A method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures, and a photon crystal having an amplified magneto-optical Kerr effect, and a method of fabricating the photon crystal. The method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures includes amplifying the magneto-optical Kerr effect by fabricating a magnetic photon crystal including a crystal magnet and using a periodically-structured surface of the crystal magnet.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to magneto-photonics and a nanotechnology field, and more particularly, to methods of amplifying magneto-optical effects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Properties and application methods with respect to magneto-photon materials have been researched and developed for many decades (e.g., A. B. Granovskii, E. A. Gan'shina, A. N. Yurasov, Yu. V. Boriskina, S. G. Yerokhin, A. B. Khanikaev, M. Inoue, A. P. Vinogradov, Yu. P. Sukhorukov, Magneto-refractive effect in nanostructures, manganite and magneto-photonic crystals, Radiotekhnika i Elektronika, Vol. 52, No. 9, pp. 1152-1159 (2007)). Magneto-photon materials can be used in making optoelectronic devices, communication systems and a computer technology which are controlled by a magnetic field. Separately, there has also been research conducted on the application of inverted opals based on metals and alloys with respect to magnetoplasmonics, particularly, with respect to the manufacture of plasmon circuits.
The magneto-optical effects created by rotating a polarization plane of a light beam that is transmitted through a transparent medium in a magnetic field (Faraday effect) or reflected from a magnetized medium (Kerr effect) were relevant only in a purely theoretical way for a long time due to small values of rotation angles of the polarization plane. However, in recent decades, important and practical applications have been found. Recently, interest with respect to the magneto-optical effects has increased due to their applications in the fields of physics, optics and electronics.
A feature of the magneto-optical effects is non-reciprocity, i.e. a disturbance of a reversibility principle of a light beam. A change in a reverse direction of the light beam results in the same rotation angle of a polarization plane in the same direction on a "forward" trajectory. Therefore, the magneto-optical effects are accumulated by repeatedly transmitting the light beam that passes through a magnetic material. Multiple reflections of the light beam in a medium are possible because of a dielectric constant of a material which is spatially modulated. The material (that has become recently widely known as a photon crystal) has photon forbidden zones which occur due to repeated Bragg reflection of electromagnetic waves on a periodic disturbance of a dielectric constant and may be used to magnify an interaction efficiency of light with a medium. In this regard, magnetic inverted opals have created interest related to a capability of making optical devices to be controlled by an external magnetic field based on the magneto-optical effects.
The value of the Kerr effect can be defined as an efficiency of interaction between light and a magnetized material. Although light is strongly reflected from a conductor below a frequency of plasma oscillations, the light penetrates with a depth of a skin-layer that is a limit in which interaction with a material occurs. Here, the frequency of the plasma oscillations may be given, in an SGS system, as ωp≈(4πne2/m)½ where n indicates a conduction electron density, e indicates a charge, and m indicates an electronic mass. Also, the depth of the skin-layer may be δ=c/(2πσμω)½ (σ—specific conductivity). Thus, a plasmon-polarized wave that represents interconnected oscillations of electrons and an electromagnetic field may be on a metal surface, as a result of interaction between the light and the free charge carriers. The plasmon-polarized wave that occurs on the metal surface results in amplification of the interaction between the light and the material. The more the plasmon-polarized wave is effectively generated, the more the Kerr effect is strongly displayed.
The plasmon-polarized wave on and under the metal surface is defined by Equations 1 and 2.
                                                        E              z                              (                1                )                                                                (                              x                ,                z                            )                                =                                    E              0                                                  exp                                            (                                                      -                                          α                      1                                                                          z                                )                                                                exp                                            (                                  ⅈ                                                                                k                    P                                                      x                                )                                                    ,                                                                              E              z                              (                2                )                                                                (                              x                ,                z                            )                                =                                    E              0                                                  exp                                            (                                                      α                    2                                                      z                                )                                                                exp                                            (                                  ⅈ                                                                                k                    P                                                      x                                )                                                    ,                            (                  Equation                                                              1                )                                                      k            p                    =                                    (                              ω                c                            )                                                                                ɛ                    1                                                                          ɛ                    2                                                                                ɛ                    1                                    +                                      ɛ                    2                                                                                ,                                                                α                          1              ,              2                                =                                    (                              ω                c                            )                                                                                -                                                            ɛ                                              1                        ,                        2                                            2                                                                                ɛ                        1                                            +                                              ɛ                        2                                                                                .                                                          (                  Equation                                                              2                )
Here, kp indicates a wave number of the plasmon-polarized wave, ∈1 indicates a dielectric constant of a medium on metal (∈1>0, in vacuum ∈1=1), and ∈2 indicates a dielectric constant in the metal (∈2<0, |∈2|>∈1). A modulus of the dielectric constant ∈2 of the metal is decreased with growth of a frequency, and the decrease results in deviation of ω(kp) of the plasmon-polarized wave from a linear dependence. However, branches ω(k) for usual light and ω(kp) for the plasmon-polarized wave do not directly cross each other, and thus, it is impossible to achieve an impulse of light k·sin θ=kp that is a requirement to preserve a component in parallel with the metal surface (where θ indicates an incidence angle of a light beam). However, if the metal has a periodic structure with a period G=2 π/d in a k-space (where d indicates a structure period in a direct space) in an X-axis direction, the wave numbers that differ from each other in a value G may be physically equivalent and thus excitation of the plasmon-polarized wave may have a wave number kp that satisfies Equation 3 below.k sin θ=kp±G  (Equation 3)
In a more general case, k·sin θ=kP+mG, in Equation 3, where m indicates an arbitrary integer. In particular, the requirement of Equation 3 may be achieved by a wave length given via Equation 4.
                              λ          Wood                =                  ⅆ                      (                                                                                ɛ                      1                                                                                ɛ                      2                                                                                ɛ                      1                                        +                                          ɛ                      2                                                                                +                              sin                                                                                θ                                      )                                              (                  Equation                                                              4                )
In this case, effective generation of the plasmon-polarized wave on the metal surface leads to a 'Wood feature' that is a sharp decrease in intensity of a reflected light which causes a minimum value in a reflection spectrum.
Thus, there is a theoretical basis for the concept that the magneto-optical Kerr effect may be amplified by making a periodically-structured surface of a magnetic material, in particular, a magnetic inverted opal.
Recently, several examples with respect to the use of photon-crystal mediums that amplify interaction between light and a medium have been developed. However, these examples are restricted by the use of photon crystals in refracting optics, whereas the technology of reflecting optics based on photon crystals has not been practically developed. The methods of forming photon-crystal reflecting surfaces, which are applied at present, have insufficient flexibility, and thus do not provide an exact control of surface morphology or a desired application with respect to lithographic approaches which predetermine a complex application of photon-crystal structures as optical components based on reflection that can be controlled by an external field.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,436 discloses a device, performing rotation of a polarization plane of light and method of its manufacturing. The disclosed device is characterized by the following features: the device consists of a nonmagnetic dielectric wave guide and a magnetic shell around the nonmagnetic dielectric wave guide; a nonmagnetic wave guide is the siliceous photon crystal obtained by perforation via a lithographic technology; a thickness of a photon crystal lies within a range from 50 to 400 nanometers, and perforation has a periodic structure along an axis of a wave guide and has a period from 200 to 800 nanometers, and each hole has a diameter from 50 to 100 nanometers; and a device having a length of two micrometers performs circular rotation of a polarization plane of the wave transmitted on the wave guide by 45 degrees.
The disclosed solution has been chosen as a prototype to be used in a method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using the photon-crystal structures. However, the disclosed solution cannot be applied to amplify interactions between light and a medium at reflection.

Method of amplifying magneto-optical kerr effect by using photon crystal structures, and photon crystal having amplified magneto-optical kerr effect, method of fabricating photon crystal


Exercise equipment comprising a grippable handle at which said exercise equipment can be lifted by a user, and at least one docking assembly connected to the grippable handle. The docking assembly has opposing arms that define a slot in which at least one weight plate can be removably mounted. At least one locking member is located on the docking assembly to capture and/or lock at one weight plate to the docking assembly once received in the slot.

Weight training devices are commonly used in the fitness industry. Devices such as barbells may be used in a number of different ways in order for an individual to exercise particular muscles or muscle groups.
A common barbell system consists of a metal bar, one or more sets of disc shaped weight plates and a set of collars. The weight plates can be slid onto either end of the metal bar. Collars can then be used to lock the weight plates to the bar so that they cannot move during use. Such a system is reliable but it can be time consuming having to remove a collar from the bar for each set of plates in order to change the weight plates that are located on the bar. Such existing systems hence do not readily lend themselves to situations where people are exercising as part of a class and are following a programme that requires rapid and/or frequent changing in the weight that they are handling.
In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
For the purposes of this specification, the term "exercise equipment" shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of devices suitable for exercise, fitness, rehabilitation or any other similar activity.
For the purposes of this specification, the term "docking assembly" shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of objects that may act as a hub to dock or receive other objects.
For the purposes of this specification, the term "slot" shall be construed to mean a general term for the space between two arms of any configuration or shape.


A method of implementing control logic of a compression-ignition engine is provided. A controller outputs a signal to a injector and a variable valve operating mechanism so that a gas-fuel ratio (G/F) becomes leaner than a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and an air-fuel ratio (A/F) becomes equal to or richer than the stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and to an ignition plug so that unburnt mixture gas combusts by self-ignition after the ignition plug ignites mixture gas inside a combustion chamber. The method includes steps of determining a geometric compression ratio and determining the control logic defining an intake valve close timing IVC. IVC (deg.aBDC) is determined so that the following expression is satisfied: if the geometric compression ratio ε is 10≤ε<17,0.4234ε2−22.926ε+207.84+C≤IVC≤−0.4234ε2+22.926ε−167.84+C where C is a correction term according to an engine speed NE (rpm),C=3.3×10−10NE3−1.0×10−6NE2+7.0×10−4NE.

It is known that combustion by compressed self-ignition in which a mixture gas combusts instantly without flame propagation maximizes fuel efficiency since the combustion period is the minimized. However, various problems must be solved for automobile engines with regard to combustion by compressed self-ignition. For example, since operating states and environmental conditions vary greatly in the automotive application, performing compressed self-ignition in a stable manner is a major problem. Combustion by compressed self-ignition has not yet been put to practical use for the automobile engine. In order to solve the problem, for example, JP4,082,292B2 proposes that an ignition plug ignite the mixture gas, when it is difficult for the compressed self-ignition to occur because of a low combustion-chamber temperature. By igniting the mixture gas immediately before a compression top dead center, the pressure around the ignition plug increases to facilitate the compressed self-ignition.
Unlike the technology disclosed in JP4,082,292B2 in which the compressed self-ignition is assisted by the ignition of the ignition plug, the present applicant instead proposes SPCCI (SPark Controlled Compression-ignition) combustion which is a combination of SI (Spark Ignition) combustion and CI (Compression-ignition) combustion. SI combustion is combustion accompanied by the flame propagation initiated by forcibly igniting the mixture gas inside the combustion chamber. CI combustion is combustion initiated by the mixture gas inside the combustion chamber carrying out the compressed self-ignition. SPCCI combustion is combustion in which, when the mixture gas inside the combustion chamber is forcibly ignited to start the combustion by flame propagation, the unburnt mixture gas inside the combustion chamber combusts by the compression-ignition because of a pressure buildup due to the heat generation and the flame propagation of the SI combustion. Since SPCCI combustion includes CI combustion, it is one form of "combustion by compression-ignition."
CI combustion takes place, when the in-cylinder temperature reaches an ignition temperature defined by the composition of the mixture gas. Fuel efficiency can be maximized, if the in-cylinder temperature reaches the ignition temperature near a compression top dead center and CI combustion takes place. The in-cylinder temperature increases according to the increase in the in-cylinder pressure. The in-cylinder pressure in SPCCI combustion is a result of two pressure buildups: a pressure buildup by the compression work of a piston in a compression stroke, and a pressure buildup caused by the heat generation of the SI combustion.
Here, the compression work of the piston is defined by an effective compression ratio. If the effective compression ratio is too low, the pressure buildup by the compression work of the piston is small. In this case, unless the flame propagation in SPCCI combustion progresses and the pressure buildup caused by the heat generation of the SI combustion increases considerably, the in-cylinder temperature cannot be raised to the ignition temperature. As a result, since a small amount of mixture gas is ignited by the compressed self-ignition, and a large amount of mixture gas combusts by the flame propagation, the combustion period becomes longer and fuel efficiency decreases. That is, in order to stabilize the CI combustion in the SPCCI combustion to maximize fuel efficiency, it is necessary to have the effective compression ratio above a certain value.
Meanwhile, if CI combustion takes place near the compression top dead center because of a high in-cylinder temperature at a compression starting timing due to a high ambient temperature, etc., the in-cylinder pressure excessively increases to create excessive combustion noise. In this case, the combustion noise can be reduced if the ignition timing is retarded. However, if the ignition timing is retarded, since the CI combustion takes place when the piston falls considerably in an expansion stroke, fuel efficiency is lowered. Since the pressure buildup caused by the heat generation of the SI combustion can be utilized in the SPCCI combustion, it is effective to lower the effective compression ratio to reduce the pressure buildup by the compression work of the piston in order to achieve both reduced combustion noise and improved fuel efficiency. Thus, combustion noise can be kept to a tolerable level without lowering fuel efficiency.
In order for a design engineer to put to practical use an engine which performs the SPCCI combustion, he/she needs to determine, depending on each engine operating state, the minimum effective compression ratio at which the CI combustion is stabilized, and additionally needs to raise the effective compression ratio within a permissible combustion noise range and determine the effective compression ratio without the combustion noise becoming excessively large. Therefore, the design engineer can put to practical use the engine with maximum fuel efficiency by maximizing the ratio of the CI combustion within the SPCCI combustion, while suppressing the combustion noise to a tolerable level.
However, since the SPCCI combustion is a new combustion system in the art, no one has found the suitable range for the effective compression ratio until now.
The effective compression ratio of the engine is determined based on a geometric compression ratio and a close timing of an intake valve. Since the intake valve close timing is changed when the engine is actually operated, when implementing engine control logic for performing the SPCCI combustion, the design engineer needs to determine the intake valve close timing.
Since the maximum in-cylinder pressure increases as the geometric compression ratio increases, the strength of engine components needs to be raised, which results in an increase in weight, and an increase in mechanical resistance loss. Meanwhile, in terms of thermal efficiency, a larger expansion ratio which is determined based on the geometric compression ratio is desirable. Since the maximum in-cylinder pressure varies by the heat balance based on the combustion mode or the stroke capacity even if the geometric compression ratio is same, the optimal geometric compression ratio for the new combustion system of SPCCI combustion has been unknown until now.

Method of implementing control logic of compression-ignition engine


The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one thermolysin-like neutral protease enzyme with improved storage stability and/or catalytic activity. In some embodiments, the thermolysin finds use in cleaning and other applications comprising detergent. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising thermolysin formulated and/or engineered to resist detergent-induced inactivation.

Bacilli are gram-positive bacteria that secrete a number of industrially useful enzymes, which can be produced cheaply in high volume by fermentation. Examples of secreted Bacillus enzymes are the subtilisin serine proteases, zinc containing neutral proteases, alpha-amylases, and cellulases. Bacillus proteases are widely used in the textile, laundry and household industries (Galante, Current Organic Chemistry, 7:1399-1422, 2003; and Showell, Handbook of Detergents, Part D: Formulation, Hubbard (ed.), NY: Taylor and Francis Group, 2006). Highly efficient color and stain removal from laundry require proteases. However, liquid preparations of cleaning and washing reagents typically contain builders, surfactants, and metal chelators, which have a destabilizing effect on most proteases.
Detergent and other cleaning compositions typically include a complex combination of active ingredients. For example, most cleaning products include a surfactant system, enzymes for cleaning, bleaching agents, builders, suds suppressors, soil-suspending agents, soil-release agents, optical brighteners, softening agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibition compounds, abrasives, bactericides, and perfumes. Despite the complexity of current detergents, there are many stains that are difficult to completely remove. Furthermore, there is often residue build-up, which results in discoloration (e.g., yellowing) and diminished aesthetics due to incomplete cleaning. These problems are compounded by the increased use of low (e.g., cold water) wash temperatures and shorter washing cycles. Moreover, many stains are composed of complex mixtures of fibrous material, mainly incorporating carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives, fiber, and cell wall components (e.g., plant material, wood, mud/clay based soil, and fruit). These stains present difficult challenges to the formulation and use of cleaning compositions.
In addition, colored garments tend to wear and show appearance losses. A portion of this color loss is due to abrasion in the laundering process, particularly in automated washing and drying machines. Moreover, tensile strength loss of fabric appears to be an unavoidable result of mechanical and chemical action due to use, wearing, and/or washing and drying. Thus, a means to efficiently and effectively wash colored garments so that these appearance losses are minimized is needed.
In sum, despite improvements in the capabilities of cleaning compositions, there remains a need in the art for detergents that remove stains, maintain fabric color and appearance, and prevent dye transfer. In addition, there remains a need for detergent and/or fabric care compositions that provide and/or restore tensile strength, as well as provide anti-wrinkle, anti-bobbling, and/or anti-shrinkage properties to fabrics, as well as provide static control, fabric softness, maintain the desired color appearance, and fabric anti-wear properties and benefits. In particular, there remains a need for the inclusion of compositions that are capable of removing the colored components of stains, which often remain attached to the fabric being laundered. In addition, there remains a need for improved methods and compositions suitable for textile bleaching.

Thermolysin variants and detergent compositions therewith


A cushioned step-cut gemstone is disclosed. The gemstone may include a crown disposed above a girdle and a pavilion disposed below the girdle. The girdle may include twelve straight-edged facets defining four sides and four corners of the girdle, wherein the four sides each comprise one straight-edged facet and the four corners each comprise two straight-edged facets meeting at a corner midpoint. The crown may include a table and two or more rows of step-cut facets between the table and the girdle. The step-cut facets may include side step-cut facets shaped like elongated trapezoids and corner step-cut facets, and each step-cut row includes twelve step-cut facets.

Gemstone cuts, in particular for diamonds, are styles, patterns, templates, or designs used to cut and shape gemstones. A cut may take into account symmetry, proportioning, sizing, shape, and polishing of a gemstone. The type and style of the cut is a significant factor that influences a diamond's or other gemstone's light reflectivity and as a result, the brilliance or luminescence. The overall appearance of a gemstone or diamond can be enhanced by cutting the gemstone or diamond into different shapes and polishing the surface of the gemstone or diamond.
Based upon the shape and size of a diamond or other gemstone, a particular cut may be chosen that will determine the placement of various symmetrical facets. Placement of the facets and other cut shapes around the outer surface of the gemstone will ultimately influence the amount of light that will be reflected from the interior and exterior of the gemstone.
Most gemstones and in particular, diamonds, are unremarkable when initially recovered during the mining process. The gemstones may contain other types of natural deposits and may have an opaque or dull appearance. The subsequent cutting and polishing of the gemstone can radically transform its appearance and improve light reflectivity. By modifying the shape, light entering the gemstone can be redirected to maximize where the light exits the gemstone. This redirection of light enhances the sparkle or brilliance of a gemstone.
Stone cutters consider various factors when designing a particular cut. One consideration is the refractive index ("RI") of a diamond or gemstone and another is the dispersive power of the diamond or gemstone. RI of a diamond or other gemstone is typically measured by sodium light and influences the brilliance of the gemstone. Brilliance is the amount of light reflected from the gemstone or diamond to the viewer. The dispersive power is the ability of the gemstone or diamond to separate light into individual spectral components. This is known as fire.
Once a gemstone is cut, the facets may form the exterior surface of the stone. The facets may also form the shape, design, or figure on the gemstone. Many diamonds will have a top crown section, a middle girdle section, and a lower pavilion section. The crown may include a top or table and a culet can be included at the nadir of the pavilion. Each section may be subdivided into other sections and cut as desired, forming a plurality of facets, shapes, and patterns. There are numerous popular gemstone cuts, including, for example, the "round brilliant" and the "passion cut." Gemstones with a rectangular or square shape can be cut to include a "step-cut." The step-cut includes facets that are rectilinear and arranged in parallel to the girdle in the horizontal plane. The corners can be truncated creating an octagonal outline, for example, in the "emerald cut." As described by these representative examples, numerous gemstone cuts are known in the art, including many cuts that provide relatively high brilliance, RI, and/or fire to a viewer.


A coupling device for a torque transmitting, longitudinally displaceable coupling of two shaft parts formed by toothed profiles is arranged to ensure backlash free meshing of the toothed profiles in the direction of rotation. An intermediate bush is provided between both shaft parts, which intermediate bush meshes with their toothed profiles and is slit like a collet at both bush end areas. A clamping and expanding members are respectively allocated on the shaft side to the slit bush end areas, which clamping and expanding members come into mesh with the shaft parts during coupling of the latter and, under the action of an axially directed contact force, avoid, by compression and expansion respectively of the slit bush end areas, flank clearance between the toothed profiles coming into mesh with one another.

The present invention relates to a coupling device for a torque transmitting, longitudinally displaceable coupling for two shaft parts having toothed profiles.
A coupling device of this type is disclosed by German Patent Specification No. 3,729,393, which serves to keep the toothed profiles of both shaft parts largely free from backlash while maintaining an axial mobility of the shaft parts, coaxial to one another, in their peripheral direction.
The coupling part coupling the two shaft parts to one another so as to be fixed in terms of rotation is here formed by a hub-like end piece of one shaft part which is slit like a collet at a free end area thereof. This end piece is equipped with an internally toothed profile which meshes with an externally toothed profile of a meshing part overlapped by the hub-like shaft end piece and provided so as to be fixed in terms of rotation on the other shaft part. This meshing part is formed by the end piece of the other shaft part projecting into the hub-like end piece of one shaft part.
In order to keep mutual meshing of both toothed profiles free from backlash in the direction of rotation of the shaft parts, a clamping member, such as a slightly conical annular spring, which can be pressed against a stop while both shaft parts are thrown into mutual mesh, sits on the end area of the hub-like end piece of one shaft part which is slit like a collet. A radially directed clamping force is thereby produced on the hub legs formed by the slitting of the hub-like shaft end piece to provide segment-shaped in cross-section. This clamping force presses these hub legs, with their internal tooth system, into spaces of the external tooth system of the other shaft part in order to keep adjacent meshing of the toothed profiles in contact with one another in a manner free from backlash.
In a further coupling device of similar design disclosed by German Utility Model No. 6,933,918, a clamping member, which forms a ring for overlapping the slit, hub-like shaft end piece, is conically widened on the inside in a clamping direction and further overlaps the segment-shaped hub legs in a positive-locking manner.
To produce a radially directed clamping force acting on the hub legs, the ring, via a compression spring bearing against the accessible ring end face, is supported on a clamping member which is formed by a sleeve overlapping the slit, hub-like shaft end piece and screwed onto the external thread of the same so as to be locked against rotation.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device in which a backlash free meshing of toothed profiles is achieved.
In this coupling device, it is to be possible, in particular, to couple shaft parts to one another which are equipped with toothed profiles of various design and/or have different diameters.
The coupling device according to advantageous embodiments of the present invention is thus distinguished by an intermediate bush which is arranged between both shaft parts to be coupled to one another, is in mesh with their toothed profiles and has a collet-like design at both end areas. In this arrangement, when one slit front end of the intermediate bush is pressed against the stop, the same, by radial expansion, is thrown into positive locking mesh with the internally toothed profile of the hub-like shaft part, and its other slit front end, when interacting with the clamping member, is thrown by radial compression into positive-locking mesh with the externally toothed profile of the other shaft part.
The intermediate bush here forms a reducing piece which, at the outer and inner periphery, can facultatively be equipped with toothed profiles differing from one another, depending on whether the shaft parts to be couple have the same or different toothed profiles. The intermediate bush thus enables shaft parts to be coupled which have different types of tooth systems, for example DIN and SAE tooth systems. In addition, the invention provides the important advantage that both shaft parts can be at least largely separated vibrationally from one another provided the intermediate bush is made from a suitable material, for example, glass fiber-reinforced plastic.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Coupling of two shaft parts of toothed profiles


The present disclosure provides a method and a system for fall detection. Measurement signals are received from a plurality of sensors to monitor user activities, the plurality of sensors including a motion sensor for collecting motion information and a biomedical sensor for collecting physiological information. According to a signal processing sequence, whether the measurement signals meet multiple qualifying conditions for a fall incident is determined. The multiple qualifying conditions include: a condition evaluating at least the motion information, and a condition evaluating at least the physiological information. The method further includes: when the measurement signals do not meet the multiple qualifying conditions, continuing to monitor the user activities; and when the measurement signals meet the multiple conditions, determining that a fall incident has occurred, and sending an alert message to a designated contact.

Fall detection addresses an important public health problem, especially among the elderly. Traditionally, fall detection applications are broadly categorized into two types: context-aware systems and wearable devices. The context-aware systems use sensors such as cameras, floor sensors and microphones deployed in certain environment to detect falls of people who enter the monitored environment. The wearable devices are miniature electronic sensor-based devices worn by a bearer/subject under, with or on top of clothing. The vast majority of wearable fall detectors adopt the form of accelerometer devices, or a combination of accelerometer and other sensors such as a tilt sensor or gyroscopes to obtain information about the position of the subject.
A common feature of both types of fall detection applications is the reliance on mechanical signals of the movement or change of movement to assess the occurrence of a fall event. A major factor limiting the usefulness of existing motion-based fall detection applications is high rate of false alerts, which are resulted from poor performance of the devices in discriminating normal living activities from true fall events.
The disclosed method and system are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.


Housings for emergency unit luminaires with a front portion that includes a printed circuit board and other operational components and a back portion that includes electrical contacts configured to connect to a source of external power. When the front and back portions are engaged, contact pads projecting from the printed circuit board are guided into engagement with the electrical contacts of the back portion for connection to the external power source. The front portion is disengaged from the back portion, and thus disconnected from power, when needed, for example, for maintenance of the unit.

Building codes require emergency unit lighting fixtures for illumination of egress pathways, doorways, and the like to facilitate evacuation of a building during emergency conditions, such as when a main power supply to the building fails resulting in loss of usual illumination sources. Emergency unit fixtures provide a usable amount of light to enable evacuating persons to follow a preferred pathway out of the space being evacuated. Emergency unit fixtures or luminaires typically include a housing within which an emergency power supply, such as batteries, and circuitry are disposed for driving one or more lamps mounted to the exterior of the housing. In typical emergency unit luminaires, a pair of lamps are mounted to the top of the housing with each lamp being directed forward and to the side away from the housing. Such unit luminaires are often referred to as "frog eyes" and typically do not include a "legend" as exit signs do, thereby allowing use of emergency unit luminaires in locations inappropriate for exit signs.
Existing luminaires typically include either fixed optical assemblies or movable optical assemblies. Generally, a housing for mounting a fixed optical assembly has a different design and construction than a housing for mounting a movable optical assembly. In each type of emergency unit luminaire, the housing functions to mount optical assemblies, as well as to contain a source of emergency power supply along with necessary circuitry for operation and testing of the luminaire. Existing luminaire housings made of polymeric materials are often subject to material "creep" or sag due to the weight of a power supply, such as a battery, that is intended to be supported by the housing. Additionally, existing luminaires are time consuming to install and difficult to maintain because of fasteners that require tools for assembly and disassembly of the luminaire.
One existing unit luminaire includes external lamping mounted on a luminaire housing and aimed to direct light into a space in order to facilitate evacuation of the space when an emergency arises. Another existing emergency unit luminaire includes movable optical assemblies mounted to each end of the luminaire housing. Yet another existing device includes movable lighting assemblies operable within a combination emergency unit/exit sign. These existing movable optical assemblies are capable of swiveling or other motion, providing a single degree of freedom so that light from the optical assemblies may be directed toward desired locations.
Despite the existence of numerous commercially available emergency unit luminaires, there remain needs for a luminaire housing that is usable with both fixed and movable optical assemblies, configured to transfer at least the weight of a contained power source to a structure to which the housing is mounted, and easily installed without the use of tools and capable of ready disassembly for maintenance.

Housing with releasable front and back portions with electrical connection means


A method for classifying a first video type and a second video type in a digital video signal having a series of frames is disclosed. The method generally includes a first step of (A) reading a first set of parameters defining an active portion of a first of the frames. A second step may involve (B) reading a second set of parameters defining an active portion of a second of the frames. A third step includes (C) comparing the first set of the parameters with the second set of parameters to generate a comparison value. As such, (D) if the comparison value is above a predetermined threshold, indicating the first video type and (E) if the comparison value is not above the predetermined value, indicating the second video type.

Conventional video recording devices, such as video cassette recorders (VCRs), recordable DVD drives, and hard-disk based recorders, often contain a feature to detect commercial advertisements. A user often has the option to skip the detected commercials when playing back a recording.
Conventional approaches used to determine what is or is not a commercial look at characteristics of the video sequences to classify the material as part of a main program or part of a commercial. Conventional methods include using average DC values or motion vectors to determine transitions between the program and the commercials.

Commercial detector with a start of active video detector


An image reading apparatus includes: a partial pre-scanning device configured to convey a reading unit in an edge detection area and causes the reading unit to execute a reading operation in the edge detection area, the edge detection area being a partial area within a scannable area on a platen, and a detecting device configured to detect a plurality of edge pixels on a basis of image data, the plurality of edge pixels representing a side of a document, the image data being outputted by the reading unit that reads the edge detection area through execution of the reading operation by the partial pre-scanning device. Upon the plurality of edge pixels not detected on the basis of the image data, the partial pre-scanning device moves the edge detection area in a conveying direction of the reading unit and causes the reading unit to execute the reading operation.

A first known document-size detecting unit reads a position several millimeters or more than ten millimeters apart from an end of a platen glass (a platen) in a sub-scanning direction using a CCD image sensor and detects a document size.
However, in a case of the document not located in an area within several millimeters or more than ten millimeters from the end of the platen glass in the sub-scanning direction, the first known document-size detecting unit cannot determine the document size.
Thus, there is a need for an image reading apparatus that can determine the document size with a simpler structure even when the document is located apart from the end of the platen.


A gage pressure transducer comprising a first pressure sensing assembly exposed to a main pressure and a second pressure sensing assembly exposed to a reference pressure. The pressure sensing assemblies comprise half-bridge sensors and means for using an alignment glass plate with each sensor which reduces the amount of oil required for operation, which consequently reduces the back pressures caused by large volumes of oil. The pressure sensor assemblies are hermetically sealed using glass frits, therefore enabling the gage pressure transducer to robustly and accurately measure pressure in harsh environments.

Gage pressure transducers are often used to measure gage/differential pressures in harsh environments. Generally, gage pressure transducers comprise two pressure sensing assemblies, with one pressure sensing assembly being exposed to a main pressure and the other being exposed to a reference pressure. Each pressure sensing assembly includes a half-bridge sensor such that when they combine together, they provide a gage pressure measurement of the environment to be measured.
Many of the gage pressure transducer assemblies of the prior art, however, present shortcomings that interfere with the accuracy of the gage pressure measurement. For example, some embodiments utilize non-oil filled pressure capsules contained in a non-hermetic gage transducer assembly. The non-hermeticity of this gage transducer assembly enables the harsh environment to interfere with the operation of the transducer assembly, which consequently may adversely affect the accuracy of the overall gage pressure measurement. In another example, other embodiments utilize wire-bonded oil filled pressure capsules, which require large volumes of oil to operate. Large volumes of oil, however, cause significant back pressure against the deflecting diaphragm, which also interferes with the accuracy of the overall gage pressure measurement.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gage pressure transducer assembly that utilizes hermetically sealed pressure sensing assemblies such that harsh environments do not interfere with the operation and, further, an assembly that utilizes minimal oil, such that back pressures associated with large oil volumes can be reduced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gage pressure transducer and method for making the same


A game apparatus and method for playing a tossing game. The apparatus includes a plurality of cup members which may be recessed into the ground and a plurality of pucks which may be tossed towards the cup members. The game is played by placing two cup members into the ground at a predetermined distance apart. Opposing players alternately toss the pucks toward one of the cup members from behind the other cup member. Scoring values are assigned for pucks landing in the cup members, overhanging the cup members, or landing a distance from the cup members defined by a diameter of the puck.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to games and more particularly pertains to tossing games which may be played by tossing a plurality of pucks towards cup members spaced a predetermined distance apart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of games is known in the prior art. More specifically, games heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of tossing objects into containers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
For example, a method and apparatus for an outdoor tossing game is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,682. The method of playing the game has a plurality of groups of distinguishably identified markers which are tossed from behind a line towards a receptacle in an attempt to Rut the marker in the receptacle. The receptacle is recessed into the ground or other playing surface and is approximately thirty to fifty feet away from the throwing line, which may be another receptacle.
A disk scaling game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,126,245 in which a player attempts to scale as many disks as possible for a given number of allowed trials per game into a goal pocket from a predetermined distance. The disks are hollow and include small symmetrically placed holes in the top surface so as to entrap more air and cause uneven pressure areas on the disks due to the air passing through these holes and hence cause the disk to glide, wobble, and dive through the air in a very interesting and irregular course in its passage from the player to the basket.
Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,955 which describes a game including a pair of cup members and a plurality of pucks for being tossed at the cup members. In accordance with the playing method of the present invention, the cup members are placed a preselected distance apart, and opposing players toss a selected number of pucks, alternately, at one cup member and then the other from a position behind the cup member not being targeted.
Other relevant patents include U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,377, U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,200, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,147, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,626.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the afore mentioned patents do not describe a tossing game apparatus and method in which a variety of scoring values are assigned, whereby a player may either gain or, alternatively, lose points by surpassing a predetermined winning score. Furthermore, games mentioned heretofore do not include lighting that allows the game to be played at night. In this respect, the tossing game according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a game in which a plurality of pucks which may be tossed towards a plurality of cup members recessed into the ground.


A method embeds product information in videos with product placements using an electronic device. The electronic device defines product information of one or more products that are embedded in a video, and embeds the product information in an image file having a file format that is compatible with the video, the embedding according to appearance times of the one or more products. During display of the video on the display device, the electronic device determines whether the image file includes product information about a product that is presented during display of the video. If the image file includes product information about the product, the electronic device displays a prompt on the display device concurrently with the product. After receiving a selection operation to select the prompt, the electronic device displays the product information on the display device.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to advertisement displaying devices and methods, particularly to an electronic device and method for embedding product information in videos with product placements.
2. Description of Related Art
Product placement is increasingly becoming a popular form of advertising in media environments, especially with the growing use of digital recording devices, which allow viewers to skip commercials. While there are numerous advantages to this marketing strategy, one major disadvantage is that the viewers have no concrete information on what the product is or even where to purchase it. This lack of information can influence the effectiveness of this type of advertising.

Electronic device and method for embedding product information in videos with product placements


A duplexer includes: a transmission filter connected between a common terminal and a transmission terminal; and a reception filter connected between the common terminal and a reception terminal, wherein the reception filter includes resonators located on a piezoelectric substrate, at least one resonator of the resonators is grounded, and a resonator located at a side closest to the common terminal out of the grounded resonator is a divided resonator that is divided into two or more, and a resonance frequency fr of the divided resonator is in a range of fr=2×(fTL to fTH)−(fRL to fRH) when a pass frequency of the transmission filter is fTL to fTH and a pass frequency of the reception filter is fRL to fRH.

Duplexers using acoustic wave elements are small in size and have high steepness, and thus have been widely used in wireless terminals such as mobile phones. The wireless terminal receives interfering wave signals with frequencies different from the frequency of a reception signal in addition to the reception signal. There has been known that non-linear effect of a resonator including an acoustic wave element causes intermodulation distortion (IMD: Intermoduration Distortion), and degrades receiving sensitivity. There has been known a circuit configuration dividing a series resonator in a duplexer and connecting them to reduce the above described non-linear characteristics, for example (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-21914).
When a series resonator is divided and connected in a duplexer, a layout area of the resonator becomes large, and may prevent downsizing.


A wideband power amplifier includes a set of amplifiers connected in parallel to amplify signals from input ports of the amplifiers, a matching network configured to match the signals amplified by the amplifiers with predetermined load values, the matching network having a first impedance frequency response as a monotonically decreasing function of frequency of the amplified signals in a target operation frequency range, a converter network configured to convert the signals matched by the matching network, and an impedance flattening network having a second impedance frequency response as a monotonically increasing function of frequency of the amplified signals in the target operation frequency range.

Demand of high bandwidth and application of high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) modulated signals in wireless cellular communication have generated intense interest towards wideband Doherty power amplifier (PA). The benefit of high back-off efficiency from Doherty PA manifest themselves as a prime candidate for the next generation high efficiency power amplifiers for the applications of cellular base stations.
The conventional Doherty PA uses the load modulation concept to maintain high efficiency both at peak and back-off power. However, a conventional load modulation network is only suitable for narrow band operation. Therefore, there is significant demand of Doherty PA which can support wide bandwidth and high efficiency simultaneously to meet the requirements of next generation wireless communications.
However, one of the most important design challenges with the Doherty power amplifier is narrow bandwidth performance at back-off power. Several methods are realized to overcome the narrow band operation at back-off power, among them reduced impedance transformation ratio at back-off power and output compensation stage are prominent. Reduced impedance transformation ratio helps to overcome the problem to some extent but it still shows significant variation of real part of impedance at back-off power, as the frequency moves from its center. Similar characteristics are also observed in case of output impedance compensation network scenario and as a result these techniques end-up with low efficiency at back-off power in practical applications. Therefore, it is very attractive to implement a wideband Doherty power amplifier with minimal variation of real part of impedance at back-off power to maintain high efficiency over wide frequency range.
FIG. 1 shows a related art Doherty power amplifier which includes a 3 dB power divider 101 followed by main 102 and auxiliary 103 power amplifiers and a combining network known as Doherty combiner 104. The main and auxiliary amplifiers are typically biased at class AB and class C mode respectively. Also, output matching networks (OMNs) 105, 106 require at the output of main and auxiliary amplifier to match the optimum load of these PAs into desire final load value. The Doherty combiner works as a load modulation network which provides required load conditions for both peak and back-off power levels. As a result, high efficiency can be maintained over a certain power range for signal with high PAPR; typically, 6-dB PAPR or more. However, due to the inherent narrow band characteristic of the λ/4 impedance inverter ZT 107 at back-off, the conventional Doherty combining network is only suitable for narrow band operation; typically 1-5% relative bandwidth.
FIG. 2A shows the equivalent connection at back-off power level, at which the auxiliary amplifier 103 is at off status showing theoretically infinite output impedance. Therefore, the auxiliary amplifier 103 is disconnected from the Doherty combiner 104, as indicted at a portion 202 in FIG. 2A. The Doherty combiner impedance response (real part) denoted by [Zm,bo] at a portion 203 is shown in FIG. 2B. The nature of the input impedance frequency-dependency of the quarter-wave transmission lines 204 and 205 consisting the Doherty combiner 104 is given by a frequency response curve 207 over the design frequency range 209. Ideally, to design a wide bandwidth efficient operation of Doherty PA, the real part of the impedance [Zm,bo] needs to be frequency independent over the frequency range 209, which should be a flat curve as indicated by a dashed line 208. However, this is very challenging to achieve in practice.
FIG. 3 shows a related art reported in U.S. Pat. No. 9,112,458, in which a wideband Doherty power amplifier is realized by introducing a compensation circuit which is configured to reduce the total quality factor of the wideband quadrature-wave impedance transformer as compared to the quality factor of the quarter-wave impedance transformer. In general, compromising the quality factor of any system usually enhances bandwidth but it generates complications. One of the major consequences is that it increases the loss of the system and specially, in case of power amplifier where efficiency is very crucial, any low quality factor network will introduce efficiency degradation, which will not be suitable for next generation low cost energy efficient wireless systems.
Thus, there is a need for an advanced Doherty power amplifier architecture which has wideband combining network while maintaining high efficiency at back-off power, small form factor and reduced complexity design.

Impedance flattening network for high efficiency wideband doherty power amplifier

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


Technologies for utilizing a runtime code present in an option read only memory (ROM) include a sled that includes a device having an option ROM with runtime code indicative of a runtime function of the device. The sled is to detect, in a boot process, the device on the sled, access, in the boot process, the runtime code in the option ROM of the detected device to identify the runtime function, and execute, in a runtime process, the runtime function associated with the runtime code. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Typically, an add-in device, such as a network interface controller, a data storage device, or other component or circuitry that provides supplemental functionality to a compute device when it is installed, is equipped with a read-only memory that includes firmware (e.g., boot code) that is usable by the compute device to configure the add-in device during a boot process. Any runtime functions (e.g., functions to be executed by an operating system or other software after the initial boot process) of the add-in device are supported by the basic input/output system (BIOS) of the compute device (e.g., through firmware in the BIOS). As such, designing and manufacturing a BIOS that is capable of supporting a wide variety of different types of add-in devices that may be added to the compute device is complex and time consuming, and adds to the total cost and size of the circuitry of the BIOS. The added cost and size, while relatively minor when considering a single compute device, may be significant for a data center that includes hundreds or thousands of compute devices.

Technologies for providing runtime code in an option ROM


An air hammer for a boring machine includes a main body, a first bushing member, a second bushing member installed at an end on the opposite side of the main body, a bit unit installed at an end of the second bushing member, a piston hammer, a pneumatic discharge part formed at the top end of the second bushing member, and a pneumatic pressure distribution part formed on the piston hammer.

In general, a boring machine for perforating the ground is based on a technique of simply circulating a bit (Oscillating method), a technique of not only circulating a bit or a ball cutter but also pressurizing the same (Reverse Circulation Drilling method: ROC), and so on. According to the oscillating method, in a state in which a standard casing having a diameter of 800 to 3000 mm is clamped by a hydraulic chuck, boring is performed by oscillating a cylinder installed rotatably in a left-right direction. According to the ROC method, the ground is bored using a drive rod having a rotary bit or ball cutter installed at its end portion by rotating the bit or ball cutter. The oscillation method can cope with a soft ground condition, that is, excavation is properly carried out through soft ground such as soil. However, for a hard-boring operation, it is necessary to demolish rocks under the ground by dropping a large-sized hammer, requiring additional equipment such as a pile driver.
Meanwhile, in the RCD method, which is an advanced method compared to the oscillation method from the viewpoint of boring capacity, a soil layer is first dug using an oscillator or a rotator, both a soft rock layer and a hard rock layer are dug by rotating drill rod a specially designed bit attached to its end portion, and air-suctioning circulating water and cloven rocks through a drill rod pipe, followed by hoisting the rocks to the surface of the ground. The RCD method is essentially employed in large-diameter cast-in-place and top-down method for a foundation work.
Examples of an air hammer for performing excavation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,941,196, 0,430,554, and 3,991,834.
Since the conventional air hammer is moved downward to performing a striking action in a state in which it is separated from a guide, a vibration may occur while moving up and down. In particular, the air is rapidly cooled at a discharge outlet of the chamber due to adiabatic expansion, causing cracks. In addition, since there is no change in the air for upward moving the piston at the top dead center when the air hammer is moved upward, the shock may become increased. In addition, since a reaction force may become increased when the air hammer collides with the bit unit, the striking force of the bit unit may not be uniform.
An example of a boring machine using a crane is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0372049.


A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium to encode a series of quantized transform coefficients. The method includes identifying events that each includes a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients, and for each such event, encoding the event with a codeword that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur events are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur events, and for each identified event, jointly encoding according to an amplitude coding method, a plurality of consecutive values in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients. The method is applicable to encoding a region in the series where there is likely to be a cluster of non-zero-valued coefficient.

The present invention relates to image coding, and in particular to variable length coding of an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a transform of a block of image data.
Two-dimensional variable length coding, referred to as 2D-VLC, has been widely used to code quantized transform coefficients. In traditional 2D-VLC, statistics are collected or assumed of events that include a run of consecutive zero-valued coefficients followed by a single non-zero amplitude coefficient that follows the run length. The ordering of the series of quantized transform coefficients is along a pre-selected path, e.g., a zig-zag path, in the two-dimensional path of the transform. Thus, in a typical implementation, a two-dimensional table consisting of the ending amplitude and the run-length of the preceding consecutive zero-valued coefficients is constructed and variable length codes, such as optimal Huffman codes or arithmetic codes, are assigned according to the assumed or measured statistics to form the 2D-VLC table for the subsequent encoding process. Shorter code lengths are used for the more likely-to-occur, e.g., more frequently occurring events.
2D-VLC is used in common transform coding methods, such as JPEG, MPEG 1, MPEG2, ITU-T-261, etc., as follows. For motion video, an image is divided into blocks, e.g., 8 by 8 or 16 by 16 blocks. Each image is classified as interframe or intraframe. Interframe images are typically post motion compensation. The blocks of the image are transformed and the transform coefficients are quantized. The quantized transform coefficients are then coded along a specified path according to a 2D-VLC table. Interframe and intraframe images typically have different 2D-VLC tables. The DC component is typically separately encoded. Furthermore, the 2D-VLC table may be truncated so that the least frequently occurring events use an escape code followed by a fixed length code. A special "EOB" code is used to indicate the end of the block when all remaining coefficients are zero.
One advantage of traditional 2D-VLC is that the position of each non-zero-valued quantized coefficient and its amplitude are coded simultaneously, which generally result in shorter code lengths than using a separate code, e.g., a VLC code for each non-zero-valued coefficient and coefficient amplitude.
Because of the widespread use of image coding, many patents have been issued on different forms of VLC. U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,672 issued Oct. 6, 1987 to Wen-hsiung Chen, one of the inventors of the present invention, for example, described one form of a two-dimensional variable length coding method.
One deficiency of 2D-VLC is that every non-zero-valued coefficient needs to be accompanied by a runlength code to identify its position, in the form of the number of preceding zero-valued coefficients.
In block based transform coding, there often is a region, e.g., a low-frequency region along the ordering in which non-zero-valued coefficients tend to cluster, i.e., there are often a number of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients along the low frequency region of the pre-determined path. Each one of a number of such consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients would require the same number of codewords representing the position and amplitude.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/342,537 to inventors Chen et al., filed Jan. 15, 2003 and titled AN EXTENSION OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL VARIABLE LENGTH CODING FOR IMAGE COMPRESSION describes a method called the "Extended 2D-VLC Method" herein that includes encoding repetitions of some non-zero coefficient values. One variant of the Extended 2D-VLC method provides codes for all the possible amplitude variations of consecutive coefficients that follow a set of zero-valued coefficients. This effectively reduced the runlength to 1 for all cases. The difficulty of this approach is that there are enormous numbers of patterns that can be generated from the amplitudes of consecutive coefficients. For example, with 32 quantization levels as defined in many common video coding standards, there are in the order of 32n patterns that can be generated from n consecutive coefficients. As such, in a practical implementation, only a limited number of the most likely-to-occur non-zero amplitude values, such as 1 and 2, and a limited number of lengths of consecutive non-zero-values, such as 3 or 4 consecutive values, are regrouped for pattern matching.
Furthermore, in coding, while there may be a region where there are clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, there is also likely to be a high frequency region where any non-zero-valued coefficients are likely to be scattered.
With these observations in mind, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/869,229 to inventors Chen et al., filed Jun. 15, 2004 and titled A HYBRID VARIABLE LENGTH CODING METHOD FOR LOW BIT RATE VIDEO CODING, was developed to encode the position and amplitude of quantized transform coefficients separately and takes advantage of the nature of the distribution of the transform coefficients in the low frequency and high frequency regions. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/869,229 is incorporated herein by reference, except any material incorporated by reference in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/869,229 and not explicitly incorporated by reference in the present disclosure. The methods described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/869,229 are each and collectively called the "Basic Hybrid VLC Method" herein.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/898,654 to inventors Chen et al., filed Jul. 22, 2004 and titled AN EXTENDED HYBRID VARIABLE LENGTH CODING METHOD FOR LOW BIT RATE VIDEO CODING, was invented, and provides an alternative coding method for the high frequency region by taking advantage of the very few amplitude values in the high frequency region, especially, for example, for low bit rate and interframe applications. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/898,654 is incorporated herein by reference, except any material incorporated by reference in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/898,654 and not explicitly incorporated by reference in the present disclosure. The methods described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/898,654 are each and collectively called the "Extended Hybrid VLC Method" herein.
In one embodiment of the above-mentioned Basic Hybrid VLC Method, two independent types of coding schemes are introduced to code the quantized coefficients along the path. A boundary is established along the path to define two regions, e.g., a low frequency region and a high frequency region. The boundary can be made adaptive to the video depending on a number of factors such as intraframe coding or interframe coding, standard definition television (SDTV) or high definition television (HDTV), complex scene or simple scene, high bit rate coding or low bit rate coding, and so forth. In one embodiment, the encoding of the quantized coefficients in the low-frequency region includes coding the positions of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients and the positions of consecutive zero-valued coefficients using a run-length coding method of a first type and a run-length coding method of a second type. The encoding further includes coding the amplitude values and sign of the non-zero-valued coefficients. In the high-frequency region, in one embodiment, the encoding of coefficients in the high frequency region includes encoding the positions of runs of none or more consecutive zero-valued coefficients using a run-length coding method of a third type. The encoding further includes coding the amplitude values and sign of the non-zero-valued coefficients.
In one embodiment of the above-mentioned Extended Hybrid VLC Method, a coding method is used in the second region that takes into account that almost all non-zero-valued coefficients in the high frequency region are ±1. No amplitude coding is needed to encode runs of consecutive zeroes that end in a coefficient of amplitude 1. An exception (escape) code is included to encode those rare non-zero-valued coefficients that have values other than ±1.
In the Basic Hybrid VLC Method and the Extended Hybrid VLC Method, the consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients and the consecutive zero-valued coefficients in the low frequency region are coded alternatively using two independent one-dimensional variable length coding methods, e.g., using two independent one-dimensional VLC tables. An observation was made that an improvement in coding efficiency can further be achieved by pairing the consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients and zero-valued coefficients as a pair and applying a single two-dimensional table to code the pair. With is observation, the 2-D Non-Zero/Zero Cluster Coding Method was introduced to improve the coding efficiency, for example of the low frequency region, and in other embodiments of more than the low frequency region.
In one embodiment of the 2-D Non-Zero/Zero Cluster Coding Method, a method includes, in a first region, identifying events that each includes a run of zero-valued coefficients preceding a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients. The method includes for each such event, jointly encoding the run lengths of the preceding run of zero-valued coefficients and the following run of non-zero-valued coefficients with a codeword, such that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur pairs of runlengths are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur runlengths. The method further includes encoding each amplitude in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, and encoding the signs of such coefficients. In an improved variation, each event includes a single zero-valued coefficient following the run of non-zero-valued coefficients.
In each of the 2-D Non-Zero/Zero Cluster Coding Method, the Basic Hybrid VLC Method, and the Extended Hybrid VLC Method, various variable length coding methods are introduced to encode the relative positions of the clustered or non-clustered transform coefficients. After each such encoding, a coding of the magnitude of each non-zero valued coefficient is included, as is a sign bit (+ or −).
The inventors have noticed that encoding the amplitudes takes up a significant part of the code in VLC coding of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients.
Thus there remains a need to improve the coding efficiency of the coefficient amplitudes of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients.

Video coding using multi-dimensional amplitude coding and 2-D non-zero/zero cluster position coding


Disclosed are a novel, high-yield method for preparing entecavir and intermediates used therein.

Entecavir, [1-S-(1α,3α,4β)]-2-amino-1,9-dihydro-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylenecyclopentyl]-6H-purin-6-one, is currently used for treating hepatitis B virus infection, whose structure is composed of a cyclopentane ring having purine, exomethylene, hydroxymethyl, and hydroxy substituents at the 1S-, 2-, 3R-, and 4S-positions, respectively.
There have been conducted a number of studies to develop methods for preparing entecavir. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,244 and WO 98/09964 disclose a method for preparing entecavir as shown in Reaction Scheme 1:

wherein P1 is trityl or substituted trityl, Bn is benzyl, BOMCP is benzyloxymethylcyclopentadiene, IpcBH is diisopinocampheylborane, DMAP is N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine, DMF is dimethylformamide, MC is methylene chloride, MMTr-Cl is 4-monomethoxytrityl chloride, TBAI is tetrabutylammonium iodide, TEA is triethylamine, and THF is tetrahydrofurane.
The above method, however, has difficulties in that: i) the cyclopentadiene monomer must be maintained at a temperature lower than −30° C. in order to prevent its conversion to dicyclopentadiene; ii) residual sodium after the reaction as well as the sensitivity of the reaction toward moisture cause problems; iii) the process to obtain the intermediate of formula (1a) must be carried out at an extremely low temperature of below −70° C. in order to prevent the generation of isomers; iv) a decantation method is required when (−)-Ipc2BH (diisopinocampheylborane) is used for hydroboration; v) the process for preparing the intermediate of formula (1e) does not proceed smoothly; and, vi) separation by column chromatography using MCI GEL™ CHP-20P resin (Sigma-Aldrich) is required to purify entecavir.
WO 2004/52310 and U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2005/0272932 disclose a method for preparing entecavir using the intermediate of formula (2f) which is prepared as shown in Reaction Scheme 2:

wherein, Me is methyl, t-Bu is t-butyl, Et is ethyl, n-Hex is n-hexane and Ph is phenyl.
The above method for preparing the intermediate of formula (2b) must be carried out at an extremely low temperature of −70° C. or less, and the yield of the desired product (2f) in the optical resolution step is less than 50%.
Various methods for preparing triflic enolate have been developed. For example, the document ["Preparation of allylsilane 12", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 12980-12981] has disclosed a method for preparing triflic enolate comprising the step of conducting regioselective reaction of potassium hexamethyl disilazane (KHMDS) with N-phenyl triflimide (PhNTf2) as described in reaction scheme 3. U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,746 B2 has disclosed a method for preparing triflic enolate as described in reaction scheme 4. The document [J. Chem. Soc., Perkis Trans. 1, 2000, 345-351] has also disclosed a method for preparing triflic enolate.

wherein R is a hydroxy protecting group, X is halogen or benzyloxy, MOP is 2-methoxy-2-propyl ether, TBS is t-butyldimethylsilyl, Tf is trifluoromethansulfonyl, and TMS is trimethylsilyl.
In the above methods for preparing triflic enolate, the process to obtain triflic enolate must be carried out at an extremely low temperature over a long period of reaction time, and the process to obtain triflic enolate disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,746 B2 also was carried out at the temperature of −63° C. to −45° C. However, the starting material used for preparing triflic enolate undergoes easy decomposition at a temperature above −30° C., which is not suitable for mass production of triflic enolate.

Method for preparing entecavir and intermediate used therein


A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end of fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, releasably connected to the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible.

FIG. 20 shows a portion of a heart in longitudinal section, with the right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) shown. FIG. 20 also shows the septum primum (SP), a flap-like structure, which normally covers the foramen ovale, an opening in the septum secundum (SS) of the heart. In utero, the foramen ovals serves as a physiologic conduit for right-to-left shunting of blood in the fetal heart. After birth, with the establishment of pulmonary circulation, the increased left atrial blood flow and pressure presses the septum primum (SP) against the walls of the septum secundum (SS), covering the foramen ovale and resulting in functional closure of the foramen ovale. This closure is usually followed by anatomical closure of the foramen ovale due to fusion of the septum primum (SP) to the septum secundum (SS).
Where anatomical closure of the foramen ovale does not occur, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is created. A patent foramen ovale is a persistent, usually flap-like opening between the atrial septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS) of a heart. A patent foramen ovals results when either partial or no fusion of the septum primum (SP) to the septum secundum (SS) occurs. In the case of partial fusion, a persistent passageway exists between the superior portion of the septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS). It is also possible that more than one passageway may exist between the septum primum (SP) and the septum secundum (SS).
Studies have shown that a relatively large percentage of adults have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). It is believed that embolism via a PFO may be a cause of a significant number of ischemic strokes, particularly in relatively young patients. It has been estimated that in 50% of cryptogenic strokes, a PFO is present. Patients suffering a cryptogenic stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the presence of a PFO often are considered for medical therapy to reduce the risk of a recurrent embolic event.
Pharmacological therapy often includes oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. These therapies may lead to certain side effects, including hemorrhaging. If pharmacologic therapy is unsuitable, open heart surgery may be employed to close a PFO with stitches, for example. Like other open surgical treatments, this surgery is highly invasive, risky, requires general anesthesia, and may result in lengthy recuperation.
Nonsurgical closure of PFOs is possible with umbrella-like devices developed for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) (a condition where there is not a septum primum (SP)). Many of these conventional devices used for ASDs, however, are technically complex, bulky, and difficult to deploy in a precise location. In addition, such devices may be difficult or impossible to retrieve and/or reposition should initial positioning not be satisfactory. Moreover, these devices are specially designed for ASDs and therefore may not be suitable to close and seal a PFO, particularly because the septum primum (SP) overlaps the septum secundum (SS).

Closure devices, related delivery methods and tools, and related methods of use

St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.


A semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor layer; a stacked body including a plurality of electrode layers stacked in a first direction; a metal layer provided in the first direction between the first semiconductor layer and the stacked body; a second semiconductor layer extending in the first direction through the stacked body and the metal layer, and being electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor memory device of three-dimensional structure is under developing, which includes a charge storage layer and a semiconductor layer provided in a memory hole. The memory hole is formed in a stacked body that includes a plurality of electrode layers stacked on a conductive layer, and the charge storage layer and the semiconductor layer extend in a stacked direction of the plurality of electrode layer. In the manufacturing process of such a memory device, the memory hole is formed from a top surface to be in communication with the conductive layer.

Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same


A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured.

The present invention relates generally to computers. More particularly, the present invention relates to communication bus architecture in multiple processor computer systems. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for establishing many simultaneous communication links, each link being between any two processors of an array of multiple processors.
Computer systems that use parallel processing to achieve high overall system speed often need high-throughput communication media. Typical bus structures allow a maximum transfer rate of on the order of 50 megabytes per second. This is adequate for those computing problems that require a much greater amount of computing time as compared to communication time. However, a significant portion of those computing problems that lend themselves to solution by parallel processing have large communication requirements as well as large processing requirements. In solving these problems, it is the throughput limitations of the communication media that most profoundly limit overall system speed.
In order to increase communication throughput, bus switches have been designed that can accommodate many independent simultaneous communications. An example of such a switch is the SN74AS8840 Digital Crossbar Switch which is available from Texas Instruments, Inc. The SN74AS8840 is a device having 16 four-bit data I/O ports. The devices can be combined to form 16 data I/O ports having a word length of any number of bits. For example, eight SN74AS8840 devices can be combined to form 16 data I/O ports, each having a 32 bit word.
In a multiple processor application, 16 processors can be coupled to a bus switch made of SN74AS8840 devices. As such, as many as eight separate communications can be carried on simultaneously. Any two processors can be communicating while as many as seven other such pairs of processors similarly simultaneously communicate. In a sense, this type of bus switch is similar to a telephone exchange, where any person can talk to any other person at the same time as other sets of two people are talking.
While increasing communication throughput in a multiple processor system, bus switches such as the SN74AS8840 have the limitation of being able to switch between only a small number of processors or other terminal devices. For example, the SN74AS8840 can accommodate only 16 processors or other elements. This limitation effectively limits the total available processing power.

Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system


Computational algorithms integrate and analyze data to consider multiple interdependent, heterogeneous sources and forms of patient data, and using a classification model, provide new learning paradigms, including privileged learning and learning with uncertain clinical data, to determine patient status for conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or non-ARDS.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
The digitization of health data provides an important opportunity for new knowledge discovery and improved care delivery, through the development of electronic analytics and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) that leverage vast data to support increasing aspects of healthcare. By synthesizing digital information into actionable knowledge, these systems have the potential to provide important insights into the health status of patients, helping physicians make more timely and accurate medical diagnosis and evidence-based treatment decisions. Yet, in modern settings, providers are inundated by the vast amounts of clinical data being generated during routine patient care. CDSS that can integrate these disparate data sources (structured and unstructured) in real-time and effectively assist clinicians in medical decisions show promise for transforming how patient care is delivered. These systems could support precision medicine by improving rapid and accurate diagnosis and make just-in-time treatment recommendations that improve care quality and clinical outcomes.
An example medical condition that could benefit from a clinical application of CDSS is in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) care. ARDS is a fulminant inflammatory lung injury that is the downstream consequence of critical illnesses such as sepsis, pneumonia, or trauma, evolving over hours to days. When diagnosed early, multiple evidence-based management strategies can be provided to patients with ARDS that improve clinical outcomes. However, more than half of patients with ARDS are not immediately recognized by practicing clinicians and, as a consequence, fail to receive these life-saving treatments. Patients who develop ARDS first present with serious illnesses including sepsis, pneumonia or traumatic injury. As their illness evolves, massive streams of clinical data are collected from their bedside monitoring devices and recorded in electronic health records as part of routine care. These data are asynchronous, with varying temporal frequency (from millisecond to daily) and stored in varying formats. Within 24-72 hours after presentation, some patients progress and develop ARDS. However, some clinicians may fail to recognize ARDS if they are unable to synthesize the clinical data, recognize this evolution and obtain and correctly interpret chest imaging and make an ARDS diagnosis.
The inability of healthcare providers to process the massive data-streams generated during the care of critically ill patients has been specifically cited as a potential reason for ARDS misdiagnosis. Delay in recognition of this condition, followed by delay in the institution of appropriate treatment is associated with increased mortality. Yet, only after a healthcare provider correctly interprets a chest x-ray and synthesize this information with other clinical data will they correctly diagnosis ARDS. There is a need for a CDSS that models the diagnostic process, such that the accuracy and reliability of ARDS diagnosis can be greatly enhanced, thereby ensuring patients receive timely treatments that improve clinical outcomes.
The example of ARDS demonstrates many of the challenges facing designers of CDSS and other systems that are called upon to assess large amounts of data, that is, big data analytics systems for personalized medicine and other personalized applications.
Identifying relevant clinical information from massive data streams is one major challenge. In many healthcare settings, for example, there is an abundance of rich, continuously measured data collected thorough all stages of care. However, there is a lack of reliable systems to: 1) extract clinically relevant features from these data; and 2) integrate these features with clinical data to provide quantitative predictions/recommendations about patient's health status, thereby assisting clinicians to improve the quality of decision making. In case of ARDS, for example, patients at risk for ARDS are typically monitored with continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) in the form of pulse oximetry, in addition to discrete laboratory and vital sign data. Potential patterns in these signals that could signify developing respiratory insufficiency and ARDS are not extracted or used in real-time decision making.
Another challenge is having a system exhibiting robustness to uncertainty, a particular issue for health data. For the diagnosis of ARDS, as well as many other clinical diseases and syndromes, medical experts can confidently label a subset of patients as "positive" and "negative." However, there may also be many cases, particularly at the early stages of diagnosis, where even medical experts may have far less confidence in labeling patients. Computational models that can account for this uncertainty may be more robust to the use of noisy or incomplete health data for medical diagnosis.
Another challenge is the potential for using data that is unavailable in live clinical environments, but available in training phase. In a conventional treatment flow for a patient, a chest radiograph is the main confirmatory data necessary for a definitive diagnosis of ARDS. Patients known to have early evidence of lung injury on chest x-ray are at high risk for progression to ARDS. However, a chest radiograph may not always be available in real-time, and even the need to perform a chest radiograph may not be recognized at early stages. In addition, the frequency at which chest radiographs are obtained is variable and not amendable to high density collection, in contrast to physiologic monitoring data. Therefore, ideally a clinical decision support system would not rely on chest radiographic data to determine a patient's ARDS risk. However, chest radiographs still can provide critical information about a patient's current state of illness, and this information may be of great value during retrospective training of algorithms that can detect high risk patients.
Another challenge is the availability of reliable methods for interpreting medical data, such as chest x-ray interpretation. At the time that a chest x-ray is made available, radiology interpretation plays the major role in diagnosis of ARDS. However, due to the noisy nature of these images, the expertise of the interpreter, and other factors, the reliability of chest radiograph interpretation for ARDS is low among clinicians. There is a clear need for image processing algorithms to quantitatively express and extract the changes in the chest x-rays (compared to normal cases) and evaluate the presence and severity of ARDS.
Another challenge is how to incorporate cognitive/behavioral data. While the importance and significance of cognitive and behavioral data have been recognized by the healthcare community, its use has not been realized in CDSSs. There is a need for decision support system capable of resolving these short comings and, in particular, for clinical decision support systems capable of utilizing cognitive and behavioral data collected upon patient presentation and capable of integrating this data with all other clinical data to improve characterization of patient's health status.

Sequential minimal optimization algorithm for learning using partially available privileged information

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


Disclosed is a QR decomposition device supporting interference whitening. The QR decomposition device supporting interference whitening may calculate a whitening matrix based on an interference channel matrix. The QR decomposition device supporting the interference whitening may simultaneously support interference whitening and detection of a transmission symbol vector through QR decomposition. A vector manufactured during the whitening and a result of the QR decomposition may be used for detecting the transmission symbol vector.

1. Field
The following description relates to a technology to detect a transmission symbol vector in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
Researches have been conducted to provide various multimedia services, including a voice service, and to support a high quality and a high data transmission rate in a wireless communication environment. As part of the research, a technology related to a multi-input multi-out (MIMO) system using a plurality of channels in a spatial area has been developed.
The MIMO technology uses multiple antennas to increase a number of channel bits in a limited frequency resource, thereby providing a higher data transmission rate within the limited frequency resource. The MIMO technology uses multiple transmission/reception antennas in an environment where scatterers exist, thereby theoretically providing a channel capacity proportional to a smaller number of antennas between the transmission antennas and the reception antennas.
Developing the performance of a receiving unit used in the MIMO communication system is an important issue. Particularly, where a number of transmitting units is greater than or equal to two, a co-channel interference may occur in the receiving unit.

QR decomposition detection device and method supporting interference whitening


An embodiment generally relates to systems and methods for processing license plate image data. A processing module can receive an image comprising a license plate and, from the image, localize a region of the license plate itself. The license plate region can be extracted and license plate distortion parameters can be inferred. The image can be geometrically corrected using the inferred license plate distortion parameters, and the license plate image can be iteratively sharpened to optimize the quality of the license plate image. Further, processing parameters can be modified and applied to the image data in a feedback-based loop for further optimization.

As a result of increased urbanization, population density, motorization, and general population, traffic congestion has been increasing on transport infrastructures. The increased traffic congestion has impacted the efficiency of travel, air pollution, and fuel consumption. As a result, current transport infrastructure systems are aiming to transition to more intelligent transport systems (ITS) in an effort to manage vehicles, routes, loads, safety measures, fuel consumption, transportation times, and other factors.
One effort of ITS is the implementation and improvement of traffic enforcement cameras, which are used to detect and identify vehicles based on license plate data, such as numbers, characters, states, and other data. For example, some uses of traffic enforcement cameras include toll collection interchanges or booths, speed limit violations, red light violations, bus lane enforcement, level crossing enforcement, high-occupancy vehicle enforcement, turn lane violations, and other uses.
Current automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems face challenges due to complications in sensing, weather conditions, and other factors. As a result, a typical state-of-the-art (SOTA) ALPR system imposes specifications on cameras or image quality, camera installation geometry, allowable vehicle speed range, states within scope, and other specifications, to guarantee an acceptable level of performance. Therefore, it may be desirable to have systems and methods for improving the performance of ALPR systems. In particular, it may be desirable to have systems and methods for implementing image preprocessing and closed-loop feedback to improve detection techniques.

Systems and methods for improving image recognition