Virtual address space for array data to be stored in a virtual memory is allocated by establishing a table that associates segments of the virtual address space with predetermined array data dimensions and maintaining a map that identifies, for each segment, which portions of the segment have been allocated to store array data. The table and map are used to identify a contiguous portion of the virtual address space for the array data to be stored.

A typical computer system includes three basic elements, namely, a processor, a memory and an input/output system. The memory stores information, including data and instructions for processing the data, in a plurality of addressable storage locations. The processor enables information to be transferred, or fetched, to it, interprets the incoming information as either instructions or data, and processes the data in accordance with the instructions. The processor then transfers the processed data to addressed locations in the memory for storage.
The input/output system also communicates with the memory and the processor in order to transfer information into the computer system and to obtain the processed data from it for, for example, printing or display to an operator. Units comprising the input/output system normally operate in accordance with control information supplied to them by the processor. The control information defines the operations to be performed by the input/output units. Typical units comprising the input/output system include, for example, printers, video display terminals, and secondary information storage devices such as disk and tape storage units.
In a number of computer systems, virtual memory arrangements have been provided which permit the programmer to write an applications program without having to be concerned either about the amount of physical memory (that is, the number of addressable storage locations) actually included in the system, or other applications programs that the system may be processing concurrently. Virtual memory arrangements permit the programmer to generate an application, including the applications program and data, which may be many times larger than the amount of physical memory which may be included in a practical system.
In a typical computer system that provides a virtual memory arrangement, the computer executes each applications program in the context of a process, with each process having an associated virtual address space. The virtual address space, in turn, has a plurality of virtual addressable locations each identified by a virtual address. Each process's virtual address space is divided into equal-sized pages, and the physical address space of the computer's memory is divided into equally-sized blocks, with the number of storage locations in a block corresponding to the number of addressable locations in a page of virtual address space. Normally, pages containing most of the information, including the program's instructions and data, in a process' virtual address space are maintained on a secondary storage device, and transferred, under control of an operating system program, to blocks in the physical memory as they are needed. Typically, when information is transferred between physical memory and the secondary storage, the amount of information that is transferred corresponds to that which will fill an integral number of blocks when information is transferred to the memory, or from an integral number of blocks when information is transferred from the memory for storage in the secondary storage.
The size of a process's virtual address space may not be fixed, but instead may vary depending on the applications program's requirements. During processing, an applications program may need to increase the size of its virtual address space to accommodate additional data which it may be processing. A program, to increase the size of its process's virtual address space, issues a call to the operating system, which, in turn, determines whether the computer system contains sufficient resources to accommodate the increased virtual address space. In this operation, the operating system, for example, determines whether the secondary storage contains sufficient unused storage space to permit it to handle the increase in the virtual address space. In addition, an applications program may give up a portion of its virtual address space when it is finished with the processing of blocks of data, which, among other things, enables the operating system to free the storage space in secondary storage.

Virtual memory management and allocation arrangement for digital data processing system


A surgical instrument for performing cutting or gripping movements comprises a tube body (2) connected at its rear end with an end portion (1). The end portion is provided with a handle (4) including an actuating lever (5). At the front end of the tube body (2), are pivotable relative to each other and form a forceps. A transmission device extends from the end portion (1) to the forceps legs (9, 10) for spreading the same apart or for pressing them together. The handle (4) rotatable at the end portion (2) about an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the tube body. Upon turning the handle (4), the transmission device (22, 23) pivots the forceps legs (9, 10) commonly and in the same direction. Thus, it is possible to perform operations lateral of a puncture channel through which the tube body (2) extends.

The invention relates to a surgical instrument for performing cutting or gripping movements within a patient's body.
U.S. Pat. No. 0,003,668 describes a micro-surgery device with an elongate tube body that may be inserted into a patient's body. At the front end of the tube body, there is a stationary leg of a forceps. Cooperating with this stationary leg of the forceps is a movable leg of the forceps provided at the front end of a rod displaceable within the tube body. According to another possibility, the rod movable within the tube body is provided with two laterally resilient forceps legs that spread apart when being moved out of the tube end and that are pressed against each other when the rod is withdrawn.
There are applications, in which the instrument has to be advanced in a straight line up to the point of operation, without lateral projections protruding from the tube body. Further, it is often necessary to apply the forceps legs at sites lateral of the puncture channel through which the tube body leads. This necessity occurs in particular when vessel clamps or the like have to be set lateral of the operation site.


The present invention employs a method for transmitting and/or receiving high data bandwidths at reduced cost by employing a holographically corrected telescope for transmitting or receiving data-carrying signals remotely, at IR, optical or UV frequencies for low cost data communication.

Holographic correction of aberrated optical elements has been demonstrated in the prior art. The adaptation of this technique for correcting large optical components for telescopes was first suggested in 1971. The basic principle has not changed much since then, with only minor variations in the method by which this correction is achieved. The main emphasis of such research however, has been to use these holographically corrected telescopes (HCTs) for imaging, lidar (light ranging and detection) or directed energy weaponry. However, there has been no suggestion in the prior art that this device could be used for other purposes such as in data communications.
Data transmission relies on the modulation of an electromagnetic carrier wave broadcast by a suitable antenna to a receiving antenna where the signal is demodulated and the information extracted. Most communications networks broadcast through the atmosphere or in space use radio or microwave frequencies because it is easy to modulate these carrier waves and they are largely unaffected by weather. Unfortunately, due to diffraction of these large waves, even emitters several meters in size tend to scatter the broadcast signal over a large area. This spreading of the signal wastes much of the signal power as well as reducing the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) at the receiver. The SNR is a measure of the strength of the received carrier wave compared to the random emissions at the same frequency coming from other sources. It is important to have a large SNR so that the desired information can be separated from signals that do not come from the transmitter. The SNR depends heavily on the size of the transmitter and receiver as well as the frequency of the carrier wave.
Ideally, a communications network would utilize infrared, optical or UV frequencies, which are much higher than radio or microwave frequencies. At these wavelengths, a signal diffracts less, which means a beam can be transmitted with much less spread, resulting in less wasted power, a more secure transmission, and a higher SNR. The higher frequencies also means that the signal can be modulated at a much higher rate allowing for higher data bandwidths and hence a larger amount of data over a given channel in a specific period of time. This is the reason that optical fiber communications have gained so much prominence in recent years.
One of the major problems with optical communications has been that the receiver and transmitter optics must have a very accurate surface figure—to a fraction of the wavelength of the radiation used. At radio and microwave frequencies where the wavelengths are anywhere from 1 cm to 1 m, it is relatively simple to manufacture a dish (or telescope) which has a surface quality at this tolerance. At infrared and optical wavelengths, however, where the wavelengths are around a micron (a millionth of a meter), it is expensive to fabricate large telescopes to these specifications. For a space-based network of communications satellites, there is the added problem of ensuring that the mirrors maintain their high surface quality during launch, deployment and lifetime in a thermally stressful environment.
Accordingly, there is need and market for an optical data communication system that overcomes the above prior art shortcomings.
There has now been discovered a method for data communication of clarity of transmision employing optics of low cost.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


In a PLL frequency synthesizer outputting signals with different frequencies: voltage-controlled oscillators output the signals and have the oscillation frequencies controlled according to control voltages; a first switch selects one of the signals; a frequency divider generates a frequency-divided signal of the selected signal by use of a changeable frequency-division ratio; a phase comparator generates the phase difference between the frequency-divided signal and a reference signal; a second switch selects one of paths connected to low-pass filters; each low-pass filter is provided for one of the voltage-controlled oscillators, has a changeable time constant, and converts the phase difference into one of the control voltages; and a controller cyclically controls the first and second switches and the frequency divider so that the voltage-controlled oscillators continuously output the signals, and changes the changeable time constant of each low-pass filter after all of the signals become stable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) frequency synthesizer which outputs a plurality of signals having a plurality of frequencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to concurrently output a plurality of signals having a plurality of frequencies in the conventional PLL frequency synthesizers, it is necessary to provide a plurality of PLL circuits.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional PLL frequency synthesizer. The PLL frequency synthesizer of FIG. 8 comprises reference-signal generators 101a and 101b, reference counters 102a and 102b, phase comparators 103a and 103b, charge pumps 104a and 104b, low-pass filters (LPFs) 105a and 105b, voltage-controlled oscillators 106a and 106b, and programmable counters 107a and 107b.
The reference-signal generator 101a, the reference counter 102a, the phase comparator 103a, the charge pump 104a, the LPF 105a, the voltage-controlled oscillator 106a, and the programmable counter 107a constitute a first PLL circuit, and the reference-signal generator 101b, the reference counter 102b, the phase comparator 103b, the charge pump 104b, the LPF 105b, the voltage-controlled oscillator 106b, and the programmable counter 107b constitute a second PLL circuit. Thus, two signals having two different frequencies f1 and f2 are outputted from the first and second PLL circuits, respectively.
The reference-signal generators 101a and 101b output reference signals. The reference counters 102a and 102b divide the frequencies of the reference signals outputted from the reference-signal generators 101a and 101b, and output frequency-divided reference signals having the frequencies fr1 and fr2, respectively. The phase comparator 103a detects and outputs the phase difference between a signal outputted from the programmable counter 107a and the frequency-divided reference signal outputted from the reference counter 102a, and the phase comparator 103b detects and outputs the phase difference between the signal outputted from the programmable counter 107b and the frequency-divided reference signal outputted from the reference counter 102b. Currents proportional to the phase differences outputted from the phase comparators 103a and 103b flow into or out of the charge pumps 104a and 104b. The low-pass filters (LPFs) 105a and 105b smooth the currents outputted from the charge pumps 104a and 104b, and generate DC (direct-current) voltages as control voltages, respectively. The voltage-controlled oscillators 106a and 106b output signals having the frequencies f1 and f2 according to the control voltages outputted from the low-pass filters (LPFs) 105a and 105b, respectively. The programmable counters 107a and 107b divide the frequencies f1 and f2 of the signals outputted from the voltage-controlled oscillators 106a and 106b, and output frequency-divided signals to the phase comparators 103a and 103b, respectively.
Since the reference signals outputted from the reference-signal generators 101a and 101b are different, the frequencies f1 and f2 of the signals outputted from the voltage-controlled oscillators 106a and 106b are different. Thus, signals having a plurality of frequencies are concurrently obtained by providing a plurality of PLL circuits.
However, the necessity for provision of the plurality of PLL circuits in the conventional PLL frequency synthesizer illustrated in FIG. 8 increases the number of circuit components and the circuit area. In order to overcome this problem, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-209223 (pages 2 and 3 and FIG. 1) discloses a PLL frequency synthesizer in which some portions of PLL circuits are shared so that the number of circuit components is reduced and increase in the circuit area is suppressed.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating another conventional PLL frequency synthesizer. The PLL frequency synthesizer of FIG. 9 comprises a phase comparator 111, switches 112 and 115, low-pass filters (LPFs) 113a and 113b, voltage-controlled oscillators 114a and 114b, a programmable counter 116, and a controller 117.
The phase comparator 111 receives a reference signal having the frequency fr, and outputs the phase difference between the reference signal and the signal outputted from the programmable counter 116. The switch 112 is controlled by the controller 117, and outputs to the low-pass filters (LPFs) 113a and 113b the phase difference outputted from the phase comparator 111. Each of the low-pass filters (LPFs) 113a and 113b smoothes the phase difference outputted from the switch 112 to the LPF, and generates a control voltage. The voltage-controlled oscillators 114a and 114b output signals having the frequencies f1 and f2 according to control signals outputted from the low-pass filters (LPFs) 113a and 113b, respectively. The switch 115 is controlled by the controller 117, and outputs to the programmable counter 116 one of the signals outputted from the voltage-controlled oscillators 114a and 114b. The programmable counter 116 is controlled by the controller 117, and divides the frequency of the signal outputted from the switch 115.
The controller 117 controls the switches 112 and 115 and the programmable counter 116 so that the signals having the frequencies f1 and f2 are concurrently outputted from the voltage controlled oscillators 114a and 114b. In order to output the signal having the frequency f1, the controller 117 controls the switch 112 so as to connect the phase comparator 111 and the LPF 113a, and the switch 115 so as to connect the programmable counter 116 and the voltage-controlled oscillator 114a. In addition, in order to output the signal having the frequency f2, the controller 117 controls the switch 112 so as to connect the phase comparator 111 and the LPF 113b, and the switch 115 so as to connect the programmable counter 116 and the voltage-controlled oscillator 114b. Further, the controller 117 controls the frequency-division ratio of the programmable counter 116 so that the signals having the frequencies f1 and f2 are outputted. As described above, the phase comparator 111 and the programmable counter 116 are shared, and the controller 117 is provided, so that the number of circuit components is reduced and increase in the circuit area is suppressed.
Further, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-95069 (paragraph Nos. 0018 to 0022 and FIG. 1) discloses a PLL frequency synthesizer in which the frequency is locked at a plurality of values which are set as data at a plurality of channels, and the control voltages of a voltage-controlled oscillator when the frequency is locked at the plurality of values are stored in advance. When a signal having the frequency corresponding to one of the above channels is outputted, the corresponding control voltage is outputted to the voltage-controlled oscillator, so that the lockup time can be reduced.
Nevertheless, in the PLL frequency synthesizer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-209223, it is necessary to increase the time constants of the LPFs in order to stabilize the output signals after power-on, so that the lockup time increases.
In addition, since the PLL frequency synthesizer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-95069 contains a storage circuit for storing the control voltages and a converter for performing analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion of the control voltages, the number of circuit components and the circuit area increase.


In an active gas generating apparatus, a power feeder is provided above metal electrodes in an integrated high-voltage electrode unit. When seen in plan view, the power feeder has a shape that entirely covers the metal electrodes in the integrated high-voltage electrode unit. Each of power feeding units is provided below the metal electrodes in an integrated ground electrode unit. When seen in plan view, each of the power feeding units has a shape that entirely covers the metal electrodes of the integrated ground electrode unit.

A type of active gas generating apparatus uses dielectric barrier discharge that is generated in a discharge space formed between a pair of dielectric electrodes. The dielectric barrier discharge generates an active gas required for a nitriding process, an oxidizing process, and the like for a semiconductor.
Such a conventional active gas generating apparatus using dielectric barrier discharge includes, for example, a plasma generating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. This plasma generating apparatus causes the dielectric barrier discharge in a discharge space formed between a high-voltage electrode unit and a ground electrode unit, each unit disposed opposite the other, and generates an active gas by flowing a source gas into the discharge space.

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION


An electric connector includes an insulative body and groups of contacts. The contacts are disposed in spaced relationship inside the body and arranged in at least two rows in a lateral direction of the body. The groups of contacts include a plurality of first contacts; and a plurality of second contacts located in a different row from a row where their associated first contacts exist, the second contacts being arranged next to the first contacts. Out of one of the first contacts and one of the second contacts subject to impedance tuning, one of these two contacts has a width and an area thereof adjusted in accordance with a difference in impedance from impedances between other first and second contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connector used mainly for high-speed digital signaling and capable of providing good impedance matches.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known electric connector of this type, an insulative body has groups of contacts disposed in two rows along its width, and the groups of contacts are arranged in a zigzag manner. The groups of contacts include ground contacts and pairs of signal contacts to serve as differential pairs for high-speed digital signaling.
Some of the ground contacts are wider than some of the signal contacts making up a pair, and each of the ground contacts is arranged so that their widthwise ends overlaps widthwise ends of each pair of signal contacts in plain positions. With this structure, impedance is matched within each differential pair of contacts and among the differential pairs of contacts (see Japanese Published Patent Publication No. 2003-505826, which is the translation of Published International Application No. WO01/006602).
However, as to a differential pair located at an outermost end of the groups of contacts, there is no ground contact disposed at one side of a signal contact of the differential pair. Therefore, capacitance of this signal contact with respect to a ground contact is smaller as compared with that of the other signal contact of the same differential pair, with the result of increased impedance. For this reason, there are impedances mismatches between the contacts, thereby degrading transmission characteristics of the connector.
In this case, it is not impossible to improve impedance matching by disposing a dummy ground contact at the side of the signal contact in question or by bringing a portion of a shield cover of the electric connector close to the signal contact. However, the addition of a dummy ground contact or the change in shape of the shield cover will cause increase in the number of components and assembly steps, leading to increased costs.


Provided is a drill that can drill with good accuracy without over-processing during deburring. The drill includes: a drill main body that is rotated around a central axis; a main cutting edge provided at a leading end of the drill main body; and a deburring cutting edge that is provided on a base end side of the drill main body, adjacent to the main cutting edge, and performs deburring. The deburring cutting edge is similar in diameter to the main cutting edge and has an angle (β) smaller than an angle (α) formed by the main cutting edge relative to the central axis.

For example, when a hole is bored by a drill in a member made of metal etc., burrs are formed at a circumferential edge of the hole on an outlet side. These burrs are manually removed after drilling. In the case of boring a large number of holes, however, manually removing burrs is inefficient because of the time taken for the operation. Therefore, as disclosed by the following Patent Literatures, a cutting edge for deburring is integrally formed in a drill to perform also deburring after drilling.

Drill and drilling device including the same


A compact collapsible camping chair includes upper tubes, leg tubes, a molded central tube connector and a seat back. The tube connector is molded from aluminum, zinc or plastic reinforced with glass fiber. Lower ends of the upper tubes fit snugly into circular upper holes in the central tube connector, and upper ends of the leg tubes fit snugly into circular lower holes in the central tube connector. Upper ends of the upper tubes fit into tube receptacles in the seat back. The two longer upper tubes are bent, whereas the two shorter upper tubes are straight. Elastic cords pass from the upper tubes, through the tube connector and into the leg tubes and tend to pull the tubes into the holes in central tube connector. The upper tubes, leg tubes, central tube connector and seat back can be placed in a bag that is less than one foot long.

Portable chairs are convenient during outdoor activities at which seating is otherwise unavailable. Folding chairs that are commonly used in the home to save space are not considered sufficiently portable for most outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, fishing, outdoor concerts and sporting events. A portable chair for outdoor activities should be light weight and compact. For example, a chair used for hiking or camping should advantageously fit into a back pack and not weigh down the hiker.
The typical tube-and-canvas folding chairs used at field-side sporting events are simply too large and heavy to take along on a hike. A smaller and lighter folding chair would also be more convenient even at events on a field that is a short distance from the trunk of the user's car.
FIG. 1 (prior art) shows an assembled, light-weight, collapsible chair 10 that is appropriate for hiking and camping. Chair 10 is assembled around two molded-plastic tube connectors 11. Metal tubes 12 are inserted into openings in the tube connectors 11 in order to assemble chair 10. The other ends of the tubes 12 are then inserted into corner pockets of a canvas seat back 13.
FIG. 2 (prior art) shows collapsible chair 10 of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state. The tubes 12 are removed from the tube connectors 11 and can be folded into the canvas seat back 13. Thus, collapsible chair 10 can be conveniently packed into a small bag or back pack. However, collapsible chair 10 has the disadvantage of being unstable, particularly on the uneven ground typically present at outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, fishing, sporting events and concerts. Although the right two legs are spaced relatively far apart from the left two legs, the occupant of chair 10 still has a tendency to fall backwards because the front legs are spaced relatively close to the back legs. A solid metal frame of the same dimensions as chair 10 might provide more stability, but the light-weight metal tubes 12 tend to bend somewhat under the weight of the occupant and permit the center of gravity to shift behind the ends of the back legs.
A compact, light-weight collapsible chair is sought that is nevertheless sturdy and stable and suitable for use on uneven ground.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compact, collapsible, camping chair with a unitary central tube connector


A system for monitoring the interface region between cellular constituents and plasma in a blood separation chamber employs a sensor mechanism for emitting upon the interface region energy that is absorbed by the cellular constituents. The sensor mechanism also detects the intensity of the energy that is not absorbed by the interface region to generate an unabsorbed intensity output signal. The system moves the interface region relative to the sensor mechanism during a prescribed time period. A first circuit measures variations in the unabsorbed intensity output signal over the prescribed time period and generates a time based output. A second circuit can derive the physical size of the interface region based upon the time based output.

Today blood collection organizations routinely separate whole blood by centrifugation into its various therapeutic components, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Conventional blood processing systems and methods use durable centrifuge equipment in association with single use, sterile processing chambers, typically made of plastic. The centrifuge equipment introduces whole blood into these chambers while rotating them to create a centrifugal field.
Whole blood separates within the rotating chamber under the influence of the centrifugal field into higher density red blood cells and platelet-rich plasma. An intermediate layer of white blood cells and lymphocytes forms an interface between the red blood cells and platelet-rich plasma.
In conventional blood separation systems and methods, it is important to monitor the position of the interface during processing, to keep the formed elements in the interface and red blood cells adjacent to the interface from entering the platelet-rich plasma stream.

Time based interface detection systems for blood processing apparatus


A friction clutch having an electromagnet assembly including a coil and a magnet connected to the coil. When the coil is energised, a magnetic field is generated and passes through the magnet and a magnetisable conductive body adjacent to the magnet, such that a displaceable magnetisable armature portion can be brought from one position into another position. The coil has a plurality of outer portions each having an associated outer dimension of the outer portion. The magnet completely covers an outer portion of the coil by a magnet side. Two further outer portions of the coil are not covered by the magnet or are not covered by more than 20% of an outer dimension of the further outer portion, or wherein, in the case a single further outer portion covered by the magnet, the outer portion is not covered by more than 70%.

Friction clutches in vehicles having an internal combustion engine are known, for example, as part of a drive for an auxiliary unit, such as, for example, a water pump or a fan of a cooling system of the motor vehicle. Electromagnetically actuatable friction clutches are frequently installed for switching the auxiliary unit.


The invention relates to a device for measuring the direct component of alternating current, applicable in current measuring systems where a low direct component of alternating current and a high amplitude of the alternating component of alternating current occur. The device for measuring the direct component of alternating current comprises a current-carrying wire (1) around which there is located a magnetic core (2) provided with a gap (3) in which a magnetic field sensor (4) with insulated terminals (5) is located and it comprises a shorted compensating winding (6) or (9) which is made in the form of a single turn coil placed on the core (2).

Systems comprising a conductor with measured current, a magnetic circuit in the form of a magnetic core with a gap located around the conductor with the current, and a magnetic field sensor located in the magnetic core gap belong to the most popular current measuring systems. These systems operate without a feedback control loop. If the measuring system is furnished with a secondary winding located on the magnetic core, which winding is connected with a magnetic field sensor and with an additional power supply system which forces the flow of current in the secondary winding, then this is a system operating with a feedback control loop.
The above mentioned systems provide a satisfactory measuring range for a vast array of applications. Their feature is the representation of the value and waveform of the measured current in the conductor in the form of a voltage or current signal. The output signal of these measuring systems is proportional to the measured current, both for the direct component and the alternating component. The direct component means current of a value that is constant in a given, finite time interval, whereas an alternating component means current of a value alternating periodically in a given time interval. The traditional system with feedback is shown in the state of the art in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,101. A conductor with a measured current is placed in the magnetic core window. The magnetic core is placed coaxially with the conductor and it has an air gap in which a magnetic field sensor is placed. The signal from the field sensor is supplied to a signal conversion/amplification system and then to a secondary winding wound on the core and further to the measuring system connected to the secondary winding.
The disadvantage of the above described solution is that if there is a large disproportion between the direct component and the alternating component of the measured current, by way of example, in the order of 10,000 times, a very precise measuring system of a great measurement resolution is required. In such systems, the measured signal from the direct component which is several orders of magnitude lower can be at the level of noise of the conversion system, which in the worst case makes it impossible to measure the direct component. In cases where direct component measurement is significant while a precise measurement of the alternating component is not required, the above described disadvantage is of basic importance.

Device for measuring the direct component of alternating current


Inflatable radar reflectors comprising three mutually orthogonal radar reflective planes incorporated within the structure thereof can take the form of a teardrop, a cylindrical drogue or a set of three intersecting discs. A preferred embodiment includes three inflatable hollow toruses of flexible material which mutually intersect in a manner such that their planes are mutually orthogonal and each intersection provides a passage for air to pass between the intersecting sections thereof, inflation means for filling the three toruses simulataneously and collapsible circular panels of radar-reflective material covering each torus so that they form mutually orthogonal radar reflective planes. The preferred embodiment can be encased in a radar permeable balloon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to distress or emergency signalling devices, for use on sea or land, which are lifted into the air by lighter-than-air balloons, sails, or particularly by means including a parafoil such as used by sport parachutists. The invention further relates to inflatable radar reflectors for use as distress signal devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Increasingly popular among outdoor sports are boating, hiking, cross-country skiing and the like. One factor such sports have in common is the possibility of participants becoming lost or other distress situations which require signalling the outside world for help and perhaps employing survival techniques while awaiting rescue. A variety of signals may be used for day and/or night signalling.
Brynjegard's U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,304 discloses orthogonal radar reflectors for use as emergency radar reflectors. A further account of the prior art is provided in the parent applications.
Despite the availability of a variety of distress signals, there is growing demand for signals which may be more effective, convenient and useful, preferably qualifying for Coast Guard certification.


A composite storage apparatus has a memory card and a storage device. An interface conversion circuit of a second interface and a first interface, a connector of the first interface, and memory card device are disposed on a card board. Thereby, a composite storage apparatus which has the memory card and a storage device with a single interface with a plurality of interfaces can be easily implemented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite storage apparatus where a plurality of different types of storage devices are mounted, and a card board thereof, and more particularly to a composite storage apparatus where a disk drive and a memory card are mounted, and a card board thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk drive using such storage medium as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk and optical disk can store large capacity, but are relatively large in size. A memory card using a semiconductor memory, on the other hand, is relatively small in size, but has a small storage capacity, so it is suitable for compact equipment.
Along with the recent advancements in digital processing technology, such portable equipment as digital cameras and digital video cameras are spreading, and for such portable equipment, memory cards, including a compact flash (CF) card, memory stick (MS) card (trade mark), smart media (SM) card, secure digital (SD) card, and multi-media card (MMC) are used.
A preferable type of usage is to edit the stored content of such a memory card by a personal computer, storing the result in a large capacity disk drive, and to use the memory card again. For this, a composite storage apparatus where a memory card reader/writer and a disk drive (MO drive) are integrated into one device unit has been proposed (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-358207).
As a specific configuration of the composite storage apparatus, a memory card connector and a memory card controller are mounted on the board of the disk drive, and the interface with the host is limited to one type (e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-288964, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-022899).
In other words, in prior art, the interface of the memory card and the disk drive is one type (e.g. ATA (AT Attached)/ATAPI (AT Attached Packet Interface) or USB (Universal Serial Bus)), so one type of host interface is supported.
However in general purpose personal computers, various interfaces (such a serial interface as USB, and parallel interface as ATA/ATAPI) exist, and in memory cards as well, various interfaces (such a parallel interface as a CF card and serial interface as MS/SM/SD/MMC) exist.
In prior art, it is difficult for one composite storage apparatus with a memory card and disk drive to support such various interfaces. Constructing a composite storage apparatus using a disk drive and a memory card in which a plurality of interfaces are mounted respectively increases cost, because it is necessary to redesign and reproduce a disk drive and memory card which have a single interface for this purpose.
Also the size of the composite storage apparatus must be larger, which makes it difficult to contain in a 1 inch height (3.5 type storage form factor), and therefore makes it difficult to build this composite storage apparatus into a personal computer, digital camera and DVD recorder.

Composite storage apparatus and a card board thereof


A container support for holding a container has a lower base and upper holding member. The base receives the container which bears on the base in a bearing direction. The holding member has an opening for receiving the container. The holding member is connected to the base by a connecting mechanism configured such that the holding member is movable relative to the base in translation along the bearing direction.

Such container supports are positioned in motor vehicles to allow passengers to set down beverage containers, while preventing those containers from falling due to the movements of the vehicle.
Container supports are retractable for aesthetic reasons or to prevent them from being accidentally damaged when they are not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,009 discloses a retractable container support comprising a base for receiving the bottom of a container and a holding member to hold an upper part of the container received on the base, the base and the holding member being rotatably mounted on a fastening panel and connected by at least one articulated arm such that the movement of the base relative to the fastening panel causes the movement of the holding member relative to the fastening panel.
WO 2011/035824 discloses a retractable container support comprising a base for receiving the bottom of the container and a holding member to hold an upper part of the container placed on the base, the base and the holding member being connected by an arm connected to each of the base and the holding member by a pivot connection.
One of the aims of the invention is to propose a retractable container support that is simple, cost-effective, robust and easy to use.

Retractable container support and a vehicle containing the retractable container support


Multiple food storage systems are disclosed herein. One food storage system includes a main bowl that defines a first food receiving cavity. A secondary bowl is positioned in the first food receiving cavity and defines a second food receiving cavity. The secondary bowl includes a sidewall containing thermal energy storage material therein. A separate food storage system includes a main lid configured for use with a main bowl that defines a first food receiving cavity. A secondary bowl is positioned at least partially on and/or in the main lid. The secondary bowl includes a sidewall containing thermal energy storage material therein.

The present invention is generally directed to food storage systems and, more specifically, is directed to food storage systems that include thermal energy storing material for heating and/or cooling associated food.
While some food service items use multiple compartments to store or present food, such food service items fail to maintain the associate food at suitable temperatures when that food must be maintained in a heated and/or chilled state. This results in food spoilage and/or in food characteristics changing in an unpalatable fashion.
It would be advantageous to provide a food storage system that could separately store multiple foods; that can maintain food in a heated and/or cooled condition; that preferably can be used for serving food; and that is preferably easy to transport or store for later consumption.


An method including forming multiple interconnect levels on top of one another, each level comprising a metal interconnect and a crack stop both embedded in a dielectric layer, and a dielectric capping layer directly on top of the dielectric layer and directly on top of the metal interconnect, the crack stop is an air gap which intersects an interface between the dielectric layer and the dielectric capping layer of each interconnect level, and forming a through substrate via through the multiple interconnect levels adjacent to, but not in direct contact with, the crack stop, the crack stop of each interconnect level is directly between the metal interconnect of each interconnect level and the through substrate via to prevent cracks caused during fabrication from propagating away from the through substrate via and damaging the metal interconnect.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor device manufacturing, and, more particularly, to the fabrication a vertically discontinuous air gap crack stop.
To minimize the BEOL interconnect portion of circuit delay, a conventional SiO2 dielectric (k˜4.0) has been replaced with dense lower-k films (K<3.0). However, for even further performance improvement, more parasitic capacitance reduction is required (k<2.5) for high-speed circuits. Most of the porous low-k dielectric materials, though, have relatively weak mechanical properties as compared to dense dielectrics. As such, it has become a significant challenge for current BEOL processes to integrate these materials with other module processes. For example, the conventional chemical-mechanical polish process has difficulty polishing porous dielectrics, and the conventional PVD diffusion barrier deposition technology cannot offer reasonable coverage on the surface of porous dielectrics.
Moreover, it has been found that when the dielectric constant of an insulator in an interconnect structure is reduced, mechanical properties are often compromised, giving rise to significant challenges in interconnect integration and reliability. By way of illustration, due to low adhesion of the dielectric an interfacial crack may occur during fabrication. This is a particular problem in the fabrication of multilevel interconnected integrated circuits since it can significantly reduce yield and impair reliability of the device.
In one example, to increase throughput, a plurality of integrated circuits are fabricated on a wafer, in parallel, using porous low-k dielectrics. The integrated circuits are then separated into individual chips using a process known as "dicing." However, as the kerf is diced, cracks and delaminations can be occur which can propagate into the active chip regions. This has been found to be especially problematic in multilevel devices where the dielectric constant of the insulator in an interconnect of the integrated circuit is reduced, mainly due to the mechanical properties of the insulator. Cracks in excess of a few microns in depth and several tenths of millimeters in length have been observed. The cracks and delaminations can either result in chip yield loss or reliability issues as the chip is stressed in a package.
To combat this problem, an air gap between the diced channel and the active chip region is fabricated using conventional RIE (reactive ion etching) processes. By way of illustration, after the multilevel interconnected chip is fabricated, a single RIE process is used to etch through all of the layers, preferably to the first capping layer above the first dielectric. By using the crack stop (e.g., air gap), it has been found that the cracks and delaminations will terminate at the crack stop, prior to reaching the active chip area. That is, the crack stop will eliminate or significantly reduce the crack/delamination driving force such that the propagation of the crack/delamination will be stopped prior to reaching the chip active area.


A technique for exchanging LCAS control information between a first network element and a second network element interconnected by a bi-directional optical communication line, while conveying substantially unidirectional data traffic in the form of a virtual concatenated group (VCG) binary stream transmitted in a first direction via the bi-directional optical communication line, the technique comprising: —in the first direction, transmitting the LCAS control information via the bi-directional optical communication line in the VCG binary stream, by placing the information in one or more overhead bytes conventionally specified for the VCG binary stream, —in a second (opposite) direction, transmitting the LCAS control information in an existing binary stream non-related to the above-mentioned unidirectional data traffic; the existing binary stream should pass via a communication trail connecting the first network element and the second network element but not obligatory coinciding with the above-mentioned line; the discussed information should be placed in one or more overhead bytes of the existing binary stream.

The use of Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS) for virtual concatenated signals is described in the ITU-T Standard Recommendation G.7042. The Recommendation specifies a link capacity adjustment scheme that should be used to increase or decrease the capacity of a container that is transported in an SDH/OTN network using Virtual Concatenation. The scheme is applicable to every member of the Virtual Concatenation group.
This Recommendation defines the required states at the source and at the sink side of the link as well as the control information exchanged between both the source and the sink side of the link to enable the flexible resizing of this Virtual Concatenated signal. The actual information fields used to convey the control information through the transport network are defined in their respective Recommendations, which are ITU-T Recs G.707/Y.1322 and G.783 for SDH and ITU-T Recs G.709/Y.1331 and G.798 for OTN which are also called OTH—Optical Transport Hierarchy.
For example, in SDH/SONET frames, control information concerning LCAS protocol is transmitted by means of POH (Path Overhead) bytes of a standard SONET/SDH transport module. In OTH, such LCAS control information is normally transmitted in OPU-k virtual concatenation overhead (VCOH 1/2/3).
LCAS, in the virtual concatenation source and sink adaptation functions, provides a control mechanism to smoothly increase or decrease the capacity of a link to meet the bandwidth needs of the application. It also provides the capability of temporarily removing member links that have experienced a failure. The LCAS assumes that in cases of capacity initiation, increase or decrease, the construction or destruction of the end-to-end path of each individual member is the responsibility of the Network and Element Management Systems.
Synchronization of changes in the capacity of the transmitter (So) and the receiver (Sk) shall be achieved by a control packet. Each control packet describes the state of the link during the next control packet. Changes are sent in advance so that the receiver can switch to the new configuration as soon as it arrives.
It should be noted that LCAS protocol is transmitted between a source and a destination via the transport network as control information. Since transmission via the communication link is usually bi-directional, a so-called hand-shaking procedure is required to maintain the transmission. Therefore, the control information concerning LCAS protocol is transmitted by means of overhead bytes (such as POH bytes of SDH data frame), and in both directions of any bi-directional link.
In cases of substantially unidirectional data traffic, data flow in the opposite direction of a bi-directional link is almost negligible. Such situations are typical for video on demand applications, when, according to a customer's order, massive data flows carry the ordered video information in one transmission direction via the communication link. Another example of a unidirectional data traffic is any kind of e-learning process when heavy data traffic is transferred to a client (in one transmission direction) upon his/her single momentary request (in the opposite direction). In these cases, the need of transmitting LCAS in the mentioned opposite direction results in forwarding almost or completely empty SDH/SONET or OTN transport modules just for the purpose of transporting some informative overhead bytes thereof. Consequently, bandwidth capacity of the communication link is utilized non-effectively in such cases.

Method for transmitting LCAS protocol via an optical communication line


An image processing apparatus and image processing method according to the present disclosure are characterized to obtain N number of image data regarding a same object, each N number of image data consisting of a plurality of pixels; remove noise data of among N number of pixel data regarding pixels in a same location, from the N number of image data; and generate an image of the object using data excluding the noise data.

1. Field of the Invention
The following description relates to an image processing method and image processing apparatus, for example, an image processing method which may obtain clear images using a time axis low band pass filter, and an image processing apparatus thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electron microscope generates a scan electron beam of XV direction in an electron gun 1, and irradiates the electron beam to a sample 2 placed on a lower portion of an evacuated chamber 10. An electron returning from the sample to which the electron beam is irradiated is detected by a highly sensitive sensor PMT (3: photomultiplier tube), and a weak second electron is amplified. The amplified second electron passes an AD converter (ADC) and is accumulated in a memory as image data, and the created image is transmitted to a control computer and is displayed on a monitor 40. A user becomes able to check the monitor and find or analyze a defect of a surface of the sample such as a wafer.
An image processing apparatus is an essential apparatus attached to such an electron microscope or a 3 dimensional focused ion-beam lithography etc. An image processing apparatus generates signals controlling electron beams and forms images of samples. It is the most important element in an electron microscope, or a 3 dimensional focused ion-beam apparatus where high resolution and quality image is an important function.
A conventional image processing apparatus obtains one image by consecutively expressing a signal of a secondary electron detected by a PMT, and sequentially obtains a total of N number of images in the same method.
Such an image consists of a same size and same number of pixels regarding a same object. However, in the process of creating an image as illustrated in FIG. 2 where grey level values (dotted line graph in FIG. 2) of the same location pixel of 128 image data are sequentially generated, noise occurs due to electrical or mechanical vibration, and thus the grey level values of the pixels in the same location are not identical. And in the case of creating an image of a sample by simply combining such N number of images, it is impossible to generate an exact image of the sample as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Therefore, in most commercial products, an image including noise is converted into a high quality image through an after-process, wherein the most frequently used method is the moving average filter method.
The moving average filter method is a method of averaging the grey values of the pixels in the same location in N number of images to form one integrated image using the average value. In the case of performing such an after-process, it is possible to obtain clearer images than those obtained when just combining N number of images as illustrated in FIG. 4.
An image which has been after-processed by the moving average filter method is clearer than an image which has not been after-processed, but there is a problem that, when the image shakes in X and Y directions due to mechanical vibration, boundary lines are averaged and thus edges become unclear and the image appears somewhat murky.

Image processing method and image processing apparatus using time axis low band pass filter


A statistical simulation of a semiconductor fabrication process is performed in parallel with the actual process. Input parameters derived from a probability density function are applied to the simulator which, in turn, simulates an actual fabrication process which is modeled as a probability density function. Each simulation step is repeated with a random seed value using a Monte Carlo technique, a trial-and-error method using repeated calculations to determine a best solution to a problem. The simulator generates an output in the form of a probability distribution. The statistical simulation uses single-step feedback in which a simulation run uses input parameters that are supplied or derived from actual in-line measured data. Output data generated by the simulator, both intermediate output structure data and WET data, are matched to actual in-line measured data in circumstances for which measured data is available. The probability density structure of the simulator is adjusted after each simulation step so that simulated data more closely matches in-line measured data.

Process simulation is the usage of processing experiments, typically using a computer, as directed by mathematical models created to describe a process phenomena. Many simulation and analysis tools (for example, Pisces, Medici, Suprem3, Suprem4 and PdFab) have been developed to assist process integration and device development. These tools have not been as widely employed for integrated circuit manufacturing. Generally, these tools are developed primarily for research and development purposes and do not adequately address various difficulties that arise in the manufacturing environment.
Several characteristics are generally applicable to the manufacturing environment and distinguish the manufacturing environment from a process integration and device development environment. One characteristic of the manufacturing environment is that measurable aspects of processes are have a fundamentally statistical nature, rather than a deterministic nature. Process variations and measurement errors are inherent to manufacturing processes so that substantially all data measured in a manufacturing environment is statistical. Exact measurement values are generally not available for each device at each stage of a manufacturing process so that a single data point is insufficient to justify a decision relating to the process. For example, if it is known that application of input parameters A and B to a fabrication process to yield an output variable C, what is truly known is that input parameters A and B each have a statistical profile that, when combined in the fabrication process, yield a statistical profile C shown in FIG. 1. The most useful information available in a manufacturing environment is the form of the statistical profile which results from the process. Unfortunately, nearly all information that is utilized in the manufacturing environment and all input parameters to a fabrication tool are expressed in the form of single-valued parameters, rather than in statistical profiles.
While conventional simulation and analysis tools do not suitably address the statistical nature of manufacturing processes, these tools are also deficient in failing to take advantage of the extensive process variables, in-line measurements and Wafer Electrical Testing (WET) data measurements that are available. WET testing includes testing for various device electrical parameters including threshold voltage and drive current that are measured at a wafer level, before bonding. Conventional simulation and analysis tools designed for research and development generally presume that a fabrication process is not yet operational for actual manufacturing. Therefore, these conventional simulation and analysis tools are not sufficiently flexible for a manufacturing engineer to make optimizations of the process. Specifically, these conventional tools do not allow the manufacturing engineer to utilize the extensive statistical data that is available in a manufacturing process to optimize the simulation model. Furthermore, for simulation tools that use either an empirical approach or an analytical approach, the model fitting parameters do not have sufficient degrees of freedom to match the extensive data that are available from an actual manufacturing process.
Another characteristic of the manufacturing environment is that monitoring of manufacturing processes and improvement of these processes is a fine-tuning process. Each tuning step includes a measurement of small differences in process variables with these differences being attributable at least in part to statistical fluctuations and also to complicated interactions between multiple reactions of the process as various process parameters are modified. Process results are typically difficult to measure with accuracy. A large number of highly variable factors influence process results. Modification of a single factor in isolation from other factors is difficult. This difficulty arises not only from a limited understanding of a factor's influence on the process but also because the various factors cause complex inter-related cross effects and interactions. Thus, a simulation and analysis tool that a production engineer confidently uses needs to supply a much higher order of measured precision of the data. Mere indications of data trends are insufficient. What is sought in the development of manufacturing tools and techniques is not a drastic change in a fabricated structure, but rather a small adjustment in characteristics. For example, what typically produces an improvement in an integrated circuit structure, such as an LDD structure in a transistor, is a change in dopant dosage of about ten percent or a change in applied temperature of 100.degree. C. The combination of the small size of the adjustments which are achieved by process modifications and the difficulty in measuring results of the modifications accurately manifest a disadvantageous characteristic of the manufacturing environment akin to a poor signal-to-noise ratio in signal processing.
Manufacturing simulation tools are calibrated prior to performing a simulation test. Calibration is typically accomplished by entering calibrated input parameters that are generated either experimentally or by previous simulation. In conventional manufacturing process calibration, a specified value of a parameter is fitted to produce a specified process output value. Realistic simulation results are rarely achieved using conventional simulation and calibration techniques since these techniques do not capture the true nature and complexity of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, conventional calibration processes require an intensive study of device engineers before a simulation tool becomes useful. Thus, the calibration processes cause significant delay in process qualification and improvement. This problem is worsened by the fact that calibration procedures are repeated continuously as the environment in the manufacturing area changes over time.
These characteristics of the manufacturing environment are applicable to an analysis of manufacturing monitoring as well as process improvements. For example, it is often desirable to know how processes change over time to track changes in fabrication results of a small amount, such as 3 percent, over time, for example 3 weeks to yield an ultimate result. Furthermore, these small differences are typically measured in an environment of statistical fluctuation and measurement error.
Although many characteristics of the manufacturing environment are disadvantageous, several are advantageous. One advantage is that specification of the structure resulting from the manufacturing process is well defined. Another advantage is that actual in-line measurement data acquired at various stages of the manufacturing process and actual WET data are plentiful and easily available. These data include statistical profile data that are highly informative regarding the manufacturing process.
What is sought is a technique for tracking and analyzing manufacturing processes such that inaccuracies arising from statistical fluctuations, complicated interactions, and measurement errors are avoided or compensated so that process modifications that produce even small differences can be measured, monitored and analyzed.

Method for monitoring and analyzing manufacturing processes using statistical simulation with single step feedback


The invention relates to synthetic phosphorothioated or partially phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotides capable of selectively modulating hemopoietic bone marrow cells development. More particularly, the invention relates to synthetic antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against a region spanning the AUG initiation condon in human ACHE or 2HS genes, having phosphorothioate bonds linking between the nucleotide bases; synthetic antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against a region spanning the AUG initiation condon in human ACHE gene, 2HS gene or BCHE gene or against a 5'-region in the human CHED (cdc2 homolog) gene, having phosphorothioate bonds linking between the four 3'-terminus nucleotide bases. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient at least one synthetic phosphorothioated or partially phosphorothioated antisense oligodeoxynucleotides according to the invention in physiologically acceptable carrier in diluent. The antisense oligodeoxynucleotides of the invention and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them are suitable for inhibiting abnormal hemopoietic cells proliferation, inhibiting abnormal platelet proliferation, increasing stem cell fraction in bone marrow cell cultures, enhancing macrophage production and increasing stem cells counts, reducing immune response of organs to be transplanted, suppressing immune response of a recipient of an allotransplanted organ, and arresting growth of malignant tumors.

The BCHE and ACHE genes encoding the acetylcholine hydrolyzing enzymes butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, EC 22.214.171.124) and actylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 22.214.171.124) are expressed in various developing cell types, including embryonic Layer, P. G. and Sporns, O., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:284-288 (1987)!, hematopoietic Burstein, S. A., et al., J. Cell Physiol. 122:159-165 (1985)! and germ cells Johnson, C. D., et al., Neuron 1:165-173 (1988); Malinger, G., et al., Mol. Neurosci. 1:77-84 (1989)!.
Both AChE and BuChE include the peptide motif S/T-P-X-Z, which makes-them potential substrates for phosphorylation by cdc2 kinases, the general controllers of the cell cycle Lapidot-Lifson, Y., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 89: 579-583 (1992)!. Most other substrates of cdc2 kinases perform biological functions necessary for cell cycle-related processes Moreno, S. and Nurse, P., Cell 61:549-551 (1990)!. Thus, interference with either CHE or cdc2 transcription processes may be expected to divert and/or arrest cell division, and controlling these processes can be useful for several, medically important, procedures.
Biochemical and histochemical analyses indicate that both AChE and BuChE are expressed, in high levels, in various fetal tissues of multiple eukaryotic species Rakonczay, Z., et al., Subcellular Biochemistry 12:335-378, Harris, J. R., Ed., Plenum Press, N.Y. (1988)!, where cholinesterases (ChEs) are coordinately regulated with respect to cell proliferation and differentiation Layer, P. G., et al., Neurochem. 49:175-182 (1987)!. The specific role to be attributed to ChEs in embryonic development may hence be related with cell division, so that their biological function(s) in these tissues are tentatively implicated in the control of organogenesis.
In addition to its presence in the membranes of mature erythrocytes, AChE is also intensively produced in developing blood cells in vivo Paulus, J. P., et al., Blood 58:1100-1106 (1981)! and in vitro Burstein, S. A., et al., J. Cell Physiol. 103:201-208 (1980)! and its activity serves as an acceptable marker for developing mouse megakaryocytes Burs- tein (1985) ibid.!. Furthermore, administration of acetyl- choline analogues as well as cholinesterase inhibitors has been shown to induce megakaryocytopoiesis and increased platelet counts in the mouse Burstein, S. A., et al., Clin. Haematol. 12:3-27 (1983)!, implicating this enzyme in the commitment and development of these haematopoietic cells.
The DNAs coding for human BuChE and AChE have been cloned Prody, C., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 86:3555-3559 (1987); Soreq et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 87:9688-9692 (1990)! and the human CHEl locus has been mapped Gnatt, A., et al., Cancer Res. 50:1983-1987 (1990)! to the 3q26-ter chromosomal domain that is subject to aberrations in leukemias accompanied by abnormal megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet counts Pintado, T., et al., Cancer 55:535-541 (1985)!. Co-amplification of the ACHE and BCHE genes was subsequently observed in leukemias and platelet disorders Lapidot-Lifson, Y., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 4715-4717 (1989); Zakut, H., et al., Mutation Research, in press (1992)!. The hemopoietic system thus appears to be subject to developmental control as affected by the expression of the ChEs.
Inhibition of the expression of developmentally important genes should, in principle, divert developmental processes to directions which are not dependent on the expression of these genes. One useful approach to affect such developmental processes is based on "antisense" technology. The use of oligonucleotides to intervene in the genetic processes of the cell bears an important therapeutic potential. Thus, "informational drugs" with possible clinical applications are being developed which arrest the expression of cloned genes. The hematopoietic system may be the first logical target for novel therapy protocols based on the recent achievement in genetic engineering, since it includes proliferating stem cells and because of its extreme sensitivity to external stimuli Wilson, J. D., et al., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th Ed., McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, Chapters 268-269; 285-288 (1991)!. Stem cells may be defined as cells which can replicate repeatedly and differentiate into various kinds of committed cells. Commitment will gradually limit the differentiation choices for cells in which it occurs, until precursor cells are formed with only one choice (i.e. erythrocytes, megakaryocytes or macrophages). The first stem cells can thus be defined as totipotent, i.e. they may make all of the choices in the blood and immune system. The orientation of such cells into desired direction should be most useful in overcoming undesired changes, such as depletion or excess of specific subpopulations of hemopoietic cells. Less, although also useful is the redirection of the more limited pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells account for .ltoreq.0.1% of cells in bone marrow. They can be detected either directly, by immunocytochemical methods, or retroactively, by cell culture growth and subsequent evaluation of formed colonies. For therapeutic purposes, it would be desirable to control stem cells differentiation and cause totipotent and pluripotent stem cells to replicate.
Production rate of bone marrow cells in healthy individuals may reach 10.sup.10 platelets and differentiated blood cells per hour. Life span of these cells varies from years for some lymphocytes, 120 days for erythrocytes to 10 days for platelets and 10 hours for neutrophils. Changes in the subpopulations of hemopoietic stem cells may be found in patients suffering malignant myeloproliferative diseases, such as various leukemias etc., in blood cells proliferative diseases such as polycythemia vera etc., and in autoimmune diseases like lupus erythomatosus etc., in which the blood production system is defective. Defective hemopoiesis is further observed in patients undergoing various commonly used therapeutical treatments like chemotherapy and irradiation which impair the blood production system. Thus all cancer patients, individuals following tissue transplantation and others who have suffered poisoning by chemicals and/or different drugs, display abnormal hemopoiesis with its subsequent consequences. The therapeutical value of the ability to modulate hemopoietic cell division in patients suffering any of the above pathological conditions is self-evident. Furthermore, modulation of hemopoietic cell division, and especially increasing the number of hemopoietic stem cells, may be of particular advantage for the clinical procedure of bone marrow transplantation. Techniques are already available for freezing bone marrow cells and for their subsequent transplantation in patients suffering any of the above pathological conditions. However, the only transplanted bone marrow cells which can survive in the recipient and proliferate to improve his/hers condition are stem cells. The above procedure may be autotransplantation, using the recipient's own bone marrow, or allotransplantation, using bone marrow from a compatible donor.
As mentioned above, cholinergic signals are implicated in the commitment and development of haematopoietic cells. Recently, preliminary evaluation of antisense oligonucleotides incorporation in vivo was performed which revealed the short term therapeutic applicability of this approach Cohen, et al., Antisense Res. & Dev. 2:191 (1991)!. Antisense oligonucleotides of 15-20 bases are usually long enough to ascertain that they will only have one complementary sequence in the mammalian genome. In addition, they hybridize well with their target mRNA Cohen et al., ibid.!. Modification of the phosphodiester backbone renders these oligonucleotides resistant to degradation by nucleases Spitzer, F. and Eckstein, F., Nuc. Ac. Res. 16: 11691-11704 (1988)!. Both methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate groups were used for this purpose Baker, C., et al., Nuc. Ac. Res. 18:3537 (1990)!. Being nonionic, the methyl-phosphonate analogs were predicted to exhibit increased cellular uptake Blake, et al., Biochem. 24:6139 (1985)!. However, antisense methylphosphonate oligomers were shown to be incapable of inhibiting N-ras expression in vitro Tidd, et al., Anti-Cancer Drug Design 3:117 (1988)! whereas the in vitro translation of several oncogene mRNAs was successfully blocked by phosphodiester and/or phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides c-myc: McManaway et al., Lancet 335:808 (1990), Watson et al., Cancer Res. 51:3996 (1991); bcl-2: Reed et al., Cancer Res. 50:6565 (1990); myb: Calabrett et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2351 (1991); bcr-ab: Szczylik et al., Science 253:562 (1991)!. Both sense and nonsense oligonucleotides served as controls in these studies and were shown to be non-effective, while antisense oligonucleotides selectively inhibited their target gene expression and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were more potent because of their greater stability Woolf, T. M., et al., Nuc. Ac. Res. 18:1763 (1990)3.
Antisense oligonucleotides are able to interfere specifically with synthesis of the target protein of interest Moffat, Science 253:510 (1991)!. This may occur by inhibition of polysome formation and/or functioning, according to the position of the antisense oligonucleotide within the target mRNA. Thus, the frequent choice of the sequence surrounding the translation initiation codon as target for antisense oligonucleotide inhibition aims to prevent the formation of the initiation complex. Indeed, antisense RNAs occur naturally as regulators of translation Eguchi et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 60:631 (1991)!. Other mechanisms of antisense oligonucleotide inhibition involve activation of ribonuclease H, which subsequently performs digestion of the antisense oligonucleotide-mRNA hybrids Chiang, M. Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:18162 (1991)!, or interference with splicing through antisense oligonucleotides targeted to mRNA splice sites Kole et al., Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 6:271 (1991)!.
In addition to their mRNA targets, antisense oligonucleotides are also complementary to the genomic sequences expressing these mRNAs. When injected into cultured cells, they accumulate within nuclei Leonetti, J. P., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2702 (1991)!, suggesting that they may also function by interfering with transcription through formation of a third DNA strand, associated by Hoogsteen base pairing with the major groove of the B-form DNA duplex Moffat, Science 252:1374 (1991)!. In vitro transcriptional arrest of c-myc expression was shown to operate by this mechanism in a cell-free system cooney et al., Science 241: 456 (1988)!. Recent polyamide nucleic acid oligomers (with polyamide backbone replacing the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of DNA) were shown to cause displacement of their complementary strands from double stranded DNA Nielsen et al., Science 254:1497 (1991)!. These newly designed drugs will selectively interrupt gene function without affecting the transcript products. In contrast, ribozyme sequences were shown to specifically interact with the mRNA transcripts. These are ribonucleic acid sequences, including RNase active sites flanked by antisense oligonucleotides Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature 3:585 (1988)!. When targetted to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) they destroy HIV mRNA effectively Sarver et al., Science 247:1222 (1990)!. However, oligoribonucleotides are more difficult to synthesize than oligodeoxynucleotides, particularly in chemically modified forms resistant to RNase attacks Pieken et al., Science 253:314 (1991)!.
Phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides do not show significant toxicity and exhibit sufficient pharmacodynamic half-lives in animals Agrawal, s., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:7595 (1991)!. Antisense induced loss-of-function phenotypes related with cellular development were shown for the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), implicated in astrocyte growth within astrocyte-neuron cocultures Winstein et al., J. Cell Biol., 112:1205 (1991)!, for the myelin-associated glycoprotein in Schwann cells, responsible for formation of the compact myelin sheath formation surrounding these cell Owens and Bunge, Neuron 7:56 (1991)!, for the microtubule-associated tau proteins implicated with the polarity of hippocampal neurons and their axon formation Caceres and Kosik, Nature 343:461 (1990)!, for the .beta..sub.1 -integrin, important for neuronal migration along radial glial cells, and for the establishment of tectal plate formation in chick Galileo et al., J. Cel. Biol. 112:1285 (1991)! and for the N-myc protein, responsible for the maintenance of cellular heterogeneity in neuroectodermal cultures (ephithelial vs. neuroblastic cells, which differ in their colony forming abilities, tumorigenicity and adherence) Rosolen et al., Cancer Res. 50:6316 (1990); Whitesell et al., Mol. Cell. Biol 11:1360 (1991)!. Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFgF), having mitogenic and angiogenic properties, suppressed 80% of growth in glioma cells Morrison, J. Biol. Chem. 266:728 (1991)! in a saturable and specific manner. The antisense oligonucleotides were targetted against the initiation and splice sites in bFgFmRNA, they reduced activity of the resulting protein and sense oligomers remained inactive. In soft-agar cultures, antisense oligonucleotides reduced the size of glial colonies and induced appearance of larger cells within them R. Morrison, Neuroscience Facts 3: 3 (1992): bFGF expression in human glioma cells)!.
Being hydrophobic, antisense oligonucleotides interact well with phospholipid membranes Akhtar, S., et al., Nuc. Res. 19:5551-5559 (1991)!. Following their interaction with the cellular plasma membrane, they are actively transported into living cells (Loke, S. L., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:3474 (1989)!, in a saturable mechanism predicted to involve specific receptors Yakubov, L. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6454 (1989)!.
Antisense inhibition of key molecules involved in signal transduction processes may De expected to interfere also with secondary mechanisms depending on the targetted key molecule. Thus, cholinergic signaling through the m.sub.2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins and adenylyl cyclase activity. The gamma-aminobutyric type B receptor (GABA.sub.B) is similarly coupled to this signal transduction process, and both receptors are expressed in cerebellar granular neurons. Antisense oligonucleotides to the m.sub.2 receptor mRNA blocked completely the synthesis of this receptor within 3 days, and reduced the GABA.sub.B receptor by 40% within 6 days. It remains to be shown whether this latter effect was due to the conserved oligo sequence being present also in the yet uncloned GABA.sub.B receptor, or whether the delay effect was secondary to m.sub.2 inhibition Morrison R., ibid.!.
In view of the above-mentioned implication of cholinergic signals in the commitment and development of haematopoietic cells, it is an object of the present invention to provide for compounds and methods capable of diverting the process of cholinergic signalling, which may direct bone marrow stem cells into continued replication and re-orient their subsequent differentiation, both in culture and in vivo, into mononuclear cells of the hemopoietic and immune system.
Thus, the ChEs related antisense oligodeoxynucleotides of the present invention appear to be potent candidates for the modulation of bone marrow cells development described above. This adds to the effects of already characterized growth factors, such as the granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin 3, 6 and 11, Lif (leukemia inducing factor) and the recently described stem cell factor, which interacts with the receptor produced from the C-kit protoncogene.

Synthetic antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

Yissum Research Development Co. of the Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem


A system and method for optimization of on-demand microtransit is provided. A list of possible stops of one or more vehicles is maintained. A plurality of requests for transportation are received, each of the requests associated with at least one traveler. Travelers to be transported by one of the vehicles are selected. A set of a minimal number of the stops is selected, the set comprising at least one stop that is within a predefined walking distance of the origin location of each of the selected travelers and at least one stop within the predefined walking distance of the destination location of each of the selected travelers. Potential routes are identified for the vehicle that include the stops in the set. The potential routes are evaluated using a plurality of constraints and one of the routes is selected for fulfilling the requests of the selected travelers.

Microtransit is part of the larger trend of ride-sharing services, for which market analysts estimate potential reductions of 23,000 traffic accidents and 9.1 million metric tons CO2 as well as an annual savings of $30 billion. Microtransit provides a new transportation offering in urban areas that fills the spectrum between private automobiles and large, fixed-route, public transit. A traveler using microtransit can utilize a mobile device, such as a smartphone, to request transportation from and to particular locations at particular times. A micro-transit provider will direct the traveler to walk to a particular vehicle stop, such as a public transportation station, where the traveler will be picked up by a vehicle directed by the provider. The vehicle drives the traveler to another microtransit stop, from where the traveler can walk to a desired location. While microtransit providers pick up and drop off passengers at fixed points, like public transit, the use of mobile devices to request rides and provide payment enables providers to operate without fixed timetables or routes.
As there are no fixed schedules, significant variation can exist in the order that vehicles of a micro-transit provider visit the stops and the order in which the passengers are picked up, resulting in potential for waste of resources, such as fuel, time, and the microtransit vehicles not being utilized to the fullest possible extent for giving rides to as many travelers as possible. This service optimization challenge is further exacerbated as the area to be serviced increases, which requires accounting for more microtransit vehicles, more stops, and more travel requests.
Multiple microtransit providers currently exist. For example, current microtransit providers include companies like Bridj® (operated by GroupZOOM, Inc. of Boston, Mass.) and Chariot™ Transit Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. that run commuter shuttles in Boston and the Bay Area respectively, as well as ride-sharing services of Uber® Technologies Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. and Lyft, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., as well corporate shuttles designed to meet the first/last-mile problem of commuter rail systems. However, existing microtransit providers appear to be lacking a definite approach to minimizing waste during the provision of their services and appear to be assigning vehicles to particular routes for transporting particular travelers on an ad-hoc basis.
While others have attempted to address the challenge of optimizing ride-sharing services in a systematic way, these efforts have not yet resulted in vehicle and request management model that is adequate for being applied to large areas being serviced. For example, Agatz et al "Optimization for dynamic ride-sharing: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 223, No. 2, 2012, pp. 295-303, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, surveys several academic models relating to ride-sharing support and recognizes that a challenge of providing an optimization approach that is fast enough to be workable in a major metropolitan area remains unaddressed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a fast way to optimize on-demand microtransit.

System and method for optimization of on-demand microtransit


A video transmission apparatus includes a camera controller that obtains camera movement amount data indicating a direction and an amount of movement of a camera, and an image encoder that performs motion compensation on image data received from the camera and determines an image search range for the motion compensation based on the camera movement amount data. The image encoder adjusts a motion vector indicated by the camera movement amount data for each coordinate position in the image data based on a lens characteristic of the camera, and determines the image search range for the motion compensation based on the adjusted motion vector for each coordinate position.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of this disclosure relates to a video transmission apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A video transmission apparatus used, for example, for a conference system typically includes an image coding unit that encodes and compresses image data captured by a camera to transmit image data or an image signal (or a video signal) with desired quality to a remote apparatus via a network with a limited bandwidth.
The image coding unit employs inter-frame prediction coding where a difference between an immediately-preceding frame and a current frame is transmitted, and motion processing where a motion compensation vector indicating a movement of a part of an image is transmitted.
A video transmission apparatus also includes a panning function for changing the direction (orientation or angle) of a camera horizontally and a tilting function for changing the direction of the camera vertically, i.e., functions to adjust the angle (orientation or direction) of the camera in response to a user operation.
When the direction of the camera is changed at a high speed with the panning and tilting functions while capturing images, changes in the images caused by the directional change of the camera are added to changes in the images caused by the movement of an object such as a person.
For this reason, a motion compensation vector detection unit of a video transmission apparatus needs to detect a movement (or a change between adjacent frames) that is a combination of a movement of a moving object (e.g., a person) and a directional change of the camera. This in turn increases the time necessary to detect an amount of movement and reduces detection efficiency. That is, when the camera is not moved, the motion compensation vector detection unit needs to search only a range that is predictable based on an immediately preceding movement of an object. On the other hand, when the camera is moved, the motion compensation vector detection unit needs to expand the search range and this increases processing time. When the search range is not wide enough, it is not possible to properly detect the amount of movement. As a result, a large error occurs in an inter-frame prediction image calculated by motion compensation, and coding efficiency is drastically reduced.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 06-38204 discloses an image signal transmission apparatus. In the disclosed image signal transmission apparatus, to solve the above problems, a camera movement amount signal (motion vector) indicating the direction and amount of movement of a camera is input to an image coding unit, and a motion compensation vector detection unit shifts the search range according to the direction and the amount of movement indicated by the motion vector and detects a motion compensation vector by comparing images within the shifted search range.
The related-art method using a camera movement amount signal is effective in a case where the same motion vector is applicable to the entire frame (image or screen). However, the related-art method is not suitable for a case where the same motion vector is not applicable to the entire frame (image or screen) due to the distortion and a projection method of a lens. When the same motion vector is applied without change in the latter case, a proper motion compensation vector cannot be detected. As a result, a large error occurs in an inter-frame prediction image calculated by motion compensation, and coding efficiency is drastically reduced. When the search range is expanded to cope with this problem, it is contrary to the object of the related-art method, i.e., improving the processing efficiency by narrowing the search range.
A camera for a conference system generally uses a wide angle lens (whose angle of view is greater than 60 degrees) that causes great image distortion, and is therefore greatly affected by the above problems. The same can be said to an around-view monitor camera.


An apparatus, system and method for reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides in an internal combustion engine system. Exhaust gas directly or indirectly downstream of the internal combustion engine is at least selectively stored in an exhaust gas storage region. Upon the occurrence of at least one enablement condition, indicative of a potential period where the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) will increase, the stored exhaust gas is inserted into the internal combustion engine to assist in reducing the emission of the nitrogen oxides. The exhaust gas storage volume regularly, or the exhaust gas storage volume may be filled during strategic periods when the emissions of nitrogen oxides are low and/or there is a low need for the recirculation of exhaust gas.

Emissions regulations for internal combustion engines have become more stringent over recent years. Environmental concerns have motivated the implementation of stricter emission requirements for internal combustion engines throughout much of the world. The emissions standards are not merely regulating the pollutants emitted by an internal combustion engine that is operating at steady state. Emissions tests often include thousands of data points collected over a certain length of time and under various engine operating conditions. For example, the results of an emissions test often include emissions data from cold start-up and high engine demand situations. Consequently, engines must be designed to operate efficiently and within emissions regulations over a variety of operating conditions.
Some engines may be particularly efficient when operating under steady state conditions and after the aftertreatment components have had sufficient time to reach optimal operating temperatures. However, such systems may suffer from poor start-up performance or may emit an excessive amount of pollutants when accelerating. Specifically, compression-ignited engines (e.g., diesel engines) often emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides while accelerating or during transition periods (e.g., start-up). These peaks of nitrogen oxide emissions can result in an engine either failing to pass regulated emissions standard or may require additional aftertreatment components or sacrifice performance in order to meet the emissions standards.

Apparatus, system, and method for reducing emission of nitrogen oxides


Multiple intensifier injectors with positive needle control and methods of injection that reduce injector energy consumption. The intensifiers are disposed about the axis of the injectors, leaving the center free for direct needle control down the center of the injector. Also disclosed is a boost system, increasing the needle closing velocity but without adding mass to the needle when finally closing. Direct needle control allows maintaining injection pressure on the fuel between injection events if the control system determines that enough fuel has been pressurized for the next injection, thus saving substantial energy when operating an engine at less than maximum power, by not venting and re-pressurizing on every injection event.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of fuel injectors.
2. Prior Art
Intensifier type fuel injectors are well known in the prior art. Such injectors use a larger first piston driven by a working fluid under pressure to drive a smaller piston to pressurize fuel for injection. Piston area ratios and thus intensification ratios typically on the order of 10 to 1 allow high injection pressures with only moderate pressure working fluid. Diesel fuel is fairly compressible at the applicable pressures. By way of example, diesel fuel compresses approximately 1% per 1000 psi. With injection pressures of 30,000 psi and higher, the compression of the fuel is substantial. The energy required for compression of the fuel not used for an injection event is generally wasted by the venting of the working fluid over the larger piston of the intensifier to a low pressure reservoir. Consequently, when an engine is running at substantially less than full power, a substantial part of the energy used for compression of a full injection charge is wasted.
Also in diesel fuel injectors, it is important to obtain a sharp start and stop of injection. A slow termination of injection, such as by a slowly decreasing injection pressure, results in poor atomization, or even no real atomization at the end of injection, resulting in incomplete combustion of the fuel, and unacceptable unburned hydrocarbon emissions.


A print head and method that are capable of detecting a plurality of performance conditions such as a dry-fire, no-fire or clogged-nozzle condition. Pressure wave sensors within a print head are disclosed that are capable of detecting pressure waves generated by the firing of an ink expulsion mechanism. The characteristics of the pressure wave generated by the firing event (e.g., magnitude and timing) are indicative of the operating condition within the head. Multiple sensor types are disclosed.

Printers and plotters are known in the art and include those made by Hewlett-Packard, Canon and Epson, amongst others. In the discussion that follows, printers and plotters are referred to collectively with the term "printers". Problems associated with current printers and print head arrangements include that the print head may run out of ink while printing, the print head nozzle may become clogged and the ink expulsion mechanism may not fire, amongst other malfunctions. Evidence of such malfunctions are usually detected when the printed document is pulled out of the printer and examined visually. At this point it is too late for appropriate correction. Some types of electronic sensing are known in the art, such as techniques for detecting when an ink expulsion mechanism has not fired. These techniques, however, are limited in scope and do not, for example, detect when a nozzle is clogged or unclogged.
A need thus exists to detect print head malfunction in such a manner as to eliminate or minimize corruption of a printed image. Early detection of a malfunction permits preventative steps to be taken such as print head replacement or software based compensation within the firing algorithm, etc.

Print head apparatus with malfunction detector

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.