Aspects of the present invention provide novel multi-targeted microbiological screening and monitoring methods having substantial utility for monitoring and control of microbial growth and contaminants, microbiological processes, predictive microbiology, and for exposure and risk assessment. Microbial markers shared by both target and index microbes are used in novel methods for microbial monitoring, monitoring of microbial performance potential, trend analysis, and statistical process control (SPC) in processes or systems that are receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes.

Attempts to detect a particular ('target') microbial presence or contamination thereby are divided in the art into two broad groups: (i) direct specific detection of the target microbe by determining a presence or absence status for a presumably 'target microbe-specific' marker or characteristic; and (ii) indirect detection, based on determining a presence or absence status for a presumably 'indicator microbe-specific' marker, which if present is deemed to be indicative of the presence of the target microbe. Such detection schemes, whether direct (target marker) or indirect (indicator microbe marker), have at least two fundamental problems by virtue of being premised on isolated presence/absence tests that yield only an isolated presence/absence signal.
First, a "presence/absence" test is a hypothesis test for which only two possibilities exist with respect to the null hypothesis: either it is true or it is false. In practice, "presence/absence" tests are thus susceptible to two types of errors: type-1 errors (false positives), occurring when the test result is declared positive when the null hypothesis is true (i.e., the condition being tested for does not exist); and type-2 errors (false negatives), occurring when the test result is declared negative when the null hypothesis is false. These errors are the result of non-analytic sampling and analysis errors having a variety of sources including, for example, instances where the test is not sensitive enough to detect a target-specific marker even if present, or where errors are introduced during collecting and/or preparing samples, executing test procedures, or in calculating results. Additionally, a false positive might occur where a presumed 'target microbe-specific' marker is not absolutely specific, but is associated with one or more genetically distinct microbes. Because of Type 1 and 2 errors, therefore, a single test cannot always be regarded as a definitive measure of whether the microbial behavior is present or absent.
Second, prior art detection schemes are not effectively applicable to statistical process control (SPC). SPC is currently applied during the manufacture of many materials, and consists of the systematic monitoring of trends in process control data (e.g., corrective actions are applied to bring a process or system back into control when trends indicate that processes are deviating from desired ranges. SPC conveys distinct economic advantages to a manufacturer. By verifying, for example, that conditions during the manufacturing process fall within a range, SPC helps reassure that the quality of the finished product will be acceptable. Additionally, trend information can be used to initiate corrective actions before product characteristics fall out of acceptable ranges, thereby increasing yields of acceptable finished products.
However, for the majority of samples tested by prior art presence/absence detection schemes, the particular 'target' or 'indicator' microbes are either not present, or are present at undetectable levels, giving rise to numerous isolated negative values that cannot be effectively used in SPC to provide early warning of process failure, exposure and risk assessment, and to facilitate risk based decision making.
For example, manufacturing of food, drinking water, pharmaceuticals and many other materials requires processes and protocols that result in finished goods with low or no microbial burden. Unfortunately, as described above, the ability to apply SPC to microbiological data is often severely limited. A specific case in point relates to the use of generic E. coli 'count' data from carcasses for SPC of the beef manufacturing processes in abattoirs. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has encouraged the use of 'count' data in this manner. Practically, however, many E. coli count data points fall below the limit of detection in clean/semi-clean environments, and it has become evident that SPC cannot be applied when the majority of the data points do not allow identification of trends.
Equally illustrative are the difficulties faced in attempting to apply trend analysis and SPC to E. coli O157:H7 presence/absence test results generated from "hold and release" testing of beef trim products. Application of trend analysis and SPC to such test results for the purpose of directing meaningful pre-emptive and preventative remedial action is highly desirable, because there are severe adverse economic consequences when a positive (pathogen present) test result is obtained. Practically speaking, however, the incidence rate of positive test results may be very low (ca. 1% for E. coli O157:H7 in beef). Again, it has become evident that SPC cannot be applied when the majority of the data points do not provide positive tangible results that would allow for identification of trends.
Pronounced Need in the Art.
There is, therefore, a pronounced need in the art for more reliable and robust methods of determining whether a particular target microbe, or associated property thereof, is present, or optimally present, in a process or system that is receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes. There is also a pronounced need in the art for methods for predicting a presence of a target microbe, or target microbe associated condition in such processes or systems, and for identifying trends for SPC applications to processes or systems that are receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes (e.g., manufacturing environments) to help ensure that finished product meets quality and yield objectives with respect to microbial burden or distribution.
There is a pronounced need in the art for methods of determining microbial performance potential in a process or system that is receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes (e.g., bioremediation, fermentation, spoliation). There is a pronounced need in the art for methods of predicting microbial performance potential in such processes or systems.
There is a need, therefore, to extract, derive and/or generate additional data from microbial test methods that is suitable for the application in the context of microbial detection, trend analysis and SPC methodologies.

Trend analysis and statistical process control using multitargeted screening assays

Institute for Environmental Health, Inc.


A process for separating linear alpha olefins from a feedstock containing linear alpha olefins, saturated hydrocarbons, internal olefins, branched olefins, and alcohols, in particular, from a Fisher-Tropsch stream is provided.

This invention relates to a process for separating linear alpha olefins from saturated hydrocarbons.
Many industrial processes produce olefin/saturated hydrocarbon streams that are mixtures of olefins, saturated hydrocarbons, and oxygenates. Olefins are frequently used in the manufacture of polymers such as polyethylene, as drilling mud additives, or as intermediates for the production of oil additives and detergents. Some industrial processes manufacture olefins streams by oligomerizing ethylene over an alpha olefin catalyst to produce mixtures of alpha and internal olefins having a broad range of carbon numbers. However, these streams rely on the use of ethylene as a feedstock material, which add a significant cost to the manufacture of the olefin. On the other hand, the FT process starts with an inexpensive feedstock, syngas, generally derived from natural gas, coal, coke, and other carbonaceous compounds to make oligomers comprised of olefins, aromatics, saturates, and oxygenates.
The Fisher-Tropsch (FT) process, however, is not very selective to the production of olefins. While reaction conditions and catalysts can be tuned to manufacture a stream rich in the desired species within the FT product stream, a large percentage of the FT stream contains other types of compounds which must be separated from the olefins, which olefins are purified, and then sold into different markets. For example, a typical commercial FT stream will contain a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, olefins, and oxygenates such as organic carboxylic acids, alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones, and aldehydes. All these compounds must be separated from the crude FT stream before a particular composition may be offered commercially. To further complicate the separation operation, the FT stream contains compounds having a wide spectrum of carbon numbers, as well as a wide variety of olefins, ranging from C2-C200 species, internal linear olefins, alpha linear olefins, internal branched olefins, alpha branched olefins, and cyclic olefins, many of which have similar molecular weights. Separating and isolating these species is no easy task. Conventional distillation methods are frequently inadequate to separate species having close boiling points.
Various processes have been proposed to efficiently separate the different species in a FT stream with sufficient purity that a particular composition is acceptable in the intended application.
It would be desirable to conduct a separation operation on a FT stream in which the activity and life of the separating agent is not diminished by the presence of impurities in the stream, such as oxygenates; which remains active under a wide band of average carbon numbers ranging from C5-C20, and which distinguishes between linear alpha olefins, branched alpha olefins, and paraffins in a FT stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,560 described a process for the separation of internal olefins from alpha olefins by carrying out a Diels-Alder reaction by contacting a feedstock with an adducting compound such as anthracene to form an olefin adduct (Diels-Alder adduct), separating the adduct from the feedstock, dissociating the olefin adduct through heat to produce anthracene and an olefin composition enriched in alpha olefin, and separating out the anthracene from the alpha olefin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,431 describes a process for the separation of alpha and internal olefins from saturated compounds by contacting a feedstock with a linear polyaromatic compound to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and saturated hydrocarbons, separating the adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons, then dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts to form linear polyaromatic compounds and an olefin composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,434 describes a process for the separation of linear alpha olefins from a crude stream containing saturated hydrocarbons, internal olefins, branched olefins, and linear alpha olefins by contacting the feedstock with linear polyaromatic compound to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, separating the adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons and dissociating the adducts to form linear polyaromatic compounds and olefin.
However, it is desirable to obtain a process with economical means to further separate the desired products.
There is provided a process for separating linear alpha olefins from a feedstock composition comprising linear alpha olefins, saturated hydrocarbons, internal olefins, branched olefins, and alcohol comprising:
a) contacting the feedstock composition with a linear polyaromatic compound under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefins adducts, saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins, and alcohols and unreacted polyaromatic compound;
b) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins and alcohol in the reaction mixture to form a hydrocarbon stream comprising saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins and alcohols and an adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and unreacted linear polyaromatic compound;
c) re-equilibrating the adducted stream by partially and selectively dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts under conditions effective to increase the percentage of the polyaromatic compound reacted with linear alpha olefins over all other olefins reacted with the polyaromatic compound in the stream thereby producing a re-equilibrated stream comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, dissociated olefins, and unreacted and dissociated linear polyaromatic compound;
d) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the dissociated olefins in the equilibrated stream to form an olefin stream comprising dissociated olefins and a linear alpha-olefin adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and linear polyaromatic compound;
e) dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts in the linear alpha olefin adducted stream to form linear polyaromatic compounds and alpha olefin enriched olefin product; and
f) separating the alpha olefin enriched olefin product from the polyaromatic compound,
whereby the alpha olefin enriched olefin product is enriched in the concentration of olefins over the concentration of olefins in the feedstock and enriched in the concentration of linear alpha olefins over other olefins in the feedstock.
Further, a process for separating linear alpha olefins from a Fisher-Tropsch feedstock having an average carbon number in the range of from 6 to 16 and having a predominant olefin species within said range, said feedstock comprising linear alpha olefins, olefins other than linear alpha olefins, saturated hydrocarbons, and alcohols comprising:
a) contacting said feedstock with a linear polyaromatic compound comprising anthracene or benzanthracene under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, unreacted olefins, alcohols, saturated hydrocarbons, and unreacted polyaromatic compound;
b) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins and alcohol in the reaction mixture to form a hydrocarbon stream comprising saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins, and alcohols, and an adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and unreacted linear polyaromatic compound;
c) re-equilibrating the adducted stream by partially and selectively dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts under conditions effective to increase the percentage of the polyaromatic compound reacted with linear alpha olefins over all other olefins reacted with the polyaromatic compound in the stream thereby producing a re-equilibrated stream comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, dissociated olefins, and unreacted and dissociated linear polyaromatic compound;
d) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the dissociated olefins in the equilibrated stream to form an olefin stream comprising dissociated olefins and a linear alpha-olefin adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and linear polyaromatic compound;
e) dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts in the linear alpha olefin adducted stream to form linear polyaromatic compounds and alpha olefin enriched olefin product; and
f) separating the alpha olefin enriched olefin product from the polyaromatic compound,
whereby the alpha olefin enriched olefin product is enriched in the concentration of olefins over the concentration of olefins in the feedstock and enriched in the concentration of linear alpha olefins over other olefins in the feedstock.

Process for separating linear alpha olefins from saturated hydrocarbons


A base station that provides coverage on at least one TDD carrier and at least one FDD carrier detects that the base station is serving a UE on just one or more of the TDD carrier(s) and that the UE is TDD-FDD CA capable. In response, the base station reconfigures the UE to change the UE's carrier prioritization from (i) prioritizing TDD over FDD to (ii) prioritizing FDD over TDD. For instance, if TDD carriers are defined in one or more frequency bands, and FDD carriers are defined in one or more other frequency bands, this could involve changing the UE's band prioritization to cause the UE to prefer connecting on TDD.

A wireless communication system typically includes a number of base stations that are configured to provide wireless coverage areas in which user equipment devices (UEs) such as cell phones, tablet computers, tracking devices, embedded wireless modules, and other wirelessly equipped communication devices (whether or not user operated), can operate. In turn, each base station could be coupled with network infrastructure that provides connectivity with one or more transport networks, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or the Internet for instance. With this arrangement, a UE within coverage of the system could engage in air interface communication with a base station and could thereby communicate via the base station with various remote network entities or with other UEs served by the base station.
Each coverage area in such a system could operate in accordance with a particular radio access technology, with air-interface communications from the base stations to UEs defining a downlink or forward link and air-interface communications from the UEs to the base stations defining an uplink or reverse link.
Over the years, the industry has embraced various "generations" of radio access technologies, in a continuous effort to increase available data rate and quality of service for end users. These generations have ranged from "1G," which used simple analog frequency modulation to facilitate basic voice-call service, to "4G"—such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), which facilitates mobile broadband service using technologies such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and multiple input multiple output (MIMO). And most recently, the industry is now exploring developments in "5G" and particularly "5G NR" (5G New Radio), which may use a scalable OFDM air interface, advanced channel coding, massive-MIMO, beamforming, and/or other features, to support higher data rates and countless applications, such as mission-critical services, enhanced mobile broadband, and massive Internet of Things (IoT).
In accordance with the radio access technology, each coverage area could operate on one or more carriers each defining one or more ranges of frequency spectrum and having a respective downlink channel for carrying communications from the base station to UEs and a respective uplink channel for carrying communications from the UEs to the base station. Such carriers could be frequency division duplex (FDD), in which the downlink and uplink channels are defined as separate respective ranges of frequency (each having a respective frequency bandwidth and center frequency), or time division duplex (TDD), in which the downlink and uplink channels are defined on a common range of frequency (having a particular bandwidth and center frequency) but are distinguished from each other through time division multiplexing, with certain time intervals being used for downlink communication and other time intervals being used for uplink communication. Further, the downlink channel and uplink channel of each carrier could also be divided into respective sub-channels for carrying particular communications, such as one or more control channels for carrying control signaling and one or more traffic channels for carrying application-layer data and other traffic.
In an example system, for instance, the air interface could be divided over time into frames and subframes each defining a number of slots, and the uplink and downlink channels could each be divided over their frequency bandwidth into subcarriers that are grouped within each slot into physical resource blocks (PRBs) for carrying bearer traffic, and with portions of each subframe further defining various control channels for signaling communication between the base station and UEs.

Dynamic reconfiguration of carrier prioritization to facilitate TDD-FDD carrier aggregation service


A herbal composition comprising supercritical fluid extracts/oils of Jyotishmati, Bacopa monnieri, Ginger Oil, Flax Seed oil, Rosemary Ext and Vitamin E is effective in the treatment of symptoms associated with Attention Deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (severally and collectively hereinafter referred to as "ADHD") are developmental disorders, largely neurological disorders affecting 5% of the world population. The disorder typically presents itself during childhood, and is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility.
Inattentive behaviour is often characterized by difficulty focusing on one task, failure to pay attention to details, and making careless mistakes in a variety of tasks. Individuals exhibiting inattentive behavior may appear as if their minds are elsewhere or they are not listening or did not hear what has just been said.
Hyperactive people always seem to be in motion and may suffer from feelings of restlessness and difficulty engaging in sedentary activities. Common signs include excessive unproductive movement, excessive talking, and an inability to sit still. Hyperactive children often roam around the room, and feel compelled to touch everything.
Impatience and a failure to think before acting often characterize impulsivity. Impulsive young children may frequently interrupt others, fail to listen to directions, and have difficulty waiting for their turn.
These problems are reflected in impairment of a person's will or capacity to control his or her own behavior relative to the passage of time and to keep future goals and consequences in mind. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in children and, over the past decade, has been increasingly diagnosed in adults. About 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the disorder as adults.
Studies indicate that the disorder is highly heritable and that genetics contribute about three quarters of the total ADHD population. While the majority of ADHD is believed to be genetic in nature, ⅕ of all ADHD cases are thought to be acquired after conception due to brain injury caused by either toxins or physical trauma parentally or postnatally. Scientists have not yet identified a single underlying cause behind these behavior characteristics. While some have been linked to decreased brain activity, the biological reason for the decreased brain activity is still unknown. Treatment for ADD and ADHD is therefore limited to treating the symptoms of the disorders.
Methods of treatment usually involve some combination of medications, behaviour modifications, life style changes, and counseling.
The most common treatment for ADD and ADHD is the use of mild central nervous system stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin, Cylert, and Dexedrine. However, there are several drawbacks in using these drugs such as frequent short-term side effects include insomnia, loss of appetite, headaches, stomachaches, hyperactivity, drowsiness, blood pressure and pulse changes, and cardiac arrhythmia. In addition to this, the possible consequences of long-term exposure to these drugs in children are not thoroughly investigated. The use of Ritalin in children under six years of age is particularly undesirable since safety and efficacy in this age group has not been established.
As an alternative to the aforementioned conventional treatments, U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,178 discloses a method for treating ADHD comprising taking a quantity of proanthocyanidin sufficient to relieve symptoms of ADHD every 3.5 to 4.0 hours. A heterocyclic antidepressant, preferably desipramine may be taken optionally with the proanthocyanidin in quantities sufficient to attenuate ADHD-related symptoms of lack of cognitive focus. However, a major drawback of this method is that repeated doses are required to alleviate symptoms throughout the day, which is inconvenient as well as difficult especially for school going children.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,404 describes a therapeutic composition for treatment of ADD or ADHD comprising in percentage by weight: 3-9% proanthocyanidin, 30-40% yucca root, 15-25% hawthorn berry, 10-20% bilberry, 5-15% silymarin, and 10-15% gingko biloba.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,759,053 provides compositions and methods for using the S(+) enantiomer of desmethylselegiline (N-methyl-N-(prop-2-ynyl)-2-am-inophenylpropane), for the treatment of selegiline-responsive diseases and conditions. Diseases and conditions responsive to selegiline include those produced by neuronal degeneration or neuronal trauma and those due to immune system dysfunction. Effective dosages are a daily dose of at least about 0.015 mg/kg of body weight.
The use of 3-[1-[2-(1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-1,2, 3,6-tetr-ahydropyridin-4-yl]-6-chloro-1H-indole, any of its enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder is disclosed in US20040152737.
The pharmaceutical compositions are comprised of a therapeutically effective combination of a nicotine receptor partial agonist and an anti-ADHD agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the method of using these compounds is disclosed in US20040220184
WO2003068251 describes herbal formulation comprising Bacopa monneri; Centella asiatica; Glcyrrhiza glabra; Withania somnifera and Celastrus paniculatus and process for preparing the same for treating Attention Deficiency Disorder in Humans. The herbs are subjected to solvent extraction using hazardous solvents such as hexane, chloroform, methanol and acetone. The herbs are extracted especially Brahmi and Jyotishmati using Hydrocarbon solvents such as Hexane, Chloroform which are considered hazardous to human health. The extraction of the herbs at higher temperature destroys or modifies molecular and chemical structure of temperature sensitive phytochemicals which may contribute to the therapeutic value of the herbs.
In a conventional solvent extraction process, the separation temperature is always greater than the extraction temperature. This means that when the solvent is recovered, the obtained extract is subjected to higher temperature, which is likely to destroy many temperature sensitive phyto nutrients and phyto chemicals in the extract.
A combination of hyperforin, 5-hydroxy triptophan, rhodiola rosea, along with Vitamins B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and minerals like selenium and Zinc are sold under the brand name of Amoryn for treating ADHD disorders. The daily dose comprises 1 to 4 capsules per day.
There is a need in the art to provide herbal formulation for oral administration comprising safe and effective extracts of two or more herbs, effective for the treatment of ADHD, and is devoid of any side effects.

Herbal composition for reducing ADD/ADHD and method thereof


Disclosed are drilling fluids suitable for use in connection with oil well drilling. The drilling fluids of the invention include in one embodiment a liquid base, an alkyl glucoside, such as methyl glucoside, and a borehole stability promoter that includes a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, a hemicellulose-containing material, or a mixture of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes a liquid base and molasses solids, preferably in combination with an alkyl glucoside and more preferably in further combination with one of the aforementioned borehole stability promoters. The drilling fluids of the invention surprisingly have a reduced tendency to swell shale as compared with known drilling fluids. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and process. The drilling apparatus includes a drill string, which may be conventional, that is fluidically coupled to a source of drilling fluid, the source of drilling fluid including the drilling fluid of the invention. The process of the invention includes the step of circulation the drilling fluid of the invention through a drill string during borehole drilling.

In drilling a well or other similar borehole, a drill bit is operatively coupled, usually by a drill string, to a drive which rotates the drill bit to cause the drill bit to bore into the earth. A drilling fluid, or drilling mud, is circulated through the borehole annulus. The drilling fluid passes through the drilling string and to the surface through the drill bit for cooling and lubricating the drill bit and for carrying rock cuttings generated by the cutting action of the bit to the surface. The drilling fluid may be a gas, but more typically is a liquid.
Many liquids suitable for use as drilling fluids are known. Some drilling fluids are oil-based. Such oil-based fluids suffer from a number of drawbacks, particularly, their adverse effects on the environment. Oil-based fluids also can be costly to purchase and to dispose of.
Other drilling fluids are water-based or constitute an emulsion of oil in water or water in oil. Such fluids often are inexpensive compared to oil-based fluids, and are less costly to dispose of. Water-based fluids also pose less of a risk to the environment than do oil-based fluids. One drawback associated with water-based fluids is that the water in the fluid tends to promote borehole instability, particularly when shale is encountered in the drilling process. The water-based fluid may adsorb and absorb into pores in the shale, thus causing the shale to swell and thereby tending to cause the borehole to collapse.
In recognition of this drawback, water-based drilling fluids have incorporated an alkyl glycoside, such as methyl glucoside, into the drilling fluid. It is known that methyl glucoside serves as a borehole stabilizing agent that functions by inhibiting shale swelling. The mechanism of action of methyl glucoside is not fully understood, but is believed to be associated with gel formation or an ion exchange phenomenon. It is generally believed that the methyl glucoside, in adding gel strength to the drilling fluid, causes more rapid formation of filter cake on the borehole wall thereby allowing less water filtrate to reach the surrounding shales. This is believed to reduce swelling and sloughing of the shale.
While known drilling fluids that include methyl glucoside are satisfactory, there remains room for improvement in such fluids in the area of borehole stability. It is a general object of the invention to provide a drilling fluid that is suitable for use in borehole drilling. Another general object is to provide a drilling apparatus and process that incorporate the drilling fluid of the invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A thermostatic mixing valve contains a control bush, which can be displaced by an expansion element, which is exposed to the mixing water temperature. As a function of the mixing water temperature and the set desired temperature, the control bush is displaced for simultaneously opening the hot water supply and closing the cold water supply or vice versa. According to the invention there are two control openings for the cold water and two control openings for the hot water.

The invention is directed at a thermostatically controlled mixing valve. Mixing valves of this type have one inlet for cold water and another inlet for hot water. The mixing ratio between the hot water and the cold water is obtained by a valve body in the form of a control bush placed in a control sleeve. The mixing water temperature is exposed to an expansion element moved axially in the control bush. During movement it changes the ratio of hot to cold water.
As a result of the space available and the standard temperatures, as well as the material used for the expansion element, the width of the slot between the control bush and the associated valve seat is approximately 0.4 to 0.8 mm. Thus, if a specific flow cross-section is required, this leads to a relatively large control bush diameter derived therefrom.
The problem of the invention is to provide a thermostatically controlled mixing valve, which permits large flow cross-sections of the control openings with a very limited space requirement.
Thus, the mixing valve proposed by the invention uses a valve body having, at least on one side, at least two control openings for the inflowing water. On the other side, i.e. the side with the higher or lower temperature, the invention provides for at least one control opening, but preferably also two control openings.
The measures of the invention make it possible to in each case open or close two control openings with the same stroke or travel. This makes it possible to double the flow cross-section of the control openings in the opened state. When there are more than two control openings on each side, the flow cross-section can be further increased. This increase in the flow cross-section for an unchanged stroke quantity can be utilized for reducing the valve body diameter and therefore the fitting size. It can be adequate for there to be two control openings only on one side of the valve, e.g. the hot water side. However, it is particularly favourable if there are at least two control openings on both sides of the valve.
According to a further development of the invention, each control opening is formed by a movable portion of the valve body and a non-movable part of the mixing valve, particularly by part of the casing.
According to a further development of the invention, at least one control opening is formed between a slot of the valve body and an edge of the mixing valve casing. Through the displacement of the slot with respect to the casing edge, it is possible to increase or decrease the flow cross-section of the control openings.
It is also possible and is proposed by the invention that at least one control opening is formed between two control faces, the valve body movement direction being roughly perpendicular to at least one control face.
According to another further development of the invention, on the casing is placed a valve seat, which together with the valve body forms a control opening.
Also in the case of the thermostatically controlled mixing valve proposed by the invention, a control bush can be used as the valve body.
According to the invention, at least one end face of the valve body cooperates with a control face forming a valve seat for forming a control opening.
It is possible for at least two control openings to be spaced from one another in the valve body movement direction. Particularly if the valve body is moved axially, this ensures that the inflowing water can penetrate over a relatively large area in the axial direction.
According to a further development of the invention, at least one control face has an elastic surface. As the control openings are closed simultaneously, this can be used for compensating tolerances resulting from manufacture. The elastic surface can be formed by an insert or support of an elastic material, particularly an elastomeric material. At least one seat can be sprung.

Thermostatically controlled mixing valve


A connection electrodes producing method has a step of forming resin layer which can be softened after hardened, on a circuit substrate on which an electrode pattern is formed. Then, only the resin layer material on the electrode pattern is cured and left. Thereafter, conductive particles are adhered to only the resin layer on the electrode pattern by softening the resin layer and by scattering the conductive particles on the circuit substrate with the softened resin layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing connection electrodes for semiconductor integrated circuits, printed circuit substrates, glass substrates, flexible substrates, ceramic substrates or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that soldering is utilized in a method of electrically connecting the connection electrodes of such as a semiconductor chip to those of another circuit substrate. In the method utilizing soldering, a solder layer is formed on the electrodes of either of the substrates to be connected by plating, printing or other techniques. The solder layer is then heated to a high temperature of the order of 200.degree.-250.degree. C., and fused with the electrodes of the other substrate for connecting purposes. In this method, accordingly, it is necessary to employ a metal, such as Au, Cu or Ni, having an affinity for solder.
However, it has been pointed out that such a high-temperature process utilizing soldering thermally damages circuit substrates and, in addition, the use of a metal having an affinity for solder leads to an increase in cost.
The present applicant is aware of a method of electrically connecting the connection electrodes by using an anisotropic conductive sheet which includes conductive particles dispersed in an adhesive. This method can be used to solve the problems of thermal damage and cost increase.
The anisotropic conductive sheet has anisotropy which exhibits electrical conductivity with respect to the direction in which pressure is applied to the sheet and also exhibits no electrical conductivity with respect to other directions. Specifically, in this method, such an anisotropic conductive sheet is inserted between electrodes, terminals or other portions to be connected. Then the portion of the sheet interposed between, for example, the electrodes, is pressed and heated in the direction of the thickness of the sheet, thereby forming the electrical connection between the electrodes.
The anisotropic conductive sheet is particularly suitable for use in connecting the terminal electrodes of a liquid crystal display panel of the type which employs ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) as wiring material. This is because that high-temperature heat should not be applied to such liquid crystal display panel.
The anisotropic conductive sheet has conductive particles dispersed throughout the entire resin serving as an adhesive. Accordingly, if adjacent electrode terminals are spaced close to one another an electrical short may occur due to the conductive particles.

Method of producing connection electrodes


A graphical display system of the present invention efficiently performs occlusion culling based on frame-to-frame temporal coherency. The graphical display system utilizes a frame buffer and rendering logic. The rendering logic is configured to receive graphical objects that define an image frame. In response to receiving one of the objects, the rendering logic is configured to make a determination as to whether the one object is visible in a previous image frame that was previously rendered to the frame buffer. The rendering logic is further configured to render the one object to the frame buffer based on the determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to graphical display systems and, in particular, to a system and method for occlusion culling graphical data based on frame-to-frame temporal coherence.
2. Related Art
A three-dimensional (3-D) graphical display system typically renders three-dimensional images to a two-dimensional display screen, which displays the three-dimensional images to a user. The display screen is divided into discrete picture elements (xe2x80x9cpixelsxe2x80x9d), and each pixel is colored a particular color based on the data rendered by the graphical display system.
In this regard, an application program, sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9cgraphics application,xe2x80x9d normally includes graphical data defining a frame of a graphical image. This frame often includes multiple three-dimensional objects that are each defined by different sets of graphical data, referred to as primitives. To display the image frame, the graphical data (i.e., the primitives) defining the objects of the frame are transmitted to a graphics pipeline that renders the graphical data via well known techniques. More specifically, the graphics pipeline determines how each pixel of the display screen should be colored in order for the display screen to display the image frame defined by the graphical data. The color value of each pixel is stored in a frame buffer, and the display screen is designed to read the frame buffer, typically via a rasterization process, and to color each pixel its corresponding color value from the frame buffer. Once each pixel has been colored its corresponding color value from the frame buffer, the display screen should be displaying a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional objects defined by the graphical data transmitted to the graphics pipeline.
The graphical data of each object includes position values that define the object""s position relative to the other objects of the frame. The graphics pipeline translates these position values into (X, Y, Z) coordinate values that represent the object""s position on the display screen. The X and Y coordinate values are aligned with the rows and columns of the display screen, and the Z coordinate value represents the object""s depth (i.e., the object""s distance along the axis that is perpendicular to the display screen).
Since objects can be positioned at different depths, it is possible for a first object to wholly or partially occlude a second object. This occurs when the first object and the second object have at least one set of coordinates with the same respective X and Y values but different Z values. In such a case, the first object, when displayed on the display screen, should appear to be in front of the second object. Therefore, the pixel having the foregoing X and Y values should normally be colored the appropriate color of the first object (i.e., the front object) instead of the color of the second object (i.e., the back object), assuming that the front object is not occluded by another object. As used hereafter, any object of an image frame having at least one non-occluded primitive shall be referred to as xe2x80x9cvisible.xe2x80x9d
Since only visible objects are displayed by the display screen, the rendering of non-visible or occluded objects often decreases the efficiency of the graphical display system. Thus, many conventional graphical systems perform occlusion culling to limit the rendering of occluded objects. There are many different types of occlusion culling techniques, but in general, occlusion culling involves the steps of determining whether a current object is occluded by a previously rendered object and then preventing further processing of the current object, if the current object is occluded.
Occlusion culling can be performed by the graphics application that transmits the objects to the graphics pipeline. In such an embodiment, the application, before transmitting the current object to a graphics pipeline, occlusion tests the current object against the graphical data defining objects previously transmitted to the graphics pipeline for the same image frame. Alternatively, occlusion culling can be performed by the graphics pipeline. In such an embodiment, the graphics pipeline occlusion tests the current object shortly after receiving it from the application and before substantial rendering of the current object has been performed by the pipeline.
Bounding box techniques may be utilized to increase the efficiency of the occlusion tests. In this regard, before the current object is rendered, an object, referred to as a xe2x80x9cbounding box,xe2x80x9d is defined that encompasses each primitive of the current object. The bounding box may be defined by only a few primitives while the current object may be defined by many thousands of primitives. The bounding box is then occlusion tested against the previously rendered objects. If the bounding box is determined to be occluded by the occlusion test, then the current object is assumed to be occluded and rendering of the current object is prevented. However, if the bounding box is determined to be visible by the occlusion test, then the current object is assumed to be visible and is, therefore, rendered. Bounding box techniques make occlusion testing much more efficient by decreasing the number of primitives manipulated during an occlusion test.
A shortcoming of many existing occlusion culling techniques is that an occluded object may be occlusion tested before the occluder (i.e., the object that blocks or occludes the occluded object) is rendered. In such a case, the occluded object is normally determined to be visible by the occlusion test. Thus, the occluded object is typically rendered to the frame buffer and then replaced by the occluder once the occluder is rendered. In general, the processing time spent processing or rendering the occluded object is wasted, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the graphics display system.
To help minimize the impact of the foregoing shortcoming, some occlusion culling techniques sort objects from front to back (i.e., sort the objects based on their Z value) before performing occlusion culling. The objects that are closer to the screen and, therefore, more likely to be occluders are rendered first so that any occluded object is likely to be occlusion tested after the front objects have been rendered. However, front-to-back sorting for each frame increases the overall processing time of the graphical display system. Other techniques exist for occlusion culling, but these other techniques typically suffer from similar limitations.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for providing a more efficient occlusion culling system and method. Generally, the present invention provides a system and method for efficiently occlusion culling graphical data based on frame-to-frame temporal coherence.
In architecture, the system of the present invention utilizes a frame buffer and rendering logic. The rendering logic is configured to receive graphical objects that define an image frame. In response to receiving one of the objects, the rendering logic is configured to make a determination as to whether the one object is visible in a previous image frame that was previously rendered to the frame buffer. The rendering logic is further configured to render the one object to the frame buffer based on the determination.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a graphical display method. The method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: receiving a graphical object of an image frame; determining, in response to the receiving step, whether the object is visible in a previously rendered image frame that is being displayed by a display device; rendering the object to a frame buffer based on the determining step; and displaying, via the display device, an image based on data stored in the frame buffer.

System and method for occlusion culling graphical data

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A manifold comprises a base material section made from an amorphous resin, a solenoid valve section including a plurality of solenoid valves made up of valve bodies, and a coupling section including a plurality of pipe couplings. The overall surface of the base material section is covered in a surrounding fashion without pinholes by a protective film, which is a dense layer film made from a chemically stable material. The manifold is surrounded by a protective box as necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin manifold, and more specifically to a manifold, which is fabricated from an amorphous resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case that pressurized fluid is made to flow between a plurality of fluid pressure devices, a manifold has been used, with the aim of simplifying the fluid passages and conserving space. In this case, although primarily metallic manifolds have been used, manifolds made of resin materials also are used to facilitate molding thereof, and to make the manifold lighter in weight.
In relation to such a resin manifold, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3775975, the present applicant has proposed a method in which parts are embedded in a base material made from a thermoplastic resin. The method of embedding parts in the base material enables such embedding to be performed easily and at a low cost in an intermediate layer of the base material, without the insert parts becoming inclined with respect to surfaces of the base material. In particular, a thermoplastic resin is used for the base material.
In relation thereto, as a material for the resin made manifold, taking into consideration ease of processing and forming of the manifold, including factors such as dimensional accuracy when the manifold is formed, an amorphous resin has been used. Consequently, because the manifold is made from a resin material, there is a concern of coming into contact with materials that could be a cause of deterioration in durability or product functionality of the manifold.


A GOA unit, a GOA circuit and a display panel are provided. The GOA unit includes a pull-up module, a pull-up holding module, a converting module, a pull-down holding module, and a pull-down module. Each module can be implemented with N-type TFTs. The GOA unit could generate a negative impulse waveform for internal feedback mechanism.

As the development of the display panels, a larger screen, a higher definition and a more exciting visual effect are required. This increases the demands for a better display manufacturing process, materials and techniques. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel is a type of self-luminous display technique and it has advantages of huge view angle, high contrast, low power consumption, and bright color. Because of these advantages, the AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode) display panel plays a more important role in the display business. Thin film transistor (TFT) has advantages of high space usage efficiency, low power consumption, no radiation, and low electro-magnetic interference. Gate driver on array (GOA) technique is a technique, which uses the current TFT array substrate manufacturing process to form the gate drivers on the array substrate.
Because the GOA circuit replaces the external chip, it reduces the manufacturing process steps of the display device and thus reduces the costs. Further, it could reduce the number of gate IC and raises the integration of the display device. IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) is used as a new generation of channel layer material in TFT technique. Because the IGZO has a high mobility and high uniformity, it has been widely used in big size AMOLED display panel. However, because it has a low stability, a feedback circuit is often used to ensure the uniformity of brightness of the AMOLED display penal.
Please refer to FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 1A is a diagram of a conventional 5T2C feedback circuit. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing waveforms of signals shown in FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIG. 1, the feedback circuit comprises a first TFT T11, a second TFT T12, a third TFT T13, a fourth TFT T14, a fifth TFT T15, a first capacitor C11 and a second capacitor C12. The gate of the first TFT T11 is coupled to the first emitting control signal EM1. The first end of the first TFT T11 is coupled to the gate of the second TFT T12. The second end of the first TFT T11 is coupled to the first voltage source VDD. The gate of the second TFT T12 is coupled to the first end of the fifth TFT T15. The second end of the second TFT T12 is coupled to the first end of the third TFT T13 and the second end of the fourth TFT T14. The gate of the third TFT T13 is coupled to the second emitting control signal EM2. The second end of the third TFT T13 is coupled to the anode of a light emitting diode OLED1. The cathode of the light emitting diode OLED1 is coupled to the second voltage source VSS. The gate of the fourth TFT T14 is coupled to a data reading control signal RD. The first end of the fourth TFT T14 is coupled to a sensing signal Sensing. The gate of the fifth TFT T15 is coupled to a data writing control signal WR. The second end of the fifth TFT T15 is coupled to the data signal Data. The first capacitor C11 is coupled between the gate and the second end of the second TFT T12. The second capacitor C12 is coupled between the second end of the first TFT T11 and the second end of the second TFT T12.
As shown in FIG. 1B, two waveforms need to be provided to the feedback circuit in order to achieve the internal feedback mechanism of the AMOLED display panel. One is a positive impulse waveform (WR/RD), which can be generated using the GOA circuit of a regular IGZO_TFT. The other one is a negative impulse waveform (EM1/EM2), which requires a p-type GOA circuit to generate. However, p-type GOA circuit is not normal in this field.
Therefore, a solution that utilizes a normal circuit to generate the above-mentioned negative impulse waveform for internal feedback mechanism is required.

Gate on array unit, GOA circuit and display panel

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An electrical storage system includes: serially connected electrical storage blocks each including at least one electrical storage element; a voltage detection circuit connected to each electrical storage block via voltage detection lines; a protection circuit including an overvoltage protection element connected in parallel with each electrical storage block via the voltage detection lines and a first resistor connected in series with the overvoltage protection element; a discharge circuit connected in parallel with each overvoltage protection element via the voltage detection lines and in series with the first resistor, the discharge circuit including a second resistor having a larger resistance value than the first resistor; and a controller detecting an abnormality in the overvoltage protection elements by, while the electrical storage elements are not connected to the load, comparing a voltage of a discharging first electrical storage block with a voltage of a non-discharging second electrical storage block.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a technique for detecting an abnormality in protection circuits each including an overvoltage protection element provided in correspondence with a corresponding one of a plurality of electrically serially connected electrical storage elements.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to avoid a reverse charge state of each single cell, a Zener diode may be electrically connected in parallel with each of a plurality of electrically serially connected single cells. For example, when any one of the single cells enters a reverse charge state, discharging current is caused to flow to a corresponding one of the Zener diodes and to bypass the any one of the single cells. Thus, it is possible to cancel the reverse charge state of the any one of the single cells.
However, when any one of the Zener diodes fails and there occurs an abnormality, leakage current may flow through the any one of the Zener diodes. The voltage of the single cell connected in parallel with the failed Zener diode decreases due to the leakage current, so it is required to detect the abnormality of the Zener diode. In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-140785 (JP 2010-140785 A), an additional failure detection switching element is provided in a path for charging or discharging a battery in order to detect a failure of an open/close unit (switching element). A failure of the open/close unit is detected by detecting an on/off state of the open/close unit while the failure detection switching element is subjected to on/off control.
In JP 2010-140785 A, another failure detection switching element that is able to undergo on/off control needs to be provided in order to detect a failure. Therefore, a circuit configuration becomes complex, and a failure detection target is limited to the switching element. For example, it is not possible to detect a failure of an element that is used in an overvoltage protection circuit, such as a Zener diode.


A first and second secure location indicators are electronically received at one or more servers from a first portable computing device and a second portable computing device, respectively, operating in a wireless communication network. Each of the secure location indicators is generated using the location of the corresponding portable computing device, and neither secure location indicator reveals the location of the corresponding portable computing device to the one or more servers. The first secure location indicator is compared to the second secure location indicator at the one or more servers and, in response to determining that the first secure location indicator is identical to the second secure location indicator, an indication of physical proximity of the second portable computing device is electronically transmitted to the first portable computing device.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Many portable communication device sold today, such as a smartphones or tablet personal computers (PCs), are capable of determining their location. For example, a portable communication device can be equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) chip to determine the latitude, longitude, and elevation of the device based on signals from several GPS satellites. Some devices also can determine their location using signals from "hotspots" such as Wi-Fi access points. Other positioning techniques available today include proximity sensing using radio-frequency identification (RFID), triangulation using radio signals from fixed cellular infrastructure elements, etc.
Manufacturers of portable communication device devices, as well as various software developers, have created numerous software applications that utilize location data for navigation, searching, social networking, gaming, etc. For example, some applications allow users to automatically report their location to a network server and share their locations with friends and family. As the market for these and other location-based applications and services continues to grow, so does the concern with reliability, accuracy, and privacy of such applications and services.

Finding nearby users without revealing own location


A system and method of preventing substrate backside reflected components in a beam of electromagnetic radiation caused to reflect from the surface of a sample in an ellipsometer or polarimeter system, involving placing a mask adjacent to the surface of the sample which allows electromagnetic radiation to access the sample over only a limited area, wherein the mask can include detector elements for collecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the sample backside.

It is known in ellipsometry and polarimetry to impinge electromagnetic radiation onto a sample at an oblique angle, and collect electromagnetic radiation which reflects from the sample, then via detected change in the polarization state determine properties of the sample. Ellipsometer and Polarimeter Systems sequentially comprise a Source of a beam electromagnetic radiation, a Polarizer element, optionally a compensator element, a sample system, optionally a compensator element, an Analyzer element and a Detector System. It is noted that presence of at least one compensator is a distinguishing factor between ellipsometer and polarimeter systems.
The elements identified as a source of electromagnetic radiation, the polarizer and the sequentially first optional compensator can be considered to form, as a group, a Polarization State Generator (ie. PSG), and the sequentially second optional compensator, analyzer and detector can be considered, as a group, to form a Polarization State Detector (ie. PSD).
A problem which occurs in practicing ellipsometry or polarimetry, where a sample being investigated is not effectively infinitely thick, is that detected electromagnetic radiation which reflects from a sample includes components which reflect not only from the actual sample surface, and perhaps interfaces between thin films thereupon, but also from the back side of the substrate. Said reflection from the substrate backside confuses interpretation of the results, and while such can be accounted for in a mathematical model of the sample, it is often preferable to block said backside reflections and avoid the confusing effects thereof.
One approach to preventing backside reflections is to physically roughen the backside, however this approach alters the sample. The invention disclosed herein provides a simple approach to avoiding the effect of backside reflections without requiring sample modification.
With the present invention in mind a Search was conducted for patents that disclose means for blocking backside reflections from entering a detector. Patent Application No. 2002/0113200 A1 was identified as an aperture 103A is disclosed which can be placed near a detector to block entry of one of two beams from different sources. U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,679 to Simko is disclosed as an iris (38) is present near a detector which can be adjusted to block entry of backside reflection thereinto. Patents to Meeks, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,130,749, 6,198,533 and 6,392,749 are disclosed for the presence of a hole 2022 in an integrating sphere near, but not atop a sample. U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,092 to Chen et al. is disclosed as it applies a spatial filter (28) to block backside reflection entry into a detector. U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,104 to Peterson is disclosed as a blocking element (B) is present which can be used to block electromagnetic radiation entry to a detector. U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,482 to Smith et al. is disclosed as it applies baffles to block light entry to a detector. U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,808 to Greve is disclosed as it describes use of an aperture near a detector to block backside reflections entry to a detector. A U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,637 to Obenredder, was identified by the Examiner in prosecution of the Parent application hereto, Ser. No, 10/731,202. It is noted that the opaque element (35) therein is shown in FIG. 3 thereof to be offset from contact with the top surface (29) of the sample glass (21). Further, in Col. 6, Lines 45-51 of the 637 patent it is stated that . . . an opaque member (35) such as a metal washer may be positioned adjacent the top surface (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the instance where the washer is used, it would be advantageously positioned in the return tube (107) to shield the detector surface from the beam reflected from the bottom surface of the glass. However, said 637 patent does not identify or suggest applying such a mask in Ellipsometer and the like systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,974 to Chandley describes an apparatus for determining the surface topology of an article. FIG. 2 thereof suggests that a Mask-like element with a silt (5) therein can be placed into direct contact with a flat transparent article for the purpose of blocking reflections of an electromagnetic beam from the surface thereof other than those from the surface of the article. Said 974 patent does not identify or suggest applying such a mask in Ellipsometer and the like systems.
Another Published Application is WO 2005/088272A1 by Nanofilm Technologie. This publication is likely the best art found, and discloses blocking electromagnetic radiation backside reflections from a sample by a Mask which is offset from the surface of said sample, in an ellipsometer system. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,637 describes use of a mask offset from a sample in a non-ellipsometric setting and was cited by the Examiner in prosecution of the Parent application Ser. No. 10/731,202, which it is noted, in contrast, Claims a mask placed directly on the surface of a sample.
In addition, with the present invention in mind, it is further disclosed that Co-Pending application Ser. No. 11/288,785 from which this application is a CIP, is included herein by reference.
Even in view of the known prior art, need remains for a simple to practice method for avoiding effects of sample backside reflections which does not require sample, or investigating system alteration.

Sample masking in ellipsometer and the like systems including detection of substrate backside reflections


An image recognizing apparatus includes a dictionary memory, a block determining module and a recognizing module. The dictionary memory stores dictionary data. The block determining module determines that a target block comprising a target pixel to be processed of a plurality of pixels in image data is a shared block to which the dictionary data is used or a mirror block to which the dictionary data to the shared block is used, based on a position of the target block. The recognizing module uses common dictionary data for the shared block and the mirror block, and recognizes a characteristic portion of the image expressed by the image data.

Recently, an image recognizing apparatus that recognizes a characteristic portion of image using dictionary data of SVM (Support Vector Machine) is provided in an automobile. A dictionary memory in which the dictionary data is stored is provided in the image recognizing apparatus. The image recognizing apparatus divides the image into plural blocks, and refers to the dictionary data stored in the dictionary memory in each block to recognize the characteristic portion of the image.
However, in the conventional image recognizing apparatus, the dictionary data is prepared in each block. The different dictionary data is used in each block even if images of two blocks are similar to each other (for example, one of the blocks is a mirror of the other block). Accordingly, a data amount of the dictionary data is increased in proportion to the number of blocks, thereby increasing a capacity of the dictionary memory in which the dictionary data is stored.

Apparatus, method and non-transitory computer readable medium to perform image recognizing using dictionary data


A financial planner and portfolio simulation system projects the simulated cumulative risks and rewards of one or more mixed portfolios in relation to the expected risk and reward of a minimum-risk or relatively risk-free baseline portfolio. As a user enters portfolio input parameters, the system immediately computes, displays, and graphs an inflation-adjusted retirement budget that a baseline portfolio fully invested in minimum-risk assets would be able to sustain. The system also generates—through simulation—a probability distribution of average retirement budgets that the mixed portfolio(s) would be projected to sustain, and graphs various percentile-ranked samples from that distribution on the same computer-generated plot that displays the sustainable retirement budget supported by a baseline (minimum risk) portfolio. The statistical and graphical comparisons of the mixed portfolio(s) to the baseline portfolio assist investors in choosing mixed portfolios best suited to their retirement goals and risk tolerance.

In planning for retirement, it is important to project how many assets and retirement income sources a person needs to accumulate to sustain their needs and lifestyle goals through retirement. It is also important to project the approximate retirement budget that one's present assets and anticipated future assets should be able to sustain.
Financial advisors typically advise their clients that in order to prepare for retirement, they need to invest a large percentage of their assets in the stock market. They also typically recommend that their clients allocate a large percentage of their assets to stocks during retirement. The anticipated rewards of being invested in stocks, as compared to other financial instruments, are generally regarded as too great to pass up.
At the same time, financial advisors typically warn retirees that because of significant stock market volatility, they should limit their withdrawals. In 2008—after the date of the present invention—Nobel price recipient Prof. William F. Sharpe co-authored an article entitled "The 4% Rule—At What Price?" which observes that "[t]he 4% rule is the advice most often given to retirees for managing spending and investing." The authors remarked that they were "struck by the universal popularity of the 4% rule—retail brokerage firms, mutual fund companies, retirement groups, investor groups, financial websites, and the popular financial press all recommend it," and observed this platitude "is the most endorsed, publicized, and parroted piece of advice that a retiree is likely to hear."
Many studies support the 4% rule. The volatility and associated risks of being significantly invested in stocks are, in fact, so great that retirees determined to maintain a constant level of inflation-adjusted spending must minimize the initial percentage they take from their portfolio to ensure that their assets last their lifetimes.
Although significant data supports the 4% rule, an almost universally missed consequence of the rule (with a few notable exceptions, such as Sharpe's article above) is that retirees are directed to withdraw less from a portfolio invested in the stock market than they could sustainably withdraw, with inflation adjustments, from a portfolio that was fully invested in relatively risk-free assets, like treasury inflation-protected securities ("TIPS"). The 4% rule is better tailored to helping the retiree live poor and die rich than to live rich. Except for retirees who wish to maximize what they leave behind to heirs, this approach to retirement investing and spending makes little sense. Yet this contradiction is seldom, if ever, recognized by either the advisors offering the advice, or the retirees receiving it, because few, if any, ever bother to compute a sustainable inflation-adjusted withdrawal amount from an all-TIPS portfolio or other suitable proxy for an approximately risk-free portfolio.
Publicly available advice, analyses, and resources on investing and retirement planning also overestimate the expected return on an equity portfolio. Scores of Monte Carlo and historical simulators purport to model the growth of an equity portfolio divided between generally recognized asset classes. This includes most of the leading financial planning software suites marketed to and used extensively by professionals. In general, these tools use historical return rates, by default, to project future return rates. Their Monte Carlo engines also typically model returns using a stationary normal or log normal distribution. The modeling assumptions of these simulators are significantly flawed.
First, most Monte Carlo and historical simulators use historical rates of return, rather than any mathematically or economically sound analysis of future returns (such as the dividend discount model) to project future rates of return. The assumption that future return rates will be as generous as historical return rates is a fundamentally unsound one. Many economists have decomposed historical returns into constituent components, such as the average dividend yield, an expansion in price-to-earnings ratios (which cannot continue indefinitely), and growth in corporate earnings. But when projecting future returns from the same constituents, we are forced to start with a lower dividend yield and little hope of continuing expansion in price-to-earnings ratios. Historical return rates, therefore, serve as an excessively optimistic proxy for the expected long term return, going forward, on broad stock market indices. Nevertheless, reliance on historical return rates to project future return rates is pervasive and practically universal.
Remarkably, Congress recently passed legislation strongly deterring financial planning software makers from ever departing from this flawed historical-returns approach. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 provides exemptive relief for a certified computer-program-based investment advice program from certain prohibited transaction provisions. To qualify, section 408(g)(3) requires that the computer model "appl[y] generally accepted investment theories that take into account the historic returns of different asset classes over defined periods of time" and "utilizes prescribed objective criteria to provide asset allocation portfolios comprised of investment options available under the plan."
In 2006, the Department of Labor, pursuant to that act, issued a Request for Information regarding such computer models. In 2007, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) responded to that request for information. SIFMA submitted—without qualification—that computer "[m]odels are based on mean variance optimization, and the program uses expected volatility and expected return, based on historical performance, to provide asset allocation and investment product results." Moreover, "[t]he process used for designing the model is quite straightforward. The model is loaded with risk and return characteristics for each asset class represented in the plan, based on publicly available information."
Until the flaws of the conventional approach to modeling equity returns are widely recognized among persons of ordinary skill, and both the industry and the law are transformed by that recognition, millions of 401(k) participants and financial advisory clients will continue to have their expectations unrealistically raised, followed by almost inevitable disappointment and cynicism.
Second, modeling returns using a stationary normal or log normal distribution potentially exaggerates the dispersion of multi-period outcomes—that is, outcomes over long timeframes, such as an investor's remaining life expectancy. Modeling returns with a stationary normal or log normal distribution assumes that there is no serial correlation between returns. Consequently, the variance in projections of accumulated wealth will be roughly proportional with the number of years over which the simulation is performed. This results in a very dramatic dispersion of simulated outcomes over long time frames. But historical experience does not support this model. In their July, 1987 NBER Working Paper entitled "Mean Reversion in Stock Prices: Evidence and Implications," authors James Poterba and Lawrence Summers developed evidence that stock returns are positively serially correlated over short periods and negatively autocorrelated over long periods.
The teachings of such financial literature has apparently escaped the grasp of the persons of ordinary skill developing the leading computerized financial planning systems. For their Monte Carlo simulation models continue—many years after these papers were published—to model equity asset classes with stationary Gaussian or log normal distributions centered about historical return rates. As a consequence, these software packages generate reports for millions of financial advisor clients that have hopelessly optimistic median forecasts within an absurdly broad range of forecast outcomes. A more realistic model of future outcomes would populate the low end of the distribution of popularly forecast outcomes.
And while persons of ordinary skill in the art have recently begun to recognize, with the Panic of 2008, that their models are flawed, they apparently do not understand how they are flawed. Instead of recognizing and acknowledging that their models use stationary distributions when a non-stationary distribution would be more realistic and empirically supportable, or that their stationary distributions were centered about too high an expected return, there has been a pervasive assumption that their distributions simply do not exhibit fat enough tails. Accordingly, since the 2008 financial crisis, the major financial planning software vendors have focused on addressing the so-called "fat-tail" problem with their distributions.
Third, the category of inflation-protected bonds is not a "generally recognized asset class." Consequently, very few simulators model the performance of such assets. Moreover, publicly available advice, analyses, and resources on investing and retirement planning rarely take into account the sustainable annual retirement budget an all-TIPS portfolio could sustain. Applicant is unaware of any retirement calculators and Monte Carlo simulators, created by others, that not only compute or estimate a "safe withdrawal rate" or amount, the "shortfall risk," or the "survival risk" of a mixed portfolio, but also compare those results with the rewards (in terms of sustainable inflation-adjusted retirement budgets) and risk (in terms of shortfall risk) of a minimum risk (e.g., all-TIPS) portfolio. Applicant is also unaware of any retirement calculators or Monte Carlo simulators, created by others, that evaluate the risk of a mixed portfolio, or the dispersion of simulated returns of a mixed portfolio, in relation to the expected performance a minimum risk portfolio.
Incidentally, there is no motivation to even consider and compare the sustainable annual retirement budget an all-TIPS portfolio could support if one assumes that the large equity risk premiums of the past 100 or so years will persist into the future. The fixation with historical returns and assumption that they will persist may explain, in part, why most persons of ordinary skill in the art have been so disinterested in promoting inflation-protected bonds to a generally recognized asset class for individuals preparing for retirement.
There is also a significant regulatory deterrent to making such a comparison. Paragraph (d)(1) of a proposed Department of Labor regulation implementing the Pension Protection Act of 2006 would prohibit a qualifying computer model from "giving inappropriate weight to any investment option." 73 Fed. Reg. 49895, 49899 (Aug. 22, 2008). This regulation would, in effect, prohibit a qualifying computer program from comparing the risks and rewards of a mixed portfolio with an all-TIPS portfolio. Applicant has found no commentary discussing this potential consequence of the rule, which only reinforces Applicant's contention that it is not obvious to persons of ordinary skill to project equity portfolio performance in terms of how it would compare to the performance of an all-TIPS portfolio.
Applicant has reviewed documentation for several leading financial planning software suites marketed to and used extensively by professionals. The leading provider is Emerging Information Systems Inc. (EISI) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, which markets its NaviPlan and Financial Profiles software to over 250,000 financial professionals. As of 2006, a distant second-place competitor, Financeware, Inc., of Richmond, Va., reported having over 28,000 users of its Financeware wealth management software. As of 2006, another competitor, PIETech of Powhatan, Va., reported having over 17,000 users of its Money Guide Pro software.
EISI's market-leading NaviPlan software, as of 2008, uses a stationary normal distribution centered about average historical returns to project future equity return rates. As late as mid-2008, NaviPlan's software projected long-term annual return rates of between 10% and 15%/year in six different generally recognized asset class categories. Assuming an inflation rate of about 3% a year, the economy would have to grow, in the long term, and in inflation-adjusted terms, well in excess of 5% per year and perhaps as high as 10% per year to support NaviPlan's equity return assumptions. The NaviPlan software also models five bond asset classes, but not inflation-protected bonds, even though Treasury Inflation Protected Bonds have been available for more than ten years.
The NaviPlan software also generates charts that show the distribution of excess or overall wealth generated by the simulation. These projections, however, do not appear to factor in the likelihood that a retiree would increase their retirement expenditures if they enjoyed a stock market windfall. These modeling assumptions do not reflect typical human behavioral responses to abundance (which is to consume more) and scarcity (which is to conserve more). Overall, the NaviPlan software's modeling assumptions—modeling returns with a stationary normal distribution centered about average historical returns, and modeling expenditures as if they were relatively constant—greatly limit the usefulness of NaviPlan's Monte Carlo outputs in helping an investor select a reasonable asset allocation.
The Financeware software also uses a stationary normal distribution approximately centered around historical return rates to project future equity return rates. Online documentation indicates that as of August 2002, the Financeware software modeled over a dozen different equity asset classes on the presumption that they would return, on average, between 12% and 21% per year. The Financeware software only recently—and after the date of the present invention—added Treasury Inflation Protected Bonds as an asset class. The Financeware software did not, as of 2008, evaluate the risks and rewards of a mixed portfolio as a function of the expected performance an all-TIPS portfolio.
As of 2008, Money Guide Pro provided both Monte Carlo and exploratory simulation modes. Money Guide Pro's Monte Carlo simulation mode uses historical return rates to project future equity return rates. Money Guide Pro's exploratory simulation mode also uses actual—not mean-adjusted—historical returns and inflation rates in sequence. The Money Guide Pro software does not, as of 2008, model Treasury Inflation Protected Bonds as an asset class.
Applicant has also investigated ESPlannerPLUS by Economic Security Inc. of Lexington, Mass. ESPlannerPLUS provides Monte Carlo simulation centered around a user-specified expected nominal arithmetic mean return. Online documentation suggests that ESPlannerPLUS models a person's spending by computing the maximum sustainable consumption the person's lifetime of savings would support if the person's equities grew at a constant rate of return equal to the expected nominal arithmetic mean return. ESPlannerPLUS's online documentation admits that this is an extremely aggressive assumption. And its online tutorials suggest that this assumption leads to extremely dismal success rates.
Finally, Applicant has investigated J&L Financial Planner by J&L Software, LLC, of Taneytown, Md. J&L Financial Planner provides two "Historical Return Analysis" modes. The first is a form of exploratory simulation. According to its online documentation, this mode "generates your net worth for each year of your plan based on the returns of the historical data starting with the first year of the data." The second is a form of Monte Carlo simulation. According to its online documentation, this mode tests a financial plan and portfolio against randomly selected historical return data. But there is no indication in the documentation indicating that the historical return data is scaled to yield the user's expected return. J&L Financial Planner also provides more traditional Monte Carlo simulation, but like its peers simulates only with stationary distributions, modeling every simulated return as if it were independent of all of the other simulated returns.

Financial planner and portfolio simulator


A method and system of protecting content by ensuring a secure boot of a processor environment. A processor is coupled to a certification unit which may include a decryption engine and a one-way hash unit. The certification unit is employed to ensure that only certified software is permitted access to memory containing content and that only certified software may access a content bit stream such as may flow across a 1394 serial bus from a digital video disk player. By preventing access by uncertified software, the risk of a personal computer being used as an instrumentality of piracy is reduced.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to digital content protection. More specifically, the invention relates to a secure booting mechanism for content protection.
(2) Background
Increasingly, content such as the video and audio of Hollywood movies is becoming available in digital form. Particularly with the proliferation of digital video disks (DVDs) every bit of data that makes up the/content is available for manipulation. Currently, industry groups and Hollywood are working together on a strong encryption that will protect the content from piracy. Even as the strong encryption is developed, efforts are being made to break the strong encryption.
Typically, the content, be it audio, video, or stills, might flow across a serial bus and into main memory. The serial bus may be an IEEE 1394 bus which is defined in the IEEE specification IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus, IEEE Std. 1394-1995 published Aug. 30, 1996 (1394-1995 Standard) or a subsequent revision thereof. Once the bits, even if encrypted, are stored in main memory, software executing on the processor can access those bits. The internet exacerbates the protection problem because it provides a vast network of processors which can all work to break the encryption. Even an unsophisticated user could download a favorite cracking program from the internet, then upload the results of their cracking effort and, over a relatively short period of time, the global network is likely to decrypt the content.
Instrumentalities of piracy can subject their manufacturers to huge potential liability. Here, since a personal computer (PC) can be used without modification to pirate digital content through a lawful activity (downloading from the internet), it is quite possible that PCs may be found by a court to be an instrumentality of piracy. Processor manufacturers will likely find it desirable to take steps to avoid this possible liability. To that end, products shipped should not enable piracy with a simple download.
An apparatus and method of providing content protection by secure booting is disclosed. A processor core is coupled to a certification unit. The certification unit certifying a BIOS stored in memory responsive to a start-up request.

Digital content protection using a secure booting method and apparatus


A method of ultrasonically testing the disk bore and keyway area of a shrunk-on steam turbine rotor disk or hub is provided. The method employs a one or more scanning ultrasonic phased linear array probes mounted on the disk to inspect the disk bore and keyway area on the opposite side of the disk.

This invention relates generally to ultrasonic inspection of shrunk-on steam turbine disks or hubs and more particularly to the ultrasonic inspection of the disk bore and keyway area to detect stress corrosion cracking.
Turbines are used to generate rotary mechanical power from the energy in a working fluid. The working fluid energy, originally in the form of pressure energy, is converted to velocity energy by passing through a system of blades in the turbine. Changes in the magnitude and direction of the velocity energy are made to cause tangential forces on the blades to produce mechanical rotation of the turbine rotor. The rotating turbine rotor may be coupled to a generator rotor and stator to produce electricity.
Steam turbines are used to convert thermal energy into usable work and are typically used to drive alternating current electric generators. A large number of xe2x80x9cbuilt-upxe2x80x9d low pressure, steam turbine rotors are operating in the U.S. electric utility industry. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate an example of a simplified rotor assembly. A built-up rotor 10 generally consists of a large central rotor shaft 12 with individual disks or blade hubs 14 fitted to the shaft. Individual disks carry one or more stages of blades 16, or buckets, that capture the incoming steam and transform it to torsional energy. The disks have a central bore hole 20 that matches a specific machined step on the central shaft as illustrated in FIG. 2. The disks are typically shrunk onto the shaft and subsequently restrained from torsional movement, relative to the shaft, by use of a key 22. A machined slot, or keyway 24, cut into the disk and shaft accommodates the key. Utility operating experience with built-up rotors using shrunk-on disks has demonstrated that the area around the central bore hole 20 of the disk or hub 14, and especially the area around the keyway 24 on the rotor hub 14, are subject to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) that can ultimately lead to catastrophic failure.
A variety of ultrasonic inspection techniques are used to examine various components that make up a steam turbine rotor. One method using phased array ultrasonic sensors to inspect turbine blade attachments is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,198 the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Ultrasonic techniques involve applying high frequency sound waves to a structure of interest. When the sound waves interact with an object that has a significant difference in acoustic impedance (the product of density and acoustic velocity) from that of the propagation medium, a portion of the sound is either reflected or diffracted back to the source from which the sound originated. Detection and quantification of the returned sound pattern is used to determine the presence and characteristics of the reflecting medium.
Ultrasonic inspections of the disk bore 20 and keyway area 24 have historically been performed to detect SCC as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The keyway area is the highest stress point on the disk bore, so substantial effort is invested in detecting and sizing cracks in this area. Current state of the art techniques for inspection of the disk bore area use a series of individual, conventional, single angle, ultrasonic probes 26. These probes 26 are placed on the disk face and angled to transmit toward the keyway area 24. Reflections and diffractions from the area and the disk edges are recorded automatically or manually and then analyzed in relation to the known geometry of the keyway area. These prior art methods are most effective if used in conjunction with detailed existing data on the geometry of the keyway area. Additionally, because of the need for numerous probes operating at fixed angles, the process is relatively slow and can only be performed while the turbine is out of service.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a method for using advanced ultrasonic techniques to inspect the disk bore and keyway area of a shrunk-on steam turbine disk.
More specifically, it is an object of the current invention to provide a method employing linear phased array probe technology to ultrasonically inspect the disk bore and keyway area of a shrunk-on steam turbine disk.
Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for ultrasonically inspecting the disk bore and keyway area of a shrunk-on steam turbine disk that employs time of flight diffraction (TOFD) techniques.

Inspection of shrunk-on steam turbine disks using advanced ultrasonic techniques


A method and apparatus for testing an integrated circuit of the type which is mounted on a flexible strip and which includes a die in electrical communication with a plurality of test pads formed on the strip. In the method, a selected strip segment having an integrated circuit die mounted thereon is positioned against a substantially flat strip support member. A portion of the strip is compressed against the strip support member and thereafter a test probe is urged against each of selected test pads. The integrated circuit is tested and thereafter the probes are lifted from the pads, pressure is removed from the strip and the next integrated circuit is similarly tested.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for testing integrated circuits and more particularly to such methods and apparatus which are used for automated testing of a plurality of integrated circuit chips mounted on an elongate flexible strip similar to motion picture film.
2. Description of the Related Art
One method of manufacture and testing of integrated circuits includes a process known as tape automated bonding. This process utilizes an elongate flexible strip similar to standard motion picture film upon which is deposited a thin layer of conductive material such as copper. This layer is photoetched to form a plurality of sequential lead frames which are substantially identical to one another. Next, an integrated circuit chip or die is bonded to the leads of each frame.
The strip typically includes a number of sprocket holes along each side thereof for engagement with rotating sprocket wheels which pull the strip, and the lead frames and associated die thereon, through different stages of the manufacture and testing process. Like motion picture film, the strip having the lead frames and die mounted thereon is wound onto and off of reels during the manufacturing and testing process. When the process is complete, the strip is cut into segments, each of which includes a lead frame and the die associated therewith, which are packaged to form the finished product.
The die are tested while on the strip to determine whether they meet operating specifications and to confirm that the electrical connections between the leads and the die are properly made. Such testing is accomplished by means of a probe test card which includes a plurality of probes extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the probes comprises a relatively fine wire against which a downward biasing force is applied.
In one configuration for testing, the strip, with the die directed upwardly, is pulled by the sprockets beneath the probe test card. The testing equipment periodically stops strip movement so that each die is temporarily positioned beneath the probe test card. When so positioned, the card lowers until each of the probes are biased against a test pad formed on the copper leads of the frame beneath the card. Thereafter, voltage is applied and measured via the probes to confirm that the die meets operating specifications and that the lead connections to the die are properly made. After so doing, the probe test card raises and the strip advances until the next die in sequence has stopped beneath the probe test card. The card again lowers to test the next adjacent die and lead connections as described above. The foregoing process is repeated until each of the die on the strip is tested.
The foregoing prior art method and apparatus suffers from several disadvantages. As noted above, the probes on the card are very fine and, depending upon the integrated circuit being tested, may number over 100 with relatively small spacing between probes. If the probe is bent so that the tip thereof is displaced a distance equal to the thickness of a human hair, the probe may not strike the test pad on the lead frame with which it is designed to make electrical contact. Under such circumstances, it is likely that testing will indicate a defective die and/or lead connection. Since the testing machine is equipped with a punch for excising defective circuits from the strip, a number of good die which are properly connected to their associated leads may be punched from the strip.
Probes are typically bent in one of two ways. First, as the strip starts and stops under control of the testing equipment, a misfeed may cause a slight buckle which elevates a section of the strip having test pads thereon. When the probe test card lowers, probes over the buckled strip are jammed into the strip, thus deflecting the same. Also, if even a small amount of strip movement should occur with probes contacting test pads, probes are likely to bend.
The automated testing process typically is stopped every one to two hours in order to correct damage to probes on the card.

Method and apparatus for testing integrated circuits