advantage of the strengths of both technologies, rather than to follow the traditional method of operating both technologies as stand alone items that just happen to share the same enclosure.

Color-compensating Fluorescent-LED hybrid lighting


Access transistors of memory cells in a DRAM are formed in a solid phrase epitaxial single crystalline layer on the surface of a silicon substrate. A bit line extending over the surface of an element isolation and insulation film is formed by patterning a polycrystalline silicon layer extending to the single crystalline silicon layer as a layer. A stacked capacitor is connected to one source/drain of the access transistor through a conductive layer extending to the single crystalline silicon layer and over a field oxide film. Part of the stacked capacitor extends over the bit line. The connection region of the bit line, the capacitor and the source/drain is formed above the element isolation and insulation film, so that the source/drain region of the access transistor can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to improvement of miniaturized structures of memory cells and bit line structures in DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, the demand for semiconductor memory devices has been rapidly expanding due to the remarkable spread of information equipment such as a computer. Furthermore, in a functional aspect, there is a need for a semiconductor memory device having a large storage capacity and capable of operating at high speed. Accordingly, there has been developed the technique of increased integration density and fast response or high reliability of a semiconductor memory device.
Semiconductor memory devices comprise a DRAM capable of randomly inputting/outputting storage information. Generally, a DRAM is structured by a memory cell array which is a storage region for storing a large amount of storage information and peripheral circuits required for input/output with an external device.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a structure of a conventional general DRAM. In FIG. 15, a DRAM 50 includes a memory cell array 51 for storing a data signal of storage information, a row and column address buffer 52 for receiving an externally applied address signal for selecting a memory cell constituting a unit storage circuit, a row decoder 53 and a column decoder 54 for designating a memory cell by decoding the address signal, a sense refresh amplifier 55 for amplifying and reading out a signal stored in the designated memory cell, a data in buffer 56 and a data out buffer 57 for data input/output and a clock generator 58 for generating a clock signal.
The memory cell array 51 occupying a large area on the semiconductor chip is formed by a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix for storing unit storage information.
FIG. 16 is an equivalent circuit diagram of 4 memory cells included in the memory cell array 51. The illustrated memory cells are so-called single-transistor single-capacitor-type memory cells each structured by one MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) transistor 15 and one capacitor 16 connected thereto. As the structure of this type of memory cell is simple, it is easy to enhance integration density of a memory cell array, so that it is widely used for a DRAM with a large storage capacity.
Memory cells of DRAMs can be divided into several types according to the structure of the capacitor for storing electric charge for information. A so-called stacked type memory cell is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-2784.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a structure of a stacked type memory cell stated in the article. As shown in FIG. 16, the memory cell includes one MOS transistor 15 and one capacitor 16. The MOS transistor 15 includes one pair of n.sup.+ impurity regions 7 and a gate electrode 17 constituted by part of a word line 17. The capacitor 16 has a layered structure of a lower electrode 8, a dielectric layer 9, and an upper electrode 10. The lower electrode 8 of the capacitor 16 is connected to one of the n.sup.+ impurity regions 7 of the MOS transistor 15. The capacitor 16 has its one end extending over the gate electrode 17 of the MOS transistor 15 and the other end extending over a field oxide film 3. It is intended to increase the electric charge storage capacity by forming the capacitor 16 in such a stepped configuration to increase the opposing area between the lower electrode 8 and the upper electrode 10. A bit line 14 is connected to the other n.sup.+ impurity region 7 of the MOS transistor 15. The bit line 14 is placed over the capacitor 16 with an interlayer insulating film 19 interposed therebetween. The bit line 14 is connected to the n.sup.+ impurity region 7 through a contact hole 12 formed in the interlayer insulating film 19.
However, an increased storage capacity in a DRAM has been needed more strongly, and correspondingly, miniaturization of an element structure of memory cells is required. The element structure of the MOS transistor 15 is further miniaturized with the need for miniaturization of the memory cell structure. One way for miniaturizing the MOS transistor 15 is to shorten the gate length and another way is to reduce the width of the impurity regions 7. In a stacked type memory cell as stated above, however, the lower electrode 8 of the capacitor 16 is directly in contact with one of the impurity regions 7 of the MOS transistor 15. Therefore, if the width of the impurity region 7 is reduced, the contact area between the lower electrode 8 of the capacitor 16 and the impurity region 7 is reduced, resulting in increase of the contact resistance. Accordingly, the width of the impurity regions 7 is controlled by the contact characteristic with the lower electrode 8 of the capacitor 16. A problem of an soft error arises, if the width of the impurity region 7 is large. A soft error is a phenomenon in which when .alpha. rays enter the silicon substrate, a malfunction of the device is caused. That is, when the .alpha. rays enter the silicon substrate, pairs of electrons and holes are generated. Then, the generated electrons enter the n-type impurity region 7 and are caught within the capacitor 16. If such a phenomenon is caused when there is no electron within the capacitor 16, it changes from a state without electrons to a state with electrons and inversion of information is caused, so that erroneous information is read out from the memory cells. Such an occurrence of a soft error is in proportion to the surface area of the n-type impurity regions 7, 7.
The bit line 14 is connected to the other impurity region 7 of the MOS transistor 15 through the contact hole 12. The contact hole 12 formed in the interlayer insulating layer 19 is formed by using photolithography involving mask alignment and an etching method. Therefore, the width of the impurity region 7 connected to this bit line 14 needs to be formed wide enough to absorb a mask alignment error at the time of forming the contact hole 12.
As stated above, in the conventional memory cell structure, it is difficult to reduce the width of the one pair of impurity regions 7, 7 of the MOS transistor 15.
Additionally, the bit line 14 is formed in such a largely stepped portion that it extends above the capacitor 16 and the contact portion thereof reaches a position of the substrate surface. Therefore, it is not preferable that a bit line with a miniaturized line width is formed in such a largely stepped region because coverage of bit line material becomes insufficient and accuracy of patterning the bit line material is decreased.

DRAM with memory cells having access transistor formed on solid phase epitaxial single crystalline layer and manufacturing method thereof


A system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer-implemented method for improved document signing involving generating secure document copies of a document to be signed in response to receiving actions to perform on the document. In particular, a web service can transmit a document for signing to a plurality of client devices such that the document is viewable through a graphical user interface while the underlying content of the document remains non-editable. Responsive to receiving actions from different client devices, secure document copies of the document can be generated that include additional content form the different client devices.

The use of electronic signatures to sign documents has greatly increased in the past few years. Electronic signatures can allow multiple parties in a transaction to efficiently sign documents from remote locations, while maintaining confidence that the party signing the document is the actual signer. These electronic signature systems, however, can limit the efficiency of a transaction when multiple edits are made to the signing documents during the transaction. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the invention has been made.

Document signing using action responsive secure document generation


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for direct access to cache memory. Embodiments include receiving, by a direct access manager that is coupled to a cache controller for a cache memory, a region scope zero command describing a region scope zero operation to be performed on the cache memory; in response to receiving the region scope zero command, generating a direct memory access region scope zero command, the direct memory access region scope zero command having an operation code and an identification of the physical addresses of the cache memory on which the operation is to be performed; sending the direct memory access region scope zero command to the cache controller for the cache memory; and performing, by the cache controller, the direct memory access region scope zero operation in dependence upon the operation code and the identification of the physical addresses of the cache memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods and apparatuses for direct access to cache memory.
2. Description of Related Art
Cache memories may be used to store data from main memory of a computer. Typically, a cache controller is used to manage and control access to a cache memory. Commands received by the cache controller may specify a memory address of the main memory. In response to receiving a command, a cache controller may use a cache directory to determine if a block of memory is within the cache memory. That is, the software providing the command to the cache controller does not know whether the block of memory is within the cache memory. If the software wants to flush or invalidate the cache memory, the instructions from the software to the cache controller may be inefficient because the software does not know with certainty which memory blocks are active in the cache at any particular moment in time.

International Business Machines Corporation


A citrus fruit pressing device comprises two pressing elements for performing a pressing action on a piece of citrus fruit, The pressing elements have surfaces for contacting different sides of a piece of citrus fruit to be pressed and are movable with respect to each other in two opposite directions, i.e. towards and away from each other. The pressing device also comprises at least one knife for performing a cutting action on a piece of citrus fruit, through the peel of the piece The at least one knife is arranged at a side position with respect to the surface of the pressing elements for penetrating into the piece from a side which is free from contact to the surfaces of the pressing elements. The at least one knife is arranged at a side position with respect to the surfaces of the pressing elements.

Well-known examples of citrus fruit are oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Citrus fruit is eaten fresh, pressed for juice, or preserved in marmalades, for example. The present invention provides solutions in the field of pressing juice from citrus fruit. Various types of citrus fruit pressing devices are known, wherein the devices range from hand-operated devices comprising a convex pressing surface surrounded by a channel for receiving juice from pre-cut halve pieces of citrus fruit to fully automated devices which are adapted to extract juice from citrus fruit without human intervention.
Pressing citrus fruit by hand is a rather bothersome job. An additional disadvantage of the process is that it is practically impossible for a user of the hand-operated device to keep his/her hands clean. Also, the device which is used in the process is quite difficult to clean, particularly a ring-shaped sieve which is part of the device and which is used for covering the channel and receiving pulp. It is a fact that juice from citrus fruits, especially orange juice, is very much appreciated by consumers. Orange juice has a sweet taste and is known for being healthy, containing a considerable quantity of vitamin C. However, due to the disadvantages as mentioned, people often decide to refrain from making the juice when they actually would like to do so, especially when there is not too much time, which may be the case at breakfast time in the morning during working days, for example.
In order to facilitate the task of pressing halve pieces of citrus fruit on the pressing surface, semi-automated citrus fruit pressing devices have been developed. In such devices, an element comprising the pressing surface is automatically rotated when a user presses down a halve piece of citrus fruit on the element. As a result, making juice from citrus fruit requires less effort from a user, but a user is still compelled to perform various actions, including extensive cleaning actions after use of a semi-automated device.
Fully automated devices are adapted to process whole pieces of citrus fruit. In particular, the devices are adapted to cut the pieces of citrus fruit in half, press the halve pieces of citrus fruit against a pressing surface, collect the juice which is obtained in this way, and discharge the juice to a receptacle such as a glass. Fully automated devices are very easy to use, but they are not suitable for domestic use due to their large size. Also, the devices comprise a lot of parts and require a lot of work when it comes to cleaning. An example of fully automated devices is found in GB 2 216 784 A.
A device which is adapted to perform an automatic pressing action on citrus fruit and which can be small enough for being used in a normal kitchen is known from WO 2012107771 A1. Among other things, the known device comprises a press means, an infeed means, a waste receptacle and a motor. The press means includes two portions, namely a ram portion and an extracting portion located a spaced distance apart from each other inside a housing of the device. The ram portion and the extracting portion are located along the same axis, so that pressing one or more articles inside the device can be realized by positioning the articles between the ram portion and the extracting portion and moving the ram portion towards the extracting portion.
The movement of the ram portion is driven by the electric motor which is also located inside the housing. The extracting portion includes a blade means for cutting the article to provide an outlet for the juice and a channel to transport the juice away from the pressed article. The force of the press means typically expels the juice from the article. A number of blade means may be provided in order to have a number of channels.
Pressing whole pieces of citrus fruit in a relatively small device would not be so much of a challenge if it was not for the fact that the peel of the citrus fruit contains oil which should not be mixed with the juice, as the oil ruins the sweet taste of the juice. Although the device known from WO 2012107771 A1 appears to function in practice, it has been found that oil is often released from the peel in such quantity that the taste of the juice is not acceptable. A reason for this effect is found in the fact that at a certain stage of a pressing action, the peel which is punctured by the blade means rips at various places close to the blade means, due to the deformation of the piece of citrus fruit and the forces acting on the peel, as a result of which oil is released, which mixes with the juice and is discharged through the blade means along with the juice.

Citrus fruit pressing device and method for pressing juice from a piece of citrus fruit


A device designed for modifying the length of a golf club shaft. The device is a three-piece mechanism with a bottom part bonded into the top end of a tubular golf club shaft, a top part provided within the grip, a threaded screw provided within the top part and threadably connected to the bottom part such that movement of the screw will adjust the distance between the top part and bottom part thereby adjusting the club length. The extension device is hidden within the shaft and grip and does not require a custom grip or shaft.

One of the more important factors in golf club equipment is the club shaft. The shaft transfers the golfer's power to the club head. Golf club shafts are available in various types of materials and structures. Steel shafts are stronger, last longer, more durable and generally less expensive than graphite or carbon fiber shafts, and are usually made from carbon steel, although stainless steel is sometimes used. The steel shafts are available in stepped or rifle designs. The graphite shafts are more expensive and less durable; however, the lighter weight creates greater swing speed for more power. Also available are multi-material and titanium shafts.
When installing a shaft, the proper length must be accurately determined. The length can be as important to a golf shaft as is the flex or torque. Most measurements of the correct shaft length for the player involve a determination of a particular player's height and distance of his hands to the floor. Shaft length will impact whereon the clubface the ball will be consistently struck, and often, an incorrect shaft length is the main cause of a golfer to alter his natural swing arc in order to make optimum impact. According to most research, if ball impact is but one inch off-center this can equate to a 14% loss of carry distance, so it is vitally important that the length of the club be accurately fitted for each particular player.
If it is seen in the fitting process that a player needs to adjust his club length, such as adding or removing a half inch, inch or two inches to the length of the club, it would be highly desirable to lengthen his present club(s) rather buy and install new shafts. Typical driver shaft lengths are from 43 to 47 inches.
Prior art shafts having adjustable lengths have been used for many years for a wide variety of applications. Each of these applications has its own functional and aesthetic requirements for the shaft construction which is employed. As a consequence, a number of different mechanisms and devices have been developed to satisfy the particular application requirements. A majority of golf club shaft extension patents are directed to use mainly as putters, or to extending shafts of an existing set of clubs to accommodate growing children. While the teachings of the present invention may be adapted to these types of applications, the focus is rather to make a club adjustment that is rigid, secure, and easily fastened. Additionally, the ability to adjust the shaft length without the need for a custom grip or a custom made shaft is desirable along with the device being hidden within the shaft and grip such that it is not distracting to the player.


A firearm suppressor with a recoil booster may be provided. In one example, the suppressor may include a housing, a back end member coupled to the housing, and a recoil booster coupled to the back end member. The recoil booster may be configured to couple to a firearm. The recoil booster may include a coil spring, a rear cap coupled to the back end member, and a piston configured to slide relative to the rear cap. The rear cap may include a main body at least partially disposed within the back end member and including a first bearing surface to receive a first end of the spring and a flange extending forward from the main body and maintained within an inner circumference of the spring. The piston may include a second bearing surface configured to receive a second end of the spring. Additional embodiments and related methods are provided.

Firearms, such as pistols or rifles, utilize expanding high-pressure gases generated by a burning propellant to expel a projectile from the weapon at a relatively high velocity. When the projectile, or bullet, exits the muzzle end of the weapon's barrel, a bright, "muzzle flash" of light and a high-pressure pulse of combustion gases accompany it. The rapid pressurization and subsequent depressurization caused by the high-pressure pulse gives rise to a loud sound known as "muzzle blast," which, like muzzle flash, can readily indicate both the location of the weapon and the direction from which it is being fired. In some situations, it is desirable to minimize or eliminate the muzzle blast by suppressing the flash and/or eliminating or substantially reducing the amplitude of the muzzle blast.
Sound suppressors operate to reduce muzzle blast by reducing and controlling the energy level of the propellant gases accompanying the projectile as it leaves the muzzle end of the weapon. These devices typically include a tubular housing that includes chambers with features configured to control the flow of gases to reduce the noise produced by the propellant gases. The rear end (e.g., the end of the suppressor closer to the firearm) of such suppressors typically include a mechanism for removably attaching the device to the weapon. However, such sound suppressors can add weight to the end of the muzzle of the firearm. The weight of the sound suppressor may interfere with operation of the firearm as well as increase the effects of recoil. Reducing such effects is desirable.


A system and a computer implemented method for interior pinning in a macro block of an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes receiving child level information of the macro block including at least a location of a logic leaflet, receiving parent level information including at least edge direction information for pin connection and routing resource values of each slot of the macro block at each metal layer, and selecting a pin location based on the child level information and the parent level information.

The present disclosure relates generally to interior pinning for large synthesis macro blocks and, more specifically, to a hierarchically aware interior pinning.
Large Synthesis Blocks (LBS) are able to create pinning solutions that are best for their own internal logic, while their hierarchical parents are able to create a pinning solution best suited for its needs.
Particularly, internal information and specifications about the child level architecture of the internal portion of a macro block can be collected and used to select a pinning solution that complements the particular internal structure of the macro block. For example, pins can be placed that allow for internal reduction of wire length and usage as well as improved signal transmittance speed. Alternatively, when connecting one macro block to another macro block or to other devices at a parent level there are provided methods and systems that allow for pinning solutions to be implemented that provide benefits and connection solutions that take into account consideration and information related to the parent level. For example, a macro block may adjust edge pinning to best connect that macro to other macros or devices on an integrated circuit. Thus, child consideration can be taken into account for the internal pinning and then after that is complete one can then provide an additional layer of edge pinning and wiring adjustments to potentially help connect with the parent layer
However, although there are a multiple of each type of pinning approaches known, there is not a balancing provided between the two but rather one must select between one or the other or one and then the other. Accordingly, there is a desire for an approach and design that can bridge the gap to create a solution that takes both the child and parent's needs into consideration before computing a pinning solution.

Hierarchically aware interior pinning for large synthesis blocks

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In a general formula (1), each of R1 and R2 represents any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group, a halogen group, —CF3, an alkoxy group, and an aryl group. M represents an element that belongs to Group 9 or Group 10. Here, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is preferable in the alkyl group. A fluoro group is particularly preferable in the halogen group. An alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is preferable in the alkoxy group. A phenyl group is particularly preferable in the aryl group. Iridium is particularly preferable among the elements that belong to Group 9, and platinum is particularly preferable among the elements that belong to Group 10. The general formula (1) is inserted.

A light-emitting element including a layer containing a light-emitting substance between a pair of electrodes is used as a pixel, a light source, or the like, and is provided in a light-emitting device such as a display device or a lightening system. An excited light-emitting substance emits fluorescence or phosphorescence when current is applied between a pair of electrodes of a light-emitting element.
In theory, internal quantum efficiency of phosphorescence is about three times as large as that of fluorescence in a case of current excitation, when fluorescence and phosphorescence are compared with each other. Therefore, it is considered that light-emitting efficiency is increased by using a light-emitting substance which emits phosphorescence than using a light-emitting substance which emits fluorescence, and a substance which emits phosphorescence has been developed so far.
For example, a metal complex having iridium as its central metal is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to Patent Document 1, high-efficiency organic light-emitting device can be obtained by using the metal complex.
As described above, a light-emitting element which operates efficiently can be obtained by using a metal complex. However, metal such as iridium or platinum which is used as a central metal of a metal complex is expensive. Therefore, there is a problem that cost of raw materials for manufacturing a light-emitting element is high in a case of using a metal complex.    Patent Document 1: Published Japanese translation of PCT international application, No. 2005-506361

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Organometallic complex, and light-emitting device and electronic appliance using the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A sensor is provided in one illustrative embodiment that includes a microcontroller that executes a program that generates quadrature output signals that indicate the change in a parameter being measured. As an example, the sensor could comprise a linear position transducer. The quadrature output signals can comprise square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase, each transition of the signals representing a unit of change in position of the measured mass. According to another aspect, the quadrature signals can be placed into phase with one another to indicate an error condition. In another aspect, user inputs can be provided to allow the user to select parameters such as frequency, update rate, and/or resolution. Moreover, at least one of the sensor inputs can be utilized to load calibration factor data for the sensor.

The present invention relates generally to linear position sensors, and, more particularly, in one embodiment, to a linear position sensor capable of providing a quadrature output signal that can comprise two square wave signals that are ninety degrees out of phase.
Sensors are utilized to indicate the value of a measured parameter, such as position, temperature, pressure, rotation, velocity, and the like, by providing an output signal. As an example, a linear position sensor can indicate the position of a movable mass. For example, such linear position sensors can indicate the position of a movable machine element, the location of a movable piston in a cylinder, or the level of a movable liquid in a container.
A magnetostrictive linear position transducer is a type of linear position sensor where a phenomenon known as magnetostriction is utilized to determine the position of the movable mass. In particular, in one such sensor, a control circuit transmits an interrogation signal along a wire that is adjacent the length of a waveguide, the waveguide being made from a magnetostrictive material. A magnet is movable along the waveguide and is connected to or otherwise follows the movable mass. When the interrogation signal reaches the location of the magnet, a magnetostrictive effect is created in the waveguide causing a strain wave and a electromagnetic wave to be generated and to travel along the waveguide. A detector is provided near the end of the waveguide to detect when one of these waves has reached the end of the waveguide and to cause an electrical return signal to then be generated.
A circuit or processor can then compute the amount of time elapsed between the sending of the interrogation signal and the generation of the return signal. The amount of time computed is directly proportional to the distance of the magnet from the coil end of the waveguide. The speed at which the magnetostrictive wave will travel along the waveguide is known (and is a function of the material of the waveguide). Accordingly, multiplying the time computed by the known magnetostrictive speed constant will result in the distance of the magnet along the waveguide. The distance can then be provided as an absolute value in an analog or digital format to a control device, such as to a programmable controller or the like.
However, certain control systems are configured to be used with sensors that provide incremental signals, such as quadrature signals for example. A linear encoder is one sensor device that typically provides a quadrature output signal which indicates the change in position of the movable element, rather than the absolute position of that element. In particular, such a device can provide a pair of square wave signals which are approximately ninety degrees out of phase. Each rising and falling edge of these two square wave signals represents an increase or decrease in position. The quadrature signals are provided to a control system, and a counter in the control system can keep a running tally of the increases and decreases, so that it continually has knowledge of the position of the movable element. The counter can increase or decrease the count according to the rising and falling edges of the two signals (the A and B signals). Whether the A signal leads or lags the B signal indicates whether the position is increasing or decreasing and whether the counter should increase or decrease its count. Using the position count, the control system can then control the process or machine at hand.
While many magnetostrictive position sensors provide digital or analog output signals, it is desirable to provide a magnetostrictive position sensor that provides a quadrature output such that it can be utilized with those control devices and control systems that require such signal formats as inputs. In particular, it is desirable to provide such a quadrature output sensor and other quadrature output devices that are accurate, that are low in cost, that provide selectable or programmable features, that minimize control circuit components, that indicate when errors have occurred, that provide an output representing a recent measurement, that account for waveguide variance, and/or that are easily modified as desired. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a quadrature output linear position sensors and other sensors that are easily calibrated.
At least one embodiment of the present invention provides an improved quadrature output sensor.
Furthermore, at least one embodiment of the present invention provides a quadrature output sensor that is accurate, low in cost, provides selectable features, minimizes control circuit components, can indicate when errors have occurred, provides an output representing a recent measurement, accounts for waveguide variance, is easily modified as desired, and/or is easily calibrated.
In particular, a linear position sensor is provided comprising a magnetostrictive waveguide, a signal detector configured to generate a return signal from a magnetostrictive response of the waveguide, and a control module configured to provide a position output signal in response to the time delay between the interrogation and return signals. In addition, the sensor comprises a microcontroller in communication with the control module, and a program configured to be executed by the microcontroller. The program is adapted to determine a number of quadrature pulses to be provided in response to the change of the position output signal and to generate that number of quadrature pulses at two outputs of the controller by providing approximate square wave signals at those outputs. The square waves provided at the outputs are approximately ninety degrees out of phase from one another.
In addition, a method in a sensor is provided for generating incremental output signals indicating the change in a parameter. The method comprises providing a signal representing the value of the parameter, and using a program to determine a number of transitions to provide based upon the change in the value of the parameter. The method further comprises using the program to switch at least one incremental output signal based upon the number of transitions determined, such that the number of transitions in the incremental output signal represents the change in parameter.
Moreover, a programmed method in a sensor is provided for generating quadrature output signals indicating the change in a measured parameter. The method comprises determining a transition count based upon the change in the measured parameter, and determining the direction of the change in the parameter. The method further comprises generating a pair of quadrature pulse signals such that the number of transitions in the quadrature pulse signals is substantially equal to the transition count, and such that the phase of the pulse signals is offset based upon the direction determined.
In addition, a method is provided for providing output signals in a quadrature output device. The method comprises providing a measurement signal indicating the value of a measured parameter, and generating a pair of signals having a number of transitions, the number of transitions in the signals having a relation to the measurement signal. The method further comprises detecting whether an error has occurred, and, if an error has occurred, causing a simultaneous transition of the pair of signals.
Furthermore, a method for providing output signals from a sensor is provided. The method comprises receiving at least one input from a user indicating a user selection, modifying a program setting based upon the user selection, and determining the value of a measurement parameter. The method uses the program to generate a pair of signals having a number of transitions, the number of transitions in the signals having a relation to the measured parameter.
Moreover, a method for calibrating a sensor is provided. The method comprises testing the sensor to determine calibration factor data, and connecting a calibration device to at least one sensor input that is normally used to receive a command signal from an external control device. The method also comprises loading calibration factor data from the calibration device over the at least one sensor input.
Furthermore, a method is provided for producing a quadrature output from a position transducer having a magnetostrictive waveguide. The method comprises determining a time to produce an interrogation signal such that a response signal will be received from the waveguide prior to the receipt of a strobe signal from a control device. The method further comprises generating an interrogation signal at the determined time, and receiving a response signal, wherein the time difference between the interrogation signal and the response signal is proportional to the measured position. The method further comprises receiving a strobe signal from a control device, and, in response to the strobe signal, generating a quadrature output signal based upon the time difference such that the quadrature output signal represents the change in the measured position.
Still other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described details of illustrative embodiments simply for the purposes of illustration and for describing currently contemplated best modes. As will be realized, other variations and embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of a given claim, and particular aspects, details, embodiments, principles, and advantages mentioned should not be viewed as restricting a given claim. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive in nature.

Programmed method and apparatus for quadrature output sensors


A coupling, comprised of a tube with an attached tubular shell, for attachment with external components. The tube has a first end, second end and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough. The tube further includes an intermediate portion between the first and second ends having spaced radially outwardly extending annular beads. The tubular shell has a first portion axially confined between the annular beads and has an inner surface with a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein one of the first and the second inner axial ends has a non-rounded shape. The shell has a second portion extending axially from the first portion to a free end and has an inner surface spaced radially and coaxially outwardly of the exterior of the tube second end to define an annular recess therebetween and is adapted to be inwardly deformed toward the tube second end.

The field of art to which this invention pertains includes that of hose couplings for attachment with fluid conductors.
Fittings are used as connectors in order to link fluid conductors with each other. Fittings generally include a tubular element, or tube, having two ends. The first tube end has an outer surface designed to maintain a swivel nut in a predetermined axial location while allowing the swivel nut to rotate. The second tube end has an outer surface which affixedly retains a tubular shell that circumferentially surrounds this end.
The usually externally hexagonally shaped swivel nut typically has internal threads that serve for attachment to the male port end of a fluid conductor. The swivel nut is sealingly fastened onto the noted male port end with a torquing device to a predetermined tightness. During this fastening process the inner end surface of the swivel nut comes into contact with its adjoining tube end such that friction between the two components will cause the entire tube to rotate with the swivel nut. Typically, prior art fittings include a hexagonal holding surface provided on the tube itself so that the user can hold the tube, via this holding surface, in a static or fixed position while tightening the swivel nut. By virtue of holding the tube in a static position, the desired angle, or orientation of the fitting is maintained. A cost disadvantage associated with the tube holding surface is that this entails another machining or forming process in order to provide such a hexagonal surface on an otherwise cylindrical tube.
The second end of the tube has an end portion that is adapted to be inserted into a conduit. The surrounding shell, which is attached to the second end of the tube, surrounds the conduit. The conduit, or course, is the fluid conductor that is used to transfer fluid from one location to another. Typically, this conduit is flexible so that the fluid can be transferred in multiple directions or angulations without the awkward bending of a rigid pipe. In order to attach the conduit to the fitting, the shell is inwardly deformed so that the intermediate conduit portion is compressed between the shell and the tube.
Rather than providing the tube element with a hexagonally-shaped outer surface, some prior art fittings provide a hexagonally-shaped holding surface on the shell itself. Examples of such a shell are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,212 to Vyse, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,799 to Chapman et al., and in published PCT Application No. WO 94/18487 to Shiery. These prior art references have hexagonal outer surfaces on the shell which are formed during the inward deformation, or crimping, of the shell onto the conduit. The disadvantage of this type of shell is that the shell can still rotate relative to the conduit and tube while it is being held.
Shells can be fixedly attached to the tube by several methods. As is well known in the art, the inner axial end of the shell can be inwardly deformed, or crimped, onto the tube so that it is compressively attached. Other methods include radially compressing an inwardly directed shoulder of the shell into an annular groove in the tube. This is shown in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,212 to Vyse.
Another method of affixing the shell to the tube includes axially compressing an inwardly directed shoulder of the shell between two radially outwardly extending protuberant surfaces, such as annularly formed beads. Examples of such an attachment are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,883 to Frank; U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,126 B1 to Juedes; and Japanese Pat. No. 5-118483 to Funato. Although these constructions may axially limit the movement of the shell relative to the tube, a disadvantage arises when the tube starts to rotate with the nut during its torquing. The installer will try to hold the shell static in order to prevent its rotation and linear misalignment. Although the shell has been inwardly compressed onto the conduit, it may still rotate relative to the conduit (and/or tube) if its contact with the tube does not prevent same. For example, if the inner surface of the shell shoulder is circular, the shell may be able to rotate relative to a cylindrical tube.
The present invention provides a coupling for attachment to a conduit. The coupling has a longitudinal axis and is comprised of a tube and an attached tubular shell. This invention overcomes the obstacle of shell rotation relative to the tube, and tube movement during fixed attachment of the coupling to a mating end.
A feature of the present invention is to provide coupling where the tube has a first end, a second end and a longitudinal bore extending from the first end to the second end which is adapted for insertion into the conduit. The tube further includes an intermediate portion between the first and second ends having spaced first and second radially outwardly extending annular beads. The coupling is further comprised of a tubular shell having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is axially confined between the first and second annular beads and has an inner surface with a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein one of the first and the second inner axial ends has a non-rounded shape. The shell second portion extends axially from the first portion to a free end and has an inner surface spaced radially and coaxially outwardly of the exterior of the tube second end to define an annular recess therebetween and is adapted to be inwardly deformed toward the tube second end.
A further feature of the noted coupling includes having at least one of the first and second non-rounded shaped inner surface axial ends being an elliptical shaped undercut located at the proximal end of the first portion. Another feature includes having an abutting portion of the first bead being permanently deformed into a similar shape as the adjoining elliptical shaped undercut as a result of formation of the second bead.
Still another feature of the noted coupling has at least an axial portion of the tube being other than straight. A further feature of the noted coupling has the tubular shell first portion having an exterior surface with a plurality of angularly spaced flat portions forming retaining flats.
Another feature of the noted coupling has the tubular shell first portion being comprised of two parts, a first surrounding part and an annular insert. The surrounding part has a longitudinal segment extending from the tubular shell second portion and a substantially radial segment having an end abutting the outer surface of the tube with an outer surface in contact with the first radially outwardly extending annular bead. The annular insert is axially symmetrical and has an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the longitudinal segment. The annular insert further has a first annular surface in contact with the inner surface of the radial segment, and a second annular surface in contact with the second radially outwardly extending annular bead.
Still yet another feature of the noted coupling has the at least one non-rounded shaped inner surface of the tubular shell preventing the shell from rotating relative to the tube as a result of the formation of the second bead. The formation causes the permanent deformation of the abutting portion of the adjacent one of said first and second beads into a similar or conforming shape with said non-rounded shaped inner surface.


In a system for capturing an image of a document having a characterizing indicium associated therewith, the invention includes the step of storing in the system a plurality of document templates. Each document template defines locations of a first type and second type information blocks on a corresponding one of a plurality of document types. The document templates are accessible by an indicium value. The invention further includes storing in the system a table relating the first type information block to first type processing parameters and a second type information block to second type processing parameters. The invention further includes the step of capturing an image of the document and storing the image in an image buffer. Then, a characterizing indicium associated with the document is recognized by the system. Thereafter, one of the plurality of document templates is accessed in response to a value of the recognized characterizing indicium associated with the document. Then, a first type block of information is selectively accessed from the image of the document in the image buffer, at a location defined by the document template. Thereafter, first type processing parameters are selectively accessed from the table corresponding to the first type information block. Using the first type processing parameters so accessed, the information from the first type block is processed. This adaptive processing can include a selected image compression algorithm suited to the particular type of image in the data block. The adaptive processing can further include the preparation of an output image data object file which is routed to a recipient or to a work flow in response to the particular document type represented by the indicium associated with a document. In this manner, the image of the document can be adaptively processed by the system.

1. Technical Field
The invention disclosed broadly relates to data processing systems and more particularly relates to improvements in the storage manipulation and retrieval of digitized images.
2. Background Art
A digitized image requires a large amount of storage, e.g., a simple binary coded 81/2.times.11 typewritten page requires 3.74 million bits of storage when scanned at 200 lines per inch in both dimensions. In the usual terminology of computer storage, this is 467.5 kilo bytes. This compares with approximately 3 kilo bytes of character data that is required to store a typical typewritten page of text.
To reduce the storage and transmission requirements in holding and moving these pictures through a system, encoding is usually applied. Coders in which the data is reduced while allowing a perfect reproduction of the information are referred to as information preserving encoders.
Compression in the spatial domain usually is a run length type of encoding which maps the sequence of picture elements; a(1), a(2), a(3) . . . into a sequence of pairs (c(1),1(2)), where c denotes the color, black or white for binary, and 1 represents the length of the sequence. The number of bits required to store 1, obviously has to be greater than 1 for this method to be useful. Suppose, for example that we reserve two bits, using standard binary counting to describe run lengths, that is we can describe lengths up to four bits. Then, it is required to have three bits of storage, per run length transition. For example, the sequence 1111000110011001 that requires 16 bits, would be represented by the following pairs (1,11),(0,10),(1,01),(0,01),(1,01),(0,01),(1,00); 111010101001101001100. As can be seen from the example, if there are a large number of transitions, the approach does not compress the data, but rather expands the data. Of course, in well-behaved sequences, the compression significantly reduces the data, e.g., 1111111111110000 reduces to (1,11 ),(1,11),(1,11),(0,11) or 111111111011. The problem, as illustrated, indicates that compression may not reduce data if there are a large number of transitions, but may in fact expand the data. The problem is acute in valuable documents, e.g., checks, stock certificates, and negotiable instruments of all types. These documents are designed to make it difficult to copy, or reproduce for the obvious reason of decreasing the probability of fraud.
The ability to decrease the storage and data transmission requirements for images of complex documents is the subject of this patent application. While negotiable instruments are the examples used, the concept is not limited to these types of documents.
In some applications it is not necessary to have information preserving encoders. In these applications it is only necessary to have a "good enough" picture or image to obtain the relevant information. In these situations, the source documents may be kept in a remote low cost storage facility, in case of legal issues, or the document may be required as a reference for some period of time but is not critical enough to require perfect reproduction. A personal check for a small amount is an example. The bank may want a readable image in its archives for two or three billing cycles, but safekeeping is the responsibility of the person who wrote the check and reference to a readable picture in the archive is sufficient to resolve any minor balancing concerns.
This invention addresses processing of these documents when preserving all the information is not necessary. The invention addresses large volume efforts where it is desirable to process documents without operator intervention and it is necessary to adjust the processing automatically as a function of a key characteristic of the document or control card.
Various characteristics of the document can be used, including, but not limited to: color, mark sense characters, MICR, OCR, bar code and text recognition.

Method and apparatus for adaptive image processing by recognizing a characterizing indicium in a captured image of a document

International Business Machines Corporation


Gene expression profiling and hierarchical clustering analysis readily identify differential gene expressions in normal renal epithelial cells and renal cell carcinomas. Genes identified by this analysis would be useful for diagnosis, prognosis and development of targeted therapy for the prevention and treatment of conventional renal cell carcinoma.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of cancer research. More specifically, the present invention relates to gene expression profiling for human renal cell carcinoma.
2. Description of the Related Art
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents a major health issue. The American Cancer Society predicts 31,900 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone in the year 2003, with 11,900 people dying of the disease. When clinically localized or even locally advanced, renal cell carcinoma can be surgically resected for cure using a variety of approaches. With metastatic progression, however, renal cell carcinoma is incurable, and existing systemic therapies are largely ineffective in impacting disease response or patient survival. The lack of effective systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma is, in part, due to a fundamental lack of understanding of the molecular events that result in cellular transformation, carcinogenesis, and progression in human kidney.
The advent of gene array technology has allowed classification of disease states at molecular level by examining changes in all mRNAs expressed in cells or tissues. Gene expression fingerprints representing large numbers of genes may allow precise and accurate grouping of renal cell carcinoma. Moreover, large scale gene expression analysis have the potential of identifying a number of differentially expressed genes in renal cell carcinoma compare to normal renal epithelial cells. These genes or markers may further be tested for clinical utility in the diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
Thus, the identification of novel renal cell carcinoma markers to be used for detection, diagnosis and development of effective therapy against the disease remains a high priority. The prior art is deficient in understanding the molecular differences between renal cell carcinoma and normal renal epithelium. The present invention fulfills this need in the art by providing gene expression profiling for these two types of tissues.

Methods for detecting, diagnosing and treating human renal cell carcinoma

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


One embodiment of a tricycle (20) having a spine frame (22), supported by a rear wheel (34) and a pair of steerable front wheels (36), and supporting a recumbent seat (42) pivotably attached at its rear. A pedal boom (44) extends forwardly of the spine (26) and supports a pedal crank assembly (46). The front wheels each support a lateral arm (28) with the front wheel pivotably attached at the distal end and an angular projection (80) attached at the proximal end. A pivot (78) connects each angular projection to the spine, allowing the lateral arms and attached front wheels to fold to a stowed position alongside the spine. Another pivot (84) connects the boom to the spine, allowing the boom fold back to a stowed position against the spine. In the travel position, a clamp arrests the angular projections, and can arrest the boom and seat. The tricycle is collapsible to several levels of compactness. Other embodiments are described and shown.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally related to small land vehicles and, more particularly to recumbent tricycles.
2. Description of Related Art
Recumbent tricycles or trikes are closely related to recumbent bicycles, but have three wheels instead of two. The added wheel eliminates the need for the rider to balance to keep the vehicle upright, almost eliminating the possibility of falling from the vehicle, a major cause of injury with two-wheeled bicycles. A recumbent tricycle is a tricycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position and which has a pedal crank in the front area of the tricycle. The reclined, legs-forward position of the rider's body presents a smaller frontal area and delivers an aerodynamic advantage over conventional tricycles. Additionally the rider's weight is distributed over the rider's back and buttocks on a seat that can be shaped for comfort. Recumbent bicycles and means for collapsing vehicle frames have been described in the literature as well as various patents. An example of a recumbent bicycle having adjustable-length frame and adjustable-angle seat is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,494. An example of a recumbent bicycle having under-seat steering connected by a steering link is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,070.
Recumbent tricycles are manufactured using the range of manufacturing methods used for bicycles, including frame fabricating materials and methods and the use of the range of standard bicycle components including frame parts, wheels, brakes, gears, pedal cranks and suspension parts. In addition there are further methods and components that are often used on both recumbent tricycles and recumbent bicycles, including seats adjustable in position and angle, chain pulleys and chain sleeves to contain side and vertical movement of the long chain, and an adjustment between the seat and pedals for riders of differing leg length. Examples of recumbent tricycles are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,354,055; 5,069,469 and 4,548,421.
One type of recumbent tricycle has a seat in front of a rear wheel, a pair of forward steering or front wheels and a pedal crank assembly at the front, and is known as a "tadpole" tricycle. A common type of tadpole tricycle has a spine frame, supported by a rear wheel and a pair of steerable front wheels. A pedal boom extends forwardly of the spine and supports the pedal crank assembly. A drive system connects the crank assembly with the rear wheel. The spine supports the seat. Each front wheel is each supported from the spine by a lateral arm having a proximal end and a distal end with the front wheel pivotably attached at the distal end. The frame includes one or more rear support members or "chainstays" supporting the rear wheel. A linkage means maintains the front wheels generally parallel irrespective of orientation and can include a pivoted radius arm having a pivot end and an arc end wherein the arc end connects a pair of tie-rods. The tie-rods are usually of round cross-section with each end having threaded connections providing a means to adjust their length and adjust the front wheels parallel. Methods of recumbent seat angle adjustment include the use of adjustable length stays between pivots at the rear of the seat and pivots on the rear frame portion. An example of this type is the tricycle known as the Terratrike Path, shown in Non-Patent Document 1 (WizWheelz, Mich., USA, Terratrike Owners Manual, February 2008, particularly page 14, item "Adjusting the seat angle recline" and the adjacent image).
A vehicle known as the Challenge Concept Trike has tie-tods of aerofoil shape, which can lose their aerodynamic advantage if not aligned with tricycle travel. This vehicle has lateral arms attached rigidly to the spine and is shown in Non-Patent Document 2 (Velo Vision, United Kingdom, Velo Vision March 2007, pp 12-15, "Three Wheel Challenge", particularly on page 14 the image "below right" showing the "steering tracking adjustment" on the Challenge Concept tricycle). The radius arm has two arm parts supported from the forward side of the pivot and continuing around the pivot to the arc end at the rear. Each arm part supports a tie-rod connection at the arc end and fasteners between the arm parts allow for fine adjustment in the width of the tie-rod connection points. This adjustment can allow fine adjustment to align the front wheels parallel while the tie-tods remain aligned with tricycle travel.
Tadpole tricycles designed for racing but not intended to be collapsible have a frame geometry that includes lateral arms that are generally normal to the spine in plan, to provide the most strength and rigidity for the least weight. These high performance tricycles have a low seat for efficient aerodynamics and a low centre of gravity to allow high speed cornering. For maximum efficiency, the drive system has a minimum of diversions and of chain pulleys.
Recumbent tricycles are necessarily long and wide to accommodate a reclining rider and they occupy a large amount of space for storage and for transporting in a motor vehicle, bus, train, an aeroplane or the like. They are difficult to fit through gates and other narrow places. This is a long recognized problem and there have been many attempts to design a tadpole tricycle that collapses easily and quickly to a compact form without compromising the performance properties of the tricycle when in use.
One type of collapsible recumbent tricycle is the type having one or more separation points in the frame with fasteners or coupling devices to hold the frame together. An example of this type is the tricycle known as the Greenspeed GTO, shown in Non-Patent Document 3 (Greenspeed, Australia, GTO Packing Instructions (Disc Brake Version), 6 Aug. 2004, particularly item 7). This type can be collapsed by removing parts including the seat from the frame and separating the frame portions. Also, this type can be collapsed to a small size but collapsing or re-assembling this type requires mechanical skill and usually tools, and takes a considerable time. The collapsed form has separated parts, including the seat, that need to be handled separately to transport.
It can be easier to collapse bicycles and tricycles where a hinge is used in the frame instead of a frame separation point. This method is common in folding bicycles and examples of a locking hinge for a folding bicycle are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,440,948 and 4,911,458.
Another type of collapsible recumbent tricycle is the type which collapses by removing the seat and then, via a hinge in the spine, folding the rear portion of the tricycle over the front portion of the frame. An example of this type is the tricycle known as the Greenspeed GT3, shown in Non-Patent Document 4 (Greenspeed, Australia, GT-series Folding Trike Owner Manual, (undated), particularly on page 2 the image "Tricycle Anatomy" and on page 8 the item "Regular Folding"). Another example of this type of tricycle is the tricycle known as the ICE Vortex, shown in Non-Patent Document 9 (Inspired Cycle Engineering Ltd, UK, ICE 2010 Owner's Manual, 11 Feb. 2010, particularly section 2.2 Folding and Unfolding, pages 4-6).
In the Vortex, the hinge pivot is oriented to place the rear wheel generally horizontal when the rear portion of the tricycle folds over the front portion of the frame. This folding means allows the use of a larger rear wheel while potentially decreasing the tricycle folded height. In all tricycles of this type the hinge opens at the bottom and so the weight of the rider applies a force to open the hinge if the hinge locking devices should ever release while being ridden, a significant problem. The embodiment shown in Non-Patent Document 9 includes an example of under-seat steering wherein the handlebars have provision to be unclamped to be adjusted and the upright handlebar ends folded down to be generally horizontal to allow space for the rear wheel. Collapsing this type produces a still bulky assembly that requires some mechanical skill and considerable time to reassemble the removed parts.
The collapsed tricycle has reduced length but approximately the same width. In some embodiments the main collapsed assembly can be awkwardly rolled on the two front wheels but the width of the tricycle severely limits the usefulness of this function. The collapsed tricycle still requires considerable storage space and the collapsed form has separated parts, including the seat, that need to be handled separately to transport.
As can be appreciated, inwardly retracting the paired wheels of any type of tricycle can significantly reduce the width of a tricycle. Achieving this in an effective and reliable way has been an ongoing pursuit. Examples of various vehicles having pairs of wheels that can retract inwardly are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,207,407; 7,059,621; 6,742,797; 6,575,486; 5,284,355 and 4,767,130.
Yet another type of collapsible recumbent tricycle is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,196 (Langkamp). This type has stub members having a proximal end and a distal end extending from each side of the spine with pivots at the distal ends supporting the lateral arms. The pivots allow the lateral arms to fold from a travel position, with distal ends spaced from the spine, to stowed positions alongside the spine and the attached wheels to a stowed position. This type can be collapsed by removing the seat, and moving the lateral arms and thereby the attached front wheels to stowed positions. Collapsing this type of tricycle reduces the width but does not reduce the length of the tricycle.
The combined stub members and lateral arms occupy a significant vertical area. This vertical area precludes a low seat height and a low centre of gravity. The drive system diverts under this area and uses multiple chain pulleys. The lateral arms are arrested in the travel position by separate fasteners through clearance holes. Any movement at these fasteners or at the lateral arm pivots is amplified at the distal ends of the lateral arms by approximately the ratio of the lateral arm length to the distance between the pivot and the fastener. This can lead to tricycle steering problems and instability especially when travelling at high speed. This type also includes separate fasteners securing the seat, resulting in a plurality of fasteners on the tricycle and this type can take a considerable time to collapse and re-assemble. The separate pivot assemblies for each folding action also provide no mutual re-enforcement or part sharing for weight reduction. The collapsed tricycle still requires considerable storage space and the collapsed form has separated parts, including the seat, that need to be handled separately to transport.
Yet another type of collapsible recumbent tricycle is known as the JM Recumbents JMX2. This vehicle is shown in Non-Patent Document 5 (JM Recumbents, Mexico, Users Manual—JM X2, [undated], particularly Fig. 3 on page 3) and Non-Patent Document 6 (JM Recumbents, Mexico, Folding Recumbent Trikes, catalogo.pdf, [undated], particularly on page 5 the image of the collapsed frame showing holes on the stub members and on the lateral arms for fasteners to arrest rotation of the lateral arms). This type additionally includes a pivot for folding the boom back and against the spine, means for removing the rear wheel, and a pivot for folding the rear chainstays forward and adjacent the spine when the rear wheel has been removed. The pivot axis is generally horizontal and normal to the spine axis to maintain the rear wheel (if it could remain attached) generally vertical. The lateral arms are oriented forward at a significant angle to the spine normal, resulting in longer lateral arms and deviating from the optimum frame geometry for high performance recumbent tricycles.
Similar to the Langkamp type this type has lateral arm pivots on stub members, and the lateral arms are arrested in the travel position by separate fasteners through clearance holes, and the drive system diverts under the stub members and uses multiple chain pulleys. Any movement at the lateral arm pivots or fasteners, resulting from causes such as clearances or wear, is amplified at the distal ends of the lateral arms and can lead to tricycle steering problems and instability. The longer lateral arms increase any movement at the lateral arm pivots. The tricycle includes separate fasteners for securing the seat and also for arresting boom pivot rotation, the plurality of fasteners making this type slow to collapse and re-assemble the front of the tricycle. The seat must be removed to permit the boom to fold back against the spine. Additionally the separate pivot assemblies for each folding action provide no mutual re-enforcement or part sharing for weight reduction. This type can be reduced to a compact size but collapsing this type takes a considerable time and the collapsed form has separated parts, including the seat, that need to be handled separately to transport.
Yet another type of collapsible recumbent tricycle includes tricycles known as Aiolos Trilite. Embodiments of this type are shown in Non-Patent Document 7 (Aiolos, Germany, Aiolos Trilite pricelist TL.DH 0.9 24″, February 2009, particularly on page 3 the image of one embodiment showing the frame area adjacent to the radius arm including stays between the spine and the lateral arms) and Non-Patent Document 8 (Velo Vision, UK, Velovision Special Needs Buyers Guide, Velo vision Issue 11, September 2003, particularly on the final page, the item "Travel by Trilite" with images of an Aiolos Trilte). This type also includes a pivot for folding the boom back and against the spine, means for removing the rear wheel, and a pivot for folding the rear chainstays forward and adjacent the spine when the rear wheel has been removed. The pivot axis is generally horizontal and normal to the spine axis to maintain the rear wheel (if it could remain attached) generally vertical. It includes lateral arm pivots on stub members but the lateral arm pivots are longer than those in the JM type and provide increased support to the lateral arms compared to that prior type. However the stub members and lateral arm pivots occupy a significant vertical area. This vertical area precludes a low seat height and low centre of gravity. The drive system diverts under this area and uses multiple chain pulleys. This type also includes extra stays between an intermediate portion of the lateral arms and the spine to arrest the lateral arms in the travel position.
In one embodiment of this type (refer Non-Patent Document 7) a fastener on each stay connects that stay to the spine and those fasteners need to be individually removed to stow the lateral arm. In another embodiment of this type (refer Non-Patent Document 8) a fastener connects the stays to the spine and is slideable along the spine to stow the lateral arms. This embodiment includes a radius arm that is also slideable along the spine, allowing the tie-rod length to be accommodated when the lateral arms are stowed. Additionally the tricycle includes separate fasteners for securing the seat and also for arresting the boom pivot, the plurality of fasteners making this type slow to collapse and re-assemble the tricycle. The seat must be removed to permit the boom to fold back against the spine. The separate pivot assemblies for each folding action provide no mutual re-enforcement or part sharing for weight reduction. This type can be reduced to a compact size but collapsing this type takes a considerable time and the collapsed form has separated parts, including the seat, that need to be handled separately to transport. The embodiment of Non-Patent Document 8 includes an example of push-pull (or tractor) steering.
While all the aforementioned recumbent tricycles are variously successful in collapsing a recumbent tricycle to a reduced size they are all deficient with respect to providing a tricycle capable of being quickly collapsed to a compact size and remain whole. Those that can collapse to a compact size all require removal of the seat and the operation or removal of multiple fasteners when collapsing. They thereby require a considerable time to collapse and the collapsing process produces separated parts. Those that can collapse to a compact size by stowing the lateral arms and the boom alongside the spine also make significant compromises to the frame geometry of a performance tricycle. What is needed is a recumbent tricycle that overcomes these problems to provide a tricycle with performance frame geometry and an efficient drive system, and can be collapsed quickly and easily to a compact size, and not require removal of parts from the tricycle.


The legless, planar, rectangular platform may consist of a top that will be the primary play surface. In addition to the rectangular platform, additional members may be included. A front member may be attached to the primary platform and may run along the width of the invention. A second member, considered one side of the invention, may be attached in like manner to the primary platform as the front member, as well as being attached at a 90 degree angle to the front member with slots for drawers. The four members when attached together may form a rectangular shaped structure to which the primary flat member is attached. Removable bins may also be included. Each bin may attach along the periphery of the primary flat platform for ease of access and secure storage. Each bin may be comprised of five (5) members; a bottom and four (sides).

Lego-type projects range from small to large and can take a few minutes to weeks, or even months to build. The most reasonable space for building larger projects is on a large table since it is a hard surface that provides ample space to spread out the project. But, occupying the kitchen or family table for the extended period of time that it takes to build a larger project may not be an option if the home has limited table space. Additionally, regardless of the size of the project, when removing the unfinished project from a table that must be used for other purposes, the child must place all their Legotype toys elsewhere, losing the structure that they had when all the pieces were laid out organized on the table.
Another space for building these projects is on the floor. The floor allows room to spread out, but if carpeted, building on it may not make for a securely built project since Lego-type toys have to be firmly squeezed together to be solid. Additionally, building on the floor also makes the room a mess until the project is completed, especially if it is a large project. During this time, the floor is filled with Lego-type toys, which can be an inconvenience in a tiny room.
In addition to playing with Lego-type toys, children also use a table or the floor for other play activities like painting, drawing, crafts, puzzles, and various other activities. Items on the market for child activities are children play tables and trays, toy tables, nursery tables, building boards, and construction tables. Some of these were designed specifically for use with interlocking building blocks (i.e., Mega-Build-n-Learn-Table), while others were designed for general playing. There are disadvantages to these items, listed as follows:    a. A primary area children use for play is their bedroom. Some rooms may be too small to comfortably fit the tables available on the market. Tables like U.S. Pat. No. D387,583 (Shear) or U.S. Pat. No. D464,089 (Studebaker) are examples of tables that may be too large or bulky for a smaller room. In many apartments and smaller homes every square foot counts and having a play table in a crowded room is not feasible. Being able to have a play platform that fits under the bed while not in use is a feature these tables lack and is a product benefit in a tight space.    b. Other patents or items on the market are tables and trays that may or may not have the ability for the legs to fold, can come with or without legs, or can be stored in a smaller space than a conventional play table when not in use. Products like these are U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,758 (Lilly, Moore, Eike, Barker); U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,410 (Lilly); U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,185 (Frahmm, Ryas); U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,912 (Buske); U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,838 (Beltman); U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,844 (Poirier); U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,619 (King) and U.S. Design Pat. No. D350,247 (Buske) are all examples of these types of play tables or trays. Although these products are smaller than a usual play table, they may lack in providing movable implements to aid in sorting and grouping their toys while playing. Also, these tables and trays may be too small for larger Lego-like projects. For instance, when using Lego-type toys, the child typically sorts and groups different pieces while building and likes to be able to place them out of the way when not in immediate use. Or when painting, having a separate tray for paintbrushes, another for the water cup, and another tray for the paints that can be moved around as they choose would be an advantage to the user, but is lacking in the above referenced patents. Furthermore, these tables and trays may not fit under the bed or other piece of furniture, especially with an active project or other items on top of it. Additionally, convenient handles may not be placed on the above aforementioned tables.    c. Additionally, there are base plates on the market that have nubs and bumps or recesses to attach the Lego-type toys. U.S. Pat. No. 2,565,823 (Pool) is one of the earlier products, and there are others also that are more recent. These base plates do not provide storage capabilities, movable trays, handles, nor can they be used for other play activities outside of Lego-type toys. d. There are also items displayed throughout the Internet on various blogs for under bed Lego-type toy or other toy storage. They may include trundle-type drawers that take up a large amount of space under a bed that people can store all of their Lego-type toys in, or large Rubbermaid type containers for storage. Although these items can store very large amounts of toys and Lego-type toys, these are large storage devices, cannot be easily moved from room-to-room, and do not provide removable trays or bins for active playing. These are storage containers.