A time synchronization system includes a master and slave devices connected to each other via a data bus and a signal line dedicated to transmission of a fixed-period signal. The master device transmits the fixed-period signal through the signal line regularly at a transmission period, and transmits start time information indicating a transmission start time at which transmission of the fixed-period signal is started and transmission period information indicating the transmission period for the fixed-period signal through the data bus. The slave device counts a number of times the fixed-period signal is received and calculates, as a current time in the master device, a transmission time at which the master device transmits the fixed-period signal based on the number of times the fixed-period signal is received. The slave device corrects the time to the calculated current time in the master device.

Techniques have been developed for synchronizing multiple devices associated with each other, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), each including, for example, a built-in clock. Such techniques use synchronization that typically involves determining a master device that manages reference time among multiple devices, and setting the time in slave devices, or devices other than the master device, to the time in the master device based on time information transmitted by the master device to the slave devices.
Patent Literature 1 describes a time setting technique. The technique involves forming a dedicated signal line between a station including a master clock and a station including a slave clock, transmitting, with the station including a master clock, a time synchronizing pulse signal through the dedicated signal line in predetermined periods, transmitting time information at a time point of transmitting the time synchronizing pulse signal through a network, and setting time with the station including a slave clock based on the time synchronizing pulse signal and the time information.

Time synchronization system, master device, slave device, and program


Provided is a communication device which transmits a signal by setting appropriate transmission power under the situation that the communication device moves.

A communication system, which performs communication between mobile communication devices without passing through a base station, such as communication between the cars, is known. In this communication system, when the communication device moves, a communication partner may leave from a communication area or a number of communication partners may decrease. Also, in an area where a plurality of communication devices concentrate, the number of partners of communication within the communication area may become very large. Moreover, these situations temporally fluctuate. In particular, in the area where the communication devices are concentrated, wireless communication is crowded and congestion of communication occurs, and a throughput declines.
Patent document 1 discloses a wireless communication device and a transmission power control method for selecting one among respective pieces of ID information of a plurality of in-vehicle communication devices received from a plurality of surrounding in-vehicle communication devices, acquiring a transmission power setting value and a receiving power measured value corresponding to the ID information, and determining a transmission power setting value for the next time with reference to a predetermined table. Data on the table may be deleted if there is no update for a scheduled time. In this related art, a communication possible area is adjusted by control of the transmission power. That is, the number of communication devices within the communication area is limited. As a result, a radio link with a surrounding communication device is secured. Also, the occurrence of congestion of communication is suppressed, and the decline in the throughput is reduced.
Patent document 2 discloses a communication terminal and a data communication method for determining a transmission condition of the transmission radio wave transmitted to other communication terminals based on running environment information at a current spot of a vehicle and on running speed information representing running speed of the vehicle. Further, the communication terminal disclosed in the patent document 2 transmits the running environment information and the running speed information to a fixedly installed information processing apparatus, and makes the information processing apparatus determine the transmission condition of the transmission radio wave transmitted to other communication terminals.

Mobile communication device, communication system, communication control method and communication control program

Abstract: The mobile communication device includes transmitting and receiving means for receiving a first signal transmitted from other mobile communication device; control means for holding first circumference information including transmission power setting information of the first signal, time information including receiving time when the transmitting and receiving means receives the first signal, and receiving power information of the first signal in the transmitting and receiving means, and deleting the first circumference information in a case where a predetermined period has passed from the receiving time; and transmission power control means for generating transmission power setting information of a second signal and outputting to the transmitting and receiving means, and providing a predetermined value to the transmission power setting information of the second signal in a case where the first circumference information is deleted.


A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine can effectively suppress the rotational fluctuation of the engine by properly controlling the operating state of a rotating electrical machine without applying an excessive load to a power supply system connected to the rotating electrical machine. The rotating electrical machine is used for both electric operation and electric power generation, and is connected to the engine. A control circuit controls at least one of a field current and an armature current of the rotating electrical machine. A power supply system is connected to the rotating electrical machine. A rotational fluctuation suppression section (ECU) suppresses the rotational fluctuation of the engine by controlling an amount of electric power and generated torque of the rotating electrical machine in accordance with an electric power load of the vehicle, an amount of electric power of the power supply system, and the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a internal combustion engine installed on a vehicle, and in particular, to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which the stability of the operating state of the internal combustion engine is improved by controlling a rotating electrical machine connected to the internal combustion engine for both electric driving and electric power generation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a control apparatus which serves to suppress the variation of the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine by using a rotating electrical machine connected to the internal combustion engine installed on a vehicle for electric driving as well as electric power generation.
In general, the conventional control apparatus for an internal combustion engine controls the generated torque of the rotating electrical machine so as to counteract the rotational fluctuation of the internal combustion engine by switching the operating state of the rotating electrical machine between an electrically operating or driving state and a power generation state (see, for example, a first patent document: Japanese patent No. 2617936).
In the conventional apparatus as described in the above-mentioned first patent document, in order to suppress the rotational fluctuation of the internal combustion engine (i.e., to suppress the generated torque), the operating state of the internal combustion engine is switched between the electrically operating state and the power generation state thereby to generate torque pulsating in a direction opposite to that of the rotational fluctuation of the internal combustion engine.
At this time, the average value of the output of the rotating electrical machine becomes an amount of electric power generation for supplying an amount of output corresponding to the amount of load of the vehicle. Here, note that a power supply system (e.g., a battery, a capacitor, etc.) is connected to the rotating electrical machine.
In the conventional control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, no consideration is given to the charged state of the power supply system connected to the rotating electrical machine, so in case where the charged state of the power supply system is a full charged state, the power supply system becomes an overcharged state when the amount of electric power generation of the rotating electrical machine becomes larger than the electric power load of the vehicle, as a result of which there is a problem of causing adverse influences such as a reduction in service life, etc., to the power supply system.

Control apparatus for internal combustion engine


An optically active 2-hydroxy acid derivative is produced by treating a 2-oxo acid derivative with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing said 2-oxo acid derivative into an optically active (R)- or (S)-2-hydroxy acid derivative represented by the formula (II) and recovering the optically active (R)- or (S)-hydroxy acid derivative thus formed. Optically active 2-hydroxy acid derivatives are important intermediates in the synthesis of various drugs such as a remedy for hypertension.

Known methods for the production of optically active ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate, which is one of 2-hydroxy acid derivatives represented by the formula (II), include chemical and asymmetric reduction of (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid (cf. Eur. Pat. EP 206993) and chemical synthesis comprising synthesizing (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid from benzylmagnesium chloride and optically active glycidic acid followed by ethyl-esterification (cf. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 212329/1987).
However the former method comprising the asymmetric chemical reduction cannot give a satisfactory optical purity of the product, while the latter one comprising the chemical synthesis is disadvantageous in that optically active serine, which is the starting material for the optically active glycidic acid, is expensive for industrial uses.
Furthermore, no process for the production of an optically active 2-hydroxy acid derivative represented by the formula (II) from a 2-oxo acid derivative represented by the formula (I) by taking advantage of the capability of asymmetric reduction of a microorganism has been reported so far.

Process for the production of optically active 2-hydroxy acid esters using microbes to reduce the 2-oxo precursor


A mounting frame adapted to mount an I/O device to a compactPCI-based computer includes an outer case member and an inner case member fixed together to define therebetween an interior space for accommodating and retaining the I/O device therein so as to form a modularized I/O system. The I/O module that is formed by fixing the I/O device between the inner case member and the outer case member is secured to the computer casing by means of a suitable device and electrically connected to an interface card arranged in the computer to define an easy-to-replace and easy-to-install modularized structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mounting frame for an input/output (I/O) device, and more particularly to a mounting frame for mounting the input/output device to a CompactPCI-based industrial computer, CompactPCI being a registered trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Besides the desktop-sized and notebook-sized personal computers that have been widely used in homes, schools and offices, the so-called industrial computers have also been widely used in the industry. Due to the severe environment that may be encountered in the industry, the industrial computers are designed to be more durable and more protected against the poor environment. In addition, the industrial computer also needs a more compact design. In other words, the industrial computer takes a smaller space. Currently, there are different specifications and standards for the industrial computers among which the so-called "CompactPCI" specifies a PCI-based computer system that is compatible with interface cards of PCI (peripheral component interconnect) specification, such as analog-to-digital converter card, digital control card, timer or counter, and relay control cards.
Due to the trend that the development of both the computer hardware and software are being in a graphics-based fashion to provide a more user-friendly computer environment and to help the user to operate the computer, the display device or I/O device of the computer system has to have the capability to display graphically in order to provide graphic output. Most industrial computer systems, however, are not equipped with built-in display or I/O device that is capable of displaying graphically or to provide graphic input/output function. Thus, an external graphics-based I/O device is needed in performing a graphic-fashioned I/O operation, such as a mouse or a touch pad. It is, however, sometimes not possible for an industrial computer to be connected with an external I/O device, due to the physical limitations imposed by the environment where the computer is located. Furthermore, externally connecting an I/O device to the computer may also be very inconvenient and the portability of the industrial computer may be lost.
On the other hand, some of the industrial computer systems and/or related electronic equipment have a built-in display device or I/O device, yet such a built-in display device or I/O device is usually of a proprietary construction which is difficult in maintenance and repairing. Sometimes in case of damage of parts of the device, due to the proprietary construction, the device may even need to be completely replaced. Furthermore, such a proprietary construction also has problems in upgrading the capability of the device, such as to upgrade the resolution, brightness and/or color of the display in order to meet a more severe requirement.
Thus, it is desirable to a provide a mounting structure for mounting an I/O device to a CompactPCI-based industrial computer and in particular a mounting structure for mounting an I/O device, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) and touch pad, to an industrial computer of the CompactPCI specification, so as to solve the problems discussed above.

Mounting frame for mounting input/output device to conpactPCI-based computer


A turbine blade is secured with a turbine disk by a retention assembly. The turbine blade includes a blade stem and the disk includes at least one mount post for mounting of the turbine blade. The retention assembly is secured with the disk by forming a diffusion joint with the disk.

The present disclosure relates generally to component for turbomachinery, and more specifically to high temperature components for turbomachinery such as gas turbine engines.
Gas turbine engines are used to power aircraft, watercraft, power generators, and the like. Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses air drawn into the engine and delivers high pressure air to the combustor. In the combustor, fuel is mixed with the high pressure air and is ignited. Products of the combustion reaction in the combustor are directed into the turbine where work is extracted to drive the compressor and, sometimes, an output shaft. Left-over products of the combustion are exhausted out of the turbine and may provide thrust in some applications.
To withstand heat from the combustion products received from the combustor, the turbine may include blades made from ceramic-matrix composite materials that are able to interact with the hot combustion products. In some turbine wheels, the blades may be coupled to a disk that supports the blades in a gas path leading out of the combustor. Coupling of the blades made from ceramic-matrix composite materials with disks, for example, metallic disks, can present design challenges.

Blisk bonded CMC airfoil having attachment

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.


Among other things, techniques are described for provisioning and authentication of devices in vehicles. In one aspect, a device in a vehicle establishes a communication session with a network server that manages provisioning of devices corresponding to an enterprise associated with the vehicle. The device receives instructions from the network server to generate cryptographic keys, and in response, generates a public and private key pair. The device sends, to the network server, a certificate signing request that includes the public key and an identifier of the device. In response, the device receives a digital security certificate for the device, and a security certificate of a signing certificate authority. The device authenticates the security certificate of the certificate authority using a known enterprise root certificate, and upon successful authentication, stores the device security certificate and the security certificate of the signing certificate authority.

Autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles include various electronic components to facilitate operations of the vehicles, e.g., sensors to gather information about the surrounding environment, processors to process the sensor information to control steering or braking, or both, among others. The various electronic components exchange information among themselves, or with external remote servers, using message exchanges.


Exclusion functionality for License Assisted Access, LAA, in LTE is defined. LAA exclusion is a temporary deactivation or throttling of scheduling on LAA Secondary Cells (SCells), which allows a requesting UE (11) to periodically, or upon demand, send data or perform measurements on Wi-Fi networks using the same receiver circuitry (18), e.g., radio front end, without risk of losing LAA traffic. A UE sends an exclusion request to its serving base station, eNB (31) and receives an acknowledgement. The UE (11) may include parameters, e.g., duration or periodicity, in the request, and the acknowledgement may include overriding parameters. By the introduction of the exclusion functionality, the UE (11) can share receiver circuitry (18) between Wi-Fi and LAA, hence reducing hardware device size, cost, and power consumption.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a sophisticated, 4th generation wireless communication network protocol promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The primary LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) is the Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial RAN, or E-UTRAN. License Assisted Access (LAA) is a technology adopted by 3GPP to standardize operation of the LTE protocol in unlicensed spectrum, such as the 5 GHz band populated by Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) such as those conforming to the IEEE 802.11x protocols, commonly known as "Wi-Fi." It is anticipated that future radio network devices, known as User Equipment (UE) in LTE, will operate in both types of networks. As used herein, the term "UE" refers to any radio network device operative in the LTE network, whether or not it has a "user," e.g., including Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) devices, laptop or tablet computers, and the like.
Current Wi-Fi enabled devices usually probe Wi-Fi frequencies with a periodicity—e.g., approximately once per second—to find suitable Access Points (AP), such as Wi-Fi cells, for mobility and/or multipath data traffic, such as utilizing Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (Multipath TCP). Currently, neither 3GPP nor IEEE 802.11x specifications provide for measurements of, or access to, the other domain. Since the UE must remain connected to the LTE network and respond to any signaling directed to it, current Wi-Fi enabled UEs require two separate radio "front ends." As used herein, a radio front end is a portion of the device's receiver circuitry (which may include, e.g., antennas, RF filters, low-noise amplifiers, and the like) upstream of the radio modem circuits. One radio front end is required for LTE communications and another for the WLAN measurements and connectivity, as depicted in FIG. 1. This requirement of dual radio front ends increases the size, cost, and complexity of the UE, and increases its power consumption, in turn decreasing the useful life between battery recharges.
The Background section of this document is provided to place embodiments of the present invention in technological and operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in understanding their scope and utility. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by its inclusion in the Background section.

Exclusion of cellular scheduling to allow sharing of resources between cellular and non-cellular radio access technologies


A method for forming a fishing-hook-retention system is disclosed. The method may include molding a sheet of silicone rubber to include at least one indentation. The at least one indentation may extend at least partially through a thickness of the sheet of silicone rubber. After the molding, at least one slit may be cut into the sheet of silicone rubber. The at least one slit may have one end terminating in the at least one indentation. Thereafter, the sheet of silicone rubber may be used to retain and storing one or more fishing hooks. This may be accomplished by placing at least a portion of a fishing hook within the at least one slit. The sheet silicone rubber may therefore grip the fishing hook and prevent it from falling out of the at least one slit.

Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to fishing products and more particularly to systems and methods for retaining and storing fishing lures, fishing hooks, and artificial fishing flies.
Background of the Invention
In the past, fishing tackle in the form of fishing lures, hooks, and artificial flies have often been stored in various compartments of a box. Such tackle has also been stored by inserting hooks into foam contained within a box. Both these approaches have significant drawbacks. For example, when multiple lures, hooks, or flies are stored in the same compartment, they will inevitably become entangled. Accordingly, before any lure, hook, or fly so stored may be used, it must be disentangled from the other tackle with which it has been stored. While inserting hooks in foam does help to keep lures, hooks, or flies separate, it has other problems. For example, with use, foam becomes compacted and loses the ability to resiliently return to its original shape. Accordingly, the ability of the foam to support or hold tackle degrades with time. In view of these drawbacks in current systems, what is needed are new systems and method for retaining and storing fishing tackle.


A novel protein delivery system to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is described. The delivery system comprises a construct with a receptor binding domain that recognizes a receptor in a somatic cell, a translocation domain that allows the transfer of an inducer into the cytosolic space, and a cargo bearing domain to which the inducer is attached and facilitates transfer of the inducer into the cell.

In the past, pluripotent stem cells have been generated by means of nuclear transplant and cell fusion (Shinya Yamanaka, Pluripotency and Nuclear Reprogramming, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 363(1500): 2079-2087 (Jun. 27, 2008)). Both methods require embryonic stem cells, which pose ethical dilemmas for both research and therapeutic use. This issue is overcome by the recently discovered induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which share the same attractive biological properties of embryonic stem (ES) cells (Yamanaka, A Fresh Look at iPS Cells. Cell 137:13-17 (S. 2009)).
Induced pluripotent stem cells were first produced from mouse fibroblasts in 2006 (Takahashi, Y. and S. Yamanaka, Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors, Cell 126: 663-676 (2006)) and human fibroblasts in 2007 (Yu Junying, et al., Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Somatic Cells, Science 318: 1917-1920 (2007), Takahashi, K., et al. Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells From Adult Human Fibroblasts by Defined Factors, Cell 131: 861-872 (2007)) by forcing the expression of defined factors. Two sets of factors have been used to trigger the reprogramming of adult somatic cells to iPS cells in these studies: one includes Oct-3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (Takahashi, Cell 126: 663-676; Takahashi, Cell 131:861-872); and the other includes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 (Junying, Cell 318:1917-1920). The reprogramming efficiency of these defined factors can be increased 10-fold by knocking down p53 activity.
In 2008, Melton's group demonstrated that by delivering a specific combination of three transcription factors, Ngn3 (also known as Neurog3), Pdxl, and Mafa, the differentiated pancreatic exocrine cells in adult mice were re-programmed into cells that closely resemble β-cells (Zhou, Q. et al., In Vivo Reprogramming of Adult Pancreatic Exocrine Cells to β-cells, Nature 455: 627-633 (2008)). The induced β-cells are morphologically indistinguishable from endogenous islet β-cells; they express genes essential for β-cell function and can ameliorate hyperglycemia by remodeling local vasculature and secreting insulin. This study suggests that adult somatic cells can be re-programmed to tissue specific cells directly by a specific combination of transcription factors without reversion to a pluripotent stem cell state.
The potential of iPS cells is enormous. However, the clinical application of iPS cells faces many obstacles (Yamanaka, Cell 137: 13-17; Miura, K. et al., Variation in the Safety of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines, Nature Biotechnology 27(8):743-745 (2009); Carpenter, M. et al., Developing Safe Therapies From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells, Nature Biotechnology 27: 606-613 (2009)). One major hurdle is directly related to the delivery vehicle for the reprogramming factors. Initially, the re-programming factor genes were introduced into somatic fibroblast by retro or lentiviral vectors (Takahashi, Cell 126: 663-676; Junying, Cell 318:1917-1920; Takahashi, Cell 131:861-8723-5). The process of re-programming through retro or lentiviral vectors had an efficiency of only ˜0.05% (Okita, K. et al., Generation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Without Viral Vectors, Science 322: 949-953; Yamanaka, S. Elite and Stochastic Models for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation, Nature 460: 49-52 (2009)).
Insertional activation of an oncogene is always a great concern of using retro or lentiviral vectors since these vectors randomly integrate into the host's genome. Although transgenes are largely silenced in iPS cells, reactivation of c-myc transgene could lead to tumorigenesis (Okita, K., et al., Generation of Germline-Competent Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Nature 448: 313-318 (2007)). Leaky expression of these transgenes may also inhibit complete iPS cell differentiation and maturation, leading to a greater risk of teratoma formation (Yamanaka, Cell 137:13-17). In addition, the transgenes could be re-activated and expressed in cells that are re-differentiated from the iPS cells, leading to a risk of re-programming differentiation status of iPS cells or tumor formation.
A non-integrating viral vector such as an adenoviral vector was later used to deliver these re-programming factor genes (Zhou, Nature 455: 627-633; Stadtfeld, M. et al., Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated Without Viral Integration, Science 322: 945-949 (2008)). However, large amounts of adenoviral vectors, which may cause cytopathic effect on cells, are required for effective transduction into cell types that lack the adenovirus receptor CAR. In addition, low level expression of some adenoviral genes may affect the transduced cells if a "non-gutless" adenoviral vector is chosen as a delivery vehicle.
Re-programming can also be accomplished via direct plasmid transfection (Okita, Science 322: 949-953; Yu, J. et al. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences, Science 324: 797-801 (2009)), but it is more than 100-fold less efficient than that of a retroviral vector (Okita, Science 322: 949-953). Both adenoviral vector transduction and plasmid transfection may not exclude stable integration. The integration frequencies of adenoviral vectors are ˜10−3 to 10−5 per cell (Harui, A. et al., Frequency and Stability of Chromosomal Integration of Adenovirus Vectors, J. Virology 73: 6141-6146 (1999)).
A comparison of methods to generate pluripotent stem cells is shown in table 1.
TABLE 1Pros and Cons of three methods to create pluripotent stem cellsUse ofApplication human to humanImmuno-ChromosomeembryocellsrejectionabnormalityNuclear transferYesunknownYesnormalES cell fusionYesYesYestetraploidiPS CellsNoYesNovector insertion(oncogene deregulation)ES, embryonic stem cell; iPS, induced pluripotent stem cells.In 1998, Frankel and Green independently observed that HIV-1 Tat protein can penetrate cells in a receptor-independent fashion (Frankel, A. and C. Pabo, Cellular Uptake of the Tat Protein from Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Cell 55: 1189-1193 (1988); Green, M. and P. Loewenstein, Autonomous Functional Domains of Chemically Synthesized Human Immunodeficiency Virus Tat Trans-Activator Protein, Cell 55:1179-1188 (1988)). The Tat protein transduction domain (PTD) that contains the short basic arginine-rich region (aa 48-57) of HIV-1 Tat is widely used to deliver variety of molecules including peptides both in vitro and in vivo (Schwarze, S. R. et al., In Vivo Protein Transduction: Delivery of a Biologically Active Protein Into Mouse, Science 285: 1569-1572 (1999); Lindsay, M. A. Peptide-Mediated Cell Delivery: Application in Protein Target Validation, Current Opinion in Pharmacology 2:587-594 (2002); Kwon, Y. D., et al., Cellular Manipulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Tat-Pdxl Protein Transduction, Molecular Therapy 12: 28-32 (2005); Kim, D., Generation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells by Direct Delivery of Reprogramming Proteins, Cell Stem Cell 4: 472-476 (2009); Wadia, J. S. et al., Transducible Tat-HA Fusogenic Peptide Enhances Escape of Tat-Fusion Protein After Lipid Raft Macropinocytosis, Nature Medicine 10:310-315 (2009); Zhou, H. et al., Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Recombinant Proteins, Cell Stem Cell 4: 381-384.19-24 (2009)). This method to deliver molecules by a protein-based vehicle is called protein transduction. Binding of Tat-PTD to cell surface through ionic interaction leads to the internalization of Tat-fusion proteins by lipid raft-dependent macropinocytosis (Wadia, J. S., 20 Nature Medicine 10:310-315). The majority of the Tat-fusion protein, however, remains trapped in macropinosomes, indicating that the escape of peptides or proteins from macropinosomes is an inefficient process (Wadia, J. S., Nature Medicine 10:310-315). Recently, poly-arginine (11R or 9R) PTD fused to C-terminus of the 4 re-programming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and C-Myc) successfully re-programmed mouse embryonic fibroblast (Zhou, H. et al., Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells using Recombinant Proteins, Cell Stem Cell 4: 381-384 (2009)) and human newborn fibroblast (Kim, D., Cell Stem Cell 4: 472-476) cells to iPS cells but with very low efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protein delivery system to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells or tissue-specific cells


A modular perforating gun system for use in perforating a well. The system comprises a lower perforating gun module or section which may be supported in a variety of ways adjacent to a well formation to be perforated. The system further comprises at least one additional perforating gun module or section which is positioned above the lower perforating gun module. After firing, any number of the perforating gun modules may be individually retrieved from the wellbore without killing the well and subsequently replaced as necessary.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for perforating wells, and more particularly, to a modular gun system and method of use utilizing a plurality of perforating guns which may be individually positioned in a wellbore and individually removed therefrom.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
In the past, tubing conveyed perforating systems for use in completing wells have been conveyed into the wells on a tubing or pipe string with the string left in position in the well during the perforating of the well. After perforating of the well, the perforating guns may have disintegrated or may be retrieved, or may be released or dropped from the tubing or pipe string through the use of various techniques.
More recently, an automatically releasing gun hanger has been proposed as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,213 to George et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The George et al. `213 patent describes an automatically releasing gun hanger which is run into the well on a rigid tubing string or pipe string. The gun hanger is set within the well by a rotating motion of the rigid tubing string or pipe string. The rigid tubing string or pipe string is then disconnected from the guns attached to the gun hanger through further rotational motion. The pipe string can then be removed from the well. The perforating gun is fired by a pressure actuated firing head and upon firing of the perforating gun, the gun hanger automatically releases, thus allowing the guns to drop to the bottom of the well and leave an unobstructed flow path from the perforations up through the wellbore.
Even more recently, it has been proposed to run the perforating guns into the well on a coiled tubing string. In such cases, rotation of the string is not possible, as with a rigid tubing string or pipe string. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/134,022 discloses a modified version of the apparatus shown in the George et al. `213 patent. In this modified version, the actuating mechanism of the gun hanger is modified so that it is operated by a simple reciprocating motion of the coiled tubing string without the need for any rotating motion. Also, a pressure responsive release mechanism connects the coiled tubing string to the perforating gun so that after the gun hanger has been set within the casing, pressure within the coiled tubing string may be increased to release the coiled tubing string from the perforating gun, thus allowing the coiled tubing string to be retrieved prior to firing of the perforating guns.
While both of the previously described apparatus work well, in some well situations problems may occur. For example, when there is an insufficient rathole below the well formation to drop the entire gun assembly a portion of the gun assembly may interfere with flow of fluids from the perforated formation. The present invention solves this problem by providing a modular gun system in which only the sections that remain across the perforations after firing need to be retrieved. In many completions, coiled tubing can be run and retrieved under pressure as a means to fish the gun modules. The modules can be short enough to be lubricated out at the surface which allows removal without killing the well. Of course, a rigid tubing string or pipe string could also be used instead of coiled tubing.
There also may be a need to add additional perforations to an already live well. Many times after a well has produced for some time, the flow weakens to the point that additional perforating is needed without killing the well. With the modular gun system of the present invention, the guns can be lubricated into the well under pressure so that after all of the modules in place, the entire gun assembly can be fired at once.
There may be further occasions when all of the guns do not fire. When this occurs, the fired guns can be retrieved, thus recovering the failed section and allowing easy replacement of it with a new module.

Method and apparatus for perforating a well using a modular perforating gun system


There is provided an information processing apparatus including a selecting unit that selects figures from a candidate figure group based on recognition values obtained through character recognition with respect to an input image, and a display control unit that performs control to display the figures selected by the selecting unit.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, a program, and an information processing method.
Recently, various technologies have been suggested as technology for analyzing a read image and correcting slant in a manuscript in an apparatus reading the manuscript set in a copying machine, a facsimile, and an optical character reader (OCR) as an image (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-143774). According to the technologies, the slant of the manuscript can be corrected by rotating the manuscript, according to the slant of the manuscript detected by analyzing the read image.

Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing method


Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for a time series database search system. A data object may be received. The data object may include timestamp data indicating a time at which an event occurred, a value indicating a measure of the event, and key-value pairs comprising data associated with the event. A hash ID may be generated by hashing the one or more key-value pairs. The timestamp data, the value, and the hash ID may be stored in a first database as an object in the first database. The key-value pairs and the hash ID may be stored in a second database as an object in the second database.

Events generated by systems, such as servers, can be stored as data in a time series database. The time series database may allow for the retrieval, viewing, and analysis of the data as a time series. A user's ability to search the data stored in the time series database may be limited, as the time series database may have a very large dataset. A user may need knowledge of the structure of the data stored in the database in order to accurately search the database. Other database types may store data in a manner that allows for easier searching of the data. These database types may be less capable of allowing the retrieval, viewing, and analysis of the data as a time series, and may lack real time updating of the data.


Disclosed is a system including: a calibration executing unit that performs a calibration on hardware during the system startup so as to allow the system to properly operate; and a correction data retaining unit that retains a piece of correction information in association with an environmental condition during the calibration, the correction information indicating a setting for the hardware calibrated by the calibration executing unit. If the correction data retaining unit retains the correction information associated with an environmental condition equivalent to the environmental condition at a time when the system is started up, the calibration executing unit performs the hardware setting on the basis of the retained correction information instead of calibrating the hardware.

The present invention relates to a computer that performs a calibration on hardware during startup, in particular, performs a timing adjustment of a signal transmission, and also relates to a method of the calibration.
Cell Broadband Engine™ (hereinafter, referred to as a Cell processor) is connected to an XDR™ memory, which is a main memory, and an IO bridge via exclusive interfaces so as to secure high speed data transfer. In a system equipped with plural Cell processors, the Cell processors are connected to each other in the same manner (refer, for example, to "Cell Broadband Engine™ Architecture" (online), Sony Corporation (retrieved on Jan. 21, 2009 from an Internet URL: http://cell.scei.co.jp/pdf/CBE_Architecture_v101_j.pdf) as to a Cell processor, to, for example, "XDR™" (online), Rambus Inc. (retrieved on Jan. 21, 2009 from an Internet URL: http://www.rambus.com/jp/products/xdr/index.html) as to an XDR memory, and to, for example, "FlexPhase™ Timing Adjustments" (online), Rambus Inc. (retrieved on Jan. 21, 2009 from an Internet URL: http://www.rambus.com/jp/patents/innovations/detail/flexpha se_timing.html) as to the interface).
Having such connections between devices, a computer system (hereinafter, referred to simply as a "system") equipped with a Cell processor makes a timing adjustment of a signal transmission, which is called a calibration, after being powered on for startup (refer to, for example, "Cell Broadband Engine CMOS SOI 90 nm Hardware Initialization Guide" (online), International Business Machines Corporation (retrieved on Jan. 21, 2009 from an Internet URL: http://www-01.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/techdocs/BD 3F1F4C3 DB32C7487257142006131BC)). Accordingly, signals subjected to the calibration are:
(1) signals transmitted between the Cell processor and an XDR memory;
(2) signals transmitted between the Cell processor and an IO bridge; and
(3) signals transmitted between a Cell processor and another Cell processor (in a case where the system is equipped with plural Cell processors).
An appropriate timing of a signal transmission may vary greatly depending on individual difference among devices and on the surrounding temperature. The calibration is therefore executed every time the system is powered on.
In the calibration performed during startup of the system equipped with a Cell processor, an operation clock of the system is calibrated by transmitting signals having a specific pattern between any two of the Cell processor, XDR memory, and the IO bridge. Here, if the adjustments are repeatedly made by use of signals having various patterns, accuracy of the calibration is enhanced. On the other hand, the adjustments by use of the signals having such various patterns requires a longer time. That is, the more accurate calibration takes longer time. Therefore, the calibration with reduced time sacrifices the calibration accuracy. Here, the time required for the calibration considerably affects a startup time of the system, since the calibration is performed at every system startup.
Furthermore, a time required for the calibration linearly increases as a capacity of a memory included in a system becomes larger. In other words, a system having a larger memory capacity requires a longer time for the calibration, and accordingly requires a longer time for the system startup. In order to reduce a system startup time, there has been so far no choice but to reduce the calibration accuracy to reduce the time required for the calibration.
Note that, while a system equipped with a Cell processor is described here, any other system requiring hardware calibration during startup can be considered as having the same problem.

System for performing hardware calibration during startup, and method of calibration


The present disclosure provides a thin film transistor, a manufacturing method of the thin film transistor and a display device, configured to improve electrical property of the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes: an active layer, including a source and drain contact region and a channel region; a metal barrier layer, covering the source and drain contact region; a first gate insulating layer, at least covering the channel region and exposing the metal barrier layer; a gate, on the first gate insulating layer and covering the channel region; an inner layer dielectric layer, on the gate and having a through hole exposing the metal barrier layer; and a source and drain, on the inner layer dielectric layer and in contact with the metal barrier layer through the through hole.

A thin film transistor (TFT) is configured to drive a light emitting element in a display device to emit light. The TFT includes a top-gate thin film transistor and a bottom-gate thin film transistor. The top-gate thin film transistor includes a substrate, a buffer layer, an active layer, a gate, a gate insulating layer, an inner layer dielectric layer (ILD) in sequence from bottom to top, and further includes a source and a drain on the inner layer dielectric layer and in a channel region of the active layer. In a process of forming a source and drain of a top-gate thin film transistor, an inner layer dielectric layer is etched through a dry etching process to form a deep hole, such that the source and drain are in contact with the active layer to form a TFT switch. However, the end point is not easy to control and the active layer in a channel region is easily corroded in the condition that a dry etching process is adopted.

Thin film transistor, manufacturing method of thin film transistor and display device

Mianyang Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.

Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.


A roller hearth furnace comprises a thermally insulated housing forming a heating space therein and a plurality of roller modules removably mounted in the housing for transporting parts longitudinally through the heating space. The modules are successively arranged along the direction of transport of the parts. Each module includes a pair of transversely spaced bearing beams removably supported in recesses of the housing, and a plurality of rotatably driven rollers having their ends supported in the bearing beams.

The invention concerns a roller hearth furnace for the heat treatment of parts passing therethrough. The furnace includes a thermally insulated housing forming a heating space therein. A plurality of rotatable rollers are mounted in the heated spaced and extend in a direction transversely to the direction of travel of parts through the heating space. The parts ride on the rollers, and the rollers are rotatably driven to transport the parts.
A roller hearth furnace of that type is known, for example, from German Patent DE-28 40 282. In that known configuration refractory bricks are built into the refractory lining of the opposing longitudinal walls of the roller hearth furnace, and are provided with transversely aligned openings to contain the rollers. The rollers can then be inserted into the aligned openings from outside of the furnace and removed in a similar manner, if repairs are necessary.
In order to prevent the loss of gas and heat through the openings in the refractory bricks, the diameter of which must be greater than that of the rollers, cavities are provided in the refractory bricks, into which an insulating and refractory material is pressed, such as for example kaolin wool, which may then contact the roll periphery tightly.
A fundamental disadvantage of such roller hearth configurations results from the fact that for reasons of mechanical strength the diameter of the rollers themselves cannot be reduced below a certain value and the spacing between the rollers may also not be arbitrarily small. Thus, the openings in the longitudinal walls of the furnace constitute a considerable weakening of the walls, i.e., relatively narrow web portions of the walls remain in between the openings which must withstand the various loads such as the outwardly directed tensile stress under which the rollers are constantly placed. To maximize the strength of those webs, they can be provided with a certain minimum width, but then a corresponding spacing between the rollers will also result. This spacing between the rollers and their diameter determines the size of the parts to be treated (to prevent the parts from falling between the rollers) unless separate carrier plates for the parts are provided. The disadvantage in using plates involves the fact that the mass of the carrier plates must also be heated during their travel through the roller hearth furnace, thereby causing an unnecessary loss of heat.
In other types of industrial furnaces, for example the so-called tunnel furnaces (DE 35 10 801), in which the parts to be treated are moved on transport elements through the furnace, the space problem present in roller hearth furnaces does not arise, as no space is needed for the changing of the rolls adjacent to the furnace. However, the disadvantage exists that the transport elements must be heated during their passage through the furnace. This fact is not altered by the provision of rotating rollers in lateral spacers either. These elements cannot be used for roller hearth furnaces, in which the rollers are stationary, because in view of the guides for the grate-like transport elements, which are mounted exclusively inside the furnace, the stationary rollers could not be exchanged.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a roller hearth furnace of the above-mentioned type such that the spacing between the rollers may be minimized while using the smallest possible roller diameters, without causing stability problems in the furnace walls or difficulties relative to the replacement of the rollers.

Roller hearth furnace for the heat treating of metal and ceramic parts


The present invention provides a magnetic recording tape cassette comprising: a housing having an access area; two reels, rotatably mounted within the housing; a length of magnetic tape having opposite end portions wound around each of the reels and a portion extending therebetween; a tape guiding surface for guiding the tape portion in extension between the reels, across the access area, and along a predefined path between at least one of the reels and the access area; at least one slack limiting tab having a contact end portion and a mounting region; the slack limiting tab comprising a flexible, resilient polymeric material having a T.sub.g of greater than about 140.degree. C.; and mounting means in said housing for mounting said slack limiting tab in the housing such that the mounting region engages the mounting means, and the contact end portion is biased against the tape to press the tape against the tape guiding surface.

Tape cassettes for use in magnetic recording and reproducing devices are typically of the type having a housing containing freely rotatably mounted reels on which is wound a magnetic tape. The tape extends between the reels and is guided across an access area, i.e., an access opening, in the housing. During use, as for example in a video recorder, the magnetic tape is withdrawn from the cassette housing out of the access area and wrapped or loaded about a guide drum. The guide drum is adjacent to a rotary magnetic head that scans tracks on the tape as the tape is moved about the guide drum. For effective use, the magnetic tape must be freely drawn out of the access area during the loading, recording, and reproducing modes; however, it must also be drawn out of the access area under controlled conditions such that it does not become excessively loose or slack.
Excessive looseness or slackness in the length of the magnetic tape extending between the reels can cause numerous problems. For example, if excessively loose or slack, magnetic tape typically does not become properly engaged by the magnetic head during use. This can lead to defective recording and/or reproducing operations. Furthermore, if excessively loose or slack, magnetic tape can jam within the cassette or within the recording and/or reproducing device, during use. Also, if excessively loose or slack, the extended run of magnetic tape can become damaged during storage or nonuse of the tape cassette.
Excessive looseness or slackness in the magnetic recording tape can arise when the cassette is being transported or is otherwise separated from its associated recording and/or reproducing device. Although some cassettes have locks that restrict rotation of the reels when the cassette is not in such device, it is possible that one or both of the reels within the cassette housing can turn to unwind the tape and develop the undesirable slack condition. Excessive slackness in the tape can also occur when the tape is engaged within a recording and/or reproducing device. Typically, such a device has spindles that engage the two reels. If driving and braking of the reels during operation by these spindles is not synchronous, slack in the tape can develop.
Elimination of excessive looseness or slackness in the magnetic tape as it is drawn out of the access area is typically accomplished using a slack limiting device, such as a slack limiting tab. Slack limiting tabs are designed to press against the moving tape at, or close to, guides located at opposite ends of the access opening within the cassette housing. Slack limiting tabs are designed to provide sufficient tension and exert a restraining or tightening effect on the tape without generating too much friction, which could cause, for example, excessive wear. In this way, slack limiting tabs preload the magnetic tape so it does not inadvertently unwind.
A slack limiting tab typically includes a resilient, flexible strip, usually of metal or plastic. Typically, one end of a slack limiting tab is affixed to the cassette housing, while the other end, i.e., the free end which exerts the tension against the tape, is typically coated with a layer of a low friction material. The most commonly used slack limiting tabs are made of polyester or polypropylene. However, some cassettes experience excessively loose or slack tape during use, despite the presence of a slack limiting tab. Therefore, there is a need for a magnetic tape cassette that functions properly, without excessive looseness or slackness, throughout the life of the cassette.

Slack limiting tab for a magnetic tape cassette

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


An exhaust gas heater for an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine includes a disk-like carrier defining a heater longitudinal axis and having a first axial side. The carrier has an outer peripheral region disposed radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis and a radially inwardly disposed central region. A heating conductor has a heating region arranged on the first axial side of the carrier. At least one holding member holds the heating conductor on the carrier. The holding member includes at least one holding portion engaging around the heating conductor at the heating region thereof. The carrier has at least one fastening opening formed therein. The holding member includes at least one fastening portion engaging into the at least one fastening opening so as to be fixed to the carrier.

Post-published German patent application DE 10 2019 131 556 (corresponding to U.S. application Ser. No. 16/951,816, filed Nov. 18, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference), describes an exhaust gas heater which has a disk-like carrier, constructed from metal material, having an outer circumferential region, which is arranged radially on the outside with respect to a heater longitudinal axis, and a central region, which is axially offset with respect to the outer circumferential region, so that the disk-like carrier has in principle a conical structure. On a first axial side, oriented in the upstream direction, of the disk-like carrier there is arranged a spirally wound heating region of a heating conductor. The heating conductor is fixed with its heating region to the first axial side of the disk-like carrier by a plurality of holding members of comb-like form. For this purpose, the comb-like holding members engage with respective holding portions around the heating region of the heating conductor on its side remote from the carrier. Fastening portions of the holding members engaging between winding regions, located in a radially staggered manner, of the heating region are fixed to the first axial side of the disk-like carrier by substance-to-substance bonding.

Exhaust gas heater for an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine


Provided is an electric actuator (1), including: a motor part (A); and a motion conversion mechanism part (B) configured to convert a rotary motion of the motor part (A) into a linear motion to output the linear motion. The motion conversion mechanism part (B) includes: a screw shaft (33) arranged coaxially with a rotation center of a rotor (24) of the motor part (A); and a nut member (32) rotatably fitted to an outer periphery of the screw shaft. The rotor (24) includes a rotor inner (26) serving as a hollow rotary shaft having the nut member (32) arranged on an inner periphery thereof. A rotary motion of the rotor (24) is transmitted to the nut member (32) through an intermediate member (Z) arranged between an inner peripheral surface of the rotor inner (26) and an outer peripheral surface (32b) of the nut member (32).

In recent years, electrification of automobiles has been promoted for power saving and reduction in fuel consumption. For example, a system for operating an automatic transmission, a brake, and a steering wheel of an automobile with use of power of an electric motor (motor) has been developed and brought to the market. As an electric actuator for use in such a system, there has been known an electric actuator employing a screw mechanism as a motion conversion mechanism configured to convert a rotary motion of a motor into a linear motion to output the motion (for example, see Patent Literature 1). In this case, a screw shaft forming the screw mechanism forms an output member (output shaft) of the electric actuator.
The electric actuator described in Patent Literature 1 includes a planetary gear speed reducer as a speed reducer, and a rotary motion (output) of a motor is reduced in speed by the planetary gear speed reducer, and then is transmitted to a nut member of a screw mechanism.


A device is provided for protecting a window or door during severe storms. A panel, cut to fit in a window frame, is held in place by the action of the slide-arm-and-bolt assemblies described herein. A rubber gasket can be used along one side of the panel in place of some of the slide-arm-and-bolt assemblies. Different embodiments of the assembly are described for mounting along the sides or at the corners of the panel. A "clip-on" assembly is also described. Wind resistance is enhanced by tightening the assemblies until the panel bows outward. Optional security features are disclosed to prevent unauthorized removal of the panel.

The present invention relates to a device for protecting windows and doors from breakage and damage during severe storms, including hurricanes.
Presently, home and business owners who seek to minimize the damage caused by severe storms have few options for protecting windows and doors. Two of these options are very expensive and require time-consuming installation. One such option requires the removal of the pre-existing window and frame and replacement with a storm window having a frame with a slot for the insertion of a properly-sized piece of plywood. Another such option requires the installation of a storm shutter for each window, either a hinged shutter or a metal shield which is unrolled to cover the window. Many of the other devices for protecting windows require making holes in the window frame for insertion of braces or anchors. Some are cumbersome or difficult to install.
The least expensive option is buying and cutting pieces of plywood and nailing a piece of plywood over each window. However, after the storm has passed, the removal of the plywood leaves nail holes behind. Finally, some people simply apply tape to windows so that glass shards are not blown everywhere if the windows break during a storm. Needless to say, tape offers little or no protection from the storm itself.
A need presently exists for an inexpensive device which can be installed on short notice, without pre-installation, nailing, or screwing.

Device for covering windows and doors during severe storms


A kit and method for growing crystals for educational purposes. The kit consists of a small plastic petri dish, and a paper substrate with short and long slits precut therein that act as seed, respectively, for the formation of single and multiply crystals. The disk of paper has a tab that serves as a handle for placing and removing the disk from the petri dish and as a place to write on the disk. The kit is used by pouring a saturated aqueous salt solution in the bottom of the petri dish and then floating the substrate on the top of the solution. The dish is then allowed to sit uncovered for several days and crystals grow on the bottom surface of the substrate as the liquid evaporates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crystal growing kit and method of growing crystals for educational purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Elementary or secondary education science curriculums often include a lab project where the students grow crystals. The current method of growing crystals from a saturated salt solution involves first mixing up a saturated solution of a salt in a deep container, such as a pint jar. Next, a piece of string with a paper clip attached to one end is suspended from the mouth of the container by tying the other end of the string to a pencil. The pencil is laid horizontally across the top or mouth of the jar so that the string and paper clip are suspended from the pencil and hang downward into the saturated salt solution. The string and or the paper clip then serve as substrate on which crystals grow as the liquid evaporates from the salt solution.
One of the problems with this current method of growing crystals is that crystal growth using this method is not predicable and sometimes crystals will not grow on the string or on the paper clip. Even if crystals do grow on the substrate, they are often not as large and perfectly grown as is desired.
Another problem with the present method is that the pencil that is used to hold the string and paper clip can roll or slip off the mouth of the container and thereby ruin the crystal growth.
Still another problem with the present method is that a large volume of liquid is needed to fill the deep jar sufficiently, making it expensive to have more than one jar available in a classroom. Thus, this method of growing crystals normally is done by the teacher as a demonstration rather than as a project that each individual student is able to do on their own.
Another problem with the present method is that it takes from four to six weeks to grow crystals.
Still a further problem with the present invention is that when crystals grow on the substrate, the crystals generally grow as multiple crystals, and production of the more desirable single crystals is rare. The single crystals are more desirable because they are easier to examine than multiple crystals.
Finally, even if perfect crystals are grown, the string is flexible and this makes it hard to handle the crystals without damaging or dislodging them from the substrate. For this reason, long term storage of the crystals that are grown on string is difficult since there is no flat surface on the substrate to which the crystals are attached and on which the substrate can rest during storage.
The present invention addresses these problems by providing a cost effective kit and method for reliably growing crystals in the classroom. The kit consists of only a disposable plastic petri dish and a piece of construction paper, making it very inexpensive. Further, the present invention is designed so that both single and multiple crystals are grown on each substrate. The crystals that are grown using the present kit and method are larger and more perfect than those normally produced by prior art classroom crystal growing methods. Because the crystals are grown on a flat substrate and within a clear petri dish, the dish and the substrate are easy to handle, and it is hard to ruin the growing crystals. Because the kit employs 25 milliliter petri dishes, the volume of saturated salt solution needed per each petri dish or student is small, thereby making it economical enough so that each student can grow his or her own crystals.
The present kit and method produces both multiple and single crystals in less than five days on each substrate so that the students can see the difference between these two types of crystalline growth and can have single crystals to examine. The construction paper substrate used in the present kits and method for the substrate on which crystal growth occurs is sufficiently strong, even when still wet, to support the crystals that grow on it so that students can handle the substrate and crystals without dislodging the crystals from the substrate. Because the substrate is strong, this allows the crystals to be stored without damage for long periods of time, for example until the next year so that the crystals can be shown to a new class of students.


According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate having a first side surface and a second side surface, and a liquid crystal layer including a stripe-shaped polymer and liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal layer has a first region and a second region. When no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, a first intersection angle of a first director of a first liquid crystal molecule and a first extension axis of the polymer included in the first region is different from a second intersection angle of a second director of a second liquid crystal molecule and a second extension axis of the polymer included in the second region.

Recently, a display device using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal capable of switching a scattering state of scattering incident light and a transparent state of transmitting incident light has been proposed. In one example, a display device comprising a polarizer between a first display panel and a second display panel is disclosed. In the display device, a liquid crystal layer of the first display panel includes a stripe-shaped polymer and liquid crystal molecules, and the extension direction of the polymer is orthogonal to the transmission axis of the polarizer.


The cleaner includes a main body having an opening, a suction motor accommodated in the main body and configured to generate suction force, an opening cover separably coupled to the main body and configured to cover the opening, and a filter mechanism accommodated in the main body through the opening and configured to filter foreign substances of air discharged by the suction motor. When the opening cover is separated from the main body, at least a portion of the filter mechanism protrudes to the outside of the main body through the opening. While the opening cover is coupled to the main body, at least a portion of the filter mechanism protruding to the outside of the main body is pressed by the opening cover so as to be accommodated in the main body.

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner.
A cleaner is a device that performs cleaning by suctioning and wiping dust or foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned.
Cleaners may be classified into a manual cleaner that a user moves in person for cleaning and an automatic cleaner that automatically moves for cleaning.
Manual cleaners may fall into, depending on the types, a canister cleaner, an upright cleaner, a handy cleaner, and a stick cleaner.
A hand-held vacuum cleaner is disposed in Korean patent Publication No. 10-1127088 (Mar. 8, 2012) that is prior art document.
The hand-held vacuum cleaner may include a suction tube, an air flow generator, a centrifugal separation device, a power source, and a handle.
The air flow generator is disposed in a motor housing and a shape of a motor and fan assembly. A pre-motor filter may be disposed at the front of the air flow generator, and a post-motor filter may be disposed at the rear of the air flow generator.
When the motor of the hand-held vacuum cleaner is driven, an air flow may be generated along the suction tube, and air existing around a target area to be cleaned may be suctioned through a suction hole.
Foreign substance contained in the air suctioned through the suction hole may be collected into an upstream cyclone by the centrifugal separation device. Also, the air that is partially cleaned by the upstream cyclone may be introduced into a downstream cyclone. In the downstream cyclone, foreign substances having a particle size less than that of the foreign substances collected in the upstream cyclone may be separated.
The foreign substances remaining in the air passing through the downstream cyclone may be discharged from the centrifugal separation device and be filtered again while successively passing through the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter and then discharged to the outside of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Here, to prevent the foreign substances, which are not separated from the upstream and downstream cyclones from being discharged to the outside, foreign substance filtering performance of the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter is important.
Also, as a cleaning time is accumulated, the foreign substances may be accumulated on the filter. The foreign substances accumulated on the filter may act as flow resistance on a passage of the cleaner to deteriorate suction performance of the cleaner. Thus, to reduce the deterioration of the suction performance of the cleaner, it is necessary to sufficiently secure an area of the filter.
In case of the related art, to increase the area of the filter, it is necessary to increase a size of a space in which each filter is accommodated. Therefore, there is a limitation that an internal structure of the hand-held vacuum cleaner has to be changed.


An inflatable externally lighted decoration includes an inflatable body and lights configured to externally illuminate the decoration. A plurality of attachment points on the body retain lights along the outer surface of the body. In some embodiments, the attachment points are wire retainers. A wire separator may be positioned on the body to fan the lights across the body. An attachment ring may be affixed to the body to suspend and/or retrieve the decoration from a structure.

A small, but growing group of private individuals decorate the trees on their properties with large, lighted spheres during the Christmas season. Often, these spheres are hand-made from chicken wire, or the like, with common Christmas lights. Typically these spheres include 100 to 200 of mini-lights of various colors and/or multicolored mini-lights. In some cases, entire neighborhoods have teamed together to make a wonderful lightshow as you drive through on residential streets.
While these light spheres are attractive, there are several problems associated with the chicken-wired spheres and their associated construction. For example, the spheres are made of chicken wire that must be cut to length, wound around into a cylinder and then shaped into a sphere. The common Christmas mini-lights are then wound around the chicken wire sphere and attached using twist ties, or other materials to attach the light sting(s) to the sphere. This endeavor requires considerable time and exposes the craftsman to injury from the sharp ends of the cut chicken wire. In addition, it is often difficult to construct and/or maintain a true spherical shape using chicken wire. Another problem is being able to find space to store these spheres during non-use, i.e. the off season or during transport between festivities, as the wired-spheres are not collapsible or easily packaged. Further, stocking the retail shelves with the chicken wire light spheres is problematic for many reasons. For instance, their bulky shapes require an inappropriate amount of shelf space, particularly during a busy holiday season, and packaging the chicken-wired spheres is difficult and expensive.
Therefore, Applicants desire an inflatable externally lighted decoration without the drawbacks presented by the traditional decoration strategies.

Inflatable externally lighted decoration


A cable-connector assembly includes: a coaxial connector having an outer connector body with a solder bore; a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the outer conductor seated within the solder bore; and a PIM block comprising an annular seat and a generally cylindrical flange extending from an outer periphery of the annular seat along a longitudinal axis of the annular seat. A leading edge of the outer conductor of the cable is inserted within the flange of the PIM block. An outer diameter of the outer conductor is coupled to an inner diameter of the solder bore via a solder joint.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,710 discloses an electrical connector for use with coaxial cable and a method for attaching same. The connector may be attached to the coaxial cable with a high level of quality control via an assembly apparatus, as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,344. The connector utilizes an insulating disc retained upon the inner connector and against the dielectric layer and outer conductor of the cable. Induction heating of a solder preform wrapped around the outer conductor creates a molten solder pool in a cylindrical solder cavity formed between the outer conductor, the insulating disc and the outer body of the connector. The insulating disc prevents the molten solder from migrating out of the cavity, which could foul the connector bore and/or short the outer and inner conductors. U.S. Pat. No. 8,984,745 discloses a variation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,344, supra, wherein a close-fitting interface pedestal provides the sidewall of the solder cavity in the solder apparatus, enabling elimination of the insulating disc.
Passive Intermodulation Distortion (PIM) is a form of electrical interference/signal transmission degradation that may occur with non-symmetrical interconnections and/or as electro-mechanical interconnections shift or degrade over time (for example, due to mechanical stress, vibration, thermal cycling, corrosion and/or material degradation). PIM is an important interconnection quality characteristic, as PIM generated by a single low quality interconnection may degrade the electrical performance of an entire RF system.
Competition within the cable and connector assembly industry has increased the importance of improving the electro-mechanical characteristics of the cable and connector interconnection while easing requirements for proper assembly.

Cable end PIM block for soldered connector and cable interconnection


A flow sensor is incorporated into a junk basket to sense a flow stoppage due to a plugged screen or plugged cuttings ports in a mill. The sensor triggers a signal to the surface to warn personnel that a problem exists before the equipment is damaged. The sensor signal to the surface can take a variety of forms including mud pulses, a detectable pressure buildup at the surface, electromagnetic energy, electrical signal on hard wire or radio signals in a wifi system to name a few options. Surface personnel can interrupt the signal to take corrective action that generally involves pulling out of the hole or reverse circulating to try to clear the screen or mill cuttings inlets. Other variables can be measured such as the volume or weight or rate of change of either and a signal can be sent to the surface corresponding to one of those variables to allow them to be detected at the surface in near real time.

When milling out a tool or pipe in the well cuttings are generated that need to be removed from the milling site and collected. The bottom hole assembly that includes the mill also has what is sometimes referred to as a junk basket. These tools operate on different principles and have the common objective of separation of circulating fluid from the cuttings. This is generally done by directing the flow laden with cuttings into the tool having a catch chamber. The fluid is directed through a screen, leaving the cuttings behind. At some point the cuttings fall down into the collection volume below and outside the screen.
The operation of one type of such tool is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this known tool, flow comes from the surface through a string (not shown) and enters passage 10 in the tool 12. Flow goes through the eductor 14 and exits as shown by two headed arrow 16. Arrow 16 indicates that the exiting motive fluid can go uphole and downhole. The eductor 14 reduces pressure in chamber 18 all the way down to the lower inlet 20 on the tool 12. Arrow 22 represents fluid indicated by arrow 16 that has traveled down the annulus 24 between toll 12 and tubular 26 as well as well fluid below tool 12 that is sucked in due to the venture effect of the eductor 14. Entering fluid at lower inlet 20 goes through a tube 28 that has a hat with openings under it 30. Arrows 32 indicate the exiting flow out from under hat 30 that next goes to the outside of screen 34. At this point the cuttings are stopped by the screen 34 while the fluid goes on through and into chamber 18 as indicated by arrow 36. The stream indicated by arrow 36 blends and becomes part of the stream exiting eductor 14 as indicted by arrow 16. When flow into passage 10 is shut off, the accumulated debris on the outside of screen 34 simply falls down to around the outside of tube 28. The presence of the hat 30 keeps the debris from falling into tube 28 deflecting debris that lands on it off to the side and into the annular catch area in the tool 38.
This is how this tool is supposed to work when everything is going right. However, things don't always go right downhole and the operator at the surface using this tool in a milling operation had no information that things downhole may not be going according to plan. The main two things that can cause problems with this type of tool or any other junk basket tool is that the screen 34 can clog with debris. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that flow downhole in annulus 24 goes all the way down to the mill and enters openings in the mill to reach lower inlet 20 of the tool 12. If the screen clogs the downhole component of the flow indicated by arrow 16 stops. As a result, there is a diminished or a total lack of flow into the mill ports to remove the cuttings and take away the heat of milling. The mill can overheat or get stuck in cuttings or both. If the mill sticks and turning force is still applied from the surface, the connections to the mill can fail. Sometimes, without clogging screen 34, the mill can create cutting shapes that simply just ball up around the mill. Here again, if the balling up occurs, flow trying to go downhole in annulus 28 will be cut off. The inlet openings for the cuttings in the mill may become blocked limiting or cutting off flow into lower inlet 20.
What the operator needs and currently doesn't have is a way to know that a condition has developed downhole at the mill or at the screen 34 that needs to be immediately addressed to avoid downhole equipment failure. While some operator with enough experience cleaning up a hole may be able to do this by gut feel in certain situations like removing sand, using gut feel is not reliable and in milling as opposed to simple debris cleanout, rules of thumb about how fast the bottom hole assembly moves into sand when removing it from the wellbore are simply useless.
What is needed and provided by the present invention is a real time way to know if anything has gone wrong downhole in time to deal with the issue before the equipment is damaged. The tool of the present invention is able to sense flow changes through it and communicate that fact in real time to the surface. Those and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment, the drawings and the claims which outline the full scope of the invention.

Well cleanup tool with real time condition feedback to the surface


The present disclosure includes systems and methods for securing data direct I/O (DDIO) for a secure accelerator interface, in accordance with various embodiments. Historically, DDIO has enabled performance advantages that have outweighed its security risks. DDIO circuitry may be configured to secure DDIO data by using encryption circuitry that is manufactured for use in communications with main memory along the direct memory access (DMA) path. DDIO circuitry may be configured to secure DDIO data by using DDIO encryption circuitry manufactured for use by or manufactured within the DDIO circuitry. Enabling encryption and decryption in the DDIO path by the DDIO circuitry has the potential to close a security gap in modern data central processor units (CPUs).

The use of specialized hardware for performance and energy efficient computing is taking center stage for usages such as graphics processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and FPGAs. These advantages of specialized hardware are resulting in an explosion of hardware accelerator usage. In fact, some centralized processing units (CPUs) include integrated hardware accelerators or use hardware accelerators to improve overall data processing performance. However, the existing data encryption or security protections do not extend to accelerators. Because direct data input output (DDIO) channels enable hardware accelerators to obtain direct access to cache memory within a processor, insecure DDIO channels to hardware accelerators represent a security vulnerability and threat to secure computing.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Securing data direct I/O for a secure accelerator interface


A blisk for a turbine engine is provided, the blisk includes a hub, a rim positioned radially outward from the hub, and a blade. The rim an outer surface facing radially outward from the hub and an inner surface. The blade is integral to the rim and includes a leading end, a trailing end, an interior surface, and a radially inward end. A cooling passage extends from an inlet in the inner surface of the rim, from the inlet through a channel enclosed within the rim and extending along the outer surface of the rim, and from the channel through an opening at the trailing end of the blade into a chamber defined by the interior surface of the blade.

Turbine sections of low cost and limited use gas turbine engines typically include rotors having blisks, which include a combined hub, rim, and turbine blades. Typically, a blisk is made of a variety of materials, and the portions of the blisk exposed to high thermal operational stresses are made from a highly thermally resistant material, such as a ceramic matrix composite.

Turbine blisk with airfoil and rim cooling


The present invention relates to a polysiloxane-polylactide block copolymer and a preparation method thereof, in which the polysiloxane-polylactide block copolymer has improved impact resistance and flexibility, compared to the conventional polylactide resins and can be prepared by ring-opening polymerization of lactide monomers in the presence of a polymerization initiator of polysiloxane.

Polylactide (or poly lactic acid) resins are a kind of resin containing a repeating unit of the following Formula 1. Unlike the existing petroleum-based products, these polylactide resins are based on biomass, and thus they have environment-friendly features such that they can be used as a renewable resource, and showing low carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming during their production, compared to other resins, and being biodegradable in the presence of moisture and microorganisms, as well as having suitable mechanical strength equivalent to the existing known petroleum-based products.

These polylactide resins have been mainly used for disposable packaging/containers, coatings, foam products, films/sheets, and fabric. Recently, there have been many trials of use of the polylactide resins as semi-permanent materials for mobile phone bodies or car interior parts, after their physical properties are improved by mixing the polylactide resins with known resins such as ABS, polycarbonate, and polypropylene. However, their application is still limited because the polylactide resins have a weak physical property of biodegradation by factors such as catalysts used in their production or moisture in air.
Further, although the polylactide resins have an advantage of showing relatively high mechanical strength, they are problematic in that they have a relatively high glass transition temperature of room temperature or higher (Tg, 50˜60° C.) and thus become brittle when applied to film or sheet products because of reduced resin flexibility after thermal processing. Furthermore, due to their low impact resistance, their application is still limited. Until now, in order to improve elasticity, there have been many trials in which the resins are compounded with organic materials such as rubber or branches are introduced into the main chain of polylactide, but the effects are still unsatisfactory.

Polysiloxane-polylactide block copolymer and preparation method thereof


In this method and apparatus, motion is detected by sensing the change in luminance, over time, between sequential images at each image pixel site along with the changes in luminance at neighboring pixel sites. These changes are then used to compute the displacement of the entire image as well as a direction independent degree of image change. With the total displacement computed and represented by signals the signals may then be used to control in real time; camera shutter speed, aperture opening, and/or the movement of the film in a direction that tracks with the motion so as to minimize the blur on the recorded image. These same signals may be stored for later use in, for example, a restoration process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of motion detection and more particularly to the utilization of the detected motion to minimize its effect in the recording of an image.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been estimated that 15-20% of consumer pictures have "detectable image blur problems", and that camera shake and subject motion are significant contributors.
A relationship may be established between various shutter speeds and the maximum allowable motion at each speed such that an intelligent camera system always chooses a shutter speed such that motion of less than or equal to a "detectable" limit, in the finished print, is experienced while the shutter is open.
One approach is to hold the shutter open and determine how much movement will degrade the resultant picture "detectably" and "objectionably". Measurements of this motion have been made for typical cameras and for typical users. It has been determined that 0.001" of "equivalent linear smear" is detectable, and 0.002" is objectionable.
The possible motion of a camera has six degrees of freedom, including translational and rotational components. It has been determined experimentally however, that the rotational components of "pitch" and "yaw" dominate the motion at the film plane due to the magnification of the lens. Moreover, these components manifest themselves approximately as linear translations along the two orthogonal axes at the film plane. Therefore, "equivalent linear smear" presumes to take into account the actual motion, the camera's physical dimensions, and the lens focal length.
In the camera art, images captured from moving objects may be compared digitally in order to determine the amount and the direction of the camera's or the image's motion. Such determination is of particular utility in providing information that can be used to dampen the motion of the camera or to determine the motion of a subject. Once the images are captured, for example on film, they can be converted to a digital form and processed utilizing selected image processing methods. Image stabilization for hand-held cameras is important because it minimizes or eliminates the blurring of images captured from subjects that may be either still or moving. In any event, digital comparisons of the images formed in the camera's eye can be used to determine the amount and the direction of the images motion. Such detection is of particular utility in providing information not only for the handling of cameras but also for the determination of the movement of images.
Prior approaches have either ignored the problem altogether (such as in the vast majority of hand-held still cameras and in most consumer camcorders) or have involved the use of mechanical devices to dampen high frequency motions (as in most professional video cameras). Mechanical devices typically suffer from their weight, as well as their inability to measure other motion parameters, such as any form of subject motion. Image degradation may occur however, as a result of subject motion, camera motion, or any combination thereof. Digital processing of the time-varying image offers more flexibility in measuring relative motion than mechanical damping systems; and thereby offers correction or accommodation to a larger class of motion situations.
The prior art in digital processing generally approaches motion detection and measurement in a number of ways. A first is to perform a correlation of the same image region (say, one or more sensor scan lines) is made with itself but at a later time. This gives a "degree of change" but offers no insight into the cause.
A patent of interest for its teachings in this area U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,276, entitled "Blur Detecting Device for a Camera" by Yoshida et al. In that patent a correlation is performed between the output signals from a CCD image sensor at a first and second point in time. These signals are compared against threshold values to determine if allowable levels of blur have been exceeded, if so, means are provided for indicating that unacceptable blurring has occurred and that another picture should be taken.
Another patent of interest for its teachings is, U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,452 entitled "Picture BlurAlarm Device for a Camera" by Suzuki et al. there is disclosed a device that measures absolute luminance (brightness) at multiple image points, each at two disparate times. A comparison is made between the two values at each point, and a voting scheme is used wherein each difference exceeding a threshold provides an alarm signal indicating a blur condition.
Intensity-based approaches are susceptible to differences in illuminant. That is, the output values are generally not normalized for variations in intensity under different illuminant situations. Also, they generally do not yield a "direction" of motion, required if motion is to be compensated for by any means other than decreasing shutter speed.
Alternatively, "gray-level matching" is performed which finds certain predetermined patterns of luminance within the image such as typically exist at "corners", "edge-lets", or other sufficiently interesting features. These are sought in two frames, and their displacement is measured. For two different examples of such methods, see: D. T. Lawton, "Processing Translational Motion Sequences". Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 1983, 22, 116-144, and Hans-Hellmut Nagel, "Displacement Vectors Derived from Second-order Intensity Variations in Image Sequences," Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 1983, 21, 85-117. A sub-approach if subject motion is of interest finds the "edges" within an image and tracks their movement between frames. This is the highest level method and is the most complex in that it requires a degree of segmentation robustness and symbolic representation not required by the other methods, given their ability to work only based on intensity values. Moreover, many of these methods assume that the optical-flow field has already been calculated and is accessible; a truly prohibitive assumption here.
These aforementioned methods all suffer to various degrees from a number of problems. One is the "correspondence problem" that is the ability of finding common features within two or more images. Another is the computational burden in finding image-specific features, or alternatively in determining acceptable universally useful patch sizes and locations. Also, in general, the methods are susceptible to the difficulties of foreshortening (dimensional differences due to changes in perspective brought about by relative displacement or motion between object and viewer). Intensity-based sub-approaches are susceptible to changes in illuminant. All suffer to varying degrees by forcing a certain amount of the processing to be serial, since even though it is possible to find features in parallel, each one that is discovered must generally be processed serially since their number and nature is image-dependent.
Spatio-temporal gradient approaches measure the image intensity function's partial spatial and temporal derivatives and, based on these values, attempts to measure the "optical flow field", i.e. an array of unique motion vectors at each image site. Such approaches suffer from three principal problems: first, the determination of motion vectors at image sites is found to be mathematically ill-posed. This is because of the so-called "aperture" problem, which recognizes the difficulty in determining the velocity component perpendicular to the image gradient unless other assumptions or cues are utilized. As such, a closed form solution does not exist. The second principal problem, exacerbated by the first, is that any such computation of motion vectors at image sites presents an intractable computational burden with respect to the capabilities of present and foreseeable camera systems. The third problem lies in the difficulty of accurately measuring the spatial derivatives due to the existence of occlusion boundaries (at which the derivative fails to exist).
It would, therefore, be advantageous to have a system that could effectively measure relative motion between camera and subject, in some tenable manner, and that could compensate for the motion conditions, and/or to at least record the motion conditions such that the motion conditions could later be used as a corrective factor to a restorative phase. An initial requirement, however, is to have the measured motion simply influence the shutter speed, favoring high shutter speeds when motion is detected but otherwise allowing it to be low.

Method and associated apparatus for minimizing the effects of motion in the recording of an image