Polynucleotides encoding mammalian ECM signaling molecules affecting the cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation activities characterizing such complex biological processes as angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, and oncogenesis, are provided. The polynucleotide compositions include DNAs and RNAs comprising part, or all, of an ECM signaling molecule coding sequence, or biological equivalents. Polypeptide compositions are also provided. The polypeptide compositions comprise mammalian ECM signaling molecules, peptide fragments, inhibitory peptides capable of interacting with receptors for ECM signaling molecules, and antibody products recognizing Cyr61. Also provided are methods for producing mammalian ECM signaling molecules. Further provided are methods for using mammalian ECM signaling molecules to screen for, and/or modulate, disorders associated with angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, and oncogenesis; ex vivo methods for using mammalian ECM signaling molecules to prepare blood products are also provided.

The growth of mammalian cells is tightly regulated by polypeptide growth factors. In the adult animal, most cells are metabolically active but are quiescent with regard to cell division. Under certain conditions, these cells can be stimulated to reenter the cell cycle and divide. As quiescent cells reenter the active growth and division phases of the cell cycle, a number of specific genes, the immediate early genes, are rapidly activated. Reentry to the active cell cycle is by necessity tightly regulated, since a breakdown of this control can result in uncontrolled growth, frequently recognized as cancer. Controlled reentry of particular cells into the growth phase is essential for such biological processes as angiogenesis (e.g., blood vessel growth and repair), chondrogenesis (e.g., skeletal development and prosthesis integration), oncogenesis (e.g., cancer cell metastasis and tumor neovascularization), and other growth-requiring processes.
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from the endothelial cells of preexisting blood vessels, is a complex process which involves a changing profile of endothelial cell gene expression, associated with cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Angiogenesis begins with localized breakdown of the basement membrane of the parent vessel. In vivo, basement membranes (primarily composed of laminin, collagen type IV, nidogen/entactin, and proteoglycan) support the endothelial cells and provide a barrier separating these cells from the underlying stroma. The basement membrane also affects a variety of biological activities including cell adhesion, migration, and growth during development and differentiation.
Following breakdown of the basement membrane, endothelial cells migrate away from the parent vessel into the interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM), at least partially due to chemoattractant gradients. The migrating endothelial cells form a capillary sprout, which elongates. This elongation is the result of migration and proliferation of cells in the sprout. Cells located in the leading capillary tip migrate toward the angiogenic stimulus, but neither synthesize DNA nor divide. Meanwhile, behind these leading tip cells, other endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation to ensure an adequate supply of endothelial cells for formation of the new vessel. Capillary sprouts then branch at their tips, the branches anastomose or join with one another to form a lumen, the basement membrane is reconstituted, and a vascular connection is established leading to blood flow.
Alterations in at least three endothelial cell functions occur during angiogenesis: 1) modulations of interactions with the ECM, which require alterations of cell-matrix contacts and the production of matrix-degrading proteolytic enzymes; 2) an initial increase and subsequent decrease in endothelial cell migration, effecting cell translocation towards an angiogenic stimulus; and 3) a transient increase in cell proliferation, providing cells for the growing and elongating vessel, with a subsequent return to the quiescent cell state once the vessel is formed. These three functions are realized by adhesive, chemotactic, and mitogenic interactions or responses, respectively. Therefore, control of angiogenesis requires intervention in three distinct cellular activities: 1) cell adhesion, 2) cell migration, and 3) cell proliferation. Another biological process involving a similar complex array of cellular activities is chondrogenesis.
Chondrogenesis is the cellular process responsible for skeletal organization, including the development of bone and cartilage. Chondrogenesis, like angiogenesis, involves the controlled reentry of quiescent cells into the growth phase of the cell cycle. The growth phase transition is associated with altered cell adhesion characteristics, changed patterns of cell migration, and transiently increased cell proliferation. Chondrogenesis involves the initial development of chondrogenic capacity (i.e., the proto-differentiated state) by primitive undifferentiated mesenchyme cells. This stage involves the production of chondrocyte-specific markers without the ability to produce a typical cartilage ECM. Subsequently, the cells develop the capacity to produce a cartilage-specific ECM as they differentiate into chondrocytes. Langille, Microscop. Res. & Tech. 28:455–469 (1994). Chondrocyte migration, adhesion, and proliferation then contribute to the development of bony, and cartilaginous, skeleton. Abnormal elaboration of the programmed development of cells participating in the process of chondrogenesis results in skeletal defects presenting problems that range from cosmetic concerns to life-threatening disorders.
Like angiogenesis and chondrogenesis, oncogenesis is characterized by changes in cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Metastasizing cancer cells exhibit altered adhesion and migration properties. Establishment of tumorous masses requires increased cell proliferation and the elaboration of the cellular properties characteristic of angiogenesis during the neovascularization of tumors.
Abnormal progression of angiogenesis or chondrogenesis, as well as mere progression of oncogenesis, substantially impairs the quality of life for afflicted individuals and adds to modern health care costs. The features common to these complex biological processes, comprising-altered cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, suggest that agents capable of influencing all three of these cellular activities would be effective in screening for, and modulating, the aforementioned complex biological processes. Although the art is aware of agents that influence individual cellular activities, e.g., integrins and selectins (cell adhesion), chemokines (cell migration), and a variety of growth factors or cytokines (cell proliferation), until recently no agent has been identified that exerts an influence over all three cellular activities in humans.
Murine Cyr61 (CYsteine-Rich protein) is a protein expressed in actively growing and dividing cells that may influence each of these three cellular activities. RNase protection analyses have shown that the gene encoding murine Cyr61, murine cyr61, is transcribed in the developing mouse embryo. O'Brien et al., Cell Growth & Diff 3:645–654 (1992). In situ hybridization analysis showed that expression of cyr61 during mouse embryogenesis is closely correlated with the differentiation of mesenchymal cells, derived from ectoderm and mesoderm, into chondrocytes. In addition, cyr61 is expressed in the vessel walls of the developing circulatory system. These observations indicate that murine cyr61 is expressed during cell proliferation and differentiation, which are characteristics of expression of genes involved in regulatory cascades that control the cell growth cycle.
Further characterization of the Cyr61 polypeptide has been hampered by an inability to purify useful quantities of the protein. Efforts to purify Cyr61 in quantity by overexpression from either eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells typically fail. Yang, University of Illinois at Chicago, Ph.D. Thesis (1993). One problem associated with attempting to obtain useful quantities of Cyr61 is the reduction in mammalian growth rates induced by overexpression of Cyr61. Another problem with Cyr61 purification is that the cysteine-rich polypeptide, when expressed in bacterial cells using recombinant DNA techniques, is often found in insoluble protein masses. Nevertheless, Cyr61 has been characterized as a polypeptide of 349 amino acids, containing 39 cysteine residues, a hydrophobic putative N-terminal signal sequence, and potential N-linked glycosylation sites (Asn28 and Asn225). U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,040 at column 3, lines 41–54, Grotendorst et al., incorporated herein by reference (the '040 patent). Recently, proteins related to Cyr61 have been characterized. For example, a human protein, Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF), has been identified. (See '040 patent). CTGF is expressed in actively growing cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells ('040 patent, at column 5, lines 62–64), an expression pattern shared by Cyr61. In terms of function, CTGF has been described as a protein growth factor because its primary biological activity has been alleged to be its mitogenicity ('040 patent, at column 2, lines 25–27 and 53–55). In addition, CTGF reportedly exhibits chemotactic activity. '040 patent, at column 2, lines 56–59. In terms of structure, the polynucleotide sequence encoding CTGF, and the amino acid sequence of CTGF, have been published. '040 patent, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8, respectively.
Another apparently related protein is the mouse protein Fisp12 (FIbroblast Secreted Protein). Fisp12 has been subjected to amino acid sequence analysis, revealing a primary structure that is rich in cysteines. Ryseck et al., Cell Growth & Diff 2:225–233 (1991), incorporated herein by reference. The protein also possesses a hydrophobic N-terminal sequence suggestive of the signal sequence characteristic of secreted proteins.
Sequence analyses involving Cyr61, Fisp12, CTGF, and other proteins, have contributed to the identification of a family of cysteine-rich secreted proteins. Members of the family share similar primary structures encoded by genes exhibiting similar sequences. Each of the proteins in this emerging family is further characterized by the presence of a hydrophobic N-terminal signal sequence and 38 cysteine residues in the secreted forms of the proteins. Members of the family identified to date include the aforementioned Cyr61 (human and mouse), Fisp12 (mouse), and CTGF (the human ortholog of Fisp12), as well as CEF10 (chicken), and Nov (avian).
One of several applications for a purified protein able to affect cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation properties involves the development of stable, long term ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell cultures. Patients subjected to high-dose chemotherapy have suppressed hematopoiesis; expansion of stem cells, their maturation into various hematopoietic lineages, and mobilization of mature cells into circulating blood routinely take many weeks to complete. For such patients, and others who need hematopoietic cell transplantation, introduction into those patients of autologous stem cells that have been manipulated and expanded in culture is advantageous. Such hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) express the CD34 stem cell antigen, but do not express lineage commitment antigens. These cells can eventually give rise to all blood cell lineages (e.g., erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and myelocytes). Hematopoietic progenitor cells that can initiate and sustain long term cultures (i.e., long term culture system-initiating cells or LTC-IC) represent a primitive population of stem cells. The frequency of LTC-IC has been estimated at only 1–2 per 104 cells in normal human marrow and only about 1 per 50–100 cells in a highly purified CD34+ subpopulation. Thus, it would be useful to have methods and systems for long term cell culture that maintain and expand primitive, pluripotent human HSC to be used for repopulation of the hematopoietic system in vivo.
Cell culture models of hematopoiesis have revealed a multitude of cytokines that appear to play a role in the hematopoietic process, including various colony stimulating factors, interleukins, stem cell factor, and the c-kit ligand. However, in ex vivo cultures, different combinations of these cytokines favor expansion of different sets of committed progenitors. For example, a factor in cord blood plasma enhanced expansion of granulocyte-erythroid-macrophage-megakaryocyte colony forming unit (CFU-GEMM) progenitors, but expansion in these cultures favored the more mature subsets of cells. Therefore, it has been difficult to establish a culture system that mimics in vivo hematopoiesis.
An HSC culture system should maintain and expand a large number of multi- or pluripotent stem cells capable of both long term repopulation and eventual lineage commitment under appropriate induction. However, in most ex vivo culture systems, the fraction of the cell population comprised of LTC-IC decreases steadily with continued culturing, often declining to 20% of their initial level after several weeks, as the culture becomes populated by more mature subsets of hematopoietic progenitor cells that are no longer pluripotent. Moreover, the proliferative capacity exhibited by individual LTC-IC may vary extensively. Thus, a need exists in the art for HSC culture systems comprising biological agents that maintain or promote the pluripotent potential of cells such as LTC-IC cells. In addition to a role in developing ex vivo HSC cultures, biological agents affecting cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation are useful in a variety of other contexts.
Proteins that potentiate the activity of mitogens but have no mitogenic activity themselves may play important roles as signaling molecules in such processes as hematopoiesis. Moreover, these signaling proteins could also serve as probes in the search for additional mitogens, many of which have not been identified or characterized. Several biological factors have been shown to potentiate the mitogenic activity of other factors, without being mitogenic themselves. Some of these potentiators are associated with the cell surface and/or extracellular matrix. Included in this group are a secreted basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-binding protein (bFGF-binding protein), the basal lamina protein perlecan, and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 TAT protein, each protein being able to promote bFGF-induced cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Also included in this group of mitogen potentiators are thrombospondin, capable of activating a latent form of Transforming Growth Factor-β, and an unidentified secreted growth-potentiating factor from vascular smooth muscle cells (Nakano et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:5702–5705 [1995]), the latter factor being required for efficient activation of Epidermal Growth Factor- or thrombin-induced DNA synthesis. Further, the B cell stimulatory factor-1/interleukin4, a T cell product with no demonstrable mitogenic activity, is able to 1) enhance the proliferative response of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, 2) enhance the proliferative response of erythroid progenitors to erythropoietin, and 3) together with erythropoietin, induce colony formation by multipotent progenitor cells. Similarly, interleukin-7 enhanced stem cell factor-induced colony formation by primitive murine bone marrow progenitors, although interleukin-7 had no proliferative effect by itself. In addition, lymphocyte growth enhancing factor (LGEF) was found to enhance mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) or purified T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. LGEF alone did not stimulate PBL or T cell proliferation.
Therefore, a need continues to exist for biological agents capable of exerting a concerted and coordinated influence on one or more of the particularized functions (e.g., cell adhesion, cell migration and cell proliferation) collectively characterizing such complex biological processes as angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, and oncogenesis. In addition, a need persists in the art for agents contributing to the reproduction of these in vivo processes in an ex vivo environment, e.g., the development of HSC cultures. Further, there continues to be a need for tools to search for the remaining biological components of these complex processes, e.g., mitogen probes, the absence of which impedes efforts to advantageously modulate and thereby control such processes.

Extracellular matrix signaling molecules


A method of detecting suspicious code that has been injected into a process. The method includes identifying suspicious executable memory areas assigned to the process and, for each thread in the process, inspecting a stack associated with the thread to identify a potential return address; determining whether or not the potential return address is located within a suspicious memory area; and, if the potential return address is located within a suspicious memory area, determining whether or not the instruction at the address preceding the potential return address is a function call and, if yes, determining that the potential return address is a true return address and identifying the thread and associated code as suspicious.

The term "malware" is short for malicious software and is used to refer to any software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owners informed consent. Malware can include viruses, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, adware, spyware and any other malicious and unwanted software. Many computer devices, such as desktop personal computers (PCs), laptops, personal data assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones can be at risk from malware. Computer systems running the Windows™ operating system are particularly at risk from malware, but all operating systems will be at some risk. Examples of other operating systems that could be at risk are Mac OS™, Linux™, Android™, iOS™, Windows Mobile™, and Blackberry OS™.
Computer users will typically run antivirus (AV) and/or internet security (IS) software applications, for example F-Secure's™ Anti-Virus and Internet Security applications, to detect malware and protect against malware attacks on their computer system. Detecting malware is challenging, as malware is usually designed to be difficult to detect, often employing technologies that deliberately hide the presence and processes of malware on a system. Consequently, anti-virus and internet security applications will use a large number of techniques in order to detect malware effectively, and reduce the risk of any malware going undetected.
A common method of detecting malware is to use code analysis. A database of "signatures" is accessible by the AV and/or IS software that contains signatures which are representative of code/features typically found in malware, or known to be found in a specific instance of malware. During scanning of a system, if code is found that matches one of the signatures in the database, then it can be flagged as suspicious, or flagged as malware as appropriate, and the appropriate course of action to quarantine and/or remove the malware from the system can be taken.
Unfortunately, due to the large amount and constantly evolving nature of malware that is created to attack computer systems (for example using obfuscation techniques), these methods of detecting malware using signatures are not completely effective in identifying all malware threats. In addition, signature based detection is not at all effective against "zero-day attacks", e.g. an attack that exploits a previously unknown vulnerability in a computer application, so at the time the attack is made there is no awareness of the vulnerability, or that employs obfuscated code that bears little resemblance to known code. In order to effectively protect against zero day attacks, heuristic methods are used to try and detect suspicious behaviour that might be indicative of malware. Again, as explained above, it is best to use a variety of heuristic methods concurrently to provide the highest level of protection.
Sophisticated malware may attempt to remain undetected by not running as a separate process but by running its code as part of a system process. One example of a Windows system process that is often "hijacked" in this way is explorer.exe. System process hijacking is of particular concern to likely targets for cyber attacks such as important computer systems containing sensitive information, or individual processes such as a web browser for home computer users that is used for accessing online banking services.
For these reasons, it is important that anti-virus products and/or system forensic tools that detect malware infections use techniques that can detect suspicious code that is running on a system without having to know the details of the code.
As already mentioned, AV and IS applications utilise a number of detection methods when scanning for malware. There is of course always a need to add further detection methods, and in particular methods that can help to defeat zero day attacks.


A method for calibrating a printer including a light-emitting diode (LED) printhead for non-uniformity on an image plane. The LED recording elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays. A plurality of characteristics (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) associated with each recording element are measured and from the measured characteristics a plurality of parameters (112, 114, 116, 118, 120) associated with each recording element is determined. Adjustment factors for a plurality of parameters are combined mathematically to determine an adjusted power density (122) for each recording element on the image plane. Correction factors (130) are then assigned to each recording element to correct for the adjusted power density (122). The correction factors (130) are stored in a memory (132) associated with the LED printhead.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) non-impact printing apparatus uses an LED printhead as a light source within the imaging device. The printhead is essentially a line of LEDs the width of a page and is used for printing on ordinary paper using electrophotographic reproduction apparatus. The LED printhead is solid state and has no moving parts. The LED printhead creates the image on the print drum as the drum moves down.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) printheads (also referred to as writers) typically contain a series of contiguous LED linear array chips which are imaged onto a photoconductor receptor by means of a gradient-index lens (e.g., Selfoc "self focusing" lens available from Nippon Sheet Glass Co.). Gradient-index (GRIN) lenses have a graded refractive index that is a maximum at the center of the lens and decreases quadratically towards the outer edge. This smoothly varying index of refraction causes incident rays of light to refract within the lens and converge towards a point of focus. The LEDs associated with each LED array chip are typically activated by a driver integrated circuit that provides a prescribed amount of current to a given LED for a prescribed duration.
It is known in the art of non-impact printing that correction of the LED recording elements is often required due to non-uniformity in light output of these elements. Typically, a non-uniformity correction look-up table (LUT) is provided to adjust exposure times so that at any required gray level all LEDs can be enabled to output a uniform amount of exposure energy. This can be achieved by adjusting exposure times and/or intensities so that weaker emitters are enabled for longer exposure times than stronger emitters in order for the exposure energy from each emitter to be uniform. The LUT is typically a 256 byte array for each color band containing the output values that are computed. Input pixel values operate as an index into the table. LUT functionality provides a procedure that computes the output values once. Thereafter, every pixel call returns the corresponding computed value. For a typical LED printhead of approximately 4000 LEDs, a LUT memory can represent the grading of the LEDs into 256 categories according to their respective brightness levels.
LED printheads typically have pixel irradiance non-uniformity on the image plane due to pixel-to-pixel brightness differences for LED emitters as well as non-uniformity of transmission. Even if the same current is driven through each LED, LEDs respond differently and their light outputs vary. Exposure uniformity correction either via exposure time modulation, such as using pulse-width-modulation (PWM), or pixel drive-current trimming, has been used before to correct for the pixel intensity non-uniformity on the image plane. For the typical PWM or drive-current trimming uniformity correction scheme, the assumption is that only the integrated irradiance of the pixel on the image plane is assumed to be non-uniform from pixel to pixel. These uniformity-correction schemes do not account for variations in the pixel size, spacing, or the LED on-time characteristics.
In the case where the size of an LED pixel irradiance spot on the image plane is different than the nominal spot size (either due to modulation transfer function (MTF) differences across the width of the optics, or due to the LED emitter mask size/dopant variation between LED arrays), then the typical non-uniformity correction method that uses integrated pixel-intensity correction only will have some residual exposure non-uniformity due to the pixel-size variation effect which creates variation in exposure density (area coverage).
Although LEDs are uniformly spaced or pitched because of the accuracy of the photolithographic fabrication process, the spacing between LEDs at the end of butting LED arrays does not have this uniformity of pitch. Therefore, the effective exposure power density can also vary across the LED arrays due to pixel-spacing variations caused by LED array butting-gap deviations, or optics-induced image-shift errors. The pixel-spacing variation creates a difference between the actual pixel spacing and the nominal pixel pitch within an array. In the case of a pixel-spacing variation due to a spacing error at the butting gap between end pixels of adjacent LED arrays, the exposure-power density across the gap region will be different than the power density at nominal pitch. Under this situation, an exposure-density modification for correcting for the butting-gap pitch error can be made by altering the pixel-brightness of the end pixels located at the array gap. This essentially maintains an effective equivalent exposure energy density at the butting gap compared to the rest of the pixels within an array. An analogous case can be made for other pixel-spacing errors caused by the Selfoc lens. The misalignment of the gradient-index rods in the Selfoc lens can create an image-shifting error which can lead to an altering of the effective pixel spacing, thus creating a variation in the exposure density.
Pixel-exposure variation can also be attributed to variations in the on-time characteristics due to dynamic effects where the LED rise time and steady-state level are affected by the number of pixels activated. Specifically, the LED and driver combination can be subject to current-starvation characteristics whereby the resultant integrated exposure of an individual LED pixel can change (typically decreases) depending on the total number of LEDs that are activated. When a single LED is activated, the overall printhead has minimal current loading and the LED is not "starved" for current. When a majority of LEDs are activated, as is the case in flat-field printing, the current loading is high and the individual LED may degrade slightly in light output due to current starvation. The level of degradation may or may not be uniform. Even with constant-current driver designs or current-compensating driver designs, there can still exist noticeable levels of nonuniformity due to individual component variation and printhead assembly manufacturing variation.
The dynamic effects of current starvation can affect the exposure by reducing not only the overall steady-state power output, but also by altering the LED rise time to create a nonlinearity between the integrated LED on-time and the integrated pixel exposure. In conventional on-time based uniformity-correction schemes, brighter LEDs are programmed to have shorter on-times than dimmer LEDs. Therefore, in a typical flat-field printing situation, the brighter LEDs are affected by the current-starvation effects more than the dimmer LEDs which are compensated with a longer activation time. The uniformity can be degraded in the case of high brightness pixels being activated for very short on times for low gray level printing.
To resolve these problems in the art, a more effective uniformity-correction method must take into consideration not only the LED pixel irradiance differences, but also the pixel-size variation, the pixel-spacing variation, and the dynamic current-starvation effects to correct for the residual exposure non-uniformity on the image plane.

Exposure-energy-density and dynamic effect based uniformity correction for LED printheads


Fixed bond information is derived. A fixed bond representation of a chemical structure is derived from a delocalized representation. A path is conceptually traced through the represented structure and an examination is conducted, for each atom, of each possible electronic and bonding state that is consistent with what has come before along the path. A result is found by extensively or exhaustively examining all possible states and orders in a semi-recursive procedure that is directed early towards likely answers. If there is more than one possible solution, the best solution is chosen by use of a rating function.

This application relates to deriving fixed bond information.
Some chemical structures may be depicted with circles or arcs instead of with alternating single and double bonds (see the leftmost structure of FIG. 1). Since a well known chemist named Auguste Kekulé suggested that double bonds were not fixed or localized, and depicted a benzene ring with a delocalizing circle instead of alternating single and double bonds, the process of perceiving aromaticity (i.e., cyclic delocalization) from a fixed-bond representation may be called "Kekulization." A Kekulé structure representation is one in which the alternating single and double bonds of the classical depiction are replaced by all single bonds, adorned by a circle or arc.


A card connector of the present invention includes a connector body, a cover member in combination with the connector body, contact terminals arranged in the connector body, and a card-ejection preventing mechanism provided in a card-inserting opening of the connector body, wherein the card-ejection preventing mechanism has a card-stopper cap adapted to be slidable along the card-inserting opening of the connector body, so that the ejection of a card due to the vibration or the shock is prevented and a contact portion is always brought into contact with a card pad section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card connector attached to an electronic instrument or an information terminal equipment such as a portable telephone or a home telephone, PDA (a personal digital assistance), a portable type audio set or a camera, particularly to a card connector in which a card such as an IC card or an SD card is inserted.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, it has been desired that the function of an electronic instrument or an information terminal equipment, such as a portable telephone or a home telephone, PDA (a personal digital assistance), a portable type audio set or a camera (hereinafter referred to as a portable telephone or the like) is improved.
To improve the function, a card such as an IC card, an SD card or a SIM card, into which an IC element called as an IC chip is incorporated has been used in the portable telephone or the like.
For this reason, a card connector capable of receiving or ejecting such a card as an IC card, an SD card or a SIM card is necessary in the portable telephone or the like.
In the conventional card connector of this type, there is one using a special card elongated in the inserting direction of the card and attached at a tip end thereof with an antenna for the wireless transmission.
Usually, this card is used while projecting the antenna outside from a housing.
If the housing is carelessly dropped down onto a concrete floor while the antenna is projected outside from the housing, an extremely large impact is applied thereto to often break the card connector.
Further, as a general requirement in a market, it is desired that the card connector is low in height and has a sufficient mechanical strength.
To achieve the desired mechanical strength of the card connector, it is necessary, for example, to incorporate a cover member of a metallic plate in an upper surface portion of the connector body.
Also, a similar requirement exists in a so-called reverse type card connector which is reversed during use.
That is, there is a requirement in that the card connector is low in height and has a mechanical strength durable against a torsion of the card, and to achieve such a requirement, a metal sheet is used in the upper surface portion of the card connector.
However, in this card connector, there is no lid for preventing the ejection of the card.
Accordingly, in this card connector, when the card connector in which the card is inserted is dropped down on the floor from a hand, the card may project out from the connector due to the shock or the vibration, and as a result, a problem may often occur in that a contact-touch section comes off from a card-pad section to cause a read error.


A peptide having the general Formula (1)X-(Xaa)nK*TFK*-(Xaa)m-Z  (1)is described, where the peptide helps preserve or improve the condition of the epidermis and wherein X, (Xaa)n, (Xaa)m, n, m, K* and Z are as defined.

Peptides have an important signal function and coordinate many biochemical processes. As a result, they have long become essential and promising active ingredients, particularly in the cosmetics industry, where new compounds are constantly being searched for, that are able to beautify the skin and the appendages, that is to say to improve their general condition.
Most of the peptides that are currently proposed are peptides acting on the dermis via the stimulation of the extracellular matrix components, mainly collagen and elastin. Numerous peptides are proposed in this axis, in particular by the Applicant, such as the Pal-KTTKS (SEQ ID NO 1) sold under the MATRIXYL® tradename, the mixture comprising the Pal-GHK and the Pal-GQPR (SEQ ID NO 2) sold under the MATRIXYL® 3000 tradename, the Pal-KMO2K sold under the MATRIXYL®synthe'6® tradename (MO2 corresponding to a dioxygenated methionine) or more recently the Pal-K(P)HG (having a proline grafted on the lysine) sold under the MATRIXYL®Morphomics® tradename, the Pal-VGVAPG (SEQ ID NO 3) sold under the Dermaxyl™ or Biopeptide EL™ tradenames or the N-acetyl-Tyr-Arg-O-hexadecyl sold under the Idéalift™ or Calmosensine™ tradenames.
Beauty and good health of skin depend to a large extent on the quality and thickness of the epidermis, especially through optimal differentiation of keratinocytes and the ability of the epidermis to form its outermost layer, the Stratum corneum, and through the regularly renewal of said outermost layer by desquamation. The epidermis and in particular the Stratum corneum form indeed a real cutaneous barrier essential to protect ourselves from molecules and aggressions (luminous radiation, pollutants, etc.) of the external environment. For example, a good protection of this skin barrier will advantageoustly limit the risk of microinflammation of the epidermis which can cause premature aging of the skin, protection above all necessary for sensitive skin. It also limits the risk of water loss which helps maintain good moisturisation of the epidermis.

Use of a peptide for the treatment of epiderm


The method according to the invention is permanent preservation against pesky birds and pest animals from a site where they cause damages. The method comprises: a dislodging phase where at least two frightening devices are installed on the site. The number of devices installed depends on the kind of site and the surface area of the site. For a short period of time during the dislodging phase, an intensive action of the frightening devices is sustained to dislodge the birds. The dislodging phase is followed by a dissuasion phase to dissuade the birds from returning back to the site. The dissuasion phase includes an active action of the frightening devices for three days. The active action is less severe than the intensive action of the dislodging phase. Finally, there is a controlling phase including a continuous action of the frightening devices to permanently prevent any bird or animal from settling on the site.

The damages due to birds and animals in the human environment are very important. For example, in the airports, there are many crashes due to birds, with partial or total destruction of the aircraft and, sometimes, death of human beings. In the landfills, where many birds, such as gulls, come to eat, most of the garbage is spread out. As these birds are eating very toxic polluted food there, they pollute rivers and beaches with their excrements. The workers of the landfills have to endure unhealthy working conditions. Many pigeons are living in industry plants where they pollute the equipment and make them unhealthy for the workers. In the piscicultures, many birds are eating the fish and the companies are losing a lot of money per year. In the electrical transformer stations, almost two breakdowns out of three are due to birds or animals. Moreover, these birds and animals pollute the equipment, making them unhealthy for the workers. The silos of cereals are the favorite places to live for pigeons which pollute, with their excrements, the cereals in the silos or in the conveyors. Moreover, a large part of the crops in the agriculture is eaten or damaged by birds or animals. When there are too many in the town, pigeons, blackbirds, gulls pollute the ground, pavements, houses, bridges, as well as the parks, beaches, and the waste water treatment stations.
Many apparatuses and methods of scaring off birds and animals from the places where they cause damages have been developed in prior art but none of those has shown satisfactory results for permanently getting rid of these birds and animals.
Already known in prior art, there are the visual scaring devices, such as bird corpses preserved with formalin, Styrofoam cutouts of birds laid out on the grass, stuffed birds in abnormal positions, or dead birds hanging from posts. Drawbacks with these visual scaring methods are that they cannot be used during the night and that the birds and animals become accustomed. Use of lights has been tried for scaring birds but the birds soon become completely used to the flashing lights.
Use of lasers is not adequate at present. The laser beam has to be of such a high intensity that it would be highly hazardous for men. Other visual scaring methods such as colored smoke, blue balloons, and purplish coloration of the grass have been tried but were found unsuccessful or impractical.
Also known in the art are the acoustical scaring devices, for example, ultrasonic sounds, but most of the birds cannot hear them, because the frequency of bird hearing is the same as human hearing. Non natural sounds such as klaxon horns, bells, rattles, chimes, sirens, exploders, drums, are also known but they do not bother birds after a few hours.
There are also the natural sounds such as distress calls, territorial defence calls, flight calls, feeding calls, nest calls, flock calls, pleasure calls, aggressive calls and general alarm calls and specialized alarm calls. However, the reactions to broadcast distress calls vary with the species and the seasons and the birds become accustomed to these natural sounds after a few days.
Also known in the art, there are rotating-hunters and falcon-imitators. Although these devices may be efficient, they have been used in prior art on their own and with no particular method, thereby causing the birds and animals to become accustomed to those, after two or three weeks.
As can be appreciated, although the above methods and apparatuses are very numerous, which clearly shows that the problem is very important, none of these methods and apparatuses has been successful for permanently getting rid of birds and pest animals from a given site. The animals becoming rapidly accustomed to the scaring devices used. Therefore, there is presently a need for an apparatus or a method of permanently and successfully getting rid of birds and pest animals from a given site where they cause damage.

Method and system for preservation against pesky birds and pest animals


Embodiments of information handling systems (IHSs) and methods are provided herein for managing tickets based on contextual information and ticket management policy. Although not strictly limited to such, the embodiments disclosed herein may be used to manage tickets, which are issued by a network authentication service and stored within a key store of an IHS. In one embodiment, tickets are managed by receiving user presence information and system state information, comparing the user presence information and system state information to policies contained within a ticket management policy database, and performing one or more actions specified in the policies if the user presence information or the system state information is not compliant with at least one of the policies. The one or more actions specified in the policies may include actions for managing the tickets stored within the key store and/or actions for controlling a power state of the IHS.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system (IHS) generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
With the prevalence of information handling systems in today's society, and the increased connectivity between such systems, comes a need to enhance security within information handling systems and between network connected systems, devices, services and resources. Without having security measures in place, there exists a potential for a user or system to gain access to an information handling system (IHS), or to network resources or services connected to the IHS.
Security services or programs are often provided within the operating system (OS) of an IHS to control access to computing resources, data and/or program code contained within the IHS. In general, OS level security services may grant access to computing resources, data and/or program code contained within an IHS based on authentication, identity and other security related context. Today, most security related context capture and authentication happens at machine boot or user login, and is not dynamic or continuous. This means that once an authorized user is permitted access to the IHS, the opportunities for an unauthorized user or system to gain access to the IHS, or to network resources or services, expand dramatically.
In some cases, user authentication may be performed (e.g., via password, fingerprint, facial recognition, etc.) when a user logs in to a booted operated system (OS), such as Microsoft Windows®. Once the user is authenticated, the OS maintains tokens obtained as a result of the post-boot authentication process in a local cache. When the user attempts to access a new resource for which the user has not been authenticated or authorized to use, the OS retrieves the tokens stored within the local cache and uses them to authenticate the user to the new resource.
In other cases, user authentication may be performed in the pre-boot environment before the OS is booted. For example, a pre-boot authentication (PBA) service may be used to authenticate a user in the pre-boot environment (e.g., by requiring the user to input a PIN, startup key or both) before the contents of the system hard drive are made available to the processing device. Once the OS is booted, the PBA service provides passing candidate credentials to the OS to single sign on (SSO) the user to the OS.
Information handling systems are often coupled across a network to additional network resources and service servers (such as, e.g., a print server, media server, file share server, etc.), which may require user re-authentication to access. Once a user is logged on to the operating system of an IHS (or client device), for example, the user may attempt to access a shared network resource and service server by sending a service request over a potentially untrusted network. For security purposes, a network authentication service is often used to authenticate service requests sent from client devices across a network, so that only authorized users may gain access to shared network resources and service servers.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a known network authentication service (e.g., Kerberos) that can be used to authenticate service requests between client devices and servers across a network. In the Kerberos protocol, a key distribution center (KDC) 10 is used to authenticate users and issue tickets to authorized users for accessing network resources and service servers (SS) 40. More specifically, KDC 10 is a domain service, which includes an authentication service (AS) 12 and a ticket granting service (TGS) 14. The AS 12 issues ticket-granting tickets (TGTs) to an authorized user of client device 20 for connecting to the TGS 14 in its domain or another trusted domain. Once a TGT is received, client device 20 may request and receive a session ticket from the TGS 14 to access network resources or service servers 40 in the domain of the TGS. Although illustrated as separate servers in FIG. 1, AS 12 and TGS 14 may physically run within the same server, while performing their separate roles.
To begin the network authentication process, client device 20 sends a session key request to AS 12 to access a network resource or service server 40, along with the client's username and domain password. If the client device's username is not in the KDC database, the client device cannot be authenticated and the authentication process ends. If the client device's username is found in the KDC database, AS 12 retrieves the client device's private key and generates a session key and a ticket granting ticket (TGT). The TGT is timestamped, encrypted with the client device's password and sent to the client device along with the session key.
Upon receiving an encrypted TGT and session key, a user of client device 20 may be prompted to enter a password. If the entered password matches the password in the KDC database, the encrypted TGT is decrypted, stored in a local credentials cache or key store 30 and used to request a session ticket from TGS 14 for accessing a network resource or service server 40 within the TGS's domain. To request access, client device 20 sends the TGT to the ticket granting service 14, which verifies trust with the network resource or service server 40. If the client device/user is authorized to access the network resource or service server 40, TGS 14 provides a timestamped session ticket to the client device that is stored within the local key store 30.
Once a timestamped session ticket is received from TGS 14, client device 20 may use the session ticket to gain access to any number of shared network resources/services for a specified time period without the need to re-authenticate the client device/user. Just having a session ticket proves to the authentication service that the client device is trusted and is authorized to access the shared network resources/services. When the session ticket expires at the end of the specified time period, the session ticket is no longer valid and access to the network resource or service server 40 is revoked.
One problem with the Kerberos protocol is that session tickets may be valid for a relatively long period of time (e.g., a number of hours up to a week or more), and often persist through several user login cycles. This leaves the system and the network open to potential security problems. For example, if a system is set to infinite do not lock/sleep mode and an authorized user (e.g., a user that has been authenticated by the network authentication service) steps away from their system, an unauthorized user may gain access to the system and any network resources/services for which the authorized user was authenticated.
The Microsoft Windows OS provides a rudimentary ticket management solution, which retains session tickets until they expire and/or revokes session tickets when a user logs out of the OS or requests access to a new resource. However, the solution provided by the Windows OS fails to consider user presence and other system state information, and therefore, cannot revoke or manage tickets when an authorized user temporarily leaves their system.
BAH District Defend and Dell nervousness detection logic are examples of conventional security policy enforcement solutions. BAH District Defend is custom solution designed to lock an information handling system when the system crossed over a radio frequency identification (RFID) boundary, and therefore, provides the ability to secure the system without mandating system power and data loss. The nervousness detection logic provided by Dell uses system level clues to verify login actions, thereby providing dynamic system management functions to ensure that the system can perform runtime management. Although the BAH District Defend and Dell nervousness detection logic solutions provide system/session management functions, they are not configured to manage or interact directly with session tickets, and thus, are not ticket management solutions.

Information handling systems and methods to manage tickets based on user presence, system state and ticket management policy


Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for powering up a charge pump converter and providing protection and soft-start circuitry therefor. One example charge pump converter generally includes a first transistor and a second transistor coupled in series between an input voltage node and an output voltage node of the charge pump converter, a first capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to a node between the first and second transistors, and a first switch coupled to the input voltage node, the first switch being configured to selectively enable a first drive circuit having an output coupled to a control terminal of the second transistor.

Power management integrated circuits (power management ICs or PMICs) are used for managing the power requirement of a host system. A PMIC may be used in battery-operated devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, wearables, etc., to control the flow and direction of electrical power in the devices. The PMIC may perform a variety of functions for the device such as DC-to-DC conversion, battery charging, power-source selection, voltage scaling, power sequencing, etc. In some cases, the PMIC may include one or more charge pump converters, which may also be referred to as switched-capacitor converters.

Power-up sequencing and high voltage protection for charge pump converters


A surface leveling tool for sanding wooden, painted and plastic surfaces without gouging. The tool comprises a handle of variable length attached to a head with a clamping element which holds a flexible plastic sandpaper insert. A specially formatted sandpaper sheet is adhered to the flexible plastic insert. The plastic insert has a cross-section analogous to a J-shape and is clamped only by the hooked portion. This arrangement provides for space between the unclamped portion of the sandpaper covered insert and the clamp. The clamp utilizes fasteners which are tightened. and loosened by a hidden screwdriver in the grip of the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface leveling tool which will not gouge the surface being sanded. Surfaces such as wood, plastic, paint and the like can be sanded by this tool with a flexible sanding head. Preferably, the tool is utilized in the placement of a plasticized sheet of flooring such as vinyl or linoleum over an existing deteriorated plasticized flooring.
Conventionally, a cement patch composition (plastic) is deposited over the old floor covering and troweled to a 1/16 to 3/8 inch thickness and allowed to cure for 1/2 to 1 hour. The cured cement patch composition functions to fill any existing cracks and uneven surfaces in the old floor covering. The cured cement surface of the patch, however, must still be smoothed in order to lay further adhesive for the new flooring sheet to adhere properly to the underlayment. The present invention permits the sanding of irregular surfaces in the cement patch, even under cabinets or the like, right up to the toe-kick molding.
The tool comprises a sandpaper surface applied to a J-shaped (cross-section) plastic insert support to form a sandpaper block which is clamped into the holder element by removable fasteners. The holder element has a handle which can vary from 6 inches to 6 feet. A removable terminal handle grip has a screwdriver insert for tightening or loosening the fasteners for replacement of a worn sandpaper block.
2. Description of the Related Art
The related art shows various forms of sanding tools. The art of interest will be discussed in the order of their perceived relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,698 issued on Dec. 5, 1995, to Paul, S. Francis et al. describes a hand tool having interchangeable accessories and a pivoting head. The frame has a hand grip bar and an arm brace for applying a downward force to the tool. The sandpaper is removably attached to a detachable flat baseplate made of rubber. There is no suggestion for adhering the sandpaper to the baseplate or to make the baseplate curvilinear as in the present invention. Moreover, the pivoting head is thick and would not reach the limited areas under kitchen floor cabinets with toe kicks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,807 issued on Jan. 19, 1993, to Donald W. Gupton describes a floor sanding device comprising a large rectangular pivoting shoe member (21.5 in. long and 1 ft. wide) attached to a long handle with an eye for a hand hold by a standing worker. The sandpaper sheet is attached to the shoe member at the front and the rear by six bolts with wingnuts. The cushioning member between the sandpaper sheet and the shoe member can be either sponge rubber or a synthetic foam. The thickness of the shoe member is increased in front and would not be suitable for cramped spaces, especially with three protruding wingnuts. The present invention requires a resilient sandpaper block unattached at the rear, which feature Gupton does not have or suggest.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,948 issued on May 6, 1980, to Arthur E. Nesseth describes a T-shaped planar paint scraper with a removable and reversible blade which has a smooth edge on one side and a toothed, serrated edge on the opposite side. The scraper blade is inserted into a slot and cannot be converted into a sandpaper edge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,700 issued on May 21, 1985, to Joseph G. Pinto describes an adjustable scraper and sanding tool having a rectangular prismatoid housing pivoting on a grooved tubular handle which is threaded for insertion of a pole. A scraping element is attached to the handle and employed by turning the tool upside down. A clip-on support member with a pad apparently can support a sandpaper sheet over the clips. The presence of the scraper blade and the depth of the housing would prevent the use of this tool for narrow spaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,797 issued on Sep. 21, 1993, to Terry H. Milkie describes a manual sander for hookup to a vacuum source such as a household vacuum cleaner. The sander comprises a hollow housing (with a hollow handle) which accommodates a pivoting hook and threaded socket for a pole. The flat base portion has a sponge foam pad glued to its bottom for supporting a sandpaper sheet. The sandpaper sheet is held down in front and in the rear with an inverted box member and a wing nut on a bolt. The sander has a high profile and would not be suitable for sanding in narrow spaces. Moreover, the tool is intended for sanding high walls without resorting to stepladders.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,598 issued on May 10, 1994, to Joyce A. Carpenter describes a paint scraper kit having various scraper blade shapes and corresponding handles. The blades can have triangular, square and intersecting plate-like configurations. The scraping portions are a matrix of sharp projections. The handles can be curved or straight knobs which are removable with a lug and. a bore system. There is no suggestion for adding a sanding feature to the paint scraper kit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,700 issued on Nov. 15, 1983, to Fredrick B. Burns describes a device for preparing a wall surface for painting. The square base member has a short handle connectable to a long pole for treating wall surfaces at a height. The handle has two parts which are the gripping member (cylindrical) and the connecting portion attached to the square base member. The handle pivots in the connecting portion. A scraper blade is positioned on the gripping member for use when the base member is apparently inverted. A square plate has front and end flanges for positioning on the base member. On the square plate is attached a square foam sponge having a fibrous surface surrounding a square surface of a nylon fiber containing abrasive cleaning particles. The two regions can be reversed. When any cleaning fluid is added to the sponge, the scrubbing of a painted wall can commence. There are no suggestions for utilizing sandpaper and for leveling floor material.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a floor leveling tool solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


The present invention provides an image processing method which includes recording an image by irradiating a recording medium with laser beams which are arrayed in parallel at predetermined intervals to heat the recording medium, so that the image is composed of a plurality of lines written with the laser beams on the recording medium, and wherein in the image recording, the plurality of lines written with the laser beams include a line written first and an overwritten line, a part of which is overlapped with the line written first; and the irradiation energy for the overwritten line is smaller than the irradiation energy for the line written first.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for forming an image having an arbitrary line width with a plurality of image lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image recording and image erasing on a thermoreversible recording medium have been carried out so far by a contact method in which a heating source is brought into contact with a recording medium to heat the thermoreversible recording medium. As the heating source, in the case of image recording, a thermal head is generally used, and in the case of image erasing, a heat roller, a ceramic heater or the like is generally used.
Such a contact image processing method has advantage in that, if a thermoreversible recording medium is a flexible material (e.g., a film, and paper sheet), an image can be uniformly recorded and erased by evenly pressing a heating source against a thermoreversible recording medium with use of a platen etc., and an image recording device and an image erasing device can be manufactured at low costs by using components of a conventional thermosensitive printer. However, when an RF-ID tag as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2004-265247 and Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 3998193 is embedded in a thermoreversible recording medium, the thermoreversible recording medium needs to be thickened and the flexibility thereof degrades, and thus high pressure is required for uniformly pressing a heat source against the thermoreversible recording medium. In addition, in the contact image processing method, a surface of the thermoreversible recording medium is scraped due to repetitive printing and erasure and irregularities are formed therein, and some parts are not in contact with a heating source (e.g., thermal head, and hot stamp). Thus, the thermoreversible recording medium may not be uniformly heated, causing degradation in image density and erasing failure (see Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 3161199 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 09-30118).
In view of the fact that RF-ID tag enables reading and rewriting of memory information from some distance away from a thermoreversible recording medium in a non-contact manner, a demand arises for thermoreversible recording media as well. The demand is that an image be rewritten on such a thermoreversible recording medium from some distance away from the thermoreversible recording medium. To respond to the demand, a method using a laser is proposed as a method of forming and erasing each image on a thermoreversible recording medium from some distance away from the thermoreversible recording medium when there are irregularities on the surface thereof (see JP-A No. 2000-136022). It is the method by which non-contact recording is performed by using thermoreversible recording media on shipping containers used for physical distribution lines. Writing is performed by using a laser and erasing is performed by using a hot air, heated water, infrared heater, etc, but not by using a laser.
As such a recording method using a laser, a laser-recording device (laser maker) is proposed by which a thermoreversible recording medium is irradiated with a high-power laser light to control the irradiation position. A thermoreversible recording medium is irradiated with a laser light using the laser marker, and a photothermal conversion material in the thermoreversible recording medium absorbs light so as to convert it into heat, which can record and erase an image. An image recording and erasing method using a laser has been proposed, wherein a recording medium including a leuco dye, a reversible developer and various photothermal conversion materials in combination is used, and recording is performed thereon using a near infrared laser light (see JP-A No 11-151856).
However, in such a laser recording method, when an information-read code such as a two-dimensional code (e.g., character, bar code, and QR code) is recorded, but if an image having a predetermined line width is not precisely formed, the code may not be satisfactorily read through a machine, although the recorded image appears cleanly written visually. Also, when lines are written on a recording medium in an overlapped manner in an attempt to write a line having a width greater than the beam diameter of a laser beam used, the thermoreversible recording medium is excessively heated due to accumulation of heat, causing degradation in the repetitive durability of the thermoreversible recording medium.
JP-A No. 2008-213439 proposes a method for uniformly heating a recording medium, and JP-A No. 2008-62506 proposes a method for forming an image excellent in readability. However, the above methods have drawbacks in that it is impossible to precisely form an image having a predetermined line width, and the repetitive durability of recording media degrades.
As a printing method of two-dimensional codes, JP-A No. 2001-147985 proposes a method in which each cell is scanned in a spiral manner with a laser beam to print a code. In addition, JP-A No. 2006-255718 proposes a method in which the scanning position of a laser beam is corrected to obtain a predetermined line width. However, the above methods have a drawback in that the repetitive durability of recording media is poor, although it is possible to precisely form a predetermined line width.
When an image of two-dimensional codes (e.g., characters, bar codes, and QR codes) in various line thickness and various sizes is formed by laser marking, it is necessary to precisely form the image having a predetermined line width. Particularly in recording of bar codes, the recording accuracy influences the readability of the bar codes, and thus there is a need to precisely form various line widths. Further, when an image is formed on a rewritable thermoreversible recording medium and if an excessive amount of energy is applied thereto, the thermoreversible recording medium is physically damaged, causing degradation in the repetitive durability. Thus, to form an image having a predetermined line width, it is also required to uniformly apply energy to the thermoreversible recording medium.
Although the beam diameter of a laser beam irradiated to a thermoreversible recording medium is constant, the beam has a light intensity distribution, and thus the line width of an image can be changed by altering the irradiation power or the scanning speed of the laser beam so as to control the irradiation energy applied to the thermoreversible recording medium. However, when the irradiation energy is increased, unfavorably, the thermoreversible recording medium is physically damaged, causing degradation in repetitive durability, although the image is formed with a broader light width. On the other hand, when the irradiation energy is reduced to prevent degradation of the repetitive durability of the thermoreversible recording medium, the image is formed with a narrower line width, however, the contrast (density) of the formed lines decreases, causing degradation in image quality.

Image processing method, and image processing apparatus


According to one embodiment, a system includes a handheld device having a pixelated sensor, an optical filter for passing a predetermined frequency band of radiation to the sensor and a transmitter, an electronic equipment having a display, and at least two spaced-apart markers, where each of which are positioned proximate to the display. The markers provide radiation at the frequency band passed by the optical filter. The handheld device includes a processor coupled to receive image data of the markers from the sensor for computing coordinate data from the image data. The coordinate data requires less data than the image data. The processor is coupled to the transmitter to transmit the coordinate data to the electronic equipment. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Among the several handheld devices that exist for remotely controlling electronic equipment, the free-space multi-dimensional absolute pointer stands to bring unprecedented ease of use by unifying control of nearly all devices under one simple operational paradigm that includes simple and intuitive actions such as pointing, twisting, and zooming. The underlying technology for the multi-dimensional absolute pointing device is a vision-based tracking system described in co-pending applications U.S. Ser. Nos. 11/187,387, 11/187,405, and 11/187,435, hereafter referred to as '387', '405', and '435', respectively. In the same way that the mouse and the graphical user interface brought unprecedented simplicity and user-friendliness to the PC platform in the early 1970s, with its "point-and-click" paradigm, the world of the digital living room is now seeing a rapid convergence of electronic equipment and feature sets that are overwhelming the control capabilities of traditional interfaces, such as universal IR remote controls. This is becoming ever more evident with several key consumer trends: 1) strong sales of large screen digital TVs, 2) strong demand for digital video recording (DVR) functionality (e.g., TiVo) and intelligent and interactive TV viewing, 3) pervasiveness of the internet in all aspects of human life (e.g., search, travel, purchase/sales, banking, etc.), 4) nearly complete adoption of digital cameras and camcorders, and 5) increased demand for gaming for recreational purposes (e.g., on-line games, casual games, multi-player games, etc.). As these trends converge in the living room, the need arises for a simple device and user paradigm to manage and navigate this flood of content from a sofa or chair (the so-called "ten-foot interface"). The free-space absolute pointer, henceforth referred to as the WavIt, provides such a tool by combining simple 3D pointing with a graphical user interface.
In addition to the 10-foot interface living room functions such as TV navigation and video gaming, there are many other compelling applications of the same basic technology. Conference room situations in which a presenter can remotely point to, control, and interact with a displayed presentation is one such example. Highlighting areas of a slide, drawing on the screen, moving and manipulating objects, and switching between documents are examples of the types of functions that can be performed using a direct, absolute pointing device. Other examples of applications include target (fixed or moving) shooting toys and games, remote control of moving objects (e.g., toy vehicles and planes), and precise measurement and sensing applications. In short, any application in which accurate, short range pointing and/or tracking is important is a potential candidate for the basic technology described here.
When used as an input device, the WavIt is an absolute pointer, i.e., the cursor or screen indicator always appears at the intersection of the straight line between the device face and the screen, much like a laser pointer. It works on all typical display types (e.g., CRT, DLP, RPTV, LCD, plasma) and requires only an initial simple calibration step. The WavIt also tracks other degrees of freedom, such as the user's wrist angle in absolute space, and the user's absolute distance from the screen. Some versions also track the user's location in the room. All this takes place in real time, and multiple users can be using devices at the same time, which is of particular interest for multi-player gaming and presentation environments.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Free-space multi-dimensional absolute pointer with improved performance


A hydrofoil in close proximity to an outboard surface of a rotatable slurry screen, and a hydrofoil in close proximity to an inboard surface of the screen, cooperate to create high and low slurry pressures at the surfaces which result in causing the slurry to surge through the screen to backwash the latter, thereby dislodging slurry-borne substances which tend to clog apertures in the screen.

This invention pertains, generally, to devices for screening fluid suspensions, such as screens and separators, and the like, and in particular to screening devices used in processing wood pulp slurries in papermaking processes, and to novel backwash means therefor.
Screenplates, or screens of such devices tend to clog with suspended fiber and, as a consequence thereof, means are required for cleaning the screens of the clogging fibers. Typically, hydrofoils are used to generate a backwash wave or surge to effect the necessary cleaning. In this, of course, there must be relative motion between the screen and the hydrofoil. The hydrofoil is arranged in proximate adjacency to the screen surface, whether the screen is cylindrical, disc or planar-shaped, or frustoconical.
The hydrofoils used for the aforesaid purpose may take many forms, including airfoil sections, radial vanes, and drum-mounted devices such as blades, bumps and half-foils. They are characterized by the generation of two, successive pressure pulses, in the slurry, the first pulse having a pressure greater than the ambient pressure, and the second having a pressure lower than the ambient.
Known apparatuses and devices which employ hydrofoils are characterized by high relative velocity between the screenplate or screen and the hydrofoil, and a backwash flow surge which is limited by various factors, in particular: by cavitation during the negative pressure pulse, and by a high, positive pulse resulting in an accept flow surge which tends to reduce separation efficiency.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present screening devices. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Screening device for a fiber slurry, and a backwash means therefor


Front structure for a vehicle includes a unitary panel formed to define a vehicle cowl and a vehicle bulkhead. The vehicle cowl may form an air intake plenum. The unitary panel is configured to at least partially define a front compartment of the vehicle. An alternative unitary panel is formed to define a hood having inner and outer panel portions and, optionally, fenders. Another alternative unitary panel is formed to define a cowl, a bulkhead and a hood. The preferable method for forming the panels is quick plastic forming, superplastic forming or sheet hydroforming.

A typical prior art vehicle requires a plurality of components to form and define the front compartment of the vehicle. For instance, a vehicle body typically includes a hood and two fenders. The hood and two fenders are mounted to various vehicle frame members, such as upper rails, a cowl bar and an upper tie bar. A hood is generally formed from an outer panel and one or more inner panels to provide additional structural support. Each of these components requires a number of separate assembly and welding or other connecting processes to connect to the vehicle.
A vehicle bulkhead may be a plurality of separate pieces or a unitary, cast bulkhead. As used herein, "bulkhead" refers to a generally upright partition partially or completely separating the front compartment from the passenger compartment. Typically, a cowl (also commonly referred to as a cowl bar) is a separate component from the bulkhead. As used herein, "cowl" refers to the vehicle panel or structure generally located between the hood and the windshield of a vehicle and transversely spanning the vehicle. Cowls are often designed to support windshield wipers. Cowls may or may not be designed to bear transverse loads acting upon the vehicle; a separate vehicle crossbeam extending across the front compartment may be required for this purpose. Additionally, a separate panel-like component is generally provided to form an air intake plenum at the front compartment of the vehicle.


Systems and techniques are described for preventing data leaks from a network. A set of sensitive files or sensitive data that includes sensitive information can be received, and a first set of labels can be determined based on the set of sensitive files or sensitive data. An apparatus can then receive data that is to be checked for sensitive information, and determine a second set of labels based on the data. Next, the apparatus can match the second set of labels with the first set of labels. The apparatus can then determine whether or not the data includes sensitive information based on a result of said matching, and perform a data leak prevention action if it is determined that the data includes sensitive information.

The present disclosure generally relates to data leak prevention. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to fast and distributed data leak prevention using content-based segmentation scanning.
Data leakage is a big problem for companies. With the amount of data transferred in and out of an enterprise network, it is a challenge to scan all the data on-the-fly and immediately block data that should not be shared with external entities. It is also a challenge to detect leakage when data is being sent in separate chunks or the protected data has been modified.
Existing solution for data leak prevention either scan for a limited set of patterns to prevent leakage of specific data like social security numbers and credit card numbers, or make a copy of what data was transferred to do an offline analysis later. The first solution doesn't prevent leakage of sensitive files that contain non-specific data. The second solution doesn't prevent a data leakage on the spot but just recognizes it later.
Therefore, what are needed are techniques and systems for data leak prevention without the above-described drawbacks.

Data leak prevention using content based segmentation scanning


This invention pertains to a swing-away hitch for trailers, in particular the boat trailer market. Boat trailers are longer than the boats itself for towing purposes. When having to store the boat and trailer in a small space, the tongue with the hitch of the trailer becomes an obstacle. This invention allows a trailer to be parked in spaces that could only hold the size of the boat by swinging the hitch to the side. The design of this invention consists of sandwiching a tube (tongue of the trailer) between two plates with holes that align with tubular sleeves welded on opposite sides at the end of a hitch cover to convert it to a swing-away hitch. Pins are inserted to mount the swing-away hitch onto the swing-away hitch assembly. In a towing position, both pins stay in their sleeves. In a stowaway position, one pin is removed and the swing-away hitch swivels via the remaining pin away to the side of the trailer.

Most garages are only 23 feet in length, but the usable space is less than that. Many customers when buying a boat sometimes must sacrifice and buy a smaller boat to ensure that it fits in the garage since the trailer is always larger than the boat for towing purposes. Customers have been known to take drastic and expensive measures such as enlarging their garage space so their expensive investment could be stored indoors. Some are even forced to buy a smaller boat.
One popular option to shorten a trailer's length in the tongue area is called a pull-out tongue. It is a sleeved-design consisting of a male hitch and female tongue; the male hitch slides into the female tongue of the trailer. The two are held together by one or two pins depending on the design. This design has several disadvantages of which includes the cumbersome lifting of a heavy object, the male and female fit will get sloppy over time, and when a brake coupler is included in the design, brake failure may occur because a quick disconnect fitting is used. The quick disconnects may allow dirt particles and air to enter the brake line every time it is disconnected.
The patent to Roberts discloses a tubular hitch sandwiched between top and bottom plates. Holes throught the hitch and the plates are aligned with one another and the tubular casing is inserted through the holes. Thereafter, the ends of the tubular casings are "swedged" or expanded by pressing bullet shaped pins into opposite ends of the casings. The swedging effect securely fastens the components. Finally, pins are inserted through the casings to mount the swing away hitch on the trailer.
The patent to Sanders discloses a tongue or drawbar of a boat trailer severed intermediate its ends; and the cut ends are then releasably hinged together by a pair of spaced, parallel hinge pins, either of which can be withdrawn to permit the forward end of the drawbar to be swung about the remaining pin, and rearwardly into an inactive position which effectively shortens the overall length of the drawbar, so that the associated trailer can be readily stored in a conventional garage. The hinge mechanism comprises a pair of tubular members designed to be slid over the cut ends of the drawbar, and then to be bolted and/or welded to the associated drawbar section. Confronting ends of the hinge members have thereon two sets of cooperating hinge barrels, which releasably support the two hinge pins about spaced, vertical axes adjacent opposite sides, respectively, of the drawbar.
All of the systems mentioned above have in one way or another benefits and flaws. There is still a need for a swing away system that is easy to operate, build, and just as important, aesthetically pleasing to the eye.


A cleaning kit operable by a tool for cleaning pipes and fittings to prepare same for soldering. The cleaning kit includes a plurality of sockets including wire bristles attached thereto and for receiving the outer surface of a pipe therealong. The plurality of pipes are maintain in continuous contact with a pipe surface for cleaning same while a tool rotatably engages the plurality of sockets about the pipe. The cleaning kit also includes a shank for receiving the plurality of sockets therein and for removably connecting to a tool respectively. A wire brush including a lower end portion and a second shank connected thereto is removably attachable to a tool so that the wire brush can rotatably engage an interior of a pipe and thereby clean same.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a pipe cleaning kit and, more particularly, to a rotatable tool-operated pipe-cleaning kit.
2. Prior Art
Soldering or brazing of pipe or tubing requires that the mating (or faying) surfaces of the pipe and fittings be thoroughly cleaned to present oxide-free and contaminant free surfaces which can be wetted by the molten solder or brazing alloy. This is required to form sound joints which are free of porosity and voids and which do not leak. Degreasing the joint components, if necessary, and then abrading the faying surfaces normally accomplish this.
Degreasing is accomplished by wiping with a solvent appropriate for the oily contaminant to be removed. Oxides and dry contaminants are manually removed by rubbing with dry steel wool, emery cloth, or wire brushes. They may also be removed by using motor driven brushes or emery cloth. Proper cleaning of joint members prior to soldering or brazing is essential in order to economically form sound joints. Clean joint surfaces can be rapidly soldered or brazed using a minimum of heat, flux, and filler alloy.
These economies of time, energy, and materials more than offset the cost of proper cleaning. Manual cleaning of a large number of tube/fitting joint components can become tedious and time consuming and can, thus, lead to operator inattention and error. Clearly, motor driven abrasion means can eliminate tedium and permit rapid and effective cleaning of large numbers of joint components.
Accordingly, a need remains for a pipe cleaning kit that overcomes the above-noted shortcomings.


Devices and methods are provided for a nanocomposite having a phase change polymer matrix and conductive nanoparticles to provide greatly enhanced responsivity to temperature and/or humidity. A sensing film includes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the polymer. Operation near the transition temperature increases the TCR by over an order of magnitude, thus providing a new platform for devices such as IR sensors, bolometers and imaging elements, MEMS devices, compensating or uncompensated circuit elements and other electronic devices. Nanocomposite films may be under about one micron thick, and coatings, constant environment chambers or mounts, and other engineered improvements and variations may be provided to further enhance the response, range, response times or sensitivity of the film-based devices. One embodiment employs a nanocomposite film under one micron in thickness to operate as an uncooled but highly sensitive infrared bolometer under ambient conditions.

Percentage change in resistivity of a material or component resulting from a unit change in temperature, or the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), is a figure of merit for thermal sensing applications, and in thin film bolometers based on film temperature the responsivity is found to be directly proportional to the TCR. To achieve the best possible bolometric responsivity, different material platforms have been explored, and in research carbon nanotube films and carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites have been proposed for bolometric infrared detection based on their characteristics of high optical absorbance, low thermal mass, high strength and elasticity, light weight and potentially low cost synthesis processing. Aliev., Infrared Physics & Technology, 51: 541-54, 2008; Itkis et al., Science, 312:413-416, 2006; Lu et al., Journal of Applied Physics, 108:084305-084310; Tarasov et al., Applied Physics Letters, 90: 163503-163506; Itkis et al., Nano Letters, 2:155-159, 2002; Kataura et al., Synthetic Metals, 103:2555-2558, 1999; Kymakis et al., Synthetic Metals, 127:59-62, 2002, Dalton et al., Synthetic Metals, 102:1176-1177, 1999.
However, the room temperature TCR values for carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites have not surpassed the −0.5%/° C. mark [negative 0.5 percent per ° C.]. Aliev, Ibid.; Itkis et al., Ibid.; Jakubinek et al., Applied Physics Letters, 96: 083105-083108, 2010; Lu et al., Applied Physics Letters, 93:213101-213104, 2008; Tarasov et al., Ibid. These low TCR values place stringent requirements on device engineering and thermal management to achieve adequate responsivities, and to offset potential cost and weight benefits offered by carbon nanotube-based platforms. Reports describing carbon nanotube film bolometers show only adequate performances at pressures in the milliTorr range with substantial or total loss of responsivity at room pressure, at which thermal coupling of the low mass film with its surroundings is much greater.
There is a need for devices and methods for configuring a nanoparticle sensing element to result in high TCR, such that enhanced uncooled IR bolometric detection can be readily observed in its as-is thin-film form, before applying any packaging or thermal engineering strategies.

Device and methods for temperature and humidity measurements using a nanocomposite film sensor