An image processing apparatus, method, program and recording medium can arrange images concentrically with respect to a circular label. image data and a type of an arrangement pattern of image data are selected and the shape and the arrangement of images are changed in accordance with the number of image data selected and a type of arrangement pattern selected so as to generate post-arrangement image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program for implementing the image processing method, and a recording medium for recording the program, with which multiple digital images are displayed and printed in a layout form.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, with the pervasion of digital cameras, it has become possible to take digitally photographs with ease. Also, large-capacity removable media represented by Compact Disc-Recordables (CD-Rs) have come into widespread use, so that the digitally-taken photographs are stored onto the CD-Rs.
When a large number of digital photographs are stored in a removable medium, however, it becomes completely impossible to know what photographs have been recorded in the medium unless they are read out from the medium. In order to solve this problem, on a label of a CD-R, a user writes letters or prints letters or an image using a printer capable of performing print on the CD-R label, thereby identifying each CD-R.
When multiple images of rectangular digital photographs are arranged along a circle such as a label of a CD-R, a user manually lays out the images, although it is very difficult to arrange them in a good balance. In addition, each time the number of images to be arranged increases or decreases, the user is required to perform the layout again, which is extremely complicated work. In view of this problem, a technique of arranging images concentrically is disclosed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-085450, for instance).
Also, in order to make it easy to know the contents of a recording medium (such as a CD-R), on which a plurality of image data have been recorded, a representative image, a title, or the like is printed on a label surface of the recording medium. In the case of a disk recording medium such as a CD-R in particular, its label surface has a circular shape or a doughnut shape in many cases. Therefore, when rectangular images are arranged on the label, it is required to think out the layout of the images so that the images are presented in an easy-to-see manner. In order to solve this problem, a technique is disclosed with which icons (images) are arranged along a spiral, thereby arranging the images so as to be contained within a circle (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-085450, for instance). Also, a technique is disclosed relating to a contents output apparatus with which information is presented on a screen in a circular area with buttons arranged concentrically and image information is linked to the respective buttons (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-287867, for instance).
With the conventional techniques described above, however, a user is only capable of arranging a predetermined number of images using a fixed layout, which means that the user cannot select an arbitrary number of images and arrange them by himself/herself. Also, it is impossible to arrange the images so as to overlap each other. Against this backdrop, a technique has been desired with which it is possible to automatically arrange images selected by a user in a concentric manner.
Also, when a very large number of images are arranged, a problem arises in that each image becomes very small.
Further, in the case of the conventional spiral image arrangement, each rectangular image is arranged under a condition where the shape thereof is not changed, so that a problem occurs in that it is impossible to fill a circular label surface with efficiency.
Still further, with the conventional technique with which concentric buttons are displayed, it is impossible to display photographs on the concentric buttons themselves and therefore there exists an increasing demand for a technique with which it is possible to arrange images concentrically.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program for implementing image processing method, and recording medium recording program


Techniques for parallel testing of multiple mobile devices simultaneously at an MCellblock are described. In one example, an MCellblock receives a request to perform a test run on multiple mobile devices located at the MCellblock. The request includes multiple test scripts that can be used by the MCellblock to execute a test run on each of the multiple mobile devices. The MCellblock creates a thread for each of the multiple mobile devices to perform the test run. Then, the MCellblock performs the test run on each of the multiple mobile devices located at the MCellblock simultaneously via each of the threads. Performing the test run includes executing a test script on each of the respective multiple mobile devices. The MCellblock monitors the multiple mobile devices as the test run is performed for results of the test run, and outputs the results of the test run.

Before a new mobile device or application to be deployed on mobile devices is released, the entity executing the release wants to be sure that their device or application executes as close to perfectly in every situation as possible. Current systems for testing mobile devices and applications on mobile devices typically only test a single device at a time. Only testing one device at a time, or very few devices at a time, is slow and can lead to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in testing results, and reduces the likelihood that the mobile device or application will run smoothly once released.

MCellblock for parallel testing of multiple devices


A method for surface treating conductive copper powder comprises dispersing pure copper powder or silver-coated copper powder in a solution of coupling agent selected from the group consisting of silane, titanate, aluminate and zirconate and a ZB-3 treating agent which is the reaction products of peanut oil fatty acids, boric acid and triethanolamine in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 in an organic solvent, the total amount of the coupling agent and ZB-3 treating agent being controlled in the range of from 0.1% to 10%, based on the weight of the copper powder, filtering after 1 hour standing and drying at 40.degree.-60.degree. C. under vacuum.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for surface treating conductive copper powder for use in conductive pastes such as conductive inks, conductive coatings and conductive adhesives which possess excellent conductivity and environmental adaptability.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
As is known, it has long been considered to use copper powder as conductive filler in conductive paste. However, the metal copper powder, particularly the fine copper powder, can be oxidized rapidly in the air. Therefore, to prevent copper powder from oxidization is a technical problem in the development of conductive pastes. To improve oxidation resistance of copper powder so as to enable it to be used in conductive paste, various proposals, including methods of surface treating the copper powder, methods of employing additives and combinations thereof, have been made.
In the method of surface treating, the copper powder is treated with an antioxidant or coated with a metal such as tin, nickel, platinum or silver. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 113505/1982(JP57-113505A) discloses a conductive coating composition in which a tin-coated copper powder is employed as conductive filler. JP60-100679A and JP60-243277A disclose methods for coating copper powder with silver.
In the method of employing additives, reducing agent and/or coupling agent are incorporated as essential components into the conductive paste when the copper powder is dispersed in a solution of synthetic resin binder. The conductive paste thus obtained exhibits oxidation resistance to a certain extent.
In the combination method, metal-coated copper powder is treated with a coupling agent.
Examples of the materials to be used as antioxidant that may be mentioned are amines, organo-phosphorous, organo-silane, organo-aluminium and organo-titanium compounds. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,079, phosphites are employed; in JP61-200179A, higher fatty amines are used; in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,305,847 and 4,382,981 and JP58-74579A and 59-75931A, 59-174661A, organo-titanium compounds are used; in JP59-179671A and JP60-3200A, organic aluminates or titanates are used; in JP62-280271A, silanes and titanates are employed.
Examples of the additives used are phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid and esters thereof, phenols and derivatives thereof, aldehydes, hydrazines, ascorbic acid, triazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, reducing sugar and coupling agents. JP60-258273A discloses a conductive coating composition in which the copper powder employed is treated with citric acid or tartaric acid; JP57-55974A and 96401A disclose conductive coating compositions in which hydroxyphenol derivatives such as hydroquinone, catechol are added; U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,647 discloses a conductive composition in which triazole derivatives are used as additives; JP60-243171A discloses a conductive composition in which organic carboxylic acid salts of alkyl imidazoles, nitrogen- or sulfur-containing silane couplers, phosphates and/or phosphites are added.
The conductive pastes obtained according to the above-mentioned first and second methods have good initial electrical conductivity, but they have poor storage stability and environmental adaptability. The conductive pastes obtained according to the third method have better properties, but are still not ideal. In brief, of the conductive pastes afore-mentioned, some have the drawback of forming patina, some have the deficiency of aggregation and sedimentation of fillers, some change greatly in conductivity after a period of time and some do not exhibit sufficient degree of heat resistance and humidity resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,980 discloses a method for treating copper powder on the surface of which an antioxidation film of a salt of an aliphatic mono- or di-amine, having aliphatic hydrocarbon having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, of a mono- or di-carboxylic acid, having either aliphatic hydrocarbon having 2 to 23 carbon atoms or aromatic hydrocarbon groups having 7 to 8 carbon atoms, is formed; and a film comprising a dispersing agent of the type of boron-nitrogen composite and at least one coupler selected from the group consisting of titanate and aluminate is then formed on the antioxidation film. The boron-nitrogen composite type dispersing agent is a dispersing agent in which a boron-containing surfactant substance and a nitrogen-containing surfactant substance are blended and combined each other. The boron-containing surfactant substance has in the molecule thereof a boronic acid ester bond with polyhydric alcohol, and has one or more groups of hydrocarbons having 7 to 25 carbon atoms. The nitrogen-containing surfactant substance has one or more groups of hydrocarbons having 7 to 25 carbon atoms, and has non-covalent electron pairs. The copper powder thus-obtained is capable of maintaining stable conductivity for a long period of time, and possesses a good affinity for synthetic resin and a high degree of thermal resistance.
JP02-18469A discloses a copper powder for conductive coating and conductive coating composition using same. The copper powder is coated with a zirconate compound and a hydroxyalkylamine, together with a higher fatty acid ester. The obtained copper powder thus obtained has rust proofing properties and capable of improving conductivity and environmental adaptability by adding to a coating.
As is known to the persons skilled in the art, conductive copper paste should possess excellent conductivity and generally has a volume resistance of 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-4 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. In order to ensure this conductivity, copper powder should have good oxidation resistance. For obtaining pure copper powder, a known method is employed which comprises removing the organic protective layer (fatty acids and other organics) on the surface of the copper powder and then removing the oxides thereon with an acid.
In addition, whether the copper powder is well dispersed in binder resins would obviously affect the conductivity of the conductive copper paste. Furthermore, the storage stability and the environmental adaptability of the conductive paste are important quality indices for practical applications of the conductive paste. In general, the change of the conductivity of a conductive paste should be less than 10% . Troubles would be found in application if the limit is exceeded.

Method for surface treating conductive copper powder with a treating agent and coupler

Beijing Technology of Printing Research Institute Chinese


A method and apparatus are provided for managing authentication of a user of a telecommunications network of an operator. The method includes the following steps: on receipt of a request for access to a service provided by the operator of this network by the user, issuing a request for identification of an authentication server destined for an authentication location server, the request including at least one identifier of the user; and on receipt of a response comprising an identifier of an authentication server associated with the identifier of the user, issuing a request for authentication of the user at the server identified for the requested service.

A user of a telecommunications network accesses this network by way of an access network. Several types of access are available. These include fixed accesses, based for example on x-DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology, and mobile accesses based on UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), WIFI or WImax technologies.
Certain access networks of IP (Internet Protocol) packet type possess so-called AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) authentication infrastructures, which carry out the authentication of the users, manage the authorization of access to the requested services and perform the accounting for billing the user for the service.
In a conventional manner, the AAA architecture relies on the following principles:
The user's terminal hooks up to the access network via a network access point.
In the access network, a network access server is responsible for controlling access to the IP transport core network, which itself provides services for accessing other IP networks such as the Internet or else a private IP network, such as a companies network for example.
In this context, the role of the network access server is to authenticate and to authorize the terminal to access the IP core network. To carry out these functions, this access server dispatches, on receipt of a request issued by the terminal, a request for access to an authentication server in charge of verifying the authentication parameters provided by the terminal. Once authentication has been successful, access to the network services is authorized as a function of the rights of access associated with the user of the terminal.
Today, the AAA architecture is also implemented for the authentication of a user already connected to an operator's IP transport core network, but who desires to access a service provided by an application system of this network. For example, to access an IP mobility service which will allow him to change type of access in the course of an application session, the user must authenticate himself a second time with the AAA architecture.
The authentication and authorization data are grouped together in what is called a user data profile. This profile is hosted either in the authentication server receiving the access request, or in another authentication server. In this case, the access request is transmitted to the latter and it is this server which will ensure authentication of the terminal.
Once the authentication and authorization procedures have been carried out, the network access server is in charge of generating accounting messages containing the information related to the events associated with the connection in progress (start of session, end of session, volume of data transmitted, etc.). These messages are dispatched to a specialized server which will be in charge of generating billing invoices as a function of the accounting information received. This server may be co-located with the authentication server or be an independent server.
The servers carrying out the Authentication, Authorization and/or Accounting functions are generically called "AAA servers". The network access servers which are the "clients" of these AAA servers are called "AAA clients".
The so-called AAA protocols are the protocols used on the interfaces between AAA client and AAA server or between AAA servers. Specified at the IETF, the one most used at present is the RADIUS protocol (IETF RFC 2865). Since 2002, the IETF has defined a new protocol called Diameter (IETF RFC 3588), the successor to RADIUS, making it possible to respond to the new functional requirements and constraints prompted by the emergence of new types of access networks and of new network services such as IP mobility management for example.
The AAA architecture will now be described in conjunction with FIG. 1.
A user terminal UE 10 (User Equipment), which desires to access an IP data network 3 such as the Internet, is considered. It connects initially to the operator's telecommunications network 1 through an access management server (Network Access Server) NAS1 110 of an access network 20. At the level of the access network, one also speaks of access point (AP). This may be fixed access of x-DSL type or mobile access of WIFI type, for example. This connection requires a first authentication which is requested of an authentication server AAA1 210 of the network 1 by the access management server NAS1 110. The authentication server AAA1 210 recovers a profile of the user from a database DB 400 which may be local or centralized.
Once this first authentication has been successful, the terminal issues a request for access to the IP network (or service) 3 through an access management server for this service or NAS2 120. For this purpose, it uses a protocol making it possible to establish an IP connection.
Several protocols may be used as a function of the type of access network and of the type of network to which access is desired. Cited by way of example are the PPP protocol (Point To Point Protocol, described in the IETF document RFC 1661) for fixed accesses to the Internet with the aid of modem of RTC type, the IEEE protocol 802.1X (described in the IEEE document standard 802.1X-2001 "Port-Based network Access Control") for Wifi accesses or else the IKEv2 protocol (Internet Key Exchange V2, RFC 4306) for setting up IPsec security association for accesses of VPN (Virtual Private Network) or I-WLAN type.
The server for managing access to the service NAS2 issues a request for authentication of the user through an authentication server AAA2 120. It is understood that this authentication server may be different from that which carried out the first authentication of the user.
The AAA architecture in fact affords the possibility of distributing over a given territory several network access servers charged with controlling access to the resources. When several AAA servers are deployed in the network, each server can have its own user database or all the servers are connected to a centralized database. The centralized architecture is the one found in particular in mobile networks. The use of a centralized base allows the user to be able to move to any network access point while being certain of being able to be authenticated and authorized to access its services.
When, as in the example of FIG. 1, the user desires to access a service which requires two successive authentications, it is desirable to exploit the first authentication so as to simplify the second. In this regard, there exist moreover mechanisms of reauthentication at the local level. These same mechanisms could be reused or adapted within the framework of successive authentications by one and the same operator. For example, the ERP protocol (EAP Extension for EAP Re-authentication Protocol, defined at the IETF in RFC 5296) makes it possible to reuse the cryptographic material arising from a first authentication carried out with the EAP protocol (Extensible Authentication Protocol, defined at the IETF in RFC 3748). This makes it possible to reduce the number of signaling messages exchanged in the network as well as the calculation times on the equipment concerned. This being particularly true in the case where the terminal is in a visited network and the cryptographic material is held in the local network.
However, such mechanisms risk being inoperative when the user, already authenticated a first time by the network, does not address himself to the same server NAS1 for managing access to the network during a second authentication. Such a situation arises in particular in the previous example when access to the access network and access to the Internet network are managed by different access management servers. It also arises when the user is roaming and has changed access network since the first authentication in the access network. Such a case will now be presented in conjunction with FIG. 2.
The terminal UE 10 has connected to the access network 21, for example a mobile access network of Wifi type. An access management server NAS1 and an authentication server AAA1 have taken charge of the appropriate connection and authentication procedures. It is assumed that the user moves and changes point of access to the access network 21. He must reconnect to the access network in the course of a so-called handover procedure (transfer), through a second access management server for the network NAS2 120.
The IETF document RFC 4282 by Aboba et al, entitled "The Network Access Identifier", is considered, said document teaching the use of an access network identifier (Network Access Identifier or NAI) submitted by the user to the access management server NAS1, NAS2 during his requests for access to a service. This identifier indicates the domain of the operator with which the user has taken out a subscription. On receipt of this identifier, the server for managing access to the service makes a DNS request to recover the address of the AAA server or servers corresponding to this domain. A problem arises when, as in the example of FIG. 2, several AAA servers have been deployed for this domain, this possibly occurring for load sharing and security reasons.
Indeed, in this case, knowledge of the identifier NAI does not allow the access management server to identify which local AAA server from among the AAA servers deployed in the domain is in charge of this user.
In conjunction with FIG. 3, the case is now considered where the user is additionally in a "roaming" situation, that is to say he accesses a service to which he has subscribed through his operator via the network 2 of a third party operator. An access management server NAS1′ and a proxy authentication server pAAA1 of the visited network 2 take charge of the appropriate connection and authentication procedures. The server for managing access to the local service NAS1′ makes, with this aim, a DNS request to recover the address of a local proxy AAA server pAAA1. The server pAAA1 thereafter contacts an AAA server of the network 1, termed the attachment or "home" network of the user, which undertakes the authentication. The authentication server AAA1 of the network 1 has previously recovered a profile of the user from the database DB 400 of the network 1.
It is thereafter assumed that, as in the previous example, the user moves and changes point of access to the access network 21′. He must reconnect to the network for access to the visited network 2 in the course of a so-called handover procedure (transfer), through a second server NAS2′ for managing access to the network. This second management server NAS2′ contacts a proxy authentication server pAAA2 by default, which addresses itself in its turn to an AAA server AAA2 of the home network 1.
In this regard, the 3GPP standard TS 23.402 describes a solution for the server AAA2 to recover an identifier of the server AAA1 which has undertaken a first authentication of the user through the database DB 400, in the particular case where the latter was implemented in an HSS (Home Subscriber Service) server. The server AAA2 can then behave in two ways:                either it behaves as proxy and transmits the request for authentication of the roaming user to the server AAA1 of the network 1;        or it dispatches to the proxy AAA server pAAA2 of the visited domain 2 the identity of the server AAA1 so that it recovers the user's profile from it.
It is understood that none of these options offers the management server NAS2′ the possibility of recovering the identity of the proxy server pAAA1 which had been used during the first authentication. Thus, if the proxy server pAAA1 possessed additional cryptographic material allowing fast reauthentication of the user's terminal, it cannot be utilized.
It should be noted that the standard 33.402 describes this solution with the aim of avoiding a new transmission of the user's profile to another AAA server AAA2, not with that of optimizing the process for reauthenticating the user in a roaming situation.

Method and device for managing authentication of a user


The present invention provides a lubricating composition suitable for use in a two-stroke crosshead diesel engine. The lubricating composition comprises a base oil blend consisting of base oil chosen from Group I, base oil chosen from Group II and deasphalted cylinder oil.

Bright stock oil is a Group I base oil which has undergone solvent extraction, dewaxing and optionally a hydrogen treatment. It is commonly used as a base oil in lubricating oil compositions, in particular in lubricating oil compositions for marine and stationary low-speed crosshead diesel engines burning residual fuels with sulphur contents of up to 3.5 wt % and for trunk piston, medium-speed diesel engines operating on residual fuel in industrial and marine applications. However, as bright stock oil availability is becoming increasingly constrained within the market place, it is desirable to find alternative base oils for use in lubricating oil compositions for such applications.
EP 1752514 discloses that particular base oil blends comprising bright stock oil and de-asphalted cylinder oil (DACO) not only have no adverse effect on the lubricating properties of lubricating oil compositions, but also have advantageous viscometric properties in cylinder oil lubricants for use in cross-head engines and trunk piston engines. These lubricating compositions still comprise bright stock oil and it is desirable to further reduce the proportion of bright stock oil in lubricating compositions.
The present inventors have sought to provide lubricating composition suitable for use in two-stroke crosshead engines that contain even less bright stock oil, and preferably no bright stock oil. Preferably such lubricating compositions have advantageous properties such as reduced deposit formation.


A vehicle controller controls an operation of an engine of a vehicle when the engine is started with a remote command. The vehicle controller decreases the number of idle revolutions of the engine, supplies diluted fuel to the engine, uses only a few cylinders of the engine, changes parameters used in detecting and preventing knocking of the engine, controls the windows or curtains of the windows of the engine to increase the efficiency of air conditioning, and supplies lesser power to in-vehicle devices.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle controller that controls operations of a vehicle.
2) Description of the Related Art
When the power mechanism (generally, an engine) of a vehicle is to be activated, a driver performs a starting operation with an ignition key or the like while sitting in the vehicle. In recent years, however, a remote starting system has been developed that allows the driver to remotely activate the power mechanism. In such a remote starting system, the driver remotely activates the power mechanism with a remote-controller, such as a remote key, via a network, such as the Internet.
The remote starting system has an advantage that it becomes possible to pre-condition the compartment of the vehicle to a comfortable temperature before the driver enters the vehicle.
However, various problems occur if the power mechanism is activated continuously for a longer time to pre-condition the compartment of the vehicle. For example, there is wastage of fuel, moreover, the burning of the fuel produces toxic exhaust gases that are harmful to the environment.
As a countermeasure, in the remote starting system disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-42046, when to start the engine is determined from preset conditions, such as time when the driver enters the vehicle. On the other hand, Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3057814 discloses a technique in which the engine is stopped when the temperature in compartment of the vehicle reaches a predetermined temperature.
Thus, the conventional techniques control the engine irrespective of whether the driver is in the vehicle. In other words, although the engine is activated with the intension of only controlling the temperature in the compartment of the vehicle, the engine performs other controls although the driver is not in the vehicle. Such other controls include knocking control to suppress the knocking of the engine.

Vehicle controller and vehicle control method


An application of alginate sulfate in the preparation of drugs and health care products for preventing and treating diseases caused by human papillomavirus. Alginate sulfate has a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HPV infection through experiments, and alginate sulfate inhibited the expression of E6 and E7 genes and proteins in HPV-transformed Hela and Caski cells in a dose-dependent manner. The alginate sulfate can be developed into a drug or a health care product against human papillomavirus by systematic scientific experiments, which will have a good market application prospect.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), as a sexually transmitted common pathogen, is one of the major viruses that threaten the health of modern people. HPV contains more than 100 types, and some of them can cause various lesions. There are 13 high-risk types and 5 low-risk types that mainly cause diseases. There is a correlation between the infection of high-risk HPV and the occurrence of tumors in some anal and genital areas.
Long-term infection of HPV16 and HPV18 subtypes has been identified as a major cause of cervical cancer. Currently, there are no specific anti-viral drugs for HPV in the market, and HPV vaccines are mainly adapted to women who have no sexual activity. Thus, the development of novel anti-HPV drugs with high efficiency is of great significance.
Because the proliferation of HPV depends on the differentiation of epithelial cells, it is substantially incapable of surviving in vitro. It is currently believed that the production of pseudoviruses is the most effective method to simulate HPV infection. HPV expresses capsid proteins L1 and L2 in mammalian cells. These two proteins have the ability to self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) and encapsulate viral genomes or foreign genes in vitro to form pseudoviruses (PsV) which is consistent to the natural viral structure and immunogenicity. Professor Buck of the NIH in the United States reported that by using the characteristics of PsV to non-specifically package DNA, the plasmids expressing HPV L1 and L2 genes and the reporter plasmid can be co-transfected into mammalian cells and assembled into pseudoviral particles encapsulating the reporter plasmid. The pseudovirus constructed by this method has a higher titer, and the experimental operation is simple, and the result is stable and reliable. Therefore, the HPV pseudovirus system is currently widely used for screening and identification of anti-HPV vaccines and drugs. In addition, HPV-transformed cells such as Hela and Caski are also used for screening and pharmacodynamic evaluation of anti-HPV drugs.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies. In recent years, the incidence rate has increased year by year, and the age of onset has gradually become younger. Studies have shown that continuous or repeated infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major risk factor for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. In recent years, cervical HPV infection has received extensive attention. A large number of studies have confirmed that high-risk HPV infection is an important cause of cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer, which seriously threatens women's life and health. The key to preventing cervical cancer and recurrence and blocking the course of disease is to clear HPV. HPV is a non-enveloped small DNA virus that is classified into high-risk and low-risk depending on its carcinogenic strength. High-risk types include HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, etc., mainly causing CINII, III and cervical cancer. After high-risk HPV infects cervixes, the viral DNA is randomly integrated into the host cell genomic DNA; the E2 gene of the self-replicating inhibitory expression fragment is lost, the E6 and E7 oncogenes are overexpressed, and the E6 and E7 proto-oncoproteins bind to the tumor suppressor p53 and pRb in the host cell, respectively, and inactivate the tumor suppressor. The activation of proto-oncogene or inactivation of tumor suppressor gene can make cervical epithelial cells become malignant. After years of clinical research, it has been established that HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Hybrid capture second generation (HCII) is currently the only FDA-approved HPV DNA detection technology that can simultaneously detect 13 high-risk types HPV without the need for gene amplification, with a negative predictive value of 99%.
For the prevention and treatment of cervical HPV, developed countries such as Europe and the United States have included preventive vaccines in the national routine vaccination, and in China vaccines have entered the second phase clinical trial, but preventive vaccines cannot cover all high-risk HPV types, and have no therapeutic effect on women with HPV infection-related types. Therapeutic vaccines for HPV-infected people are still under development and have not been put into clinical use on a large scale. However, problems such as vaccine safety and immunogenicity need to be improved. Physical and surgical treatment is applied to HPV-infected patients who have developed precancerous lesions of the cervix, but there may still be persistent HPV infection after surgery. The research hotspots for cervical HPV treatment mainly focus on the development of antiviral drugs, immunopotentiators and external preparations, and have made great breakthroughs. However, the effects in human clinical trials are not satisfied. There are still no effective preventive and therapeutic measures in clinical practice. Drug therapy for cervical HPV infection commonly uses interferon such as Xin Fu Ning (a recombinant human interferon a2b vaginal effervescent capsule). Theoretically, interferon inhibits the replication and transcription of viral nucleic acids by inducing the production of enzymatically active antiviral proteins in target cells, but its efficacy and side effects are still controversial.
Therefore, timely and effective removal of HPV virus in infected patients can block precancerous lesions and cervical cancer of cervical epithelial cells to different degrees. However, currently there are no specific drugs for the treatment of HPV infection.

Application of alginic acid sulfate in preparation of drugs and health care products for preventing and treating diseases caused by human papilloma viruses

MARINE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF QINGDAO CO., LTD.


A reflective printed article includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a graphic image printed thereon. A reflective or glossy ink layer is printed over the entire top surface of the substrate. A graphic image is printed over the reflective ink layer. The image may cover the entire portion of the reflective layer or only selected portions thereof. The graphic image includes hidden or latent images printed within the graphic image layers. An optional glossy layer of transparent ink may be printed over the graphic image. A textured pattern of lines is printed or applied in sections over the optional glossy layer or graphical image, with each line in the section printed at the same angle or orientation, with the lines of adjacent sections printed at different angles in order to reflect light in different directions to create the illusion of depth, three-dimensionality, hidden images and motion.

The present invention relates generally to a printed article, and more particularly to a reflective printed article having a graphic design such as a trading card, greeting card, sign, poster, label, decal, book cover, decorative panel, name plate, visual display and the like having a reflective image with a textured pattern printed thereon creating visual illusions of depth, three-dimensionality, hidden images and motion in the printed article.
In order to attract the attention of consumers, many products are being manufactured with images that provide a unique and sensational visual presentation. To meet this demand, a variety of printing techniques have been developed to produce aesthetically pleasing visual effects, such as the appearance of depth, three-dimensionality and motion. Various methods are known in the prior art that produce three-dimensional images on two-dimensional media.
One method involves printing two offset images in different colors on an opaque or transparent sheet, and viewing the images using special glasses having right and left lenses which correspond to the different image colors respectively. Holographic technology can also be used to produce an image on a flat sheet which appears three-dimensional when illuminated and viewed at the proper angles.
However, these methods have not been commercially popular for various reasons. The offset image method is undesirable in that special glasses are required to view the image. Holographic images or holograms are difficult and expensive to produce. Therefore, processes have been developed to produce the illusion of three-dimensional images on two-dimensional media. One such process is conventional embossing, which forms a raised pattern on a substrate by physically deforming part of the substrate upwardly. However, embossing suffers from the drawback that an expensive press is necessary to perform the operation, and a die bearing the desired embossed pattern must be made for each application. Further, the materials that can be used for embossing are limited because of the deforming nature of the embossing process.
Therefore, a need exists for a printing method and printed article that offers the visual impact of embossing without the cost. The assignee of the present invention has developed a number of printing methods for printing a variety of visually stimulating images creating the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,379; 6,113,149; and 6,170,881; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention provides an improved printing method for printing reflective images on a printed article having the illusion of depth, three-dimensionality, hidden images and motion.

Reflective article and method of manufacturing same


A new cultivar of Viola named ‘SMEV1’ that is distinguishable by compact habit, green glossy foliage, and large fragrant, blue and cream-white flowers. In combination these traits set ‘SMEV1’ apart from all other existing varieties of Viola known to the inventor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of violet grown for use in borders, containers, and the landscape. The new invention from the family Violaceae, is known botanically as Viola×hybrida and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name 'SMEV1'.
The new Viola cultivar named 'SMEV1' resulted from a formal breeding program developed by the inventor and conducted in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Goals of the breeding program were to produce a range of heat tolerant, perennial Viola exhibiting a range of flower color. The program was started in 2001. The inventor conducted deliberate controlled cross-pollination in October 2002. The seedlings that resulted from this cross were grown to maturity. Five seedlings were selected, asexually reproduced and grown to maturity for another two generations. From the final generation the inventor selected 'SMEV1' in September 2004, based on the criteria of flower size and flower color.
'SMEV1' is a selected hybrid seedling that resulted from cross-pollination of Viola 'Etain' (female parent, unpatented) and Viola 'Painted Porcelain' (male parent, unpatented). The new Viola cultivar named 'SMEV1' is distinguishable from the parents by a band of blue color that "bleeds" into a large area of the petal blade, onto a predominantly cream-white background. The flower of Viola 'Etain' exhibits a fine lavender edge on petals, with a yellow center. The flower of 'Painted Porcelain' has mauve venation spreading throughout petals and varying in color depth throughout season.
The distinguishing characteristics of 'SMEV1' are compact habit, glossy green foliage, large perfume-scented flowers held on short peduncles, with blue-margined flower color on a predominantly cream-white petal background. Mature dimensions are 20 cm. in height and 40 cm. in width. Cultural requirements include full sun to filtered light, moist organic soil, and regular water. Hardy to USDA Zone 5 and blooms early winter through spring.
The first asexual reproduction of 'SMEV1' was accomplished in 2004, by the inventor in a cultivated area of Victoria, Australia. The method used was softwood cuttings. Since that time 'SMEV1' has been determined stable and true to type in subsequent generations of asexual propagation.


A radio communication device includes an antenna for a predetermined frequency band, a radio communication circuit connected to the antenna, and a ground pattern connected to the antenna, a peripheral length of the ground pattern being 0.7 to 1.4 times as great as one wavelength of the predetermined frequency band. With the structure, it is possible to obtain a broader band characteristic without deteriorating the radiation efficiency of the antenna.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-349000, filed Dec. 8, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a radio communication device having a radio communication function and an electronic apparatus having the same.
A radio communication system called the xe2x80x9cBluetoothxe2x80x9d has recently appeared as one short distance radio communication system for a mobile personal computer and portable terminal device. This radio communication system has an available frequency band of 2400 MHz to 2483.5 MHz and adopts a spread spectrum system using a frequency hopping.
The hopping channel is 79 waves (2402 MHz to 2480 MHz) at an interval of 1 MHz and the transmission rate is 1 Mbps and the communication distance is relatively short on the order of 10 m at a transmission power of 0 dBm and 100 m at a transmission power of +20 dBm.
In the case where a radio communication apparatus of such a short distance radio communication system is mounted on a portable personal computer such as a notebook size personal computer, an antenna such as a rod antenna used in a manner to be outwardly projected provides an obstacle at a time of use and some idea should be given to the antenna so as not to be projected outwardly from inside the personal computer.
In order to achieve this purpose, it may be possible to use a chip antenna.
In the notebook size personal computer, a liquid crystal display panel serving also as a cover is hinged to the upper end portion of a keyboard-attached body such that it can be supported at one end side in a swingably openable/closable way. In use of the personal computer, the cover is swung open and, in order to prevent a radiation of an electromagnetic wave, the personal computer is so constructed that the interior of a housing of the body and interior of a housing of the cover are electromagnetically shielded by an electroconductive paint and shield panel.
The body is occupied by a battery, connectors, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, PC card slot, substrate including a CPU, memories, interface circuit, etc., and keyboard and so on and there is no space available and, in the case where an antenna is adopted on the personal computer from the outset, it follows that it will usually be attached to the cover having a built-in liquid crystal display panel.
When, in this case, the liquid crystal display panel of the cover is opened and closed, then a state around a mounted antenna varies greatly and there occurs a shift of the band characteristic. If, therefore, a chip antenna is to be adopted, it is necessary to use a broader-band one.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-145124 discloses the chip antenna technique using a broader band. This document provides a chip antenna for allowing the use of a radio device for transmitting and receiving a frequency over a broader band.
A chip antenna is comprised of a very small rectangular body having a cross-section size of a few millimetersxc3x97a few millimeters and a length of below about 1 cm. Stated in more detail, the chip antenna comprises a small rectangular substrate made principally of barium oxide, aluminum oxide and silica and a spirally wound conductor provided in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular substrate in which case a resistor is connected at one end to the conductor on the surface of the substrate and, further, a feeding terminal is provided for applying a voltage to the conductor through the other end of the resistor.
By this structure, the conductor and resistor are connected in a series array and, by connecting the conductor and resistor in a series array in the chip antenna, it is possible to lower a substantially Q (quality factor) of the chip antenna and, by doing so, to obtain a broader band width.
This conventional technique, however, involves a problem because the broader band is achieved by providing a resistor in the chip antenna and lowering the Q.
This means that there is a limitation on the broading of the band obtained by connecting the conductor and resistor in a series array in the chip antenna. That is, a loss is increased by increasing the series resistance and must be restricted to an allowable range.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio communication device for obtaining a broader band characteristic without deteriorating the radiation efficiency of an antenna and an electronic apparatus equipped with the same.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio communication device comprising: an antenna for a predetermined frequency band; a radio communication circuit connected to the antenna; and a ground pattern connected to the antenna, a peripheral length of the ground pattern being 0.7 to 1.4 times as great as one wavelength of the predetermined frequency band.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio communication device comprising: an antenna for a predetermined frequency band, the predetermined frequency band being 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz; a radio communication circuit connected to the antenna; and a ground pattern connected to the antenna, a peripheral length of the ground pattern being 90 mm to 170 mm.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: means for processing information; means for allowing radio communication of the information processed by the means for processing information; an antenna for a predetermined frequency band which is connected to the means for allowing radio communication; and a ground pattern connected to the antenna, a peripheral length of the ground pattern being 0.7 to 1.4 times as great as one wavelength of the predetermined frequency band.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: means for processing information; means for allowing radio communication of the information processed by the means for processing information; an antenna for a predetermined frequency band which is connected to the means for allowing radio communication, the predetermined frequency band being 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHZ; and a ground pattern connected to the antenna, a peripheral length of the ground pattern being 90 mm to 170 mm.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Radio communication device and electronic apparatus having the same


The invention relates to a switch assembly including a switch component, a switch housing, an electrical contact region, one or more user control elements, and a receiving region for a capacitor element. The capacitor element can be plugged by its contact elements into a receiving region of the switch housing. The invention also relates to a switch assembly with a plug-in capacitor element.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is based on a switch assembly having a capacitor and on a capacitor for a switch assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In electric power tools, the most various types of switch assemblies are in use. For instance, switch assemblies can be equipped with interference suppressing capacitors. Switch assemblies are also known in which discharge resistors are integrated with the interference suppression capacitor. For various tool requirements, many different switch assemblies are necessary.

Switch assembly with a capacitor, and capacitor for a switch assembly


A data demodulation method may include converting an analog signal into a digital signal; detecting a peak point of a reproduced signal; creating a plurality of preliminary data rows for creating demodulated data; and creating demodulated data. The preliminary data rows may include the first individual data to be identified on the basis of the interval, and are formed of the first individual data of plural bits. Creating a plurality of preliminary data rows may use a template listing part of, or all of, a plurality of bit patterns being formed of second individual data.

In a magnetically recorded data reproduction device, such as a magnetic card reader; an "F"&"2F" signal corresponding to a "0"&"1" datum is read out, the "F"&"2F" signal being magnetically-recorded, for example, by means of a frequency modulation method; and then the datum read out, which is frequency-modulated (by F2F modulation), is demodulated by a data demodulation device (demodulation circuit).
Proposed in Patent Document 1 is a demodulation method in which magnetic data recorded in a magnetic recording medium, such as a magnetic card, by means of a frequency modulation method is read out and the data is demodulated.
In the demodulation method described in Patent Document 1, a time period (a standard interval) as a result of multiplying an interval of an adjacent bit positioned one bit before a bit to be judged, by a certain rate (for example, 5/8), and an interval of the bit to be judged are compared each other in order to judge whether a datum of the bit to be judged is "0" or "1."
[Patent Document]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 58-50611*
In the method for demodulation described in Patent Document 1, one standard interval and an interval of a bit to be judged are compared each other in order to make a judgment on a datum of the bit. Therefore, in the case where a transfer speed of a magnetic recording medium fluctuates on a grand scale, or a recording accuracy of magnetic data recorded in a magnetic recording medium is low, unfortunately the magnetic data cannot be demodulated appropriately so that an error happens with a high possibility.

Data demodulation device, data demodulation method, reproduction device for magnetically recorded data, and program


A water purification process for removing dissolved solids of the type that are normally present in a municipal water supply or the like. The process uses a forced draft decarbonator having an inlet and a product outlet, a vacuum degasifier having an inlet, a product outlet and a water level sensor, and a reverse osmosis unit having an inlet, a product outlet and a brine outlet. Preferably, the vacuum degasifier is located downstream of the forced draft decarbonator with the product outlet of the forced draft decarbonator being coupled to the inlet of the vacuum degasifier. The reverse osmosis unit is located downstream of the vacuum degasifier with the product outlet of the vacuum degasifier being coupled to the inlet of the reverse osmosis unit. Water to be purified is provided to the inlet of the forced draft decarbonator at a predetermined rate. According to the invention, the rate at which water to be purified is provided to the inlet of the forced draft decarbonator is a function of a predetermined water level in the vacuum degasifier.

The process of reverse osmosis is currently in widespread use for the treatment of water. Its value is derived from the ability of a semipermeable membrane to preferentially reject the passage of most salts, a high percentage of organic contaminants, and nearly all particulate matter. The reverse osmosis process, however, has certain well-known limitations and thus is not used as a standalone water purification treatment.
For example, it is customary, and in many cases imperative, to pretreat the water supply ahead of the reverse osmosis to avoid fouling of membrane surfaces. Such pretreatment in many cases limits the performance of the unit because it can reduce the ability of the membranes to reject contaminants. Moreover, in many raw water supplies, calcium and alkalinity levels are sufficiently high that direct treatment by reverse osmosis would cause precipitation of calcium carbonate on membrane surfaces, reducing productivity. To avoid such precipitation, it is known to pretreat the water by addition of polyelectrolyte addition or by acid addition. In the case of acid addition, the effectiveness of the membrane is reduced, and therefore the treated water salt level is increased as is the cost of further removal of dissolved solids downstream of the reverse osmosis unit. Moreover, if acid is added to reduce alkalinity, the alkalinity is converted to carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide, however, passes freely through the membrane, thus also increasing the cost of downstream treatment.
Attempts to solve the deficiencies of such prior reverse osmosis systems are also well-known. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,049 to Pittner. This patent describes a chemically enhanced reverse osmosis water purification system in which an inlet of a second reverse osmosis unit is coupled in series to the product water outlet of a first reverse osmosis unit. Additionally, the product from the first reverse osmosis unit is treated with a chemical treatment agent, such as a sodium hydroxide solution, upstream of the inlet of the second reverse osmosis unit. This dual reverse osmosis system is said to alleviate the problems associated with prior art reverse osmosis techniques.
While the two-pass reverse osmosis system of Pittner provides certain advantages over single pass techniques, the permeate output from the first reverse osmosis unit still includes a high amount of carbon dioxide. Therefore, additional costly downstream processing is still required even in the dual pass system.
It is also well-known in the prior art to use equipment to remove carbon dioxide from water to be purified. Conventionally, carbon dioxide removal equipment reduces the anionic loading on and thus the cost of anion exchangers. Carbon dioxide removal is most efficient at low pH values and therefore is performed after a cation exchanger or a reverse osmosis unit. Typically, such removal is effected using either a forced-draft decarbonator or a vacuum degasifier. Vacuum degasifiers are primarily used where it is desired to remove dissolved oxygen down to as low as 20-50 ppb. Forced draft decarbonators are used where dissolved oxygen in the water is not a concern. While such carbon dioxide removal equipment has been used in combination with reverse osmosis treatment units, such systems still have not provided efficient and cost-effective separation of gaseous impurities from the water.
There remains a need to provide improved water purification systems and methods that overcome these and other problems associated with prior art water treatment techniques.


The present invention provides an apparatus having a high vacuum environment and a plurality of components located within the high vacuum environment so as to be exposed to high vacuum. At least one of the plurality of components is formed from a plastic material comprising liquid crystal polymer to prevent outgassing of the plastics material in the high vacuum environment.

Vacuum pumps capable of creating such pressures include diffusion and turbomolecular pumps. One of the problems in making such a pump and in making a vacuum pumping apparatus incorporating such a pump, is the selection of materials out of which the components of the pump and apparatus are to be made. Many materials which it would be otherwise desirable to use in the components outgas in a high vacuum at such a rate is to prevent the achievement of a desired degree of vacuum in the chamber to be evacuated. Accordingly, components that are to be exposed to high vacuum in use are typically made of metals such as stainless steel and aluminium, and in particular, components made of plastic materials are rarely if ever used in a high vacuum environment and thus advantages such as a reduction in the cost and weight of the vacuum apparatus typically associated with the use of plastics materials are not achieved.


Method and device for conditioning of a gas which passes through the treatment zone in a regenerative moisture exchanging apparatus (10, 16) for instance a rotor for exchanging moisture with an absorbing bed in the exchanging apparatus. In order to regenerate the bed, a regenerant gas, such as air is passed through the exchanging apparatus in a further treatment zone which is separated from the first mentioned zone. The regenerant air is passed in a closed circuit (3-7) after the passage through the exchanger apparatus. The circuit comprises an evaporator(E) in a heat pump circuit by means of which the regenerant gas air is cooled and its moisture content is decreased. The regenerant air is then passed over a condenser(K) in the heat pump circuit by means of which the regenerant air is heated before being passed to the regenerating zone of the exchanger apparatus.

Conventional sorption dehumidifiers are usually regenerated in a so-called open system, i.e. the regenerating air is taken from surrounding outside air and returned to the surroundings after it has passed a sorption mass and has driven the moisture out of it.
It is often a disadvantage to need duct connection to the surroundings, and a so-called closed regeneration system is then selected, in which, after the air through the sorption mass, the regenerating air is allowed to pass a cooler or condenser, in which this air is cooled so that the absorbed moisture is dispelled before the air is taken back to the sorption mass via a heater, wherein the temperature of the regenerating air is raised to drive the moisture out of the mass. In its turn the condenser is then cooled by a secondary air stream from the dehumidified enclosure which is then in turn supplied with the heat taken from the regenerating air.
This process is also has disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that the energy requirements compared with the open system will be higher. In addition the amount of heat which is supplied to the dehumidified enclosure via the secondary air through the condenser gives the enclosure a temperature increase, which can be troublesome. In certain cases when the dehumidified enclosure, and thus also the cooling air supplied to the condenser, has a temperature lying below 0.degree. C. there is a risk that the condensate will freeze in the condensor, so that it will become blocked and no longer function.


A customer premises router identifies contacts based on web sites visited and searches conducted by a user device. The customer premises router also detects phone calls initiated by a user device (e.g., a Voice over IP telephony device), and identifies an association between a phone call to an identified called destination (e.g., a destination telephone number) and an identified contact, based on a prescribed association attribute. The identified associations are stored in nonvolatile memory. Any subsequent web request by a user device and related to the contact causes the customer premises router to supply to the user device the identified association specifying the contact and the identified called destination, enabling a user of the user device to determine the identified called destination for the contact, even if the visited web sites do not provide the identified called destination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to user-based software resources (e.g., contact management systems, web browsers) implemented on user devices within a customer premises, enabling a user to obtain contact information (e.g., phone number, e-mail address, website address, etc.) for a given contact (e.g., individual or business). The present invention also relates to residential access routers or gateway routers providing access for multiple users to a single service provider link.
2. Description of the Related Art
Businesses and organizations spend substantial resources on an annual basis in order to employ information systems that improve the availability and accessibility of information relevant to specific needs. Early information systems focused on database management schemes, where information was stored and classified using database management systems in order to obtain search results in response to specific database queries. Exemplary database management system vendors have included Oracle Corporation, IBM Informix®, Sybase®, Microsoft (e.g., Access and SQL Server) etc. Such database management systems, however, required some knowledge of the database query syntax, the organizational structure of the database, and knowledge of the available search keys for performing a database query. Hence, the earlier database management systems required some user expertise, rendering such systems less user friendly for less experienced users.
More recent search technologies have employed a web-based search model, where corporate directories can be searched using a web-based search model. For example, companies such as IBM, Google, and XI have created context search engines which consolidate and present data based on user queries.
Commonly-assigned, copending application Ser. No. 11/288,275, filed Nov. 29, 2005, entitled "Generating Search Results Based on Determined Relationships Between Data Objects and User Connections to Identified Destinations", the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, describes a search system that generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., Voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.
Hence, the above-incorporated application Ser. No. 11/288,275 enables large-scale business enterprises to deploy internal web-based search systems that enable business users to generate search results that include contact information (e.g., telephone numbers, e-mail addresses etc.) of individuals determined as relevant to the search context.
The aforementioned search technologies, however, are not practical for residential or small-office users because such users would not deploy an advanced search system in their customer premises (e.g., home, small office); rather, such residential or small-office users will typically use a single router that provides a connection for a limited number of users to a single local service provider link. The local service provider link is typically implemented in the form of a single Ethernet connection (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet) between the router and an access device (e.g., cable or DSL modem) that provides an interface to the access network of the local service provider.
Hence, residential or small-office users have needed to rely on manual searches and manual entry in order to generate contact information. For example, such residential/small-office users attempting to locate a telephone number for a business contact typically have needed to use the browser on their user computers to visit a corporate website responsible for the business contact, and navigate through the web pages generated by the corporate website to locate the relevant telephone number for the business contact. Depending on the web pages on the corporate website, however, the relevant telephone number may not be readily accessible, and in fact may not even be published on the corporate website.
Attempts to use web-based search tools for contact information (e.g., search engines offered on the World Wide Web at "google.com", "yahoo.com", "ask.com", etc.), requires the continued availability of information on the World Wide Web to enable the search engines to retrieve the information. Such web-based search services, however, may require unwanted advertisements to be displayed for a given search result, or royalties to be paid to the search service in exchange for providing the contact information. In addition, privacy concerns arise in the case of publishing contact information such as telephone numbers on the Internet; further, the web-based search tools are unable to provide telephone number for private (unpublished) telephone numbers.
User software applications known as contact managers have been used in order to enable an individual to maintain records of individuals and their respective attributes. Contact manager programs, such as Microsoft® Office Outlook® from Microsoft Corp. and Palm® desktop from Palm Source, Inc., enable an individual user to maintain contact records of persons deemed relevant by the user (i.e., contacts), each record enabling the user to input and store the corresponding information related to the contact such as telephone number, address, e-mail, and notes related to the contact. The contact managers also include search capabilities, enabling the user to identify a contact based on entering a search query. Such contact manager programs also may include a "click-to-dial" option, where a phone call to a contact in a contact manager entry having a stored telephone number can be initiated by the user "clicking" the appropriate icon in the entry. In all cases, however, the contact manager applications require manual input of data for the contacts, with limited group sharing based on the system.
A solution to these and other problems is described in the accompanying brief description of the attached drawings and the accompanying description of embodiment(s) of the invention as specified in the appended claims, the description of the embodiment(s) including at least one best mode for carrying out the invention.

Generation of contact information based on associating browsed content to user actions


A system for abating noise associated with the use of weight stack plates comprising a stack of plates for a weight lifting machine, each plate having a central vertical hole therethrough and supplemental guide holds therethrough and a horizontal hole from one edge to the center vertical hole perpendicular to the central vertical hole elastomeric material operatively associated with at least the upper and lower surfaces of the plates of the stack to abate noise normally associated with the movement of the plates; and a pin positioned vertically through the center holes of the plates of the stack, the pin being formed of a plurality of axially aligned segments coupleable one to another, along a common axis with spacers associated with each segment corresponding to the thickness of the elastomeric material between adjacent plates, the pin being formed to have a horizontal hole in each segment aligned with the horizontal holes of the plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sound abating stack plate systems and more particularly pertains to stack plate systems which are adapted to abate noise during the movement thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of stack plates in weight lifting systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, stack plates heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of physical therapy and weight lifting are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Prior art weight stacks are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,773 to Deola; 4,949,958 to Richey; 4,974,839 to Cantor; 4,988,095 to Ferrari and 4,953,855 to Shields. Each of these systems is generally conventional in its approach to usage of weight stacks. Each makes a contribution to the prior art. None, however, is concerned with the abatement with noise associated with the movement of weights of a stack.
In this respect, the sound abating stack plate systems according to the present invention substantially depart from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provide an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing noise normally associated with their usage.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved sound abating stack plate systems which can be used for noise abatement. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A networking enclosure with removable and interchangeable sides includes a housing with an internal cavity for receipt of electrical devices and first, second, and third openings. The enclosure also includes first, second, and third sets of panels corresponding to each of the openings. The first set of panels includes at least two panels with different configurations and being selectively engageable with the housing to substantially close the first opening. The second set of panels includes at least two panels with different configurations and being selectively engageable with the housing to substantially close the second opening. Similarly, the third set of panels includes at least two panels having different configurations and being selectively engageably with the housing to substantially close the third opening. The panels can be solid or include apertures such as knockouts, louvers, or a combination thereof.

The organization and management of voice and data telecommunications networks in building, residential, and office environments involve the provision of connection assemblies in or near work environments. These connection assemblies establish connection points for both horizontal and vertical runs of cables with one another or with patch cords providing routing to work stations. These connection assemblies further facilitate terminations between the horizontal cables and patch cords which remain undisturbed when the patch cords leading to the work stations have to be reconfigured to make changes in the work station arrangements.
Similarly, conventional residential telecommunication network enclosures typically include preset configurations for receiving electrical connectors. Thus, if an enclosure needs to accommodate modification in the field such as with respect to an input or output device different from what was originally installed, a new enclosure box must be purchased or the box must be physically modified in the field. Therefore, a need exists for a universal or modular box system with removable and customized panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,951 to Baxter et al. is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Network enclosure with removable and interchangeable sides


Provided are a node device of a beacon-enabled Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) managing a channel resource and a method thereof. The node device may generate a pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) and generate a hopping sequence based on a number of available channels using the PRBS, thereby generating a hopping sequence having a characteristic of pseudo randomness and selecting a channel to be hopped, using the hopping sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of generating and managing a base channel hopping sequence for a Media Access Control (MAC) system using a time-division based channel hopping scheme, to enhance the throughput degradation occurring due to radio interference in a multi-hopping environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
The most representative Media Access Control (MAC) technology used to embody a service requiring a real-time property and a high reliability in a low power based Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) system may support communication for an active duration after assigning an independent active duration according to a scheduling method. For communication with another node device, a node device may receive data using Carrier Sense Multiple Access-Collision Avoidance (CSMA-CA) for a contention access period (CAP). In a beacon-enabled operation mode, when a node device desires a deterministic channel access, the node device may be assigned with an independent time slot called a guaranteed time slot (GTS), and may perform the channel access. However, since such Media Access Control (MAC) system employs a single frequency for a link usage period, the MAC system may be weak against an interference signal of the same radio frequency (RF) band and may not variably schedule a communication link bandwidth.
To solve the above issue in the MAC system using the single frequency, proposed is a channel access scheme of a time-division based channel hopping scheme. A channel hopping sequence for channel hoping enables definition in an MAC upper layer based on a user circumstance. However, various multiple physical (PHY) layers may not be supported and pseudo randomness of a sequence being used may not be guaranteed.

Apparatus and method for managing channel resource in beacon-enabled wireless personal area network (WPAN)

Electronics and Telecommuniations Research Institute


A connection between an uncooled pipe and a cooled double-wall pipe with between the walls a hollow space run through by cooling fluid let into the hollow space and taken from the hollow space through side passages connected to cooling fluid inlet and outlet ducts and including a connection zone with longitudinal cross section generally in fork form to have single tubular end connected to the uncooled pipe and an opposite double-wall tubular end to which are connected the corresponding walls of the cooled double-wall pipe so that the fork bottom constitutes a terminal closing of the hollow space and a side passage is made opposite the connection and a portion thereof nearest the uncooled pipe is almost at the height of the fork bottom. A double-pipe heat exchanger includes such a connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the connections between an uncooled single-wall pipe and a cooled double-wall pipe to be used for realizing double-pipe heat exchangers termed also Linear Quench Exchangers (LQE). More generally, the present invention also relates to double-pipe exchangers including said connections.
2. State of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the problems had at connections between cooled pipes and uncooled pipes in double-pipe LQE heat exchangers are known. Indeed, the cooled pipe is typically realized with two coaxial pipes with the innermost of these defining in it a duct run through by the hot fluid (for example gas coming out of a furnace), while the outermost delimits the hollow space in which runs the cooling fluid (for example water). Said cooling fluid is let into the hollow space through a connection in the side wall of the external jacket near the inlet end of the cooled double-wall pipe. Then, typically, the cooling fluid is taken from the hollow space near the outlet end of the double-wall pipe. This "double-wall" structure upstream must be connected with an uncooled "single-wall" pipe carrying in it the hot fluid to be cooled and which therefore is at a relatively high temperature.
To achieve connection between the pipes, a connection member with a first single-wall tubular end on which is welded the uncooled pipe and a double-wall opposite end with two concentric walls on which are welded respectively an internal pipe and an external jacket of the cooled double-wall pipe is generally used. The longitudinal cross section of the connection member can be assimilated with that of a fork.
In this type of connection between a hot single-wall inlet pipe and a cooled double-wall pipe the walls of the pipes and the forked connection in the contiguous points have different temperatures that produce swelling harmful for the strength of the coupling. In addition, the welds between the cooled pipe and the forked connection are in a not well-cooled zone since the connection for cooling fluid inlet to the hollow space is located further along in the cooled pipe.
In the prior art it was sought to remedy this situation by placing in the internal zone of the fork a refractory material which would reduce heat transmission toward the weld zones.
It was also proposed to connect the forked member and the cooled pipe only at the external jacket of the cooled pipe so as to allow independent thermal swelling for the inner parts of the pipe and the connection which are in contact with the hot fluid. This of course requires that the cooling hollow-space in the cooled pipe be closed at the end of the pipe before it reaches the connection member. Otherwise, the hydraulic seal between the cooled-pipe interior (run through by hot fluid) and the hollow space of the cooling fluid would be lacking. In addition, another hollow space more or less open to the hot fluid and containing the refractory would be created, would disturb the flow and might set off coke formation.
But in addition to the complexity and cost of realization, such a solution suffers from periodic breakage of the refractory material which must therefore be replaced with not negligible work and cost. In addition, the fork branches receiving the insulation must be relatively long to receive insulation material in adequate quantities and move the connection between the fork connection and the cooled pipe far enough from the hot zone. This involves further increase in the costs of the connection since due to its nature the forked member must be made of better and therefore more costly material compared to the rest of the structure.
Heat exchangers of the LQE type, in addition to problems related to the connection between the uncooled inlet pipe and the cooled double-wall pipe, also display some problems at the connection between the double-wall pipe and the cooled single-wall fluid outlet pipe. Indeed, near these connections a side passage designed to supply a way out for the cooling fluid that has run through the hollow space of the exchanger is created on the outer wall of the double pipe. The cooling-fluid side passage outlet in prior art heat exchangers is arranged upstream of the terminal part of the hollow space along the double-wall pipe. This fact can lead to the formation of steam bubbles downstream of the outlet passage or, in any case, to the formation of cooling fluid stagnation zones on the bottom of the hollow space, thus nullifying the good operation of the heat exchanger.
The general purpose of the present invention is to remedy the above mentioned shortcomings by making available a stout and relatively economical connection between an uncooled single-wall pipe and a cooled double-wall pipe at the inlet of the LQE heat exchangers.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make available connections between a cooled double-wall pipe and an uncooled pipe which would avoid the formation of cooling fluid stagnation zones or steam bubbles in the hollow space of the cooled pipe.

Connection between a cooled double-wall pipe and an uncooled pipe and double-pipe heat exchanger including said connection


In some embodiments, a pixel sensor is provided. The pixel sensor includes a first photodetector arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A second photodetector is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the first photodetector and a center point of the second photodetector. A floating diffusion node is arranged in the semiconductor substrate at a point that is a substantially equal distance from the first photodetector and the second photodetector. A pick-up well contact region is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a second substantially straight line axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the floating diffusion node and a center point of the pick-up well contact region.

Many modern day electronic devices (e.g., digital cameras, optical imaging devices, etc.) comprise image sensors. Image sensors convert optical images to digital data that may be represented as digital images. An image sensor includes an array of pixel sensors, which are unit devices for the conversion of an optical image into digital data. Some types of pixel sensors include charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. Compared to CCD pixel sensors, CMOS pixel sensors are favored due to low power consumption, small size, fast data processing, a direct output of data, and low manufacturing cost.

Semiconductor imaging device having improved dark current performance

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Tracks for electric model railways have a track body provided with ties and metal rails secured to its upper surface. The electrical and mechanical connections to an adjacent track occur in two end-face connection zones. In order to obtain improved electrical and mechanical connections, a recess is formed in the track body at the connection zones of each track. The recess is open toward a bottom and toward a connection plane, and is not visible from above. A separate connecting element has two identical heads symmetric about a central axis. The heads are snapped into the recesses of two adjoining tracks to provide a secure and invisible connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a model train track for electrical model trains, comprising an oblong track body with trapezoidal section and ballast structure, on the top side of which two metal rails are fastened on railroad ties, which said body has a lower side serving as a support and has two end face connection zones for the electrical and mechanical connection of one adjacent rail each.
2. Prior Art
In this prior-art model train track, the track body is made of bent thin sheet metal which is embossed to have ballast structure and is open at the bottom. Adjacent model train tracks are joined together at the end face connection zones by electrical contact studs which are electrically connected to the rails and a third rail and also ensure the mechanical stability of the rails connected to one another, besides the electrical contact.
As is known, the goal and the intent of many electrical model train enthusiasts is to have a train set that is as realistic as possible, i.e., that is a true replica of the real train. The rolling stock available meets this wish very well; the locomotives and railroad cars or freight cars are so realistic that they are true-to-scale replicas of the full-size originals and thus create the impression of the full-size originals albeit on a smaller scale.
However, careful, realistic imitation of a real railroad track with a similar accuracy of details has not yet become possible in the case of model train tracks. The known and commercially available model train tracks have straight edges and practically flat limiting surfaces, which cannot be seen in the full-scale original. In addition, there are often unattractive transition zones in the connection zones of two adjacent rails which are manifested as a gap or as a displacement, projection or the like and cause the connection zone of two rails to be easily recognizable and at any rate to act as an unattractive salient feature for the observer. The connection zones of the prior-art model train tracks are also unsuitable for a permanent mechanical connection of adjacent rails. The contact studs, which actually only serve the purpose of establishing electrical connection, only bring about a relatively weak mechanical connection, so that the above-described gaps between adjacent rails can occur. The solution that is often resorted to in practice is to attach the individual model train tracks on a solid support. e.g., a board, by means of screws. Even though this increases the mechanical stability of the set, the flexibility is greatly reduced. The fastening of the rails is also highly labor-intensive and time-consuming.

Model train track for electrical model trains


The present invention relates to firearms. In some cases, the firearms include a firing pin; a first ignition chamber that is configured to house a round of ammunition and to move proximally with respect to the firing pin so that when the round is in the first chamber and the firearm is fired, a portion of the round is struck against the firing pin. In some cases, the firearms also include a follower configured to be movable proximally and distally within the firearm and to be biased against a primer or proximal end of the round such that the follower is configured to selectively hold the round within the first chamber as the first chamber moves proximally, and such that proximal movement of the follower stops when the round strikes the firing pin, so that the follower acts as a bolt face for the round. Other implementations are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to firearms. In particular, some implementations of the present invention relate to systems and methods for making and using a firearm that can be customized to perform one or more functions, such as firing a bullet, firing a less-than-lethal projectile, and/or providing light. In some implementations, the firearm is configured to carry and fire multiple bullets, cartridges, rounds, and/or other projectiles before the firearm needs to be reloaded.
2. Background and Related Art
Guns currently exist that have characteristics to make them more practical or better suited for certain uses. For example, while some guns are specially configured for use in hunting, other guns are designed to be used in combat and tactical situations. Similarly, while some guns have longer barrels to increase their accuracy and bullet velocity, other guns have shorter barrels to make them easier to conceal. As a general rule, guns that are mounted against a user's shoulder, such as rifles and shotguns, are called long guns, while guns that can be held and operated with a single hand, such as pistols and revolvers, are called handguns.
Handguns can be useful for a variety of purposes. For instance, because some handguns are relatively small, they may be more practical than some long guns for use indoors and in situations where the object being shot at is relatively close to the shooter. Additionally, because some handguns can easily be hidden on a user's person, under a user's clothing, or in a user's bag, the user can carry such a gun without calling attention to that fact. As a result, the user can carry the handgun without causing unnecessary fear or anxiety to bystanders.
Despite their utility, handguns are not necessarily without their shortcomings. Indeed, as some handguns are intended to be readily fired, the safety mechanisms on such guns can be relatively easily to disengage or may even be non-existent. Accordingly, some such handguns may discharge unintentionally—potentially causing damage to property and even injury or death to the guns' users or to others. Additionally, some conventional guns are configured for a single use (e.g., firing a single type of bullet), and are not readily reconfigurable for multiple different uses (e.g., firing a bullet, firing a non-lethal projectile, firing a single shot, firing multiple shots before reloading, etc.).
Thus, while techniques currently exist that are used to provide handguns for a variety of purposes, challenges still exist. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to augment or even replace current techniques with other techniques.

Systems and methods for providing a multi-shot firearm


The present invention relates to a digital current share apparatus and method for supplies in parallel wherein a digital current sharing is used to eliminate oscillations during current sharing by raising current in steps until the currents in power supplies in parallel are brought within a certain tolerance of one another.

The analogue current share method uses linear control to match the currents in power supplies or other circuits that are connected in parallel. Under these conditions, it is difficult to match the currents without current oscillations. Also, the response time to match the currents is extremely slow because the current share loop response is selected to be at least 10× lower than the voltage loop. The above conditions make it difficult to match power supplies from two different manufacturers with different voltage loop and current loop designs.
Despite these and other efforts in the art, still further improvements in Current share methods and apparatus thereof would be desirable.

Digital current share method for power supplies in parallel

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided are a waveguide with a reduced phase error and a photonics device including the same. The waveguide structure may include a lower clad, a core pattern with at least one bending region, on the lower clad, a beam deflecting pattern on the core pattern, and an upper clad covering the core pattern provided with the beam deflecting pattern. The beam deflecting pattern may be formed of a material, whose refractive index may be higher than that of the upper clad and may be lower than or equivalent to that of the core pattern, and the beam deflecting pattern has an increasing and decreasing width or an oscillating width, when measured along the bending region.

Example embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a photonics technology, and in particular, to a waveguide with a reduced phase error and a photonics device including the same.
A silica-based arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) has been used for the optical communication. However, since the silica-based AWG has a size of several square centimeter or more, there are technical difficulties, such as low productivity and an increase in volume of related optical components. To overcome these technical difficulties of the silica-based AWG, there has been suggested a silicon-based AWG configured to have a small size of about several hundred square micrometers.
The silicon-based AWG includes core and clad layers that have a large difference in refractive index. In this case, however, a fluctuation in a sidewall profile of a waveguide may result in various technical problems, such as large phase error, wavelength reproducibility, and cross talk. A curved waveguide is especially vulnerable to the phase error problem caused by the fluctuation in a waveguide sidewall profile.

Waveguide with reduced phase error and photonics device including the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Methods and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal are disclosed. The broadcast signal transmission method includes encoding broadcast data and fast information for rapid scanning and acquisition of a broadcast service, generating a broadcast signal comprising the encoded broadcast data and fast information, and transmitting the generated broadcast signal.

In digital broadcasting, a plurality of broadcast services may be transmitted through a specific frequency, unlike analog broadcasting. In addition, detailed information necessary to receive a broadcast service may change depending on the circumstances of broadcast providers. In order to receive each broadcast service, therefore, a broadcast reception apparatus must scan the broadcast service to acquire connection information necessary to receive the broadcast service. To this end, the broadcast reception apparatus must sequentially tune to frequencies in a baseband, which is a frequency band in which a broadcast service is transmitted, to receive a broadcast signal, and must acquire service connection information from the received broadcast signal. In order to view a broadcast, therefore, a viewer must wait until broadcast service scanning has completed. For this reason, many broadcast providers prescribe a maximum time in which to complete broadcast service scanning, and require manufacturers to manufacture broadcast reception apparatuses such that the broadcast reception apparatuses are capable of completing broadcast service scanning within this maximum time. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a broadcast transmission apparatus, an operation method of the broadcast transmission apparatus, a broadcast reception apparatus, and an operation method of the broadcast reception apparatus for broadcast service scanning.

Broadcast transmission apparatus, operation method of broadcast transmission apparatus, broadcast reception apparatus, and operation method of broadcast reception apparatus


The low flow irrigation system can be used for batch or continuous time-dependent watering. It takes the form of a reservoir tank with a screen basket which filters out large particles from the water coming into the system. A float valve shuts off and turns on the intake water to preserve a predetermined level of water. Once the tank is filled initially, a siphon is started to begin flow into the standpipe, then into the distributor header. From there water flows through holes into plant water tubes and out to the plant clusters. All of the openings in the system allow for finely suspended matter to flow through so that waste water may be used. This system allows for easy adjustment of flow rates, while solving the water loss problems by limiting the area wet and eliminating the spray. The results are low water and energy usage, along with efficient plant nutrient application with minimal ground water pollution.

In current drip irrigation systems, small orifices or a small tortuous water path is utilized to control the water flow rate. Moderate water supply pressures with a pressure regulator and a very fine filtration screen are required. The fine screen filters and the flow limiting orifices or tortuous water paths can easily become clogged, hence the water delivery rate cannot be reliably and precisely controlled.