The technology disclosed relates to determining positional information of an object in a field of view. In particular, it relates to calculating a distance of the object from a reference such as a sensor including scanning the field of view by selectively illuminating directionally oriented light sources and measuring one or more differences in property of returning light emitted from the light sources and reflected from the object. The property can be intensity or phase difference of the light. It also relates to finding an object in a region of space. In particular, it relates to scanning the region of space with directionally controllable illumination, determining a difference in a property of the illumination received for two or more points in the scanning, and determining positional information of the object based in part upon the points in the scanning corresponding to the difference in the property.

One way to measure the distance to a remote object is to broadcast a wave (e.g., a sound wave, for example), start a timer and wait to capture the portion of the wave reflected by the object. By measuring the time the wave takes to make the round-trip distance (and by knowing the propagation rate of the wave), the distance to the object can be calculated. The position of the object can be inferred (e.g., via triangulation) from the reflected wave. This method of distance and position determination can work over large distances when precision beyond a few meters is not required.
Unfortunately, such conventional techniques do not work well for more precise determinations and/or determinations made over shorter distances. The accuracy of the measurement depends heavily on recording the precise times of broadcast and capture, which is especially difficult for very fast-moving waves (e.g., light waves). Further, one or both of the angles between wave emitter, wave sensor and object are difficult or impossible to determine, and the transit time of the wave can be very difficult to measure. The result is that the distances computed using conventional techniques can be very inaccurate. A need therefore exists for better methods for determining the distance and position of an object.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Determining positional information of an object in space


A system for teaching proper takeaway of a golf club during a golf swing uses an apparatus having a sliding element for engaging a back of the golf club when the club is in a set-up position. The sliding element moves in a defined track in response to movement of the club towards a ball striking position. Movement of the sliding element while the club is in contact with it indicates the path of movement of the club.

One of the most important parts of the golf swing is the initial motion produced by the golfer when taking a club away from the golf ball in preparation for making a down swing. Many persons attempting to strike a golf ball tend to lift the club in an upward motion thereby promoting an early break in the wrist position which results in a setup for a golf swing that detrimentally affects the angle with which the club strikes the ball when completing the swing. While golfers are aware that the club should be taken away in substantially a flat plane using the arms and shoulders rather than the wrists, teaching such proper takeaway of a golf club is difficult. The present invention provides a device which encourages the proper initial takeaway of the golf club to better allow the golfer to set the club in the proper position for a down swing.


Described herein is a genetic modifier of cystic fibrosis (CF), which may serve as a predictor of the efficacy of a CFTR-directed therapy. SNPs rs7512462 or rs2869027 in non-coding regions of SLC26A9 are shown to correlate with CF lung disease severity in patients having CFTR mutations that leave protein at the cell surface, e.g. gating mutations such as G551D. It is also shown that patient response to Ivacaftor correlates with SLC26A9 genotype. Given the biology of SLC26A9, risk alleles of SLC26A9 should correlate with reduced SLC26A9. SLC26A9 activity (marked by e.g. genotype or expression level) is therefore a predictor of treatment efficacy for any CFTR-directed therapeutic, such as Ivacaftor or Lumacaftor. Associated methods of selecting and treating patients are described, along with related kits, uses, and drug discovery platforms.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF [MIM:219700]) is a common life-limiting genetic disease that is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR [MIM:602421]) gene. CF affects multiple organs including the pancreas, the intestine, and the lungs. Meconium ileus (intestinal obstruction at birth) and severe pancreatic disease leading to pancreatic insufficiency occur early in life, while the majority of CF-associated mortality is due to respiratory failure as a result of chronic airway infections leading to reduced lung function and repeated pulmonary exacerbations later in the course of disease. Individuals with the same CFTR mutations have variable disease across the CF-affected organs, suggesting that environmental factors along with other genes beyond the causal CFTR, referred to as modifier genes, can contribute to CF disease severity.
CFTR is an anion channel present in the epithelial membrane. There have been more than 1900 mutations reported in the CFTR gene, however fewer than 200 of these variants account for 96% of CF-causing alleles. CF-causing alleles affect the amount of protein and/or the function of the channel at the cell surface. For example, the most common CF-causing allele is a three base pair deletion resulting in the loss of a phenylalanine residue at position 508 in the CFTR protein, termed Phe508del. Phe508del represents about 70% of all CF-causing alleles with 45% of CF patients being homozygous for Phe508del. The Phe508del mutation disrupts CFTR chloride transport activity by reducing protein levels at the epithelial membrane due to a processing defect, and for the protein that does reach the cell surface the channel-open probability of the protein is reduced. In contrast, the missense mutation G551D, present on at least one allele in about 4-5% of individuals with CF (with varying geographical frequency), eliminates the ability of ATP to increase the channel activity, and the observed activity is ˜100-fold smaller than wild-type CFTR. Consequently, G551D is termed a "gating mutation".
Modifier genes that contribute to CF-disease in the intestine, the lungs, the exocrine pancreas, the endocrine pancreas and others have been reported in individuals with severe CFTR mutations. These studies mostly include individuals with any two severe loss-of-function CFTR mutations, such as Phe508del, the majority of which result in little or no CFTR protein at the cell surface. Pleiotropy across multiple CF-affected organs is evident; for example, SLC9A3 and SLC6A14 contribute to CF lung and intestinal disease, while SLC26A9 appears to contribute to early-onset CF phenotypes in the gastrointestinal tract, but not the lungs (Li et al 2013; Sun et al 2012; Miller et al 2015; Soave et al 2014; Corvol et al 2015; Blackman et al 2013).
Treatment of CF has traditionally focused on lessening the manifestations of CF disease in the affected organs, rather than addressing the underlying cause of disease by targeting the dysfunctional CFTR protein itself. Recently, CFTR-directed therapies have become available.
Ivacaftor was the first drug to successfully target the CFTR protein itself, and to increase the amount of time that activated CFTR channels at the cell surface remain open to aid transport of anions (e.g. Cl− and HCO3−) across the apical membrane. Ivacaftor was shown to significantly improve lung function, on average, as measured by percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1pp) in individuals with a G551D-CFTR protein. An improvement of greater than 10 percentage points in FEV1pp from baseline to measurement at 24 weeks was observed, on average, between the Ivacaftor and placebo groups, and Ivacaftor is now approved for use by multiple international regulatory agencies in CF individuals with G551D or other gating mutations. However, drug response is highly variable.
More recently, Ivacaftor in combination with Lumacaftor—the latter being a CFTR corrector that improves the Phe508del CFTR misprocessing and increases the amount of cell surface-localized protein—has resulted in improved clinical outcomes in clinical trial. Although important, these improvements are much more modest than those observed in Ivacaftor treated individuals with the G551D-CFTR protein. Patient response was again variable.
In individuals with a G551D allele treated with Ivacaftor, or for those homozygous for Phe508del on Lumacaftor-Ivacaftor combination therapy, average improvements in outcomes are statistically significant. However, not all individuals respond to their respective treatments equally, with widespread variability in response observed in both CFTR mutation groups. The factors that explain this variability remain unknown, although there are many explanations hypothesized including drug metabolism, compliance, and modifier genes. These CFTR-directed treatments are, in turn, extremely costly.
There remains a need for predictors of treatment efficacy in CF.

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto


A joist includes an outer top chord and a bottom chord; and an end configuration with at least one end of the joist and including a board connecting the top and bottom chords, an inner top chord underlying the outer top chord and defining therewith a double top chord section, a post extending between the bottom chord and the double top chord section, the double top chord section extending outwardly past the post.

Wooden joists are used in a number of building applications. They include top and bottom elongated chords with intervening web members or boards joined to the chords.
Prefabricated joists typically include I-joist sections at the joist ends. The end sections are trimmable to quickly adjust the length of the resulting joist. However, these joists are typically supported by their bottom chord, i.e. bottom-chord bearing chord, when mounted to walls, beams, and the like. Joist hangers, i.e. metal connectors used to transfer loads from one member to another, are required to provide the appearance of a top-chord bearing joist. This appearance can be advantageous since at least a portion of the bearing structure, either beams or wall sections, is hidden inside the floor.
There is thus a need for mounting joists having an I-joist end section in a top-chord bearing configuration, meaning that they are supported by the underside of the top chord, so that the top chord extends longitudinally beyond the bottom chord.


A multiple integral pressure transducer system for installation in oil field downhole coiled tubing systems.

Coiled tubing systems are well known in the oil and gas industry. The term normally connotes a relatively small diameter continuous tubing string that can be transported to a well site on a drum or in a reel. Some methods for inserting coiled tubing systems into existing wells are well known in the art. As oil and gas exploration technology continues to improve the demand for better wellbore information grows and there has been more interest in using coiled tubing to deploy more instrumentation into the wellbore, particularly pressure and temperature sensors.
As fiber optic telemetry develops there is increased need to install multiple fiber optic sensors inside coiled tubing. Each sensor may require its own FIMT (Fiber In Metal Tubing), so there needs to be a method and devices to enable multiple FIMTs to be installed simultaneously in lengths of coiled tubing that can be up to 10 km.
A typical fiber telemetry system inside coiled tubing can consist of three fiber optic pressure transducers, one at the heel, one at the toe and one in the middle of the horizontal portion, along with additional fiber for DTS (Distributed Temperature Sensing) and/or DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) telemetry. Each sensor may have single or multiple fibers, which are normally run inside FIMTs. Thus as many as 5 or more FIMTs may have to be installed in the coiled tubing at the same time. Although the number can vary the examples given in this disclosure will demonstrate the deployment of three fiber optic pressure transducers, one at the heel, one at the toe and one in the middle of the horizontal portion, along with additional fiber for DTS and/or DAS telemetry.
The installation of pressure transducers in three different locations along with the additional optical fibers for other sensors creates a need for a pressure housing for each pressure transducer that incorporates all of the needed sensing functionality while incorporating the capabilities for installation inside the cramped confines of coiled tubing. It is desirable to do this with approaches that result in little strain on the fibers, and in which there is no need for extensive cutting of the tubing in order to produce the coiled tube sensor assemblies.

Coiled tubing system with multiple integral pressure sensors and DTS


A radiation detecting array 10 has a frequency domain architecture wherein incident radiation is imaged in parallel by an array of radiation detectors 12-16. Each radiation detector has an associated amplitude to frequency conversion device 18-22 for providing output signals wherein the output of each photodetector is represented as a frequency within a uniquely identified band of frequencies, the specific frequency being a function of the output signal amplitude of the photodetector. The readout of one or more selected detectors is accomplished by providing a swept frequency band or bands associated with the desired detector or detectors and mixing the detector frequencies with the swept band. The frequency representing the photodetector output may be input directly to a low dispersion transmission line 30. The unit cells may include radiation detectors comprised of superconducting material and also superconducting components that inherently manifest current or voltage to frequency conversion characteristics in accordance with the Josepson effect. An array having high temperature superconducting components includes photodetectors 60, associated voltage to frequency convertors 64 and a transmission line 70 integrated upon a common substrate.

Conventional arrays of photodetectors typically multiplex detector amplitude information sequentially in time. The amplitude information is generally a function of the radiation flux incident upon individual detectors within a one or two-dimensional array of photodetectors. For example, an integrated circuit two-dimensional focal plane array of photodetectors may be responsive to incident radiation within the infra-red (IR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each photodetector within the array is typically defined as a unit cell of the array. Each unit cell may be further coupled to a unit cell of an associated readout circuit array wherein each readout unit cell may comprise an integrating transimpedance amplifier. Each transimpedance amplifier may have an output coupled to a multiplexer which sequentially outputs to a signal processor signals expressive the flux incident upon individual ones of the photodetector unit cells over a predetermined interval of time.
For focal plane and other applications the array of photodetectors is normally maintained at cryogenic temperatures within a Dewar. For example, the array may be maintained at approximately 77K by the operation of a liquid nitrogen cryrogenic system.
One problem associated with such conventional systems, due to the serial nature of the data stream, relates to the amount of time required to output all of the photodetector unit cells within the array. In order to provide for real-time detector operation it is often necessary to constrain the total number of unit cells to a number which may be read out and processed within an interval of time which is compatible with real-time operation. As a result, the imaging resolution of the array may be less than optimal for a given application.
Another problem associated with conventional imaging systems is that access to a particular unit cell or group of unit cells within the array is constrained by the sequential nature of the readout circuit. This may prove disadvantageous if it is desired to perform zoom, background subtraction, gamma suppression, offset/gain correction or similar operations. As a result, it may be necessary to provide high speed analog and digital signal processing circuitry with concomitant increases in system power consumption, electrical noise and package size.

Radiation detecting array including unit cells with periodic output signals each within a unique frequency band


An adjuvant composition comprising a small liposome with incubation associated immuno-potentiator such as Lipid A, said composition with incubation associated antigen, and method of preparation and use.

Gangliosides are cell surface glycosphingolipids expressed abundantly by most malignant melanomas and other cancers of neuroectodermal origin. Three gangliosides, the disialogangliosides GD3 and GD2 and the monosialoganglioside GM2, have proven to be of particular interest to tumor immunologists for a variety of reasons. GD3 is recognized by several mouse monoclonal antibodies but by no sera or monoclonal antibodies of human origin. GD2 and GM2 are reactive with sera from some melanoma patients and some normal donors and have recently been detected by mouse and human monoclonal antibodies. From the pattern of cellular distribution in normal and malignant tissues, it appears that GD3, GD2, and GM2 have the characteristics of differentiation antigens of neuroectodermal origin. Interest in these antigens was intensified by the observation that there was regression of melanoma and neuroblastoma metastases in some patients treated with anti-GD3 and anti-GD2 mouse monoclonal antibodies indicating that cell surface gangliosides may be targets for cancer therapy.
Gangliosides play critical roles in cell-cell interactions as differentiation markers and receptors for toxins, hormones and other factors. Malignant transformation frequently results in changes in ganglioside pattern and the importance of ganglioside for detection and treatment of cancer has recently been established. However, gangliosides are rarely immunogenic, thwarting attempts at active immunization or production of monoclonal antibodies. Association of poorly immunogenic or tolerated antigens with immunostimulating complexes is a method of augmenting immunogenicity. GM2 is used as a model for all gangliosides. The relative immunogenicity of the different ganglioside preparations may be determined in mice and methods to further increase their immunogenicity in various types of vaccines determined. Approaches shown to be optimal for GM2 are applicable to GD2, GD3, GM3 analogues and derivatives thereof (including O-acetyl GD3) and other gangliosides.
It has now been discovered that a "small" liposome, that is a liposome with a diameter of about 500 nm or less, with incubation associated immuno-potentiators such as Lipid A is an improved adjuvant, as measured by the anti-GM2 titer of animal sera obtained after inocculation with such liposomes containing incubation associated Lipid A and GM2.


A poly(trimethylene terephthalate) comprising 80% by weight or more of trimethylene terephthalate units based on the entire repeating units, having an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.4 to 1.5 dl/g, and satisfying the following formula (1)

The present invention relates to a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and a process for producing the same. The present invention relates in more detail to a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) excellent in shade, oxidation resistance stability and melt stability, and a process for producing a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) having a molecular weight in a range from low to high even by polymerization on an industrial scale of the order of tons.
A poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (hereinafter abbreviated to PTT) fiber obtained by melt spinning a polycondensation product of a lower alcohol ester of terephthalic acid or terephthalic acid and 1,3-propanediol (also termed trimethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol being abbreviated to PDO below) has various excellent properties that cannot be obtained from a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (hereinafter abbreviated to PET) fiber, a nylon 6 fiber, and the like fiber, such as an astonishing soft feeling and drapability that have never been observed before, excellent stretchability, low temperature dye-affinity and weathering resistance. Asahi Chemical Corporation has solved many technological problems associated with the polymerization, spinning, processing, development of commercial articles, and the like of a PTT, and has recently put a PTT fiber on the market for the first time in the world under the trade name of Solo.
As explained above, the technologies related to the production of fibers from PTT have been developed to the level of industrialization. However, the following problems related to the polymerization of PTT still remain unsolved: a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) having a high intrinsic viscosity is difficult to obtain by melt polymerization alone when polymerization is carried out on an industrial scale, and the polymer tends to be easily colored. The polymerization of PTT on an industrial scale herein refers to polymerization on the following scales: for batch polymerization, polymerization on a scale of 0.3 t/batch or more, preferably 1 t/batch or more; for continuous polymerization, polymerization on a scale of 10 t/day or more, preferably 50 t/day or more.
For example, polymerization of PTT becomes understandable when the polycondensation reactivity of PTT is compared with that of poly(butylene terephthalate) (hereinafter abbreviated to PBT). For PBT, when polymerization is conducted using a batch-wise polymerizer equipped with a plate-like agitating blade in the presence of a titanium alkoxide catalyst at 260xc2x0 C. as will be explained in Comparative Example 1, the polymerization degree increases with time. The polymerization degree further increases even when the polymer comes to have an intrinsic viscosity (intrinsic viscosity of 1.4 dl/g or more, polymerization degree of about 160) at which raking becomes difficult. In contrast to PBT, when PTT is polymerized even under the same polymerization conditions, the polymerization degree reaches a peak near an intrinsic viscosity of 0.8 dl/g (polymerization degree of about 100). Further extension of the polymerization time lowers the polymerization degree on the contrary. Moreover, such a peaking phenomenon of the intrinsic viscosity (polymerization degree) in the polymerization of PTT becomes more significant when the polymerization scale becomes larger.
In order to use PTT for clothes and industrial fibers, PTT usually must have an intrinsic viscosity of 0.85 dl/g or more in view of the manifestation of the strength. However, production of PTT having such a viscosity by conventional melt polymerization alone on an industrial scale has been impossible. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,433 and EP 1/046,662 describe a process for producing PTT showing excellent whiteness and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.85 dl/g or more. However, the descriptions of both of these references are based on experiments carried out on a scale of no more than several liters. Expansion of the polymerization scale in the disclosed process to an industrial scale only results in the production of a polymer having problems with quality such as mentioned below. The intrinsic viscosity of the polymer cannot be as high as 0.85 dl/g or more. A polymer obtained by excessively extending the polymerization time is colored, or tends to be colored when used in the air for a long time. The polymer shows a decrease in the molecular weight in a large proportion during melt molding.
In order to establish a technology of polymerizing PTT having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.85 dl/g or more by melt polymerization alone even on an industrial scale, the present inventors have analyzed the cause of the peaking phenomenon of an intrinsic viscosity (polymerization degree) in the melt polymerization of PTT, and clarified the following matter.
Elementary reactions forming the polycondensation reaction of PTT are mainly the following two reactions:
The forward reaction is a chain growth reaction (formula (a)) effected by removal of PDO of two terminal hydroxyl groups. The backward reactions include a reaction in which the ester portion suffers decomposition with PDO that has not been excluded from the reaction system (backward reaction of the formula (a)), and the thermal decomposition reaction (formula (b)) of the ester portion.
First, a case in which efficient discharge of PDO from the reaction system is achieved is considered. In this case, because the equilibrium is inclined to the forward reaction side, the backward reaction of the formula (a) can be ignored. When the forward reaction alone of the formula (a) is dominant, the intrinsic viscosity monotonously increases with time. For example, the polycondensation reactions of PET and PET approximately correspond to the above reaction. However, for PTT, because the allyl terminal (CH2xe2x95x90CHCH2OOCxcx9c) of the thermal decomposition product is thermodynamically stabilized, the thermal decomposition reaction rate (kd) is significantly large. As a result, the reaction of the formula (b) contributes much in a relatively short period of time as the polycondensation reaction proceeds. The reaction of the formula (b) therefore becomes dominant over the forward reaction of the formula (a). The levelling off phenomenon of the intrinsic viscosity in the melt polymerization of PTT as explained above is estimated to take place due to the dominant reaction of the formula (b).
Next, the case in which efficient discharge of PDO is not achieved will be considered. For example, the case in which the scale of polymerization is extremely increased, that is, polymerization on an industrial scale corresponds thereto. When the polymerization scale is increased, the specific surface area of the reactant drastically decreases. Discharge of PDO therefore becomes difficult, and PDO remaining in the reaction system breaks the ester bond of PTT (backward reaction of the formula (a)). As a result, contribution of the backward reaction of the formula (a) becomes significant, resulting in no increase in the intrinsic viscosity. The significant contribution is estimated be the reason why the peaking phenomenon of an intrinsic viscosity takes place in an early stage when the polymerization scale is increased.
Accordingly, the present inventors have discovered that the following procedures are essential as means for increasing a finally attained polymerization degree of PTT in melt polymerization alone regardless of the polymerization scale: inhibition of the backward reaction of the formula (a) and the reaction of the formula (b), namely, 1) advancement of the polycondensation reaction in a state in which the thermal decomposition reaction less contributes and 2) efficient discharge of PDO from the reaction system.
An object of the present invention is to provide a PTT excellent in shade, oxidation resistance stability and melt stability and having a molecular weight in a range from low to high even when the PTT is prepared by polymerization on an industrial scale. Another object of the present is to provide a polymerization process capable of producing a PTT having a molecular weight in a range from low to high regardless of the charging scale of the monomer in the polymerization of the PTT having excellent properties as mentioned above, more specifically to provide a polymerization process of PTT capable of inhibiting thermal decomposition in the polycondensation reaction and efficiently discharging PDO.

Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) and a process for producing the same

Abstract: wherein [xe2x80x94OH], [xe2x80x94COOH] and [xe2x80x94CH2CHxe2x95x90CH2] represent a terminal hydroxyl group content, a terminal carboxyl group content and a terminal allyl group content of the poly(trimethylene terephthalate), respectively. The poly(trimethylene terephthalate) can be produced by reacting terephthalic acid and/or its lower alcohol ester is reacted with 1,3-propanediol to form 1,3-propanediol ester of terephthalic acid and/or its oligomer, and then polycondensation reaction of the reactant is conducted at temperature of from 235 to 270xc2x0 C. while the above formula (1) is being satisfied to give the above poly(trimethylene terephthalate).


A cosmetic source applicator is provided for users to decorate skin and/or place at least one skin product in contact with recipient skin. It may comprise one or multiple containers and one or multiple interchangeable cartridges. Each container provides secure support of one cartridge during skin decoration use over an open-topped bottom recess. A cartridge may hold, store, or be the cosmetic source, and be constructed in one or multiple sizes, shapes and/or materials. Each cartridge also has opposing top and bottom surfaces which may be reversed in positioning for skin decoration successively by both surfaces. Containers may attach to another container for increased ease in reaching different areas on the body. For convenient storage and travel, containers may store a cartridge before, during and after use. The cosmetic source applicator's use of single-use cartridges, disposable cartridges, and multi-use cartridges limit cartridge exposure to bacteria and other environmental germs.

The invention disclosed herein relates to cosmetic applicators, and more particularly to a cosmetic source applicator system with varying combinations of applicator containers that may be used independently or attached to one another during use, one or more cosmetic sources providing a grooming improvement, and multiple interchangeable cartridges configured for insertion into an open recess in one of the applicator containers for distributing skin products and/or providing other skin improvement (such as through exfoliation or massage, but not limited thereto).

Cosmetic source applicator with multiple cartridges


An image forming method includes an ejecting step, a drying step after the ejecting step, and a particle-providing step after the drying step. The ejecting step includes ejecting aqueous ink onto a recording medium and forming an image. The drying step includes drying such that a difference between a water amount contained in the recording medium after the drying and a water amount that was contained in the recording medium before the ejecting is from 1.0 g/m2 to 4.0 g/m2. The particle-providing step includes supplying particles to the surface of a roller and, via the roller, providing the particles to a face of the recording medium at which the image has been formed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming device.
2. Related Art
Heretofore, an image forming device that ejects ink droplets from an inkjet recording head onto a recording medium such as paper or the like has been known.
In this image forming device, ink droplets are ejected onto the recording medium, the ink droplets on the recording medium are dried by heating and fixed, and then the recording mediums are successively discharged to and stacked on a discharge section. In this image forming device, when the recording mediums are stacked on the discharge section, a phenomenon known as blocking (hereinafter referred to as stacker blocking) may occur, in which ink adheres between the recording mediums laid on top of one another. In particular, in a high-productivity inkjet recording device, insufficient drying or insufficient fixing of the ink often occurs, so stacker blocking often occurs.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-011654 discloses a powder coating method, of coating powder onto the ink on printed matter just after printing and before drying. In this method, the powder is supplied to an outer periphery face of a rotating roller, the powder is attracted to and retained at the outer periphery face of the rotating roller, the printed matter that has just been printed is fed to the rotating roller at which the powder is being attracted and retained, and the powder is transferred, because of the viscosity of the ink, onto a printed image face of the printed matter.
Japanese Patent No. 4,010,577 discloses a structure in which a matting agent is retained in numerous depressions formed with a predetermined spacing in the surface of a coating roller, and the matting agent is coated onto printed matter in the form of spots with the predetermined spacing.
However, in JP-A No. 9-011654, the rotating roller rubs off powder that has been momentarily transferred to the printed matter. Therefore, a transfer efficiency of the powder is low and satisfactory performance may not be provided.
In Japanese Patent No. 4,010,577, the ink tends to gradually accumulate in the depressions of the coating roller, and it is difficult to maintain excellent coating performance (i.e., transferring performance for required matting agent provision amounts).

Image forming method and image forming device


An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing with a base portion and a loading door. A motor drives a base portion roller or a loading door roller to cause dispensing of the sheet product along a sheet product path and through an outlet. A pump is in fluid communication with a liquid reservoir and a spray mechanism, and is configured to cause liquid from the reservoir to spray onto the sheet product through the spray mechanism prior to dispensing. A controller is configured to determine whether to operate in either a dry mode or a wet mode based on user input provided. When in the dry mode, the controller causes the motor to operate to dispense dry sheet product. When in the wet mode, the controller causes the motor to operate and the pump to operate to dispense wetted sheet product.

On-demand sheet product (e.g., paper towel, tissue, napkin, etc.) dispensers are useful in many environments. Providing an on-demand dry sheet product dispense to a user can be useful for a variety of reasons (e.g., cleaning surfaces, absorbing wet messes, providing a clean napkin, providing a tissue, etc.). Providing an on-demand wetted sheet product dispense to a user could, however, be more useful in some situations (e.g., disinfecting a surface, removing a stain, removing stuck on food or other particles, etc.). Thus, it may be beneficial to have the option to utilize a dry sheet product or a wet sheet product.

Automated wetted or dry sheet product dispensers


To achieve further weight reduction and thinning of a seat structure. A laminated body obtained by sandwiching a planar member 4 made of cloth between planar members 2 and 3 made of synthetic resin to join them to one another via adhesive agent is used in a shell type frame member of the seat structure. Upon receipt of an impact, delamination is caused between the respective layers configuring the laminated body. Thereby, both the tensile stress and the Izod impact strength of the laminated body are lowered as compared with those of a homogeneous laminated body obtained by joining planer members made of homogeneous materials. That is, impact energy is converted to a force causing delamination between the planar members in the laminated body to be consumed, thereby absorbing the impact energy. Since the shell type frame member itself can absorb the impact, further weight reduction and thinning of the shell type frame member and a seat structure using the same can be achieved.

Patent Documents 1 to 5 disclose seat structures formed by disposing such a cushioning member as a solid knitted fabric (a three-dimensional net material) on a seat cushion frame. When the cushioning member is disposed on the seat cushion frame in this manner, a base net such as a solid knitted fabric or a two-dimensional woven fabric is provided below the cushioning member via an elastic member in order to prevent bottom contact or improve vibration absorbing characteristic or impact absorbing characteristic. All the Patent Documents 1 to 5 disclose that a torsion bar unit provided with a torsion bar, an arm coupled to the torsion bar and supported to be rotatable about the torsion bar, and a supporting frame supported by the arm is disposed at a rear portion of a seat cushion and the base net is elastically supported by coupling a rear end of the base net to the supporting frame.

Impact absorbing structural body, shell type frame member and seat structure


Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for control using electrical signals recorded from clinically paralyzed muscles and nerves are presented. The discomplete neural prosthesis system and method for clinically paralyzed humans utilizes a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a volitional electrical signal generated by the human that is manifest below the lesion that causes the clinical paralysis. The controller uses at least the volitional electrical signal to generate a control signal that is output back to a plant to change the state of the plant, which in one aspect is one or more of the user's paralyzed muscles to achieve a functional result or to devices in the environment around the user that are adapted to receive commands from the controller.

Neurological trauma, dysfunction, or disease can leave persons with severe and life threatening motor or sensory disabilities that can compromise the ability to control basic vital functions. Persons with neurological impairments often rely on personal assistants, adaptive equipment and environmental modifications to facilitate their daily activities. Neural prostheses are highly effective methods for restoring Junction to individuals with neurological deficits by electrically manipulating the peripheral or central nervous systems. By passing small electrical currents through a nerve or directly to the motor units of a muscle via intramuscular, epimysial, and surface electrodes, neural prostheses can initiate action potentials which in turn trigger the release of chemical neurotransmitters to affect an end organ, such as a muscle. Techniques exist to selectively activate axons of any size or location within a nerve or fascicle, making it possible to preferentially target small sensory fibers or duplicate natural motor unit recruitment in order to minimize fatigue and grade the strength of a stimulated muscular contraction. In addition to exciting the nervous system, the proper current waveform and configuration of electrodes can block nerve conduction and inhibit action potential transmission. Thus, in principle any end organ normally under neural control is a candidate for neural prosthetic control.
Neural prostheses may consist of wholly external components with only limited surface or percutaneous electrical contacts, combinations of both external and implanted components or in some cases tally implanted systems with limited or no interface to components external to the body. In some cases, recording components of neural prostheses may interface with external systems that impact the user such as external mechanical orthotics or other devices. In former advances in the field of neural prosthesis, networked systems are developed whereby combinations of sensors and actuators are implanted within the user and networked into a common system. Some exemplary systems are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,229 to Peckham, et. al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,436 to Kilgore et. al.
Neural prostheses commonly operate in one of two separate control modes, open loop and closed loop, in the case of open loop control, the neural prostheses applies electrical signals to the body based on a pre-defined simulation, pattern that does not change after initiation based on the movement or change of body state. The pre-defined stimulation pattern is triggered using a variety of inputs, including joysticks, voice commands, or feedback from other sensors that provide information about the current state or orientation of the body and the user's desired state. Closed loop control modes use information about the stale of the user's body during stimulation to further resolve and tune the stimulation to achieve more accurate and precise motion. In order to Implement these various control modes, it is common for neural prostheses to use sensors to allow the user to issue command signals to the system and for estimating the body state, i.e. its position, orientation, force etc.
Existing neural prostheses utilize two different types of command signals, a logical or trigger command signal and a continuous or graduated control signal. The logical control signals are used to turn external devices on or off, initiate a predefined motion, or stimulation pattern, or cycle through a set of different patterns such as different grasp patterns such as lateral and palmer grasp in the case of an upper extremity neural prosthesis, and lock or unlock a device at various force levels. Examples of logical command signals include push button switches, reaching a specific threshold value with a command signal recorded from a part of the body, or holding a command signal at a certain threshold level for a predetermined length of time. A continuous command signal is required to control degree of motion or position and force applied by the neural prosthesis. Some examples of command signal sources include joint positions or potentiometer readings obtained from joints where the user retains volitional control, myoelectric signals obtained from muscles above the lesion where the user maintains functional control such as voluntary control over wrist extensor muscles by a tetraplegic user with a C6 level injury. The goal in the design of neural prostheses is to create command inputs that are a natural extension of the user's intact motor system,
It is clear that neural prosthetic approaches can provide both therapeutic and functional benefits to individuals with impairments due to neurological injury or disorder. However, a significant disadvantage of prior neural prostheses is due to a lack of natural command signals that are easy for a user to internalize and use to command the neural prosthesis.
There is increasing evidence that even in eases of severe spinal trauma that result in clinically complete Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) some axons remain intact across the lesion. Traditional techniques for assessing SCI involve manual muscle testing and sensory testing. These traditional techniques have a functional basis for evaluating whether or not volitional control exists; meaning volitional control below the lesion is measured by evaluating the force manifest by the muscle under volitional control of the injured subject Thus an SCI is determined to be functionally or clinically complete based on the presence or absence of visible or palpable movement in the muscles below the lesion. In recent studies seeking to develop new diagnostic techniques to analyze lesions in clinically complete SCI it has been found that there exists sufficient numbers of axons that cross the lesion that allow volitional electrical signals that cross the lesion and be manifest below the lesion, even though the signals are not strong enough to cause visible muscle contraction, for example, the volitional electrical signal may incomplete innervate a muscle and thus not have the ability to trigger enough motor units to cause a physically manifest contraction of the muscle. However, this sub-functional activation of motor units within the muscle does result in a measurable electromyography (EMG) signals. Someone with an SCI injury or other injury or trauma to the nervous system that is functionally or clinically complete, with no clinically manifest movement of muscles below the lesion, but who upon closer analysis is found to still generate volitional electrical potentials in muscles and nerves below the lesion is referred to herein using the term discomplete neural lesion.

Neural prosthesis system and method of control


A burner and a method utilize a burner tile with an outer surface extending along the furnace wall and an inner surface defining a passageway. A fuel duct extends at least partially through the passageway and discharges fuel onto a burner head. The burner head forms a coanda-curved surface, wherein the fuel is directed onto the coanda-curved surface such that the fuel flows along the coanda-curved surface to the outer surface of the burner tile. There is an air channel defined by an outside edge of the coanda-curved surface and in fluid flow communication with the passageway such that air flows from the passageway through the channel to mix with the fuel so as to produce the combustible mixture.

Radiant wall burners are used in industrial applications to heat the surrounding portions of a wall of a furnace or the like. For example, radiant wall burners are used in the petrochemical industry in processes such as hydrogen reforming, ammonia reforming, ethylene cracking and ethylene dichloride (EDC) cracking. Most of the burners currently used for these applications consist of premix burners, characterized by fuel gas and combustion air mixed together in a venturi before entering the furnace and combusting. Further, the burners are commonly used with various fuel gases, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), refinery gas and mixtures thereof. The fuel gases may contain varying amounts of hydrogen depending on their mixture components.
The afore described premix concept works fine with fuel gases having low to medium flame speeds, such as those containing low to medium amounts of hydrogen in the fuel gas. However, there can be problems in using the premix concept with fuel gases having relatively high flame speeds. For example, higher amounts of hydrogen increase considerably the flame speed of the premix mixture exiting the burner nozzle, with increased risk of flame flashback, e.g. flame entering the burner, damaging or destroying the same. As a minimum, such flame flashbacks reduce the performance of the plant, and if they result in damage to the burner, the cost of repair or replacement is considerable, especially if the plant has to be shut down. With multiple burners in a furnace, typically hundreds of burners, the risk of flashback in at least one of the burners can be considerable.
Additionally, a design for a burner to prevent flashback must also meet other design specifications such as NOX emissions. Reduction and/or abatement of NOx in radiant burners is a desirable aim. Accordingly, the industry has need of burners that avoid flashback and that still allow for decreased overall NOX generation and emissions.


A gas supplying system for supplying a corrosive gas or the like to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus or the like. A plurality of kinds of component gases are introduced into a chamber and mixed therein to form a desired supply gas. After supplying the desired supply gas, the chamber is evacuated and an inert gas is charged into the chamber to substitute a residual supply gas remaining in the chamber by the inert gas. The evacuation of the chamber and the charging of the inert gas into the chamber are repeated two or more times. Accordingly, the residual supply gas can be efficiently removed from the chamber and substituted by the inert gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas supplying system and a gas supplying apparatus and, more particularly, to a gas supplying system and a gas supplying apparatus for use with an industrial manufacturing apparatus such as a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In a semiconductor manufacturing process, a supply gas such as a corrosive gas, toxic gas or combustible gas is conventionally used for etching or the like of photoresist working.
In general, such photoresist working (photoresist coating, exposure, development, and etching) is repeated plural times in the semiconductor manufacturing process, and so, a gas supplying apparatus for supplying a corrosive gas or the like as required is practically used in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
In most cases, a plurality of kinds of supply gases or a supply gas of the same kind having different concentrations are used for the photoresist working.
A desired kind of supply gas is prepared by mixing a plurality of kinds of corrosive gases or component gases in a closed chamber. Further, a desired concentration of supply gas is prepared by mixing an inert gas with a corrosive gas or the like.
Further, it is desired to accurately control an amount of supply gas to be used for etching or the like in response to recent high integration and precision of semiconductors.
Also, the demands regarding a supply timing and a supply speed of the supply gas have become severe in response to the need of shortening of a manufacturing process time.
In a conventional gas supplying apparatus for supplying a corrosive gas or the like, after the corrosive gas is supplied to an etching device or the like, it remains in a gas supply pipe, and is allowed to stand until a fresh corrosive gas is supplied in the next cycle. As a result, an inner wall surface of the gas supply pipe formed of metal is corroded by the residual corrosive gas, and impurities or particles due to the corrosion are mixed into the corrosive gas to be supplied in the next cycle, thus adversely effecting the semiconductors.
Further, in the case of using a chamber or the like for mixing a plurality of kinds of corrosive gases to form a supply gas therein, a residual supply gas even in a small amount remaining in the chamber causes a change in component of a supply gas to be supplied in the next cycle. This may arise a greatly adverse effect on the photoresist working as depending upon the kinds of the residual supply gas and the supply gas to be next supplied, causing a deterioration in quality of semiconductor products.
In the case where the residual supply gas is a combustible gas, there is a possibility that the combustible gas even in a small amount will react with a supply gas to be next supplied to occur combustion or explosion by the combustible gas as depending upon the kind thereof.
Even if the explosion does not occur, a reaction product becomes an impurity as particles to adversely effect the semiconductor manufacturing process.
As measures against the above problems, after mixing desired amounts of plural kinds of corrosive gases together in the chamber to form a desired supply gas and then supplying the desired supply gas to the semiconductor manufacturing process, a residual supply gas remaining in the chamber is substituted by an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas.
The substitution of the residual supply gas by the inert gas is performed by the following known methods.
(1) A method of sucking the residual supply gas remaining in the chamber by using a vacuum pump.
(2) A method of forcibly introducing the inept gas into the chamber to purge the residual supply gas remaining in the chamber.
However, according to the method (1), as the vacuum pump is separate in position from the chamber, the chamber cannot be efficiently evacuated by the vacuum pump. Furthermore, in the case of a corrosive gas, it strongly sticks to the inner wall surfaces of the chamber and the gas supply pipe formed of metal, so that the corrosive gas cannot be perfectly removed.
In general, it is unsuitable to locate the vacuum pump in the vicinity of the gas supplying apparatus from the viewpoints of maintenance and space, and the vacuum pump is therefore located apart from the gas supplying apparatus. As a result, it is necessary to provide a long suction pipe for connecting the chamber to the vacuum pump. Since the suction pipe is long, a suction resistance becomes large to hinder the evacuation of the chamber, so that the residual supply gas remaining in the chamber cannot be perfectly removed.
Furthermore, in the case of a corrosive gas, since the residual corrosive gas to be sucked through the suction pipe by the vacuum pump has a high concentration, the inner wall surface of the suction pipe is corroded by the corrosive gas flowing in the suction pipe.
On the other hand, according to the method (2), much time is required to dilute the residual supply gas. For example, when a nitrogen gas is forced into the chamber under the pressure of 2 kg/cm.sup.2, about one hour is required to dilute the residual supply gas down to a concentration of 0.05 ppm which is a reference value less adversely effecting a supply gas to be next supplied. Accordingly, a required period of time for the semiconductor manufacturing process is elongated to reduce a production efficiency.
Incidentally, it is desired to accurately supply a small amount of corrosive gas or the like with an error of 1% or less in terms of a mass flow. Thus, the requirement for a high accuracy has become increasingly severe. To meet this requirement, a flow control valve having a high accuracy and a high responsiveness is used.
In such a flow control valve for accurately controlling a supply amount of a corrosive gas or the like is provided with a mass flow sensor capable of measuring a mass flow with a high accuracy and a high responsiveness. That is, a pair of self-heating temperature sensing elements each having a large temperature coefficient are wound around a thin conduit tube at its upstream and downstream ends to form a pair of heat sensitive coils. A bridge circuit is formed of each heat sensitive coil, and a temperature of each heat sensitive coil is controlled to a constant value. A mass flow of the corrosive gas flowing in the conduit tube is computed from a potential difference between both the bridge circuits.
The conduit tube is formed as a tube having an inner diameter of 0.5 mm and a length of 20 mm, which is made of SUS 316, for example. The small inner diameter is intended to measure a small amount of flowing gas.
Each heat sensitive coil is formed by winding 70 turns of heat sensitive resistance wire having a diameter of 25 .mu.m around the conduit tube. The heat sensitive resistance wire is formed of a material having a large temperature coefficient, such as iron or nickel alloy. Each heat sensitive coil is bonded to the conduit tube by UV curing resin or the like to form a sensing element.
While such a flow control valve is widely used in a corrosive gas supplying apparatus for the semiconductor manufacturing process, it is difficult to perfectly remove the corrosive gas remaining in the thin conduit tube provided in the flow control valve. Further, when an inner wall surface of the conduit tube is corroded by the corrosive gas, the accuracy of the mass flow sensor is reduced. Accordingly, the corrosive gas cannot be supplied with a high accuracy to cause a remarkable decrease in yield in the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Gas supplying system and gas supplying apparatus


Purchases made by customers of a supplier of interest from other suppliers are estimated based upon panelist data regarding purchases made by panelists from the supplier of interest and from the other suppliers, and based upon customer data regarding purchases made by the customers from the supplier of interest. The panelists are a subset of the customers. A linear relationship between the purchases made by the panelists from the supplier of interest and the purchases made by the panelists from the other suppliers is determined. Based upon the customer data and the linear relationship, the purchases made by the customers from the other suppliers are estimated.

Data are collected and stored in a database or a data warehouse for a variety of reasons. For example, it is known to collect market research data from a panel of product purchasers so that conclusions about the buying habits of specific population segments may be made. One such panel is operated by the A.C. Nielsen Company. The members of this panel store, in memory, data about the products which they purchase, and forward that data periodically to a central facility. For this purpose, these panelists are generally provided with UPC scanners which they use to scan and store the UPCs attached to the products that they purchase. The scanners are inserted into corresponding docking stations which serve to charge the scanners when the scanners are not in use, and to transmit the UPC information stored in the scanners to the central facility. At the central facility, the data from all panelists are accumulated and correlated in order to generate appropriate reports.
It is also known for a product supplier, such as a retailer, to collect data regarding its product sales so that the product supplier can determine the effectiveness of marketing programs, advertising, promotions, shelf or rack space allocations, product displays, and/or the like. For a retailer, this type of data is generally collected at the point-of-sale terminals where the sales to its customers are processed.
The product supplier might also want to correlate its product sales information with demographic information about its customers so that the product supplier can form conclusions regarding the types of people purchasing its products. For this purpose, it is known for a product supplier to issue customer identification cards which are used by its customers to identify themselves at the time that they make their purchases. Accordingly, the product supplier can correlate demographic information about its customers with its products sales.
None of the arrangements described above, however, provide the product supplier with information about purchases its customers make from other product suppliers, such as competitive product suppliers. This type of information would also be useful to the product supplier who could then, for example, benchmark the effectiveness of its marketing strategies against those of its competitors.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to a system and method for estimating the purchases which the customers of a product supplier or other marketing entity make from other product suppliers or marketing entities.

Method and system for market research data mining


A multi user receiver configured to receive a signal including multiple symbol streams assigned to various users is described. The multiple symbol streams include at least one first symbol stream assigned to a user of the multi user receiver and at least one second symbol stream assigned to another user, wherein a modulation alphabet applied for the at least one second symbol stream is unknown at the multi user receiver. The multi user receiver includes a symbol stream election unit configured to elect a symbol stream of the multiple symbol streams, an equalizer configured to provide an equalized symbol of the elected symbol stream, and a detector configured to generate a detected symbol from the equalized symbol on the basis of a constellation, wherein, if the second symbol stream is elected, the constellation is a mixed constellation including constellation points of at least two of multiple predefined modulation alphabets.

In radio communications systems multiple User Equipment (UEs) may share the same frequency and time resource such that mutual interference may occur. Receiver circuits and methods for detecting data performed by receiver circuits constantly have to be improved. In particular, it may be desirable to improve the reception quality and performance of mobile communications receivers in Multi-user multiple input multiple output systems. For these and further reasons there is a need for the present invention.

Receiver with multi layer interference cancellation


An invention is provided for testing a quality of communication data received from a SUT. The invention includes storing reference test data comprising a plurality of data segments, and receiving degraded test data also comprising a plurality of data segments, from the SUT. The data segments are located in the degraded test data, and data segments in the degraded test data are matched to related data segments in the reference test data. Further, the data segments in the degraded test data are compared to corresponding data segments in the reference test data using a fixed point operation. In one aspect, the degraded test data can be normalized prior to locating the data segments, for example, utilizing a fixed point Fourier transform. Also, a receive filter can be applied to the normalized test data utilizing a fixed point operation. Further, a perceptual evaluation signal quality (PESQ) result can be generated based on the comparison of the data segments in the degraded test data to corresponding data segments in the reference test data. The PESQ result optionally can be stored to a quality of service (QoS) data file.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telecommunication, and more particularly to high density perceptual evaluation of sound quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, modern telecommunications systems often perform complex operations when transmitting signals through the telecommunications network. These operations generally have non-linear effects on the signal inputs. As a result, it is often not possible to model the effects of the network by simulating the additive affect of each component of the network. In particular, the affect of the network on speech is not easily derivable from studying the network's affect on a simple test signal such as a sine wave.
Hence, voice communication signals generally are tested using voice generation and analyzing equipment in the form of a telecommunication testing system. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary prior art telecommunication testing configuration 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the telecommunication testing configuration 100 includes a system under test (SUT) 102, such as a telecommunication system, in communication with a test system 104. One technique for testing the SUT 102 for voice quality of service (QoS) is call generation.
Call Generation is a testing mode in which the test system 104 creates telephone traffic by executing compiled call sequences (scripts). Typically, the test system 104 provides a maximal load on the SUT 102 to test the SUT 102. In particular, the test system 104 places voice data 108 on the input channels of the SUT 102 and receives degraded output data 110 from the SUT 102 in real time. Once received, the degraded output data 110 is tested using a perceptual evaluation of sound quality (PESQ) unit 106, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional PESQ unit 106. The PESQ unit 106 receives degraded output data 110 from the SUT using a plurality of input channels. PESQ is calculated for each channel, not for a channels set, as it may be understood from the description. Once received, the PESQ unit 106 compares the degraded output data 110 to reference data to determine the perceptual evaluation of sound quality of the degraded output data 110. This quality is represented by a number referred to as a PESQ result 200. Generally, the PESQ result 200 is a number having a value between −0.5 and 4.5, which indicates the signal quality of the data returned from the SUT. Typically, a PESQ result value of 4.0-4.5 indicates high signal quality, while a PESQ result value bellow 2.0 indicates low signal quality.
In operation, the PESQ unit 106 should calculate the PESQ result prior to the end of a subsequent data frame, as illustrated next with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C. FIG. 3A illustrates conventional exemplary frame data 300. Generally, degraded data output from the SUT is divided into frames 300 of voice data, for example, 8-second frames of voice data. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates voice data divided into three 8-second frames 300, the first frame F1, followed by the second frame F2 and the third frame F3.
In operation, the PESQ unit processes each frame F1-F3 of the frame data 300 to determine the PESQ result for the particular frame. However, as mentioned above, each frame F1-F3 should be fully processed before the end of the subsequent frame, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B illustrates a frame processing sequencing during proper signal quality evaluation. As shown in FIG. 3B, processing is started on the first frame F1 at time t0 and completed at time t1. Similarly, processing is started on the second frame F2 at time t1 and completed at time t2, and processing is started on the third frame F3 at time t2 and completed at time t3.
Thus, for proper signal quality evaluation, frame F1 should be processed prior to the end of frame F2. That is, the PESQ result for frame F1 should be calculated prior to time t2, as shown by the PESQ F1 result 302a. Similarly, the PESQ result for frame F2 should be calculated prior to time t3, as shown by the PESQ F2 result 302b. In this manner, the test system can process the voice data in real-time. However, if this cannot be maintained, problems can occur during voice data processing, as illustrated in FIG. 3C.
FIG. 3C illustrates an improper frame processing sequencing during delayed signal quality evaluation. As above, processing is started on the first frame F1 at time t0 and completed at time t1. Similarly, processing is started on the second frame F2 at time t1 and completed at time t2, and processing is started on the third frame F3 at time t2 and completed at time t3. However, in the example of FIG. 3C, the PESQ F1 result 302a for the first frame F1 is not calculated until after the second frame F2 has been processed. That is, the PESQ F1 result 302a for the first frame F1 is not calculated until after time t2. As a result, the test system will be unable to process the voice data in real-time and will experience problems because the voice data is entering the PESQ unit faster than the output of the unit is being generated. For example, if the PESQ result is not calculated before the subsequent frame is processed the PESQ unit will not evaluate some of incoming frames.
Process delays, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3C, can result from attempting to process too many voice data channels simultaneously. Thus, the speed of the test system defines the number of data channels the system can process simultaneously. For example, faster test systems can process more channels than slower test systems. Unfortunately, the prior art PESQ unit 106 is computationally slow, and as a result, prior art test systems are severely limited on the number of data channels that can be processed. Moreover, prior art PESQ units generally utilize floating point calculations, which can be exceedingly slow on PESQ DSPs that do not have co-processors to assist in floating point calculations.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for systems and methods for high density telecommunication testing. The systems and methods should be capable of performing quality of service (QoS) testing on the SUT, and further, should support an increased number of simultaneous data channels without distorting the performance of the SUT.

System and method for testing a quality of telecommunication data


Conventional mechanisms exist for denoting such a communications group (group) and for establishing point-to-point, or unicast, secure connections between members of the communications group. In a particular arrangement, group members employ a group key operable for multicast security for unicast communication, thus avoiding establishing additional unicast keys for each communication between group members. Since the recipient of such a unicast message may not know the source, however, the use of the group key assures the recipient that the sender is a member of the same group. Accordingly, a system which enumerates a set of subranges (subnets) included in a particular group, such as a VPN, and establishing a group key corresponding to the group applies the group key to communications from the group members in the subnet. The group key is associated with the group ID by enumerating the address prefixes corresponding to each of the subnets in the group, and examining outgoing transmissions for destination addresses matching one of the address prefixes corresponding to the group.

Virtual Private Networks (i.e., VPNs) provide a partitioning mechanism for isolating data transmitted and received between customer network nodes even though a corresponding physical network supporting propagation of the data is shared by many users. The data transmitted between such network nodes may be encrypted to protect against eavesdropping and tampering by unauthorized parties. Because the physical network is shared, costs of using resources are generally reduced for each of many users. A typical arrangement involves customer edge routers communicating via the Internet (or shared backbone) between local area networks (LANs), which the respective edge routers protect. The edge routers establish secure, encrypted links between each other to protect the trusted LANs in the VPN.
A physical network such as a service provider network topology, therefore, may include peripherally located provider edge routers, each of which couples to one or multiple customer edge routers. The customer edge routers, in turn, may couple to private local area networks associated with one or multiple customers. Typically, the service provider network selectively couples the local area networks to each other through links created between its provider edge routers.
According to one conventional technique, a service network may extend beyond provider edge nodes to customer edge nodes. For example, the connectivity model supported by RFC2547 (IETF Request For Comments 2547, as is known in the art) generally enables multiple CE (Customer Edge) nodes to establish a link between each other for transmission of data messages between corresponding interconnected networks. Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/649,755, filed Aug. 26, 2003, entitled "Method and Apparatus to Distribute Policy Information" attempts to provide the identity of peers used to establish a secure communication and provides a mechanism for distributing routing and community of interest information among such customer edge nodes, or routers.

System and method for dynamic secured group communication


A buck/boost converter is driven by a high frequency dc-to-dc flyback converter to provide substantially constant output power, independent of the output voltage, to an inductor to provide current to a load having a v-i characteristic that is suitable for use with a current power source, such as a plurality of parallely-connected LEDs. The flyback converter repetitively generates a battery-simulated output voltage that is current-limited and which may be used to charge a battery as well as to provide power to the buck/boost converter. The buck/boost converter includes a switching circuit for repetitively transferring current to the load and a current sensor circuit operating in conjunction with the switching circuit to change the state of the buck/boost converter to repetitively open the switching means and initiate release of the current to the load.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to emergency signal displays, and more particularly to circuitry for controlling such displays.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,639 discloses a control circuit for switching a gaseous lamp between dim and bright output in an emergency, such as line failure, using the increased impedance of a ballast capacitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,869 relates to an LED display using a combination of serially and parallely connected LEDs powered by a full-wave rectifying circuit and a smoothing circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,615 discloses stand-by battery equipment used when the mains supply fails and is tested at regular intervals by disconnecting the mains supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,910 relates to an emergency exit sign auxiliary lamp flashing system operated from self-contained rechargeable batteries upon failure of the AC power mains and using a solid state circuit which automatically self tests the proper functioning of the system to ensure that it is serviceable in case of an emergency.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,147 discloses an emergency sign with a control circuit supplying power to serially-connected LEDs which are illuminated continuously during normal operation and which alternately switches the LEDs on and off during a power failure.

Power source for emergency lighting systems


A method for touch detection that is performed by a touch processor in an optical touch detection system is provided. The method includes receiving an image of an illuminated surface in the optical touch detection system, wherein the image is captured by a camera in the optical touch detection system, identifying a set of candidate touch locations in the image, classifying the candidate touch locations in the set of candidate touch locations to generate a set of validated candidate touch locations, wherein classifying the candidate touch locations includes using a machine learning classifier to classify each candidate touch location as valid or invalid, wherein the machine learning classifier is trained to classify a candidate touch location based on a combination of features of the candidate touch location, and outputting a set of final touch locations.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to detecting and tracking touch on an illuminated surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Touch displays are used in many consumer applications (e.g., smart phones, computer displays, medical imaging devices, automotive control displays, etc.) to provide an intuitive user interface. The touch detection technology used in such displays includes electrical capacitance detection, electrical resistance detection, and optical detection. For optical touch detection, one or more imaging sensors and one or more light sources (e.g., one or more infrared cameras and infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs)) may be used to capture images of a touch surface. The captured images are processed to detect objects (e.g., a finger or a stylus) touching or near the surface.
Examples of such optical touch detection systems include an infrared (IR) rear-projection touch system, an IR curtain touch system, and a frustrated total internal reflection system. A typical IR rear-projection touch system includes a projector, a display screen (also referred to as a touch screen or touch surface), infra-red emitters (e.g., LEDs), one or more infra-red sensors (e.g., cameras), and a processing engine. The IR emitters flood the rear surface of the display screen with IR light. Some portion of the IR light rays passes through (refracts) the display screen while the remaining light bounces off (reflects) the screen. The IR camera or cameras create an image from the IR light that makes it back to the sensor. When an object touches the screen, it reflects some of the IR light rays emerging from the screen back through the screen surface toward the IR sensor. The images captured by the camera are analyzed to detect the presence and location (x, y coordinates) of the touch.
In an IR curtain touch system, a curtain of IR light is cast over the touch surface such that the plane of the IR curtain is close to and parallel to the surface while not actually touching the surface. When an object touches the surface, the object breaks the light curtain and IR light reflects off the object. Some of this reflected light is captured by one or more IR cameras located on the same side of the touch surface as the light curtain. The IR camera or cameras create an image from the IR light that makes it back to the sensor. The images captured by the camera are analyzed to detect the presence and location (x, y coordinates) of the touch.
In a frustrated total internal reflection system, one or more IR light sources flood the inside of the screen with infrared light based on the principle of total internal reflection. This light undergoes complete reflections off either surface of the screen and remains trapped inside the material of the screen (usually, acrylic). When a user touches the screen, some of the light rays at the point of contact, instead of being fully reflected, pass through the surface and reflect off the contact material (usually, the user's skin). This frustrated light is then scattered down, away from the contact point, through the screen, and toward an IR camera, which creates an image from the IR light impinging a sensor or sensors in the camera. These light rays create a bright spot on the otherwise dark image. The images thus captured by the camera are analyzed to detect the presence and location of the touch point. In a frustrated total internal reflection system, typically the projector and IR camera are placed behind the screen, opposite from the side from which the user interacts with the screen. However, it is also feasible to place the projector in the front of the screen, on the same side where the user interaction occurs.

Detecting and tracking touch on an illuminated surface using a machine learning classifier


Systems and methods facilitating a framework that provides a core trusted computing base (TCB) of an electronic device with various security capabilities. The framework can include a low-resource device and at least one distributed resource. The low-resource device can be configured to generate sealing keys, migration keys, and attestation keys that are based on a device secret associated with the low-resource device and one or more software modules. The low-resource device can further be configured to use the migration keys and the sealing keys to both verify a software update and migrate secrets from a previous version of the software to a newer version of the software. Additionally, the low-resource device can be configured to generate an attestation statement using the attestation keys and perform attestation using the attestation statement and the at least one distributed resource.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of low-resource electronic devices embedded with software and connectivity that enables IoT devices to communicate with other electronic devices (e.g., other IoT devices and more traditional computing devices) via one or more networks. Due to communicating with other electronic devices using networks, these IoT devices are vulnerable to attacks by malware, which may disrupt computing operations and gather sensitive information from the IoT devices. As such, stronger security capabilities are needed in order protect the IoT devices from attacks. Implementing strong security can be difficult on IoT devices because of the limited resources that many IoT devices include.

Migrating secrets using hardware roots of trust for devices


In a method for cooling a flow containing at least 35% carbon dioxide and at least 0.2 μg/Nm3 of mercury, the mercury being in liquid and/or gas form, the flow is cooled in a first brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchanger from a first temperature to a second temperature higher than −38.6° C. to form a cold flow at the second temperature, and the flow cooled to the second temperature is cooled in a second heat exchanger, which is a tube and shell heat exchanger, to a third temperature lower than −38.6° C.

The devices involving heat exchanges over gases and liquids at low temperatures (<0° C.) generally require brazed aluminum exchangers in order to benefit from their compactness, lightness and low cost with regard to other solutions that withstand low temperatures (stainless steel in particular).
FR-A-2947329 describes a process for cooling a flow containing at least 35% carbon dioxide and mercury in a first heat exchanger made of stainless steel to a temperature of −30° C. and from −30° C. in a second heat exchanger made of aluminum. The first exchanger is designed to allow the accumulation of mercury and after the first exchanger a purification step makes it possible to reduce or even eliminate the mercury upstream of the second exchanger.
The use of a brazed aluminum heat exchanger following a stainless steel exchanger may prove problematic due to the residual mercury that will solidify therein. The solidification in an aluminum heat exchanger may lead to plugging and ultimately to embrittlement of the aluminum during shutdown phases.
The presence of mercury poses a problem since in the dry phase the liquid mercury amalgamates with aluminum and pierces the exchangers (the well-documented phenomenon of liquid metal embrittlement or LME). This phenomenon is above all linked to the deposits of mercury as indicated in "Risk analysis for operation of aluminum heat exchangers contaminated by mercury" by Wilhelm, Process Safety Progress, vol. 28, no. 3, 2009. It is well known to stop the mercury with the aid of sulfur-doped activated carbon beds, especially in the natural gas liquefaction industry.
This solution is nevertheless expensive and requires frequently changing the adsorbent. The invention presented here aims, inter alia, to reduce the impact of the mercury on the cost of the apparatus.
Furthermore, it is known that certain impurities prohibit the use of such and such an adsorbent or greatly reduce the effectiveness thereof. Thus, the presence of NOx, even in small amounts (a few ppm), makes the use of activated carbon very tricky as NO2 can be absorbed thereon and, since it is a powerful oxidizing agent, can initiate the combustion of the activated carbon after accumulation, over time, of significant amounts of NO2. It should be noted that if the gas contains NO and oxygen, the oxidation reaction of NO may be catalyzed by the adsorbent itself.
It should be noted that other adsorbents that aim to stop the mercury have the property of being non-combustible (for example sulfur deposited on an alumina support), nevertheless they all have a reduced effectiveness for stopping the mercury due to the presence of NO2 which is co-adsorbed and blocks the active sites.

Method and apparatus for cooling a flow containing at least 35% carbon dioxide and mercury

L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE


Multi-channel magnetic head having a high channel density, provided with a head face (1) which extends in a first direction (I) in which a record carrier is relatively movable with respect to said magnetic head, and in a second direction (II) transverse to the first direction. The magnetic head has a structure of layers which, viewed in the first direction, are situated one on top of the other and extend substantially in the second direction and in a third direction (III) transverse to the first and the second direction. Viewed in the second direction, adjacent magnetoresistive sensors (S1, S2, S3) are distinguishable in the structure, each comprising a magnetoresistive measuring element (5), a first magnetic element (7) and a second magnetic element (9). The magnetic elements of adjacent sensors are electrically conducting and have electric connection faces (70a, 9a), while the measuring element in each sensor is electrically arranged in series between the first and the second magnetic element for passing a measuring current (i) through the measuring element substantially in the third direction.

The invention relates to a multi-channel magnetic head having a head face which extends in a first direction in which a record carrier is relatively movable with respect to said magnetic head, and in a second direction transverse to the first direction, said magnetic head having a structure of layers which, viewed in the first direction, are situated one on top of the other and extend substantially in the second direction and in a third direction transverse to the first and the second direction, in which structure, viewed in the second direction, adjacent magnetoresistive sensors are distinguishable, each comprising a magnetoresistive measuring element, a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element, and in which, viewed in the first direction, the magnetic elements are situated opposite each other, at least the first magnetic element of said elements extending as far as the head face.
A multi-channel magnetic head of this type is known from EP-A 0 422 916. The known magnetic head comprises several magnetoresistive elements each forming part of a magnetic yoke which also comprises a shared flux guide and a magnetic substrate. During use, a measuring current for measuring resistance variations is passed through the magnetoresistive elements. To this end, each magnetoresistive element is provided with a current supply and a current return conductor which extend along the magnetic yoke. As a result of these conductors, the magnetoresistive elements in the known multi-channel head are situated at relatively large mutual distances so that only relatively small channel densities can be realized.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-channel magnetic head in which the channel density is independent of the current supply and current return conductors of the magnetoresistive measuring elements which are present.
The magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that both magnetic elements of each of the at least two adjacent magnetoresistive sensors are electrically conducting, the measuring element being electrically arranged in series between the two magnetic elements for passing a measuring current through the measuring element substantially in the third direction, both magnetic elements having an electric connection face. By having the same elements perform both magnetical and electrical functions, the separate sensors may be given a compact shape. Particularly the width, viewed in the second direction, of the sensors can be completely determined by the desired channel width. Consequently, magnetoresistive measuring elements may be provided very close together, which results in large channel densities. An additional, but important advantage is that electrostatic discharge problems can be prevented because insulating oxide layers between the measuring elements and the magnetic elements and between the magnetic elements themselves are not necessary, across which layers electric charge might build up and discharge. The absence of insulating oxide layers between measuring elements and magnetic elements also ensures a favorable efficiency. A further advantage is that the measuring elements are electrically connected to the magnetic elements so that a possible flashover from a measuring element to a magnetic element is prevented.
An anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) element or a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) element may be used as a measuring element. An AMR element may be, for example a layer of an NiFe alloy with or without equipotential strips which are generally referred to as barberpole stripes. A favorable embodiment of the AMR element is a laminated magnetoresistive element of the type as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,472 (herein incorporated by reference). A favorable GMR element is described in, for example WO-A to which U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,297 corresponds, herein incorporated by reference).
An AMR element may be biased by using a DC current-conveying conductor preferably placed between the magnetic elements. A GMR element of, for example the spin valve type has the advantage that biasing is not absolutely required.
The multi-channel magnetic head according to the invention may be manufactured by means of a known thin-film technology, in which the magnetic elements are thin films formed from, for example, NiFe, CoNbZr or FeNbSixe2x80x94N. One of the magnetic elements may be alternatively constituted by an electrically conducting, magnetically permeable substrate.
In principle, the multi-channel magnetic head according to the invention is suitable for any application in which narrow, closely spaced tracks must be scanned. Examples are tape streamers, digital video recorders, hard disk drives and multimedia recorders for video/data storage. Particularly in linear recorders, a large number of tracks is desired so as to achieve a high data rate due to the relatively low speed of the information medium with respect to the head. This speed is considerably higher in helical-scan recorders.
An embodiment of the multi-channel magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that, of each of at least two adjacent sensors, an electrically conducting third magnetic element extending as far as the head face is present, which third element, together with the second magnetic element not extending as far as the head face, bounds a non-conducting space which is bridged by the magnetoresistive element which, beside said space, is in electric contact with the second and the third magnetic element, while an electrically conducting gap layer electrically interconnecting the first magnetic element and the third magnetic element extends proximate to the head face. In this embodiment, which is of the yoke type, the magnetic elements are used for electrically conducting measuring currents and for the supply and return of magnetic flux coming from the medium to be scanned. The magnetic elements are therefore current-conveying flux guides during operation. The gap layer is preferably a metal layer of, for example Ag or Cu.
It is to be noted that a single-channel magnetic head of the yoke type, in which electrically conducting yoke parts are used, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,467. The known magnetic head is provided with one spin-valve magnetoresistive element incorporated in a magnetic yoke. Two yoke parts of this yoke are electrically interconnected on a head face of the magnetic head by means of an electrically conducting gap layer. One of the yoke parts has an interruption which is electrically and magnetically bridged by the magnetoresistive element. In an area spaced apart from the head face, the yoke parts are provided with electrically conducting layers which are oriented transversely to the yoke parts and terminate in connection faces present beside the yoke parts.
An embodiment of the multi-channel magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that the magnetoresistive measuring element of each of at least two adjacent sensors adjoins the head face, while a part of the measuring element situated proximate to the head face is electrically connected to one of the two magnetic elements, being the first or the second magnetic element, and a part of the measuring element spaced apart from the head face is electrically connected to the other magnetic element of the two elements. In this embodiment, which is of the shielded type, the magnetic elements are used for electrically conducting measuring currents and for magnetically shielding the measuring elements. The magnetic elements are therefore current-conveying shields during operation. The electric connections between the measuring elements and the magnetic elements may be constituted by mutual contact faces or by electrically conducting intermediate layers which are present, such as metal layers of, for example gold or copper. When AMR elements are used, it may be favorable, in connection with biasing, to form the electrically conducting intermediate layers spaced apart from the head face from an electrically conducting anti-ferromagnetic material such as FeMn.
It is to be noted that a single-channel magnetic head having a shielded magnetoresistive element is known from EP-A 0 457 278. The magnetic head has a lower and an upper shielding magnetic layer, between which layers the magnetoresistive element extends. The magnetoresistive element is provided with electrodes at a head face of the magnetic head and at an edge spaced apart from the head face, while the electrode on the head face is electrically connected via a conducting layer to the upper shielding layer which is grounded via an electric wire, and the electrode spaced apart from the head face is electrically connected to the input of an amplifier unit via an electric wire.
An embodiment of the magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that the connection face of the first magnetic element and the connection face of the second magnetic element of each of at least two adjacent sensors are situated within a zone having an extensiveness in the second direction which is determined by the extensiveness in the second direction of the relevant magnetic element. Multi-channel heads having large channel densities can be technologically realized in a simple manner by this practical measure. A further measure, in which the connection face of the first magnetic element and the connection face of the second magnetic element of each of at least two adjacent sensors are situated on the relevant magnetic element, also leads to a reduction of the number of technology steps. For connecting the multi-channel head in a scanning device, it is favorable if, viewed in the third direction, the connection face of the first magnetic element of each of at least two adjacent sensors is offset with respect to the connection face of the second magnetic element.
An embodiment of the magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that at least two adjacent sensors have a common electrically conducting magnetic element constituting the first magnetic element in each sensor. The common magnetic element which is present renders a favorable shape-anisotropy possible, inhibiting the creation and possible displacement of domain walls in the first magnetic elements, which is favorable for the signal-to-noise ratio. If third magnetic elements are present, they may be formed as common elements, with or without the presence of the above-mentioned common magnetic element.
An embodiment of the magnetic head according to the invention is characterized in that at least the first magnetic element of each of at least two adjacent sensors has a relative magnetic permeability which is larger in the third direction than in the second direction. The magnetic anisotropy which is present ensures an accurately defined scanning width. The measure formulated here has a favorable effect on magnetic heads with sensors provided with individual magnetic elements which are spaced apart at some distance, and on magnetic heads in which a common magnetic element is used. In the latter case, the anisotropy ensures the desired channel separations. The manufacture of such magnetic heads has technological advantages, particularly in that fewer and less complicated manufacturing steps are required for which, in principle, the common magnetic element requires no structuring.
It has been found that as the permeability in the third direction is larger with respect to the permeability in the second direction, the sharpness of the channel separation increases so that larger channel densities are possible. A suitable value appears to be given if the relative magnetic permeability in the third direction is at least a factor of 25 larger than the relative magnetic permeability in the second direction.
The invention also relates to a device for scanning a record carrier such as a magnetic tape or disc, which device includes the multi-channel magnetic head according to the invention.
These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Multi-channel magnetic head with magnetoresistive elements