The present disclosure relates to a novel organic compound which has excellent thermal stability, electron transporting ability, and light emitting ability, and to an organic EL device containing the same. As the organic compound is used in an organic material layer of the organic EL device, the thermal stability, luminous efficiency, driving voltage, and life of the device can be improved.

In organic electroluminescence devices (hereinafter, "EL devices"), upon application of voltage between two electrodes, holes are injected from an anode to an organic layer and electrons are injected from a cathode into the organic layer. Injected holes and electrons meet each other to form excitons, and light emission occurs when the excitons fall to a ground state. In this case, materials used for the organic layer may be classified into, for example, luminescent materials, hole injection materials, hole transporting materials, electron transporting materials and electron injection materials depending on their function.
Light emitting materials of an organic EL device may be classified into blue, green and red luminescent materials depending on their emission colors. Besides, yellow and orange luminescent materials may be used as a luminescent material for realizing better natural colors. In addition, a host/dopant system may be employed in the luminescent material to increase color purity and luminous efficiency through energy transfer. Dopant materials may be classified into fluorescent dopants using organic materials and phosphorescent dopants using metal complex compounds which include heavy atoms such as Ir and Pt. The developed phosphorescent materials may improve the luminous efficiency theoretically up to four times as compared to fluorescent materials, so attention is given to phosphorescent dopants as well as phosphorescent host materials.
To date, NPB, BCP and Alq3 are widely known as materials used in the hole injection layer, the hole transporting layer, the hole blocking layer and the electron transporting layer, and anthracene derivatives have been reported as fluorescent dopant/host materials for luminescent materials. Particularly, metal complex compounds including Ir, such as Firpic, Ir(ppy)3, and (acac)(btp)2Ir, are known as phosphorescent dopant materials for efficiency improvement among luminescent materials, and they are used as blue, green and red dopant materials. Up to this day, CBP has shown excellent properties as a phosphorescent host material.
However, conventional materials, despite their good luminescence properties, have low glass transition temperatures and poor thermal stability and thus are not satisfactory in terms of life characteristics of organic EL devices. Accordingly, there is a demand for luminescent materials having excellent thermal stability as well as high luminescence performance.

Organic compound and organic electroluminescent device using the same


An image forming apparatus including a transfer section for transferring a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto a sheet by pressure contact of the sheet against the image bearing member with a transfer member; a cleaning section having a cleaning blade to remove residual toner on the image bearing member; and a control section for controlling a rotation of the image bearing member so as to carry out a return action of a blade configuration which stops or reverses the rotation of the image bearing member, when the rotation amount reaches a predetermined value, wherein the control section additionally carries out the return action when the rotation amount reaches a value smaller than the predetermined value, in a case where a size of a sheet in a current job is larger than a size a sheet having been passed through in a previous job.

In general, in a cleaning device used for an image forming apparatus, the major method has been that toner on an image bearing member is removed by continuously bringing a blade made of a material such as urethane rubber into close contact with the image bearing member. In this method, it has been known that foreign matter such as paper powder is caught at the pointed end of a blade whereby the lip of the blade or cleaning failure is caused. As a countermeasure against the problem, there is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 as shown below a method in which, to remove foreign matter from the pointed end of a blade, an image forming job being run is interrupted to stop the movement of an image bearing member or to rotate it in the reverse direction.
The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-311771 is provided with a cleaning action of a blade in which a photoreceptor is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction at the time of image formation, and carries out the cleaning action at every prescribed interval of the number of image formation to make it possible to maintain excellent cleaning properties over a long period of time. The prescribed interval is selected based on the number of cartridges used or environmental conditions (temperature or humidity).
The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-31431 has a cleaning action of a blade in which the apparatus controls a photoreceptor driving motor to stop the photoreceptor, rotate it in the reverse direction and then rotate it in the normal direction during job operations of continuous printing, and returns to the original continuous printing job, and thereby repeats the cleaning action of a blade in a unit of the number of prescribed printing to prevent accumulation of paper powder at an edge of the blade, and to decrease printing failure and improve reliability.
Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-328088, a cleaning action of a blade is repeated in which the direction of rotation of the photoreceptor is reversed at every prescribed number of rotations in accordance with the number of rotations of the photoreceptor.
However, it was found that cleaning failure on the image bearing member cannot be sufficiently prevented, in the image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning means which cleans the surface of an image bearing member by bringing a cleaning blade into close contact with the image bearing member, and a transfer means which transfers electrostatically a toner image on the image bearing member onto a sheet of paper using a transfer member on which a bias voltage was applied and a lubricant was applied, even if the technology described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, that is, the cleaning action of a blade in which, to remove foreign matter such as paper powder from the blade, a printing job is interrupted during an operation of continuous printing job at every prescribed interval to stop an image bearing member or to rotate it in the reverse direction is carried out.
This problem is one in which, in the case where large size printing jobs are continually carried out after small size printing jobs were continually carried out, a cleaning failure occurs on both side areas in the main scanning direction of a large size sheet of paper before reaching the above prescribed interval, that is, before carrying out the cleaning action of the cleaning blade.
The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing cleaning failure which occurs on both side areas in the main scanning direction of a large size sheet of paper in the case where large size printing jobs are continually carried out after small size printing jobs were continually carried out.

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


To visually support a catheter ablation in the heart, three-dimensional image data have been used prior to the intervention. During ablation, the position of the catheter is pinpointed by an orientation system. The orientation system acquires electroanatomical 3D mapping data. The two-dimensional image data is assigned to the 3D mapping data in the correct position and dimensions which is a time-consuming step. The invention makes provision for the orientation system being in a fixed location relative to the X-ray system so that a positionally and dimensionally correct alignment of the X-ray image data set with the 3D mapping data is no longer required. An image or surface based 3D-3D alignment of the three-dimensional data acquired prior to the intervention with the three-dimensional X-ray image data is considerably less time-consuming than alignment thereof with the 3D mapping data and is more reliable because more structures is recognized in the three-dimensional X-ray image data.

The therapies involved are mainly those of the ablation kind with the aid of an ablation catheter. For the therapy of atrial fibrillation in the heart, for example, the pulmonary veins of the atrium are electrically isolated by annular ablations around the pulmonary veins. The procedure for carrying out annular ablation is very complex.
Arrythmias in ventricular movement (ventricular fibrillation) can result from scar tissue in the myocardium. This scar tissue forms as a result of an infarction, for example. An accurately targeted ablation on the scar tissue may suppress the ventricular fibrillation. Here, too, ablation is very difficult to carry out because of the requirement for accurate targeting.
Hitherto, two kinds of image data have been used for visually supporting an invasive therapy of the heart with the aid of an ablation catheter:
Firstly, three-dimensional image data acquired prior to the actual operation are used. In these three-dimensional image data the areas requiring ablation can be recognized. The problem lies in aligning three-dimensional image data with the position of the ablation catheter.
Orientation systems provided on the ablation catheter, such as the CARTO system from Biosense Webster, for example, are usually used, optionally with the assistance of a further catheter. Electro-anatomical maps can be produced with the aid of these systems, the maps essentially being a representation in image form of electrophysiological cardiac signals as a function of the position of a signal recorder.
The maps can also be used effectively during ablation.
In order to be able to use the three-dimensional image data that have been acquired prior to therapy at the same time as the maps, registration of three-dimensional image data with electroanatomical maps can be carried out. "Registration" is understood here to mean that electroanatomical 3D mapping data can be aligned with the 3D image data in the correct position and dimensions, that is, that the systems of co-ordinates are combined with each other. This is disclosed, for example, in DE 103 405 44 A1.
Aligning 3D mapping data with one another in the correct position and dimension is very time-consuming, however.
A registration is also carried out in a method known from DE 102 10 645 A1 for detecting and imaging a medical catheter inserted in an area of a patient to be examined. There is a position-detecting means on the medical catheter, the means being part of a position-detection system, and the system of co-ordinates of the position-detection system is registered with the system of co-ordinates of a 3D construction image produced with the aid of an X-ray C-arm. This allows the tip of the catheter to be displayed in the 3D reconstruction image on a monitor.
EP 1 504 713 A1 discloses a navigation system for cardiac therapies, in which a medical catheter is equipped with electromagnetic coils as sensors for a navigation system.

Method for visually supporting an invasive examination or therapy of the heart with the aid of an invasive instrument


There is described a method of epilation using an insulated probe connected to an epilator apparatus supplying multiple pulses of energy that created concentrated heat at the probe tip. The steps of the method comprise inserting the probe tip into the hair follicle; positioning the probe tip at a position corresponding to either the bulb or the bulge; activating the apparatus to generate heat at the probe tip using predefined settings; and displacing the probe tip from the position to the other of the bulb and the bulge with continuous generation of heat using the multiple pulses of energy at the probe tip.

Electrolysis is either of two electrical epilation methods for the permanent removal of human hair. A practitioner of electrolysis, as the term is used in epilation, is called an electrologist.
One method involves using a person's body as an electrolytic cell. This method is known as galvanic. The other method is known as thermolysis, RF, shortwave or diathermy. Galvanic and thermolysis are often combined in a method known as the BLEND™. All three of these methods use a metal probe 0.002 to 0.006 inches in diameter which is inserted into hair follicles to the depth of the dermal papilla or hair matrix, which is the site of formation of hair from highly mitotic and keratinized cells.
A galvanic epilator is essentially a positive ground power supply that delivers 0-3 mA through the body. The follicular probe is the cathode of an electrolytic cell. Sodium hydroxide formed at the cathode burns out the hair matrix cells. Modern galvanic epilators automatically adjust the voltage to maintain constant current.
A thermolytic epilator is essentially a radio transmitter, usually with an output of about 0-8 watts at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. RF energy emanates from the probe to tissue within about a few millimeters. The idea is to heat the hair matrix to about 48° C., causing electro-coagulation.
Thermolysis allows more epilations in less time, typically 1-4 seconds per insertion, compared to 15 seconds to several minutes for galvanic. On the other hand, the galvanic method is more thorough, and leaves fewer follicles capable of regrowing hair. The BLEND™ method combines RF and direct current, combining many of the advantages of both methods.
While Electrolysis has some very good results compared to other epilation techniques, it can be expensive, tedious, and painful for the patient. It can be difficult for large amounts of hair. If done improperly, it can result in partial to full regrowth, lasting skin damage, and spread of infection.
Therefore, there is a need for new methods and systems in the area of electro-epilation.


A monitoring system for alerting operators of aircraft or other vehicles when they are approaching a geographical feature of interest, such as a runway, taxiway or other aircraft. The system includes a database having at least one geo-referenced chart, a processor, a positioning system configured to identify a number of aircraft or other vehicle operational parameters and transmit that data to the processor, and a display unit configured to display the present position of the aircraft on the geo-referenced chart. After receiving the operational parameters, the processor identifies a virtual containment zone centered about the aircraft or vehicle. The processor further monitors the position of the aircraft or other vehicle relative to any geographical features of interest and determines whether at least a portion of a geographical feature is located within the containment area. If such a condition is detected, a notification is generated and presented to the operator who may respond accordingly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved system for alerting operators of aircraft during ground operations that the aircraft is approaching a runway or other designated area.
2. The Prior Art
Within the aviation industry, a serious concern exists regarding the unauthorized entry of aircraft onto airport runways during taxiing operations, which is commonly referred to as a "runway incursion." This concern has recently been heightened by a number of recent incidents involving "near-misses" occurring when two aircraft have attempted to use the same runway or intersecting runways at the same time, resulting in the potential for a disastrous collision. In another recent incident, a commercial aircraft crashed during takeoff, due to the fact that the pilot had attempted to take off from the wrong runway, which was shorter than the minimum required takeoff distance for the aircraft.
Various systems have been used in the past in order to minimize the potential for runway incursions. A number of "traditional" systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,563, which have primarily relied on the pilot and/or air traffic controller to monitor the position of the aircraft relative to airport runways during taxiing operations. These systems have included requiring a pilot to request permission from an air traffic controller before taxiing across a runway, relying on air traffic controllers to visually monitor the movement of aircraft while taxiing, and placing signs and markings on the ground to indicate the position of an aircraft relative to a given runway. However, such systems are not well suited to prevent runway incursions at many of today's larger airports, which include many runways and taxiways where dozens of aircraft may be taxiing, taking off or landing at any given time. Moreover, such systems are less reliable at night or during low-visibility conditions, when the ability of pilots and air traffic controllers to monitor conditions visually is diminished.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,563 discloses a system for alerting an operator of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, that the vehicle is approaching or within a zone of awareness, such as a runway. The system includes an electronic database which stores the location of the zone of awareness, a positioning system (e.g., GPS) which determines the location of the aircraft, a processor which calculates the distance between the vehicle location and the zone of awareness, and an alarm that alerts the pilot when the distance is less than a predetermined value. All of these components are located on the aircraft itself, so that the system need not rely on input from outside sources, for example air traffic control systems, in order to warn the pilot of a potential runway incursion.
The storage device of this system comprises a conventional computer memory device (e.g., RAM, CD-ROM, EPROM), in which is stored a database including location information for any desired number of zones of awareness. The zones of awareness may include all or part of a runway, and may additionally include any other area for which an alert would be desirable if approached by an aircraft (e.g., construction zone). The coordinates for each zone of awareness may be determined relative to the surface of the earth, e.g., longitude and latitude.
The alarm function is disclosed as including either audible and/or visual components. The audible alarm may include a synthesized voice warning identifying the name of the runway (e.g., "ENTERING RUNWAY 27") and/or the location of the aircraft relative to the runway (e.g., "RUNWAY AHEAD"). The visual component of the alarm may include a designation of a feature within the zone of awareness, such as the word "RUNWAY displayed on a screen, an identification of a specific runway (e.g., "RUNWAY 27") on a screen, and/or other information such as a map of the airport showing the location of various geographical features.
While the alerting system disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,563 provides pilots with some notification of potential runway incursions, as described above, that system does not teach the use of a conventional electronic airport chart to display a graphical depiction of the present position of an aircraft, relative to the runway of interest and other geographical features of the airport. Thus, while the pilot may understand that he is approaching a runway, he may not immediately realize where the runway is located relative to his aircraft or which way he should proceed to avoid entering the runway—particularly if he is operating at an airport with which he is unfamiliar. Moreover, if the pilot has entered a runway different from the runway on which the aircraft has been cleared to take off, he may not be cognizant of that fact based solely on an audible warning or a visual designation such as "RUNWAY appearing on a display screen. Accordingly, it would be desirable to combine a warning that the aircraft is approaching a runway, with a visual notification to the pilot identifying precisely where the aircraft is located relative to various geographical features within the airport, at the time of the notification.
Systems for displaying the position of an aircraft on a display device relative to geographical features at an airport, such as runways, taxiways, terminals, etc., are known in the art. Electronic airport charts, such as those provided by Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc. ("Jeppesen") in association with its JeppView software, are routinely utilized by pilots to obtain a graphical depiction of the position of an aircraft relative to other geographical features of an airport.
Electronic airport charts are typically stored in a computerized database, which is either located on a hard disk drive or a CD-ROM drive connected to an onboard computer system. One such system is the Application Server Unit (ASU) offered by Universal Avionics Systems Corporation ("Universal Avionics). The computer system typically includes a display unit on which the airport charts are displayed, which may comprise either a panel-mounted display unit, such the EFI-890R diagonal flat screen display unit from Universal Avionics, or a portable, standalone display unit, such as the Universal Cockpit Display Terminal (UCDT) from Universal Avionics. Typically, such systems are able to utilize avionics data obtained from the aircraft's flight management system (FMS), including position, heading, track and velocity data, to provide a graphical depiction of the aircraft's present position and heading on the airport chart display.
Alternatively, the database may comprise part of a portable, standalone computer system, such as an electronic flight bag (EFB) system, which may or may not be integrated with the aircraft's avionics systems. One such EFB system is the Universal Cockpit Display (UCD) system, from Universal Avionics, which comprises a Universal Cockpit Display Computer and one or more UCDT display units. Such a system can provide the flight crew with a variety of information such as checklists, airport and aeronautical charts, external video displays, electronic documents and weather data. However, EFB systems, and particularly those systems which are not capable of receiving data from the aircraft's avionics systems, have limited capability of notifying the flight crew of potential runway incursions, as they typically have limited or no capability of obtaining data regarding the aircraft's position and velocity, for display on an airport charts stored within the database.
Standard airport charts, while useful for providing general position information, were previously limited by the fact that positional coordinates on the charts were not indexed to a fixed global reference frame, such as the WGS 84, which is the reference system used by the Global Positioning System (GPS). As a result, such charts were likely to generate significant error between the actual position of the aircraft relative to airport geographical features, as determined by GPS, and the aircraft position displayed on the airport chart, because the positional coordinates on those charts were not based on WGS 84. The difference between the true position of the aircraft and the position displayed on a standard electronic airport chart could potentially total tens or hundreds of meters. Thus, such charts were simply not capable of displaying the position of an aircraft with sufficient accuracy to identify potential runway incursions.
In recent years, providers of airport charts, such as Jeppesen, have solved this problem by providing "geo-referenced" airport charts, in which each coordinate on the chart is indexed to a particular geographical location having a specific latitude and longitude, as determined relative to a fixed global reference frame such as the WGS 84. As a result, a position of an aircraft determined using GPS can be displayed on a geo-referenced airport chart with an accuracy unobtainable using standard, non-geo-referenced airport charts.
However, in order to realize the significant advantages afforded by the use of geo-referenced airport charts, it is important that the system include some method for monitoring and identifying inconsistencies between the source data (which includes both the stored airport geographical feature data as well as dynamic aircraft position and orientation data) and the graphical presentation of that data on the aircraft display device. Without providing such a monitoring feature in association with the use of geo-referenced airport charts, the runway, taxiway, aircraft position or other airport element could be incorrectly drawn on the display, without the pilot being aware of such an error. This could result in either a false notifications of a potential runway incursion, or a failure to notify the pilot of an actual potential runway incursion.
Another system for alerting pilots of potential runway incursions is the surface area movement management (SAMM) software system provided by Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS). The SAMM system provides pilots with warnings of potential runway incursions, by monitoring position signals received from other aircraft engaging in taxiing, takeoff or landing operations at the same airport, such as ADS-B transmissions and mode-S transponders. Based on such information, the SAMM system can provide pilots with a warning if another aircraft enters the same runway during a takeoff operation. For example, is an airplane equipped with SAMM were to start its takeoff roll just as another aircraft equipped with ADS-B or a mode-S transponder taxied onto the active runway, the cockpit display in the SAMM-equipped aircraft would immediately draw a red box around the active runway, highlight the threat aircraft in red, and provide an aural alert.
However, while the SAMM system is capable of warning a pilot of potential incursions by other aircraft onto a runway being used by his aircraft, and highlighting the position of both aircraft on an electronic airport chart, it does not provide the pilot with any notification prior to his own aircraft entering onto the runway in the first place. Thus, a pilot who has entered the wrong runway prior to takeoff would not be provided with a notification of which runway the aircraft has entered, prior to his attempting to take off.
While systems such as those disclosed above are capable of alerting pilots to potential runway incursions under certain circumstances, they each have significant limitations. Thus, it would desirable to provide a system for notifying a pilot that his aircraft is approaching a runway or other geographical feature of interest, while simultaneously identifying the position of the aircraft relative to a geo-referenced airport chart. This would ensure that the pilot was not only made aware that his aircraft would enter a runway if it continues on its current path, but also enable the pilot to immediately assess the location of his aircraft relative to other airport features. This would likewise minimize the possibility of a pilot attempting to take off from the wrong runway, by enabling the pilot to visually confirm from the airport chart display that the aircraft is indeed on the correct runway—particularly at night or during periods of low visibility when runway markings, lights, etc., may be insufficient for that purpose.
It would likewise be desirable to provide a method of notifying a pilot that his aircraft is approaching a runway or other feature of interest, in which the notification includes both a visual notification associated with a geo-referenced airport chart, and an audible notification identifying the runway or feature of interest. Still further, it would be desirable to provide a method of basing the timing of the notifications to the speed of the aircraft. This would ensure that regardless of aircraft speed, the aircraft operator always has sufficient time and distance to respond to an alert.
It would further be desirable to provide such a method which further includes monitoring and notifying the pilot of any errors or inconsistencies between source data (either stored airport data or dynamic aircraft position orientation data) and the graphical presentation of that data on an aircraft display device.

Aircraft-centered ground maneuvering monitoring and alerting system


A method and apparatus for providing enhanced functionality to product webpages is described. This method and apparatus may be used to provide a unified toolbar across product webpages of multiple, independent retailers. This toolbar may be used to create a gift registry across multiple retailers, to create an inter-retailer shopping cart and automate purchases, to create an inter-retailer advertising network, and to create a virtual network of retailers with a multitude of services spanning them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing enhanced functionality to webpages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a unified gift registry which allows user to register and purchase gifts from multiple retailers.
2. Description of Related Art
Gift registries are often created for special occasions such as weddings. Gift-recipients visit a retailer to select and register a list of desired gifts. Gift-givers then visit the retailer to select and purchase a gift from this list. The gift is then marked as purchased and therefore no longer available for purchase by a subsequent gift-giver.
Gift registries are typically separately maintained at each store and are particular to each store. This requires both gift-recipients and gift-givers to visit the same store. Gift registries are often maintained on a single non-networked computer within the individual store to automate the bookkeeping functions.
Gift registries may also be implemented on a computer network, which provides improved access to other stores of the same retailer as well as gift-givers. For example, a private network between stores associated with the same retailer allows gift-recipients and gift-givers to visit any store which is part of the network to register or purchase gifts. As another example, a publicly accessible network such as the Internet allows gift-recipients and gift-givers to register and purchase gifts from a computer with Internet access. Such networked gift registries are currently provided by numerous individual retailers.
However, these networked gift registries are particular to each retailer and are designed to work only with stores of the same retailer, and are limited to products available in the stores of the same retailer.
Currently, gift-recipients wishing to register gifts from more than one retailer must visit each retailer, create a new registry account, and go through the oftentimes laborious process of selecting and registering gifts to be placed on their registry. This process must be repeated for every retailer involved, each process varying in number of steps and degree of difficulty. Gift-givers wishing to purchase these registered gifts must determine which stores to shop at, look up each registry, and purchase the gift through the supplying retailer. Both the gift-recipient and the gift-giver are inconvenienced by a narrower product selection, store location, inability to reconcile registry lists across multiple retailers, and the degree of effort required.
Furthermore, gift registry services offered by just one retailer often contain erroneous listings, untimely updates of product selection and purchase status, and may lead to duplicate gift purchases.
Current gift registry solutions require the retailer to offer their own registry services for their own product selection. However, it is difficult for many retailers to to carry a sufficient number of products to provide the product selection consumers often desire.
What is needed is a single gift registry service that is compatible with more than one retailer. What is needed is a gift registry solution which allows a gift-recipient to visit a single location and create a gift registry which includes products from more than one retailer. What is also needed is a gift registry solution which allows a gift-giver to visit a single location and access a gift registry which includes products from more than one retailer.

System, method, and computer program product for a unified internet wallet and gift registry


A computer-implementable method of adjusting a control parameter of an image capture device includes detecting, determining, and transmitting. At an interactive display device, a substantially continuous user selection of values of a control parameter of the image capture device is detected from user manipulation of a continuously-variable input control of the interactive display device. A rate of change is determined of the user selected values of the control parameter during user manipulation of the continuously-variable input control. Based upon at least the determined rate of change, it is determined whether to transmit each of the selected values. The selected values are sequentially transmitted to the image capture device, via a communications network, where the selected values are determined to be transmitted. Each of the transmitted values is transmitted as an interim control parameter value, and the transmitted values are adapted to adjust the control parameter of the image capture device.

As technology advances, image capture devices become more capable. The continuous development of image capture devices is accompanied by the introduction of new features and workflows. Image capture devices can now be remotely controlled. Other display devices can present a user of an image capture device with output by displaying the captured image. Further, the other display devices can allow for monitoring and control of an image capture device.
Display devices (such as mobile devices, smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, and the like) are being used to operate remote image capture devices (such as film, video, surveillance, photographic, still cameras and generally any device that can generate content in image form or whose output can be converted to image form). Remote operation of image capture devices is usually performed across communications networks. Examples of such communications networks include but are not limited to (i) wired networks such as Ethernet, DSL/ADSL, cable, dial-up, power-line communication (PLC), (ii) wireless networks such as Bluetooth, satellite, Wi-Fi, mobile telephony; and (iii) hybrid (wired and wireless) networks.
Typically, a user inputs a selection to change an image capture device parameter using a user interface of a remote display device, for example using radio buttons, drop down lists, sliders, scrollbars, spinners, scrubbing bars or dials. The selected image parameter is then transmitted to the image capture device via the communication network.
However, such communications networks are characterised by the introduction of delay. Such delay may be caused by protocol overhead, bandwidth limits, latency, availability and other issues. Image capture devices often contain mechanical components, bound to mechanical processes which further increase delay when a remote operation is requested.
Due to widespread familiarity with mobile devices, users expect immediate feedback after each selection of a parameter using a remote display device. The speed of mobile device processing is usually capable of providing immediate feedback. However, communications delays coupled with the image capture device's intrinsic mechanical delays often prevent the immediate provision of feedback. Such delay can cause the user to be confused about whether the selected parameter has been applied to the image they are viewing or whether further parameter adjustments are required.
A need exists to address problems in remotely adjusting a control parameter of an image capture device.

Methods for adjusting control parameters on an image capture device


A method for starting and operating a NMHC fueled gas turbine combined cycle power plant includes injecting gaseous NMHC fuel into a gaseous NMHC fuel treatment system, injecting at least one of auxiliary steam, HRSG steam, or HRSG water into the gaseous NMHC fuel treatment system, and mixing the at least one of auxiliary steam, HRSG steam, or HRSG water with the gaseous NMHC fuel in the NMHC fuel treatment system to form a gaseous NMHC fuel mixture. The method further includes injecting the gaseous NMHC fuel mixture into a gaseous NMHC fuel distribution system, and providing the gaseous NMHC fuel mixture through the gaseous NMHC fuel distribution system to a combustor of the NMHC fueled gas turbine.

A combined cycle power plant utilizes a gas turbine engine and a steam turbine engine in combination to produce power. The power plant is arranged such that the gas turbine engine is thermally connected to the steam turbine engine through a heat recovery steam generator ("HRSG"). The HRSG is a non-contact heat exchanger that allows feedwater for the steam generation process to be heated by otherwise wasted gas turbine engine exhaust gases. The HRSG is a large duct with tube bundles interposed therein such that water is heated to steam as the exhaust gases pass through the duct.
The gas turbine engines in the combined cycle are often natural gas-fired and are commonly used to drive electrical generators. Such gas turbines are designed to burn a specific range of fuels, wherein the rate of fuel consumed may depend on the fuel's chemical composition. Many of the gas turbine combustors achieve low NOx emissions levels by employing lean premixed combustion wherein the fuel and an excess of air that is required to burn all the fuel are mixed prior to combustion to control and limit thermal NOx production. This class of combustors, often referred to as Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustors, requires more careful management of combustion conditions to achieve stable operation and acceptable NOx and CO emissions while remaining free of pressure oscillations, called dynamics, which are usually related to the combination of acoustics and unsteady energy release during the combustion process.
Due to the increase in natural gas demand, the supply of pipeline natural gas may, on occasion, become unable to satisfy the demand for natural gas fuel by the combined cycle power plant. As a result, gas turbine operators are constantly looking for suitable alternate fuels to burn within their gas turbines in place of the natural gas until the natural gas supply is restored. One example of a potential alternate fuel is non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC). With the introduction of hydraulic fracturing as a means to extract natural gas, a large surplus of one NMHC, ethane, is being generated. Another common natural gas alternative in many parts of the world is liquefied natural gas (LNG). The search for suitable alternatives has led to startup and operations of the gas turbines using a variety of fuels, including lean methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, crude oil, and syngas. The category of non-methane hydrocarbons now includes ethane, propane and more generally liquid petroleum gas (LPG), which are becoming available in suitable quantities. Ethane, propane and LPG can be used for power generation, and there is now an option for exporting all of them as LNG alternatives for power generation.
There are various technical challenges associated with substituting one fuel such as ethane or other NMHC fuel for another fuel in a gas turbine combustor, particularly in combustors that are highly tuned over a narrow range of operating conditions based on the various fuel properties (i.e. fuel density, reactivity and Wobbe index) of the fuel. NMHC fuels with increased (or reduced) heating value, such as ethane, could have an increased risk of damaging combustion dynamics, flame flashback or increased NOx emissions.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for reducing the higher heating value (HHV) of an alternate NMHC fuel such as ethane. The system and method should permit adjustment of the Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) over a wide range without the need for significant temperature adjustment of the gas fuel. The system and method should provide a diluent for reducing the lower heating value (LHV) and the resulting MWI.

Methods for startup and operation of gas turbine combined cycle power plants using NMHC fuels


A system and method of closed loop control whereby groupings of surface sonic transmitters disposed along the planned path of a well send sonic wave energy to a downhole sonic receiver (or alternatively a downhole sonic transmitter signalling to grouping of surface sonic receivers) in a manner that facilitates the downhole positioning of the well. Subsequent offset well positioning, relative to the first well, may be achieved in a similar manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telemetry equipment and methods, and particularly to sonic telemetry apparatus and methods used in the oil and gas industry associated with oil and gas exploration drilling, and in particular with the placement of the borehole in the earth in relatively precise alignment with a reference well or other reference locations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ranging is the description of a general method whereby a specific measurement technique is used to determine the position of a borehole being drilled relative to a reference such as a surface reference or references or another borehole or set of boreholes. The position of the borehole being ranged specifically relates to the orientation, spacing or separation along all or part of the borehole relative to the reference.
In some drilling circumstances it may be important to determine the relative position of one or more boreholes in order to attain a certain separation and orientation (e.g. river crossing or steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) well pair) or to either seek (e.g. relief well) or avoid (e.g. anti-collision) intersection between boreholes.
Avoiding intersection between boreholes that have been drilled when drilling a new borehole may be required on platforms or in areas that are congested with many previously drilled boreholes.
Achieving intersection between a borehole that has been drilled when drilling a new borehole may be required when a drilling a relief borehole or when linking a new borehole with an existing borehole.
Determining the relative position of a borehole relative to a surface reference in order to attain a certain separation and orientation is important when drilling underground passages such as those for cables or pipelines. These passages may be required to go under mountains, cities, roads, railroads or rivers or similar obstructions.
Determining the relative positions of two or more boreholes in order to attain a certain separation and orientation is important when a steam assisted gravity drainage production technique (SAGD) or similar techniques are used. The SAGD production technique for heavy oil, for example, involves the drilling of an upper and lower borehole pair with boreholes oriented in the same vertical plane and parallel to each other along the entire length of their horizontal sections. Steam that is injected into the upper borehole reduces the viscosity of the heavy hydrocarbons that are contained in the formations surrounding the upper borehole, thereby enabling these hydrocarbons to flow toward the lower borehole as a result of gravity. These hydrocarbons are then produced from the lower borehole using conventional production techniques. In order for the SAGD production technique to be successful, precise directional control must be maintained during the drilling of the borehole pair. Both the orientation and the distance between the boreholes must be precisely achieved. Typical separation distances between upper and lower boreholes are 15 m, with vertical and lateral relative displacements being held preferentially to within 1 m. This relatively precise directional control can be achieved using ranging techniques.
At present the ranging associated with SAGD wells is accomplished with certain magnetic techniques. The various shortcomings of commercial magnetic ranging techniques are discussed below.
The most recent, but so far commercially unproven, magnetic ranging technique requires that the casing in the target well be magnetised at various locations along the wellbore. A magnetic receiver system is installed in the well being ranged and ranging data are transmitted to surface using conventional MWD telemetry.
Existing commercial magnetic ranging techniques typically require the use of a wireline logging system to be deployed in the target well which can either be the injection or producing well. A tractor system is also required to convey the wireline magnetic receiver tool along the horizontal section of this wellbore. Alternatively, a coiled tubing system or a conventional jointed pipe rig can be used to convey the wireline magnetic receiver tool along the high angle sections of wellbore. In all cases the receiver tool must advance along the target wellbore in unison with the progress of the magnetic source in the well being drilled. Depth control must be achieved in both wells. Typical stated accuracy using magnetic ranging is about 100 cm. The present systems for drilling SAGD wells are particularly complex and would benefit in terms of reliability and cost with a simpler system.
The costs associated with the use of existing commercial magnetic ranging techniques include:                magnetic source tool        magnetic receiver tool        wireline telemetry system        wireline tractor for deploying wireline receiver tool or—        coiled tubing system for deploying wireline receiver tool or—        rig for deploying wireline receiver tool        surface ranging processing system
The use of such equipment typically costs the producer several million dollars per well, thus showing that cost reduction would be a distinct benefit. Our invention uses a sonic ranging technique that is simpler and less expensive than magnetic ranging techniques, albeit with lesser ranging accuracy. We describe some of its benefits below. Our sonic ranging technique provides a simpler ranging solution in comparison to existing magnetic ranging systems due to the replacement of a tractor, rig or coil tube drilling (CTD) deployed wireline magnetic receiver with a surface deployed sonic transmitter. The sonic receiver is deployed in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the well being ranged and ranging data is either sent uphole via a measurement while drilling (MWD) system (also required for measurement of toolface orientation) or processed by a closed loop rotary steering tool (RST) system downhole.
Pertinent ranging techniques can be readily understood by reference to "Understanding GPS: Principles and Applications", Artech House, 1996, edited by E. D. Kaplan, section 2.1.
The costs associated with the use of the sonic ranging technique include surface source(s) and a sonic downhole receiver and either a surface ranging processing system for ranging data sent uphole via MWD telemetry and a downhole "short hop" or "direct wire" interface between the sonic receiver and the MWD system (if not already in place with standard equipment), or a downhole RST and downhole "short hop" or "direct wire" interface between the sonic receiver and the RST system (if not already in place with standard equipment), thereby leading to a dramatic reduction in equipment cost.
Furthermore the use of a sonic ranging system and a RST allows full closed loop control to be executed downhole without the need for surface processing or control using a directional driller. The accuracy and precision of the sonic ranging system is approximately an order of magnitude less than the magnetic ranging system (which may be accurate to 100 cm). However, this level of accuracy and precision is still acceptable for useable placement of wells such as SAGD well pairs or similar at a significantly lower cost because wellbore placement accurate to ˜1 m is adequate in most instances. Indeed, this accuracy is also acceptable for the placement of single generally horizontal wells such as river crossing or road crossing etc. wells.

System and method for accurate wellbore placement


A design pattern for a software architecture includes a business services layer comprising ApiService class, BusinessService class, Message class and Field class. ApiService class accepts a request that includes request parameters and utilizes corresponding instances of Message class and Field class to translate the request to an input message. The instances of Message and Field class contain the request parameters in self-describing form, namely, field names and associated values. The input message is forwarded to the appropriate subclass of BusinessService class by ApiService class. The subclass of BusinessService class uses the input message to retrieve data and generate an output message containing the data. The output message is generated in self-describing form utilizing Message class and Field class. ApiService class translates the output message to a presentation format identified by the request.

Many financial services related businesses, such as banking, brokerage and insurance companies, are looking for ways to provide their core services to customers across electronic delivery technologies. These businesses are developing software applications and architectures to allow customers to tap into the business's existing application software infrastructure and access information contained in existing databases. Creating the software applications and architectures typically includes development of presentation and interfacing logic. In general the presentation and interfacing logic allows access to the information by customers using different front-end delivery technology, such as Internet browsers, interactive voice response units (IVRs) and wireless application protocol (WAP) phones.
In most cases, the presentation and interfacing logic is developed redundantly for every delivery technology. As such, changes to the underlying services may result in additional software development for each delivery technology. Moreover, because the information is usually handled with static data structures, any additional information required by customers may lead to a change in all software components related to this functionality.
One possible solution to this problem involves the use of extensible markup language (XML) technology. The XML technology is easily configurable and provides an extensible data structure. In addition, XML may be configured to provide a mechanism for translating the data for the different delivery technologies. However, the complexity and broad applicability of XML, along with multiple differing implementations available make a solution directly utilizing XML technology difficult to implement and maintain.

XML-based multi-format business services design pattern


A display apparatus includes a display panel which include a plurality of areas; a communication unit which receive information about brightness sensed by a pointing device; a backlight unit which includes a plurality of light sources; and a controller which controls the backlight unit to change the brightness of the plural areas by a predetermined unit, and determines a pointing position of the pointing device on the basis of relative variation in the information about the brightness. With this, it is possible to detect a pointing position of a pointing device in a display apparatus having a hold-type display panel.

1. Field of Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a display apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a display apparatus having a hold-type display panel, which can detect a pointing position of a pointing device, and a display method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user may use a pointing device to input information to a display apparatus. A conventional display apparatus is based on a cathode ray tube (CRT) employing a scanning type display method. Thus, the display apparatus lights up pixels constituting an image frame in scanning sequence and senses time taken in lighting up each pixel to thereby determine a pointing position of a pointing device.
However, the scanning type display method has recently been replaced by a hold type display method. Accordingly, there is needed a method for detecting a pointing position, which can be applied to a display apparatus employing the hold type display method.

Display apparatus that determines a pointing position of a pointing device and method thereof


The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to an electrode structure of a plasma display panel capable of improving brightness and efficiency. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a plasma display panel of a long column structure having a front substrate and a rear substrate that are opposite to each other, the transparent electrodes of the scan electrodes or the sustain electrodes include projections projected toward the center of the discharge cells every discharge cell. Also, a discharge start voltage and a discharge sustain voltage can be lowered and brightness and efficiency can be increased. It is also possible to maintain color temperature equilibrium every RGB cell and to reduce an erroneous discharge of each cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to an electrode structure of a plasma display panel capable of improving brightness and efficiency.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, in a plasma display panel (hereinafter, referred to as 'PDP'), barrier ribs formed between a front glass and a rear glass made of soda lime glass constitute a single unit cell. When an inert gas having a small amount of xenon (Xe) added thereto is discharged by a high frequency voltage using neon (Ne), helium (He) or a mixed gas (Ne+He) of Ne and He as a main discharge gas, vacuum ultraviolet rays are generated to radiate a phosphor material formed between the barrier ribs, thus implementing an image.
Such a PDP is an image display device using a plasma discharge of an inert gas in a minute space of 0.1 mm to 1 mm in length compared to the cathode ray tube (CRT) that was a main kind of a conventional display means. The PDP has characteristics that its manufacturing is easy due to simple structure and a wide screen is possible due to a thin exterior and low power consumption. Accordingly, the PDP has been spotlighted as a next-generation display device.
In case of a PDP that has been usually used, power versus luminous efficiency is 1 to 1.5 lm/W. On the contrary, in case of a sample PDP for test, power versus luminous efficiency is 2.0˜3.0 lm/W. The reason why the luminous efficiency in the test sample is higher than the luminous efficiency of the PDP that is usually used is not due to structural improvement but that the amount of Xe within a gas injected into the discharge space is added more about 14% than an average amount.
If the amount of Xe added increases, power versus luminous efficiency can also increases. However, there are adverse effects in that abrasion of a front panel electrode increases and a sustain voltage for maintaining a discharge increases. Also, even in driving the panel, a cooling effect of electrons increases due to the increased amount of Xe. Thus, a time delay phenomenon that the start of a discharge is delayed occurs.
FIG. 1 shows an electrode structure of a front substrate in a conventional plasma display panel having a long column structure.
Referring to FIG. 1, the front substrate of the conventional long column structure PDP includes discharge cells demarcated by barrier ribs 300, and a scan electrode 210 and a sustain electrode 220 each of which has a transparent electrode 200 and a metal electrode 100. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a distance between the transparent electrodes 200 and 400 schematically shows that a discharge is generated.
In the PDP of the long column structure, a phosphor material is excited by a gas discharge in a negative glow region, radiating light and a discharge is performed utilizing a positive column region in which an excitation characteristic of Xe is high.
If a PDP has a discharge period in which a distance 10 between the transparent electrodes 200 is 300 μm, there exists a positive column region between the transparent electrodes.
Power versus luminous efficiency in the negative glow region is 1 to 2 lm/W, whereas power versus luminous efficiency in a discharge utilizing the positive column region is 7 lm/W or more. Therefore, in order to expand such positive column region, the distance 10 between the transparent electrodes 200 is made 300 um or more.
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views shown to explain the principle of discharge start and discharge sustain in the plasma display panel having the long column structure.
Referring to FIG. 2, negative charges are accumulated in the scan electrode 210 and positive charges are accumulated in the address electrode 230, by means of a reset waveform applied to the electrode when the PDP is driven. Thereafter, if a negative voltage is applied to the scan electrode 210, the distance 10 between the transparent electrodes 200 of an upper plate becomes greater than a distance 20 between the upper plate and the lower plate. Therefore, a weak discharge 600 occurs between the scan electrode 210 of the upper plate and the address electrode 230 of the lower plate.
By reference to FIG. 3, electrons are diffused toward the sustain electrode 220 by means of a potential difference between the scan electrode 210 and the sustain electrode 220, thereby forming a positive column region 700. A negative glow 710 discharge region formed by an initial discharge is located between the scan electrode 210 of the upper plate and an address electrode 230 of the lower plate. The positive column region 700 is maximized and expanded to the sustain electrode 220.
In case of the plasma display panel of the above long column structure, however, luminous efficiency can be increased, whereas a distance between transparent electrodes in the panel becomes 300 μm or more. Therefore, there are problems in that a voltage for maintaining a discharge of a discharge space increases and a discharge start voltage rises.
Furthermore, in a common PDP, the amount of voltages applied to RGB cells in order to maintain the same color temperature can be different because brightness characteristics of RGB phosphor materials are different. In this case, there is a problem in that overall driving efficiency is lowered since an erroneous discharge occurs in the RGB cells.


An illustrative example method of tracking a moving object includes determining a heading angle of a centroid of the object from a tracking sensor, determining a raw difference value corresponding to a difference between a pointing angle of a selected feature on the object and the heading angle, wherein the raw difference is based on a trajectory curvature of the centroid from the tracking sensor and a distance between the centroid and the selected feature, determining a filtered difference between the pointing angle and the heading angle using a low pass filter, and determining the pointing angle by subtracting the filtered difference from the heading angle.

Modern day vehicles include a variety of sensors and detectors that provide information regarding the environment or vicinity around a vehicle. For example, radar tracking devices provide information regarding objects in a vicinity or pathway of a vehicle. Such information is useful for driver assistance features. In some cases, automated or semi -automated vehicle operation is possible based on such information. For example, adaptive cruise control and parking assist features are known that automatically control speed or movement of a vehicle based on such sensor input. Autonomous or automated vehicles that are self-driving may utilize such information.
While radar and other sensor devices have proven useful, there are limitations on the type or accuracy of information available from them. For example, known radar tracking devices do not provide information regarding the orientation or pointing angle of an object. Instead, existing radar tracking devices typically operate based on an assumption that the orientation or pointing angle is equal to or aligned with the velocity vector of the centroid of the object. A more accurate indication of the orientation or pointing angle of a moving object would provide better information useful, for example, in determining the potential for a collision with the object.

Method and system for determining the pointing angle of a moving object


An oil pressure control device includes a plurality of solenoid valves, and a foreign matter discharge unit which carries out foreign matter discharge treatment for a treatment period composed of a first period T1 in which a current smaller than a predetermined value is supplied to one of the solenoid valves and a second period T2 in which a current equal to or larger than the predetermined value is supplied to the one of the solenoid valves, and makes timings for varying the current values different from one another so as to start supplying a current equal to or larger than the predetermined current value to another one of the solenoid valves at the beginning of the first period T1, and to start supplying a current smaller than the predetermined value to the another one of the solenoid valves at the beginning of the second period T2.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an oil pressure control device that carries out a treatment of discharging foreign matters that have mingled in a circuit, and more particularly, to an oil pressure control device for carrying out a foreign matter discharge treatment for a plurality of solenoid valves.
2. Description of the Related Art
In each of various oil pressure control circuits, a solenoid valve such as an electromagnetic proportional control valve or the like, which operates a valve body with the aid of a solenoid in order to control the pressure of a working fluid for actuating a group of actuators, is employed. The pressure and flow rate of the working fluid that are required for actuation of the actuators are ensured by, for example, operating another control valve using an output pressure of the solenoid valve as a pilot pressure. When foreign matters mingle in an oil pressure control circuit, the valves and the like cannot operate normally. Therefore, contrivances have been made to discharge those foreign matters reliably. Foreign matter discharge control is indispensable especially in the case of a solenoid valve that has an electromagnetically driven valve body and requires accurate oil pressure control.
As this type of oil pressure control device, there is known an oil pressure control device that is equipped with solenoid valves and pressure control valves to control the pressure of a working fluid for an actuator for pulley portions (sheaves) in, for example, a belt-type continuously variable transmission for an automobile, and that is designed to control a line pressure by controlling the current supplied to the first solenoid valve for supplying a pilot pressure to the one of the pressure control valves which has the function of a regulator, and regulate/control the pressure of the working fluid for the actuator by controlling the current supplied to the second solenoid valve for supplying a pilot pressure to the one of the pressure control valves which performs the function of a pressure reduction valve using the line pressure as an original pressure. In this device, a valve plunger is moved in a reciprocating manner by varying the current command value for each of the solenoid valves. Thus, foreign matters deposited on a drain port side can be discharged, and a substantial decrease in circuit pressure on an output port side can be prevented from being caused when those foreign matters are discharged (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-54970 (JP-A-2005-54970)).
There is also known a control device for an automatic transmission that changes over the engagement pressure of an input clutch between a first engagement pressure based on a line pressure and a second engagement pressure during neutral control which is based on a control pressure at a linear solenoid valve, and limits the engagement pressure of the input clutch at most to the first engagement pressure, which corresponds to a minimum line pressure, in performing foreign matter discharge control for the linear solenoid valve during a stop of a vehicle and before the start of neutral control, thereby reducing a shock resulting from fluctuations in the engagement pressure of the clutch during foreign matter discharge control (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-183715 (JP-A-2004-183715)).
Moreover, there are known a valve control device for an internal combustion engine that allows foreign matters that have been stuck in an oil pressure control valve to be discharged without making variations in valve timing, by changing the current applied to an oil control valve (OCV) alternately to a maximum value and a minimum value when there is a request to clean the foreign matters during a stop of an engine with no change in the phase of a valve timing mechanism (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-234768 (JP-A-2001-234768)), and a control apparatus for an automatic transmission that suppresses a shift shock or the vibrations of a clutch caused during the discharge of foreign matters that have entered a pressure control valve, by supplying a dither current with a large amplitude to a linear solenoid so as to remove the foreign matters when it is determined that the linear solenoid and a clutch oil pressure chamber do not communicate with each other through an oil supply passage (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-82724 (JP-A-11-82724)). In the case where stable control is constantly required during the driving of an automobile as in the case of line pressure control or the like, when an output port simultaneously communicates with a supply port and a drain port at the time of pressure regulation, a deficiency in the capacity of an oil pump or destabilization of line pressure is caused. Therefore, a so-called overlap-type linear solenoid valve with an output port that is shut off from one of a supply port and a drain port when being brought into communication with the other is used (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-171509 (JP-A-4-171509)).
However, in an oil pressure control device as mentioned above, the load applied to an object controlled by a second control valve is minimized when the pressure of a working fluid for an actuator is regulated and controlled by the second control valve using a line pressure from a first control valve as an original pressure. Nonetheless, in the case of a circuitry in which a first control valve is controlled with a pilot pressure from a first solenoid valve and a second control valve is controlled with a pilot pressure from a second solenoid valve, when a foreign matter discharge treatment for the first solenoid valve is carried out during a foreign matter discharge treatment for the second solenoid valve, a considerable load is applied to an object controlled by the second control valve. For this reason, the foreign matter discharge treatment needs to be carried out separately for the plurality of the solenoid valves. As a result, there is a problem in that the foreign matter discharge treatment is time-consuming.
Therefore, in the case where foreign matter discharge control is performed prior to, for example, neutral control of a vehicle mounted with a continuously variable transmission, a sufficient time cannot be ensured for neutral control. In consequence, there is a problem in that an effect of improving fuel consumption through neutral control is lost as well.


Provided herein are polyethylene compositions suitable in the fabrication of PE-RT pipes for use in cold and hot water plumbing in accordance with ISO 22391-2, and processes for making the same.

Polyethylene of raised temperature resistance ("PE-RT") is a class of polyethylene resins suitable for use in domestic hot and cold water piping systems such as underfloor heating and radiator connections. PE-RT resins have a molecular structure and crystalline microstructure which can provide long term hydrostatic strength at high temperature, without the need for cross-linking. PE-RT resins can be used in applications where temperatures otherwise limit the use of polyethylene ("PE") or where metallic materials will suffer from corrosion. Furthermore, the processing properties of a PE-RT resin makes it attractive for industrial applications.
For example, the PE-RT resin can be used in plastics to offer cost savings and provide other advantages such as high speed and flexible pipe production processes, and ease of installation for an application. Unlike other polyethylene ("PE"), random copolymer polypropylene ("PP-R"), polybutene ("PB") and to a lesser extent chlorinated PVC ("C-PVC"), each of which can be restricted by high temperature limitations, the versatility of PE-RT resins used at higher temperature make these polyethylene compositions useful over a wide range of applications, particularly, when temperature profiles can range from sub-ambient to beyond what is considered normal for a PE system.
Typical characteristics of a PE-RT resin include processability such as extrudability and maximizing pipe mechanical (short-term and long-term) properties. PE-RT pipes typically have small diameters, e.g., up to 20 mm, and are fabricated at relatively fast rates of production. A fast extrusion rate; however, can introduce finishing issues such as melt fracture and result in poor surface finish. Further, increased extrusion rates can impact properties such as the smooth surface finish required by the International Standard Organization ("ISO") 22391-2.
Therefore, a need exists for a PE-RT pipes that provide advantages in processing of the pipe over conventional linear low density polyethylene resins, particularly, in terms of melt index and shear thinning characteristics which will lower extrusion pressures and extruder/die temperature to allow faster extrusion rates.

PE-RT pipes and processes for making the same


A method, computer-readable storage medium, and computer system are provided. In an embodiment, in response to receiving a first command that specifies first data, a first cryptographic key, and a column identifier that identifies a column of rows in a database, the first data is encrypted into encrypted data using the first cryptographic key. The encrypted data is stored to a first row in the column in the database. In response to the receiving the first command, characterization data is created that specifies valid contents of the column of the rows. In response to receiving a query command that specifies a second cryptographic key and the column, the column is decrypted using the second key to create decrypted data. If the decrypted data does not satisfy the valid contents specified by the characterization data, an invalid cryptographic key action is performed.

Computer systems typically comprise a combination of computer programs and hardware, such as semiconductors, transistors, chips, circuit boards, storage devices, and processors. The computer programs are stored in the storage devices and are executed by the processors. Fundamentally, computer systems are used for the storage, manipulation, and analysis of data.
One mechanism for managing data is called a database management system (DBMS) or simply a database. Many different types of databases are known, but the most common is usually called a relational database, which organizes data in tables that have rows, which represent individual entries, tuples, or records in the database, and columns, fields, or attributes, which define what is stored in each entry, tuple, or record. Each table has a unique name within the database and each column has a unique name within the particular table. The database also has one or more indexes, which are data structures that inform the DBMS of the location of a certain row in a table given an indexed column value, analogous to a book index informing the reader of the page on which a given word appears.
The most common way to retrieve data from a database is through statements called database queries, which may originate from user interfaces, application programs, or remote computer systems, such as clients or peers. A query is an expression evaluated by the DBMS, in order to retrieve data from the database that satisfies or meets the criteria or conditions specified in the query.
Databases often use cryptography, which is the practice of hiding information to ensure secrecy and includes encryption and decryption of data. Encryption is the process of converting ordinary information (plain text) into unintelligible information, known as cipher text, which is unreadable or incomprehensible by interceptors, eavesdroppers, or other unauthorized and unintended persons without secret knowledge (namely, the key needed for decryption). Databases use cryptography to encrypt data stored in the database, so that an encrypted database field remains secure even if an unauthorized person reads the encrypted data and knows which encryption algorithm was used to create the encrypted data.

Encrypting data and characterization data that describes valid contents of a column

International Business Machines Corporation


A display system includes a memory device, a central processing unit, a converting circuit and a display device. The memory device is for sequentially storing image data at addresses corresponding to positions in line and column directions of an original image to be displayed. The central processing unit controls the overall operation of the system and also retrieves the image data selectably either from every line or every Mth line. The converting circuit sequentially and temporarily stores the retrieved image data by extracting selectably either every bit or every Nth bit of the retrieved image data sequentially, M and N being integers greater than 1. These serial data formed by the converting circuit are displayed by the display device.

This invention relates to a system capable of and a method of displaying on a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) an image of an extended area by processing image data retrieved from an original pictorial image and stored in a memory to reduce their resolution.
One of the methods of displaying data on a display device such as a CRT is to store the image data to be displayed in a memory and to display them on a CRT and the like by sequentially retrieving the stored data from the memory. With a prior art display system which uses this method of display, the area of image data inside the memory which can be simultaneously displayed on the screen is uniquely determined by the number of pixels of the display device such as a CRT. Thus, if it is desired to use such a system to reduce the resolution in order to display image data corresponding to a larger area, a typical routine for such a purpose was to thin the image data in the original memory according to the desired change in resolution, to temporarily store such thinned image data in another memory, and to sequentially retrieve the thinned image data to make a display. A display by such a routine is very time-consuming with a prior art display system, however because new display image data must be preliminarily prepared by first thinning the entire image data in an original memory by a specified ratio. Moreover, there is an additional disadvantage in that an additional memory device of a fairly large capacity is necessary for storing the newly created display image data. For this reason, switching between a normal display operation with the ordinary resolution and a reduced display with lowered resolution cannot be effected quickly and the system itself becomes costly.

System for displaying image of extended area


Dynamic tiering of datacenter power for workloads is disclosed. A power capacity, including redundant power capacity and granular power capacity values within a datacenter, is determined. An outage time duration requirement for the power capacity that was determined is evaluated, where the outage time duration requirement is a number of minutes. A hold time duration requirement for the power capacity is evaluated, where the hold time duration is a number of minutes. A number of allowable occurrences of power outage for the power capacity is evaluated. A power requirement metric, based on the outage time duration requirement, the hold time duration requirement, and the number of occurrences, is calculated. A power topology within the datacenter is modified based on the power requirement metric. The modifying provides dynamic power tiering within the datacenter. The dynamic tiering includes a variable service level agreement for power within the datacenter.

Organizations such as search providers, on-line retailers, financial institutions, research laboratories, universities, health care providers, and other computing-intensive organizations frequently conduct processing operations from large-scale computing facilities, sometimes referred to as datacenters or, more colloquially, "server farms." The datacenter houses a network of varied, mission-critical systems, all of which are vital to the operation of the organization. The organization uses the datacenter to perform computational operations and to store, process, manage, and disseminate data which is valuable to a variety of business units and departments within the organization. The top priorities for the organization are ensuring uninterrupted operation of the datacenter and protecting the security and reliability of the information resources. Further, datacenters have large and highly fluctuating power requirements. Some of the systems in the datacenter have more stringent power and availability requirements than do other systems. Thus, deployment of equipment within a datacenter, including the physical location of the equipment, can be critical. Datacenters can house many rows of data racks that contain servers, storage devices, routers, backup equipment, communications units, and other IT equipment.
The amount of power demanded of and allocated to the data racks is often very high. This power generation produces heat, which makes cooling of the racks and the datacenter facility a critical concern. Further, the power demand for both industrial applications and datacenters typically fluctuates based on specific business factors, such as the processing job mix and the time of day, month, or season. Thus, managing power, space, and cooling becomes a principal aspect of many industrial applications, including datacenter administration. Furthermore, any energy savings achieved in the datacenter can directly translate into increased profit margins for an organization. Energy savings can also provide additional dividends in terms of reduced wear and tear on power sources and reduced cooling costs, adding to the received benefits of an organization.
The computer systems within the datacenter typically include a large number of components that consume power. Such components include printed circuit boards, mass storage devices, networking interfaces, and processors. Given the precise and ever-increasing power requirements demanded by these components, reliable and efficient power delivery is crucial for successful operation of such server farms. For some data processing applications, the reliability and availability requirements of the datacenter infrastructure must meet or exceed predetermined statutory requirements, such as those requirements mandated for many financial institutions. Further, other statutory requirements demand that specific standards be met to ensure the protection of personal data for customers of financial institutions, healthcare organizations, educational organizations, and retail organizations. The statutory requirements place stringent safeguards on the physical and technical security of personal data, and exact penalties if the safeguards are not met.
Additional infrastructure requirements are dictated because of issues such as availability, reliability, job load, and other organizational demands of datacenters. For example, the issue of effectively cooling a datacenter (i.e. the removal of excess heat) is a critical concern which must be addressed to ensure stable and reliable operation of the center. Each of the many devices in the datacenter generates substantial amounts of heat, whether the device is a server, a blade, a switch, a backup unit, a communications unit, or another device. In fact, the issue of cooling modern datacenters has become so critical a design criterion that it directly impacts the physical layout and design of the center. The equipment in a typical datacenter is arranged is a series of rows. To help control heating and cooling, some datacenters are arranged in "hot rows" and "cold rows," where equipment generating excess heat is grouped together in "hot rows" and is surrounded by rows of cooler-running equipment grouped in "cold rows". The cold rows are so named for their ability to serve as heat sinks, absorbing some of the excess heat generated by the "hot" equipment. Other centers are designed with cooling devices placed adjacent to particularly hot devices, with the cooling devices being equipped with fans, air conditioning units, water cooling systems, and so on. Another significant datacenter design consideration involves providing sufficient power to the datacenter. For some datacenters, power can be provided by more than one power grid to provide redundancy, such as in the case of high-reliability datacenters. For other datacenters, power can be provided by a combination of a power grid and locally generated power. Regardless of how the power is provided, delivering reliable and efficient power to the large number of computers and associated equipment in modern datacenters or server farms is an important aspect of successful operation of such facilities.


An incoming call reporting toy that visually or aurally reports a call arrival state of a portable terminal to a person around the toy in an amusing fashion. An electromagnetic wave emitted when a portable terminal receives an incoming call is used to activate an incoming call reporting circuit incorporated in the toy body. A signal outputted from a signal controller configuring the incoming call reporting circuit drives a motor to allow the toy body to perform a predetermined operation while emitting a sound and/or light, thereby notifying a person around the toy of the arrival of the call at the portable terminal.

Generally speaking, upon receiving an incoming call, a portable terminal, such as a cellular telephone, outputs a ring tone or vibrates to inform the user of the incoming call. This ring tone, however, is feeble, so the terminal in effect fails to notify the user of the call arrival state if, for example, the user is indoors away from the portable terminal. In addition, in the case of a mechanism for causing vibration to inform the user of the incoming call, the user fails to notice the call unless the mechanism remains in contact with the user.
In addition, a reporting device has been developed that includes an LED to be mounted at the top of an antenna provided on a portable terminal so that a response signal (an electromagnetic wave) emitted by the terminal upon receiving an incoming call is used to light the LED in order to optically inform the user of the incoming call. A problem with this reporting device is that the incoming call notifying signal displayed by the LED is so unstable that it lights for only a short period of time during which the portable terminal is emitting the response signal.
As described above, a problem of the conventional portable terminal is that the user fails to notice an incoming call in a timely manner if the user is indoors away from the portable terminal or if the user separates the terminal from his or her body. The conventional reporting means also lacks an element of fun, so an interesting incoming call reporting means is desired.


The invention discloses a stable intravenous Propofol oil-in-water emulsion composition having mixed preservatives of low toxicity that is capable of withstanding accidental contamination of bacteria and fungi. The preservative system employed comprising of monoglyceryl ester of lauric acid (Monolaurin) and a member selected from (a) capric acid and/or its soluble alkaline salts or its monoglyceryl ester (Monocaprin); (b) edetate; and (c) capric acid and/or its soluble alkaline salts or its monoglyceryl ester (Monocaprin) and edetate.

Propofol is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent used for the induction of general anesthesia in adult patients and pediatric patients older than 3 years of age; maintenance of general anesthesia in adult patients and pediatric patients older than 2 months of age; and intensive care unit (ICU) sedation for intubated, mechanically ventilated adults. 20 ml ampoule of 1% propofol emulsion.
Initial clinical trials were in 1977, in a form solubilized in cremophor EL, but due to anaphylactic reactions it was withdrawn from the market. It was subsequently reformulated as an aqueous emulsion in intralipid and re-launched in 1986 by AstraZeneca with the brand name "Diprivan". The current preparation is 1% propofol solubilized in 10% soybean oil and contains 1.2% purified egg phospholipid, 2.25% glycerol and has a pH between 6.0 and 8.5 and a pKa of 11. Diprivan contains EDTA as an antimicrobial agent. Newer generic formulations contain sodium metabisulfite or benzyl alcohol.
Propofol is approved for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia in more than 50 countries.
Aside from the hypotension and transient apnea following induction doses, one of its most frequent side-effects is pain on injection, especially in smaller veins. This pain can be mitigated by pretreatment or mixing with intravenous lidocaine. Alternative formulations with a larger proportion of medium-chain triglycerides (as opposed to Intralipid) appear to have less pain on injection, possibly due to lower concentrations of free aqueous propofol. (Source: Wikipedia)
Propofol injections usually are made by diluting Propofol in oils and then formulated into oil-in-water type of emulsions. The compositions of the Propofol incorporated into the oily phase and made into oil-in-water emulsions for intravenous administration.
A Propofol/soybean oil emulsion has gained widespread use for induction and/or maintenance of anaesthesia, for maintenance of monitored anaesthesia care and for sedation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It is advantageous in that it possesses both a rapid onset anaesthesia and a short recovery time. However, the presence of vegetable oils and phospholipids makes the emulsion highly prone to the risk of microbial growth.
Intravenous Propofol emulsion compositions are being increasingly used for sedation of seriously ill patients particularly in ICUs wherein it is continuously infused. There are noscomial (i.e. hospital acquired) infections observed very often in ICU patients. Hence it is recommended that the intravenous administration sets are changed frequently, at least every 6 or 12 hours. Continuous infusion makes the product susceptible to microbial growth.
In order to reduce the risk of uncontrolled microbial growth, additions of various potential preservatives into intravenous Propofol emulsion compositions have been tried. Some of the potential agents found to cause instability of the emulsion. Other potential agents failed to provide the level of antimicrobial activity being sought. It is necessary to preserve the compositions with preservatives that would provide the required levels of antimicrobial activity at as low a concentration as possible in order to minimize the potential for physical instability and to minimize toxicity concerns.
EP-A-0814787 (published 7 Jan. 1998; corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,520, issued 3 Feb. 1998) discloses an oil-in-water emulsion of Propofol containing an edetate as an antimicrobial agent. The amount of edetate is preferably no more than 0.1% by weight but is sufficient to prevent a no more than 10 fold increase in the growth of each of staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) Eschericha coli (ATCC 8739), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) for at least 24 hours as measured by a test wherein a washed suspension of each organism is added to a separate aliquot of said composition at approximately 50 to 250 colony-forming units per ml at a temperature in the range 20-25° C., incubated in that temperature range and tested for viable counts of said organism after 24 hours. The currently marketed formulation comprises 1% w/v Propofol, 10% w/v Soybean Oil, 1.2% w/v Egg Phosphatides as an emulsifier, 2.25% w/v Glycerol and 0.0055% w/v disodium edetate, Sodium hydroxide and Water for Injection.
Edetate has been shown to delay but not to prevent the onset of microbial growth in Propofol emulsions (see WO-A-00/24376, infra). Propofol emulsion compositions are required to be diluted up to 5 times (1:4) for long-term infusion. On dilution the edetate concentration gets reduced to 0.0011%. Edetate alone is found to be ineffective in preventing a no more than 10 fold increase in broad-spectrum microbial growth at concentrations of 0.0025% and below (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,108; infra).
WO-A-99/39696 (published 12 Aug. 1999; corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,069 issued 22 Oct. 2002) discloses an oil-in-water emulsion of Propofol containing a sulphite as an antimicrobial agent. The amount of sulphite preferably is in the range 0.0075% to 0.66% by weight and is sufficient to prevent a no more than 10 fold increase in the growth of each of staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) Eschericha coli (ATCC 8739), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) for at least 24 hours as measured by a test wherein a washed suspension of each organism is added to a separate aliquot of said composition at approximately 50 to 250 colony-forming units per ml and incubated at a temperature in the range 30-35° C. and tested for viable counts of said organism after 24 hours. The use of sulphite has two problems; viz. (a) stability of the emulsion is affected and (b) it is potentially toxic material at little higher dose level.
Reference is made to the water-immiscible solvent of the oil-in-water emulsion being a mono-, di-, or triglyceride. The preferred amount of solvent is 5 to 25% by weight.
Infusion of preferred compositions is accordance with WO-A-99/39696/U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,069 at a rate of 50 μg/kg/min for 24 hours will result in sulphite concentrations approaching the toxic levels. Further, the compositions may cause allergic reactions because of the sulphite molecule and the compositions have been reported to be physically and chemically unstable on exposure (see Han J et al International Journal of Pharmaceutics 2001, 215(1-2):207-220 & Baker M T et al Anesthesiology 2002, 97(5): 1162-1167).
WO-A-00/24376 (published 4 May 2000; corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,373 & U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,374, both issued 31 Oct. 2000) discloses an oil-in-water emulsion of Propofol containing an antimicrobial agent selected from (a) benzyl alcohol alone or, preferably, together with either sodium edetate or sodium benzoate and (b) benzethonium chloride. Preferably, the composition comprises Propofol 0.1-5.0% by wt.; vegetable oil, preferably soybean oil, 1-30% by wt; surfactant, preferably egg phosphatide, 0.2 to 2% by wt.; glycerol 2-3% by wt.; and antimicrobial agent selected from (i) benzyl alcohol 0.0175-0.9% by wt., (ii) benzyl alcohol 0.07-0.9% by wt and sodium edetate 0.005% by wt., (iii) benzethonium chloride 0.01% to 0.1% by wt. and, most preferably, (iv) benzyl alcohol 0.0175-0.9% by wt. and sodium benzoate 0.07% by wt.
Reference is made to the water-immiscible solvent of the oil-in-water emulsion being an ester of a medium or long chain fatty acid, exemplified as a mono-, di-, or triglyceride. The preferred amount of solvent is 10 to 20% by weight.
For long-term use, the antimicrobial agents such as benzyl alcohol and benzethonium chloride are not recommended, as they are toxic.
WO-A-00/59471 (published 12 Oct. 2000; corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,302, issued 8 Aug. 2000) discloses intravenous anaesthetic Propofol emulsions having decreased levels of soybean oil, fats or triglycerides. The formulation preferably consists of phospholipid-coated microdroplets ranging from 160 to 200 nanometers in diameter. These microdroplets contain a sphere of Propofol dissolved in a solvent, such as vegetable oil, surrounded by a stabilizing layer of a phospholipid. It is reported that this formulation can safely provide sedation over extended periods of time and that the low oil concentration emulsion containing Propofol provides a stable oil-in-water emulsion and unexpectedly exhibits antimicrobial properties comparable to higher water immiscible solvent concentration emulsions containing preservatives.
Typically the composition in the above patent specification comprises from 0.1 to 5%, by weight, preferably 1% to 2% by weight, of Propofol. The water-immiscible solvent, preferably soybean oil, is suitably present in an amount that is from 0.1 to 3% and more suitably from 1 to 3% by weight of the composition. However, the reduction in the oil content makes the injection more painful because of free Propofol in the aqueous phase.

Intravenous propofol emulsion compositions having preservative efficacy


An image acquiring unit acquires an image. A storage unit stores therein the image acquired by the image acquiring unit. An information embedding unit embeds first information in the image acquired by the image acquiring unit. An information extracting unit extracts second information from the image stored in the storage unit. An information registering unit registers the first information in association with second information extracted from an image in which the first information is embedded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product for processing image, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product for embedding predetermined information in an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Developments are in progress in technologies for embedding information in an image with, for example, a barcode technology, a digital watermark technology, or steganography for, for example, tracing, protecting copyrights, detecting falsification, or adding meta information. Such technologies are mainly divided into a fragile type and a resistance-type, and the two types are used for different purposes. With respect to the resistance type, a copy image acquired by copying an original image embedded with information (i.e., original image containing embedded information) can contain the embedded information.
A copy image (electronic image) acquired by electronically copying an original image containing embedded information can contain the embedded information. On the other hand, a print image acquired by printing the electronic image on a paper recording medium loses embedded information in many cases, because image degradation tends to occur on a paper recording medium. To prevent this problem, technologies for embedding information resistant to copying and printing are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-209676, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-102264, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-182442, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-050551.
However, even if the technologies for embedding information resistant to printing and copying are employed, image degradation tends to occur in a copy image acquired by copying an image containing embedded information and copied on a paper recording medium. This increases the possibility of loosing the embedded information.
Because image degradation tends to occur with the technology for embedding information having high resistance generally, a technology for embedding information having low resistance is useful to keep its image quality in printing an image.
To solve the above problem, a method of newly embedding information in an original image previously containing embedding information has been developed.
With this method, however, a time consuming process is required for extracting the information embedded in the original image before newly embedding information.

Apparatus, method, and computer-program product for processing image