An interprocess communications platform enables individual processes to request and exchange data in a shared memory space, mediated by a communications engine. Processes, such as applications or other software running under an operating system or in a network, register to blocks of a shared memory space via an administrative memory space which tracks pointers, handles and other indicators of memory areas populated by individual processes. When one process requests access to a variable, pointer or other data generated by another process, the request is mediated by the communications engine. The communications engine may locate the target data belonging to the other process in the shared memory space, via a lookup of relative addressing in a separate administrative memory space. The communications engine, memory management objects and other resources may then lock the portion of the shared memory space allocated to the target process to permit the requesting process to access the data. Data may therefore be exchange between given processes while maintaining data integrity, and also may be cached in the shared memory space or elsewhere by the communications engine to further increase efficiency. Available memory in the shared memory space may be managed using the so-called buddy system or other heap or other management techniques. No named pipes or similar mechanisms under an operating system need be invoked.

The task of permitting applications or other software processes to exchange or share data on a live basis represents a long-standing challenge in the field of computing science. Word processing, networking, database or data mining and other applications or other processes may need to operate or most optimally operate on a common data set. For instance, customer resource management (CRM) platforms of a corporation, government or other organization may benefit from enabling transaction data to be updated and synchronized after a customer service representative has updated an account via a call center workstation. Data mining applications may benefit from dynamic linkage to sales data or supply chain packages. Other software systems may benefit from dynamic data linkage.
However, under most operating systems the memory space of various application processes may typically be isolated from, and not by themselves equipped to exchange data with, each other. Permitting individual processes to access, operate on and store common data while maintaining data coherency and avoiding memory contention and other problems may be a non-trivial task. A network or other facility deploying distributed or otherwise interacting software may nevertheless have to provide some mechanism to exchange data on a dynamic basis.
In certain known approaches, for instance the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, a fixed memory map may be configured to be shared by a set of processes, with variables from the various processes being mapped into that fixed space. Individual processes may then identify and operate on variables of interest. However, a static block approach may suffer from certain disadvantages. For one, the caching of any data or variable within a shared memory block can only be done by individual applications, increasing the coding complexity of those applications. Moreover, in network and other applications, the data being exchanged between various processes may differ widely in size, priority and other characteristics. For example, when a large number of processes attempt to access or manipulate another process, reliance upon a unified set of shared variables may prove inefficient or impossible. Timing, caching and other interactive complexities may degrade or overwhelm the system under such an approach as multiple processes contend for different variables or introduce dependencies or other problems.
Operating systems and other higher-level platforms have for their part afforded some solutions to the need for inter-process communication (IPC). For processes running under the Microsoft Windows™ NT, 2000 or related operating systems, for example, it is possible to open communication structures referred to as "pipes", which permit a public channel for communication between processes. However, difficulties or limitations may remain. For example, such pipes created at the operating system level may not persist after the participating processes terminate. Moreover while such pipes permit data to be communicated between processes, the data transmitted via the pipe does not persist after it is sent. Maintaining a cache or other structure may therefore be difficult or impossible. Moreover, when using named pipes the bandwidth required to transmit a given set of data may scale linearly with the size of the data, which may degrade the performance of video, database or other bandwidth-dependent processes. Other problems exist.

Message based inter-process for high volume data


A monolithic multi-wavelength laser device according to the present invention comprises a substrate, a first-wavelength lasing part having a ridge portion and a second-wavelength lasing part having a ridge portion, while each of the first-wavelength lasing part and the second-wavelength lasing part includes current blocking layers consisting of semiconductor thin films covering the side surfaces of the ridge portion and extending toward at least partial regions of a plane linked with the bottom surface of the ridge portion and an insulation layer, covering the current blocking layers, consisting of an insulating dielectric thin film made of a material having a lower refractive index than the current blocking layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a monolithic multi-wavelength laser device including a plurality of lasing parts formed on the same substrate.
The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating the aforementioned monolithic multi-wavelength laser device.
2. Description of the Background Art
An optical disk such as a CD (compact disk), a DVD (digital video disk) or an MD (Mini Disc) optically recording information is widely utilized as a large capacity recording medium at present.
The information is recorded in or reproduced from the optical disk through an optical pickup. A laser beam of the 780 nm waveband is employed for an optical pickup reproducing information from a CD while that of the 650 nm waveband is employed for an optical pickup reproducing information from a DVD, in response to the difference in recording density depending on the types of the optical disks.
In recent years, an optical disk capable of reproducing information from both of a CD and a DVD with an optical pickup having a multi-wavelength semiconductor laser device prepared by combining semiconductor laser devices having emission wavelengths of the 650 nm and 780 nm bands with each other has been developed in place of dedicated optical disks for individually reproducing information from the CD and the DVD respectively, as described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 01-204487 or 2000-091698, for example.
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an exemplary conventional monolithic multi-wavelength laser device. Throughout the accompanying drawings, identical reference numerals denote the same or corresponding portions. Throughout the accompanying drawings, further, dimensions such as lengths, thicknesses and widths are properly changed and not in actual dimensional relation, for the purpose of clarifying and simplifying the illustration.
In the monolithic multi-wavelength laser device shown in FIG. 6, a CD lasing part 602 and a DVD lasing part 603 are parallely formed on an inclined n-type GaAs substrate 601 having a main surface offset by 15° from the crystallographic (001) plane in the [110] orientation.
An n-type GaAs buffer layer 604, an n-type Al0.5Ga0.5 As cladding layer 605, an undoped Al0.3Ga0.7As guide layer 606, an active layer 607, another undoped Al0.3Ga0.7As guide layer 608, a p-type Al0.5Ga0.5As first cladding layer 609 and a p-type GaAs etching stopper layer 610 are successively formed on the CD lasing part 602. A ridge-shaped p-type Al0.5Ga0.5As second cladding layer 611 and a p-type GaAs cap layer 612 are successively formed on the p-type GaAs etching stopper layer 610, and both side surfaces of the ridge-shaped p-type Al0.5Ga0.5As second cladding layer 611 and a p-type GaAs cap layer 612 are filled up with n-type GaAs current blocking layers 613.
On the other hand, an n-type GaAs buffer layer 614, an n-type GaInP buffer layer 615, an n-type (Al0.7Ga0.3)0.5In0.5P cladding layer 616, an undoped (Al0.5Ga0.5)0.5In0.5P guide layer 617, an active layer 618, another undoped (Al0.5Ga0.5)0.5In0.5P guide layer 619, a p-type (Al0.7GaO.3)0.5In0.5 first cladding layer 620 and a p-type GaInP etching stopper layer 621 are successively formed on the DVD lasing part 603. A ridge-shaped p-type (Al0.7Ga0.3)0.5In0.5 second cladding layer 622, a p-type GaInP intermediate layer 623 and a p-type GaAs cap layer 624 are successively formed on the p-type GaInP etching stopper layer 621, and both side surfaces of the ridge-shaped p-type (Al0.7Ga0.3)0.5In0.5 second cladding layer 622, a p-type GaInP intermediate layer 623 and a p-type GaAs cap layer 624 are filled up with n-type GaAs current blocking layers 613.
P-side ohmic electrodes 625 and Mo/Au electrodes 626 are successively formed on the p-type GaAs cap layers 612 and 624 of the CD and DVD lasing parts 602 and 603 respectively. An n-side ohmic electrode 627 is formed on the back surface of the n-type GaAs substrate 601.
A lasing part isolation trench 628 reaching the substrate 601 is formed between the CD and DVD lasing parts 602 and 603, in order to electrically isolate these lasing parts 602 and 603 from each other. Each monolithic multi-wavelength laser device is divided from a wafer along chip dividing trenches 629.
The monolithic multi-wavelength laser device shown in FIG. 6 fabricated in the aforementioned manner is mounted on a submount. At this time, the side closer to the p-side ohmic electrodes 625 is mounted on the surface of the submount while directing that closer to the n-side ohmic electrode 627 upward, and the submount is attached onto a prescribed stem.
When sectionally observed, however, the aforementioned p-side ohmic electrodes 625 have large numbers of gaps around the heads of the ridge portions of the CD and DVD lasing parts 602 and 603, leading to inferior heat dissipativity. Further, the operating current of the monolithic multi-wavelength laser device including a loss guided structure utilizing the current blocking layers 613 of GaAs is increased due to large internal loss, to extremely narrow the tolerance for thermal design etc. in optical pickup design.
In recent years, a technique of growing an epitaxial layer having a lattice constant close to that of an upper cladding layer on the upper cladding layer for chemically stabilizing the upper cladding layer has been developed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-094181, for example. However, this optical confinement structure is still unsatisfactory in performance. Further, a large number of gaps are formed around the heads of ridge portions due to an air ridge structure, disadvantageously leading to inferior heat dissipativity.
While Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 05-136526 describes a buried (BH) laser prepared by filling up the side surfaces of a waveguide consisting of a double heterostructure with current blocking layers, this buried laser has problems similar to the above, and is not a multi-wavelength laser device.

Monolithic multi-wavelength laser device including a plurality of lasing parts and method of fabricating the same


A piston for an internal combustion engine may include a piston skirt extending in a piston longitudinal direction and defined in the piston longitudinal direction by a piston head. The piston skirt may include a boxed interior space defined by two box walls and two substantially opposing skirt walls. A boss having a through-opening may be arranged on each of the two box walls, the two through-openings being oriented so that they align with one another. The two box walls may each include a boss portion oriented perpendicularly to the boss, and at least one intermediate portion extending between the respective boss portion and one of the skirt walls. The intermediate portion may merge via a bend into the associated boss portion. A radial extent of the boss portion may be greater than a diameter of the through-opening and at least 50% of a diameter of the piston.

The term piston in the context of internal combustion engines denotes a moving component, which together with a fixed component, the so-called cylinder, forms a closed combustion chamber, the volume of which can be varied through movement of the piston in the cylinder. For driving a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, the crankshaft is connected to the piston by way of a connecting rod. Such a coupling of the connecting rod can be done by means of a piston pin, which is received by a piston-pin boss formed in the piston.
DE 34 25 965 A1 discloses a piston of the generic type for an internal combustion engine having a piston skirt which extends in a piston longitudinal direction and is defined in a piston longitudinal direction by a piston head. Here a boxed interior space, which is defined by two box walls and two substantially opposing skirt walls or skirt wall portions is arranged in the piston skirt. A boss having a through-opening for a piston pin is arranged on each of the two box walls, wherein the two through-openings are oriented so that they align with one another. Here, in the area of the boss, a piston skirt of the known piston, closed at the lower end, is set back from the outer body of the piston, forming a recess on either side of a horizontal piston pin plane, to an extent intended to prevent oil backing up in the recesses.
DE 10 2011 085 448 A1 discloses a further piston, which comprises a piston head having a ring belt and a skirt part, which is arranged on the piston head and comprises at least two load-bearing skirt-wall portions, and wherein the load-bearing skirt-wall portions are connected to one another by at least two obliquely inclined box walls set back in relation to the piston outside diameter. A piston-pin boss is arranged in each box wall to receive a piston pin. The inner face of the piston-pin boss, seen in relation to the piston center, here runs flush with the face of the associated box wall, wherein the box wall has a concave shape in its profile transversely to the direction of the piston-pin boss. This is intended to provide a piston that is lighter in weight but nevertheless inflexible.
One aspect that has proved disadvantageous with all pistons known from the prior art, however, is the noise generated in the operation of the internal combustion engine, caused in particular by the periodic variation in the attitude of the piston in the cylinder liner.

Piston for an internal combustion engine


Apparatus, and an associated method, that reduces the occurrence of generation of redundant requests for retransmission of packet-formatted data, formatted at a physical layer and at a higher-logical layer, such as at an RLP layer. An estimate of an appropriate delay period is formed. The estimate is responsive to communication conditions in the communication system. When a data packet appears to have been inadequately delivered to the RLP logical layer, a DELAY_DETECTION_WINDOW timer is caused to time out the delay period estimated by the estimator. The request for retransmission, generated at the RLP layer, is permitted, upon expiration of the timer if the data packet has not yet been successfully delivered to the RLP layer and the transmitter has not given up the data packet delivery.

A communication system is used to communicate data between two, or more, separate positions, or entities. In a minimal implementation, a communication system is formed of a first communication station forming a sending station and a second communication station, forming a receiving station. The communication stations are interconnected by way of a communication channel. Data to be communicated by the first communication station is converted, if necessary, into a form to permit its communication upon the communication channel to the second communication station. And, the second communication station operates to detect the data communicated thereto and to recover the informational content thereof.
A wide variety of different types of communication systems have been developed and are regularly utilized to effectuate communication of the data between the communication stations. And, new types of communication systems, as well as improvements to existing communication systems, have been made possible as a result of advancements in communication technologies.
A radio communication system is exemplary of a type of communication system that has benefited from advancements in communication technologies. In a radio communication system, the communication channel formed between the communication stations operable therein is defined upon a radio link. As a radio link is utilized upon which to define the communication channel, the need otherwise to utilize a wireline connection extending between the communication stations to define communication channels is obviated. Reduced infrastructure costs are therefore generally associated with radio communication systems. And, a radio communication system can be implemented to form a mobile communication system.
A cellular communication system is exemplary of a radio communication system that has been made possible due to advancements in communication technologies. A cellular communication system provides for radio communications with mobile stations to permit the telephonic communication to be effectuated therefrom. A cellular communication system is installed throughout a geographical area through the use of spaced-apart base transceiver stations, each of which define a portion of the geographical area, referred to as a cell. When a mobile station is within the cell defined by a base transceiver station, communications are generally effectuable with the base transceiver station that defines the cell.
Communications are handed-off between successive base transceiver stations when the mobile station travels out of one cell and into other cells, defined by others of the base transceiver stations. Through appropriate positioning of the base transceiver stations and permitting communication hand-offs to successive ones of the base transceiver stations, only relatively low-powered signals need to be generated during telephonic communications between the mobile station and the base transceiver station. As a result, the same channels can be used at different locations of the same cellular communication system. Relatively efficient usage of the frequency spectrum allocated to a cellular communication system is thereby possible.
Cellular communication systems are constructed, generally, to operate according to an operational specification set forth by a standard body, such as the EIA/TIA. Successive generations of cellular communication systems, incorporating technological advancements, as available, have been defined by operational specifications. First-generation and second-generation systems have achieved significant levels of usage, and installation of third-generation and successor-generation systems have been proposed.
Third-generation systems provide for multi-rate data communication services that utilize packet-formatted data. A so-called CDMA 2000 standard is an exemplary third-generation communication system, intended to provide such multi-data rate communication services utilizing communication of packet-formatted data.
Structure, and functionality, defined in the proposed CDMA 2000 system is defined in terms of logical layers. Other communication systems are analogously defined in such terms. In a CDMA 2000 system, multiple formatting layers are set forth. And, in particular, an RLP (radio link protocol) layer is positioned above a physical layer. The RLP layer utilizes an RLP retransmission scheme while the physical layer utilizes an HARQ (hybrid-automatic request) retransmission scheme. The retransmission schemes define retransmission protocols by which a receiving station selectively requests retransmission of a packet of data upon failure of successful delivery of the data packet to the receiving station. Because retransmission schemes are provided for separate layers, retransmission requests might be sent by both the RLP layer as well as at the physical layer. Such redundancy of retransmission requests are counterproductive to a goal of efficient radio spectrum usage.
A manner is needed by which to reduce the possibility that the multiple layers of a receiving station might redundantly request retransmission of a data packet.
It is in light of this background information related to communications in a packet radio communication system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Apparatus, and associated method, for requesting data retransmission in a packet radio communication system


Reader and writer XML processing APIs may process XML documents without blocking a thread by initiating any potential I/O necessary prior to reading from or writing to the XML processing API and by providing a callback which may be notified when the I/O, if any, is complete. The XML processing API may be able to simultaneously process multiple XML documents in various formats and sizes.

This Background is intended to provide the basic context of this patent application and is not intended to describe a specific problem to be solved.
In the network environment of modern computing, portable data, documents, and applications are ubiquitous. One component of creating truly portable data and documents for portable applications is that they are extensible. For example, the data and documents for portable applications should be easily customizable to add new functions and modify the behavior of existing functions for a wide variety of applications. Extensible Markup Language (XML) is an adaptable way to create common information formats and share both the format and the data across networks such as the World Wide Web and intranets. In a common scenario, developers may agree on a standard method to describe the information about a computer hardware component (e.g., processor performance, memory, etc.). The developers may then describe the component information format with XML. Standardizing the information description enables all users to send and retrieve data about the component or incorporate the component into various applications without specific knowledge of the component's description. Thus, XML can be employed to consistently and reliably share information.
XML is similar to Hypertext Markup Language, HTML, as both XML and HTML contain markup symbols to describe the contents of a page or file. XML, however, is not a markup language, but rather, a "metalanguage" used to create other specialized languages. XML provides an approach to define complex documents and data structures (e.g., invoices, molecular data, news feeds, glossaries, inventory descriptions, real estate properties, etc.). As long as the XML definition (i.e., the "schema") for a collection of data is available, developers are able to create applications to reliably process any data formatted according to those rules.
I/O operations, such as reading from or writing to a disk, or other system calls, are typically employed to process digital documents, including XML documents. To process an XML document or other digital document, the execution threads that perform the processing operations of a computer are usually unable to complete any other document processing until an I/O operation completes. In other words, the threads required to process the XML document (e.g., XML process-specific threads, etc.) are blocked once I/O begins, and cannot continue processing until the I/O system thread returns. In the intervening period, the entire document processing operation is blocked by the kernel and cannot run, which may significantly delay execution or starve other XML processing threads.
Therefore, past methods for XML document processing that include I/O have had the unwanted effect of significantly limiting the scalability of XML document processing.

Efficient, non-blocking mechanism for incrementally processing arbitrary sized XML documents


A multi-tiered litter rack system is described generally comprising a plurality of support masts arranged on one wall of an emergency vehicle. The masts support a plurality of vertically spaced litters in at least two horizontally spaced positions. The masts enclose vertical adjustment screws which are adapted to independently adjust the vertical position of each end of the litters for controlling the tilt of and vertical spacing between the litters. The multi-tiered liter rack system further includes individual motors associated with each of the respective masts which are operatively connected to the vertical adjustment screws for controlling the vertical position and tilt of each of the litters.

In emergency medical service applications, air-ambulances, such as helicopters, have been used for emergency transfer and treatment of patients. Often such service involves transporting multiple patients and patients requiring immediate attention and treatment.
Various methods have been employed to transport patients in a helicopter. For example, in various medical systems, the patient is placed on a stretcher or litter which is attached to the floor or a fixed bench within the helicopter. These systems have proved unsatisfactory in several respects. First, in order for the EMS attendants or paramedics to work on the patient, they must get down on the floor, creating an awkward working posture. Second, the interior space is generally cramped and the attendants or paramedics in their crouched position generally take up more space than they would while sitting upright.
In order to alleviate the problems associated with the above referenced systems, several medical systems have been employed in helicopter interiors which place the patient(s) at a more comfortable level for the attendants or paramedics to work, as well as freeing up floor space within the emergency vehicle interior. These systems are, however, quite limited in usefulness and suffer from other considerable drawbacks. For example, numerous helicopters and/or fixed wing aircraft merely employ tiers of stationery litter racks. There is generally no mechanism to assist in the loading of the upper racks, nor any means for tilting the rack or racks in various orientations. Many of these systems also require an unacceptable level of manpower, physical effort and loading time which may be crucial. Illustrative are the litter rack systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,370,402, 2,473,364, 2,480,322 and 3,358,300.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,136, a powered litter rack is disclosed which could also be mounted in an air-ambulance. In the noted system, a pair of vertical frames are mounted within the vehicle, with endless chains provided along each side of the frames. The frames are provided with space brackets for supporting the handles of emergency litters. One or more litters can be positioned within the frames, and the endless chains are used to elevate the litter(s) in a vertical direction. The frames can also be operated independently to raise or lower either end of the litter(s) for medical treatment. A major drawback of the noted system is the use of a complex system of chains, gears and worms. This system also requires considerable space for operation and is, in general, unacceptably heavy for aircraft use.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,128, another litter rack system is disclosed for elevating and supporting a pair of litters. In the noted system, a pair of actuators are provided on each end of the mechanism for raising and positioning the litter. The system is, however, manually operated, limited to two litters and also requires considerable space in the aircraft interior.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,025, a powered litter rack system is disclosed for elevating and supporting a single litter. In general, the system employs a pair of vertical mounts positioned along one side of a litter pallet or platform. The mounts include a linear actuator and bearing blocks. Each bearing block has an outwardly extending arm, which is attached to the underside of the platform. The linear actuators are arranged to raise or lower the bearing blocks so as to vertically move the platform. Individual controls are also provided for independently operating each of the mounts, so that the platform can be raised horizontally with the head or foot section lowered or raised as desired. This system also suffers from various drawbacks.
First, the system is not multi-tiered and, hence, can only support one patient. Second, the linear actuator and all pertinent related components are designed external, with beating rings sliding on vertical rods which provide vertical movement. The bearing ring/rod combination could therefore be subjected to sudden stoppage by foreign objects. Third, the bearing ring and rod assembly could also produce contamination and result in a less sterile environment due to lubrication requirements.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powered multi-tiered litter rack system for use in an emergency medical vehicle, such as a helicopter, which is self-contained, space efficient, requires less moving parts, is more resilient during operation and emergency load conditions, and permits free movement without fear of loose clothing or foreign objects binding or stopping the lift motion.


An edge-smoothing process identifies a target edge fragment among a number of edge fragments that form a feature in a photolithographic design. Each of the edge fragments has a length and a classification. The length of the target edge fragment is less than a minimum scatter bar length. The target edge fragment is also classified so that it will receive a scatter bar, and the target edge fragment has a collinear edge fragment. The target edge fragment is smoothed in conjunction with the collinear edge fragment to increase the length of the target edge fragment.

Photolithography is used to transfer a design onto a surface. A light shines through a mask to project the design from the mask onto the surface. Then, various forms of chemical processing can be used to fix the projected design onto the surface, rather like developing film.
Photolithography is used for many different purposes. Most notably, however, photolithography is used for fabricating integrated circuits (ICs). In IC fabrication, a design usually includes a large number of geometric features, or shapes. An IC may include many layers of photolithographic designs built one on top of another. The geometric features of the various design layers are carefully arranged to form circuit elements, such as transistors, transmission paths, diodes, resistors, and the like.
Advances in photolithography continually provide smaller feature sizes, leading to increasingly more densely packed and more powerful ICs. The minimum feature size in masks has dropped below the wavelength of the light sources used to illuminate the masks. At these very small feature sizes, the behavior of the projected light becomes more complicated than at larger feature sizes. For instance, the edges of projected features may be obscured, corners may be rounded, line ends may be cut off, closely spaced features may bleed together, and small features may not appear at all.
Retical enhancing technologies (RETs) have been developed to compensate for the behavior of light at small feature sizes. "Retical" is another word for mask. RETs involve predicting or determining how light is likely to behave when used to project very small features from a mask, and enhancing the mask in some way to "pre-compensate" for the light's behavior.
One form of RET involves scatter bars, also referred to as assist bars, leveling bars, and sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs). Scatter bars are useful because photolithography is often optimized to provide the best resolution for closely spaced features. Put another way, features that are close together will often project more clearly than features that are farther apart in many photolithographic systems. In which case, scatter bars are added in masks along edges of more isolated features so that the edges project as if they were closely spaced. The scatter bars themselves are comparatively narrow so that they are too small to resolve. In other words, scatter bars do not appear in the projected image of a design, but the scatter bars improve the projection of other design features, as if the other features were closely spaced.
A number of different approaches can be used to assign scatter bars to particular edges. One approach that is often used is a rule-based approach that assigns scatter bars based on spacing classification. That is, all edges having a certain spacing classification in a design are assigned the same type of scatter bar enhancement. Spacing classification can be used to define whether or not an edge receives scatter bar enhancement at all, as well as the number of scatter bars, the spacing of scatter bars, and the width of scatter bars. The length of scatter bars is usually simply the same length as the edges to which the bars are assigned. Spacing classification and scatter bar enhancement parameters can all change depending on the photolithographic process being used, design constraints, designer preference, and the like.
To determine spacing classifications for edges of features, one approach is to travel along the edges of features in a design in small increments and project perpendicularly out from the feature at each increment until another edge is encountered or a maximum distance is reached. Then, depending on the length of the perpendicular projection, a classification is assigned to the incremental section of the edge.
For instance, FIG. 1 illustrates a simple photolithographic design 100 including three features, 110, 120, and 130. Design 100 can be represented using many different forms of design data. One common form of design data is GDSII, in which each feature in a design is defined by a set of points in a two dimensional space. For instance, feature 110 could be defined in GDSII by four points 111, 112, 113, and 114, one point at each corner. In which case, pairs of points define the edges of feature 110, such as edge 115 between points 111 and 112.
Projecting perpendicularly out from any point along edge 115, no edge is encountered, so edge 115 is classified as an isolated edge. Similarly, the spacing classification for edges 116 and 117 is isolated. The edge between points 112 and 113, however, has different spacing at different points along the edge. In which case, one approach is to fragment the edge based on spacing and assign different spacing classifications to different edge fragments. In the illustrated embodiment, the edge between points 112 and 113 is fragmented into five sections, 118A, 118B, 118C, 118D, and 118E. Each pair of neighboring, collinear edge fragments along edge 118 has a different spacing classification. Edges 118A, 118C, and 118E are classified as isolated because no edges are encountered within the maximum projection distance, and edges 118B and 118D are classified as something closer than isolated because edges are encountered within the maximum projection distance.
For features 120 and 130, edges 125 and 134 will receive the same spacing classifications as edges 118B and 118D, respectively. Edges 121, 122, 126, 131, and 132 will each receive isolated spacing classifications. Edges between features 120 and 130 are consistently spaced over part of their lengths and diverge over the remainder. In which case, the edges will be fragmented as the spacings transition from one edge classification to the next. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, edge 133 is fragmented into eight fragments, 133A to 133H. Edge 123 is fragmented into five fragments, 123A to 123E. Edges 124 and 133A will receive the same classifications. Edges 133B to 133H will receive incrementally more distant spacing classifications, as will edges 123A to 123E.
As used herein, the terms edge and edge fragment will be used interchangeable. Both edge and edge fragment refer in general to any part of a feature defined by two points, whether created by fragmentation from a longer edge or not. In other words, lines 115, 116, 117, and all five lines of 118 may each be interchangeably referred to herein as an edge or an edge fragment, even though edges 115, 116, and 117 where not fragmented.
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the design from FIG. 1 with scatter bars added. All of the isolated edge fragments in the illustrated design receive two scatter bars. The edge fragments having closer spacing classifications each receive one or two scatter bars, with each scatter bar placed at various distances from the respective edges depending on classification.
This type of rule-based application of scatter bars can lead to violations of design constraints. Design constraints include a minimum spacing between features and a minimum scatter bar length. If a scatter bar is too small, it may not be possible to create the physical scatter bar feature in the mask. If features are too close, they may bleed together in the projected image, possibly causing problems such as short circuits. In the particular case of scatter bars, scatter bars are not supposed to resolve in the projected image. But, if scatter bars merge together, or merge into other features, the combined features may be large enough to be visible, or resolve, in the projected image, possibly causing any number problems.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, many scatter bars overlap, are very close to one another, and are shorter than the minimum scatter bar length 140. The problem areas tend to be concentrated in areas where fragmentation based on spacing created many small edge fragments, such as the at the bottoms of features 120 and 130, and the areas between features 120 and 130 where the features diverge from one another.
Therefore, after assigning scatter bars, a clean-up process is usually necessary to identify features having design constraint violations, sometimes referred to as "illegal" features, and to modify the features to meet the constraints. For instance, scatters bars that are too close to other features or overlap other features may be shortened, deleted, or merged. Clean-up tends to be complex and time consuming because spacing needs to be determined not just in a perpendicular projection from incremental points along edge fragments, but in multiple directions in a two dimensional plane from each incremental point along edge fragments. Then, when an illegal feature is found, the clean-up process needs to determine if the feature can be brought into compliance with design constraints, and, if so, how best to do so in a given situation.

Short edge smoothing for enhanced scatter bar placement


An assembly includes a seatbelt guide. The seatbelt guide includes a slot. A webbing extends through the slot. A releasable post is supported by the seatbelt guide and extends across the slot. The releasable post releases during a vehicle impact to allow the webbing to move along the slot to reduce chest deflection of an occupant during the vehicle impact.

The seatbelt portion of a vehicle restraint system secures the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a vehicle collision. The seatbelt functions to reduce the likelihood of injury by reducing the force of occupant impacts with vehicle interior structures. In this role, the seatbelt applies loads across the chest or lap of the occupant. Chest deflection resulting from these loads may be measured by a test device for human occupant restraint (THOR) in tests for the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (USNCAP). The THOR includes sensors that chest deflection. Controlling or reducing these loads may reduce the risk of occupant injury during a collision.


An aqueous coating composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of an acrylic resin powder having an acid value of 15 to 200, (B) 25 to 900 parts by weight of an acrylic graft polymer having an acid value of 20 to 100, which is composed of a polymer portion (1) having an acid value of not more than 15 and an acrylic polymer portion (2) having an acid value of 40 to 200, and (C) 3 to 900 parts by weight of a curing agent for curing the component (A) and/or (B).

An organic solvent based paint has generally been approved, but attempts have now been made to change to an aqueous solvent based paint from the viewpoint of saving energy source and environmental pollution. Such an aqueous solvent based paint employs a resin which is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous medium. In order to enhance coating workability of the aqueous solvent based paint, it has been proposed that resin powder is formulated into it. However, the aqueous paint is not sufficient in dispersion stability and water resistance. The above defects have been recently improved by many efforts to provide an aqueous paint having good characteristics (for example, Japanese Patent Publication (examined) 13508/1986).
In order to obtain high gloss, it is required that the resin powder is finely dispersed in an aqueous paint containing a resin powder. The obtained aqueous paint is insufficent in sag resistance, especially at a high humidity. If a concentration of the resin powder is increased in such a finely dispersed paint to enhance sag resistance, then gloss is deteriorated. It therefore is difficult to reconcile sag resistance and appearance.


A system and method of providing universal digital rights management system protection is described. One feature of the invention concerns systems and methods for repackaging and securing data packaged under any file format type, compression technique, or digital rights management system. Another feature of the invention is directed to systems and methods for securing data by providing scalability through the use of modular data manipulation software objects.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates systems and methods for controlling the access to and the distribution of digital data. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods that provide interoperability across multiple devices and techniques that manage authorization for accessing or distributing digital content.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The distribution of digital content ("content") continues to expand as digital content providers ("providers") utilize the Internet as a vehicle for distributing content. Content may be in the form of, for example, video, audio, text, or any combination thereof, which may be accessed or distributed as a single file or as a data stream. As used here, the term "presentation" refers to digital content packaged as audio, video, text, or any combination thereof, for consumption by digital content consumers ("consumers"). For example, a presentation can be digital content in the form of a musical piece, a picture or image, a movie, a magazine article, an excerpt from a text, etc. As used here, the terms "digital content," "content," "data," "presentation," and "multi-media presentation" are synonymous unless the use of any one of these terms is otherwise explicitly qualified.
To facilitate the distribution of content, providers often rely on a digital content distributor ("distributor") to host and distribute the content. Typically, the distributor advertises the content and provides access to it over the Internet. Distributors allow providers to focus on producing content, rather than spend their resources handling the technical issues of distributing the content online. Distributors increase consumers' access to content because consumers can obtain varied content from multiple providers merely by accessing a single node on a network, e.g., a Web site.
Additionally, distributors can improve content security for providers that desire to control the access or distribution of their content. Content security refers to techniques for ensuring that electronic data stored in computing devices or transmitted between or among nodes of a network cannot be read, copied, displayed, altered, etc., without proper authorization. Most security measures involve data encryption and passwords. A password is a secret word, key, or phrase that must be used to access content or a system that handles content.
Typically providers desire to control consumer access to presentations. The term "access" refers to a privilege to use presentations in some manner. The term "access control" refers to mechanisms and policies that restrict access to computing resources such as computing devices, digital content, etc. For example, the provider might grant to a consumer read-only access to presentations, meaning that the consumer can view or read the presentation but cannot modify, copy, or delete it.
It is common for providers to control access to presentations by using, for example, digital rights management ("DRM") systems. As used here a DRM system refers to devices or techniques for controlling the access and/or the distribution of data, e.g., data circulated via the Internet. Typically, a DRM system protects presentations by either encrypting the data so that only authorized consumers can access it or by marking the presentation with a digital watermark or similar method to prevent free distribution of the presentation. Additionally, usually DRM technologies impose constraints on the use of presentations that correspond to the terms of the agreement between provider, distributor, and consumer.
Because a distributor can centralize the purchasing and/or licensing of content, the distributor simplifies and makes more convenient the use of DRM systems. However, different providers may package their content using different file format types, compression techniques, or DRM systems, and consequently, the differently packaged content may require separate and distinct software or hardware platforms for use. When the distributor provides content as-is directly to a consumer, the consumer may have to install and use different platforms, thereby creating inconvenience for the consumer. Moreover, the use of different DRM systems can prevent consumers from easily purchasing access to content, and can thwart the distributor's effort to offer a consistent consumer interface for content delivery.
What is needed in the industry is a flexible digital rights management handler that allows the distributor to accept content packaged in a variety of file format types, compression techniques, and DRM systems. The handler can be configured to allow the distributor to provide a consistent consumer interface to consumers regardless of the original packaging of the content.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Digital rights management handler and related methods


A Universal Serial Bus transmitter comprising a USBTXP input and a USBTXM input for receiving respective data signals, and a USBP driver and a USBM driver for applying the respective data signals to USBP and USBM wires respectively. The transmitter comprises a transmit signal generator responsive to an asserting edge of a signal at one of the USBP and USBM inputs to define a leading edge of a transmit signal (USBTXIP) and to a corresponding de-asserting edge of a signal at the other of the USBP and USBM inputs to define the subsequent trailing edge of said transmit signal (USBTXIP). Even if the duty cycles of the input signals USBTXP and USBTXM are substantially different from 50%, this does not cause unacceptable jitter of successive crossover points nor cause the crossover point voltage level to be outside the USB tolerance, centred on 50% of the voltage swings of the USBP and USBM signals.

The Universal Serial Bus ('USB') system is a fast, bi-directional, isochronous, low cost, dynamically attachable serial interface. The expression 'Universal Serial Bus transmitter' is used herein to mean a transmitter that fulfils the general functional requirements of the Universal Serial Bus standard, whether or not it meets the detailed manufacturing and operational tolerances of the USB standard.
The USB standard was developed to define an external expansion bus which makes adding peripherals to a personal computer ('PC') or similar data processing device as easy as hooking up a telephone to a wall-jack. The standard is published on the Internet at the site http://www.usb.org/developers/docs. The standard's driving goals were ease-of-use and low cost. These were enabled with an external expansion architecture, which highlights:                PC host controller hardware and software,        robust connectors and cable assemblies,        peripheral friendly master-slave protocols,        expandable through multi-port hubs.
The USB is a cable bus that supports data exchange between a host computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible peripherals. The attached peripherals share USB bandwidth through a host scheduled token based protocol. The bus allows peripherals to be attached, configured, used, and detached while the host and other peripherals are in operation. This is referred to as dynamic (or hot) attachment and removal.
The Universal Serial Bus connects USB devices with the USB host. The USB physical interconnect is a tiered star topology. A hub is at the centre of each star Each wire segment is a point-to-point connection between the host and a hub or function, or a hub connected to another hub or function. There is only one host in any USB system. The USB interface to the host computer system is referred to as the host controller. The host controller may be implemented in a combination of hardware, firmware, or software.
The USB supports transfer rates up to 12 Mbs for the real-time data of voice, audio, and compressed video, with extension planned to higher speeds. Signal integrity is enhanced by using differential drivers, receivers and shielding. Features provided include: cyclic redundancy check ('CRC') protection over control and data fields, error handling/fault recovery mechanisms built into the protocol, self-recovery in protocol, using time-outs for lost or broken packets, and support for identification of faulty devices. Two modes of operation are provided by the standard: low speed, for Interactive Devices at 10-100 Kb/s, and medium speed at 500 Kb/s to 12 Mb/s, for Phone, Audio, Compressed Video.
A root hub is integrated within the host system to provide one or more attachment points. USB transfers signal and power over a four wire cable shown schematically in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The signaling occurs over two wires D+ and D− and point-to-point segments. The signals on each segment are differentially driven into a cable of 90Ω intrinsic impedance. The differential receiver features input sensitivity of at least 200 mV and sufficient common mode rejection. A clock is transmitted encoded along with the differential data. The clock encoding scheme is NRZI with bit stuffing to ensure adequate transitions. A SYNC field precedes each packet to allow the receiver(s) to synchronize their bit recovery clocks. The cable also carries VBus and GND wires on each segment to deliver power to devices.
The USB uses a differential output driver to drive the USB data signal onto the USB cable. The static output swing of the driver in its low state must be below the VOL of 0.3 V with a 1.5 kΩ load to 3.6 V and in its high state must be above the VOH of 2.8 V with a 15 kΩ load to ground. The output swings between the differential high and low state must be well balanced to minimize signal skew. Slew rate control on the driver is required to minimize the radiated noise and cross talk. The driver's outputs must support three-state operation to achieve bi-directional half duplex operation. High impedance is also required to isolate the port from downstream devices that are being hot inserted or which are connected but powered down.
The signals transmitted on the two signal wires, referred to as 'USBP' and 'USBM' need to be synchronized and it is important that the falling edge of one signal coincide with the rising edge of the other and, in particular, it is important to control the cross-over level, that is to say the voltage at which the signals on the two wires have the same value, and the jitter, that is to say the variations for successive signals in the time at which the cross-over point occurs.
Patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,569 discloses a transmitter in which one of the output signals is delayed relative to the other in order to correct the crossover level.


A blow molded container comprises a base; a first cover in communication with the base, when the first cover is in a closed position, to form a first compartment; and a second cover, in communication with the base, when the second cover is in a closed position, to form a second compartment.

Portable containers are currently utilized to store and transport electrically sensitive devices such as computer panels to on-site field locations. One such example is the container described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,651 issued to Malcolm.
These containers are particularly useful in protecting the electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive devices from electrostatic charge build up which can adversely affect or destroy the utility of the ESD sensitive device.
Along with the development of such containers, telecommunications and data transmission technology has advanced to the point where a computer panel can be designed to facilitate the flow of data derived from metering instruments, across telephone lines to a central receiving station. For example, a panel can be designed which will allow the input of data from a water meter, as well as a link up to a telephone line, so that metering devices such as water meters can be read remotely by this dual hookup system.
A computer panel and system designed for this purpose would be installed for example on a floor joist or other relatively inaccessible part of a residence, commercial building, etc. One portion of the panel would be connected to the metering device such as a water meter, and another portion of the panel would be connected to a telephone line for remote communication with a central receiving area.
This system is clearly advantageous in eliminating the expensive and time consuming task of manual or other means of on-site meter reading.
However, a significant problem is the protection of the computer hardware during normal operation and periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. Since ESD sensitive devices are so susceptible to damage from the environment, it is important that such materials be adequately protected. However, at the same time it is required that the computer panel for example be physically connected to the metering device and telephone lines at the sight of installation.
The present invention solves this problem by providing a conductive container which beneficially provides adequate physical and electrostatic protection for the computer panel, while permitting access to a portion of the overall container in order to permit appropriate installation and connection of the device to metering equipment, telephone lines and the like.


A cleaning apparatus for a power driven buffing pad includes a wash plate mounted in a cleaning solution reservoir that provides agitating and cleaning contact with the pad mounted on an operating driver. The wash plate can be reciprocated vertically by the operator against a biasing arrangement to operate a pump to deliver cleaning solution from the reservoir to the face of the pad in contact with the wash plate.

The present application relates to an apparatus for cleaning power driven buffing pads. In particular, the application pertains to an apparatus that utilizes a positive displacement pump that is manually driven by the operator to supply cleaning solutions to a wash plate contacted by the operating pad, and a multi-function catch basin for cleaning solution that can be used to clean pads that are mounted on rotary, dual action or random orbital buffing machines.
The prior art teaches a number of buffing pad cleaning devices in which the buffing pad may be washed or cleaned while mounted on a powered drive machine by enclosing the pad in the upper portion of a cylindrical reservoir in contact with agitating wheels or protuberances while a liquid cleaning solution is delivered from the bottom of the reservoir upwardly to the face of the rotating buffing pad. Such prior art apparatus has included electrically driven systems and systems driven by rotation of the pad itself.
In all of the prior art pad cleaning devices, cleaning solution is recirculated and reused until the reservoir is emptied and fresh cleaning solution is supplied to the reservoir. As a result, the cleaning solution continuously becomes dirtier and degrades. As a result, pad cleaning performance also degrades.

Buffing pad washer for use with multiple types of power drivers


Crustacean meat is extracted from crustacean body using centrifugal force. Cooked crustaceans, such as crabs, have their top shells and claws removed, while retaining the legs and the abdomen shells with the meat inside the shells. The crab portions are placed in a rotating cage and spun to cause separation of the meat from the shell.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the extraction of crustacean meat from the shell structure of the crustacean by centrifugal force. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method of extracting crabmeat from the shell.
Centrifugal machines for extracting crabmeat are known in the industry. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,533,018 issued on Apr. 7, 1925 teaches a centrifugal type crabmeat separator. The machine uses a rotatable container with a rack. The rack has a plurality of radially arranged open-ended compartments separated by rods into inner and outer chambers. A wall with small openings is mounted midway between the inner and outer compartments to hold the shells of the crustaceans, while allowing the meet to pass therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,565,341 issued on Dec. 15, 1925 discloses a rotatable pan with perforated circumferential partition or grating dividing the pan into inner and outer compartments. The grating retains the shells, while the meat is separated by centrifugal force and is moved into the outer compartment.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,027 issued on Jan. 4, 1938 teaches the use of a cylindrical bowl mounted for rotation at a speed of about 1800 rpm. A series of meat-receiving drawers are removably mounted in the bowl around the sidewall. On the wall is fitted an open top provided with inwardly projecting ribs dividing the outer part into channels. The channels are configured to retain a body holder and meat drawer. Each holder has a pair of vertical sidewalls connected at their upper and lower ends by arcuate members, which in turn are connected by spaced bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,325 issued on Jan. 18, 1966 discloses a centrifugal-type machine for extracting crabmeat. The machine has a spinning basket, a plurality of vertical pins secured to the base of the basket in two sets—the inner set and the outer set. A perforated annular plate retains the crabs in the basket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,792 issued on Aug. 10, 1971 teaches a machine with carrier trays, which are mounted for rotation by a variable speed electric motor having controls selectively enabling rotation of the carriers at different speeds for predetermined time intervals such as to cause expulsion from the crab body compartments first of the lump meat sections in unbroken form, followed by expulsion of the smaller flake meat sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,988 issued on Jun. 28, 1988 discloses a method, according to which the crabs are cooked and then have their claws trimmed, brushed, cut in half longitudinally and placed on a spinning disc for centrifugally removing the crabmeat. The sliced surfaces of the body sections face radially outward. The separated meat then passes through the openwork barrier and is collected by a plurality of cup-like receptacles located radially outward from the open work barrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,294 issued on Sep. 22, 1992 discloses the use of shell crushing device and a subsequent separation means in which the meat is separated from the shell fragments, at least partially, through a centrifugal force effect. The meat separation assembly comprises a rotary tray adapted to be supplied with a mixture of meat and shells and wherein a number of upright (vertical or steeply inclined) separation-wall-defining adjacent members are arranged along the path of a closed ring. The separated meat is collected within an annular space externally of the adjacent members.
While these machines may work satisfactory under certain circumstances, there is a need for a meat extraction machine and method that would allow processing of large quantities of crustaceans during one rotating cycle.

Apparatus and method for extracting crustacean meat


The invention provides a method and apparatus for debagging a stack of articles such as can ends and the like which are arranged in a facewise stacked condition in an elongate tubular bag. The method comprises the steps of engaging one end of the bag and then pulling the bag in an axial direction for removing it from the stack of articles while simultaneously retaining the articles in such a manner as to prevent axial movement thereof to a degree sufficient to disengage any of the articles from their facewise stacked condition in response to the axial movement of the bag. The invention also provides novel apparatus for carrying out this method.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automated article handling, and particularly concerns a method and apparatus for debagging articles such as can ends and the like.
Two-piece and three-piece can-type containers are widely used for packaging beverages, food products, petroleum products and a great number of other products. In the packaging of these products, it is common to provide the packaging machinery with a supply of can bodies and with a separate supply of pre-formed can ends. In many applications, and particularly in beverage packaging, it is common to provide a can end with a pull tab closure for ease of opening by the consumer.
The can ends are usually provided to the packaging machinery stacked in facewise relation in elongated stacks or groups, each of a predetermined and controlled number. These stacks are usually delivered to the packaging plant in elongated kraft paper bags which protect the can ends against dirt and contamination during handling and transport.
The packaging and closure activity occurs at a relatively high rate of speed, as high as perhaps hundreds of containers being filled and having their closures or ends applied per minute. As such, it is necessary to provide a large number of can ends at a relatively high speed. Advantageously, an effectively endless supply of can ends can be provided by a rotary or carousel type infeed or feeder unit or device of the type generally shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,741 which is commonly owned herewith. The carousel type infeed unit shown in this U.S. patent employs a plurality of individual pockets for receiving and storing individual stacks of ends preparatory to delivery of the ends to the filling and closure machinery.
Before the stacks of can ends can be supplied to the filling and closure machinery, the kraft paper bags must be removed. The removal of these bags has heretofore been accomplished by hand, in that a bag of ends is placed in a pocket of the rotary infeed unit and the bag is then manually stripped from the stack of can ends. One previous mechanical device for automatically debagging stacks of can ends is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,946. Another device for automatically debagging can ends is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,580,938 and 4,681,507 which are commonly owned herewith. However, there remains room for yet further improvement.
In particular, it is desirable to provide a debagging method and apparatus can readily be employed with, and preferably retrofitted to, existing carousel or rotary-type infeed units of the type mentioned above, and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,741, without requiring modification to the carousel or rotary-type infeed unit.
One particular problem which arises when removing the elongated kraft paper bags from stacks of can ends is that of movement of one or more of the can ends out of their facewise stacked condition. More particularly, there is a tendency for the topmost end or ends of the stack to be tilted, canted or even completely flipped over during removal of the bag. This is due to frictional engagement of the topmost ends with the bag as the bag is pulled in an axial direction for removal. In particular, as the open end portion of the bag clears the topmost ends of the stack, there is a tendency of these topmost ends to be frictionally engaged by the end part of the bag to such an extent that they can be tilted, canted or actually flipped over 180.degree..
This condition is to be avoided, as the feeding of a reversely oriented can end to the filling and closure machinery can disrupt the highly automated, high speed filling and closure operation. Such disruptions or delays can be quite costly in terms of downtime of relatively large, highly automated lines. Moreover, when one piece of equipment in such an automated system must be shut down, other related equipment in the system often must also be shut down until the problem is corrected. Such delays are to be avoided as they are expensive in terms of the shutdown time of the equipment and of the overall packaging operation.

Apparatus and method for debagging articles


An absorbent article, in particular a diaper. The rear portion thereof includes a pair of elastic side panels attached to opposing longitudinal edges thereof. The front portion of the article includes at least two landing zones upon which the elastic side panels overlap when the article is fastened. An area of the front portion located at least around each landing zone includes a plurality of first indicia in a first pattern. Each of said elastic side panels also includes a plurality of second indicia in a second pattern. The distance between adjacent second indicia including the second pattern increases as the elastic side panel is stretched. When the elastic side panels are stretched by a predetermined force, the second pattern on the elastic side panels matches the first pattern around each landing zone.

Disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, are used to collect and store bodily exudates such as urine and feces from wearers, such as babies. To prevent undesired leakage, absorbent articles should fit well against the wearer, and a number of measures have been adopted to provide good fit.
One such measure is the use of elastic side panels in diapers. These are panels which extend laterally from, for example, the rear of the diaper, and include fastening elements at their distal ends which attach to the front of the diaper, thus securing the diaper about the waist of the wearer. However, due to their elastic nature, the amount of extension which the elastic side panels undergo can vary. An elastic side panel which is not sufficiently tight will risk that the diaper is not secure about the wearer, causing it to slip out of place or fall off completely. In addition, loose diapers are susceptible to leakage. On the other hand, an elastic side panel which is stretched too tightly about the wearer's waist may cause discomfort and pain to the wearer, and may also risk distorting the diaper, causing poor fit and leakage. It is particularly important to ensure that elastic side panels in baby diapers are extended by the correct amount (i.e. with the correct force), as elastic side panels allow a small diaper to be stretched above its optimal level to fit a larger baby, when a larger diaper size may in fact be more appropriate.
It is known to provide indicia on elastic side panels which change shape upon extension of the side panel. When the appropriate extension has been reached, the indicia have a certain appearance. For example, WO 05/037159 shows an example in which a drawing of a cartoon rabbit is compressed laterally before the elastic side panel is stretched, but which becomes more rounded when a suitable degree of extension has been reached. A disadvantage with this solution is that it is rather subjective. What one person applying the diaper might consider a suitable shape for the indicia, may be different to what another person thinks. As such, the extension in the elastic side panel in WO 05/037159 can vary, depending on the user's perception of what the "correct" form of the indicia should be. In addition, the solution provided by WO 05/037159 gives no indication as to the correct placement of the elastic side panel on the front of the diaper (e.g. in the longitudinal direction of the diaper).
Another solution is provided by WO 01/21126. A first indicium element is located on the outermost edge of a side panel, while a second indicium element is located in the front waist region of the diaper. Closing the diaper correctly results in the first and second indicium elements forming an image which is a combination of the first and second indicium elements. For instance, the first indicium element is shown as a balloon, while the second is a teddy bear. Fastening the diaper correctly provides a combined image of a teddy bear holding the balloon. However, this solution does not require that the indicium element on the side panel changes shape upon stretching, so the diaper user does not have the clear impression of a changing degree of stretch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,707 concerns an adhesive fastening tape for a diaper, which is transparent yet embossed to create indicia. Once the tape is applied to the diaper, the indicia on the tape will disappear against the colored landing zone.
US 2007/0049896 discloses an absorbent article having a size fit indicating means for indicating when the article is too large for a wearer. Two target strips for fasteners are provided on the front body panel and a visual sizing indicator is positioned between the two target strips, so that when the fasteners overlap the sizing indicator, it is an indication that the article is too large.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,546 discloses a diaper having a fastening system including tape fasteners and a target area in the form of a transparent receiving sheet intermittently bonded to the outer sheet of the front body panel by means of an adhesive serving as a positioning indicator for the tape fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,202 discloses a device and method for identifying a size of an absorbent article which is appropriate for a potential wearer based on at least two characteristics, such as weight and height.
WO 03/034966 discloses an absorbent article having fasteners in the form of hook material engageable with the outer nonwoven surface of the front body panel and wherein landing zone graphics are printed in the target area for the fasteners and covered by an outer nonwoven and visible through the outer nonwoven.
Co-pending PCT application PCT/SE07/000637 discloses an absorbent article having size fit indicating means which is hidden when the correct diaper size is used, but revealed when the diaper is too small.

Absorbent article with elastic side panels


A butterfly valve with an undulating sealing surface, which has an inflatable annular seal mounted in a housing. A disk is pivotally mounted in the housing and has an edge with an undulating sealing surface and a peripheral sealing edge. The undulating sealing surface of the disk and a sealing face of the annular seal have non-mating profiles when the valve is in an unsealed condition. Pressure in a chamber proximate the annular seal causes the face of the annular seal to expand and deform and the face forms a high-pressure seal between the sealing ridge and the annular seal. Also includes a method for stopping delivery, of a conduit transportable material through a butterfly valve.

The concept of butterfly valves with a central pivotable disk is known in the art. One such butterfly valve is shown in Steele et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,499 and another is shown in Steele U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,659. In both valves a central disk pivots from a transverse or closed position, where the disk extends across a flow passage to block materials from passing through the valve, to an axial or open position, where materials enter one side of the valve and flow laterally alongside the disk faces before being discharged from the opposite side of the valve. To seal the valve the disk is positioned in the transverse position and an annular elastomer seal or sealing ring is inflated to engage an edge of the disk to form an annular seal around the periphery of the disk. To pivot the disk to an open condition or flow through condition the elastomer seal is deflated and the disk is pivoted from the closed position to an open position.
One of the difficulties with butterfly valves is obtaining a high-pressure seal between the annular edge of the pivotal disk and an inflatable seal which will not leak as the pressure differential across the disk increases.

Butterfly valves with undulating sealing surface


An imaging apparatus that irradiates an object with a first measuring beam and a second measuring beam that differ from each other in a center wavelength, and acquires an image of the object using returning light from the object. A first adjustment unit adjusts a focusing position of the first measuring beam in a depth direction. A second adjustment unit adjusts a focusing position of the second measuring beam in the depth direction. A controlling unit controls at least one of the first adjustment unit and the second adjustment unit such that the focusing position of the first measuring beam and the focusing position of the second measuring beam are at different positions in the depth direction.

Currently, an apparatus based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (i.e., an optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus; hereinafter referred to as an OCT apparatus) which uses a low coherence interferometer can obtain tomography images of a specimen (test object) at high resolution. The OCT apparatus is becoming indispensable as an ophthalmologic apparatus for specialized retinal outpatient clinics. Also, various developments are being carried out toward application to endoscopy.
By irradiating a test object with measuring beam which is a low coherence light, the OCT apparatus can measure backscatter from the test object at high sensitivity using an interferometer.
Also, by scanning the test object with the measuring beam, the OCT apparatus can obtain tomography images at high resolution.
The OCT apparatus can also acquire tomography images of the retina in the ocular fundus of the eye under examination at high resolution, and is widely used for ophthalmologic diagnosis of the retina.
In particular, with the advent of the OCT apparatus, tomography images of the retina can now be acquired at high resolution, enabling detection of small lesions which have been difficult to find by conventional diagnosis procedures.
Therefore, the OCT apparatus is expected to facilitate early detection of ocular fundus diseases, and various developments are being carried out.
The OCT apparatus, when used in ophthalmologic diagnosis of the retina, uses near-infrared light, which is poorly absorbed by water. Moreover, shorter wavelengths which are more poorly absorbed are favored, and near-infrared light with a center wavelength of around 800 nm is widely used conventionally. The near-infrared light around 800 nm is strongly absorbed or scattered in deep layers of the retina. This makes it difficult for light to reach the choroid, raising a problem in that it is difficult to acquire tomography images of the deep layers.
To deal with this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-181631 discloses an OCT apparatus which uses a wavelength longer than 800 nm with a larger penetration depth to carry out imaging at deep sites near the choroid in the back of the eye. The OCT apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-181631 is an ocular fundus imaging apparatus which performs OCT using a light source with a wavelength of 1000 nm to 1100 nm to image deep layers of the retina including the choroid and sclera.
Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-151631 discloses ophthalmologic radiography apparatus which uses a light source with a wavelength in the 1,500 nm band in addition to light in the 800 nm band and changes focusing position with the wavelength to increase depth of focus. The ophthalmologic radiography apparatus makes lights from the two light sources enter a test object alternately, combines tomography images obtained alternately, and thereby obtains a tomography image with a wide range.

Optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus and tomographic imaging method


A method of detecting an embedded message in a digital image, the embedded message being embedded in periodic blocks in the image, including the steps of: selecting a first area in the digital image; selecting a second area in the digital image; performing a correlation between the first and the second image areas; and if the correlation exceeds an predetermined threshold value at at least one pixel location, producing a signal indicating the existence of embedded message in the digital image.

The invention relates generally to the field of image processing, and in particular to detecting hidden messages embedded in digital images or printed images. This field is also referred to as data hiding, data embedding, information hiding, watermarking and also steganography.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,156, issued Mar. 28, 2000, entitled xe2x80x9cMethod For Generating An Improved Carrier For Use In An Image Data Embedding Application,xe2x80x9d by Honsinger et al., discloses a technique for embedding messages in digital images data. This method for embedding a hidden message into a digitized image includes the steps of: forming a digitized version of the desired message; generating a random phase carrier; convolving the digitized version of the desired message and the random phase carrier to form a dispersed message; and combining the dispersed message with the digitized image to form an image with an embedded hidden message. Hidden messages may be embedded in photographic images recorded on film and paper using conventional photographic printing techniques, or they may be embedded in images produced on printers such as ink jet and thermal dye transfer printers, by combining the dispersed message with a digital image using digital image processing techniques. The hidden or embedded information can include copyright or proprietor information or other information associated with the digital image.
The hidden messages are recovered from the image by cross correlating the image containing the dispersed message with a decoding carrier to recover the embedded dispersed message and extracting the digital message data from the recovered dispersed message.
Several embedding software can be used for embedding messages in digital images, for example, the techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,292, issued Jun. 3, 1997, to Rhoads, entitled xe2x80x9cSteganography Methods Employing Embedded Calibration Data,xe2x80x9d and U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,920, issued Jan. 12, 1999 to Daly et al., and entitled xe2x80x9cMethod for Embedding Digital Information in an Image.xe2x80x9d The extraction of information embedded using different manufacturers requires keys produced by these manufacturers. A problem thus exists if not all the keys are available at an imaging devicexe2x80x94if the embedded information relates to a copyright in the image, the copyright information on some digital images cannot be detected. There is therefore a need to detect the existence of embedded messages in a digital image produced by any manufacturer""s embedding software, regardless of the source of the embedded software.
The above noted need is met according to the present invention by providing a method of detecting an embedded message in a digital image, the embedded message being embedded in periodic blocks in the image, that includes the steps of: selecting a first area in the digital image; selecting a second area in the digital image; performing a correlation between the first and the second image areas; and if the correlation exceeds an predetermined threshold value at at least one pixel location, producing a signal indicating the existence of embedded message in the digital image.
An advantage of the present invention is that existence of messages embedded in digital images can be detected. Proper warning and measures can be taken for protecting the potential copyright of the digital images.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention can detect the existence of embedded messages produced by different manufacturers"" software.

Detecting embedded information in images


Paper tableware, such as plates, cups, etc., made of a paper substrate, a metallized plastic film joined to the substrate, and an FDA-approved topcoating over the plastic film. A color coating can be applied between the plastic film and the topcoating.

Paper plates and cups are in widespread use in homes and commercial and institutional food service operations for various reasons, including the elimination of the time and expense attendant upon washing dinnerware but also for the ability to use tableware with special designs for unique or one time functions such as parties and holidays. Paper tableware of the subject type can be made of natural or uncolored bleached paperboard stock, which results in very plain looking products that are white or off-white in color. In order to provide a more decorative and appealing product, paper tableware is often made with printed designs, logos, legends, and the like, to provide a product with greater visual impact; for example, paper tableware can be printed with a seasonal motif such as a Christmas design, a design relating to a birthday party, or a corporate name or logo. A barrier coating of a type approved by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, is applied as a protective measure over the surfaces of the tableware that would come in contact with food or drink, including any printing on the various products.
Printing as a means for enhancing the appearance of paper tableware, while attractive and in widespread use, has limitations with respect to the visual impact and appearance of the printed design or information. The printing inks available for this purpose are generally dull or rather lifeless in appearance, so that the special effects that can be obtained with the prior art techniques are restricted. There is, therefore, a growing need or market demand for paper tableware that has a more festive or dramatic appearance than the products now available. Accordingly, among the principal objects of our present invention are: to provide new constructions for paper tableware; to develop new paper tableware constructions that provide visual impact not currently available with the prior art constructions; and to provide paper tableware constructions that will further extend the potential uses for paper products. These and other more specific objects of our invention will become apparent in the detailed description which follows.


A one-piece rotationally molded plastic stadium seating chair module for assembly in side-by-side relationship in rows with each said chair module attached to a common supporting understructure. The chair module has a hollow, double wall construction and integrally formed seat, back, and armrest portions.

This invention relates generally to stadium seating, and in particular to a stadium seating system which is provided with a plurality of chair modules having a one piece molded plastic construction.
Primarily because of their lesser cost, many stadiums employ bleacher type seating. Nevertheless, because of the additional comfort afforded by individual chair type seating such seating is becoming increasingly popular. Part of the added cost in installing chair type seating involves the cost of the chair itself. In order to minimize the amount of space which is needed between rows, retractable chairs having flip-up type seats or other arrangements are used. These type chairs are typically more expensive by virtue of their construction than chairs having only a fixed seat. While flip-up or retractable style chairs are cost effective for indoor stadiums where the additional roof expense needed to cover the larger seating area outweighs the additional expense needed to make the chairs retractable, such considerations do not apply in outdoor stadium seating situations.
Whether or not the chairs are retractable, present stadium chair designs are characterized by a multi-piece construction in which the seat, back, and armrests are separately formed and interconnected by various type fasteners and/or interlocking framework. To minimize expense and yet provide sufficient durability and comfort, the seat and backs are typically formed of a durable plastic, such as high density polyethylene, which resists cracking, warping and peeling whereas the interconnecting framework may be made of a suitable metal material, such as aluminum. Typically also, the plastic formed seat and back portions are stationary injection molded and have a single wall construction with reinforcing ribs for added strength. This multi-piece, multi-material construction for a stadium seating chair is employed despite its added expense over a one-piece integral plastic chair because a one-piece chair construction formed by conventional stationary injection molding techniques would lack sufficient strength for practicable use in stadium seating applications.
Another disadvantage contributing to the premium cost of individual chair-type stadium seating involves the way in which the chairs are installed relative to the understructure. Conventional stadium seating chairs are configured so as to require building a closed deck type stadium seating understructure upon which the chairs are then installed. In a closed deck configuration there is no open space between floorboards and risers, in contrast with open or semi-open deck configurations usually associated with cheaper bleacher-type stadium seating, and thus no opportunity for articles or debris to fall through the seating area. The material and labor costs involved with installing a closed deck understructure is a significant part of the overall cost of the seating system and contributes to the high costs heretofore associated with such systems.


A system, article, and method of rotation of video frames for displaying a video.

Many image capture devices such as handheld smartphones and tablets conventionally have a camera that records video and often has a rectangular screen that acts both as the viewer for the camera as well as the playback screen to watch the video after it is recorded. Otherwise, the recorded video may be transmitted to other devices to play the recorded video such as televisions, projectors, and so forth. A user recording video with such a handheld device may rotate the camera between a landscape view to position the screen so that the width is greater than the height of the screen, and a portrait view so that the height of the screen is greater than the width of the screen, either intentionally in order to attempt to capture a better view of the scene being recorded, or sometimes even unintentionally when the user of the camera does not even realize he/she is rotating the camera.
During display of the video, however, the image capture device may be oriented in a different rotational position than the orientation used to record the video, at least for part of the video. For instance, a video may be recorded mostly in a landscape mode but every once in a while, the user may rotate the camera to a portrait mode during the recording. Then, when the user subsequently holds the camera (or device with the camera) in a landscape orientation during display of the video, the portions of the video that were recorded in portrait mode will be shown on its side, which may be inconvenient, disorienting, and irritating to the viewer that is viewing the video on the device held to provide the screen in a landscape orientation.

Method and system of rotation of video frames for displaying a video