A modular sliding-seat rowing shell that is relatively inexpensive and that can be constructed to provide any of three rowing configurations. The shell includes a bow section, a stern section and a center section. The bow and stern sections have the same number (e.g., 2) of rowing stations, and the center section has twice as many (e.g., 4) rowing stations. At each of the rowing stations in all of the sections the beam of the shell is the same (e.g. 22 inches), and the sections are designed and constructed such that the bow section and the stern section may be connected directly to each other to form a shell having one conventional rowing configuration (e.g., a four-oared shell), and the central section can be connected between the bow and stern sections to form a shell having a second conventional rowing configuration (e.g., an eight-oared shell). Two eight-oared configurations may be joined by two jokes to form a shell having a third conventional rowing configuration (e.g., a sixteen-oared training shell).

There are a number of different types of sliding-seat rowing shells. Principal types are four-oared and eight-oared shells with coxswain, in which each rower pulls a single oar. Successive rowers pull oars that, typically, are on opposite sides of the shell. Such shells are expensive, and it has been necessary for competitors in both four- and eight-oared events to possess shells of each configuration. A third type of sliding-seat rowing shell is a training shell, a wide, stable design where beginners can learn how to row.
A number of U.S. Pat. Nos. 43,084, 520,823, 544,676, 670,942, 842,349, 957,820, 1,127,842, 1,258,745, 1,337,781, 1,449,222, 2,406,085, 2,741,782, 3,348,246, and 3,965,513, disclose boats that can be taken apart for storage or transportation, and then reassembled in a predetermined single configuration for use. U.S. Pat. No. 697,539 discloses a three-section boat the pieces of which may be assembled either as an ordinary-shaped boat or as a catamaran. U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,933 discloses a multi-section boat in which between eight and fourteen sections may be connected together to form a boat for one to four persons. An approximately 100 foot long "dragon boat" made up from various sectional components is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,781. A ten-man training shell at the University of Washington was constructed by cutting a conventional eight-oared shell in half and inserting a short center section so that ten rowers could practice at once.


Provided is a driver assembly for driving a moving component. The driver assembly includes: a motor; a transmission portion; and an execution portion; and a shape memory alloy wire connecting the moving component with the execution portion. The moving component is slidably connected to the transmission portion and spaced apart from the execution portion. The motor can drive the transmission portion to lead the execution portion to move along a first direction, in such a manner that the moving component is driven by the shape memory alloy wire to move along the first direction. The shape memory alloy wire is configured to drive the moving component to move along the first direction relative to the execution portion under an external electrical signal. When being applied in the camera module, the driver assembly can drive the movable lens assembly to move along an optical axis, facilitating the zooming and autofocus.

The commonly used digital cameras, mobile phones having image-capturing functions, notebook computers, tablet computers and other handheld electronic devices generally include a camera module for image capturing. The camera module typically includes a driver assembly. During a process of image capturing, the driver assembly is configured to drive a camera lens to extend and telescope, so as to achieve zooming. In order to improve the image-capturing effect, it is necessary to improve the focusing performance of the camera module.

Driver assembly, camera module and electronic device having image-capturing function


A method of comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings for a first and a second time period includes a first step of receiving consumption data, expenditure data and market price data for the first and second time periods, a second step of calculating data representing a change in savings from the first time period to the second time period, based on differences between the market price data and the expenditure data for the two time periods, and a third step of outputting the data representing the change in savings from the first to the second time period. The consumption data represents a type and an amount of a commodity consumed during a given time period, the expenditure data represents an actual cost paid for the commodity consumed during that given time period, and the market price data represents a market price of the commodity consumed during that given time period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings over different time periods, and in particular to such systems and methods for comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings for travel-related commodities, such as air travel and hotel accommodation.
2. Related Art
Currently, an organization may spend significant amounts of money on travel-related expenses for its employees, such as air travel and hotel accommodation. Budgetary pressures often require keeping such expenses to a minimum. Accordingly, there is a need to measure and analyze spending and savings so as to identify and quantify factors contributory and detrimental to savings. Armed with knowledge of such factors, an organization may effectively modify its (employees') behavior in terms of spending and consumption so as to improve overall cost performance.
The attempt to minimize expenditures laid out for any given commodity is complicated by the fact that prices and other factors influencing savings (e.g., consumption patterns, exchange rates) often change over time. Accordingly, behavior modification based on an analysis of expenditures and savings pertaining to a single point in time or time period may cease to be effective as the factors influencing savings change over time. Thus, measurement and analysis of spending and savings based on a static methodology tend to be inadequate to achieve optimal savings.
In addition to the problem of developing a dynamic savings methodology, attempts at increasing savings often encounter difficulties in, for example, the following aspects of a savings program: accurately identifying and quantifying the particular factors that are contributing to savings and those that are detracting from savings; providing information about such factors at different levels of detail (e.g., overall corporate consumption vs. consumption of a particular type of commodity); providing recommendations for action (behavior modification) based on the analysis of spending and savings, in a user-friendly format, thereby increasing the likelihood that such recommendations will be acted upon; providing written reports on the analysis and recommendations in an automated and prompt fashion; and comparing the organization's savings performance to that of peers.

System and method for comparing and analyzing expenditures and savings over different time periods

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.


A profiled rolling apparatus for lowering rolling resistance in track-guided, load-bearing movement applications. The rolling body, as part of a track roller, cam follower, caster wheel, or the like, has a radial groove (e.g. a V-shape with some internal angle) on which a non-linear profile is implemented. Profiles for various embodiments may be, but are not limited to, circular arcs, polynomials or other mathematical functions, or made up of multiple shorter linear and/or arc segments, creating a convex or concave contour on either side of the groove. Such crowning profiles may additionally or alternatively be implemented on the guiding track.

The present invention relates to guided rollers and tracks, and more particularly to guided rollers and tracks associated with track-guided, loading bearing movement applications.
There are a wide range of industrial applications that involve moving materials and objects over a track. For example, many linear guided systems involve the use of guided rollers specially configured to follow a track. Other examples include the use of guided rollers as wheels or casters on carts and trolleys that follow tracks that may be mounted on or embedded within the floor.
In many of these applications, the guided rollers and tracks have corresponding non-linear cross sections, such as V-shaped or circular, that help to ensure the guided rollers follow the track. The tracks provide thrust-loading capacity, as compared to rollers or casters with a flat outer profile rolling on a flat track, and ensure proper transport patterns of the moving devices. Typically a combination of guiding, grooved rollers and unguided flat idler rollers are used to support the moving load due to the generally lower cost of a flat roller and the higher rolling resistance associated with the guiding rollers. In some cases, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,722 to Willmann, the roller is supported by the track at the innermost portion of the groove, with the sides of the groove acting merely to provide guidance or to increase friction when in contact with the track.
V-grooved roller bodies have a far higher rolling resistance than their flat (non-profiled) counterparts, thought to be due to the comparatively long contact interface and the varying rotational velocities along the contact interface on either side of the track. This greater friction and slippage promulgates as less efficient movement, increased track rubbing wear, and increased frictional heat.
The above problems can be somewhat alleviated by using a round-bar track as the roller guide. However, this much smaller contact interface generates both far higher contact stresses and prevents an avenue of track cleaning inherent to flat-on-flat contact, wherein debris present on the track is naturally swept away by the varying rotational velocities along the flat groove profile. Both effects can bring about wear that ultimately negates the benefits of using the round-bar track.


An ultrasound scan probe and support mechanism are provided for use in a multi-modality mammography imaging system, such as a combined tomosynthesis and ultrasound imaging system. In one embodiment, the ultrasound components may be positioned and configured so as not to interfere with the tomosynthesis imaging operation, such as to remain out of the X-ray beam path. Further, the ultrasound probe and associated components may be configured to as to move and scan the breast tissue under compression, such as under the compression provided by one or more paddles used in the tomosynthesis imaging operation.

The present approach relates generally to the field of breast cancer screening and, more specifically, to the use of tomosynthesis and ultrasound imaging for acquiring breast images.
In modern healthcare facilities, non-invasive imaging approaches are used for identifying, diagnosing, and treating diseases. One purpose to which such techniques are applied is the acquisition of breast images for use in identifying and diagnosing lesions or irregularities in the breast tissue.
In conventional mammography approaches, breast imaging may be implemented using radiographic techniques, such as by projecting X-rays through the breast tissue and reconstructing images based on the differential transmission of the X-rays through the tissue. Such approaches, however, may suffer from various detriments. For example, conventional radiographic imaging techniques are generally planar or two-dimensional in nature, limiting the ability of a diagnostician to visualize the results.
An alternative approach to conventional radiographic mammography involves an imaging technique known as tomosynthesis. In tomosynthesis X-ray attenuation data is obtained for a region of interest over an angular range (e.g., 30°, 45°, 90°, and so forth) and this data is used to construct volumetric or generally three-dimensional reconstruction of the breast tissue. In general, tomosynthesis imaging exhibits good in-plane resolution with, potentially, poorer depth resolution. In this manner, tomosynthesis may be employed to non-invasively detect abnormalities in the breast tissue, such as lumps, fibroids, lesions, calcifications, and so forth. Such tomosynthesis systems are generally effective for detailed characterization of benign and cancerous structures such as calcifications and masses embedded in the breast tissue.
Another imaging approach for use in imaging breast tissue is ultrasound. An ultrasound imaging system uses an ultrasound probe for transmitting ultrasound signals into an object, such as the breast of the patient being imaged, and for receiving reflected ultrasound signals there from. The reflected ultrasound signals received by the ultrasound probe are generally indicative of boundary transition between structures in the imaged region and may be used to reconstruct an image of the interior of the tissue. In general, ultrasound may exhibit good depth-resolution combined with a somewhat reduced in-plane resolution. Ultrasound imaging is useful as an alternate tool for diagnosis, such as for differentiating benign cysts and masses. In addition, ultrasound imaging may be used as a secondary screening tool in women with breasts that are dense. In dense breast tissue X-ray imaging is not as sensitive and the addition of ultrasound imaging has been shown to find more cancers.
In practice, it may be desirable to utilize multiple imaging approaches when evaluating a patient, such as by acquiring both tomosynthesis and ultrasound imaging data. To be able to relate the respective data sets, it may be desirable to acquire the image data at roughly the same time and with the patient in the same position for both data acquisitions. Hence it may be desirable to utilize a combined tomosynthesis and ultrasound imaging system that allows rapid and sequential acquisition of the respective image data sets. However, one impediment to the design and use of such systems in this manner is the interference that the various parts of one systems may have on the other system, such as the presence of an ultrasound probe in the vicinity of the X-ray beam path, and the need to minimize or coordinate the operations to be performed by the attending technologist.


The technology described relates to performing query classification by using search engine results. In one aspect, a method includes identifying, from search results responsive to first search queries, first collections of features associated with classifications for the first search queries; in response to receiving a second search query, generating from search results responsive to the second search query a second collection of features associated with the second search query; and comparing the first collections of features to the second collection of features to determine a particular classification for the second search query.

When receiving search queries at a search engine, accurate classification results in improved determination of the user intent behind the search query, and more relevant search engine results returned to the senders of the search queries. Classification can be a difficult task, because some search queries may be short, and contain ambiguous terms. Further, a particular classification for a given search query may change over time.
Search query classification can be performed by using historical query logs.
Building such query logs may take a long time, and curating the query logs may have an associated high cost. Finally, adding entirely new classifications and adding a new classification for old query terms may also present difficulties.

Query classification based on search engine results


Disclosed herein are novel glutamate-enhanced cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) for use as delivery vehicles to mediate intracellular uptake of therapeutic payloads and methods of using the same.

Experimental therapeutic approaches for androgen-resistant prostate cancer are actively investigated. It is known that modified oligonucleotides bearing STAT3 binding sequences induced apoptosis in DU-145 and other androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cell lines and retarded the in vivo growth of DU-145 cells in a xenograft model. Such inhibitors are attractive in theory but lack a practical method for delivery in the clinical setting. One possible approach to overcome this roadblock is to use peptide-mediated transport, thereby coupling a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to an anti-STAT3 therapeutic payload. An inherent advantage of using CPPs is the ability to design cell specificity in the sequence, as well as target organelle specificity through inclusion of nuclear localization signals (NLS).
CPPs for prostate cancer have been examined in conjunction with delivery of therapeutic payloads including methotrexate-loaded liposomes, double-stranded decoys, and radioactive gadolinium complexes targeted to c-myc. The NLS of several transcription factors were compared in various tumor types with varying degrees of efficacy with regard to uptake and nuclear localization. As for delivery of an oligonucleotide payload, one study using CPPs consisting of cell surface ligands linked to NLS and conjugated to peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) found optimal efficacy under serum-free conditions at 5 mM, a concentration that is not commercially feasible due to prohibitive costs. Clearly, more studies on optimizing CPPs for delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotide or PNA payloads are needed in order to bring new therapeutic entities to the clinic.

Glutamate-enhanced cell-penetrating peptides and methods of using same

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey


A device and method of using infrared radiation to observe coal rock fracture development processes, for use in experiments to monitor coal rock fracture development using infrared radiation comprises three telescopic box bodies sleeved together. An infrared thermal imager connected to a computer is arranged at the front end of the telescopic box bodies, and a light-blocking plate is installed on a rear end. The distance between a coal rock test block and a lens of the infrared thermal imager can be freely adjusted via the three telescopic box bodies. The telescopic box bodies are installed on a rock press, and a loading test is performed on the coal rock test block.

In recent years, many researchers utilized infrared remote sensing technique to monitor the rock failure process under stress, and made numerous researches on the infrared radiation temperature characteristics in the rock failure process under stress. The research findings indicate the rock has a regular infrared radiation effect in the process from deformation to failure under stress, and there is an infrared anomaly omen before catastrophic failure of rock.
Since the beginning of 1990s, many experts and researchers have set up indoor thermal infrared observation and testing systems to make research on the relationship between rock deformation and temperature change, have accomplished many thermal infrared tests and experiments on the deformation of materials such as rock and coal, and the researches have received extensive attention. However, their observation results had high discreteness, and some of the observation results deviated from the traditional theory. For example, it is believed that the relationship between stress state and temperature change depends on the species of the rock. For example, some rocks exhibit a temperature rise characteristic when they are compressed, some rocks have no temperature change when they are compressed, and other rocks even exhibit a temperature drop characteristic when they are compressed; in addition, the amplitude of temperature change to the rock collapse point is different among different species of rocks. The main reason for such discreteness is that the tester didn't take appropriate measures to minimize the influences of environmental factors and background factors.
A part of the radiation received by a thermal infrared imager comes from the radiation of ambient and background reflection in the air path. The surface temperature of the tested object may change at any time, depending on the geographical location, season, solar radiation, sky radiation, climatic change, and air flow, and existence of any heat source, etc. at the test place. In addition, the surface of the tested object exchanges heat with the ambient medium uninterruptedly by radiation, convection, and conduction, etc. The ambient influences on the temperature of a tested object can be considered mainly in two aspects: environmental factors and background factors. The environmental factors mainly refer to the influences of the natural environment on the tested object, including direct solar radiation, sky radiation, earth background radiation and reflection of other radiations, air temperature change, wind speed, geographical latitude, and nearby landform and topography, etc. Under given geographical latitude, given orientation of the tested object, and given topographical conditions, the major influencing factors include solar radiation intensity, air temperature change, and wind speed, etc.

Device and method using infrared radiation to observe coal rock fracture development process

China University of Mining and Technology


A hybrid connector is disclosed. The hybrid connector comprises a cable, a plug and a connector housing. The cable has an optical waveguide and conductive wires disposed therein. The plug is connected to the cable. The connector housing is configured to mount on the plug. The connector housing is provided with a connector-side locking portion, an optical connection portion and an electrical connection portion.

The Present Application relates generally to a hybrid connector, and more particularly, to a connector having a rigid optical connection area and a flexible electrical connection area.
In a conventional electronic device, such as a personal computer, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital or video camera, a music player, a game machine or a car navigation device, in order to realize both a decrease in the overall size of the casing and an increase in the size of the display screen, the casing may be preferably configured to be collapsible. In such a case, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and conductive wires such as a fine coaxial cable may be arranged to pass through the inside of a hinge portion, allowing a casing to be pivotably connected with another so that signals can be parallely transmitted.
Although an increased signal transmission speed is necessary to increase image resolution, there is a limit to increasing the inside dimension of the hinge portion. Thus, it is impractical to arrange a conductive wire having a large width and/or diameter. In addition, to protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI), the conductive wire must become larger in width and/or diameter. In this regard, a method of optical transmission is preferred, capable of transmitting a large amount of signals and providing an excellent EMI countermeasure. An example is illustrated and described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-275717.
Another example is illustrated in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, an opto-electrical hybrid board 801 includes a plurality of electrical terminals 851 arranged on a surface thereof, and an optical semiconductor device 872 (e.g., a light receiving element or a light emitting element). A plug of an opto-electrical hybrid connector 920, connected to the board 801, includes a plug housing 930 connected to an optical fiber 901 and an electrical wire 951. An optical path conversion portion is mounted to the plug housing 930, and is connected to an extreme end of a core portion 911 of the optical fiber 901 so as to change a direction of light transmitted thereto to about a right angle, and a connector terminal 952 which is connected to an extreme end of the electrical wire 951.
When the board 801 is connected to the plug 920, a lower end of the connector terminal 952 is brought into tight contact with an upper face of the electrical terminal 851. At the same time, a lower surface of the optical path conversion portion 961 opposes the optical semiconductor device 872. Thus, the electrical wire 951 is connected to the electrical terminal 851 and transmits/receives signals to/from the electrical terminal 851, and the core portion 911 of the optical fiber 901 transmits/receives optical signals to/from the semiconductor device 872.
However, since the conventional connector is not provided with any special mechanism for achieving a positioning of the plug 920 and the board 801, it is difficult to perform a connecting operation. Usually, when the core portion 911 is optically connected to the optical semiconductor device 872, regardless of the presence of the optical path conversion portion 961, the positioning of the optical paths of the core portion 911 and the optical semiconductor device 872 require a high degree of precision. For this reason, connecting the plug 920 and the board 801 together without an appropriate mechanism for achieving positioning is extremely difficult.


A method for detecting an object using a transmitting antenna and an array of receiving antennas. The method comprises the step of transmitting a signal from the transmitting antenna. The magnitude and phase of a respective received signal at each of the receiving antennas is then measured. Next, the magnitude of a weighted sum of respective phase-compensated signals related to each of the receiving antennas is determined. The magnitude of the weighted sum is compared against a first predetermined threshold value and, optionally, a second predetermined threshold value. An object may be detected by considering a ratio of the magnitude of the weighted sum to the first predetermined threshold value and, optionally, to the second predetermined threshold value. In some embodiments, a second array of receiving antennas may be provided to facilitate the determination of the location of the object.

The present invention relates generally to a radar system and, more particularly, to a warning radar that may be used to detect obstacles in the path of a moving or stationary vehicle. Although the present invention will be described herein primarily with regard to a vehicle obstruction warning radar, it should be understood that the present invention may also be also be used in other applications. For instance, the present invention may be used in other similar or conventional applications of radars.
A driver may check his rearview mirror and sideview mirrors when backing up a vehicle. A driver may also pivot his head around to look behind the vehicle. Despite checking each of the mirrors and/or turning around, there typically is a blind spot in the driver's field of view. Compounding the problem with the blind spot, some drivers may not see properly behind the vehicle simply because they are distracted or do not exercise proper care. As a result, a driver may not see obstacles behind the vehicle when backing up. For many of the same or similar reasons, a driver may not be able to see obstacles located to the side or front of a vehicle.
In light of the difficulties with seeing obstacles when driving a car, there is a need for a radar system that detects and warns of such obstacles. There is also a need for a radar system that can accurately detect the presence of an obstacle using one or more transmitted signals of substantially the same frequency as opposed to multiple transmitted signals having different frequencies. Furthermore, a need exists for being able to determine the presence of an obstacle without modulating the transmitted signals.
The present invention solves one or more of the aforementioned needs. The system includes at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna. In one exemplary embodiment which includes multiple transmitting and/or receiving antennas, the receiving antennas may be arranged in at least one linear array to provide spatially distributed data to facilitate the determination of the angle and range estimates of the obstacle(s). It should be recognized that the receiving antennas may be arranged in a non-linear configuration, but a non-linear configuration may increase the difficulty of determining the angle and range estimates of the obstacles.
The transmitting antenna receives an input signal and transmits an electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave reflects off an obstacle back to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna captures the reflected electromagnetic wave and produces an output signal. The output signal is then combined with the input signal in a quadrature mixer. The resulting in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals may be further processed and then transmitted to a processing system. The processing system uses a suitable algorithm (e.g., a near field back projection algorithm, a far field angle of arrival algorithm, or any other type of tomographic algorithm) to estimate the type and/or location of obstacle that reflected the electromagnetic wave. In an exemplary embodiment, the algorithm is adapted to discriminate between different sizes and/or locations of obstacles in order to determine if there is a hazard. Based on this information, the processing system may then communicate with a visual or audible display or warning system in order to alert the driver about the obstacle if it has been determined to be a hazard.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.


Embodiments of a Generation Node-B (gNB) and methods of communication are disclosed herein. The gNB may be configured with logical nodes including a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) and a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU). The gNB-CU 106 may determine a first precoding matrix and a second precoding matrix for a precoding of one or more data streams for transmission on a plurality of antennas coupled to the gNB-DU. The precoding may be in accordance with a split functionality between the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU that includes: precoding by the gNB-CU with the first precoding matrix, and precoding by the gNB-DU with the second precoding matrix.

Base stations and mobile devices operating in a cellular network may exchange data. Functionality related to various protocol layers may be implemented in a base station to support communication with mobile devices. In an example scenario, a large number of mobile devices may communicate with the base station. In another example scenario, performance targets for a mobile device, such as latency, delay and/or other, may be challenging for the base station to meet. Accordingly, there is a general need for methods and systems to implement communication between the base station and the mobile devices in these and other scenarios.

Split precoding and split prefiltering between a central unit and a distributed unit of a generation node-B (GNB)


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, an electrode layer provided above the substrate, a first insulating layer provided on the electrode layer, a stacked body provided on the insulating layer, a memory film, a channel body layer, a channel body connecting portion and a second insulating layer. The stacked body has a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating film alternately stacked on each other. The memory film is provided on a sidewall of each of a pair of holes penetrating the stacked body in a direction of stacking the stacked body. The channel body layer is provided on an inner side of the memory film in each of the pair of the holes.

There is a memory device in which a memory hole is formed in a stacked body, in which an electrode layer functioning as a control gate in a memory cell and an insulating layer are alternately stacked on each other in multiple layers, a charge storage film is formed on the sidewall of the memory hole, and a channel body layer is then provided in the memory hole, thereby three-dimensionally arranging memory cells.
In this type of memory device, there is a U-shaped memory string structure having a pair of columns extending in a direction of stacking a stacked body including a plurality of electrode layers and a joining portion buried in a back gate and connecting the pair of the columns to each other.
Before forming the stacked body including the electrode layers, a recess (a space) is formed in a base layer to be the back gate, and a sacrificial film is buried in the recess. After this burying, the stacked body including the electrode layers is formed on the base layer, a hole for the column is formed, and the sacrificial film in the recess is removed through the hole by etching. After this etching, a charge storage film and a channel body layer are formed in the hole and the recess for forming a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. In this type of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, the number of stacked layers of the stacked body tends to increase more and more. Thus, an increase in the number of stacked layers of the stacked body sometimes causes the parasitic resistance of the channel body layer to increase. Desirably, the parasitic resistance of the channel body layer is more reduced.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same


A program is executed utilizing a main hardware thread. During execution, an instruction specifies to execute a portion utilizing a worker hardware thread. If a processor state indicator is set to multi-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the worker hardware thread. However, if the processor state indicator is set to single-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the main hardware thread as a subroutine. The main hardware thread may pass parameter data to the worker hardware thread by copying the parameter data register or memory location for the main hardware thread to an equivalent parameter data register or memory location for the worker hardware thread. Similarly, the worker hardware thread may pass return values to the main hardware thread by copying a return value register or memory location for the worker hardware thread to an equivalent return value register or memory location for the main hardware thread.

Hardware "threads" are hardware resources of processors that are able to perform separate streams of execution simultaneously with and independent of other processing executing on a computing device. To increase the execution speed and efficiency of computer programs by a computing device, the computer program can be executed by more than one hardware thread and the computing device switches between the hardware threads. However, the increase in execution speed and efficiency of executing computer programs utilizing multiple hardware threads is offset against the synchronization overhead, i.e. the resources that must expended in communicating among the various hardware threads.
Conventional hardware threads have limited resources available for execution and thus typically are limited in the amount of computational work they can perform. This limitation can be mitigated to an extent by increasing the number of hardware threads utilized to execute a computer program. However, current implementations of hardware threads typically communicate and synchronize through memory operations, and thus have high communication and synchronization overheads. The larger the communication and synchronization overhead, the more work each hardware thread has to perform in order for execution of a computer program utilizing multiple threads to be worthwhile.
Typically, computer program code is written to execute using a single hardware thread or multiple hardware threads. Computer programs written to execute using only a single hardware thread are unable achieve increased execution speed and efficiency by executing using multiple hardware threads, even when the benefits outweigh the costs. Computer programs written to execute using multiple hardware threads achieve increased execution speed and efficiency by executing using multiple hardware threads when the benefits in increased execution speed and efficiency outweigh the costs of synchronization, but are sometimes unable to avoid the drawbacks of executing using multiple hardware threads when the benefits in increased execution speed do not outweigh the costs of synchronization and communication. Further, computer programs written to execute using multiple hardware threads are usually unable to avoid other drawbacks of executing using multiple threads, such as when a sufficient number of hardware threads are not available and execution is thus delayed in waiting for available threads.

Code execution utilizing single or multiple threads


Even if streak-like noise or streaks caused by dragging which can be hardly distinguished from upheaval lines exist, background regions and impressing regions are separated from each other without being affected by existence of streaks. A fingerprint image background detection apparatus which discriminates background regions and impressing regions in an input fingerprint image includes impressing feature extraction means 22 which finds a pixel value variation quantity in a direction parallel to streak-like noise or streaks caused by dragging every small region obtained by dividing the input fingerprint image, tentative impressing region decision means 23 which judges impressing regions by comparing a pixel value variation quantity of every small region found by the impressing feature extraction means with a threshold, and impressing region shaping means 24 which shapes the impressing regions judged by the tentative impressing region decision means to obtain a convex shaped figure and obtains regions other than the impressing regions as background regions.

Conventionally, it is necessary from the viewpoint of security to conduct person identification at the time of, for example, entering and exiting a room in a building, accessing a computer, and reception at a banking organ.
In a conventional fingerprint authentication apparatus which conducts the person identification, a fingerprint image is acquired by using a plane sensor or a line-shaped sensor using optical means, capacitance means or thermal means. A monochrome variable density image of fingerprint upheaval lines obtained by taking in a fingerprint of a finger of a discrimination subject is compared with a registered image of a fingerprint registrant to determine whether the discrimination subject is the same as the fingerprint registrant.
In image processing in such a fingerprint authentication apparatus, feature extraction is conducted on the acquired fingerprint image and collation is conducted by using an extracted feature quantity. In general, preprocessing such as noise removal and background removal is conducted on the fingerprint image before conducting the feature extraction, in order to extract a feature of the fingerprint with higher precision. The preprocessing is conducted with the object of preventing the collation precision from being lowered by false detection or a detection omission of the fingerprint feature and eliminating unnecessary processing to reduce the amount of calculation. For conducting the background removal included in the preprocessing, it is necessary to separate the subject fingerprint image into impressing regions where the fingerprint is present and background regions.
In most conventional methods of separating the fingerprint into the impressing regions and the background regions, threshold processing is conducted simply on pixel values of the fingerprint image to discriminate between the impressing regions and the background regions on the assumption that there is a significant difference in pixel value (density value) between upheaval line pixels and pixels other than upheaval lines in an input image supplied from a fingerprint input apparatus.
For example, in a method described in Patent Document 1 listed below, a high density part is transformed into a black region of pixel 1 and a low density part is transformed into a white region of pixel 0 by utilizing a density value of the input image, gradating the input image by using the Gaussian transform and temporarily converting the input image to a binary value. As a result, the black regions are discriminated as a fingerprint image part. Therefore, this part is masked and returned to the input detected image, and the white regions are cut as background information. The fingerprint image subjected to the background separation processing is subject to feature extraction processing. The background separation processing is premised on the assumption that there is a significant difference in pixel value distribution between the impressing regions and the background regions.
A method described in Patent Document 2 is not intended for a fingerprint but intended for a palm print. The impressing regions are found by extracting contour of the palm print. As for the contour of the palm print, a boundary is determined on the basis of a luminance difference between the background pixels and the palm print pixels by using scanning lines of the palm pixel image from downward, upward, rightward and leftward directions. Discrimination between upheaval line pixels and other pixels is conducted by simple threshold processing. This method is also premised on the assumption that there is a distinct difference in distribution between pixel values of upheaval lines and pixel values of the background and valley lines.
On the other hand, a method described in Patent Document 3 solves drawbacks of a method of fractionalizing a fingerprint image into small regions (blocks), utilizing the fact that there is a difference in pixel value distribution between the impressing regions and the background regions, and comparing pixel values in the small regions. In other words, proceeding to collation processing is conducted after converting the fingerprint image into binary values by using, for example, a method of using a middle value of pixel values, determining whether a fingerprint exists in the small regions obtained by the fractionalizing on the basis of continuity of upheaval lines and valley lines, and confirming that the fingerprint image is an image which does not include the background image and which is suitable for authentication.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one region to explain the method described in Patent Document 3.
A plurality of pixels (for example, 10 by 10 pixels) are included in one region. When a predetermined number of pixels 1 or 0 are consecutive along a decision line, the line is judged to be an upheaval line or a valley line.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-44856
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-255051
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-298126

Fingerprint image background detection apparatus and detection method


Methods and systems for reducing the impact of fraudulent or spam calls are disclosed. One or more calls to a first phone address are received, the first phone address not currently associated with a communication for a customer prospect. The calling party phone addresses associated with the calls received prior to the association of the first phone address to the first communication are stored. Then the first phone address is associated to the first communication. A first call to the first phone address is received. Prior to answering the first call and at least partly in response to a determination that a calling party phone address of the first call matches one of the previously stored calling party phone address, the first call is identified as a spam or otherwise undesirable call candidate and may be rejected.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating communications between individuals and enterprises in the context of product and service promotions and customer service management, and in particular, to methods and systems for managing fraudulent calls associated with said communications.
Although there has been a significant shift in the past decade towards the purchase of goods and services online, there are still a number of products purchased over the phone. However, many of these over-the-phone purchases are prompted by advertisements and promotions on the Internet. For media buyers, it is difficult to manage and measure the return on their investment for online, offline, and/or mobile advertisements that result in calls. In many cases, revenue is lost when a promotion results in a phone call that cannot be tracked back to the media buyer or web property carrying the advertisement.
Currently, there are organizations that publish content of interest to an audience of web users. Many of these organizations and distribution partners (termed "affiliates" or "publishers"), generate revenue through advertisements displayed in association with their content. Typically, the advertisements on a web page contain only a limited amount of information but include a link to advertiser web sites that provide further details often including a phone address (e.g., a phone number). If a potential customer calls the phone address to make a purchase from the advertiser, instead of making the purchase online, conventionally it may be difficult or impossible to determine which advertisements resulted in that lead. Such sales/lead tracking and Return On Investment (ROI) optimization is particularly challenging when there are multiple advertisements displayed on different online advertising channels while the sales transaction takes place in another medium (e.g., wireline and wireless telephony). In the case where a single advertisement is associated with a designated phone address and a suitable call tracking solution, the advertisement's performance may be easily determined; all calls to the phone address and all sales that resulted from the calls are driven by the aforementioned ad. However, it is rare that an advertising campaign only consists of a single ad and that the single ad is placed in a single advertising channel. A business with a series of online, offline, and/or mobile promotions (e.g., separate media outlets) will not likely be able to determine which advertisements were the most effective if all of the advertisements drive calls to one phone address.
What is needed are voice, fax, and/or video telephony capabilities integrated with marketing campaigns of varying complexity (e.g., simple or sophisticated marketing campaigns) which enable advertisers to determine and/or credit online promotions with offline telephony experiences. In addition, because these telephony experiences in association with campaigns may be subject to fraudulent communications, certain embodiments described herein are provisioned and configured with appropriate fraud countermeasures.
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for facilitating communications between individuals and enterprises in the context of product and service promotions and customer service, and in particular, to methods and systems for detecting and eliminating fraudulent calls associated with said communications.
Further disclosed herein are techniques for marketing automation and telecommunications, and in particular, to methods and systems which can be utilized for tracking sales/leads, optimizing and organizing advertising campaigns where phone calls and optionally phone numbers are used creatively to track and manage ad spending. For example, certain embodiments track phone calls driven by each advertisement and associate meaningful values to each call that identify the attributes of the traffic source.
A given embodiment may include some or all of the features, functionality, systems and methods described herein.
Methods and systems for reducing the impact of undesirable (e.g., fraudulent or spam calls) are disclosed. In an example aspect, one or more calls to a first phone address are received, wherein the first phone address is not currently associated with a communication for a customer prospect. The calling party phone addresses associated with the calls received prior to the association of the first phone address to the first communication are stored. Then the first phone address is associated to the first communication. A first call to the first phone address is received. Prior to answering the first call and at least partly in response to a determination that a calling party phone address of the first call matches one of the previously stored calling party phone address, the first call is identified as a spam or otherwise undesirable call candidate and may be rejected. Optionally, at least partly in response to detecting a modem tone during the first call, the first call is identified as a spam call and the first call is rejected.
An example embodiment provides a method of computer implemented method of call processing, the method comprising: receiving over a network, by a computing system, one or more calls to a first phone address, the first phone address not currently associated with a marketing campaign communication; storing, by the computing system, one or more calling party phone addresses associated with the one or more received calls prior to the association of the first phone address to the marketing campaign communication; associating the first phone address to the marketing campaign communication; subsequent to the association of the phone address to the first marketing campaign communication, receiving, at the computing system, a first call to the first phone address; prior to answering the first call and at least partly in response to a determination, by the computing system, that a calling party phone address of the first call matches a stored calling party phone address included in the one or more calling party phone addresses associated with the one or more received calls prior to the association of the first phone address to the marketing campaign communication, identifying, by the computing system, the first call as a spam call candidate; and, at least partly in response to detecting a modem tone, by the computing system, during the first call, identifying, by the computing system, the first call as a spam call and rejecting, by the computing system, the first call; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising at least partly in response to detecting the modem tone, storing an indication that future calls from the calling party phone address of the first call are to be blocked; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising receiving a second call to the first phone address associated with the marketing campaign communication; and, at least partly in response to determining that a calling party address of the second call is associated with a stored call block indication, rejecting, by the computing system, the second call; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising: at least partly in response to detecting a call termination of the first call, occurring within a specified call period of time, identifying the first call as a spam call candidate; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising: at least partly in response to detecting, during a second call to the first phone address associated with the marketing campaign communication, a fax tone, identifying, by the computing system, the second call as a spam call; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising: at least partly in response to detecting, during a second call to the first phone address associated with the marketing campaign communication, a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone, by the computing system, wherein the detected DTMF tone is an A, B, C, or D type tone, identifying, by the computing system, the second call as a spam call; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising: at least partly in response to receiving a second call during a specified marketing campaign state, identifying, by the computing system, the second call as a candidate spam call; and, optionally the computer implemented method further comprising: at least partly in response to receiving a second call during a specified marketing campaign state, identifying, by the computing system, the second call as a candidate spam call, wherein the marketing campaign state comprises an indicator of a position of a customer prospect in a marketing campaign funnel.
An example embodiment provides a system, comprising: a computing device; a network interface configured to be coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); non-transitory media storing instructions readable by the computing device, that when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, comprising: associating a phone address to a communication wherein the communication is directed to a customer prospect; subsequent to the association of the phone address with the communication, receiving a first call to the first phone address; prior to answering the first call, generating a first score for the first call, wherein the first score is calculated based at least in part on at least a first attribute of the received call; prior to answering the first call, rejecting the first call if the first score satisfies a first condition; if the first score does not satisfy the first condition, answering the first call; subsequent to answering the first call, generating a second score for the first call, wherein the second score is generated based at least in part on a second attribute of the first call; and, identifying the first call as a spam call and rejecting the first call if: the second score satisfies a second condition, or if a third score, generated based at least in part on the first score and the second score, satisfies a third condition; and, optionally wherein the communication comprises a marketing communication associated with a marketing campaign; and, optionally the operations further comprising: at least partly in response to identifying the first call as a spam call, storing an indication that future calls from the calling party phone address of the first call are to be blocked; and, optionally the operations further comprising: receiving a second call to the first phone address associated with the communication; and, at least partly in response to determining that a calling party address of the second call is associated with a stored call block indication, rejecting, by the computing system, the second call; and, optionally wherein the second attribute of the first call comprises a length of the first call; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises detection of a fax tone; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises detection of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone, wherein the detected DTMF tone is a numeric DTMF tone or an A, B, C, or D tone; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises receiving the first call during a specified campaign state; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises receiving the first call during a specified campaign state, wherein a marketing campaign state comprises an indicator of a position of the customer prospect in a marketing campaign funnel.
An example embodiment provides a system, comprising: a computing device; a network interface configured to be coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); non-transitory media storing instructions readable by the computing device, that when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, comprising: receiving one or more calls to a first phone address, the first phone address not currently associated with a communication for a customer prospect; storing one or more calling party phone addresses associated with the one or more received calls prior to the association of the first phone address to the first communication; associating the first phone address to the first communication; subsequent to the association of the phone address to the first communication, receiving a first call to the first phone address, prior to answering the first call and at least partly in response to a determination that a calling party phone address of the first call matches a stored calling party phone address included in the one or more calling party phone addresses associated with the one or more received calls prior to the association of the first phone address to the first communication; identifying the first call as a spam call candidate; and, at least partly in response to detecting a modem tone during the first call, identifying the first call as a spam call and rejecting the first call; and, optionally wherein the communication comprises a marketing communication associated with a marketing campaign; and, optionally the operations further comprising: at least partly in response to identifying the first call as a spam call, storing an indication that future calls from the calling party phone address of the first call are to be blocked; and, optionally the operations further comprising: receiving a second call to the first phone address associated with the communication; and, at least partly in response to determining that a calling party address of the second call is associated with a stored call block indication, rejecting, by the computing system, the second call; and, optionally wherein the second attribute of the first call comprises a length of the first call; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises detection of a fax tone; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises detection of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone, wherein the detected DTMF tone is a numeric DTMF tone or an A, B, C, or D tone; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises receiving the first call during a specified campaign state; and, optionally wherein the first attribute or the second attribute of the first call comprises receiving the first call during a specified campaign state, wherein a marketing campaign state comprises an indicator of a position of the customer prospect in a marketing campaign funnel.


A method and system for delivering audio and data files includes a data network and a voice network. A user station provided in communication with the data network receives data files. A telephone provided in communication with the voice network receives audio files. An application server in communication with the data network stores and executes applications programs which include audio features. An audio server in communication with the application server and the voice network is operative to dial a telephone, deliver a selected audio file to the telephone, or record and store an audio file.

In an effort to reduce the development, deployment and maintenance costs associated with computer applications, many new applications and services are now being deployed as distributed, client-server applications on Internet and/or private corporate intranets using World Wide Web technologies, such as, for example, the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Many of these applications involve the use of multi-media sub-applications, including audio and audio-related components.
Typically an audio file is delivered to a user by downloading it using a program such as a Web browser and playing it using a helper application or browser "plug-in." Several file compression and streaming technologies have been developed to improve the performance of downloaded audio and other media delivered over the above-described distributed, client-server applications. In addition to the delivery of audio materials, several companies have also developed methods for two-way voice communications over the same networks. In other words, both audio and data files are delivered to the user via the data network.
As those skilled in the art will recognize, the transport of audio and data files over a data network is both time-consuming and resource intensive. More specifically, such transmission takes a substantial amount of bandwidth and thus causes significant transmission delays, which are undesirable from a user perspective. In a typical prior art application, audio files such as voice are saved on hard disk and sent across the Internet or an intranet. This approach also requires a substantial amount of storage.
Consequently, a need exists for a method and system for delivering audio and data files to a user which reduces the strain on network resources, namely bandwidth and storage, and which may be performed in a timely and efficient manner. Such a method and system should also provide for the two-way transport of audio for both recording and playback in a manner that is tightly coordinated with the display of a client-server application and which allows the transport of audio to be flexibly directed across the data network or voice network, whichever best accommodates a particular individual user in a particular situation. Finally, such a method and system should transport audio and data files in a manner which is transparent to the user.

Method and system for delivering audio and data files


Interaction with a display occurs. A light point is transmitted towards the display. A mode of operation of the light point is established based on timing associated with illumination of the light point.

This invention is in the field of projection systems and specifically is directed to interacting with a projection display. In particular, a method and apparatus for interacting with a projection display using a pointing device such as a laser pen is disclosed.
Computers are often utilized in conjunction with projection screens or displays for presentations and meetings. For example, it is common to display a slide show that is stored within the memory of a computer onto a projection display. Typically, the person giving a presentation (a presenter) interfaces with the computer via input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse) in order to effectuate a change on the projection screen. For example, the presenter may be seated at the keyboard and scroll from slide to slide in a slide show by striking the enter key.
Laser pointers are also widely used for meetings and presentations. For example, the presenter may use a laser pointer to draw attention to a particular area of the projection screen. As such, a slide may be projected on a projection display and the presenter may direct the laser pointer towards the display, thus causing a red dot to appear on the desired area of a display.
These conventional techniques for interacting with a projection display suffer from numerous drawbacks. When the presenter is forced to utilize computer input devices to interact with the projection display, the presenter typically remains within a close proximity of the computer system. This is because the presenter uses the computer input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse) to interact with the projection display. This may be undesirable, as the presenter may prefer to walk around the room and not remain fixed at the computer station. Further, when utilizing a laser pointer to draw attention to the projected display, the area highlighted is only momentary. As such, the image projected on the projection display is not altered by directing a laser pointer at the image. Accordingly, a presenter cannot readily draw attention to more than one area of the projection display at a time, because once the laser pointer is moved to a new area of the display, the red dot disappears from the first area.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system that allows a presenter to interface with a projection display more readily, and more effectively.
Interaction with a display occurs. A light point is transmitted towards the display. A mode of operation of the light point is established based on timing associated with illumination of the light point.
In a preferred embodiment, a combined image of the light point and an image on the display is captured and processed to determine a position of the light point. The image on the display is then updated based on at least one of the position of the light point and the mode of operation of the light point.
An apparatus for interacting with a display using a light point is also disclosed. The apparatus includes timing means that determine timing associated with illumination of the light point. Control means control a mode of operation of the light point based on the timing.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a projector to project the image onto the display. A camera is also included for capturing a combined image of the light point and an image on the display. An image processor processes the combined image to determine the position of the light point with respect to the image. Update means update the image on the display based on the position of the light point, the operational mode of the light point, or both.

Untethered laser pointer for use with computer display


A refrigerant system and a method for controlling the same are provided. A refrigerant system includes: an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an operating loop of the refrigerant system and configured to perform a heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant; a compressor disposed in the operating loop and configured to compress the refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the operating loop and configured to perform a heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant; an expander disposed in the operating loop and configured to expand the refrigerant; a refrigerant storage connected to the operating loop and configured to receive and store the refrigerant from and discharge the refrigerant to the operating loop; and a refrigerant storage controller configured to control a total amount of refrigerant in the operating loop based on an indoor air conditioning load and an amount of the stored refrigerant.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerant system and method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, there is an apparatus that cools/heats the interior of a room by performing a refrigerant cycle including compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. The apparatus includes an indoor unit for performing a heat exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air, and an outdoor unit for performing a heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air. The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger for performing a heat exchange between the refrigerant and the indoor air, a fan for blowing the indoor air, and a motor for rotating the fan. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger for performing a heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air, a fan for blowing the outdoor air, a motor for rotating the fan, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, an expander for expanding the refrigerant, and a four-way valve for changing the flow direction of the refrigerant.
If a cooling operation is performed in the interior of a room, the indoor heat exchanger becomes an evaporator and the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condenser. If a heating operation is performed in the interior of the room, the indoor heat exchanger becomes a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger becomes an evaporator. The conversion between the cooling and heating operations is performed by changing the flow direction of the refrigerant using the four-way valve.

Refrigerant system and method for controlling the same


A digital filter for a digital weigher reduces a calculation time in an adapted filter while maintaining weighing accuracy, a digital weigher includes the filter for the weigher, and a wave filtering process method uses the digital filter for the digital weigher. A fixation section of a FIR filter removes an oscillating component in a predetermined frequency range, from a digital weighing signal. A determination device determines whether an amplitude of an oscillating component contained in a digital weighing signal derived by performing a wave filtering process falls within a predetermined damping range. A control device changes a frequency range of an oscillating component to be removed by an adaptive section of the filter based on a result of the determination. The adaptive section of the filter performs the wave filtering process with respect to the oscillating component in the frequency range changed by the control device.

In a digital weigher, an analog weighing signal of objects which is detected by a weight sensor such as a load cell is converted into a digital weighing signal and control processes are performed using the digital weighing signal. The digital weighing signal contains oscillating components of an oscillation unique to the digital weigher, a oscillation due to external causes, etc. The oscillating components are removed by using a digital filter.
In the digital filter, to remove an oscillating component in which its frequency characteristic is varying with a passage of time, like the oscillation due to the external causes, etc., of the oscillating components contained in digital weighing signal, a frequency range of the oscillating component to be removed is changed by changing a transfer function according to the digital weighing signal input. As a method of changing the transfer function, there are a method of re-calculating a filter coefficient and a method of changing a filter order (the number of unit filters).
However, in the method of re-calculating the filter coefficient, an amount of repeated calculation is great and complex calculation is necessary, which will increase a calculation time. That is, if the filter coefficient is re-calculated during weighing of the objects, a time that passes until the digital weighing signal falls within a predetermined allowable damping range (time that passes until the digital weighing signal becomes a usable weight value of the objects) will increase.
As a solution to this problem, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a digital filter in which it is determined whether or not an amplitude of an oscillating component contained in a digital weighing signal derived by performing a wave filtering process by a filter means falls within a predetermined allowable damping range in every predetermined sampling of the digital weighing signal in one weighing cycle, and a filter order of the filter means is increased if it is determined that the amplitude of the oscillating component does not fall within the predetermined allowable damping range, thereby changing a frequency range of an oscillating component to be removed by the filter means. According to this digital filter, the oscillating component to be removed is changed by changing the filter order of the filter means depending on whether or not the amplitude of the oscillating component contained in the digital weighing signal derived by performing the wave filtering process falls within the predetermined allowable damping range. Therefore, an amount of calculation in the wave filtering process in the filter means can be reduced.


A blood-vessel detecting device includes a partially-deforming device which can be inserted into the body cavity so as to come into contact with the tissue surface in order to deform a part of the tissue surface so that turbulence is generated in a blood flow within blood vessels extending underneath the tissue surface, thereby enabling detection of the presence or absence of blood vessels underneath the tissue surface. Turbulent sound due to the turbulence generated at a part of the tissue surface deformed by the partially-deforming device is converted into electric signals by a converting device, following which the electric signals are subjected to signal processing such as amplification and so forth by a signal processing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blood vessel detecting device for detecting blood vessels around tissue, in general, which is to be resected, such as an affected portion of mucosal tissue within the body cavity.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) has attracted attention as a standard medical treatment for early mucosal cancer, and the clinical usefulness thereof has been well known.
In normal polypectomy, a bulging affected portion bulging therearound is resected using a high-frequency snare. On the other hand, in a case of non-bulging affected portion generally flat therearound, known resection methods include: a method wherein a tumor is caused to swell by injecting a physiological salt solution to the submucous membrane, and the tumor thus swollen is resected by a high-frequency snare; and a method wherein the affected portion is resected by the high-frequency snare while pulling up the affected portion with holding forceps using 2-channel scope; and the like.
Note that other known methods include: a method wherein the affected portion is resected by a high-frequency snare while suctioning the affected portion using a silicone tube including an endoscope and the snare inserted therethrough, (EMR tube method); a method wherein the affected portion is resected by a high-frequency snare integrally included at the tip of a transparent cap mounted at the tip of a scope while suctioning the affected portion using the transparent cap (EMRC method), a method wherein tissue around the affected portion is incised so as to resect the affected portion using an IT knife (needle knife including a ceramic chip on the tip thereof) (IT knife method).
On the other hand, in general diagnosis, blood vessels can be diagnosed by observing B-mode tomographic images or Doppler images obtained in ordinary ultrasonic endoscope diagnosis. In this case, there is the need to press an ultrasonic transducer into contact with the precise portion containing a mucous membrane which is to be resected, during transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves. Accordingly, in general, a method wherein the ultrasonic transducer is covered with a balloon filled with water is employed.
Conventionally, as another method for detecting blood vessels and aneurysms occurring in the blood vessel, a method is known wherein turbulent sound occurring in the blood vessel, i.e., Korotokov sound, is detected. The measurement of blood pressure is known as a specific application example. Description will be made regarding the technique with reference to conventional arrangements.
A sphygmomanometer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-309894 employs a mechanism for detecting the aforementioned-Korotokov sound.
With the aforementioned conventional sphygmomanometer, a cuff is wrapped around the upper arm of the subject, and the arteries are constricted by pressure in order to detect the Korotokov sound (K-sound). The conventional sphygmomanometer comprises a K-sound sensor for detecting the Korotokov sound (K-sound), a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure within the upper arm, a peripheral-vein pulse pressure sensor, a pressure-sensor amplifier, and the like.
In the measurement with the sphygmomanometer, the peripheral-vein pulse pressure sensor is attached onto the portion peripheral to the cuff-wrapped portion, subsequently, the peripheral-vein pulse pressure (relative value) is measured by the peripheral-vein pulse pressure sensor over the pressure of the cuff in the step of slow pressure reduction following pressure application, as well as measuring the pressure of the cuff. From the measurement results, the peak value of the peripheral-vein pulse pressure (relative value) is obtained, and the pressure of the cuff corresponding to the aforementioned peak value is determined to be the maximum peripheral-vein pulse pressure.
On the other hand, in recent research, measurement results, which suggest that cardiac murmur can be detected in a patient affected by aortopathy due to turbulence within the blood vessels thereof, have been reported as described in the document (Kanai et al. "Measurement of spatial distribution of great velocity components of the myocardium and change in thickness of the local portion thereof", J. Med. Ultrasonics, Vol. 29, No. 4, (2002) S235).
As described above, it is known that turbulence causes turbulent sound in the blood vessels, and accordingly, the blood pressure and presence or absence of an aneurysm can be detected by detecting the sound, i.e., the Korotokov sound.


An apparatus includes a product substrate having a transfer surface, and a semiconductor die defined, at least in part, by a first surface adjoined to a second surface that extends in a direction transverse to the first surface. The transfer surface includes ripples in a profile thereof such that an apex on an individual ripple is a point on a first plane and a trough on the individual ripple is a point on a second plane. The semiconductor die is disposed on the transfer surface between the first plane and the second plane such that the second surface of the semiconductor die extends transverse to the first plane and the second plane.

Semiconductor devices are electrical components that utilize semiconductor material, such as silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and the like. Semiconductor devices are typically manufactured as single discrete devices or as integrated circuits (ICs). Examples of single discrete devices include electrically-actuatable elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, fuses, and the like.
The fabrication of semiconductor devices typically involves an intricate manufacturing process with a myriad of steps. The end-product of the fabrication is a "packaged" semiconductor device. The "packaged" modifier refers to the enclosure and protective features built into the final product as well as the interface that enables the device in the package to be incorporated into an ultimate circuit.
The conventional fabrication process for semiconductor devices starts with handling a semiconductor wafer. The wafer is diced into a multitude of "unpackaged" semiconductor devices. The "unpackaged" modifier refers to an unenclosed semiconductor device without protective features. Herein, unpackaged semiconductor devices may be called semiconductor device dies, or just "dies" for simplicity. The unpackaged dies are then "packaged" via a conventional fabrication process.
Typically, packaging involves mounting a die onto a plastic or ceramic package (e.g., mold or enclosure). Packaging may also include connecting the die contacts to pins/wires for interfacing/interconnecting with ultimate circuitry. Mounting dies onto the package inherently exposes the die because of their elevated height above the package. Typically, this elevated height is the vertical thickness of the die being placed onto the package. Moreover, because mounting typically involves only adhesion on one side of the die, (the side being in contact with the package) dies are not adequately supported and protected from lateral forces across the face of the package. In turn, the die may be rubbed, bumped against, or be brushed by surroundings, causing the die to be dislodged, disconnected from the die contacts, sheared off, or otherwise separated from the package.
After placement of the die, packaging of the semiconductor device is typically completed by sealing the die to protect it from the environment (e.g., dust). Such sealants, however, while protecting from certain environments, may fail to fully ensure the viability of the die's placement on the package. Over time, the sealant may become worn and ultimately fail because the die's raised height above the package, enabling the die to become exposed to both environmental elements and being sheared off the package.

Method and apparatus for embedding semiconductor devices


A rechargeable battery pack includes a rechargeable battery, a mount frame wrapping at least part of the rechargeable battery, an outer case wrapped around the mount frame, the outer case including a first case including a first protrusion portion protruding therefrom, and a second case having a second protrusion portion protruding therefrom, the first protrusion portion being fixed to the second protrusion portion, and a protective circuit module electrically connected to the rechargeable battery.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a rechargeable battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery can be recharged and discharged repeatedly, unlike a primary battery. A small-capacity rechargeable battery is used for small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and the like, while a large-capacity rechargeable battery is used as a motor-driving power source for a hybrid vehicle or the like.
Typical rechargeable batteries include a nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) battery, a nickel-hydrogen (Ni—NH) battery, a lithium (Li) battery, a lithium ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery, and the like. An operating voltage of the lithium ion rechargeable battery is approximately three times higher than that of the nickel-cadmium battery or the nickel-hydrogen commonly used in portable electronic equipments. In addition, the lithium ion rechargeable battery is widely used due to advantages in terms of higher energy density per unit weight.
The rechargeable battery may use a lithium-based oxide as a positive active material, and a carbon material as a negative active material. In general, the lithium-based rechargeable batteries may be classified into a liquid electrolyte battery and a polymer electrolyte battery depending on the kinds of electrolyte. A battery using the liquid electrolyte is referred to as a lithium ion battery and a battery using the polymer electrolyte is referred to as a lithium polymer battery.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


One embodiment of a cover for use in a fuel system component has a body and a seal molded around the body. The body has at least one first connecting feature that is complementary to at least one second connecting feature of the seal. The first connecting feature and the second connecting feature help hold the body and the seal together.

Many automotive fuel systems include a fuel tank for storing fuel that is eventually consumed by an internal combustion engine. A fuel delivery module comprising, among other things, a reservoir and a fuel pump, may be mounted or suspended within the fuel tank through an opening in a fuel tank wall. Oftentimes the fuel delivery module includes a cover or mounting flange mated with the fuel tank opening to close the opening and prevent fuel liquid and fuel vapor form escaping therethrough. Such covers or mounting flanges are mated with the openings with one or more separately mounted seals between the covers or mounting flanges and the openings. To provide an effective seal, the seals must be positioned and retained within close tolerances.

Cover for fuel system component and method of making


A digital stamp is described which can print out a message using a moveable inkjet printhead (30) which can be moved by a mechanical arrangement of arm (35) and pivots (33, 36). A cartridge (20) containing ink feeds the printhead (30) with monochrome or color ink via lines (52). Movement of the upper section (10) of the housing towards the lower section (12) of the housing moves the arm (35) to slide the printhead (30) across the aperture (34) in the lower section (12) while at the same time electronic signals fed to the printhead (30) print out the stored message. A spring (42) returns the printhead (30) to its inoperative position once having traversed the opening (34). The stored message may be fixed, replaceable or programmable or may be one from a fixed number of stored or updateable messages or images or can be input by an attached apparatus, for example, a CCD imager, to record an image and to print it via the printhead (30). The digital stamp can replace a rubber stamp in an office or may be used to print labels in a retail environment. An infra-red ink may also be supplied which can be used to print an encoded digital message with or on top of a visual print-out as a security measure when a printhead having the necessary number of inkjet nozzles is employed.

Rubber stamps have been known for a long tie and embody a variety of constructions including a fixed face or a movable face. In the latter the inked rubber surface is moved vertically into contact with the paper or media being stamped The stamp is normally a fixed message and cannot be altered.
A number of stamps are employed in an office to convey messages, for example, "Faxed"; "Copy"; or "Confirmation". This creates considerable inventory as well as a limitation that any different message requires a new stamp to be created and, once created, the new stamp has only one functional purpose.
While rubber stamps are common in office environments there are other types of markers. Stencils are one such type and it is contemplated that the instant invention may be used in place of stencils.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image display device having a voltage supplying device generating a first changing voltage for setting a transistor to an on-state and a second changing voltage for setting a transistor to an off-state to operate so as to establish a first supply mode, a second supply mode and a third supply mode to a plurality of gate buses for determining the corrected common electrode voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image display device comprising a plurality of gate buses, a plurality of source buses, transistors each of which for supplying a pixel electrode with a voltage from said source bus, a common electrode, and a corrected voltage supplying means for supplying said common electrode with a common electrode voltage which has been corrected by an amount of correction.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior to shipment of a liquid crystal display device, a voltage level on a common electrode is adjusted. For the purpose of the adjustment, the liquid crystal display device is provided with, for example, a variable resistor connected to the common and an adjustment knob for adjusting a resistance value of the variable resistor. The adjustment knob is manipulated by a person or machine, so that the voltage level on the common electrode is adjusted in such a way that a flicker level become minimized.
In the manner described above, since the variable resistor is required, there is a problem that a component cost of the resistor is required. Further, if the resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted by a person, there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the voltage level on the common electrode to an optimum level since positions of the adjusted adjustment knob vary among persons who adjust the adjustment knob, on the other hand, if the resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted by a machine, there is a problem that an equipment cost is required since an equipment provided with photo sensors for receiving light emitted from a display panel and an adjustment system for adjusting the adjustment knob is required. Further, if the resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted with the adjustment knob, the person or machine touches the adjustment knob and then manipulates the adjustment knob, so that there is a fear of occurring a slightly variation of the position of the adjustment knob at the instant when the person or machine releases the adjustment knob. Therefore, even if the adjustment knob is on the optimum position immediately before the person or machine releases the adjustment knob, there is a fear of occurring a slightly deviation of the position of the adjustment knob from the optimum position immediately after the person or machine releases the adjustment knob, so that it is difficult to adjust the voltage level on the common electrode to the optimum level.
It is an object of the invention is to provide an image display device in which the component cost and the equipment cost are reduced and a voltage level of a common electrode is easily adjustable to an optimum level.

Image display device with circuits to compensate voltage drop in the common electrode for active matrix liquid crystal displays


A method of integrated circuit (IC) disposition includes the steps of determining one or more disposition criteria based at least in part on statistical timing of a given IC design; and determining whether a given IC according to the given IC design satisfies the one or more disposition criteria based at least in part on one or more measurements of at least one test structure.

One major concern in IC design is that timing misalignments could result in race conditions. A race condition or race hazard is a flaw in an electronic system or process whereby an output and/or result of the system or process is unexpectedly and critically dependent on the sequence or timing of other events. Data should generally arrive at a component (e.g., latch or flip-flop) a prescribed amount of time before a clock signal (e.g., setup time) and data should be stable for a prescribed amount of time until new data arrives (e.g., hold time). If the data and clock signals are not synchronized in this manner, unpredictable and undesirable results could occur.
A common metric utilized in timing analysis is "slack," which is typically defined as the difference between the expected time of data arrival and the actual time of data arrival. Negative slack means that the data is delayed, so the clock speed must be decreased accordingly. Conversely, positive slack indicates that the data is early, so the clock speed could be increased. If a manufactured IC has any negative slacks, it is often considered to be defective and is discarded.
Manufactured ICs are subject to wide performance distributions due to manufacturing process variations, and the like, which can cause timing misalignments, including negative slacks. Accordingly, it is necessary to test the ICs prior to deployment (e.g., shipping to a customer or using in a product). Typical methods of testing ICs include an at-speed structure test (ASST) and functional testing. However, it is often desirable to perform an initial screening of ICs even before the final testing of the IC. This screening, commonly known as IC disposition, allows for the discovery of ICs which would otherwise be incapable of passing the next stages of testing, thus allowing for these ICs to be identified and discarded earlier in the testing process.

Design-dependent integrated circuit disposition

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for fabricating a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is provided. The method has steps of sequentially forming an oxide layer, a polysilicon layer and a cap layer on a semiconductor substrate to form a first-stage gate. An interchangeable source/drain region with a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure is formed in the substrate at each side of the first-stage gate. An insulating layer is formed over the substrate, and is planarized so as to exposed the cap layer. Removing the exposed cap layer forms an opening that exposes the polysilicon layer. Using the insulating layer as a mask, a self-aligned selective local implantation process is performed to form a threshold-voltage doped region and an anti-punch-through doped region below the oxide layer in the substrate. A conductive layer is formed over the substrate to fill the opening. A chemical mechanical polishing process is performed to expose the insulating layer so that a remaining portion of the conductive layer fills the opening to form together with the polysilicon layer and the oxide layer to serve as an gate structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly to a method for fabricating a metal-oxide semiconductor device (MOS) device.
2. Description of Related Art
A MOS device is the most elementary device in a integrated circuit (IC) device. A MOS transistor usually includes a gate structure, a source region, and a drain region. The gate structure further includes a gate oxide layer and a metal layer sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon substrate. The source region and the drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate respectively at each side of the gate structure. Since the source region and the drain region is interchangeable, the source region drain region are usually called together as an interchangeable source/drain region.
Conventionally, before forming the gate structure of the MOS transistor, a global ion implantation process is necessarily performed over the semiconductor substrate so as to adjust a threshold voltage of the gate structure and form a capability of anti-punch-through. The gate structure, the source region and the drain region are then formed to accomplish the MOS transistor. The conductive layer of the gate structure usually includes a doped polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer, which is also called a silicide layer. The polysilicon layer provides a better adhesion capability with the gate oxide layer, and the suicide layer provides a better conductivity. Combining these two layers, the metal layer of the gate structure is called a polycide layer.
In above, even through the global ion implantation process has its advantages, it also causes an extra junction capacitance of the source/drain region, resulting a larger AC resistance, which decreases a data transmission speed. Moreover, as the device integration continuously increases, the device dimension has reached to a deep sub-micron level. The conventional polycide layer of the gate structure therefore has larger resistance due to a reduced dimension. This also causes to decrease the data transmission speed. Furthermore, for a dual gate structure, which includes two gate structures abutting each other, the dopants of the doped polycide layers of each gate structure may inter-diffuse each other through the silicide layers of the dual gate structure, resulting in a drifting of the threshold voltage. Moreover, the silicide layers may be agglomerated as an annealing process is performed in a high temperature environment. The agglomeration phenomenon causes an instability of electrical properties of the gate structure. A conventional solution, called a selective local implantation process, to solve the above problems is proposed to take place of the global ion implantation process. A metal gate layer also takes place of the conventional silicide layer of the polycide gate structure. The conventional proposal is described in FIGS. 1A-1D, which are cross-sectional views of a MOS transistor, schematically illustrating a conventional fabrication process of the MOS transistor.
In FIG. 1A, a semiconductor substrate 100 including a trench isolation structure 102 is provided. A photoresist layer 104 is formed on the substrate 100 and is patterned to expose a portion of the substrate 100, where a gate structure is to be formed. Using the photoresist layer 104 as a mask, ion implantation processes are performed to form a threshold-voltage doped region 116a and an anti-punch-through region 116b in the substrate 100 below the threshold-voltage doped region 116a.
In FIG. 1B, after removing the photoresist layer 104, a gate oxide layer 106, a polysilicon layer 108, and a metal layer 110 are sequentially formed over the substrate 100.
In FIG. 1C, the gate oxide layer 106, the polysilicon layer 108, and the metal layer 110 are patterned to respectively form a gate oxide layer 106a, a polysilicon layer 108a, and a metal layer 110a, all of which form a gate structure 109, which is above the threshold-voltage doped region 116a.
In FIG. 1D, a light ion implantation is performed to pre-form an interchangeable source/drain region between the gate structure 109 and the trench isolation structure 102. A sidewall spacer 112 is formed on each sidewall of the gate structure 109. Using the sidewall spacer 112 and the gate structure 109 as a mask, a heavy ion implantation is performed to accomplish an interchangeable source/drain region 114 in the substrate 100 at each side of the gate structure 109. A MOS transistor with the selective local implantation process is therefore formed. The interchangeable source/drain region 114 has lightly doped drain (LDD) structure. The metal layer 110a in the gate structure 109 can solve those conventional issues of high gate resistance, polycide thermal instability, and inter-diffusion. The MOS transistor with the selective local implantation process can reduce the junction capacitance in order to increase operation of data transmission speed.
However, the metal layer 110 cannot be easily etched, and the etched metal particles from the metal layer 110 remaining a etching tank may cause an acid-tank contamination. A contaminated etching tank may affect subsequent etching performance. Moreover, the selective local implantation process needs an extra mask, which also needs a critical alignment accuracy. A low yield rate may occurs.

Method for fabricating a metal-oxide semiconductor device