A fluid dispenser device including a body (1), a reservoir unit (3) having a reservoir containing one dose or two half-doses of fluid, a dispensing member mounted to move axially inside the reservoir (3) between a rest position and a dispensing position, and an actuating element (5) that is mounted to move between a rest position and an actuating position. The actuating element (5) is disposed laterally, and has an end portion provided with a cam surface (6) which co-operates with the dispensing member (8) or the reservoir unit (3), the actuating element (5) being moved in a direction that is different from, and in particular substantially perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the dispensing member (8) moves relative to the reservoir.

In the field of nasal spray devices of the one-dose or two-dose type, ergonomic and operating constraints and needs exist that are different from those that exist in multi-dose systems. In particular, this is due to the small size of the devices, which can give rise to handling difficulties. In addition, when the dispenser device is a two-dose device, the dose must be subdivided into two half-doses to be dispensed successively, one in each nostril. It is then essential to guarantee that the dose is subdivided safely and reliably.
Furthermore, one-dose or two-dose devices are often used to dispense medication that is designed to be taken once only, such as vaccines or medication to be taken in an emergency, and sometimes such devices are not designed for self-administration by the patient, but rather they are designed to be dispensed to the patient by another person. That makes it absolutely necessary for the nasal device to be positioned correctly in the nostril, and for it to be simple, safe, and reliable to operate.
Currently, no fully satisfactory solution has been proposed for simultaneously solving those safety and reliability problems. In order to subdivide the dose into two half-doses in a two-dose device for dispensing separately into each of the two nostrils, existing devices are generally made up of two elements, one of which supports the reservoir, the other element supporting the piston. When they are compressed axially towards each other, the first half-dose is delivered through the dispensing orifice into the nostril. In order to subdivide the dose, the stroke of the piston is stopped half-way along its length by a shoulder, and in order for the piston to travel over the second portion of its stroke, i.e. in order to dispense the second half-dose, it is necessary to turn the piston element manually relative to the reservoir. That type of system is safe and accurate, but it requires relatively complex handling, and thus both hands to be used in order to obtain the desired result and to be capable of dispensing the two half-doses successively in respectively ones of the two nostrils.
Other types of solution also include an abutment formed by a shoulder and turning, but turning is performed automatically by the system, e.g. by means of a resilient component such as a spring, as soon as the piston ceases to be pressed, after the first half-dose has been dispensed. That system is relatively simple to operate but it is not completely safe because the piston ceasing to be pressed can occur unintentionally, e.g. due to shaky hands, to indecisiveness, to fear of the spray entering the nose, etc. The result is that the two half-doses might be dispensed into the same nostril.
Concerning the ergonomic problem due to the small size of the device, existing devices propose no solution. Such devices need to be pressed axially towards the nostril, and that is relatively difficult to achieve because of the relatively small size of that type of device, the difficulty being even greater when the administration is performed by another person. The axial pressing required to actuate the device can cause the device to move into the nostril and give rise to injury, and even a risk of the dose being dispensed poorly because of a reaction by the patient, e.g. the patient recoiling suddenly as the dispensing is taking place. An object is thus to obtain a dispensing orifice which remains stationary throughout the dispensing of the dose into the nostril, which can be particularly important, in particular with medication to be taken once only, such as vaccines, for which inaccurate metering of the dose cannot be corrected by a second administration.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,821 discloses a semi-liquid fluid dispenser having a ratchet column associated with a piston, said ratchet column being displaced vertically by means of a lateral actuating button.

Device for distributing a fluid of the single dose or half dose type


Device for frothing and heating liquids such as milk (3) and the like, comprising a substantially cylindrical intermediate body (10) which has sealingly engaged on it an upper body (20) connected to the steam supply pipe (22a) of a machine for preparing hot drinks and provided at the bottom with a nozzle (23), the nozzle (23) being arranged above an internal constriction (10b) which is followed by a coaxial cylindrical duct (12d) in which there emerge radial holes (12a) supplying air for frothing the milk (3), wherein the intermediate body (10) has fixed to it at the bottom a cylindrical body (30) onto which there is coaxially fitted a tubular element (40), wherein said cylindrical body (30) has projections (31) extending longitudinally from its external surface and designed to be engaged with corresponding seats (41) of the tubular element (40) in order to retain the latter, and wherein the tubular element (40) has recesses (51) extending longitudinally and forming longitudinal ducts supplying the frothing air.

The present invention relates to a device for frothing and heating liquids, such as milk and the like, in particular for automatic machines, which is provided with longitudinal channels for suction of the liquid-frothing air.
In order to make milk-based hot drinks, such as cappuccino and the like, use is made of steam-producing machines, by means of which the milk necessary for preparation of the drink is heated and frothed with air, so as to obtain a surface foam which is quite liked by consumers.
For this purpose the machines of the known type comprise automatically operating steam heating and frothing devices provided with mixing chambers which have a complex configuration and narrow flow cross-sections and are also equipped with members for micrometric adjustment of the cross-sections themselves, which are difficult to manufacture and difficult to clean as well as being subject, during use, to the formation of milk deposits which alter the values of the preselected cross-sections, resulting in irregular operation of the assembly.
In addition to these types of devices, a device for frothing and heating milk for drinks is also known from EP 0,344,859 in the name of the present Applicant, said device comprising a substantially tubular cylindrical body connected to the steam-emitting pipe of a machine for preparing hot drinks, which cylindrical body has inside it a first nozzle, outside of which there is defined, inside the cylindrical body, a chamber in which there emerges a duct for the suction of milk from a container, the said nozzle being located above a constriction extended downwards until it emerges in an extension of the said cylindrical body forming a second nozzle outside of which, inside the cylindrical body, there is defined an annular chamber provided with one or more radial openings communicating with the exterior and an axial passage which places in communication the chamber with the bottom part of the cylindrical body, the second nozzle being placed in communication with the chamber by means of radial holes, through which the frothing air is sucked.
These devices of the known type have the drawback, however, arising from the fact that, in the case of liquids to be frothed such as milk and the like which have a high density and contain a high percentage of fatty substances, the holes for drawing air from the outside, which are formed radially in the vicinity of the frothing chamber, tend to get blocked up by the milk which tends to bubble out owing to the effect of the pressures existing inside the frothing chamber; in fact, said milk which comes into contact with the air intake hole leaves fatty deposits on the hole itself which tends to become blocked, gradually reducing the quantity of air sucked in until the desired frothing action no longer occurs.
In addition, as a result of these outflows of milk, it is necessary to perform frequent cleaning operations both in order to unblock the suction hole and so as to avoid stagnation of fatty substances on the outside of the frothing device, which stagnation may give rise to unhygienic fermentation phenomena.
The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing a device for frothing and heating liquids such as milk and the like, which is provided with means for suction of the air from the outside designed not to come into contact with the liquid to be frothed, thus making it possible to maintain unaltered, over time, the quantity of air sucked in for frothing and avoid the troublesome external outflow of liquid from said suction channels.
Within the scope of this technical problem a further necessity is that the device should be formed by a reduced number of parts which can be easily assembled and which have a low cost and can be easily washed internally without the need for disassembly thereof.

Device for frothing and heating liquids, such as milk and the like, provided with longitudinal channels for suction of the liquid-frothing air


An input signal that includes linguistic content in a first language may be received by a computing device. The linguistic content may include text or speech. The computing device may associate the linguistic content in the first language with one or more phonemes from a second language. The computing device may also determine a phonemic representation of the linguistic content in the first language based on use of the one or more phonemes from the second language. The phonemic representation may be indicative of a pronunciation of the linguistic content in the first language according to speech sounds of the second language.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Speech processing systems such as text-to-speech (TTS) systems and automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems may be employed, respectively, to generate synthetic speech from text and generate text from audio utterances of speech.
A first example TTS system may concatenate one or more recorded speech units to generate synthetic speech. A second example TTS system may concatenate one or more statistical models of speech to generate synthetic speech. A third example TTS system may concatenate recorded speech units with statistical models of speech to generate synthetic speech. In this regard, the third example TTS system may be referred to as a hybrid TTS system.
Some ASR systems use "training" where an individual speaker reads sections of text into the speech recognition system. These systems analyze a specific voice of a person and use the voice to fine tune recognition of that speech for that person resulting in more accurate transcription. Systems that do not use training may be referred to as "Speaker Independent" systems. Systems that use training may be referred to as "Speaker Dependent" systems.
Such speech processing systems may operate in a single language such as a system language or native language. In one example, a TTS system may generate synthetic English language speech that corresponds to English language text input to the TTS system. In another example, an ASR system may map audio utterances of speech by an English language speaker to English language text.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and systems for automated generation of nativized multi-lingual lexicons


A laser rangefinder apparatus is provided which includes a laser transmitter for transmitting a coherent light pulse over an optical path to a target. The light pulse is reflected from the target as a reflected pulse and travels back to the laser rangefinder over the same optical path. The reflected light pulse is provided to a fiber optic interface module which supplies the pulse to a fiber optic interface cable. The fiber optic interface cable supplies the reflected pulse to a laser receiver. The laser receiver includes a signal processor which performs the distance to target calculation and displays the resultant distance to the user. The fiber optic interface module and fiber optic interface cable permit great flexibility in the placement of the laser receiver with respect to the laser transmitter of the rangefinder.

This invention relates in general to optical transceivers and, more particularly, to laser rangefinders .
A laser rangefinder is an optical transceiver which is capable of measuring the distance between the rangefinder and a target in the distance. The laser rangefinder includes a laser light source or laser transmitter, and further includes a photodetector or laser receiver. Typically, the laser transmitter irradiates the target with incident laser light pulses and the laser receiver receives the reflected light pulses. A signal processor in the rangefinder records the time between transmission of a pulse by the laser transmitter and reception of the reflected pulse back at the rangefinder receiver. The signal processor then uses this time difference to calculate the distance between the rangefinder and the target.
In conventional laser rangefinders, great care must be taken to mechanically and optically align the laser transmitter and the laser receiver with respect to each other. That is, optical coupling in prior laser rangefinders was accomplished through the use of discrete coupling optics, namely lenses, which necessitated tight mechanical tolerancing of receivers and transmitters to maintain boresight and field of view (FOV) requirements. Additional fixed optics were also required to ensure power densities which did not exceed the damage threshold level of the photodetector in the laser receiver of the rangefinder. Moreover, with such rangefinders there was little flexibility in the placement of the laser receiver with respect to the laser transmitter.

Laser rangefinder apparatus with fiber optic interface


A method of manufacturing a multi-substrate semiconductor package. The method includes providing a first substrate with a plurality of first dies present thereon and forming a plurality of electrical contacts on an upper surface of a lateral extension portion of at least one of the plurality of first dies on the first substrate. The method also includes providing a second substrate, the second substrate comprising a plurality of second dies, at least one of the plurality of second dies comprising an interconnect region. Further, the method includes forming a sandwich structure by bonding the second substrate to an upper surface of the first substrate to form an intermediate level within the sandwich structure and separating the dies. The method also includes coupling an electrically conductive structure through the interconnect region of the one second dies to the lateral extension portion of the one first die.

This present invention relates generally to manufacturing objects. More particularly, the invention provides a method and apparatus for packaging a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS). Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a MEMS with a transparent glass cover bonded to a ball grid array with a reduced lateral separation between the transparent glass cover and the ball grid array. The method and apparatus can be applied to display technology as well as, for example, charge coupled display camera arrays, and infrared arrays.
The packaging of silicon integrated circuits has reached a high level of maturity. FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified diagram of a conventional silicon integrated circuit package. The silicon integrated circuit die 110 is mounted on a submount 115 featuring a ball grid array 120. Wire bonds 125 are attached to the silicon die 110 to provide electrical connection to the submount 115. Typically, the silicon die 110 and the wire bonds 125 are encapsulated using a plastic encapsulant 130. The resulting package is robust and inexpensive.
The package illustrated in FIG. 1 presents several drawbacks in applications that often require more than electrical operation of the silicon integrated circuit. An example of such an application is optical reflection off an array of micro-mirrors or other MEMS. For example, these applications typically require the ability to illuminate the top of the silicon integrated circuit with optical energy and subsequently reflect the optical energy off the top of the silicon integrated circuit with high efficiency. The optical properties of the plastic encapsulant, including lack of transparency, non-uniformity of the index of refraction, and surface roughness make these packages unsuitable for this application. Additionally, many MEMS often require an open space above the surface of the silicon integrated circuit to enable the micro-electro-mechanical structures to move in the direction parallel to the plane of the MEMS as well as in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the MEMS. The physical contact that the plastic encapsulant makes with the surface of the integrated circuit, therefore, make this package unsuitable for many MEMS applications.
In order to solve some of these technical issues, techniques have been developed to package MEMS in hermetically sealed packages with transparent covers that allow for transmission of optical energy through the cover and reflection off the MEMS components. An example of a MEMS packaged in a hermetically sealed package with a transparent cover is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, a silicon MEMS die 210 featuring a micro-mirror array 215 is mounted on a submount 220. The die is attached to the submount using die attach procedures that are compatible with hermetically sealed packaging designs well known to those skilled in the art. Wire bonds 225 are attached to the silicon die and the submount as with the package illustrated in FIG. 1.
To provide an open space above the micro-mirror array 215, a solid standoff 230 is typically placed near the outer edge of the submount. This standoff is typically shaped as a square annulus and fabricated from covar or other suitable materials. The standoff is often brazed onto the submount at contact points 235. A glass cover plate 240 is typically brazed onto the top of the standoff at contact points 245 to seal the package. Despite progress in packaging MEMS in hermetically sealed packages, there are still limitations. For example, the conventional MEMS package is often expensive and difficult to manufacture. Additionally, the conventional MEMS package often requires a certain amount of chip real estate, which is expensive and leads to larger package designs. These and other limitations are described throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
From the above, there is a need for an improved package for multilayered integrated circuit/MEMS structures.

Apparatus for micro-electro mechanical system package


An improved prosthetic implant for forming a rigid structure between adjoining vertebrae in a spinal column. The prosthetic implant includes a cage having a top, bottom, front end, back end, first side and second side walls. The first side wall has an arcuate surface. The top and bottom wall include one or more ridges to engage a surface of an adjacent vertebrae. The top and bottom wall also include an opening to receive packing material such as medicine, human tissue and the like. The top and bottom walls also incline simultaneously in two directions.

The human spine is made up of a column of thirty-three bones and their adjoining structures. The vertebrae near the head are known as the presaccral vertebrae which are separate bones capable of individual movement. The bodies of these vertebrae are connected by anterior and posterior ligaments and by disks of fibrocartilage generally known as intervertebral disks. These disks are positioned between opposite faces of adjacent vertebral bodies. This column of vertebrae and intervertebral disks form a central axis that supports the head and torso. These vertebrae also enclose an opening through which the spinal cord passes therebetween.
The presaccral vertebrae are normally held in position to one another by the intervertebral disks, ligaments and musculature of the body. These vertebrae move relative to adjacent vertebrae thus permitting the head to be turned relative the body and providing a wide range of flexibility to the spine.
One of the most costly health problems to society involves back pain and pathology of the spine. These problems can affect individuals of all ages and can result in great suffering to victims. Back pain can be caused by several factors such as congenital deformities, traumatic injuries, degenerative changes to the spine and the like. Such changes can cause painful excessive motion, or collapse of a motion segment resulting in the contraction of the spinal canal and compresses the neural structures causing debilitating pain, paralysis or both which in turn can result in nerve root compression or spinal stenosis.
Nerve conduction disorders can also be associated with invertible disks or the vertebrae themselves. One such condition is herniation of the intervertebral disk, in which a small amount of tissue protrudes from the sides of the disk into the foramen to compress the spinal cord. A second common condition involves the development of small bone spurs, termed osteophytes, along the posterior surface of the vertebral body, again impinging on the spinal cord.
Upon identification of these abnormalities, surgery may be required to correct the problem. For those problems associated with the formation of osteophytes or herniations of the intervertebral disk, one such surgical procedure is intervertebral diskectomy. In this procedure, the involved vertebrae are exposed and the intervertebral disk is removed, thus removing the offending tissue, or providing access for the removal of the bone osteophytes. A second procedure, termed a spinal fusion, may then be required to fix the vertebrae together to prevent movement and maintain a space originally occupied by the intervertebral disk. Although this procedure may result in some minor loss and flexibility in the spine, due to the relatively large number of vertebrae, the minor loss of mobility is typically acceptable.
During a spinal fusion following a diskectomy, a prosthetic implant or spinal implant is inserted into the intervertebral space. This prosthetic implant is often a bone graft removed from another portion of the patient's body, termed an autograph. The use of bone taken from the patient's body has the important advantage of avoiding rejection of the implant, but has several shortcomings. There is always a risk in opening a second surgical site in obtaining the implant, which can lead to infection or pain for the patient, and the site of the implant is weakened by the removal of bony material. The bone implant may not be perfectly shaped and placed, leading to slippage or absorption of the implant, or failure of the implant to fuse with the vertebrae.
Other options for a graft source of the implant are bone removed from cadavers, termed allograft, or from other species, termed a xenograft. In these cases while there is the benefit of not having a second surgical site as a possible source of infection or pain, there is increased difficulty of the graft rejection and the risk of transmitting communicable diseases.
An alternative approach is using a bone graft or to use a manufactured implant made of a synthetic material that is biologically compatible with the body and the vertebrae. Several compositions and geometries of such implants have been utilized, ranging from simple blocks of material to carefully shaped implants, with varying success.
There, has been an extensive number of attempts in developing an acceptable prosthetic implant that can be used to replace an intervertebral disk and yet maintain the stability of the intervertebral disk spaced between adjacent vertebrae, at least until complete arthrodesis is achieved. These prosthetic implants have taken many forms. While many types of synthetic prosthetic devices have been proposed, the success ratio has been low and the surgical procedures have been complicated and often traumatic to the patient.
One of the more prevailing designs of these prosthetic implants takes form of a cylindrical implant. These types of prosthetic implants are represented by Brantigan U.S. Pat. No.4,878,915 and Ray U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,740. In these cylindrical implants, the exterior portion of the cylinder can be threaded to facilitate insertion of the prosthetic device. Some of these prosthetic implants are designed to be pounded into the intervertebral disk space and the vertebral end plates. These types of devices are represented in Brantigan U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,757 and Brantigan U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,327. The Brantigan and Ray patents all disclose prosthetic implants wherein the transverse cross-section of the implant is constant throughout the length of the implant and is typically in the form of a right circular cylinder.
Other prosthetic implants have been developed that do not have a constant cross-section. For instance, the patent to McKinna U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,469 shows a hemispherical implant with elongated protuberances that project into the vertebral end plate. The implant of Bagby U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,848 is in the form of a sphere which is positioned between the centrums of the adjacent vertebrae.
The various prosthetic implants can be generally divided into two basic categories, namely, solid implants and implants that are designed to encourage bone ingrowth. Solid implants are represented by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,878,915 and 4,349,921. The remaining patents discussed above include some aspect that permits bone to grow across the implant. It has been found that devices which promote natural bone ingrowth achieve a more rapid and stable arthrodesis. These implants are typically filled with autologous bone prior to insertion into the intervertebral disk space. These implants typically include apertures which communicate with openings in the implant, thereby providing a path for tissue growth between the vertebral end plate and the bone or bone substitute within the implant. In preparing the intervertebral disk space for a prosthetic implant, the end plates of the vertebrae are preferably reduced to bleeding bone to facilitate tissue growth within the implant.
A number of difficulties still remain with the many prosthetic implants currently available. While it is recognized that hollow implants which permit bone ingrowth in the bone or bone substitute within the implant is an optimum technique for achieving fusion, most of these devices have difficulty achieving this fusion, at least without the aid of some additional stabilizing device, such as a rod or plate. Moreover, some of these devices are not structurally strong enough to support the heavy loads applied at the most frequently fused vertebral levels, mainly those in the lower lumbar spine.
There has been a need for providing a prosthetic implant that optimizes the bone ingrowth capabilities and strong enough to support the vertebrae until arthrodesis occurs. There is a further need for such an implant that is capable of maintaining or restoring the normal spinal anatomy at the instrumented segment. There is also a need for an implant that exhibits reduced slippage when inserted between vertebrae and diminishes the-occurrence of nerve pinching.


The sensor device includes a counter for counting the number of count commands used to perform measurements while maintaining among multiple sensor devices the ratio of measurement intervals; a ratio-holding-unit for setting the ratio to a desired ratio and holding respective values of the ratio for each of the multiple sensor devices; a sampling-timing-generating-unit for receiving a count value of the counter and the setting value of the ratio held by the ratio-holding-unit, and for generating a sampling timing signal based on the comparison result between the count value and the setting value; and a sampling-unit for sampling a detection signal detected by the detecting unit, by using the sampling timing signal generated by the sampling-timing-generating-unit.

Today, sensor data from multiple sensor devices is widely used. Various sensor devices such as gyroscopes and magnetometers are actually used in high-performance mobile equipment such as smart phones. Moreover, research is made on techniques such as a dead-reckoning (DR) technique in which multiple pieces of sensor data are integrated to perform position estimation, which is applicable to navigation systems. Thus, there is a need for techniques for integrally processing sensor data from multiple sensor devices.
In integral processing of multiple sensor devices as described above, in order to operate the sensor devices at low power consumption without interfering with the use of the user, it is important to reduce the load on an integral-processing-unit which obtains and processes the sensor data and to avoid unnecessary or inefficient measurements by performing optimal measurement management for each of the sensor devices.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a sensor device which autonomously operates independent of an integrated processing-unit to reduce the load on the integrated-processing-unit.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional GPS receiver with a DR sensor sampling function. The GPS receiver of FIG. 1 is the GPS receiver described in Patent Literature 1. This GPS receiver has a GPS positioning function as well as other functions required as a car navigation system. This GPS receiver can also provide information to a CPU (central processing unit) in a form easy to use. The GPS receiver in FIG. 1 includes: a GPS antenna 8; the CPU 10; a gyroscope 12; filters 14 and 16; the GPS receiver 20; a controlling-unit 22; an A/D converter 24; a counter 26; and a navigation system 100.
The GPS receiver described in Patent Literature 1 includes: sampling means for sampling DR sensor signals such as a gyroscope, a vehicle speed pulse, and a reverse signal at predetermined cycles; and controlling means for outputting multiple pieces of sampling data sampled by the sampling means together with a GPS position calculated at predetermined cycles, as one frame of data, every cycle in which the GPS position is calculated. In the case where the controlling means outputs one frame of data as serial data, the CPU only controls a serial interface to obtain the sampling data of the DR sensors together with the GPS position.
In other words, in the GPS receiver described in Patent Literature 1, the sensor devices independent of the CPU manage the data measurements by the sensor devices and transmit data in one set to the CPU to reduce the processing of the integrated-processing-unit which has been conventionally implemented by the CPU. Moreover, the GPS receiver performing measurements at a first measurement rate (low) has the controlling-unit which manages the data measurements by the devices for DR at a second measurement rate (high), and transmits data in one set to the CPU at the first measurement rate.
In a system in Patent Literature 1, instead of the CPU, a device to be a main device controls and manages the data measurements by sensor devices. Accordingly, the sensor devices can perform data measurements while being synchronized at a desired measurement rate (the number of measurements within a particular period of time), without increasing the load on the CPU. However, in the technique in Patent Literature 1, the functions of the CPU are merely alternatively implemented by the main device and a specific device with functions of controlling and managing data measurements is necessary. Thus, the sensor devices connected to the main device cannot autonomously operate.
There are, as sensor devices capable of full autonomous operation, sensor devices which have independent clock and performs autonomous measurements. Such sensor devices can thereby perform autonomous measurements at respectively set measurement rate, without putting a load on the CPU. However, such sensor devices have a problem that, since such sensor devices operate by independent clocks, measurement timing (output time at which measurement data is output to the CPU) deviates from one such sensor device to another, and hence the sensor devices cannot synchronize each other.
In view of this, there are recently another type of sensor devices which performs autonomous measurements synchronized with a measurement timing by receiving a trigger from outside the device.
For example, a magnetic sensor described in Patent Literature 2 is a magnetic sensor capable of performing synchronized samplings among each detecting-units (sensors) by detecting a trigger from the outside.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the magnetic sensor described in Patent Literature 2. A magnetic sensor 9 in FIG. 2 corresponds to magnetic sensors 9a and 9b. The magnetic sensor 9 includes multiple magnetism-detecting-units 11a to 11c, sampling-process-units 17a to 17c, a trigger-detecting-unit 13, and a hold-process-unit 19. Detection signals from the multiple magnetism-detecting-units 11a to 11c are subjected to sampling processes by the sampling-process-units 17a to 17c, respectively. Moreover, the signals subjected to the sampling processes by the sampling-process-units 17a to 17c are inputted to the hold-process-unit 19, held until the next signals are inputted, and appropriately outputted to the outside. Moreover, the sampling-process-units 17a to 17c are driven in synchronization with an external trigger signal inputted to the trigger-detecting-unit 13 to perform sampling only once. Moreover, drive circuits of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11b can be also driven in synchronization with the external trigger signal inputted to the trigger-detecting-unit 13. Note that the magnetic sensor 9 includes a controlling-unit 15.
Such a technique allows multiple sensor devices to perform measurements synchronized with a measurement timing, without putting a load on CPU. There is a technique in which multiple sensor devices having the same measurement rate perform synchronized measurements among the sensor devices with a measurement timing as in aforementioned Patent Literature 2. However, in reality, different measurement rates and/or measurement timings are frequently required among different types of sensor devices. Measurement rates and/or measurement timings often vary among different types of sensor devices for power saving, for optimization, or due to difference in time required for measurements. Thus the measurement timings of the sensor devices can easily deviate from each other. Thus, in a case where multiple sensor devices are to be integrally processed, a correction process needs to be performed to correct deviations in measurement timing and associate each data sample. Patent Literature 3 can be given as an example. In Patent Literature 3, process timing of sensor devices are matched each other by setting respective delay time for each sensor according to their deviations in measurement timing.
Generally, in a vehicle navigation device, an optimal current position is estimated by combining a position calculated by a dead reckoning method and a position calculated by a GPS (Global Positioning System). In the dead reckoning method, a current position is calculated by updating a previous measured position on the basis of a speed pulse indicating the speed of the vehicle and a turn angle velocity of the vehicle measured by a gyroscope, i.e. an angular velocity sensor. In a navigation system employing such a method, the position of the vehicle can be derived by the dead reckoning method even in a tunnel, an underground parking lot, or an area between high buildings, where reception of radio waves from GPS satellites is difficult. However, this is only possible under the assumption that the moving distance from the speed pulse and the angular velocity from the gyroscope, i.e. the bearing are correctly obtained respectively.
The navigation device described in aforementioned Patent Literature 3 is related to a navigation system configured to derive the angular velocity of a moving object on the basis of an output value of an gyroscope attached in a moving object and a function for conversion from the output value of the gyroscope to the angular velocity. The navigation device includes a measuring-unit configured to periodically measure measurement data including at least the bearing of the moving direction and the moving speed, on the basis of signals received from satellites, and adjusts an output timing of an output value of the gyroscope in such a way that the output timing matches the measurement timing of the measurement data in the measuring-unit. The navigation device described above is a device which, in this case, adjusts the output timing of the output value of the gyroscope according to an error between the detection timing of the output value of the gyroscope and the measurement timing of the measurement data and thereby reduces the error between the detection timing and the measurement timing.
However, in the navigation device in Patent Literature 3, there is a need to calculate the delay time for correcting the deviation in measurement timings in advance through experiments and set the delay time. Thus, this method has a problem that it is not versatile.

Sensor device with sampling function, and sensor data processing system using same


In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a router, an unsolicited first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link; detecting, by the router, an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router; and automatically selecting by the router a second IPv6 address prefix based on concatenating a suffix to the delegated IPv6 address prefix, including dynamically generating the suffix based on a prescribed distributed hash operation executed by the router, the second IPv6 address prefix for use on at least one ingress link of the router.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 2461, describes a neighbor discovery protocol for IPv6 nodes that are connected on the same wired or wireless link. The RFC 2461 also specifies a router advertisement message format that enables a router to specify an address prefix to be used by a host attached to the link for autonomous (stateless) address configuration; alternately, the router advertisement message can direct hosts connected to the link to utilize stateful address configuration according to Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCPv6), described for example in RFC 3315.
RFC 3633 describes IPv6 prefix delegation, where a delegating router that includes a DHCP server can delegate an address prefix to a requesting router, for example across an administrative boundary.

Autoconfigured prefix delegation based on distributed hash


An organic solvent containing liquid that does not include a component to be detected by a detector is used as a first solvent, and an organic solvent containing liquid that includes the component to be detected and is adjusted to have a concentration of an organic solvent that prevents a separation column from actually holding the component to be detected is used a second solvent. Further, a mobile phase is sent while a setting value of a concentration of the second solvent in the mobile phase is changed over time with the separation column provided on an analysis flow path, and an actual concentration of the second solvent in the mobile phase is found based on a detection signal of the detector when the mobile phase is sent at each setting value.

The measurement items for performance evaluation of the LC system include measurement of noise and drift, measurement of accuracy of concentration in sending liquid in a gradient, measurement of reproducibility and the like.
In the measurement of noise and drift, a mobile phase is sent at a certain flow rate, and a noise value and a drift value of a signal of a detector at the time of sending are measured respectively.
In the measurement of accuracy of concentration in sending liquid in the gradient, two type of liquids which are water and a caffeine aqueous solution are used as mobile phase solvents, a mobile phase is sent while the setting value of concentration of the caffeine aqueous solution in the mobile phase is changed over time, and the actual concentration of caffeine when the mobile phase is sent at each setting value is measured based on a signal of the detector. In a case where a difference between the found actual concentration and the setting value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (the ratio of difference to the setting value is equal to or smaller than 1%, for example), it can be evaluated that the concentration in sending liquid in the gradient is accurate.
In the measurement of reproducibility, an analysis is carried out multiple times with use of a test sample, and the variation rate of a peak area is measured.

Method of measuring accuracy of concentration in sending liquid in gradient and liquid chromatograph having function of executing method


An example system for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment includes an eutectic alloy fusible link positioned within a waste compartment that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature, a spring tensioned deploy lever that is deployed based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link, a pivotal joint assembly that collapses based on deployment of the deploy lever, and a compacting head of a trash compactor that is deployed to compact contents of the waste compartment based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly.

In today's airplane market, space is at a premium and waste stowage has been identified as a valued item for passengers, especially in lavatories where space is of even greater focus. Lavatory trash is predominantly paper towels and tissues and can be easily compressed, but when uncompressed, such trash consumes significant volume and fills waste compartments quickly.
Currently, some airplane attendants use improvised tools to compress waste compartments in-flight. Unfortunately, such action can only be performed when the lavatory is unoccupied, and such action interrupts lavatory usage. In addition, this approach does not offer a consistent and efficient way to increase waste volume in the waste compartments.
Other existing waste management solutions for aircraft include galley trash compactors. Such trash compactors include hydraulic technology to compact trash and reduce trash volume in the galley area. These types of motorized trash compactors associated with galleys offer very high crushing forces and with that extreme compactions comes additional weight and complexity. However, aircraft lavatories do not include powered trash compactors, and the lavatory trash bins frequently fill to the top requiring flight attendants to empty the trash in route.
Moreover, trash bins typically additionally include a fire suppression system that relies on a fire extinguishing bottle of compressed gas, such as Halon, to extinguish any fires for safety.

Systems and methods for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment


The present disclosure discloses a seal and a regulating valve having the seal. The seal is used for sealing a flow channel between a pipe orifice of a housing and a valve body in the regulating valve. The seal includes an elastic member and an embedded member. The elastic member is ring-shaped, the embedded member is at least partially embedded in the elastic member, and the hardness of the embedded member is greater than that of the elastic member. The seal of the present disclosure has a simple structure, which not only enables miniaturization of the structure of the regulating valve, but also can simplify assembly steps of the regulating valve, thus facilitating assembly automation of the regulating valve.

Regulating valves are often used in automobiles to control a flow path and a flow rate of a coolant by regulating a relative position between a fluid channel in the valve and an external flow-through pipeline, so as to achieve the purpose of regulating a working temperature of engine related components. As a demand for automobile emission control and fuel economy increases in an automobile industry, manufacturing of automobiles requires a more complex thermal management solution. The regulating valve is used in an auxiliary cooling circuit of an automobile cooling system, which is particularly important for realization of the complex thermal management solution.


A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transferred by the aorta to the systemic arteries and permitting the right side of the heart to function whereby oxygen-depleted blood returning through the systemic veins to the right atrium is directed through the right ventricle to the patient's lungs for oxygenation and subsequent pulmonary circulation.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to circulatory support systems, and, more particularly, to a circulatory support system to provide partial or total bypass of the heart. The present disclosure is further directed to an axial flow pump and a portable microprocessor-based controller each being adapted for use in the circulatory support system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Mechanical blood pumps are commonly utilized to temporarily support or substitute the pumping function of the heart during heart surgery or during periods of heart failure. The most widely applied blood pumps include roller pumps and centrifugal pumps. Typically, these pumps are a component of a cardiopulmonary bypass system (e.g., a heart-lung machine) which includes an oxygenator, a heat exchanger, blood reservoirs and filters, and tubing which transports the blood from the patient through the bypass system and back to the patient. With these systems, blood is withdrawn from the patient via uptake cannula positioned within the vena cavae and atria or ventricles of the heart and pumped back into the pulmonary artery and aorta via a return cannula.
Although the aforedescribed cardiopulmonary bypass systems have been generally effective for their intended purposes, these systems are subject to certain disadvantages which detract from their usefulness. In particular, conventional bypass systems are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture, expose the blood to a high surface area of foreign materials which may damage the blood, require full anticoagulation and cooling of the heart, and require considerable set up time and continual management by a skilled technician. These systems also require mechanical oxygenation of the blood which can have adverse affects on the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,656 to Mortensen/Mehealus Partnership discloses a semi-automatic heart-lung substitution system. The Mortensen '656 system includes a roller pump which pumps blood from the patient's right heart via a venous cannula to a membrane oxygenator connected at the output of the roller pump. From the oxygenator, the blood flows to a compliance reservoir which is connected to a pulsatile left heart pump. Blood is pumped by the pulsatile left heart pump through a filter and bubble trap and then returned to the patient's arterial system through an arterial cannula. The Mortensen '656 system, however, is also a relatively complex device including several pumps and an oxygenator and, consequently, requires attendance of skilled technicians for set-up and operation.


An infrared sensor includes a heat sensing element in which a first electrode, a dielectric film, and a second electrode are sequentially laminated; and an electric charge detection device. The dielectric film represents antiferroelectricity and has a spontaneous polarization in a predetermined measurement environment. The electric charge detection device calculates an amount of relaxation current flowing by a change of the spontaneous polarization, and senses heat of the heat sensing element based on temperature dependence of the amount of relaxation current.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an infrared sensor, a heat sensing element, and a heat sensing method using the same.
2. Related Art
An infrared sensor is divided into a quantum type and a heat type by a detection principle. The heat type of the two types attracts attention from the viewpoint of exclusion of cooling for noise measures, and is widely distributed in a motion sensor or the like. Such a heat type of infrared sensor includes a heat sensing element which absorbs heat energy of infrared light, causes temperature change and then changes electrical properties.
Recently, from the viewpoint of high sensitivity, a high responsibility, or the like, the size of one pixel in the infrared sensor has been considerably small, and a dielectric material is desired to form a thin film. Therefore, a pyroelectric sensor which uses PZT produced using a spin coat method as the dielectric material has been proposed (refer to JP-T-2003-530538).
However, an infrared sensor described in JP-T-2003-530583 is said not to have sufficient sensitivity yet, and an infrared sensor with better sensitivity is required.

Infrared sensor, heat sensing element, and heat sensing method using the same


A pair of cylindrical magnets with cut away portions has been arranged on both sides of a magnetic sensing element in symmetry of rotation, and a yoke surrounds the magnetic sensing element in contact with outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of the cylindrical magnets with cut away portions. The pair of the cylindrical magnets with cut away portions rotates around an axial center with a concurrent axial displacement along with a rotation of a rotating body. The pair of the cylindrical magnets with cut away portions is arranged in inclined manner against an axis-of-rotation of the magnet. Thereby, the rotation and the displacement in the direction of the axis against the magnetic sensing element of the pair of the cylindrical magnets with cut away portions, and the number of times of rotation can be detected by detecting the size of the magnetic flux density by the magnetic sensing element. The pair of the cylindrical magnets with cut away portions improves the size and linearity of the magnetic field on the axial center.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of a rotation angle sensor that detects an angle of rotation of a rotary shaft by detecting the rotation of a magnetic field vector caused by the rotation of the rotary shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Steering angle sensors utilizing a rotation angle sensor are known. Such a rotation angle sensor detects the change in the angle of rotation of a magnet (including a polarized body), using a magnetic sensing element.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-003625 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,487 each disclose this type of rotation angle sensor that uses a sensor that can detect an angle of rotation greater than 360 degrees (hereinafter also referred to as an "over-360 degrees rotation sensor") of a rotary shaft whose angle of rotation is to be detected. The term "over-360 degree rotation sensor" refers to a sensor that detects the total number of degrees of revolution that the rotary shaft has undergone. For example, on the first revolution a turn of 45 degrees from the rotation start point will be measured as 45 degrees. On the next revolution, the same position will be measured as 360+45 degrees, i.e. 405 degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,487 suggests an over-360 degrees rotation sensor having a structure in which a magnet is rotated while being concurrently moved in the axial direction. A magnetic sensor that is disposed axially close to the magnet determines the angle of rotation based on the direction of the magnetic flux density and determines the Nth rotation (where N represents the number of complete rotations that have occurred since rotation started) based on the intensity of the magnetic flux density.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-256250 filed by the applicant of the present invention suggests an over-360 degrees rotation sensor having a structure in which a cone taper surface of a cylindrical magnet having an inner peripheral surface with a cone tapered surface (it is also simply called a coned surface) is magnetized so that the N pole and S pole are formed separately at 180 degrees mutually onto the cone taper surface. When the cone taper surface is rotated around a magnetic sensing element while being concurrently moved in the axial direction, the magnetic sensor determines the Nth rotation based on the intensity of the magnetic flux density.
In the over-360 degrees rotation sensor suggested in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-003625, two magnet shafts independently engage with a single rotary shaft whose angle of rotation is to be detected. The angles of rotations of the two magnet shafts are detected by two respective magnetic sensing elements.
The two magnetic sensing elements are adapted to generate outputs having different phase angles. A signal processing unit then calculates an angle of rotation over 360 degrees based on the difference between the phase angles of the two outputs.
The over-360 degrees rotation sensor of this literature can detect an angle of rotation over 360 degrees. However, this sensor is required to arrange two sets of gear mechanisms, magnets and magnetic sensing elements around the rotary shaft subjected to detection.
Thus, the sensor disclosed in this literature has suffered from such problems as the increases in the number of parts and the size of the sensor, as well as the increase in the manufacturing cost.
A single-axis over-360 degrees rotation sensor explained below can mitigate these problems of the two-axis over-360 degrees rotation sensor.
In the over-360 degrees rotation sensor suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,487, there was a problem that separating the magnetic flux affecting the magnetic sensing element and an external noise in the magnetic field is not easy, and signal to noise ratio (S/N ratio) is poor.
In the over-360 degrees rotation sensor suggested in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-256250, although the circumference of the magnetic sensing element is surrounded by the magnet or the yoke, the influence of the external noise in the magnetic field may be reduced and the detection accuracy may be improved, the manufacturing and magnetization processes become complicated because the inner peripheral surface of the magnet is the cone tapered surface, and many magnet material may be consumed.
In addition, there is a problem that it is easy to cause a crack in the magnet because the thickness in the direction of the diameter of each part of the magnet is different.

Over one turn rotation angle sensor using rotating magnetic field


A defect inspection device which inspects for surface defects in substrates, and which includes an illumination section that irradiates the substrate with illumination light having a variable incident angle, and a light-receiving section that receives light from the substrate irradiated with illumination light from the illumination section with a variable detection angle. The light-receiving section receives diffracted light emitted in substantially the same direction as the direction of incidence of the illumination light from the illumination section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a defect inspection device and a substrate manufacturing system using the same. For example, the invention relates to a defect inspection device that inspects surface defects in a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer and a liquid crystal substrate, and a substrate manufacturing system using the defect inspection device.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor wafers and liquid crystal substrates are generally manufactured by performing a photolithography process to a substrate of silicon, glass, and the like. During this photolithography process, if there is film unevenness or dust and the like sticking to a resist applied over the substrate surface, this can cause poor line-width in the pattern after etching, pinholes in the pattern, and other defects.
Accordingly, an exhaustive inspection is made to determine the existence of such defects in a manufacturing step of the substrate prior to etching. While this inspection is often performed by visual observation by an operator, discrepancies in the operator's judgment and effects of dust emanating from the operator himself in a clean room cannot be ignored, and consequently there are proposals for methods that use a defect inspection device including a determination function.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H09-61365 discloses a device including an illumination section that illuminates the surface of a specimen at an angle θ0, a first image-capturing section for capturing regular reflected light that is arranged at a position of angle θ0, a second image-capturing section for capturing diffracted light that is arranged at a perpendicular position, and a third image-capturing section for capturing scattered light that is arranged at a position of angle θ1.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H07-27709 discloses a device including an image-capturing section and two bundles of fibers that lead illumination light, enabling incident angles θ1 and θ2 and incident angles ψ1 and ψ2 to be set freely.

Defect inspection device and substrate manufacturing system using the same


The driving and control device provides a desired switched current to a load including two or more strings of one or more electronic devices. The device includes one or more voltage converters which convert the magnitude of the voltage from the power supply to another magnitude that is desired at the high side of the load. The device may also include one or more dimming controls which provide control of the activation and deactivation of the load. The device may further include a feedback signal to the voltage converter that is indicative of the current flowing through the load. Based on the feedback signal received, the voltage converter can subsequently adjust its output voltage such that a constant switched current is provided to the load.

Recent advances in the development of semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have made these devices suitable for use in general illumination applications, including architectural, entertainment, and roadway lighting, for example. As such, these devices are becoming increasingly competitive with light sources such as incandescent, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge lamps.
Light-emitting diodes are current driven devices, meaning that the amount of current passing through an LED controls its brightness. In order to avoid variations in brightness between adjacent devices, the current flowing through the LEDs and their control circuits should be closely matched. Manufacturers have implemented several solutions to address the need to closely control the amount of current flowing through the LEDs. One solution is to keep a constant current flowing through the LEDs using a linear constant current circuit. A problem with using a linear constant current circuit, however, is that the control circuit dissipates a large amount of power, and consequently requires large power devices and heat sinks. In addition, when any non-switched constant current system is dimmed, 0 to 100% dimming is typically not achievable. For example, at lower current levels some LEDs will remain ON whereas others, with higher forward voltages will not.
A more power efficient solution has been attempted which uses a buck-boost regulator to generate a regulated common voltage supply for the high side of the LED arrays. Low side ballast resistors are then used to set the LED current, and separate resistors are used to monitor the current. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,578 provides a method wherein a voltage converter with feedback is used to maintain a constant load voltage across a series of strings of LEDs and biasing resistors are used for current control. A transistor is connected on the low side of the LEDs and is switched with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for brightness control. This design does provide full dimming control as the current is switched, wherein the same current can be maintained when the PWM switch is ON, while not allowing current when the switch is OFF. The average current is then equal to the duty cycle multiplied by the ON current level. The problem with these types of designs is that they are inefficient due to the power losses in the biasing resistor, and may require custom resistors to accurately control the current.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,667 also discloses a closed loop circuit that provides constant current pulses, however, this circuit does not allow for full duty cycle control over the LEDs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,890 discloses a method that uses current feedback to adjust power to LEDs with a low frequency PWM signal supplied to the power supply in order to reduce the brightness of the LEDs when in a dim mode. The problem with this method is that if the low frequency signal is within the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, as disclosed, the power supply can produce audible noise. Also, switching frequencies in this range can thermally cycle the LED's thus likely reducing the reliability and lifetime of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,639 B2 discloses a method for controlling overshoots of a switched driving circuit for LED arrays by means of a voltage converter combined with a customized sample and hold circuit. The switching signal controlling the LEDs is linked to a signal to enable and disable the voltage converter and thus it is switching both the load and the supply. The signal controlling the switching of the load is biased such that it operates the switch essentially in its linear region in order to provide peak current control which can result in power losses within the switch, thereby reducing the overall system efficiency. In addition, this configuration is defined as being applicable for frequencies in the range of 400 Hz and does not allow for high frequency switching of the load for example at frequencies above the 20 kHz which is approximately the audible threshold range.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2004/0036418 further discloses a method of driving several strings of LEDs in which a converter is used to vary the current through the LEDs. A current switch is implemented to provide feedback. This method is similar to using a standard buck converter and can provide an efficient way for controlling the current through the LEDs. A problem arises, however when multiple LED strings require different forward voltages. In this scenario, high-side transistor switches are used as variable resistors to limit the current to the appropriate LED string. These high side transistor switches can induce large losses and decrease the overall efficiency of the circuit. In addition, this circuit does not allow a full range of dimming to be obtained.
Therefore, there is a need for a switched constant current driver circuit that efficiently provides voltages to multiple electronic devices according to the forward bias required thereby without the use of biasing resistors or transistors. In addition, there is a need for efficiently dimming light-emitting elements while maintaining a switched constant current.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Switched constant current driving and control circuit


A secure active network includes a plurality of secure elements which communicate with one another to share and log information such as identification, location, and user activity associated with each secure element. Secure elements exchange data with one another, and log data received. The periodicity of communication between secure elements, encryption of the information, and the operating frequency in which the information is transmitted and received may be changed if communication is lost between any of the secure elements or if a determination is made that a secure element has traveled outside a predetermined zone. The integrity of the secure network may be verified at any time by comparing the logged information to a reference network.

Active network systems are often implemented to enable networked elements which are part of the active network to respond to perceived security threats.
While the networked elements may communicate with one another to determine rudimentary information such as general operating status, the devices coupled to the networked elements, such as consumer goods, for example, may be the target of theft, replacement by a forgery, and/or unauthorized use. Such malicious acts may go unnoticed in a standard networked system, since the network is not capable of determining the difference between a missing or unauthorized device and a device which is powered off or temporarily disconnected from the network.
Furthermore, networked devices may be left for long periods of time in an unsecure environment, such as in a warehouse or a shipping container. Because of this, these devices are susceptible to theft whereby the physical outer packaging of the device is left intact. At a glance, the packaging of the device may appear to be secure, but the packaging could in actuality be empty or the original device replaced with a counterfeit device. In such a situation, long periods of time may elapse whereby the integrity of the original devices is unknown. Due to the fact that the devices are not actively monitored, the owner or manufacturer of the devices may not realize that the devices have been stolen, replaced, or removed from the network, until long after the devices have already been removed.
What is needed, therefore, is a network architecture which may verify the integrity of the networked devices by monitoring a log of communication between the devices, dynamically changing the properties of the network if network integrity is compromised, and alerting the other devices and/or the owner of the devices to a loss of integrity of any device.
The disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the reference number.


A collapsible stand including plurality of side members, each having one or more fastener elements operable to removably engage one another to assemble a base capable of supporting a supportable object. The collapsible stand can further include a stabilizer, a support member guide, and a support member.

Conventional jack stands may be commonly used to support raised loads. For example, jack stands may frequently be employed to support motor vehicles.
Conventional jack stands may have variable configurations which may include a straight column, a pyramid or a cone. A disadvantage of straight column stands may be their relatively limited ground contact area and propensity to buckle under lateral load and, subsequently, relatively limited capacity to support a load as compared to pyramidal or conical configured stands. Thus, pyramidal or conical configured stands may offer greater ground contact area and have a greater buckling load as compared to straight column stands, therefore affording a greater load capacity than straight column stands. However, the components of conventional pyramidal or conical configured stands are typically joined in a fixed configuration by welds, rivets, or the like. Consequently, these conventional stands may have a fixed volume which may make transportation or storage inconvenient or more costly.
There remains a long-felt unresolved need for a stand having a load bearing assembled condition and a reduced volume disassembled condition.


A jacket for a load-bearing, lengthy body, wherein the jacket is comprised of a plurality of braid elements which, when braided, enclose at least a portion of the lengthy body, and wherein the braid element is comprised of a braided ribbon. A method of forming the jacket is also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a jacket enclosing a lengthy body. More particularly, the invention concerns a braided jacket enclosing a load-bearing, lengthy body, for example ropes and mooring equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mooring equipment is subjected to large loads. Besides being load-bearing and exposed to tensile forces, the surface of the mooring equipment is exposed to filing, rubbing, strikes and cuts. Particles, such as sand, may penetrate into the mooring equipment if, for example, it is attached to an anchor lying on a seabed, and the particles may cause internal wear and tear. Mooring equipment is also exposed to buckling.
It is known that lengthy bodies, such as ropes, mooring equipment, electric cables, hoses and pipes, at least at an end portion thereof, may be provided with a protective jacket. This jacket may be braided, as shown in e.g. patent publications U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,260; U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,178 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,961. For braiding of the protective jacket, it is known to use braid elements of laid fibres. From patent publication NO 314459/WO03054291, it is known that the braid elements in the protective jacket is comprised of woven ribbons.
Patent publication EP 1700948 describes a braided protective jacket for a rope. The protective jacket comprises a plurality of braid elements comprised of threads. The patent publication is silent about the construction of the threads in the braid elements. Further, the protective jacket comprises a plurality of reinforcement threads incorporated in the braiding. The patent publication provides no clear disclosure of the manner in which this is done, but the reinforcement threads are not a part of the braid elements.
Patent publication WO 2005/019525 describes a braided, load-bearing rope provided with a lengthy core. The core increases the rope's resistance against squeezing, but the core has no function as a load-bearing element. The load-bearing rope is not surrounded by any protective jacket.
A number of requirements exist with respect to a protective jacket. A protective jacket together with a piece of mooring equipment is used as an example. The protective jacket should be pliable and such that the stiffness or bend radius of the mooring equipment does not increase. The protective jacket should be tight, whereby foreign bodies do not penetrate into the mooring equipment. The protective jacket should exhibit good resistance against filing and rubbing. During use, the mooring equipment may be exposed to a cut from a sharp object. The protective jacket should be constructed in such a manner that the protective jacket provides protection against the cut from most possible angles at which the cut may be directed towards the mooring equipment, and such that the protective jacket does not open. A protective jacket should also be allowed to be provided with reinforcements against cuts. A protective jacket should also be allowed to be provided with a streamline coating, which is termed fairing in the art. Fairing is comprised of protruding, cut threads so as to form floss. This gives the mooring equipment improved properties when pulled through the water.
It is generally known in the art that a number of monofilament fibres are laid in a first direction, for example to the left, to produce a so-called yarn. By so doing, the yarn produced is a twisted multifilament. Several yarns are laid in a second direction to produce a so-called composite bundle or strand. Three strands are laid in the first direction to produce a so-called hawser, then forming a three-strand laid hawser. Several hawsers may be laid in the second direction to produce a cable. It is also known that a four-strand laid hawser is comprised of four strands, in which one strand forms a core, a so-called calf. Further, it is known that e.g. hawsers may be comprised of more than four strands. The above does not constitute a complete disclosure of this field in the art. Examples are also known in which the lay-direction deviates from what is described herein.
A disadvantage of laid ropes is that they may twist during loading. Ropes produced via braiding of yarn, strand or hawser will not twist.
Synthetic textile fibres are produced as monofilaments being, in principle, of endless length. Hereinafter, use of synthetic textile fibres is described, but the skilled person will know how the terms may be used with respect to natural fibres. A textile element is comprised of one or more textile fibres.
Hereinafter, a thread will be used as a common term for one lengthy textile element. In its simplest form, a thread is comprised of one monofilament. Further, a thread may be comprised of two or more monofilaments lying side by side and without being twisted about each other. This will be termed a bundle. Further, a thread may be comprised of two or more monofilaments twisted about each other into, for example, a yarn. Further, a thread may be comprised of a strand, a hawser or a cable, as described above. Further, a thread may be comprised of braided textile elements comprised of a monofilament, a bundle, a yarn, a strand, a hawser or a cable. A thread is further characterized in that the thread exhibits a substantially circular cross-section.
Weaving is characterized in that a group of threads, so-called warp or warp thread, is perpendicular to another group of threads, so-called woof or weft. Braiding is characterized in that the threads are functionally equivalent and are conveyed forward, whilst being cross-laid into a zigzag-pattern, below or above the other threads. A first half of the threads are conveyed spiralling forward in one direction and a second half of the threads are conveyed spiralling forward in a second direction.
The term ribbon implies a lengthy element comprised of a plurality of threads, wherein the threads may be formed in various ways, and wherein the threads may be comprised of various materials. A ribbon may be formed via weaving or via braiding and such that the ribbon in a first direction, height/thickness, is substantially shorter than in a second direction, width, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ribbon, and the second direction is perpendicular both to the longitudinal direction of the ribbon and to the first direction. As such, and as an example, the ratio between the first direction, the height, and the second direction, the width, may be 1:3; 1:4; 1:5; 1:10; 1:20. The skilled person will know that this ratio varies with the number of threads in a warp, or the number of threads in a braiding.
A braided ribbon may be produced via braiding of, for example, 12 threads, wherein 6 threads lie side by side in a first direction and 6 threads lie side by side in a second direction. The threads cross each other in particular patterns, such as e.g. over 2-under 2, or over 1-under 1. Other patterns are also available. When a thread, which lies in a first direction, is braided outwards to the edge of the ribbon, it is bent and is braided inwards along the ribbon in the second direction. The minimum number of threads in a ribbon is 3 threads. Ribbons having 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 32, 64 or 128 threads are known. It is obvious in the art to produce ribbons having a number of threads deviating from this, and it is known that the complexity of the braiding machines increases with the number of threads to be braided into a ribbon.
The object of the invention is to remedy or to reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.


Methods for preparing nucleotide integrases are provided. The nucleotide integrases are prepared by combining in vitro an excised, group II intron RNA, referred to hereinafter as "exogenous RNA", with a group II intron-encoded protein. The exogenous RNA is prepared by in vitro transcription of a DNA molecule which comprises a group II intron sequence. In one embodiment, the group II intron-encoded protein is made by introducing into a host cell a DNA molecule that comprises at least the open reading frame sequence of a group II intron and then expressing the open reading frame sequence in the host cell. The DNA molecule may comprise the open reading frame sequence operably linked to a promoter, preferably an inducible promoter. Thereafter, the cell is fractionated and the protein is recovered and combined in vitro with the exogenous RNA to provide RNP particles having nucleotide integrase activity. In another embodiment, the DNA molecule comprise a group II intron sequence that encodes both a group II intron RNA as well as a group II intron encoded protein. The DNA molecule is then expressed in the host cell to provide RNP particles that comprise the group II intron-encoded protein bound to the group II intron RNA. Thereafter, the RNP particles comprising the group II intron-encoded protein and the group II intron RNA are isolated from the cell and treated with a nuclease to remove the RNA and to provide the group II-intron encoded protein. The group II intron-encoded protein is then combined in vitro with the exogenous RNA to provide RNP particles having nucleotide integrase activity.

Nucleotide integrases are molecular complexes that are capable of cleaving nucleic acid substrates at specific recognition sites and of concomitantly inserting nucleic acid molecules into the nucleic acid substrate at the cleavage site. Thus, nucleotide integrases are useful tools, particularly for genome mapping, genetic engineering and disrupting the synthesis of gene products. Structurally, nucleotide integrases are ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that comprise an excised, group II intron RNA and a group II intron-encoded protein, which is bound to the group II intron RNA.
Conventionally, nucleotide integrases are made by isolating RNP particles that have nucleotide integrase activity from source organisms which comprise a DNA molecule that encodes both the RNA and protein subunits of the nucleotide integrase. In order to obtain nucleotide integrases other than wild type, the source organisms are mutagenized. The mutagenesis is a laborious, multistep process. Moreover, this process yields limited quantities of the nucleotide integrase.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have methods for making nucleotide integrases which are not laborious and which permit the nucleotide integrase to be readily modified from the wild type. Methods which yield at least microgram quantities of substantially pure nucleotide integrases are especially desirable.

Methods of making an RNP particle having nucleotide integrase activity


A magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM) generator for producing an RF magnetic field uniformly over the whole of a sample. A cantilever with magnetic probe tip is self-excited. Under this condition, spins in the sample are controlled to produce a magnetic resonance force. A frequency demodulator measures the resonant frequency of the cantilever from the output detection signal from a cantilever displacement-measuring instrument based on the magnetic resonance force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM) for performing magnetic resonance force imaging of a sample.
2. Description of Related Art
A magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM) is an instrument that combines the techniques of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument using a magnetic resonance technology that is a conventional technology with the techniques of an atomic force microscope (AFM) capable of imaging atoms on sample surfaces. It is anticipated that the MRFM is an MRI instrument producing a spatial resolution at atomic level. The purpose of the utilization is defined to be a quantitative analysis consisting chiefly of imaging and analyzing three-dimensional structures of extremely small samples, such as a single gene, proteins, and biological molecules. MRFM apparatus are currently being developed by some groups and are in a developmental stage. It is said that the highest spatial resolution attained today is 20 nm. MRFM is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,896; Japanese Patent Publication No. H7-69289; Proceedings of the Magnetic Society of Japan, Vol. 22, No. 1, p. 19 (1998); and Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 79, p. 1881 (1996)
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an MRFM apparatus consisting of laser light passed through an optical fiber 1, a cantilever 2 receiving the laser light, and a sample stage 3 on which a sample 4 is placed. The stage 3 operates as a scanner. Meanwhile, elements necessary for magnetic resonance include an RF (radio-frequency) coil 5 and an external static magnetic field (not shown). A magnetic field gradient indispensable for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is produced by a magnetic field that is quite inhomogeneous spatially. This inhomogeneous field is set up by a magnetic tip 6 that is mounted at the tip of the cantilever 2 and made of a magnetic material (including a permanent magnet) with high magnetic permeability.
The operation of the MRFM apparatus is now described. A magnetic resonance phenomenon within the MRFM apparatus is produced when resonant conditions are satisfied. The resonant conditions are uniquely determined by the relationship between a static magnetic field inside the sample and the frequency of the RF magnetic field applied by the RF coil 5. The static magnetic field inside the sample is defined to be the sum of the externally applied magnetic field and the magnetic field produced by the magnetic tip 6.
When the resonant conditions do not hold, the cantilever 2 feels a magnetic field given by the product of the magnetization of the sample polarized by the aforementioned static magnetic field and the magnetic field gradient produced by the magnetic tip 6, and has been displaced from the position assumed in the thermal equilibrium state that is defined when neither magnetic field nor magnetic field gradient is present.
When the resonant conditions hold, the reduced polarization magnetization weakens the magnetic force, forcing the cantilever 2 to return toward the position assumed in the thermal equilibrium state. The variation in the magnetic force produced at this time is referred to as a magnetic resonance force.
The physical quantity measured in MRFM is this amount of displacement of the amplitude of the cantilever. The amount of displacement is measured using an optical interferometer or optical beam deflection. A distribution of the intensities of magnetic resonance forces at various locations can be obtained by scanning the relative position of the magnetic tip 6 to the sample 4. A real space image is reproduced by computer-processing the distribution of the intensities of the magnetic resonance forces while taking account of known magnetic field distributions and magnetic field gradient distributions.
MRI can measure a three-dimensional distribution of the numbers of electron spins or certain atomic nuclear spins or magnitudes of spin magnetizations at positions inside a sample. However, if an MRI image is obtained by imaging only a portion containing spins of interest, it may not be possible to locate the position of this portion within the whole sample or to identify to what tissue that portion belongs.
FIG. 2A is a view of a sample 4 placed on the surface of the scanner (sample stage), as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface. It is assumed that the sample 4 is made of some materials that are different in composition and morphology. It is also assumed that spins capable of being observed by MRI are contained only in a portion 8 indicated by arrow 7.
FIG. 2B is an image 8′ that would be acquired when the sample 4 is imaged by MR. It is now assumed that the user wants to provide an estimate from an MRI image alone as to where the portion producing the image is located within the sample. For this purpose, it is necessary to grasp the shapes of the individual components of the material in advance. Furthermore, to allow the user to correlate these shapes with the obtained MRI image and to make a choice, the MRI image must reveal a particular shape or contain a characteristic portion representing the sample 4.
Comparison of FIGS. 2B and 2B makes it possible to conclude that any one of the six horizontally elongated materials 8-13 is contained in the sample 4 in FIG. 2A. However, it is impossible to determine which one of them is exactly responsible. That is, there remains room for improvement for understanding of MRI images.
If an image of the whole sample taken in the same field of view of an MRI image irrespective of the presence or absence of spins of interest is derived, in addition to the MRI image, the MRI image can be understood more deeply.
FIG. 2C shows an image that is anticipated to be acquired when the sample is imaged by such an imaging technique. It is also assumed that the field of view and the observer's eye are identical with their counterparts in FIG. 2B. If an image as shown in FIG. 2C is obtained, it is possible to locate the position of the portion 8′ imaged as shown in the FIG. 2B within FIG. 2C by superimposing the obtained image on the image of FIG. 2B.


A gaze vector of a human subject is translated to a targeting vector that defines focus within a graphical user interface. Sensor data is received from a sensor system indicating pitch angle of a head of the human subject defining the gaze vector. The pitch angle is translated to a scaled pitch angle according to a pitch scaling function that increases amplification of the pitch angle in one or more directions as the pitch angle exceeds a start angle threshold in each of the one or more directions. The scaled pitch angle is output as a component of the targeting vector.

Machines may be controlled through bodily movement of a human subject or user to perform a task. Movement of a human head, for example, may be used as a control input to an electronic device, such as a computer or gaming console. Wearable devices such as head-mounted displays or head-mounted sensors may form the basis of detecting human head movement.

Head-based targeting with pitch amplification


A stack module is provided which relieves thermal stress generated in a heat-radiating element and provides improved cooling efficiency. Connection bumps of a plurality of mounting substrates, onto which are mounted semiconductor chips are used to stack the substrates to four levels, three wave-shaped heat-radiating elements, made of copper, being in thermal contact between the semiconductor chips of three of the mounting substrates and the rear surfaces of three of the mounting substrates, making use of the spring elasticity of the heat-radiating elements to establish this thermal contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stack module, and more specifically to a stack module in which a plurality of substrates onto which are installed a semiconductor chip are stacked.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an example of a stack module in the related art.
In the stack module which is shown FIG. 3, a heatsink 8 is adhered to the top of (or the beneath of) a semiconductor chip 1 (or substrate 2), that rests on (or beneath) the substrate 2, and four of these combinations being stacked using a bump 6 for the purpose of connecting the substrate.
On the other hand, for example, in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-190712, discloses a semiconductor device in which a heatsink is directly connected to one main surface of a semiconductor chip but this reference fails to show or suggest to stack a plurality of this kind of semiconductor chips.
However, there is a drawback in the above-described stack module, because of the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the semiconductor chip (or substrate) and the heatsink, which causes thermal stress to develop at the above-noted adhered part, thereby shortening the thermal-cycle life.
Additionally, because the heatsink is a flat plate and has a small heat-radiating surface area, to increase the cooling effect, it is necessary to extend the heatsink to outside the bounds of the substrate, this making it difficult to achieve a compact stack module.
In view of the above-noted drawbacks in this related art, an object of the present invention is to provide a stack module which enables efficient cooling without the generation of thermal stress therewithin, thereby enabling long life of the stacked module.


The embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method for distributing time between a first and a second Synchronous Ethernet “SyncE” domain, the first and second domains being interconnected by a third, Synchronous Optical Networking/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy “SDH-SONET” domain in which a time-associated reference parameter is distributed, through Synchronous Ethernet “SyncE” domains, by means of at least one additional Type Length Value “TLV” field of an Ethernet Synchronization Messaging Channel “ESMC” message and a corresponding time-associated reference parameter is distributed, through the Synchronous Optical Networking/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy “SONET-SDH” domain by means of at least one additional Type Length Value “TLV” field within a message of the IEEE 1588 V2 protocol.

The embodiments of the present invention pertain to the domain of communication networks, and more particularly to the distribution of time between two Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) domains interconnected by a Synchronous Optical Networking/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH) domain. This is because the SONET/SDH and SyncE domains are compatible from the viewpoint of the physical distribution of a synchronization frequency as depicted in FIG. 1, wherein Synchronized Ethernet (syncE) nodes E (FIG. 1b) or hybrid nodes H (FIG. 1c), meaning those that have both SONET/SDH and SyncE, are inserted into a synchronization chain comprising SONET/SDH nodes S and synchronization units (Synchronization Supply Unit) SSU.
The synchronization status is therefore distributed by Ethernet Synchronization Messaging Channel messages (ESMC) that contain Type Length Value (TLV) structures as specified in protocol 802.3 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE 802.3).
At present, only one of those TLV structures is standardized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T); this is the TLV field indicating the synchronization signal's quality level (QL-TLV) in order to maintain compatibility with SONET/SDH.
Proposals to add TLV structures have, however, been proposed within UIT-T in order to optimize the use of those ESMC messages, and particularly to introduce a TLV structure that comprises a timestamp value so as to distribute time through a SyncE domain.
In the configuration described in FIG. 2 in which two SyncE domains 1 are interconnected by one SONET/SDH domain 3, the additional TLV structures 7, if any (meaning those besides the QL-TLV structure 9) are filtered within the SyncE-SONET/SDH interface. This is because this information is not defined in the SONET/SDH header, and there is no longer any way to extend the format of those headers without deeply impacting (i.e. hardware changes) the large amount of SONET/SDH equipment already deployed on the premises.
There is therefore a need to propose a method that would make it possible to distribute time between two ESMC domains interconnected by a SDH/SONET domain.

Method for distributing time within synchronous ethernet and SONET/SDH domains


In order for the process and the device to function with as small as possible a number of sensors for operating parameters, a program map (20) is provided from which the intake air pressure (AL) of the charger (3, 5) is derived as a function of the charging pressure (PL), the engine speed (n), and a fuel quantity preset (QK) corresponding to the accelerator position, and there is a device (21) which determines a limit value (QKG1) for the fuel quantity (QK') metered to the engine (1) as a function of the intake air pressure (AL).

The current invention relates to a process and a device for protecting a turbocharger of an internal combustion engine against being destroyed by an excessive charger speed.
As can be seen from MTZ, Motortechnische Zeitschrift [Motor Technology Journal], 53 (1992) 10, pp. 454 to 462, with increasing altitude and therefore decreasing ambient pressure, i.e. decreasing air pressure, the required charging pressure of a turbocharger is only achieved with an increase in the charger speed. To this end, the waste-gate on the exhaust side of the turbocharger is more closed and consequently, the turbine is acted on with a larger quantity of exhaust. However, so that decreasing ambient pressure does not lead to an excessive increase in the charger speed, which would destroy the turbocharger, the atmospheric pressure is measured with the sensor and the charging pressure reference value for the regulation is reduced as a function of this.
According to DE 43 02 339 A1, the maximum permissible fuel quantity to be injected is predetermined based on operating parameters such as temperature and pressure. In an internal combustion engine equipped with a charger, preferably a self-igniting engine, the charging air temperature is predetermined based on the ambient temperature, the atmospheric pressure, and the charging pressure.

Method and device for protecting a turbo-supercharger