A system for setting a connection between information processing devices, according to the present invention includes: a server apparatus which is arranged on a network, collectively manages setting information necessary for a connection between other devices, and distributes requested setting information according to a request from another apparatus; and a communication apparatus which transmits information to the server apparatus. The communication apparatus includes: a first reading unit which makes displayed or printed code information readable, the code information indicating a location of setting information necessary for a connection to another device; a second reading unit which reads the code information; a converting unit which converts the code information into the location of the setting information; an acquiring unit which acquires the setting information from the location of the setting information; and a connection setting unit which performs a connection setting based on the setting information.

Recently, information processing devices such as PCs (personal computers) have come into wide use. Accordingly, one pattern of use frequently seen involves a large group of people holding a conference in which a video held on a PC is displayed by connecting the PC to an image display apparatus such as a projector.
In a conference in which a plurality of persons participate, work becomes complex because each participant needs to re-connect a cable to a PC every time a user or owner of a projector changes. Thus, a pattern of use in which a communication connection between the PC and the projector is made by a wireless communication means in which wiring is unnecessary may be desirable.
However, in a connection method based on a wireless communication standard such as a wireless LAN (local area network) or Bluetooth, a setting procedure becomes complex because a number of connection setting operations are necessary in preparation for security, interference, and the like. For example, connection information for a communication connection to a projector via a wireless LAN includes an IP address of the projector, a plurality of identifiers, a passphrase in WPA (Wi-Fi protected access), which is encryption technology of communication data, and the like. The plurality of identifiers are an ESSID (extended service set identifier) indicating the name of a connecting access point, and the like.
In order to set a connection between information processing devices, for example, when a projector is used, connection information of the projector should be examined in advance. In addition, it is difficult for someone having no knowledge about network setting to perform setting correctly even when connection information is identified in advance.
Furthermore, at present, a number of portable terminal apparatuses such as a portable phone, a game machine, a PDA (personal digital assistant), and the like, on which a wireless communication apparatus has been mounted, have been commercialized. In particular, there is a need for a method of inputting data for presentation to a portable phone, a PDA, or the like to visit a partner company and performing the presentation using only the portable terminal apparatus and the projector in the partner company when there are constraints on carrying a PC.
To solve the above-described problem, in technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, connection information for accessing an access point is widely distributed a wireless LAN spot using a wireless LAN to general users in advance via an information distribution medium. In this case, a user who desires to establish a connection to the wireless LAN spot by reading information for the connection using a mobile communication terminal apparatus.
In technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 technology for easily accessing one electronic device from another electric device is disclosed. That is, an image display system disclosed in Patent Document 2 generates a connection information code by converting connection information necessary for accessing a projector in a wireless LAN into a two-dimensional code, and projects the connection information code to the projector. In this case, if the connection information code is imaged by an imaging unit, a portable terminal apparatus analyzes an image including the imaged connection information code and extracts the connection information. Then, the projector corresponding to the wireless LAN is accessed using the extracted connection information.

System and method for setting connection between information processing devices, communication apparatus, setting information identifier outputting apparatus, and computer program


There is provided a method for managing a plurality of configuration items. The method includes holding, at a repository, for each configuration item, one set of data indicating at least one predetermined attribute of the configuration item and a relationship with another configuration item. The method also includes detecting, at a discovery section, information on configuration items. The discovery section performs subsequent detection based on at least one of a predetermined attribute and a predetermined relationship in a new set of data created from the information detected by the discovery section.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a collection of best practices for achieving an IT service management (ITIL is a registered trademark and a registered community trademark of the Office of Government Commerce). The core of the ITIL is service support and service delivery. One type of service support is configuration management. Configuration management is a process of identifying a configuration item (CI), keeping and updating information on the configuration item, and checking and inspecting the configuration item. A configuration item is a resource to be subjected to configuration management. A configuration item includes not only system resources including hardware and software, but also facilities to provide an IT service, documents, such as a rule book, procedures document and configuration diagrams on the management of the IT service, services like maintenance information, processes, and human resources. The framework of the ITIL recommends unitary management using a database called a configuration management database (CMDB) to manage a configuration item. The CMDB is a database for recording a relationship between at least one predetermined attribute of a configuration item and another configuration item. The most important capabilities that are provided by implementing the CMDB are a capability of automatically discovering information on a configuration item (also called discovery or automatic detection) and a capability of automatically updating information on a configuration item (also called tracking). It is important to accurately reflect information on a configuration item in the CMDB.
International Business Machines Corporation provides "Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database" (hereinafter Tivoli CCMDB) as software to assist construction of a CMDB and to control operations based on the CMDB. In the Tivoli CCMDB, operation management software is implemented to execute discovery and tracking.
The Tivoli CCMDB can identify 300 different configuration items in a distributed network environment, such as a server, a client, an operating system (OS), middleware (Web/AP/DBMS/LDAP, etc.), package software, a management tool, a network device and a storage device, and can automatically discover and update information on individual configuration items, such as information on configuration items of a computer, information on an application which runs on each computer, configuration information of a network attached storage (NAS) or the like connected to each computer, and configuration information of a storage area network (SAN) directly connected to a network. While the method of gathering information on each configuration item differs depending on targets to be managed, a computer system which manages a CMDB regularly accesses the remote interface for management using an SSH (Secure Shell) or the like to read a setting file on the OS or configuration information, or executes a setting acknowledge command. It is therefore unnecessary to introduce an agent program in a configuration item to be managed. Information which is discovered and updated in the above manner is organized to belong to any one of 31 different sections (Computer System, Database, Application, Process), 636 different classes (basic units of data models; belonging to one section or a plurality of sections), 2609 different attributes (attribute information of data; belonging to one class), 7 different interfaces (a group with high use frequency; belonging to one or a plurality of sections), 57 different relationships, and 49 different data types (types of data). Information on the association of each configuration item with another configuration item is given to a GUI display tool, for example, Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager (TADDM). Then, the relationship of each configuration item with another configuration item is visually displayed, using an individual blocks and linkage between the blocks.

Computer system for managing configuration item, and method and computer program therefor


Method of estimating the channel and the direction of arrival of a signal transmitted by a transmitter and received by an array of antennae after being propagated along at least one path, comprising, for each path, a first step of estimating phase differences (ξl) in the signals received by the different antennae in the array, a second step of estimating the angle of arrival (θ) of the signal as well as the phase rotation (ν) undergone by the signal along the said path from the said phase differences and a third step of estimating the attenuation (α) undergone by the signal along the said path from the estimated values ({circumflex over (ν)}, {circumflex over (θ)}) of the phase rotation and the angle of arrival.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns in general terms a method of determining the spatial transfer function of a transmission channel by means of an array of antennae. More precisely, when the propagation of the signal between a transmitter and an array of reception of antennae takes place along a plurality of paths, the present invention makes it possible to estimate, for each path, the direction of arrival conjointly with the attenuation and phase rotation undergone by the signal along this path. The present invention applies more particularly to the estimation of the channel and the direction of arrival in mobile telephony.
2. Description of Related Art
The propagation of a signal between a transmitter and receiver, in particular between a mobile telephone and a base station, can take place along multiple paths. Each path is characterised by a delay, a direction of arrival, an attenuation and a phase rotation.
It is known that an array of antennae can be used to form a beam and/or cancel interference in one or more directions. The antenna processing consists of a weighting of the outputs of the different antennae with complex coefficients before summing, the coefficients being chosen so as to obtain the equivalent antenna diagram required. It is thus possible to form a beam in the direction of arrival of the useful signal whilst placing zeros in the directions of arrival of the interfering signals. The majoring of the beam formation techniques however require prior knowledge of the direction of arrival of the signal. Beam formation has been applied to mobile telephony, notably to direct a reception beam from a base station to a mobile station (uplink). The base station is then equipped with an adaptive antennae (referred to as an "intelligent antenna") capable of pointing in the direction of a propagation path issuing from a mobile terminal.
In addition to the direction of arrival of the useful signal, it is often necessary to know the characteristics of the transmission channel. Thus, when a mobile telephony system is functioning according to a code division multiple access (CDMA) mode and is exploiting diversity in reception by virtue of a rake receiver, the complex coefficient used in the different branches of the receiver are obtained from the attenuation and phase rotation undergone along the different paths.
It is known that an adaptive antenna can be used, exploiting the diversity of paths. For this purpose, the systems of the state of the art use one rake receiver per antenna and effect the beam formation from signals issuing from the different receivers. It can also be envisaged pointing several beams in the directions of arrival of the different paths and then combining the different paths in a rake receiver. In both cases the direction of arrival of the useful signal and the characteristics of the transmission channel are estimated independently. This approach has the double drawback of requiring two estimation steps and not using all the information available at the second estimation step.

Method for conjoint channel and direction of arrival estimation


A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector, a second cable connector, a locking element, and a retaining frame. The first cable connector includes a first base portion. The second cable connector includes a second base portion. The retaining frame includes a front wall. The front wall defines a mounting hole. The mounting hole includes a pair of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides. The first base portion and the second base portion are slidably received in the mounting hole. The first base portion contacts one of the widthwise sides. The second base portion contacts the first base portion. The locking element is mounted in the mounting hole and squeezed between the second base portion and the other widthwise side to push the second base portion to press on the first base portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to cable connector assemblies and, particularly, to a cable connector assembly for connecting a hard disk drive (HDD).
2. Description of Related Art
Many HDDs are fixed to a frame and connected to a motherboard through a cable connector. The cable connector includes a connector, a number of power cables, and a number of data cables. The connector is fixed to the frame with screws and includes a number of contact terminals for connecting the HDD. The power cables and the data cables are fixedly connected to corresponding contact terminals for transmitting power and data between the motherboard and the HDD. However, if any power cable and/or data cable is damage, the connector needs to be replaced. This increases the cost of connectors. It is also inconvenient to assemble or disassemble the connector using screws.
What is needed therefore is a disclosure, which can overcome the limitations described.

Cable connector assembly for connecting hard disk drive


The present invention generally relates to a dynamic aperture for controlling the intensity of light of projection lens, more particularly to a dynamic aperture driving apparatus and method for reducing vibration by which vibrations are minimized in spite of command for sudden location change. The dynamic aperture driving apparatus comprises rotating means, driving means, sensing means and driving control means, whereas a location control signal is characterized by minimizing vibration when the rotating means arrives at a commanded location by an increase in rising time and/or falling time of a target location signal through an RC integral circuit within the driving control means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a dynamic aperture for controlling the intensity of light of projection lens, more particularly to a dynamic aperture driving apparatus and a method for reducing the vibration by which vibrations are minimized in spite of command for sudden location change.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, projection TVs and projectors are increasingly popular as a display device with a large, high-definition screen. The projection TV and projector are driven according to the principles of optics, and FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an optical structure of these kinds of projection TVs and projectors.
Referring to FIG. 1, a projection device comprises an illuminating optical system la, a reflection type display element 1b and a projection optical system 1c.
The illuminating optical system 1a is a part that generates light, and comprises a lamp generating light (not illustrated), a light source 10 having a mirror to reflect the generated light and guide a path and an optical lens 20 to illuminate the incident light from the light source 10 to the reflection type display element 1b.
The reflection type display element 1b reflects the incident light from the illuminating optical system 1a in units of pixels according to provided images, and comprises DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) 30, which is a projection type display device using semiconductors to control light. DMD 30 is mounted on a substrate 33 having a processor 31 and a memory 32, and divides the light path of an illuminating optical system 1a and one of the projection optical systems 1c corresponding to a tilt angle.
The projection optical system 1c projects the reflected images through the reflection type display element 1b on a screen 50, and comprises a projection lens module 40, enlarging the images transferred from DMD 30 and projecting on the screen 50.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2 the projection lens module 40 comprises a plurality of projection lenses 42, which are arrayed successively in a barrel 41 along the axis of light, and enlarges the incident images from DMD 30 in order to form clearly on the screen 50 spaced at a specific distance.
At this time, an aperture 43 to control the intensity of light is equipped within the plurality of projection lenses 42, and controls the intensity of light such that a projected image has a proper contrast ratio. At this time, for precisely controlling a contrast ratio, the location of the aperture 43 must be controlled in high resolving power having many steps in a certain arbitrary angle (30 degrees, for example). For a precise control of the location, a voice coil motor (hereinafter, VCM) 44 is typically used to rotate the aperture 43.
FIG. 3 is a diagram briefly illustrating a conventional dynamic aperture driving apparatus. Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional dynamic aperture driving apparatus comprises rotating means, driving means, sensing means and driving control means.
The rotating means comprises a pivot 111 which is embodied in one body with the aperture of the dynamic aperture driving apparatus 110 to rotate from one side to the other side in a given angle.
The driving means comprises a driving magnet 115 located on the rotation path of the other end of the pivot 111 and a driving coil 116 which is equipped in the lower end of the pivot 111 to face the driving magnet 115 and rotates the pivot 111 according to the magnitude of the driving current by the electro-magnetic effect with the driving magnet 115. Here, the driving means generally comes under VCM.
The sensing means comprises a sensor magnet 112 of providing different magnetic intensity according to each rotating angle of the pivot 111 and a hall sensor 113, rotating in one body with the pivot 111 and converting the magnetic intensity provided by the sensor magnet 112 to an electric signal.
The driving control means inputs a current to the driving coil 116, rotating the pivot 111, detects the present location of the pivot 111 through the sensor magnet 112 and the hall sensor 113, and feedback-controls the pivot 111 to move to the commanded location.
A dynamic aperture driving apparatus can additionally comprise a stopper 114 installed in the limit location of the rotating range of the pivot 111 to stop the pivot 111 that rotates over the critical value.
The process of detecting the location of dynamic aperture is as follows: As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the state that a current is not inputted in the driving coil 115, the rotating means 111 is in a stopped state by the stopper 114, and the output of the hall sensor 113 at this time is taken as a standard value. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 4, if the rotating means 111 rotates by an angle according to the commanded location, the output of the hall sensor 113 is changed, and the rotating angle of the rotating means 111 is calculated from the difference between the standard value in the stopped state and the present output of the hall sensor 113.
This dynamic aperture is usually equipped in an optical apparatus and controls the intensity of incident light. The operative principle is as follows: The dynamic aperture divides the range of light incident angle equally into 256 parts and controls the location from step 0 to step 255 based on the PWM duty signal corresponding to an image signal. Step 0 allows the least intensity of incident light by covering the most range of the incident light domain 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and step 255 allows the most intensity of incident light by covering the least range of the incident light domain 100, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The roles of step 0 and step 255 can also be reversed.
Meanwhile, as the conversion cycle of the PWM duty signal becomes shorter, the response time must respond to the speedier conversion. For example, in the case of displaying a lightning scene on the screen of a projection TV, the dynamic aperture must move back and forth between step 0 and step 255 in an extremely short time.
As the location changes in a very short time, a reverse current is flowed in the driving coil 116 and does breaking to allow a quick response with no overshoot. At this time, a maximum instant vibration occurs, and the generated vibration is converted to noise in the optical apparatus, which is a major shortcoming of a projection TV.

Dynamic aperture driving apparatus and method for reducing vibration


Embodiments of this invention relate to a composition comprising of (A) an anhydride and/or carboxylic acid functionalized, chlorinated olefin-based polymer and/or (b) a styrene-based polymer and/or a functionalized styrene-based polymer, (B) a polyamide wax slurry, and (C) organic solvent, and which composition can be used as an adhesive to bond a fabric to a polyolefin elastomer (POE) thermoplastic sheet, articles made from the composition, and methods of producing the composition and articles.

Coated fabric is widely used in sporting goods such as backpacks and tents and outer wear such as artificial leather, and is typically formed by laminating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyamide (PA) nylon fabrics with a thermoplastic sheet using suitable adhesives. Currently, the most widely used thermoplastic sheets for such applications include those prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) or styrene block copolymers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) or styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymers. However, PVC is not considered environmentally benign, while styrene block copolymers (SBS) have poor weatherability. PU and SEBS have acceptable weatherability but the high cost limits their application.
More environmentally benign and stable polymeric alternatives include polyolefin elastomer (POE) thermoplastic sheets. However, the less polar nature of polyolefin elastomers makes it difficult to laminate those materials to fabric substrates.
Current adhesive solutions used to bond fabric to POE sheets have several drawbacks. One drawback is the use of toxic solvents such as toluene or xylene in the adhesive formulations. Another drawback is the use of isocyanate crosslinkers, which are expensive and require a complex process to produce the adhesive solution, and do not provide a bonding strength of the adhesive that is sufficiently robust to meet customers' needs.
Therefore, there is a need for a system that combines weatherability, environmentally friendliness, cost effectiveness, high stability, workability and ease of application of the adhesive component by a variety of processes, and high adhesive bonding strength.

Adhesive formulations for fabric/POE adhesion


The problem of diagnosis and typing of infectious bronchitis virus in poultry has been solved and important progress made towards an IBV vaccine by this invention. DNA complementary to the region of genomic IBV RNA which codes for a spike protein polypeptide comprising the S1 polypeptide (containing antigenic determinants) or the S2 polypeptide (containing means for anchoring the spike protein to the viral membrane) has been made. It can be carried by a cloning vector, incorporated in a host and cloned. It can also be cloned in a poxvirus which is used to transfect mammmalian cells. Such cells express an artificial spike protein polypeptide.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the spike protein of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and to a recombinant DNA method for preparing it. IBV is a virus which causes respiratory disease in the fowl, and is of particular importance in relation to poultry.
2. Description of the Prior Art
IBV is a virus of the type Coronaviridae. It has a single-stranded RNA genome, approximately 20 kb in length, of positive polarity, which specifies the production of three major structural proteins: nucleocapsid protein, membrane glycoprotein, and spike glycoprotein. The spike glycoprotein is so called because it is present in the teardrop-shaped surface projections or spikes protruding from the lipid membrane of the virus. The spike protein is believed likely to be responsible for immunogenicity of the virus, partly by analogy with the spike proteins of other corona-viruses and partly by in vitro neutralisation experiments, see, for example, D. Cavanagh et al., Avian Pathology 13, 573-583 (1984). Although the term "spike protein" is used to refer to the glycoproteinaceous material of the spike, it has recently been characterised by D. Cavanagh, Journal of General Virology 64, 1187-1191; 1787-1791; and 2577-2583 (1983) as comprising two or three copies each of two glycopolypeptides, S1 (90,000 daltons) and S2 (84,000 daltons). The polypeptide components of the glycopolypeptides S1 and S2 have been estimated after enzymatic removal of oligosaccharides to have a combined molecular weight of approximately 125,000 daltons. It appears that the spike protein is attached to the viral membrane by the S2 polypeptide.
The genomic organisation of the IBV viral proteins is summarised in, for example, T. D. K. Brown and M. E. G. Boursnell, Virus Research 1, 15-24 (1984). Briefly, six polyadenlyated IBV viral mRNA species (A to F) have been detected in infected cells. mRNA A is the smallest and mRNA F is of genome length. These mRNAs form a so-called `nested` or 3' co-terminal set. The nested mRNAs A to E have sizes approximately 2, 2.4, 3.4, 4.1 and 7.8 kb, as estimated from formaldehyde-agarose gel electrophoresis. They are shown in the accompanying drawing. Evidence from translation studies in vitro suggests that mRNAs A, C and E are each translated to give a corresponding major polypeptide. Thus, mRNA A codes for the nucleocapsid polypeptide, mRNA C for the membrane polypeptide and mRNA E for the precursor of the spike protein. In connection with mRNA E D. F. Stern and B. M. Sefton, Journal of Virology 50, 22-29 (1984) found that this mRNA specified production of the spike protein precursor in an in vitro translation. The sizes of the translation products are consistent with the coding capacity being present at the 5' end of each mRNA, but not present in the next smallest mRNA. In other words, the coding portion is within the "unique" region, i.e. the region of `non-overlap` between successive RNAs of the set. U.v. inactivation studies have demonstrated that the subgenomic mRNAs are not produced by processing of larger RNA species, but are synthesised independently.
DNA complementary to IBV RNA (hereinafter referred to as `cDNA`) has been obtained for the Beaudette strain of IBV, as two fragments, together encompassing the first 3.3 kb of RNA from the 3' end, extending nearly to the 5' end of mRNA C. The fragments were inserted in plasmids and cloned in E. coli. They are described as C5.136 and C5.322 in T. D. K. Brown and M. E. G. Boursnell, supra, C5.136 being that running from nucleotides 1000 to 3300 approximately. Sequence information on C5.136 from nucleotides 1630 to 2400 approximately and the cloning of cDNA for IBV Beaudette strain including mRNA B and the 5' region of mRNA A have been described by M. E. G. Boursnell and T. D. K. Brown, Gene 29, 87-92 (1984). Futher C5.136 sequence from nucleotides 2200 to 3400 approximately has been published by M. E. G. Boursnell, T. D. K. Brown and M. M. Binns, Virus Research 1, 303-313 (1984).
In the paper `Genetically Engineered Vaccine against Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus with the Advantages of Current Live and Killed VAccines`, by D. Cavanagh and the present inventors (M. M. Binns, M. E. G. Boursnell and T. D. K. Brown) in `Modern Approaches to Vaccines`, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York 1984, pages 215-218, it was announced that an oligonucleotide primer had been made and was currently being used to extend the C5.136 DNA so as to encompass the spike protein precursor gene. The oligonucleotide primer was described as corresponding to a sequence of 13 nucleotides approximately 150 bases in from the 5' terminus of C5.136. The nature and exact location of the oligonucleotide in the C5.136 cDNA sequence in the region from nucleotides 2400 to 3300 (the 5' terminus) have not been disclosed by these workers in any way, in writing or orally.

DNA sequences encoding infectious bronchitis virus spike protein

National Research Development Corporation


The present invention relates to a production method for a support type ceramic membrane using tape casting, wherein, when producing a multifunctional membrane comprising a membrane structure such as a general electrochemical device or electrolysis cell or fuel cell, a dense-structure coating membrane or porous functional (separation) membrane is produced on one or more surfaces of a porous support.

As methods of forming a dense-structure coating film (several micrometers or several tens of micrometers (μm)) on the surface of a support, there are gas-phase methods and liquid-phase methods. Examples of gas-phase methods may include electrochemical vapor deposition (EVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, ion beam method, electron beam method, and the like. However, each of the gas-phase methods has at least one disadvantage, such as requirement of expensive manufacturing equipment, starting material restrictions, difficulty in fabricating a thick specimen attributable to low thin film growth rate, insufficient adhesion between a coating film and a substrate, stripping of a coating film due to residual stress, limitation in size of a specimen, and the like. For this reason, liquid-phase methods, which are relatively easily carried out compared to gas-phase methods, are frequently used. Particularly, examples of liquid-phase methods may include sol-gel process, slip coating, slurry coating, spin coating, dipping, electrochemical process, electrophoresis, hydrothermal synthesis, and the like. Among these liquid-phase methods, in the dipping, spin coating, slurry coating including spray coating or sol-gel process, a coating layer is dried or gelled in the early stage because of its low green density, and simultaneously, is greatly contracted. The contraction of a coating layer causes a stress between a support and a coating layer, and this stress becomes more severe in the subsequent sintering process, thereby causing cracking of the coating layer and stripping of the coating layer from the support. As mentioned in the paper (K. Murata and M. Shimotsu, Denki Kagaku, V. 65, No 1, 1997), it is known in this paper that the thickness of a coating layer applied at one time must be adjusted to 1 μm or less in order to prevent the cracking of the coating layer and the stripping of the coating layer from the support. That is, there is a disadvantage in that drying and heat treatment processes must be repeated at least ten times in order to obtain a dense-structure coating layer having a thickness of 10 μm using this method. Further, as mentioned in the paper (T. Ishihara, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Vol. 79, No. 4, pp 913-19, 1996), the method mentioned in this paper is also disadvantageous in that, in the selection of a substrate in the electrochemical deposition, electrophoresis or hydrothermal synthesis, raw materials having high electrical conductivity must be used.
Here, a dense-structure film is referred to as a film adhered strongly to a support to a sintered density of 30% or more. When the sintered density of such a dense-structure (gas-impermeable (or gas tight) or porous functional) film is 90% or more, it is known that gas scarcely transmits the film. Only this dense-structure film is used in a general electrochemical device or a mechanical or electrical device having functionality.
However, a method of forming a dense-structure film using a semiconductor process, such as CVD, EVD or the like, is known to be unsuitable for manufacturing a large-area support-type coating film, because expensive manufacturing equipment is used, and a lot of processing time is required, thus increasing a total manufacturing cost. Therefore, there has generally been used a method of manufacturing a support-type coating film, including the steps of: dispersing ceramic powder particles in a solution containing an organic binder in a solvent to form a slurry; directly coating a support (ceramic support or metal support) with the slurry using dip coating, spin coating or spray coating; and co-sintering the support coated with the slurry. However, this method is disadvantageous in that only one side of the support is coated, and it is difficult to maintain the uniform thickness and reproducibility of the coating film according to the manufacturing conditions.
Particularly, in the case of a fuel cell, when an electrolyte sheet directly adheres to a support, the green (dried) electrolyte sheet is torn in the step of adhering, or the contraction rate thereof cannot be easily controlled due to the adhesion between the electrolyte to the support during co-sintering, so a dense-structure electrolyte membrane cannot be obtained, and thus it is difficult to manufacture a single cell. Therefore, conventionally, as in a multilayer dielectric chip (MLDC) method, calendar method or conventional patent (manufacture of an anode support-type single cell), there has been used a method of manufacturing a single cell by laminating electrolyte and anode sheets to form a sheet cell and then applying a slurry to the sheet cell. However, this method is also problematic in that, in the process of manufacturing a single cell, the sheet cell must be prepared by separately fabricating the electrolyte sheet and the anode sheet every time and then respectively adhering these sheets to a support, and these sheets adhere to the support using a slurry for adhering, thus causing the non-uniformity of composition and thickness of the sheet cell, and in that the manufacturing cost thereof increases.
Further, a conventional multilayer sheet adhering method has been widely known as a method of manufacturing a multilayer dielectric chip (MLDC). However, this method is problematic in that a large number of tape-cast sheets are required to manufacture a single cell, so the production yield thereof rapidly decreases, thereby increasing the production cost thereof.
Hitherto, in the field of solid oxide electrolysis cells or fuel cells, as proposed in the paper (N. Q. Minh, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Vol. 76, No. 3, pp 563-88, 1993), it is known that a tape casting method or doctor blade method is widely used in manufacturing a thin plate having a thickness of several micrometers (μm) or several tens of micrometers (μm), but is difficult to manufacture a multilayer specimen including a support and a coating layer made of different materials. In this case, a dense-structure coating film cannot be formed by only a single-component green electrolyte sheet. Therefore, there has been known a method of manufacturing a single cell by adhering (attaching) a cathode green sheet, an electrolyte green sheet and an anode green sheet to form a multi-composite layer and then heat-treating the multi-composite layer or a method of manufacturing a single cell by adhering (attaching) an electrolyte green sheet and a cathode green sheet or an electrolyte green sheet and an anode green sheet to form a double composite layer and then attaching the double composite layer to a support or forming another constituent (anode or cathode). However, in this case, a process of preparing a composite green sheet by attaching several green sheets to each other must be performed. Therefore, this method is also problematic in that the manufacturing cost thereof increases, in that, when the single cell is manufactured by attaching large-area sheets to each other, these sheets are non-uniformly attached, and thus the defective fraction thereof increases, thus decreasing the production yield thereof, and in that, when the single cell is manufactured using roughly-surfaced sheets, the attaching of these sheets becomes difficult, thus rapidly increasing the manufacturing cost thereof.
According to a conventional tape casting method, an electrolyte layer is formed into a green sheet having a thickness of 100 to 200 μm, anode paste is printed on one side of the green sheet, dried and heat-treated to form an anode, and then cathode paste is printed on the other side of the green sheet, dried and heat-treated to form a cathode, thus manufacturing a single cell. In this case, since the electrolyte green sheet serves as a matrix, the manufactured single cell may be an electrolyte support-type single cell. However, this method is problematic in that, as the thickness of the electrolyte layer increases, the internal resistance thereof increases, so operation temperature must be high, and the output performance of the single cell deteriorates, and in that, since the single cell can be operated only when the thickness thereof is 300 μm or less, the strength thereof is relatively low, and thus this single cell is apt to break. Further, this method is also problematic in that it is difficult to manufacture a large-area single cell because the flatness of the electrolyte layer in sintering is poor.
Meanwhile, there has been a method of manufacturing a layered hard sintered body, wherein an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode are respectively prepared by tape casting, and their respective green sheets are formed into a two-layer laminate, that is, an electrolyte-anode laminate or an electrolyte-cathode laminate or are overlapped, pressed and adhered to each other to form an electrolyte-anode-cathode laminate, and then these laminates are simultaneously sintered, thereby obtaining the layered hard sintered body. Even in this case, in order for a single cell to have enough strength to be operated, several sheets of any one of an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode are overlapped and laminated. Here, when several anode sheets are overlapped and laminated, an anode support type SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) is manufactured, and, when several cathode sheets are overlapped and laminated, a cathode support type single cell is manufactured. In this case, since the thickness of a sintered electrolyte sheet having high internal resistance can be easily adjusted to 5˜50 μm, there is an advantage of manufacturing a low temperature operation type SOFC having lower resistance and generating high power. In this step, a multi-composite green sheet may prepared by a calendar rolling process including tape casting and attaching steps. In the calendar rolling process, even when any one previously tape-cast green sheet (for example, anode) is sequentially tape-cast thereon with other green sheets (for example, electrolyte and cathode), a multi-composite green sheet having the same effect can be manufactured. Finally, it is widely known that such a multi-composite green sheet is heat-treated (sintered) to obtain a sintered body, and this sintered body is screen-printed and dried to manufacture a SOFC. However, in this case, there are many problems in that a large number of green sheets for tape casting is required in manufacturing a single cell, thus decreasing the production yield thereof and increasing the production cost thereof, and in that a large amount of an organic binder is required for tape casting, so a heat treatment cost for removing the organic binder is needed, and environmental pollution, consumption of raw materials, and the like are caused.

Production method for a support type coating membrane using tape casting


The present invention encompasses compounds of general formula (1),

Tumour cells wholly or partly elude regulation and control by the body and are characterised by uncontrolled growth. This is due on the one hand to the loss of control proteins such as for example Rb, p16, p21 and p53 and also to the activation of so-called accelerators of the cell cycle, the cyclin-dependent kinases.
Studies in model organisms such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Drosophila melanogaster or Xenopus laevis as well as investigations in human cells have shown that the transition from the G2 phase to mitosis is regulated by the CDK1/cyclin B kinase (Nurse 1990, Nature 344: 503-508). This kinase, which is also known as "mitosis promoting factor" (MPF), phosphorylates and regulates a plurality of proteins, such as e.g. nuclear lamina, kinesin-like motor proteins, condensins and Golgi Matrix Proteins, which play an important part in the breakdown of the nuclear coat, in centrosome separation, the structure of the mitotic spindle apparatus, chromosome condensation and breakdown of the Golgi apparatus (Nigg. E. 2001, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2(1):21-32). A murine cell line with a temperature-sensitive CDK-1 kinase mutant shows a rapid breakdown in CDK-1 kinase after temperature increase and a subsequent arrest in the G2/M phase (Th´ng et al. 1990, Cell. 63(2):313-24). The treatment of human tumour cells with inhibitors against CDK1/cyclin B, such as e.g. butyrolactone, leads to an arrest in the G2/M phase and subsequent apoptosis (Nishio, et al. 1996, Anticancer Res.16(6B):3387-95).
Moreover, the protein kinase Aurora B has also been described as having an essential function during entry into mitosis. Aurora B phosphorylates histone H3 on Ser10 and thereby initiates chromosome condensation (Hsu et al. 2000, Cell 102:279-91). A specific cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase may, however, also be initiated e.g. by inhibition of specific phosphatases such as e.g. Cdc25C (Russell and Nurse 1986, Cell 45:145-53). Yeasts with a defective Cdc25 gene arrest in the G2 phase, whereas overexpression of Cdc25 leads to premature entry into the mitosis phase (Russell and Nurse, 1987, Cell 49:559-67). Moreover, an arrest in the G2/M phase may also be initiated by inhibition of specific motor proteins, the so-called kinesins such as for example Eg5 (Mayer et al. 1999, Science 286:971-4), or by microtubuli stabilising or destabilising agents (e.g. colchicin, taxol, etoposide, vinblastine, vincristine) (Schiff and Horwitz 1980, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:1561-5).
In addition to the cyclin-dependent and Aurora kinases the so-called polo-like kinases, a small family of serine/threonine kinases, also play an important role in the regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Up till now the polo-like kinases PLK-1, PLK-2, PLK-3 and PLK-4 have been described in the literature. PLK-1 in particular has been found to play a central role in the regulation of the mitosis phase. PLK-1 is responsible for the maturation of the centrosomes, for the activation of phosphatase Cdc25C, as well as for the activation of the Anaphase Promoting Complex (Glover et al. 1998, Genes Dev. 12:3777-87; Qian et al. 2001, Mol Biol Cell. 12:1791-9). The injection of PLK-1 antibodies leads to a G2 arrest in untransformed cells, whereas tumour cells arrest during the mitosis phase (Lane and Nigg 1996, J. Cell Biol. 135:1701-13). Overexpression of PLK-1 has been demonstrated in various types of tumour, such as non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung, plate epithelial carcinoma, breast and colorectal carcinoma (Wolf et al. 1997, Oncogene 14:543-549; Knecht et al. 1999, Cancer Res. 59:2794-2797; Wolf et al. 2000, Pathol. Res. Pract. 196:753-759; Takahashi et al. 2003, Cancer Sci. 94:148-52). Therefore, this category of proteins also presents an interesting point of attack for therapeutic intervention in proliferative diseases (Liu and Erikson 2003, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:5789-5794).
Pyrimidines are generally known as inhibitors of kinases. Thus, for example, pyrimidines are described as an active component with an anticancer activity in International Patent Application WO 00/53595, which describes the use of 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines with a heterocyclic group in the 4-position and an anilino group in the 2 position, which in turn comprises a side chain with the length of at least one n-propyl group.
Moreover, International Patent Application WO 00/39101 describes the use of 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines as compounds with an anticancer activity which are linked in the 2- and 4-position with an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, at least one of which comprises a side chain with the length of at least one n-propyl group.
International Patent Application WO 97/19065 further proposes the use of 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines with a 3,4-dialkoxyanilino group in position 2 as kinase inhibitors.
International Patent Application WO 02/04429 describes 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines with a cyano group in position 5 and their cell cycle inhibiting effect.
International Patent Application WO 03/063794 describes the use of 2,4-pyrimidinediamines as inhibitors of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signal cascade.
Antiviral 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines, wherein the groups Rc and Rd form a heteroaromatic five-membered ring at the nitrogen of the 4-position, are known from International Patent Application WO 99/41253.
2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines which carry (hetero)aryls in position 2 and 4 (WO00/27825) and also 2,4,5-substituted pyrimidines which carry a (hetero)aryl group functionalised with a nitrile group in position 2 or 4 (EP 0 945 443 A1) are described as having an antiviral activity.
The resistance of many types of tumour demands that new drugs be developed to fight the tumours. The aim of the present invention is therefore to indicate new active substances which may be used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases characterised by excessive or anomalous cell proliferation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Abstract: wherein    A, W, X, Y, Z, Ra, Rb, Rc, R1 and R3 are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterised by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation, and the use thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition having the above-mentioned properties.


An air baffle component includes an air baffle rotationally connected to a housing of a device chassis having a module insertion port. The air baffle component also includes a level-1 elastic component. The air baffle component further includes a level-2 elastic component. The air baffle component additionally includes a connecting rod. The connecting rod includes a force-bearing rod rotationally connected to the housing of the device chassis between the air baffle and the module insertion port. The connecting rod also includes a pull rod connected to the force-bearing rode. The connecting rod further includes a baffle column on the pull rod. The level-1 elastic component provides a first elastic force for the force-bearing rod, so that the baffle column is caused to abut against a surface of the air baffle opposite to the module insertion port. The level-2 elastic component provides a second elastic force for the air baffle.

A modular server modularizes and independently separates components such as a storage component, a computing component, a network component, and a management component, and uses an independent management module to manage the components in a sharing manner. The modular server includes a plurality of independent modules, such as a computing module, a storage module, a heat dissipation module, a power supply module, and a network module. Each module adopts a redundancy and hot swap design, which can be flexibly expanded. When some modules are faulty, the faulty modules may be independently replaced without affecting normal working of other modules. Therefore, the modular server is widely popularized because the modular server supports flexible configuration, hot swap, and independent maintenance.
During module replacement and maintenance, an air baffle is disposed between modules to ensure that air in an air duct does not affect normal running of other modules in the modular server. When a module is inserted, resistance of the air baffle needs to be overcome. However, with improvement of performance of the modular server, power consumption of the modular server is increasingly high. To prevent the module in the modular server from being overheated, a wind speed of a heat dissipation fan in the heat dissipation module is increased. To ensure a baffle function of the air baffle, a support force provided for the air baffle needs to be increased. Therefore, when the module is inserted, the resistance that needs to be overcome increases, and the insertion of the module becomes laborious and inconvenient.

Air baffle component, heat dissipation apparatus, and server


A cryogenic pump includes a drive assembly and a pressurization assembly operatively coupled to each other. The drive assembly includes a housing having sidewall and piston slidably disposed therein, the sidewall and a first surface of piston defining expansion chamber. A fuel supply valve is provided in fluid communication with supply of liquid cryogenic fuel and configured to selectively provide liquid cryogenic fuel into expansion chamber. A heating element extends at least partially into expansion chamber to heat and facilitate vaporization of liquid cryogenic fuel, thereby increasing pressure within expansion chamber and causing movement of piston in first direction. The pressurization assembly includes barrel defining bore and a plunger slidably disposed therein to define pressurization chamber for receiving liquid cryogenic fuel. The plunger is driven by the piston such that the movement of piston in first direction causes movement of plunger to pressurize cryogenic fuel within pressurization chamber.

Cryogenic pumps are commonly used to pressurize a cryogenic liquid for use. For example, a cryogenic pump may be used to pressurize a cryogenic liquid, such as liquid natural gas (LNG), to be vaporized and used as fuel in an internal combustion engine. A vaporizer transfers heat to the fuel, converting the fuel from liquid state to gaseous state before supplying it to the engine. The cryogenic pump typically includes plungers or pistons to pressurize the liquid fuel. These plungers or pistons may be actuated or driven by mechanical or hydraulic actuators either directly or through additional components, such as push rods. Cryogenic pumps typically employ one or more seals to inhibit leakage of the cryogenic liquid past the plunger or piston. However, these seals are susceptible to damage from debris, which may eventually cause a leakage of the cryogenic liquid outside the pumping chamber, thereby reducing the efficiency of the pump, which is undesirable.
US Patent Publication no. 2008/0213110 (hereinafter referred to as the '110 publication) relates to an apparatus and method for pressurizing a cryogenic media. The '110 publication describes a compressor including a compressor chamber surrounded by a cylinder wall in which a compressor piston is moved in a linear manner, a suction valve and a pressure valve, which are arranged in the region of the lower end position of the compressor piston, and a liquid chamber which at least partially surrounds the compressor chamber. The cylinder wall defines at least one opening, which corresponds to the liquid chamber, and at least one opening, via which the gaseous medium can be extracted from the compressor chamber, where the openings are located at points on the cylinder wall that are passed by the compressor piston.


The invention is a digital radiation detector utilizing the stable timing functions of a microcontroller or plurality of microcontrolling devices to perform three independent functions. A first timer generates a continuous square wave output that is fed through a class B amplifier to yield a stable, drift-free power supply for a connected radiation sensor. A second timer is used as an event counter for counting the processed pulses coming from the radiation sensor. A third timer acts as a real time clock generating a one-second interrupt for quantifying the number of counts per second. The number of counts per second can be communicated as raw data through a communication interface or presented as a number of audible or visual displays.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices used to detect radiation. Specifically, the invention concerns apparatus and circuits that are used to detect and measure the radiation released from a radiological device, a so called dirty bomb, or associated with radioactive fallout following a nuclear or thermonuclear detonation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Terrorist threats to the safety and stability of civilized countries have become an unfortunate reality of the modern era. The devastating attack upon the world trade towers in New York City clearly demonstrated that the nature of terrorist attacks has shifted in recent years. Formerly, modestly organized insurgent groups limited their attacks to small-scale targets, typically motivated by political interest, religious extremism, or the desire to release their captured cohorts. Today's terrorists are highly organized, well financed, multi-national organizations bent on the broad destruction of capital assets and the senseless mass killing of innocent noncombatants.
Modern terrorists have enbarked on a campaign to obtain and use weapons of mass destruction, or WMDs. One such WMD is the radiological device or 'dirty bomb'. A dirty bomb consists of radiological material, such as low-grade uranium, and a disbursement means for distributing the radiological material over a large area, thereby indiscriminately exposing a population and inducing radiation sickness. In a typical dirty bomb, minimally processed uranium is packed around a core of conventional high explosive. Once the high explosive is detonated, a cloud of finely particulate radiological material is distributed over a moderately large area. Alternatively, the disbursement means may be a low-flying aircraft distributing fine particulates of radiological material.
A second WMD of concern is the nuclear or thermonuclear bomb. During a nuclear bomb detonation, nuclear fission is induced in highly processed uranium and/or plutonium. During a thermonuclear bomb detonation, nuclear fission is itself employed as a primer for the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium or tritium. During both nuclear and thermonuclear detonations, enormous amounts of energy are released in the form of a destructive shock wave and fireball. Radiological material is ejected over a broad area as nuclear fallout causing radiation sickness long after the initial destruction. However, while nuclear and thermonuclear devices combine radiation poisoning with immediate, large-scale capital destruction, they are extremely complex devices requiring highly processed material, such as plutonium-238, and considerable technical expertise to construct.
Of the two WMDs identified above, the dirty bomb is considered the greatest potential threat due to the relative ease with which low-grade radiological material can be obtained and the low-technology associated with its disbursement means. Dirty bombs have the desired effect of creating terror to the public at large as well as incurring tremendous cost and clean up effort to make an affected area safe again as defined by government agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Accurate means for both detecting and quantifying the presence of radiological material are not known in general practice. Prior art detectors are analog devices based on Geiger counter techniques. Such Geiger counters are notoriously imprecise due to thermal drift instability in the circuit design. What is needed is a more precise, digital counter capable of accurately defining the normal background level at the installation and an elevated level due to the introduction of radioactive material. For a digital counter to work properly, a novel stable power supply is required since any drift in voltage may cause false alarms.


A backlight unit includes a bottom cover, a first heat sink portion disposed on the bottom cover, a second heat sink portion extended upward with respect to the first heat sink portion, and at least a portion of a light emission module placed in at least one recess or at least one hole of the first heat sink portion, and the light emission module disposed on the second heat sink portion.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a backlight unit and a display device therewith.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display device is used widely as a monitor of a cellular phone or a computer and a display device of a television set along with a plasma display panel, or an electro-luminescence display device owing to an excellent visibility compared to a cathode ray tube CRT, low average power consumption and low heat generation compared to the same screen sized CRT.
The liquid crystal display device is driven by utilizing optical anisotropy and polarization of liquid crystals. Since the liquid crystals are thin and lengthy, molecules of the liquid crystals can be oriented, enabling to control molecular orientation of the liquid crystals by applying an electric field to the liquid crystals, artificially.
Therefore, if the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled as desired, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules changes, causing a light to refract in a direction of the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules by the optical anisotropy to display picture information.
However, since the liquid crystal display device is a light receiving device that can not emit the light spontaneously, to require a separate light source, the liquid crystal display device uses the backlight unit as a light source.
That is, the liquid crystal display device can display a picture by directing the light from the backlight unit to an overlying liquid crystal panel and controlling a quantity of the light transmitting through the liquid crystals by varying the orientation of the liquid crystals.

Backlight unit and display device therewith


Two channels of a main CPU channel and a sub CPU channel each including a reception channel and a transmission channel, and performing a data transfer by a DMA in accordance with a descriptor are provided, a channel switching part selects the main CPU channel or the sub CPU channel in accordance with information set at a mode setting register, and performs a switching of channels at a boundary of a packet to be transferred to thereby enable the switching of channels without interrupting a DMA operation.

As for network supported products capable of performing communication by being connected to a communication network, it has been controlled in each region to limit a power consumption value when an operation state of the product is in a standby state. The standby state means a state in which it is possible to resume a function of a product by, for example, a trigger from outside via a network.
To reduce the power consumption in the standby state, there is a system in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a normal system are held, and a CPU and a RAM each of whose power consumption at the operation time is lower than the normal system are held as a standby system. When an amount of processes at the system is small, the normal system consuming a large power is stopped, the processes are executed by switching to the standby system whose power consumption is low to thereby reduce the power consumption of the system as a whole in time series.
FIG. 14A is a view illustrating an example of an information processing system including a main CPU and a sub CPU. The information processing system illustrated in FIG. 14A includes a main CPU 418 and a RAM 419 as the normal system mainly performing processes at a normal operation state, and a sub CPU 420 and a RAM 421 as the standby system performing the processes at a standby state, and is connected to a network via a network interface part 411.
The network interface part 411 includes a direct memory access (DMA) controller 412, a media access control (MAC) part 413, and a physical (PHY) part 414. The DMA controller 412 is a DMA controller in a descriptor type executing instructions cited at the RAM, and a reception DMA processing part 416 performs processes relating to reception and a transmission DMA processing part 417 performs processes relating to transmission based on a descriptor stored at the RAM 419 or the RAM 421.
FIG. 14B is a view illustrating an internal configuration of the DMA controller. A DMA controller 430 includes a reception DMA channel 431, a transmission DMA channel 441, a descriptor read/write processing part 451, a data read/write processing part 452, and a packet data saving buffer 453. The descriptor read/write processing part 451 performs processes relating to read and write of descriptor information, the data read/write processing part 452 performs processes relating to data transmitted and received via a MAC part 454. The packet data saving buffer 453 is a buffer holding received packet data.
The reception channel 431 includes a base address register 432, a current address register 433, an end address register 434, a register of the number of remaining packets 435, a restart processing part 436, and a control part 437. A first address of a descriptor 456 put on a RAM 455 is stored at the base address register 432. An end address of the descriptor 456 put on the RAM 455 is stored at the end address register 434. An address of a descriptor corresponding to a packet which is processed next is stored at the current address register 433. Address information of the RAM where the packets are actually disposed, length information of the packet, and information for the process of the packet are included in the descriptor 456.
The register of the number of remaining packets 435 has a function indicating the number of unprocessed packets (remaining packets) at the DMA channel. The restart processing part 436 has a function receiving instructions to stop and start the DMA channel from the main CPU and the sub CPU. When the instruction to stop the DMA channel is received from either of the CPUs, the restart processing part 436 stops a transfer process of a packet data belonging to the DMA channel, and performs a process to clear descriptor information of the DMA channel. Besides, when the instruction to start the DMA channel is received from either of the CPUs, the restart processing part 436 registers a value of the base address register 432 to the current address register 433, performs a process to clear the register of the number of remaining packets 435, and starts a DMA operation. The control part 437 controls information stored at each of the registers 432 to 435.
The transmission channel 441 includes a base address register 442, a current address register 443, an end address register 444, a register of the number of remaining packets 445, a restart processing part 446, and a control part 447. Note that each of functions of these and so on are similar to those of the base address register 432, the current address register 433, the end address register 434, the register of the number of remaining packets 435, the restart processing part 436, and the control part 437 held by the reception channel 431.
An operation flow of the DMA controller 430 is described while using a packet reception as an example. The DMA controller 430 registers the first address of the descriptor 456 to the base address register 432 in an initialization. The DMA controller 430 acquires descriptor information while setting the address registered to the base address register 432 as a first current storage position of the descriptor 456. The DMA controller 430 opens the packet data received in the RAM 455 based on the acquired information, and reflects length information and a process state on the descriptor when one packet is reception-processed. Next, the DMA controller 430 increments a value of the address held by the current address register 433, and acquires next descriptor information. The DMA controller 430 opens the received packet data in the RAM 455 based on the acquired descriptor information when a next packet is received. Subsequently, the process is repeated similarly for the number of received packets.
In the information processing system illustrated in FIG. 14A, when a mode is switched from a normal operation state (normal mode) in which the process is performed by using the main CPU 418 and the RAM 419 being the normal system to a standby state (standby mode) in which the process is performed by using the sub CPU 420 and the RAM 421 being the standby system, and when the mode is switched from the standby mode to the normal mode, new address information relating to the descriptor relative to the DMA controller 430 is set again. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example including the mode switching of the information processing system illustrated in FIG. 14A. Note that the sub CPU 420 is constantly activated at both the normal mode time and the standby mode time to perform a management of the mode switching. The main CPU 418 is activated at the normal mode time, and stops at the standby mode time.
When the operation is started, the sub CPU 420 is activated (S801). When it is the process using the main CPU 418, namely, when it is the normal mode (TRUE in S802), the main CPU 418 is activated (S803). On the other hand, when it is not the process using the main CPU 418, namely, when it is the standby mode (FALSE in S802), electricity to the main CPU 418 and the RAM 419 is turned off (S804). Subsequently, the DMA controller 430 is reset (S805). After that, the DMA controller 430 is initialized, and after the first address of the descriptor on the RAM is registered to the base address registers 432, 442 (S806), the DMA controller 430 is activated (S807).
After that, the packet transfer process using the DMA controller 430 is performed (S808). At this time, when an instruction of the mode switching from the normal mode to the standby mode, or from the standby mode to the normal mode is received (TRUE in S809), the DMA operation by the DMA controller 430 is stopped (S810), and the process returns to the step S802. Then, the above-stated processes are performed again in accordance with the mode to be switched.
A DMA transfer unit having plural channels provided to correspond to plural input/output units, and exchanging each of them in accordance with a channel priority order, to perform a DMA transfer is proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). A DMA control method selecting one DMA channel from among plural DMA channels in accordance with a register drawing out a priority level which corresponds to a DMA request signal from each I/O is proposed (for example, Patent Document 2). A technology in which usage of a DMA channel is continued until a data transfer using the DMA channel which is in use reaches a boundary condition set in advance, and when the boundary condition occurs, the DMA channel moves to a next DMA channel is proposed (for example, Patent Document 3). A technology in which a sub CPU moves data stored at an SRAM to a DRAM when a state returns to a state performing a process by a main CPU from a state performing a process by the sub CPU is proposed (for example, Patent Document 4).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 02-96261
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 62-50946
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-40211
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-74256
In the information processing system illustrated in FIG. 14A, processes such as the stop (S810), the reset (S805), and the initialization (S806) of the DMA controller occur as illustrated in FIG. 15 at a transition from the normal mode to the standby mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the normal mode. Accordingly, when a new packet is received from a network during these processes, in other words, during a period when the step S810 and the subsequent steps S802 to S806 illustrated in FIG. 15 are performed, there is a problem in which the packet is dropped out to incur a packet loss.

Direct memory access controller, control method thereof, and information processing system


A drone which can be piloted by a user. The drone has at least one or both of a depending head and an outwardly extending elongate handle. A cleaning sheet may be removably disposed on the head, to clean a target surface, such as a floor or countertop. A duster may be removably disposed on the handle, to clean a target surface, such as an elevated surface or clean personal items.

Cleaning of hard surfaces, such as floors, can be a challenging task. Typically when cleaning a floor, a user employs a stick-type cleaning implement according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. D409,343 and/or D588,770. Such a cleaning implement may comprise a plastic head for holding a cleaning sheet and an elongate handle articulably connected thereto. The handle may comprise a metal or plastic tube or solid rod. The handle may be spring biased in known fashion towards a predetermined position.
The head may have a downwardly facing surface, to which the sheet may be removably attached. The downwardly facing service may be generally flat, or slightly convex. The head may further have an upwardly facing surface. The upwardly facing surface may have a universal joint to facilitate connection of the elongate handle to the head.
The upwardly facing surface may further comprise a mechanism, such as resilient grippers, for removably attaching the cleaning sheet to the implement according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,290 and/or D487,173. Alternatively, a hook and loop system may be used to attach the cleaning sheet to the head.
Such cleaning implements may have vacuum type suction to assist in removal of debris according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,169. The implement may have an axially rotatable beater bar according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,340. A motorized implement may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,516,508. Debris removed from the target surface may be collected in a dust bin. The dust bin may be mounted within the head, or, alternatively, on the elongate handle.
But such a cleaning implement may not be suitable for all users. The user may be of limited mobility or not have the dexterity to manipulate the handle. An elderly user may tire before the cleaning task is completed, due to the bipedal motion and manipulation of the cleaning device. Thus, cleaning according to the prior art may be infeasible for such a user.
Furthermore, not all cleaning tasks occur at floor level. Surfaces such as shelves, countertops and items such as vases and picture frames are often cleaned of light debris using dusters. A common disposable duster comprises one or more nonwoven sheets having one or more layers of tow fibers joined thereto, to provide a laminate structure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,801 and according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,803,726; 8,756,746; 8,763,197 and 8,931,132. Such dusters are often removably attached to an elongate handle using friction or mechanical engagement according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,386 and/or commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,564.
But manually dusting with such a duster may not always be feasible. The user may not have the dexterity needed to complete the task. Or items to be cleaned may be out of reach. For example, the items may be too high or obscured by other objects. Cleaning according to the prior art may be infeasible for such a user or for objects disposed out of reach.
Accordingly a new approach is needed, which provides for users of limited mobility/dexterity the capability to clean a floor. Likewise, a new approach is needed to dust objects out of reach of healthy persons and to clean elevated objects which cannot be cleaned by persons of limited mobility/dexterity.
The invention proposes to use aerial drones to assist in certain cleaning tasks. Drones are commonly used for hobby purposes. Drones may also be used for utilitarian purposes. For example, drones may be used to monitor power lines, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,990 or to deliver mail, as discussed in US 2014/0254896. US 2015/0274294 teaches the use of an aerial vehicle which sprays water/soap onto a window. But 2015/0274294 does not teach how to overcome waterspots left by the spraying or how to clean debris not removed by the spray. Drones have been proposed to clean outdoor solar panels using brooms, where ambient dust can be swept from the solar panel onto the ground. But such an approach is unsuitable for indoor residential and commercial cleaning. Dust and dirt cannot simply be broomed onto the floor—where the occupant may simply track the dust and debris to other rooms. Various drones are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,214,088; 8,474,761; 8,498,447; 8,594,862; 8,662,438; 8,725,314; 8,958,928; 8,983,684; 8,989,924; 2015/0120094 and 2015/035437. The present invention overcomes the problems of users not being able to employ conventional cleaning implements for certain hard surface cleaning tasks.

Aerial drone cleaning device and method of cleaning a target surface therewith


A method of determining the profile of a surface of an object is disclosed that does not require that the video inspection device be at a certain angle relative to the surface when an image of the surface is obtained (e.g., allows non-perpendicular captures of the image 30). The method determines a reference surface and a reference surface line. The reference surface line is then used to determine a surface contour line on the surface of the object. The profile is then determined by determining the distances between the reference surface and the surface contour line.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of determining the profile of a surface of an object using a video inspection device.
Video inspection devices, such as video endoscopes, can be used to inspect a surface of an object to identify and analyze defects on that surface that may have resulted from damage, wear, or improper manufacturing of the object. In many instances, the surface is inaccessible and cannot be viewed without the use of the video inspection device. For example, a video endoscope can be used to inspect the surface of a blade of a turbine engine on an aircraft to identify any defects (e.g., cracks) that may have formed on the surface to determine if any repair or further maintenance is required on that turbine engine. In order to make that assessment, it is often necessary to obtain highly accurate dimensional measurements of the surface and the defect to verify that the defect does not exceed or fall outside an operational limit or required specification for that object.
In order to determine the dimensions of a defect on a surface, a video inspection device can be used to obtain and display an image of the surface on an object showing the defect. This image of the surface can be used to generate three-dimensional data of the surface that provides the three-dimensional coordinates (e.g., (x, y, z)) of a plurality of points on the surface, including the defect. In certain measurement systems, if the angle of the video inspection device relative to the surface when the image was obtained is known, these three-dimensional coordinates of the points on the surface can then be used to determine the dimensions of the defect. For example, some measurement systems require that the video inspection device be perpendicular to the surface when capturing an image of the surface. However, in many instances, due to the fact that surface is inaccessible, it is difficult or impossible to orient the video inspection device to be perpendicular to the surface when capturing an image of the surface. In these instances, the measurement system cannot be used to determine the dimensions of the defect. In other instances where it is possible to orient the video inspection device to be perpendicular to the surface when capturing an image of the surface, it is often difficult or impossible to confirm that the image was taken when the video inspection device was exactly perpendicular. In these instances, the measurement system will provide inaccurate dimensions of the defect.
It would be advantageous to provide a method for determining the profile of a surface of an object, including any defect on that surface, in order to determine the dimensions of that defect, wherein the method does not require that the video inspection device be at a certain angle relative to the surface when an image of the surface is obtained (e.g., would allow non-perpendicular captures of the image).

Method of determining the profile of a surface of an object


A generation identifier is employed with various systems and methods in order to identify situations where a workload has been reassigned to a new node and where a workload is still being processed by an old node during a failure between nodes. A master node may assign a workload to a worker node. The worker node sends a request to access target data. The request may be associated with a generation identifier and workload identifier that identifies the node and workload. At some point, a failure occurs between the master node and worker node. The master node reassigns the workload to another worker node. The new worker node accesses the target data with a different generation identifier, indicating to the storage system that the workload has been reassigned. The old worker node receives an indication from the storage system that the workload has been reassigned and stops processing the workload.

Clustered environments, e.g., environments where workloads are distributed across multiple machines, are commonly used to provide failover and high availability processing of distributed workloads. Clustered environments allow workloads to be distributed to one or more nodes that are part of the environment. A clustered environment can act as a client, a server, or both. In a cluster, a workload may be distributed by master nodes to worker nodes that make up the cluster. Worker nodes may issue access requests for target data that is stored by a storage system. If an error occurs between the master node and the worker node, the worker node may continue processing the workload without the knowledge of the master node. Further, the master node may reassign the workload to a different node without the knowledge of the worker node.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that examples have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the examples should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Distributed workload reassignment following communication failure


The invention discloses an oleophobic, hydrophobic, water repellent, moisture vapor and air permeable, heat sealable, microporous membrane material suitable for garment applications. The membrane material comprises a polyolefin polymer, a processing compound which is miscible with the polymer at its melt temperature but phase separates when the polymer is cooled to or below its melt temperature, and a fluorochemical composition. The membrane material is oriented in at least one direction. The membrane materials retain their repellency and moisture vapor permeable properties for extended periods of time in garment applications which expose the membrane materials to perspiration residues which are known to generally contaminate and ultimately destroy the repellency properties of conventional liquid repellent, moisture vapor permeable treatments.

Liquid repellent, vapor permeable microporous materials that repel water, oil, and other low surface tension fluids have utility for example, as fabrics for waterproof garments and tents, as breathable liners for gloves and clothes, as breathable backings for diapers and disposable products, and as protective covers for biological indicators. The value of these materials lies in their ability to repel a wide range of fluids while permitting the rapid transfer of water vapor through the material.
Commercially available fabrics which have been treated with hydrophobic liquids or polymeric materials such as silicone or fluorocarbon oils or resins to render the fabrics fluid repellent but moisture vapor permeable are well known. While these materials can provide adequate repellency properties along with good moisture vapor transmission properties, their durability is variable as some of the barrier treatments, particularly on microporous substrates, are subject to failure if rubbed, touched, abraded or otherwise contacted or flexed. Additionally, these materials typically do not show long term retention of their repellency properties in garment applications where they are exposed to perspiration, presumably because the barrier treatments are readily contaminated by perspiration residues.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,041 (Gore et al.) is representative of a number of patents which describe coatings or laminates purported to provide waterproof articles which do not leak when touched and are breathable. This patent describes a layered article for use in waterproof garments or tents comprising at least two layers: an interior, continuous hydrophilic layer that readily allows water vapor to diffuse therethrough, prevents the transport of surface active agents and contaminating substances such as those found in perspiration, and is substantially resistant to pressure induced flow of liquid water, and a hydrophobic layer that permits the transmission of water vapor and provides thermal insulating properties even when exposed to rain. The hydrophobic layer is preferably waterproof microporous tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polypropylene, which permits the passage of moisture vapor through the pores thereof. The hydrophilic layer transfers moisture vapor therethrough whereupon it passes through the porous hydrophobic layer. Various means of joining the layers are suggested including the application of hydraulic pressure to force the hydrophilic polymer to penetrate into the surface void spaces of the hydrophobic layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,511 (Worden et al.) discloses a layered waterproof, breathable and stretchable article for use in, for example, material for protective articles. Also disclosed is a waterproof and breathable elastomeric polytetrafluoroethylene layered article bonded to a stretch fabric. The water proof and breathable elastomeric polytetrafluoroethylene layered article bonded to a stretch fabric is described as durable and possessing a moisture vapor transmission rate exceeding 1000 gms/m.sup.2 day.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,544 (Burleigh) describes a waterproof, moisture vapor permeable unitary sheet material comprising a microporous polymeric matrix having pores comprising continuous passages extending through its thickness and opening into the opposite surfaces thereof, the passages being sufficiently filled with a moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable, hydrophilic material to prevent the passage of water and other liquids through the unitary sheet material while readily permitting moisture vapor transmission therethrough rendering the sheet material breathable. The unitary sheet is made by causing a liquid composition comprising the hydrophilic material or precursor thereof to flow into the pores of the matrix, then causing the conversion thereof to solid hydrophilic material.
While these materials alleviate some of the problems known to the art, many require lamination to protect the water repellent, moisture vapor permeable material they use in their constructions while others require void filling which can lower the moisture vapor transmission rate of the material and decrease its ability to heat seal. Joining of multiple pieces of these materials in a three dimensional garment presents additional problems in that most of these materials are not readily joined together by any means other than sewing which creates needle holes that must be subsequently sealed with seaming tapes or alternative filling techniques to provide a totally waterproof garment. Also, due to the dense nature of the hydrophilic layer, many of these materials are minimally permeable to air.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,052 (Crater et al.) describes fluorochemical oxazolidinone compositions and their use for oil and water repellency in films, fibers, and non-woven webs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,256 (Shipman) discloses a microporous sheet material formed by liquid-solid phase separation of a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer with a compound which is miscible with the thermoplastic polymer at the melting temperature of the polymer but phase separates on cooling at or below the crystallization temperature of the polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,989 (Mrozinski) discloses a microporous material similar to that of Shipman but which also incorporates a nucleating agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,881 (Kinzer) discloses an oriented microporous film formed by liquid-liquid phase separation of a crystalline thermoplastic polymer and a compatible liquid.

Oil, water and sweat repellent microporous membrane materials

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A module terminal includes a terminal main body which is made of a metal plate and an insulative interference preventive member which is mounted on the terminal main body. In the terminal main body, one end portion is connected electrically to an electrode of a battery pack, and a female screw portion is formed integrally on a terminal portion to penetrate therethrough. While a distal end of a male screw faces an end face of the battery pack when the male screw into the female screw portion, the interference preventive member is disposed therebetween.

In recent years, low-pollution vehicles become popular with the growth of environmental conservation awareness. Because of this, research and development in order to increase the charge capacity of a secondary battery is made, and there is proposed a lithium ion secondary battery module such as one described in Patent Literature 1.
In Patent Literature 1, each of secondary battery cells which make up a secondary battery module is configured such that a positive electrode and a negative electrode (internal electrode pair) are laminated alternately with a separator interposed therebetween and an electrolyte is sealed in an insulating bag-shaped sheath, thereby realizing high energy density. By connecting the plural secondary battery cells (laminated battery cells) in series, charge capacity of the secondary battery module can be further increased.
In a secondary battery module including plural laminated battery cells like the one disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a male screw is screwed into a terminal provided on a laminated battery cell to fix an electric wiring. As this occurs, when the screwing work of the male screw is carried out carelessly, a tip of the male screw may hit a main body portion of the laminated battery cell to damage the same battery cell, or the tip of the male screw may abut the terminal or the electrode of the laminated battery cell to cause a short circuit.

Module terminal including interference preventive member


Conveying apparatus for use in an environment having significant variations in temperature, and having a molded plastic screw conveyor on a metal drive shaft is disclosed. The molded plastic screw conveyor includes a non-circular axial aperture which receives a cooperating drive shaft with a coefficient of expansion different than the plastic screw conveyor. The cross-sectional shapes of the drive shaft and the axial aperture extending through the plastic screw conveyor are such that rotation of the drive shaft results in rotation of the plastic screw conveyor. However, axial motion between the plastic screw conveyor and the drive shaft can occur to accommodate variations in length due to changes in temperature. A journal plug or end means is also included which may receive rotational forces from a motor or other source. The journal plug is joined to the drive shaft such that rotation of the journal plug results in rotation of the drive shaft and consequently in rotation of the plastic screw conveyor.

This application has related subject matter to that of the copending U.S. application Ser. No. 822,641 filed Jan. 27, 1986. It also has subject matter related to the U.S. copending application Ser. No. 044,358 filed Apr. 30, 1987, and copending application Ser. No. 058,393 entitled "Screw Conveyor Coupling Apparatus" and filed the same date as this application by the Assignee of the present invention.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, specialized helical shaped devices such as screw conveyors are well known for the transport of various types of bulk material. Such conveyors generally include a helical shaped member which rotates within a housing or trough such that rotation of the screw conveyor along its longitudinal or central axis results in movement of the bulk material along the length of the device. In the past, such conveyors were typically constructed from metal, and each conveyor was specifically designed for a particular purpose and of a particular length. However, although most prior art conveyors were specifically designed to meet a particular application, there have been some attempts of providing a modular type conveyor of metal and wood. Examples of U.S. Patents which disclose such modular conveyors include U.S. Pat. No. 349,233 issued to James Nelson on Sept. 10, 1886; U.S. Pat. No. 455,384 issued to H. Binkholz on July 7, 1891; U.S. Pat. No. 525,194 issued to J. Dyson, et al on Aug. 20, 1894; U.S. Pat. No. 546,879 issued to J. Dyson, et al on Sept. 14, 1895; U.S. Pat. No. 1,867,573 issued to D. G. Leach on July 19, 1932; U.S. Pat. No. 2,492,915 issued to A. B. Carlson on Dec. 27, 1949; U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,826 issued to Dean P. Brooks on Mar. 14, 1972 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,644 issued to Claude E. Kawchitch on Dec. 12, 1972. However, a study of the above patents indicates that only the two Dyson, et al patents, the Nelson patent and the Kawchitch patent can be considered sectional or modular. In addition, the assignee of the present application filed an application for Letters Patent on Sept. 29, 1983 for a "Modular Screw Conveyor" and which has Ser. No. 537,345, and on Apr. 4, 1984 filed an application for "Mold and Process for Manufacturing Helical Shaped Items" which has Ser. No. 598,374.
As will be appreciated, one of the advantages of a plastic screw conveyor is its ease of cleaning, etc. due to the smooth and non-interrupted surfaces. Also, of course, it will be appreciated that by avoiding nuts and bolts which penetrate through the plastic screw conveyor and drive shaft, the conveying apparatus can be kept clean and free of debris, and corrosion of the drive shaft substantially prevented. In addition, for certain U.S.D.A. applications the screw conveyor apparatus must be sealed so as to eliminate any cavities etc. which might harbor bacteria. For such applications, a unitary drive shaft was normally necessary no matter how long the screw conveyor, since shaft couplings available at that time which used sleeves and bolts were unacceptable and would not provide the uninterrupted and crevice-free surfaces.
However, since many screw conveyor applications must operate over a wide range of temperatures, it has been discovered that the different coefficients of exposition of the metal drive shaft and the plastic screw conveyor may cause serious operational problems in such applications. In addition, the problems become even more serious in those applications which must meet U.S.D.A. strict requirements.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide screw conveyor apparatus which can operate satisfactoritly over a wide variation of temperatures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a screw conveyor apparatus which can operate over a wide variation of temperatures while maintaining the metal drive shaft in a sealed and protected condition with respect to the exterior of the screw conveyor apparatus.
It is yet another object to provide a screw conveyor apparatus suitable for use over a wide variation of temperatures which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

Apparatus for use in variable operating temperatures


Provided is an electric actuator capable of preventing the release of particles from the body thereof. The electric actuator includes a body made of an elongated enclosure; a slider configured to move in a reciprocating manner along a lengthwise direction of the body; an opening formed in a side surface of the body to correspond to a moving path of the slider; a dust seal band provided to cover the opening; and a pair of electrodes protruding from the body at opposite sides of the opening toward the outside of the body and extending in the lengthwise direction of the body with the opening being interposed between the pair of electrodes. Positive potential is generated in the upper electrode of the pair of electrodes and negative potential is generated in the lower electrode of the pair of electrodes.

In a substrate processing apparatus that performs a predetermined processing on a substrate such as, for example, a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, simply referred to as "wafer"), an electric actuator is used when moving the wafer linearly within the substrate processing apparatus.
FIGS. 8A to 8C are views schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional electric actuator used in a substrate processing apparatus in which FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a bottom view, and FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 8A.
In the electric actuator 80, a planar slider 82 is moved along the lengthwise direction of a body 81 of the electric actuator 80 which is formed in an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape, in a reciprocating manner as indicated white arrows in the drawings. The slider 82 is joined to a guide 84 through a bracket 85 and the guide 84 is engaged with a rail 83 arranged within the body 81. When the guide 84 is driven along the rail 83 by a belt 86, the slider 82 is moved together with the guide 84. The slider 82 is formed with a plurality of screw holes 87 and a pick (not illustrated) on which, for example, a wafer is placed is attached to the slider 82 by screwing clamping screws (not illustrated) to the respective screw holes 87. The wafer is moved by moving the slider 82.
An opening 88 is formed in a side surface of the body 81 of the electric actuator 80 along the lengthwise direction of the body 81 in order to enable the slider 82 or the bracket 85 to move along the lengthwise direction of the body 81. However, a greater part of the opening 88 is covered by a dust seal band 89. The dust seal band 89 prevents particles generated by friction when the guide 84 is driven on the rail 83 from being released to the outside of the body 81. See, for example, Non-Patent Document 1.


Providing video visitation with cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individuals may call for limiting functionality of a personal cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual communication and/or media device, such as by an operating system of the personal device. The personal device may play audio and video, accept video communications in response to touching of a screen of the personal device, and establish a video communication in response to such touching of the screen. Providing the video visitation may also include receiving a request to initiate a video communication over the personal device with a cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual, such as may be requested via a visitor communication and/or media device. Whereupon, an audible message may be played by the personal device, indicating the request, and the video communication between the personal device and the visitor device may be established in response to touching of the screen of the personal device.

Family members and friends of skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility residents may typically be working into the later years of their life, leaving limited time in their schedules to visit the patient in-person. While video visitation with the patient may seem to be a viable answer to at least some degree, many, if not a majority of, skilled nursing facility patients do not have the ability to use video visitation software (e.g. SKYPE®, FACETIME®, or the like) due to cognitive limitations, physical impairments, a lack of technological experience, or for similar reasons. For example, such video communication programs or functionality require memorization of passwords and processes, or the like, which may be a difficulty for the elderly. Similarly, existing tablet computer-based solutions are too complex, in that required navigation of software by the patient drastically limits the skilled nursing patient's ability to use such a device. Also, operation of a computer, tablet computing device, or the like may be difficult for people with traumatic injuries resulting in limited movement. In such cases, help from another person, such as very busy facility personnel may be required to make use of such video communication programs or functionality.

Video visitation for the cognitive and/or dexterity impaired