An authentication method between a secure host processor and a controller of an NFC system, the controller being equipped with an NFC interface circuit sending and receiving contactless data, includes connecting the host processor to the controller and checking that there is a predefined relation between a first secret data stored by the host processor and a second secret data stored by the controller. The method further includes transmitting the second secret data to the controller and storing of the second secret data by the controller. The host processor may be removably associated with a contactless component storing the second secret data which is contactlessly transmitted to the controller.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an authentication method in a Near Field Communication (NFC) system or chipset comprising an NFC interface circuit sending and receiving contactless data.
Embodiments of the present invention particularly relate to authenticating a secure processor of the chipset by an NFC component of the chipset. "NFC component" means a controller (microcontroller) connected to an NFC interface circuit.
NFC technology is currently developed by an industrial consortium grouped under the name Forum NFC (http://www.nfc-forum.org). The NFC technology is derived from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and uses NFC components which may have several operating modes, i.e., a "reader" mode, a "card emulation" mode, and a "device" mode (also referred to as "device-to-device" mode). In the "reader" mode, the NFC component operates like a standard RFID reader to read- or write-access an RFID chip (e.g., chip card or contactless tag). The NFC component emits a magnetic field, sends data by modulating the amplitude of the magnetic field, and receives data by load modulation and inductive coupling. In the "emulation" mode, described in commonly assigned patent EP 1 327 222, the NFC component operates passively like a transponder to communicate with another reader and to be seen by the other reader as an RFID chip. The component does not emit any magnetic field, receives data by demodulating a magnetic field emitted by the other reader, and sends data by modulating the impedance of its antenna circuit (load modulation). In the "device" mode, the component must match another NFC component located in the same operating mode, and each NFC component alternately goes into a passive state (without field emission) to receive data and into an active state (with field emission) to send data.
In addition to these three operating modes (other operating modes could be designed in the future), an NFC component may implement several contactless communication protocols and is capable, for example, of exchanging data according to the ISO 14443-A protocol, the ISO 14443-B protocol, the ISO 15693 protocol, or the like. Each protocol defines a frequency of emission of the magnetic field, a modulation method for modulating the amplitude of the magnetic field to send data in active mode, and a load modulation method by inductive coupling to send data in passive mode. Therefore, an NFC component is a multimode and multi-protocol device. The applicant markets, for example, an NFC component under the name "MicroRead".

Method of mutual authentication between a communication interface and a host processor of an NFC chipset


A hat with hair keeping device including an outer layer with a crown, a continuous side wall, a front portion, rear portion and a brim. An inner layer is disposed within the outer layer. The inner layer has upper, forward, and rearward portions. Parallel lower and upper seams are continuously disposed between the continuous side wall and the brim with a cinching body continuously disposed within the lower and upper seams. There is an opening disposed in the rear portion of the outer layer. The opening is configured to receive a portion of the cinching body there through with the drawstring secured posteriorly to the rearward portion of the outer layer by tying the ends of the drawstring together. The silk or satin inner layer reduces hair breakage by reducing friction against the hair and helps avoid perspiration around the hairline, thus assisting in keeping the hairstyle intact.

Various types of hair-keeping hats are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a hat with hair keeping device having a drawstring that assists in wrapping relaxed or straight hair and secures the hair within the hat to protect the hair from breakage and to maintain the hair style.


Apparatus including a hydraulic cylinder mounting an L-shaped piston lever therewithin wherein the L-shaped lever is mounted to a rearward most portion of the under surface of a commode seat. A pneumatic chamber directs pressurized air through an associated conduit into the cylinder to direct the associated piston to project the commode seat into an elevated position relative to an associated commode. Modified aspects of the invention include an elongate pneumatic chamber coextensive with and positioned orthogonally relative to the associated pneumatic conduit with the chamber further including a plurality of pneumatic balloons captured therewithin whereupon depression of the pneumatic chamber anchors the chamber to an underlying surface to maintain the pneumatic chamber position relative to the commode.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to commode seat apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved commode seat lifting apparatus wherein the same provides selective lifting of a commode seat relative to a commode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Commode seat lifting apparatus has been utilized in the prior art. In various forums, the need for individuals to lift a commode is a physical difficulty but a necessity in the interest of hygiene. Further, it is at times objectionable as well as difficult for individuals to grasp a commode seat to effect a lifting operation. In this regard, commode lifting seat mechanisms have been developed in the prior art. Prior art mechanisms, however, have heretofore failed to provide the convenience and effectiveness as set forth by the instant invention. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 3,345,560 to WATERS provides a commode lifting arrangement wherein a mechanical lever lifts a commode seat wherein a dampening cylinder dampens retraction of the seat to its original position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,385 to FIELDS provides a further example of a mechanical commode lifting apparatus utilizing a lever arrangement to direct a commode seat into an upper orientation relative to an associated commode.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,075 to LAON is a further example of a mechanically directed commode seat lifting arrangement as opposed to the instant invention which permits a conduit directing pneumatic pressure therethrough for convenient and remote positioning of an associated pneumatic chamber to effect a lifting procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,411 to GREENWOOD provides a further multi-link mechanical arrangement to effect lifting of a commode seat with the associated protrudences acquired of such mechanical linkages.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,073 to SMITH illustrates yet a further mechanically configured lifting apparatus for use in lifting of a commode seat utilizing a resilient spring biased return mechanism.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved commode seat lifting apparatus wherein the same addresses both the problems of ease of use, as well as effectiveness in the remote positioning of a pneumatic treadle chamber spaced from an associated pneumatic lifting cylinder and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present disclosure is directed to tire tread blocks each having a sipe and cut-out portions that reveal a three dimensional sipe pattern on interior walls of the tread block. More particularly, the sipe defines the interior walls of the tread block and divides the tread block into first and second portions. The sipe further defines the sipe pattern on the interior walls of the tread block, on the first and second portions. The cut-out portions are located on the first and second portions, and expose the sipe patterns on the second and first portions, respectively.

Some circumferential treads of passenger tires have ribs or blocks with sipes, or small cuts. Such sipes may be linear, or they may have a three dimensional shape. Existing designs for three dimensional sipe patterns do not expose the pattern within tread blocks. Such sipe patterns are buried inside tread blocks and are therefore not visible to the consumer and are not exposed to elements on a road, such as snow. These designs do not efficiently hold snow within the three dimensional sipe pattern, and are not observable by a user.

Tire having exposed three dimensional sipe patterns

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC


The present invention relates to an image thermal apparatus including a flexible metallic sleeve, the inner peripheral surface of which contacts a heater. In order to provide increased durability for the sliding face of the heater, an imide resin that contains silicon nitride elementary particles is used to coat the sliding face of the heater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus appropriate for use as a thermal fixing apparatus, mounted, for example, in a copier or a printer, and a heater employed for this apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an image heating apparatus having a flexible metallic sleeve and a heater employed for this apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional copiers and printers of an electrophotographic type adopt, as fixing means, a thermal roller fixing system, of a contact heating type, that provides satisfactory heating efficiency and safety, or a system whereby power is not supplied to a thermal fixing apparatus in the standby state and power consumption is as greatly reduced as possible; specifically, a film heating system of an energy saving type is one wherein a thin film is arranged between a heater and a pressure roller, and the thermal fixing of a toner image to a recording medium is performed through the film. An example thermal heating method that uses the film heating system is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-313182, No. Hei 2-157878, No. Hei 4-44075 and No. Hei 4-204980. The schematic configuration of such an example film heating system is shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, a fixing apparatus of a film heating type includes: a heating member (a heating body; hereinafter referred to as a heater) securely supported by a stay holder (a support body); a heat resistant thin film (hereinafter referred to as a fixing film) 3, the inner peripheral surface of which contacts the heater 2; and a elastic pressure roller 4 that, with the heater 2, grips the film 3 to form a nip portion (a fixing nip portion) having a predetermined nip width. The heater 2 is controlled so as to maintain a predetermined temperature while power is received. The fixing film 3 is a cylindrical member, an endless belt shaped member, or a finite web roll member, and by using a rotation force supplied by drive transmission means (not shown) or the pressure roller 4, the fixing film 3 closely contacts and slides across the heater 2 at the fixing nip portion, and is conveyed in the direction indicated by an arrow.
In a condition under which the heat output by the heater has been adjusted to provide the predetermined temperature and the fixing film 3 has been moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, the medium to be heated, a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image, is fed between the fixing film 3 and the pressure roller 4 at the fixing nip portion. The recording medium, held closely in contact with the face of the fixing film 3, and the fixing film 3 are then conveyed through the fixing nip portion. At the fixing nip portion, the toner image is heated by the heater 2, through the fixing film 3, and is thermally fixed to the recording medium. The recording medium, having passed through the fixing nip portion and having, thereafter, been separated from the face of the fixing film 3, is conveyed away from the fixing nip portion.
The stay holder 1, a heat resistant plastic member, for example, is used to hold the heater 2 and to guide the fixing film 3. In order to minimize the friction when the fixing film slides across the stay holder 1 and the heater 2, grease having a high heat resistance is used to coat the outer faces of the heater 2 and the stay holder 1. The pressure roller 4 is made by forming, around a core 6, a silicon rubber layer or a sponge layer 7 made of foamed silicon rubber, and then by forming, on the layer 7, a tubular shaped releasing layer 8 made of PTFE, PFA or FEP, or by applying a releasing layer 8 as a coating.
The fixing film 3 is quite thin, i.e., 20 to 70 μm, so that the heater 2 can efficiently apply heat at the fixing nip portion to the recording medium that is to be heated. The fixing film 3 includes three layers: a film base layer, a conductive primer layer and a releasing layer, with the film base layer on the heater side and the releasing layer on the pressure roller side. The film base layer is a heat resistant, very flexible layer that is made of a heat resistant resin, such as insulating polyimide, polyamideimide or PEEK, or a metal such as SUS, and has a thickness of about 15 to 60 μm. Further, because of the presence of the film base layer, the mechanical strength, such as the tear strength, of the entire fixing film 3 is maintained. The conductive primer layer is a thin layer, about 2 to 6 μm thick, and is electrically grounded in order to prevent the entire fixing film 3 from becoming charged. The releasing layer is a layer for preventing toner offset relative to the entire fixing film 3, and is made by applying a coating of a fluorine resin, such as PFA, PTFE or FEP, having a satisfactory release property of about 5 to 15 μm. Furthermore, in order to reduce the charge on the surface of the fixing film 3 and to prevent electrostatic offset, a conductive material, for example, is made by mixing carbon black having a specific resistance of about 103 Ωcm to 106 Ωcm in the releasing layer.
A ceramic heating member is generally employed as the heater 2. For example, using screen printing, a heat generating resistance layer, such as silver palladium (Ag/Pd).Ta2N, is formed in the longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of paper) on the surface (the surface that does not face the fixing film 3) of an electrically insulating, aluminum nitride ceramic substrate having a superior thermal conductive property and a small thermal capacity, and in addition, a heat generating resistance layer formation face is covered with a thin glass protective layer. Further, a slide layer is formed on the face of the ceramic substrate that contacts the fixing film 3 to reduce the damage friction may cause to the fixing film 3. The slide layer that contacts the fixing film 3 is generally made of glass when the base layer of the fixing film 3 is formed of a resin, such as polyimide. When the base layer of the fixing film 3 is made of a metal such as SUS, however, the durability of the glass layer is reduced. Therefore, to provide for such an event, a method whereby the slide layer on the slide face of the heater 2 is formed of a resin, such as polyimide or polyamideimide, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-57978.
According to the ceramic heater 2, when power is supplied to the heat generating resistance layer, the heat generating resistance layer generates heat, and the temperature of the entire heater, including the ceramic substrate and the slide layer, is rapidly raised. The rise in the temperature of the heater 2 is detected by temperature detection means 5, located at the rear of the heater 2, and is fed back to a power controller (not shown). The power controller controls the power supplied to the heat generating resistance layer, so that at the heater 2 a substantially predetermined temperature (a fixing temperature) is constantly detected by the temperature detection means 5. This control process enables the heater 2 to maintain a predetermined fixing temperature.
To increase the processing capability of an image forming apparatus, the heating efficiency of a fixing apparatus must also be increased. And in order to efficiently transmit heat generated by the heater to a recording medium, the conduction of heat by the base layer of the fixing film must be improved. For a resin fixing film, heat conduction can be improved by mixing heat conductive filler into the resin. However, when too large an amount of heat conductive filler is mixed into the resin, the tear strength of the fixing film is reduced and tearing of the film will occur. Thus, in order to eliminate the heat conduction and tear strength problems, a proposed fixing film is one for which the base layer is made of metal. When a metal fixing film is employed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-57978, it is preferable that the slide layer of the heater be made of a resin such as polyimide.
It has been found, however, that when coping with an increase in the processing speed of an image forming apparatus, merely making the slide layer of the heater of a resin such as polyimide is not sufficient. Means for increasing the processing capability of the fixing apparatus can include the application of an increased pressurizing force at the fixing nip or the raising the temperature of the heater during the fixing process. However, increasing the pressuring force and raising the temperature of the heater both tend to accelerate the abrasion of the slide layer of the heater. As the slide layer of the heater is worn down by abrasion, particles removed from the slide layer mix with the grease between the surface of the heater and the metallic sleeve. As a result, the desired viscosity and smoothness of the grease is lost, the resistance produced by friction is increased, and the drive torque becomes greater. When the drive torque is increased, it is difficult to rotate the fixing film at high speed, and the processing capability of the fixing apparatus can not be improved. And when a thick slide layer is formed, although the durability of the slide layer is increased, the heat generated by the heater is not easily transmitted to the nip portion. Thus, the method employed to increase the thickness of the slide layer is also not acceptable.

Image heating apparatus including flexible metallic sleeve, and heater used for this apparatus


The present technology relates to the fields of crystallography, biochemistry, and drug design. In particular, methods and compositions for screening, identifying and designing compounds that interact with human mitoNEET.

Diabetes is the fifth most common cause of death and was responsible for over 5% of worldwide deaths in 2000 (Roglic, G.: Unwin, N.; Bennett, P. H.; Mathers, C.; Tuomilehto, J.; Nag, S.; Connelly, V.; King, H; Diabetes Care 2005, 28, 2130-2135). Type II Diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance of the peripheral tissues, including the skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose. The resulting hyperglycemia is often accompanied by defective lipid metabolism that can lead to cardiovascular complications such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Accordingly, it often leads to serious complications such as renal disease, blindness, heart disease and stroke, and the treatment of diabetes annually incurs nearly 100 billion dollars of medical costs in the United States alone (Saltiel, A. R.; Cell 2001, 104, 517-529).
The most broadly successful class of drugs used to treat type II diabetes is the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), some examples of which are pioglitazone and rosiglitazone (trade names Actos and Avandia, respectively). The antidiabetic activity of TZDs was first elucidated in the 1970s, where they were first identified as high affinity ligands for the nuclear transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) (Colca, J. R.; Kletzien, R. F.; Expert Opin. Invest. Drugs 2006, 15, 205-210, Lehmann, J. M.; Moore, L. B.; Smitholiver, T. A.; Wilkison, W. O.; Willson, T. M.; Kliewer, S. A., J. Biol. Chem. 1995, 270, 12953-12956).
However, the link between TZDs, PPARγ, and antidiabetic benefits came into question and ultimately led to the identification of a previously unknown outer mitochondrial membrane protein that directly binds to TZDs (Colca, J. R.; Kletzien, R. F., Expert Opin. Invest.; Drugs 2006, 15, 205-210, Also known as CISD1 (CDGSH Iron Sulfur Domain 1), ZCD1, C10orf70, MGC14684, MDS029, Colca, J. R.; McDonald, W. G.; Waldon, D. J.; Leone J. W.; Lull, J. M.; Bannow, C. A.; Lund, E. T.; Mathews, W. R., Am. J. Physio.; Endocrinol. Metab. 2004, 286, E252-E260). The outer mitochondrial membrane protein was named mitoNEET based on its subcellular localization (mito) and the presence of the amino acid sequence Asn-Glu-Glu-Thr (NEET).
MitoNEET is an integral protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), as shown by immuno-electron microscopy and fractionation of highly purified rat liver mitochondria. An amino terminal signal sequence within the first 32 residues, containing a predicted transmembrane domain, targets mitoNEET to the outer membrane. The orientation of mitoNEET towards the cytoplasm was established by proteolytic digestion of the protein on intact rat liver mitochondria.
Mitochondrial dysfunction has been further associated with insulin resistance and the development of type II diabetes (Stark, R. & Roden, M. (2007) Eur. Clin. Invest. 37, 236-248). Some studies indicate that disease pathogenesis involves diminished mitochondrial oxidative capacity in insulin sensitive tissues, and agents, such as TZDs, are known to enhance oxidative capacity and normalize lipid metabolism (Bandyopadhyay, G K, Yu, J G, Ofrecio, J, & Olefsky, J M (2006) Diabetes 55, 2277-2285; Bogacka, I, Xie, H, Bray, G A, & Smith, S R (2005) Diabetes 54, 1392-1399). Moreover, deficiency of mitoNEET in mice results in a compromise in the respiratory capacity of heart mitochondria (Wiley, S E, Murphy, A N, Ross, S A, van der Geer, P, & Dixon, J E (2007) PNAS 104, 5318-5323). Accordingly, mitoNEET is a candidate target for drugs to treat several disorders including type II diabetes.

Crystal structure of human mitoNEET protein

The Regents of the University of California

Yissum, Research Development Company of Hebrew University of Jerusalem


A data store (e.g., a relational database, an object-oriented database, an unstructured file system, an in-memory data structure, etc.) and associated methods are disclosed for predicting the accuracy of agent responses in a call center. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, agents in a call center are prompted at different times during their workday for estimates of how much longer they will be servicing their current call, and the estimates are stored in the data store along with the actual times required for completion of the call. Statistics for each agent's prediction accuracy are computed and stored in the data store along with the raw data, and can then be used to assess the accuracy of subsequent agent responses to queries.

A call center is a facility where telephone calls are handled by human operators known as agents, usually with some amount of computer automation. Typically, a call center has the ability to handle a considerable volume of calls, providing functions such as routing calls to agents, logging calls, recording calls, and so forth. Call centers are used by many mail-order catalog organizations, telemarketing companies, computer product help desks, government agencies, and large enterprises.
Typically, when a call is received at a call center, the call is automatically routed to an agent who is not currently engaged in a conversation with another caller. If all agents are busy, typically the call is inserted into a queue and the caller is placed "on hold." Callers on hold are typically played a message such as the following: "All agents are currently assisting other customers. Please stay on the line and the next available agent will take your call. Calls are answered in the order that they are received".

Data store for assessing accuracy of call center agent service time estimates


A method and system for measuring strain in a 3D printed part is disclosed herein. The printed part can be formed with internal features that can be analyzed with a digital image correlation system to determine strain levels in internal regions of the part. The features are visually identifiable due to a different color, shape, design or other visually distinguishable characteristics relative to that of the base structural material. The features can be the formed from the same material or a different material from that of the base structure material.

Traditional strain measurement techniques require strain gages and other instrumentation that is mechanically fastened to a surface of a structure. Strain can be determined at the surface of the structure when the structure is placed under a stressed or a loaded condition, however direct measurement of subsurface strain cannot be achieved. Furthermore, for some types of applications such as elastomeric material applications, strain gage instrumentation can restrain or otherwise interfere with the stress loading on the structure which can cause errors in strain measurement. Existing systems have other shortcomings, drawbacks, and disadvantages relative to certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology.

Method and system for measuring strain in a 3D printed part

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A silicon solar cell is manufactured by providing a carrier plate, and by applying a first contact pattern to the carrier plate. The first contact pattern includes a set of first laminar contacts. The silicon solar cell is further manufactured by applying a multitude of silicon slices to the first contact pattern, and by applying a second contact pattern to the multitude of silicon slices. Each first laminar contact of the set of first laminar contacts is in spatial laminar contact with maximally two silicon slices. The second contact pattern includes a set of second laminar contacts. Each second laminar contact of the set of second laminar contacts is in spatial laminar contact with maximally two silicon slices.

Solar cells are devices that convert light energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic effect. There is currently a high demand for solar cells, because solar cells have many applications. For example, solar cells are used for powering small devices like calculators. Furthermore, solar cells are increasingly being used in vehicles and satellites. Solar cells also have the potential of becoming state-of-the-art power plants, since solar cell technology is a technology branch favored by society. Society favors solar cell technology because the electricity produced by solar cells is renewable 'clean' electricity.
Solar cells include a semiconductor material that is used to absorb photons and generate electrons via the photovoltaic effect. One semiconductor material typically used for manufacturing solar cells is silicon. In solar cells, silicon can be used either as mono or polycrystalline silicon.
State-of-the-art silicon solar cells typically include a set of individual silicon plates, each with a size about 15×15 centimeters (cm). Such state-of-the-art solar cells have various disadvantages, however. Due to the large size of the individual silicon plates, the backside of these individual silicon plates are electrically connected using bus bars. The application of the bus bars to the silicon plates is performed by high-temperature diffusion processes, which consume large amounts of energy. High-energy usage during the manufacture of solar cells reduces the cost effectiveness of the solar cells. Furthermore, since bus bars are non-laminar backside contacts, the electrical contacting of the backside of solar cells is not optimal.
The typically large size of the individual plates results in another disadvantage: solar cells are usually connected in series in modules, creating an additive voltage. The reason for connecting solar cells—i.e. individual plates—in series is to minimize electrical resistance losses resulting from the transport of electricity through electrical lines. However, assuming a given limited total area of a solar cell panel having a set of individual plates, just a limited number of individual plates can be used within the solar cell panel, due to the large size of the individual plates. Furthermore, to reach high operation voltages many individual plates have to be connected in series. For example, a typical individual solar cell plate only delivers a voltage of 0.6 volts (V). To obtain a typical operation voltage of a solar cell panel of 66 V, about 100 individual silicon plates have to be connected in series, which requires—in the case where state-of-the-art sized solar cell plates are used—a large amount of space, which is often not available.
In addition, the individual current delivered from one individual state of the art sized solar cell plate is rather high: assuming again the typical size of a standard silicon plate that is 156×156 millimeters (mm), the total area of such a plate is 243 square cm. A typical plate delivers a power of 3.6 watts (W), which at a conversion efficiency of 15% and a typical output voltage of 0.6 V corresponds to a current of 6 amps (A). However, since individual bus bars are used to connect the backside of the solar cell plates, the bus bars have to be designed in a highly robust manner to withstand such high currents. This also increases the costs of design and manufacturing of solar cells.

International Business Machines Corporation


A stepped-edge blister pack for containing and dispensing unit doses of medication such as capsules, tablets, caplets or fast-dissolving dosage forms (FDDF) is disclosed. The invention is comprised of a base sheet and a substantially planar lidding sheet. The base sheet has a plurality of blister compartments and a plurality of steps along its edges, one step being adjacent to each blister compartment. The substantially planar lidding sheet is peelably sealed to the base sheet except at extended edge regions, thus forming edge peel tabs, and the lidding sheet is scored with lines of weakening about each blister compartment. The steps along the edges underlay the unsealed extended edge regions of the lidding sheet, thus providing a series of finger accesses to thereby ease the process of grasping a given edge peel tab and ultimately opening a given blister compartment. The invention is particularly useful for patients whose dexterity skills are reduced as a result of age, infirmity or chronic conditions such as arthritis. Further, the stepped edges of the present invention reduce undesired edge undulation that is caused by the presence of an extended unsealed edge peel tab. Thereby, certain problems in machine feeding and coding are reduced.

The present invention relates to blister packaging, such as for the containment and dispensing of fast-dissolving dosage form (FDDF) drug formulations or other forms of medication. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stepped edge blister pack having an enlarged unsealed stepped tab at an edge adjacent to each blister pocket, thus allowing for ease of opening and for reinforcement and accordingly the prevention of undesired undulation.
Medication in forms such as tablets, capsules or caplets has been typically packaged in blister packages or sheets of multiple blister compartments. A base sheet of transparent or opaque plastic, for instance polyvinyl chloride (PVC or PVC type laminates), has a plurality of blister compartments projecting from one face thereof, for containing the unit dosages of medication. Solid units of medication may be deposited into the blister compartments of the base sheet. Alternatively, as explained by Gregory et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,502, the medication may be closed and frozen within the plastic sheet and then dried using a freeze-drying process. Preferably, a liquid suspension is dosed into the pre-formed blister compartments of the base sheet. The base sheet containing the suspension is then cooled by a medium such as liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, thereby freezing the contents of the blister compartments. The frozen contents may then be subjected to reduced pressure to complete the freeze drying process.
Finally, a lidding or cover sheet typically comprised at least in part of aluminum foil, is peelably sealed, preferably by a heat sealing process, to the top of the base sheet and perforated about each blister compartment, thus removably enclosing the medication.
To permit the cover sheet over an individual blister compartment to be peeled from the respective portion of the base sheet, a small portion of the edge of the cover sheet may be left unsealed to the base sheet, adjacent to each blister compartment. A patient may thus grasp the unsealed edge and accordingly peel the cover sheet from the base sheet to reveal a unit of medication. For instance, the above-mentioned Gregory et al. patent discloses a pharmaceutical dosage form package comprised of a filmic base sheet having depressions, and a covering sheet adhered to the base sheet except at side portions adjacent to each depression. The Gregory specification states that in those portions, "the covering sheet is not adhered to the filmic material so that the user may start peeling away the covering sheet at these locations." (Col. 4, lines 64-66.)
Recently, developments in the medical field have necessitated an increase in the size of the edge peel tab to allow patients with dexterity difficulties a larger tab to grip and peel. Extending the size of the edge peel tab, however, has been seen to result in blister packs that have severe edge undulation due to uneven shrinkage after the heat sealing process and that are difficult to peel in part due to the tendency of the cover sheet to stick to the plastic base sheet as a result of heat transfer.
Prior art blister packs have never before combined the advantages present in the present invention. This invention presents a blister pack comprised of a base sheet having a plurality of blister compartments formed therein, and also a plurality of extended steps formed in and at the edges thereof, each step being adjacent to one of the blister compartments. A substantially planar lidding foil preferably coterminous with the base sheet is peelably sealed to the base sheet, thus enclosing the blister compartments and providing an edge tab at each step adjacent to each blister compartment. The stepped edge of the base sheet provides useful finger accesses through which each edge tab may be grasped. By grasping the edge tab of the lidding foil at the finger access formed by a step and by peeling the lidding foil from a given blister compartment, a patient may dispense the contents of the given compartment. An extended edge peel tab with a stepped-base feature will thus ease the mechanism by which the package is opened and will accordingly assist in patient compliance.
There is shown in the existing art various forms of blister packs, none of which embodies all of the features and advantages of the present invention. The Moser et al. reference, U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,248, for instance, discloses a tear-open package for tablets comprised of a lower base foil, a cover foil and "grasping recesses" for grasping and removal of the cover foil. Moser does not disclose a stepped-edge configuration like that of the present invention. Rather, the "grasping recesses" of Moser are concealed interiorly beneath the cover foil and cannot be easily reached until an individual tablet package is severed from the overall package or until a centrally positioned strip is severed from the overall package.
Mullen, U.S. Pat No. 3,933,245, discloses an article holding and dispensing container comprised of a tray of blister compartments and a closure means heat-sealed to the tray. The tray and closure means are each scored with horizontal and vertical score lines, thus allowing each individual blister to be severed from an adjacent blister. At each intersection of score lines is a preferably circular depressed area, at which point there is an absence of heat-sealing. Thus, the sheet covering an individual blister can be peeled off either (i) by grasping the sheet at the intersection of the adjacent horizontal and vertical score lines or (ii) by detaching the blister from adjacent blisters and then grasping the sheet at the area of depression. In contrast, the cover sheet in the present invention can be peeled from an individual blister by simply grasping the edge-tab at the finger access and pulling the cover sheet away from the base sheet.
Hellstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,367, discloses a quick-opening package comprised of a relatively stiff supporting layer, at least one pocket formed in the supporting layer, and a backing layer adhered to the supporting layer. In order to open the enclosed pocket, the package is bent along a line crossing the pocket, thereby rupturing the backing layer over the pocket. The supporting layer is preferably reinforced with a series of flutes or ridges to ensure that the bending occurs in the proper position relative to the pocket. Further, Hellstrom discloses a process of manufacturing this quick-opening package, wherein pockets and flutes are simultaneously stamped onto a continuous strip of blister material, a backing layer is applied, and the resulting strip can be severed or fed from a strip dispenser. The present invention differs from Hellstrom in that the blister compartments of the present invention are not opened by bending the package and rupturing a given blister; rather, a blister compartment made in accordance with the present invention would be opened by peeling the cover sheet from the base sheet, after accessing the cover sheet from the stepped peel tab at the edge of the pack.
Finally, as mentioned above, Gregory et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,502, discloses a pharmaceutical dosage form package comprised of a plastic film blister sheet with depressions for receiving dosage forms, and a laminate cover sheet adhered to it except at edge peel tab areas. The surface of the cover sheet is scored to allow access to the enclosed dosage forms, which are formed in place by freeze-drying. Importantly, the Gregory package does not disclose the stepped edges and associated ease of peeling and reduced edge undulation that is achieved by the present invention.


There is provided a power generating system to recharge the batteries of a boat as the boat moves under power through a body of water. The electrical generating system has a relatively large water wheel connected to a boat. As the boat moves through the water, the water wheel turns producing energy and, through a series of pulleys and wheel gears and then to a generator or alternator and then the electrical energy is passed to a battery. The water wheel may be mounted on the stern of the boat, or to the side of the boat, or in a cut out portion in the bottom of the boat.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to an improved system for producing electricity by using energy from water. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved system in which electricity is generated by a paddle wheel connected to a generator.
2. Description of Prior Art
The desire to produce energy from flowing water in a river, tides, or the like, dates back well over 100 years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 163,451, to Buckner, et al, issued in 1875, discloses a system to produce power from waves that includes a buoy actuated by the rise and fall of waves provided within guide rods that operate within six (6) socket plates, and adjustable racks for engaging the roof pinions, pawls and racket wheels. The rise and fall of the buoy with the wave action serves to rotate the gears to produce energy. U.S. Pat. No. 537,398, to Wilde, issued in 1895, describes a tidal power device in which incoming tidal water passes through a water wheel to a storage reservoir, releasing the water from the storage reservoir past the water wheel to transmit power from the wheel to a pulley and then to a dynamo. The end of the water wheel is connected to a circular rack which engages a gear and is adapted to move vertically by having its lower end journaled in a box mounted on the protruding end of an axle to transmit motion from a pulley to a dynamo or other suitable machine by a belt connection or any other suitable manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 651,454, to Wilkinson describes a motor which utilizes the ebb and flow of the tide to supply energy, having a combination of a high and low tide reservoir, each having an outlet and inlet channel, connecting the reservoir to the main body of water subject to the action of the tide. There is a water wheel in a channel leading from each of the reservoirs, which is adapted to be operated on during certain periods of the day by the water flowing into the low tide reservoir from the main body of water, and the other wheel adapted to operated during certain periods of time by the water flowing out of the high tide reservoir, and means to utilize the power generated by each water wheel, at times co-jointly, and at other times separately. On the shaft of each water wheel is a gear wheel working in mesh with another gear wheel mounted on another shaft to coordinate the two wheels. A power pulley is used to transfer the energy from the water wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 946,585, to Smith discloses an electrical generating system having two water wheels operating in parallel using the flow of water as motive power to turn pulleys with belts extending over other guide pulleys into a mill or power house. U.S. Pat. No. 1,333,443, to Rennolds shows a series of water wheels (one behind the other in a raceway). The series of wheels is geared to a common driving shaft and there are provisions whereby the wheels will turn one way when the tide is coming in, and in the opposite direction when the tide is going out, and will give a reasonably constant motion to the power shaft to which the wheels are connected.
Boats, in general, either lack electricity-generating means or only have such means when a gasoline engine is used to operate a generator. However, even when a gasoline engine is present on the craft, there are situations in which its use is either not convenient or impractical. Thus, it would be desirable to have a power-generating means which could keep a battery charged while a craft is in motion or at anchor in a current. Such a power-generating means would not only keep batteries charged but could also provide a continuous current when an electric motor is used to propel the boat and when other electrical apparatus on the craft are used.
Propeller operated generators on motor driven craft are known in the art, but they are not desirable because they are fixed and in a position which would increase the drag of the boat excessively, or because they are dependent on a rather high-speed craft for their utility. Some such power generating devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,973 to Lansing and U.S. Pat. No. 903,592 to Low, wherein a boat is driven by a central, stern-mounted, outboard motor with a submerged generator located off to one side, or in the keel area under the water line. In Low the hydroelectric impeller, or propeller, is located centrally of the stern of the boat, to remain submerged even during tilt of the boat, but the generator is above water level rather than being submerged.

Electrical power generating system using a water wheel


The present invention is a Twist Up device that consists of multiple pin-movement sections and pin-stopping sections. The pin-movement sections have Twist Up adjustment grooves in multiple steps, and these adjustment grooves allow the Twist Up ring to move the Twist Up adjustment pins in the direction of the set grooves. The pin-stopping sections are positioned next to the pin-movement sections so that they can stop the Twist Up adjustment pins to prevent the Twist Up ring to move in the direction of the set grooves.

With focusing devices, which include binoculars, monoculars, field glasses, and telescopes, there are different distances between the eyepiece lenses and eyeballs that are comfortable to the users due to the differences in their vision. Therefore, the eyepieces (the part that is in contact with eyes) of binoculars are often equipped with variable focusing devices, or "Twist Up devices", that can adjust the distance between the eyepiece lenses and eyeballs.
A commonly used Twist Up device is basically composed of a Twist Up ring and a support ring that is often called a split-image suppressor ring. The Twist Up ring has a longer Twist Up adjustment groove, and the support ring is contained inside the Twist Up ring, and it is equipped with the Twist Up adjustment pins that are inserted into the above Twist Up adjustment groove. The Twist Up device moves the Twist Up adjustment pins inside the Twist Up adjustment groove along its circumference, and it twists up by moving the Twist Up ring against the support ring in the adjustment groove. In so doing, the distance between the eyepiece lenses and eyeballs is made larger or smaller by the distance that the Twist Up ring has moved.
The Twist Up adjustment groove in the conventional Twist Up ring is set in a straight line, diagonally from the opening at one end to the opening at the other end of the Twist Up ring. For this reason, when the conventional Twist Up device was operated by moving the Twist Up ring against the support ring so that the pin slides along the groove to a desired position. However, there is no means known in the art to fix the Twist Up ring at a fixed position. Consequently, when the Twist Up ring is pressed against the eyeballs to look at something, the pin tends to slide in the groove and the Twist Up ring consequently rotates, and it was not possible to maintain the desired position originally obtained by manipulating the Twist Up device. As a result, a focusing device with the conventional Twist Up devices known in the art fail to secure a proper distance between the eyepiece lenses and eyeballs which causes images to lose focus, difficulty in seeing desired objects and other inconveniences to the user.
In an attempt to resolve this limitation in the art, a Twist Up device has been developed with a retaining section using a spring-operated retaining ball in the support ring, which can be pushed against the Twist Up ring and held steady in the Twist Up adjustment groove of the Twist Up ring. With this Twist Up device, when the Twist Up ring is moved along the support ring in a set groove and the retaining ball comes to the set position in the retaining section and remains in the retaining section by the spring action. As a result, the retaining ball restricts the Twist Up ring from moving to the direction of the groove. Thus, this Twist Up device is able to prevent the movement of the Twist Up ring when the user was looking at something through the focusing device, such as a binocular or other device as mentioned above.
However, there are limitations to the art of Twist Up devices having a restraining ball and spring. The above retaining ball is held in place only the spring force. So, when a force applied to the focusing device is stronger than the spring force applied to the Twist Up device, the retaining ball comes off of the retaining section, and the Twist Up ring moves thereby failing to maintain the desired position obtained by manipulating the Twist Up device, which is a significant shortcoming.
Another limitation to Twist Up devices having a retaining ball and spring is the increased number of parts required for manufacturing the devices in addition to using the device. Additionally, a special manufacturing process is necessary to secure the above-mentioned retaining function. The increased number of parts complicates the manufacturing process, increases the manufacturing costs, and increase the number of components which may potentially fail. These are further shortcomings in the art.

Multi-step locking eye cup twist up device


Disclosed are: a method for preparing a 5-chloro-N-({(5S)-2-oxo-3-[4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,2,4]triazin-1-yl)phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}-methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide derivative, which is a inhibitor of blood coagulation factor Xa, in a high purity and yield; and a novel intermedicate used therein.

5-Chloro-N-({(5S)-2-oxo-3-[4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,2,4]triazin-1-yl)phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}-methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide of formula (A) has been known as an inhibitor of blood coagulation factor Xa and used for treating and preventing thrombosis, myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis, inflammation, stroke, angina pectoris, recurrent stricture after angioplasty, and thromboembolism such as intermittent claudication.

Korea Patent No. 2008-64178, whose application has been filed by the present invetors, discloses a use of the compound as an inhibitor of blood coagulation factor Xa and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method comprises the step of preparing a cyclic amidrazone starting from 4-nitroaniline, as shown in reaction scheme 1:

Specifically, the cyclic amidrazone (A) is prepared by the steps of: preparing the compound (B) using 4-nitroaniline; treating the compound (B) with a t-butoxycarbonyl amine protecting group to prepare the compound (C); introducing a nitroso group into the compound (C) using NaNO2, followed by reduction using zinc to prepare the compound (D); and treating the compound (D) successively with hydrochloric acid and an ortho-formate.
However, the above preparation method is complicated and gives a low yield of the compound (A) (e.g., a total yield of 9%), and it also requires the use of a column chromatography purification step, which limits mass production of the cyclic amidrazone. In particular, the step for preparing the compound (D) from the compound (C) is required to use a harmful heavy metal-containg materal such as zinc amalgam which gives an unsatisfactorily low yield, and the isolation step of the compound (D) does not proceed easily.

Method for preparing 5-chloro-N-({(5S)-2-oxo-3-[4-(5,6-dihydro-4H-[1,2,4]triazin-1-yl)phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}methyl) derivative and intermediate used therein


A fastener includes a fastening portion including a head, a threaded portion having a first diameter, and a shank having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The shank is located between the head and the threaded portion. A sleeve surrounds the shank. The sleeve and the shank are uncoupled.

Bolts are employed to secure two components together. A pitch diameter shank bolt includes a shank that has a smaller diameter than a shank of a full shank bolt. A pitch diameter shank bolt can stretch more than a full shank bolt, allowing for a better stack-to-bolt stiffness ratio and an improved joint performance.
An outer diameter of a threaded portion of the pitch diameter shank bolt is larger than the diameter of the shank. The threaded portion creates holes in the components that have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shank, creating a space between the shank and the holes of the component. As the shank of the pitch diameter shank bolt has a smaller diameter than the shank of the full shank bolt, the pitch diameter shank bolt does not transfer shear as well as the full shank bolt.

Pitch diameter shank bolt with shear sleeve


To determine the speed of propagation of a signal in a medium, wave amplitude is measured over time at one or more detectors disposed within the medium so as to detect and identify signals transmitted at one or more sources disposed within said region. Frequency domain matched field processing power is calculated by matching measured with perturbation normal mode model fields, and beta coefficients which determine sound speed profiles are calculated by beta backpropagation so as to maximize the matched field processing power.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for determining the wave speed of a medium and more particularly to an inverse tomographic technique therefor.
The term tomography generally denotes the cross-sectional imaging of an object from either transmission or reflected data collected by illuminating the object from several different directions. Accordingly, inverse tomography involves transmitting signals through a medium and inferring the wave speed in the medium by examining detected signals.
The ocean has been extensively studied and mapped. However, most studies depend on knowledge of the actual sound speed in the ocean. Therefore, it is critical to have accurate knowledge of the sound speed of a region under consideration, so that knowledge of the structure of the region may also be accurate. Furthermore, the accuracy of sonar depends on the accuracy of knowledge about the ocean water sound speed. Similarly, knowledge of geological formations depends on measurements based on accurate knowledge of wave speed.
Techniques utilized in the past have shown that remote sensing of ocean mesoscale structures is highly effective at ranges up to 1000 km using high frequencies (above 100 Hz) where sound-speed structure is inverted (that is, determined) through comparison of measured with predicted times of arrival of rays/multipaths transmitted from a pulsed source and propagating to a detector. These approaches use either moored transmitter/detectors, or moving transmitter/detectors and involve computation in the time domain. In other words, these approaches involve calculation of the elapsed time between emission and receipt of signals. The detectors, whether moored or moving, are vertical hydrophone arrays, thus having multiple sensors.
The moored tomography technique requires resolution on the order of 10 msec. to detect the effects of environmental changes, and this demands broadband coded source signals with accurate synchronization of transmission and recordings. The data must be collected over long periods of time to counter fluctuations due to internal waves, tides, movement of fish and other material in the medium, and other environmental conditions. The location of the sources and detectors must be known precisely. The moored approach suffers from a sparsity of transmitters and detectors since deploying them is expensive. On the other hand, moving the transmitters and detectors, usually by ship, is time consuming and costly.
It would be desirable to use a number of fast, inexpensive air deployed explosives with high signal to noise ratio as the sources. However, these sources cannot be used with the above techniques because they do not provide precisely known times and locations, nor do they provide precisely known waveforms for the signals transmitted.
It would also be desirable to perform the calculations in the frequency domain with low frequencies, thus minimizing the sensitivity to environmental fluctuations and eliminating the necessity of knowing the precise locations for the sources and detectors, since the accuracy needed would depend on the wavelength, which would be longer. However, the above techniques use the time domain and require frequencies of about 100 Hz.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,001 to John L. Spiesberger discloses a method for determining, inter alia, the speed of propagation of a signal in a medium, where the medium is not necessarily ocean water and the signal is not necessarily acoustic. The method uses calculations in the time domain and uses moored transmissions. As with the above methods for use in ocean mesoscale structural determination, it provides relatively inaccurate results or requires the use of accurate data.
Matched field processing, examples of which include Capon processing, maximum likelihood, minimum variance, linear processing, and maximum entropy, has been used to locate sources. It involves cross-correlating, that is, comparing or matching actual measured data from signals, with theoretical predictions of the measured data, based on acoustic fields according to a particular propagation model, to obtain matched field processing power. Further explanation and details of matched field processing power are found in Bucker, H. P. (1976), "Use of Calculated Sound Fields and Matched-Field Detection to Locate Sound Sources in Shallow Water," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 59, 368-373; Fizell, R. G., "Application of High-Resolution Processing to Range and Depth Estimation Using Ambiguity Function Methods," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 82, 606-613, which are incorporated herein by reference. Matched field processing of interest herein is in the frequency domain.
The ocean is known to have sound speed profiles. In other words, it is known that the sound speed varies with depth because of factors such as temperature, pressure and salinity. FIG. 1 shows an example of a sound speed profile. However, the sound speed profile might vary with range. Accordingly, the region under consideration is partitioned into a discrete set of cells so that the sound speed profile can be determined at each cell.
Because the maximum sound speed is generally higher on the surface and in deep water, sound speed typically reaches a minimum at depths of about 500-1000 m, sound propagated horizontally will generally refract vertically and reflect from the surface, as shown in FIG. 2.
In order to reduce the parameter search space for determining the sound speed profile in each cell, wave speeds can be represented by a linear combination of known linearly independent functions, a basis. In other words, ##EQU1## For empirical orthogonal functions (E.O.F.s), the functions f.sub.j are eigenfunctions of a particular known covariance matrix. Since the functions f.sub.j are readily determined from air-deployed expendable bathythermograph data (A.X.B.T.), conductivity, temperature and depth (C.T.D.), or archival data, the problem of determining sound speed profiles which best match the measured data reduces to finding the coefficients .alpha..sub.j for all cells and all values of j, which coefficient values maximize the matched field processing power. However, with this linear representation of wave speed, it is very cumbersome and inefficient to calculate the predicted acoustic fields, on which calculation of the matched field processing power is based.
Even if an efficient method of calculating the predicted acoustic fields and therefore matched field processing power were found, the problem of solving for coefficients which maximize the matched field processing power remains. Calculations using standard numerical schemes, including simulated annealing, are prohibitively time consuming. Even medical tomography backpropagation techniques, which involve considering many paths through a cell of interest, and weighting the paths equally, lead to inaccurate results.

Inverse tomography by matched field processing

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A fuel cell system is disclosed, wherein the fuel cell system is heated by a fluid during a starting operation to mitigate against vapor condensation and ice formation in a fuel cell assembly and to decrease a warm up time of the fuel cell system.

Fuel cell assemblies convert a fuel and an oxidant to electricity. One type of fuel cell system employs a proton exchange membrane (hereinafter "PEM") to catalytically facilitate reaction of fuels (such as hydrogen) and oxidants (such as oxygen or air) to generate electricity. The PEM is a solid polymer electrolyte membrane that facilitates transfer of protons from an anode to a cathode in each individual fuel cell normally deployed in a fuel cell system.
In a typical fuel cell assembly (stack) within a fuel cell system, individual fuel cell plates include flow channels through which various reactants and cooling fluids flow. In subzero temperatures, water vapor in the fuel cell assembly may condense in the flow channels. Further, the condensate may form ice in the fuel cell assembly. The presence of condensate and ice may affect the performance of the fuel cell assembly and may also cause damage to the fuel cell assembly.
During typical operation of the fuel cell assembly in subzero temperatures, waste heat from the fuel cell reaction heats the fuel cell assembly and mitigates against vapor condensation and ice formation in the assembly. However, during a starting operation or low power operation of the fuel cell assembly in subzero temperatures, water vapor may condense and the condensate may form ice within the fuel cell assembly before the waste heat from the fuel cell reaction heats the fuel cell assembly.
Typical fuel cell assemblies are in cathode fluid communication with a compressor including surge control hardware and software. The compressor increases the pressure of a fluid flowing therethrough by reducing a volume of the fluid within the compressor. Increasing the pressure of the fluid increases the temperature of the fluid. The surge control hardware of the compressor mitigates against compressor surge, or the reverse flow of the fluid through the compressor, caused by a pressure drop or back pressure in the fuel cell assembly. Current fuel cell assemblies having compressor systems use a system bypass valve to reduce the amount of fluid caused to flow to the fuel cell assembly. The bypass valve facilitates obtaining a desired fluid pressure to mitigate against compressor surge. The fluid caused to flow through the bypass valve is purged to a vehicle exhaust system.
The fluid purged to the environment from the exhaust system of the fuel cell system is also a concern. Unconsumed hydrogen (H2) is the most important emission consideration from the fuel cell system of the vehicle. The hydrogen exiting the vehicle must be kept below a lower flammability limit (LFL) of approximately 4% molar concentration of hydrogen in air. If the exhaust from the fuel cell assembly is above 4% molar concentration of hydrogen, the fuel cell assembly can be operated at increased airflows to dilute the hydrogen in the exhaust stream. Operating the fuel cell assembly at an increased stack airflow may dry out the fuel cell assembly.
It would be desirable to produce a fuel cell system heated by a fluid in the fuel cell system during a starting operation to mitigate against vapor condensation and ice formation in a fuel cell assembly and to decrease a warm up time of the fuel cell system.

Cold start compressor control and mechanization in a fuel cell system


A cloud-based platform (e.g., cloud-based collaboration and/or storage platform/service) is described that provides administrators with better visibility into content and activity across an enterprise account via advanced search tools and activity reports. Administrator tools are also provided that allow for actively managing content and passively monitoring content with real-time alerts sent to the administrator if usage of the cloud-based platform changes within the enterprise account. A reporting API is also supported by the cloud-based platform to permit the platform's activity logs to be retrieved by a third-party platform. Additionally, administrators are provided with the option to select two-step login verification of enterprise account users.

Enterprises store and retain large amounts of data that need to be navigable among multiple enterprise users and the administrator of the enterprise account. For security, compliance, or archival purposes, the administrator should be able to search across all content stored in the enterprise account.
Further, security continues to be a major area of concern as more and more enterprises adopt cloud-based solutions for content management. When corporate content that is potentially stored in the cloud is accessed by many corporate users, there is typically an administrator that oversees and monitors the use of the cloud. Among other functions, the administrator may be responsible for ensuring the security of the corporate data stored in the cloud, particularly with the increased access of cloud content via mobile devices.

System and method for enhanced security and management mechanisms for enterprise administrators in a cloud-based environment


An information processing device (100) includes a map information generation unit (11) and a usage amount calculation unit (12). The map information generation unit (11) generates map information by using measurement information including a plurality of types of information measured by a measurement device (300) which measures information on features and is mounted on a measurement vehicle (310). The usage amount calculation unit (12) calculates a usage amount of the map information generation unit (11) used for generating the map information by using at least one of the plurality of types of information included in measurement information.

In recent years, development of autonomous traveling vehicles has been carried out. In order to realize the autonomous traveling, a highly accurate 3-D map is required in addition to information acquired from sensors such as cameras and laser radars attached to autonomous traveling vehicles. As a method for generating the highly accurate 3-D map, there is MMS (Mobile Mapping System).
In MMS, by running a surveying vehicle, the surveying vehicle acquires information on a road surface and equipment on sides of the road, and map information is generated based on this information.
Conventionally, in order to interpret features based on point cloud information acquired by a laser radar, a person has manually extracted and plotted the features by using a 3-D CAD editing tool to perform a plotting process.
However, when a wide range of map information is manually prepared by a person, the amount of information of the point cloud to be processed becomes enormous, which imposes a heavy burden on an operator, and a work cost becomes enormous.
In particular, in a highly accurate 3-D map, the workload of extracting position information of section lines and shoulder edges, which are the minimum required for realizing the autonomous traveling, is large, and a cost required for an extraction work is also large.
Therefore, there is a demand for software that automatically extracts and plots features from measurement information acquired from a measurement device used in MIMS.
For example, a map generation system of Patent Literature 1 provides a function of detecting a step from point cloud information by dividing a 3-D space of measurement information into a mesh, creating various candidate lines in the mesh, and evaluating spaces.

Mobile mapping system-related information processing device, fee calculation system, and program stop device


Embodiments include methods for securely provisioning copies of an electronic circuit. A first entity embeds one or more secret values into copies of the circuit. A second entity: 1) embeds a trust anchor in a first copy of the circuit; 2) causes the circuit to generate a message signing key pair using the trust anchor and the embedded secret value(s); 3) signs provisioning code using a code signing private key; and 4) sends a corresponding code signing public key, the trust anchor, and the signed provisioning code to a third entity. The third entity embeds the trust anchor in a second copy of the circuit and causes the circuit to: 1) generate the message signing private key; 2) verify the signature of the signed provisioning code using the code signing public key; and 3) launch the provisioning code on the circuit.

Cryptography can be used in data processing, information processing, computing system, or the like to secure operations and/or functions. Examples of cryptographic systems include secure email systems, smartcards, point of sales terminals, network routers, and the like including methods such as digital signatures, cryptographic hash functions, key management techniques, and the like. Cryptographic systems include cryptographic primitives of various levels of complexity.
Typical cryptographic systems include algorithms for key generation, encryption, decryption, and the generation of digital signatures. A digital signature refers to a pair of algorithms, one for signing a message, and one for verifying the signature of a message. Cryptographic systems commonly use a key generation algorithm and often exploit public key techniques and/or symmetric key techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Secure provisioning in an untrusted environment


The invention relates to a component (20) for supporting a tubular filter member (15) in a portable channel (2) in a plate heat exchanger (1). The invention also relates to a device including the component (20) and the filter member (15). Furthermore, the invention relates to a plate heat exchanger (1), which includes a package of heat transfer plates (3) provided between a first plate (5) and a second plate (6). The filter member (15) has an inner surface and an outer surface. The component (20) includes a first part (21), which is arranged to be introduceable into the filter member (15) to abutment against the inner surface of the filter member, and a second part (22), which is arranged to abut a surface area of one of said first and second plates (5, 6), which surface area extends around the porthole channel (2).

The present invention refers to a component for supporting a tubular filter member in a porthole channel of a plate heat exchanger, which includes a package of heat transfer plates provided between a first plate and a second plate, wherein the filter member has an inner surface and an outer surface. The invention also refers to a device including a tubular filter member and a component for supporting the filter member in a porthole channel of a plate heat exchanger, which includes a package of heat transfer plates provided between a first plate and a second plate, wherein the filter member has an inner surface and an outer surface. Furthermore, the invention refers to a plate heat exchanger including a package of heat transfer plates, which are provided between a first plate and a second plate, a tubular filter member, which has an inner surface and an outer surface and a component for supporting the filter member in a porthole channel of the plate heat exchanger.
It is known to use such tubular filter members in plate heat exchangers for different applications and fluids, for instance seawater containing algae, dirt, and other particles. The filter member, which may be formed by a substantially circular cylindrical perforated sheet pipe, is then introduced into the porthole channel of the plate package. Between the plates and the filter member, a gap arises for various reasons. In order to enable the mounting and replacement of the filter member, there has to be a gap between the plates and the filter member. The geometry of the portholes and the channel plates is such that a gap is formed. The tolerance of manufacture is limited.
One problem of such known filter members is the sealing of the gap between the filter member and the heat transfer plates. The fluid which is conveyed into the plate heat exchanger from the inlet pipe can partly penetrate the gap and from the gap continue into the plate interspaces. This liquid, which penetrates the gap from the inlet pipe, will thus not pass through the filter. Consequently, dirt and other particles, which might be present in the fluid, may be guided into the plate interspaces. Another problem is to obtain a stable positioning of the filter member at the same time as the latter has to be removable in an easy manner. If the filter manner lacks support and a determined position, the movements of the filter member can lead to damages on the filter member, the plates, and other components, for instance parts of rubber gaskets between the plates.
GB-A-1 207 919 discloses a plate heat exchanger including a package of heat transfer plates provided between a first end plate and a second end plate. A tubular filter member, which has an inner surface and an outer surface, is provided in a porthole channel of the plate heat exchanger. In order to position the filter member in the porthole channel, it is proposed to provide a number of rods provided with sleeves in the porthole channel between the plates and the filter member. In order to seal the gap between the filter member and the plates, it is proposed to provide a sealing ring, which is provided at the end of filter member and which is arranged to seal the inner wall of the inlet channel connected to the porthole channel in which the filter member is provided.

Component for supporting a filter member, a device including a tubular filter member and said component, a plate heat exchanger including a tubular filter member and said component


Methods and systems provided. A system may include at least one camera at a camera location, wherein the at least one camera is configured to record one or more videos and one or more images. The system may further include a server. The server may be configure to download at least one image of the one or more images captured at the camera location. The server may also be configured to display the one or more downloaded images. Further, the server may also be configured to, in response to a user selecting a displayed image of the one or more displayed images, download a specific portion of the previously recorded one or more videos captured at the camera location.

Conventional video surveillance systems are on-premise, vender-specific, and utilize localized digital video recorders (DVR) and/or network video recorders (NVR) with limited accessibility outside of the area in which they are positioned. As digital technology has advanced and Internet protocol (IP) cameras have become widely available, the implementation of these IP-enabled cameras into video surveillance systems has not changed. Camera systems are being implemented at an increasing rate across broad geographical areas, and the need to centralize management as well as to provide secure global access to these disparate camera systems is becoming a critical necessity.
The increased data capabilities of cellular and satellite providers make it possible to place cameras virtually anywhere in the world. However, cellular and satellite connections are metered, making it cost prohibitive to stream large amounts of data intensive video. Additionally, cellular and satellite communication links are capped to ensure bandwidth is available to all customers.

Devices, systems, and methods for remote video retrieval


A nacelle for use in an aircraft having a turbojet engine (the turbojet engine including a fan casing and a suspension pylon) includes a D-shaped structure downstream section embedding a thrust reverser device. The D-shaped structure downstream section includes a movable cascades vane. The D-shaped structure downstream section also includes two D-shaped half-structures each having an outer half-cowl movable in translation along a longitudinal axis, a connector between the cascades vane and the outer half-cowl, a twelve o'clock half-bifurcation, an inner half-structure defining an inner portion of the annular flow path, and a twelve o'clock half-beam mounted on the twelve o'clock half-bifurcation articulated on the pylon. The nacelle further includes an axial retention device of the downstream section of the nacelle, relative to the turbojet engine, configured to provide a connection defining an axial retention between the twelve o'clock half-beam and a fixed element of the fan casing.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
An aircraft is moved by several propulsion units each including a turbojet engine housed in a nacelle. Reference is made to FIG. 1 illustrating a propulsion unit 1 of the prior art. A propulsion unit 1 includes a nacelle 3 and a turbojet engine 5, for example of the bypass type, capable of generating via the blades of the rotating fan a hot gases flow (also called primary flow) and a cold air flow (also called secondary flow) which circulates outside the turbojet engine through an annular passage, also called flow path, formed between two concentric walls of the nacelle 3. The primary and secondary flows are ejected from the turbojet engine from the rear of the nacelle 3.
The nacelle 3 generally has a tubular structure comprising an upstream section or air inlet 7, located upstream of the turbojet engine 5, a median section 9 intended to surround a fan of the turbojet engine, a downstream section 11, intended to surround the combustion chamber of the turbojet engine 5, embedding thrust reversal means, and can be terminated by an ejection nozzle located downstream of the turbojet engine.
The downstream section 11 generally has an outer structure including an outer cowl 13, which defines with a concentric inner structure (not visible in FIG. 1) called "Inner Fixed Structure" (IFS), the annular flow path serving to channel the cold air flow.
The inner structure defines an inner portion of the annular flow path and generally includes two half-shells connected together "at six o'clock" via a locking device.
Generally, the nacelle 3 is connected via a suspension pylon 15 also called reactor mast to the wing of the aircraft (not represented).
The thrust reversal means allow, during the landing of an aircraft, improve braking capacity by redirecting forward a majority fraction of the thrust generated by the turbojet engine 5.
In this phase, the reverser generally obstructs the flow path of the cold air flow and directs the latter forward of the nacelle 3, generating a counter-thrust in addition to the braking of the aircraft wheels. The means implemented to achieve this reorientation of the cold air flow vary depending on the type of thrust reverser.
A common configuration is that of the so-called "cascades" thrust reversers.
In this type of thrust reverser, the outer cowl 13 of the downstream section is sliding. The downstream translation of this sliding cowl allows uncovering thrust reverser cascades bringing the flow path of the cold flow into communication with the outside of the nacelle.
The translation of the outer cowl 13 further allows deploying blocking flaps in the flow path of the cold flow. Thus, by the combined action of the blocking flaps and thrust reverser cascades, the cold flow is redirected forward of the nacelle.
As mentioned above, the thrust reversal means are housed in the downstream section of a nacelle. There are mainly three types of structural configuration known for the downstream section, namely the structures respectively called "C-shaped" (or "C-duct"), "D-shaped" (or "D-duct") and "O-shaped" (or "O-duct") structures.
In the following description, the expression "D-shaped structure nacelle" defines a "nacelle whose downstream section is with a D-shaped structure". The same applies to a "C-shaped structure nacelle" or an "O-shaped structure nacelle". Likewise, the expression "D-shaped structure" defines the structural configuration of the downstream section of the nacelle. The same applies to a "C-shaped structure" or an "O-shaped structure".
An O-shaped structure nacelle (not represented in the figures) includes an integral annular outer cowl, while a C-shaped structure has two outer half-cowls 13a, 13b, visible in FIG. 2 illustrating a propulsion unit 1 during opening for maintenance.
In an O-shaped or C-shaped structure, the integral annular outer cowl or the outer half-cowls are mounted in translation along sliding rails disposed on either side of the suspension pylon of the propulsion unit.
The outer cowling, defined by the integral annular outer cowl of an O-shaped structure or by the outer half-cowls of a C-shaped structure, is guided at the level of its rails mounted at twelve o'clock in the nacelle.
To access the turbojet engine of a C-shaped structure nacelle, the two half-cowls 13a, 13b initially locked together at six o'clock are first unlocked when the nacelle is in operation, then these cowls are subsequently opened "in butterfly" about an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pylon, then in a third step, the two half-shells 16a, 16b forming the inner structure of the downstream section are unlocked, then in a fourth step, the two half-shells 16a, 16b are opened "in butterfly" about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nacelle.
To access the turbojet engine of an O-shaped structure nacelle, first the integral annular outer cowl is slid downstream of the nacelle and then, in a second step, the two half-shells forming the inner structure of the downstream section are unlocked then, in a third step, the two half-shells are opened "in butterfly" about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nacelle.
It is understood that a disadvantage of C-shaped or O-shaped structures is that the time required to access the turbojet engine to perform maintenance operations is significant. Likewise, the number of steps required to access the turbojet engine is also high.
A known solution of the prior art is to use nacelles with a D-shaped structure downstream section.
FIG. 3 illustrates a propulsion unit 1 in partial exploded view including a nacelle 3 whose downstream section 11 is a D-shaped structure 17.
In a D-shaped structure nacelle, the inner and outer structures of the downstream section of the nacelle are secured to one another, via two connecting islands called bifurcations. The bifurcations are disposed respectively in the positions called "at twelve o'clock" (upper bifurcation) and "at six o'clock" (lower bifurcation).
A D-shaped structure includes two D-shaped half-structures, connected to each other at six o'clock at the bifurcation, and pivotally mounted about an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pylon 15.
A first D-shaped half-structure 17a of the D-shaped structure nacelle is now described, which is identical to a second half-structure forming the D-shaped structure (not shown). The elements composing the D-shaped half-structure 17a can be similar or identical to the elements composing the second D-shaped half-structure, obtained by symmetry of the half-structure 17a with respect to a plane (LV) of the nacelle.
In a D-shaped structure, the D-shaped half-structure 17a includes an inner half-structure 19a, secured at twelve o'clock to a twelve o'clock half-bifurcation 21a and at six o'clock to a six o'clock half-bifurcation 23a.
On the twelve o'clock half-bifurcation 21a is mounted a twelve o'clock half-beam 25a, and on the six o'clock half-bifurcation 23a is mounted a six o'clock half-beam 27a.
Each half-beam 25a, 27a supports a sliding rail 29a, 31a of an outer half-cowl 33a, mounted in translation on each six o'clock and twelve o'clock half-beam. The translating outer cowl, formed by the two outer half-cowls, is called "transcowl". Thus, in a D-shaped structure, the translating outer cowl is guided in translation at the level of its rails mounted at six o'clock and twelve o'clock.
Access to the turbojet engine of a D-shaped structure nacelle is obtained first by unlocking the two D-shaped half-structures initially locked together at six o'clock when the nacelle is in operation, then by opening these D-shaped half-structures "in butterfly" about an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pylon. For this purpose, each twelve o'clock half-beam 25a (only one visible in the figure) is articulated on the pylon 15 via a set of hinges 35, these hinges including yokes 37 distributed longitudinally along each half-beam.
By planning to make the inner half-structure 19a secured to the outer half-cowl 33a, the butterfly opening of the D-shaped half-structures allows access to the turbojet engine in only two times. Thus, the intervention time for accessing the turbojet engine is reduced compared to the C-shaped or the O-shaped structures.
In the case of a thrust reverser with cascades, the cascades, which provide the redirection of the cold flow, can be fixed, that is to say, they are carried in their upstream portion by a front frame which is secured to the engine fan casing, surrounding the engine fan.
There is represented in FIG. 4 a partial longitudinal sectional view of a propulsion unit including a D-shaped structure nacelle whose thrust reverser is of the type with fixed cascades vane 39. The translation of the half-cowls 33a (only one shown in the figures) between the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4 and a deployed position in which it opens a passage in the nacelle makes it possible to uncover the cascades vane of the secondary air flow. The reorientation of the secondary air flow passing through the annular flow path is provided by the deployment of blocking flaps 41, illustrated here in the retracted position for an operation of the nacelle in direct jet.
The cascades vane 39 remain fixed relative to the propulsion unit during the translation of the half-cowls. The immobility of the cascades is provided by a front frame 43 supporting these cascades and fixed to the fan casing 45 of the turbojet engine. The front frame 43 is provided at the level of the upstream portion of the cascades. The fixing between the fan casing and the front frame of the cascades is obtained for example by means of a connection of the knife type 47 ("J-ring") equipping the front frame 43 of cascades/groove 49 ("V-groove") mounted on the circumference of a downstream edge of the fan casing 45.
Thrust reversers of the type with cascades movable in translation are known, which are represented in FIG. 5, illustrating in partial longitudinal section a propulsion unit including a D-shaped structure nacelle, whose thrust reverser is of the type with movable cascades vane 51. The fact of providing cascades translating in a thrust reverser makes it possible to reduce the length of the nacelle and consequently to limit its mass and its drag. Indeed, when the nacelle operates in direct jet, the cascades are housed in an annular envelope 53 defined by the annular space comprised between the fan casing 45 of the turbojet engine and the fan cowl 55 of the nacelle, surrounding the fan casing.
The mobility of the cascades vane 51 is provided by a downstream frame 57 supporting these cascades and fixed on the half-cowls 33a (only one shown in the figures). The downstream frame 57 is provided at the level of the downstream portion of the cascades. The fixing between the half-cowls and the downstream frame of the cascades is obtained for example by means of a connection of the knife type 59 ("J-ring") equipping the half-cowls/groove 61 ("V-groove") mounted on a downstream edge of the downstream frame 57 of the cascades.
Thus, when the half-cowls are displaced in translation towards the downstream side of the nacelle for reverse jet operation, this displacement simultaneously causes the displacement of the cascades downstream of the annular envelope 53. Also, the knife/groove type connection also makes it possible to release the half-cowls of the cascades to which they are attached when these cowls are driven in rotation about the longitudinal axis of the nacelle (thanks to the hinges installed on the half-beams twelve o'clock in engagement with the hinges of the suspension pylon) when a maintenance of the nacelle is envisaged.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, unlike a nacelle with a D-shaped structure whose thrust reverser is of the type with fixed cascades discussed in FIG. 4, there is no longer any connection between the fan casing 45 and the thrust reverser device is operated at twelve o'clock.
This absence of connection at twelve o'clock between the engine casing and the thrust reverser device causes a very large axial clearance between the thrust reverser device and the fan casing, which should be limited in order to avoid a distortion of the flow path due to sliding between the half-bifurcations 21a (only one shown in the figures) and the inner half-structures 19a (only one shown in the figures) which can lead to subpar performance in the secondary flow path. This axial clearance should also be limited in order to avoid bracing the twelve o'clock half-beams.

Upper axial retention for a cascade-type thrust reverser with sliding vanes of D-shaped structure


Method, receiver and computer program product for processing a signal transmitted from a plurality of spatially separated transmit antennas using a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output transmission over a wireless network. The signal is received at a plurality of spatially separated receive antennas, the signal comprising a plurality of data streams and the quality/reliability of each of the data streams in the received signal is determined. Based on the determined quality/reliability of the data streams, a decoding technique is selected to be one of (i) a successive decoding technique for successively decoding data streams in which one of the data streams is decoded and a signal corresponding to said one of the data streams is removed from the received signal prior to decoding further data streams in the received signal, and (ii) a non-successive decoding technique in which each data stream is decoded from the received signal by treating the other data streams as noise in the received signal. The received signal is then decoded using the selected decoding technique.

Recent advances of wireless communications have led to the emergence of new multi-user communication techniques, including multi-user diversity and Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC). SIC is the optimal multiple access scheme to achieve the uplink capacity, see, e.g., D. Tse and P. Viswanath, "Fundamentals of Wireless Communication", Cambridge University Press, 2005. In a conventional single-decoder receiver, the interference from data streams associated with other users in the network is treated as noise. Differently, in an uplink receiver employing SIC, a data stream associated to a first user is decoded and the corresponding reconstructed data stream is removed from the aggregate received signal, before the next data stream is decoded. This process is repeated for each data stream until all of the data streams in the signal have been decoded. SIC techniques can also be used on the downlink, where data streams intended for different users are simultaneously transmitted and potentially interfere with each other. Using a SIC receiver at a particular user's device, the data streams with the highest signal quality (corresponding to the lowest probability of decoding error) are decoded first and the corresponding reconstructed signals are then successively removed from the received signal, before the data stream intended for the particular user is decoded. SIC processing is described for example in M. K. Varanasi and T. Guess, "Optimum Decision Feedback Multiuser Equalization with Successive Decoding Achieves the Total Capacity of the Gaussian Multiple-Access Channel", in Proceedings of Thirty-First Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, vol. 1, pp. 1405-1409, November 1997, and in D. Tse and P. Viswanath, "Fundamentals of Wireless Communication", Cambridge University Press, 2005. The implementation of a SIC receiver requires a significant use of processing resources. In the downlink, the use of SIC techniques at the user equipment (UE) receiver is therefore limited by its complexity, which scales with the number of users.
In a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system, spatial multiplexing allows the transmission of multiple data streams (or data layers) over different spatial channels. As is known in the art, multiple transmit antennas can send different data streams over separate spatial channels, and the use of multiple receive antennas can allow the recovery of the different data streams, see, e.g., G. J. Foschini and M. J. Gans, "On Limits of Wireless Communications in a Fading Environment when Using Multiple Antennas", Wireless Personal Communications, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 311-335, March 1998, I. E. Telatar, "Capacity of Multi-Antenna Gaussian Channel", European Transactions of Telecommunications, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 585-595, November/December 1999, and D. J. Love and R. W. Heath, Jr., "Limited Feedback Unitary Precoding for Spatial Multiplexing Systems", IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, vol. 51, no. 8, August 2005. As shown schematically in FIG. 1, each transmit antenna 141 and 142 transmits to each (both) receive antennas 161 and 162 at the receiver. Any number of transmit antennas and receive antennas may be used, and the maximum number of data streams that can be distinguished due to the spatial multiplexing is equal to the lower of the number of transmit antennas and the number of receive antennas.
The transmission system shown in FIG. 1 can be described by the equationr=Hx+n  (1)where r denotes the received signal vector, x is the transmitted signal vector, H indicates the MIMO channel matrix, and n is the noise (noise-plus-interference) vector. The channel matrix H models the characteristics of the MIMO propagation channel. In the case of a frequency non-selective channel, Equation (1) can be expanded as
                                          [                                                                                r                    1                                                                                r                    2                                                                        ]                    =                                                    [                                                                                h                        11                                                                                h                        12                                                                                h                        21                                                                                h                        22                                                                                ]                                                          [                                                                                x                        1                                                                                x                        2                                                                                ]                                      +                          [                                                                                n                      1                                                                                n                      2                                                                                ]                                      ,                            (        2        )            where r1 and r2 are the signals received at the respective receive antennas 161 and 162; x1 and x2 are the signals transmitted from the respective transmit antennas 141 and 142; h11, h12, h21 and h22 are the coefficients of the (frequency non-selective) MIMO channel; and n1 and n2 are the noise (noise-plus-interference) at the respective receive antennas 161 and 162. The noise-plus-interference term typically includes noise generated inside the receiver, which is conventionally modelled by an equivalent stochastic process at the antenna connector.
A successive interference cancellation (SIC) technique can be used to improve the decoding process in the MIMO system. Once a data stream is correctly decoded, the corresponding received signal component can be reconstructed and subtracted from the received signal. Assuming that each data stream is decoded perfectly and the corresponding reconstructed signal is subtracted at each stage of the SIC procedure, then decoding the final data stream is performed with no interference caused by the other data streams in the received signal.
The SIC technique is applicable to both cases of Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) transmission, where the multiple spatially separated data streams are simultaneously transmitted to multiple users, and Single-User MIMO (SU-MIMO) transmission, where the multiple parallel data streams are transmitted to a single user.
The SIC technique is particularly sensitive to error propagation. If an error occurs in decoding or subtracting one of the data streams, then the subsequent data streams to be processed are likely to be affected by an increased probability of decoding errors. The ordering of the data streams can affect the error propagation. In a MIMO system where all of the data streams are equally protected by channel coding, the data streams are decoded starting from the strongest data stream (in a Signal to Noise Ratio sense or based on other suitable metrics) and continuing by decoding progressively weaker data streams in sequence.