A photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer having conjugated polyenes and sulfonic acid groups and an absorbance ratio of a strong band in the region of 1200 cm.sup.-1 to 1300 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups adjacent to conjugated polyenes of at least 3 sequence lengths to a strong band near 1050 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups in the IR spectrum of at least 0.6. The photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer is obtained by the sulfonation of a polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 or a polymer having conjugated polyenes and a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 and selected from the group consisting of (a) a homopolymer or copolymer of an olefin having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (b) a homopolymer or copolymer of a halogenated olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and a copolymer of the halogenated olefin and an olefin having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (c) a homopolymer or copolymer of an olefin having a polar group and a copolymer of the olefin and an olefin having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (d) a crosslinked aromatic polymer comprising 50 to 98% by mol of a monovinyl or monovinylidene aromatic monomer unit and 2 to 50% by mol of a polyvinyl monomer unit; and (e) a homopolymer or copolymer having conjugated polyenes of at least 3 sequence lengths. The photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer is useful for information recording materials capable of being recorded by a laser beam or a thermal head for preparing printing plates, especially offset printing plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymers having sulfonic acid groups and a process for producing the same. More specifically, it relates to photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymers which are sensitive not only to an ultraviolet ray, visible lights and a near infrared ray but also to heat and are useful as an information recording material from the industrial point of view.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As sulfonic acids sensitive to light, aromatic sulfonic acids are well known. For example, as reported in Chemistry and Industry, 21, 399-400 (1977), anthracene-9-sulfonates and naphthalene-1-sulfonates react to a UV ray from a mercury lamp to cause desulfonylation (-SO.sub.2) or desulfonation (-SO.sub.3). Japanese Patent Publication (OPI) No. 118501/1974 discloses a method of forming image patterns by using a CO.sub.2 gas laser beam. This method comprises subjecting the surface layer of a shaped article of an oleophilic resin to chemical treatment to convert the surface layer into a hydrophilic layer and irradiating the hydrophilic layer with a laser beam to selectively remove the hydrophilic layer exposed to the laser beam. As one example of the chemical treatment, compounds having an aromatic ring such as polystyrene are sulfonated. However, in order for the hydrophilic layer to be rendered photosensitive, a UV ray is necessary. Recently, information recording systems using a laser beam which is modulated in response to output signals from a computer have been commercialized, and when the above described materials are employed in these systems, a UV laser beam must be employed. However, the UV laser generator is not only large and expensive but also the sensitivity efficiency is low, and accordingly it is difficult for such a generator to be employed industrially. Further, since the hydrophilic layer is etched by a violent thermal decomposition with the use of a laser beam, a lot of energy is necessary for forming image patterns and the resolution is lowered due to the adhesion of burned scales and polymer scums formed to the imaging portions, and as a result there has been no commercialization of this system.
For example, a compound having a sulfonic acid group in the molecule such as polyvinylsulfonic acid shows neither photosensitivity nor heat-sensitivity. This compound shows characteristic bands near 1050 cm.sup.-1 and near 1175 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups in the IR spectrum as illustrated (B) in the drawing (FIGURE). Further, a polymer having aromatic nuclei in the molecule such as polystyrene can easily be sulfonated with concentrated sulfuric acid or fuming sulfuric acid to introduce sulfonic acid groups onto the nuclei but the sulfonated polymer shows neither photosensitivity nor heat-sensitivity. A sulfonated polymer shows a band near 1050 cm.sup.-1 and a characteristic band in the region of 1100 cm.sup.-1 to 1200 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups introduced into the aromatic nuclei.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,258 discloses resinous enclosure members obtained by sulfonating non-aromatic polymers and describes that with only a trace amount of sulfate, substantially all of the sulfur atoms are present in the form of ##STR1## in the sulfonated polymers. Thus it can be said that these sulfonated polymers substantially show neither photosensitivity nor heat-sensitivity.
Japanese Patent Publication (OPI) No. 52392/1985 discloses planographic printing plate materials obtained by sulfonating the surface of a polymer having a water absorption of at most 0.2%. Such materials require a coating of a photosensitive resin on the surface of the sulfonated polymer for forming image patterns. Further, Japanese Patent Publication (OPI) Nos. 102622/1985 and 132760/1985 disclose a method for preparing offset printing plates by forming a hydrophilic layer on a polymer by various types of treatments including sulfonation and removing the hydrophilic and photosensitive groups by exposure to a flash light with an energy density of at least 3.times.10.sup.2 W/cm.sup.2 for an emission period of time of at most 20 milliseconds or exposure to a laser beam with an energy density of at least 1.times.10.sup.6 W/cm.sup.2. This method which does not require various steps such as developing, fixing, etching and a gum coating process is superior as a method of preparing offset printing plates but disadvantageously requires a light of a high energy density.

Photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymers, process for producing the same and process for recording information using the same


Systems and methods for estimating a likelihood of an object element in a given position in a subsurface volume of interest are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: obtain target subsurface data from the subsurface volume of interest; obtain an object element set corresponding to the subsurface volume of interest; generate correlation values as a function of position in the subsurface volume of interest by applying the object filters to the target subsurface data; and generate object element likelihood values by applying the object templates to positions in the subsurface volume of interest corresponding to the correlation values.

Existing technologies may integrate seismic data into models of facies at the reservoir scale to make reservoir models realistic enough to inform reservoir management decisions. Most existing technologies rely on calibrating seismic inversion products or other seismic attributes to well control on a spatial point-by-point basis. Other existing technologies have focused on textures including local window metrics such as contrast, continuity, and other summary statistics. As such, existing technologies rely on point-by-point and texture based attributes to differentiate objects from the background.
However, these methods are sensitive to trace-by-trace seismic error, ignore important geometrical information beyond local information, and often result in correlation between the seismic and well data that is too low to reliably influence reservoir models. As a result, not all relevant seismic information impacts reservoir management decisions.


In an optical fiber device having a configuration in which an optical fiber is joined to a side surface of another optical fiber, a joint portion is suppressed from reaching a high temperature. The optical fiber device includes a first fluoride fiber, a second fluoride fiber, and a heat dissipation member. The first fluoride fiber guides light. The second fluoride fiber has a first end on or from which light is incident or output and a second end at which an end surface of the second fluoride fiber is obliquely joined to a side surface of the first fluoride fiber.

Fibers (active fibers) to which laser active materials are added are used in laser oscillators and light amplifiers. For example, in laser oscillators and light amplifiers in which active fibers made of fluoride are used, in order to cause laser oscillation to occur, pump light is introduced into the fibers from an end surface of the fibers. When pump light is guided in an active fiber, the pump light is absorbed by a core portion to which a laser active material is added, and thus, output light is emitted. At this time, absorption of the pump light by the core causes heat generation in the core.
In particular, compared with commonly used quartz fibers, fluoride fibers have poor thermal resistance, and therefore, in the case of intense pump light, the fibers are deformed or damaged by the generated heat, and it becomes unable to cause laser oscillation and amplification to occur. For this reason, with a configuration in which pump light is introduced into a fiber from an end surface of the fiber, laser output is limited.
To address this issue, it is conceivable to use an optical coupler. A device may have a gain fiber and a pump light fiber connected to a side surface of the gain fiber. The pump light fiber guides pump light from a pumping source to the gain fiber. If a laser oscillator is configured by connecting a plurality of units in each of which a pump light fiber is connected to a side surface of a gain fiber as described above, pump light can be introduced from a plurality of portions. Thus, it is possible to increase the power of pump light that can be introduced, and hence increase the laser output while suppressing heat generation in the gain fiber.


In a method for controlling a camera by using Bluetooth communication in a wireless communication system, a method performed by a first device comprises transmitting to the camera a command message including camera control information for controlling a specific function of the camera; transmitting to the camera a configuration message for setting a trigger point of the camera, where the trigger point is a condition by which specific information is received from the camera; and receiving a notification message including the specific information from the camera.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a wireless communication system supporting Bluetooth communication and more specifically, a method and an apparatus for controlling a camera by using Bluetooth communication.
Discussion of the Related Art
Bluetooth is one of typical short range wireless technologies for exchanging information among various devices such as smart phones, PCs, earphones, and headphones. Bluetooth technology is now adopted by most of smart phones, PCs, and notebooks; and is widely used for the convenience of use. The easy pairing process of Bluetooth technology provides reliable connectivity among different devices. A recent Bluetooth variant LE is capable of providing hundreds of kilobytes of information reliably while requiring considerably reduced power consumption.
The Bluetooth Core Specification comprises BR/EDR (Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate) and LE (Low Energy) version.
Of the two versions, Bluetooth Low Energy (in what follows, it is called 'BLE') is a subset of Bluetooth Specification v4.0, aimed for high energy efficiency compared with the former Bluetooth specifications.
As Bluetooth technology is increasingly adopted for controlling devices on Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), a camera control technology based on Bluetooth is also being widely used. The smart phone function for controlling a digital camera is one of typical examples.
However, current camera control technologies are unilateral, providing only the camera control function (such as still image picture, video recording start & stop, and pan/tilt/zoom control), and there is no other way for a camera to send information to a smartphone.

Method and apparatus for controlling a camera by using Bluetooth communication in a wireless communication system


A method and apparatus for processing a local hot spot, an electronic device and a storage medium. A specific implementation of the method includes: acquiring, at set times, standalone data of each node device and process data of each process within the each node device in a cloud computing environment; detecting, based on the standalone data of each node device and the process data of each process within the each node device, and pre-acquired historical fault data corresponding to each local hot spot, whether each local hot spot satisfies a preset processing condition corresponding to each local hot spot; and processing the local hot spot satisfying the processing condition, in response to detecting that a local hot spot satisfies the corresponding processing condition.

At present, cloud computing services have no pre-set method for solving local hot spots, that is, it is not possible to solve local hot spot problems before they occur, but generally post-solved by simple alarm detection or feedback of the customer's trouble report after a local hot spot problem occurs. Existing technical solutions for local hot spots are all post-solved, and the impact on the customer's business can only be reduced as quickly as possible but cannot be avoided. Specifically, it is due to the following reasons: 1. There is no accurate judgment standard for local hot spots, or only a very rough judgment standard; 2. Because there is no accurate judgment standard, local hot spot problems cannot be automatically and timely detected; 3. Because there are many causes for local hot spot problems, most of which requires manual participation in processing, there is no automatic processing method, and processing takes a long time.

Method and apparatus for processing local hot spot, electronic device and storage medium

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A low pressure container type rolling piston compressor which includes a compression element, a motor element, a rotary shaft with an eccentric portion driven by the motor element, a cylinder for receiving therein the eccentric portion of the rotary shaft, a rolling piston having an inner circumference to which the eccentric portion is fitted and an outer circumference which rolls along the inner wall surface of the cylinder, a vane having an end which is in contact with the outer circumference of the rolling piston to divide the inner space of the cylinder into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, a pair of bearing plates for closing both open ends of the cylinder, a sealing container housing the above-mentioned structural elements and storing at its lower part a lubricating oil wherein a pressure in the sealing container is the same as that in the low pressure chamber and wherein an oil supplying passage is formed in either one of the pair of bearing plates for closing both open ends of the cylinder so as to communicate the low pressure chamber with the inner space of the rolling piston rolling in the cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolling piston type compressor and more. More particularly, relates to a low pressure container type rolling piston compressor having an improved oil supplying means.
2. Discussion of the Background
FIG. 8 shows a conventional rolling piston type compressor disclosed in, for instance, Japanese patent application No. 161299/1988. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 designates a sealing container, numeral 2 designates a cylinder disposed in the sealing container 1, numeral 3 designates a rotary shaft arranged at the axial center of the cylinder 2 and having an eccentric shaft portion, numeral 4 designates a frame or a first bearing plate arranged at an end portion of the cylinder, numeral 5 designates a cylinder head or a second bearing plate arranged at the other end portion of the cylinder, numeral 6 designates a rotor, or a rolling piston revolving in the cylinder 2 in an eccentric manner, numeral 7 designates a low pressure chamber defined by the cylinder and the other elements, numeral 8 designates high pressure chamber, a numeral 9 designates a vane for dividing the inside of in the cylinder into the low pressure chamber and the high pressure chamber, numeral 10 designates a discharge muffler, numeral 11 designates a gear pump for supplying oil, numeral 12 designates a motor element, and numeral 13 designates lubricating oil.
The operation of the conventional rolling piston compressor will now be described.
When the rotary shaft 3 is driven by the motor element 12, oil is supplied from the gear pump 11 placed at an end portion of the rotary shaft 3 to the frame 4 of the rotary shaft 3, bearing portions of the cylinder head 5 and the inner circumferential portion of the rotor 6. Since the rotor 6 is rotated eccentrically in the cylinder 2 and the vane 9 is always in pressing-contact with the rotor 6, the low pressure chamber 7 and the high pressure chamber 8 are formed in the cylinder 2. Gas introduced from the intake pipe (not shown) or the sealing container 1 to the low pressure chamber 7 is compressed, and the compressed gas is discharged through the high pressure chamber 8 to be discharged through a high pressure pipe extending outside the sealing container 1 via the discharge muffler 10 and a discharge pipe (not shown).
In the conventional rolling piston compressor having the above-mentioned construction, a sufficient oil supply is obtained to the bearing portions for supporting the rotary shaft 3. In the case of a high pressure container type compressor, oil supply to the low pressure chamber 7 and the high pressure chamber 8 in the cylinder 2 is conducted by supplying oil through gaps between the structural elements and the rotor 6. However, in the low pressure container type compressor, the pressure of the inner space of the rotor 6 is always lower than that of the high pressure chamber 8 and is the substantially same as that of the low pressure chamber 7. Accordingly, oil supply through the gaps between the rotor 6 and the other structural elements can not be substantially obtained. Therefore, the sealing function in the compressor is decreased. This causes leakage of pressurized gas to increase, performance to be reduced and a use in temperature at the contacting surface between the rotor 6 and the vane 9.

Low pressure container type rolling piston compressor with lubrication channel in the end plate


A surgical table which includes a patient support surface 16 for receiving a patient, a vertically-movable support column connected to and supporting the patient support surface, and a pair of four-bar linkages for laterally tilting patient support surface relative to the support column. The support column includes a base that is mounted for vertical movement between a first position in which the surgical table is movable on rollers and a second position wherein the base contacts the floor to lock the position of the surgical table during a procedure. One or more trays may be pivotally connected to the patient support surface and selectively deployed to hold objects such as surgical instruments.

The present invention generally relates to apparatus for supporting patients during medical procedures and, more specifically, to surgical tables having improved patient access and a stable floor locking mechanism.
Conventional surgical and medical tables are designed to provide a support platform for holding patients in an appropriate position during surgery or a procedure. Floor space in hospital and out-patient operating rooms is at a premium. Therefore, the design of the surgical table must afford surgical team members ready access to various body parts of the patient from various locations along the table before, during or after the surgical or medical procedure and yet minimize the amount of floorspace occupied.
During the surgical or medical procedure, the patient must be maintained stationary. To that end, the surgical table is anchored to the floor in a fixed position within the operating room or procedure room. However, the surgical table must be movable so that it can be repositioned within the operating room or removed from the operating room when unused. The surgical table is repositioned to clean the floor space about the table following the medical procedure. The surgical table may require repositioning to introduce a different surgical table, which is tailored for a specialized procedure, into the operating room.
Conventional medical or surgical tables are mobilized by providing them with multiple pivoting or swivel casters. In one common design for anchoring the position of the surgical table, a plurality of retractable, vertically-movable floor locks are extended to contact the floor. The casters may remain in floor contact or the floor locks may raise the table so that the casters no longer contact the floor. In an elevated position, the table is supported on the legs rather than on the casters. However, such conventional mechanisms are mechanically complex because a set of vertically movable legs must be incorporated into the table design.
The patient support surfaces of conventional surgical tables may only be lowered to within about thirty-one inches of the floor. Because the patient not conveniently located, surgical team members must stand during surgical procedures, which increases fatigue. For certain types of surgeries, it would be advantageous for surgical team members to operate in a seated position.
Surgical team members must work in a close proximity to the patient. If the support surface is significantly wider that the width of the patient""s body, then the surgical team members cannot stand near to the patient""s body. Users of conventional surgical tables, however, commonly utilize portions of the support surface adjacent to the patient""s shoulders as a repository for objects such as instruments, syringes and the like. Therefore, the support surface near the patient""s shoulders will be wide enough to accommodate this common usage. As a result, the surgical team members must lean against the support surface and/or extend their arms outwardly so that all portions of the patient""s body are within arm""s length. In extreme instances, all portions of the patient""s upper torso may not be accessible from a single side of the surgical table.
What is needed, therefore, is a surgical table that optimizes the usage of the space on the patient support surface and the surrounding floorspace and that is mobile and yet can be secured against movement when performing surgery.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table is provided that permits compact lateral tilting of a patient support surface for reducing the height of the patient support surface relative to the floor surface when the surgical table is in a fully lowered condition. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the surgical table includes a patient support surface having a longitudinal axis, a frame attached to the patient support surface, and a base having a support column and a support platform attached to the support column. The surgical table further includes a pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms that allow the frame and the patient support surface to tilt transversely generally about the longitudinal axis and relative to the support platform. Each of the four-bar linkage mechanisms includes a pair of link arms each having one end pivotally attached to the support platform and an opposite end pivotally attached to the frame.
In another embodiment, the surgical table can incorporate an ancillary support surface for small instruments and the like, which permits a reduction in width of the back section of the patient support surface. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the surgical table includes a base and a patient support surface mounted to the base. The patient support surface has a head section for supporting a patient""s head and a longitudinal axis. The surgical table further includes a tray pivotally coupled to the head section of said patient support surface and angularly rotatable about an axis of rotation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient support surface. The tray has a first condition in which angular rotation of the tray about the axis of rotation is inhibited and a second condition in which the tray is rotatable angularly about the axis of rotation. In the first condition, the tray is capable of receiving and supporting a surgical instrument.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a surgical table constructed to provide a mechanically-simple floor-locking mechanism. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the surgical table includes a patient support surface, a base having a base frame, a support column extending between the base frame and the support surface, and a carriage coupled for relative movement with the base frame. The carriage includes a plurality of spaced-apart rolling members so that the surgical table is selectively mobile and a pair of yokes each pivotally coupled to the base frame, each of the yokes carrying at least one of the rolling members. To that end, the surgical table further includes a lifting mechanism operative for transferring a lifting force to the linkages sufficient to move the yokes relative to the base frame. The lifting mechanism is capable of moving capable of moving the yokes relative to the base frame between a first position in which the carriage is movable on the rolling members and a second position in which the carriage is not movable on the rolling members.
Various additional advantages and features of the invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Thermoplastic elastomer blends comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and 1-20% by weight of a water insoluble alkyl cellulose exhibit improved mechanical properties compared to the unblended thermoplastic elastomer. The preferred thermoplastic blend of end polypropylene elastomer is EPDM. The preferred concentrations are 2.5-15%, most preferably 5-12%, all percentages being by weight based on total polymer content. The blends are formed by high shear mixing at a temperature at which both materials are melt processible. The alkyl cellulose in the product is present as domains which are essentially uniformly dispersed in a thermoplastic elastomer matrix.

Reinforcement of elastomers is usually accomplished by the addition of carbon black or short fibers. Such reinforcement is disclosed, for example in L. A. Goettler, et al., Rubber Chem. Technol., vol. 56, pg. 619 (1983) and in S. R. Moghe, Rubber World, pg. 16 (February, 1983). However, it is difficult to achieve uniform dispersion, especially in the case of short fiber reinforcement. In addition, during processing, entanglement or breakage of fibers may occur. In recent years, a series of elastomers reinforced by cellulosic fibers with improved properties has been developed. Their preparation is based on the mixing of melt spun fibers with thermoplastic elastomers.
Liquid crystalline polymers (LCP's) have been mentioned as a possible reinforcement for thermoplastic materials for improvement of their mechanical properties. These so-called self-reinforced composites usually consist of LCP's based on aromatic copolyesters having high melting temperatures. U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,698 to Isayev (the inventor herein) et al. discloses such self-reinforced composites.

Composite thermoplastic elastomer blend and process for preparing the same


The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor chip, a solid plate to which the semiconductor chip is bonded, and a bonding member made of a BiSn-based material interposed between the semiconductor chip and the solid plate, while the bonding member has a heat conduction path made of Ag for improving heat conductivity between the semiconductor chip and the solid plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Reduction in the quantity of lead used in a semiconductor device has recently been required in view of an environmental load, as proposed by RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) instructions enforced in July 2006, for example.
In the semiconductor device, lead is used for an external component such as outer plating of an outer lead in a SOP (Small Outline Package) or a QFP (Quad Flat Package) or a solder ball in a BGA (Ball Grid Array), for example, used outside the device, and an internal component such as a bonding member for a semiconductor chip in the package, for example, used in the device.
The external component is generally rendered lead-free so that the lead content therein is not more than a constant ratio, due to studies of substitutional materials. As to the internal component, however, there is no material suitable for substitution. Therefore, a metal such as 95Pb-5Sn (lead content: 95 wt %), for example, having a high lead content is used for the internal component.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A method and apparatus are provide for dynamically bonding plural workpiece layers together. The apparatus comprises: a first assembly including a rotatable element having an outer circumferential portion adapted to engage one of the workpiece layers; a second assembly including an anvil roll adapted to engage another of the workpiece layers and defining with the rotatable element a nip for receiving the workpiece layers; a drive mechanism for effecting rotation of the rotatable element and the anvil roll; and servo motor apparatus for applying a predefined force to at least one of the rotatable element and the anvil roll so as to bias the rotatable element and the anvil roll together. Further provided is a control system coupled to the servo motor apparatus for varying the force applied by the servo motor apparatus to the at least one of the rotatable element and the anvil roll such that the outer circumferential portion of the rotatable element and the anvil roll engage and bond together predefined portions of the plural workpiece layers passing through the nip.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,854,984 and 4,919,738 disclose a bonding apparatus for bonding portions of plural workpiece layers together, wherein at least one of the workpiece layers comprises a thermoplastic layer. The apparatus comprises a patterned cylinder 22, an anvil cylinder 24, and means 26 for adjustably biasing the cylinders 22 and 24 together. The patterned cylinder 22 is provided with a xe2x80x9csaw-tooth shape pattern of protuberances 51 which extend circumferentially about each end of the cylinder,xe2x80x9d see column 4, lines 65-67 of the ""984 patent. The biasing means 26 comprises pressure regulating means 55 and a pneumatic actuator means 56. The pressure regulating means 55 is coupled to a supply source P of pressurized air and to the pneumatic actuator means 56 and controls the pressure applied by the pneumatic actuator means 56 to the cylinders 22 and 24. Neither the ""984 patent nor the ""738 patent discloses means for adjustably forming discrete lengths of bonded portions within the workpiece layers.
It is also known to bond portions of plural workpiece layers using an apparatus similar to the one disclosed in the ""984 patent where, in place of a patterned cylinder, a support roll, a mounting ring coupled to the support roll and a patterned tool coupled to the mounting ring, are provided. Cams are also provided on the support roll. They engage an anvil cylinder and define when the patterned tool and anvil cylinder come together so as to apply sufficient compressive forces to workpiece layers passing therebetween to bond desired, discrete portions of the workpiece layers. For example, plural workpiece layers may include a plurality of sequential workpiece sections, wherein each workpiece section is bonded to include at least one bonded portion. Further, center points on sequential workpiece sections are separated from one another by a predefined pitch. In order to vary one or more of the length of a bonded portion and the workpiece section pitch, modified cams and a modified patterned tool are typically provided.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bonding apparatus, wherein the lengths of the bonded portions and workpiece section pitch can be varied without requiring the installation of modified tooling and cams.
An apparatus is provided for dynamically bonding plural workpiece layers together. The apparatus comprises: a first assembly including a rotatable element having an outer circumferential portion adapted to engage one of the workpiece layers; a second assembly including an anvil roll adapted to engage another of the workpiece layers and defining with the rotatable element a nip for receiving the workpiece layers; a drive mechanism for effecting rotation of the rotatable element and the anvil roll; servo motor apparatus for applying a predefined force to at least one of the rotatable element and the anvil roll so as to bias the rotatable element and the anvil roll together; and a control system coupled to the servo motor apparatus for varying the force applied by the servo motor to the at least one of the rotatable element and the anvil roll such that the outer circumferential portion of the rotatable element and the anvil roll engage and bond together predefined portions of the plural workpiece layers passing through the nip.

Method and apparatus for friction bonding portions of plural workpiece layers


Disclosed are method for treating diabetes, a protein for treatment of diabetes, and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. The protein is human mature chemerin, which can be used to treat diabetes, in particular type 2 diabetes, inter alia to treat diabetes in a patient who is concurrently administered with insulin.

Obesity and obesity-related diseases are becoming major health problems in many countries. In advanced counties, especially in those in Western Europe, morbidity and mortality due to obesity have been escalating (Non-patent document 1). In recent years, these events have often been discussed in association with the so-called metabolic syndrome, a condition which occurs by accumulation of visceral fat as one of its causal factors.
In such a circumstance, extensive studies are being made on the mechanisms of development of obesity-related diseases, and it is getting clear that incretion compounds which are secreted from adipocytes (adipokines) engage closely in their development. For example, it has been clarified that leptin, adiponectine and resistin, among adipokines, regulate the energy homeostasis of the cells and their sensitivity to insulin (Non-patent documents 2 and 3). Further, adipocytes secrete inflammatory cytokines, which have long been known to be secreted from macrophages, such as TNF-α, and proteins like MCP-1, which plays a role in obtaining resistance to insulin (lowering sensitivity of the cells to insulin) (Non-patent documents 4 and 5). These compounds also may be regarded as a kind of adipokines. In addition to these, many other adipokines have been observed to be expressed in the course of differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes.
As mentioned above, clarifying the functions of adipokines secreted from adipocytes is very important for elucidation of the etiology of obesity-related diseases including diabetes and the so-called metabolic syndrome, and further for the development of effective, new ways of treating them.
Among obesity-related diseases, the number of patients with diabetes exceeds 7 million in Japan alone, and the number is increasing rapidly. In other developed countries also, the situation is largely the same as that in Japan. Diabetes is a systemic disorder of metabolism caused by abnormal increase in blood sugar levels due to a lowered ability of regulating blood sugar levels (glucose tolerance), and is characterized in that it extremely deteriorates the quality of life (QOL) not only by causing severe metabolic disorders like hyperosmolar coma and ketoacidosis, but also by leading to bad prognosis due to microangiopathic complications. Diabetes is generally classified into type 1 diabetes, which is caused by destruction of pancreatic β-cells (autoimmune disorders are considered to be the primary cause), and type 2 diabetes, which is a combination of insulin resistance and reduction in insulin secretion.
In type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 90% of diabetic patients, the insulin action is weakened through a combination at varying proportions of lowered insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and insulin resistance in those cells which insulin targets, such as those in skeletal muscles, resulting in hyperglycemia. Besides, persistent insulin resistance leads to a vicious circle of β-cells being exhausted to further weaken in its ability of secreting insulin, thus the symptoms exacerbate. For type 2 diabetes, it is expected that such agents that can reduce insulin resistance would work very effectively, for they could terminate the vicious cycle.
As therapeutics for type 2 diabetes, mitiglinide calcium hydrate tablets (trade name: Glufast tablets), and pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets (trade name: Actos tablets) are already on the market. However, it is not yet possible to address all the patient with type 2 diabetes whose etiology is not fully understood and which has a variety of backgrounds. Thus, development of novel agents have been hoped for which have a different mechanism of action from those of conventional ones.
Chemerin (also called TIG2 or metabokine) is a chemotactic factor for macrophages and non-differentiated dendritic cells, and is a ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor (ChemR23) (Non-patent documents 6 and 7). It is reported that chemerin, as a chemotactic factor for a specific population of immunomodulatory antigen presenting cells, has a function to regulate immune responses at sites of inflammation and injury (Non-patent documents 8 and 9).
Human chemerin is translated as a protein consisting of 163 amino acids, and after secreted as a precursor produced by processing at its signal peptide consisting of 20 amino acid at its N-terminus (human prochemerin) (its nucleotide sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:1 and amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:2, respectively), 6 amino acids at its C-terminus (amino acid sequence: Lys-Ala-Leu-Pro-Arg-Ser: SEQ ID NO:3) is removed to form human mature chemerin (its nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4 and amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:5) consisting of 137 amino acids and having high affinity for ChemR23 (Non-patent documents 7 and 10).
Recently, it has been reported that chemerin is a member of adipokines, which take part in differentiation of adipocytes (Non-patent document 11), and that the blood concentration of chemerin corresponds with body mass index (BMI), triglycerides concentration in blood, and blood pressure (Non-patent document 12). However, the role of chemerin in regulation of metabolism has not been elucidated.    [Non-patent document 1] Nature, 414:782-7 (2001)    [Non-patent document 2] J Allergy Clin Immunol, 115: 911-9 (2005); quiz 920    [Non-patent document 3] Endocrinol Metab, 89: 2548-56 (2004)    [Non-patent document 4] Circ Res, 95: 858-66 (2004)    [Non-patent document 5] Annu Rev Immunol, 18: 217-42 (2000)    [Non-patent document 6] J Invest Dermatol, 109: 91-5 (1997)    [Non-patent document 7] J Exp Med, 198: 977-85 (2003)    [Non-patent document 8] J Biol Chem, 280: 34661-6 (2005)    [Non-patent document 9] J Immunol, 174: 244-51 (2005)    [Non-patent document 10] J Biol Chem, 279: 9956-62 (2004)    [Non-patent document 11] J Biol Chem, 282: 28175-88 (2007)    [Non-patent document 12] Endocrinology, 148: 4687-94 (2007)


Aspects of the disclosure provide a multi-gate field effect transistor (FET) formed on a bulk substrate that includes an isolated fin and methods of forming the same. In one embodiment, the multi-gate FET includes: a plurality of silicon fin structures formed on the bulk substrate, each silicon fin structure including a body region, a source region, and a drain region; wherein a bottom portion the body region of each silicon fin structure includes a tipped shape to isolate the body region from the bulk substrate, and wherein the plurality of silicon fin structures are attached to the bulk substrate via at least a portion of the source region, or at least a portion of the drain region, or both.

In manufacturing multi-gate field effect transistors (FETs) that include a plurality of fin structures (i.e., a FinFET), in order to operate properly, the fin structures must be isolated from the substrate if the FET is built on a bulk substrate. In contrast, a FinFET built on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate includes a buried oxide layer (BOX) that isolates the fin structures from each other and the substrate.
Various attempts have been made to isolate the fin structures from the substrate for FinFETs built on bulk substrates. For example, a high dose junction implant at the base of each fin may isolate the fin from the bulk substrate. Alternatively, oxide is grown across the bottom of each fin structure. However, the viability of each of these attempts in manufacturing the FinFETs on a bulk substrate is unknown and may be costly.

Multi-gate field effect transistor (FET) including isolated FIN body


A mobile communication terminal having a card ejecting mechanism. The card ejecting mechanism includes a body having a card insertion hole through which a card is insertable in a push manner; a cover openably mounted at the body for covering the card; and an operation unit disposed at the cover for releasing a locked state of the cover and releasing a locked state of the card when pushed. A locked state of the card is released and the cover is opened by one push operation, thereby enhancing a user's convenience. Furthermore, since a small member such as a push rod is used to release a locked state of the card, the conventional user's finger inserting space for pressing the card is not required thus to enable a miniaturization of the mobile communication terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card ejecting mechanism and a mobile communication terminal having the same, and more particularly, to a card ejecting mechanism capable of ejecting a card mounted at a body and opening a cover for covering the card by one operation in a push manner, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
A mobile communication terminal including a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. is an electronic device to perform a wireless transmission/reception or to provide information to a user while the user moves.
As information communication technique and memory technique develop, a mobile communication terminal is being provided with a function to transceive or view multimedia. For instance, the mobile communication terminal is provided with a function for reproducing a moving image file such as a video on demand (VOD) or a game, a function for reproducing a music file such as an MP3, or a function for receiving a television broadcasting using a satellite communication.
As the multimedia is much utilized by the mobile communication terminal, a memory for storing the multimedia is much required. However, it is difficult to unlimitedly increase a size of the memory inside the mobile communication terminal. Also, it is not necessarily preferable to increase the size of the memory for a fast data transmission.
Accordingly, an external memory mounted at an outer side of the mobile communication terminal is being much applied for a capacity increase and an easy replacement. For instance, an external card such as a secure digital (SD), a multimedia card (MMC), a smart media, etc. is mounted at the mobile communication terminal.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a card ejecting mechanism in accordance with the related art. As shown, a card inserting hole 2 is formed at one side of a body 1, and a card socket 3 for inserting a card 5 is disposed in the card inserting hole 2.
The card socket 3 has a card locking unit 4 for locking the card when the card 5 is pressed one time and unlocking the card from the card socket 3 when the card 5 is re-pressed in a push manner.
A cover 6 for protecting the card 5 from dust or an external impact is provided at one side of the card inserting hole 2.
Under the construction, in order for the card 5 to be inserted into the body 1, the cover 6 is opened and then the card 5 is inserted into the card socket 3.
Then, a certain force is applied to the card 5, so that the card 5 moves into the card socket 3. Then, if the force is removed, the card 5 is locked to the card socket 3 and thus an electrical connection between the card 5 and the body 1 is maintained.
When the card 5 has been mounted at the body 1, the cover 6 is rotated thereby to close the card inserting hole 2.
An opposite process to the above process is performed to eject the card 5 from the body 1.
First, the cover 6 is opened and then the card 5 is pushed by a certain force, thereby unlocking the card 5 from the card locking unit 4. As the result, the card 5 is ejected by an elastic member (not shown) installed in the card socket 3.
However, the related art card ejecting mechanism has the following inconvenience. That is, in order to eject the card 5 from the card socket 3, the cover 6 has to be opened and then the card 5 has to be pushed.
Furthermore, in order to push the card 5, a finger inserting portion (not shown) for inserting a user's finger has to be provided, which causes a large size of the mobile communication terminal.

Card ejecting mechanism and mobile communication terminal having the same


A method is provided in one example implementation and includes identifying a plurality of exporters that are authorized to communicate data to a collector on behalf of a secure domain; generating secure credentials for the secure domain; communicating the secure credentials to the collector; and authenticating the exporters using the secure credentials. In more particular implementations, the method can include receiving the secure credentials; receiving certain data that includes identifying information, which further includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of a source associated with the certain data; accepting the certain data if the secure credentials validate the identifying information; and rejecting the certain data if the secure credentials do not validate the identifying information.

A virtualization trend in the information technology (IT) arena is driving the development of many virtualization technologies. Network virtualization solutions can consolidate multiple physical networks into one virtual network. They can also logically segment a single physical network into multiple logical networks. Partitions can be added to rapidly scale the network for various needs. Network virtualization represents a new IT paradigm that challenges existing physical network deployment models. Network virtualization offers many benefits such as expanding the availability of single IT assets to multiple users, managing multiple IT assets as a single resource, providing dedicated virtual networks for applications, etc. Additionally, network virtualization (when properly deployed) can lead to revenue generation, expense reduction, better system performance, and increased customer satisfaction.

System and method for securing distributed exporting models in a network environment


A surface mount contact to provide uniform reflow element (e.g. solder ball) loading, a method to accomplish the same, and a system embodying the same. The surface mount socket can include at least one contact with an upper end, an intermediate section and a lower end. The upper end is adapted to receive an electrical contact. The intermediate section is adapted to flex under compressive load. The lower end is adapted to accommodate a preformed reflow element.

The present invention is directed to a ball grid array (BGA) socket. More particularly the present invention is directed to a BGA socket that provides uniform loading of solder balls in a surface mount environment and method.
Electrical connectors/sockets may be used to secure electronic packages and/or integrated circuit (IC) devices, for example, onto a system board (e.g. a mother board or a printed circuit board xe2x80x9cPCBxe2x80x9d) of an electronic system. These electrical sockets may be constructed for easy installation and replacement of electronic packages (e.g. electrical components) and/or IC devices, such as complex memory chips and advanced microprocessor chips. The electrical sockets may also be available in different sizes and configurations, including, for example, low-insertion force (LIF) sockets and zero-insertion force (ZIF) sockets.
A BGA socket is commonly used for mounting central processing units (CPU) to PCBs. Contacts are assembled within the socket and flux is spread over the contacts. Solder balls may then be attached to each contact via the adhesive quality of the flux on each contact. With an array of solder balls in place, the socket/solder ball array is forced against a PCB whereupon a reflow process bonds the socket to the PCB.
In order to ensure reliable electrical connection between the solder balls on the socket contacts and associated conductive pads on the PCB, the balls must be loaded against the pads by a compressive force directed along an axis normal to the plane of the circuit board. Due to the co-planarity tolerances between the plane of the balls on the socket contacts and the plane of the circuit pads on the PCB, a significant force must be applied to the socket in order to ensure that a required minimum force is applied to each of the balls. Further, as the number of balls in the array increases, the total force which must be applied is increased.
In a perfect world all of the balls of an array should be pressed into mechanical and electrical contact with a circuit pad on the PCB with a uniform force. Ideally, all solder balls would have identical diameters. However, there may be significant variability in ball diameter, which means that the solder balls having slightly larger diameters than normal must be compressed through to a point where the slightly larger balls are of the same general height of the other, more nearly normal diameter, balls. The presence of significant variability in ball diameter height has plagued the industry. This variability has required the use of compressive force to secure the socket and ball array against a PCB, often resulting in solder ball cracking at a solder ball to terminal interface.
These cracked solder balls, when exposed to a reflow process where the solder balls are heated to a molten state and then allowed to solidify, frequently produce a poor electrically conductive path between the socket contact and circuit pad of the PCB.
One approach to minimize solder ball cracking at a socket contact to PCB circuit interface is to provide a socket contact that does not include a solder ball. These solder ball-free socket contacts are provided with simulated solder ball contact structures. These structures have their own inherent problems when the simulated solder ball contacts experience uneven loading due to a lack of co-planarity of the socket to the PCB.

Surface mount socket contact providing uniform solder ball loading and method


A system for a vehicle comprises a load sensor configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a load indicator where the load indicator is disposed proximate the vehicle such that the load indicator generates an output in response to the load sensed by the load sensor.

Vehicles are often configured to carry a load and have load capacities. It is important for vehicle users to know when they are approaching and/or exceeding the load capacities of their vehicles. If vehicle load limits are surpassed, then steering, handling, and braking can be compromised. If a vehicle is overloaded, then there is an increased chance of the vehicle experiencing a mechanical failure, a tire rupture, or a roll event. It may be difficult for a user to estimate the weight of the vehicle contents as the user is in the process of loading the vehicle. Thus, it is desirable for the user to know the load being added to the vehicle.
Furthermore, it is paramount that a user be able to intuitively and easily understand the amount of load the user has loaded into the vehicle while the user is loading the vehicle. For example, it would be very beneficial to a fork lift operator to know how close a load is to maximum capacity while he or she is loading the vehicle with the fork lift.


An information retrieval system is provided to retrieve through a retrieval object database storing retrieval object data so as to obtain retrieval result data. In accordance with a retrieval condition which is expressed by a logical expression or else and is input by a user, the information retrieval system produces the retrieval result data in consideration of hierarchically-structured indexes which have nodes and leaves arranged in a tree structure, wherein each of the leaves has an index for the retrieval object data. Then, the retrieval result data are narrowed down in accordance with prescribed procedures. Herein, the system obtains question nodes corresponding to common nodes commonly connected with leaves pointing to the retrieval result data while obtaining answer nodes to the question nodes. The question nodes and answer nodes are visually presented for the user in an order determined by occurrence probabilities representing occurrence of the retrieval object data within the retrieval result data. So, the retrieval result data are narrowed down to match with the answer node which is selected by the user and which is provided for the question node selected by the user. Incidentally, main functions of the information retrieval system can be actualized on the computer in accordance with programs, recorded on recording media, in association with storage unit storing the database.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to information retrieval systems that retrieves data from databases. Particularly, this invention relates to the information retrieval system that uses hierarchically-structured indexes for the retrieving to efficiently narrow down retrieval results. This application is based on patent application No. Hei 9-205278 filed in Japan, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the conventional information retrieval systems are designed to operate based on retrieval conditions, which are input by users. For example, when the user inputs retrieval conditions in the form of logical expressions, the conventional information retrieval system retrieves through a retrieval object database storing retrieval object data, which should be retrieved by the system. So, the conventional system provides the user with the retrieval object data, which match with the retrieval conditions. In some case, however, a number of retrieval result data becomes extremely large in response to some retrieval condition(s) input by the user. In such a case, it is necessary to narrow down the retrieval result data. In order to do so, a first example of the conventional information retrieval system requires inputting of a new retrieval condition for narrowing down the retrieval result data, which should be newly created and input by the user.
The paper of Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 4-114277 discloses a second example of the conventional information retrieval system, that is, an information retrieval device which is designed as follows:
Hierarchically-structured indexes are presented for the user. So, the user selects a node of the hierarchically-structured indexes, based on which the system performs retrieving on retrieval object data.
As described above, the first example of the conventional information retrieval system requires creation of the new retrieval condition by the user in order to narrow down the retrieval result data. So, there is a problem that the creation of the new retrieval condition is troublesome for the user. Particularly, a person such as a beginner who is not accustomed to the computer retrieving so much is not skilled in determination of retrieval conditions by which retrieval result data can be narrowed down. For this reason, such a person should add or delete the retrieval conditions by trial and error to narrow down the retrieval result data, which causes great load in working.
In contrast, the second example of the conventional information retrieval system is capable of performing retrieving of data by merely selecting nodes of the hierarchically-structured indexes, which are presented for the user. So, it is possible to reduce load to the user in working. However, there is a trouble in the case where multiple nodes matching with the object data exist in the same hierarchical level. In such a case, the user cannot make determination of the node within the multiple nodes that provide a most efficient way for narrowing down the retrieval result data. So, there is a problem that a number of the retrieval result data should be extremely large with respect to some node that is selected by the user.

Hierarchically structured indexed information retrieval system


A method is described. The method includes mapping features extracted from an unannotated red-green-blue (RGB) image of the object to a depth domain. The method further includes determining a three-dimensional (3D) pose of the object by providing the features mapped from the unannotated RGB image of the object to the depth domain to a trained pose estimator network.

Electronic devices (e.g., cellular telephones, wireless modems, computers, digital music players, Global Positioning System units, Personal Digital Assistants, gaming devices, etc.) have become a part of everyday life. Small computing devices are now placed in everything from vehicles to housing locks. The complexity of electronic devices has increased dramatically in the last few years. For example, many electronic devices have one or more processors that help control the device, as well as a number of digital circuits to support the processor and other parts of the device.
Some electronic devices may be configured to determine poses of objects in images. For example, it may be desirable to determine the three-dimensional (3D) pose of an object in a given red-green-blue (RGB) image or in RGB image sequences. Systems and methods for 3D pose determination in an RGB image may therefore be beneficial.

Systems and methods for three-dimensional pose determination


Disclosed is a balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon having a radiation carrier such as a radiation delivery layer thereon. In one embodiment, the radiation delivery layer comprises one or more layers of metal foil, such as gold. The foil is irradiated, and the balloon is thereafter positioned at a treatment site in a vessel and expanded to bring the metal foil layer into close proximity with the vessel wall. In another embodiment, the radiation carrier is in the form of a dopant in the balloon material. Methods of using the balloon include radiation dosing a site following a balloon dilatation or other procedure, and simultaneously performing balloon angioplasty and radiation dosing.

The present invention relates to radiation delivery systems, and, in particular, to a radiation delivery balloon in which the radiation source is carried in the wall of the balloon.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ("PTCA") has become an established treatment for occlusive coronary artery disease. A catheter having an inflatable balloon secured to its distal end is advanced through an artery to a narrow region. The balloon is then inflated with a fluid from an external source, causing the narrowed region of the artery to be expanded. The balloon is then deflated and withdrawn. A variety of additional techniques have been developed for restoring patency to a narrowed vessel, including, for example, laser angioplasty and rotational arthrectomy. Although such techniques have enabled a minimally invasive treatment for patients who may otherwise would have been subjected to open heart surgery, long-term follow-up shows that a renarrowing of the vessel or restenosis frequently occurs.
Several studies document a restenosis rate of from about 25% to as much as 35% or more within the first year following PTCA, with the vast majority of patients requiring repeat procedures within six months. In addition, the restenosis rate for angioplasty of the smaller, peripheral arteries also occurs at a significant rate.
Immediate restenosis, also known as abrupt reclosure, results from flaps or segments of plaque and plaque-ridden tissue which are formed during balloon angioplasty and which can block the artery. Such blockage of the artery requires emergency surgery and often results in death. Furthermore, the possibility of an acute reclosure may require that a surgical team stand by during the balloon angioplasty procedure. Restenosis at a later time results from causes that are not fully understood. One mechanism believed responsible for restenosis is fibrointimal proliferation of the stretched wall in which the injured endothelial cells lining the vascular structure multiply and form obstructive fibrous tissue. Fibrointimal proliferation of the vascular wall involves cellular multiplication at a high rate, thereby causing an obstruction to flow through the vascular structure. Often repeat balloon angioplasty or surgery is required, and another episode of restenosis may occur.
At present, there is no effective method for preventing restenosis following angioplasty, arthrectomy, or any of the variety of additional lesser used techniques for restoring patency to a vascular stenosis. However, a variety of techniques have been explored for minimizing restenosis following angioplasty.
For example, a variety of catheters have been devised for delivering heat to the artery wall. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,878,492 and 4,646,737 to Hussein, et al., which are directed to the use of a laser as the heat source.
More recently, exposure of the dilated vascular site to a radioactive source has appeared to show more promise in inhibiting or delaying restenosis. As a consequence, a variety of radiation delivery vehicles have been designed.
For example, radioactive stents and radioactive guidewires are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,561 to Weinstein, et al. A variety of other radioactive catheter structures have also been devised, such as, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,939 to Dake, et al.
Notwithstanding the various efforts in the prior art to devise an effective radiation delivery system, the systems devised so far contain certain disadvantages. For example, delivery of a uniform dose of radiation circumferentially around the artery is difficult with the radioactive guidewire-type delivery systems, unless the guidewire is centered within the artery such as through the use of a balloon catheter. With the centered guidewire, the radiation dose must be sufficiently high to penetrate the centering catheter and blood or inflation media before penetrating the arterial wall. Radioactive stents may be able to provide a more circumferentially symmetrical delivery of radiation, but removal of an implanted stent is difficult or impossible as a practical matter. Thus, the clinician can exert relatively little control over the dosage delivered through such devices.
Thus, there remains a need for a radiation delivery vehicle for delivering a predetermined dosage of a low energy radiation to a site for a conveniently controllable period of time, for minimizing or delaying restenosis or other proliferative conditions.


Input is received from at least two different input sources. Information from these sources are combined together to provide a result. In a particular example, input from one source corresponds to potential recognition candidates, and input from another source corresponds to other potential candidates. These candidates are combined together to select a result.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
There are a number of different input devices that provide input to a computer. For example, keyboards, pointing devices, touch screens, scanners, digital/video cameras and microphones can all be operably coupled to a computer in order for a user to provide input to the computer. Different input devices have different functions. Input from some devices, i.e., keyboards, pointing devices, and touch screens to a computer can be easily converted to commands executed by the computer. Other inputs (for example speech, handwriting, vision and gesturing) from scanners, digital/video cameras and microphones must be converted to computer commands with some artificial intelligence technology. Typically, these inputs utilize a recognizer that analyzes the user's input to provide a recognition result. These inputs can be prone to errors and/or take a long time to input. For example, handwriting input can take a user a large amount of time to input and speech recognition input can suffer from a high recognition error rate in a noisy environment. In particular, writing a character in an Asian language (i.e. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) can take numerous strokes of pen input. Even after the user has completed pen input, the recognition result may still not be correct.

Combined input processing for a computing device


A frequency hopping radio communications system has a plurality of radios each incorporating a transmitter and a receiver. When a radio is not transmitting or receiving, a switch switches it into a mode in which it monitors the signal strength in each of the available hop channels so as to assess the level of interference, and selects a subset of the total number of channels, those having the lowest interference level. The identities of this subset of channels are stored in a store. When the radio is to transmit a message, it first transmits the identities of the subset of channels stored in the store--using the full number of hop channels (the information being transmitted with sufficient redundancy to overcome likely interference). The receiving radios receive the identities of the subset of channels. The transmitting radio then transmits, pseudo-randomly, on this subset only and each of the receivers receives on this subset only. In this way, transmission and reception takes place only on the channels where the interference is low.

The invention relates to communications systems and methods. In a more specific sense, the invention relates to a radio communications system involving frequency hopping, that is, a system in which the channel frequency of a transmitter in the system is rapidly changed or "hopped" among a number of values which are advantageously pseudo-randomly selected, the channel frequencies of the receiver or receivers in the system being correspondingly hopped, all with the aim of improving the security of transmission and making effective jamming more difficult.
When such a frequency hopping system is operating in a crowded frequency band (such as HF), difficulties can arise when the current channel frequency is hopped into a particular channel which is already occupied to an extent which causes undue interference.


An apparatus for determining a patient's circulatory fill status is adapted to provide a dilution curve and is capable to derive the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV from the dilution curve. Further, a computer program for determining a patient's circulatory fill status has instructions adapted to carry out the steps of generating the dilution curve on basis of provided measurement data of dilution versus time, deriving the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV from the dilution curve, and determining the patient's circulatory fill status on basis of the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV, when the computer program is run on a computer. A method is also provided.

It is generally known that in the critical-care diagnosis and treatment of extremely sick persons, cardiac output CO (i.e. blood flow) and circulatory fill volume of a patient's circulatory system are important characteristics for monitoring the patient's state of health.
According to the current state of the art the cardiac output CO can be determined by using a dilution measurement. A bolus of an indicator defined by a predetermined quantity m of the indicator is injected into the patient's vena cava superior, and the indicator concentration c response is measured at a downstream location of the patient's systemic circulation, e.g. at patient's femoral artery. Based on the indicator concentration c response measurement versus time t the dilution curve is generated by plotting the indicator concentration c response as a function of time t.
A schematic example of the dilution curve is illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the abscissa (time axis) and the ordinate (indicator concentration axis) are of linear scale.
Using the dilution curve, the cardiac output CO is defined as
      CO    =          m              ∫                  c                                ⅆ            t                                ,wherein m is the indicator amount, c is the indicator concentration, and CO is the cardiac output.
As known from prior art, the sum of circulating volumes ΣVi between the location of injection of the indicator quantity m and the location of measurement of the indicator concentration c response is a specific parameter for estimating circulatory filling. Referring to FIG. 1, the sum of circulation volumes ΣVi encompasses the right-atrial end-diastolic volume V2, the right-ventricular end-diastolic volume V4, the blood volume of the lungs V1, left-atrial end-diastolic volume V3, the left-ventricular end-diastolic volume V5. The largest volume of the group of the circulation volumes V1, . . . ,5 is the blood volume of the lungs V1.
The sum of circulating volumes ΣVi can be derived from the dilution curve by calculating
                                          ∑                          V              i                                =                      CO            ·            MTT                          ,                                          MTT          =                                    ∫                                                c                  ·                  t                                                                  ⅆ                  t                                                                    ∫                              c                                                  ⅆ                  t                                                                    ,            wherein ΣVi is the sum of circulating volumes and MTT is the mean transit time defined as being the centre of mass of the dilution curve area.
It is generally known that the circulation volumes V2, . . . ,5 related to the heart indicate the circulatory fill status of a person. The sum of relevant circulation volumes ΣV2, . . . ,5 can be derived fromΣV2, . . . ,5=ΣVi−V1.
It is known from Newman et al (Circulation 1951 November; 4(5):735) that the largest volume V1 can be calculated by approaching a mono exponential function to the down slope part of the concentration curve. The time constant of this function is called down slope time DST. I.e., the down slope time DST is the time the indicator concentration takes to drop by the factor of e−1.
Therefore, the largest volume V1 can be calculated by
                                          V            1                    =                      CO            ·            DST                          ,                                          c          =                      const            ·                          ⅇ                                                -                  t                                DST                                                    ,            wherein CO is the cardiac output and DST is the down slope time.
It is common to use cooling energy as indicator for generating the dilution curve by injecting a cold liquid central venous and measuring the resulting temperature change in the aorta. In this case, dilution is called transpulmonary thermo-dilution.
In the case of transpulmonary thermo-dilution, ΣVi is called intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV, and the largest volume in the circulation V1 is called pulmonary thermo volume PTV.
In this respect, above mentioned equations can be read asITTV=CO·MTT,andPTV=CO·DST.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,817 it is known that the global end-diastolic volume GEDV reflects the sum of the ventricle volumes, i.e. the sum of the smaller mixing volumes, without the lung volume, i.e. the largest mixing volume. These volumes essentially correspond to the end-diastolic cardiac volumes. The global end-diastolic volume GEDV can be determined from the thermo-dilution curve, i.e. from e.g. the difference between the intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV and the pulmonary thermo volume PTV, which could be derived from the difference between the mean transit time MTT and the down slope time DST, multiplied by the cardiac output CO, i.e.GEDV=ITTV−PTV=CO·(MTT−DST).
As mentioned above, when calculating the values of the cardiac output CO and the mean transit time MTT by making use of the thermo-dilution curve, the indicator concentration c is integrated over the time t. In order to get accurate results, the measurements of the indicator concentration over the time t are required not to be affected by interfering effects.
However, the decay part of thermo-dilution curve is superposed by blood recirculation flow. Therefore, on the one hand, it is useful to abort the measurement of the indicator concentration c before this recirculation flow occurs at the measurement location.
Further, the thermo-dilution curve converges to the mono exponential function as above mentioned just after a quite long period of time. Therefore, on the other hand, it is useful to calculate the down slope time DST at high time-coordinates.
Therefore, in order to overcome these disadvantages, usually, when performing the measurement of the indicator concentration c, the thermo-dilution curve is recorded until a level of 40% of the maximum dilution value is reached. Further, the down slope time DST is then estimated from the section of the dilution curve usually comprising 60% to 40% of the maximum dilution value by extrapolating the remaining decay curve (indicated in FIG. 2 as dotted line).
However, this extrapolation is erroneous. When having unfavorable circumstances, this down slope time DST value estimated by extrapolation of the dilution curve could differ up to 30% from the corresponding proper value at high time-coordinates.
Further, since the mean transit time MTT is defined as including a multiplication with the time t, errors in extrapolating the dilution curve are affecting the accuracy of the value of the mean transit time MTT.
Consequently, inaccurate values of the down slope time DST and the mean transit time MTT reduce the accurateness of the global end-diastolic volume GEDV calculated from these values.
Furthermore, referring to FIG. 2, the dilution curve is superposed by a baseline temperature drift. The dilution curve is asymptotically approaching the level of the baseline temperature extrapolation. In order to extrapolate the decay of the dilution curve properly, the baseline temperature drift has to be taken into account. The baseline temperature drift has to be estimated before the injection of the indicator.
The extrapolation of the baseline temperature drift is indicated in FIG. 2 as dotted line. With increasing time-coordinate the extrapolation of the baseline temperature drift becomes inaccurate thereby affecting the accuracy of the calculated values of the down slope time DST and the mean transit time MTT.

Dilution apparatus, method and computer program


Disclosed are provided indoor unit of an air conditioner. A present invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner having an improved structure for preventing vibrations and noise of a blade due to vibrations of a motor when the blade rotates, and a blade unit applied to the indoor unit. The indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a main body including an outlet, and a blade unit configured to adjust a direction in which air discharged from the outlet is discharged, wherein the blade unit comprises, a blade coupled with the main body to be rotatable in the outlet, a motor including a rotation transfer member, and configured to generate a rotatory force that is transferred to the blade; and a buffer member made of a material having a restoring force, coupled with the blade at one end, and surrounding a part of the rotation transfer member.

In general, an air conditioner is an electronic appliance for maintaining indoor air at pleasant temperature using a cooling cycle of refrigerants. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a refrigerant pipe, wherein the indoor unit includes a heat exchanger, a blower fan, etc. and is installed indoor, the outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger, a blower fan, a compressor, a condenser, etc. and is installed outdoor, and the refrigerant pipe connects the indoor unit to the outdoor unit and circulates refrigerants.
The air conditioner can be classified into a stand type air conditioner in which an indoor unit is installed on the floor, a wall-mounted air conditioner in which an indoor unit is mounted on a wall, and a ceiling type air conditioner in which an indoor unit is mounted on a ceiling, according to places where the indoor unit is installed. In the ceiling type air conditioner, the indoor unit is embedded into or hung on the ceiling.
Since the indoor unit of the ceiling type air conditioner is mounted on the ceiling, an inlet for inhaling indoor air, and an outlet for discharging air heat-exchanged through the heat exchanger to the indoor space are disposed in the lower part of the main body. The indoor unit of the ceiling type air conditioner can be classified into a 1-way type with a single outlet and a 4-way type with four outlets forming a quadrangle, according to the number of outlets.
Generally, the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a blade for adjusting a direction in which heat-exchanged air is discharged, in the outlet. The blade is rotatably coupled with one part of the outlet. The blade is coupled with a motor at one end, and receives a rotatory force generated by the motor to rotate.
The blade is configured to be rotatable in both directions. The blade rotates in both directions in the outlet to adjust the movement direction of heat-exchanged air in the up-down direction. However, since the blade is directly connected to the motor, vibrations and noise may be generated when the motor transfers a rotatory force to the blade. Also, when the indoor unit of the ceiling type air conditioner is installed non-horizontally to the ceiling, a connection axis along which the blade is coupled with the motor is misaligned so that vibration sound of the motor and friction sound of the blade may be loudly generated.

Indoor unit of air conditioner and blade unit applied to same


A portion of a vestibular prosthesis system is described which includes an external coil housing and an external holding magnet that allow rotation of the external coil housing around a rotation axis that passes through the external holding magnet orthogonal to a skin interface surface. An external communications coil arrangement within the housing includes three or more external coil segments rotationally adjacent to each other around the rotation axis, each external coil segment being independently operable by an external signal processor for coupling an implant communication signal. And the external signal processor is configured to periodically operate the external coil segments to quantify rotation of the external coil housing and adjust the signal component of the implant communication signal to offset quantified rotation of the housing.

A normal ear directs sounds as shown in FIG. 1 from the outer ear pinna 101 through the generally cylindrical ear canal 110 to vibrate the tympanic membrane 102 (eardrum). The tympanic membrane 102 moves the bones of the middle ear 103 (malleus, incus, and stapes) that vibrate the cochlea 104, which in turn functions as a transducer to generate electric pulses to the brain that are interpreted as sounds.
The balance sensing functionality of the brain also is developed based on neural signals from the vestibular structures of the inner ear, one on each lateral side of the body. The balance sensing vestibular system involves the vestibular labyrinth, its three interconnected and mutually orthogonal semi-circular canals: the superior (anterior) canal 106, posterior canal 107, and horizontal (lateral) canal 108—which sense rotational movement, as well as the macular organs 116 in the utricle and saccule, which sense linear movement. The canals 106, 107, 108 and the otolith organs 116 of the vestibular labyrinth contain hair cells 118 in a viscous endolymph 117 that sense head orientation and head movements, thereby activating vestibular nerve fibers 119 that send an electrical balance signal to the brain 105.
When the head is stationary, the vestibular system generates neural activity at a certain rate that is transmitted by the vestibular nerve to the brain. When the head moves in a given direction, the vestibular system changes the neural activity rate on the affected nerve branch of the vestibular nerve which correlates with the head movement. Unfortunately some people suffer from damaged or impaired vestibular systems or from various diseases that affect intact vestibular systems such as Meniere's disease. Dysfunction of the vestibular system can cause problems such as unsteadiness, vertigo (feeling of rotation) and unsteady vision. To treat such problems, electrical stimulation of the vestibular system can help to restore the balancing function, and vestibular implants are currently under development to provide such an artificial balance signals.
FIG. 1 also shows some components of a vestibular implant system such as are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,751,012 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). An external movement signal (from one or more gyroscopes and/or linear accelerometers not shown) is processed by an external processor 111 to produce an implant communication signal that has an electrical power component and a signal component based on the external movement signal. An external transmitter coil 112 couples the implant communication signal through the skin to an implanted receiver coil 113. Implanted vestibular stimulator 114 then delivers a stimulation signal developed from the signal component through an electrode lead 109 to vestibular stimulator electrodes 115 that electrically stimulate target neural tissue such as the semicircular canals 106, 107, 108, one or both otolith organs, and/or the vestibular nerve 105 or ganglion for vestibular sensation by the patient as a balance signal.
For safety reasons, it is important that the externally worn unit including the motion sensor is always placed in a known, correct orientation when driving the implant. Otherwise the sensor's misaligned input to signal processing, and ultimately to the neural stimulation sites, will lead to a mismatch between real and perceived head movement. Under specific circumstances this may cause a patient to fall and possibly result in injury. This is of special relevance when the implant is located on the head such that sometimes the patient cannot visually observe placing the external unit over the implant.
The correct placement of an external components relative to the implanted portion is currently solved for cochlear implants and other auditory implants by a pair of axially magnetized magnets. One magnet is placed in the center of the implant's receiver coil. The other magnet is placed in the center of the sender coil in the external unit. While placing the external unit's magnet in proximity to that of the implant, the magnetic attraction force causes the external coil to be placed over the implant's coil in a concentric orientation. But there is a remaining degree of freedom in that the external unit can be turned in the radial direction a full 360 degrees relative to the implant. Due to this degree of radial rotation freedom, this solution is not appropriate for placing an external sensor as part of a vestibular implant system.
The external motion sensor may specifically be, for example, a three-axis gyroscope+ three-axis accelerometer configured to measure head angular velocities in terms of three orthogonal axes. Those measurements then are adapted to match the coordinate system of the semi-circular canals (SCCs) through a transformation matrix. The sensor is fixed to the head by the same magnets that keep the transmitting and receiving coils aligned. Therefore it is possible for the external coil to experience rotations on the normal axis to the coil plane. These rotations produce a change on the coordinate system of the motion sensor that leads to a misalignment with the SCCs coordinate system.
Current vestibular implant systems avoid those undesirable rotations via multiple magnet fixation arrangements such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,144,677 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). That in turn disadvantageously increases the size of the implanted and external parts of the system. Another different solution to this problem involves transcutaneous fixation to the patient's mastoid bone and then extra fixation with a hat or headband, but that clearly is not always convenient. Percutaneous fixation through the skin is also used but that is well-known as a source of irritations and infections.

Inductive link coupling based on relative angular position determination for medical implant systems


A recipient verification system including a band to be worn by a patient or other recipient that allows for placement of a hospital's own identification label, which is then protected from damage, an area for a permanent label, which can then be associated with the hospital label, a series of removable labels that remain with the patient, a test tube label, and a tail of labels to be removed from the band at the time of application to the patient to ensure a sufficient supply of labels. Each of the permanent label, the removable labels, the test tube label, and the tail are encoded with identical identification information. The band and label strip are separately formed from desired materials and then assembled.

The present disclosure relates to recipient verification bands and related systems, for example patient identification systems. More particularly, it relates to wearable verification bands for use in various environments, such as caregiver environments. Said verification bands provide users with various labels and labeling methods, which can be linked to the wearer of the band. The systems described in the present disclosure are amenable for various end applications and methods for making the same.
The need to assign a unique code or other identifier to a person or thing (collectively referred to as a "recipient") and to employ the identifier in correlating articles or activities to the recipient arises in a number of contexts. For example, positive patient identification is a critical step in providing medical treatment to patients in a caregiver environment (e.g., hospital). Commonly, an identification band (e.g., a flexible plastic wristband or ankle band) is issued to the patient at the time of admission to the caregiver institution, and is worn by the patient at all times (sometimes referred to as an "admission band"). The issued identification/admission band typically displays patient-related information (e.g., printed or labeled), such as name, date of birth, etc.
In some instances, a unique patient identifier or other code is assigned to the patient and is displayed on the admission band, including, for example, a bar code or numeric/alphanumeric code. The patient identifier can alternatively be supplied on a separate band (apart from the admission band), and is used to cross-reference other caregiver-related items with the patient via, for example, an electronic data base. The unique patient identifier provides an independent, physical link between the patient and associated patient articles or caregiver activities when applied to such articles. For example, paperwork or other caregiver documents/medical charts relating to the patient may include the patient identifier. In addition, the patient identifier can be applied to specimen samples (e.g., test tubes for blood specimens) taken from the patient, or applied to therapeutic material(s) to be given to the patient. The patient identifier ensures that said items are accurately associated with the correct patient at all stages of the patient's visit with the caregiver institution. Similar recipient verification needs apart from hospital admission may be found in multiple other situations including blood transfusion, pharmaceutical administration, trauma centers, etc. In these and other environments, a lack of immediate patient identification and verification can pose significant safety risks.
To facilitate accurate transposition of the patient identifier (and possibly other patient-related information) to items apart from the band(s) worn by the patient, it is known to provide one or more labels or tags that display the same patient identifier. Alternatively, it is also known to permit a caregiver to enter the patient identifier onto the label/tag. This manual process of transferring the patient identifier from the patient to his specimens, test requests, etc. and then back to the patient is prone to error. First, if the unique patient identifier or patient information must be transcribed by hand, the potential for human error will arise. Second, the patient identifier and/or patient information must be transferred to the correct specimen/item in question. In order to avoid transcription errors, it is desirable to use these patient identification labels in combination with the unique patient identifier. Hospital admission bands are commonly supplied with a plurality of patient identifying labels. In addition, laboratory test requests often can generate multiple patient identifying labels. In all these scenarios, the companion labels with the matching patient identifier information are separate from the patient identifier attached directly to the patient. This lack of direct physical connection can lead to confusion, lost labels, and other problems.
While systems exist that address several of the problems raised above, current systems also give rise to other concerns. For example, some band-related systems are vulnerable to the patient removing the band (for example, due to discomfort). In other instances, existing systems possess an insufficient supply of labels or an absence of label(s) sized/formatted for one or more common applications. In other systems, label damage or poor label retention while the band is worn is also a problem. Also, the need for removal, replacement and/or relocation of bands placed around patient extremities arises due to a number of reasons including lack of comfort, lack of access, swelling, and loss of durability. It is desirable to have a way to reattach a band after it has been removed and replace it on an extremity and/or alternate location on the body. Alternate location attachment (i.e. not attached around a wrist or ankle) is also desirable in cases where the band does not fit the patient, access is restricted, or the patient has a restricted extremity, among other reasons. A need exists for an improved recipient verification system that addresses the above challenges.

Recipient verification system and methods of use, including recipient identification


Systems and methods are disclosed for processing digital images to identify diagnostic tests, the method comprising receiving one or more digital images associated with a pathology specimen, determining a plurality of diagnostic tests, applying a machine learning system to the one or more digital images to identify any prerequisite conditions for each of the plurality of diagnostic tests to be applicable, the machine learning system having been trained by processing a plurality of training images, identifying, using the machine learning system, applicable diagnostic tests of the plurality of diagnostic tests based on the one or more digital images and the prerequisite conditions, and outputting the applicable diagnostic tests to a digital storage device and/or display.

Diagnostic testing methods for identifying therapies and courses of treatment for diseased tissues continue to be developed and made available for clinical practice. Diagnostic testing has the potential to benefit the patient by ruling out ineffective treatments and/or by identifying therapies that are most likely to provide significant benefit for treating a patient's disease via the detection of an absence and/or presence of a biomarker (e.g., a practice known as "precision medicine"). However, important diagnostic testing may not be done for a patient due to a variety of factors, including unfamiliarity of the doctor with testing, unavailability of testing within the facility, lack of viable sample to successfully execute the recommended tests, a low pre-test expectation that a specific test might yield positive results for this patient, or the high cost of the treatment that the test is identifying. Techniques presented herein may address this clinical need by identifying and prioritizing which tests might be beneficial for patients and making this information available to the patients and physicians.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods to process electronic images to identify diagnostic tests


There is provided a system including a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a hardware processor executing the executable code to receive a plurality of training contents depicting a plurality of activities, extract training object data from the plurality of training contents including a first training object data corresponding to a first activity, extract training scene data from the plurality of training contents including a first training scene data corresponding to the first activity, determine that a probability of the first activity is maximized when the first training object data and the first training scene data both exist in a sample media content.

Video content has become a part of everyday life with an increasing amount of video content becoming available online, and people spending an increasing amount of time online. Additionally, individuals are able to create and share video content online using video sharing websites and social media. Recognizing visual contents in unconstrained videos has found a new importance in many applications, such as video searches on the Internet, video recommendations, smart advertising, etc. Conventional approaches to content identification rely on manual annotations of video contents, and supervised computer recognition and categorization. However, manual annotations and supervised computer processing are time consuming and expensive.

Systems and methods for identifying activities and/or events in media contents based on object data and scene data


An image array comprising a cellular structure, typically comprising three-dimensional image data and apparatus for forming such an array, typically on photographic film. Each cell within the array comprises an image component and a reference mark formed by the same element of a microlens array. By use of the reference marks, the film may be separated from the lens array and image processed with improved flexibility and precision.

This invention relates to the formation and use of images which comprise a cellular structure and suitable apparatus. Inter alia this includes the field of three-dimensional imaging in which an array of lens elements is employed to form or view a corresponding array of image components or cells.
The use of a lenticular screen comprised of cylindrical lens elements or a two-dimensional array of microlenses as a component in forming and/or displaying an autostereoscopic image is well known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,442 (Street) provides an imaging system for the recording of such an image, whilst U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,063 (Street) provides an intermediate record of an autostereoscopic image comprised of an array of elongate elements each of which comprises a range of perspectives along its length and substantially less or no perspective range in the orthogonal direction. Each of these elongate elements may be regarded as an image of the taking camera's aperture. The array of co-ordinates of the centres of these elongate image elements corresponds to the array of co-ordinates of the microlenses used in their formation. It is an object of U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,063 to provide an intermediate record for use with a purpose designed optical printer or enlarger to produce a viewable three-dimensional image.

Cellular images and associated apparatus and processing method