A tension mask frame assembly of a color cathode-ray tube, the assembly including a tension mask including a plurality of parallel strips spaced at predetermined intervals apart from each other and a plurality of real bridges for connecting adjacent strips to each other to form slots through which electron beams pass, the number of real bridges gradually decreasing in a direction from the center portion of the mask to the peripheral portion thereof, a frame for supporting the tension mask so that a tensile force is applied to the tension mask in the direction of strips, and at least one damper which is installed on the frame and contact the strips of the tension mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to color picture tubes, and more particularly, to a tension mask frame assembly for a color picture tube, which is installed adjacent to a fluorescent film in a panel and performs a color distinction function.
2. Description of the Related Art
In color picture tubes adopted in computer monitors and televisions, three electron beams emitted from an electron gun land on red, green and blue fluorescent materials on a fluorescent film, which is formed on the screen surface of a panel, through electron beam passing holes of a mask which has a color distinction function, and excite the fluorescent materials, where a picture is formed.
In the above-described color picture tubes for forming a picture, types of a mask having a color distinction function include a dot mask which is adopted in computer monitors and a slot mask (which is also called a slit mask) which is adopted in televisions. Since the screen surface of a panel is formed to have a predetermined curvature in consideration of the landing of deflected electron beams, dot masks and slot masks are designed to have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the screen surface.
These masks are formed by etching a 0.1-0.25 mm (millimeters) thin plate, forming a plurality of electron beam pass holes and forming the thin plate in a predetermined curvature. If the mask has not a predetermined curvature or greater, the structural strength of the mask is weak. Thus, in many cases, this mask is permanently plastic-deformed during the manufacture of cathode-ray tubes or during the transportation of cathode-ray tubes. Consequently, this mask may not perform a color distinction function. However, a mask molded to have a predetermined curvature is supported by a frame and installed on the inner surface of a panel. The mask is easily heated and thermally expanded by thermal electrons emitted from an electron gun, and doming occurs, preventing color distinction of three electron beams.
Recent color picture tubes pursue flattening of a screen surface because the development of enlargement of color picture tubes causes distortion of a picture depending on the curvature of the screen surface and requires reproduction of natural pictures.
Slot masks for preventing the doming of a mask and flattening the screen surface of a panel have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,063 for Grid Structure for Color Picture Tubes issued to Tachikawa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,332 for Tied Slit Mask for Color Cathode Ray Tubes issued to Adler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,089 for Tied Slit Foil Shadow Mask with False Ties issued to Moore and U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,283 for Method of Manufacturing a Tied Slit Mask CRT issued to Adler et al.
An aperture grille-type mask frame assembly includes strips spaced predetermined intervals apart from each other in parallel to form slots. Both ends of the strips are supported by a frame so that the mask has a tensile force. The strips are connected to each other by damper wires, in order to prevent the strips from vibrating independently.
However, the mask frame assembly is not easy to handle during the manufacture because of its structure in which the strips formed on a plate are parallel to each other and secured at only both ends thereof.
In order to solve this problem, a slot mask disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,332 issued to Tachikawa et al. has a structure in which a plurality of strips are spaced predetermined intervals apart from each other on a thin plate to form slits and connected to adjacent strips by tie bars.
Since the strips of this mask are connected to each other by tie bars, howling vibration generated by external impacts and acoustic waves can be more or less reduced. But, the vibration of tie bars is transmitted between adjacent strips, so that the reduction of the howling is not large.
To solve this problem, a color cathode-ray tube is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-77007 for Color Cathode-ray Tube by Watanabe. In this color cathode-ray tube there is a shadow mask on which a plurality of slots are formed is installed on a frame so that a tensile force is applied to the shadow mask. The frame includes a vibration damper which contacts the edge of the shadow mask.
The cathode-ray tube having such a structure dampens vibration by adhering the vibration damper to the shadow mask. However, the shadow mask is a thin plate through which slots are formed, and transmits vibration well via media for transmitting vibration, that is, via real bridges for defining slots, so that a sufficient amount of vibration cannot be dampened by the vibration damper 33 alone.
Another shadow mask frame assembly includes a frame, a mask and an earing. The mask is tensed and secured to the frame, and has strips spaced predetermined intervals apart from each other in parallel and a plurality of real bridges which connect the strips to each other to define the slots. The earing is hung through the end strip of the mask in order to dampen the vibration of the mask.
This mask frame assembly intends to extinguish a vibration applied to the mask using the friction of the end strip and the earing. However, the friction of the end strip and the earing creates noise. Also, the strips on the mask are connected to each other by a plurality of real bridges, so that vibrations are transmitted well via the bridges. Thus, although a vibration generated on the center portion of the mask is dampened by the earrings after being transmitted to the end strip, a sufficient vibration damping effect cannot be expected.
In this mask, scanning electron beams interfere with holes arranged on a mask, which causes a moire phenomenon. Since the spots of electron beams which land on a fluorescent film are deformed into horizontally-long spots by the strong pin cushion magnetic field of a deflection yoke as the deflection angle of electron beams increases, severe moire phenomenon occurs at the peripheral portion of a screen. Thus, selection of a mask pitch that minimizes the moire phenomenon and reduction of the vertical pitch of a mask to reduce the depth of modulation have been used.
These methods, by which the transmissivity of the peripheral portion of a mask is reduced, are not desirable in terms of the uniformity of the luminance of a screen.
Also, in the case of these masks, a mask domes severely by the heat from electron beams. Furthermore, the doming is prone to occur at the periphery of a mask. In the case of tension masks, if a cheap iron material is used, the masks including its bridge portion expand horizontally, a moire phenomenon occurs on the screen.
To solve the above problems, an objective of the present invention is to provide a tension mask frame assembly of a color cathode-ray tube, by which the transmission of vibration between strips is reduced, the vibration damping effect by the fraction of strips and damper wires is improved, the moire phenomenon due to the interference between electron beams and slots is prevented, and the luminance of pictures is improved.
It is another object to have a tension mask frame that produces a better image quality in a cathode-ray tube.
It is yet another object to have a tension mask that is easy to manufacture and does not increase the cost of manufacture.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a tension mask frame assembly of a color cathode-ray tube, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the assembly includes a tension mask including a plurality of parallel strips spaced at predetermined intervals apart from each other and a plurality of real bridges for connecting adjacent strips to each other to form slots through which electron beams pass, the number of real bridges gradually decreasing in a direction from the center portion of the mask to the peripheral portion thereof; a frame for supporting the tension mask so that a tensile force is applied to the tension mask in the direction of strips; and at least one damper which is installed on the frame and contact the strips of the tension mask.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the damper is made up of at least one damping Idea wire having both ends secured to the frame, the damping wire contacting each of the strips. Also, the damper can be made up of two damping wires, one end of which is secured to the mask and the other end is secured to the frame.
To further achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a tension mask frame assembly of a color cathode-ray tube, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the assembly includes a mixed-type tension mask including a plurality of parallel strips spaced at predetermined intervals apart from each other, a real bridge region having real bridges for connecting adjacent strips to each other to form slots through which electron beams pass, the real bridge region being located at the center of the mask, and a dummy bridge region having a plurality of dummy bridges that extend from at least one strip of adjacent strips so that the extending strip does not mechanically contact the facing strip, the dummy bridge regions being located on the peripheral portion of the mask; a frame for supporting the tension mask so that a tensile force is applied to the tension mask; and at least one damper which is installed on the frame and contact the strips of the tension mask.
To further achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a tension mask frame assembly of a color cathode-ray tube, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the assembly including a tension mask of mixed type including a plurality of parallel strips spaced at predetermined intervals apart from each other, a real bridge region having real bridges for connecting adjacent strips to each other to form slots through which electron beams pass, the real bridge region being located at the center of the mask, a dummy bridge region having a plurality of dummy bridges that extend from at least one strip of adjacent parallel strips so that the extending strip does not mechanically contact the facing strip, the dummy bridge region being located at the outer side of the real bridge region, and an aperture grille region having a single slot defined by strips, the aperture grille region being located at the outer side of the dummy bridge region; a frame for supporting the tension mask so that a tensile force is applied to the tension mask; and at least one damper which is installed on the frame and contact the strips of the tension mask.

Tension mask frame assembly of color picture tube


A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a table and at least one processor. The table is configured to support a patient, and to travel along a length in a direction of movement through an imaging zone to at least one imaging position. A spatial gradient field varies for at least a portion of the imaging zone. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the table, and configured to obtain a spatial gradient field curve representing magnitude of the spatial gradient field as a function of position along the direction of movement; determine a table speed curve using the spatial gradient field curve, wherein the table speed varies along the direction of movement; and control movement of the table using the table speed curve.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to apparatus and methods for providing table movement control, for example controlling movement of a patient table in a medical imaging system, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.
Table motion speed for MRI procedures is limited to avoid exposing patients to an overly large change in rate of magnetic field strength. However, certain conventional approaches for controlling table speed result in unduly slow table speed, lengthening the amount of time spent transporting a patient and lengthening the time of imaging procedures.

Systems and methods for table movement control


A microwave filter is composed of a set of circular cylindrical cavities arranged in cascade array and interconnected by irises having cross-slotted apertures for coupling electromagnetic power in two orthogonal TE.sub.113 modes. An input port is formed in a first of the cavities and an output port is formed in a last of the cavities. Each port is constructed as a transition between a section of rectangular waveguide and a section of circular waveguide, the section of circular waveguide being a portion of the first cavity and the last cavity, respectively, in the input and the output ports. The cross-sectional aspect ratio of the rectangular waveguide is 2:1. The ratio of a diameter of the cavity to length, as measured along a cylindrical axis in each cavity, is 0.26 thereby to provide for increased bandwidth while minimizing dispersion and transmission loss.

This invention relates to plural-mode and multiple-cavity microwave filters and, more particularly, to a dual-mode microwave filter with large entrance and exit ports in lieu of input and output coupling irises for increased bandwidth and minimum losses.
Microwave bandpass filters find considerable use in microwave communication systems, as well as in radar, and signal processing circuits. Such filters are constructed to have specific passband characteristics for the transmission of a signal having prescribed bandwidth in a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, while preventing the transmission of microwave signals lying outside of the passband. In the construction of such filters, it is highly desirable in many applications to provide a filter characteristic which is substantially free of frequency dispersion throughout the passband, thereby to ensure that higher and lower frequency components of a signal are equally attenuated by the filter so as to preserve the signal waveform. Preferably, such attenuation is no more than a small fraction of a decibel.
Desirable filter transmission characteristics have been obtained by providing the filters with a multiple cavity construction as is disclosed., by way of example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,028,651 of Leetmaa and 4,251,787 of Young et al. The individual cavities may be separated by irises having cross-slotted apertures which enable the propagation of electromagnetic energy by waves in orthogonal modes through the filter.
A problem exists in that, upon enlargement of the passband beyond the usual range of passbands, presently available filters introduce a greater insertion loss and a greater dispersion than are desired.


A multi-point latch assembly having a single adjustment point for shifting the position of two or more latching members. The latch mechanism includes a housing and a carrier assembly received in the housing. The carrier assembly includes a pair of latch hooks. A carrier position adjustment assembly operably couples the housing and the carrier assembly such that the carrier assembly is selectively shiftable in the housing with the carrier position adjustment assembly to alter the distance the latch hooks protrude from the housing when the latch hooks are positioned in the second position. An anti-slam mechanism may also be coupled with the carrier, and may be selectively shiftable with the same adjustment mechanism.

In a typical sliding door installation, such as sliding patio doors, the door is latched by a mechanism mounted in the locked face of the stile of a sliding door. In a single-point latch mechanism, a single hook, or other latching component engages a receiving (keeper) component disposed in the door jamb to latch the door and maintain the door in a latched state. While single-point latch mechanisms often provide satisfactory performance, the use of a single hook often fails to provide the security desired by a homeowner.
In response to the desire for increased security by homeowners, multi-point latch mechanisms have been developed for use in sliding door installations. These multi-point mechanisms can be mounted in the locked face of the stile of the sliding door with multiple latching elements engaging a receiving structure mounted on door jambs. These multi-point latches increase the security of the latch mechanisms by providing additional locking strength, thereby diminishing the likelihood of forced entry.
A typical problem arising during installation of sliding door latches is that the latch elements may not securely engage with the keeper due to variations in construction. In these cases it is desirable to adjust the position of the latch elements, particularly the distance by which the latch elements project from the mechanism, or the keeper or both to attain secure engagement. Prior multi-point latch mechanisms, however, have sometimes included no adjustment mechanism at all for the latch elements, or have included complicated mechanisms requiring separate adjustments for each latching point. Further, while previous attempts have been made to provide a multi-point latch mechanism with a single adjustment point for simultaneously adjusting the position of more than one of the latch points, these attempts have resulted in mechanisms in which the adjustment mechanism shifts one latch point more than another. The result is still less than ideal latch engagement.
A further drawback of known adjustable multi-point latch mechanisms is that the range of adjustment of the mechanism is typically not visually evident. Hence, it cannot be readily determined whether the device is at or near one of the limits of travel without actually operating the adjustment until the limit is reached.
Thus, there still exists a need in the industry for a multi-point latch assembly that not only increases security, but which provides for quick and easy adjustment of the latches for proper engagement with the receiving structure.


Automated marking devices for self-administering hand markings and methods of use are provided. A device for self-administering hand markings includes a housing, a stamp driving assembly, a stamp assembly, and a planar surface for receiving a patron's hand. The stamp assembly is configured to substantially leave a full stamp impression on the patron's hand, regardless of varying topologies, sizes, and orientations of hands that are placed in the hand marking device.

In venues such as museums, nightclubs, and fairs, patrons must perform or satisfy certain requirements before being granted entrance, such as paying an entrance fee or verifying their age. If the patron performs the necessary tasks and satisfies these requirements, a venue employee will mark the patron's hand, typically with a pen, marker or stamp to indicate that the patron is an authorized entrant.
Among other things, marking a patron's hand as described allows the patron to leave the venue and return by simply displaying the marking indicating that s/he is an authorized entrant instead of having to demonstrate that s/he has performed the entrance tasks or requirements. However, this marking technique has certain limitations.
Using this conventional marking technique, a venue must employ someone to mark each patron's hand as s/he enters or exits the venue. Often, there is only one venue employee present to perform hand markings. Consequently, during peak business or visiting hours, large lines of patrons can form as they wait to have their hands marked. Further, if the venue employee responsible for marking patrons' hands is stationed at the entrance of the venue, a large line of patrons could form outside and deter other possible patrons from visiting the venue. If the venue employee is stationed at the exit of the venue, a large line of patrons could form inside making it uncomfortable for everyone inside the venue. Furthermore, a patron may choose to leave the venue and not return in order to avoid the crowd of patrons waiting to have their hands marked.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method that will allow a venue to quickly mark a patron's hand upon entering or exiting the venue so that large crowds can be effectively and efficiently processed without detrimentally affecting the visitor experience.

System and method for self-administering automated hand-markings


A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display. The backlight unit in a liquid crystal display includes a light source having a plurality of basic cell structures. Each basic cell structure consists of three unique colors of first, second, and third light emitting diodes, arranged in a first equilateral triangle. An LCD utilizing the backlight unit is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display, and in particular to a backlight unit consisting of red, green, and blue (RGB) light emitting diodes (LEDs) on a planar surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are used in a variety of electronic devices, including notebook and desktop computer monitors, mobile phones, car navigation systems, and TVs. In the conventional design, backlight units provide the main light source for LCDs. Direct backlight and edge-light technologies are employed, both of which use a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) as the light source, particularly a white light source.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic exploded views of a conventional direct backlight unit 10a and an edge lighting unit lob for a liquid crystal display. In FIG. 1A, the direct backlight unit 10a comprises at least a light source 11, a dispersion sheet 12a, a light-control sheet 12b, a reflector 13, and a frame 14. The direct backlight unit 10a locates the light source 11 between the light-control sheet 12b and the reflector 13. The light source 11 produces light, which is then reflected by the reflector 13 and diffused through the dispersion sheet 12a, providing desired color merged by the light-control sheet 12b. The direct backlight unit 10a is generally suitable for multicolor or dot matrix LCDs with larger screens.
In FIG. 1B, the edge lighting unit lob has at least one light source 11′ located along the edge of the light guide panel 17. A prism sheet 15 and a dispersion sheet 16 are disposed above the light guide panel 17. A reflector 13′ is located behind the light guide panel 17. Generally, the edge lighting unit lob provides less expensive lighting, especially for smaller LCDs. In addition, the edge lighting unit 10b offers a thinner package with lower power consumption, however, usually with lower light intensity.
Obviously, either size or brightness of the direct backlight 10a or edge lighting backlight lob is limited by the size of CCFL. Thus, other types of light source are considered to replace the CCFL. It is known that light emitting diode (LED) backlights offer a brighter and longer operating life of 50,000 hours minimum than other light sources such as CCFL with a life of 10,000 to 15,000 hours or electroluminescent (EL) with a limited life of 3,000 to 5,000 hours. Thus, compared to the conventional backlights using CCFL or EL, LEDs are less expensive, last longer, and smaller in size, contributing to a more robust design, and provide a higher brightness-to-size ratio. LEDs provide a variety of colors such as red (R), green (G) and blue (B) and consequently, must be mounted in an array directly behind the display to provide white light. Also LEDs are more compact than CCFL. If LEDs can be arranged to provide the brightest, whitest light, LEDs can also have the potential to provide excellent light source for all types of LCDs. However, a slight difference in arrangement of the LEDs can adversely affect the color and brightness of the display due to the combination of various colors. Hence, there is a need for a specific arrangement of the LEDs that can provide true white light in a backlight unit.

Backlight unit and liquid crystal display utilizing the same


An apparatus for indicating location of a mobile telecommunication device includes: a transmitting unit; and a fixing structure supporting the transmitting unit. The fixing structure effects removable affixation between the fixing structure and the mobile communication device. The transmitting unit effects communications with a communication network.

Systems for locating a communication device within a communication system nowadays involve some sort of application running on the communication device itself, such as a mobile phone.
Such equipping of a mobile communication device requires, by way of example and not by way of limitation, cooperation among mobile communicate device manufacturers and telecommunication system service providers (sometimes referred to as "carriers"). Sometimes cooperation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may also be necessary. Cooperation among such a number and variety of agencies can be difficult, time consuming and expensive to carry out.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for locating a mobile communication device that can be easily implemented.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for locating a mobile communication device that can be unilaterally implemented and maintained without requiring inter-agency cooperation.

Apparatus and method for locating a mobile telecommunication device


A digital camera and a printer are directly connected to each other, and a printing progress situation is displayed on a display unit of the digital camera while an image taken by the digital camera is being printed. Further, when a printing mode is changed to a photographing mode while the printing is being performed, the image being taken is displayed on the entire display unit, and the printing progress situation is superposed and displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit on which the image being taken is displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a display control technique for a display unit of the digital camera.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, a direct printing method of directly connecting a digital camera to a printer by using a cable and causing the printer to print out an image taken by the digital camera has begun to spread.
In such a conventional direct printing method, an image display unit of the digital camera can not be used while the image is being printed out.
For this reason, in the conventional direct printing method, if a user selects a printing mode and starts printing, he can not grasp or see a printing situation, e.g., which image is being printed, how the printing is progressing, or the like, thus causing inconvenience.
Further, while the printing is being performed, it is impossible to concurrently perform a photographing operation by causing the display unit to act as an electronic finder, and it is also impossible to concurrently perform a reproduction operation by causing the display unit to reproduce a taken image, thus causing more inconvenience.

Digital camera having a display unit to display the print status of a connected printer


An apparatus configured to receive packets associated with a service and to communicate the packets to at least one user in a system enabling communication of multiple data streams in a transmission is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to assign packets of a data stream with a service identifier.

This invention relates to identification of a service provided from a central node in a system wherein multiple data streams are enabled and where the service delivery includes at least one intermediate node.
A communication system is a facility which facilitates communication between two or more entities such as communication devices, network entities and other nodes. A communication system may be provided by one more interconnect networks. One or more gateway nodes may be provided for interconnecting various networks of the system. For example, a gateway node may be provided between an access network and other communication networks, for example a core network and/or a data network. The communication may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on.
A user may communicate via a communication system and access various applications by an appropriate communication device. An appropriate access system allows the communication device to access to the communication system. An access to the communications system may be provided by a fixed line or wireless communication interface, or a combination of these. Examples of wireless access systems providing mobility for the users thereof include cellular access networks, various wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs), satellite based communication systems and various combinations of these. A communication system typically operates in accordance with a standard and/or a set of specifications and protocols which set out what the various elements of the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. For example, it is typically defined if the user, or more precisely user device, is provided with a circuit switched or a packet switched communications, or both. Also, the manner in which communication should be implemented between the user device and the various elements of the communication and their functions and responsibilities are typically defined by a predefined communication protocol. Various functions and features are typically arranged in a hierarchical or layered structure, so called protocol stack, wherein the higher level layers can influence the operation of the lower level functions. In cellular systems a network entity in the form of a base station provides a node for communication with mobile devices in one or more cells or sectors. It is noted that in certain systems a base station is called 'Node B'. Typically the operation of a base station apparatus and other apparatus of an access system required for the communication is controlled by a particular control entity. The control entity is typically interconnected with other control entities of the particular communication network.
A mobile communication system provides mobility for the users thereof. An example of the third generation (3G) mobile communications systems is the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS). A non-limiting example of a possible type of access architecture is a concept known as long term evolution (LTE). A particular example of such systems is the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA). An Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) includes of E-UTRAN Node Bs (eNBs) which are configured to provide base station and control functionalities. Thus in the UMTS service delivery may include intermediate nodes such as at least one long term evolution (LTE) evolved Node B (eNB).
A service provided for mobile users is multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). The MBMS can be described as a multimedia service that is arranged to transmit MBMS data to users by point-to-point (P-t-P) and/or point-to-multipoint (P-t-M) connections. The multimedia broadcasting multicasting services can be divided in two modes, that is into a broadcast mode and multicast mode. For the operation of the multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a system based on the UMTS LTE a technique known as single frequency network (SFN) operation has been proposed. This requires the transmission of identical information, at a transport block level, in each cell of a cell group. Furthermore, the physical layer transmissions in each cell of the group must be synchronised very accurately at both the symbol and frame levels. The technique can be important because a user equipment (UE) receiving MBMS transmissions by SFN methods may obtain significant signal to interference advantages when compared to transmissions made independently in each cell.
To enable SFN operation internet protocol (IP) packets containing the MBMS data to be transmitted is mapped to physical layer transport blocks in an identical manner in each of the eNBs that belong to the SFN group of cells. For radio efficiency this should include the segmentation and concatenation of the IP packets. There are a plurality of ways in which this can be done. One method that has been proposed is for the segmentation and concatenation to take place within the eNB. In order that each eNB maps the same IP packets into the same transport blocks a central node, e.g. an MBMS access gateway, timestamps each IP packet or group of packets. It also needs to attach to each packet the accumulated bytes summed over all previous packets since the first packet to receive a particular timestamp i.e. accumulated bytes since the timestamp changed. The eNBs map the IP packets into the first available resource after the timestamp and continue mapping into successive available resources via segmentation and concatenation until there are no IP packets remaining in the input buffer or a new timestamp is received. The accumulated bytes allow the eNB to re-order the IP packets should they be received out of sequence and detect that they have failed to receive particular packets.

Identification of MBMS service from a central node to UMTS LTE eNBs


A surgical access device or trocar defines an access channel for instruments extending from a proximal end to the distal end thereof. The trocar comprises a cannula and a seal assembly disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. The seal assembly comprises a first or zero seal, a second or instrument seal, and a trocar shield disposed proximally of the first seal and the second seal. The first seal seals the access channel in the absence of an instrument extending therethrough. The second seal seals the access channel in the presence of an instrument extending therethrough. The trocar shield protects the first seal and second seal from damage as an instrument is advanced through the access channel. The trocar shield comprises an open proximal end and a tapered distal end comprising a plurality of longitudinal pleats, converging in an opening.

1. Technical Field
This application is generally directed to surgical instruments, and more specifically to a surgical access device comprising a pleated shield.
2. Description of the Related Art
Laparoscopic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery in which instruments access internal structures of a patient's body through one or more access devices or trocars. In some laparoscopic procedures, a body cavity is inflated or insufflated with an insufflation gas, for example, carbon dioxide, which provides additional room for manipulating the instruments in the body cavity, thereby facilitating the surgical procedure. The term "pneumoperitoneum" refers to an abdominal cavity in an insufflated state. To maintain pneumoperitoneum, trocars are equipped with one or more seals that prevent insufflation gas from escaping as instruments are inserted, withdrawn, and/or manipulated during an operation. These seals typically comprise elastomeric materials, which can be damaged, particularly when instruments are inserted. Accordingly, trocars are often equipped with trocar shields that guide an instrument away from, or otherwise protect, vulnerable regions of the seals as the instrument is advanced through, withdrawn from, and/or manipulated within the trocar.


An optical fiber adapter includes housing, a base body, an occluder, and optical fiber components. A first end surface of the housing includes an insertion opening. A second end surface of the housing includes a connection opening. A through groove is in the housing, and the insertion opening communicates with the connection opening through the through groove. The first end surface includes positioning portions around a periphery of the insertion opening. A hook portion is extending outwardly from the positioning portion. The base body is in the through groove of the housing. The occluder is connected to the partition plate. The optical fiber component is at the assembling portion. The housing of the optical fiber adapter does not have the protruding portions. Hence, several optical fiber adapters can be densely arranged side-by-side. Therefore, the number of the adapters arranged in the optical fiber cassette can be increased.

In the optical fiber fields, signals are in pairs and matched with each other, one for transmitting, and one for receiving. Optical transmission tools for optical fibers may be used to connect several short optical fibers with each other to form a long optical fiber. The optical transmission tools may be also used for connecting the optical fiber to an active component, e.g., a light source or a detector, or to a passive component, e.g., a light switch or an attenuator.
In an optical fiber connector known to the inventor, the fiber core of the optical fiber can be coupled with the optical path of a connecting component. Hence, the optical fiber is detachably inserted into an adapter. In order to prevent dusts entering into the adapter to damage or affect the optical fiber inside the adapter when the adapter is not plugged by the connector, a shielding piece is provided and pivotally connected to the adapter.


An apparatus is provided, comprising: a volatile memory; a non-volatile memory; a first electronic circuit that is configured to operate as a wireless access point, the first electronic circuit including a wireless controller for accessing a wireless network; and a second electronic circuit that is operatively coupled to the first electronic circuit, the second electronic circuit including at least one processor configured to execute: (i) a first virtual machine that includes a wireless network authentication server, and (ii) a second virtual machine that includes a virtual private network (VPN) server, wherein the wireless network authentication server is configured to authenticate devices that attempt to join the wireless network; wherein the VPN server is arranged to encrypt data that is received at the apparatus to produce encrypted data, and forward the encrypted data to the wireless controller for transmission over the wireless network.

A wireless network is a type of telecommunications network that uses radio communications to transmit data. Wireless networks are frequently connected to wired networks and used to access information stored in the wired networks. Wireless networks are inherently more vulnerable to attacks than wired networks, as they are accessible to anyone within range. This property of wireless networks makes them suitable staging grounds for attacks on connected wired networks. The provision of adequate security mechanisms in wireless networks is thus necessary to ensure safe and reliable operation of the wireless networks, as well as any connected wired networks.

Method and apparatus for secure communication and routing


A battery comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte, and an electron collector associated with the first electrode, the electron collector having a surface treatment, such as a protection layer, that reduces corrosion of the electron collector by the molten salt electrolyte.

Molten salt electrolytes are considered safer than traditional organic electrolytes, especially for automobile applications. However, corrosion of the electron collector severely affects the performance of batteries having a molten salt electrolyte, degrading cycling ability and high rate performance. Corrosion results from the oxidation of the molten salt electrolyte on the surface of the metal collector, typically aluminum (Al) or iron (Fe), during charge or discharge. The corrosion can significantly reduce the lifetime of the battery.
Hence, if corrosion of the electron collector can be reduced, the use of safer lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries becomes practical, for example, for automobile applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,839 to Olsen describes nickel-coated aluminum electron collectors in solid-state electrochemical cells. However, this does not describe protection of electron collectors in a Li-ion battery with molten salt electrolyte.
Patents referenced in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.

Corrosion protection using protected electron collector

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A catalyst composition comprising one or more metal complexes of a multifunctional Lewis base ligand comprising a bulky, planar, aromatic- or substituted aromatic-group and polymerization processes employing the same, especially continuous, solution polymerization of one or more α-olefins at high catalyst efficiencies are disclosed.

Higher temperature solution processes for olefin polymerization are highly desirable due to the increased throughput, decreased energy necessary for devolatization and decreased fouling that these higher temperatures afford. Although Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems can be run at high temperatures commercially, these catalysts suffer from poor efficiency and poor comonomer incorporation at elevated temperatures. In addition, polymers produced from Ziegler-Natta catalysts at elevated temperatures have broadened molecular weight distributions, thereby limiting their suitability for use in many applications. Conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts are typically composed of many types of catalytic species, each having different metal oxidation states and different coordination environments with ligands. Examples of such heterogeneous systems are known and include metal halides activated by an organometallic co-catalyst, such as titanium chloride supported on magnesium chloride, activated with trialkyl aluminum. Because these systems contain more than one catalytic species, they possess polymerization sites with different activities and varying abilities to incorporate comonomer into a polymer chain. The consequence of such multi-site chemistry is a product with poor control of the polymer chain architecture, leading to a heterogeneous composition. Moreover, differences in the individual catalyst site produce polymers of high molecular weight at some sites and low molecular weight at others, resulting in a polymer with a broad molecular weight distribution. Due to these reasons, mechanical and other properties of the polymers are often less than desired.
More recently, catalyst compositions based on well defined metal complexes, especially transition metal complexes such as constrained geometry catalysts (CGCs), metallocenes and post-metallocenes have been shown to give products having better comonomer incorporation and narrow molecular weight distribution. However, these catalysts often have poor high temperature stability and suffer from poor efficiencies at elevated polymerization temperatures. Additionally, the molecular weight of the polymers formed from these catalysts often decreases dramatically with increasing temperature, especially for polymers containing significant amounts of comonomer (lower density). That is, the ability of most olefin polymerization catalysts to incorporate higher α-olefins in an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer decreases with increasing polymerization temperature. In other words, the reactivity ratio r1 generally increases with increasing polymerization temperature.
Reactivity ratios of catalysts may be obtained by known methods, for example, the technique described in "Linear Method for Determining Monomer Reactivity Ratios in Copolymerization", M. Fineman and S. D. Ross, J. Polymer Science, 5, 259 (1950) or "Copolymerization", F. R. Mayo and C. Walling, Chem. Rev., 46, 191 (1950). One widely used copolymerization model is based on the following equations:
                                          M            1            *                    +                      M            1                                            →                      K            11                                            M          1          *                                    (        1        )                                                      M            1            *                    +                      M            2                                            →                      K            12                                            M          2          *                                    (        2        )                                                      M            2            *                    +                      M            1                                            →                      K            21                                            M          1          *                                    (        3        )                                                      M            2            *                    +                      M            2                                            →                      K            22                                            M          2          *                                    (        4        )
where Mi refers to a monomer molecule which is arbitrarily designated as "i" where i=1, 2; and M2* refers to a growing polymer chain to which monomer i has most recently attached.
The kij values are the rate constants for the indicated reactions. For example, in ethylene/propylene copolymerization, k11 represents the rate at which an ethylene unit inserts into a growing polymer chain in which the previously inserted monomer unit was also ethylene. The reactivity ratios follow as: r1=k11/k12 and r2=k22/k21 wherein k11, k12, k22 and k21 are the rate constants for ethylene (1) or propylene (2) addition to a catalyst site where the last polymerized monomer is an ethylene (k1X) or propylene (k2X).
Thus, an olefin polymerization process is sought in which polymers containing various amounts of comonomer content can be produced with high catalyst efficiency and high monomer conversions and very high reactor temperatures without suffering from poor overall molecular weight in the resulting polymers. In addition, low molecular weight distribution (MW/MN<3.0) is desired in such a process. Ideally, such a process could be carried out at elevated temperatures and still produce polymers having high molecular weight and relatively high comonomer incorporation. It is known in the art that polymer molecular weight is readily controlled by use of chain transfer agents such as hydrogen or organometal compounds. Thus, a high temperature polymerization process that is capable of high levels of comonomer incorporation and produces high molecular weight polymers having low molecular weight distributions is desired in the art. Such a process additionally including a chain transfer agent to produce lower molecular weight polymers or the incorporation of long chain branching is further desired.
In US 2005/0215737 A1, a continuous, solution, olefin polymerization process is disclosed for preparing ethylene-butene and ethylene-propylene interpolymers at high ethylene conversions. Disadvantageously, the resulting polymers were primarily plastomers having relatively low molecular weights. No chain transfer agent was employed, indicating that molecular weight of the resulting polymer was relatively low and catalyst efficiencies were also low, especially at higher reaction temperatures.
In WO 99/45041, another continuous solution olefin polymerization process is disclosed using bridged hafnocene complexes with noncoordinating anionic cocatalysts. Although the resulting polymers contained significant amounts of comonomer, catalyst efficiencies were relatively low and polymer molecular weights, even in the absence of chain transfer agent were less than desirable.
In WO 03/102042, a high temperature solution olefin polymerization process is disclosed using indenoindolyl transition metal complexes to prepare polyolefins at temperatures at greater than about 130° C. In one example, the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene was carried out at 180° C. resulting in formation of a polymer having poor comonomer incorporation (density=0.937 g/cm3) at relatively low catalyst efficiencies.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,976, there are disclosed certain highly active polymerization catalysts comprising Group 3-6 or Lanthanide metal complexes, preferably Group 4 metal complexes, of bridged bi-aromatic ligands containing a divalent Lewis base chelating group. The metal complexes were employed in combination with activating cocatalysts in the polymerization of olefins including mixtures of ethylene and α-olefins, including 1-octene, to obtain polymers containing high comonomer incorporation rates at elevated temperatures.
US2004/0010103 disclosed certain aromatic polyether derivatives of transition metals and their use as catalysts for olefin polymerizations. Typical olefin polymerizations using prior art compositions are disclosed in US2003229188, WO00/24793, Akimoto, et al., J. Mol. Cat. A: Chem. 156(1-2), 133-141 (2000), among other references.
We have now discovered that certain metal complexes may be employed in a solution polymerization process to prepare relatively high molecular weight ethylene interpolymers containing relatively large quantities of comonomer incorporated therein at unusually high temperatures and high olefin conversions if certain process conditions are observed. Accordingly, there is now provided a process for the preparation of olefin polymer products, especially high molecular weight polyolefins, at very high catalyst efficiency. In addition, we have discovered that these catalyst compositions retain their high catalyst activity using relatively low molar ratios of conventional alumoxane cocatalysts. The use of reduced quantities of alumoxane cocatalysts (up to 90 percent or more less than conventionally employed) allows for the preparation of polymer products having reduced metal content and consequently increased clarity, improved dielectric and other physical properties. In addition, the use of reduced quantities of alumoxane cocatalysts results in reduction in polymer production costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High temperature solution polymerization process


A bitumen antistripping agent is prepared by reacting an epoxy compound with either phosphoric acid or a partial ester of phosphoric acid at a molar ratio of between 1:1 and 1:20.

Bitumen may by generally described as a dark-brown to black cementitious material, solid or semi-solid in consistency, in which the primary constituents are a mixture of paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. As discussed in the The Asphalt Handbook (The Asphalt Institute Manual, Series No. 4, 1965 ed.), incorporated herein by reference, various grades of bitumen, including coal tar and asphalt, may be produced by selecting different processing conditions. In this regard, two basic types of solid asphalt, asphalt cement and air-blown asphalt, and two basic types of liquid asphalt, cutback asphalt and emulsified asphalt, are utilized commerically. Asphalt cement is defined as asphalt which has been refined to meet paving and industrial specifications; cutback asphalt is asphalt cement which has been liquified by blending with petroleum solvents, and asphalt emulsions are prepared such that the asphalt is emulsified in the inner phase (an oil-in-water type emulsion). The emulsion can also be of the water-in-oil type in which water constitutes the inner phase (see Hellsten et al., "Asphalt Compositions Having Improved Adhesion to Aggregate," U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,061).
The particle size of mineral aggregate used in an asphalt, compositions may vary over a wide range, such as from 2.times.10.sup.-5 to 6.times.10.sup.-2 meters in diameter; or the aggregate may be of a fairly uniform size. Mineral aggregates employed in asphalt compositions also range in character from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. It has long been known that mineral aggregates have a greater attraction from water than for oil or asphalt. In general, it can be said that siliceous and acidic minerals, such as sands and gravels, tend to be very hydrophilic, whereas calcareous and alkaline materials, such as limestone, tend to be slightly hydrophilic. It is difficult, therefore, to obtain and maintain a satisfactory asphalt coating on the mineral aggregate particles when water is present. One example of an asphalt composition is the combination of asphalt cement with a size-graded mineral aggregate. This combination is referred to as asphalt concrete and is used in road paving applications. A poor asphalt coating on the mineral aggreagate leads to breakup of the asphalt concrete and commonly results in potholes and flaking pavements.
One common method of pavement construction is to remove water from the aggregate by forced evaporation prior to coating with asphalt cement. In practice this requires a certain amount of aggregate drying time which consumes energy and may result in a lengthened construction period. If weather conditions are unfavorable, such as during periods of rainfall or high humidity, road construction may be severely hindered if not halted. Even if the water is removed and the asphalt successfully desposited onto the aggregate, the asphalt coating may ultimately be degraded by the action of groundwater or rainfall.
A successful method of increasing pavement life has been to add one or more antistripping additives to the asphalt composition. Such additives increase the hydrophobicity of the aggregate, thereby strengthening and preserving the asphalt-aggregate bond.
Recently, there have been some health-related concerns with volatiles resulting from the use in asphalt of some antistripping agents currently on the market. Less volatile and less odorous antistripping agents would be desirable.


A mode dial mechanism for a photographing device comprising a photographing lens, according to the present invention, includes a lens mover, a mode dial, and a mode judge. The lens mover moves the photographing lens. The mode dial is for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes, including a lens housing mode where the photographing lens is housed in a housed position which is inside the photographing device. The mode judge determines whether the lens housing mode should be set or not, when the lens housing mode is selected. When the mode judge determines that the lens housing mode should be set, the lens housing mode is set, and the lens mover moves the photographing lens to the housed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mode-setting device, and especially relates to a mode-setting device for photographing devices, such as cameras.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in photographing devices such as cameras and video recorders, various photographing modes and so on can be selected or set. A mode dial, as a mode-setting device, has been used for selecting a desired mode from a plurality of selectable modes. On mode dials, generally, a plurality of selectable modes are marked, and a user moves a mode dial to set a mark of a selecting mode to be in a predetermined rotation position.
On the other hand, in some photographing devices, a photographing lens is automatically housed, when a predetermined mode is selected for protecting the photographing lens.
In case a mode where a photographing lens should not be housed is selected, the photographing lens can be housed once, and then extended. That is, during the mode dial operation, when a mark representing a mode where the photographing lens is housed passes a predetermined rotation position for setting a mode, the photographing lens can be housed. Then, the mode dial can be moved further, and when another mark representing another mode where the photographing lens does not need to be housed passes the predetermined rotation position, the photographing lens can be extended. Due to these unnecessary movements of the photographing lens, electric power is unnecessarily consumed, and the operations take unnecessary time.
When the mark of a mode where the photographing lens should be housed is the first or the last mark on a mode dial, the aforementioned unnecessary movement of the photographing lens, including housing and extending the photographing lens can be prevented. However, for such a mode dial, the operational convenience is low, and the time required for operations is longer than for an endless mode dial, because rotating operations can be interrupted when the mode dial is in the end position.
Further, when a mode where a photographing lens is housed is selected without a mode dial, the selection operation becomes complicated, and the structure of the photographing device can be complex.

Mode-setting device for photographing device


An instrument guide that can compensate for surgical instruments that have different outer diameters. The instrument guide includes a shaft that has an inner channel adapted to receive a surgical instrument. The guide also has a leaf that can be deflected relative to the shaft to exert a spring force onto the instrument. The amount of leaf deflection is dependent upon the outer diameter of the surgical instrument.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into a patient.
2. Prior Art
There have been developed various procedures to perform minimally invasive surgery. For example, there have been developed minimally invasive procedures to perform a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The minimally invasive CABG procedure can be performed with a robotic system sold by Computer Motion, Inc., the assignee of the present invention, under the trademark ZEUS.
The ZEUS system includes a plurality of robotic arms that can control the movement of surgical instruments inserted through small incisions in the patient. The surgical instruments move in accordance with the movement of handles held by a surgeon. The handles are located at a console that allows the surgeon to view a monitor that is coupled to an endoscope inserted into the patient. The surgeon can perform a surgical procedure by moving the handles and viewing the surgical site displayed by the monitor.
Performing a minimally invasive procedure may require a number of different surgical instruments. Each robotic arm of the ZEUS system has a coupling mechanism that allows instruments to be attached to, and detached from, the arm. The surgeon, or a surgeon assistant can readily replace instruments during a procedure.
The instruments are typically inserted through a trocar that penetrates the body cavity of the patient. The ZEUS system utilizes the incision point of the patient as a pivot point for the robotic arm and the surgical instrument. The system utilizes a software routine that transforms the coordinates of the surgical instruments to stationary world coordinates to provide commands that accurately move the instruments.
An instrument guide may be placed within the trocar to guide the instrument, maintain robotic arm positioning and facilitate instrument exchanges during surgery. The inner diameter of the instrument guide has approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the surgical instrument to prevent relative radial movement between the instrument and the guide. Any excessive space between the surgical instrument and the instrument guide may result in a lag between the movement of the handles and the movement of the instrument. This lag may increase the complexity of performing the procedure.
The outer diameter of the surgical instruments may vary from instrument to instrument. Smaller surgical instruments may create an undesired space between the instrument and the guide. It would be desirable to provide an instrument guide that can be secured to a variety of surgical instruments each having a different outer diameter.
One embodiment of the present invention is an instrument guide that can be inserted into a patient and guide a surgical instrument. The instrument guide includes a shaft that has an inner channel adapted to receive the surgical instrument. The guide also has a leaf that extends from the shaft. The leaf is adapted to move relative to the shaft when the surgical instrument is inserted into the inner channel.


There is provided a data processing system which, from a point of view of increasing process efficiency of the entire data processing system to exhibit a maximum effect, may assign an alias device to a logic device. The data processing system of this invention comprises a host processing device (10) and a storage control device (20) connected thereto via a communication means (50), where the storage control device (20) has a deciding means for deciding, at a time of processing an I/O request of a certain base device, whether there is a need to newly assign an alias device to the base device according to a use situation of a physical device (203). When assignment is decided as necessary, the host processing device (10) is notified of such via the communication means, and the host processing device (10) newly assigns an alias device to the base device when there is the notification from the storage control device (20).

The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-288833 filed on Sep. 21, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing system comprising a host processing device and a storage control device connected to the host processing device via a communication means and storing data sent from the host processing device, and the storage control device using this data processing system. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for assigning an alias device to a base device in order to maximize the effect of the alias device from a viewpoint of the entire processing of the data processing system, in a mechanism where, in case the host processing device conducts an I/O process to a certain logic device (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cbase devicexe2x80x9d) and a control block assigned to the logic device (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cbase control blockxe2x80x9d) is in use thereupon, the process is conducted by a control block (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9calias control blockxe2x80x9d) assigned to another logic device (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9calias control blockxe2x80x9d).
2. Description of the Related Art
In a data processing system constructed by connecting a host processing device, such as a main frame, and a storage control device, such as a disk array device, when an I/O request is conducted to the storage control device from the host processing device, the host processing device designates an actual storage region, which is to be a target of processing, by a logic device which is defined to correspond with the actual storage region, and conducts this processing by a control block (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cbase control blockxe2x80x9d) assigned one to one to the logic device.
Here, in a general conventional data processing system, only one base control block could be assigned to the I/O processing of the certain logic device. Thus, for example, when the I/O request continuously occurs in respect to the certain logic device, a processing of the next I/O request could not be conducted until the processing of the previous I/O processing was completed, thereby causing a waiting time at the host processing device to occur.
In order to solve these inconveniences, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,897 discloses a mechanism where, in a case a base control block (in the above document, xe2x80x9cUnit Control Blocksxe2x80x9d corresponds to control block) of a certain logic device (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cbase devicexe2x80x9d) is in use, the I/O request is processed by a control block (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9calias control blockxe2x80x9d) made to correspond to another logic device (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9calias devicexe2x80x9d) assigned to the logic device.
Incidentally, since the number of alias devices defined between the host processing device and the storage control device is limited, it is ideal for the alias device to be assigned to the base device so the effect of the alias device may be exhibited to a maximum. Therefore, conventionally it was devised to make the effect of the alias device become as large as possible by methods such as in which a user predicts a processing load of each of the base control blocks and fixedly assigns the alias devices (i.e., static method), or in which the host processing device automatically assigns the alias devices according to the processing load of the base control block (i.e., dynamic method).
However, the assignment of the alias control blocks by the static method or the dynamic method is based on mainly circumstances of the host processing device such as a load state of the base control block, so that from the point of view of process efficiency of the entire data processing system comprised of the host processing device and the storage control device, there are many cases where assignment of the alias control block is not always optimized. For example, even if many alias devices are assigned to a base device with a high processing load, and waiting at the host processing device is decreased, if the I/O processing load in respect to a physical device of the storage control device is large, the effect of the alias control block from the viewpoint of the entire data processing system will be reduced.
The present invention is made in view of the above matters, and it is an object to provide a data processing system which may assign an alias device so an effect thereof is exhibited to a maximum from a point of view of improving process efficiency of the entire data processing system, and a storage control device using this data processing system.
In order to achieve this object, an aspect of the present invention is a data processing system comprising a host processing device, and a storage control device connected to the host processing device via a communication means and storing data sent from the host processing device, wherein: the host processing device and the storage control device specify, upon an I/O processing of data in respect to an actual storage region of the storage control device, the actual storage region which becomes a target of the processing by a logic device corresponding to the actual storage region; the host processing device comprises a plurality of control blocks processing an I/O request in respect to the storage control device, and comprises a means which, in a case an I/O request in respect to a certain logic device (base device) occurs, makes a control block (base control block) corresponding to the base device conduct a processing in respect to the I/O request, whereas, if the base control block is in use, makes a control block (alias control block) of another logic device (alias device) assigned to the logic device conduct the processing; the storage control device comprises a deciding means for deciding, upon processing an I/O request in respect to a certain logic device, whether or not there is a need to newly assign an alias device to the logic device according to a situation of one or a plurality of component elements within the storage control device, and a means for notifying the host processing device via the communication means to the effect that assigning is decided as necessary according to the decision; and the host processing device comprises a means for recognizing that an alias device is newly assigned to the base device when there is the notification from the storage control device.

Data processing system and storage control device used therefor


Methods and apparatuses for forming an encapsulation bilayer over a chalcogenide material on a semiconductor substrate are provided. Methods involve forming a bilayer including a barrier layer directly on chalcogenide material deposited using pulsed plasma plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PP-PECVD) and an encapsulation layer over the barrier layer deposited using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). In various embodiments, the barrier layer is formed using a halogen-free silicon precursor and the encapsulation layer deposited by PEALD is formed using a halogen-containing silicon precursor and a hydrogen-free nitrogen-containing reactant.

Semiconductor device fabrication involves formation of memory stacks, which are often sensitive to oxidation and moisture and may not withstand high temperature operations or exposure to energetic species. As a result, memory stacks are often encapsulated prior to subsequent processing. However, some methods of depositing encapsulation layers may damage components of the process chamber, or may damage substrate materials. Further, some techniques may not be capable of forming sufficiently thin and hermetic layers.
The background description provided herein is for the purposes of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Conformal damage-free encapsulation of chalcogenide materials


An LED constant-voltage dimming power supply being electrically connected to a dimmer and configured for changing duty ratio of output voltage thereof according to a controlling signal from the dimmer, includes a constant-voltage source, a damping discharge circuit module, a phase detecting circuit module, a duty ratio controlling module, and a switcher. The damping discharge circuit module is electrically connected to an input end of the constant-voltage source. The phase detecting circuit module is electrically connected to an output end of the constant-voltage source. The duty ratio controlling module is coupled to the phase detecting circuit. The switcher is electrically connected to the duty ratio controlling module. The LED constant-voltage dimming power supply adjusts the luminance of the LED lamp and has high universality. Moreover, each of lots of LED lamps has high consistency during adjusting its luminance.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to lighting power supply devices, and more particularly to an LED constant-voltage dimming power supply and dimming system for LED lamp having same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light emitting diode (LED) is growing in popularity due to decreasing costs and long life compared to incandescent lighting and fluorescent lighting. LED lighting can also be dimmed without impairing the useful life of the LED light source.
In the prior art, one of many methods of dimmer is adopted to change current loaded on an LED lamp so as to change output power of the LED lamp. However, the dimmer method of changing current is limited to only supply for resistance current-limiting LED load. When it is used to supply for an LED lamp which have built-in DC-DC driver or an LED lamp which is a linear current regulative, these LED lamp will twinkle. On the other hand, since circuit itself has resistance, if a lot of loads adopt the dimmer method of changing current, it will result in different luminance among the different loads as different loads have different current flowing thererinto. Therefore, the LED driver having the dimmer method of changing current will have low universality and low consistency.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide an LED constant-voltage dimming power supply and dimming system for LED lamp having same to solve the above problem.


A method of preparing ethylene polymers which comprises polymerizing ethylene, or ethylene and one or more .alpha.-olefins other than ethylene in the presence of a composite catalyst which catalyst comprises:. (A) a solid composition prepared by depositing one or more chromium compounds and one or more metal compounds other than said chromium compounds onto an inorganic oxide support material and then calcining the resulting solid; and PA0 (B) one or more organometallic compounds that are each independently represented by the following general formula: EQU MR.sup.1 aR.sup.2 bR.sup.3 c PA0 wherein M is a metal of Group I, II or III of the periodic table and the R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 moieties are each independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical of C.sub.1 -C.sub.14, or an alkoxy group of C.sub.1 -C.sub.14 with the proviso that the case that all the moieties are each equally hydrogen is excluded; and, a, b and c are each independently a real number of not less than zero with the proviso that the sum of numbers a, b and c is equal to the formal valence of metal M.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved method for preparing ethylene polymers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an industrially advantageous method for preparing, homopolymers of ethylene or copolymers of ethylene and one or more .alpha.-olefins other than ethylene by using a specified Phillips-type catalyst having a particularly high catalytic activity for the polymerization and a very short induction period of the polymerization.
(2) Description of the Related Art
There are many methods or processes for the polymerization of ethylene; i.e., high pressure polymerization processes, medium pressure polymerization processes, low pressure polymerization processes, radiation polymerization methods, etc. It is well known that Phillips catalysts or Standard Oil catalysts are employed for the medium pressure processes, while Ziegler catalysts are used for the low pressure processes. The Phillips catalysts used in the medium pressure processes are each usually prepared by depositing a chromium compound such as chromium oxide, onto an inorganic oxide support such as silica, silica-alumina, and then calcining the resulting solid in air. A solvent having a suitable boiling point is usually used in the polymerization of ethylene over these catalysts.
As a matter of fact, such polymerization processes in which the Phillips catalysts are employed have such disadvantages as follows:
The averaged molecular weight of the polymers obtained as well as the activity of the catalysts used in the processes greatly depends on the temperature of the polymerization; therefore, it is generally necessary to conduct the polymerization at a temperature of about 100.degree. to 200.degree. C. in order to attain a sufficiently high catalytic activity for the purpose of the production of polyethylenes having an averaged molecular weight of about tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands and being useful in a variety of fields of utilization. However, the polymerization in such a temperature range makes it difficult to increase the concentration of the polymers in the product mixture to a value of not less than about 20% by weight, since the dissolution of the polymers produced into the solvent used causes a sharp increase in the viscosity of the product solution as a result. It has, therefore, been required to develop a suitable catalyst having a sufficiently high catalytic activity especially at temperatures of not higher than about 105.degree. C. because, at such low temperatures, the polymerization can be effectively operated by means of a so-called slurry polymerization technique.
Accordingly, with the intention of improving the activity of Phillips catalysts, many catalysts including those that can be obtained by the combination of Phillips catalysts with organoaluminium compounds, organozinc compounds or the like have been developed (Japanese Patent publication Nos. 22144/1961, 27415/1968, 34759/1974, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 101477/1973, etc.).
Nevertheless, the activities of these catalysts for the polymerization are still insufficient.
Some catalysts obtained by the modification of Phillips catalysts with organomagnesium compounds are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 120713/1981; however, these catalysts have disadvantages in that they show a long induction period of the polymerization and have a low stability in the polymerization, although they have improved catalytic activities for the polymerization.
Furthermore, a process for the polymerization of ethylene characterized by conducting the prepolymerization of ethylene by using a Phillips catalyst and then polymerizing further ethylene in the presence of the resulting reaction mixture comprising of the catalyst used and the prepolymer produced is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 106610/1986. However, this process has such a disadvantage in that the catalytic activity is still insufficient, although the induction period of the polymerization is rather short.


Described herein are systems and methods that create a capacitive link based on a rotating cylinder capacitor. A cylindrical rotor rotates around a shaft and maintains an air gap between the cylindrical rotor and the shaft and to create one or more air gap capacitors. A first subsystem, comprising a light detection and ranging components, is coupled to the rotor. A second sub-subsystem, comprising data analysis functions, is coupled to the shaft. The first subsystem and the second subsystem are coupled via capacitive links created by the air gap capacitors. The communication signaling utilized on the capacitive links may be bi-directional and differential signaling. The first subsystem and the second subsystem may comprise a LIDAR light detection and ranging system. The second subsystem may power the first subsystem via inductive coupling.

In some electronic systems, there may be a requirement to transmit data within the electronic system by a wireless or non-contact (contactless) method. Possible wireless or non-contact methods may include a wireless technology, an optical link, mercury electrical contact, inductive coupling and capacitive coupling. The term "capacitive" relates to electrical capacitance, or the property of being able to collect and hold a charge of electricity. The selected method may impact the performance and efficiency of electronic system including, but not limited to the frequency of operation, bandwidth, transmission speed and power consumption. In some embodiments, such as a LIDAR system, the data may be transferred between a stationary component and a non-stationary rotating component.
Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods that provide an efficient wireless or non-contact method for data transmission between one component of the electronic system and the rest of the electronic system. The one component of the electronic system may be stationary relative to the rest of the electronic system. Or the one component of the electronic system may be rotating relative to the rest of the electronic system.

Systems and methods for transmitting data via a contactless cylindrical interface


Springs manufactured to have a desired free length nonetheless exhibit a slight difference in free length from one spring to another. This results from a change in elasticity caused by a difference in wire material or a non-uniformity in wire cross section from one lot of wire to another or within one and the same lot. A plurality of pre-manufacturing operations, respectively, produce a given number of test springs is used to determine an optimum value of a control variable which is then used in a manufacturing operation. In a pre-manufacturing operation, the difference between the desired free length and the actual free length is determined, and the amount of this difference is multiplied by the control variable to produce a feedback signal. The feedback signal determined for one spring is used to adjust the thrusting motion of a pitch tool for corresponding by adjusting the free length of a subsequent spring. Each pre-manufacturing operation is performed with a different value of the control variable. The optimum value is determined from a distribution based on the actual free lengths associated with each value thereof.

This invention relates to a system for manufacturing springs of any prescribed free length, and to a method of manufacturing such springs
When manufacturing springs using a system of the aforementioned type in the prior art, the general practice is to manufacture the springs upon setting parameters related to spring manufacture. Even when various parameter data concerning spring manufacture have been set, however, springs having the same free length do not always result, so that there is usually a certain degree of variance from one spring to another.
The reasons for the above primarily are a change in the wire material, wire characteristics such as a non-uniformity in the cross-sectional shape (diameter, etc.) thereof, and a change in the environment, such as a change in temperature, at the time of manufacture. In particular, a change in wire characteristics owing to a difference among wire lots is a matter of course, but there are also slight variations among the wires in one and the same lot.
When there is a change in the wire characteristics or a change in temperature, this is ultimately accompanied by a change in the elasticity of the wire. By way of example, even when a spring is manufactured by moving a swivel shaft in the axial direction while forcibly winding a wire on the swivel shaft, the wire attempts to return to its original shape to a slight degree owing to its elasticity. As a result, a spring having the pitch and number of turns that prevailed at winding cannot be manufactured. Accordingly, when it is considered that the elasticity of a wire is constantly changing when a spring is being manufactured, it can be understood how difficult it is to manufacture springs having a fixed, free length.
Let springs which fall within allowable limits with regard to their desired free length be defined as "acceptable" or "non-defective" springs. In spring manufacture, what is important is to develop an expedient for raising the acceptance rate or yield, namely the ratio of the number of non-defective springs to the total number of springs manufactured In the prior art, however, there are many aspects in which reliance is placed upon the intuition or skill of the worker in an attempt to achieve this, and a firm set of relevant techniques has not yet been established.


Vehicle parcel tray systems may be provided for exchanging goods or other items between authorized users and the vehicle. A parcel tray of the parcel tray system may be automatically deployed for exchanging the goods or other items as part of an automated delivery process. The parcel tray may be configured to move in unison with a vehicle closure member via an actuator system that operably links movement of the parcel tray with that of the closure member.

Vehicles typically include one or more closure members. Exemplary closure members are doors, swing gates, and liftgates. Generally, closure members can move back and forth between open and closed positions relative to a body structure of the vehicle in order to provide vehicle ingress/egress. Some closure members can be moved with powered actuators.

Systems and methods for deploying parcel trays on hinged vehicle closure members


A leak detecting apparatus for detecting flaws in a surface submerged in liquid is provided that includes a vacuum head for contacting the surface and forming a vacuum chamber filled with liquid between the surface and the vacuum head, the vacuum head including a multi-surface elastomer seal for contacting the surface; and a vacuum generator for pulling gas through a flaw in the surface into the vacuum head and to the gas separation chamber so as to displace the liquid from the gas separation chamber. A method for detecting flaws in a surface submerged in liquid is also provided.

Conventionally, in order to detect leaks in containers that hold liquids, such as tanks and metal-lined pits, liquid is first drained from the tank or metal-lined pit. After the liquid is drained out of the container, a bubble-forming solution is applied to a portion of the surface of the container that is to be inspected for flaws and a vacuum device is applied over the bubble-forming solution. The vacuum device includes a stiff, closed-cell foam seal for contacting the surface and forming a seal between the vacuum device and the surface. In order to form a vacuum chamber around the portion of the surface that is to be inspected, the worker has to manually push the vacuum device against the surface to be tested. If a leak is present in a liner material of the tank or metal-lined pit, air is drawn through the leak and a bubble forms in the vacuum chamber of the vacuum device. The vacuum device includes a viewing window that allows a worker to see if bubbles are forming in the vacuum chamber. Because of the stiff nature of the seal, the worker must force the vacuum device against the surface to compress the stiff, closed-cell foam seal and establish the vacuum. A force creating the vacuum may be generated by an air-driven Venturi. The vacuum may be initiated by opening an air flow valve that allows compressed air to flow through the Venturi. If a flaw is found, the worker marks the area with a suitable marking device, breaks the vacuum by closing the air flow valve and moves to the next area of the surface for leak detection.

Underwater method and apparatus for detecting leaks in a metallic tank or pit liner plate


A stackable integrated circuit package system including mounting an integrated circuit device over a package carrier, mounting a stiffener over the package carrier and mounting a mountable package carrier over the stiffener with a vertical gap between the integrated circuit device and the mountable package carrier.

Integrated circuit packaging technology has seen an increase in the number of integrated circuits mounted on a single circuit board or substrate. The new packaging designs are more compact form factors, such as the physical size and shape of a packaged integrated circuit, and providing a significant increase in overall integrated circuit density.
However, integrated circuit density continues to be limited by the "real estate" available for mounting individual integrated circuits on a substrate. Even larger form factor systems, such as personal computers (PC's), compute servers, and storage servers, need more integrated circuits in the same or smaller "real estate". The needs for portable personal electronics, such as cell phones, digital cameras, music players, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and location-based devices are particularly acute and have further driven the need for increased integrated circuit density.
This increased integrated circuit density has led to the development of multi-chip packages in which more than one integrated circuit can be packaged. For example, stackable package systems include stacked package carriers where each package carrier includes at least one integrated circuit.
However, in some cases, these dense systems may warp during manufacturing or in operation. This may result in poor yields, device failures, or reduced device lifetimes due to a variety of problems such as compromised mechanical properties or poor electrical connectivity. Contemporary electronics expose integrated circuits, integrated circuit packages, and electronic subassemblies to more demanding and sometimes harsh environmental conditions, such as cold, heat, and humidity requiring integrated circuit packages to provide robust mechanical structures. The range of operating conditions may also cause warpage resulting in failure, field returns, and increased cost.
Thus, a need still remains for a stackable integrated circuit package system that provides a low cost manufacturing, improved yield, and improved reliability. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Stackable integrated circuit package system


A method for treating an angiogenesis-mediated eye disease, includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of EC-SOD protein, or a vector having a polynucleotide encoding the EC-SOD protein, to treat angiogenesis-mediated eye diseases.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a novel use of an EC-SOD protein and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compositions for preventing or treating angiogenesis-mediated disease or allergic diseases which contain, an EC-SOD protein or a vector having a polynucleotide encoding the EC-SOD proteins an active ingredient.
2. Discussion of the Background
Superoxide dismutases (SODs) protect cells by removing reactive oxygen species and enabling other antioxidant enzymes, and SODs include Cu/Zn SOD (SOD 1) containing copper and zinc atoms, Mn SOD (SOD 2) containing a manganese atom, and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) present on the cell surface or in the extracellular fluid.
Particularly, EC-SOD contains copper and zinc atoms as in Cu/Zn SOD, but is characterized in that a heparin binding domain is present in the C-terminal end. Since EC-SOD has the heparin-binding domain, it is assumed that EC-SOD protect cell membranes by binding to the cell membranes. According to literature, EC-SOD plays a role in the body's defense mechanism in serums and extracellular matrices (Marklund et al, Biochem. J. 266, 213-219, 1990; Su et al., Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol., February 16(2), 162-70, 1997; et al., Thromb. Vasc. Bio. 18, 157-167, 1998). In addition, it was reported that the heparin-binding domain of EC-′SOD acts as a nuclear localization signal, so that it is located within the nuclei of thymus and testis cells so as to protect genomic DNA from oxidative stress and to regulate the DNA transcription sensitive to oxidation-reduction reaction (Ookawara T et al., BBRC, 296, 54-61, 2002). The present inventors reported in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0676502 that EC-SOD has the effect of treating skin diseases such as psoriasis by removing reactive oxygen species in skin cells and inhibiting the over-proliferation of epidermal cells.
Angiogenesis is the process by which new capillary blood vessels are formed from preexisting vessels. Angiogenesis normally occurs only in some specific situations, including embryonic development, wound healing and the female reproductive cycle, and does not substantially occur in normal conditions. However, when angiogenesis is not regulated correctly, diseases such as cancer may be induced.
The angiogenic process includes stimulation of endothelial cell growth by tumor cytokine, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), degradation of extracellular matrix proteins by matrix metalloprotease (MMP), and migration of endothelial cells, which is mediated by membrane adhesion molecules, endothelial cell differentiation and tube formation (Bussolino, F. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. 22:251-256, 1997; Kuwano, M. et al., Intern. Med. 40:565-572, 2001; Risau, W. Angiogenesis and endothelial cell function. Arzneimittelforschung 44:416-417, 1994). Thus, inhibition of these above processes has been proposed as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of angiogenesis-mediated diseases, including cancer and other human diseases. For this purpose, a variety of angiogenesis inhibitors have been developed. The inhibitors, which are natural or synthetic, include protease inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chemokines, interleukins, and proteolytic fragments of matrix proteins (Abedi, H. et. al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:15442-15451, 1997; Cao, Y., Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 33:357-369, 2001; Fong, T. A et al., Cancer Res. 59:99-106, 1999; Kwon, H. J. et al., Acalycigorgia inermis. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 11:656-662, 2001). These antiangiogenic molecules affect various processes, including the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, protease activity, and tubule formation, as well as the induction of apoptosis (Folkman, J. et. al., Semin. Cancer Biol. 3:89-96, 1992; Kishi, K. et al., Nippon Rinsho 58:1747-1762, 2000; Marme, D., Onkologie 1:1-5, 2001). The antiangiogenic function of many of these molecules has been well studied in vitro and in vivo, and some antiangiogenic drugs are currently being tested in clinical trials (Deplanque, G. et. al., Eur. J. Cancer 36:1713-1724, 2000; Liekens, et. al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 61:253-270, 2001; Mross, K., Drug Resist. Updat. 3: 223-235, 2000).
Reactive oxygen species have been reported to be major regulators of angiogenesis (Jolanta Grzenkowicz-Wydra, et. al., Mol Cell Biochem., 264(1-2):169-81, 2004), but the relationship between SODs, which remove reactive oxygen species, and angiogenesis, has not yet been sufficiently examined. It was recently reported that the overexpression of Cu/Zn SOD (SOD 1), having copper and zinc atoms, among SODs, leads to the stimulation of angiogenesis, and thus the inhibition of SOD1 leads to the inhibition of angiogenesis (Jolanta Grzenkowicz-Wydra, et. al., Mol Cell Biochem., 264(1-2):169-81, 2004). In addition, it was reported that ATN-224, which is an inhibitor of SOD1, inhibits angiogenesis, and thus can be used as an anticancer agent, and it is in a phase II trial (Juarez et al. Clin Cancer Res., 12: 4974-4982, 2006). However, there is no report on the relationship between EC-SOD and angiogenesis.
With the development of industry, allergy-causing factors have increased due to environmental pollution, an increase in new synthetic substances and a change in residential environments, and thus the number of people suffering from asthma and allergies has gradually increased. The function of the body to show specific resistance against foreign matter, which has invaded the body, is referred to as immunity. An allergy is a hypersensitive immune reaction, and typical allergic diseases include atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma and pollenosis. Clinical symptoms resulting from allergic reactions are broadly classified into specific immune reactions at an early stage, and inflammatory reactions at a late stage. These immune reactions are mostly mediated by mast cells, which are widely distributed in the systemic organs, including the skin, the respiratory organ, the gastrointestinal mucosa, the brain, around lymphatic vessels and around blood vessels and to cause allergic reactions. Mediators that activate mast cells include an IgE antibody (FcεRI) bound to a high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (FcεRI) located on the cellular membrane, compound 48/80 and the like. The activation mechanism of mast cells by IgE antibody is as follows.
When an IgE antibody bound to an IgE receptor forms a bridge with an antigen, substances, such as histamine, chondroitin sulfate, heparin and protease, stored in the mast cell granules, are released through the action of phospholipase C, protein phosphatase C and calcium ions, thus mediating the early reaction stage. Among the chemical substances, including histamine, cause clinical symptoms occurring in the early allergic reaction, histamine accounts for the largest amount. In other words, in the early allergic reaction, the expression of histamine is predominant, and clinical symptoms resulting therefrom include vasodilation, edema and the like.
Currently, antihistamine drugs or steroidal drugs are frequently used to treat allergies. However, these drugs mostly have temporary effects, and in many cases, cause serious side effects. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop a novel substance, which has the effect of preventing and treating rapidly increasing allergic diseases, and at the same time, has reduced side effects and lasting effects. However, whether EC-SOD has the effect of treating allergic diseases is not yet known.
Also, even if the EC-SOD has various activities, when a method for producing the EC-SOD in large amounts is not developed, there is a problem in that the EC-SOD cannot be efficiently used in industry. However, mass-production methods for proteins, developed to date, comprise transforming host cells, such as E. coli cells, with expression vectors, and inducing the expression of proteins in the transformed cells, and the mass production of proteins has problems in that it often causes the formation of inclusion bodies, and thus the original activities of the proteins are eliminated or reduced.
The present inventors have conducted studies on the EC-SOD protein, and as a result, have found that the EC-SOD shows an activity of inhibiting diseases caused by angiogenesis or allergic diseases. On the basis of this finding, the present inventors have developed a method for preparing the EC-SOD protein having the activity.

Use of EC-SOD for treating angiogenesis-mediated eye diseases

The Catholic University of Korea Industry-Academic Cooperatior