A handoff method between a source network to which a terminal is connected in order of a Base Station (BS) and an Access Service Network (ASN), and a target network to which the terminal is connected in order of a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN), a Packet Control Function (PCF) and an Access Network (AN). The terminal sends a handoff request message with AN information of the target network to the ASN via the BS. The ASN forwards the handoff request message to the PCF via the PDSN using the AN information. Upon receipt of the handoff request message, the PCF sends a request for session information to the ASN via the PDSN. The PDSN sends a request for context information to the ASN. Upon receipt of the session information request and the context information request, the ASN transfers the context information to the PDSN and transfers the session information to the AN via the PDSN and the PCF.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for performing handoff in a wireless communication system and a system thereof, and more particularly, to a method capable of performing handoff between heterogeneous networks and a system thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, wireless communication systems have been developed for situations when it is not possible to connect a fixed wired network up to a terminal. With progress in communication technology, wireless communication systems have developed into mobile communication systems. The 4th generation mobile communication system supports ultrahigh-speed multimedia service beyond the 1st generation analog system, the 2nd generation digital system, and the 3rd generation IMT-2000 system supporting the high-speed multimedia service. The IMT-2000 system is roughly classified into the asynchronous system and the synchronous system. Typical asynchronous systems include the Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) systems proposed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and typical synchronous systems include the CDMA 2000 1x, CDMA 2000 1x Evolution Data Only (EV-DO), and CDMA 2000 1x Evolution of Data and Voice (EV-DV) systems proposed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2).
A typical example of the 4th generation mobile communication system can include the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) system proposed by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The WiMax system is defined as the IEEE 802.16e standard for providing Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro) service to mobile terminals, and is now in the preparation phase for commercialization. The WiMax system allows the mobile terminal to wirelessly provide various multimedia services such as Internet access service, high-speed data service, image service, etc. as well as the voice service regardless of the time and place, whether it is on the move or at a standstill. Therefore, the WiMax system attracts public attention as the mobile communication technology capable of meeting the highly-increasing user demand for the wireless Internet service.
In this way, several different types of communication networks coexist in the current mobile communication system. In addition, due to the development of the mobile communication technology and the increase in the number of available wireless services, users carrying mobile terminals are increasing in number, causing an increase in the interest in the mobile terminal-based services. Thus, a handoff method between heterogeneous networks is necessary for providing better communication services. The term 'handoff' as used herein refers to a technology allowing a user to seamlessly maintain the communication service while moving from the coverage of one base station (or access network) to the coverage of another base station.
A handoff method between homogeneous networks is now available in the WiMax system. However, not many handoff methods between heterogeneous networks have been proposed in detail. In particular, there is no detailed scheme proposed for the handoff method between the WiMax system and the EV-DO system. Therefore, there is a demand for an efficient scheme for the handoff method between the WiMax system and the EV-DO system, among the handoff methods between heterogeneous networks.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the architecture of a general 1xEV-DO network (DO network). The DO network includes a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) 101, connected to the Internet 100, for transmitting high-speed packet data to Access Networks (ANs) 103, and Packet Control Functions (PCFs) 102 for controlling the ANs 103. Each of the ANs 103 wirelessly communicates with a plurality of terminals (commonly known as Access Terminals (ATs)) 104, and transmits the high-speed packet data to the terminal having the highest data rate.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the architecture of a general WiMax network. The WiMax network includes Base Stations (BSs) 202, each of which wirelessly communicates with a plurality of terminals (commonly known as Mobile Stations (MSs)) 203 and provides the ultrahigh-speed multimedia service, and an Access Service Network (ASN) 201, connected to the Internet 200, for transmitting high-speed packet data to the BSs 202.
Due to the development of the mobile communication industry and the increase in the user demand for Internet services, there is an increasing demand for the mobile communication system capable of efficiently providing Internet services. The conventional mobile communication network, as it was developed to mainly provide the voice services, has the narrower data transmission bandwidth and the higher service charge. IEEE 802.16 Standard Group, one of International Standard Groups, proposes the IEEE 802.16e standard as a standard for providing the WiBro service for mobile terminals.
The typical example of the IEEE 802.16e-based wireless communication system can include a WiMax (also known as WiBro) system. As for the handoff method in the WiMax system, there are handoff technologies proposed for the conventional CDMA 2000 1x system and EV-DO network, but there is no efficient handoff method between heterogeneous networks, designed taking into account the characteristics of the heterogeneous networks. Due to the development of the mobile communication technology and the increase in the number of available wireless services, users carrying mobile terminals are increasing in number, causing an exponential increase in the interest in the mobile terminal-based services. In order to manage locations of the mobile terminals and allow the mobile terminals to provide seamless communication services even during handoff, each mobile communication system proposes a handoff technology suitable for the corresponding mobile communication system. However, many efforts to provide the handoff technology have been chiefly made to efficiently support intra-network handoff, for example, handoff within the 3GPP2 network or the WiMax network.
When the characteristics of the current communication system where heterogeneous networks coexist are taken into consideration, a handoff method between heterogeneous networks is indispensable. For the evolved next generation network, rev C is now prepared in the 3GPP2 EV-DO network, and one of the matters to be dealt with in rev C is the handoff technology between 3GPP2 rev C and rev A. Further, there is no detailed scheme proposed for the handoff method between the EV-DO network and the WiMax network, commercialization of which is now in preparation after completion of its standardization. Therefore, there is a demand for an efficient scheme for a handoff method between the WiMax system and the EV-DO network, among the handoff methods between heterogeneous networks.

Handoff method between heterogeneous networks and system thereof


A concave-convex surface inspection apparatus includes a slit light source unit emitting a slit light to a concave-convex surface of an object to be inspected, an image-taking unit taking an image of the concave-convex surface illuminated by the emitted slit light with an imaging optical axis intersecting with an optical axis of the slit light with a narrow-angle equal to or narrower than 30 degrees, and an evaluation section obtaining a three dimensional shape of the concave-convex surface and evaluating the obtained three dimensional shape, wherein the slit light source unit includes a slit light source and a cylindrical lens, the image-taking unit includes a telecentric lens unit, an image-taking section having an imaging surface tilted relative to the imaging optical axis for increasing a focusing range of the concave-convex surface, and a P polarizer.

As a concave-convex surface inspection apparatus, an apparatus having a slit light source emitting a slit light to an object to be measured, a camera taking a slit image of the object to be measured when the object to be measured is illuminated with the slit light, and an image processing section obtaining three dimensional data from the slit image taken by the camera is known (for example, JP H4-301707A, paragraphs 0005 and 0006 and FIG. 3). In the known device, the slit light beams are diffused in a shape of a fan relative to an optical axis of the slit light. Therefore, when inspecting a surface on which a number of relatively deep grooves are formed, blind spots are generated in grooves which receive slit light beams that are projected away from the optical axis. Consequently, the image of the surface illuminated with the slit light beams which are diffused in the shape of the fan includes the groove whose bottom portion is not completely captured in the image. As a result, a problem arises that a shape of the hidden portion of the groove is not measured.
Further, a height measuring apparatus having a light source emitting a slit light to an object to be measured from an oblique direction, image sensors taking images of the object to be measured illuminated by the reflected slit light via each of telecentric lenses, and an image processing means obtaining a height of the object to be measured based on the images of the object to be measured illuminated by the reflected slit light taken by the image sensor is known (for example, JP 2001-194116A, paragraphs 0011 and 0012 and FIG. 1). The known apparatus further includes a half mirror positioned in a direction in which the slit light is reflected from a surface of an object to be measured. The reflected image of the slit light passes through the half mirror and reflects on a surface of the half mirror in a different direction from the direction that the reflected image passes through the half mirror. Consequently, each of the image sensors is positioned so as to take the reflected image that passes through the half mirror and the reflected image that reflects on the surface of the half mirror respectively. According to the height measuring apparatus, the image sensors reliably take the reflected images of the slit light by use of the telecentric lenses. However, an optical axis of the slit light and an imaging optical axis are inclined relative to the vertical axis at 45 degrees, and thus blind spots are generated when taking an image of a surface having a number of relatively deep grooves.
A need thus exists for a concave-convex surface inspection apparatus which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above. A need thus exists for a concave-convex surface inspection apparatus that reduces blind spots occurring when measuring a concavo-convex surface of an object to be inspected.

Concave-convex surface inspection apparatus


The object of the present invention is to obtain a high quality single crystalline diamond that has less distortion and large area suitable for semiconductor device substrates or an optical component material. The present invention is a single crystalline diamond produced by chemical vapor deposition, wherein, when a linear polarized light which is composed of two linear polarized lights perpendicular to each other is introduced into one main face of the single crystalline diamond, a maximum value of a retardation between the two linear polarized lights perpendicular to each other which come out from an opposite main face is not more than 50 μm at maximum per a thickness of 100 μm across an entire of the single crystalline diamond, and also a method for producing the diamond.

Since diamond has many excellent characteristics such as high hardness, high thermal conductivity, high light transmittance and wide band gap, it has been widely utilized as a material for some kinds of tools, optical components, semiconductors and electronic devices and importance of diamond is expected to increase in the future. Diamond which was naturally produced served industrial use in the past but now architecturally synthesized diamond is supplied for most of industrial use. Single crystalline diamond is synthesized under high pressure over tens of thousands of atmospheric pressure in the current industry. Extremely high pressure vessels that provide such high pressure are very expensive and their size has to be limited, then single crystal synthesis of a larger scaled single crystal by high temperature-high pressure method is restricted. Ib type diamond, which displays yellow due to nitrogen included as an impurity, is synthesized up to 1 cm diameter by high temperature-high pressure method and sold, but, that size is regarded as an upper limit. Moreover, IIa type diamond, which is colorless and clear, is limited to more smaller size of under several millimeter diameter except for natural products.
Chemical vapor deposition is an established method for diamond synthesis as well as high pressure method. A comparatively large area of several to ten centimeter is architecturally produced by this method and usually it is polycrystalline film. But, single crystalline diamond is necessary to use for diamond applications such as high precision tools, optical components and semiconductors, because especially smooth surface is needed among diamond uses. Accordingly, a method to obtain single crystalline diamond epitaxially grown by chemical vapor deposition has been studied.
Epitaxial growth is generally classified into two, one is homoepitaxial growth to raise the growing substance on a substrate of the same component, and heteroepitaxial growth to grow on a substrate of a different component. Heteroepitaxial growth of cubic boron nitride (cBN), silicon carbide, silicon, nickel, cobalt or the like has been reported (see Japanese Patent Publication Nos. S63-224225, H2-233591 and H4-132687). However, single crystal having good film quality has not obtained by heteroepitaxial growth, then heteroepitaxial growth is regarded as a predominant for single crystal synthesis. With homoepitaxial growth, IIa single crystalline diamond which is larger than the IIa diamond obtained under high pressure is obtained by epitaxially growing high purity diamond from gas phase on a Ib diamond produced by high pressure synthesis. It was reported that, by using a plurality of diamond substrates whose crystal orientations were the same or diamond particles, diamond having only a small inclined grain boundary was obtained by growing unified diamond thereon (see Japanese Patent Publication No. H3-75298).

Single crystalline diamond and producing method thereof


An apparatus for manufacturing injection molded parts is described with a die and a counter-die and a mold cavity formed therebetween. Both the die and also the counter-die respectively consist of a mold insert which provides the contours and a web-braced body of cast material which receives the respective mold insert in a form-fitted manner, surrounds it and supports it against the injection molding forces which arise.

Such pieces of apparatus, which can be termed injection molding tools, are known and are used in practice in diverse manners. These are frequently large tools such as are for example used for the manufacturing of components of motor vehicles, for example bumpers (fenders), areal cladding elements, dashboard units and the like.
The known apparatuses of this kind, which are exposed to very high static and dynamic loadings, which can arise as a result of the internal pressures of up to 1000 bar during the injection molding processes, are milled out of fully forged material.
In this manner one can indeed obtain systems which are fit for operation but many disadvantages must be tolerated which are above all to be seen in the high manufacturing costs, the exceptionally long time interval which is required for manufacturing, the high weight of the systems and the fact that additional functions which are necessary for handling and operation must be realized by additional separate units which then have to be bolted to the respective base body. This applies for example with respect to transport elements and guide elements. Additional, complex, machining processes are necessary in order to introduce the required apertures and windows into the respective base body.

Apparatus for manufacturing injection molded parts


The present invention concerns a Magnus rotor comprising a carrier, and a rotary body mounted rotatably to the carrier, as well as a drive device for driving the rotary body. The carrier has at least one opening which connects an internal space in the carrier with an external space in such a way that air can pass through between those two spaces. The invention further concerns a method of cooling elements of a Magnus rotor, a method of heating a rotary body of a Magnus rotor and a ship.

Technical Field
The invention concerns a Magnus rotor. The invention further concerns a method of cooling elements of a Magnus rotor, a method of heating a rotary body of a Magnus rotor and a ship.
Description of the Related Art
Magnus rotors are also referred to as Flettner rotors or sailing rotors.
Such rotors are known in the state of the art. They are also known by the term Flettner rotors in particular as ship drives and equipping ships with such a sailing, Flettner or Magnus rotor is described in the book 'The Sailing Machine' by Klaus D Wagner, Ernst Kabel Verlag GmbH, Hamburg, 1991.
Such ship drives, with the co-operation of their own rotation and the wind flowing around them, generate a forward thrust force for driving the ship. In particular Magnus rotors can be used as ship drives everywhere that there are sufficient winds.
The Magnus rotors are substantially in the form of cylindrical hollow bodies so that the drive device, carrier elements and similar can be arranged in the interior of the Magnus rotor. One possible form of arrangement in that respect is for all drive elements and similar assemblies to be arranged in an inner stationary cylinder, and for the rotating cylinder to be mounted in a central or upper portion on the inner cylinder.
The elements and assemblies arranged in the interior can heat up in operation. That is the case in particular with the drive device. In order to ensure optimum operation however it is necessary to cool the elements and the assemblies.


In a fixing device according to this invention, coils are formed on a coil bobbin having a predetermined shape at an induction heating portion including a plurality of coils. In order to minimize the temperature difference of a heating roller in the axial direction, the coil bobbin has a shape for holding the interval between the coils at a predetermined interval.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device which is mounted in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or printer and fixes a developer image on a paper sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine utilizing a digital technique comprises a fixing device which fixes a developer image onto a paper sheet by heating in a press state.
The heat source of the heating roller of the fixing device is induction heating. In induction heating, a coil is stored in the heating roller and connected to a capacitance to form a resonant circuit. One resonant circuit is excited at one frequency. A high-frequency current is supplied to the coil to generate a high-frequency magnetic field from the coil. The high-frequency magnetic field causes the heating roller to generate an eddy current. Joule heat by the eddy current causes self-heating of the heating roller.
In recent years, a short warming-up time presents a technical issue as an energy-saving technique. The measure is to decrease the diameter of the heating roller.
The electrophotographic copying machine uses various paper sizes. When small-width paper sheets are successively fed to the fixing device, a portion of the heating roller extending from the paper becomes higher in temperature than a portion within the paper width because it is not deprived of heat by the paper sheet. When a large-width paper sheet is fed after a small-width paper sheet, a fixing error occurs due to a high-temperature offset. This phenomenon is prominent for a smaller-diameter heating roller (smaller heat capacity).


An air distribution system for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is coupled to a tower and a rotor that is rotatably coupled to the nacelle with a rotor shaft. The rotor includes at least one rotor blade that is coupled to a hub. The air distribution system includes a conduit that is defined within the rotor shaft. The conduit provides flow communication between the nacelle and the rotor. An air-flow control assembly is coupled in flow communication with the conduit. The air-flow control assembly is configured to selectively channel air from the nacelle to the rotor and from the nacelle to ambient air.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to a system and method of distributing air within a wind turbine.
At least some known wind turbine towers include a nacelle fixed atop a tower. The nacelle includes a rotor assembly coupled to a generator through a rotor shaft. In known rotor assemblies, a plurality of blades extend from a rotor. The blades are oriented such that wind passing over the blades turns the rotor and rotates the shaft, thereby driving the generator to generate electricity.
In at least some known wind turbines, various wind turbine components are positioned within the tower and/or the nacelle. During operation of known wind turbines, the wind turbine components generate heat which increases a temperature of the tower and/or the nacelle. As the temperature of the tower and/or the nacelle is increased, the operation of the wind turbine components may be adversely affected.
Because many known wind turbines provide electrical power to utility grids, at least some wind turbines have larger components (e.g., rotors in excess of thirty meters in diameter) that facilitate supplying greater quantities of electrical power. However, the larger components are often subjected to increased loads (e.g., asymmetric loads) that result from wind shears, yaw misalignment, and/or turbulence. In addition, at least some known wind turbines are subjected to ambient temperatures that may result in the formation of ice across known rotor blades. The formation of ice across known rotor blades may contribute to significant fatigue cycles on the rotor blade and/or other components of the wind turbine. As the wind turbine components become worn, the wind turbine becomes less effective generating electricity.

System and method of distributing air within a wind turbine


Disclosed is an apparatus for processing image data in a portable terminal equipped with a camera. In the apparatus the image data photographed by the camera are coded by a predetermined coding scheme in a photographing mode of the camera, header information of a stream of the coded image data is generated and inserted into the stream, identifying information is generated as a watermark and the watermark is inserted into the stream, and the stream comprising the watermark is stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for an image processing in a terminal equipped with a camera. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for inserting identification information of a mobile terminal into a photographed image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an image processing apparatus includes a camera for photographing an image and a display unit for displaying image signals photographed by the camera. The camera may use a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) sensor or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and the display unit may use a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). With the miniaturization of the camera, the apparatus for photographing the image has also been increasingly miniaturized. Currently, miniaturized digital cameras have become popular, and the camera has been mounted on a portable terminal. The portable terminal may photograph an image, convert the photographed image to a moving picture or a still picture, and display the moving picture or the still picture. Also, the portable terminal may also transmit the photographed image to a base station.
Because the miniaturized digital cameras as described above may be easily carried and may easily photograph an image, they have become popular. Further, because photographing using the miniaturized digital cameras is electrically performed, no audible indication is provided when the photographs are taken. In this case, since it is possible to secretly photograph another person by means of portable terminals without consent of another person, it may infringe upon another person's privacy. Accordingly, the current regulation requires that an audible indication automatically occur when photographs are taken by means of digital cameras. That is, photographing performed by using the cameras mounted on the portable terminals makes a "clicking" sound. This is for notifying other persons that the photographs are being taken by means of the portable terminals.
However, even though the "click" sound automatically occurs, it may be impossible for the other person to hear the "clicking" sound in noisy environments. Further, when a user using the miniature camera prohibits the "click" sound from occurring, another person cannot become aware of being photographed.
Moreover, with the development of the Internet, etc, a person's privacy may be infringed because photographs secretly photographed as described above may be uploaded to websites, etc. Accordingly, a need exists for a portable, photographing terminal whereby, when photographing is performed by means of the camera, information on the terminal taking the photograph or video can be inserted into the photographs. Therefore, the aforementioned problems can be solved.

Apparatus for identifying a photographer of an image


Communication operations are optimally conducted by applying space-division multiple access in which wireless resources on a spatial axis are shared among a plurality of users.

Wireless communication eliminates the burden of wiring work for wired communication of the past, and is additionally catered for usage as a technology that realizes mobile communication. For example, IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 may be cited as an established standard regarding wireless LANs (Local Area Networks). IEEE 802.11a/g is already widely prevalent.
With many wireless LAN systems such as IEEE 802.11, an access control protocol based on carrier sense such as CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) is implemented, with each station being configured to avoid carrier collisions during random channel access. In other words, a station that has produced a transmission request first monitors the medium state for a given frame interval DIFS (Distributed Inter Frame Space), and if no transmitted signal exists during this space, the station conducts a random backoff. In the case where no transmission signal exists in this space as well, the station obtains an exclusive channel usage transmission opportunity (TXOP), and is able to transmit a frame. Also, "virtual carrier sensing" may be cited as a methodology for resolving the hidden terminal problem in wireless communication. More specifically, in the case where duration information for reserving the medium is stated in a received frame not addressed to the receiving station, that station predicts that the medium will be in use for a period corresponding to the duration information, or in other words virtually senses the carrier, and sets a transmission pause period (NAV: Network Allocation Vector). In so doing, channel exclusivity during a TXOP is assured.
Meanwhile, with the IEEE 802.11a/g standard, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is used in the 2.4 GHZ band or the 5 GHz band to support a modulation method that achieves a maximum communication rate (physical layer data rate) of 54 Mbps. Also, with the standard's amendment IEEE 802.11n, MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output) communication methods are adopted to realize even higher bit rates. Herein, MIMO is a communication method that realizes spatially multiplexed streams by providing a plurality of antenna elements at both the transmitter end and the receiver end (as is commonly known). Although high throughput (HT) exceeding 100 Mbps can be achieved with IEEE 802.11n, even greater speeds are being demanded as the information size of transmitted content increases.
For example, by increasing the number of antennas on a MIMO communication device to increase the number of spatially multiplexed streams, throughput for 1-to-1 communication can be improved while maintaining backwards compatibility. However, improvements in per-user throughput for communication as well as in throughput for multiple users overall are being demanded for the future.
The IEEE 802.11ac Working Group is attempting to formulate a wireless LAN standard whose data transfer rate exceeds 1 Gbps by using the frequency band below 6 GHz. For its realization, space-division multiple access methods whereby wireless resources on a spatial axis are shared by a plurality of users, such as multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) or SDMA (Space-Division Multiple Access), are effective.
For example, there has been proposed a communication system that combines the two technologies of carrier sensing in the legacy IEEE 802.11 standard and space-division multiple access with an adaptive array antenna by using RTS, CTS, and ACK frames in a frame format that maintains backwards compatibility with the legacy 802.11 standard (see PTL 1, for example).
Also, with IEEE 802.11n, an RD (Reverse Direction) protocol is adopted in order to make data transmission in an exclusive channel usage period (TXOP) more efficient. With an ordinary TXOP, only one-way data transfer is conducted wherein the station that has obtained an exclusive channel usage right transmits a data frame. In contrast, with the RD protocol, two roles called the RD initiator and the RD responder are defined. As a result of the RD initiator indicating an RDG (RD Grant), or in other words permitting or granting reverse data transfer, in a specific field in a MAC (Media Access Control) frame sent by the RD initiator (downlink), the RD responder is subsequently able to transmit a data frame in the reverse direction (uplink) addressed to the RD initiator in the same TXOP (see PTL 2, for example).
At this point, a communication system conducting space-division multiple access can improve throughput for multiple users overall (discussed above), but it is thought that spatially multiplexed frames in a TXOP can be more even more efficient by applying the RD protocol defined in IEEE 802.11n.
However, consider a practical configuration wherein an access point takes the role of an RD initiator, and a plurality of terminals take the role of RD responders, for example. In this case, when data frames are sent from the plurality of terminals plurality of terminals to the access point by uplink, the access point will be unable to separate users unless the respective stations multiplex their frames at the same time.
Also, in the case of applying space-division multiple access to a wireless LAN, the case of multiplexing variable-length frames on the same time axis is conceivable. However, if the lengths of the frames sent from respective stations differ, then the received signal power at the access point will vary drastically as the amount of frame multiplexing increases or decreases. This induces unstable operation with respect to automatic gain control (AGC), and there is also a possibility of problems occurring from various perspectives, such as the power distribution in a frame becoming no longer constant with respect to the RCPI (Received Channel Power Indicator) standardized in IEEE 802.11.
In short, a plurality of RD responders requires frames to be sent to an access point at the same time, and additionally requires it to be configured such that even if a plurality of frames with different lengths are sent from an upper layer, the lengths of the frames ultimately sent from the PHY layer are made to be uniform.

Communication apparatus and method, computer program, and communication system enabling improved throughput for an entire plurality of users

Abstract: By applying an RD protocol to a communication system that conducts space-division multiple access, spatially multiplexed frames in a TXOP are made more efficient. By specifying a frame length for reverse direction frames with reverse direction permission information and having respective transmitters of reverse direction frames make their frame lengths uniform while respecting the specification, AGC operation stabilizes. Also, a transmit start time for reverse direction frames can be specified by reverse direction permission information, and respective transmitters of reverse direction frames can transmit frames at the same time while respecting the specification.


A method for adjusting the weight of a character of an outline font to produce an adjusted character, the character and adjusted character being described by collections of control points that guide the drawing of line or curve segments, with each line or curve segment being described by two end control points and each curve segment also being described by at least one middle control point. According to the method, first and second lines are determined for each segment of the character. The first line is the line defined by the two end control points of the segment, and the second line is the line parallel to the first line and offset from the first line a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction. Next, first intersects are determined for each segment of the character. The first intersects are the intersects between the associated second line and the second lines of adjoining character segments. The first intersects are set as the end control points of the associated segment of the adjusted character. Then third and fourth lines and a second intersect are determined for each curve segment of the character. The third line is the line defined by one end control point of the character curve segment and the associated end control point of the associated adjusted character curve segment. The fourth line is the line defined by the other end control point of the character curve segment and the associated end control point of the associated adjusted character curve segment. The second intersect is the intersect between the associated third and fourth lines. Fifth and sixth lines are determined for each middle control point of each curve segment of the character. The fifth line is the line defined by the middle control point and the second intersect. The sixth line is the line that passes through the adjoining end control point of the associated curve segment of the adjusted character and that is parallel to a line defined by the character middle control point and the adjoining character end control point. Finally, an associated middle control point of the associated adjusted character is determined for each middle control point. The associated middle control point is the intersect between the associated fifth and sixth lines.

This invention relates to outline fonts, and more particularly to a method for adjusting the weight of a character of an outline font.
Frequently a font designer desires to modify a particular font (i.e., a typeface at a particular size in a particular style) so that the characters of the font exhibit the same general style, but have a different weight. That is, it is desired to make the characters of the font appear lighter or bolder. In the past, modifying the weight of characters required adjusting the bit map representation of each character by hand, a difficult, time-consuming task requiring great skill. At present, some fonts allow limited changes to weight through the use of a complex system of hints.

Method of adjusting the weight of a character of an outline font


A method of screening a semiconductor device comprises the steps of successively forming a gate insulation film (102) and a conductive film (104) on a silicon wafer (100) to provide a structure (106) and bringing the first voltage application terminal (110) into contact with the back of the structure and the second voltage application terminal (112) having a potential different from that of the first voltage application terminal (110) into contact with the surface of the conductive film (104) to thereby apply a stress voltage to the structure (106).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of screening a semiconductor device and, particularly, to a method of screening a semiconductor device by applying a stress voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
The screening of an initial defect due to the gate oxide film or the p-n junction formed in the semiconductor layer has been performed for the semiconductor chip and the packaged semiconductor device after the wafer process completion. In the screening of a semiconductor chip, a stress voltage is applied to the bonding pad formed on the semiconductor chip by contacting a terminal contacting needle. For the packaged semiconductor device, a stress voltage is applied to the external lead terminal via a socket. Upon application of a stress voltage, a precision equipment, such as an LSI tester or burn-in equipment, is used.
The application of a stress voltage reveals a latent defect so that the semiconductor device with an initial defect is removed, thus reducing the initial malfunction rate after shipping.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 6-29301 has proposed a method of shortening the burn-in time of a packaged semiconductor device by applying a stress voltage before conducting the functional test of a completed semiconductor chip for checking if there is an error in the data outputted from the operation of logic and memory patterns.
In the above voltage application method, however, it is necessary to make a stress application by the operation of a circuit function because a stress voltage is applied to all the elements of a semiconductor device for screening the semiconductor chip and package. Especially when a complicated circuit structure is included in the semiconductor chip and package, a prolonged screening is necessary for applying a stress voltage to all the regions of a semiconductor device due to the circuit operation timing shift. Also, it is necessary to bring the terminal contact needle into contact with the bonding pad of a semiconductor chip with high precision for the voltage application. Similarly, a stress voltage is applied to the outer lead terminal of the semiconductor package via a socket. This requires an expensive facility for the prolonged use of an LSI tester or burn-in equipment.
Thus, there has been a demand for an economical method of screening a semiconductor device that shortens the stress voltage application time for making a latent defect visible.

Method of screening semiconductor device


A computer assisted navigation system determines a recommended route for a vehicle to travel between a source and destination location, and provides exception notifications in some events where the vehicle travels a route different that the recommended route. The vehicle includes a navigation system that has a location monitoring component. It is determined if the location of the vehicle is different than a location along the recommended route. An exception notification is generated when the vehicle is not along the recommended route it is likely that the reason the recommended route was not used is because the recommended route is not the optimal route between the source and destination locations.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to computer assisted navigation systems, and more particularly, to apparatuses, systems, and methods for maintaining data quality for use in computer assisted navigation systems.
2. Background Information
Computer assisted navigation systems are used in many different applications. One application that has found wide acceptance is vehicle routing. Such an application provides driving directions to an operator of a vehicle. Such a computer assisted navigation system has access to a database that includes a map of various different driving routes for an area of interest. The system analyzes the map and provides provide navigation assistance such as particular routes between locations. For example, an automobile may have such a computer assisted navigation system. A driver of the automobile may enter a desired destination into the computer assisted navigation system. The computer assisted navigation system then provides a suggested route to the desired destination. Similarly, a trucking company may provide such navigation systems to operators of trucks in order to provide operators with driving directions. Such navigation systems enhance efficiency of route determination by providing operators with route information without requiring the operator to spend a significant amount of time studying a map to determine a route.
Such computer assisted navigation systems commonly include a location sensor, such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that provides location coordinates, a controller/processor, a memory containing a map of the area of interest, and a user interface. For example, a driver of an automobile may enter a desired destination into the user interface, and the navigation system provides a suggested route from the present location of the automobile to the desired destination. Such a suggested route may include a route that has the shortest distance between the present location and the desired destination, or the route when the expected shortest time between the present location and the desired destination. A shortest distance is determined by accessing a database that includes a map between the present location and the desired destination, evaluating the different possible routes to the desired destination, and determining which route has the shortest distance. A route that has the expected shortest driving time is determined by accessing a database that has a map of driving routes between the current location and desired destination, along with expected speeds at which the vehicle will travel while on the different routes. The distance and expected speeds of the various routes are analyzed to determine the route that is expected to yield the shortest driving time. For example, two different possible routes may be available for traveling from a present location to the desired destination, a first route that primarily travels over residential streets, and a second route that primarily travels over a divided highway. The first route may provide a shorter distance than the second route, but the expected travel time for the second route may be shorter than the first route. The algorithms for route determination can become quite complex.
Similarly, the trucking industry commonly uses such computer assisted navigation systems. A system located in a truck in such an application may communicate with a dispatch center to receive the destination for a particular delivery, and may also receive a suggested route to the destination. The suggested route, similarly as in automobile applications, may include the route with the shortest expected driving time, the shortest total distance, and/or the route with the shortest expected driving time that does not include any tolls. A driver may follow the route to deliver the shipment to the destination. The determination of the optimal route is of particular importance in such applications, as non-optimal routes may result in shipments not arriving on time, potential spoilage of materials in the shipment, and in general result in higher costs.
Route determination is based on many factors, some of which are discussed above, such as distance, expected driving time, and potential tolls. The distance is often determined using graphic information systems (GIS) applications that provide geographic coordinate locations to a relatively high degree of accuracy. These coordinates are used to determine distance information for a particular route. Further information related to a particular route or portion of a route is accessed, such as speeds that are expected for particular portions of the route. Furthermore, even further information may be accessed, such as expected driving speeds for a particular time of day, and information related to expected construction or weather delays for particular routes.
The determination of an optimal route is thus highly dependent upon the accuracy of route information, and the accuracy of such additional information such as expected traffic or construction delays. The determination of such additional information, and thus the determination of the optimal route, is often difficult.


A cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition containing a highly saturated nitrile rubber (a) having an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit and a carboxyl-group containing monomer unit and having an iodine value of 120 or less, a cross-linking agent (b), and a specific cyclic amidine and/or cyclic amidinium salt (c) is provided. Preferably, the cross-linking agent (b) is a polyamine-based cross-linking agent (d), and more preferably, the carboxyl-group containing monomer unit is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer unit.

In the past, as rubber with an excellent oil resistance, heat resistance, and ozone resistance, a nitrile-group containing highly saturated copolymer rubber (also called "highly saturated nitrile rubber", hydrogenated nitrile rubber included) has been known. Its cross-linked rubber is being used as materials for belts, hoses, gaskets, packings, oil seals, and various other automotive use rubber products. However, due to the increasingly smaller size and higher output of automobile engines, rubber materials more superior in heat resistance have become sought. Further, when using highly saturated nitrile rubber for seal applications, further reduction in compression set becomes necessary.
In the face of these circumstances, Patent Document 1 proposes a cross-linkable rubber composition containing highly saturated nitrile rubber having α,β-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer units, a polyamine-based cross-linking agent and basic cross-linking accelerator. While this composition gives cross-linked rubber improved in heat resistance and compression set to a certain extent, further improvement of the compression set while maintaining the heat resistance in a good state has been sought.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2001-55471

Cross-linkable nitrile rubber composition and cross-linked rubber


A three-point safety belt system (20) including: a tongue (100) configured to receive portions of a safety belt assembly (200); the safety belt assembly (200) comprising a shoulder belt section (202) and a lap belt section (250), the shoulder belt section including a hollow, generally flat first tube or tubular section (202), the first tube or tubular part configured to tear apart along a preferred region (203), a web guide (300); a first and second retractor (240, 260); the lap belt section (250) extending from the tongue to the corresponding retractor (260) and the shoulder belt section (202) extending from the tongue to the other retractor (240), each retractor configured to respectively retract the lap belt section and the shoulder belt section and to permit the extension or protraction of same; an inflatable air bag (400) received within the shoulder belt section and movable with the first tubular part (202) of the shoulder belt section, and inflatable by an inflator causing the air bag to extend and break the first tubular part as the air bag inflates from a stored condition to an inflated condition.

The present invention relates to an occupant safety restraint system and more particularly to a system comprising a seat belt system in which a shoulder belt includes an inflatable air bag. In the prior art this type of restraint device was referred to as an "inflatabelt" or "inflataband."
Prior inflatable belt restraint systems used a narrow, tubular air bag which was located in the shoulder belt. The shoulder belt was configured as a tearable, hollow cover or tube which upon inflation of the air bag was broken, permitting the air bag to deploy across the chest of the occupant. The inflatable bag provided a resilient cushion protecting the occupant's chest area. These prior art inflatable belt systems lacked protection for the occupant's head. The combination of the tearable cover or tube and air bag make the shoulder belt rather thick (in comparison to a conventional shoulder belt) and it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to easily pull the shoulder belt over or across the web guide (D-ring) of the seat belt system.
The present invention solves the above deficiencies and comprises in the illustrated embodiment, a three-point safety belt system including: a tongue configured to receive portions of a safety belt assembly; the safety belt assembly comprises a shoulder belt section and a lap belt section, the shoulder belt section including a hollow, generally flat first tube or tubular part; the first tube or tubular part is configured to tear apart along a preferred region or line. The system further includes a web guide and at least one retractor and in the preferred embodiment a first and second retractor. The lap belt section 34 extends from the tongue to the first retractor and the shoulder belt section extends from the tongue to the second retractor. Each of the first and second retractor is respectively configured to retract the lap belt section and the shoulder belt section and to permit the extension or protraction of same. An inflatable air bag is received within and movable with the first tubular part. The air bag, which includes portions to protect the occupant's chest and head, and first tubular part comprise the shoulder belt section. The air bag is inflatable by inflation gas provided by an inflator causing the air bag to expand and break the first tubular part as the air bag inflates from a stored, folded condition to an inflated condition.

Three-point safety belt system with integral air bag


This invention relates to a trackable medical tool for use in image guided surgery in which the drive shaft rotates about the tracking post.

Computer assisted image guided medical and surgical navigation systems are known and used to generate images in order to guide a doctor during a medical procedure. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,769,861 & 6,428,547. Such systems frequently include a tracking array that is clamped to the instrument desired to be tracked.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,395 ("Williams") discloses an IGS system having a flexible clamping band used to attach the tracking array to the instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,343 ("Foley") discloses a tool for use in image guided surgery comprising an annular guide member having a trackable array and a drive shaft for rotating an instrument such as a screwdriver while keeping the array stationary.
In each embodiment disclosed in Foley '343, the drive shaft is received within an annulus of the guide member. That is, the annulus of the guide member surrounds the drive shaft, thereby allowing the array to rotate fully around the drive shaft.
Further, Foley '343 discloses attaching the instrument to the drive shaft by a simple male-female socket, in particular a ball-and-detent mechanism. The ball and detent feature of this socket produces considerable error in tracking because the attachment occurs on one side of the connection and so is not substantially radially uniform.

Trackable medical tool for use in image guided surgery


A particle beam device and a sample receptacle apparatus, which has a sample holder, are disclosed. The sample holder is arranged in a movable fashion along at least a first axis and along at least a second axis. Furthermore, the sample holder is arranged in a rotatable fashion about a first axis of rotation and about a second axis of rotation. A first sample holding device is arranged relative to the sample holder in a rotatable fashion about a third axis of rotation, in which the third axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are at least in part arranged laterally offset with respect to one another. Furthermore, a control apparatus is provided, in which the first sample holding device is rotatable about the third axis of rotation into an analysis position and/or treating position using the control apparatus.

Electron beam devices, more particularly a scanning electron microscope (also referred to as an SEM herein), are used to analyze samples in order to obtain information in respect of the properties and behavior of these samples in specific conditions.
In an SEM, an electron beam (also called primary electron beam herein) is generated using a beam generator and focused onto a sample to be analyzed using a beam guiding system, more particularly an objective lens. The primary electron beam is guided in a raster-like fashion over a surface of the sample to be analyzed using a deflection apparatus. In the process, the electrons of the primary electron beam interact with the material of the sample to be analyzed. Interaction particles in particular are created as a result of the interaction. Electrons in particular are emitted by the sample to be analyzed (so-called secondary electrons) and electrons of the primary electron beam are backscattered on the sample to be analyzed (so-called backscattered electrons). The secondary electrons and backscattered electrons are detected and used for generating an image. Hence, an image of the sample to be analyzed is obtained.
Furthermore, the prior art has disclosed the use of combination devices for analyzing samples, in which devices both electrons and ions can be guided onto a sample to be analyzed. By way of example, it is known to additionally equip an SEM with an ion beam column. Ions are generated using an ion beam generator arranged in the ion beam column and these are used for preparing a sample (e.g. for removing a layer of the sample or for applying material onto the sample) or else for imaging. Here, the SEM more particularly serves for observing the preparation, but also for the further analysis of the prepared or unprepared sample.
The prior art has furthermore disclosed the practice of providing a particle beam device with a sample holder in the form of a sample stage, on which a sample to be analyzed and/or treated is arranged. The sample holder is embodied in a movable fashion, wherein the movable embodiment of the sample holder is made possible by a plurality of movement elements. The movement elements allow a movement of the sample stage in at least one specific direction. In particular, a sample holder is known that has a plurality of translational movement elements (for example in the form of linear drives) and a plurality of rotational movement elements. By way of example, a sample holder is known, which is arranged in a movable fashion along a first axis of translation (for example an x-axis), along a second axis of translation (for example a y-axis) and along a third axis of translation (for example a z-axis). The first axis of translation, the second axis of translation and the third axis of translation are arranged perpendicularly with respect to one another. The known sample holder can additionally also be rotated about a first axis of rotation and about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are oriented perpendicularly with respect to one another.
In respect of the aforementioned prior art, reference is made in an exemplary fashion to EP 1 780 764 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Furthermore, reference is made in an exemplary fashion to US 2010/0059672 A1 and DE 10 2007 026 847 A1, which are incorporated herein by reference, from each of which a particle beam device is known that has a sample holder that can be brought into an analysis position and/or treating position using a rotation.
The known sample holder can have a sample holding device, on which the sample to be analyzed is arranged. Additionally, the known sample holder can have further sample holding devices, on each of which a further sample to be analyzed is arranged. The sample holding devices, respectively, have a planar sample receptacle surface and respectively have a holding element. The holding element of each sample holding device is in each case introduced into an opening of the sample holder. By way of example, the holding element is held in said opening in a detachable fashion using a screw connection.
The sample holder with the numerous sample holding devices is used in order to be able to analyze a large number of samples to be analyzed within a relatively short period of time. In order to align a specific sample to be analyzed in a desired orientation, it is known to move the sample holder eucentrically. However, it is quite possible that during the eucentric movement of the sample holder parts of the sample holder collide with units of the particle beam device, which are arranged in a sample chamber of the particle beam device with the sample holder.
The aforementioned premise is particularly likely to occur in a combination device provided with two particle beam columns. By way of example, provision is made in such a combination device for a sample to be analyzed and/or treated to be arranged in the vicinity of a point of coincidence of a first particle beam and a second particle beam in order to carry out an analysis and/or treating of the sample to be analyzed and/or treated. FIG. 1A shows a schematic illustration of a particle beam device from the prior art. The particle beam device has a first particle beam column 1 and a second particle beam column 2. Furthermore, provision is made for a sample holder 3, which—as described above—has a movable embodiment. A first sample holding device 4 and a second sample holding device 5 are arranged on the sample holder 3. A first sample 6A, which should be analyzed and/or treated, is arranged on the first sample holding device 4. A first particle beam 7 provided by the first particle beam column 1 and a second particle beam 8 provided by the second particle beam column 2 meet at a point of coincidence 9 on the first sample 6A. In order to allow an analysis and/or treating at the point of coincidence 9, provision is made for arranging the first sample holding device 4 as closely to an edge of the sample holder 3 as possible, wherein the edge of the sample holder 3 is arranged closest to the first particle beam column 1 and the second particle beam column 2. Furthermore, the first sample holding device 4 was arranged manually (i.e. by hand) on the sample holder 3 such that the first sample 6A has an orientation that suffices for the analysis and/or treating of the first sample 6A using the first particle beam 7 or the second particle beam 8. However, the alignment by hand is complicated. Moreover, such an alignment is often inaccurate. Accordingly, carrying out an analysis of a plurality of samples, which are arranged on the sample holder by the sample holding devices, may be time-consuming and inaccurate.
Furthermore, it is quite possible for a further sample to be analyzed and/or treated to be arranged on the sample holder 3. This is illustrated in FIG. 1B. In order to analyze and/or treat a second sample 6B arranged on the second sample holding device 5, the sample holder 3 is moved such that the second sample 6B is arranged in the vicinity of the point of coincidence 9. However, in the process the first sample holding device 4 may now strike e.g. the first particle beam column 1.
At least one of the aforementioned sample holding devices may also collide with parts of the particle beam device during a rotation of the sample holder 3 about an axis of rotation. This is illustrated in FIG. 1C. When the sample holder 3 rotates about an axis that is parallel to the optical axis of the second particle beam column 2, the second sample holding device 5 may strike the first particle beam column 1.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to specify a sample holder with a sample holding device, and a particle beam device with a sample holder, in which a sample in the sample holder or a unit of the sample holder is prevented from striking a component of the particle beam device when an analysis position and/or treating position of a sample is set, and in which an analysis of numerous samples is possible without consuming much time.

Particle beam device having a sample holder


The present invention relates to a delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expanding medical device (2) having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said delivery apparatus comprising an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen (122) extending along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end; a sheath (11), said sheath (11) being coaxially disposed around the elongated tubular member (12); wherein the elongated tubular member (12) is movable relative to the sheath (11); and wherein the sheath (11) is configured for receiving the radially self-expanding medical device (2) in a radially compressed state; and a holding and retrieving mechanism configured to constrain radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device (2) such that in response to a proximal movement of the elongated tubular member (12) relative to the sheath (11), the holding and retrieving mechanism (13) constrains radially the proximal portion of the radially self-expanding medical device (2) and the radially self-expanding medical device (2) is collapsed within the sheath (11).

Valvular heart disease is recognized as a common disease in the elderly population. Mitral regurgitation—the mitral leaflets do not close properly leading to abnormal leaking of blood—is the most commonly occurring valve abnormality. Besides mitral regurgitation, conditions affecting the proper functioning of the mitral valve also include mitral valves stenosis—the opening of the mitral valve is narrowed leading to systolic function deterioration. Aortic valve, pulmonary valve and tricuspid valve may also be affected by regurgitation and stenosis.
Typically, treatment for heart valve regurgitation or stenosis involves either administration of diuretics and/or vasodilators to reduce the amount of blood flowing back, or surgical procedures for either repair or replacement of the heart valve. Less invasive approaches recently implemented involve percutaneous expandable prosthetic heart valves.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,081 discloses a trans-vascular technique developed for introducing and replacing the diseased native heart valve using a flexible catheter in a manner that is less invasive than open heart surgery. Said patent especially discloses a prosthetic heart valve mounted in a crimped state on the distal portion of a flexible catheter and advanced through a blood vessel of the patient until the apparatus reaches the implantation site. The prosthetic valve at the catheter distal end is then expanded to its functional size at the site of the defective native valve, such as by inflation or by self-expansion.
Among expandable prosthetic heart valves, self-expanding prosthetic valves are preferred for non-cylindrical frame because a balloon cannot conform to the specific shape of the frame. However one drawback associated with self-expanding device, relies in that, as the operator move the device to the distal end of the delivery sheath, the device tends to "jump" out in an uncontrolled manner from the distal open end of the delivery sheath. In fact, the partially deployed part of the frame exerts a biased outward force which tends to cause the self-expanding device to be ejected from the delivery sheath.
To address this issue, delivery apparatus with retaining mechanisms secured to the self-expanding prosthetic valves have been developed to avoid undesired "jump" out of the delivery sheath until exact positioning has been validated by the operator.
For instance, US 2010/0049313 discloses a delivery apparatus comprising a valve retaining mechanism. The valve is not disposed distally within the delivery sheath but said delivery sheath comprises a nose piece disposed at the distal end in order to avoid undesired positioning of the valve.
One drawback associated with delivery apparatus configured to control in a precise manner the delivery is that positioning is directly related to the delivery apparatus ability to precisely reach the implantation site. Complex steerable delivery apparatus, in addition to complex imaging technique, have to be used to precisely reach the implantation site.
Another drawback associated with delivery apparatus configured to controlled in a precise manner the delivery is that positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the implantation site should be assess while the heart valve prosthesis is still partially deployed and retaining mechanism engaged. Displacement which could occur to balance the radial outward force of the heart valve prosthesis and the resistive and compressive radial force of the surrounding tissue when the retaining mechanism is removed is thus unknown and not controlled.
Moreover, the catheter, inserted in the vasculature, induce a remodeling of the implantation site, with associated mechanical stresses on the tissue and in the catheter.
During the deployment, the catheter is separated from the prosthesis and some mechanical stresses disappear suddenly. There is, at this moment, a movement between the catheter and the deployment position which can move out the prosthesis. For example, the angle between the internal jugular vein and the plan of the tricuspid ring is around 60° and the catheter have to bend and press the edge of the vessel to conform with this angle.
Furthermore, after implantation, the catheter, fixed to the surgeon and maintained by the vasculature, is mobile relative to the prosthesis just implanted in the native environment. Indeed, during the heartbeat, the catheter has no mobility while the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) can reach 20 mm. If the prosthesis is fixed to the catheter, this makes very difficult to the surgeon to avoid any impairment of the just implanted prosthesis by the catheter while keeping the ability to check properly the performance of the device and to retrieve the device in case of implantation failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,076 consists in a delivery apparatus wherein a collapsible artificial blood vessel is in a catheter. A tubular cover is connected to the distal part of an artificial blood vessel and pulls the artificial blood vessel outside the catheter. In the same way, the European patent application EP2745810 describes an apparatus for deployment of an implantable medical device including a stent graft and a restraining device, such as cord or suture, which holds the stent in a compressed configuration. Withdrawal of one or more trigger wires facilitates the release and allows the stent to become fully deployed within the vessel. The drawback of this background is that the medical device has to be deployed in a low motion area to reach the perfect desired location. Indeed, the holding to the proximal part or the body part of the medical device prevent a free-deployment of the medical device. Then, the implantation site should fit perfectly with the catheter. As explained above, these apparatus will be unable to deliver correctly a medical device in a relative moving heart.
Furthermore, the fully deployed prosthesis valve is not retrievable in the delivery sheath. Mispositioning, inefficiency or sized-mismatch cannot be corrected after the retaining mechanism has been removed. Some delivery apparatus attempt to address this issue such as for instance WO2012/052718. Said delivery apparatus comprises a sheath and a holder movable within the sheath and configured to constrain radially the prosthetic valve in order to enable removal of the prosthetic valve. However, the mechanism is complex and requires a larger diameter of the external sheath. Moreover, with said delivery apparatus, the prosthesis cannot be connected to the delivery apparatus by the surgeon in the operating room.
There is thus a need for an easy to use delivery apparatus enabling unrestrained deployment of a medical device, such as a prosthetic heart valve, and/or retrievability of the medical device once fully positioned. In particular, there is a need for a holding and retrieving mechanism and/or a retaining mechanism which may be easily connected to the medical device by the surgeon or an assistant in the operating room.

Delivery apparatus for self-expanding medical device


An optical compensation structure and a display device are disclosed. The former comprises a front side polarizer and a rear side polarizer arranged at both sides of a VA liquid crystal unit; wherein the front side polarizer includes a front side polarization unit as well as a biaxial film arranged between the front side polarization unit and the VA liquid crystal unit; the rear side polarizer includes a rear side polarization unit as well as a first rear side TAC film arranged between the rear side polarization unit and the VA liquid crystal unit. The region having serious dark-state light leakage can be transferred from a horizontal viewing angle to a vertical viewing angle, which improves the display effect. There is no addition of the number of layers of the biaxial film, which reduces the cost.

With the observation angle of TFT-LCD increasing, the image contrast has been reduced continuously, and the image definition has been decreased. This is due to the birefringence of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer changing along with the observation angle. Compensating with a compensation film of a wide viewing angle can reduce light leakage of the dark state image effectively, and increase the image contrast significantly in a certain range of viewing angles. The compensation film has the general compensation principle of correcting the phase difference generated by the liquid crystal at different viewing angles, so that the birefringent property of the liquid crystal molecules is symmetrically compensated. Different compensation films are used for different liquid crystal display modes. The compensation films used in a large-sized liquid crystal TV are mostly targeted in the VA display mode, including N-TAC of the Konica company in the early stage, and Zeonor of the OPOTES company, the F-TAC series of the Fujitsu company, X-plate of the Nitto Denko, etc. developed continuously afterwards.
FIG. 1 is an exploded drawing of the display device in the existing technology. As shown in FIG. 1, this display device includes a VA (Vertical Alignment) liquid crystal unit 300 and an optical compensation structure, the latter further including a front side polarizer 100 and a rear side polarizer 200 arranged at both sides of the VA liquid crystal unit 300. Wherein the front side polarizer 100 is arranged at the side in the light-exiting direction of the VA liquid crystal unit 300 (as shown by the arrowhead in FIG. 1; here the light-exiting direction is defined to be the direction of the backlight source oriented to the viewer), including a front side polarization unit 110 as well as a TAC film 120 arranged between the front side polarization unit 110 and the VA liquid crystal unit 300. Generally, the front side polarization unit 110 includes another TAC film as well as a PVA film arranged between this another TAC film and the TAC film 120. The rear side polarizer 200 includes a rear side polarization unit 220 as well as a rear side biaxial film 210 arranged between the rear side polarization unit 220 and the VA liquid crystal unit 300, the rear side biaxial film 210 having the function of both a delay film and a protection film. Generally, the rear side polarization unit 220 includes a TAC film as well as a PVA film arranged between this TAC film and the rear side biaxial film 210.
The above optical compensation structure includes one layer of biaxial film, and is therefore also usually called a single-layered biaxial film compensation structure. FIG. 2 is a dark-state light leakage profile of the single-layered biaxial film compensation structure. It shows the full viewing angle dark-state light leakage distribution of the single-layered biaxial film compensation structure, indicating that there is serious light leakage at phi=20°-40°, phi=140°-160°, phi=200°-220° and phi=310°-330°, i.e. there is serious dark-state light leakage at a viewing angle close to the horizontal position. However, the position of a viewer relative to the TV determines that the viewer is easier to see at a viewing angle close to the horizontal position. Therefore, the contrast and definition at the horizontal viewing angle have the biggest influence on the viewing effect.
In order to resolve the above problem, the solution commonly used at present is substituting the double-layered biaxial film compensation structure for the above single-layered biaxial film compensation structure. Still as shown in FIG. 1, in the double-layered biaxial film compensation structure, the biaxial film is substituted for the original TAC film 120, making both the front side polarizer 100 and the rear side polarizer 200 as a polarizer with the biaxial delay film.
FIG. 3 is a dark-state light leakage profile of the double-layered biaxial film compensation structure. It shows the full viewing angle dark-state light leakage distribution of the double-layered biaxial film compensation structure, indicating that there is serious light leakage at phi=30°-60°, phi=120°-150°, phi=210°-240° and phi=300°-330°, which are between the horizontal and vertical viewing angles. Generally, the contrast and definition at the horizontal viewing angle have the biggest influence on the viewing effect, while it is difficult to view at a big viewing angle (close to the vertical viewing angle), which thus has smaller influence on the viewer. It can thus be seen that using a double-layered biaxial film compensation structure can improve the viewing effect. However, although the double-layered biaxial film compensation structure improves the display effect, it will increase the cost of the optical compensation structure, which makes the display device thus produced in an inferior position in the market competition.

Optical compensation structure and display device

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A mechanism for providing instant messaging (IM) users with an alarm to remind users of an event or to re-join an IM chat. An instant message requesting a user to participate in an event is received at an IM client. If the user cannot participate in the event, the user creates an alarm message defining a delay time period after which the user can participate in the event, which is sent to users in the IM chat session. Responsive to receiving the alarm message at an IM client, a countdown of the delay time period is initiated. Additionally, the receipt of the alarm message and timer countdown processing may occur on the IM server, which dispatches a message to the IM client upon timer expiration. Upon expiration of the timer, an alarm popup window is displayed which reminds the user to participate in the event.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved instant messaging system, and in particular, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing instant messaging users with an alarm to remind the users of an event or to re-join an instant messaging chat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Instant messaging is an online chat medium, allowing users to communicate with each other and to collaborate in real-time over a network data processing system. Instant messaging is commonly used over the Internet. Instant messaging applications monitor and report the status of users that have established each other as online contacts. This information is typically presented to a user in a window. Instant messaging applications also are often used by users conducting business. By utilizing instant messaging, business users can view each other's availability and initiate a text conversation with colleagues or customers when a desired contact becomes available. Millions of users communicate using instant messaging systems every day. With instant messaging becoming an important part of both personal and business communications, functionality and usability enhancements are important to the continued success of this type of communication tool.
Existing instant messaging systems provide users with chat windows that allow the users to communicate in real-time. A chat window provides an interface for a user to input text and send messages to other users. Users may also communicate with each other and agree to participate in future events, such as attending a meeting in 30 minutes or going to lunch in 5 minutes. The users may continue to work or perform other tasks in the meantime. Consequently, when the agreed upon times of 5 or 30 minutes has passed, the users may be too distracted in their current activities to realize that the time has passed. Thus, a user may miss or be late to the scheduled meeting, or the users may not actually go to lunch until much later.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for overcoming the deficiencies in the existing art by providing a mechanism for providing instant messaging users with an alarm to remind the users of an event or to re-join an instant messaging chat.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Instant message method to provide a delayed alarm/reminder

International Business Machines Corporation


Liquid oral pilocarpine formulations are described herein. Methods of using the liquid oral pilocarpine formulations are also provided.

Pilocarpine, a nonselective muscarinic agonist, is a saliva production stimulator. It has been used to treat dry mouth caused by radiation treatment or Sjögren syndrome as well as to reduce pressure in the eye from glaucoma. In ophthalmology, pilocarpine is also used to reduce the possibility of glare at night from lights when the patient has undergone implantation of phakic intraocular lenses.
Oral pilocarpine is usually delivered in the form of a solid oral dosage such as a tablet or capsule that is swallowed. For example, SALAGEN® (MGI Pharma, Inc) is a tablet for oral administration containing pilocarpine hydrochloride. The delivery of pilocarpine as a solid oral dosage form is not optimal, particularly in patients that have trouble swallowing tablets.

Methods and compositions for oral pilocarpine liquid


In a DC power transmission and distribution line, a power cable line for making it possible to easily supply power to various electric power machines used for operation of the line is provided.

Hitherto, not only AC power transmission, but also DC power transmission has been executed as electric power supply. The DC power transmission does not involve problems occurring in AC power transmission, such as an AC loss of a dielectric loss, a conductor loss caused by the skin effect, etc., and a large current flowing at the accident time of a short circuit, etc., for example, and large-capacity power can be transmitted. There are two systems of monopolar power transmission (monopole power transmission) and bipolar power transmission (bipole power transmission) for the DC power transmission.
In the monopolar power transmission, a power cable 100g as a going line and a power cable 100r as a return line are connected by leads 104 and 105 through DC/AC converters 102 and 103, forming a closed circuit, as shown in FIG. 11 (A). An AC system of an AC power supply 101 and a load using transmitted power is connected to the converters 102 and 103. In the bipolar power transmission, a power cable 100p as a positive pole line, a power cable 100m as a negative pole line, and a power cable 100n as a neutral line are provided in parallel and are connected by leads 104p, 104m, 104n, 105p, 105m, and 105n through DC/AC converters 102p, 102m, 103p, and 103m, forming a closed circuit, as shown in FIG. 11 (B). An AC system of AC power supplies 101 and loads is connected to the converters 102p, 102m, 103p, and 103m.
The power cable used with such DC power transmission generally is a solid cable or an oil-immersed paper cable of an OF cable, etc. In addition to the normal conducting cable mentioned above, a superconducting cable for DC power transmission is proposed (for example, patent document 1).
On the other hand, to operate a power cable line, electric power machines such as various sensors and a monitoring device are used. With the superconducting cable, in addition to them, machines such as an auxiliary refrigerator, an auxiliary pump, and an auxiliary vacuum pump are also used.
Patent document 1: JP-A-2003-249130

Abstract: A power cable line includes a power cable (1g, 1r, 1p, 1m, 1n) for executing DC transmission and distribution, an AC superposing section 2 for superposing an AC component on the power cable, and a branch power supply section 3 for taking out power induced by the superposed AC component from the cable. The AC component is superposed on the power cable by the AC superposing section 2 and AC power together with DC power is transmitted to the power cable. The superposed AC component is taken out by the branch power supply section 3 provided in a midway point of the cable and is supplied to various electric power machines.


A storage system is provided with a plurality of interface units each for connection with a server; an interface unit for connection with hard disk drives; a plurality of microprocessor units each for processing commands; and a switch unit for interconnecting the interface units and microprocessor units. A management console is also connected to the storage system. The storage system forces the management console to select an unused interface unit from among the plurality of interface units for use in a data input/output process between the server and the storage system, select a microprocessor unit which meets required performance of the server from among the plurality of microprocessor units for use in the data input/output process, and notify the administrator of the selected interface unit and microprocessor unit.

The present invention relates to a computer system, a storage system, and techniques for facilitating the configuration of the storage system on a management console.
With the advance of information technologies, proliferation of the Internet, and the like, the amount of data handled by computer systems operated in enterprises continues to increase. Therefore, a storage system for preserving a large capacity of data is an essential material for a computer system. There are a variety of storage systems which provide a small scale to a large scale of configurations.
As a storage system becomes more important in a computer system, the storage system presents a challenge in a reduction of cost, including the operation and administration. For this reason, there is a need for a storage system which can be increased in scale in accordance with the scale of an associated computer system with reasonable investments, i.e., a storage system which meets both cost performance and performance scalability.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1 discloses one type of storage system. The storage system provided by U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1 comprises a plurality of channel interface units for executing data transfers between computers (hereinafter also called the "server"); a plurality of disk interface units for executing data transfers between hard disk drives; a cache memory unit for temporarily storing data which is to be stored in hard disk drives; and a control memory unit for storing control information. In the storage system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1, the channel interface units, disk interface units, and cache memory unit are connected to one another through an interconnection, and the channel interface units, disk interface units, and control memory unit are also connected to one another through the interconnection. The interconnection comprises a common bus, switches, and the like. A variety of configurations in different scales can be accomplished by changing the number of the channel interface units and disk interface units.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,961 B1 discloses a storage system, wherein a plurality of disk arrays are connected to a plurality of servers through disk array switches, and the plurality of disk arrays are managed as a single storage system by a system configuration management unit connected to the disk array switch and to each disk array.
Generally, required performance (the number of times of data input/output operations per unit time, and the amount of data transferred per unit time) for a server connected to a storage system is not always the same. In addition, the required performance such as the number of times of input/output operations per unit time largely depends on the performance of a particular processor employed in a storage system for assignment to a data input/output process. If the required performance for a server is not consistent with the performance of a processor assigned to handle input/output commands received from the server, the following problems can arise. Specifically, when a processor has processing performance higher than predetermined required performance called for by a server which is connected to a port associated with the processor, the processor provides excessive processing performance. On the other hand, when a processor has processing performance lower than predetermined required performance called for by a server which is connected to a port associated with the processor, the processor may fail to provide sufficient processing performance.
The storage system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1 can take a configuration suitable for the number of servers and hard disk drives which can be connected in the system by increasing or decreasing channel interface units and disk interface units as required. However, in the storage system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1, each channel interface unit has a processor, and a port connected to a server is in a fixed correspondence relationship with a processor which processes commands from the port. With this fixed correspondence, in the storage system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,681 B1, excessive processing performance can be provided by a processor associated with a port which is connected to a server that calls for low required performance, or insufficient processing performance can be provided by a processor associated with a port which is connected to a server that calls for high required performance.
The storage system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,961 B1 in turn can change the number of host interfaces connected to servers and disk array subsets by connecting the disk array switches in multiple stages. However, U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,961 B1 does not particularly take into consideration how processors can be configured to effectively utilize resources provided by the system in accordance with required performance of the respective servers. Therefore, for determining the configuration of the storage system in U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,961 B1, an administrator must be aware of the performance, use situation, and the like of each disk array subset, thus forcing the administrator to be in charge of difficult configuration operations.

Storage system, computer system, and method of configuring storage system


In a voltage controlled oscillator, a resonant circuit generates a resonant frequency in response to a tuning voltage. A differential oscillator includes first and second transistors differentially cross-coupled to the resonant circuit. The first and second transistors supply energy to the resonant circuit to oscillate the resonant frequency from the resonant circuit, thereby generating first and second oscillation signals having a phase difference of 180 degree. Also, the first and second transistors adjust the first and second oscillation signals to a uniform level in response to a body bias voltage. In addition, an output level detector detects a level of the first and second oscillation signals from the differential oscillator and supplies the body bias voltage corresponding to the detected level to a body of each of the first and second transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) employed in a frequency synthesizer of a low-power system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a voltage controlled oscillator with body bias control which can generate an oscillation signal of a uniform level without being affected by changes in a supply power.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently the IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) standard has garnered attention and found its application in home network, security and logistics where short-distance and low-speed transmission is required. A telecommunication system applied to such applications characteristically needs to run on one long-lasting battery, and thus at low power.
Meanwhile a frequency synthesizer of an RF transceiver operates during both transmission and reception to generate a local oscillation frequency, thereby consuming power considerably. In this frequency synthesizer, most power is dissipated by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a divider. Accordingly, studies are under way to reduce current dissipated by two blocks of the voltage controlled oscillator and the divider.
Most of all, recently, studies have been vigorously conducted to reduce power by a lowered supply voltage rather than by a structural approach.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a conventional voltage controlled oscillator.
The conventional voltage controlled oscillator of FIG. 1 includes a resonant circuit 11 and a differential cross-coupled oscillation circuit 12. The resonant circuit 11 resonates at a supply voltage Vdd of about 1.8V to 3.3V and generates a resonant frequency in response to a tuning voltage VT. The differential cross-coupled oscillation circuit 12 supplies energy to the resonant frequency from the resonant circuit 11 to generate first and second signals Sout1 and Sout2 having a phase difference of 180 degree.
The differential cross-coupled oscillation circuit 12 includes a pair of first and second differential cross-coupled transistors M1 and M2. Here, the first transistor M1 has a drain connected to a first end of the resonant circuit 11 and a gate of the second transistor M2, a gate connected to a second end of the resonant circuit 11 and a drain of the second transistor M2, and a source connected to a ground. The second transistor M2 has a drain connected to a second end of the resonant circuit 11 and the gate of the first transistor M2, a gate connected to the first end of the resonant circuit 11 and the drain of the first transistor M2, and a source connected to the ground.
Also, the first and second transistors M1 and M2 each have a body bias connected to the ground.
Such a voltage controlled oscillator is typically referred to as a differential cross-coupled LC-tuned VCO.
But the conventional voltage controlled oscillator, when used at a low supply voltage of about 0.5V, cannot adopt a stack structure with many transistors. Accordingly, the voltage controlled oscillator is structured such that an inductor is connected to a negative gm cell via load.
In this case, the lower supply voltage considerably narrows a frequency range of an oscillator. Also, in this structure, many capacitor arrays are used to accommodate a desired frequency band, thereby creating parasitic components significantly.
Furthermore, to ensure stable oscillation, the negative gm cell should be designed in a large size. This noticeably changes an oscillation frequency and the oscillator performs sensitively in response to changes in the supply voltage.
Therefore, there is a demand for a voltage controlled oscillator of a new structure which can compensate for changes in the supply voltage and oscillate stably.

Voltage controlled oscillator with body of transistors bias control