A three-dimensional image display device comprises a screen shutter unit, a shutter control unit, a display unit, and a display control unit. The screen shutter unit comprises a plurality of long and narrow shutters capable of passing and intercepting light rays. Each of the shutters is positioned vertically and arranged horizontally to each other at equal intervals. The shutter control unit selects shutters from the plurality of shutters at predetermined intervals as long slits to pass light rays through, and moves entire slits horizontally at predetermined time intervals. The display unit displays each image corresponding to each slit on an image display screen provided at a predetermined distance from an arrangement of the shutters. The display control unit displays as images corresponding to respective slits the images obtained by projecting a three-dimensional image to be displayed on the image display screen through the slits synchronously with a moving timing of the slits controlled by the shutter control unit. The images are displayed on respective positions on the image display screen corresponding to respective slits. A part of the image displayed on the image display screen corresponding to the slits is selected through the slits and reaches the viewer's eyes, thereby allowing the viewer to recognize the three-dimensional image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device for displaying three-dimensional image data and a three-dimensional image recording device for capturing, recording, and regenerating a three-dimensional object for display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a variety of image displaying technologies have enabled an object to be displayed in three dimensions. For example, two images to be captured separately by a left eye and a right eye are given to respective eyes to regenerate the three-dimensional image of an object. The effect of the three-dimensional image is based on the difference in vision between the left and right eyes, and can be obtained both with and without glasses. Methods using glasses are: the wave-length separating method in which left and right images are separated through the difference in wave length of light, that is, red and blue color glasses are used; the polarization separating method in which images are separated by polarization glasses for separating images based on the difference in light polarization state; and the time divisional separating method in which left and right images are separated through glasses while being alternately displayed in time-division manner. These methods are applied to movies, TV, video, and other display devices.
Methods without glasses are: the parallax barrier method in which images corresponding to left and right eyes are alternately and divisionally displayed on a display screen as long and narrow strips with a vertical static slit barrier positioned before the screen; and the lenticular method in which long semi-cylindrical lenses are arranged horizontally from left to right and a divisional display screen is provided at the position of the lens focus to display images corresponding to left and right eyes.
Other methods than those depending on the difference in vision are technologies of generating a spatial image and displaying it in three dimensions. For example, a technology of recording and regenerating a three-dimensional image using a hologram, a technology of integral photography using fly's eyes lens in which a number of small convex lenses are spread all over a plane; or a pin hole panel in which a number of pin holes are used instead of convex lenses.
A three-dimensional image is demanded in various industrial fields such as designing three-dimensional structures, three-dimensional molecular structures, technical trainings with three-dimensional pictures and images, etc. in addition to the demand as amusement media such as TV, movies, video, etc.. Now demanded is a three-dimensional image which not only appears as an illusion as if it were a three-dimensional image but also can be realized as a true three-dimensional object by being observed from various directions, and as colored and dynamic image.
The above described a three-dimensional image displaying technologies have respective problems as follows.
(1) In the method of displaying a three-dimensional image based on the difference in vision between left and right eyes, the displayed image is not really a three-dimensional image, but simply appears as if it were a three-dimensional image. Therefore, the image cannot appear in three dimensions from all directions by being viewed from above or below, or from its left or right side as can a hologram. That is, the positional correlation between a viewer and the screen is limited to a specified narrow scope (lenticular method and parallax barrier method), or a good three-dimensional image requires that the line connecting the left and the right eyes should be parallel with the horizontal direction of the screen in the polarization filter method). Therefore, the viewer cannot see the image in a natural posture. Additionally, since the viewer must wear immediately before his or her eyes the glasses of filters (red-and-blue filters, polarization filter, time-division filters, etc.) to separate the images for respective eyes, they are actually annoying to the viewer. These glass-type filters are not required by the lenticular method which uses a special lens plate immediately before a screen or the parallax barrier method which uses a barrier with slits. PA1 (2) In the three-dimensional image displaying method using holograms, an image is calculated, constructed, and recorded by a computer as optical interference fringes. It is a very complicated procedure and takes an unpractically long processing time. Furthermore, it is very difficult to display dynamic images requiring much more image data than static images. The optical interference further complicates a displaying of colored images. PA1 (3) In the integral photographic method, the precision of lenses must be identically maintained between recording and regenerating times in dimension, installation, and position relative to a facing screen. Thus, it is technically difficult to use this method successfully. Furthermore, since the focal depth is small, also small is the depth of an image clearly regenerated from a photographically recorded image. Additionally, this method does not assure the perfect reproductivity of images because the directions of the rays emitted from respective parts of an object can be recorded only partially.

Three-dimensional image display device and recording device


A flexible sanding apparatus includes a thin, relatively flat spring member and one or more coil spring members coupled to a first side of the flat spring member along a length of the flat spring member. A sanding surface may be coupled to a second side of the flat spring member. The flat spring member and the coil spring members may be elongated members coupled together lengthwise. The coil spring member may be a closed coil spring member that allows concave flexing of the sanding surface and inhibits convex flexing of the sanding surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contour sander. More particularly, the invention relates to a flexible sander and/or spreader for use on single or compound curved surfaces and also can be used to flatten surfaces.
2. Description of Related Art
One of the more common uses of contour sanders is repairing automobile body panels. Automobile body panels are typically made of light-weight metals, fiberglass, or plastic materials that are relatively thin. The panels are shaped into contoured (curved) body lines to provide strength and aerodynamic features for the body panels. The contoured body lines may include convex or concave curves, scooped areas, and/or channels. The sanders used on the body panels may have an adjustable curvature to allow the sander to conform to different shaped body panels and allow the sander to be used on multiple body panels and/or automobiles. The curvature of the sander may be adjusted to conform to the curvature of a specific body panel to provide accurate sanding on the body panel surface (e.g., sanding of the body panel to return the body panel as close to its original shape as possible).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,113 to Wheeler, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, discloses a flexible sanding apparatus with adjustable curvature. This flexible sanding apparatus uses a flexible foam rubber handle with a thick profile. The flexibility of the foam rubber handle is controlled by the insertion/removal of three rods inside the handle. Flexing the foam rubber handle may, however, create build up in the handle because the top stretches as the handle is bent and the bottom portion does not compress since it is attached to a flat spring. The flat spring in the foam rubber handle is only bent by pressing down on the ends of the foam rubber handle. However, it may take significant pressure to bend the ends of the foam rubber handle down to curve the handle and the handle may have a limited amount of bend that prevents the handle from having the ability to work on smaller radius curves.
Because high pressure is needed to bend the flexible sanding apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,113 to Wheeler, the curve of the flexible sanding apparatus is determined by the profile of the surface being sanded instead of the curve being determined by the desire of the user (e.g., how much the user wants the sander to curve). In addition, when high pressure is applied, the flexible sanding apparatus may not provide the desired arc because of the thickness and stiffness of the flexible sanding apparatus. In some situations, the flexible sanding apparatus may require substantially equal high pressure to be applied substantially simultaneously to both the ends of the foam rubber handle to make it meet the contours of the surface. Providing high pressure substantially simultaneously to the ends may, however, be tiring to a user and not allow the user to have any "feel" for the contour of the body panel being worked on by the user.
Another problem with the flexible sanding apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,113 to Wheeler is that the foam rubber handle may bend backward (e.g., bend with the ends going away from the surface) when pressure is applied to the foam rubber handle. Thus, when sanding a relatively flat surface, the low spots on the flexible sanding apparatus may be lower than desired, making it difficult to obtain a flat sanding surface.
Thus, there is a need for a sander/spreader that has variable flexibility that is determined by the user without needing high pressure to curve the sander/spreader. The sander/spreader may be easily flexed by the user to conform to various curved surfaces with different curvatures while also allowing the sander/spreader to maintain a relatively flat profile when needed (e.g., when used on a flat surface). The sander/spreader may also allow for sanding of convex and/or concave profiles without bunching or crumpling of the sanding surface (e.g., sandpaper attached to the sander/spreader).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A mixing chamber probe adaptor comprising a chamber connector and a probe connector is provided. The mixing chamber probe adaptor imparts a fixed spatial joining of a chamber to a probe and allows a mixing chamber to be received by the chamber connector. In some embodiments, the mixing chamber probe adaptor will be adapted to connect to a spring-loaded probe and receive a micro mixing tee. In other embodiments, the mixing chamber probe adaptor may be used with other types of chambers and probes.

The recent employment of matrix-assisted-laser-desorption/ionization (MALDI) (Karas & Hillenkamp, Anal. Chem. 60, 2299 (1988)) with time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry has extended the accuracy of mass spectrometric measurements to include proteins and nucleic acids. See generally, Kinter, Anal. Chem. 67, 493R-497R (1995); Schoneich et al, Anal. Chem. 67, 155R-181R (1995); Busch, J. Chromatog. A 692, 275-290 (1995); and Limbach et al, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 6, 96-102 (1995). Today, the sensitivity, mass range and ability to analyze complex mixtures has made mass spectrometry an important tool for the analysis of large biomolecules. Many researchers both in academic and industrial settings use MALDI as an integral part of biomolecule analyzing experimentation.
MALDI has many advantages over traditionally employed methods of large biomolecule analyzation, such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. For example, MALDI displays both high sensitivity and relatively high tolerance to the presence of sample contaminants. MALDI also has the ability to accurately measure biomolecules using only subpicomole amounts of analyte. Furthermore, MALDI may be automated, thus, making the technique less labor intensive and time consuming as compared to traditional analyzation methods. MALDI automation also allows handling of small analyte volumes, an advantage sought by many MALDI users. Furthermore, MALDI provides a means for repeat analyzation of a particular sample as it is destructive to only a minute portion of the sample. Thus, it leaves a massive amount of sample available for re-analysis. Other current techniques such as electrospray are sample destructive leaving no sample for repeat analysis.
Although MALDI has currently been automated to a certain degree, the completely successful automation of MALDI spotting, because of the extensive and exacting analyte sample preparation required, has proven difficult. Generally, in order to correctly prepare a MALDI analyte sample, MALDI matrix solution must be added to the analyte prior to analysis. Even following this addition, interpretable results necessitate the MALDI matrix solution and analyte be evenly distributed to produce a homogeneous analyte sample. Consequently, complete mixing of MALDI matrix solution and analyte is required to obtain a reliable analyte sample. As used herein, an analyte sample is a combination of analyte and an appropriately absorbing sample matrix solution.
In automated MALDI spotting, because the analyte sample is not vortexed, it is often difficult to achieve the degree of homogenization that results from the complete mixing of MALDI matrix solution and analyte during manual spotting. Complete homogenization is important as complete mixing provides a higher quality spot and eliminates "hot spots" in the target, making the MALDI target more uniform. The elimination of hot spots is essential to accurate MALDI experimentation, regardless of whether manual or automated MALDI is being performed. Although these hot spots may be eliminated by thorough vortexing in manual MALDI, a need exists to insure complete mixing of analyte sample when using automated MALDI spotting. In automated MALDI spotting, an important step toward ensuring complete mixing includes incorporating the use of mixing chambers. Using a mixing chamber during automated MALDI spotting increases the mixing of analyte and matrix solution, resulting in increased signal to noise ratios and fewer "hot spots."
Unfortunately, in the past, when these mixing chambers were used with particular types of sample dispensing probes, such as MALDI target spotting probes, certain problems arose. For example, when a mixing chamber is used with a spring loaded probe, because the tubing in the spring loaded probe moves during spotting of the MALDI plate, the tubing may easily kink and bend. This distortion of the tubing may result in MALDI targets that are not uniform, making the results harder to interpret. Furthermore, because of the extra weight placed on the tubing when a mixing chamber is used without a mixing chamber probe adaptor, the tubing may separate from the mixing chamber, either resulting in lost analyte, MALDI matrix, or in the case of tubing that separates the mixing chamber from the probe, lost analyte sample. But because spring loaded probes provide many advantages, such as eliminating direct contact between the probe and the MALDI plate and allowing accurate MALDI target deposition by handling small amounts of analyte sample with minimal loss, it is preferable to use spring loaded probes over other sample dispensing probes during automated MALDI spotting. The spring in the spring loaded probe allows tubing, not the spring loaded probe itself, to touch the MALDI plate when spotting a MALDI target. Although glass capillaries that directly touch the plate may be used to spot MALDI targets, their fragility and propensity to cause MALDI plate damage makes them less desirable than a spring loaded probe. Spring loaded probes cause less damage to both the probe itself and the MALDI plate. The use of spring loaded tubing to spot a MALDI target also results in more accurate MALDI targets, as a greater amount of a more uniform pattern of analyte sample is added to the MALDI plate. In addition, the spring loaded probe permits a lower dead volume in the system as a result of the tubing in the spring loaded probe directly touching the MALDI plate, thus eliminating analyte sample loss caused by probe surface tension. Consequently, a need exists for a solution to the problems created when using a mixing chamber with a spring loaded probe.


A suture anchor installation system includes a suture anchor, a loading unit, and a suture anchor installation tool. The suture anchor includes an elongated setting pin at least partially mounted within a longitudinal bore of a socket and slidably movable between a distal first position wherein at least a portion of the setting pin is distal to the socket and a proximal second position, the socket having at least two proximally pointing legs which are radially expandable in response to movement of the setting pin to the proximal second position. The loading unit includes a housing and a collet movably mounted within an axial bore in the housing, the collet having arms for releasably gripping the suture anchor. The suture anchor inserter has a first tubular member for engaging the collet, and a second tubular member for releasably engaging the socket of the suture anchor.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a suture anchor installation system and, more particularly, to a suture anchor installation system including a suture anchor insertion tool engaging a two-piece suture anchor having a suture and needle assembly.
2. Discussion of Related Art
During surgery, it is often necessary to attach muscle tissue or prosthetic implants to bone. Suture anchors are used in the art to facilitate such attachment by securing a suture to bone. Generally, an anchor is implanted into a hole pre-drilled into a bone mass. A suture engaged by the suture anchor extends from the bone and is used to stitch the muscle tissue or prosthetic device to the bone. Suture anchors find particular use in joint reconstruction surgery, especially during attachment of ligaments or tendons to bones in the knee, shoulder, and elbow.
Several systems have been proposed in the art to aid the surgeon in implanting a suture anchor into a bone. One such system, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,417 to Cerier et al., comprises a driver having a handle and elongated shaft. An anchor snap fits on the end of the shaft over an anti-rotation pin which mates with slots in the anchor. A suture engaged in the anchor has its ends affixed to posts extending from the driver handle. The Cerier et al. system suffers from the disadvantage that the driver does not accommodate sutures having preattached needles. Thus, use of this system requires threading the suture into a needle, a time-consuming procedure for the surgeon.
Another suture anchor installation system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,550 to Li. The Li system comprises a suture anchor having a normally curved barb capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration. The suture anchor engages a suture having a pair of surgical needles attached to its ends. The installation tool is adapted to receive the surgical needles and a pair of grooves formed in the tool's outer surface. The tool additionally provides a member for selectively covering and uncovering the needles received in the grooves.
The Li suture anchor installation system uses shape-memory alloys to fabricate the suture anchors. Such materials are not bioabsorbable. Additionally, the normally curved barb of the Li system protrudes from the installation tool during positioning of the anchor.
Yet another suture anchor installation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,298 to Lee et al. The suture anchor installation system comprises a suture anchor assembly engaged with a suture anchor insertion tool. The suture anchor assembly features a two-piece suture anchor for insertion into a pre-drilled hole in a bone and at least one suture having at least one surgical needle affixed thereto. The two-piece suture anchor has a setting pin slidably engaged within an engagement member having barbed legs expandable in response to proximal movement of the setting pin. The suture anchor insertion tool includes a body portion and a distally extending shaft portion. An annular region of the distal end of the shaft portion engages the legs of the suture anchor engagement member. A channel in the shaft portion aligns with a channel in the body portion to accommodate the suture. Needle-retaining assemblies located on the body portion of the suture anchor insertion tool engage the surgical needle or needles attached to the suture.
The suture anchor installation tool of the Lee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,298 is packaged in a preloaded condition. The package is opened in the operating room and the installation tool is removed from the package and used to apply the suture anchor. Operating room conditions are not conducive to manually reloading the Lee et al. installation tool with a fresh suture anchor for reuse of the installation tool. In the event that a second suture anchor must be applied another suture anchor installation tool package is opened and a new preloaded suture anchor installation system is used.
It would be advantageous to use a single installation tool during an operation and reload it as appropriate. What is needed is a mechanism which facilitates reloading of the suture anchor installation tool in the operating room.

Suture anchor installation system with insertion tool


A method and apparatus for exposing a substrate of relatively large surface area to radiation according to a predetermined pattern recorded on a mask, particularly useful in applying a painted border to an automobile windshield, includes the steps of progressively recording the predetermined pattern on a mask in the form of a continuous strip, and moving the radiation source to progressively scan the surface of the substrate with radiation, while at the same time moving the continuous strip mask relative to the radiation source, such that portions of the pattern on the continuous strip mask progressively become aligned with their corresponding portions of the substrate as the substrate is progressively scanned by the radiation source.

The present invention relates to a method and system for applying a marking to a substrate. The invention is particularly useful for applying a border of opaque material adjacent to and around a windshield plate, and is therefore described below with respect to this application.
Up to recent years, the motor vehicle windshield was generally mounted to the motor vehicle body by the use of a grommet or sealing ring applied along the outer border of the windshield and received in the windshield opening of the vehicle body. The application of such a grommet to the windshield, done manually, was found difficult to automate. In recent years, this manually applied grommet has been replaced in many motor vehicles by a sealing strip covered by a painted border applied adjacent to and around the windshield. The conventional way of applying such a border of opaque material adjacent to and around the windshield is by painting through a silk-screen. Such a silk-screen process, however, is usually done manually; moreover, it requires a separate pattern or mask for each shape and size of windshield, and also requires a substantial period of time and/or a substantial quantity of material to apply the complete border.

Method and system for applying a marking to a substrate, particularly a painted border adjacent to and around a windshield plate


A systems implements a gradient descent calculation, regression calculation, or other machine learning calculation on a dataset (e.g., a global dataset) using a coordination node including coordination circuitry that coordinates multiple worker nodes to create a distributed calculation architecture. In some cases, the worker nodes each hold a portion of the dataset and operate on their respective portion. In some cases, the gradient descent calculation, regression calculation, or other machine learning calculation is used to implement a targeted maximum likelihood scheme for causal inference estimation. The targeted maximum likelihood scheme may be used to conduct causal analysis of the observational data.

Rapid advances in electronics and communication technologies, driven by immense customer demand, have resulted in the widespread adoption of distributed computing. As one example, cloud computing operations involve up to exabytes or more of data analysis every year. Improvements in distributed computing execution will continue to increase the features and options available to operators of distributed computing operations.

Coordinated multiple worker node causal inference framework


An electrical connector for a cable such as a ribbon cable used in an electronic instrument. The electrical connector plugged into a connector of a printed circuit-board of, for instance, a notebook computer has substantially an inverted U-shaped handle with its pair of leg elements being engaged with socket elements formed in the sides of the connector. The leg elements are bent at about the mid points so as to reduce the height of the handle, thus allowing the handle to be fit within narrow interior space of the notebook computer.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to an electrical connector having a handle for facilitating removal of the connector from a printed circuit-board of an electronic instrument such as a notebook computer.
2. Prior Art
In small electronic instruments such as a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc, a flexible printed circuit or a so-called flat ribbon cable is used. Such a circuit or a cable is attached to an electrical connector that is mated to a connector mounted on a printed circuit-board or a motherboard of the electronic instrument. Such electronic instruments are recently designed as small as possible so as to be easily carried to places. As a result, the internal space is severely limited, and devices installed in such a limited space are designed to be compact. Thus, a connector body of the electrical connector installed in such a limited space of, for instance, notebook computers is designed as compact as possible. This causes several problems. One of the problems is that pulling out or unplugging of such a compact component, for instance, an electrical connector with a cable, from the connector of the printed circuit-board of a notebook computer is very difficult. When such a component is forced to be unplugged in an awkward fashion, the component can be easily broken.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a structure that facilitates removal of an electronic component such as an electrical connector used in a small size electronic instrument such as a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.
The above object is accomplished by a unique structure for an electrical connector (merely called xe2x80x9cconnectorxe2x80x9d) that has a removing means from a limited space.
More specifically, the connector of the present invention is comprised of a connector body and substantially an inverted U-shaped handle body with its pair of leg elements being engaged with socket elements formed on the connector body to which a cable such as a ribbon cable is connected. The leg elements can be bent at substantially mid points thereof so as to reduce the height of the handle body to be installed in narrow interior space of, for instance, a notebook computer.
With the structure above, the connector engaged with the connector of a printed circuit-board of, for instance, a notebook computer can be easily unplugged by way of pulling the handle body attached to the connector body and not by pulling the connector body or the cable so that damage to the connector, the cable or the connector of the printed circuit-board is prevented. In addition, with the bent leg elements, the height of the handle body can be low so that the connector can fit within the limited interior space of compact electronic equipment, such as a notebook computer.


An electric power converting apparatus mainly includes a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, a selection circuit, a control circuit, a bi-directional inverter circuit, and a charge/discharge circuit. The control circuit composed of a microcomputer or a microprocessor such as a DSP controls an operation of the electric power converting apparatus. The first power supply circuit or the second power supply circuit supplies a operation voltage for the control circuit. The first power supply circuit generates the operation voltage for the control circuit based on an AC voltage supplied from the electric power supply system. The second power supply circuit generates the operation voltage for the control circuit based on a DC voltage supplied from a DC power supply in an electric vehicle EV.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power system capable of transmission and reception of electric power to and from an electric vehicle.
Description of the Background Art
Today, in an electric vehicle which uses electric power charged in a battery as a drive source for driving a motor to thereby obtain power, the battery can be charged by a household power supply through a cable. In recent years, more and more homes employ private power generation using photovoltaic power generation or wind power generation. In a case where the homes have any surplus electric power, the surplus electric power is sold to an electric power company, and in a case where the amount of power generation is insufficient, the homes use commercial electric power (system electric power) supplied from an electric power supply system of an electric power company. Advanced version of such a system is a next-generation electric power network called a smart grid.
In the current situation where homes are introducing electric power supply based on private power generation, a battery of an electric vehicle can be charged with electric power obtained by photovoltaic power generation or wind power generation.
A configuration of charging a battery of an electric vehicle with electric power obtained by photovoltaic power generation is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1996-19193.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1996-19193 discloses: a household power conditioner for converting DC electric power generated by a solar cell module into AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to a domestic load; and a system for re-converting AC electric power supplied from the power conditioner into DC electric power and storing the DC electric power in a battery of a gasoline vehicle or an electric vehicle, or converting the stored electric power into AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to the household load.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1996-19193 does not disclose an internal configuration of the power conditioner, and therefore it is not clear what kind of power supply is used for controlling a control circuit necessary for the DC conversion and the AC conversion in the power conditioner. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1996-19193 discloses that in a case where the supply of system electric power is stopped for a long time, a control mode of the power conditioner is switched to a voltage control mode to establish an autonomous operation of the power conditioner. Here, in either of the cases where the power supply to the control circuit in the autonomous operation is obtained from the vehicle battery and obtained from the solar cell module, the need for some voltage step-down means is expected, in order that the power supply to the control circuit which is approximately a few volts can be obtained from a high voltage of 100 volts or more. However, performing a step-down with a large input-output difference causes a problem of an increased switching loss and an increased switching noise.


Examples associated with contextual device unlocking are described. One example storing sets of contextual state information associated with unlock events associated with a device. A first contextual state of the device is detected. The first contextual state of the device is compared to sets of contextual state information. The device is unlocked based on the comparison of the first contextual state of device to the sets of contextual state information when the device is in a secure location with a nearby authorized user.

Companies and consumers may store valuable data on personal computers and/or laptops that are operated by employees or the consumers themselves. To access the data, users may perform a variety of tasks to prove they are authorized to access the data. These tasks may include, for example, entering a personal identification number or password, proving identity via a biometric, presenting an authenticating device, and so forth.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Compositions and methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions include polynucleotides encoding herbicide resistance or tolerance polypeptides, vectors comprising those polynucleotides, and host cells comprising the vectors. The nucleotide sequences of the invention can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms, including microorganisms and plants. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated polynucleotides encoding glyphosate resistance or tolerance polypeptides are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated polynucleotides comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5. The present invention additionally provides a method to measure enzyme kinetic activity using fluorogenic substrates.

N-phosphonomethylglycine, commonly referred to as glyphosate, is an important agronomic chemical. Glyphosate inhibits the enzyme that converts phosphoenolpyruvic acid (PEP) and 3-phosphoshikimic acid (S3P) to 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimic acid. Inhibition of this enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase; referred to herein as "EPSPS") kills plant cells by shutting down the shikimate pathway, thereby inhibiting aromatic acid biosynthesis.
Since glyphosate-class herbicides inhibit aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, they not only kill plant cells, but are also toxic to bacterial cells. Glyphosate inhibits many bacterial EPSP synthases, and thus is toxic to these bacteria. However, certain bacterial EPSP synthases have a high tolerance to glyphosate.
Plant cells resistant to glyphosate toxicity can be produced by transforming plant cells to express glyphosate-resistant bacterial EPSP synthases. Notably, the bacterial gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4 has been used to confer herbicide resistance on plant cells following expression in plants. A mutated EPSP synthase from Salmonella typhimurium strain CT7 confers glyphosate resistance in bacterial cells, and confers glyphosate resistance on plant cells (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,535,060; 4,769,061; and 5,094,945). However, there is a need for other herbicide resistance genes.
EPSPS kinetic activity can be assayed by measuring the liberation of phosphate. Phosphate liberation is detected using a coupled assay for the fluorescent detection of phosphate based on the generation of N-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxacine (Amplex® Red), as is known in the art (Vazquez et al. (2003) Analytical Biochemistry 320: 292-298). The published assay conditions can lead to saturation of the assay in experiments where phosphate is liberated very quickly. Additional methods are needed for the measurement of EPSPS kinetic activity.

GRG23 and GRG51 genes conferring herbicide resistance


A paper returner is placed in the vicinity of an end portion of a hopper for stacking a plurality of sheets of paper which faces a paper feeding roller, so as to be pivotable between a first position where the paper returner constitutes a part of the paper transporting passage, and a second position where the paper returner is isolated from the paper transporting passage. A separation pad is provided on a first face of the paper returner. The separation pad has a friction coefficient which is higher than a friction coefficient of the first face of the paper returner. The paper returner is placed at the first position so that a top sheet of paper in the hopper is abutted against the paper feeding roller, and is separated from other sheets of paper by the separation pad. The paper returner is placed at the second position so that the first face of the paper returner returns sheets of paper, which are entered in the paper transporting passage-together with the sheet of paper to be fed, to the hopper.

This invention relates to a paper feeder used with a recording apparatus such as a printer for feeding sheet-like paper stacked on a hopper, and in particular to a paper feeder comprising a paper returner for returning an overlappedly transported sheet of paper to the hopper, the paper returner having a function of separating and feeding sheets of paper one by one.
A paper feeder used with a recording apparatus comprises two paper feeding rollers placed in a paper width direction, the one paper feeding roller being fixedly placed on one side edge side, and the other being built in an edge guide and semi-fixedly placed movably matching the paper width. A base end of the hopper is attached rotatably to a shaft at a right angle to the entry direction such that the whole of paper in the width direction is moved up or down at the same time by a cam mechanism associated with rotation of the paper feeding roller. A rotatable separation pad holder is provided with a separation pad to separate the sheets one by one from the hopper and feed each sheet.
When paper is abutted against the paper feeding roller, and at the same time, the separation pad is pressed against the paper feeding roller as the hopper moves up, the top sheet of paper is separated and fed. When the sheet arrives at a transport roller and skew removal is terminated, the paper feeding roller is rotated and stopped at a home position. Meanwhile, positioning is performed such that a distance between a leading edge of the paper sheet and a recording head is made constant is performed, and then print is started. When the paper feeding roller is stopped at the home position, a gap is formed between the paper feeding roller and the separation pad, but a part of the sheet being printed exists. At this time, another sheet overlappedly sent enters the gap, and two or more overlapped sheets may also be fed in conjunction with the sheet being printed in some cases. As a measure against such trouble, an idle roller is usually pressed against the separation pad. When a sheet being printed exists between the paper feeding roller and the separation pad, it is pressed against the separation pad by the idle roller, whereby entry of the sheets overlappedly sent is prevented. Each sheet whose entry is blocked is pushed and returned to the hopper by operating a paper return lever (paper returner) after the print terminates.
This related paper feeder comprises the separation pad holder and the paper return lever as separate components, and thus has a complicated structure and a large number of parts, leading to an increase in costs. Since the paper returning operation is performed after print, the next paper feed operation cannot be started until the paper returning operation terminates, and thus the time interval between the print termination of one sheet and the print start of another sheet (throughput) is prolonged. Further, since the sheet being printed is pressed against the idle roller, a contact load with the sheet occurs and leads to a load of a motor drive system, etc.


Simultaneous transmission of voice and data over the voice channel of a digital wireless communications network, such as a “cell phone” network, is reconfigurable on the fly among multiple operating modes, including a lull detection mode in which data is transferred during a lull or quiet period in the voice content. Additionally, control signaling in the voice channel, rather than over a separate control or “overhead” channel is employed to support SVD. The described system operates transparently over any wireless telecommunications system.

It is known to send both voice and data over various types of communications channels. Several methods are known for sending data over the control channels of a wireless telecommunications network. One example is the standard IS-41 signaling over the control channel. Other known messaging services include SMS or Short Message Service which allows up to 160 characters to be sent over the air from base stations to cell phones, pagers or other handheld wireless devices, again operating separately from the voice channel. WAP or Wireless Application Protocol is a carrier-independent, transaction oriented protocol for wireless data networks. It is currently being implemented in various wireless devices to enable interactive sessions using "mini-web pages" or the like. One cannot simultaneously carry on a conversation over the same channel. Thus a WAP session is not a voice channel connection.
Others have attempted to insert data in the form of audio tones—similar to a conventional telephone modem—into the voice channel of a wireless session. One problem is that such tones are audible, and therefore they interfere with the voice conversation. One known solution to that interference calls for essentially turning off the voice connection, e.g., the microphone and speaker, at predetermined intervals, and transmitting data over the voice channel during that brief interval. This approach is aptly called "blank and burst." Up to a few hundred milliseconds of "blank and burst" at a time may go unnoticed by the caller, but the amount of data that can be transferred over that interval is quite limited, due to the limited frequency response and corresponding bandwidth of the channel.
Another approach is to carve a "notch" in the voice channel frequency spectrum, and modulate the data for insertion into the notch of frequencies no longer occupied by voice content. Of course, voice fidelity is compromised, and again bandwidth of data transmission is severely limited. This notch filter technology was described by Bruno, et al., in PCT Publication No. WO 96/18275 which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,529. It also appears in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,956 to Hillman, et al. Both of these U.S. patents are incorporated herein by this reference.


An improved printed circuit board connection for connecting a first printed circuit board to a second printed circuit board in a manner that permits physical engagement at a different position than the electrical engagement, and a method for making the improved printed circuit board connection with precision in alignment. In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board includes an end portion configured to engage with a member of a connector on the second printed circuit board. The end portion and the member engage along concave portions of the end portion and convex portions of the member. When engaged, the end portion and the member align wires of the first printed circuit board with terminals of the connector.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to a circuit board, such as a flexible printed circuit board or rigid printed circuit board, a connector connectable to the circuit board, and an electronic device with the circuit board and connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In accordance with the development of downsizing and high integration of electronic devices, the electronic units incorporated in the electronic devices are also reduced in size. Similarly, reduction in size and pitch, high integration and high accuracy are required of flexible printed circuit (FPC) boards for connecting the electronic units, and connectors (FPC connectors) connected to the FPCs.
For instance, to appropriately mount an FPC on an FPC connector, their outlines are processed for positioning. Outline processing is often performed on the opposite ends of the FPC (the opposite ends that are brought into contact with the insertion hole of the FPC connector when the FPC is inserted therein). In this case, the outlines of the opposite ends must be processed highly accurately so as to prevent contact failure from occurring at the opposite ends.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-317830 (see, for example, FIG. 8) discloses a structure in which two boards have respective projecting contact portions, through which the wiring patterns of the boards are coupled to each other.
In general, the outline processing of the opposite ends of an FPC is performed after wiring is formed on the FPC, and may well cause errors. Even a slight error may cause the contact position to be greatly deviated from the correct position on a highly integrated narrow-pitch FPC wiring pattern, thereby causing electrical contact failure. This may occur in rigid printed circuit boards, as well as in FPCs.
Further, in the above-mentioned structure in which two boards have respective projecting contact portions, through which their wiring patterns are coupled to each other, electrical contact failure may easily occur because of the influence of dust or adhesive, etc. When a clearance is defined between the boards, contact failure may also easily occur.


An interface apparatus capable of appropriate connection with external devices having various specifications. Control signal DRVSEL is used for setting output method of a signal from output circuit 801 to an open-collector drive or a totem-pole drive. 3-State buffer 904 which drives a communication path comes into high-impedance status when its enable input is at a H level, on the other hand, when the enable input is at a L level, drives its output with the same logic as that of AND gate output. When the signal DRVSEL is at the L level, the 3-state buffer 904 drives the output only when its internal signal is at the L level, thus output is made in the open-collector drive. On the other hand, when the signal DRVSEL is at the H level, the 3-state buffer 904 drives the output with the same logic as that of its internal signal, thus output is made in the totem-pole drive.

This invention relates to an interface apparatus and method and an image output apparatus having the interface apparatus and, more particularly to an interface apparatus for transmitting/receiving information with an external apparatus via a communication line, a method for negotiating for transmitting/receiving information between apparatuses, and an image output apparatus having the interface apparatus.
Generally, a printer and an information processing device are connected via a fixed type communication interface. In each device, an open-collector type interface circuit or totem-pole type interface circuit is fixedly provided, and it is impossible to select an interface circuit in accordance with the specification of communication destination device.
However, in a case where a device has only an open-collector type interface circuit, even if another device as a communication destination uses a totem-pole type interface, high-speed communication cannot be performed. In an open-collector type interface circuit, a transitional period where a signal level changes from a high level to a low level, and a transitional period where the signal level changes from the low level to a high level are greatly different. Especially, the transition of signal level from the low level to the high level is made very slowly.
In a case where the device has only a totem-pole type interface circuit, if the power of the communication destination device is turned off and the communication line is in short-circuit or in low-impedance status, overcurrent occurs, which consumes a large amount of electricity and may cause the interface circuit to generate heat.
There is a tendency of signal voltage swing to be complicated, since small signal voltage swing is used to increase communication speed or to save electricity. A device corresponding to only one signal voltage swing cannot handle communication with devices of various specifications. In many cases, the input characteristics of signals and the output characteristics of signals do not coincide with each other.
Further, even though the device can communicate with a high-performance device, if the device cannot communicate with existing devices, it cannot be efficiently utilized. For example, it is inconvenient that every time a new device is introduced, all the devices to be connected to the new device must be changed.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has its object to provide an electronic device which can be appropriately connected to external devices having various specifications.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an interface apparatus for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; and drive means for selecting one of a plurality of drive methods based on the selection information acquired by the acquisition means and driving the communication path.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods includes a first drive method for driving the communication path in an open-collector drive and a second drive method for driving the communication path in a totem-pole drive.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods includes a plurality of drive methods for driving the communication path with signal voltage swings different from each other.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the communication path is a communication path for bidirectional parallel interface.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the selection information is information for selecting a communication mode of communication between the external device.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an interface apparatus for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; and input means for setting a threshold value as a reference value for inputting a signal on the communication path, based on the selection information acquired by the acquisition means, and inputting information supplied from the external device via the communication path, with the threshold value as the reference value.
Preferably, the interface apparatus further comprises signal voltage-swing selection means for selecting a signal voltage swing upon driving the communication path based on the selection information acquired by the acquisition means, and the communication path is driven with the signal voltage swing selected by the voltage-swing selection means.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the input means includes: a plurality of input devices, having input terminals connected to the communication path, and employing threshold values different from each other; and a selection device for selectively inputting a signal on any of output terminals of the input devices, based on the selection information.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the selection information is information for selecting a communication mode of communication between the external device.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an interface apparatus for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; drive means for selecting any of a plurality of drive methods based on the selection information acquired by the acquisition means, and driving the communication path; and input means for setting a threshold value as a reference value for inputting a signal on the communication path, based on the selection information acquired by the acquisition means, and inputting information supplied from the external device via the communication path, with the threshold value as the reference value.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods includes a first drive method for driving the communication path in an open-collector drive and a second drive method for driving the communication path in a totem-pole drive.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods includes a plurality of drive methods for driving the communication path with signal voltage swings different from each other.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the input means includes: a plurality of input devices, having input terminals connected to the communication path, and employing threshold values different from each other; and a selection device for selectively inputting a signal on any of output terminals of the input devices, based on the selection information.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, wherein the communication path is a communication path for bidirectional parallel interface.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the selection information is information for selecting a communication mode of communication between the external device.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an interface apparatus for connecting a plurality of devices via a communication path, comprising: selection-information supply means for supplying selection information from one device to another device via the communication path; and selection means for selecting one of a plurality of drive methods for driving the communication path from the side of the other device, based on the selection information supplied by the selection-information supply means, wherein transmission and reception of information between the devices is performed by driving the communication path in the drive method selected by the selection means.
Preferably, the interface apparatus further comprises setting means for setting a drive method for driving the communication path in correspondence with the selection information, on the side of the one device.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods, selectable by the selection means, includes a first drive method for driving the communication path in an open-collector drive and a second drive method for driving the communication path in a totem-pole drive.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the plurality of drive methods includes a plurality of drive methods for driving the communication path with signal voltage swings different from each other.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the communication path is a communication path for bidirectional parallel interface.
Preferably, in the interface apparatus, the selection information is information for selecting a communication mode of communication between the external device.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an interface apparatus for connecting a plurality of devices via a communication path, comprising: selection-information supply means for supplying selection information from one device to another device via the communication path; and selection means for selecting one of a plurality of threshold values as a reference value for inputting a signal on the communication path, based on the selection information supplied by the selection-information supply means, on the side of the other device.
Preferably, the interface apparatus further comprises setting means for setting one of the plurality of threshold values as the reference value for inputting the signal on the communication path in correspondence with the selection information, on the side of the one device.
Preferably, the interface apparatus further comprises means for driving the communication path with a signal voltage swing corresponding to the selection information, from the side of the one device; and means for driving the communication path with a signal voltage swing corresponding to the selection information, from the side of the other device.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image output apparatus, comprising: an interface apparatus having the above construction; and image formation means for forming an image based on information inputted by the interface apparatus.
Preferably, in the image output apparatus, the image formation means forms the image by an electrophotographic method.
Preferably, in the image output apparatus, the image formation means forms the image in an ink-jet method.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a method of negotiating for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; and a determination step of determining one of a plurality of drive methods as a drive method for driving the communication path, based on the selection information acquired at the acquisition step.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a method of negotiating for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; and a determination step of determining a threshold value as a reference value for inputting a signal on the communication path, based on the selection information acquired at the acquisition step.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a method of negotiating for transmitting and receiving information with an external device via a communication path, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring selection information supplied from the external device via the communication path; a drive-method determination step of determining one of a plurality of drive methods as a drive method for driving the communication path; and a threshold-value determination step of determining a threshold value as a reference value for inputting a signal on the communication path, based on the selection information acquired at the acquisition step.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same name or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Interface apparatus and method, and image output apparatus having interface apparatus


A heat pump for a vehicle includes a compressor helically wound with two pairs of concentric tubes forming the condenser and evaporator. One of the tubes of each pair is in fluid communication with glycol solution used as a heat transfer medium, and the other communicates the refrigerant. The first pair of concentric tubes operates as the condenser and produces condensed refrigerant to an expansion device. The evaporator comprises the second pair of concentric tubes and receives the expanded refrigerant for evaporating same. The glycol solution is communicated to air coupled heat exchangers to heat or cool the passenger compartment, depending on the vehicle mode.

Passenger compartment heating and cooling are provided in most automobiles. In internal combustion engines of automobiles, an engine driven compressor runs a vapor compression air conditioning system for summer operation. In the winter, waste heat of combustion is used for heating the passenger compartment. In future vehicles designed to decrease automobile emissions, the source of propulsion energy is commonly an electric storage device, such as a battery. The amount of energy that can be stored in the currently available battery is limited, therefore there is a need to minimize the use of stored energy for other uses such as passenger thermal comfort.
Present air conditioning systems in vehicles are air-coupled, i.e., the condenser is cooled by air and the evaporator is heated by air. Because the passenger compartment needs to be heated in the winter and cooled in the summer, the heat exchanger located in a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) module should operate as an evaporator in the summer and a condenser in the winter. Similarly, the heat exchanger located at the front end should operate as an evaporator in the winter and a condenser in the summer. This necessitates the reversal of the flow of refrigerants through the system. Furthermore, due to the close coupling of the refrigerant circuit and the respective air streams, there is no flexibility in the location of the heat exchangers. In other words, one of the refrigerant heat exchangers must necessarily be at the front end to interact with ram air, while the other must be in the HVAC module.
Electronic heat exchange systems are known outside of the application of vehicles. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,056 issued Feb. 3, 1981 in the name of Beacham. The patent discloses a heat reclaimer for a heat pump. The heat reclaimer is coiled about the condenser in heat transfer relationship therewith and absorbs heat from the compressor by circulating cooling fluid therethrough. The reclaiming circuit is connected into a fluid circulating loop which is used to supply heat to the evaporator coil of the heat pump.
German patent no. 3042983 issued Sep. 30, 1982 discloses a hot water tank for a heat pump which contains two double walled condenser coils with hot water passing through the inner tubes. Within the hot water tank, there are two condensers consisting of a double walled tube wound into a coil. The inner tube is connected to the hot water supply line halfway up the tank and discharges through a vertical tube inside the tank with one branch connected to the top of the bottom coil and a second branch discharging into the bottom of the tank.
The problem with the prior art, is that it is not readily nor efficiently adaptable to vehicle heat exchange systems for heating and cooling a passenger compartment.

Modular nested vapor compression heat pump for automotive applications


An approach is provided for providing criticality based data backup. A data backup platform determines one or more state trajectories associated with one or more information management processes operating on at least one information space. The data backup platform further processes and/or facilitates a processing of the one or more state trajectories to determine criticality information associated with one or more data items of the at least one information space. The data backup platform also determines (a) one or more data backup processes, (b) one or more data restoration processes, (c) one or more parameters for the one or more data backup processes, the data restoration processes, or a combination thereof, or (d) a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the criticality information.

Service providers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. These services are leading to vast amounts of data (structured and binary) which need to be managed, stored, searched, analyzed, etc. Over the last decade, the internet services have accumulated data in the range of exabytes (1016 bytes). Although most of this data is not structured in nature, however, it must be stored, searched and analyzed appropriately before any real time information can be drawn from it for providing services to the users.
In order to provide high availability of such a huge amount of data, most systems backup their entire dataset regularly and under specific conditions. In such systems, in case of the occurrence of adverse conditions, the whole dataset can be recovered (e.g. restored from the backup). However, providing backup of a total dataset is the most conservative way of ensuring data security and in any case leading to data losses, the system can always recover at least to the last state prior to the loss. However with large amounts of data, backing up exabytes or petabytes of data is no longer feasible from either cost or recovery perspective.

Method and apparatus for providing criticality based data backup


A method of and apparatus for synchronizing interactive contents. The apparatus includes a synchronized multimedia element determining unit and an application program interface (API). The synchronized multimedia element determining unit determines whether multimedia elements included in the interactive contents are synchronized with audio video (AV) contents. The API transmitting unit transmits an API corresponding to an interactive control command to an AV contents reproducing engine that reproduces the AV contents and a synchronized multimedia element reproducing engine that reproduces multimedia elements that are determined by the synchronized multimedia element determining unit to be synchronized with the AV contents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for synchronizing interactive contents, and more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for synchronizing and reproducing interactive contents.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, Internet-based markup languages allow users to handle various texts and multimedia elements and to construct web pages more dynamically and colorfully than before. Recently, it has become possible to reproduce specific audio visual (AV) contents such as digital versatile disk (DVD) contents simultaneously with a variety of multimedia elements. The widely used Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) makes it possible to produce a markup document using defined tags and attributes to reproduce AV contents and multimedia elements within the markup document, but there is no method to reproduce specific multimedia elements in synchronization with the AV contents. According to related arts, by using an Extensible Markup Language (XML) such as the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) and time attributes, the starting and ending points and the duration of time of reproduction of multimedia elements included in a browser can be handled as tags and attributes. However, a technique of controlling navigation by synchronizing reproduced contents is not available. Also, to control each element for the purpose of implementing such synchronization, numerous tags and attributes are needed, thereby complicating markup document production.

Method of and apparatus for synchronizing interactive contents


A method is provided for network identification based on high entropy data on a network which are not easily guessed or obtained outside the network, which can prevent an attacker from “spoofing” the network. A component in a client computer connected to a network may obtain over the network a network data block including device identification information of a device controlling the network. Upon parsing the network data block, such high entropy data as unique device identifiers may be obtained from the device identification information. Depending on availability of the unique device identifiers and authentication history of the client computer, different combinations of the unique device identifiers and/or other identification information may be used to generate a unique network identifier such as a network signature. The component may provide the network signature to applications within the client computer.

When a client computing system is connecting to a network (e.g., an intranet network), identification of the network is typically performed. The network identification provides information on which network the client computing system is connected to and is used by the computing system to select resources, such as, for example, applications, services and devices included in the network. Network identification is also required by various applications and services included in the client computing system, such as firewalls, which may communicate with devices external to the system differently, depending on whether the network is a secure or unsecured network.
Conventionally, network identification is based on a domain name system (DNS) suffix of a network, which may be obtained from a network device that controls the network. However, the DNS suffix can be relatively easily guessed, in which case the client computing system may become vulnerable to a "spoofing" attack. By this attack, when the client computing system is connected to an unsecured network, a secure network (e.g., a secure corporate network) may be "spoofed" by using its network identifier based on the DNS suffix to identify the unsecured network as a secure network. The client computing system may then operate as if it were connected to the secure network and a user may unknowingly take actions that may compromise the user's identity or a security of the client computing system.

Secure identification of intranet network


An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure comprising: a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of the respective tires; a rotational information memory means; a judged value calculating means for calculating judged values based on the rotational information; a judged value memory means; a transition calculating means for calculating transition of the judged values based on the stored judged values; a judging means for determining a decrease in tire air-pressure; and an alarming means for issuing preliminary alarm prior to issuing a predetermined alarm for informing decrease in internal pressure in case the judged value tends to move to exceed a predetermined threshold. It is possible to appropriately inform the driver of the vehicle of a decompressed condition of a tire for making the driver drive safely.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure capable of properly informing a decompressed condition of a tire to a driver of a vehicle such that the driver can drive safely.
It is conventionally known for a system for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure (DWS) for detecting decompression of a tire based on rotational (wheel speed) information of four wheels. Such a system is based on the theory that a rotational velocity or rotational angular velocity of a decompressed tire is increased when compared to that of other normal tires since its outer diameter (dynamic load radius of the tire) is. decreased in contrast to tires of normal internal pressure. In a method for detecting decrease in internal pressure on the basis of a relative difference of rotational angular velocities of tires (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 305011/1988), a judged value DEL is defined as follows:
DEL={(F1+F4)/2xe2x88x92(F2+F3)/2}/{(F1+F2+F3+F4)/4}xc3x97100(%)
In case the judged value exceeds a threshold which has preliminarily been properly adjusted, the driver is informed of a decrease in internal pressure. Here, F1 to F4 indicate rotational angular velocities of a front left tire, a front right tire, a rear left tire and a rear right tire, respectively. In such a method, in case the threshold is so adjusted that decompression of a tire by 30% from a normal internal pressure is surely detected, the driver is alarmed of decompression in case the internal pressure has decreased by approximately 30%.
In case adjustments are performed to detect decompression of the internal pressure of a tire by 30% in the conventional method, no information is supplied to the driver until decompression has progressed to 30%. That is, no information is given until the set threshold has been exceeded. If the driver would be informed of a decompressed condition in which the decompression gradually progresses or decompression has progressed to 20%, it can be prevented that a sudden alarm causes anxieties to the driver but the driver could perform safe driving and could accordingly arrange for repair of the tire in question.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide an apparatus and method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure capable of properly informing a decompressed condition of a tire to a driver of a vehicle such that the driver might drive safely.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, comprising: a. rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of the respective tires; a rotational information memory means for storing the rotational information of the respective tires; a judged value calculating means for calculating judged values based on the rotational information of the respective tires; a judged value memory means for storing the judged values; a transition calculating means for calculating transition of the judged values based on the stored judged values; a judging means for determining a decrease in tire air-pressure based on the judged values; and an alarming means for issuing preliminary alarm prior to issuing a predetermined alarm for informing decrease in internal pressure based on the transition of the judged values in case the judged value tends to move to exceed a predetermined threshold for determining a decrease in internal pressure.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting rotational information of the respective tires; storing the rotational information of the respective tires; calculating judged values based on the rotational information of the respective tires; storing the judged values; calculating transition of the judged values based on the stored judged values; determining a decrease in tire air-pressure based on the judged values; and issuing preliminary alarm prior to issuing a predetermined alarm for informing decrease in internal pressure based on the transition of the judged values in case the judged value tends to move to exceed a predetermined threshold for determining a decrease in internal pressure.

Apparatus and method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure


A metal pipe corrosion monitoring device includes a steam introduction unit for introducing thereinto steam flowing through a metal pipe; and a corrosion testing unit provided in the steam introduction unit, characterized in that the steam introduction unit is configured to generate condensed water by condensing some of the steam to create a simulated environment similar to an actual environment in the metal pipe and discharge the condensed water above a predetermined water level to the outside. The corrosion testing unit has one or more contact members that contact with a water line region around a water surface of the condensed water in the steam introduction unit, a water phase region on a condensed water side and a vapor phase region on a steam side, and is configured to be able to measure an electric resistance of the one or more contact members.

In a boiler generating steam, softened water or ion-exchange water is used as boiler water. According to circumstances, raw water (tap water, industrial water, underground water, river water, lake water, pond water, or the like) is used.
In a boiler steam and condensate system including such a boiler and a metal pipe (for example, a ferrous metal pipe) for distributing steam from the boiler, the steam generated by the boiler cools to be condensed water inside the metal pipe. In the case of condensed water having a higher carbonic acid concentration, the pH thereof decreases to facilitate progression of corrosion of an inside surface of the metal pipe. Progression of corrosion causes metal-loss in the metal pipe, which may lead to a through hole, a crack, and the like.
As Conventional Art 1 to monitor such corrosion of a metal pipe, there has been proposed a method of monitoring corrosion progression in a test piece placed in a test column formed of a transparent material (see Patent Document 1, for example). The method evaluates the corrosion state in a boiler condensate system by passing boiler condensate through the test column containing the test piece, and determining the state of the test piece based on external observation and the corrosion rate.
As Conventional Art 2 to monitor corrosion of a metal pipe, there has been proposed a method by using a boiler condensate system corrosion monitoring device according to an electric resistance method (see Patent Document 2, for example). The method uses a boiler condensate system corrosion monitoring device including a heat exchanger for cooling steam discharged from a boiler into condensed water, a test column to be completely filled with the condensed water and a super-fine metal wire placed in the test column. The method measures the electric resistance of the super-fine metal wire in the test column and evaluates the corrosion state in a boiler condensate system based on an electric resistance change.

Metal pipe corrosion monitoring device and use thereof


The present invention relates to norbornene-ester-based derivatives, to a method for preparing same, and to the uses thereof. This compound may be used as a plasticizer which can replace a phthalate-based plasticizer.

Norbornene, which is a bridged six-membered carbon ring with a double bond at one side thereof, exhibits high reactivity because of the double bond and may thus be applied not only to optical materials, such as optical fibers, CD-ROMs and optical lenses but also to modified polymer materials, etc., and is thereby regarded as highly useful. In particular, polynorbornene known as a shape memory polymer resulting from polymerizing norbornene is efficiently utilized in medical machines, vehicle parts and living goods.
Meanwhile, a plasticizer added to products is a liquid or solid material which decreases the melting temperature and melting viscosity of rubber and plastics to increase processability and flexibility. A good plasticizer has low volatility, stability in heat and cold, flexibility at low temperature, high miscibility with rubber and plastics, and low efflux. In addition, a plasticizer is used to improve functions including electrical insulation properties, adhesion, cold resistance, etc. Currently, a plasticizer is mainly added to synthetic resin.
A phthalate-based plasticizer, including dioctyl phthalate (DOP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), etc., an adipate-based plasticizer, including dioctyl adipate (DOA), diisononyl adipate (DINA), etc., a fatty acid-based plasticizer, a phosphoric acid-based plasticizer, and a polyester-based plasticizer have been used. Particularly useful as the plasticizer is DOP which constitutes 72% of domestic plasticizer production.
DOP which started to be used in the 1930s is synthesized from phthalic acid and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, and is very effective at increasing the processability of polyvinyl chloride resin. However, three kinds of phthalate-based plasticizers, including DOP, DBP and BBP, are indicated as suspected endocrine disrupters. The phthalate-based plasticizer was proven to have carcinogenicity, mutation-causing toxicity, and reproduction toxicity by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment of the EU, 2005, and thus the use thereof was banned.
In Korea, the phthalate-based plasticizer is classified as an environmental hormone material and thus the application thereof to all plastic toys and children's products has been banned from 2006. Because of the harmfulness of the phthalate-based plasticizer, the development of an eco-friendly plasticizer which can replace such a phthalate-based plasticizer is required.

Norbornene-ester-based derivative, method for preparing same, and uses thereof

Sangmyung University Seoul Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology


The present disclosure proposes a language generation method and apparatus. The method includes: performing encoding processing on an input sequence by using a preset encoder to generate a hidden state vector corresponding to the input sequence; in response to a granularity category of a second target segment being a phrase, decoding a first target segment vector, the hidden state vector, and a position vector corresponding to the second target segment by using N decoders to generate N second target segments; determining a loss value based on differences between respective N second target segments and a second target annotated segment; and performing parameter updating on the preset encoder, a preset classifier, and the N decoders based on the loss value to generate an updated language generation model for performing language generation.

In natural language generation technologies, a deep neural network may be used to perform self-supervised learning on a great amount of unsupervised data to generate a pre-trained model. In a specific language generation task, fine-tuning may be performed on parameters of the pre-trained model based on supervised training data of the task. And then, transfer learning may be performed on the pre-trained model to generate a language generation model for the task.

Language generation method and apparatus, electronic device and storage medium

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A microcontroller that provides an environment to run processes developed to run on several prior or low end generation machines with the independent register, status and data space needed for execution, that is, the resources of the microcontroller are a superset of the resources of the prior generation machine. The ability to limit one process from accessing the data space of another independent process is provided by data space segmentation controlled by upper order address bits not accessible by the independent processes. The separate workspaces are configured substantially like a workspace of a prior or low end generation machine allowing the microcontroller to perform the tasks of several independent prior or low end generation machines working in concert.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to providing a microcontroller system that is capable of performing tasks of several prior generation machines working in concert and, more particularly, to a single microcontroller that can multitask several different and independent programs of a prior or low end generation machine with the programs working in concert and as if running on physically different prior generation machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
To remain competitive in today's microcontroller market designers are being called upon to produce microcontrollers that are faster, more complex and which have a larger memory space. However, customers generally have a significant investment in programs written for smaller, less complex and slower low end and prior generation microcontrollers. As a result, there is a need for later or high end generations of microcontrollers to be able to execute the programs of the prior generation and yet not waste the improved capabilities of the current generation machine.
What is needed is a microcontroller that can execute programs running on several prior or low end generation machines without degrading the performance of the programs, as if they were running on physically separate machines and while protecting the independent integrity of the programs.

Microcontroller system for performing operations of multiple microcontrollers

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


The present invention provides a small electrical motor, coupled to the snow plow of a UTV or ATV via a mechanism which allows the plow blade to move in response to unexpected spikes in load. In one embodiment, a braking system is used to absorb the load force. In a second embodiment, a set of pulleys is used in conjunction with a belt, such that the belt will slip in the presence of excessive force. In a third embodiment, a rack and pinion mechanism is used in combination with a spring element to absorb the excessive load.

Conventionally, pickup trucks have been used to serve many functions, such as carrying cargo, pulling heavy loads, and plowing snow. While these trucks are versatile and can handle a large number of heavy-duty tasks, they are not without their disadvantages. In some instances, the truck may be physically too large for the area in which it is intended, such as the inside of a warehouse. These pickup trucks also tend to be expensive. For those applications where the functionality of a light-duty pickup is required, but the cost makes them impractical, many are looking to new categories of vehicles. In certain situations, professional grade All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are employed. For example, the bed of an ATV can be loaded with cinder blocks for transportation to the location at a building site where they are needed. Another class of vehicles has also emerged, known as Utility Vehicles (UTVs), which are larger than traditional ATVs, but still much smaller than pickup trucks. These vehicles are intended for towing, carrying cargo and plowing, although they do not have the power capabilities of the larger trucks. UTVs are typically used by golf courses, refineries, utilities, municipalities, and construction companies.
While utilitarian, there are disadvantages in using either ATVs or UTVs. Specifically, these vehicles have far less power than ordinary pickup trucks. For example, the engine of an exemplary UTV delivers 30 horsepower, as compared to over 200 HP for a typical pickup truck, limiting the UTVs to lower maximum payloads and lower towing capacities. The electrical systems of UTVs and ATVs are also inferior in terms of power capability. The alternator of a typically pickup truck is capable of delivering 130 amps, allowing it to supply energy to high-power external attachments, such as winches, hydraulic snow plows, and the like. However, the alternators for traditional ATVs and UTVs are capable of delivering only about 15-40 amps. This difference in electrical power restricts the usage of these high-power attachments on smaller vehicles. For example, the snow plows on a pickup truck are typically controlled via hydraulic cylinders, allowing the operator to move the blade from left to right, as well as elevate it. The motors used in these plow systems typically draw in excess of 100 Amps while the plow blade is being positioned. While the alternator in a typically pickup truck can readily supply this power, this energy load would quickly drain the battery and electrical system of the smaller ATVs and UTVs.
More importantly, cost is a major consideration for any attachment that is to be used with an ATV or UTV. These vehicles cost significantly less than a conventional truck. Therefore, it is impractical for the accessories for an ATV to be as expensive as those for a truck. Specifically, hydraulic systems, such as those used for powered snow plow blade, while acceptable for use with conventional trucks, are far too expensive to use with a much lower priced vehicle. Consequently, most accessories that are currently available for these smaller vehicles are controlled manually, thereby removing a significant source of cost.
Hydraulic systems have traditionally been used for snow plows for several reasons. First, the hydraulic pressure system is capable of lifting and moving the heavy weight of the plow. Second, once the plow blade has been adjusted into position, the system uses minimal power to hold it in place, since the fluid pressure in the pistons helps to hold the blade in place. Lastly, hydraulic systems are able to adapt to unexpected spikes in load. Assume, for example, a snow plow blade has been set into position, and the left side of the blade encounters an excessive load, such as a curb or large rock. This load compresses the fluid in the piston that is holding the left side of the blade in place. Once that load exceeds a threshold value, the fluid will be forced out of the piston and back into the reservoir. This removal of fluid from the left piston allows the plow blade to turn toward the excessive load, without damage to the rest of the system. Without such a mechanism, plow systems would be seriously damaged whenever a curb, pothole, or other stationary object is encountered.
The low output power of UTVs and ATVs makes hydraulic systems impractical. Furthermore, the cost of a hydraulic system is a far higher percentage of the cost of the vehicle, which makes their use in this application impractical. Consequently, the snow plow systems used for most small vehicles, such as ATVs and UTVs, are manual, requiring the operator to manually lift and adjust the position of the blade, typically by using a bolt to set the proper angle and height of the blade. To address the issue of excessive loads, many manufacturers use pins or bolts purposely designed to shear off when they encounter too much force.
As ATVs and UTVs become more popular, it is desirable to be able to offer plow functionality similar to that available for conventional pickup trucks, while being mindful of the lower power and cost parameters associated with these vehicles.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow these vehicles, despite their lower electrical output, to be equipped with fully powered snow plows, capable of having their blade angle remotely adjusted. It is a further object of the present invention to allow this powered system to be able to withstand unexpected excessive spikes in load, caused by unseen or unexpected objects that may be encountered.

Electro-mechanical power angle snow plow


The present invention relates to novel fluorosilicone block copolymers and to a method for their preparation. More specifically, the present invention relates to fluorosilicone block copolymers that are composed of poly(perfluoroalkylmethylsiloxane) and polydimethylsiloxane chains and also to a method for the preparation of these fluorosilicone block copolymers.

The present invention relates to novel fluorosilicone block copolymers and to a method for their preparation. More specifically, the present invention relates to fluorosilicone block copolymers that are composed of poly(perfluoroalkylmethylsiloxane) and polydimethylsiloxane chains and also to a method for the preparation of these fluorosilicone block copolymers.
Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) Number Sho 55-50056 (50,056/1980) discloses a polyorganosiloxane copolymer that is prepared by the polymerization of siloxane cyclics (Me.sub.2 Si O).sub.X with the cyclic trisiloxane (CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.4 SiMeO).sub.3 in the presence of potassium hydroxide; however, this polyorganosiloxane copolymer is a random copolymer. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open (Kokai) Number Sho 51-134796 (134,796/1976) discloses a method in which a mixture of the cyclic trisiloxane (CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.4 SiMeO).sub.3 and the cyclic trisiloxane (Me.sub.2 SiO).sub.X is copolymerized using alkyllithium catalyst. But here again, this method still does not afford an AB nor an ABA fluorosilicone block copolymer (A=poly(perfluoroalkylmethylsiloxane) chain, B=polydimethylsiloxane chain).
The present invention takes as its objects the introduction of novel AB and ABA fluorosilicone block copolymers in which A is a poly(perfluoroalkylmethylsiloxane) chain and B is a polydimethylsiloxane chain as well as the introduction of a method for the synthesis of these novel fluorosilicone block copolymers. A further object of the present invention is the introduction of a method for the preparation of fluorosilicone block copolymer whereby the fluorosilicone block copolymer is obtained by a one-pot synthesis from cyclic trisiloxanes.
The fluorosilicone block copolymers of the present invention as described herein are novel polymers with an AB or ABA fluorosilicone block copolymer structure in which A is the poly(perfluoroalkylmethylsiloxane) chain and B is the polydimethylsiloxane chain. These novel polymers are useful as compatibilizers for silicone rubber blends. For example, they are useful as compatibilizers in the preparation of dimethylsilicone rubber/fluorosilicone rubber mixtures, dimethylsilicone rubber/fluororubber mixtures, and fluorosilicone rubber/fluororubber mixtures.


A web data analysis system, computer software product, and method of operation thereof, that uses Internet based data sources, and which operates in an automated manner to collect weighted visitor behavior statistics, and consolidate collected data into a single qualification score to accompany and supplement the entry of web site visitor information for printing, distribution or entry into a sales, prospect or contact management system.

In the rapidly expanding field of e-commerce web sites are increasingly being used as a method of attracting and capturing information from prospects for business. The web site is created on and accessed from a server.
For example, a customer looking to purchase a particular product or service may go to a search engine and enter the name of the product or a company. The search engine will then provide links to web sites where the product may be purchased.
Often web sites include multiple pages which may be linked from a home page which first greets a visitor. The web site will provided some level of interactivity, at a minimum providing forms which can be utilized
A common technique for receiving customer information is the use of CGI forms. A CGI form is displayed on the customer's computer by a browser application; the customer fills in data, and then submits the form. Software on the server processes the submitted data and takes appropriate action, for example a response page may be sent to the consumer confirming a transaction or asking for new information.
Other technologies for providing interaction with a web site include AJAX or FLASH which provides for server-client communications without refreshing a web page being presented by the browser.

Consolidating web visitor behavior statistics for sales prospect qualification