A current driven DAC architecture uses a single resistance string arranged to have a cyclic configuration and a plurality of nodes, one of the nodes being connected to a known potential, e.g., ground potential, and at least two current sources connected to selected ones of said nodes through operable switches, and an output connected to a selected one of said nodes. In one modification, 22n−2 LSB (least significant bit) voltage levels are generated as outputs from 2n cyclic string resistors and two current sources. In another modification, spurious-free resolution of (2n−2) bits and (2n−1) bit resolution with lower SNDR are achieved by using 2n resistors and two current sources. In one described embodiment, 2n unit impedances in the cyclic string result in 2(n−1) bit resolution. Thus, the single cyclic string of resistances achieves the function of both MSB sub-string and LSB sub-string.

DACs are indispensable in handling signals where a digital word/signal is to be converted into an analog form. DACs are an essential tool in handling communication signals in information technology including television, sound and movies, as well as handling signals in medical and industrial control loops. DACs are available in several forms, and a common and popular configuration uses a resistor string driven by voltage sources. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,440 B2, at least two resistor ladders arranged in a cyclic string are used with two banks of switches. An MSB string is used and connected to complete the function as a DAC and is coupled at two nodes to voltage reference points VREF+ and VREF−, through a virtual short. A LSB (least significant bit) string is coupled across an adjacent node on the MSB (most significant bit) string. Two analog output signals are generated from the ends of the connecting resistors. The output analog signals might be produced from further first and second resistance ladders. The main resistance ladders are driven by first and second reference voltages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,203 titled Current Source Driver Converter, issued to George F Gross, Jr et al, on Apr. 8, 1997, teaches a DAC having a resistor string coupled to a current source. U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,501 titled "Digital to Analog Converter with reduced number of resistors", issued to McPartland on Feb. 18, 1997, teaches a DAC using two voltage sources and a resistor string having resistor-potential junctions and taps at resistor junctions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,580 titled "Current/Resistor Digital to Analog Converter having enhanced integral non-linearity and method of operation," issued to Todd L Brooks on Feb. 1, 1994, teaches a DAC using series connected resistors using current sources which can be switched to either a first or a second node. The resistors in the Brooks patent are connected between a reference voltage terminal and a third node where an analog output signal is developed.
For design of high precision, low power, and area efficient DACs, resistor string DAC architectures are of prime importance. For high resolution segmented string DACs, the static and dynamic performance is limited by the area of the DAC Core, resistor matching the circuit non-linearity, and first and second order effects like the coupling switch resistance and sub-threshold/leakage current. There are other arrangements in prior art, in which multitude of segmentation and coupling schemes are introduced, using either linear resistance strings or resistance strings driven by voltages. There is generally a loss of implementation area in the prior art arrangements.
Therefore, there is a need for DAC architecture which will be at least as area-efficient as (or better than) the segmented string architecture, while improving some of the key performance indices such as linearity and speed of operation. It is also noted that prior art arrangements offer a limited scope of dynamic element matching because of lack of redundancy caused by the use of conventional resistor string arrangements.

Digital to analog converter having a single cyclic resistor string and multiple current sources


A universal expansion connection (32) couples a water meter (10) to an outlet pipe (30). The expansion connection (32) comprises a threaded expansion tube (36), a threaded packer (38) and a lock case (40). The threaded packer (38) is threaded onto the expansion tube (36), which has been installed on an outlet (34) on the meter (10). The lock case (40) is then positioned over and onto the packer (38) such that a driver dog (63) on the packer (38) matches a driver dog recess (64) in the case (40). By holding the expansion tube (36) from turning, the lock case (40) is turned to unscrew the threaded packer (38) from the tube (36). The unscrewing action forces the packer (38) into the internal surface (68) of the lock case (40), as well as forcing the threads (58) into the threads (54) on the tube (36 ). When the lock case (40) has been sufficiently unscrewed, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the meter (10) and the outlet pipe (30). A locking bolt (33) is then inserted through the lock case (40) via a shroud (76). The locking bolt (33) is positioned between a plurality of spaced-apart locking bars (46) on the tube (36) to prevent further rotation thereof.

Metering devices, such as gas and water meters, are provided by utility companies to measure usage of individual clients for billing purposes. Such meters are sometimes housed in a compression type meter box which is recessed in the surrounding surface. There, the meter is "in line" with the inlet and outlet piping and is somewhat protected from freezing and damage. The meter box has a lid thereon to allow the utility company to obtain a reading from the meter and bill the client accordingly. In some poorer countries, where the climate is temperate, meter yokes may be used for installation rather than a meter box.
The meter is connected on one end to a main feed line. The meter outlet, through the use of an expansion connection, is connected to an infeed line to the client's facility. The expansion connection is provided to install, seal and retain the meter in the meter box such that a fluid can be transported, measured, recorded and delivered therethrough to the individual client's facility. The expansion connection is provided to fill an irregular gap between the meter and a line leading to the individual client's facility. Typically, expansion connections comprise a plurality of interconnecting pieces, including an integral installation and removal handwheel or wrench.
Unfortunately, many unscrupulous individuals have discovered that it is very easy to loosen the expansion connection by hand and reverse the meter, thereby causing the meter totalizing register to run backwards and register or indicate less than the actual consumption. In some cases, the meters may even be removed and sold for scrap metal. Additionally, in the case of unscrupulous individuals, when the utility company desires to discontinue services to the customer's facility for nonpayment or other appropriate reasons, neither the current expansion connections nor a valve fixed in the meter box are adequate to positively lock a client off. In these and other situations, the utility company is frequently cheated of their due revenues, which is not only illegal but is also a burden on honest clients who end up bearing the burden for those who cheat. Basically, if the utility company can prevent the meter from being removed from the meter box, tampering with the meter can be prevented.
A device designed to fit over many of the presently made expansion connections to prevent removal thereof is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 040,922 to Bednarz, filed Apr. 20, 1987. The Bednarz Ser. No. 040,922 locking device makes the best of poorly designed conventional expansion connections by covering the installation and removal handwheel to prevent loosening of the expansion connection and tampering with the meter. However, typical expansion connections comprise an excessive number of intricately machined, close-fitting parts and are therefore excessively complex and expensive to manufacture. Moreover, because of the damp and dirty environment, the close-fitting parts eventually become corroded and encrusted with mineral deposits, etc., and are difficult if not impossible to operate by hand, as designed.
A pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 247,955 to Bednarz, filed Sept. 22, 1988, for a Lockable Water Meter Expansion Connection and Method, discloses a simple and relatively inexpensive expansion connection that is not subject to corrosion and is designed to be locked. The '955 expansion connection may be used to install any American Water Works Association (AWWA) approved meter in any compression-type meter box or setter (includes meter boxes, meter yokes, and any other mechanism used to couple a water meter in-line). The Bednarz Ser. No. 247,955 locking device, however, requires interaction with the meter and meter box or setter to make the meter tamper-proof. Thus, there is a need for a universal expansion connection and lock that may be used to install and/or lock any AWWA approved meter in any compression-type meter setter without requiring interface with the meter and the meter box or setter.

Universal expansion connection and integral lock


A method and a device are provided for a mobile robot to move in proximity to an obstacle. In the method, the mobile robot moves at a preset speed in a preset direction when it is detected that a distance between the mobile robot and the obstacle reaches a preset distance; a robot predicted moving space of the mobile robot in a next moving cycle is calculated based on the preset speed and the preset direction; and an adjusted speed and an adjusted direction of the mobile robot are determined based on the robot predicted moving space, so as to make the mobile robot move in proximity to the obstacle at the adjusted speed in the adjusted direction.

At present, use of mobile robots is increasingly popular. In particular, domestic service robots and shopping guide robots such as sweeping robots and mopping robots bring great convenience to people's lives. However, a robot during moving will encounter obstacles, e.g., a wall. In this case, the robot needs to move in proximity to the obstacle without hitting it.
In the related art, moving in proximity to an obstacle is mainly implemented by using a known map. Such method is based on a case that there is a known map, and cannot adapt to an environmental change well, thus having a small application scope and failing to meet requirements of variable environment.

Method and device for mobile robot to move in proximity to obstacle


The attribution information of a plurality of pieces of image data photographed by a plurality of photographing apparatus is obtained. The image data is classified into a predetermined time period on the basis of a photographing date and time obtained from the attribution information. The number of the photographing apparatus photographing the image data classified every predetermined time period is discriminated, and the image data classified into the time period in which the number of the pieces of image data is larger than a threshold value is extracted. The extracted image data is discriminated from the other image data to be displayed. Thereby, even if a plurality of pieces of still image data and moving image data photographed by a plurality of digital cameras and video cameras exists, a candidate of the image data relatively significant among them can be extracted easily.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image management apparatus for managing an image, a control method thereof, and a storage medium storing a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
As communication techniques have developed, it has been generally performed to share an image photographed with a personal digital camera or a digital video camera in a group composed of a plurality of persons, give the image to another person, or obtain the image from another person. Moreover, as a storage medium has enlarged the capacity thereof, the storage medium has come to store a large quantity of images. In such a situation, it has been hard for a user to find a significant image among the large quantity of images.

Image management apparatus, control method thereof and storage medium storing program


Methods for determination of timing for electrical shocks to the heart to determine shock strength necessary to defibrillate a fibrillating heart. The timing corresponds the window of most vulnerability in the heart, which occurs during the T-wave of a heartbeat. Using a derivatized T-wave representation, the timing of most vulnerability is determined by a center of the area method, peak amplitude method, width method, or other similar methods. Devices are similarly disclosed embodying the methods of the present disclosure.

A wide variety of IMDs have been developed in order to monitor patient conditions and deliver therapy to the patient. An IMD typically includes a hermetically sealed housing coupled to one or more leads that are surgically implanted inside a patient for sensing conditions or for administering therapy. The IMD may provide therapeutic stimulation to the patient or may deliver drugs or agents to the patient. Alternatively or additionally, the IMD may have sensing or monitoring capabilities. For example, the IMD may sense information within a patient and store the sensed information for subsequent analysis. In some cases, the sensed information may be used directly by the IMD to adjust or control the therapy that is delivered to the patent. It has been observed that the highest-energy shock that induces fibrillation in the heart of a patient, the Upper Limit of Vulnerability (ULV), is strongly correlated with the defibrillation threshold (DFT).

Methods for the determination of T-shock vulnerable window from far-field electrograms in implantable cardioverter defibrillators


The present invention provides an apparatus and method permitting one sheet of radiographic film to be exposed multiple times including a control unit for correcting the optical density of the film based upon the spatial variation of x-ray field intensity. In particular, the present invention includes a system and method for determining an optical density of radiographic imaging film utilizing a mask for absorbing soft x-ray radiation thereby creating a reference exposure, and further utilizing a template to execute a number of sequential exposures of radiographic imaging film such that the radiographic film is selectively irradiated. The control unit is adapted for deriving a corrective optical density value based upon reference measurements, and correcting the series of template exposures using the corrective optical density value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of radiographic imaging, and in particular, to methods and apparatus for determining the optical density of radiographic imaging film and further enacting corrective adjustments to the optical density of radiographic imaging film used, for example, in mammography.
2. Description of Prior Art
Radiographic imaging of body parts is well known and extremely useful as a diagnostic tool in the medical arts. Radiographic imaging involves positioning a part of a patient to be imaged denoted as the xe2x80x9cstructure of interestxe2x80x9d under an x-ray emitter, exposing the structure of interest to an x-ray beam, and recording the interaction between the x-ray beam and the structure of interest on an image receptor. In most cases, the receptor is radiographic film, and the image is amplified by an intensifying screen. After exposing the structure of interest, the film is removed from the cassette and then developed.
The diagnostic value of radiographic imaging as described is dependent upon the interplay of several factors. One of the most important of these factors is the optical density of the radiographic film. In order to ensure optimal film exposure, typical imaging devices implement an automatic exposure control system (AEC). A typical AEC utilizes a radiation detector for detecting the amount of radiation. The radiation detector is generally disposed adjacent to the radiographic film such that the radiation impinges upon the detector prior to irradiating the radiographic film. In general, the typical energy per photon of the x-ray is sufficient to render the detector transparent or invisible on the radiographic film. Thereafter, the AEC utilizes algorithms and lookup tables to account for the varying properties of the intensifying screen, the radiographic film, and the processor. The AEC then makes the necessary adjustments to the intensity and duration of the radiation. Thus, the AEC is essentially a closed-loop feedback mechanism for optimizing the quality of radiographic images.
Although an AEC is generally sufficient for a standard imaging device, mammography machines present additional problems. First and foremost among these problems is that the typical energy per photon of the x-radiation emitted by a mammography machine is far less than that of other types of imaging devices. Mammography machines emit so-called xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d x-rays that are optimal for detecting subtle differences in the soft tissue found in the human breast. However, soft x-rays present a limitation in that they cannot be transmitted through the radiation detector without imaging parts of the detector on the radiographic film. Thus, the detector must be disposed such that the radiographic film is irradiated prior to detection of the amount of radiation impinging upon the film. As a result, the detector will detect amounts of radiation that can be significantly less than what has irradiated the film. Consequently, the reliability of an AEC is slightly compromised when used in a mammography machine.
Consequently, each mammography machine must have the AEC system frequently calibrated and adjusted on site by a service engineer. The process of calibration is tedious and expensive for many reasons. First, each cassette is slightly different, and thus, the same cassette must be used for multiple exposures. Secondly, radiographic films must be used from the same box to maximize the homogeneity of the film. Thirdly, significant variations can arise in the processor including chemical variation and temperature variation.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and method that permit one sheet of radiographic film to be exposed multiple times including a simple and reliable method for determining the optical density of the film. However, such a solution must account for the decrease in the intensity of the x-ray field with an increase in distance from the source, known as the inverse square law. Optical density is also dependent upon the intensity of the x-ray field, such that there is additionally a need for an apparatus and method that compensates optical density measurements for changes due to the spatial variation.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method permitting one sheet of radiographic film to be exposed multiple times including a control unit for correcting the optical density of the film based upon the spatial variation of x-ray field intensity. In particular, the present invention includes a system for determining an optical density of radiographic imaging film comprising an emitter of soft x-ray radiation, a sheet of radiographic imaging film disposed a distance from the emitter, an attenuator simulating the radiological properties of a human breast, a mask for absorbing soft x-ray radiation disposed between the attenuator and the radiographic imaging film thereby creating a reference exposure, and a template for selectively irradiating the radiographic film.
The combination of the foregoing elements allows for multiple exposures on a single sheet of radiographic film. The mask defines a divide along its central axis that is coincident with the center portion of the film, thereby allowing the center portion of the film to be exposed during a reference exposure. The mask prohibits the exposure of two portions of the film that are laterally adjacent to the divide. The template is then aligned such that it permits selective irradiation of the portion of the film that was previously unexposed, and prohibits exposure of film that is yet to be exposed. The template is then moved such that previously unexposed film may be exposed, and again, the template prohibits exposure of film that is yet to be exposed. The foregoing process is repeated until there are enough sequential exposures to warrant processing the film. The template defines
The method of the present invention includes a step of irradiating a single sheet of radiographic film while simultaneously absorbing portions of radiation with a mask thereby preventing exposure of portions of the film. The mask defines a divide along its central portion, which allows the center of the film to be irradiated while preventing other portions from being irradiated. The unexposed portions of the film is selectively exposed multiple times utilizing a template having apertures for transmitting x-radiation such that film exposure occurs at various distances from the center of the film. The multiply and selectively exposed film is interpreted by a densitometer that measures the optical density of the film. The optical density data is corrected by the controller, which corrects the optical density measurements based upon the relationship between the distance between the point of interest and the center of the film.
The above and further objects of the present invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.

Film density template and method for comparison of film exposure


The present invention provides a peptide at least partially derivable from human Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor (TSHR) which peptide is capable of binding to an MHC molecule in vitro and being presented to a T cell without further antigen processing. The present invention also relates to the use of such peptides for the prevention or suppression of activating autoantibody formation in Graves' Disease.

Graves' Disease is characterised by an overactive thyroid gland, which results in the production of an excessive amount of thyroid hormone and enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre). The resulting state of hyperthyroidism may cause a wide range of neuropsychological and physical symptoms. GD is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (60-90% of all cases) and usually presents itself during midlife, but also appears in children, adolescents, and the elderly. It affects up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Pediatric GD affects about 6,000 children in the US and 6,000 in the EU. GD is also the most common cause of severe hyperthyroidism, which is accompanied by more clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory abnormalities as compared with milder forms of hyperthyroidism.
There is a strong hereditary component linked to GD. There are no recent population studies on GD, however, a few quasi population studies on hyperthyroidism do exist and all estimates for incidence and prevalence of GD are thus approximate. The incidence of hyperthyroidism varies from 26:100,000 to 93:100,000 and the overall prevalence is estimated to be at 1.3%, with 42% of cases being overt and 62% subclinical.
About 30-50% of people with GD will also suffer from Graves' opthalmopathy (GO), a protrusion of one or both of the eyes. Many cases of GO are mild and self-limiting, however 20% of cases have significant/moderate to severe disease, with at least half of these require steroids and 3-5% of GO patients have painful, sight-threatening disease with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). The budging of the eyes may cause severe dryness of the cornea as the eye lids are unable to close at night. Increased pressure in the optic nerve can lead to visual field defects and vision loss. GO may also be associated with pretibial myxedemia.
The symptoms and signs of GD virtually all result from the direct and indirect effects of hyperthyroidism, with main exceptions being GO, goitre, and pretibial myxedema. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include insomnia, hand tremor, hyperactivity, hair loss, excessive sweating, heat intolerance and weight loss despite increased appetite. Further signs are most commonly a diffusely enlarged (usually symmetric) non-tender thyroid, lid lag, excessive lacrimation due to Graves' opthalmopathy, arrhythmias of the heart and hypertension. Thyrotoxic patients may experience behavioural and personality changes, such as psychosis, agitation, and depression. In milder hyperthyroidism, patients may experience less overt manifestations, for example anxiety, restlessness, irritability and emotional lability.
There is currently no cure available for GD and present treatments are therefore directed towards targeting the presenting symptoms. There are three treatment modalities for GD, oral antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI) and thyroidectomy. The latter two approaches result in lifetime supplementation of thyroid hormones. Therapy with radioiodine is the most common treatment in the United States, whilst ATDs are the first line treatment in Europe, Japan and most of the rest of the world.
ATD therapy is associated with some rare side-effects and has a remission rate of 50-60%. There is growing recognition the RAI can precipitate or worsen active GO and the number of patients treated with ATDs is the United States is increasing.
Due to the varying success of each treatment option, patients are often subjected to more than one approach if the first attempted treatment does not prove entirely successful. The risk of relapse or subsequent hypothyroidism is substantial and the general efficacy of available treatments for GD is less than desired. There is thus a need for alternative therapies for GD that are effective at treating GD and at alleviating or reducing the symptoms of the disease.


An image recording and reproducing apparatus can record and reproduce both a digital signal and an analog signal. Operations of a broadcast receiving apparatus and a recording and reproducing apparatus are integrated, and superimposition of information on an analog image is realized during recording and reproduction of a digital signal. The broadcast receiving apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus communicate with each other to be able to set and obtain states of the opposite apparatus, so that one of the apparatus notifies information of the other apparatus to a user, and causes the user to set the information in a picture having the same form as a picture used to notify a state of one apparatus to the user, and causes the user to set the state.

The present invention relates to an image recording and reproducing apparatus capable of recording and reproducing both of digital signals and analog signals and more particularly to a reference signal necessary to display a state of the image recording and reproducing apparatus in a picture and an operation method of the image recording and reproducing apparatus.
As a domestic apparatus for recording and reproducing image and audio signals, an analog type video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated to as VTR) using a magnetic tape is now put to practical use.
On the other hand, a digital television broadcasting begins to be put to practical use as a television broadcasting for the next generation. For example, there is known a system in which the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system is used to code analog image and audio signals by the high-efficient digital compression code and the coded signals are broadcasted by means of a satellite and coaxial cables. Further, an intelligent receiver and decoder (hereinafter abbreviated to as IRD) which receives digital satellite broadcast and produces analog image and audio signals also begins to be put to practical use.
The above digital broadcasting systems are described in detail in, for example, the Journal of the Institute of Television Engineers of Japan, Vol. 47, No. 4 (1993), pp. 486-503, xe2x80x9c5. Broadcasting Service Imagexe2x80x9d.
Furthermore, a VTR which can record and reproduce the digital-compression coded image and audio signals in the digital television broadcasting or the like as the signals are digital and possesses the interchangeability with a current analog VTR is being developed.
Such a VTR which can record and reproduce both of the digital signals and the analog image and audio signals is considered to be configured as shown in, for example, Nikkei Electronics, No. 634, pp. 16-17.
It is not considered that a conventional VTR records such digital broadcast. It is premised that the conventional VTR records image and audio signals supplied by a built-in tuner for receiving analog broadcast. When digital broadcast is recorded, image and audio signals produced by the IRD are inputted from an external input terminals of the VTR to be recorded.
However, the VTR and the IRD are quite independent of each other. For example, in order to preengage to record a program of digital broadcast, it is necessary to set the preengagement in both of the IRD and the VTR. The operation methods of both the apparatuses must be memorized exactly.
Further, many VTRs being currently put on the market includes an on-screen display circuit (hereinafter referred to as OSD circuit) for superimposing information on an analog image signal and an operation state or the like of the VTR can be reported to a user through a picture of a monitoring television (hereinafter abbreviated to as TV). At this time, in order to superimpose information on the analog image, it is necessary to supply a complex synchronization signal which is a reference of the analog image signal to the OSD circuit.
On the other hand, a reference signal inputted to a servo circuit is a complex synchronization signal which is a synchronization signal for an analog image in the case of recording and reproducing of analog signals while the reference signal is a digital synchronization signal outputted by a digital signal processing circuit in the case of recording and reproducing of digital signals. The signal inputted to the servo circuit is different depending on the recording and reproducing times of analog signals and digital signals.
In addition, in the conventional VTR, the servo circuit and the OSD circuit are configured to be supplied with the same reference signal and it is impossible to superimpose information on the image signal upon recording and reproducing of digital signals.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide means for unifying operation methods of the VTR and the IRD in order to solve the above problem.
It is another object of the present invention to make it possible to superimpose an analog image signal even during recording and reproduction operation of digital signals.
In order to achieve the above objects, the VTR and the IRD communicate with each other so that the VTR and the IRD can set and obtain the operation states and the set contents of the other apparatus and the IRD notifies information of the VTR to the user by using the picture of the same form as the picture in which the state of the IRD is notified to the user and causes the user to set the state of the VTR by using the picture of the same form as the picture in which the IRD causes the user to set the state of the IRD. Further, similarly, the VTR notifies information of the IRD to the user by using the picture of the same form as the picture in which the state of the VTR is notified to the user and causes the user to set the state of the IRD by using the picture of the same form as the picture in which the VTR causes the user to set the state of the VTR. In this manner, operations of the VTR and the IRD are integrated and the user""s operation is simplified.
Further, a signal having the phase coincident with a reference signal for a digital signal is produced in a servo circuit before information is superimposed on an analog image and a reference signal for an analog image signal is supplied to the OSD circuit while information is superimposed. At the same time, a reference signal used in the servo circuit is changed to the internally produced reference signal, so that information can be superimposed on the analog image signal while the rotation phases of the drum and the capstan are locked.

Image recording and reproducing apparatus


A power supply arrangement (MF) for a reactor (R) for producing polysilicon, with a frequency converter, with at least one input for receiving an input current from the supply grid with which the input is connected, and outputs for connecting one or several loads (3), via which the load(s) (3) can be supplied with an output current, wherein the power supply arrangement has a transformerless conversion circuit for converting the input current into an n-phase multiphase AC current, wherein the phase shift between chained voltages of an n-phase AC current system formed on the secondary side of the conversion circuit is 360°/n, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two, wherein the supply arrangement (MF) has n outputs, wherein the outputs from a chain, and wherein one of the chained voltages of the n-phase AC current system is applied at each output.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply arrangement for a reactor for producing polysilicon, with a frequency converter, with at least one input for receiving an input current from a power grid, with which the input can be connected, and outputs for connecting one or several loads, via which the load or the loads can be supplied with an output current.
(2) Description of Related Art
The document EP 2 100 851 A2 discloses power supply arrangements which include frequency converters and which can be supplied with electrical energy from a single-phase power grid. Loads can be connected to the power supply arrangements with the frequency converters, for example silicon rods of a silicon reactor for producing polysilicon by vapor deposition according to the Siemens process.
FIG. 3 of the document EP 2 100 851 A2 shows that electrical energy is supplied to two loads connected in series separately from corresponding power supply arrangements with the frequency converters, wherein the power supply arrangements with a frequency converters are each configured single-phase. The phase between the currents provided by the power supply arrangements is 180°. The added voltages provided by the two power supply arrangements with frequency converters therefore cancel each other.
Power supply arrangements with frequency converters are described in the European patent applications having the application numbers 10 150 728 and 11 164 316 which were filed after the filing date of the present application, which have an output connected to a transformer having a primary winding and two secondary windings. The two secondary windings each have the same number of turns. However, they have the opposite winding sense. A voltage having the same magnitude but opposite polarity is then present at the outputs of the secondary windings. The secondary windings are connected to each other, with the connection forming a neutral conductor and the two ends of the secondary coils forming phase conductors of a two-phase AC current system which supplies a voltage to the connected loads.
The loads are each connected to at least conductor and to the neutral conductor of the two-phase AC current system.
The power supply arrangements with a frequency converter connected as described in the document EP 2 100 851 A2 and the power supply arrangements with frequency converters described in the applications 10 150 728 and 11 164 316 have the advantage that in addition to supplying the loads from the power supply arrangement having frequency converters, power can be simultaneously supplied from another power supply arrangement, without interference between the power supply arrangements. This approach is also described in the document EP 2 100 851 A2 and in the applications 10 150 728 and 11 164 316.
Disadvantageously, the circuit with two power supply arrangements with a frequency converter described in the document EP 2 100 851 A2 requires two frequency converters are for realizing the two-phase AC current system. Disadvantageously, the power supply arrangements with frequency converters described in the applications 10 150 728 and 11 164 316 require a special transformer with one primary winding and two secondary windings with opposite winding sense for realizing the two-phase AC current system.
Furthermore, the textbook "Leitungselektronische Schaltungen" by Dierk Schröder, ISBN 978-3-540-69300-0 discloses, for example, resonant circuit inverters and AC-AC converters, for example AC-AC converters with DC link energy storage or matrix converter, which are generally capable of providing multiphase AC current, in particular three-phase AC current. However, an application-specific description of the integration of the inverters or AC-AC converters in a power supply arrangement which is suitable or configured for polysilicon reactors is lacking in the textbook.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an improved power supply arrangement of the aforementioned type which is more efficient.

Arrangement for power supply for a reactor for production of polysilicon with a frequency converter


A drive apparatus for driving front and rear wheels of a motor vehicle, either the front and rear wheels being mechanically driven, through a power transmission mechanism, by a motive power generated by an engine of the motor vehicle and the other wheels being driven by hydraulic motors rotationally driven by a hydraulic pump. The drive apparatus limits driving forces of the other wheels, rotationally driven by the hydraulic motor, to be below a predetermined driving force and further detects occurrences of acceleration slips of the one wheels, rotationally driven through the power transmission mechanism, on the basis of speeds of the other wheels in which the driving force is limited to be below the predetermined driving force. The driving forces of the one wheels are adjusted in accordance with the acceleration slip detection result so as to suppress the occurrences of the acceleration slips. This arrangement can improve the travelling stability of the motor vehicle and the motive power on a low friction coefficient road surface without requiring a complex structure.

The present invention relates to a drive apparatus for use in a four-wheel driven type motor vehicle.
With a viewpoint of safety and diversification, a four-wheel drive system (which will be referred hereinafter to as 4WD) and a traction control system (which will be referred hereinafter to as TRC) are being widely introduced in motor vehicles. In a conventional TRC, when the rotational speed of the driven wheel becomes higher than the rotational speed of the non-driven wheel, which does not slip irrespective of acceleration of the motor vehicle, a decision is made that the acceleration slip occurs in the driven wheel, thereby activating traction control. Accordingly, the TRC is generally applied to two-wheel driven type motor vehicle (which will be referred hereinafter to as 2WD vehicle). On the other hand, a conventional 4WD vehicle is equipped with a power transmission to transfer engine power to the front, rear, left and right wheels. The power transmission comprises a clutch, a transmission (speed change gear), a propeller shaft, a differential, an axle shaft and others. The respective wheels are mechanically coupled through the power transmission to the engine so as to be rotationally driven due to the power generated by the engine. Because of driving the respective wheels, the 4 WD can double the driving force as compared with the 2WD, thereby improving the travelling safety, running performance and others in travelling on a road surface having a low (small) friction or a large travelling resistance.
There is a problem which arises with the conventional 4WD, however, in that, when the driving forces of all the wheels exceed the gripping force of the road surface due to rapid acceleration or the like, the acceleration slips occur in all the wheels so as to considerably deteriorate the travelling safety of the motor vehicle. Thus, to maintain travelling safety, it is preferable that the motor vehicle be equipped with both the 4WD and TRC. However, as described above, the conventional TRC is arranged to detect the occurrence of the acceleration slip of the drive wheel by the comparison between the rotational speeds of the driven wheel and the non-driven wheel, thereby making it difficult to simply combine both the 4WD and TRC. That is, for the TRC operation, the 4WD state is required to be switched to the 2WD state (the 4WD is not compatible with the TRC). Thus, the motor vehicle requires a complex and expensive absolute vehicle speed meter which can detects the occurrences of the acceleration slips in all the wheels.

Four wheel drive vehicle with slip control system


An improved apparatus and method of having a pair of end caps on a rotor assembly of a multi-pole high-speed generator is provided for use with a turbine engine. The rotor assembly provides improved balancing and/or cooling during generator operation. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of poles and at least one support wedge positioned between each of the poles. The rotor assembly is mounted on a shaft. An annular flange of the end caps restrains the support wedges in the rotor assembly for improved balancing and maintaining concentricity. The end caps may also include a manifold for circulating a cooling medium through the shaft to and from the support wedges to cool the generator.

This invention relates generally to a multi-pole high-speed generator, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method of having a pair of end caps on a rotor of the multi-pole high-speed generator for balancing the rotor and controlling concentricity and cooling during generator operation.
High-speed generators are used in many applications, including on gas turbine engines for aircraft, ships, and military vehicles. Such generators typically rotate at relatively high speeds (e.g., 12,000 r.p.m. to 24,000 r.p.m. or greater) during operation. While high-speed generators are generally safe and reliable, they may have drawbacks in certain circumstances. Large centrifugal forces may be imposed upon the generator""s rotating parts, such as the rotor. One such generator rotor has four poles, each of which is wound with wire conductors, called windings. During operation of the generator, the windings that rotate with the rotor are subjected to these relatively high centrifugal forces, which may cause the windings to separate from the rotor. The centrifugal forces may also cause the rotor to become improperly balanced and thus off-center as it spins during generator operation. Improper balancing of a rotor in particular can result in inefficiency in the operation of the generator, and may in extreme circumstances cause generator failure.
To secure the windings against such centrifugal forces, it is known to mount support wedges between each of the respective poles. Although these support wedges assist in containing the windings against the pole body so as to oppose the centrifugal force during rotation of the rotor, they too experience high centrifugal forces. The centrifugal forces may cause the support wedges to slip radially outward away from the shaft of the rotor, thus limiting the ability of the support wedges to secure the windings against the pole body. Particularly if the axial length of a conventional rotor is relatively large in comparison with its diameter, the centrifugal forces may cause significant radial deflection or flexure of the support wedges near the rotor""s axial midpoint.
In order to prevent the support wedges from slipping radially outward, a conventional rotor may use bands around the outer diameter of the rotor to retain the support wedges. In another conventional rotor, an xe2x80x9cunderwedgexe2x80x9d system may be employed in which the support wedges extend in their arc length all of the way between neighboring pole tips on the rotor and snap rings are then used to hold the support wedges in place relative to the poles.
These conventional structures for retaining support wedges in place on the rotor are limited in their effectiveness in high-speed generator applications. Both the bands used to retain the support wedges and the components of the underwedge systems (particularly the snap rings) also can suffer from bending from centrifugal forces and therefore may provide only a limited amount of counteracting force to keep the support wedges in place and may create an additional imbalance in the rotor. Additionally, because it is difficult to accurately control the positioning of, and the amount of pressure applied by the bands and underwedge componentry, it may be difficult to accurately set and maintain the positioning of the support wedges and to control the concentricity of the various support wedges around the rotors during operation of the generator. If the support wedges are not concentric (or evenly-spaced) about the rotor""s axis, then the spinning rotor assembly will be out of balance.
Also during operation of the generator, current passes through the wire windings, thereby generating heat. Some of this heat should be removed from the generator, particularly from the windings, to allow efficient operation of the generator and to keep the wire winding temperature below the point where the wire""s insulation begins to break down. If an insufficient amount of heat is removed from the generator, then the power output from the generator may be limited and the insulation of the wires within the generator may degrade. Conventional cooling systems such as air or limited conduction, or spray of the rotor core may, under certain circumstances, not offer sufficient heat dissipating capacity for the high speed generators.
Accordingly, there is a need for a novel rotor assembly and method that will permit a high-speed generator to work at optimum efficiency. There is also a need for a novel rotor assembly and method that will provide improved securing of support wedges on a rotor even at high speeds of operation so that the support wedges will continue to provide support for and direct pressure toward the generator windings. There also is an additional need for a novel rotor assembly and method that will accurately set and maintain the positioning of the support wedges and control the concentricity of the various support wedges mounted around the rotor during operation of the generator. There is an additional need for a novel rotor assembly and method that do not have components that have a tendency to increase rotor imbalance. There is a further need for a novel rotor assembly and method that substantially cool the generator during operation thereof. The present invention fulfills one or more of these needs and may provide other related advantages.
The present invention provides a multi-pole high-speed generator comprising, generally, a rotor assembly with a rotor having an end cap on each end for balancing the rotor and controlling concentricity and cooling thereof during generator operation. The method of cooling the generator using the end caps is also provided.
The rotor includes a plurality of poles that extend radially away from the shaft, each of which is wound with conductors, called windings. The rotor is defined by a generally cylindrical rotor body with a shaft extending axially through the rotor. The shaft includes a bore extending from a first end having an opening to a second closed end. Additionally, orifices extending radially from the bore are provided in a side wall of the shaft near the first and second ends thereof. The number of orifices at each end of the shaft corresponds to the number of poles.
A support wedge is mounted in the area between each of the respective poles. The support wedge may include an outer support wedge and an inner support wedge. The position of the outer support wedge is accurately set and restrained on the rotor by the end caps. A first and a second end of each of the outer support wedges include paired openings arranged either along an outer edge of the outer support wedge in the first embodiment or along the same radial line in an alternative embodiment. The first and second ends of the outer support wedges in the first embodiment may also include at least one supply port which is open to at least one axial channel in the outer support wedges for flow of a cooling medium, preferably oil.
The end caps comprise a substantially circular end wall circumferentially surrounded by an annular flange. The annular flange projects inwardly from the end wall toward the opposite end cap. The end caps include paired end cap openings with each pair at 90 degree angles to each other. In the first embodiment, the paired end cap openings are arranged circumferentially with a separate cooling medium feed port between the openings in each pair. In an alternative embodiment, the paired end cap openings may be arranged along the same radial line with at least one of the openings in each pair serving as the cooling medium feed port. The at least one of the openings in each pair may be slightly larger to effect this purpose. Each of the end caps also include a bore substantially in the center of the end wall and a raised peripheral edge having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings provided therein for insertion of weights to help balance the rotor.
The end caps also include a manifold for circulating the cooling medium through the rotor. The manifold is at a hub location on the interior of each end cap. The manifold includes an annulus at an inner face of the bore and cooling medium galleries that extend radially away from the annulus toward an inner surface of the flange. The cooling medium galleries are each capped by a plug at an outer surface of the flange. The number of cooling medium galleries in each end cap corresponds to the number of support wedges. The end caps and/or the outer support wedges may include a groove for a sealing member between the end caps and the outer support wedges.
To assemble the rotor, the end caps are positioned on the respective ends of the rotor body with the bore centered around the shaft to substantially maintain rotor centerline control during generator operation. The annular flange extends circumferentially around the axial ends of the rotor body including the axial ends of the outer support wedges to help restrain them against the windings. After being machined to provide close tolerance fits, the ends of the outer support wedges are substantially centered under the inside of each flange. In the first embodiment, the separate cooling medium feed port in the end caps are mated with the at least one supply port in the first and second ends of the outer support wedges. The paired end cap openings are mated with the paired openings in the first and second ends of the outer support wedges. Axial screws are inserted into the paired end cap openings and then into the corresponding paired openings in the ends of the outer support wedges. In the alternative embodiment, this means that at least one of the end cap openings in each pair serves as both the cooling medium feed port and receives the axial screws and at least one of the paired openings in the first and second ends of the other support wedges serves as the supply port and receives the axial screws.
The bore and the annular flange are shrunk fit respectively around the shaft and over the axial ends of the outer support wedges. Thus, the end caps are shrunk fit both between the shaft at an end cap inner diameter and the outer support wedges at an end cap outer diameter. The end caps seal the rotor ends and restrain the support wedges tightly against the windings. When the end caps are disposed over a first and second end of the rotor body, each of the cooling medium galleries in the end caps radially extend from one of the orifices in the shaft to the at least one supply port in each end of the outer support wedges. The first end of the rotor body is the anti-drive end, and the second end of the rotor body is the drive end.
During operation of the generator, the cooling medium flows into the first end of the shaft, exits the shaft radially out the orifices at a second end of the shaft, through the annulus to the cooling medium galleries in the end cap at the second end of the rotor body, into at least one feed port into that end cap and into the at least one supply port in the second end of each of the outer support wedges, through the axial channels of the outer support wedges extracting heat, then out the at least one supply port at the first end of each of the outer support wedges, through the radial cooling medium galleries of the end cap at the first end of the rotor body, out the annulus of that end cap and into the orifices at the first end of the shaft for exiting out the open first end of the shaft and removing heat from the rotor.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Rotor end caps and a method of cooling a high speed generator


Methods, systems and software are disclosed for automated Measurement of Video Quality parameters. The system includes a static Test Pattern provided either in form of a Test Pattern File, converted via a standard playout device (test source) into analog or digital test signal and supplied to the input of a System Under Test, or in form of a Reflectance Chart installed before the front-end device of the System Under Test, such as TV camera. The system also includes a video capture device connected to the back-end device of the System Under Test, e.g. to the output of system decoder/player. A Video Quality Analyzer processes the captured video data and generates a detailed Analysis Report.

With the introduction of advanced digital delivery systems for audio and video, there is an increased awareness of the relationship between subjective (perceived) quality and objective (measured) quality of video images presented to the observer's eye. Video quality is a characteristic of a video passed through a video transmission/processing system, a formal or informal measure of perceived video degradation (typically, compared to the original video). Video processing systems may introduce some noticeable amounts of distortion or artifacts in the video signal, so video quality evaluation is an important problem.
Currently there are many tools for analyzing video quality utilizing the Full Reference Methods (FR) such as dual-stimulus methodology based on calculation of differences between original and processed video data and subsequent transformation of these differences in accordance with predetermined metrics.
Typically, objective methods are often classified based on the availability of the original video signal, which is considered to be of high quality (generally not compressed). These metrics are usually used when the video coding method is known. PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) is the most widely used objective video quality metric. However, PSNR values do not perfectly correlate with a perceived visual quality due to non-linear behavior of human visual system. The PSNR calculation on the pre-selected set of live clips is very long and tedious job, so in fact it is executed only during acceptance test of some large-scale systems. In other words, this methodology is not suitable for fast measurement of large quantity of different video processors and/or processing modes/profiles. More sophisticated metrics require even more calculations, thus they are even less suitable for fast objective measurements.
Moreover, PSNR compression artifacts metering implies that both A and B picture have same resolution, horizontal and vertical positions, video levels and (very important)—same frequency response, i.e. both pictures are perfectly aligned in space and time. Only under these conditions PSNR reading correlates well with subjective quality estimates. In modern content delivery systems such conditions are very seldom satisfied.
A second approach is represented by well established techniques of measuring objective video processing parameters on some artificial matrix test pattern. This approach captures video data and subsequently analyzes the captured video data. However, automatic video analyzers in this approach suffer from lack of flexibility: they are limited to a short list of video image resolutions and signal formats—any image size/position/resolution deviation from perfect match results in a failure of the analysis process. Additionally, analysis of pre-captured data files is not supported. With application to the analysis of video cameras performance, analyzers of this kind provide mainly waveform monitor functionality, i.e. only manual controls, thus excluding any automated analysis.
A third approach is represented, for example, by IE-Analyzer made by Image Engineering, Gmbh in Germany. This automated hardware/software tool is suitable for accurate and detailed camera performance analysis, but requires a nearly perfect setup of lighting conditions and camera's pan/zoom/tilt controls. IE-Analyzer can work with pre-captured files, but positioning of dotted lines delimiting the ROI (Region Of Interest) should be done manually. Moreover, for each reported parameter a different reflectance test chart or test pattern transparency is required, so the complete measurement process takes a long time, and nearly perfect studio conditions and highly skilled technical personnel are pre-requisites.


A system and method for authenticating a legacy service using internet technology is disclosed. An authentication module is associated with the legacy server. Service requests from a user of the legacy server are passed to the authentication module. The authentication module generates a service request for a web server, requesting access to a protected page from the web server, and transmits the user's credentials to the web server. The web server attempts to access the protected server, which causes the web server to access a network-based authentication service to determine whether the user's credentials qualify for access to the protected page. The web server transmits a message back to the authentication module, which determines whether the user's credentials qualify for access the legacy server based on the message from the web server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing systems, and particularly to network-based authentication of computer users.
2. Background
In the data processing arts, the term "authentication" refers generally to a process in which a user of a data processing system provides information to the system that permits the computer system to identify the user. Many data processing systems implement authentication systems that assign users a username and an associated password. The data processing system may store the username and password in a data file, e.g., a database. When the user accesses the data processing system, the user enters his or her username and password. The data processing system receives the username and password from the user and cross-references it against information in the data file. If there is a match, then the data processing system may permit the user to access the system. By contrast, if there is not a match, then the user may denied access to the system.
Most computer users are familiar with conventional authentication processes implemented by stand-alone computers. A "stand-alone computer" refers to a computer that is fully functional without having to connect to another device. Since the computer is fully functional, it has a processor, input/output capabilities, and an operating system with a file system. Conventional stand-alone computers may authenticate a user when the user attempts to log into the computer and then, based upon the outcome of the authentication, by either allowing or inhibiting the user form using the services of the computer. The term "services" refers to functionality provided by the computer system, such as access to the file system, e-mail system, or calendaring system.
The data processing environment in large organizations typically incorporates multiple computer networks that provide access to various computer-based services. In such an organization, the computers may be interconnected via a network, such as a local-area network, wide-area network, or the internet. Therefore, it may be advantageous to implement a network-based authentication service.
One technical problem encountered when implementing network-based authentication services is that legacy systems may not be compatible with network-based authentication services. Thus, there is a need in the art for systems and methods that permit legacy systems that are not compatible with a local user database or with network-based authentication services to authenticate users.

Authenticating legacy service via web technology


Sulfur-containing poly(alkenyl) ethers can be incorporated into the backbone of polythioether prepolymers and can be used as curing agents in thiol-terminated polythioether prepolymer compositions. Cured sealants prepared using compositions containing sulfur-containing poly(alkenyl) ether-containing polythioether prepolymers and/or sulfur-containing poly(alkenyl) ether curing agents exhibit improved physical properties suitable for use in aerospace sealant applications.

Sulfur-containing polythioether prepolymers are known to be useful in aerospace sealant applications. Polythioether prepolymers can be prepared by reacting a polythiol with a divinyl ether to provide prepolymers that provide sealants that meet the demanding performance requirements of the aerospace industry.
Among other requirements, aerospace sealants must be resistant to aerospace fluids including aviation fuel and exhibit a low glass transition temperature and an onset of solidification at low temperature. Divinyl ethers used to prepare polythioethers have not included sulfur atoms.
It is desirable to provide polythioether prepolymers that exhibit improved properties for aerospace applications.

Sulfur-containing poly(alkenyl) ethers, prepolymers incorporating sulfur-containing poly(alkenyl) ethers, and uses thereof


A Multilevel Security (MLS) server provides MLS functionality to single-level applications running on a remote Multiple Independent Level Security (MILS) or MLS client device. More specifically, the MLS server provides a plurality of different security domains in which applications can execute. The client device executes a single-level application in a first security domain, the single-level application not natively capable of communicating with other domains. The single-level application in the first security domain sends a request to the MLS server. The MLS server receives the request, passing it to all applicable domains, including a second security domain, where it is duly executed. The MLS server then provides the results of the request execution—if any—back to an appropriate application on the client device. For example, the single-level application in the first security domain can display the aggregated results obtained from multiple distinct security domains, or an application running in the second security domain can display the results.

1. Field of Art
This invention pertains in general to software application architectures, and in particular to architectures for developing applications comprising application components within multiple security domains.
2. Description of the Related Art
In organizations for which computer security is a high concern, such as in military or defense-related organizations, the organizations have traditionally chosen to structure their computer information systems as a set of security domains corresponding to different levels of security. Each domain, such as "Top secret," "Secret," and "Unclassified" domains, is a labeled collection of computer resources such as files, processes, and devices that share the same security classification label corresponding to a particular security level and are governed by rules that limit or prohibit communication or sharing with computing resources in other security domains having different classification labels. Each domain has a set of authorized users who may gain access to the resources associated with that domain. The domains are typically arranged in a hierarchy of security levels according to the Bell-LaPadula model, such that some domains are more secret than, or at least as secret as, other domains. Such domains are said to "dominate" the other domains. For example, a "Top Secret" domain corresponding to a particular high security level could dominate the "Secret" and "Unclassified" domains corresponding to lower security levels, and "Secret" could dominate "Unclassified." (Domains may also be said to dominate themselves.) Information may be shared "upwards," i.e. users authorized to access information in a higher secrecy domain may view information in lower secrecy domains without constituting a security problem, but information should not be shared "downwards." For example, "Top secret" information should not be accessible from the "Secret" or "Unclassified" domains. A person, a program, or other entity is said to be "cleared" to access information at a given security level if that entity is authorized to view information at that level and any lower levels. For example, a person with authorization to access the "Top secret" level and all levels below it is said to have "Top secret clearance." However, using traditional system designs, the domains are typically physically separated. Thus, for example, a user might be obliged to have multiple computer systems at the user's desk, one for each security domain, or to go to a separate office to access a different security domain.
Some conventional computing systems do permit multiple security domains to be accessed via a single hardware unit, such as by running multiple separate instances of an operating system on a single workstation, one instance per security domain. For example, such a workstation might run an instance of MICROSOFT WINDOWS at a "Top secret" level, another instance at a "Secret" level, and another instance at an "Unclassified" level. This simulates multiple, separate networked computers associated with different security domains and is referred to as a Multiple Independent Level Security (MILS) system. However, the various domains are logically isolated from each other, such that a user logged in to a system for one security domain cannot access resources from a different security domain. Users can (if authorized) switch between the different security domains of the MILS system and can run applications within each domain, but the applications are "single-level" —that is, they run only within a single domain of the MILS system and have no knowledge of, or access to, other domains. This inability to access information from different security domains makes MILS systems cumbersome and ineffective. For example, using a MILS system in which a user was logged into the "Top Secret" domain, the user could access files and messages associated with the "Top Secret" domain, but would be obliged to log in separately to the "Secret" domain to access files and messages associated with the "Secret" domain. Further, the user would have to access each security domain (e.g., each operating system instance) within its own separate window representing that domain, since the different domains cannot interact, much less comingle information from different domains within the same window.
A Multilevel Security System (MLS) provides the ability to access resources associated with one security domain from within a different security domain. For example, an MLS system will not only permit applications that are running at separate security levels to simultaneously share a monitor, keyboard, and mouse (for example), but will also permit an application with sufficient privileges to access data and services from multiple distinct domains. For example, an MLS desktop will display applications from multiple levels each in their own window on the desktop, as opposed to having them run in their own, separate, "virtual" desktop as in a MILS system). However, creating MLS-enabled applications that do not inadvertently compromise the security of the different domains can be difficult. One approach is for application creators to rely on trusted middleware that has been certified to manage the inter-domain communication in a manner that does not compromise security. However, even trusted middleware can pose a security threat in the case of systems where intruders may gain administrative privileges. This is particularly the case for client systems, where security settings are typically less rigorously administered than on server systems, and where direct access to the system is much more common than with servers, which can generally only be accessed remotely.
Additionally, many MLS-enabled applications rely on the underlying operating system to itself provide basic MLS functionality, such as SOLARIS system calls that change the security label identifying the domain with which a particular resource is associated. However, many popular operating systems, such as MICROSOFT WINDOWS, do not provide the mechanisms, such as labeling files and processes, that are used to implement MLS functionality. Thus, these "single-level" operating systems cannot run MLS applications, and users wishing to use MLS applications are therefore limited to operating systems that provide the requisite MLS functionality. This restriction is a disappointment to many users, who would prefer to be able to use their favorite operating systems and the associated applications.

Server-based architecture for securely providing multi-domain applications


Provided is a semiconductor device having high planarity in an in-plane direction. This semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first plating film pattern, a second plating film pattern, and an insulating layer. The semiconductor substrate has a first surface, and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface. The first plating film pattern includes a first portion that covers a first regional portion of the first surface, and a second portion that is stacked to cover a portion of the first portion. The second plating film pattern includes a third portion that covers a second regional portion different from the first regional portion of the first surface, and also includes a fourth portion that is stacked to cover a portion of the third portion. A portion between the second portion and the fourth portion is filled with the insulating layer.

There has been proposed a semiconductor device (for example, PTL 1) that includes a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor element formed on a front surface thereof, and also includes a through electrode that penetrates the semiconductor substrate from the front surface to the back surface and is coupled to the semiconductor element.

Semiconductor device, imaging unit, and electronic apparatus

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


Various embodiments of the disclosure provide apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for predictive data labelling using a dual-model system. Embodiments provide various advantages in accuracy of predicted labels, for example in various contexts such as medical data analysis for difficult to diagnose diseases. An example provided apparatus is configured to generate a positive, neutral, and negative candidate identifier sets and corresponding positive, neutral, and negative candidate index sets based in part on applying a candidate selection rule set to a candidate data set; train a candidate label probabilistic model based at least in part on a candidate label training subset associated with the candidate data set associated with the positive and negative candidate identifiers; generate a candidate positive-label probability set using at least the candidate label probabilistic model; train a historical record prediction model to predict the candidate positive-label probability set; and utilize the historical record prediction model.

Conventional systems for data labeling often utilize a defined source of truth. In such circumstances, training and/or labeling for complex tasks (e.g., where a definitive test is not readily available) may make it difficult to appropriately label data associated with various users. One such example context is in labelling users for the purposes of candidacy for a treatment, therapeutic, trial, or diagnostic intervention. A definitive diagnosis of a disease may represent different disease physiologies with a final shared clinical appearance, which makes identifying appropriate candidates for such treatment, therapeutic, trial, or diagnostic intervention difficult. Often, candidates that are not undoubtably into one camp or another (e.g., a case or a control) are discarded for the purposes of forming such cohorts. Applicant has discovered problems with conventional systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data labelling, and through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, Applicant has solved many of these identified problems by developing a solution that is embodied in the present disclosure, which is described in detail below.

Apparatus, computer program product, and method for predictive data labelling using a dual-prediction model system


The invention relates to a resorbable multifilament comprising a number of individual resorbable filaments of a first type having a first degradation time and a number of individual resorbable filaments of a second type having a second degradation time, wherein the filaments of the first type and the filaments of the second type are arranged in close relationship to form a composite multifilament having a length and a specific composite cross-section comprising cross-sections of the individual filaments of the first type and second type, wherein the cross-sections of the individual filaments of the first and second type are located at determined relative positions, wherein the relative positions amongst the individual cross-sections of the filaments of the first and second types are invariant over the length of the composite multifilament.

Within the field of surgical repair of soft tissue defects such as hernias, use is often made of a mesh implant fabricated of a non-resorbable material that is inserted to cover the area of the tissue defect without sewing together the surrounding muscles. Such a mesh implant is most often made from various plastics, which are known to be biostable and safe for a number of years after implantation. However, it is known that such inert mesh materials can result in discomfort, inflammation, and recurrence of the hernia. Furthermore, permanently introducing a foreign material into the human (or animal) body could be accompanied with side effects such as migration, chronic inflammation, and chronic pain. The introduction of a relatively large inert implant is also likely to induce a long-term foreign-body-reaction caused by the body's immune defense system. As a result, the mesh implant may crumple up and lose its tissue supporting function.
An alternative approach is to make a mesh implant from a biodegradable polymer. Further, it is known to make a mesh implant from two different degradable polymers, either to improve the handling characteristics of such a mesh implant or to match the mechanical characteristics of such a mesh implant to the body's healing process of a hernia or other soft tissue defect.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,962 to Hinsch et al. discloses an areal implant, which in one embodiment comprises a first resorbable polymer fiber arranged in a basic structure, into which a multifilament thread made from a second resorbable polymer has been woven for stiffening of the areal implant, to thereby facilitate handling during a medical implant procedure, e.g. when cutting to size and insertion. Here, the stiffening thread has a degradation time which is shorter than the degradation time of the polymer fibers of the basic structure.
Another example of degradable mesh implant is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,841, which is assigned to the present assignee and whose entire contents are incorporated herein by reference for the implant devices, techniques, materials, and methods disclosed therein. This patent describes a mesh implant made from at least two different polymeric fibers having different degradations times and also different moduli of elasticity, which are knitted together to form a mesh implant with time-dependent mechanical behavior. In this mesh implant, a first polymer fiber is arranged in a first knit pattern and a second polymer fiber is arranged in a second knit pattern, which is different from the first knit pattern and which locks movement of the first knit pattern. U.S. Published Applications 2006/0142786 and 2007/0299542 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,755), which are assigned to the present assignee, also describe various implant devices, techniques, materials, and methods and their entire contents are incorporated herein by reference for the implant devices, techniques, materials, and methods disclosed therein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multifilaments with time-dependent characteristics, and medical products made from such multifilaments


Provided herein are data structures, processes and systems to facilitate scheduling of complex work orders to a mobile workforce. Complex work orders are comprised of several distinct sub-orders that require coordinated scheduling because the start of one sub-order is dependent on the start or completion of another. The data structure provided herein identifies a set of member sub-orders required for completing complex work orders and relates those sub-orders to one another by precedence criteria that establish which sub-orders are dependent on which other sub-orders. This data structure is used in computer processes integrated with workforce management systems to permit such systems to schedule and/or assign individual work orders in a coordinated manner to satisfy the precedence criteria. Also provided are processes for validating the completion of predecessor sub-orders prior to starting successor sub-orders and transmitting warning messages to field technicians when the precedence criteria have not been satisfied.

Managing the scheduling and distribution of work orders to a workforce composed of several mobile service technicians has been facilitated in recent years, by use of computer programs for tracking, scheduling and assigning work orders from the time of receipt of request for an order from until the time of completion by the service technician. Collectively, such computer programs are designated herein as workforce management systems (WMSs).
The WMSs presently in use treat each work order as a discrete unit of work, requiring a discrete duration of time, at a discrete location within a service area by a workforce of technicians operating in that service area. For example, three mobile technicians for a telecommunications company in area X may each be able to service three different types of ordinary work orders, designated O1, O2 and O3 where O1 typically requires a half-hour to complete, O2 requires an hour to complete and O3 requires two hours to complete. Treatment of these work orders as discrete time commitments permits the assignment of work orders to technicians independently of the assignment of any other work order. In the above example, any of the three technician can be scheduled to complete any of the three types of work orders in any sequence to fill that technicians work shift. Independent scheduling allows a WMS to schedule the work orders in a manner that is most efficient for the a technician and for the workforce as a whole.
A common factor impacting efficiency is travel time. For example, it may be more efficient for a technician to complete three work orders according to the sequence O3 before O2 before O1, than to complete them according to the sequence O2 before O3 before O1, if the locations of O2 and O1 are in close proximity to one another and distant from O3. It would be a waste of travel time to make two distant trips (from O2 to O3 and again from O3 to O1) when only one distant trip (from O3 to O2) needs to made. Several WMSs schedule work orders to minimize travel time for technicians in the workforce.
Another factor impacting efficiency is customer appointment time. It is often desirable to schedule the start of a work order to occur in a fixed appointment time window as required by a customer. This poses a constraint on workforce scheduling efficiency. If for example, half-hour work order O1 has an appointment time window of 3:30 to 4:00 pm and all technicians end their shifts at 5:00 pm, then a two-hour work order O2 cannot be scheduled to start after O1 because there would not be sufficient time to complete the order. It would therefore be more efficient to schedule O2 before O1 and perhaps to schedule another half hour order to occur after O1. Certain WMSs, are able to assign work orders to satisfy customer appointment times, because when work orders are discrete, they can readily be assigned to any available technician with an opening in his schedule.
Treating work orders as discrete work orders is only useful when the work orders are independent of one another. Unfortunately, when two or more work orders are related in terms of the relative time one order can start with respect to the completion of another, they cannot be scheduled independently from one another without the risk of a failed assignment. A failed assignment occurs where one order cannot be started according to schedule because it depends on another order that has not been completed. A set of work orders that bear such a dependancy relationship with one another are referred to herein as a complex work order and each related work order in the set is referred to as a "sub-order." An example of a complex work order is the installation of a cable service at a newly constructed residence. Such an order may require digging a trench, laying a cable in the trench and connecting the cable to a cable box in the residence. If one technician arrives on-site to lay the cable before the trench is complete he would have a failed assignment, likewise a second technician cannot connect the cable to the box until the cable is available.
The scheduling of complex work orders is not adequately addressed by existing WMSs. Such systems typically treat work orders as independent work assignments that can only be scheduled as discrete units without regard to their relationship to any other work order. If an order is a complex work order, a separate entry must be made in the WMS for each discrete sub-order in a procedural manner that ensures each required work order will be completed in the proper sequence. Such a process is inefficient, prone to error, and produces scheduling solutions that are undesirable. For example, one complex work order requiring three independent sub-orders taking one-half hour to complete may take three days to finish, because each independent sub-order is entered into the WMS on three different days to ensure that one order is complete before the next is scheduled. There is therefore, a need in the art for data structures, processes and systems for managing complex work orders.

Methods and systems for scheduling complex work orders for a workforce of mobile service technicians


A method and apparatus for on-line measurement and forecasting of a species concentration while a reaction is taking place, based on the measurement of the electrical conductivity of the reacting volume, and using such measurement to evaluate a first mathematical function relating such value to the concentration of the species in the reacting volume. The evaluation of the first mathematical function requires as inputs: electrical conductivity trajectory, time elapsed, and other significant process variables; it generates as outputs the estimated actual species concentration and at least one forecasted concentration value.

Measuring concentration is not an easy task in engineering and process practice. Most concentration (or analysis) sensors are designed specifically for certain type of species. Other general methods, such as chromatography and spectroscopy, require sampling and laboratory analysis hence are not suitable for on-line measurement of the concentration.
Some works that measure concentration using indirect measurement variables can be listed as follows:                Concentration distribution in a fluid by electric impedance tomography [Ijaz et. al., 2007]        Lactic acid concentration estimation in fermentation broth by conductivity measurement, [Payot et. al., 1997]        Method for determining component concentration in three-component mixture, [Sota et. al., 2002], U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,426.        Method and apparatus for analyzing chemical composition, [Markant et. al., 1970], U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,820        Arrangement for determining concentration of measurement liquid with neural network based on conductivity, [Schwulera and Riegel, 2000], German Patent Office, DE 198 35 137 A 1.
Out of the previous methods, numbers 2 and 5 use conductivity, however in a non-dynamic way, and based on a direct data-driven inference, which makes them radically different from the approach taken in this invention.
When the task of measuring concentration is focused in a chemical reactor, it becomes even more challenging, since concentration exhibits a dynamic behavior that most sensors are not capable of taking into account.
So far, common production practices and technology call for off-line sample analysis from the product stream, and the reacting volume is monitored for operational variables such as temperature and pressure, but not for product quality purposes. Product stream analysis is performed by sampling every often and taking those samples to a laboratory.
Lately, some estimation methods have been developed to monitor a progressing reaction based on the use of in-situ viscometer [Elli, et. al., 2007] and fiber-optic near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy [Knothe, 2000]. Later, the NIR method by Knothe was used to measure biodiesel content in a hydrocarbons mixture, useful in blending applications, as presented on U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,411. Using a viscometer requires adding a moving element into the reaction vessel. NIR spectroscopy is a very expensive technology, not always suitable for the plant floor, and it also requires a well trained operator. Also, the methods presented in the literature, do not explicitly take into account dynamic behavior.
An unfulfilled need addressed by the present invention is to provide an automated method and a non-moving apparatus to measure species concentration in the reaction vessel based on a variable measurement easily understood by the process operators and technicians.

Method and apparatus for on-line estimation and forecasting of species concentration during a reaction by measuring electrical conductivity


In the preparatory stage, among all possible lines in two rectangular windows (12) and (14), assuming dust, a flaw or the like to be a part of a line, the most valid one is recognized as a line, and the inclination and characteristic values of the line are obtained, and then each rectangular window is deformed into a parallelogram-shaped window along this inclination. In the detecting stage, the inclination and characteristic values of the line to be detected are obtained by use of the parallelogram-shaped windows. Thus, even if image data is inferior, the detection of a line is possible, so that it is possible to detect a weld line, an edge of an object of detection, etc. with high accuracy.

As a known method of detecting a line by use of an image processing method, as described above, there is a method wherein an image is converted to binary form and a position that changes from black to white or from white to black is detected. Another method is known wherein differentiation is performed by use of a matrix of pixels arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns.
The method wherein a line or an edge is detected by converting the image to binary form requires that the ambient brightness and the work condition be fixed, since the binary image changes with a change in the ambient brightness.
The method that employs a 3.times.3 matrix is affected by a local change of the brightness and hence cannot provide a clear image, so that, if the brightness of the image changes gently, points where the brightness changes, that is, the periphery of the image, cannot be found. In addition, if the image has a stain or the like adjacent a rectilinear line to be detected, there is a strong possibility of inviting an erroneous detection. In addition, since a large number of arithmetic operations are required, the processing speed is low.
Accordingly, these methods can be applied in a case where the input image is constant and clear, but not in inferior surroundings such as those in which an articulated industrial robot performs an operation, for example, welding.
In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting a line or an edge as an object of detection with high reliability even in an operation performed in surroundings where conditions are not constant and the work is extremely stained.

Line detecting method using two rectangular windows passing through the line to be detected


An accessory for simulating a knot on a necktie or scarf covering a looped section of the material. The knot simulator is held in place by a slot along the length of the cover channel to permit compression of the material, a flocked interior of the channel produces a frictional surface, and a resilient retainer enters the channel and resists one-way accidental removal. Decoration and further holding is included through a tie tack or earring aperture.

Tying a knot in an elongated length of material requires some skill especially in positioning the knot and is often bothersome and time consuming in that the knot has to be continually untied and retied to get the knot positioned correctly along the length of the material. Further, when the knot is tied many times, the material becomes worn and wrinkled at the knot position especially when the material is fabricated from certain materials such as silk.
Further, the correct positioning of the knot is often hard to determine because the lengths of the different ends must be different before tying the knot in order to anticipate what the lengths are going to be after the knot has been tied. The free ends of the material must be arranged rather precisely, especially if the material has a non-repetitive or intricate pattern, before tying the knot so that the knot will not interrupt the pattern in an unpleasing manner and be correctly located such that the lengths are appropriate.
Knot covers and simulators for neckties are well known in the art. Knot covers are primarily employed for purposes of appearance. The cover can hide soiled or wrinkled cloth or a poorly made knot. The user is still subjected to the laborious and time consuming task of first tying a knot. Simulators generally have open ends at the top through which the ends of the necktie are received to be pulled together at a common opening at the bottom to give the appearance of a knot. Advantageously, the need to tie a knot is eliminated. However, since a standard length tie includes material lessen to be used in the making of the knot, the knot simulator yields an unsightly tie of excessive length.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a knot cover that permits the wearer to correctly position the elongated lengths of material into the separate lengths desired before attaching the knot cover.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which will eliminate the need to tie a knot yet will yield a tie of proper length.
The prior art has also provided various types of clip means to hold the elongated lengths of material. The clips operate to hold the panels of the neck tie to simulate a tied appearance. As with all clip apparatus for neck ties, the clips are often seen and detract from the appearance of the wearer in that the wearer is wearing a ready-made tie and not the standard four-in-hand necktie which is usually more pleasing to the viewer. The knot simulators that include the clips had the advantage over the other prior art in that it firmly held the elongated pieces of material and positioned the knot such that the knot did not slip.
It is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide a knot simulator and cover which includes a retaining means to hold the knot simulator into place along the length of the material.


A device and a method for loading a food processing machine, in particular a filling machine or a cutter, with food, including a container for receiving the food, a lifting means by which the container can be driven upwards, a drive for the lifting means, and a measuring means for detecting the amount of food in the container.

In the food industry, lifting means are employed for loading food processing machines, for example vacuum filling machines or cutters. These lifting means are usually realized as arm lifting means or else as pole lifting means and can be attached to a machine, for example a vacuum filling machine or a cutter, or else be designed as an independent unit ("stand-alone unit"). These lifting means are designed for receiving partially standardized containers, for example mobile sausage meat trolleys (i.e. provided with rollers). In the process, the sausage meat trolley is typically transferred into the receiving unit of the lifting means such that it is securely locked against falling out and transferred by means of the lifting means, for example, upwards over the feed hopper of a vacuum filling machine. There, the sausage meat trolley is then emptied into the feed hopper. Subsequently, the sausage meat trolley is returned to its original position by means of the lifting means and removed again by the operator by releasing the locking at the lifting means. In the loading of cutters, the cutter bowl is correspondingly loaded.
The upward movement of the arm lifting means can here be designed to be superposed with the tipping movement. The upward movement of the lifting means and thus the movement of the sausage meat trolley is here effected, just as the downward movement, at a nearly constant lifting or lowering speed, apart from unintentionally acting influencing factors (e.g. vibrations).
In most cases, the lifting means comprise a hydraulic drive. In this case, the drive (i.e. for example the hydraulic pump) is operated at such high power that a maximally required lifting force (e.g. >3000 N) is provided which is greater than the maximum load corresponding to a maximum filling or a maximally admissible load (e.g. 3000 N). Even if the sausage meat trolley is only half filled, this force is provided, and the drive runs at a correspondingly high power.
For safety reasons, there is a demand on the food machines to control the downward movement of the sausage meat trolley, among other things to prevent a person located under the sausage meat trolley that moves downwards from being injured by an automatic and thus possibly uncontrolled downward movement. This safety requirement is realized in practice by a so-called "dead man's control" where the operator must continuously press a button during the lowering of the sausage meat trolley from its horizontal position on; otherwise the downward movement is stopped immediately.
The known lifting means, however, involves essential disadvantages. For example, the operator must continuously press a button during the downward movement from the horizontal line on and thus he cannot work productively. Moreover, before tipping the next sausage meat trolley into the vacuum filler, the operator must ensure that the hopper is sufficiently empty for receiving the contents of a completely filled sausage meat trolley, so that no sausage meat flows over the hopper's edge. To ensure this, one normally waits for a longer time than required. All this in practice leads to unnecessary waiting times and hinders the operating sequence.
Since for ensuring a perfect function, the maximum force of the lifting means (e.g. >3000 N) is always applied, the risk of injury to persons or the risk of damaging objects located in the motion travel of the lifting means increases as e.g. with a half filled sausage meat trolley, the power reserve (e.g. 1500 N) leads to a high risk.

Device and method for loading a food processing machine, in particular a filling machine or a cutter, with food

ALBERT HANDTMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO