A method and apparatus are provided for feedback for closed-loop transmitting with multiple transmit antenna elements and multiple receive antenna elements. A base station includes a codebook containing sets of weightings for the multiple transmit antenna elements, with each set of weightings identified by an index and the codebook known to the base station and a served mobile station (MS). The base station pre-codes pilot signals using a precoding matrix, preferably a unitary matrix, to produce pre-coded pilot signals, which precoding matrix may or may not be known to the MS and which precoding matrix may or may not be included in the codebook. The base station then transmits the pre-coded pilot signals to the MS via the multiple transmit antenna elements and, in response, receives an index to a set of weightings in the codebook for use in a subsequent transmission of a data stream.

Wireless communication system transmission methods have evolved to include multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas in order to greatly increase the link capacity of wireless communication systems and/or to better focus the transmitted energy at the receiver for greater efficiency and less interference. An antenna array is a group of spaced apart antenna elements that each transmits an antenna signal that has a specific gain and phase relationship with the other antenna signals. When the antenna elements work together transmitting the antenna signals, they produce an antenna pattern that is more focused on the receiver than a pattern produced by a single antenna element. The process of changing the gain and phase of a signal to produce antenna signals may be referred to as "weighting" the signal using a set of "antenna array weights." Because antenna arrays may similarly be used at a receiver to improve signal quality, use of antenna arrays at both the transmitter and receiver has been proposed. When multiple antenna elements are used at each of the transmitter and receiver, the wireless channel between them may be referred to as a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) channel. Determining how to feed signals to the multiple transmit antenna elements and receive signals from the multiple receive antenna elements becomes quite complicated.
Various transmission strategies require the transmit antenna array to have some level of knowledge concerning the channel response between each transmit antenna element and each receive antenna element and are often referred to as "closed-loop" MIMO. Obtaining full broadband channel knowledge at the transmitter is possible using techniques such as uplink sounding in Time Division Duplexing (TDD) systems and channel feedback in either TDD or Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) systems. Limited feedback methods, such as fixed beam selection or codebook-based beamforming weight selection, can reduce the amount of feedback as opposed to full channel feedback, which would require a significant amount channel resources thereby reducing the link capacity.
Codebook-based beamforming weight selection involves selection, by a base station based on feedback from a mobile station, of a set of pre-coding matrices, that is, predetermined beamforming weights that are agreed upon between a transmitter and receiver. The weights are selected from a set, or codebook, of predetermined and agreed upon matrices of beamforming weights. Each matrix in the codebook can be identified by an index, and a mobile station identifies the weights to be applied by feeding back an index to a matrix and rank of the matrix. In this way, only an index and a rank need be used in feedback to the transmitter in order for the transmitter to know the proper weights to use.
In order to provide such feedback, a base station conveys a midamble, that is, a predetermined signal, to a mobile station (MS). The midamble is not weighted, that is, no beamforming weights are applied to the midamble prior to transmission to the MS. Based on the received midamble, the MS computes a channel response for the air interface between the mobile station and the base station and, based on the channel response, determines a matrix and rank of weights for application to downlink transmissions. However, existing codebooks are quite complex, with weights for each index comprising a matrix of a rank of up to the number of antenna elements (the rank means the number of data streams that are to be transmitted). Selecting, by an MS, a matrix and rank for application to downlink transmissions requires a number of involved calculations, which can include complex math including matrix multiplications. For example, for codebook feedback by an MS, computations scale by at least a factor MtN as the number of antenna elements increases, where Mt is the number of transmit antenna elements at a base station and N is a number of indices in the codebook for each rank. For fixed beam selection, use of a precoded midamble reduces computational complexity but requires an increased midamble size, and correspondingly reduced downlink throughput, as compared to codebook techniques. That is, as a number of transmit antenna elements increases, midamble overhead scales as N for beam selection but as Mt for codebook feedback. For example, for four transmit antenna elements Mt=4 and N=16, and for eight transmit antennas elements Mt=8 and N=64.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus of closed loop feedback that reduces the computational complexity of the searching required for determining a codebook index and rank to feedback to the base station and that will not increase downlink overhead over the current art.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for codebook-based feedback in a closed loop wireless communication system


A mobile device enables the performance of an operation, which can be performed with only coarse granularity using a touchscreen, to be performed with finer granularity in response to detection of stimulus via mechanisms other than the touchscreen. For example, the mobile device can use its sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.) to detect a tapping motion against a non-touchscreen surface of that mobile device. In response to detecting such physical interaction, the mobile device can perform the operation with a level of precision that cannot be achieved when the performance of the operation is attempted via interaction with the touchscreen. The level of granularity of performance can vary with the interaction's force. For example, a tap performed with lesser force can cause a displayed object to move one pixel, while a tap performed with greater force can cause that displayed object to move five pixels.

The present disclosure relates generally to mobile devices, and in particular to techniques for manipulating mobile device user interfaces based on user interactions with those mobile devices.
A mobile device (also known as a handheld device, handheld computer, or simply handheld) can be a small, hand-held computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. A handheld computing device has an operating system (OS), and can run various types of application software, sometimes called "apps." Most handheld devices can also be equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and global positioning system (GPS) capabilities. Wi-Fi components can allow wireless connections to the Internet. Bluetooth components can allow wireless connections to other Bluetooth capable devices such as an automobile or a microphone headset. A camera or media player feature for video or music files can also be typically found on these devices along with a stable battery power source such as a lithium battery. Mobile devices often come equipped with a touchscreen interface that acts as both an input and an output device.
Mobile phones are a kind of mobile device. A mobile phone (also known as a cellular phone, cell phone, or hand phone) is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. A mobile phone can do so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing access to the public telephone network. In addition to telephony, modern mobile phones can often also support a wide variety of other services such as text messaging, multimedia messaging service (MMS), e-mail, Internet access, short-range wireless communications (infrared, Bluetooth, etc.), business applications, gaming, and photography. Mobile phones that offer these and more general computing capabilities are often referred to as smart phones.
The Apple iPhone, in its various generations, is a smart phone. The iPhone includes a variety of components, such as a GPS, an accelerometer, a compass, and a gyroscope, which the iPhone's OS can use to determine the iPhone's current location, orientation, speed, and attitude. The iPhone's OS can detect events from these components and pass these events on to applications that are executing on the iPhone. Those applications can then handle the events in a manner that is custom to those applications. For example, using its built-in components, the iPhone can detect when it is being shaken, and can pass an event representing the shaking on to applications that have registered to listen for such an event. An application can respond to that event, for example, by changing the images that the iPhone is currently presenting on its touchscreen display.
Like many mobile devices, the iPhone, and its cousins the iPad and iPod Touch, come equipped with a touchscreen interface that can detect physical contact from a user of the mobile device and generate a corresponding event. For example, the iPhone can detect when a user has single-tapped the screen, double-tapped the screen, made a pinching motion relative to the screen, made a swiping motion across the screen, or made a flicking motion on the screen with his fingertips. Each such user interaction relative to the iPhone can cause a different kind of corresponding event to be generated for consumption by interested applications. Thus, the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are able to detect and respond to a variety of physical interactions that a user can take relative those devices.
A mobile device's touchscreen is usually the primary mechanism by which the mobile device's user interacts with user interface elements (e.g., icons) that are displayed on the touchscreen. Thus, if a user desires to launch an application, the user might tap on the application's icon shown on the mobile device's display. Alternatively, if a user desires to move an icon from one location to another in the user interface, the user might press down on that icon's location on the display and then slide his fingertip across the touchscreen to the destination at which the user wants the icon to be placed. A user of a more conventional computer, such as a desktop computer, would likely use a separate pointing device such as a mouse to perform similar operations. Although both mechanisms work for manipulating user interface elements shown on a display, pointing devices, such as a mouse, often permit more refined movements and manipulations relative to those user interface elements than does a finger against a small touchscreen. The lack of ability to make highly refined selections relative to a mobile device's touchscreen arises largely from the relatively large contact area that the user's fingertip makes against the touchscreen. The lack of ability to make such highly refined selections is also a consequence of the user's fingertip obscuring much of the portion of the display that contains the user interface element with which the user wants to interact. User interface element manipulations performed via touchscreen can therefore be somewhat inaccurate. It can be very difficult for a user to select a desired pixel on the mobile device's display.

Fine-tuning an operation based on tapping


A computer lock includes a lock body, a cover, a lock core, an action body, an action shaft, and a locking block. Thus, the computer lock is used for securing the notebook computer to an article, such as a fixed upright or leg, thereby providing an anti-theft function to protect the notebook computer efficiently. In addition, the computer lock is operated easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user operating the computer lock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multifunctional computer lock, and more particularly to a lock for securing an object, such as the notebook computer or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional computer lock is used for securing the notebook computer to an article, such as a fixed upright or leg, thereby providing an anti-theft function so as to protect the notebook computer. However, the conventional computer lock cannot be operated easily and conveniently, thereby causing inconvenience to the user in operating the computer lock. In addition, the conventional computer lock has a complicated construction, thereby increasing costs of fabrication.
The present invention is to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional computer lock.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a computer lock for securing an object, such as the notebook computer or the like.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a computer lock that can be operated easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user operating the computer lock.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a computer lock that can provide an anti-theft function so as to protect the notebook computer efficiently.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a computer lock that has a simplified construction, thereby decreasing costs of fabrication.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a computer lock, comprising a lock body, a cover, a lock core, an action body, an action shaft, and a locking block, wherein:
the lock body has an irregular shape, and has an inside formed with a channel, the lock body has a periphery formed with two U-shaped receiving slots for receiving a power supply cord and other cord, the periphery of the lock body is formed with an insertion hole for insertion of a slide, the lock body has an end face formed with a shaft hole for mounting a pivot shaft and a receiving hole for receiving a spring and a pin, the lock body has a side face formed with a groove for mounting a locking cord;
the cover is pivotally mounted on the lock body by the pivot shaft, the cover has a first side formed with a first recessed zone for mounting a pad and a second side formed with a second recessed zone, the cover has a center formed with a through hole and two symmetrical protruding limit bars surrounding the through hole;
the lock core is movably mounted on the lock body, and has an end formed with a protruding catch flange for stopping the locking cord, the lock core has an inner wall formed with a slide slot for slidably mounting the slide of the lock body;
the action body is rotatably mounted in the lock core and has a periphery formed with an insertion hole for insertion of a locking pin;
the action shaft is secured on the action body to rotate therewith, and has a first end formed with a through hole for passage of the locking pin and a second end formed with an enlarged locking block; and
the locking block is secured in the lock core and rested on the action body for limiting movement of the action body.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.


A method for creating a plurality of layer images from an input image is provided. The method includes analyzing an input image for color content to detect at least one dominant color in the image and for shape recognition to detect at least one object in the image. The method also includes generating a concentric grid for the input image based on the color content analysis and the shape recognition for a depth calculation of the input image. The concentric grid includes a center point, a plurality of lines that radiate from the center point, and a plurality of concentric circles that expand at a spatial distance in the input image. The concentric circles divide the input image into a plurality of sections, each of which represents an equal spatial depth. The method further includes generating a plurality of layer images using at least two of the plurality of sections.

Existing photo editing application programs lack features that enable users to generate and manage layers from a photographic image. Presently, the users have to manually create individual layers. In order to print the layers individually, the users must either save the layers in separate files or hide individual layers saved in a file to isolate the one intended for printing, and print each layer separately. If it is desired to edit the image, the user must either manually generate individual layers from the photographic image, in which some elements of the image may become unable to edit (e.g., text would become an image object), or create the layers from scratch, hoping that the changes made to the individual layers will roughly correspond to the editing made to the original photographic image.
Furthermore, while the existing photo editing application programs enable the users to create manually an individual layer by selecting, cutting, and then pasting one or more objects in the photographic image, in printing they often fill the rest of the individual layer with a single default background color (e.g., white background, etc.), resulting in loss of translucence and nuance.

Systems, methods, and media for creating multiple layers from an image


Systems and methods are provided for scoring speech. A speech sample is received, where the speech sample is associated with a script. The speech sample is aligned with the script. An event recognition metric of the speech sample is extracted, and locations of prosodic events are detected in the speech sample based on the event recognition metric. The locations of the detected prosodic events are compared with locations of model prosodic events, where the locations of model prosodic events identify expected locations of prosodic events of a fluent, native speaker speaking the script. A prosodic event metric is calculated based on the comparison, and the speech sample is scored using a scoring model based upon the prosodic event metric.

When assessing the proficiency of speakers in reading passages of connected text (e.g., analyzing the speaking ability of a non-native speaker to read aloud scripted (low entropy) text), certain dimensions of the speech are traditionally analyzed. For example, proficiency assessments often measure the reading accuracy of the speaker by considering reading errors on the word level, such as insertions, deletions, or substitutions of words compared to the reference text or script. Other assessments may measure the fluency of the speaker, determining whether the passage is well paced in terms of speaking rate and distribution of pauses and free of disfluencies such as fillers or repetitions. Still other assessments may analyze the pronunciation of the speaker by determining whether the spoken words are pronounced correctly on a segmental level, such as on an individual phone level.
While analyzing these dimensions of speech provides some data for assessing a speaker's ability, these dimensions are unable to provide a complete and accurate appraisal of the speaker's discourse capability.

Computer-implemented systems and methods for evaluating prosodic features of speech


A system for operating parallel reactors includes a plurality of reactor assemblies, each reactor assembly including: a flow-through reactor, a reactor feed line, a reactor effluent line, a primary fluid source, and a flow splitter which is arranged downstream of the primary fluid source and upstream of the reactor assemblies. All passive flow restrictors have an substantially equal resistance to fluid flow. A feed line pressure measurement device and a pressure control arrangement controls backpressure regulators such that the measured feed line pressure becomes substantially the same as a feed line pressure setpoint in the reactor assemblies.

Parallel reactors are widely used in research into chemical reactions, in particular for high throughput experimentation. In high throughput experimentation, a plurality of relatively small scale reactors is arranged in parallel. In each reactor, a different experiment takes place. Usually, conditions and/or reactants are varied slightly over the different reactors. For example all reactors are operated at the same pressure and temperature, but all contain a different reactant. After the experiments are carried out, the results of the experiments are compared with each other, and for example interesting reactants (e.g. catalysts) are identified. Carrying the experiments out in parallel leads to a significant reduction in the time it takes to come up with experimentation results.
Usually, in high throughput experimentation, the reactors are small, as are the amounts of reactants that are used. Often, flow through reactors are used, and the flow rates of the fluid flows are also low. Typical reactor sizes do not exceed 1 cm in diameter, and when for example catalytic activity is tested, typically a few grams of a potential catalyst are present in each reactor. Sometimes even less potential catalyst is used, e.g between 0.005 and 1 gram. Flow rates are usually less then 10 ml/hour for the combined fluid flow from the source to the reactors for liquids, often even 10 μl/hour or less for the liquid flow through a single reactor, and/or less than 150 Nml/minute for gas flow. The typical low flow rate used in high throughput reactions makes controlling the fluid flow through the individual reactors hard.
In order to be able to compare the results of the experiments that are carried out in the different reactors with each other, it is important to accurately control the process conditions of each experiment. Such process conditions include e.g. temperature, pressure and flow rate.
A different use of parallel reactors in chemistry is production of chemical compounds using microreactors. Microreactors are of similar size or slightly larger than the reactors used in high throughput experimentation. When it has been proven that a certain compound can be produced at a small scale, using a micro reactor, a plurality of such micro reactors is arranged in parallel. The compound is then produced in these microreactors, using the same reaction conditions as in the original, single reactor.
One way of controlling the flow rate to the individual reactors is the use of active flow controllers, e.g. needle valves. Active flow controllers are flow controllers that allow the flow rate to be changed during an experiment, for example by adjusting the resistance to fluid flow of the flow controller during the experiment. This is contrary to passive flow controllers such as capillaries that are operated at a constant temperature, which have a fixed resistance to fluid flow.
However, active flow controllers have several disadvantages. Active flow controllers are generally bulky and expensive, which makes them awkward to use in the reactor feed lines of small parallel reactors. Furthermore, in practice it turns out to be hard to accurately control the flow rate of small fluid flows (as are used in high throughput experimentation) using active flow controllers.
Another disadvantage of active flow controllers is that they required repeated calibration, and that during experiments, in particular during experiments that have a long running time, drift in the settings of the active flow controllers often occurs. Also, active flow controllers comprise a flow sensor and flow sensors are sensitive to drift during the course of a long experiment, more than for example pressure sensors.
WO99/64160 discloses a system and method for performing high throughput experiments. In this known system and method, a plurality of parallel flow-through reactors is applied. These reactors are fed with a reaction fluid that comes from a common fluid source. The reaction fluid coming from the common fluid source is distributed over the parallel reactors.
In the reactors, the reactions produce reactor effluent. The reactor effluent from the reactors is collected in a common exit control volume. Sequentially, samples are taken from the reactor effluent of the individual reactors for analysis so the performance of a potential catalyst can be evaluated.
The pressure in the system of WO99/64160 is controlled by controlling the pressure in the common exit control volume.
In the system and method according to WO99/64160, the flow is distributed substantially equally over the reactors. This is achieved by arranging passive flow restrictors upstream or downstream of each reactor. The passive flow restrictors all have the same resistance to fluid flow. Furthermore, the resistance to fluid flow of the passive flow restrictors is by far the highest resistance to fluid flow of all components in the system. This is done because it is not possible to have the same resistance to fluid flow in all other components of the system. For example, the pressure drop over the parallel reactors, and therewith the resistance to fluid flow of the parallel reactors, is likely to vary somewhat from one reactor to another. By giving the passive flow restrictors a resistance to fluid flow that is far higher than the resistance to fluid flow that can be expected in the reactors, the variation in resistance to fluid flow over the different reactors has little effect on the flow distribution.
However, the resistance to fluid flow of a component is directly linked to the pressure drop over the component. This means that in the system and method according to WO99/64160, a large pressure drop over the flow restrictors is required.
For example, if the pressure drop over the restrictors is 10 bar, and the variation in pressure drop over the plurality over reactors is 0.5 bar (=5% of the pressure drop over the restrictors), the deviation from the equal flow distribution will also be about 5%. If the pressure drop over the restrictors is 100 bar, and the variation in pressure drop over the plurality over reactors is 0.5 bar (=0.5% of the pressure drop over the restrictors), the deviation from the equal flow distribution will be about 0.5%. As a deviation of the equal flow distribution of less than 2%, preferably less than 0.5% is generally desired in high throughput experiments or production with microreactors, the prior art teaches the pressure drop over the restrictors should be much higher than the expected pressure drop over the other components in the system, such as the reactors, any filters if present, the tubing of the system.
However, such a high pressure drop over the restrictors can be problematic.
For example, when a certain reaction pressure is desired, the pressure in the common reaction fluid source has to be rather high. Sometimes such a high pressure in the common reaction fluid source is not available or cannot be obtained. Furthermore, in some cases it is not desirable to have a high pressure in the reaction fluid as this may invoke unwanted condensation of gaseous reaction fluid that is fed to the reactor. Furthermore, all components in the system have to be designed such that they can withstand the high pressures in the system. This makes the system complicated and expensive.
In addition, the pressure drop over any reactor could change in the course of an experiment or production run, for example due to formation of solids (e.g. carbon) and/or highly viscous liquids (e.g. heavy tars), and/or leaching of catalyst material which carbon, tar or catalyst material then accumulates for example in the reactor tube, in the frit of a fixed bed in the reactor if such a fixed bed is present, and/or in a filter in or downstream of the reactor. As sometimes the test runs may last for more than a month or even up to six months, this can be expected to occur regularly. If the pressure drop over the restrictors is to be designed as the highest pressure drop in the system, this possible rise in pressure drop over the reactors has to be taken into account as well. This increases the required pressure drop over the restrictors even more.

System and method for operating parallel reactors


A plug (10) for plugging a port (P) in a flow reactor comprises a metal guide (12) having first and second ends (14,16) and a wall (18) surrounding a cylindrical interior volume (20) having an opening (22) at the first end (14); a plug body (40) having a first face (42) and an opposing second face (44) and a side surface (46) and positioned partially within the interior volume (20) with the first face (42) protruding from the opening (22); wherein the plug body (40) comprises a chemically resistant first polymer constituting at least the first face (42) and a thermally resistant second polymer constituting at least the second face (44) and at least a portion of the side surface (46).

To conduct chemical processes employing highly reactive reagents and/or high process or reaction temperatures in flow rather than in batch, it is often desirable to use flow reactors or flow reactor modules formed of highly chemically and thermally resistant materials such as glass, ceramic, and/or glass-ceramic. It is accordingly desirable to have fluid fittings including plugs also with high thermal and chemical resistance. For modular, configurable and/or reconfigurable flow reactors, it is not generally practical to use fluid fittings including plugs also made of hard glass or ceramic materials, as such materials tend to be damaged by scratching or chipping, including by mutual contact. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a removable plug which is highly resistant to thermal and chemical damage, but that also will not damage a glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic surface.


Disclosed are display panel and display device. The display panel includes plurality of pixel repetitive units arranged in array. Each pixel repetitive unit includes two first sub-pixels, two second sub-pixels and four third sub-pixels, and light emitting colors of two first sub-pixels, two second sub-pixels and four third sub-pixels are different. For each pixel repetitive unit, centers of four third sub-pixels constitute first virtual square, one first sub-pixel located inside the first virtual square, and center of the first virtual square doesn't overlap center of one first sub-pixel located inside the first virtual square; and centers of two first sub-pixels and centers of two second sub-pixels constitute first virtual parallelogram, and one third sub-pixel located inside the first virtual parallelogram. The arrangement of the third sub-pixels can reduce display serrated sense of vertical line array and improve display effect of vertical line, thereby improving display effect of display panel.

With the progress and development of science and technology and the improvement of people's standard of living, the display panel has been deeply used in various electronic products. Hence the display panels are manufactured in large quantity, and people have higher and higher requirements for the performance of the display panels.
The display panel includes a plurality of pixel units. The pixel unit includes a plurality of sub-pixels having different light emitting colors. When the display panel displays an image, each sub-pixel in the pixel unit emits light having different brightness, and the light having different brightness is mixed into a desired color visually by human eyes.
However, the display effect cannot be optimized by a pixel arrangement structure of an existing display panel.

WUHAN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A method making a plastic container in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes molding an intermediate container product having a body and a moil integral with the body. The body is of layered construction that includes at least one layer of barrier resin that extends part-way into but not throughout the moil. The upper portion of the moil, in which the barrier material is absent, is removed for recycling as process regrind. The lower portion of the moil is removed to form the container. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of the moil is removed in a laser trimming operation. The lower portion of the moil is removed in the preferred embodiment of the invention by inserting a plug into the open end or mouth of the container, and employing a cutting tool that is positioned by the plug for accurately trimming of the container product with respect to the mouth of the container. The cutting tool preferably is either a pair of shear rollers or a laser cutting tool.

In the fabrication of certain types of containers, particularly wide-mouth containers, it is conventional practice to blow mold an intermediate container product from a preform, and then to remove the upper portion of the intermediate product, referred to as a dome or moil, in a post-molding operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,843 discloses a container manufacturing method of this type, in which the moil is removed by knife blades carried by the blow mold sections. It has also been proposed to fabricate containers of the subject type having a multilayer or laminated sidewall that includes one or more intermediate layers of barrier resin such as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or nylon. U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,043, for example, discloses a process for making a preform for such a container, in which the intermediate barrier layer can be controlled to extend only part-way through the preform and the intermediate container product.
Problems are encountered when making containers of this type. For example, it is difficult to control placement of the edge of the intermediate barrier layer exactly at the moil trim line, so that the barrier layer must be made to extend into the moil to ensure that the barrier layer extends throughout the final container product. This, however, compromises the ability to use the trimmed moil as process regrind inasmuch as it is undesirable to have barrier material in the process regrind. Furthermore, the use of knife blades to trim a multilayer container product is undesirable because the blade can cause delamination at the trim line, and because the knife blade is subject to excessive wear when used in combination with abrasive container layer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,066 discloses the use of a laser for performing the trimming operation, which reduces the delamination and wear problems.
A method making a plastic container in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes molding an intermediate container product having a body and a moil integral with the body. The body is of layered construction that includes at least one layer of barrier resin that extends part-way into but not throughout the moil. The upper portion of the moil, in which the barrier material is absent, is removed for recycling as process regrind. The lower portion of the moil is removed to form the container. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of the moil is removed in a laser trimming operation. The lower portion of the moil is removed in the preferred embodiment of the invention by inserting a plug into the open end or mouth of the container, and employing a cutting tool that is positioned by the plug for accurately trimming the container product with respect to the mouth of the container. The cutting tool preferably is either a pair of shear rollers or a laser cutting tool.


An ear plug has a body member, an insert member and a shaft member. The body member has a central bore and the insert member projects into the central bore. A portion of the shaft member is threaded into the insert member and a portion of the shaft member bears against a portion of the bore. Rotation of the shaft relative to the insert causes an enlarged portion of the shaft to bear against the bore of the body member which is flexible and forces the body member to flex outwardly and to bear against the user's ear canal forming a seal against entry of water into the user's ear.

The prior art related to ear plugs includes the following United States patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,053,995 to Hoey shows a device with a threaded shaft which can be rotated using the projections formed on an inner shaft to expand a hollow body. The hollow body is expanded to create a seal against the ear canal when the device is shortened using a threaded shaft which is attached to the end of the hollow body.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,921 to Nielson et al. shows a balloon-like member which fills the ear canal. The balloon-like member is pressurized slightly above normal atmospheric pressure and a tubular member aids in the insertion of the balloon-like member into the ear. The internal pressure in the balloon-like member creates a seal against the ear canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,864 to Moller shows a flexible member which can be expanded to fit the ear canal by rotation of a nut. The device includes a hollow tube for transmission of sound.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,069 to Laisne et al. shows a plunger which acts to change the diameter of a hollow member to allow insertion and to provide a close fit in the ear canal. The plunger is attached to the end of the hollow member. The plunger serves to elongate the hollow member thereby reducing the diameter for insertion into the ear canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,791 to Visor shows a device in which a threaded insert is rotated and is thereby forced into a cavity in an ear plug resulting in the increase in the diameter of a flexible flange to create a seal in the ear canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,124 B2 and 2004/0211621 A1 to Chaing shows a device which incorporates an integral handle for insertion and removal of the device. The device relies on the flexibility of flange-like members to create a seal.
Despite the various developments in the prior art, there remains a need for an ear
plug with an adjustable shaft which combines ease of use with a high degree of retention in the user's ear with effective sealing against entry of water into the user's ear canal.


A drawer pull-out guide includes at least two guide rails displaceably supported relative to one another, and at least one running carriage having load-transmitting rolling bodies. The running carriage is displaceably supported between the at least two guide rails, and the guide rails, upon a movement of the at least one running carriage, adopt a predefined relative position to one another, provided that no malposition of the guide rails to one another is present. A compensation device compensates for a malposition of the guide rails. The compensation device includes an actuating device to be actuated by one of the guide rails, and the actuating device compensates for the malposition upon an actuation. A switching device is provided for switching the actuating device of the compensation device out of engagement with the guide rail if the predefined relative position of the guide rails to another is present.

The present invention relates to a drawer pull-out guide, comprising at least two guide rails displaceably supported relative to one another, and at least one running carriage having load-transmitting rolling bodies. The running carriage is displaceably supported between the at least two guide rails, and the guide rails, upon a movement of the at least one running carriage, adopt a predefined relative position to one another, provided that no malposition (misalignment) of the guide rails to one another is present. The drawer pull-out guide also comprises a compensation device for compensating for a malposition, deviating from the predefined relative position, of the guide rails to one another, and the compensation device includes an actuating device configured to be actuated by one of the guide rails, and the actuating device compensates for the malposition upon an actuation.
The invention further concerns a drawer comprising at least one drawer pull-out guide of the type to be described.
Malpositions (misalignments) in connection with drawer pull-out guides denote both incorrect rail positions and incorrect positions of the running carriages, which could lead to the drawer staying open during normal use. An incorrect rail position occurs, for example, if the drawer rail deviates from a synchronous movement relative to the displaceable central rail, whereby the relative position of the rails in relation to each other is not correct. In contrast, a malposition of the running carriage denotes incorrect positioning of the running carriage which builds up over an opening and closing movement and which is determined by the built-up difference in relation to the correct initial position. A malposition of the running carriage can build up, in particular, due to slippage or due to elasticity in the rolling or running system during the operating movement. As from a given number of movements, the running carriage can depart so far from its target position that the running carriage hits against an end stop in the rail system, even before the drawer is completely closed. Moreover, drawer pull-out guides are frequently equipped with a retraction device and with a damper for dampening the retraction path of the drawer over the last closing region until reaching the fully closed position. Those dampers, however, reduce the closing dynamics of the drawer in such a way that a malposition, which has occurred during the movement of the drawer, can no longer be compensated due to the lack of kinetic energy. Upon each additional movement, in which the drawer is not completely opened, the drawer remains stopped in an open position due to the malposition. This can be visually disturbing and also involves the danger that the drawer can collide with persons or objects.
EP 1 374 734 A1 discloses a drawer pull-out guide having a compensation device for compensating for a synchronous running error of the guide rails. A compensating lever having two lever arms is arranged on the central rail, a first lever arm being configured to cooperate with the drawer rail and a second lever arm being configured to cooperate with the carcass rail at the end of the closing movement. The compensation device is thereby configured as a non-continuous synchronization, but rather as a so-called pseudo-synchronization or self-adjusting of a depth gap formed between the rear side of the drawer front panel and the front face of the furniture carcass. The compensation device is thereby configured such that the mentioned depth gap is corrected to a certain value upon closing the drawer. A drawback is the fact that the compensation lever cooperates with the drawer rail and with the carcass rail upon each closing movement. Besides disturbing noises, the friction is also increased and the drawer must be moved into the fully closed end position with an increased effort. Due to the occurring friction, the spring force of the retraction device is also to be larger dimensioned, so that the drawer can be reliably retracted into the closed end position.


Disclosed herein is a micromirror array device package having a light blocking area for reducing unexpected light scattering from the surfaces of the posts.

Projection display systems employing spatial light modulators, as well as many other image-reproducing systems, prefer only image-data encoded light to be projected on the viewing screens so as to obtain the desired images or videos of pleasant display quality. Non-image data encoded light, such as ambient light and light scattered from the members of the micromirror array devices can degrade the display quality if projected also on the viewing screen and superpositioned with the image-data encoded light. In particular, such superposition may significantly decrease the contrast ratio of the displayed image.
Contrast ratio is the ratio of luminance between the brightest white that can be produced and the darkest black that can be produced. If a display image has a higher contrast ratio, a viewer will judge it to be sharper than a displayed image with a lower contrast ratio, even if the lower contrast image has substantially more measurable resolution.
Therefore, a method and apparatus for avoiding reduction of the contrast ratio due to unexpected light scattering from the functional members of the micromirror array devices are desired.

Micromirror array devices with light blocking areas


A multilayer coating systems suitable for use as optical interference filters in lighting systems, for example, halogen lamps. Such an optical interference filter contains alternating layers of a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material. The high refractive index material consists of niobia, titania, and incidental impurities and contains either about 25 to less than 50 mol % titania and the balance niobia and incidental impurities, or contains about 60 to about 80 mol % titania and the balance niobia and incidental impurities.

The present invention generally relates to lighting systems and related technologies. More particularly, this invention relates to optical interference filters suitable for use with lighting systems, for example, halogen lamps.
Halogen filament tubes, also referred to as halogen IR (infrared) filament tubes (lamps), are often provided with a coating system on an outer surface of the tube for the purpose of spectrally reflecting IR radiation emitted by a filament within the tube. The coating system, referred to as an optical interference filter or more simply an interference filter, may reflect IR radiation back to the filament, where a portion of the reflected radiation can be absorbed to increase the efficacy of the filament tube, for example, by reducing the electrical power needed to operate the filament tube at a constant filament temperature. The interference filter is typically designed to transmit sufficient visible radiation to promote the lumen output and maintain the color of the light generated by the filament tube.
A nonlimiting example of a halogen filament tube 10 is represented in FIG. 1. The tube 10 includes an envelope (capsule) 12 formed of a light-transmissive material, nonlimiting examples of which are quartz (fused silica) or certain glass materials capable of withstanding high temperatures over extended periods of time. Two leads 14 enter the interior of the envelope 12 at one end of the tube 10, where they are electrically and mechanically attached to opposite ends of a filament 16 within the envelope 12. The filament 16 is typically composed of tungsten, carbon, or another electrically-conductive material. An optical interference filter 18 is indicated as being present as a coating on at least a portion of a surface of the envelope 12, typically the outer surface of the envelope 12.
As noted above, the filter 18 is intended to modify and/or enhance the energy efficiency of the filament tube 10. Suitable materials for the filter 18 typically exhibit the following characteristics: sufficient optical properties to be incorporated into a practical filter design; thermal stability at lamp operating temperatures (for example, 600° C. or higher) in an oxidizing or reducing environment in the envelope 12; chemical stability with the materials of the envelope 12 and other potential layers of the filter 18; and suitable thermal expansion properties in comparison to the materials of the envelope 12 and other potential layers of the filter 18. A known construction for the filter 18 is a multilayer coating system that includes alternating layers of relatively high and low refractive index materials that in combination promote the reflection of IR radiation (generally wavelengths of about 800-2500 nm) while transmitting visible radiation (generally wavelengths of about 400-750 nm). Various different coating compositions have been proposed, many utilizing silica (SiO2) as the lower refractive index material. As the higher refractive index material, various oxide compositions have been proposed, including oxides of hafnium, niobium, tantalum, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, cerium, and compounds thereof, for example, titanium oxide (titania; TiO2) alloyed (complexed) with oxides of zirconium, niobium, tantalum, etc. Two such examples are a high refractive index material containing about 90 mol % titania and about 10 mol % of a mixture of titania and niobia (Nb2O5) reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,636, and a high refractive index material containing about 96-99 mol % titania and about 1-4 mol % niobia reported in WO 2007/0104462. In the binary phase diagram for the titania-niobia system, these levels generally provide for a titania solid solution containing a TiO2.Nb2O5 phase. However, film compositions containing high levels (for example, about 95 mol %) of titania are susceptible to undergoing a phase transformation at the relatively high operating temperatures of a halogen filament tube, and such phase transformations may be catastrophic to an interference filter. Another example reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,636 is a 1:1 molar ratio of titania and niobia that yielded a single stoichiometric phase, TiO2:Nb2O5, also referred to as Nb2TiO7. Finally, WO 99/53526 reports a high refractive index material as containing 20-40 wt % niobia with the balance tantala (Ta2O5), which in molar percentage is about 29-53 mol % niobia. According to the teachings of WO 99/53526, films excessively high in niobia content are at risk of darkening over the life of a halogen lamp and that, to mitigate or abate film darkening, the filament tube may contain an oxidizing environment.
In view of the foregoing, there are limitations and disadvantages associated with existing materials used for optical interference filters of types that can be applied to halogen filament tubes, and there are ongoing efforts to develop improved interference filters for such high temperature applications.

Optical interference filters, and filament tubes and lamps provided therewith


A vehicle inspection system is described. The vehicle inspection system comprises: an inspection device, for performing an inspection on a vehicle to be inspected; a carrier platform, for carrying the vehicle to be inspected; and an unmanned controlled travelling device for moving the carrier platform to pass through a scanning area of the inspection device, so as to perform the inspection on the vehicle to be inspected. In the present disclosure, the vehicle to be inspected is carried by the carrier platform, and the unmanned controlled travelling device is used to move the carrier platform to pass through the scanning area of the inspection device, so that the vehicle to be inspected can be subject to inspection smoothly. There is no driver required to drive through the scanning area in this process, thus avoiding exposure of a driver to a threat of radiation.

With an increasingly tight use of space within a city, conventional garages occupy a large area, and are difficult to adapt to a more compact, and high-traffic occasion. In order to solve this problem, at present there has been a smart parking garage that can realize automatic parking. This smart garage often includes a multistory, three-dimensional garage that is capable of automatically conveying a vehicle of a user to a designated parking position by intelligent control, and conveying the vehicle of the user to a designated return location when the user retrieves the vehicle.
On the other hand, there are two common safety inspection manners of small vehicles at present: one by a driver to directly drive through a safety inspection gate, and the other by a conveyor to drag a small vehicle through a safety inspection gate. Both of these safety inspection manners are present with certain limitations. Among them, the driver driving manner involves radiation protection laws and regulations, and many countries or regions do not allow drivers to be scanned, thus affecting the applicability of such safety inspection manner. Further, the conveyor, although in diversified forms, including one-segment or two-segment, unilateral or bilateral drag, etc., may all involve civil engineering of the conveyor no matter which form is used. Such civil engineering is comparatively complicated, and the entire system presents a poor flexibility.
With the national anti-terrorism and explosion-proof needs, there is also a safety demand for vehicles within a garage as well as the garage itself at present. However, due to their respective limitations, the aforementioned two small vehicle safety inspection manners are difficult to apply directly to the automatic parking inspection of a smart garage, so as to meet the safety requirements of the vehicles within a garage as well as the garage itself.

Vehicle inspection system, method and smart garage


Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating cancer. In particular, the in vivo efficacy of unconjugated anti-TfR antibodies, such as ch128.1, are disclosed herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to anti-transferrin receptor antibodies and their use in the treatment of cancer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple myeloma is a clonal B-cell malignancy that accounts for 10-15% of hematopoietic malignancies and 2% of all cancer deaths in the United States. See Jemal et al. (2010) CA Cancer J Clin 60(5):277-300. Within the past decade the overall survival rate of multiple myeloma has increased dramatically due to the utilization of thalidomide and its derivative lenalidomide, as well as the proteosome inhibitor bortezomib. See Laubach et al. (2010) Med Oncol 27(Suppl 1):S1-S6. Combination therapies of these new drugs with dexamethasone, prednisone, melphalan, or anthracyclines (with or without autologous stem cell transplantation) have improved survival of multiple myeloma patients. See Palumbo et al. (2009) Leukemia 23(3):449-56. However, multiple myeloma remains incurable and novel therapies are still needed. Additionally, there are no FDA-approved antibody-based therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma. A successful antibody-based therapy for other B-cell malignancies is rituximab (Rituxan®), a chimeric IgG1 that targets CD20. See Bello & Sotomayor (2007) Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 233-242. This antibody alone or combined with various forms of chemotherapy is FDA approved for the treatment of B-cell malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Due to the small percentage of multiple myeloma that are CD20+ (13-22%), rituximab is not a common treatment for multiple myeloma. Additionally, only 10% of CD20+ multiple myeloma patients have shown a partial response to rituximab treatment. See Kapoor et al. (2008) Br J Haematol 141(2):135-148. In lymphoma patients where rituximab has significantly increased survival, resistance to treatment continues to be a problem. See Oflazoglu & Audoly (2010) mAbs 2(1):14-19. Therefore, there is still a need for the development of new therapies for the treatment of B-cell malignancies as a whole, and for multiple myeloma in particular.

Unconjugated anti-TfR antibodies and compositions thereof for the treatment of cancer

The Regents of the University of California


Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for supplying increased power to an augmentation device without increasing battery size. For example, the load may be a motor that provides augmentation power to a joint of a prosthetic ankle, and which is generally powered by a battery. A reconfigurable electrical circuit may connect a supercapacitor in series with the battery to boost the power from the battery at times when a pulse of increased power is demanded. For instance, states of one or more switches of the electrical circuit may be changed in order to briefly disconnect the motor from the circuit just prior to a powered plantarflexion phase of a gait cycle of the ankle, and then to reconnect the motor to a reconfigured circuit to provide a power boost. The circuit may also be reconfigured to allow the battery to recharge the supercapacitor during periods of nominal power demand.

Powered augmentation devices may be used to replace a limb or augment its power. Examples of such devices include prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeletons. In a powered augmentation device, power is typically provided by an actuator, which applies force or torque at appropriate times as defined by the biomechanics of the limb being augmented or replaced or by the requirements of a task.
A typical joint in an augmentation device consists of a proximal structure and a distal structure joined by a pivot. The pivot either replaces or coincides with an anatomical joint, and the proximal and distal structures of the augmentation device replace or coincide with the proximal and distal anatomy on either side of the anatomical joint. For example, in an elbow orthosis the pivot would coincide with the elbow joint and the proximal and distal structures of the device would attach to the upper and lower arm of the user. As another example, in an ankle-foot prosthesis, the pivot would replace the ankle joint and the proximal and distal structures of the device would replace all or part of the lower leg and foot. The proximal and distal structures of the augmentation device may comprise multiple parts and may include other pivots or flexible members. Typically, an actuator is disposed between the proximal and distal structures such that it can create a force or torque between them, or cause them to rotate relative to each other at the pivot.
FIG. 1A illustrates one example of a powered augmentation device in the form of an actuated prosthetic ankle. Such joints are typically arranged with an actuator 104 bridging two halves of the joint 106-1, 106-2. The respective halves of the joint 106-1, 106-2 respectively connect to a foot member 102 and a shank member 104. An interface 108 at a top end of the shank member 104 allows the prosthetic ankle to be connected to a corresponding interface fixed to a user's leg.
The actuator 104 of such designs may take the form of a screw (usually a ball screw or lead screw) and a belt or gear transmission connecting the screw to an electric motor, or a hydraulic linear actuator. The driving force (an electric motor for the actuator 104 is an example of a load that requires input electrical power, which is generally supplied by a battery 112 (see FIG. 1B). The amount and timing of the application of the power may be controlled by a controller 110.

Reconfigurable electrical circuit for supplying increased power from a supercapacitor and method for using the same


Disclosed is an arrangement of distribution columns that can be used to discharge the declogging fluid from a filter with automatic declogging or backwashing. A stationary divider is arranged coaxially in a stack of filter elements and has distinct ducts, e.g. embodied by fins, the ducts establishing communication between a rotary distributor and groups of passages in the stack that are in alignment along generator lines of the stack.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filter with automatic backwashing of the type having at least one pair of filter elements that are essentially annular and flat, each having a screen, and that are stacked along an axis. More particularly, the invention relates to the arrangement of means for automatically backwashing said screens.
2. Description of Related Art
The French patent published under the number 2 779 359 describes a filter structure using annular flat filter elements, each having an "internal" face, an "external" face, and a screen. The screen is annular and extends between two concentric circular margins, respectively an inner margin and an outer margin. Radial ribs that are regularly distributed circumferentially and that extend facing one another on opposite sides of the screen between said concentric margins serve to form sectors on the internal face and on the external face. Such filter elements are designed to be assembled against each other in such a manner that their facing internal faces define a space that is compartmented radially by the contacting radial ribs of said internal faces. For each sector, passages are arranged in the inner and outer margins. By stacking a selected number of filter element pairs, a desired filter area is obtained for an intended application. Typically, the fluid for filtering penetrates into the stack via passages situated radially on the inside, passes through the screens, and, once purified, penetrates into the various above-defined spaces to exit via the passages defined radially on the outside. Naturally, the flow of fluid between the screens could be reversed or arranged in some other way.
In that known prior art device, backwashing is used to unclog the filter by making use of the clean fluid that is available under pressure at the outlet from the filter. For example, a distributor is mounted axially inside the stack and is driven in rotation. It has a longitudinal opening suitable for coming into communication with all of the passages defined in the inner margins along a given generator line of the annular stack. The distributor is in communication with an exhaust outlet for the fluid carrying the impurities resulting from backwashing, sector by sector. During rotation of the distributor, the sectors are isolated one after another and no longer receive fluid for cleaning. On the contrary, a fraction of the fluid that has just been cleaned penetrates as a backwash into the isolated sector (which extends over the full height of the stack) and serves to unclog the portions of the screen that are defined by the sectors.
The fluid conveying the impurities that result from the backwashing can be processed by a second filter stage or by a centrifuge system. Periodic purges serve to clear the system of these impurities.
The above-described filter structure requires a rotary distributor that extends axially over the entire length of the stack of filter elements. Its length therefore depends on the size of the filter, which is an obstacle to reducing the cost price of such a filter.
Document FR 2 902 024 proposes another type of rotary distributor by associating each filter element with segments of longitudinal channels adjacent to one of said inner or outer margins and communicating respectively with the passages therein.
The stack of filter elements thus defines a set of parallel distribution columns extending circumferentially side by side along directions that are parallel to the axis of said stack. A rotary backwash distributor is mounted to rotate at one end of the stack so that its opening is periodically and selectively put into communication with each of the distribution columns.
That solution gives satisfaction for filter elements of small size. Nevertheless, as is known, such a filter element includes radial and circumferential ribs molded onto a filter screen. The channel segment needs to be made during the same operation. When making filter elements of large size, it has been found that it is difficult to inject the material constituting these ribs and the associated channel segments.
The invention serves in particular to solve that problem.


A cabinet assembly comprises a cabinet, a main wiring board provided with a control circuit and disposed within the cabinet, switches for controlling the control circuit, and keys for operating the switches, capable of being pushed from outside the cabinet. To eliminate restrictions placed by the keys and a light emitting diode for indicating actions of the control circuit on the design of the cabinet, to simplify the construction of the cabinet assembly and to facilitate cabinet assembly assembling work, the switches and the light emitting element are mounted on the main wiring board, the keys are formed and disposed so that the key top of each key form a portion of the external shape of the cabinet, each key is provided integrally with an actuating rod for operating the corresponding switch, and the light emitted by the light emitting element is transmitted by a light transmitting member to a portion of the wall of the cabinet or to the key top of the pushed key.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cabinet assembly capable of enabling selecting modes of operation of a control circuit formed on a main wiring board disposed therein and adjusting the control circuit by means of external switches.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1 showing a prior art cabinet assembly, the cabinet assembly comprises a cabinet 1, a cathode-ray tube (abbreviated to "CRT") 2 for displaying pictures, a main wiring board 3 provided with a control circuit and disposed in the bottom portion of the cabinet 1, and a wiring board 4 (FIG. 2) disposed in front of the main wiring board 3 within the cabinet 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the wiring board 4 is provided with switches 5 operated by keys 6 for switching and adjusting the control circuit, and a light emitting diode (abbreviated to "LED") 7 for confirming the results of switching operations and adjusting operations.
A lead connector 8 has one end fixed to the wiring board 4 at a position near the switches 5 and the other end connected to the main wiring board 3. The keys 6 are formed integrally with an elastic plate 6A having holes A. The elastic plate 6a is fixed to the inner surface of the cabinet 1 by means of the holes A so that the keys 6 are exposed through an opening 11 formed in the front wall of the cabinet 1.
When adjusting various modes of displaying pictures on the screen of the CRT 2, the key 6 is operated. Then, the elastic plate 6A is moved in the direction of the arrow P and thereby the adjusting switch 5 is operated. Then, a signal is transmitted through the operated adjusting switch 5 and the lead connector 8 to the main wiring board 3 having the control circuit to operate the control circuit, and then a confirmation signal is transmitted through the lead connector 8 to the wiring board 4 to turn on the LED 7.
This prior art cabinet assembly needs the wiring board 4 provided with the switching and adjusting switches 5 additionally, and the wiring board 4 requires additional assembling work for attaching the same to the front wall. of the cabinet 1 so that the keys 6 are exposed through the opening 11, which makes the construction of the cabinet assembly complex, increases assembling work and places restrictions on the design of the cabinet 1.


A thin film transistor array panel includes a source electrode and a drain electrode composed of a Mo alloy layer and a Cu layer, and an alloying element of the Mo alloy layer forms a nitride layer as a diffusion barrier against the Cu layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the Mo alloy layer and the Cu layer, between the Mo alloy layer and the semiconductor layer or in the Mo alloy layer. A method of fabricating a thin film transistor array panel includes forming a data line having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first conductive layer containing a Mo alloy and the second conductive layer containing Cu, and performing a nitrogen treatment so that an alloying element in the first conductive layer forms a nitride layer. The nitrogen treatment can be performed before forming the first conductive layer, after forming the first conductive layer, or during forming the first conductive layer.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film array panel, and in particular, to a thin film transistor array panel for a display device.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a number of pixels arranged in a matrix form and signal lines, which are composed of gate lines and data lines, arranged between the pixels. Typically, each pixel has a pixel electrode, which is to display an image, and a switching transistor. The switching transistor, in response to the magnitude of scanning signals from the gate lines, controls the flow of the data signals from the data line to the pixel electrode.
For the purpose of uniformly driving the LCD panel, uniform supply of the scanning and data signals to the pixels is provided across the panel. Thus, when the size and the resolution of the panel increases, the demand for low resistance signal lines increases. For this reason, Copper, which is a low resistance metal, has been heavily considered for the signal lines. However, the adhesion between the copper and the glass substrate of LCD panel is poor, and copper ions tend to penetrate into the silicon layer of LCD panel. These problems should be solved for a successful application of copper on the LCD panel.


A digital tablet of the type that multiplexes pen position signals has filtering and digitizing circuits arranged in separate channels for each of the signals that is to be multiplexed. The tablet pen is connected to receive an oscillator signal and the signal is picked up at each of the four corners of the tablet and applied to the corresponding channel. The separate channels permit the filters to be made sharper. The disclosure also includes improved circuits for processing the pen position signals.

General Features of a Digital Tablet
Digital tablets are well known, but it will be helpful to review the features and terminology that particularly apply to this invention. The user of a digital tablet positions a device called a "pen" on the tablet surface, and circuits of the tablet provide a pen position signal to an associated data processor. The tablet provides a series of position samples when the user moves the pen across the surface or while the user holds the pen in a fixed position.
The pen signal is an analog signal--the pen coordinates are represented by the amplitude of the pen signal. In the specific tablet that will be described, the pen signals are current analogues that are converted to voltage analogues. The tablet circuits digitize the analog pen position signals and send the digital coordinates to the computer.
It is a general object in this art to provide good resolution at a high sampling rate. Noise in the signal is a principal limitation to resolution and sampling rate, as will be discussed later.

Integrated circuit for digitizer table with dedicated digital signal processor for improved noise immunity

TriTech Microelectronics International Pte Ltd


A towable wheeled vehicle or grain cart for transporting a loose cargo, such as grain, includes a perforated panel in the front and rear walls thereof for observing the status of fill of the cargo and to permit visibility to the rear thereof when the vehicle or grain cart is in transit or is being positioned.

The present invention relates to a wheeled vehicle which is adapted to be towed for transporting a loose cargo and, more particularly, to a grain cart for transporting loose grain or the like.
Grain carts have been widely employed in the agricultural industry for the transport of harvested grains, such as wheat and corn, from the field during harvest. Typically such grain carts are towed behind a combine and, as the grain is separated from its extraneous plant material by the combine, it is discharged into the towed grain cart. Once the grain cart has been filled, it is detached from the combine and attached to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor, which tows the filled grain cart, frequently in major part over public roads or highways, to the location where the grain is to be stored, such as a grain elevator. In the meantime a second grain cart is hitched to the combine to continue to receive the harvested grain, while the filled grain cart is in transit to and from its discharge location.
It is advantageous if the status of fill of the grain cart, particularly toward the completion of fill, can be visually observed by the combine operator to prevent overfilling of the grain cart and spilling of the grain. Storage tanks which have been stationarily mounted directly on and as part of the combine for receiving the harvested grains have included perforated extension walls on the tanks in the past. These perforated extension walls primarily have the purpose of increasing the storage capacity of the combine-mounted tank. However, due to their perforated construction, they also incidentally permitted the combine operator to determine the status of fill of the tank. Such perforated extension walls, however, have not served any purpose to the present inventor's knowledge which assisted the combine operator in the operation or navigation of the combine either in the field or on public highways or roads. In fact, the extension walls frequently must be removed when the combine is to transit a public road due to bridge and other height restrictions.
It is also advantageous if the construction of such grain carts would permit visual viewing through the cart and to its rear by the operator of the towing vehicle when the grain cart is in transit on a public highway or other road or when it is being backed to maneuver it into a desired position. Such visibility permits the operator to determine whether any other vehicles are following or whether any obstructions are present. This is important from the standpoint of safety particularly where the grain cart is to be towed at a relatively slow rate of speed because such grain carts are typically of large and bulky size so as to obstruct visibility to the rear.
One approach in the past has involved the provision of upper panels on the grain cart of solid sheets of transparent plastic materials. The disadvantage of such plastic panels is that over the course of time they become foggy both due to the interaction of solar radiation with the plastic and the abrasion and scratching caused by the grains which are transported. Moreover, such panels are relatively weak structurally and, if their thickness is increased to improve their strength, they become relatively expensive and heavy.
The vehicle of the present invention is inexpensive and both simple in construction and use, overcomes the disadvantages of the aforementioned plastic panels, and permits the visual observation not only of the status of fill of the grain cart, but also visibility to the rear of the grain cart by the operator of a towing vehicle when the grain cart is in transit in traffic or being backed to position it.
In one principal aspect of the present invention, a towable wheeled vehicle for transporting a loose cargo includes a bottom, a pair of spaced side walls, and substantially impervious front and rear walls for containing the cargo, and a towing hitch adjacent the front wall for hitching the vehicle to a personnel-operated towing vehicle. The towable vehicle includes a perforated panel on the front and rear walls having perforations of a size and shape to contain the loose cargo. The perforated panels are positioned at an elevation to permit visibility through and to the rear of the towable vehicle by the operator of the towing vehicle when the towable vehicle is being towed or positioned.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned perforated panel extends substantially across the width of the front wall adjacent its top and the perforated panel of the rear wall is positioned adjacent its top and at substantially the same elevation as the perforated panel of the front wall.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the towable vehicle is a grain cart for transporting loose grain, and the perforations are sized and shaped to contain the loose grain.
In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the perforated panels are formed of a metal mesh.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.


A fault tolerant computer system employing primary tasks and corresponding backup tasks. The system operates to provide fault tolerant operation even where uncontrolled external events may occur whose time of occurrence may affect task performance. For this purpose, external event data is stored for each external event occurring during performance of a primary task which indicates the event type and the relationship between the occurrence of the external event and the occurrence of a predetermined primary task event, such as a memory access operation. This external event data is sent to each respective backup task along with messages transmitted to the respective primary task. In the event a primary task fails, the backup task will replay the failed primary task by processing these transmitted messages while using the transmitted external event data to redeliver each external signal to the backup task at an appropriate time which will assure that the backup task properly recovers the primary task.

This invention relates to improved means and methods for providing fault tolerance in a data processing system.
As computer systems increase in speed, power and complexity, it has become of increasing importance to provide fault tolerance in such systems to prevent the system from "going-down" in the event of hardware and/or software failure. However, providing fault tolerant capabilities in a computer system has proven to be expensive as well as introducing significant performance penalties.
A basic way of achieving fault tolerance in a data processing system is to provide each task (also called a process) with a backup task such that, if the primary task fails, the backup task is automatically able to recover and continue execution. For example, a primary task and its backup task could be provided using a pair of simultaneously executing CPUs (central processing units) intercoupled such that, if one fails, execution continues on the other. It will be appreciated that the need to provide such duplicate hardware is a very expensive way of achieving fault tolerance, particularly since the simultaneously operating duplicate hardware cannot be used to provide additional data processing power.
One known approach for avoiding hardware duplication is to provide a first CPU for the primary task, and a second CPU for the backup task, the backup becoming active to recover and continue execution only if the primary fails. Until then, the backup CPU can do other processing. In order to assure that the backup process can take over in the event the primary process fails, this known approach provides for a checkpointing operation to occur whenever the primary data space changes. This checkpointing operation copies the primary's state and data space to that of the backup so that the backup task will be able to continue execution if the primary task fails. However, the frequent checkpointing required by this approach detrimentally affects performance and also uses up a significant portion of the added computing power.
Another known approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,554. Although this approach also uses checkpointing, it provides the advantage of employing a fault tolerant architecture which significantly reduces the frequency of checkpointing. However, the approach has the disadvantage of requiring a message transmission protocol which is essentially synchronous in that it requires messages to be transmitted to primary and backup processors substantially simultaneously. Also, the disclosed approach in the aforementioned patent has the additional disadvantage of requiring atomic transmission, wherein transmittal of a message by a task is not allowed unless the receiving tasks and all backups indicate they are able to receive the message. Furthermore, no receiving task is allowed to proceed until all receiving tasks and backups have acknowledged receipt of the message. These message transmission protocol requirements introduce constraints that add complexity to the system, as well as having a significant detrimental effect on performance.
Similar approaches to that disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,554 are described in an article by A. Borg, et al., "A Message System Supporting Fault Tolerance," Ninth Symposium on Operating Systems Principles (Breton Woods, N.H., October 1983), Pages 90-99, ACM, New York, 1983, and in an article by A. Borg, et al., "Fault Tolerance Under UNIX," ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, Vol. 7, No. 1, February 1989, pages 1-24.
A significantly improved approach over that disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,554 is described in my aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 07/521,283, which provides a fault tolerant data processing system having the advantages of U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,554, while reducing message transmission restraints. More particularly, the system of Ser. No. 07/521,283 requires neither simultaneity nor atomicity of transmission in order to provide fault tolerant operation, whereby enhanced performance is achieved. This system of Ser. No. 07/521,283 will henceforth be referred to as the Flexible Fault Tolerant System.

Fault tolerant computer system with provision for handling external events


Apparatus and method for indicating mechanical stiffness properties of body tissue employing Doppler imaging techniques. Ultrasonic signals that are transmitted to the target not only are reflected for developing images of the target from the reflections, but, by appropriate selection of the intensity of the transmitted signals, the body tissue being investigated is deformed or moved when the transmitted signals impinge on the target. The deformation or movement of the body tissue being investigated is imaged and is representative of the mechanical stiffness of this body tissue.

The present invention relates, in general, to examining body parts and, in particular, to an apparatus and method by which the mechanical stiffness of body tissue being investigated is determined from ultrasonic transmissions to and reflections from the body tissue.
At the present time, ultrasonic imaging is the second largest medical imaging modality after X-ray imaging. In ultrasonic imaging, images are formed by transmitting high frequency acoustic waves into the body and then appropriately mapping the response of returning echoes as the original acoustic signal propagates into the body. An acoustic echo is generated at each interface within the body, which is characterized by an impedance discontinuity. Typically, an image is obtained by mapping the intensity of the returning echo signals as a function of range and direction of propagation. Movement of the ultrasonic waves within a plane allows one to analyze sequentially tissue responses from a large number of directions. Images developed in this manner are known as B-mode images (i.e., xe2x80x9cbodyxe2x80x9d mode images).
Other ultrasonic imaging techniques are in practice at the present time. Color Doppler mode is one such other technique. Color Doppler mode is a methodology in which the mean Doppler frequency shift imposed upon the returning acoustic echoes by moving target structures, such as the blood, is measured and mapped. The mean Doppler shift is determined by measuring the mean phase rotation or time delay between successive acoustic pulses in a series of pulses known as a packet. Likewise, Power Doppler is a mode in which the intensity of the Doppler signal, rather than the mean frequency shift, is mapped to form an image.
Recently, an imaging mode, known as harmonic imaging, has been introduced. In this method, an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted into the body as with conventional B-mode imaging. Instead of sensing the return of acoustic echoes at the same frequency as the original pulses, filtering techniques are used to sense signals at harmonic frequencies. The intensity of these sensed signals is then mapped in a conventional manner. Because these signals are generated as a function of the non-linear propagation characteristics of the tissue, different anatomical features can be observed; perhaps with better contrast
In a recently published paper entitled xe2x80x9cInvestigation of Real-time Remote Palpation Imagingxe2x80x9d by Nightingale, Soo, Nightingale, Palmeri and Trahey, Proceedings SPIE Medical Imaging 2001, there is described an experiment in which tissue was first insonified with a conventional ultrasonic pulse and the radio frequency signal associated with the returning acoustic echo then was recorded. Next, the tissue was insonified with a continuous (i.e., relatively long) acoustic wave (120-300 W/cm2) that generated a force within the tissue. Then, the displacement of the tissue resulting from this force was measured using a radio frequency cross-correlation technique between the initial ultrasonic pulse and a second ultrasonic pulse. A displacement, from the resultant force, of as much as 30 microns could be observed. Maximum displacements were generally obtained within 5 ms. The tissue displacements correlated well with B-mode image anatomical structures. The amount of displacement and the recovery time can be associated with the stiffness properties of the propagation media.
This displacement phenomenon can be explained in terms of the physics of wave propagation. When a wave travels in a medium, be it an acoustic wave or an electromagnetic wave, it carries with it not only energy (E) but also momentum (P). As the acoustic wave propagates into tissue, however, energy is absorbed due to inelastic transport processes. Associated with this energy loss is a commensurate change in momentum. Momentum changes also can occur when energy is reflected from acoustic interfaces. This may be an elastic process.
From Newton""s Laws, this momentum change imposes a force on the differential tissue volume in the path of propagation (dP/dt=F). This force, in turn, causes the infinitesimal tissue volume to move, F=massxc3x97acceleration. The extent of the movement is a function of the stiffness of the material as well as the local absorption.
In its simplest form, the present invention may employ algorithms and hardware similar to those that have been used previously in Doppler imaging to display images of the movement of body parts. In the present invention, the ultrasonic signals that are transmitted to the target not only are reflected for developing images of the target from the reflections, but, by appropriate selection of the intensity of the transmitted signals, the body tissue being investigated is deformed or moved when the transmitted signals impinge on the target to measure the displacement due to ultrasonic wave propagation. The deformation or movement of the body tissue being investigated is imaged and is representative of the mechanical stiffness of this body tissue.
Apparatus for indicating mechanical stiffness properties of body tissue, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes transmitter means for transmitting to a target in a body (a) a first ultrasonic pulse having a first acoustic intensity sufficient to deform the target, and (b) subsequently a second ultrasonic pulse having a second acoustic intensity, different from the acoustic the intensity of the first ultrasonic pulse, sufficient to deform the target. This apparatus also includes receiver means for receiving (a) a reflection from the target of the first ultrasonic pulse and developing a first signal representative of the position after deformation of the target caused by the first ultrasonic pulse, and (b) subsequently a reflection from the target of the second ultrasonic pulse and developing a second signal representative of the position after deformation of the target caused by the second ultrasonic pulse. This apparatus further includes indicating means responsive to the first signal and the second signal for indicating the change of deformation of the target caused by the second ultrasonic pulse relative to the deformation of the target caused by the first ultrasonic pulse.
A method for indicating mechanical stiffness properties of body tissue according to the present invention includes the steps of transmitting to a target in a body a first ultrasonic pulse having a first acoustic intensity sufficient to deform the target, receiving a first reflection from the target of the first ultrasonic pulse, transmitting a second ultrasonic pulse having a second acoustic intensity, different from the acoustic the intensity of the first ultrasonic pulse, sufficient to deform the target, and receiving a second reflection from the target of the second ultrasonic pulse. This method also includes the steps of developing from the first reflection a first indication of deformation of the target caused by the first ultrasonic pulse, developing from the second reflection a second indication of deformation of the target caused by the second ultrasonic pulse, and developing from the first deformation indication and the second deformation indication an indication of the deformation of the target caused by the second ultrasonic pulse relative to the deformation of the target caused by the first ultrasonic pulse.
It is to be understood that the foregoing general description of the present invention and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary, but are not restrictive of the invention.


A tablet supply apparatus including a main body having a case accommodating unit at the upper portion thereof, plural tablet cases provided in the case accommodating unit, each of the tablet cases having tablets accommodated therein, a hopper provided at the lower side of the tablet case in the main body, a nozzle for filling tablets received by the hopper into a container, the nozzle comprising a passage through which tables drop, a shutter which is freely opened and closed so as to allow or prohibit passage of dropping tablets through the nozzle, and a sensor for detecting passage of the tablets dropping through the passage at an upper side of the shutter. Furthermore, a tablet feeder for adding deficient tablets to the hopper comprises plural cells for accommodating tablets and an endless belt on which the cells are arranged on a line side by side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tablet supply apparatus having a function of filling tablets into a container such as a bag, a bin or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been hitherto known a tablet supply apparatus in that a plurality of tablet cases accommodated according to category (kind) are provided, predetermined kinds of tablets are taken out from tablet cases on the basis of input prescription data into a hopper, the collected tablets are filled from the hopper into a container such as a bag, a bin or the like and a container in which desired kinds of tablets are filled is automatically prepared. As one of the above type tablet supply apparatuses has been proposed a tablet supply apparatus having a tablet feeder for adding the tablet supply apparatus with a tablet which has not yet been set in any table case when it is required to fill a container with the tablet concerned (for example, see JP-A-2004-203433). According to these tablet supply apparatuses, tablets can be automatically continuously filled in several tens containers. Furthermore, when tablets are added to the tablet supply apparatus through the tablet feeder, an operator draws out the tablet feeder from the main body of the tablet feeder and then to the front side of the main body of the tablet supply apparatus, the tablets to be added are put into a predetermined plate of the tablet feeder, and the tablet feeder is accommodated into the tablet supply apparatus again, whereby new tablets are added.
When many tablets are continuously filled in containers by using the tablet supply apparatus described above, it takes a long time to fill the tablets in some cases, and thus it has been required to shorten the filling time of tablets. Furthermore, it is necessary to drawn out the tablet feeder to the front side of the main body when tablets are put into the tablet feeder. Therefore, when a tablet supply apparatus is installed, it is required to prepare for an installation place in which a location space for the tablet feeder drawn out to the front side of the tablet supply apparatus is surely ensured on the assumption that the tablet feed is drawn out to the front side of the tablet supply apparatus, and thus it has been difficult to install a tablet supply apparatus.


An air conditioning seat including: two air outlets configured to distribute air distributed from an interior of the seat to an exterior of the seat, wherein the two air outlets are configured to receive supply of air from different air distribution paths and distribute air of different temperatures or humidity.

There has been known a so-called air conditioning seat which has an air blowing function for improving comfort of a seated person by distributing air distributed from an interior of the seat from a seat surface (see JP-A-2006-102193). Specifically, there has been known an air conditioning seat in which a plurality of air outlets are provided on the seat surface, and the air is blown out from each of the air outlets towards the seated person.
In the above technology, since only the same type of air is blown out from any of the air outlets, it is not possible to distribute comfortable air which is different to each part of a body of the seated person.


A belt drive system for a mechanical cleaning device that require counter-rotating brushes and/or scrubbers, comprising two belts 42 and 44, a drive shaft 36, a pulley 32, and two rotary brushes 22 and 24. The first belt 44 engages drive shaft 36 and rotary brush 24 by friction contact and transfers rotary power from shaft 36 to rotary brush 24 through the rotation of belt 44. The second belt 42 engages pulley 32 and rotary brush 22 by friction contact so that they turn together. Pulley 32 is positioned relative drive shaft 36 so that the exterior surface of first belt 44 engages the exterior surface of second belt 42 by friction contact. Rotary power is thereby transferred from belt 44 to belt 42 by this friction contact between the two belts. Because the exterior of two belts 42 and 44 are in friction contact they must the must rotate in opposite directions and thereby drive rotary brushes 22 and 24 in opposite directions, respectfully.

Cleaning devices that use dual agitator (brushes) for cleaning have been around for some time. Such devices have been used in vacuum cleaners, shampooers, floor scrubbers and more. In each case, the use of two or more rotary brushes rotating in opposite directions are used to clean surfaces. However, the transmission needed to provide counter-rotating agitators has been complex due to the opposite rotation of the brushes. Gears and other complex gear/belt systems have been tried with limited success. For systems where the rotary agitators (or rotary brushes) are positioned a considerable distance away from each other, a simple and durable answer was not found in the prior art.
The disclosed dual-rotor drive system provides counter-rotating brushes using a simple, durable, light-weight and compact belt drive system.