A method operable by a computing device for configuring access for a limited user interface (UI) device to a network service via a local network access point is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining from the limited UI device a device identifier via a first out-of-band channel. The device identifier is provided to the network service via a secure network link. A zero knowledge proof (ZKP) challenge is received from the network service. Configuration information is provided to the limited-UI device via a second out-of-band channel, the configuration information including information sufficient to enable the limited-UI device to connect to the local network access point. The ZKP challenge is provided to the limited-UI device via the second out-of-band channel. A secure channel key is received from the network service indicating a successful response from the limited-UI device to the ZKP challenge; and provided to the limited-UI device enabling the limited-UI device to access the network service.

A Wi-Fi client device, for example, as defined by IEEE 802.11, goes through a setup process to associate/connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP). The setup process typically includes the client device scanning for AP's within range, displaying AP's found within range of the client device on a display interface, receiving user selection of a displayed AP via an input interface, receiving/transmitting a network key or password (typically required by the AP) entered by the user via the input interface, and establishing a connection to the AP. If the network key is incorrect, an error message is displayed to the user.
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes a wide range of emerging consumer devices that require network integration as part of their underlying functionality. For most such devices they must connect to a network, and the normal use case involves connecting to a local network AP.
Many IoT devices will feature at least a rudimentary user interface (UI) comprising either a touch-screen; or keypad and screen, enabling a password to be entered to establish a secure wireless link with the local network. Additional device configuration may then be effected via the same user interface, including establishing a link to a local IoT supervisor or to a remote IoT server. Again, user entry of passwords and keycodes is prone to error and may be unacceptable to many consumers.
At the same time, some limited-UI IoT devices, for example, web-cameras, security lights or sensors may lack one or both of an input interface and display interface and so do not readily provide a suitable user interface for such configuration.
Current attempts to simplify Wi-Fi setup, such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), either require PIN to be entered, or pressing buttons on the client device and AP at the same time, or both, while others send information to the client device without encryption, exposing the Wi-Fi network to snooping devices. Some IoT devices such as a simplicam web-camera from ArcSoft obtain required configuration information for connecting to a local AP using out-of-band channels, such as by imaging a QR code provided by an authorised user's smartphone; while others such as the HeeLight smart bulb obtain their control information through a coded/modulated sound burst provided by an authorised user's smartphone
However, it is not alone sufficient for today's IoT devices to join a local network, they may also need to join some form of network service or, as becomes more common, an external Internet or Cloud service. There has been significant growth in such services to manage local network devices such as those in the home. Thus, once they are connected to the local network, individual devices need to access external URLs on the Internet via their local AP.
Cyber-security is key for success of IoT. Consumers are already concerned with the security of their devices and major vendors have moved to securely encrypt all major device communication from mobile devices. Thus integrated e-mail services such as gmail and iOS-mail now provide end-to-end secured communications including providing two-factor authentication.
Some manufacturers even provide an integrated security keychain across all of a consumer's registered devices. Thus, a user knows if a new device is added or rejoins their private cluster of devices. It is also possible, for this group of secured devices, to enable the sharing of services, content and application functionality within a group of users. This approach, known commercially as family sharing, is useful as it allows shared access to services, but also allows granularity at both the user and device levels.
To ensure robust security and centralized authentication and service control, these services are cloud based and are typically linked to a payment mechanism such as a credit card. Such services will hereafter be referred to as Key-chained Cloud Services (KCS). Today, these offer best practice in consumer security for mobile device services.
The challenge for IoT devices, is that each device is vulnerable until it becomes configured. Even if it will eventually establish a secure, encrypted communication with the cloud service, the initial configuration steps can be typically unsecured, as can the initial establishing of a TCP/IP link with the local network access point.
WO2014/163877 teaches shifting the network setup functionality from a limited-UI device to a full-feature device. At first power up, when a reset button is pressed, or whenever the limited-UI client device cannot connect to the network, the limited-UI device enters a network setup mode that allows a full-feature device to connect to the limited-UI device. For example, if the network is Wi-Fi, the limited-UI device becomes an AP for the full-feature device or the limited-UI device goes into Ad-Hoc mode.
WO2014/131038 teaches enabling communication among one or more IoT device groups. In particular, various heterogeneous IoT devices that may need to interact with one another in different ways may be organized into IoT device groups to support efficient interaction among the IoT devices.
WO2014/131029 teaches enabling context aware actions among heterogeneous IoT devices including receiving, at an IoT device, data representing a context of each of a first set of IoT devices in an IoT network, receiving, at the IoT device, data representing a current state of each of a second set of IoT devices in the IoT network, and determining, by the IoT device, an action to perform at a target IoT based on the received data representing the context of each of the first set of IoT devices and the received data representing the current state of each of the second set of IoT devices.
WO2014/131035 teaches controlling of IoT devices based on detecting a device and obtaining control information and associated rules for controlling the device. The control functions available to a smart controller can vary based on the condition of the various rules and/or the interaction of the various devices detected.
WO2014/131015 teaches collaborative intelligence and decision making in an IoT device group. In particular, various IoT devices in the group may be interdependent, whereby a decision that one IoT device plans may impact other IoT devices in the group. Accordingly, in response to an IoT device planning a certain decision (e.g., to transition state or initiate another action), the IoT devices in the group may collaborate using distributed intelligence prior to taking action on the planned decision. For example, a recommendation request message may be sent to other IoT devices in the group, which may then analyze relationships within the IoT device group to assess potential impacts associated with the planned decision and respond to approve or disapprove the planned decision. Based on the responses received from the other IoT devices, the IoT device may then appropriately determine whether to take action on the planned decision.
WO2014/131001 teaches determining an association among IoT devices includes receiving, at a first IoT device, an identifier of a second IoT device, obtaining, by the first IoT device, a schema of the second IoT device based on the identifier of the second IoT device, and determining, by the first IoT device, whether or not there is an association between the first IoT device and the second IoT device based on a schema of the first IoT device and the schema of the second IoT device, wherein the schema of the first IoT device comprises schema elements and corresponding values of the first IoT device and the schema of the second IoT device comprises schema elements and corresponding values of the second IoT device.
WO2015/017268 teaches establishing a connection between first and second IoT devices. After a determination is made to execute a proximity detection procedure, the second IoT device outputs an audio emission and a data packet at substantially the same time. The first IoT device detects the audio emission via a microphone and receives the data packet. The first IoT device uses correlation information to correlate the detected audio emission with the data packet, whereby the correlation information is contained in the detected audio emission, the data packet or both. The first IoT device uses the correlation between the detected audio emission and the data packet to calculate a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices.
Referring to FIG. 1, WO2014/031542 teaches configuring a new enrollee device (140) for a communication network (120) including a network node (230) where an electronic device (110) obtains (250) a device password associated with the new enrollee device. The device password is provided (154) to a network registrar (130) to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network. The network registrar performs an enrollment process (226) based upon the device password and, optionally, provides feedback (160) to the electronic device to indicate whether or not the new enrollee device was successfully enrolled (i.e. added) to the communication network.

Method for configuring access for a limited user interface (UI) device


Provided is a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer, a radical initiator, and a first curing co-agent. The first curing co-agent comprises at least one silicon-containing group selected from a hydrocarbyl silane and a hydrocarbyl silazane. Furthermore, the first curing co-agent is substantially free of siloxane groups and comprises at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group. Also provided are the reaction product of these compositions and a method of making an elastomer comprising curing these compositions.

Fluorinated and particularly perfluorinated elastomers have unique thermal and chemical resistance properties. Preparation of these elastomers from fluoropolymer precursors (sometimes referred to as "raw gums"), however, can be difficult. The fluoropolymer precursors and compositions containing the fluoropolymer precursors may be incompatible with processing and curing additives, such as, for instance, triallylisocyanurate (TAIC). In addition to incompatibility, TAIC is also disposed to undesirable homopolymerization, which can lead to processing difficulties in preparing fluorinated elastomers.

Fluoropolymer curing co-agent compositions


The invention relates to a device (100) for machining a surface of a workpiece (200a). According to one embodiment, the device (100) comprises a frame (160) and a roller carrier (401), on which a first roller (101) is rotatably supported and which is supported on the frame (160) in such a way that the roller carrier can be moved in a first direction (x). The device (100) comprises at least a second roller (103), which is supported on the frame (160), and a belt (102), which is guided at least around the two rollers (101, 103) and because of the tension of which a resulting belt force (102) acts on the roller carrier (401). The device (100) also comprises an actuator (302), which is mechanically coupled to the frame (160) and the roller carrier (401) in such a way that an adjustable actuator force (FA) acts between the frame (160) and the first roller (101) in the first direction (x). The belt (102) is guided by means of the second roller (103), or by means of the second roller (103) and further rollers (101a, 101b, 121a, 121b, 105), in such a way that the resulting belt force (FB, FB′) acting on the roller carrier (401) acts approximately in a second direction (y) orthogonal to the first direction (x) in the case of a target deflection of the actuator (302).

The finishing of surfaces in small-scale production is still carried out by hand in most cases. This takes a lot of time and must be performed by an experienced worker. The higher the quality demands placed on the finished surface, the more complex this processing step becomes. An example of this is the surface of a car bonnet, for which the quality requirements placed on the surface are relatively high. There is no adequate solution for producing such a surface quality in small series other than manual work with a (hand) grinding machine. The grinding results of known automatic grinders are often inadequate, their adjustment is highly time consuming and they often require long run-in and run-out areas to prevent irregularities from arising on the finished final surface. These irregularities arise due to vibrations in the grinding belt or to the sluggish regulation of the contact force. The contact force is the force with which the grinding belt acts on the workpiece surface. The publication JP S63-089263 describes a device that controls the contact force by means of a suitable bearing. Because of the high inertial mass of the grinding machine, however—the inertia—inevitably leads to the phenomena described above.
The underlying object of the invention is thus to provide a device which enables elaborate grinding or grinding tasks to be performed, partially or fully automated, with improved quality.

FerRobotics Compliant Robot Technology GmbH


A layout display control system for a document processing apparatus wherein dimensional information of a table is displayed together with the layout of a table to allow the user to recognize specific dimensions of the outer profile of the table when the layout of the table is displayed. Ruled-line data including vertical and horizontal ruled lines are inputted to assemble a table through movement of a cursor on a display. The inputted data is stored in a memory in association with the display positions on the display. When a layout of the table is to be displayed, the data is read out of the memory and is converted to layout data to display the layout of the table. To simultaneously display the dimensional information of the table, at least width and height of an outer profile of the table is calculated based on the data stored in the memory and the dimensions of the outer profile of the table is displayed with specific numerals. Therefore, the user can readily determine whether the table can be printed on a sheet of print paper or not.

The present invention relates to a layout display control system for a document processing apparatus, and more particularly to a layout display control system which simultaneously displays the layout of a table and dimensional information of the outer profile of the table.
English word processors generally have a display for displaying a plurality of lines and also incorporate many functions to facilitate inputting and editing document data. Particularly, some word processors which have become available recently have a document layout display function for displaying the layout of document data per page and a table layout display feature for displaying the layout of a table. Before desired document data or a table is printed, the layout of the document data or the table can be displayed for the user to confirm the appearance of the document data or the table as it is printed.
To display the layout of a table using the table layout display function, the table is first assembled on a table assembly screen, and then a "layout" key is pressed to display the layout of the assembled table.
The word processors with the table layout display function for displaying the layout of a desired table permit the user to see the table before it is printed. However, since the user cannot directly recognize the specific size of the table on the display, the assembled table may not fit in a sheet of print paper when the table is actually printed.
The user can recognize the size of the table with specific numerals by moving the cursor, for example, on the screen with respect to the displayed table. This procedure is however disadvantageous in that a complex process is required to confirm the size of the table in addition to the displaying of the table and an additional period of time has to be consumed to effect the process before the table is printed.

Layout display control system for displaying size of displayed table


An aerosol texturing system for applying a layer of texture material on an uncoated portion of a substrate substantially to match a coated portion of the substrate. The aerosol texturing system comprises an aerosol assembly, texture material, and bi-phase propellant material. The texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion, where the particulate portion is made of at least one of urethane foam and melamine foam. The propellant material acts on the texture material to force the texture material out of the aerosol assembly onto the uncoated portion of the substrate such that the layer of texture material on the uncoated portion of the substrate substantially matches the portion of the substrate coated with stucco material.

In some situations, a separate texture layer is applied to an interior or external surface, often prior to painting. The texture layer is typically formed by spraying texture material onto the surface. Texture material is a coating material that, when sprayed, does not form a smooth, thin coating. Instead, texture material is applied in or contains discrete drops, globs, or particles that dry to form a bumpy, irregular textured surface.
Texture materials can be applied using any one of a number of application systems. During new construction, texture materials are commonly applied in a stream of compressed air using commercial hopper gun systems. For touch up or repair, texture material is commonly applied using hand operated pneumatic pumps or aerosol dispensing systems. Varying the parameters of the application system varies the size and spacing of the bumps to vary the look of the textured surface.
One specific form of texture material is commonly referred to as "acoustic" or "popcorn" texture material. In addition to a coating material, acoustic texture material further comprises an aggregate material. When the acoustic texture material is applied using commercial hopper guns, the aggregate material is conventionally formed by polystyrene chips. However, as will be described in detail below, chips made of polystyrene foam are dissolved by hydrocarbon aerosol propellant materials.
Accordingly, aerosol dispensing systems for dispensing small amounts of acoustic texture material for repair or touch-up purposes use one of two approaches. The first approach is to mix a liquid hydrocarbon aerosol propellant material with chips made from materials other than polystyrene. However, when chips made of materials other than polystyrene foam are used, the appearance and function of the texture surface may be different from that of the surrounding surface.
The second approach is to combine polystyrene chips with a propellant material formed by a pressurized inert gas such as nitrogen or air. This second approach allows the use of a conventional acoustic texture material including polystyrene chips. However, the use of a pressurized inert gas causes the acoustic texture material to be dispensed very quickly. The use of pressurized inert gas as a propellant can make it difficult for a non-professional to control the application of the acoustic texture material.
A second form of texture material is commonly referred to as "stucco." Conventionally, stucco is a plaster material made of Portland cement, sand, to and lime. Conventional stucco is applied while soft to vertical walls or surfaces and then allowed to dry to form a decorative and protective coating. More recently, stucco surfaces have been formed using synthetic materials designed to resemble traditional stucco. Synthetic stucco is formed by acrylic polymers that, when dry, are flexible and water impervious. The term "stucco" will be used herein to refer both to traditional cement-based materials and to synthetic materials that resemble the traditional material.
Stucco material can be damaged and should be repaired for both structural and aesthetic reasons. Non-professionals typically do not have the tools or materials to repair a damage stucco surface to match the look of the original stucco surface surrounding the patch.
The need thus exists for systems and methods for dispensing texture materials, such as acoustic texture materials and stucco materials, that facilitate the repair by non-professionals of damaged surfaces to match the original texture material surrounding the patched area.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aerosol systems and methods for dispensing texture material


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section configured to form an image on a recording paper sheet and a housing accommodating the image forming section. The housing includes: an enclosed and bottomed housing body having an enclosed sidewall and a bottom formed continuously and integrally with the sidewall; and a lid removably attached to the housing body to cover an opening of the housing body. The image forming section is separate from the housing body and is placed on top of the bottom in the housing body. When the lid is removed from the image forming apparatus and the image forming section is lifted above the opening, the image forming section is taken out of the housing body through the opening and the housing body is removed from the image forming apparatus.

The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses capable of forming images on recording paper sheets and particularly relates to housings forming the shells of the image forming apparatuses.
Recently, there have been not only a growing demand to improve the performances of image forming apparatuses, such as the printing speed, but also a growing demand to improve the appearance designs thereof. To improve the designs of the image forming apparatuses, much ingenuity has been devoted to the housings forming the shells of the image forming apparatus in various ways.


A method of treating wastewater using an anaerobic bioreactor which contains a “bio-nest” structure to retain the microbial content and improve digestion efficiency is disclosed. The bionest system results in a longer SRT, good sludge mixing, and reduced wash-out of sludge. The system is particularly useful for treatment of lipid rich wastewater such as dairy wastewater.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to the field of wastewater treatment. A method of treating wastewater using an anaerobic bioreactor which contains a "bio-nest" structure to retain the microbial content and improve digestion efficiency is disclosed. The system is particularly useful for treatment of lipid rich wastewater.
2. Description of the Related Art
Improvement of the wastewater treatment process, and in particular, dairy and agricultural wastewater treatment, is an important goal. This is particularly important since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is putting new rules into place regarding agricultural waste. All large Concentrated Livestock Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) will soon be required to obtain permits that will ensure they protect America's waters by keeping wastewater and manure out of the nation's waterways. The rule will control runoff from agricultural feeding operations, preventing billions of pounds of pollutants from entering America's waters every year. Likewise, similar environmental quality issues are becoming increasingly important in other countries outside the United States as well. Accordingly, new methods for clearing wastewater of biological pollutants are needed in order for agricultural facilities to be compliant with the new ruling.
Conventional wastewater treatment facilities typically utilize an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-type system. The UASB high rate reactors are based on the difference of solid and liquid retention time by applying a "granule blanket" (Lettinga et al., 1980; Marin et al., 1999; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). However, the UASB granule blanket reactors have some limitations because the granulation formulation depends on wastewater types rather than reactor design and operation (Jhung J. K. and Choi E. 1995, Batstone and Keller, 2001; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). For example, granule formation can be difficult to form during UASB treatment of wastewater containing a high concentration of fat and lipids such as dairy wastewater (Hawkes et al., 1995). Accordingly, UASB methods of treating lipid-rich wastewater have often met with poor results (Hawkes et al., 1995, Perle et al. 1995, Petruy and Lettinga 1997, Vidal et al., 2000; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).
The poor performance of UASB systems is often due to the binding of the wastewater lipids to the granules, causing breakdown of the granules. The broken down granules can then float and wash out of the system (Perle et al. 1995; Petruy and Leffinga, 1997). Further, Alphenaar and Lettinga (1993; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) concluded that UASB reactors were not suitable to be applied if lipids contribute 50% or more of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of wastewater. Lipid loading rates exceeding 2–3 kg COD m−3 day−1 caused granule breakdown resulting in total sludge wash-out. Even at lower loading rates (less than 1.5 g/l/d), the system was still unreliable because of unpredictable sludge flotation.
Conventional UASB systems often also have a "dead zone" or shortcut of wastewater flow (Lens et al, 1998). Although a relatively high organic loading rate (OLR) of more than 20 kg COD/m3/day could be achieved in UASB systems with high strength wastewater (COD>2500 mg/l ) on a laboratory scale, full scale UASB systems were generally designed not to exceed 15 kg/m3/day at an optimum temperature 35° C. (Driessen and Yspeert, 1999; incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Additional concerns with the UASB reactors include mass transfer limitations due to sub-optimal mixing condition inside the reactor, and high upflow velocity and gas production causing granules wash-out (Driessen and Yspeert, 1999). An increase in upflow velocity in such systems may cause too little contact time between the granule and the soluble substrate. Also, a substantial "dead zone" was present in the reactor, containing a low amount of sludge and/or poor mixing conditions (Lens et al, 1998, Chernicharo and Cardoso, 1999; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).
UASB systems are often plagued with poor reliability, particularly when used for high lipid wastewater. In continuous UASB systems, the scum layer and sludge layer on the top of the reactor were subsequently washed out (Rinzema, 1988; Yang, 1994; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). The solids content accumulated in the sludge bed, which led the poor reliability of operational performance. In order to solve these problems, several researchers (Sayed, 1987; Lettinga and Hulshoff Pol 1991; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) suggested using the flocculants sludge instead of granules. Intermittent (rather than continuous) feeding operations were suggested (Nadais et al., 2001; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).
Several UASB modifications, such as upflow anaerobic buffer reactors (UABR) and upflow anaerobic filter reactor results were reported for the application for treating milk wastewater (Hawkes et. al., 1995; Cordoba et. al., 1995; Vartak et. al., 1998; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Rather than granule blanket sludge, floc sludge was applied in these modified reactors. The main advantages of these modified reactors included the maintenance of a high sludge concentration and the prevention of sludge wash out by the use of filters, media and baffles.
The presence of a high lipid content in some types of wastewater has been found to cause the inhibition of methanogenic activity (Perle et al., 1995). This inhibition of methanogenic activity resulted in poor anaerobic biodegradation of fat and lipids in the wastewater.
An additional issue with conventional wastewater treatment systems is that some systems require a heating method to control the temperature for optimal performance, particularly for wastewater having a high lipid content. However, although heating the system may improve lipid biodegradation, the economic cost can be very high, particularly if an external heat source is not available (Petruy and Lettinga, 1997).
What is needed in the field of wastewater treatment is an alternative, reliable method to efficiently treat wastewater, particularly wastewater that is high in lipid content such as dairy wastewater.

Bionest reactor for the application of anaerobic wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery


Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitting a signal using a sequence in a wireless communication system. A first sequence used to transmit a first signal in a first channel is determined by performing group-hopping using a pseudo-random pattern over a first group of sequences. A second sequence used to transmit a second signal in a second channel is determined by performing the group-hopping using the pseudo-random pattern over a second group of sequences.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to a Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) communication system that is further considered in the development of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) long term evolution (LTE).
2. Description of the Art
Methods and apparatus are considered for the functionality and implementation of hopping for sequences used in the construction of Reference Signals (RS) or control signals transmitted in SC-FDMA communication systems.
The Uplink (UL) of the communication system is assumed, which corresponds to signal transmissions from mobile User Equipments (UEs) to a serving base station (Node B). A UE, also commonly referred to as terminal or mobile station, may be fixed or mobile and may be a wireless device, a cellular phone, a personal computer device, a wireless modem card, etc. A Node B is generally a fixed station and may also be called a Base Transceiver System (BTS), an access point, or some other terminology. A Node B may control multiple cells in a cellular communication system, as it is known in the art.
Several types of signals need to be supported for the proper functionality of the communication system. In addition to data signals, which convey the information content of the communication, control signals also need to be transmitted from UEs to their serving Node B in the UL and from the serving Node B to UEs in the downlink (DL) of the communication system. The DL refers to the communication from the Node B to UEs. Additionally, a UE having data or control transmission also transmits RSs, also known as pilots. These RSs primarily serve to provide coherent demodulation for the transmitted data or control signals by a UE.
The UEs are assumed to transmit data or control signals over a Transmission Time Interval (TTI), which is assumed to correspond to a sub-frame. The sub-frame is the time unit of a frame, which may consist of ten sub-frames. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the sub-frame structure 110. The sub-frame 110 includes two slots. Each slot 120 further includes seven symbols used for transmission of data or control signals. Each symbol 130 further includes a Cyclic Prefix (CP) in order to mitigate interference due to channel propagation effects. The signal transmission in one slot may be in the same or at a different part of the operating bandwidth (BW) than the signal transmission in the second slot. In addition to symbols carrying data or control information, some symbols are used for Reference Signal (RS) transmission 140.
The transmission BW is assumed to include frequency resource units, which will be referred to herein as resource blocks (RBs). Each RB may consist of 12 sub-carriers and UEs are allocated a multiple N of consecutive RBs 150 for Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission and 1 RB for Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission.
As the data or control signal transmission is over a BW that can be (orthogonally) shared by multiple UEs, the corresponding physical layer channel may be respectively referred to as PUSCH or as PUCCH. FIG. 1 illustrates a structure for the PUSCH sub-frame while respective ones for the PUCCH will be subsequently described.
The UEs are also assumed to transmit control signals in the absence of any data signals. The control signals include, but are not limited to, positive or negative acknowledgment signals (ACK or NAK, respectively) and Channel Quality Indication (CQI) signals. The ACK/NAK signals are in response to the correct or incorrect, respectively, data packet reception by a UE in the DL of the communication system. The CQI signals are sent by a UE to inform its serving Node B of its Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) conditions in order for the serving Node B to perform channel dependent scheduling in the DL of the communication system. Both ACK/NAK and CQI signals are accompanied by RS signals in order to enable their coherent demodulation at the Node B receiver. The physical layer channel conveying ACK/NAK or CQI control signaling may be referred as the PUCCH.
The ACK/NAK, CQI and associated RS signals are assumed to be transmitted by UEs in one RB using CAZAC sequences as it is known in the art and is subsequently described.
FIG. 2 shows a structure for the ACK/NAK transmission during one slot 210 in a SC-FDMA communication system. The ACK/NAK information bits 220 modulate 230 a "Constant Amplitude Zero Auto-Correlation (CAZAC)" sequence 240, for example with QPSK or 16 QAM modulation, which is then transmitted by the UE after performing an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) operation as it is further subsequently described. In addition to the ACK/NAK, RS is transmitted to enable the coherent demodulation of the ACK/NAK signal at the Node B receiver. The third, fourth, and fifth SC-FDMA symbols in each slot may carry an RS 250.
FIG. 3 shows a structure for the CQI transmission during one slot 310 in a SC-FDMA communication system. Similar to the ACK/NAK transmission, the CQI information bits 320 modulate 330 a CAZAC sequence 340, for example with QPSK or 16 QAM modulation, which is then transmitted by the UE after performing the IFFT operation as it is further subsequently described. In addition to the CQI, RS is transmitted to enable the coherent demodulation at the Node B receiver of the CQI signal. In the embodiment, the second and sixth SC-FDMA symbols in each slot carry an RS 350.
As it was previously mentioned, the ACK/NAK, CQI, and RS signals are assumed to be constructed from CAZAC sequences. An example of such sequences is the Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences whose elements are given by Equation (1) below:
                                          c            k                                          (            n            )                          =                              exp                                      [                                                                    j                                                                                2                                        π                                                                                k                                    L                                                                  (                                      n                    +                                          n                                                                                n                            +                            1                                                                          2                                                                              )                                            ]                                .                                    (        1        )            L is the length of the CAZAC sequence, n is the index of an element of the sequence n={0, 1, 2 . . . , L−1}, and k is the index of the sequence itself. For a given length L, there are L−1 distinct sequences, if L is prime. Therefore, the entire family of sequences is defined as k ranges in {1, 2 . . . , L−1}. However, it should be noted that the CAZAC sequences used for the ACK/NAK, CQI, and RS transmission need not be generated using the exact above expression as it is further discussed below.
For CAZAC sequences of prime length L, the number of sequences is L−1. As the RBs are assumed to consist of an even number of sub-carriers, with 1 RB consisting of 12 sub-carriers, the sequences used to transmit the ACK/NAK, CQI, and RS can be generated, in the frequency or time domain, by either truncating a longer prime length (such as length 13) CAZAC sequence or by extending a shorter prime length (such as length 11) CAZAC sequence by repeating its first element(s) at the end (cyclic extension), although the resulting sequences do not fulfill the definition of a CAZAC sequence. Alternatively, the CAZAC sequences can be directly generated through a computer search for sequences satisfying the CAZAC properties.
A block diagram for the transmission through SC-FDMA signaling of a CAZAC-based sequence in the time domain is shown in FIG. 4. The selected CAZAC-based sequence 410 is generated through one of the previously described methods (modulated by the respective bits in case of ACK/NAK or CQI transmission), it is then cyclically shifted 420 as it is subsequently described, the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of the resulting sequence is obtained 430, the sub-carriers 440 corresponding to the assigned transmission bandwidth are selected 450, the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) is performed 460, and finally the CP 470 and filtering 480 are applied to the transmitted signal 490. Zero padding is assumed to be performed by a UE in sub-carriers used for signal transmission by another UE and in guard sub-carriers (not shown). Moreover, for brevity, additional transmitter circuitry such as digital-to-analog converter, analog filters, amplifiers, and transmitter antennas, as they are known in the art, are not shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, for the PUCCH, the modulation of a CAZAC sequence with ACK/NAK or CQI bits is well known in the art, such as for example QPSK modulation, and is omitted for brevity.
At the receiver, the inverse (complementary) transmitter functions are performed. This is conceptually illustrated in FIG. 5 where the reverse operations of those in FIG. 4 apply. As it is known in the art (not shown for brevity), an antenna receives the RF analog signal and after further processing units (such as filters, amplifiers, frequency down-converters, and analog-to-digital converters) the digital received signal 510 passes through a time windowing unit 520 and the CP is removed 530. Subsequently, the receiver unit applies an FFT 540, selects 550 the sub-carriers 560 used by the transmitter, applies an Inverse DFT (IDFT) 570, de-multiplexes (in time) the RS and CQI signal 580, and after obtaining a channel estimate based on the RS (not shown) it extracts the CQI bits 590. As for the transmitter, well known receiver functionalities such as channel estimation, demodulation, and decoding are not shown for brevity.
An alternative generation method for the transmitted CAZAC sequence is in the frequency domain. This is depicted in FIG. 6. The generation of the transmitted CAZAC sequence in the frequency domain follows the same steps as the one in the time domain with two exceptions. The frequency domain version of the CAZAC sequence is used 610 (that is the DFT of the CAZAC sequence is pre-computed and not included in the transmission chain) and the cyclic shift 650 is applied after the IFFT 640. The selection 620 of the sub-carriers 630 corresponding to the assigned transmission BW, and the application of CP 660 and filtering 670 to the transmitted signal 680, as well as other conventional functionalities (not shown), are as previously described for FIG. 4.
The reverse functions are again performed for the reception of the CAZAC-based sequence transmitted as in FIG. 6. This is illustrated in FIG. 7. The received signal 710 passes through a time windowing unit 720 and the CP is removed 730. Subsequently, the cyclic shift is restored 740, an FFT 750 is applied, and the transmitted sub-carriers 760 are selected 765. FIG. 7 also shows the subsequent correlation 770 with the replica 780 of the CAZAC-based sequence. Finally, the output 790 is obtained which can then be passed to a channel estimation unit, such as a time-frequency interpolator, in case of a RS, or can be used for detecting the transmitted information, in case the CAZAC-based sequence is modulated by ACK/NAK or CQI information bits.
The transmitted CAZAC-based sequence in FIG. 4 or FIG. 6 may not be modulated by any information (data or control) and can then serve as the RS, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
Different cyclic shifts of the same CAZAC sequence provide orthogonal CAZAC sequences. Therefore, different cyclic shifts of the same CAZAC sequence can be allocated to different UEs in the same RB for their RS or ACK/NAK, or CQI transmission and achieve orthogonal UE multiplexing. This principle is illustrated in FIG. 8.
Referring to FIG. 8, in order for the multiple CAZAC sequences 810, 830, 850, 870 generated correspondingly from multiple cyclic shifts 820, 840, 860, 880 of the same root CAZAC sequence to be orthogonal, the cyclic shift value Δ 890 should exceed the channel propagation delay spread D (including a time uncertainty error and filter spillover effects). If TS is the duration of one symbol, the number of cyclic shifts is equal to the mathematical floor of the ratio TS/D. For a CAZAC sequence of length 12, the number of possible cyclic shifts is 12 and for symbol duration of about 66 microseconds (14 symbols in a 1 millisecond sub-frame), the time separation of consecutive cyclic shifts is about 5.5 microseconds. Alternatively, to provide better protection against multipath propagation, only every other (6 of the 12) cyclic shift may be used providing time separation of about 11 microseconds.
CAZAC-based sequences of the same length typically have good cross-correlation properties (low cross-correlation values), which is important in order to minimize the impact of mutual interference in synchronous communication system and improve their reception performance. It is well known that ZC sequences of length L have optimal cross-correlation of √{square root over (L)}. However, this property does not hold when truncation or extension is applied to ZC sequences or when CAZAC-based sequences are generated through computer search. Moreover, CAZAC-based sequences of different lengths have a wide distribution of cross-correlation values and large values can frequently occur leading to increased interference.
FIG. 9 illustrates the Cumulative Density Function (CDF) of cross-correlation values for length-12 CAZAC-based sequence resulting from cyclically extending a length-11 ZC sequence, truncating a length-13 ZC sequence and generating length-12 CAZAC-based sequences through a computer search method. Variations in cross-correlation values can be easily observed. These variations have even wider distribution for cross-correlations between CAZAC-based sequences with different lengths.
The impact of large cross-correlations on the reception reliability of signals constructed from CAZAC-based sequences can be mitigated through sequence hopping. Pseudo-random hopping patterns are well known in the art and are used for a variety of applications. Any such generic pseudo-random hopping pattern can serve as a reference for sequence hopping. In this manner, the CAZAC-based sequence used between consecutive transmissions of ACK/NAK, CQI, or RS signals in different SC-FDMA symbols, can change in a pseudo-random pattern and this reduces the probability that CAZAC-based generated signals will be subjected to large mutual cross-correlations and correspondingly experience large interference over their transmission symbols.
There is therefore a need for supporting hopping of CAZAC-based sequences with minimum implementation complexity in order to reduce the average interference among CAZAC-based sequences.
There is another need for assigning CAZAC-based sequences through planning in different Node Bs and different cells of the same Node B in a communication system.
Finally, there is a need for minimizing the signaling overhead for communicating sequence hopping parameters or the sequence assignment (planning) from the serving Node B to the UEs.

Method and apparatus for sequence hopping in single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication systems


This invention provides a method of reducing nitrogen oxides in an oxygen containing exhaust stream using ethanol as a reductant for plasma-assisted selective catalytic reduction. The exhaust gas, generated from a diesel engine or other lean-burn power source, comprises nitrogen oxides, especially NO. Ozone generated from a plasma reactor is injected into the exhaust stream to convert NO to NO2 and the plasma injection is followed by the addition of ethanol. The NO2 is then reduced by contacting the exhaust stream with a dual-bed catalytic reactor comprising BaY (or NaY) and CuY zeolite catalysts in the presence of ethanol as the reductant. The plasma power density and the molar ratio of ethanol to NOx fed to the catalytic reactor are controlled as a function of the catalyst temperature for the best performance of the plasma-catalyst system. An average conversion of NOx to N2 of at least 90% is achieved over the temperature range of 200–400° C.

Diesel engines, some gasoline fueled engines and many hydrocarbon fueled power plants are operated at higher than stoichiometric air to fuel mass ratios for improved fuel economy. Such lean-burning engines and other power sources, however, produce a hot exhaust with a relatively high content of oxygen and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In the case of diesel engines, the temperature of the exhaust from a warmed up engine is typically in the range of 200° to 400° C. and has a typical composition, by volume, of about 17% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide, 0.1% carbon monoxide, 180 ppm hydrocarbons, 235 ppm NOx and the balance nitrogen and water.
These NOx gases, typically comprising nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are difficult to reduce to nitrogen (N2) because of the high oxygen (O2) content in the hot exhaust stream. It is, thus, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of reducing NOx in such gas mixtures.

Method of reducing NOx in diesel engine exhaust


A method for reducing the amount of shielding used in radiation sources, as well as, an improved radiation source (e.g., an x-ray producing device), are provided. The inventive method involves placement of a radiation producing target at the end of a vacuum drift tube and closer to and substantially in the center of a shield for blocking radiation emitted from the radiation producing target.

X-ray producing devices are extremely effective and valuable tools that are used in a wide variety of industrial and medical applications. While used in a number of different applications, the basic operation of these devices is similar.
Generally speaking, x-rays are produced when electrons are accelerated and then impinged upon a material of a particular composition. This process is typically carried out within a vacuum enclosure formed as part of the x-ray producing device. Disposed within the evacuated enclosure is an electron generator (i.e., cathode), and an anode, which is spaced apart from the cathode. In operation, electrical power is applied to a filament portion of the cathode, causing electrons to be emitted. A high voltage potential is placed between the cathode and the anode, causing the emitted electrons to accelerate towards a target surface on the anode. Typically, the electrons are "focused" into an electron beam towards a desired "focal spot" located on the target surface.
During operation of the x-ray producing device, the electrons in the beam strike the target surface at a high velocity. The target surface on the target anode is composed of a material having a high atomic number, and a small portion of the kinetic energy of the striking electron stream is thus converted to x-rays, which are electromagnetic waves of very high frequency. The resulting x-rays, which emanate from the target surface in all directions, are blocked using heavy metal shielding and collimated through a window formed in the shielding for penetration into an object.
By way of the present invention, it has been discovered that the amount of heavy metal shielding used in radiation sources such as x-ray producing devices may be reduced by placing the radiation producing target closer to and substantially in the center of shielding adopting, for example, a spherical or substantially spherical geometry. The relocation of the target in these sources or devices is made possible by the use of a vacuum drift tube.
The present invention therefore generally provides a method for reducing the amount of shielding used in radiation sources such as x-ray producing devices, which basically comprises: placing a radiation producing target at the end of a vacuum drift tube and substantially in the center of a shield for blocking radiation emitted from the target.
The present invention further generally provides a radiation source such as an x-ray producing device, which basically comprises: a vacuum drift tube; a radiation producing target; and a shield for blocking radiation emitted from the radiation producing target, wherein the radiation producing target is located at the end of the drift tube and substantially in the center of the shield.
The present invention more particularly provides an improved x-ray producing device, which comprises:                (1) an electron accelerator structure defining an electron flow path and having an electron injection end and an electron exit end;        (2) an electron gun having an electron source, which is located at the injection end of the electron accelerator structure, for producing and delivering a stream of electrons to the accelerator structure;        (3) a vacuum drift tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the drift tube is located at the electron exit end of the accelerator structure;        (4) a target located at the second end of the vacuum drift tube for producing x-rays from electrons striking a surface of the target; and        (5) a shield located around the drift tube for blocking x-rays emitted from the target, wherein the shield has one or more openings for forming an x-ray beam having a pre-selected cross section from the x-rays emitted from the target,        wherein, the target is located substantially at the center of the shield.
The present invention further provides a radiation (e.g., x-ray) inspection or imaging system that employs the radiation source described above. The inventive system is a lighter weight system and thus particularly advantageous for portable or mobile system applications.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill from the following detailed description and drawings.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

X-ray producing device with reduced shielding


An automatic transmission device for a vehicle includes a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, a third planetary gear mechanism, a fourth planetary gear mechanism, an input shaft, an output shaft, six engaging elements including a first engaging element, a second engaging element, a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch and a brake, a first connection member, a second connection member, a third connection member, a fourth connection member, a fifth connection member, a sixth connection member, a seventh connection member, an eighth connection member, and a ninth connection member.

A known automatic transmission device for a vehicle that can be provided with nine forward speeds and one reverse speed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,527B (hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 1). For example, the automatic transmission device for the vehicle disclosed in Patent reference 1 includes four planetary gear mechanisms and six engaging elements. The automatic transmission device for the vehicle establishes nine forward speeds and one reverse speed by engaging two engaging elements of the six engaging elements.
According to the automatic transmission device for the vehicle disclosed in Patent reference 1, a sun gear of a first planetary gear mechanism is connected to an input shaft, and is selectively engaged with a carrier of a third planetary gear mechanism by a second clutch. A carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a carrier of a second planetary gear mechanism and to a ring gear of the third planetary gear mechanism. The ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is connected to a sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism, and is selectively fixed to a fixing member by a first brake. A ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is selectively fixed to the fixing member by a fourth brake. A sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism is connected to a sun gear of a fourth planetary gear mechanism and is selectively engaged to the input shaft by a first clutch. A carrier of the third planetary gear mechanism is connected to a ring gear of the fourth planetary gear mechanism. The ring gear of the third planetary gear mechanism is selectively fixed to the fixing member by a second brake. The ring gear of the fourth planetary gear mechanism is selectively fixed to the fixing member by a third brake. A carrier of the fourth planetary gear mechanism is connected to an output shaft.
As such, according to the known automatic transmission device, the six engaging elements include two clutches that are the first clutch and the second clutch, and four brakes that are the first brake, the second brake, the third brake, and the fourth brake. The gear stages including nine forward speeds and one reverse speed are established by the engagement of two engaging elements of the six engaging elements. It is known that a housing does not rotate in a released state of the brake, and that the rotation of the housing in the released state of the brake is smaller than the rotation of the housing in the released state of the clutch. Thus, according to the known automatic transmission device, because the housing in the released state of the brake does not rotate, drag resistance at the engaging elements increases, comparing to drag resistance at the housing in the released state of the clutch. This is because the four brakes in which oil is easily retained within the housings of the brakes and drag resistance increases are provided, and because two brakes are released in a first gear stage when the vehicle runs forward, and three brakes are released in the second to ninth gear stages. Moreover, according to the known automatic transmission device, because two engaging elements of six engaging elements are engaged and other four engaging elements are released to have nine forward speeds and one reverse speed and the number of engaging elements released increases, drag resistance at the engaging elements increases. As such, because drag resistance increases, the transmission efficiency of the automatic transmission device may be prevented from being enhanced.
A need thus exists for an automatic transmission device for a vehicle which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above

Automatic transmission device for vehicle


A mounting base for switch packages having a mounting flange is provided. The base includes a body having a first receptacle and a second receptacle, and each of the first and second receptacle is configured to accept a mounting flange of the switch package with snap-fit engagement. The first and the second receptacles are inverted relative to one another and allow mounting of the switch package with a fewer number of fasteners.

This invention relates generally to electrical switching packages, and more particularly, to a mounting base for electrical switching packages.
Electrical switching packages are known, and include for example, relay switch packages which open or close circuit paths to complete or break electrical circuits in an electrical system. Such relay switch packages are commercially available from, for example, Tyco Electronics Corporation of Harrisburg, Pa. Typically, such switch packages include nonconductive housings having mounting flanges formed thereon, and using known fasteners such as screws, the packages may be mounted to another device via the mounting flange and the fasteners. Usually, two screws are employed in each mounting flange to mount the switch package for use.
Many electrical systems, however, include more than one of such switch packages, and individually mounting multiple switch packages can be time consuming and difficult. Pre-formed mounting tracks are available to simplify mounting of some switch packages that may be mounted to a panel and accommodate switch packages with snap-fit engagement, thereby reducing the number of fasteners required to mount the packages Such mounting tracks, however, are generally standardized and accommodate switch packages of certain widths, shapes, and cross-sections. Consequently, not all switch packages are compatible with known mounting tracks, including, for example, the T9A relay package of Tyco Electronics Corporation. Additionally, the mounting tracks can be cost prohibitive in certain applications, and also tend to occupy a large area, sometimes referred to as a footprint, on the installation site.
It would be desirable to provide a lower cost solution for mounting of switch packages which would reduce installation time and minimize the footprint of the switch packages in the field.

Switch package assembly with mounting base adapter


A method and an apparatus for controlling a data access right are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, by a first proxy node, a first request message from a request node, where the first request message includes an identity of the request node and an identifier of to-be-accessed data; determining a first encrypted ciphertext on a blockchain based on the identifier; determining, based on the identity, whether the request node has a right to read the first encrypted ciphertext; and if yes, initiating a right verification request for the request node to at least one second proxy node, and determining, based on a feedback result of the at least one second proxy node, provisioning of the first encrypted ciphertext. A proxy node is added to the blockchain network, so that a data source can freely grant or revoke the right of the request node without modifying a ciphertext, ensuring information security.

A blockchain is also referred to as a distributed ledger. That is, a transaction is jointly accounted by a plurality of nodes distributed at different places, and each node records a complete account. In a narrow sense, the blockchain is a chained data structure obtained by combining data blocks in a chronological order and a distributed ledger that is protected against tampering or forging by using cryptology.
For a blockchain technology, the blockchain has features of being decentralized and trustless. Decentralized means that there is no centralized hardware or management mechanism in an entire blockchain network, rights and obligations of nodes are equal, and damage or loss of any node does not affect operation of an entire network system. Therefore, desirable robustness of the blockchain network is ensured. Trustless means that nodes do not require mutual trust to participate in data exchange in the entire network. An operation rule of the entire blockchain network system is open and transparent, and data content on all blockchain nodes is also open. Therefore, within a rule or a time range specified by the system, the nodes cannot cheat each other.
A client requests access data in a node on a blockchain network, and the node on the blockchain network provides encrypted data and a decryption key for the client. Then, the client decrypts the encrypted data by using the decryption key to obtain the access data, and records the access data on the blockchain. In this process, because historical transaction data of ledgers in a blockchain node cannot be modified or deleted, and data on a blockchain is public and cannot be canceled, once an access right is granted to a user and a decryption key is distributed, the access right cannot be revoked. In this case, when the access right of the user needs to be prohibited, the user cannot be prevented from accessing the data, causing a risk and insecurity in data access.

Method and apparatus for controlling data access right to data stored on a blockchain


A process of copper plating a through-hole in a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board made from such process. The process comprises: providing a printed circuit board with at least two copper interconnect lines separated by an insulator in the vertical direction; providing a through-hole in the printed circuit board in the vertical direction such that the interconnect lines provide a copper land in the through-hole; applying a seed layer to an interior surface of the through-hole; removing an outermost portion of the seed layer from the interior surface of the through-hole with a laser; applying copper on the seed layer.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are widely used to hold and electrically connect selected electronic components. Printed circuit boards are comprised of copper electrical interconnects separated by levels of insulating dielectric materials. In the horizontal xy plane, the copper interconnect lines are patterned on each of the individual layers and the layers joined to form a composite. Through-holes are then drilled in the vertical z direction from top to bottom of the composite, passing through each layer of the composite as well as through the copper landing pads on the layers to which electrical connection is required. A seed layer followed by one or more copper layers is then applied to the interior surface of the drilled through-holes.
A conventional method of manufacturing PCBs is depicted in FIG. 1, and consists of the following steps: 1) sub-laminates of epoxy pre-impregnated glass cloth (prepreg) are designed and prepared with copper interconnect lines on both sides of the prepreg, and the sub-laminates compiled with as many layers of signal, power and ground as are needed and joined together at elevated temperature and pressure, FIG. 1(a); 2) through-holes 10 are mechanically drilled through the PCB 12, FIG. 1(b) (internal surface features of through-hole not shown); 3) a seed layer 14 is applied to the surface of the PCB and the interior surfaces of the through-holes, FIG. 1(c); 4) a thin "plating base" of electroless copper 16 is applied to the seed layer 14, FIG. 1(d); 5) photoresist 18 is applied and patterned on the external surfaces of the PCB, FIG. 1(e); 6) copper 20 is electroplated using the plating base as an electrical common layer, FIG. 1(f); and 7) the photoresist 18 is stripped and the exposed plating base is removed by etching, FIG. 1(g).
Following the stripping of the photoresist, the thin copper layer that had been protected by the photoresist is etched away to form a copper interconnect pattern on the external surfaces of the PCB, and leaving plated through-holes with a conducting copper layer on most, if not all, of the interior surface of the through-holes. Thus, regardless of which two copper interconnect layers in the PCB are associated with the through-hole, the copper is present throughout the hole, i.e. from top to bottom of the PCB as well as extra copper 30 (copper stubs) at the through-holes, which are known to have detrimental effects on signal integrity.
The PCB is designed to connect any one copper interconnect line for any prepreg layer to another copper interconnect line of another prepreg layer via a plated through-hole. However, because the plated through-holes are formed after the multilayer structure is assembled, there are extraneous copper stubs 30 at the top and/or the bottom of the plated through-hole as explained above. These extraneous copper stubs 30 limit the electrical performance of the copper interconnection especially at high frequency, and therefore, they often need to be removed. A typical process for removing the copper stubs involves redrilling or "backdrilling" the plated through-hole to remove the extraneous and undesired copper to provide a backdrilled PCB as shown in FIG. 2.
The backdrilling process is time consuming, expensive and subjects the PCB to unnecessary damage, which affects the production yield. First, the process is time consuming because each through-hole must be carefully drilled only to a limited depth which varies from hole-to-hole. Second, the back drilling leaves a portion 32 of the stub 30 as part of the allowed tolerance related to drill depth. Third, some of the PCBs are damaged by the backdrilling and have to be discarded.

Manufacture of printed circuit boards with stubless plated through-holes

International Business Machines Corporation


The present disclosure relates to a gas chromatograph having a plurality of layers or channels. The chromatograph typically comprises an inlet that receives a sample to be analyzed, a column disposed in each of the plurality of chromatograph layers, each column being in fluid communication with and downstream from the inlet and having a stationary phase coating its inner surfaces, and a detector in fluid communication with and downstream from at least one of the columns. In a preferred arrangement, the chromatograph includes a pre-column disposed in each of the chromatograph layers upstream of the columns, each pre-column being in fluid communication with the inlet and having a stationary phase coating its inner surfaces.

The present disclosure generally relates to a gas chromatograph. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a multilayered gas chromatograph with which sample analyses can be conducted quickly with minimal down time between analysis cycles.
Gas chromatography is a field concerned with analyzing samples of interest, which may include one or more analytes, to qualitatively determine the identity of the analytes as well as to quantitatively determine the concentration of each of the analytes in the sample. Gas chromatography is extremely sensitive and therefore is normally used where very precise analysis of a sample is required. The analysis can comprise the identification of the various individual analytes, or comparison of the entire sample response (e.g., chromatogram) to previously analyzed samples for the purpose of classifying the sample.
Gas chromatography typically involves separation of the analytes of a sample material through use of a gas chromatograph. Normally, gas chromatographs comprise an inlet in which the sample is injected, a column in which the analytes are separated, and a detector in which the various analytes are detected and, if desired, quantitatively evaluated. The column usually is made from fused silica that is formed into a narrow, elongated tube. By way of example, the chromatograph column can have an inner diameter on the order of approximately 50 to 530 microns (xcexcm), and a length of approximately 1 to 30 meters. To decrease the size of the chromatograph apparatus, the column normally is arranged in a coiled configuration. By way of example, the coil can have a diameter of approximately 8 inches (in) such that the column can be packaged, for instance, in a cubic foot of space.
The interior walls of the gas chromatograph column are coated with a material commonly referred to as a stationary phase. The stationary phase retains the various analytes of the injected sample and, through the application of heat, releases the analytes so that they are received by the detector separated in time. Through knowledge of the temperature of the column and the duration of time that passes between injection and detection, the individual analytes passing through the detector can be identified.
As is known in the art, heavier compounds require more heat and/or more time to elute from the column than do lighter compounds. For instance, at a relatively low temperature (e.g., at 100xc2x0 C.), the lighter analytes may elute from the column stationary phase after only a few seconds while the heavier analytes may require many minutes or even hours to separate. Therefore, it can be appreciated that the greater the heat, the faster the heavier analytes can be eluted from the column. Where the sample is complex, however, for instance having several light and heavy components, high temperatures (e.g., 300xc2x0 C.) cause the lighter analytes to immediately elute such that many different analytes arrive at the detector simultaneously. This simultaneous arrival complicates the analysis of the sample analytes in that, where the detector is non-selective, the detector cannot distinguish the various analytes from each other. To avoid this problem, gas chromatographs are often heated in a programmed, air-bath oven which increases the temperature of the column at a steady rate (e.g., 20xc2x0 C./minute). By heating the column in this manner, the low temperatures needed for adequate separation of the lighter analytes are provided, as well as the higher temperatures needed to elute the heavier analytes from the column.
Although adequately functional for most sample analysis situations, conventional gas chromatographs present several drawbacks. First, a cool down period normally is needed in between analysis cycles to reduce the temperature of the column from the final temperature to the initial temperature. By way of example, this cool down can require approximately 15 minutes or more. Although not an exceedingly long period of time, this duration is substantial, especially where the samples are being analyzed with xe2x80x9cfastxe2x80x9d chromatography which often only requires a few minutes. In addition to cool down time, time is wasted in permitting the system to achieve equilibrium. As is known in the art, if thermal equilibrium is not achieved prior to conducting a sample analysis, substantial fluctuation in analyte retention times can occur. Furthermore, column bleed fluctuations that occur during over temperature programming can increase the chromatogram baseline noise and/or drift that can mask analyte peaks.
From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a gas chromatograph with which sample analyses can be conducted quickly with minimal down time between analysis cycles.
The present disclosure relates to a gas chromatograph having a plurality of layers or channels. The chromatograph typically comprises an inlet that receives a sample to be analyzed, a column disposed in each of the plurality of chromatograph layers, each column being in fluid communication with and downstream from the inlet and having a stationary phase coating its inner surfaces, and a detector in fluid communication with and downstream from at least one of the columns. In a preferred arrangement, the chromatograph includes a pre-column disposed in each of the chromatograph layers upstream of the columns, each pre-column being in fluid communication with the inlet and having a stationary phase coating its inner surfaces.
The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Methods, systems, computer program products for Program Integrated Information (PII) translation management of an application are provided. The method, according to an embodiment of the present invention, PII translation corresponding to the application of a base version is determined as PII translation of a base version by one or more processing units, and then differences between PII translation corresponding to the application of a subsequent version and PII translation of the base version is determined as PII translation of a subsequent version. Then, in a data structure, it is recorded with PII translation of the base version as a starting node of the data structure and PII translation of the subsequent version as a subsequent node of the starting node, wherein nodes in the data structure are correlated to and accessible to the application of corresponding versions.

The present application relates to computing, and more specifically, to methods, systems and computer program products for program integrated information management for applications.
There are two main types of translation involving a computer program. One involves manuals and the other involves Program Integrated Information (PII). PII translation is substantially different from ordinary text translation, as PII is separated out of a computer program into externalized text resource files to allow for translation outside the program development process per se. The contexts of the operations of a computer program have been discarded and translators have to translate phrases and words without context in these text resource files. A Translation Verification Test (TVT), which is done with the normal operations of the computer program, compensates for the lack of context during translation.

Program integrated information management for cloud-based applications


Universal caller identification services are provided to enable a subscriber to maintain his or her identity by communicating an outgoing communication from any one of a plurality of different communications and communicating a communications signal to a called party communications address with a Universal CallerID to always identify the calling party. Further exemplary embodiments provide the Universal CallerID signal and a third party identifier to a called party and/or the Universal CallerID signal and a called party identifier to a third party. The Universal CallerID signal and a third party identifier and/or the Universal CallerID signal and a called party identifier may include text, video, voice, and/or digital data.

This application generally relates to field of communications. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for caller identification messaging.
Telecommunications has experienced explosive growth, and more growth is planned as telecommunication access and numerous communications devices improve. This explosive growth is revolutionizing special services offered to subscribing customers. Of the special service offerings, the most relevant to this invention is the caller identification or Caller ID services. An individual or a user of a telephone that is served by the Caller ID service is provided with directory information of a calling party. Presently available Caller ID systems provide the calling party telephone number and a billing name associated with the calling party telephone number (if available) when an incoming caller line identification (ICLID) signal can be detected, decoded, and transmitted to the called telephone or other display device associated with the called telephone (e.g., a Caller ID device). The Caller ID services also allow a called party to receive directory information for other incoming calls while the called party phone is used (e.g., during a conversation with another party); this service is sometimes referred to as Caller ID Call Waiting service.
The individual may use the displayed Caller ID information to make a decision whether to answer and/or to prepare for the call. Thereafter, the individual has a record of the Caller ID information and may use that information to return a call or to track incoming calls. A problem arises when the individual cannot recognize the Caller ID information. For example, if the calling party uses a pay phone, a friend's phone, or a work phone to place the incoming call, then the Caller ID information displays the number associated with each of these communications addresses. If the individual does not recognize the Caller ID information, the individual, then, cannot associate the number with the calling party. Other problems exist with limited information transmitted with the ICLID signal and with limited capabilities of Caller ID devices. In recent years, telephony providers and manufacturers have tried to provide alternate caller identification systems and methods. However, these alternatives have proved to have several drawbacks that include specialized peripheral hardware and equipment, limited methods for inputting a textual message and/or alphanumeric message, and limiting communications capabilities.


The present invention, in some aspects, relates to systems and methods for determining oxidized proteins, including nitrosylated proteins such as S-nitrosylated proteins. The systems and methods of the invention can be used in vitro (e.g., in cell or tissue culture) or in vivo. For instance, in some cases, the invention can be used to spatially determine the location and/or concentration of oxidized proteins within cells and/or tissues (e.g., through visual detection). In one set of embodiments, a nitrosylated or otherwise oxidized moiety on a protein may be reacted with a detection entity, which may be, for example, fluorescent, radioactive, electron-dense, able to bind to a signaling entity or a binding partner in order to produce a signal, etc. In some embodiments, other moieties on the protein may be altered or blocked before reaction of the protein with the detection entity. Such moieties on the protein may be, for instance, non-oxidized or non-nitrosylated moieties able to react with the detection entity. Also provided in certain aspects of the present invention are kits for determining oxidized proteins, which may include components such as detection entities, alkylating agents, blocking agents, reducing agents, signaling entities, binding partners, antibodies, instructions, and the like.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator in biological systems, playing significant roles in physiology and pathophysiology. For instance, cellular responses to NO are often transduced via multiple chemical reactions, including direct reactions with heme centers and metalloproteins, as well as indirect reactions, including oxidative and other metabolic reactions with various reactive nitrogen species. In particular, reactions of certain reactive nitrogen species with cysteine thiols on proteins that result in nitrosylation of the protein may represent an important post-translational modification capable of transducing certain NO-dependent signals.
Many proteins have been characterized as being targets for S-nitrosylation reactions, including metabolic proteins, structural proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, ion channels, and signaling proteins. In many cases, S-nitrosylation is believed to regulate protein activity and function. For example, S-nitrosylation has been shown to inhibit the activity of caspases, and denitrosylation is often required for the enzymatic activity of these enzymes. Similarly, the S-nitrosylation of p50, which is a subunit of transcription effector nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), is believed to be responsible for the NO-induced inhibition of DNA binding activity of transcription factor NF-κB.
Many of the proteins targeted by S-nitrosylation were originally identified using exogenous NO donors, and it has not always been established whether S-nitrosylation of these proteins is associated with endogenous NO activity. This is primarily due to limitations in the methodology typically used to detect S-nitrosylated proteins.

The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College


Methods and systems for manufacturing a wavefront-guided scleral lens prosthetic device customized for an eye of a patient include obtaining a first scleral lens prosthetic device with a central optic zone configured to vault over the eye's cornea and a peripheral haptic zone configured to align with the eye's sclera, collecting measurements of any offset and/or rotation of the first scleral lens prosthetic device relative to the eye's pupil and of any aberrations, particularly higher-order aberrations, generating a wavefront-guided profile from the measurements, and fabricating a second scleral lens prosthetic device with the profile on a surface of a central optic zone configured to vault over the eye's cornea and a peripheral haptic zone customized to align with the eye's sclera.

An eye is one of the most complex organs in the human body. The sclera of the eye is the white surface visible around the cornea. The iris is the pigmented part of the eye surrounding the aperture that is the pupil and adjusting the pupil size to control the amount of light entering the eye. The cornea, which allows light to enter and focuses the light as it enters the eye, is the clear front surface of the eye covering the iris and the pupil. The crystalline lens is behind the pupil and further focuses light. Light that reaches the retina, which is an optical sensory membrane in the back of the eyeball, is converted into electronic signals, which in turn are transmitted via optic nerve to the visual cortex in the brain to be interpreted as sight.
Due to its complexity and sensitivity, each individual eye is prone to a host of injuries and disorders. Ocular higher-order aberrations in the cornea, for example, may originate from a corneal dystrophy (i.e., a hereditary disorder), inflammation in the eye, surface abrasions, burns, and other trauma. Corneal ectasia is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause a progressive thinning and distortion of the corneal shape, including keratoconus, keratoglobus, pellucid, marginal degeneration, Terrien's marginal degeneration, post-LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) treatment, post- radial keratotomy, post-penetrating keratoplasty, and post-cornea transplantation or grafting.
While lower-order aberrations include common aberrations like defocus (e.g., nearsightedness and farsightedness) and regular astigmatism, higher-order aberrations may include secondary astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, trefoil, and quadrafoil stemming from irregular deformations, stress lines, and scarring on the corneal surface. For example, keratoconus may change the corneal side profile from a normal gradual curve to a steeper curve to a pronounced conical shape. These structural irregularities may refract, reflect, and/or absorb light when it reaches the cornea, thus distorting (by causing, e.g., blurriness, ghosts, halos, starbursts, and loss of contrast) and sometimes multiplying the image received by the retina (diplopia or polyopia). Vision in low light or at night may be even more difficult because the pupil dilates to expose and receive light through even more of the irregular corneal surface. Other symptoms associated with ocular higher-order aberrations include eye strain, itching, pain, and photophobia (i.e., sensitivity to bright light). Patients with ocular higher-order aberrations may experience temporary or permanent visual distortions, and for some, their vision may progressively deteriorate.
In particular, the abnormal degenerative disorder of keratoconus, in which the cornea both steepens and thins, produces a large magnitude of higher-order aberrations, around 5-6 times typically found in normal eyes, thus severely degrading retinal image quality. For a 5.7 mm pupil, Guirao et al. theoretically demonstrated that an improvement by a factor of 12 in retinal image contrast at 16 cycles per degree (c/deg) could be achievable in an eye with keratoconus compared to only a 2.5-fold benefit in a normal eye. Similarly for a 6 mm pupil, when computing the area under the modulation transfer function, Pantanelli et al. estimated a 4.4-fold improvement in retinal image quality in an eye with keratoconus compared to only a 2.1-fold benefit in a normal eye. Therefore, an eye with keratoconus stands to benefit to a great extent by correcting higher-order aberrations.
In 1961, Smirnov theorized that upon quantifying the ocular higher-order aberrations of an eye it was conceivable to make ophthalmic lenses to neutralize the aberrations; however, he also conceded that this was highly impractical given the laborious nature of the aberration measurements.
Existing attempts to correct ocular higher-order aberrations and to treat underlying causes like corneal ectasia include soft contact lenses, hybrid contact lenses, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, and conventional scleral lenses. However, these existing lenses help only a small percentage of patients and only to a limited extent. For example, both Sabesan et al. and Marsack et al. attempted to correct higher-order aberrations with soft contact lenses by incorporating centration information and accounting for the effect of the interaction of the ophthalmic lens with the ocular surface. Even then, the residual higher-order wavefront error was still 0.93±0.19 μm for a 6 mm pupil in the Sabesan study. Similarly, the residual higher-order wavefront error was 0.31 μm and 0.38 μm for a 4.25 mm pupil in two keratoconus patients and 0.76 μm for a 4.5 mm pupil in a third keratoconus patient in the Marsack study.
Moreover, some patients have corneal scarring, recurrent corneal erosions due to poor-fitting contact lenses, and/or an intolerance to contact lenses. Although conventional scleral lenses minimize contact with the cornea by having a large diameter and a vaulted structure over the cornea, even these lenses only correct for lower-order aberrations and some higher-order aberrations but not residual higher-order aberrations originating from the posterior corneal surface, the crystalline lens (which may develop an aberration to compensate for a corneal aberration), and/or the scleral lens itself if the lens is decentered (e.g., due to a lack of individual patient customization).
When lenses fail to correct ocular higher-order aberrations and/or to treat other associated symptoms, clinicians may resort to more invasive procedures like corneal transplantation surgery, whereby a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue. Together, keratoconus and post-refractive corneal ectasia are the second most frequent indication for corneal transplantation, accounting for about 15% of the corneal transplantations performed in the United States. In addition to common dangers associated with ocular surgery like infection, inflammation, injury, visual impairment, and temporary or permanent blindness, corneal transplantation carries both short-term and lifelong risks of corneal graft failure and rejection.

Customized wavefront-guided methods, systems, and devices to correct higher-order aberrations