A system and method for detecting a nucleus of interest in a chemical using a nuclear quadrupole resonance transition. An excitation pulse is used to excite one or more nuclei of interest, if they present in a sample, to an excited state, the energy of which depends on the magnetic field in the sample. The magnetic field in the sample is modulated, after the end of the excitation pulse, while the nuclei of interest decay from the excited state, so that the radiation they emit is frequency modulated. The frequency modulation is detected in the emitted radiation. In some embodiments a DC magnetic field is applied to the sample, during the application of the excitation pulse, to tune the frequency of the transition being excited.

Nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy may be used to directly identify explosives, narcotics, and other solid chemicals in a controlled and shielded laboratory environment. Some chemicals may be difficult to detect, however, due to the diffused nature of the nuclear quadrupole resonance response. Moreover, the presence of ferromagnetic and piezoelectric materials in the sample may significantly increase the difficulty of performing such detections, because, for example, magnetic particle may ring and create false positives.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system and method for detection of chemicals using nuclear quadrupole resonance techniques.

System and method for detection of chemicals using frequency modulated nuclear quadrupole resonance signals


A method and system are provided for error correction. After row encoding and column encoding, additional codeword data (ACD) and modified parity (P′) may be concurrently created, for each of a plurality of modified column codewords (CCW′), by multiplying initial calculated parity P by a generator matrix G. Each CCW′ may include an ACD portion and a P′ portion such that each bit in the P′ portion of a selected CCW′ is present in the ACD portion for one of the other CCW′. In contrast to known approaches, the method and system may provide modified column codewords such that all data and parity bits are present in two codewords while using only two types of codewords, and without using extra parity-on-parity bits. In a set of modified column codewords, each bit in the modified parity in one modified codeword is present in another codeword.

Data communications systems can employ encoding and decoding to enhance security of the transmitted data. Such systems can also employ error detection and error correction to enhance reliability of transmitted data, for example to compensate for unreliability in the communication channel. Some systems employ hard decoding, which means deciding the value to assign for each input on a stand-alone basis, or soft decoding, which takes into account the reliability of each data point, or a combination of the two. Parity bits are often added to transmitted data and used as an error detecting code.
Forward error correction (FEC), or channel coding, is one approach for combining encoding with error correction by using an error-correcting code (ECC). Examples of ECCs include cyclic ECCs, such as BCH (Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem) codes. Depending on implementation details, a certain number of parity bits can correct for a maximum number of errors in the transmitted data.
FIG. 1 illustrates a known approach to row and column codeword encoding. FIG. 1 shows a common product code construction including row codewords, column codewords, and additional parity-on-parity (POP) codewords. Raw data is provided for encoding, the raw data being divided into R rows, where R is a positive integer. Typically, the R rows of raw data 10 are encoded first, for example by row encoding, creating computed row parity 12. The row parity 12 is created separately for each row of raw data. A row codeword 14 includes one row of the raw data 10 and the corresponding computed row parity 12. The plurality of row codewords 14 can be described as together defining column data 20 arranged in a plurality of columns. The column data 20 can be referred to as input data, or initial column codeword data (ICD), since it is provided as input data to the column encoding. As shown in FIG. 1, the ICD for each column comprises raw data 10, computed row parity 12, or a combination of the two.
Column encoding is performed on the ICD 20 creating column parity P 22. For example, the column parity 22 for column 1 is shown as P1. The column data 20 and column parity 22 in each column together form a column codeword 24. At this stage, each bit of row data 10 and row parity 12 is part of two codewords: a row codeword and a column codeword. After the row and column encoding, the rows of raw data 10 and the row parity 12 are "double-covered", or present in two codewords, but the column parity 22 is not double-covered.
According to the known approach in FIG. 1, to double-cover the column parity 22, after the row codewords 14 and column codewords 24 have been created, the column parity 22 is further encoded to create parity-on-parity (POP) values 32. A POP codeword 34 is a row-like codeword that comprises all of the column parity 22 associated with the selected "row" and the corresponding POP values 32.
However, the known approach as described in relation to FIG. 1 has the following drawbacks: 1) the extra POP values that help double cover the column parity result in wasted parity space, which lowers the code rate; 2) the computed POP values themselves are only single covered, or present in a single codeword, which results in reduced error correction performance; and 3) there are 3 types of codewords to work with: row codewords, column codewords and parity-on-parity codewords, which results in a higher implementation complexity.
While existing error-correcting codes offer advantages such as very good error correction performance, this can come at the expense of high power consumption, long decode times, high encoder/decoder complexity, and/or high encoder/decoder implementation area. In certain implementations, these drawbacks are significant enough that the ECC cannot be employed.
Improvements in error correction approaches are desirable.

System and method for error correction in data communications


The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I, wherein L, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined herein. The invention also provides methods of using the compounds for inhibition of kinases, more specifically ALK kinases. The invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, and the invention includes compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions; (Formula I).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Even more specifically, the invention relates to thiazole compounds which inhibit, regulate and/or modulate Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase, and more specifically, ALK-dependent diseases and conditions.
2. Summary of Related Art
Improvements in the specificity of agents used to treat cancer is of considerable interest because of the therapeutic benefits which would be realized if the side effects associated with the administration of these agents could be reduced. Traditionally, dramatic improvements in the treatment of cancer are associated with identification of therapeutic agents acting through novel mechanisms.
Protein kinases are enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of proteins, in particular, hydroxy groups on tyrosine, serine and threonine residues of proteins. The consequences of this seemingly simple activity on cell differentiation and proliferation are staggering; i.e., virtually all aspects of cell life in one way or another depend on protein kinase activity. Furthermore, abnormal protein kinase activity has been related to a host of disorders, ranging from relatively non-life threatening diseases such as psoriasis to extremely virulent diseases such as glioblastoma (brain cancer).
Protein kinases can be categorized as receptor type or non-receptor type. Receptor-type tyrosine kinases have an extracellular, a transmembrane, and an intracellular portion, while non-receptor type tyrosine kinases are wholly intracellular.
Receptor-type tyrosine kinases are comprised of a large number of transmembrane receptors with diverse biological activity. In fact, about 20 different subfamilies of receptor-type tyrosine kinases have been identified. One tyrosine kinase subfamily, designated the HER subfamily, is comprised of EGFR (HER1), HER2, HER3, and HER4. Ligands of this subfamily of receptors identified so far include epithelial growth factor, TGF-alpha, amphiregulin, HB-EGF, betacellulin and heregulin. Another subfamily of these receptor-type tyrosine kinases is the insulin subfamily, which includes INS-R, IGF-IR, and IR-R. The PDGF subfamily includes the PDGF-alpha and beta receptors, CSFIR, c-kit and FLK-II. Then there is the FLK family, which is comprised of the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK-1), fetal liver kinase-4 (FLK-4) and the fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (flt-1). The PDGF and FLK families are usually considered together due to the similarities of the two groups. For a detailed discussion of the receptor-type tyrosine kinases, see Plowman et al., DN&P 7(6):334-339, 1994, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases is also comprised of numerous families, including Src, Frk, Btk, Csk, Abl, Zap70, Fes/Fps, Fak, Jak, Ack, and LIMK. Each of these families is then further sub-divided into varying subfamilies. For example, the Src family is one of the largest and includes Src, Yes, Fyn, Lyn, Lck, Blk, Hck, Fgr, and Yrk. The Src subfamily of kinases has been linked to oncogenesis. For a more detailed discussion of the non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases, see Bolen, Oncogene, 8:2025-2031 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Since protein kinases and their ligands play critical roles in various cellular activities, deregulation of protein kinase enzymatic activity can lead to altered cellular properties, such as uncontrolled cell growth, associated with cancer. In addition to cancer, altered kinase signaling is implicated in numerous other pathological diseases. These include, but are not limited to: immunological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, graft-host diseases, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis; cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardioinfarction, ischemia, stroke and restenosis; other inflammatory and degenerative diseases such as interbowel diseases, osteoarthritis, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, both receptor and non-receptor protein kinases are attractive targets for small molecule drug discovery.
One particularly attractive goal for therapeutic use of kinase modulation relates to oncological indications. For example, modulation of protein kinase activity for the treatment of cancer has been demonstrated successfully with the FDA approval of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate, produced by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation of East Hanover, N.J.) for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal cancers (GIST). Gleevec is a c-Kit and Abl kinase inhibitor.
Modulation (particularly inhibition) of cell proliferation and apoptosis, two key cellular processes needed for tumor grown and survival (Matter, A., Drug Disc. Technol. 2001 6, 1005-1024), is an attractive goal for development of small-molecule drugs. Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic therapy represents a potentially important approach for the treatment of solid tumors and other disease associated with dysregulated cell growth, including ischemic coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
One particularly attractive target for small-molecule modulation, with respect to antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity is Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK). ALK is a novel receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) belonging to the insulin receptor subfamily. ALK is present in tumors as a result of a (2:5)(p23′q35) chromosomal translocation, which produces fusion proteins between ALK and other proteins such as nucleophosmin (NPM). The immunocytochemical detection of the NPM-ALK fusion protein (and proteins encoded by other ALK fusion genes) has allowed the definition of a tumor classification as "ALK-positive lymphoma." Eight variant ALK fusion proteins have been detected to date and all contain ALK kinase activity.
Activation of ALK occurs either by binding of the endogenous ALK mitogenic ligand, pleiotrophin, or by self-aggregation of the ALK fusion proteins, which causes autophosphorylation resulting in an increase of receptor dependent signaling. ALK activation causes increased cell proliferation and apoptosis via activation of the PKC, MAPK and PIP3K pathways.
ALK fusion proteins or full length ALK proteins have been detected not only in ALK-positive lymphomas but also in B-cell lymphoma, neuroblastoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors. Recent analysis shows that ALK expression is a marker for a lymphoma subtype with a good prognosis and there are reports of a five-year survival of approximately 80% for ALK-positive lymphomas, compared to 15-45% for ALK-negative lymphomas of anaplastic large cell morphology. (See Morris, et al., Brit. J. Hematol. (2001) 113, 275-295; Stein, et al., Blood (2000) 96, 3681-3695; Drexler, et al. Leukemia (2000) 14, 1533-1559). Thus modulation of ALK is desirable as a means to treat certain cancers and cancer-related disease.
Accordingly, the identification of small-molecule compounds that specifically inhibit, regulate and/or modulate the signal transduction of kinases, particularly ALK, is desirable as a means to treat or prevent disease states associated with abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis, and is an object of this invention.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase modulators and methods of use


A method for evaluating a read signal obtained by irradiating a medium with a laser beam through an objective lens and reading data from the reflected laser beam by a PRML detection method is provided. The method includes: a sampling step of sampling the data obtained from the reflected laser beam at clock timings to obtain sampled values; and a step of, when a constraint length of a PR class in the PRML detection method is an even number, computing an intermediate sampled value for evaluation using at least adjacent two of the sampled values arranged in the order sampled at the clock timings. The provided method is an objective evaluation method when the PRML detection method is used, whereby the selection of a recording medium and a reading apparatus is facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to evaluation of signals read from an optical recording medium, and in particular, to evaluation of signals that are read using a PRML detection method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, optical recording media such as CD-DAs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+/-RWs, DVD-RAMs, and the like are widely used to watch digital moving image contents and record digital data. Conversely, the recording capacity required of these kinds of optical recording media grows with each passing year and the so-called next-generation optical discs, which can store massive amounts of both moving images and data, have come into commercial use to meet such a requirement. In the next-generation optical discs, the wavelength of a laser beam used for recording and reading is shortened to 405 nm in order to increase their recording capacity.
In the Blu-ray Disc (BD) standard, being one of the next-generation DVD standards, for example, the numerical aperture of an objective lens is set to 0.85 in order to record and read 25 GB of data on and from a single recording layer.
However, the size of moving image and computer data is expected to further increase-in the future. Therefore, it is contemplated to increase the capacity of a disc by reducing the size of recording marks so that the linear recording density of each layer is increased.
Meanwhile, under optical recording-reading conditions in which a laser beam having a wavelength of λ and an objective lens having a numerical aperture of NA are used, a so-called resolution limit exists. Specifically, when an encoded signal contains a sequence of a recording mark and a space each having a size equal to or less than 1.0×λ/4/NA, the amplitude of the read signal from the train of recording marks and spaces becomes substantially zero. In the current CD, DVD, and BD standards, the size of the minimum recording mark in an encoded signal is greater than 1.0×λ/4/NA, and therefore the resolution limit has not been reached. Hence, an amplitude sufficient for reading a signal can be obtained for any combination of recording a train of recording marks/spaces using an appropriate equalizer. Therefore, by slicing a read signal at a certain voltage level, the quality of the read signal can be evaluated according to the positional information (edge jitter) of the intersection of the slice level and the amplitude curve of the read signal.
According to a study undertaken by the inventors, although the study was publicly unknown at the time of filing of the present application, when the size of recording marks is reduced such that the minimum size thereof is equal to or less than 1.1×λ/4/NA, the amplitude of a signal from a sequence of a recording mark and a space each having the minimum size is below a practically acceptable level. As described above, when the size of the recording marks is reduced to 1.0×λ/4/NA or less, the amplitude becomes essentially zero due to the resolution limit. In this case, the inventors have also found that signal evaluation using the edge jitter cannot be carried out.
A technique for avoiding such a problem is known as a PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) detection method and in this method a PR equalizer and an ML decoder (such as a Viterbi decoder) are used. The PR equalizer has a function of correcting a real read signal to match the corrected signal to a reference PR characteristic. One coefficient used for this correction is called an equalization coefficient, and a plurality of equalization coefficients corresponding to different amplitudes of the read signal are provided in the PR equalizer.
In the PRML detection method, when a PR (1, 2, 1) characteristic with a constraint length of 3, for example, is used, an impulse response from a real recorded bit is represented by a sequence having an amplitude of PR (h1, h2, h3). Therefore, in the PR equalizer, the equalization coefficients are used to match the read signal having an amplitude of PR (h1, h2, h3) to the reference PR (1, 2, 1) characteristic, and as such, noise components are eliminated.
The ML decoder computes the deviation of the signal sequence equalized by the PR equalizer from each of all possible ideal responses and selects one ideal response having a minimum cumulative deviation (this ideal response is referred to as a maximum likelihood ideal response). An detection signal is obtained from the maximum likelihood ideal response. In this manner, a correct detection signal can be extracted even when the read signal has a small amplitude and is embedded in noise.
The characteristics of individual optical recording media differ from each other, and the characteristics of optical heads of individual reading devices also differ from each other. In order to cope with these differences, an optimal PR equalizer must be selected, or the equalization coefficients used in the PR equalizer must be adjusted. In addition, an optimal decoder is selected as the ML decoder. In particular, in the future, when the linear recording density per layer is increased, the type of PR equalizer and ML decoder must be very carefully selected using strict criteria.
The determination as to whether or not the PRML detection method is appropriate is often made based on the results of reading experiments using various types of PRML detection methods. However, there is no specific criteria and determination method for optimizing the PRML detection method, so great efforts are required for optimization.


Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: obtaining speech based message data and biometric data of a speaker user of a messaging system, the speech based message data being input into a computer device by the speaker user and the biometric data indicating one or more aspect of a physical condition of the speaker user during the input of the speech based message data into the computer device; processing data to determine a truthfulness parameter of the speech based message data, the processing data to determine a truthfulness parameter including processing the biometric data; and associating the truthfulness parameter to the speech based message data, wherein the associating includes tagging the speech based message data with the truthfulness parameter.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a form of artificial intelligence including a variety of researched disciplines. Speech Recognition can involve processing a sound sample of a person or people speaking, and determining the textual representation of the speech. In natural speech there minimal pauses between successive words, and thus speech segmentation can be included in a speech recognition process. In most spoken languages, the sounds representing successive letters blend into each other in a process termed coarticulation, so the conversion of the analog signal to discrete characters can present challenges. Sentiment analysis can involve extracting subjective information from a speech sample or text string, sometimes using external sources to determine "polarity" about specific objects, i.e. whether the text string has a positive polarity or negative polarity. Sentiment analysis can be non-polar and include detection of sentiments such as "fear" "anger" "sadness" "happiness" and "disgust."

Intelligent truthfulness indicator association

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A device for finding faults in a target system that has a plurality of "LRUs", which are the lowest replaceable units in the target system. The fault finding device receives input data relating to a state of the target system, stores a probability of failure of individual LRUs of the target system, and stores rules, these rules relating conclusions and premises, with at least some of the conclusions identifying a faulty LRU. The device determines a certainty of a conclusion of a stored rule in response to a comparison of the premises of the rule and the input data, and orders the conclusions of the stored rules as a function of both the probability of failure of individual LRUs and the certainties of conclusions of the stored rules.

One of the problems in complex systems, such as computer systems and other systems using computers, is their increasing complexity. As a result, ever more complex knowledge, experience and training are needed to operate, maintain and service these systems. Many of these complex systems have fault isolation software and sensor hardware that find faults in the system in a fixed, non-adaptable way. The failure modes of these systems are only partially known by the design engineers at the time the system is first built. This fixed logic is built into the system before field experience is gained. Each new system that is designed, therefore, needs custom logic that will fault isolate its components and topology, requiring re-writing of software as engineers "re-invent" each new system's logic for fault isolation.
To solve this problem, artificial intelligence techniques have been applied to isolate faults in a "target system", (the system being fault isolated). This allows for a more flexible approach to fault isolation, as the fault isolator can be generalized so as not to be restricted to finding faults in only one specific type of target system. For example, target systems can be a computer system, a communications system, or even the human body.
One of the artificial intelligence techniques that has been used is a rule-based approach, in which there are a number of stored rules in an "IF premise, THEN conclusion" format. These rules are created by a human who is expert in the target system fault diagnosis (based on past experience). The rules attempt to relate possible states of the target system with fault diagnoses. In a fault isolation episode, the states of the target system are compared with the premise of each of the rules, while the conclusions of the rules provide the fault diagnoses.
Known rule-based fault isolation devices use either forward or backward chaining in what is known as the "inference process". This is the process of inferring conclusions from given
a knowledge base and from data. The process of inferencing involves matching the knowledge base with the data an producing conclusions.
One of the problems in using either forward or backward chaining is that only single conclusion is presented to the user of the fault isolation device, since the goal of forward and backward chaining is to reach a single conclusion. This presents obvious difficulties if the conclusion that is presented turns out not to isolate the fault in the target system.
Another problem in rule-based systems is in the matching of the rules in the knowledge base with the data. Rule-based systems typically require an exact match of the rules in the knowledge base with the data. Unfortunately, many target systems being fault isolated do not provide data that exactly matches the premises created by the expert and stored in the knowledge base This prevents the fault isolation device from solving situations that are very close to situations accommodated by the rules, but are not exactly the same.
A further deficiency of known rule-based systems is that they typically do not learn from their own fault isolation experiences in order to provide a more accurate current fault isolation. In other words, the information in the knowledge base is not updated to reflect the success or failure of a conclusion in isolating the fault of a target system, to thereby provide an accurate indication of how much confidence should be placed in the rule that was tried in isolating the fault.
One of the features of rule-based systems is that they contain rules in which a certain degree of confidence in their correctness can be placed. In other words, for a given state of the target system, there is a certain possibility for each rule that this particular rule will provide a correct conclusion. This is known as a rule possibility. What such rule-based systems do not take into account, however, is the prior history of the target system. For example, two rules may present conclusions that point to two different components of the target system as the fault, and prior history with the target system shows that one of these components has failed fifty times, while the other component has only failed once. A human expert would certainly consider this "probability of failure" information to be relevant, but typical rule-based systems do not take probability into account. Instead, they rely on rule possibility alone in presenting conclusions.
There is a need for a method and a device that will isolate faults in a target system and overcome the deficiencies in prior fault isolation devices, and thereby provide more accurate diagnoses of faults in a target system.


According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method is provided, the pattern formation includes: laminating a self-assembled monolayer and a polymer film on a substrate; causing chemical bonding between the polymer film and the self-assembled monolayer by irradiation with an energy beam to form a polymer surface layer on the self-assembled monolayer; and forming on the polymer surface layer a polymer alloy having a pattern of phase-separated structures.

In semiconductor device production processes such as that for producing LSI, the microfabrication technology to which lithography is adopted has heretofore been employed. Since more microscopic processing will positively be in demand, a reduction in wavelength of a light source and enhancement of performance of a resist in lithography are in progress. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to improve resolution with these measures.
Meanwhile, a microfabrication technology utilizing phase-separated structures of a block copolymer has been attracting attention. In the microfabrication technology, regular alignment of the phase separated structures of the block copolymer is required. The following methods have been proposed for attaining the regular alignment of phase-separated structures of block copolymer.
For instance, there has been known a method of forming a microphase-separated pattern of a block copolymer, including: forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a substrate; coating a photoresist on the substrate to form a line-and-space resist pattern by lithography; performing selective irradiation with an X-ray under an oxygen atmosphere by using the resist pattern as a mask to achieve chemical modification of a part of the SAM; removing the resist pattern; and coating the SAM with the block copolymer, followed by annealing.
Further, there has been known a method of forming a microphase-separated pattern of a block copolymer, including: forming a SAM on a substrate; selectively exposing a part of the SAM by interference exposure to form a chemically modified dot pattern; and coating the SAM with the block copolymer, followed by annealing.
However, since these methods which utilize the SAM are susceptible to a fluctuation in SAM coating rate, and since chemical potential of a molecule forming the SAM is limited, the methods have problems of poor surface free energy controllability of the SAM and unstable alignment of orientation of the microphase-separated pattern of the block copolymer.
Further, there has been known a method of forming a microphase-separated pattern of a block copolymer, including: forming on a substrate a monolayer which is formed of a polymer compound and is called polymer brush by heating for a long time; coating a photoresist on the substrate to form a line-and-space resist pattern by lithography; performing selective irradiation with an X-ray under an oxygen atmosphere by using the resist pattern as a mask to remove a part of the polymer brush; removing the resist pattern; and coating the polymer brush with the block copolymer, followed by annealing.
Further, there has been known a method of forming a microphase-separated pattern of a block copolymer, including: forming a polymer brush on a substrate; coating an electron beam resist on the substrate to form a dot pattern by lithography; performing irradiation with oxygen plasma by using the dot pattern of the electron beam resist as a mask to remove a part of the polymer brush; eliminating the resist pattern; and coating the SAM with a block copolymer, followed by annealing. The method discloses that a dot pitch of the dot pattern of the block copolymer can be narrower than a dot pitch of the dot pattern formed on the electron beam resist.
In these methods using the polymer brush, since the polymer is spread on the surface to form the monolayer, it is possible to stably perform the control of the surface free energy owing to the SAM formed of the silane coupling agent. However, it is necessary to allow a chemical reaction between a hydroxyl group at a polymer end and a Si substrate surface to sufficiently proceed during the formation of the polymer brush and to apply heat energy which sufficiently exceeds activation energy required for the chemical reaction and enables the hydroxy group in the vicinity of Si to sufficiently diffuse at a temperature at which heat decomposition of the polymer does not occur. Therefore, the methods are not practical as the microfabrication technology for semiconductor devices and the like since they require the long-time heat treatment.
Further, there has been reported a phenomenon that an interface part of a polymer remains after the polymer is rinsed with an organic solvent to which the polymer is easily dissolved, when a SAM of a silane coupling agent having a benzophenone structure is formed on a substrate; a polymer is coated on the substrate; and light irradiation is performed to cause a crosslinking reaction between the polymer layer at the interface part which contacts the SAM and the benzophenone. However, the material is not contemplated as the one which is capable of orientation alignment of the microphase-separated pattern of block copolymer and is not proven effective.

Pattern formation method and polymer alloy base material


An unstable laser disk resonator combines the output laser power of multiple laser disks to produce a high power, single transverse mode laser output beam, which is near diffraction limited.

This invention relates to laser resonators, and more particularly to unstable laser resonators for solid state laser disks.
As known in the current state-of-the-art, solid state laser disks have an active thin disk gain medium that is mounted along its back surface to a heat sink. The back surface is highly reflective at the laser and pump wavelengths and the front surface is highly transmissive at the laser and pump wavelengths. An external laser beam enters the disk at its front surface, or "face", propagates to the back surface, is reflected by the back surface back to the front surface, where it leaves the disk. While propagating in the disk, the laser beam extracts energy from the disk.
The energy lost is restored by the pumped laser beam which also enters the disk at its front surface, propagates to the back surface, is reflected and propagates to the front surface where it leaves the disk. While propagating through the disk the pump beam deposits energy into the disk and stimulates the medium. An exemplary active medium is Yb:YAG (ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) which is provided in a circular disk format that may be 10 to 1000 millimeter (mm) in diameter and 200 micron (0.20 mm) thick. The pumping light is typically provided by a diode laser array and provides a greater than unity gain at the laser wavelength, so as to have the laser disk function as an active mirror. The pumping beam is presented to the face at an angle of incidence that avoids interference with the laser beam.
While laser disk output beam power may be increased by increasing the pumping laser intensity, it is also known that one can scale up laser disk power by combining multiple laser disks in a stable optical resonator. A stable laser disk resonator is used to combine the individual output laser power of multiple disks into a multi kilowatt laser output beam used, for example, in metal working applications. The high power output beams produced by stable laser disk resonators are multimode, and are typically fifty times diffraction limit. While this is suitable for industrial applications, such as laser welding, it is not suitable for applications which require a more precise and tightly focused beam. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a multiple laser disk resonator that produces a high energy, near diffraction limited laser beam that may be used for more precise laser beam applications.


A coating composition comprising (1) an anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonic acid salt, (2) a sol of fine inorganic oxide particles, (3) a silicon compound having one acryl or methacryl group and a hydrolyzable group or a product of hydrolysis of the compound, (4) a compound having at least two photopolymerizable unsaturated groups, and (5) a photopolymerization initiator; and a coated article obtained by applying the coating composition to a base and then photocuring the coating. The coated article combines antifogging properties with abrasion resistance sufficient for practical use.

1. Field of the Art
This invention concerns a transparent coating composition, having an antifogging property and abrasion resistance, for a transparent base surface, such as plastic, glass, etc., and a fog-resistant article obtained by this composition.
2. Background Art(s) and Themes Thereof
Various coating compositions, which form a coating film on a transparent plate or film of plastic or glass upon being heat-cured or UV-cured to provide an antifogging property, are known and are commercially available.
Various coating compositions that provide abrasion resistance on the surface of an abovementioned transparent plate or film are also known.
For example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-176466 discloses a fog-resistant article obtained by coating, onto the surface of a transparent base of plastic, etc., an antifogging coating composition obtained by subjecting a composition containing: (1) a microparticle dispersion sol of silica gel or other metal oxide; (2) an epoxy-group-containing silicon compound or hydrolysate thereof; and (3) an anionic surfactant of at least any of sulfonic acid salts, including dialkylsulfosuccinic acid ester salts, sulfuric acid ester salts, phosphoric acid ester salts, and carboxylic acid ester salts; to an aging process.
Also, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 9-13015 describes an antifogging paint, with which a sodium dialkyl sulfosuccinate is coated onto a specular surface of a plastic film, sheet, or glass plate, etc., using a mixture of organic polymer substances, for example, a polymer polyester resin and isocyanate prepolymer, as a binding agent.
Furthermore, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-131445 describes an antifogging coating resin composition comprising colloidal silica, which has been surface modified with a polyethylene glycoldi(meth)acrylate, adi(meth)acrylate, a hydrophilic monomer, a hydrolysate of a (meth)acrylic functional silane compound, and a hydrolysate of a hydrophilic non-functional silane compound; a nonionic surfactant; an anionic surfactant; and a polymerization initiator.
The antifogging coating composition disclosed in the abovementioned Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-176466 is described as improving the antifogging property of the surface of a transparent base and being excellent in abrasion resistance.
However, though the antifogging property of the surface of an article obtained by the invention of the abovementioned publication is improved, the abrasion resistance is not adequate as is disclosed in a table indicating experimental results.
Also, though the antifogging coating composition disclosed in the abovementioned Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 9-13015 is described as improving the antifogging property of the surface of a transparent base, it does not provide an adequate abrasion resistance.
Furthermore, though the antifogging coating composition described in the abovementioned Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-131445 is excellent in antifogging performance and good in adhesion to the base, it is troublesome in terms of process in that illumination of ultraviolet rays must be performed upon placing a PET film on the coating film to prevent inhibition of curing due to oxygen.
A coating composition, having an antifogging property and yet also having an adequate abrasion resistance that can withstand actual use, is thus not known.
An object of this invention is to provide a coating composition, which has an antifogging property and yet with which the coating film obtained after curing has an adequate abrasion resistance that can withstand actual use, and a coated article coated with this composition.
In particular, an object of this invention is to provide a transparent plastic sheet, film or glass plate having an antifogging property and yet having an abrasion resistance that is adequate for daily use.

Coating composition and article coated with the composition


A display substrate includes a first switching element electrically connected to a gate line extending in a first direction and a data line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, an organic layer disposed on the first switching element, a shielding electrode disposed on the organic layer and overlapping the data line, a pixel electrode disposed on the same layer as the shielding electrode and a light-blocking pattern disposed on the shielding electrode and adjacent to a corner of the pixel electrode.

1. Field
The present inventive concept relates to a display substrate and method of manufacturing the display substrate. More particularly, the present inventive concept relates to a display substrate for a liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the display substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") panel may include an array substrate, an opposing substrate and an LCD layer disposed therebetween. The array substrate may include a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix shape. A signal driving part may be configured to apply a desired voltage to the pixel electrodes to drive the LCD panel. A plurality of liquid crystal molecules in the LCD layer may be aligned due to an electric field generated by the voltage.
The LCD panel may include a plurality of color filters. The color filters may be disposed on the array substrate and/or the opposing substrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the color filters may include a red filter (R), a green filter (G) and a blue filter (B). The pixel electrodes may overlap the color filters. The pixel electrodes may be configured to transmit backlight as red light, green light or blue light according to an alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. A pixel area non-overlapping the color filters may transmit the backlight as white light (W).
However, a light-leakage may be occurred at a corner that a red color filter, a green color filter, a blue color filter and a white color filter are adjoining.

Display substrate and method of manufacturing the same


The invention provides a radio frequency (RF) valve control system that replaces mechanical systems that physically links a button or a handle to a flush valve or hard wired electronic control systems that physically links a sensor/electronic switch to a valve actuator within a plumbing installation. The new system is characterized by two modules, a user interface module (UIM) for locating at or adjacent a plumbing fixture (such as a water closet or urinal), and a valve interface module (VIM) operatively connected to a flush valve actuator or a valve in the water supply line of the plumbing fixture. The UIM generally has the function of providing an RF valve control signal to the VIM and the VIM has the functions of receiving, analysing, and responding to the RF valve control signal and sending a signal to the valve actuator to initiate a flush cycle or initiating a valve control process to control a valve within the water supply line to start or stop water flow to the fixture. The system may be deployed as a single UIM/VIM pair or as multiple UIM/VIM pairs within a multi-fixture installation. In each case, each UIM/VIM pair communicates with its respective UIM or VIM in both a learning and active mode.

In the commercial/institutional plumbing industry, there are a number of problems associated with typical water closet and urinal installations in commercial buildings.
A water closet or urinal installation will typically require a time-consuming and complicated manual installation. In particular, the installation of concealed plumbing fixtures that have mechanical buttons, handles, electronics, pipes and wires requires that each of these components must be precisely located and routed through walls with the result that the installation work is time-consuming and expensive.
For example, the installation of concealed flush valves using mechanical buttons or handles requires that the alignment of the mechanical linkage and the distance from the valve to the front of the exposed wall is precise with the result that many errors are made installing these devices. Furthermore, electronics must be located at specific locations relative to the fixture.
Moreover, mistakes made during installation that require post-installation repairs or repairs required due to vandalism or component failure are often difficult and expensive to effect as finished walls, floors and countertop surfaces may have to be removed, dismantled or replaced in order to gain access to and ultimately fix the problem.
Another problem with standard exposed commercial plumbing installations is that, in the case of a water closet, most mechanical and electronic actuators are located behind the water closet fixture. This arrangement of components requires that the user must reach over the water closet in order to flush the fixture which is unpleasant.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a system and method for improving plumbing installations that address the above shortcomings. More particularly, there remains a need for a plumbing fixture control system that can be easily and quickly installed without the need for complex routing of electronics or wiring through walls. Moreover, there is a need for plumbing systems that can be more easily repaired in the event of component failure or damage.

System and method for improved installation and control of concealed plumbing flush valves


In accordance with this invention a part having an internally threaded section is formed by a progressive stamping operation in which there is only opposed rectilinear motion between the punch and die, and no mandrel is used. The part may include a U-shaped receptacle portion and a prong element for being bent over an object that is supported. In producing the part, grooves are formed in the surface of the workpiece, being progressively deepened to the depth of the screw thread and with side wall portions progressively given the inclination of the flanks of the screw threads. The threaded portion then is given a concave shape at either of its two opposite edges and a convex shape in between. The convex shape subsequently is made concave as the threaded section is closed up. In these steps the part is engaged by punch elements in the form of threaded members which have ridges corresponding to the grooves in the workpiece. Finally, the opposite edges of the grooved portions of the workpiece are brought together and this portion of the workpiece is given a cylindrical shape by compressing it in opposed die openings, completing the threaded section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the formation of threaded metal parts, to the method of forming, to the tooling employed, and to the resulting articles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of threaded metal parts the conventional practice has been either to machine or roll the threads. This has been a major factor in the cost of such parts, because of the tooling, time, equipment, and material involved in such operations. The cost of threading is of particular significance where a part is adapted for economical production without machining, except for a threaded section. For example, there may be a part which in most aspects is adapted for production by stamping, but require a threaded portion for connecting it to an associated item. Conventionally, it is necessary either to machine the entire part or to stamp a portion of it and weld on a separately machined threaded element. In either event, the cost of the part is greatly increased. Additionally, when parts must be secured together, such as by welding, there is always a question as to the reliability of the connection and some of the parts may fail because of an improper weld.
There have been some efforts to produce threaded parts in another way, such as by engaging them with a die having a thread contour and then bending the part to assume a cylindrical shape. However, for anything approaching a part having a well-formed thread, accurately shaped and of adequate strength, these efforts have been unsucessful. Hence, the traditional machining techniques have remained predominant in the metal forming art.


In a cable coupling for automatically coupling through conductors carrying electrical heating and/or control current lines between vehicles which are mechanically coupled together in a detachable manner, which coupling includes a contact box on each vehicle, each contact box containing a carrier carrying at least one electrical connector, with associated connectors in contact boxes on two vehicles coming into engagement with one another during or after mechanical coupling of the vehicles, the coupling further including optical fiber couplers for automatically coupling together optical fibers for the transmission of information, each optical fiber coupler is composed of a replaceable insert mounted in a respective carrier to be pivotable over a limited range in all directions relative to the carrier, and each insert includes: a member for holding the ends of a plurality of optical fibers in precise parallel alignment with one another and for holding, at the end of each such optical fiber, a lens element causing light emanating from the fiber to diverge; a glass pane disposed for passively protecting the associated lens elements; and a device for actively protecting the pane against moisture, fogging and dust.

The present invention relates to a cable coupling for automatically coupling through electrical heating and/or control current lines, particularly between track-bound vehicles, wherein during or after the mechanical coupling together of the vehicles, mutual contact between contact boxes containing pressure or plug-in contacts mounted in contact carriers causes these contacts to come into engagement and wherein, in addition to coupling the electrical lines, light-conductors must also be coupled in for the optical transmission of instructions or other information.
The periodical "ZEV, Glasers Annalen" [Glass Makers' Annual] 103 (1979) No. 2/3, February/March, pages 114-124, discloses the coupling of light conductive fibers together with electric current lines when automatically coupling electrical cables for trains. Control information is then transmitted from car to car by means of the light-conductive fibers. The light-conductive fibers are coupled together by means of a plug-in connection in which the highly polished fiber ends abut on one another in a precisely centered manner.
For so-called fixed optical conductor couplings there no longer exist any problems regarding coupling with low attenuation. The fibers can be brought together in the plug-in and rotary couplings with very close tolerances, high precision and accuracy. However, with automatic cable couplings there exists the difficulty of adapting the plug-in connection to rough movements of the train and to be able to accurately guide the cable ends with the required close tolerances over a longer period of time without thereby causing excess wear and thus impairing the transmission quality.
The active part of an optical fiber has a diameter, for example, of 200.mu., and the threshold of the permissible center offset should be low. A very slight angular displacement is also permissible. These values can be achieved only with very close tolerances and with the use of fine centering means in the plug-in connections, which are far beyond the already high tolerance requirements for electrical couplings. Wear makes such plug-in connections very short-lived and manufacture becomes considerably more expensive.
Even more serious is the problem of soiling. A grain of dust can already completely eliminate light transmission because the grain is usually larger than the diameter of the fiber, or as the fiber ends are brought together such grain could scratch the highly polished frontal faces to such an extent that attenuation would take on untenable values. In the prior art cable coupling in which the ends of the light-conductive fibers are coupled directly, these problems are addressed as well. Centering is there effected by special guide pins and a mechanically susceptible slide structure is intended to take care of sealing and thus keep away the dust. But this gives rise to considerable drawbacks.

Cable coupling for electrical current lines and light conductors


A cable connector includes an insert having a tubular body portion with a conical end portion longitudinally spaced from an annular flanged end portion by diametrically opposed radial grooves. The insert is positioned in an aperture extending through a wall of an electrical junction box. The tubular body portion is contractable to permit the wall surrounding the aperture to be positioned in surrounding relation with the grooves to retain the tubular body portion in the aperture. A passageway extends through the tubular body portion and includes a rectangular inlet and a rectangular outlet. Vertical sidewalls of the passageway diverge outwardly from the inlet to the outlet so that the cross sectional area of the outlet is greater than the cross sectional area of the inlet. A pair of wedge shaped members are positioned in the passageway to secure a cable, such as an insulated conductor, extending through the passageway from being pulled out of the junction box. As the cable is moved in an axial direction through the insert from the inlet to the outlet of the passageway, the cable passes between the wedge-shaped members and urges the wedge-shaped members outwardly into abutting relation with the inclined sidewalls of the insert. Movement of the cable out of the insert is prevented by the wedging engagement of the wedge-shaped members between the cable and the insert inclined sidewalls.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector for securing a member in an aperture of a supporting structure and more particularly to a connector for connecting a partially deformable member to a supporting structure in a manner to permit movement of the member in a first direction through the aperture of the supporting structure, but prevent movement of the member in a second direction through the aperture.
2. Description of the Prior Art P Non-metallic sheathed cable and flexible cord connectors are known for securing a sheathed electric cable to a junction box where the cable enters the junction box through a knock-out opening in the wall of the junction box. The primary function of the connector is to retain the cable in the junction box in a manner to prevent damage to the outer flexible sheathing or insulation surrounding the electric conductors by engagement of the connector with the cable. In addition, the connector is fabricated of a nonconductive material and serves to insulate the cable from the junction box.
U.S. Pat. NO. 3,056,852 discloses a strain-relief grommet for securing an electrical conductor passing through a knock-out opening of an electrical box to the wall of the electrical box. A pair of sections have mating tapered surfaces where one section passes through an aperture of the wall of the electrical box and is axially fixed thereto. The second section is axially movable into the passageway of the first section. The conductor extends through the first section and camming surfaces of the two sections prevent removal of the conductor from the wall of the electrical box. The section secured to the wall of the electrical box has a recessed portion with an enlarged shoulder to secure the section in the aperture of the wall.
The following patents are directed to other types of electrical connectors and grommets having the described specific features. U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,470 discloses an outlet box configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,393 discloses a yoke-shaped wedge. U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,163 discloses a gripping member of tubular shape. U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,430 discloses a bushing having two parts plus a tongue member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,249,687 is directed to a pair of shank sections forming a bushing. U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,446 is directed to a core portion having a plurality of arms extending therefrom. U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,665 discloses blade-like members with locking means provided thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,579 is directed to a plug member that is secured to a portion of a bushing body not engaged to the wall of the junction box. U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,205 is directed to a bushing with body portions and a plug in one body portion to engage a conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,014 is directed to a bushing outer shank portion having at least two sections and a channel through a shank portion that is recessed to receive a grip block. U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,582 is directed to a cam member journaled in a body cross-wise of the passageway of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,822 is directed to protrusions in grooves on the halves of a grommet.
There is need to provide a non-metallic connector for securing a flexible cable or the like in the knock-out opening of a junction box so as to permit movement of the cable into the junction box, but prevent the cable from being pulled out of the junction box in a manner which prevents damaging the exterior surface of the cable.

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A gas fired melting apparatus for particulate material. The melting apparatus has four successively connected vertically disposed sidewall members, a floor member and a roof member. These members define a cubic melting chamber for containing a freestanding generally conical pile of particulate material to be melted. The sizes, shapes and positions of the chamber radiating surfaces as well as their relative distances from the pile surfaces promote heat transfer to the pile. A high temperature gas fired burner is mounted in each sidewall adjacent to the corner formed by the tail end of one sidewall and the head end of a successive sidewall member. The axis of each burner is parallel with its successive wall member so the combined effect of the burners is to produce a toroidal flow of combustion products in the melting chamber around its central vertical axis. The melting apparatus includes a gas fired forehearth assembly comprising two branching forehearths which communicate with the melting chamber through a single inlet opening located centrally in one sidewall member of the chamber, and a recuperator assembly communicating with the melting chamber through an outlet opening in an opposite sidewall member. An opening is provided in the center of the roof member to admit feedstock to the melting chamber.

This invention relates to a melting apparatus for particulate material. More specifically, it relates to a gas fired apparatus for melting a freestanding pile of particulate feedstock in a cubic melting chamber.
Prior art apparatuses for melting particulate material generally utilized the off-gases of the melting process to preheat the feedstock by forcing the off-gases through the feedstock outside the melting chamber. To do this effectively, required the feedstock mass to be relatively homogeneous so as to provide uniform permeability and that this uniform permeability be maintained from the beginning of the preheating step to its end. Otherwise, the flow of off-gases would become channelized and overheat some portions of the feedstock while leaving other portions unheated. Localized hot and cold spots caused clumping which impeded the uniform movement of feedstock into the melting chamber. In severe cases, an entire layer of feedstock might coalesce and form a bridge across the feedstock entry to the melting chamber and thus stop the flow of material completely. Furthermore, where the prior art apparatus called for all the off-gases from the melter to be cycled through a column of feedstock in a vertical shaft preheater, any impairment or stoppage of the flow of off-gases would produce a corresponding impairment or stoppage of the melting process.


A system, a method, and a computer program product are provided. At predetermined times, a processing element processes a new vector represented by a last received magnetic measurement from a magnetometer and indicating a direction and a magnitude of a sensed magnetic field. When the new vector satisfies multiple criteria, the new vector is added to a determined vector set. The processing element processes multiple magnetometer measurements using a Monte Carlo best fit determination and modal partitioning to produce new calibration parameters that define a calibration sphere. The new calibration parameters are applied and stored in a memory element when at least a predetermined number of vectors are consecutively added to the determined one of the multiple vector sets.

Multiple systems use a magnetometer, also known as a compass, to measure Earth's magnetic field. Such systems include 9 directions of freedom (DOF) Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), Compassing Systems, and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). These systems generally measure a strength and a direction of the Earth's magnetic field and use the results of these measurements as critical parts of providing their core functionality.
For accurate results to be produced, each system's magnetic sensing elements must be calibrated to account for magnetic distortions that affect the sensed magnetic field. These magnetic distortions are generally considered to be one of two types: hard-iron distortions or soft-iron distortions. Hard-iron distortions are caused by objects that produce a magnetic field such as a nearby current carrying conductor or a permanent magnet in a nearby component such as a speaker or a microphone. When magnetic material is part of the system and physically attached to a same reference frame as a magnetic sensing element, then a permanent bias in output from the magnetic sensing element is created. Soft-iron distortions are caused by objects that, by being present, passively distort a reference magnetic field. The presence of these soft-iron objects causes the Earth's magnetic field to appear to be stretched, bent, or otherwise distorted. Soft-iron effects vary depending upon which direction the Earth's magnetic field is oriented relative to a magnetic sensing element body itself. Soft-iron distortion is often caused by a presence of nearby ferrous metal objects and structures made of materials such as iron, steel, or nickel. Hard-iron distortions will generally have a much larger impact upon a total error than soft-iron effects.
Methods exist for performing a calibration process, which is used to determine a nature of error effects within a system and then to compute parameters to be used in a corrective step as the magnetic sensing element operates. In this way, a magnetic sensing system can be calibrated to correct for both hard-iron and soft-iron effects. Since such systems are often not located within either fixed locations or unchanging environments, such systems are often subject to external effects that can cause changes to a magnetic domain in which the magnetic sensing element is situated. The magnetic sensing system may move through a magnetic environment in which the Earth's magnetic field appears to be distorted or an external object which causes a distortion may move into the magnetic sensing system's environment. In this manner, the magnetic sensing element, having been calibrated for an original magnetic environment, will experience erroneous sensor readings due to an altered magnetic environment.

Real-time automatic calibration of magnetic sensors


A telephone privacy protector for connection to a common exchange line and each one of at least two telephone operated devices sharing a line includes a voice connecting circuit for connection between a respective telephone line operated device and the line. There is a control deice connected to the circuit having an on and off state wherein the control device in the on state permits the voice connecting circuit to operate. There are means for turing the control device on when the respective telephone line operated device goes off hook provided that no other telephone line operated device sharing the line is off hook. There are means for providing a residual charge to the control device in order to reactivate same after the respective telephone line operated device is placed momentarily on hook and then returned to an off hook state while any other telephone line operated device connected to the line is off hook.

This invention relates to telephone systems and particularly to a device for providing privacy for a particular telephone line operated device which is off hook such that other telephone operated devices sharing a line cannot interrupt.
In many commercial and residential telephone installations there are a number of telephone line operated devices sharing a common exchange line. In such installations, particularly where the telephone line operated device is a modem or fax machine, it is important that hen these devices are in use other devices on the same line cannot interrupt unless so authorized by the user of the telephone line operated device that is actively connected to the line.
There are many arrangements known in the art of telephone systems for providing privacy on a telephone line operated device which shares the common exchange line with other devices when such are in use.
There are a number of known problems with these privacy devices. A major problem with some of these privacy devices is that each telephone line operated device need to be physically connected so that the privacy device can sense when one is in use. For example, D. J. Ryan U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,465 issued Apr. 25, 1989 shows such a device. This is not practical in an office or residence where there are individual jacks in separate rooms.
Another problem with some of these privacy devices is that the mechanism for allowing a telephone line operated device to interrupt a line already in use is controlled by the telephone line operating device that is interrupting the existing connection. K. L. Chan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,128 issued May 24, 1988 shows a telephone privacy protector having a voice connecting circuit, a control circuit a trigger and an override switch. This switch operates such that anyone wanting to interrupt a line that is already in use can press the override switch and do so. However, it is the telephone line operated device that is off hook and therefore in use that should control the interruption of another telephone line operated device since an interruption in a modem or a fax transmission can significantly affect the information sent or received.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone privacy protector that allows the operator of the telephone line operated device that is off hook to authorize other telephone line operated devices to connect to the same line. It is a further object of the invention to provide a telephone privacy jack that is easily installed whereby the privacy jack is inserted into the common exchange line jack and the telephone line operated device is then inserted into the privacy jack.


A guard rail assembly having a sheath formed of polymerized material, such as plastic. A panel set within the rail structure is also formed of a polymerized material, such as plastic. The sheathing about the guard rail assembly creates a protective coating eliminating repainting of the guard rail assembly and further preventing damage to the guard rail and impacting devices.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a guard rail assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guard rail assembly encased in a plastic sheath for use between an entrance way and an exit way in a general store setting.
II Description on the Relevant Art
Many guard rail assemblies in use today are constructed of metal, such as steel, encoated with paint or metal plating.
These guard rail assemblies are used to establish a boundary, such as a corral for grocery carts, or as a divider between an exit and entrance ramp, or an aisle way in a general store. The disadvantage of these painted or metal plated guard rails assemblies is that the guard rail may rust due to weather conditions or general use. Therefore, the guard rail must continually be repainted to protect from rust and upkeep the appearance.
A further disadvantage of these previously known guard rail assemblies is that any object bumping into the guard rail assembly will cause a dent or chip the paint on the guard rail. To repair the guard rail, the indentation must be bumped out and the rail repainted to prevent the metal from rusting.


The present disclosure provides a device and method for producing low-frequency magnetic-field signals to enable long-range wireless communication through conductive media. The magnetic-field signals can be generated by mechanically moving permanent magnets. In some examples, transmitters are capable of transmitting signals in the ultra-low and very-low frequency ranges (e.g., 100 Hz-30 kHz), utilizing a small amount of power.

Radio frequencies at the very low end of the electromagnetic spectrum can be useful for a number of defense applications. Ultra-Low Frequencies (ULF), e.g., from 100 Hz to 3 kHz, are particularly useful for penetration of signals through conductive media such as water, metal, soil, rock, and building materials. Penetration is possible due to the relatively large skin depth in these materials which grows as the carrier frequency is reduced. The Very Low Frequency (VLF), e.g., from 3 kHz to 30 kHz, band is likewise of interest for defense communications because signals in this frequency range couple to the ionosphere-ground waveguide surrounding the Earth. The waveguide can facilitate the long range propagation of signals around the globe with very little attenuation. However, the free-space wavelengths of electromagnetic fields at ULF and VLF frequencies measure tens to thousands of kilometers in length, resulting in either very large or severely inefficient transmitter structures when constructed using conventional antenna approaches. Such transmitters may be impractical in many operational scenarios, especially those requiring physical mobility.
While the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, exemplary embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description of exemplary embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the embodiments above and the claims below. Reference should therefore be made to the embodiments above and claims below for interpreting the scope of the invention.

System and method for mechanically-based magnetic-field transmitter


Methods and devices useful in radio frequency (RF) signal transmission are provided. By way of example, a wireless electronic device may include a transceiver, and an enclosure in which the transceiver is disposed. The enclosure may include an RF transparent layer and an RF opaque coating disposed on the RF transparent layer, where the RF opaque coating includes a pattern formed therein to enable RF signals to pass therethrough.

The present disclosure relates generally to coatings of cellular and wireless devices, and more particularly, to metal coatings having radio frequency transparent features.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Transmitters and receivers, or when coupled together as part of a single unit, transceivers, are commonly included in various electronic devices, and particularly, portable electronic devices such as, for example, phones (e.g., mobile and cellular phones, cordless phones, personal assistance devices), computers (e.g., laptops, tablet computers), internet connectivity routers (e.g., Wi-Fi routers or modems), radios, televisions, or any of various other stationary or handheld devices. Certain types of transceivers, known as wireless transceivers, may be used to generate and receive wireless signals to be transmitted and/or received by way of an antenna coupled to the transceiver. Specifically, the wireless transceiver is generally used to wirelessly communicate data over a network channel or other medium (e.g., air) to and from one or more external wireless devices.
Transceivers such as those described above may be disposed within (e.g., internal to) a wireless device. Unfortunately, other components or features of the wireless device may interfere with signals communicated to and from the transceiver. As such, it may be useful to provide more advanced and improved devices to support signal transmission to and from the transceiver.

Radio frequency transparent patterns for conductive coating


Multifunctional additives having a variety of advantageous properties are described. They are formed by a process which comprises heating concurrently or in any sequence a) an oil-soluble ashless dispersant containing basic nitrogen with b) an alkoxylated alcohol of at least 8 carbon atoms c) a borating agent and optionally d) an inorganic oxyacid or anhydride of phosphorous. The reactants are in proportions on an active ingredient basis of about 0.03 to about 0.35 part by weight of b) per part by weight of a), and about 0.005 to about 0.06 part by weight of boron as c) per part by weight of a). The reaction temperature can range from about 50.degree. to about 150.degree. C. Water and/or solids present in the resultant mixture can be removed. Preferably, the optional phosphorous component is used in the formation of these additives. This phosphorous component can be an inorganic oxyacid or anhydride of phosphorous.

Heretofore the formation of borated ashless dispersants has been reported. Typical disclosures on this subject include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,087,936; 3,254,025; 3,281,428; 3,282,955; 3,284,409; 3,284,410; 3,338,832; 3,344,069; 3,533,945; 3,658,836; 3,703,536; 3,718,663; 4,455,243; and 4,652,387.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,214 describes oil-soluble lubricant additive compositions formed by heating an inorganic phosphorous acid or anhydride, including partial and total sulfur analogs thereof, a boron compound, and an ashless dispersant which contains basic nitrogen and/or a hydroxyl group. Such additives have excellent antiwear/EP properties and impart antioxidancy to lubricating oils including functional fluids such as automatic transmission fluids. In addition, such additives exhibit improved rubber seal protective properties.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,256,324 and 5,164,103 disclose a preconditioned automatic transmission fluid made by using a preblend formed by heating an alkenyl succinimide or succinamide dispersant with a phosphorous ester and water to partially hydrolyze the ester and then mixing the preblend and other additives with a base oil. This patent does not suggest or disclose a multifunctional gear additive composition formed by heating an oil-soluble ashless dispersant containing basic nitrogen with an alkoxylated alcohol and a borating agent.
U.K. patent application 2,257,158 discloses an automatic transmission fluid or fluid for wet brake systems that includes an additive which increases the dynamic and/or static coefficients of friction. The additive as claimed is made by heating an ashless dispersant containing basic nitrogen with an inorganic acid of phosphorous, a boron compound and a polyol having up to 8 carbon atoms. This application teaches away from the present invention since it intends to increase friction in the transmission fluid while the present invention discloses an additive that reduces friction through the use of an alkoxylated alcohol that has at least 8 carbon atoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,020 discloses a lubricating oil composition that contains one or more overbased alkaline earth metal salts of an aromatic carboxylic acid which improves the detergent properties of the oil and an effective amount of a polyalkoxylated alcohol having a molecular weight of from 150 to 1500. This patent does not suggest the reaction of an alkoxylated alcohol having at least 8 carbon atoms with an oil soluble ashless dispersant containing basic nitrogen, a borating agent and an inorganic oxyacid or anhydride of phosphorous.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,156 discloses an ashless or low-ash oleaginous liquid composition comprising a major mount of hydrogenated poly-.alpha.-olefin oligomer fluid having a viscosity in the range of about 2 to about 10 cSt at 100.degree. C., and minor amounts of hydrogenated poly-.alpha. olefin oligomer and an antiwear/extreme pressure agent selected from phosphorous-containing ashless dispersant, boron-containing ashless dispersant, and phosphorous- and boron-containing ashless dispersants.


In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.

Providers of products and services generally seek to provide consumers with convenient and helpful ways to receive information about, to purchase, and to use the products and services. One well-known technique for distributing information and services to consumers is by employing human operators (e.g., customer service representatives) to communicate with the consumers by telephone. More recently, automated telephone applications have been introduced to provide information and services to consumers. For example, many organizations use telephone applications capable of automatically playing back audio recordings (e.g., menu choices) to callers. Other automated telephone applications have more complex functionality, including Interactive Voice Response ("IVR") and touchtone recognition technologies. For example, many banking organizations provide customers with IVR and/or touchtone telephone access to automated banking services, which are commonly referred to as "touchtone teller" services.
Other existing telephone applications combine human operators with automated telephone applications. For example, many customer service applications are able to automatically recognize telephony signals (e.g., caller ID signals) and present information associated with the telephony signals to a customer service representative. Accordingly, a customer service representative can be prepared with information helpful for communicating with a caller, including the identification, account number, or other information associated with the caller.
However, existing telephone applications are generally limited to supporting only voice and touchtone telephony communications. For example, existing telephone applications are unable to present visual information to persons calling a customer service representative, and communications between callers and the customer service representative are typically limited to voice communications. Consequently, providers of information and services are restricted with respect to the type, format, and amount of information that can be conveniently presented to callers. For example, audio presentation of large amounts of information can be time consuming, and many callers tend to perceive lengthy voice messages to be burdensome. In particular, many existing telephone applications use prerecorded voice instructions (i.e., an automated operator) to guide callers through a series of menu choices. The automated operator audibly recites the menu choices to callers and recognizes caller selections, which are typically received in the form of voice or touchtone signals. Unfortunately, this process is often time consuming and frustrating for callers, especially when a significant number of menu choices is audibly recited. A caller may be forced to wait a substantial amount of time to listen to an audible recitation of multiple menu options before the option desired by the caller is finally recited.
These and other limitations of conventional automated telephone applications can easily frustrate callers to the point that customer satisfaction is compromised. Moreover, lengthy call times can preclude would-be callers from being able to access a telephone application. Patronage may even be lost because of delays and inconveniences associated with conventional telephone applications.

Methods and systems for visual voice calls


A test fixture for testing backplanes of a printed circuit board having at least one shrouded connector including a translator fixture having a plurality of spaced apart translator plates adapted for containing and supporting a plurality of translator pins and a probe plate rigidly connected to a top plate of the translator fixture having a plurality of spring probes extending through holes in the probe plate in electrical contact with the translator pins of the translator fixture to translate to signals from the connector to a grid base located below the translator fixture.

The present invention relates to the testing of printed circuit boards. The invention has particular utility in connection with determined test fixtures of the type having test probes on a grid pattern, in which a translator pin fixture is used for translating electrical current from an off-grid pattern on a board under test to the channels of a tester in which the channel contacts are arranged in a grid pattern. An especially particular utility for the present invention is found in the area of facilitating electrical testing of electrical connectors mounted on a circuit board (commonly referred to as "backplane" or "mid-plane"). These connectors typically are surrounded by a sidewall extending beyond the ends of the electrical contact posts. The invention includes a large area probe plate having a plurality of spring probes fastened to the top plate of the translator fixture to provide compliant parallel translation of test signals between the connectors on the backplane and the translator pins of the translator fixture.

Test fixture for testing backplanes or populated circuit boards


A preform and a blow molded container formed therefrom and having plural cavities or compartments for providing enhanced properties including vacuum containers for hot and cold product, or barrier materials including gases or layered material, improved creep resistance, use of lower cost and/or recycled materials, increased wall strength and aerosol properties.

Bottles or containers having a plurality of compartments are known in the prior art. Probably the best known of these devices is the one referred to as a vacuum bottle which was introduced with the trademark name of "Thermos.RTM. (brand) bottle". Such bottles or containers were, and are, well known for keeping beverages or food products, such as thin liquids including but not limited to water, tea, coffee and the like, or thicker liquids such as soups, stews and the like, either hot or cold, by providing a vacuum within the outer one of the two compartments to thereby facilitate regulation of the temperature of product within the inner container by restricting heat transfer either to or from the inner compartment, so that cold products remain cold and hot products remain hot for reasonable periods of time.

Surya Plaza, K-185, Sarai Julena - First Floor


A method for three-dimensional data acquisition, adapted to acquire three-dimensional data of an object, includes the following steps. A laser light is projected onto a plurality of regions on the surface of the object so as to form a plurality of features within each of the regions. For each of the regions, the object and the features are captured from a first direction and a second direction simultaneously so as to generate a first object image corresponding to the first direction and a second object image corresponding to the second direction. For each of the regions, the first object image and the second object image are processed so as to obtain the two-dimensional coordinates of the features therein. The three-dimensional data of the object is obtained according to the two-dimensional data of the features in the first object image and the second object image corresponding to each of the regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and a system for data acquisition, in particular, to a method and a system for three-dimensional data acquisition.
2. Description of Related Art
In terms of three-dimensional (3D) surface-geometry measurement in the field of computer graphics, the applications include industrial design, reverse engineering, medical image processing, criminal identification, digital documentation of culture artifacts, archaeological artifacts, which may extensively require 3D imaging and data analysis. Moreover, the manufacturing revolution triggered by 3D scanners and 3D printers in recent years reveal the importance of 3D geometry data acquisition.
Conventional 3D laser scanners mostly include transmission components such as rotating mechanisms or moving mechanisms for carrying an object and are able to acquire 3D data of the object in a wider range by changing measuring positions. Such design may require higher manufacturing costs and additional calibration processes. On the other hand, the measuring approach without the usage of transmission components such as projecting a structured light may only provide a certain resolution, but not 3D data acquisition with a higher resolution for a local or particular region. Hence, to quickly and precisely acquire the 3D data of an object through the use of adjustable resolutions and components with low costs is one of the tasks to be solved.

Method and system for three-dimensional data acquisition

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology


A method and system performing the method includes receiving currency inventory information from a plurality of cash-points. The method also includes receiving a currency shipment request from a first cash-point. The method further includes determining a set of eligible cash-points from the plurality of cash-points based on the currency inventory information, each eligible cash-point being associated with a respective currency inventory having sufficient currency reserves to fulfill the currency shipment request. The method still further includes receiving an offer from each eligible cash-point, each offer indicative of an asking price for fulfilling the currency shipment request. The method additionally includes determining a selected cash-point to fulfill the currency shipment request based on the offers. The method even further includes initiating shipment of currency from the selected cash-point to the first cash-point.

Business entities, from local morn and pop shops to national retailers and large banks, require cash to service day-to-day business operations. For example, a grocery store clerk requires assorted denominations of paper currency or banknotes and coins in order to make change for customers purchasing goods with cash. If the clerk is unable to make the requisite change for a customer, the customer may be unable to otherwise purchase the item and the sale will be lost. The inability to service transactions with cash may also reflect poorly on a business's reputation. Customers who deal in cash may stop visiting such stores altogether. Bank branches and ATM's require cash to service the most basic customer requests. An inability to process these transactions, even for a short period of time, could adversely affect operations, not only of the locations themselves but also the operations of any associated institutions. On the other hand, carrying too much paper currency on hand may present a security risk for certain retail locations, such as convenience stores or other locations lacking in security infrastructure. Having too much cash on hand at one location could also result in too little cash at other locations where there is higher demand.
Although credit cards and electronic transactions have become more popular, a large percentage of transactions are still carried out with paper currency and coins. Thus, maintaining sufficient cash on hand at retail locations is a vital component of any business that sells virtually any type of goods or services. However, as electronic transactions increase in popularity, avenues for accumulation of currency to service day to day operations are diminishing.
Technology in the field of currency processing systems has yielded advancements in currency counting, counterfeit detection, and fitness calculation, enabling most businesses to obtain devices that automatically count, sort, and account for cash inventories. Particular devices may be capable of connecting to a network and providing output to a software system.
In certain currency processing systems, deposited banknotes are analyzed for integrity and quality. If the system determines that banknotes or other currency objects cannot be read properly, are damaged, counterfeit, or otherwise unfit for continued circulation, the system will generally reject the banknote or currency object for a human to perform a second review of the note. These systems may track deposited notes by serial number or other identifier, and store information regarding accepted and rejected notes in a database. Thus, certain cash management systems may have invoicing and tracking functionality for monitoring deposited banknotes. These systems may be implemented at various cash centers within a financial institution.
The cash cycle describes what happens to currency from printing to destruction. Currency is created and distributed by Central Banks (and similar authorities), enters circulation, is used and reused many times, and eventually reaches a point where it is worn or soiled and must be replaced with a new note. This also is true for other currency objects such as Food Coupons, Casino Vouchers, Cash-Out Tickets and other types of currency objects used in commerce.
Currency (also known as banknotes) is dispensed, carried, spent, stored, exchanged and transported. Currency is transported in bulk from places of excess buildup, such as retailers, to more secure locations, such as Cash in Transport (CIT) facilities, bank vaults, and the like. Whenever notes are aggregated, they must be sorted and counted. In virtually all places where any reasonable volume must be counted, this is done with machines of varying levels of speed and sophistication.
In the past several decades, the use of machines to count, sort and validate currency has expanded significantly in terms of both quantity and breadth of functionality. Some machines are used to count, sort, authenticate, capture serial numbers, evaluate fitness and even destroy banknotes (where this is authorized) at speeds up to or exceeding 44 banknotes per second. Output from these devices can be used to monitor currency deposits at various cash-points within a financial institution.

Facilitating transfer of cash inventories between entities

Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology America, Inc.


A particulate structure containing a carbon nanotube thus exhibiting improved electron-transferring property, a semiconductor electrode for a photoelectrochemical cell containing a carbon nanotube thus exhibiting improved electron-transferring property, an electrolytic solution for a photoelectrochemical cell containing a carbon nanotube thus exhibiting improved oxidation-reduction property, a reduction electrode for a photoelectrochemical cell containing a carbon nanotube thus exhibiting improved reduction property; and a photoelectrochemical cell applying at least one aspect above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell, and more particularly, to a dye-sensitized solar cell. The present invention also relates to a particulate structure, a semiconductor electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell, an electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, and a reduction electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
A photoelectrochemical cell is collectively referred to a cell that, upon receiving light, an electrochemical reaction occurs and an electric potential difference between both electrodes is generated. The types of the photoelectrochemical cells generally include a photovoltaic cell and a photoelectrolytic cell.
The representative example of the photovoltaic cell type of the photoelectrochemical cell is a dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye-sensitized solar cell was first developed by Michael Gratzel and colleagues at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) in Switzerland in 1991 (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,350,644, 5,441,827 and 5,728,487). The dye-sensitized solar cell is an energy converting apparatus that converts light energy into electrical energy. The main constituents of the dye-sensitized solar cell are a photosensitive dye that absorbs the visible light and generates electron-hole pairs, and a transition metal oxide semiconductor that transfers the generated electrons. The dye-sensitized solar cell can be used as a sensor or a power supply.
The production cost of the dye-sensitized solar cell is low and the efficiency of the energy conversion is high compared with a silicon photocell using a pn junction of a semiconductor. The dye-sensitized solar cell is a promising device that can serve as a substitute for the silicon photocell which has high production costs.
The operating principle of the general dye-sensitized solar cell is illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, when a ray of light, such as solar light is irradiated on a semiconductor electrode 11 made up of an n-type metal oxide semiconductor in which dye molecules are chemically adsorbed to its surface, the dye molecules that adsorb the ray of light are electronically raised from the ground state (D+/D) to an excited state (D+/D*) thus generating electron-hole pairs. These electrons (e−) are in the conductive bands of the n-type metal oxide semiconductor. The electrons transferred to the n-type metal oxide semiconductor are transferred to a conductive transparent substrate 12, and then fed to a load L via a conducting wire 13. The electrons passing through the load L are transferred to a platinum reduction electrode 14 via a conducting line 13′.
An oxidation-reduction electrolyte 15 often contains iodide ions and is infused between the semiconductor electrode 11 and the reduction electrode 14. The electronically transited and then oxidized dye molecules (D→D+) receive the electrons provided by the oxidation of iodide ions(3I−1→I3−1) in the oxidation-reduction electrolyte 15, and are reduced again. The oxidized iodide ion receive the electrons from the reduction electrode, and is reduced again.
For the commercialization of such a dye-sensitized solar cell, it is still required to increase the efficiency of the energy conversion. The efficiency of the energy conversion of the dye-sensitized solar cell is influenced by the properties of the metal oxide semiconductor particle, the properties of the semiconductor electrode containing the particle, the properties of the electrolyte, and the properties of the reduction electrode, etc. Accordingly, improvements for these properties are required.

Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do


A polyamide copolymer, useful as a melt adhesive especially for textiles, produced from the following monomers. 1. An unbranched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid with 6-20 C-atoms; PA1 2. A diamine mixture consisting of. (a) 20-80 mol percent, unbranched aliphatic diamines with 6-20 C-atoms; and PA2 (b) 80-20 mol percent branched aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic diamines;. said copolymer having a molecular weight of 2000-40000.

This invention relates to certain polyamide copolymers prepared from unbranched aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and a diamine mixture. More particularly, this invention relates to such polyamide copolymers which are useful as melt adhesives, especially for textiles.
It is known that certain polyamides can be applied as melt adhesives for textiles. The use of a polyamide for this purpose requires a good washing resistance to warm washing suds and a special melting characteristic that allows for processing in a technical important temperature range of about 120.degree.-160.degree. C.
It is also known that the melting behavior of a polyamide can be adjusted by copolymerization.
A further demand for textile melt adhesives is a high water absorption so that the vapor diffusion is not affected in the glued materials.
Up to the present, all polyamides, which have been used as textile melt adhesives, have shown, when in powder form, a tendency to bake or fuse together, especially when they contain aminocarboxylic acids. Therefore, additives are regularly mixed to these powders in order to improve the trickling ability. If the aminocarboxylic acids are omitted at mean average molecular weight (Mn), the fusion is decreased, but the range of melting temperatures is so small, that the polyamide cannot be processed in the common machines.
There is a need to transfer the good effect realized by use of branched diamines to compounds free of amino acid.

Melt adhesive based on polyamide from branched chain diamine