A system for performing mobile transactions includes a mobile communication device connecting to a server device via a first network. The mobile communication device includes a subscriber identification module (SIM) card slot and a virtual subscriber identification (VSIM) interface connected to the SIM card slot and it provides subscriber identity authentication to the server device via the VSIM interface. The mobile communication device further includes a mobile transaction client application for managing the communication between the mobile communication device and the server device. The mobile transaction client application manages the communication between the mobile device and the server device utilizing the Bearer Independent Protocol as defined in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute document ETSI TS 101 267 (3GPP TS 11.14).

Mobile phones, originally designed for voice communication, are now extensively utilized for data transmission. The Short Message Service (SMS) protocol is the most widely used form of sending text messages between mobile phone users. SMS is also utilized for data communication between a server and a mobile phone. For example, in a simple "server-to-mobile" system, a server sends a mobile phone user an SMS message to notify him that he has voice mail or to send him information updates, i.e., news, weather and sports updates. More complex SMS applications enable the mobile phone user to send an SMS message to a designated server to request a stock quote, perform an inventory lookup or process a credit card transaction. SMS is a "store and forward" messaging protocol that ensures that a message reaches its intended destination. While this protocol is appropriate for sending text messages between two mobile phone users, it is not well suited for sending data and performing financial transactions between a mobile device and a host system for the following reasons.                The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) SMS specification (3GPP TS 23.040) defines the technical size limitation of an SMS message as 140 bytes. As a result, if the data transmission requires a larger size message, an application on the mobile device and the server must split up the message into smaller sizes and reassemble messages in the proper order.        SMS messages have no context of a session, i.e., each SMS message is a distinct event. As a result, if a transaction requires multiple steps and therefore multiple SMS messages are needed to complete the transaction, the mobile device and server application must keep track of the transaction as it progresses through the various steps required to complete the transaction.        Although SMS data can be encrypted "over the air" within a mobile operator's network, there is no specification for SMS data encryption once the message is transmitted beyond the mobile operator's network. For example, if the destination of the SMS message is a server inside a banking or enterprise network which is outside the mobile operator's network, the data will be unencrypted and vulnerable to interception by other unauthorized parties. As a result, the mobile device and server application must implement their own encryption method to ensure that the data in the SMS message are encrypted between the two endpoints.        The "store and forward" nature of SMS provides reliability in getting a message transmitted. However, this also results in time delays between sender and recipient. This message latency is unpredictable and not suitable for conducting transactions where timing is important. For example, in financial transactions where customers and merchants expect instantaneous data transmission for payment authorization transactions, SMS message transmission that can average between 5 seconds to 60 seconds is not acceptable.
The implementation of packet-switch networks such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), DataTac, Mobitex provides an "always on" connection for data transmission that solves many of the problems associated with SMS data transmissions for transaction processing. GPRS also provides a direct gateway to the Internet, thereby enabling a mobile transaction system to directly interface between a mobile device and a server without utilizing SMS. Mobile devices can utilize GPRS networks in several ways:                The mobile device can be directly connected to a computer using a serial cable, infrared or Bluetooth connection. When connected to the computer, the mobile device acts like a typical modem and an application on the computer can utilize Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) commands to control the mobile device's connection to the GPRS network and establish a connection to the Internet. Once connected to the Internet, the computer can act as either a host/server or a client to create a mobile transaction processing system.        The mobile device can also directly utilize a GPRS connection using a built-in or web/WAP browser to connect to a server application. Alternatively, the mobile device may enable developers to develop and deploy an application directly on the mobile device's operating system.        On mobile devices that utilize a Subscriber Identification Card (SIM) card, applications on the SIM card can access control the GPRS connection utilizing SIM Toolkit (STK) commands as defined in the ETSI specification, ETSI TS 101 267 (3GPP TS 11.14). Using this connection, a web/WAP browser or an application on the SIM card can access data on a server and perform secure transaction processing.
Each of these methods enables a mobile financial transaction processing system depending on the type of application. The SIM card method is a more flexible solution because the SIM card can be placed into any mobile device that meets the 3GPP TS 11.14 (class e) specifications and the application will work the same way on any of these devices, whereas the other methods require custom programming for each type of mobile device. Although the SIM card approach provides greater flexibility, this approach is also more complex to develop because the SIM card is issued by the mobile network operator and only the mobile network operator can allow applications to be developed and deployed on the SIM card. As a result third party developers are not able to deploy applications without cooperating with the mobile network operator. Accordingly, there is a need for a system that allows third party developers to develop and deploy applications on the SIM card without the need for approval from the mobile network operator. Furthermore, the system needs to be able to transmit and receive data utilizing a standard communication protocol that will work the same way on any mobile device without the need for customization.

System and method for mobile transactions using the bearer independent protocol


A chuck for driving drill bits an the like having shafts of hardened steel is provided with clamping jaws which at least at their clamping surfaces have a coating of diamond dust, so that they will have a resistance to abrasion that is greater than that of hardened steel. The diamond dust can embed itself in the clamping jaws. The entire chuck jaw may be made with a material having that property or one or more clamping parts of the jaw may be made of such a material, or the coating may be provided on a part of the chuck jaw or on the clamping parts.

Drill chucks, which are constructed as so-called three jaw chucks, are common in a variety of useful embodiments. They can set a fixedly settable clamping force by corresponding actuation of the outer sleeve or they can be constructed so that at the beginning of operation self-tightening will take place. Examples of these kinds are described in EP 0054 774 B1, French Patent 1198531, German Patent 588 386 and German patent 37 44 589. Even embodiments with only two clamping jaws, each of which partly surrounds the bit shaft have already become known from U.S. Pat. No. 914,255. In all those drill chucks the clamping jaws are made completely of steel which is hardened at least in the region of the clamping surfaces.
A precise secure clamping of bits having a cylindrical shank, especially drill bits, is possible with the above-mentioned drill chucks. When clamped, the bit shaft, in consequence of the effect of the high surface pressure that arises at the essentially linear or strip-shaped clamping surfaces of the clamping jaws, is subjected to a slight elastic or possibly even plastic deformation which produces a fixed, rotation-resisting clamping of the bit shaft in the clamping jaws. This last-mentioned effect, however, no longer takes place in the case of drill bits which are entirely made of hardened metal or other completely-hard-metal tooling devices Which are today coming more and more into utilization. The hardness of the smooth and exactly cylindrical bit shafts of these bits, which is provided in view of the precision that is to be obtained, is so great that under the effect of the clamping force for which the drill chuck is designed, a highly loadable clamping of the bit shaft is no longer available. That has the result that upon the appearance of a mechanical loading peak there is the danger that the bit shaft will briefly slip with respect to the clamping jaws. That leads quickly to a release of clamping force and damage to the clamping jaws. Increasing the clamping force, by more or less strong manipulation of the positioning means after insertion of the bit shaft can therefore be of no help, for fear of producing plastic deformation of the clamping jaws that would make the chuck unusable.

Wear-resistant chuck for driving hard-shank bits

Josef Albrecht Bohrfutterfabrik GmbH & Co.


Systems and methods for data reading, which in one example configuration is directed to an automated optical code data reader in the form of a tunnel or portal scanner having an open architecture configured with front and rear inverted U-shaped arches, a plurality of cameras (some or most of which have multiple fields of view) in each of the arches for reading the top five sides of an item being passed by a conveyor through a read region formed by the arches, and a bottom reader including one or more cameras under the conveyor for reading a bottom side of the item through a gap in the conveyors as the item is passed over the gap. Also disclosed are specific imaging schemes for providing effective views of the items with a minimum number of cameras.

The field of the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for item checkout and in certain aspects to retail checkstands or other checkout stands (e.g., a parcel distribution station) that incorporate data readers and other electronic devices. The field of the present disclosure further relates generally to data reading devices, and more particularly to automated devices by which items are conveyed, typically on a conveyor, through a read zone of the data reader by which the items are identified such as, for example, by reading optical codes or RFID (radio frequency identification) tags on the items.
Data reading devices are used to obtain data from optical codes or electronic tags (e.g., RFID tags), or use image recognition to identify an item. One common data reader device is an RFID reader. Another common data reader device is an optical code reader. Optical codes typically comprise a pattern of dark elements and light spaces. There are various types of optical codes, including linear or 1-D (one-dimensional) codes such as UPC and EAN/JAN barcodes, 2-D (two-dimensional codes) such as MaxiCode codes, or stacked codes such as PDF 417 codes. For convenience, some embodiments may be described herein with reference to capture of 1-D barcodes, but the embodiments may also be useful for other optical codes and symbols or objects.
Various types of optical code readers, also known as scanners, such as manual readers, semi-automatic readers and automated readers, are available to acquire and decode the information encoded in optical codes. In a manual reader (e.g., a hand-held type reader, a fixed-position reader), a human operator positions an object relative to the reader to read the optical code associated with the object. In a semi-automatic reader, either checker-assisted or self-checkout, objects are moved usually one at a time by the user into or through the read zone of the reader and the reader then reads the optical code on the object. In an automated reader (e.g., a portal or tunnel scanner), an object is automatically positioned (e.g., transported through the read zone via a conveyor) relative to the reader, with the reader automatically reading the optical code on the object.
One type of data reader is referred to as a flying spot scanner wherein an illumination beam is moved (i.e., scanned) across the barcode while a photodetector monitors the reflected or backscattered light. For example, the photodetector may generate a high voltage when a large amount of light scattered from the barcode impinges on the detector, as from a light space, and likewise may produce a low voltage when a small amount of light scattered from the barcode impinges on the photodetector, as from a dark bar. The illumination source in flying spot scanners is typically a coherent light source, such as a laser or laser diode, but may comprise a non-coherent light source such as a light emitting diode. A laser illumination source may offer advantages of higher intensity illumination which may allow barcodes to be read over a larger range of distances from the barcode scanner (large depth of field) and under a wider range of background illumination conditions.
Another type of data reader is an imaging reader that employs an imaging device or sensor array, such as a CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) device. Imaging readers can be configured to read both 1-D and 2-D optical codes, as well as other types of optical codes or symbols and images of other items. When an imaging reader is used to read an optical code, an image of the optical code or portion thereof is focused onto a detector array. Though some imaging readers are capable of using ambient light illumination, an imaging reader typically utilizes a light source to illuminate the item being read to provide the required signal response in the imaging device. A camera is typically a combination of a lens and an imaging device/sensor array, but the terms imager and camera will be used somewhat interchangeably herein.
An imager-based reader utilizes a camera or imager to generate electronic image data, typically in digital form, of an optical code. The image data is then processed to find and decode the optical code. For example, virtual scan line techniques are known techniques for digitally processing an image containing an optical code by looking across an image along a plurality of lines, typically spaced apart and at various angles, somewhat similar to the scan pattern of a laser beam in a laser-based scanner.
Imager-based readers often can only form images from one perspective—usually that of a normal vector out of the face of the imager. Such imager-based readers therefore provide only a single point of view, which may limit the ability of the reader to recognize an optical code in certain circumstances. For example, because the scan or view volume of an imager in an imager-based reader is typically conical in shape, attempting to read a barcode or other image in close proximity to the scanning window (reading "on the window") may be less effective than with a basket-type laser scanner. Also, when labels are oriented such that the illumination source is reflected directly into the imager, the imager may fail to read properly due to uniform reflection washing out the desired image entirely, or the imager may fail to read properly due to reflection from a textured specular surface washing out one or more elements. This effect may cause reading of shiny labels to be problematic at particular reflective angles. In addition, labels oriented at extreme acute angles relative to the imager may not be readable. Lastly, the label may be oriented on the opposite side of the package with respect to the camera view, causing the package to obstruct the camera from viewing the barcode.
Thus, better performance could result from taking images from multiple perspectives. A few imager-based readers that generate multiple perspectives are known. One such reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,927 which discloses an embodiment having two cameras to collect two images from two different perspectives for the purpose of mitigating specular reflection. U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,272 discloses one embodiment that utilizes two independent sensor arrays pointed in different orthogonal directions to collect image data from different sides of a package. Multiple-camera imager-based readers that employ spatially separated cameras require multiple circuit boards and/or mounting hardware and space for associated optical components which can increase the expense of the reader, complicate the physical design, and increase the size of the reader. Improved multi-camera systems are disclosed in U.S. Published Application Nos. US-2010-0163626, US US-2010-0163627, and US-2010-0163628.
The present inventors have, therefore, determined that it would be desirable to provide an improved imager-based reader and an improved tunnel or portal scanner system for automated checkout.

Tunnel or portal scanner and method of scanning for automated checkout


Feeding a slurry comprising inert solids, liquid hydrocarbons, liquid water and sometimes dissolves solids to a unit having a casing defining a thermal extraction chamber heated both directly and indirectly in which first and second intermeshing screws rotate, the screws in close tolerance with each other and with inside casing surfaces. The casing and screws define a tortuous flow path in which the slurry and a vaporous composition evolved therefrom flow. The intermeshing screws push the slurry toward a discharge end of the chamber at a first velocity while reducing pressure and increasing temperature in the chamber, while rotating the screws to create turbulent vacuum thermal conditions in the chamber to physically transform some or all of the slurry into the vaporous composition. The vaporous composition traverses the tortuous flow path with a second velocity at least 1.5 times the first velocity, optionally forming a heated, substantially dry, composition comprising the inert solids.

Many industries generate oil-based slurries. An oil-based slurry (OBS) composition may be a homogenized, viscous and stable semi-solid composition containing oil, water (usually emulsified) and fine solids. The solids fraction may be inert inorganic material such as clays, salts and minerals. Especially problematic are OBS compositions in which the largest solid particles are less than 10 micrometers in diameter, rendering most mechanical equipment such as centrifuges and presses impractical. Many OBS compositions are considered waste byproducts today, where further extraction of hydrocarbons is no longer practical. Hydrocarbon content in waste OBS compositions can range from about 5 percent to about 90 percent (weight basis is used herein unless otherwise noted) of the OBS composition, therefore making many OBS compositions ideal for further processing to extract valuable hydrocarbons for recovery and recycling. Traditional methods such as thermal desorption, incineration, chemical treatment, deep well injection, solidification and landfill disposal may either be very costly, require significant energy, use hazardous chemicals, have poor recovery efficiencies, generate low quality hydrocarbons, alter the original hydrocarbons, use chemicals that may negatively impact the environment or provide no recovery of valuable hydrocarbons in the waste OBS composition.
Where mechanical separation can be applied to OBS compositions, typically two or three separated components are generated where at least one component is a non-liquid containing solid with some quantity of the residual liquids. This semi-solid has the physical characteristics of sludge. Sludge is a heavy, viscous semi-solid material that contains similar components of slurry but with higher solids content. Sludge is generated from numerous sources, such as: oil refining; mud brought up by a mining drill; precipitate in a sewage tank; sediment in a steam boiler or crankcase, and other sources.
Current technologies for treating or disposing of slurries and/or sludges include the following. As used herein the term "oil" includes, but is not limited to, hydrocarbon oils.
Water and Solids Slurries and Sludges. For most slurries and sludges containing only water and solids, the objective is to maximize volume reduction which may be accomplished using traditional equipment such as simple settling basins, clarifiers, filter presses, belt presses, centrifuges, and the like. However, where the solids are fine (less than about 10 micrometers in diameter, and especially less than 1 micrometer), coagulants and/or flocculants may be required with these technologies to effectively increase the size of the solids so that settling using gravitation force or centrifugal force can generate a byproduct with as little water as possible. In addition, all of these technologies generate a byproduct (cake) with some water ranging from about 40 percent to about 80 percent, therefore if the objective is to remove 100 percent of the water, then the water must be evaporated using a thermal process typically known as sludge drying. Alternatively, if the cake can pass landfill acceptance criteria (typically a paint filter test or slump test and leachate criteria) the cake may be suitable for disposal in a landfill. When the feed slurry or sludge contains fine solids that cannot be agglomerated using coagulants and flocculants, then the feed must be dried directly using a thermal process without traditional equipment, and without the benefit of pre-treatment. In this case, significant water will remain in feed material and removal of the water through evaporation will require a significant amount of energy using sludge dryers. In many cases, a high water content slurry or sludge does not pass the landfill acceptance criteria.
Oil, Water and Solids Slurries and Sludges. When the slurry or sludge contains oil, water and solids, processing may be more complex. Processing objectives may be several, such as recovery of oil, recovery of solids (such as catalyst fines or metals), maximum volume reduction, or some combination of these. Complexity may be further increased with the liquid component where the oil and water are stable emulsions. Furthermore, the solid particles may be fine and/or low density, and may contribute to forming a "complex emulsion" of these solids, oil, and water. The use of traditional coagulants and flocculants may not work well in OBS compositions. Demulsifier chemicals ("demulsifiers") may be required to separate the oil and water components; however, demulsifiers may not work in all cases, particularly when the slurry is a homogenized highly stable emulsion. For OBS compositions that are "loosely" emulsified, a combination of surfactants, coagulants and flocculants along with centrifugal forces may result in a good recovery of oil and volume reduction, however a waste sludge or cake with relatively high amount of solids is generated which requires further disposal or processing. Disposal options may be limited, as many landfills will not accept oily sludges. Disposal in salt caverns or bioremediation technologies are possible, along with incineration, but no valuable recoverable product is recovered from the waste sludge in all four options. Some options may result in increased greenhouse gas emissions and other airborne pollutants.
Processing options of the waste sludge from OBS compositions may be most effective when the valuable components, typically oil, but in some cases oil and/or solids, can be recovered. This may accomplished using evaporative technologies referred to as thermal desorption followed by condensation. When the feed slurry or sludge contains fine solids that cannot be separated using mechanical forces or combined chemical and mechanical forces, the feed slurry or sludge sees no volume reduction. Disposal options, such as salt caverns and incineration may be utilized but suffer similar drawbacks as previously mentioned. Although OBS compositions may be processed using known thermal desorption technology, in known methods the composition must be fed directly to the equipment. In this case, significant oil and water remain in the feed OBS composition, and the removal of the oil and water through evaporation requires significant amounts of energy in addition to the careful management of hydrocarbon vapors at elevated temperatures.
Recovery of hydrocarbons from non-inert and inert solids has been proposed in several patent documents for application in the plastics art, oil refining art, shale retorting art, and the like, however, they are typically selected from filtration, drying, extraction, centrifugation, calcining and other separation methods, and therefore either do not work well and/or require inordinate amounts of energy for the amount of oil or solids obtained.
At least for these reasons, it would be an advance in the art of recovery of hydrocarbons and/or valuable solids (such as catalyst fines or metals) from waste streams if the hydrocarbons and water could be removed or separated from hydrocarbon/water/inert solids mixtures efficiently to recover substantially all of the hydrocarbons, as well as produce a solids composition more suitable for reuse, recycling, or land filling.

Turbulent vacuum thermal separation methods and systems


A photoelectric composite connector comprises a first connector unit which is connected to optical transmission means and a second connector unit which can be attached to and detached from a first connector unit freely. The first connector unit comprises a photoelectric conversion module and an electrical connector section having a first conductor which is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion module. The second connector unit is formed as an electrical connector unit corresponding to the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and having a second conductor. The first conductor of the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and the second conductor of the second connector unit are electrically connected to each other when the electrical connector section of the first connector unit and the second connector unit are connected to each other by use of their electrical connector structures.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric converter that is capable of conversion between light and electricity. Further, the present invention relates to a photoelectric composite connector and a substrate that can be used in such a photoelectric converter, i.e. a photoelectric composite connector using an electrical connector structure and a substrate using the photoelectric composite connector.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
A photoelectric converter has been widely used in such a manner that it is connected to optical transmission means such as an optical fiber so as to, for example, transmit a high-frequency electrical signal. As is well known, the high-frequency electrical signal may have noise when the traveling distance is long. Thus, it is often practiced that an optical signal is used in place of the electrical signal and a photoelectric converter is used at the end of transmission so as to convert the optical signal into the electrical signal or the electrical signal into the optical signal and use the electrical (or optical) signal.
In recent years, an attempt to use such an optical signal in short-distance connection, e.g. on a substrate (between devices on the same substrate) or between substrates, by use of a small-sized photoelectric converter in particular has started. Illustrative examples of currently usable devices include a type having an optical waveguide embedded in a substrate and a type having a film waveguide laminated on a substrate. In the case of these types, an optical signal is transmitted through a waveguide provided inside or outside a substrate, and the optical signal is converted into an electrical signal by a photoelectric conversion device which is provided separately from the above waveguide. In addition to these types, another type has an optical member at the tip of an optical fiber as a plug-side connector and uses a photoelectric conversion device as the corresponding receptacle-side connector to perform conversion between light and electricity. However, these devices require a highly accurate optical alignment between the optical member or waveguide and the photoelectric conversion device and also require a highly accurate alignment between the optical member and the substrate when the optical member is soldered to the substrate. In particular, since the substrate hardly enjoys surface dimensional accuracy due to warpage or distortion, it is difficult to control such an alignment. Further, although these devices require a measure for dealing with degradation of the performance of light-emitting and light-receiving elements mounted in the devices, e.g. a measure for static electricity, it is difficult to take a measurement for the performance degradation since the light-emitting and light-receiving elements must be mounted on the substrate having a number of other electrical elements mounted thereon.
With respect to an optical alignment, a technique for facilitating an optical alignment between an optical fiber and a waveguide is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 264587/2001 and other literatures. The literature discloses a structure having an optical connector section, more specifically, a structure which enables an optical fiber to be connected to an optical connector section integrated with a waveguide having a photoelectric conversion device by means of an atonality core. However, the connector section used in this structure is a so-called optical connector section which is merely used for optical connection and is not used for electrical connection.
Further, with respect to a photoelectric converter, a photoelectric converter having an integrated module, i.e. a module comprising integration of waveguide (light path right-angle conversion waveguide) and a photoelectric conversion device, at the tip of an optical fiber has been presented in the fourth Electronic System Integration Study Debriefing Session taken place in the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation at Jun. 13, 2003 under the auspices of Technology Research Association—Association of Super-Advanced Electronics Technologies (ASET) and others. The integrated module presented in the session is considered to be an effective constitution which facilitates an optical alignment between a waveguide and a photoelectric conversion module. However, a problem of alignment between a device and a substrate still remains even in such a constitution.    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 264587/2001    Non-Patent Literature 1: Fourth Electronic System Integration Study Debriefing Session, (time) Jun. 13, 2003, (place) National Museum of Emerging Science, (host) Technology Research Association—Association of Super-Advanced Electronics Technologies (ASET), (co-host) National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), (sponsorship) New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
The present invention has been conceived to solve these problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric composite connector that allows an accurate and easy optical alignment between a photoelectric conversion device and a waveguide and does not require as high accuracy in alignment between an optical member and a substrate as an optical connector does, and a substrate using the photoelectric composite connector. Another object of the present invention is to makes it possible to connect or disconnect a substrate by a connector and improve usability.

Photoelectric composite connector and substrate using the same


An ultrasound signal processor that selectively drives a plurality of transducer elements arrayed in an ultrasound probe and executes ultrasound transmission and reception to a subject to perform velocity analysis by a color flow mapping method includes: a transmitter configured to select a transmission transducer element array from the plurality of transducer elements and perform transmission from the transmission transducer element array; a receiver configured to generate a received signal sequence for a transducer element of a reception transducer element array; a phasing adder configured to generate an acoustic line signal; and a velocity calculator configured to generate a complex acoustic line signal and calculate an average velocity, wherein the phasing adder performs delay processing for changing a method for calculating a transmission time in which the ultrasound transmitted reaches each of the observation points in at least one of the main target area and the sub-target area.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasound signal processor, an ultrasound signal processing method, and an ultrasound diagnostic device including the processor and the method, and in particular relates to a reception beam forming processing method in an ultrasound signal processor using a color flow mapping method, and color flow mapping calculation processing.
Description of the Related Art
An ultrasound diagnostic device transmits ultrasound to the inside of a subject with an ultrasound probe (hereinafter referred to as a "probe"), and receives reflected ultrasound (echo) caused by difference in acoustic impedance of subject tissue. Further, the ultrasound diagnostic device generates an image indicating a structure of internal tissue of the subject on the basis of an electric signal obtained from the received ultrasound, and displays the image on a monitor (hereinafter referred to as a "display"). The ultrasound diagnostic device has been widely used for morphological diagnosis of a living body since it is less invasive to the subject and a state of body tissue can be observed in real time with a tomographic image and the like.
In recent years, many ultrasound diagnostic devices are equipped with a color flow mapping (CFM) method. In the CFM method, a Doppler shift (frequency shift) is detected occurring in the echo caused by movement of body tissue such as a bloodstream, and velocity information as a two-dimensional image is superimposed and displayed on a two-dimensional tomographic image (B mode tomographic image). In order to detect the Doppler shift, it is necessary to transmit and receive the ultrasound repeatedly at the same position within the subject. Hereinafter, the number of times of transmitting and receiving the ultrasound to the same position is referred to as an "ensemble number," and an image generated with the CFM method is described as a "color Doppler image."
In the color Doppler image, image quality is improved as the ensemble number is increased; however, a problem has been known in which a frame rate is decreased since the number of times is increased of transmission and reception of ultrasound required. For that reason, a technique has been studied for improving quality of the color Doppler image regardless of the ensemble number, such as the technique disclosed in JP 2011-500261 A and JP 2005-177338 A, for example. In addition, a technique has been studied for improving the frame rate by not repeatedly performing transmission and reception of ultrasound to the same area by the ensemble number, such as the technique disclosed in JP 2002-224107 A, for example.
However, it is difficult to apply the techniques described in JP 2011-500261 A and JP 2005-177338 A when trying to improve the image quality by increasing the ensemble number. In addition, in the technique described in JP 2002-224107 A, there is a problem that it is not possible to keep the quality of the color Doppler image when trying to achieve further improvement of the frame rate.

Ultrasound signal processor, ultrasound signal processing method, and ultrasound diagnostic device


A graphical user interface is proposed for generating an interface signal with a target on a display aimed. An image sensor has an image plane on which an image of the display including characteristic points is formed, a point of the image formed at a predetermined position of the image plane corresponding to the target. A processor calculates the position of the target on the display relative to the characteristic points on the basis of the output of the image sensor including the information of the positions of the characteristic points. And the interface signal is generated with the position of the target calculated. More specifically, the processor includes an image processor for identifying the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane, a first processor for calculating a first data on the basis of the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane, and a second processor for calculating a second data on the basis of the first data and the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane. This is not only useful in the graphical user interface, but also in detecting the position of a target point or the attitude of a three-dimensional object in general.

This application is based upon and claims priority of Japanese Patent Applications No. 11-252732 filed on Sep. 7, 1999, No. 11-281462 filed on Oct. 1, 1999, No. 2000-218969 filed on Jul. 19, 2000 and No. 2000-218970 filed on Jul. 19, 2000, the contents being incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer or an amusement game, and to a detector for detecting a position or an attitude of a target.
2. Description of Related Art
In this field of the art, various types of Graphical User Interface have been proposed for a computer or an amusement game.
For example, a Graphical User Interface on a wide screen display has been proposed for the purpose of a presentation or the like, in which a projector is connected to a computer for projecting a display image on a wide screen so that a number of audience may easily appreciate the presentation. In this case, a laser pointer or the like is prepared for pointing an object such as an icon or a text on the wide screen to input a command relating to the object pointed by the laser pointer.
In an amusement such as a shooting game, on the other hand, a scene including an object is presented on a cathode ray tube display of a game machine under a control of a computer. A user remote from the display tries to aim and shoot the object with a gun, and the game machine judges whether or not the object is successfully shot.
For the purpose of the above mentioned Graphical User Interface, it has been proposed to fixedly locate a CCD camera relative to the screen for detecting a bright spot on the wide screen caused by a laser beam to thereby detect the position of the bright spot on the screen.
It has been also proposed to prepare a plurality of light emitting elements on the screen in the vicinity of the projected image for the purpose of analyzing at a desired place the intensities and directions of light received from the light emitting elements to detect a position of a target on the screen.
However, there have been considerable problems and disadvantages still left in the related art, such as in seeking freedom or easiness in use, accuracy or speed in detection and size or cost in the practical product.
Laid-open Patent Application Nos. 2-306294, 3-176718, 4-305687, 6-308879, 9-231373 and 10-116341 disclose various attempts in this field of art.
In order to overcome the problems and disadvantages, the invention provides a graphical user interface for generating an interface signal with a target on a display aimed. In the graphical user interface, an image sensor has an image plane on which an image of the display including characteristic points is formed, a point of the image formed at a predetermined position of the image plane corresponding to the target. A processor calculates the position of the target on the display relative to the characteristic points on the basis of the output of the image sensor including the information of the positions of the characteristic points. And the interface signal is generated with the position of the target calculated. Thus, the interface signal is generated at any desired place remote from the display.
According to another feature of the invention, aiming device is provided for helping the image sensor to form the image of the display with the target in coincidence with the predetermined position.
According to still another feature of the invention, a controller orders the image sensor to take the image of the display. More specifically, the controller is designed to order the image sensor to take one image in response to a manual operation Alternatively, the controller is designed to order the image sensor to take a series of images in succession.
According to a further feature of the invention, the processor for calculating the position of the target includes an image processor for identifying the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane. The processor further includes a first processor for calculating a first data on the basis of the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane. Finally the processor includes a second processor for calculating a second data on the basis of the first data and the positions of the characteristic points on the image plane. The position of the target on the display is detected on the basis of the second data.
The above mentioned feature is not only useful in Graphical User Interface, but also in detecting the position of a target point or the attitude of a three-dimensional object in general.
In the invention, the information of attitude of the object is utilized by the position detection, and then by Graphical User Interface. In terms of the position detection or Graphical User Interface, the target point should be aimed for detection. However, any specific target point need not be aimed in the case of solely detecting the attitude of an object as long as the image of necessary characteristic points of the object are formed on the image sensing plane.
According to another feature of the invention, the output of the image sensor is transmitted to an outside processor for a calculation of the position of the target. This is advantageous in utilizing graphical user interface in a computer or a shooting game.
According to a further feature of the invention, a projector projects an image including characteristic points on a screen acting as the display, and the image on the screen is received by the image sensor. In this case, the position sensing is successful even if an optical axis of the projector is inclined with respect to the screen.

Graphical user interface and position or attitude detector


A valve for a gas cylinder consisting essentially of a valve body provided with a valve chamber containing a valving element which opens and closes an annular valve seat, and a gas cylinder plugging end portion and a pipe-connecting port both formed on the valve body. The gas cylinder plugging end portion contains an upstream side gas channel communicating at one extremity to an end thereof and at the other extremity to an internal circumference of the valve seat. The port contains two downstream side gas channels each opening to an end thereof and at the other extremity to an external circumference of the valve seat. A metal connector can be fitted in the port. The metal connector contains two channels connected to the two downstream side gas channels respectively. Valve chamber openings of the downstream side gas channels are located to oppose each other across the valve seat.

High purity and cleanness is required in those semiconductor material gases, purge gases, carrier gases, etc. which are employed in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Presence of contaminant such as particles, oxygen and moisture if any in these gases causes problems such as insufficient device characteristics attributed to oxidation or metal pollution and reduction in the yield of products.
Generally, when a gas cylinder valve is set to a plant for supplying or producing a semiconductor process gas, the atmospheric air migrates between a mouth ring (or port) of the valve and a pipe for fitting to such a plant, since the port of the gas cylinder valve is exposed to the atmospheric air. The thus migrated atmospheric air is removed by purging with an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas and an argon gas or by evacuation. However, if the migrated contaminant is removed insufficiently, residual contaminant migrates into the gas cylinder during manufacture of a gas. For example, in the case of a gas having reactivity with the atmospheric component gases such as oxygen and water, these gases are causative of change in the concentration of the product gas with time, oxidation reactions to form impurity products and corrosion on the metal surfaces of the gas cylinder and the gas cylinder valve to be brought into contact with the gas.
Further, in supplying a gas, contamination with the residual impurity contents occurs from the gas supply plant to a gas consuming plant. The influence of contamination during the supply of the gas appears not only in the gas system but also as reduction in the yield of products and deterioration in the electric characteristics.
Gas cylinder valves employed conventionally most frequently are of the single-ported structure in which one port serves both as a gas outlet port and a gas inlet port, and the valves contain dead spaces, so that it takes much time for removing the atmospheric air components migrated into the gas cylinder valves when they are attached to gas cylinders.
Meanwhile, gas cylinder valves are proposed as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 106749/1993 and 281026/1994 so as to overcome the above problem. Although these valves can remove contaminant contained therein quickly, they involve problems in terms of safety in that the valves themselves have very large dimensions due to the block valve structure having two gas cylinder valves integrated into one block causing gas cylinders having such valves to tumble easily during transportation. These gas cylinder valves involve further problems in that the cost increases on a wide margin due to their intricate structures compared with the ordinary cylinder valves and that an extra piping for a purge gas must be provided for the gas plant side. While there is also known a gas cylinder valve incorporated with a purge valve, this gas cylinder valve has an intricate valve structure and a relatively large size and is also expensive.


A fishing apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The fishing apparatus includes: a fishing rod having a reel and a motor connected with the reel; a brainwave collection unit arranged to collect a brainwave signal from a user of the fishing apparatus; and a control unit arranged to receive the brainwave signal collected by the brainwave collection unit. The apparatus generates a motor control signal according to the brainwave signal and transmits the motor control signal to the motor. The motor drives the reel to rotate under the control of the motor control signal. The fishing apparatus and the method for controlling the same as provided by the present disclosure are easy to use and labor-saving.

Many people love fishing. Current new fishing tools emerge constantly, and have made great progress compared with those used decades ago. Some fishing rods are retractable or deployable such that a fishing line may be laid down in a nearer or further place.
With current fishing tools, a user who throws baits needs to retrieve fishing line at a slow and uniform speed so as to attract fish to bite. During fishing, a user has to take a close look at the tail portion of a fishing rod to observe whether a fish bites the hook, which needs high concentration of attention. A common fishing rod may be quite laborious as the user has to frequently cast a fishing rod and retrieve a fishing line, such that the user is very tired, which will also affect the user's attention to fish.

Fishing appratus and method for controlling the same


A multi-cylinder wobble plate engine includes a two-part wobble plate, wherein an inner part is fixedly mounted to an elongate longitudinally aligned main shaft, with an external portion of the wobble plate fixedly mounted relative to a surrounding housing utilizing a stabilizer rod, wherein a plurality of piston rods utilizing swivel bearings are mounted to the periphery of the external wobble plate. Stroke of the engine is determined by angle inclination of the wobble plate relative to the main shaft. An overhead valve assembly is operative through a gear drive in association with a gear mounted on the main shaft to direct actuation of intake in exhaust valves utilized in a conventional four-cycle internal combustion engine. A cam plate utilizing a plurality of pairs of cam plate projections actuates the valves directly and is operative at a one-quarter speed of the main shaft in a reverse direction to that of the main shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved wobble plate internal combustion engine wherein the same compactly and efficiently effects rotation of an associated main shaft during reciprocation of pistons within the engine housing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wobble plate engines have been utilized in the prior art utilizing a plurality of pistons and cylinders arranged around a central crank shaft axis coupled to an associated wobbler plate, wherein the wobbler plate is mounted obliquely upon an associated main shaft. The instant invention attempts to set forth a compact wobble plate engine utilizing a cam plate to direct overhead actuation of valves in association with a piston cylinder arrangement within the engine. Examples of wobbler plate configurations set forth by the prior art may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,596 to Scalzo setting forth a variable displacement wobble plate mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,325 to Nakesche wherein a wobbler plate-type engine utilizes a pivot connection mounted to an underlying shaft to effect rotation of an associated fly wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,396 to Berger sets forth a barrel engine with a rocking ball drive pivotally interconnecting opposed reciprocating pistons.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,682 to Kenny wherein a wobbler or swash plate-type motor is set forth utilizing each piston fixedly mounted directly to an associated wobbler plate.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved wobble plate internal combustion engine wherein the same addresses both the problems of compactness of construction, as well as efficiency in operation and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


This invention relates to the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD), tangle-predominant dementia (TPD) and other diseases associated with abnormal tau expression, e.g., tauopathies, using the 3′untranslated region (UTR) of the tau messenger RNA (mRNA) as a target, specifically using microRNAs that regulate the expression of tau. This invention is also in the field of screening for, identifying, and diagnosing such diseases. Specifically, this invention provides biomarkers for these diseases in the form of microRNAs.

The presence of abnormal neuronal and glial filamentous inclusions composed of the microtubule-associated protein tau defines a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders, termed tauopathies (Dickson (2009)). Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently classified as a secondary tauopathy, with tangles arising as a result of increased levels of toxic species of the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) (Hardy (2006)). The discovery of mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) that cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) show that tau dysfunction on its own is sufficient to induce neurodegeneration (Hutton et al. (1998); Gasparini et al. (2007)), but the majority of patients with tangles lack such mutations. One example of a sporadic non-mutational primary tauopathy is tangle-predominant dementia (TPD) (Ulrich et al. (1992); Bancher and Jellinger (1994)). These exceptional patients develop neurofibrillary tangles that are regionally, morphologically, ultrastructurally and biochemically identical to those in moderate-stage AD, yet lack significant Aβ deposition as plaques (Santa-Maria et al. (2012)(1)). There are currently no effective treatments for either AD or TPD.
In the adult brain, a single gene (MAPT) on chromosome 17 gives rise to predominantly six tau isoforms (Wade-Martins (2012)). Alternative splicing of exon 10 results in tau containing either three or four tandem micro-tubule-binding domain repeats that mediate binding to tubulin (Weingarten et al. (1975)). Alternative splicing of exons 2 and 3 also occurs. Tau expression is not limited to neurons, as its presence in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes has also been observed (Binder et al. (1985); Chin and Goldman (1996)). Tau is found in somatodendritic compartments where it interacts with various proteins and the plasma membrane to modulate a wide variety of processes and signaling pathways (Tashiro et al. (1997); Maas et al. (2000); Avila et al. (2004); Morris et al. (2011)). Tau is highly abundant in axons (Mandell and Banker (1995); Dotti et al. (1987); Trojanski et al. (1989); Litman et al. (1993)), where it facilitates tubulin assembly by nucleating, bundling and stabilizing microtubules. Tau also binds to actin, influencing polymerization, and might orchestrate the interaction of microtubules and actin polymers in the organization of the cytoskeletal network (Kotani et al. (1985); Fulga et al. (2007); He et al. (2009); Farias et al. (2002)). By binding to sites on tubulin that overlap with those of other proteins, such as the molecular motor kinesin, tau can also influence axonal transport (Ebneth et al. (1998); Terwel et al. (2002)). Finally, tau may also play a role in neurogenesis (Bullmann et al. (2007); Hong et al. (2010)).
Since tau has numerous functions, it likely contributes to neurodegeneration in multiple ways, including both gain- and loss-of-function effects. Under pathological conditions, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated (Lippens et al. (2012)), aggregated (Mandelkow and Mandelkow (2012); Hernandez and Avila (2008)) and disseminated to neighboring neurons (Le et al, (2012); Santa-Maria et al. (2012)(2)). How this occurs in the absence of coding region mutation or imbalances in alternative splicing is not clear, but secondary post-translational modification plays a role (Lippens et al. (2012); Mandelkow and Mandelkow (2012)). Alternatively, accumulation of abnormal tau protein could be facilitated by failure in protein degradation systems (Wang and Mandelkow (2012)). One additional mechanism that has not been directly addressed is whether increased tau synthesis stemming from dysregulation of tau translation by microRNAs plays a role in tauopathy.
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs averaging 22 nucleotides that regulate the expression of their target mRNA transcripts (Ambros (2004); Bartel (2009), and likely play a role in brain aging, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection (Kosik (2006); Saugstad (2010); Abe and Bonini (2013); Gascon and Gao (2012); Schonrock and Gotz (2012)). Mature microRNAs are derived from 70-100 bp precursors that are consecutively processed by the type III RNases, Drosha and Dicer, in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, respectively (Perron and Provost (2009)). RNA strands are then incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex. Binding of microRNAs to their targets is specified by complementary base pairing between positions 2-8 of the microRNA and the target 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) (Bartel (2009), an mRNA component that influences translation, stability and localization (Mazumder et al. (2003)); Kuersten and Goodwin (2003); Matoulkova et al. (2012). The precise mechanism whereby microRNAs silence their targets is under debate (Eulalio et al. (2008); Flynt and Lai (2008)).
While tau is regulated post-transcriptionally, it is not known whether microRNAs play a direct role.

THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


A method and apparatus for squaring knocked down slotted boxes employs an L-shaped support and forming platform onto which a partially opened box is applied so that the junction of the two legs of the L-shape is received within the box and a leading flap (and its fold line connection to the box) and a trailing flap (and its fold line connection to the box) each contact one of the legs to fold these flaps outward and tend to square the box. The trailing flap is moved from one leg onto the other which normally will be substantially flat and horizontal so that the leading and trailing flaps are folded perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve portion of the box while the side flaps positioned between the leading and trailing flaps remain in the plane of their respective box wall as the carton is moved into an operating station.

The present invention relates to simplified a manual method and a facilitating apparatus for erecting and squaring a knocked down cartons
One of the principal packaging cartons used in commerce is formed a slotted knocked down box blank, which normally consist of a sleeve with closure flaps in the form of bottom forming flaps foldably connected to one end of the sleeve and top closure flaps foldably connected to the other end of the sleeve. Such sleeves are usually 4 sided i.e. having 4 walls connected together at the intersection of a pair of adjacent walls by a manufacturer""s joint, These knocked down box blanks are shipped flat (knocked down i.e. with opposite walls in face to face relationship) and are then erected, squared and formed into a box in the packager""s plant by closing the flaps at one end of the sleeve (usually the bottom flaps) form.
Many different systems have been devised for mechanically opening squaring and forming these blanks into cartons with one end closed and the opposite end open to permit goods to be packed therein. These systems are generally either automatic i.e. done by machinery or manual. The so formed open ended cartons are then the filled with product (again either automatically by equipment or manually, the carton closed by closing systems that mechanically or manually fold the closure flaps (top flaps) into closed position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve to provide a filled and closed carton ready for shipping.
Mechanical devices include devices that move the blank through a series of stations that perform the desired operations in sequence along the way. In many of these systems some form of stop against which the blank is force is used to open and square the sleeve and plows are used to fold the closure flaps into closed position. The goods to be packaged may as above indicated be manually packed or automatically packed into the carton. In manual systems the sleeve supported on a table or the like on the ends of its closure flaps at one of the sleeve (flaps parallel to their respective side walls of the sleeve) is forces against a stop and squared and the uppermost set of flaps are folded to closed position and fixed in this closed position by taping, stapling gluing etc. in a closing station. The open-ended cartons so formed are then ready for filling and closing. This filling and closing in a manual system may be done in the same or a different closing station. Obviously the axial length of the carton supported on the ends of flaps at one end of the sleeve and with the other end closed is shorter than the axial length of the carton with both ends closed, thus the relative spacing between the support table and the closing equipment (taping, stapling gluing etc. equipment) must be change for closing the packed box necessitating an adjustable table height in a single station packing system so that the height may be change when sealing tone end of the empty sleeve and sealing the filled and closed box.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple method and apparatus to facilitate the setting up or squaring of a knocked down sleeve type folding (slotted) box and forming it into a box.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus wherein the height of the supporting table or the like need not be changed when closing the sleeve to form the open ended box or when closing the filled box.
Broadly the present invention relates to a method of squaring a knocked down folding box formed by a sleeve with a first set of closure flaps connected by a first set of fold lines to one end of said sleeve and a second set of closure flaps connected by a second set of fold lines to a second end of said sleeve remote from said one end of said sleeve, said method comprising partially opening said box and moving said box toward an L-shaped support and forming platform formed by a pair of legs interconnected by a filleted corner so that said filleted corner is received within said sleeve and a leading flap of said first set flaps is moved against a first substantially horizontal leg of said pair of legs to fold said leading flap on its fold line of said first set of fold lines connecting it to a leading wall of said sleeve outward relative to said sleeve and a trailing flap of said first set of flaps is moved against a second of said pair of legs to fold said trailing flap on its fold line of said first set of fold lines connecting it to a trailing wall of said sleeve outward relative to said sleeve and moving said box along said legs to bring said trailing flap onto said first leg and position said leading and trailing flaps substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said sleeve to provide said box in a substantially squared condition.
Preferably said second set of flaps are folded on their respective fold lines of said second set of fold lines to close one end of said sleeve and said box is moved on said first leg into a closing station wherein said second set of flaps are secured in closed position substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and closing said sleeve to form an open box.
Preferably said method further comprises inverting said open box and placing same on said one leg, folding said first set of flaps into a closed position and moving said box with said first set of flaps folded to closed position on said first leg into said closing station wherein said first set of flaps are secured in closed position substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and closing said sleeve to form a closed box.
Preferably side flaps of said first set of flaps each is connected to its adjacent side wall of said sleeve interconnecting said leading and trailing walls of said sleeve by its side fold line of said first set of fold lines and said side flaps remain substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis when said box is squared and moved along said first leg into said closing station.
Preferably said leading wall is forced against a stop in said closing station to define the position of said leading wall in said closing station and to aid in ensuring said box is in said squared condition.
Broadly the present invention also relates to an apparatus for squaring a knocked down folding box comprises an L-shaped support and forming platform, said L-shaped support and forming platform being formed by a first substantially horizontal leg and a second leg extending downward from one end of said first leg, said legs being interconnected at their adjacent ends by a filleted corner, means for adjusting the width of said L-shaped support and forming platform to accommodate different sizes of said folding boxes, box operating station having means for operating on said box positioned spaced above said first leg and means for adjusting the spacing of said operating means relative to said first leg to accommodate different lengths of said boxes.
Preferably said box operating means comprises a box closure means and said operating station has a stop against which said box is moved to ensure said box is square in said closure station.
Preferably said operating station further includes ejector means for ejecting a closed box from said operating station after said box has been closed. Preferably said stop is part of said ejector means.

Method and apparatus for setting up a carton


A method and system of sponsoring a media item is disclosed herein. A media item is received from a submitter. The media item is published for consumer access. Requests for the media item are received from media consumers. A number of consumer requests for the media item is counted. A determination is made as to whether the number of consumer requests for the media item is higher than a predetermined threshold of popularity. If the number of consumer requests for the media item is determined to be higher than the predetermined threshold of popularity, the media item is sponsored on a webcast station.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing media. In particular, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for receiving, publishing and sponsoring.
2. General Background
The expansion of the Internet and the World Wide Web ("web") has given computer users the enhanced ability to listen to and to watch various forms of media through their computers, handheld devices, etc. Such media can be in the form of audio music, music videos, and television programs, sporting events or any other form of audio or video media that a user wishes to watch or listen to. Media is now overwhelmingly being distributed through computer networks. As a result, effective media creation and distribution has become accessible to small artists and media producers. Likewise, consumer access to media content on the Internet has increased significantly. Therefore, popularity of media content on the Internet can be a good indicator of the overall success of a media item.

Systems and methods for receiving and sponsoring media content


There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a multifeed detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can suppress erroneous detection of the occurrence of a multifeed. The paper conveying apparatus includes an ultrasonic detector for outputting an ultrasonic signal, a multifeed detector for determining whether a multifeed of papers has occurred based on the ultrasonic signal, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, and a control module for performing an abnormal processing when the multifeed detector determines that a multifeed has occurred and the sound signal generator does not output a predetermined sound signal, and determining that a multifeed has not occurred and not performing the abnormal processing when the multifeed detector determines that a multifeed has occurred and the sound signal generator outputs the predetermined sound signal.

In a paper conveying apparatus of an image reading apparatus, printing apparatus, etc., sometimes a plurality of sheets of paper are conveyed on the conveyance path in a superposed state, that is, multifeed occurs.
An image reading apparatus which sends an ultrasonic wave toward paper of a document being conveyed and determines that a multifeed has occurred when the level of reception of the ultrasonic wave which passes through the paper of a document is a predetermined threshold value or less has been disclosed (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-161291).

Paper conveying apparatus, multifeed detection method, and computer-readable, non-transitory medium


A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors. The head is positioned over a first servo track, and a first position error signal (PES) by reading a first servo sector during a first revolution of the disk and in response to a first compensation value. A second compensation value is updated for a second servo sector based on the first PES during the first revolution of the disk. A second PES is generated by reading the second servo sector during the first revolution of the disk and in response to the updated second compensation value. The first compensation value is updated for the first servo sector based on the second PES during the first revolution of the disk. The head is actuated over the disk in response to the first PES and the second PES.

Disk drives comprise a disk and a head connected to a distal end of an actuator arm which is rotated about a pivot by a voice coil motor (VCM) to position the head radially over the disk. The disk comprises a plurality of radially spaced, concentric tracks for recording user data sectors and servo sectors. The servo sectors comprise head positioning information (e.g., a track address) which is read by the head and processed by a servo control system to control the actuator arm as it seeks from track to track.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art disk format comprising a number of servo sectors 60-6M-1 recorded around the circumference of the disk 2 that define a plurality of servo tracks 4, wherein data tracks are defined relative to the servo tracks (at the same or different radial density). Each servo sector 6i may comprise a preamble 8 for storing a periodic pattern, which allows proper gain adjustment and timing synchronization of the read signal, and a sync mark 10 for storing a special pattern used to symbol synchronize to a servo data field 12. The servo data field 12 stores coarse head positioning information, such as a track address, used to position the head over a target data track during a seek operation. Each servo sector 6i may further comprise groups of servo bursts 14 (e.g., A, B, C and D bursts), which comprise a number of consecutive transitions recorded at precise intervals and offsets with respect to a servo track centerline. The groups of servo bursts 14 provide fine head position information used for centerline tracking while accessing a data track during write/read operations.
While the disk drive is centerline tracking a data track during write/read operations, there may be repeatable disturbances induced in the servo control system, such as a repeatable runout (RRO) due to an eccentricity of the servo tracks. There may also be a repeatable disturbance due to a "written-in error" of the servo sectors. The RRO and "written-in error" may be considered fixed disturbances that remain substantially constant over the life of the disk drive. There may also be a variable repeatable disturbance affecting the servo control system due, for example, to degradation of the spindle motor over the life of the disk drive, or changes in the operating environment such as external vibrations affecting the disk drive. When the disturbance is repeatable, compensation values may be learned and then applied to the servo control system as each servo sector is processed, thereby reducing the undesirable effect of the repeatable disturbance.

Disk drive updating compensation values for multiple servo sectors based on PES generated for current servo sector


A method and apparatus for powering an electronic circuit use comparators of supply voltages and voltage regulators to facilitate powering the electronic circuit utilizing more than one supply voltage. In one embodiment, power supplies of step-up power units are controlled using comparators of step-down power units and the step-up power units temporarily provide power to accidentally disabled of step-down power units.

Most of integrated electronic circuits (e.g., microprocessors, memory devices, application specific integrated circuits (ASICS), and the like) require several power supplies, where each power supply provides one or more supply voltages. In operation, such voltages should be applied to and removed from the electronic circuits in pre-determined orders, or sequences. Violation of such sequences may result in damaging an electronic circuit.
Conventionally, banks of pre-charged capacitors are used as emergency sources of energy to protect the electronic circuits from accidental loss of a supply voltage as a result of, e.g., a failure of the respective power supply. Such capacitors temporarily substitute for the loss of a supply voltage for the duration of time needed to execute a pre-determined emergency sequence for powering down the affected electronic circuit. However, in advanced electronic circuits using low supply voltages and consuming high supply currents, the number and dimensions of such capacitors become prohibitively large.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for powering electronic circuits.

Method and apparatus for powering electronic circuits


Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to message response management and provide a method, system and computer program product for motivating and de-motivating message responses. In one embodiment of the invention, a message reply motivation and de-motivation method can be provided. The method can include composing a message, addressing the message to at least one addressee, associating a reply preference specifying whether or not a recipient is to reply to the message, and forwarding the reply preference to the addressee. Upon receipt, the message can be displayed in a message viewer, and any reply preference for the message can be analyzed to determine if the reply preference specifies whether or not to reply to the message. Thereafter, the reply preference can be applied in the message viewer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of messaging and more particularly to message delivery management for electronic messages.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic messaging represents the single most useful task accomplished over wide-scale computer communications networks. Some argue that in the absence of electronic messaging, the Internet would have amounted to little more than a science experiment. Today, electronic messaging seems to have replaced the ubiquitous telephone and fax machine for the most routine of interpersonal communications. As such, a variety of electronic messaging systems have arisen which range from real-time instant messaging systems and wireless text pagers to asynchronous electronic mail systems.
Electronic mail, a form of electronic messaging referred to in the art as e-mail, has proven to be the most widely used computing application globally. Though e-mail has been a commercial staple for several decades, due to the explosive popularity and global connectivity of the Internet, e-mail has become the preferred mode of communications, regardless of the geographic separation of communicating parties. Today, more e-mails are processed in a single hour than phone calls. Clearly, e-mail as a mode of communications has been postured to replace all other modes of communications, save for voice telephony.
Modern electronic messaging clients provide a "reply" function which permits the composition of a message by a composer in reply to a message received by the composer. By selecting the reply option, a new message window can open addressed to the sender of the received message. Notably, where the received message had been addressed to multiple recipients in addition to the composer, a "reply-all" function permits the addressing of a reply message to all recipients designated by the original received message. Thus, the reply-all operation can be an efficient mechanism where all addresses of a received message are intended to receive a reply from the composer.
The widespread usage of e-mail has resulted in effortless communications among users. Notwithstanding, the ability to readily communicate with a number of people with little effort is not without its problems. For one, reviewing an e-mail inbox chock full of messages can be tedious when the number of messages becomes excessive. The volume of messages in an inbox can be compounded when many messages are not original transmissions from sender to recipient, but replies to messages previously sent.
In this regard, where one message has been addressed to a multiplicity of recipients, the reply by each recipient can readily overcome an inbox. For smaller e-mail distribution lists, receiving replies from different addressees can be desirable. In contrast, for informational messages sent to a large set of addressees, receiving a reply from a large number of the addressees can supply little added value to the message exchange while undesirably clogging the inbox of the sender. Yet, the addressees of a message cannot be faulted as there is no way to know whether the sender prefers a reply to the message or not.

Motivating and demotivating message responses

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of setting a bus route for a bus includes the step of providing a global positioning system (GPS) device (100) on the bus (12), and reading passenger data corresponding to a passenger. The passenger data is read from a passenger identification card and transmitted to the GPS device (16). The method further includes the step of matching the passenger data with a bus stop (28), and generating a bus route with the GPS device (100) based on the passenger data (34). Only bus stops that match passenger data are included in the bus route (34).

Embodiments described herein relate to a system and method for setting a bus route that is dependent upon the passengers embarking the bus.
School buses transport passengers from point to point, typically picking up or dropping off passengers at locations along a route, and dropping off or picking up passengers from school. Passenger ridership of school buses can vary, for example passenger ridership may be greater in the morning than in the afternoon, and passenger ridership may be greater in the middle of the week than in the beginning and end of the week. Even when passenger ridership is down, the bus traverses the entire bus route regardless of whether there are passengers on the bus that will disembark at locations along the entire route, and sometimes the bus stops at each designated bus stop regardless of whether there are passengers on the bus that will disembark at the given bus stop.
In addition to operating the bus, the task of verifying whether passengers embark and disembark from the school bus is typically handled by the bus driver. Bus drivers often develop a familiarity with the passengers and know where the passengers embark and disembark, particularly on school bus routes where the passengers tend to be regular passengers. When the bus driver is absent, the substitute driver may not have a familiarity with the bus route, with the location of the bus stops, or with the passengers. Additionally, when passenger ridership is low, the substitute driver may not know how the route can be shortened to eliminate stops that have no passengers disembarking.
To balance the transport of all passengers, while at the same time minimizing the time and cost to deliver the passengers, school bus passenger route planning typically recognizes where potential passengers are located, and determines a fixed bus route according to where the potential passengers are located. Typical school bus passenger route planning does not reconcile and adjust the bus route according to the actual passengers that embark the bus.

System and method for setting a bus route for transporting passengers


Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a multiple-phase particle comprising preparing a channel whose outlet port is adapted to a first fluid, feeding a second fluid into the channel, the second fluid being higher in affinity to the outlet port as compared with the first fluid, feeding a third fluid into the channel, the third fluid being lower in affinity to the outlet port as compared with the second fluid, and introducing the third fluid into the second fluid in the channel while retaining the second fluid at the outlet port by an effect of the affinity of the second fluid, thereby entrapping the third fluid in the second fluid to form the multiple-phase particle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multiple-phase particle and to an apparatus for manufacturing the multiple-phase particle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple-phase particles such as microcapsules and composite fine particles are used extensively in various technical fields including biotechnology, the drug industry, the food industry, the cosmetic industry, and the paint industry, etc. When a multiple-phase particle is manufactured using lipid as an emulsifier, the product is referred to as a lipid multiple-phase particle. Further, the multiple-phase particle can be classified, according to the thickness of the membrane thereof, into a double emulsion and a vesicle (a reversed vesicle). Depending on the number of inner gas phase, aqueous phase or oil phase, the double emulsion can be classified into a multiple-phase-type emulsion and a single-phase-type emulsion.
In the DDS (Drug Delivery System) where the enhancement of pharmacological effects and the suppression of side effects are aimed at, the lipid multiple-phase particle is advantageous in that it is capable of controlling the release of medicine, improving the absorbability and enhancing the target directivity, and is also more excellent as compared with polymeric carrier in terms of toxity, antigenicity, irritation, etc. However, since the lipid multiple-phase particle is relatively instable as compared with polymeric carrier, it is difficult to supply a sufficient quantity as required of the particle immediately when immediate supply thereof is needed.
Although it is relatively easy to manufacture a multiple inner aqueous phase type emulsion, the double emulsion to be obtained lacks uniformity of particle size. Therefore, when the lipid multiple-phase particle is to be employed as a microcarrier, there will be raised the problems that it is difficult to control the dosage of chemicals as well as the rate of releasing the chemicals.
In order to manufacture a vesicle which is excellent in uniformity of particle size, it will be required to undergo a series of complicated steps such as drying of lipid, stirring, ultrasonic treatment, pressing, etc. Since the manufacturing process thereof includes the employment of harmful volatile organic substance such as chloroform, it is difficult to directly entrap a bioactive substance in the vesicle. Further, it is difficult to quickly and automatically manufacture a vesicle excellent in uniformity of particle size and to manufacture a vesicle enclosing therein a bioactive substance. It is also difficult to manufacture a vesicle where the inner membrane and the outer membrane thereof are asymmetric. Moreover, since the particle diameter of vesicle to be manufactured is as small as about 20 nm-50 nm, it is difficult to entrap a sufficient quantity, per unit volume, of a high-molecular substance such as protein, DNA, RNA, etc., so as to secure high activity thereof.

Method for manufacturing multiple-phase particle and apparatus for manufacturing multiple-phase particle


Disclosed is a method for transmitting a signal field in a wireless LAN along with an apparatus therefore. The method for transmitting a signal field in a wireless LAN includes the steps of: generating a signal field by a first STA (station); and transmitting the signal field to a second STA by the first STA in a first OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) symbol, a second OFDM symbol and a third OFDM symbol, wherein at least one of a second binary phase shift keying used in the second OFDM symbol and a third binary phase shift keying used in the third OFDM symbol can be rotated in reference to the first binary phase shift keying used in the first OFDM symbol.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting a signal field in a wireless local area network (WLAN).
Related Art
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Wireless Next Generation Standing Committee (WNG SC) is an ad hoc committee which conducts medium- and long-term examinations on a next-generation wireless local area network (WLAN).
At the IEEE conference in March, 2013, Broadcom suggested, based on the WLAN standardization history, the need for discussions on the next-generation WLAN subsequent to IEEE 802.11ac in the first half of 2013 when the IEEE 802.11ac standards were finalized. On the basis of technical necessity and need for standardization, a motion for creating a study group for the next-generation WLAN was carried at the IEEE conference in March, 2013.
The scope of the HEW mainly discussed by the study group for the next-generation WLAN so called a high efficiency WLAN (HEW) includes 1) improvement in a 802.11 physical (PHY) layer and medium access control (MAC) layer in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, 2) increase in spectrum efficiency and area throughput, and 3) performance improvement in actual indoor and outdoor environments, such as environments including interference sources, crowded heterogeneous networks and environments having high user load. The HEW mostly considers a scenario of an environment crowed with access points (APs) and stations (STAs), and the HEW conduct discussions on improvement in spectrum efficiency and area throughput in this situation. In particular, the HEW pays attention to improvement in practical performance not only in indoor environments but also in outdoor environments, which are not substantially considered in existing WLANs.
The HEW pays substantial attention to scenarios for a wireless office, a smart home, a stadium, a hotspot and a building/apartment, and discussions on system performance improvement in an environment crowed with APs and STAs based on a corresponding scenario are conducted.
Discussions are expected to be vigorous on system performance improvement in an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) environment and outdoor environment, instead of single link performance improvement in a single basic service set (BSS), and on cellular offloading. This HEW orientation means that the next-generation WLAN gradually has a similar technological scope to that of mobile communication. Considering that mobile communication technology is discussed along with WLAN technology in small cell and direct-to-direct (D2D) communications areas, technological and business convergence of the next-generation WLAN based on the HEW and mobile communication is expected to be further promoted.

Method for transmitting signal field and apparatus therefor


A method for separating solid and liquid components from gas components in a hydrocarbon production stream. The method includes the steps of: conveying the production stream into a cylindrical vessel having an inner cavity; creating an initial drop in velocity of the production stream; directing the production stream to flow around the inner cavity; collecting the gas components from the production stream at a top end of the vessel; and collecting the solid and liquid components at a drain in a bottom end of the vessel.

As is well known and by way of background, natural gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, up to 20% other hydrocarbons as well as varying amounts of impurities such as carbon dioxide. Natural gas is widely used as an energy source and it is generally found in deep underground natural rock formations or associated with other hydrocarbon reservoirs. The underground rock formations or subsurface reservoirs of hydrocarbons typically consist of a porous layer, such as limestone and sand, overlaid by a nonporous layer. The porous layer forms a reservoir in which hydrocarbons are able to collect. To recover hydrocarbons, wells are drilled from the surface of the earth through the nonporous layers overlying the reservoir to tap into the reservoir and allow the hydrocarbons to flow from the porous formation into the well. The hydrocarbons, including oil and natural gas, are then recovered at the earth's surface where they undergo further processing.
Recovering natural gas is often not as straightforward as it appears, as the gas may not readily flow from the reservoir into the well bore as a result of a variety of factors including formation characteristics and pressures. As such, as is well known in order to increase gas flow and recovery, many methods are employed as means of increasing natural gas production including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or "fracing". Horizontal drilling, as opposed to vertical drilling, involves drilling a well more or less horizontally through a reservoir to increase the exposure of the formation to the wellbore, thereby decreasing the distance the gas must travel to the wellbore.
Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping high pressure fluids and sand into the reservoir in order to open up the formation by fracturing the rock in the reservoir. After the pressure is released, the sand remains in the fracture to create a higher permeability flow path towards the well.
Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are generally effective at increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons, however they also create additional challenges that must be dealt with. Specifically, large quantities of fluid, sand and other additives are introduced into the formation and mixed with the hydrocarbons during fracturing. After the fracing stimulation of the well, introduced fracing sand and naturally occurring reservoir fines or sand and/or fracing sands can be produced back into the horizontal well along with any remaining fluids, natural gas and other reservoir fluids. This particulate is produced to the surface and can cause plugging and/or erosion of surface equipment and pipelines.
To remove sand from natural gas at the surface, apparatuses commonly referred to as sand separators are used. Typically a sand separator comprises a vessel with an inlet port and a gas outlet port on the upper part of the vessel, and a drain at the bottom of the vessel. In addition, this vessel may or may not include secondary filters. The inside of the vessel is formatted such that when a high pressure, high velocity production stream from a well flows into the vessel through the inlet port, it experiences a large drop in velocity, causing the natural gas to separate from the water and sand. The vertical divider forces the fluid and sand down towards the drain, while the gas rises back up around the divider and exits through the gas outlet port.
While past sand separators can be effective, they are often limited by a number of operational limitations in the field. For example, the flow rate of gas and water/sand into a sand separator may be varied where the velocity of gas and the volume of water/sand may fluctuate significantly as it enters the sand separator. In particular, in the event that a sudden pulse in water/sand is encountered, in past designs, this may lead to either ineffective water/sand separation from the gas, clogging of the sand filters of the separator and/or damage to the sand filters. An example of a past sand separator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,400. As a result, there has been a need for systems that effectively allow for a greater residence time of water/sand within the separator that enables a more efficient separation of water/sand from gas without leading to clogging problems.

Method for separating sand from a hydrocarbon stream


A method is provided and includes detecting a fault condition in a refrigeration system, determining a maintenance cost to correct the fault condition, and determining a monetary value associated with continued operation of the refrigeration system with the fault condition. The method also includes comparing the maintenance cost to the monetary value and determining a level of urgency for correcting the fault condition based on the comparison. The method also includes scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition based on the level of urgency.

Refrigerated and frozen food product travels from processing plants to retailers, where the food product remains on display case shelves for extended periods of time. The display case shelves are typically part of a refrigeration system for storing and displaying the refrigerated and frozen food product and must be constantly cooled to ensure maximum product life. Retailers attempt to maximize the shelf-life and quality of the stored food product while concurrently maximizing the efficiency of the refrigeration system. In so doing, retailers receive a profit through sales of quality products while spending a minimum on energy costs associated with product display (i.e., refrigeration, etc.).
Any breakdown in the refrigeration system or variation in performance can cause food quality issues and negatively impact the profit of the retailer. Therefore, retailers typically monitor refrigeration system equipment to ensure that the equipment operates at expected levels. When the refrigeration equipment is operating at a reduced capacity, or is not operating at all, retailers are accustomed to immediately calling a repair technician to promptly restore the refrigeration system to normal operation.
For example, when a retailer notices a refrigeration system fault such as a condenser fan failure, the retailer typically contacts a repair person as soon as possible to repair the fan and restore the refrigeration system to normal operation. The retailer usually pays a higher maintenance premium for an emergency service call due to the required response time and urgency of the situation (i.e., overtime pay, weekend maintenance, etc.). The added expense associated with emergency service is typically justified as emergency maintenance costs do not typically outweigh the expense associated with loss of the refrigerated and/or frozen food product, loss of product sales, and/or consumption of excess energy.
In addition to the premium associated with emergency service, retailers often incur higher repair bills due to the frequency in which service is performed. The fear of spoilage prompts retailers to schedule maintenance at the first inclining of a fault condition. The reactive nature of such a system results in frequent service calls and, thus, higher overall maintenance costs as repair technicians typically require a flat fee for simply responding to the call (i.e., driving to the particular location). Therefore, because retailers are reactive to refrigeration system faults and do not typically have a predictive or condition-based maintenance schedule in place, most retailers incur higher-than-necessary maintenance costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions, Inc.