Systems and methods for segmenting surgical videos are disclosed. One example method includes receiving, by a processor of a computing device, surgical video, the surgical video comprising at least a sequence of video frames of a surgical procedure; in response to receiving an identification of a video frame, generating, by the processor, a bookmark based on the video frame; associating, by the processor, the bookmark with the video frame; and storing, by the processor, the bookmark in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Robotic or computer assisted surgery uses robotic systems to aid in surgical procedures. Robotic surgery was developed as a way to overcome limitations (e.g., spatial constraints associated with a surgeon's hands, inherent shakiness of human movements, and inconsistency in human work product, etc.) of pre-existing surgical procedures. In recent years, the field has advanced greatly to limit the size of incisions, and reduce patient recovery time.
In the case of open surgery, robotically controlled instruments may replace traditional tools to perform surgical motions. Feedback controlled motions may allow for smoother surgical steps than those performed by humans. For example, using a surgical robot for a step such as rib spreading, may result in less damage to the patient's tissue than if the step were performed by a surgeon's hand. Additionally, surgical robots can reduce the amount of time in the operating room by requiring fewer steps to complete a procedure.
However, robotic surgery may still suffer from limitations associated with conventional surgery. For example, surgeons may still need to review surgical videos in order to become comfortable with a procedure. And it may take days or weeks before the surgeon views enough footage in order to become proficient with a particular type of surgery.


In an OCT apparatus for obtaining a tomogram using optical interference between signal light and reference light, a first distance between a specific image and a coherence gate is obtained from a first tomogram obtained by imaging. The coherence gate is moved by a set moving distance along a predetermined moving direction. The positional relationship between the specific image and the coherence gate is determined based on the position of the specific image in a second tomogram obtained by imaging after movement of the coherence gate and the position of the specific image in the first tomogram.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an OCT apparatus for obtaining a tomogram by optical interference and a method of controlling the same.
Description of the Related Art
Various apparatuses are used at present as ophthalmic apparatuses using optical apparatuses. For example, various apparatuses such as a camera for anterior ocular segment, a fundus camera, and an SLO (Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope) are used as optical apparatuses for observing an eye. In particular, an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) apparatus (to be referred to as an OCT apparatus hereinafter) is an apparatus for obtaining a tomogram of a sample at a high resolution, and is becoming indispensable as an ophthalmic apparatus in a specialty outpatient clinic for retina.
The OCT apparatus divides low-coherence light into reference light and observation light, irradiates a sample with the observation light, and uses interference between the reference light and reflected light from the sample, thereby forming an image in the observation light direction. The OCT apparatus scans the low-coherence light on the sample, thereby obtaining a tomogram of a section at a high resolution along the scan direction. For example, the OCT apparatus can capture a tomogram of the retina on the fundus of an eye to be inspected at a high resolution, and is widely used in ophthalmic diagnosis of retina and the like.
As a retinal tomogram obtained by the OCT apparatus, a scan called B scan is generally used. In the B scan, a scan in the retinal depth direction (Z direction) called A scan is performed a plurality of times while moving in the X direction, thereby obtaining a tomogram. The B scan allows a user to observe the internal state of the retina, as compared to an image of a conventional fundus camera or the like. It is therefore possible to obtain an image effective for observing a lesion in the retina such as macular degeneration or a macular hole in particular.
In imaging by the OCT apparatus, there exists a coherence gate that is a position where the reference light path and the observation light path have the same length. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2008-154939 and 2008-154941 disclose a technique of adjusting an image position or signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio) in an OCT image by adjusting the coherence gate position.
An OCT image has the origin at the coherence gate position and forms a tomogram by obtaining the values of the distance and reflection intensity. Hence, for example, when a retinal tomogram in a case where the coherence gate is located on the vitreous side with respect to the retina is defined as a normal image, a tomogram obtained in a case where the coherence gate is located on the choroid side with respect to the retina is a reverse image.
In addition, the reflection intensity (interference light intensity) of an image is the highest at the coherence gate position and lowers as the distance increases (called roll-off). For this reason, to obtain information of a retinal surface such as a nerve fiber layer concerning glaucoma, an OCT image is preferably obtained by placing the coherence gate on the upper retinal surface (vitreous side). On the other hand, to obtain information near a pigment epithelium layer concerning age-rated macular degeneration or the like, an OCT image is preferably obtained by placing the coherence gate on the lower retinal surface (choroid side). As described above, it is important in OCT imaging to determine whether the coherence gate is located on the vitreous side or choroid side with respect to the retina.

OCT apparatus and method of controlling the same


A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing tub configured to store a processing liquid therein; a processing liquid supply configured to supply the processing liquid into the processing tub; a processing liquid drain device configured to drain the processing liquid from the processing tub; and a controller configured to control the processing liquid supply and the processing liquid drain device. The controller calculates, in response to an instruction to change a concentration of a preset component of the processing liquid stored in the processing tub, a drain amount and a feed amount of the processing liquid from/into the processing tub based on information upon a current concentration of the preset component, information upon a concentration increment thereof per unit time and information upon the changed concentration thereof, and controls the processing liquid supply and the processing liquid drain device based on the calculation result.

Patent Document 1 describes a substrate liquid processing apparatus configured to circulate a processing liquid for processing a substrate in a processing liquid circulator and measure, with a concentration sensor, a concentration of the processing liquid discharged from a processing liquid drain device which is branched from the processing liquid circulator.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2016-143684

Substrate liquid processing apparatus, substrate liquid processing method and recording medium


The present disclosure pertains to an assembly for a drug delivery device having a housing part, a piston rod displaceable relative to the housing part, a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member. First and second sleeve members are coupled to the housing part. In an initial state of the assembly the first sleeve member is movable from an initial position to a second position relative to the second sleeve member which allows the piston rod to axially travel from an initial position to a predetermined second position such that the assembly is in a primed state. Moreover, in the primed state of the assembly, with the first sleeve member being in the second position relative to the second sleeve member, first and second sleeve members are permanently rotationally and axially locked to each other by a first engagement feature such that first and second sleeve members together form a sleeve.

Drug delivery devices have become widespread in the field of medical treatment where regular injection of a medicament by persons without formal medical training occurs. For example, this may be increasingly common among patients having diabetes where self-treatment enables such patients to conduct effective management of their disease.
There are different types of drug delivery devices. On the one hand, one can differentiate between resettable devices which are reusable and non-resettable devices which are disposable. For example, the disposable delivery devices are supplied as self-contained devices. Such self-contained devices do not have removable pre-filled cartridges. Rather, the pre-filled cartridges may not be removed and replaced from these devices without destroying the device itself.
On the other hand, one can differentiate between so-called fixed dose devices which only allow dispensing of a predefined dose without the possibility to increase or decrease the set dose and so-called variable dose devices which allow a user to individually select and dispense a number of user variable doses of a medicament. In general, all these types of delivery devices can be pen-shaped.
The drug delivery devices as explained above generally comprise several primary elements, for example a cartridge section that includes a cartridge which can be contained within a housing or holder, a needle assembly connected to one end of the cartridge section, and an additional assembly which may enable dialing and/or delivery of a dose of a medicament. The latter assembly can be connected to the end of the cartridge section which is located away from the needle assembly. A cartridge (often referred to as an ampoule) typically includes a reservoir that is filled with a medication (for example insulin), a movable bung or piston or stopper located at one end of the cartridge reservoir, and a top having a pierceable seal or sheath located at the other, often necked-down end.
The assembly for dialing and/or delivering a dose of a medicament may comprise a housing part and a piston rod or lead screw which is displaceable relative to the housing part. The piston rod is designed to push the bung or stopper of the cartridge in a direction to an outlet of the cartridge such that the medication can be expelled out of the device and delivered to a patient. In an initial state, for example a supplied state of the device, there can be a certain gap or clearance between the end of the piston rod and the bung of the cartridge when these parts are assembled. For example, the mentioned gap can be a consequence of tolerances associated with all or many of the assembled parts and/or the desire not to pre-load the bung of the cartridge in the assembled state of the device. The latter fact would have the consequence that medication might be unintentionally expelled out of the device.
A gap between the end of the piston rod and the cartridge bung can have several disadvantages. One disadvantage may arise if a user takes the device for the first time for an intended injection of a predetermined dose of a medicament. The actual dose received will then be equal to the predetermined dose less the initial air gap between the piston rod and the bung. For example, this air gap is typically equivalent to a loss of between 0 and 0.14 ml on the first dose. For many drugs, this discrepancy can be significant and is well outside the allowable dose accuracy limits. At present, it is conventional use, therefore, for the user to be instructed to perform a so-called "air shot" which means that the user has to operate the device for the first time without injecting the medication into his body but in the air until the gap between the piston rod and the bung is traversed and fluid may begin to be ejected.
This course of action has the additional disadvantage that expensive medication potentially has to be discarded before the user may take the first injection of the medicament. This may result in rising costs for the medication and/or the drug delivery device.
It is, therefore, an object to describe an assembly for a drug delivery device as well as a drug delivery device with such an assembly which are designed so that the gap between the piston rod and the cartridge bung can be removed (transition from an initial state to a primed state) before a first dose of a medicament is injected.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Assembly for a drug delivery device and drug delivery device with such an assembly


An interface for a bus test instrument is readily adaptable for testing a wide range of bus types. The interface includes a pair of transmit lines and a pair of receive lines. A transmitting circuit is adaptable for transmitting either single-ended or differential signals over the transmit lines, and at least one receiving circuit is adaptable for receiving either single-ended or differential signals from either the receive lines or the transmit lines. The flexible interface allows the testing of single-ended and differential busses, as well as busses that support both unidirectional and bidirectional communication.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to equipment for testing electronic devices and busses, and, more particularly, to test equipment that is adaptable for testing devices and digital busses covering a wide range of bus interface specifications.
2. Description of Related Art
The military and the commercial sector commonly employ digital busses for controlling electronic systems. Different types of busses are used in different applications. For instance, commercial aircraft commonly use ARINC 429 busses for avionics systems, while the military commonly uses MIL-STD-1553 busses for controlling aircraft and weapons systems. The commercial sector commonly uses RS-232 busses for computer applications. In addition, military and commercial entities often develop custom busses, with proprietary interface specifications and protocols, for enabling communication among different elements of in-house systems.
Manufacturers of devices for digital busses often use automatic test equipment (ATE) to verify device performance. Customarily, this test equipment is designed specifically for a particular bus type. For instance, specialized ARINC 429 instruments are employed for testing ARINC 429 devices, whereas specialized MIL-STD-1553 instruments are used for testing 1553 devices. Manufacturers of proprietary busses often develop custom test equipment for testing their custom bus devices. Alternatively, they may adapt general-purpose digital test equipment to suit their particular testing needs.
The specialization in bus test equipment is attributable in part to the fact that interface specifications for different bus types vary widely. Different busses can operate at different frequencies, edge speeds, and/or voltage levels. Busses can be unidirectional or bidirectional, single-ended or differential. Some busses provide handshaking and/or clock lines; some do not.
Despite these differences, we have recognized that the testing problems posed by digital busses are essentially similar across different types of busses, and that manufacturers could benefit from a more universal approach to bus testing.


A nuclear medicine imaging system is disclosed that includes a detector including a plurality of silicon strip sensor arrays surrounding a scintillator. In some embodiments, strip detectors can be provided that can lead to significant cost benefits as compared to existing detectors, such as existing nuclear detectors. The preferred embodiments may be applied in nuclear medical cameras, while other embodiments may be applied in other radiation applications, whether medical or non-medical applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to, inter alia, medical imaging systems, and, in particular, to detectors for gamma cameras of nuclear medicine imaging systems and/or the like. More particularly, some preferred embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatuses related to counting of photon detections nuclear medicine imaging systems.
2. Background Discussion
A variety of medical imaging systems are known. Some illustrative imaging systems include nuclear medical imaging systems (e.g., gamma cameras), computed tomography (CT or CAT) systems, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, positron-emission tomography (PET) systems, ultrasound systems and/or the like.
With respect to nuclear medical imaging systems, nuclear medicine is a unique medical specialty wherein radiation (e.g., gamma radiation) is used to acquire images that show, e.g., the function and/or anatomy of organs, bones and/or tissues of the body. Typically, radioactive compounds, called radiopharmaceuticals or tracers, are introduced into the body, either by injection or ingestion, and are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues of interest. These radiopharmaceuticals produce gamma photon emissions that emanate from the body and are captured by a scintillation crystal, with which the photons interact to produce flashes of light or "events." These events can be detected by, e.g., an array of photo-detectors, such as photomultiplier tubes, and their spatial locations or positions can be calculated and stored. In this manner, an image of an organ, tissue or the like under study can be created from the detection of the distribution of the radioisotopes in the body. Typically, one or more detectors are used to detect the emitted gamma photons, and the information collected from the detector(s) is processed to calculate the position of origin of the emitted photon from the source (i.e., the body organ or tissue under study). The accumulation of a large number of emitted gamma positions allows an image of the organ or tissue under study to be displayed.
FIG. 5 depicts components of a typical nuclear medical imaging system 100 (i.e., having a gamma camera or a scintillation camera) which includes a gantry 102 supporting one or more detectors 108 enclosed within a metal housing and movably supported proximate a patient 106 located on a patient support (e.g., pallet) 104. Typically, the positions of the detectors 108 can be changed to a variety of orientations to obtain images of a patient's body from various directions. In many instances, a data acquisition console 200 (e.g., with a user interface and/or display) is located proximate a patient during use for a technologist 107 to manipulate during data acquisition. In addition to the data acquisition console 200, images are often developed via a processing computer system which is operated at another image processing computer console including, e.g., an operator interface and a display, which may often be located in another room, to develop images. By way of example, the image acquisition data may, in some instances, be transmitted to the processing computer system after acquisition using the acquisition console.
Nuclear medicine imaging typically involves the assessment of a radionuclide distribution within a patient after the in vivo administration of radiopharmaceuticals. Imaging systems that assess radionuclide distribution include radiation detectors and acquisition electronics. Typically, the imaging systems detect x-ray or gamma ray photons derived from the administered radionuclides. Single photon emission imaging and coincidence imaging are two forms of nuclear medicine imaging that are currently in common use. In single photon emission imaging, the radionuclide itself directly emits the radiation to be assessed. For example, in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), γ-emitting radionuclides such as 99mTc, 123I, 67Ga and 111In may be part of the administered radiopharmaceutical.
Detectors used in such single photon emission imaging often use collimators placed between the patient and the gamma ray camera of the detector. In general, the collimators help to eliminate substantially all photons but those photons traveling in a desired direction. For example, a parallel hole collimator helps to eliminate photons traveling in all directions except those almost perpendicular to the surface of the detector. The energy of emitted photons as well as their location of origin may then be accumulated until a satisfactory image is obtained.
Coincidence imaging helps to eliminate the need for such a collimator by relying on the detection of two photons at different detectors at nearly the same time. An example of coincidence imaging in current clinical use is Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
Typically, radiation detectors used in nuclear medicine imaging need to absorb x- or gamma-ray photons in an energy range typically between 1 keV and several MeV. These imaging photons are the photons either directly emitted or resulting from radionuclides within a patient. In order to stop imaging photons of these energies with a collimator in SPECT imaging, a material with a high density and a high atomic number (Z) is necessary. Lead is the most common material used for collimators, but other materials such as, e.g., tungsten may also be used.
Typically, in radiology, detectors used clinically only integrate the energy deposited by a beam. However, a new generation of detectors for digital radiography and computed tomography (CT) can obtain extra information by counting individual photons and measuring their energy.
With respect to scintillators, a variety of scintillators are known. For example, scintillators include, e.g., continuous single slab, pixilated and/or columnar grow crystals. As for radionuclide imagers with pixilated radiation detector elements, typically cadmium zinc telluride ("CZT") crystals have recently been developed. In these pixilated radionuclide imagers, the intrinsic spatial resolution is defined by the size of the individual pixilated detector elements, rather than the separation between collimator holes. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,672, assigned to the present assignee, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. With respect to the use of CZT as a solid state (i.e., semiconductor) detector material, as a single photon detector, CZT is typically superior to Nal in several performance parameters. Among other things, the count rate capability for CZT detectors is virtually unlimited as compared to a typical scintillator crystal, because each pixel (or picture element) of the CZT material can act as an independent detector. Thus, unlike a typical scintillator crystal, in which two events occurring very close in time and spatial location will produce overlapping light output, two gamma photons arriving at exactly the same time in adjacent pixels of a CZT detector could be independently detected and measured accurately with respect to energy, given an optimum electronic circuitry design.
A few background references, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference as though recited herein in full, are listed below for reference.                1) T. E. Peterson, D. W. Wilson, H. H. Barrett, A Small-Animal Imaging System Based on Silicon Strip Detectors, IEEE medical imaging conference, pp. 533-536 (2002).        2) E. Beuville, et. al., High Resolution X-Ray Imaging Using a Silicon Strip Detector, IEEE trans. Nucl. Sci. Vol. 45 No 5, pp. 3059 (1998).        3) M. G. Scannavini, et. al., Design of a Small Laboratory Compton Camera for the Imaging of Positron Emitters, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. Vol. 47 no. 3, pp. 1155-1162 (June 2000).
While a variety of background technologies exist, there is a continued need in the art for improved systems and methods.

Strip photon counting detector for nuclear medicine


An apparatus is disclosed for a mobile terminal comprising an antenna, a printed circuit board installed in a terminal body and an antenna receiving portion formed on one side of the terminal body for mounting the antenna. The antenna is slidably-inserted in the antenna receiving portion to elastically and electrically couple the antenna to an antenna contact portion on the printed circuit board.

Generally, a mobile terminal is a wireless communication device that allows a user, moving from one location to another, to communicate with another user. A modern mobile terminal not only transmits and receives voice but also transmits and receives information for multimedia functions. An antenna plays an important role in determining the functionality of the mobile terminal.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an antenna mounting structure of a mobile terminal in accordance with the related art. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a coupling structure between an antenna and a bushing of a related art mobile terminal.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a related art mobile terminal 10 provides a terminal body 12 including a printed circuit board 11 for inputting information and controlling communication. A folder, not shown, may be installed on the terminal body 12 for opening and closing the related art mobile terminal 10. A hinge portion, not shown, may be provided for opening and closing the folder within a specified rotational range. An antenna 15 is installed at an upper end of the terminal body 12. The antenna 15 transmits and receives a wireless communication signal.
An antenna receiving portion 16, integrally formed within the terminal body 12, protrudes from one side of the terminal body 12.
A male screw portion 15a of the antenna 15 screws in the antenna receiving portion 16. The screw portion 15a couples to a female screw portion 17a formed in a bushing 17, where the bushing 17 is formed of a metal material and installed in the terminal body 12.
A tension portion 17b is installed on an outer circumferential surface of the bushing 17. The tension portion 17b electrically connects a contact portion 11a of the printed circuit board 11 to the antenna 15.
In the related art mobile terminal 10, the bushing 17 affixes the antenna 15 to the antenna receiving portion 16. To complete assembly of the related art mobile terminal 10, the antenna 15 is required to be screw-coupled to the bushing 17, where the screw-coupling increases assembly time of the related art mobile terminal 10.
Thus, there is a need for an improved apparatus to couple an antenna to a mobile terminal.

Antenna coupling structure for a mobile terminal


The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal comprises a first body, a first key button part disposed on a front surface of the first body, a second body rotatable connected to the first body such that the second body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the first body, a display disposed on a front surface of the second body, a camera disposed on a rear surface of the first body, and a sliding cover slidably connected to the first body. When the sliding cover is in a closed state, the first key button part and the camera are covered by the sliding cover, and when the sliding cover is in an opened state, the first key button part and the camera are exposed.

Generally, a mobile terminal includes a display and a key button part located on a front surface of the mobile terminal. Because the key button part is externally exposed on the front surface of the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal is susceptible to unintended contact of the key button part, and may therefore malfunction.
The mobile terminal also includes a camera located on a rear surface thereof, for example. Accordingly, because the camera is also externally exposed, the camera is susceptible to damage due to unintended contact.
Furthermore, the mobile terminal having the camera located on the rear surface thereof is additionally problematic because it is not conducive to supporting certain types of services. For example, a service such as a video telecommunication service cannot be provided using this type of mobile terminal because the video telecommunication service requires the camera to be located on the same surface as the display (front surface, for example) in order for a user to benefit from the service.


An airborne power line detector and warning system includes a low frequency radio and antenna for detecting an AC signal of about 50 to 60 hertz. The system also includes a subsystem for producing a unique audio signal such as a series of clicks for warning a pilot that he is flying close to one or more power lines. In addition, the system includes a mute feature for muting the audio signal and replacing it with a visual signal. Finally, the system includes a gain sensor for replacing the audio signal at any time that the helicopter reduces its distance to a power line. An airborne power line detection and warning system which includes a second system or back up system is also disclosed. That system includes a GPS receiver and GIS data base to position a helicopter with respect to a power line grid and sound an alarm when the helicopter approaches a power line.

Low flying aircraft, especially helicopters, run the risk of colliding with electrical power transmission lines. These lines which are suspended from pylons, are not easy to see, and present a considerable hazard to such aircraft. One approach for detecting the proximity of a source of an alternating magnetic field, such as that emanating from a power line, is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,992 of Young, et al. As disclosed therein, the system includes a sensor coil which is sensitive to the magnetic field. Processing means are responsive to the signal induced in the coil and produce a warning signal which is indicative of the proximity of the detected magnetic field. The system also includes cancelling means for cancelling the earth's field in the region of the sensor coil. As disclosed in the patent, the sensor coil may be one of a pair which are operable to provide a signal which is representative of the directional heading of the magnetic field.
A more recent approach for warning an aircraft pilot of a potential impact with a power line is disclosed in the United States Patent of Merritt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,912. The Merritt et al. system includes an antenna for sensing the electric field associated with a power line and producing an electric field signal. The system also includes means for generating a time-to-impact signal which is representative of the time for the aircraft to reach the power line if it were to continue on its path of movement. In this system, sensors are used to determine the direction of the power lines.
It is now believed that there may be a relatively large commercial market for an airborne power line detector and warning system in accordance with the present invention. There should be a relatively large demand because such systems are highly reliable and yet relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install. The systems in accordance with the present invention are of minimal weight and size, easy to install and service, durable, and at the same time provide a clear warning to a pilot that the aircraft is flying in a vicinity which is occupied by power lines. The system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a built in back up system which operates independently of the first system and which is operable even though the power lines have been shut down. In addition to the above, it is believed that the power line detector and warning systems disclosed herein will overcome to a large degree the shortcomings of the prior devices, as will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the invention.


A portable pulse beauty treatment apparatus according to the present invention permits one to move freely while taking a desired pulse beauty treatment, thus making it unnecessary to allot a relatively long time of period exclusively to the pulse beauty treatment. A belt bag contains a control box having a pulse generator installed therein for effecting a pulse beauty treatment, and one wears the belt bag round one""s waist. An electroded union suit has bundles of wires connecting its flat electrodes to the pulse generator in the control box, thus permitting the pulse generator to supply the flat electrodes with a train of pulses via the bundles of electric wires. The control box has two pairs of electrodes provided on its opposite sides for measurement of body impedance.

The present invention relates to a pulse beauty treatment apparatus whose electric pulse supply applies a train of electric voltage pulses to selected portions of the body with the aid of electrodes, thereby electrically stimulating the body for beauty treatment.
Bioelectric current is flowing ceaselessly in the body to assist cells with their activities and muscles with their constriction.
The pulse beauty treatment apparatus can supply a train of current pulses to the body for stimulation, thereby activating cells even more and muscular contraction for improving the function of the body as the bioelectric current would do in flowing in the body. Particularly the pulse treatment has the effect of sliming one""s body.
A conventional pulse beauty treatment apparatus has a plurality of flat electrodes connected to its stationary pulse equipment. Specifically these flat electrodes are arranged at selected positions on an associated mat, and one lies down on the mat with one""s back or front upside, thereby permitting pulse current to flow in the body.
The practice of pulse beauty treatment, however, restrains one from assuming one""s postures other than lying down on the electroded mat, not permitting one to move, walk or work. Inconveniently one cannot, therefore, take such a beauty treatment unless time permits.
What the present invention aims at is to permit one to move freely while taking a beauty treatment, thus permitting one to make full use of time involved for beauty treatment to perform other useful activities.
A portable pulse beauty treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
a control box including a console and a pulse generator for providing a train of controlled pulses, thereby effecting a desired pulse beauty treatment;
connecting means for applying the train of controlled pulses to electrodes, which are applied to the inner surface of a garment made of stretch cloth; and
wearing means for permitting one to have the control box on one""s body whereby a desired beauty treatment may be effected when one has the electrodes and the control box on one""s body.
The control box further has two pairs of terminal electrodes electrically isolated and attached to its outer surface, thereby permitting the measuring of the body impedance when one""s hands are put on the four terminal electrodes. Connecting means for applying the train of controlled pulses to electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to the body; and wearing means for permitting one to have the control box on one""s body, whereby a desired beauty treatment may be effected when one has the electrodes and the control box on one""s body.


A computer implemented method is provided for computing a two-way optical flow between a reference frame and one or more associated frames in an optical flow module. A forward warping operator and a backward warping operator can be generated between the reference frame and each of the one or more associated frames in a warping module. The forward warping operator and the backward warping operator provide motion compensation between the frames. Weights for each of the forward warping operators and the backward warping operators can be computed in a weight module. The weights correspond to uncertainty of motion estimation. A super resolution iteration algorithm can be calculated in a super-resolution iteration module.

Multi-frame super-resolution algorithms have been a focus of image processing research for several decades. These algorithms typically seek to produce a high-resolution image by combining sampling limited low-resolution images of the same scene collected over a short time interval. Classical approaches typically rely on accurate sub-pixel motion estimation between the low-resolution images, which can be a difficult problem for arbitrary motion patterns. As a result, successful super-resolution performance was initially demonstrated only in cases of simple global motion, e.g., uniform translations or rotations, and then in more general cases where the motion was described using a global affine motion models. More recently, some progress has been achieved in cases containing relatively simple local motion fields with one or two objects moving through a scene, in a straightforward manner, with small relative displacements accumulated through the whole sequence.
Modern optical flow (OF) algorithms can be capable of estimating such motion fields with the required sub-pixel accuracy. However, these model scenes are rarely representative of real life situations. The more complex motion patterns present in real life image sequences typically cause OF algorithms to experience significant problems, invalidating their underlying models. Uncertainty of motion estimation can be modeled using a Bayesian approach leading to significant improvement in super-resolution. However, the errors arising from estimation of the most complex scene movements still produce distortions in the final high-resolution images.
Therefore, there is still a need in the art for super-resolving images containing complex motion patterns that present a significant challenge to motion estimation techniques despite the recent progress of OF algorithms. The most prevalent modern approach to motion estimation is to pose the problem in a variational form with a global smoothness constraint. Some recent OF algorithms can accurately compute motion fields containing irregularities, e.g., discontinuities, occlusions, and brightness constancy violations. However, estimation of large displacements remains difficult because the solution that is obtained as a result of local optimization is biased towards initialization, which is usually a zero motion field. The coarse-to-fine approach adopted by the modern OF algorithms can somewhat alleviate this problem by first computing an estimate on the coarser scales and then refining this estimate at finer scales. However, these algorithms tend to bias the motion of finer features towards the motion of the larger scale structures. Thus, the motion patterns in which small structures move in a different way from larger scale structures, and motion patterns where the relative motion of small scale structures are larger than their own scale represent the most difficult problem for modern OF algorithms.
One category of image sequence where such motion arises is human motion. This is because relatively small body parts such as hands or legs move extremely fast relative to their own size. The most recent attempt to resolve nonconforming motion of different scale structures has been made by the addition of local descriptors such as SIFT and HOG features to the variational OF formulation. Unfortunately, the interpolation error of such algorithms does not experience dramatic improvement compared to optical flow algorithms that do not use descriptors. In addition, rich features generally rely on large pixel counts, which diminish the applicability of these optical flow algorithms to the low resolution images used in super-resolution processing.
Within the context of super-resolution, failure to estimate local motion details leads to lack of resolution, spurious image distortions, and reduced dynamic range of the resulting image. Super-resolution techniques that use implicit motion estimation via block matching have been developed recently and are generally free of the motion induced image processing artifacts inherent to classical algorithms. They are able to provide image resolution enhancement to real life video sequences. However, the demonstrated resolution enhancement factor of nonlocal methods has generally been modest. Additionally, nonlocal techniques experience block matching difficulties with large displacements, rotational motion, and blurred edges.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a super-resolution algorithm that addresses the problems of motion estimation errors.

Multi-frame super-resolution of image sequence with arbitrary motion patterns

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A system and method for measuring individual cylinder power contribution by cutting out individual cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine and performing a snap-throttle test on the engine. Engine speed versus time data is collected and stored during each snap-throttle test. This data is then used to calculate the power contribution provided by each cylinder using various methods, such as a least squares analysis of the speed data or by an analysis of the kinetic energy of the test engine.

Manufacturers of internal combustion engines typically provide specifications indicating rated (target) power and/or torque outputs of the various manufactured engines over some specified engine speed range or ranges. At least for engines used in medium and heavy duty applications, such specifications are commonly provided as graphs or plots of engine output torque (wherein engine output torque is engine output power divided by engine speed) versus engine speed. An example of one such graph for a known Cummins M11 engine is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein engine output torque 5 (in Newton-Meters) is plotted over an engine speed range of between 1100 and 1800 RPM.
Within the medium and heavy duty industry, one of the most common complaints from owners of such vehicles is low engine power. Heretofore, a typical technique for investigating such complaints utilized a known fault tree search technique to check all known possible causes of a low engine power condition. However, such a technique does not provide any way to determine or otherwise estimate the actual output power of the suspect engine. In cases where no cause for low engine power is found, the fault tree search techniques can, at best, provide an indication that the engine should have the rated power.
In another known prior art engine diagnostic method, a disabling action is derived from the engine at a rate proportional to the speed of the engine crankshaft and in a definite phase relation thereto, this disabling action being used to cause (by electronic means) any desired cylinder or cylinders or the engine to become inoperative. By selectively rendering any desired cylinder inoperative while the engine is still running, and without affecting the operation of the other cylinders, an analysis of the resulting engine performance enables ready determination of the relative power contribution of any particular cylinder. Fluctuations in the relative power of any particular cylinder may be caused by, for example, faulty air and/or fuel supply to the cylinder, leakage of combustion gases past the piston rings, etc. While this prior art method is capable of comparing the performance of one cylinder to any other cylinder within the engine, it also suffers from the drawback of not yielding a measure of the total engine output power which may be compared to the engine's rated power.
What is therefore needed is a system and method for diagnosing engine output power that quickly and efficiently narrows down possible causes for low engine power and further provides a simple and efficient technique for estimating actual engine output power over a desired engine speed range for comparison with rated engine output power specifications. Such a system would increase repair efficiency by reducing mis-diagnosis of engine output power related problems and by minimizing unnecessary parts replacement. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need.

System and method for engine cylinder power diagnosis by cylinder(s) cut-off snap throttle engine acceleration tests


A heating and cooling system for use with hot, cold and source fluid circuits. A conduit module couples a heating/cooling module with the fluid circuits. The conduit module includes four three-way valves to communicated fluid from and to the fluid circuits to first and second heat exchangers in the heating/cooling module. The first heat exchanger is used to heat a fluid flow and the second one chills a second fluid flow. The conduit module simultaneously supplies a hot fluid flow to a hot fluid circuit and a cold fluid to a cold fluid circuit. The source fluid is routed by the conduit module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heating and cooling systems and conveying fluids in such heating and cooling systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of heat pumps and geothermal fluid circuits to provide heating and cooling in a building is known. Improvements in the efficient utilization and simplifications in the fluid flow controls of such heating and cooling systems, however, remain desirable.

Conduit module coupled with heating or cooling module


Cellular targets for anti-retroviral drug development are disclosed. The cellular targets comprise ATR kinase and its relevant substrates, based on the identification of the ATR kinase as required for the final step of retroviral DNA integration. Assays for identifying modulators of retroviral integration via the ATR kinase pathway are disclosed, as well as modulators identified by such assays. Pharmaceutical preparations and methods of their use in treating retroviral infection are also disclosed.

Retroviruses cause several diseases and pathological conditions, including a variety of tumors and leukemias. For instance, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans. Another significant disorder, adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, is caused by the retrovirus HTLV I (human t-cell leukemia virus type I). HTLV I also has been associated with other diseases, such as tropical spastic paraparesis and HTLV I-associated myelopathy. Moreover, many animal diseases of agricultural and veterinary importance are known to be caused by retroviruses. These include avian sarcoma leukosis virus (ASLV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), among others.
Retroviruses encode several enzymes that are assembled into the virus particle and whose activities catalyze essential steps in the infectious cycle: (a) protease (PR), (b) the polymerase and (c) ribonuclease H(RNAse H) activities of reverse transcriptase (RT), and (d) integrase (IN). Following attachment and penetration of the retrovirus into the host cell, the RT activities catalyze reverse transcription of the viral RNA into DNA, and IN catalyzes the integration of the retroviral DNA into the host cell DNA. The cellular transcription and translation machinery is used to produce viral RNA from the integrated viral DNA and thereafter to produce the viral proteins.
Retroviral DNA integration proceeds in three distinct steps, the first two of which have been reconstituted in vitro with the purified retroviral enzyme, integrase. In the first step of integration, denoted processing, retroviral integrase removes two nucleotides from 3′-ends of the viral DNA. In the second step, joining, these newly created ends are joined to staggered phosphates in the host DNA in a concerted cleavage and ligation reaction. This process creates an integration intermediate that leaves gaps in the flanking host DNA sequence (FIG. 1). In the last step of integration, these gaps are repaired, creating a stably integrated provirus. This repair reaction can also be reconstituted in vitro using combinations of various polymerases, ligases, and an endonuclease (Brin et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275: 39287-39295, 2000; Yoder & Bushman, J. Virol. 74: 11191-11200, 2000), but the identity and mechanism of action of proteins responsible for these reactions in vivo are not yet known. Retroviral DNA integration is an essential step in retroviral replication and the integrase protein is an attractive target for antiviral therapy. However, the integrase gene is virus-encoded and therefore subject to a high mutation rate, leading to drug resistance. This rapid evolution of resistance should not occur with drugs that target cellular functions necessary for integration, but not cell viability.
As reported in WO 00/17386 and by Daniel et al. (Science 284: 644-647), retroviral infection induces programmed death in scid lymphocytes that are deficient in the DNA repair protein, DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase). Furthermore, this response to infection requires an active integrase. In addition to retrovirus-induced scid cell death, it was also observed that stable transduction by retroviral vectors, a measure of successful DNA integration, is reduced in cells deficient in DNA-PK and other components of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. These findings indicate that retroviral DNA integration is sensed as DNA damage by the host cell, and that DNA repair proteins, such as DNA-PK, may be recruited to facilitate stable integration into the host genome. Components of the DNA damage response pathway(s) that are required for this process therefore present advantageous targets for anti-retroviral therapy.
DNA-PK belongs to a family of large, PI-3K-related protein kinases, that also includes ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3 related) kinases. The ATM and ATR kinases seem to have a broader role than DNA-PK in response to DNA damage, including regulation of cell cycle checkpoints. Detection of aberrant DNA and chromosome structures by these proteins coordinately triggers checkpoint pathways and DNA repair systems (Zhou & Elledge, Nature 408: 433-439, 2000). Activation of a DNA damage checkpoint results in cell cycle arrest, allowing time for DNA repair or, in its absence, cell death.
Cells derived from A-T patients and from atm −/− knockout mice display sensitivity to ionizing radiation, chromosomal instability, and defects in cell cycle checkpoints. The regulation of checkpoints by ATM has been studied extensively and a number of ATM substrates have been identified (Shiloh, Curr. Opin. Genet. Devel. 11: 71-77, 2001; Durocher & Jackson, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 13: 225-231, 2001). ATM also appears to play a direct role in DNA repair at the sites of DNA damage (Durocher & Jackson, 2001, supra). This ATM function may be mediated by modification of repair proteins, such as phosphorylation of BRCA1, which is induced by ionizing radiation (Cortez et al., Science 286: 1162-1166, 1999).
Studies with an inducible, transdominant-negative ATR mutant have also implicated the ATR protein in cell cycle checkpoint control (Cliby et al., EMBO J. 17: 159-169, 1998). Furthermore ATR, like ATM, can respond to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation, and some data suggest that phosphorylation is sequential, with ATM kinase being activated first (Durocher & Jackson, 2001, supra). ATR and ATM seem therefore to be operating in similar or overlapping pathways (Shiloh et al., 2001, supra). However, the kinase activities of these proteins also have distinct functions—for example, BRCA1 is phosphorylated by ATR, but not ATM, in response to damage induced by UV light and stalled DNA replication forks (Tibbetts et al., Genes Dev. 14: 2989-3002, 2000).
In addition to phosphorylation of checkpoint and DNA repair proteins, ATM and ATR also share in vitro and in vivo sensitivity to the radiosensitizing agent caffeine (Zhou et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275: 10342-10348, 2000; Blasina et al., Curr. Biol. 9: 1135-1138, 1999; Hall-Jackson et al., Oncogene 18: 6707-6713, 1999). The IC50s for ATM and ATR kinase inhibition are similar, and fall in the range of 1-2 mM in vitro (Sarkaria et al., Cancer Res. 59: 4375-4382, 1999). Although ATM function is required for the residual retroviral transduction that occurs in cells that are deficient in NHEJ proteins such as DNA-PK, retroviral transduction is normal in ATM-deficient cells (WO 00/17386; Daniel et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 21: 1164-1172, 2001). Further, DNA-PK is not sensitive to caffeine (Sarkaria et al., 1999, supra).

Cellular targets for treatment of retroviral infection


A method for starting an engine of an electric drive machine may include the method steps of introducing current to an electric motor system from a battery and receiving the current into at least one coil on an electric motor of the electric motor system. The electric motor may be configured to drive the electric drive machine when operating. The method may also include the steps of releasing the energy from the at least one coil to an energy storage device and discharging the voltage from the energy storage device to a power generation system to start the engine. A system for starting an engine of an electric drive machine is also disclosed.

Electric drive machines generally include an engine and a generator configured to provide electric power to an electric motor for driving the machine. On large work machines, such as dozers, tractors, and trucks, the electric motors are large and powerful, and the engines are required to provide a substantial amount of power to drive the electric motors. Because of this, the engines are also large and powerful. Starting these engines requires high levels of power.
One typical starting system for these engines includes a starter and a battery. The starter for these engines must be large and robust to turn the engine until it is operating. These starters may be expensive and may be prone to mechanical problems requiring maintenance and expense to keep them operating.
Because the energy required to start these large engines is often higher than the energy offered in a standard battery, some starting systems include a separate power booster to boost the battery power to a level sufficient to start the engine. These power boosters, like the starters, may be expensive and high maintenance.
Another typical starting system includes components that provide energy to the generator attached to the engine to turn the generator until the engine starts. One example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,859 to Karg et al. The '859 patent discloses a system for starting an engine that uses a generator to crank the engine until it starts. Voltage is provided to the generator through an intermediate circuit that receives voltage from a battery that is boosted by a transformer. However, the system of the '859 patent still requires extra components to boost the battery power to a level sufficient to start the engine. For example, it requires a rectifier, an intermediate circuit, and a transformer between the battery and the generator.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more other deficiencies in the prior art. In particular, the present disclosure provides a method and system that reduces the number of components required to start an engine on an electric drive machine.

System for starting an electric drive machine engine


Filling line for heat-treating and filling a liquid into containers (e.g., bottles), comprising a pre-heater for pre-heating the liquid, a heater for heating the liquid after pre-heating, a cooler for cooling down the liquid after heating, and a filling unit for filling the liquid into the containers, where the filling line is suitable for hot filling and cold filling, where the liquid path from the pre-heater to the filling unit for hot filling differs from the liquid path from the pre-heater to the filling unit for cold filling, and the filling line comprises a switching option for switching between the two liquid paths; and a method for heat-treating and filling containers with a liquid in which such a filling line is used.

Filling lines in which one or more containers for a liquid can be hot-filled are known from prior art, for example from DE 10 2008 056 597 A1 or DE 10 2011 082 286 A1.
It is also known, for example, from DE 10 2011 082 286 A1 to treat a liquid with heat, for example, to pasteurize it in order to extend the shelf life.
Embodiments of the invention are based on the object of providing an improved filling line with a wider range of applications and/or improved efficiency.


A personal video involving activities of a subscriber at an amusement park, which includes personal segments recorded by a plurality of video cameras, environ segments separately recorded and interleaved between the personal segments, and text. The organization of certain segments of the personal video is determined by a subscriber who registers identification and information data prior to activating the cameras. Upon completion of the recording, the personal segments, the text and environ segments are assembled, processed, and duplicated for delivery to the subscriber. The environ segments are selected to display weather conditions existing at the time of recording the personal video segments.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a personal video; and more particularly, to a medium configured to play a personal video, and the apparatus and method for making a composite personal video of segments that take place at different times and at diverse geographic locations.
Although the present invention has a wide range of applications, it is particularly suitable for amusement or theme parks having many different attractions, and will be described in that connection.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advent of the camcorder and VCR, the making of home video movies has replaced to a great extent, the taking of still photographs of events or activities that one wishes to remember. However, if traveling with friends or family, one person, usually the host or parent, not only has extra baggage to carry in the form of a camera, batteries and supplies, but he or she spends a great amount of time taking movies of the other members of the family, and the various attractions that the group visited. This, of course, detracts from the pleasure of the event for the person operating the camcorder, in that a great part of the activities of interest are seen through the viewfinder of the camcorder. Also, when visiting tourist attractions, with the camcorder exposed and ready to capture a photo opportunity, there is an increased risk of damage and theft for the camcorder. Additionally, the video cameraman of the group seldom has the opportunity of being included in scenes of the movies. Finally, the movie itself, although treasured for its remembrance value, in most instances does not reach a level approaching professionalism, because all scenes are usually shot at the same angle with the camera being the same distance from the ground. Also, an unsteady camcorder, too fast panning, poor focus, and poor lighting detract from the final product.
After the family returns from the video taped activity, it is desirable to edit the tape to remove undesirable footage, and to include text that identifies the activity and places visited, which, of course, is time consuming and relatively expensive. Therefore, in most cases, the tape goes unedited, and because of this lack of editing, as well as the quality of the shooting, the tape is viewed once or twice, and then put away, sometimes never to be shown again.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved personal video production, and system and method for making same, which overcomes the disadvantages of taking your own video movies while visiting a particular activity.

Personal video, and system and method of making same


The present invention discloses novel chemical compounds obtained by causing a covalent attachment of a modifying agent of the structure provided for formula 1, to a functional group or a heteroatom of a heterocyclic ring system in chemical compound with improved chemical and biological properties. Wherein: Y is DRUG-CO; DRUG-OCO; DRUG-NRCO, and X is selected from.

A chemical entity, which is potent in activity against its target, is the first step in the drug discovery process. However, a potent compound is only effective when an appropriate quantity is transported to the site of action at an acceptable rate after it has been administered. Even potent compounds benefit from optimization of these aspects. Many potent chemical entities do not have optimal pharmacokinetic parameters and hence the pharmacodynamic properties of these drugs are also suboptimal. In addition, there are several chemical entities that are already available in the market which have restricted pharmacokinetic properties and hence cannot be formulated in a manner convenient for patient administration.
The rate and extent of transportation into the blood circulation may be controlled by addition of certain groups to the original molecule, thereby modifying the molecule and its properties. Molecular modification is the chemical modification of a known and previously characterized lead compound for the purpose of enhancing its usefulness as a drug. This could mean enhancing its specificity for a particular target site, increasing its potency, improving its rate and extent of absorption, modifying the time course over which the active components become bio-available in the body (e.g., time release formulation), reducing its toxicity, and/or changing its physical or chemical properties (e.g., solubility) to optimize those aspects for particular applications.
However, the moiety used for molecular modification of the drug must be such that the therapeutic efficacy of the compound is retained and/or enhanced, while causing modification of the pharmacokinetic properties. Further, the novel compound, when administered, must not adversely affect the safety, toxicity and efficacy of the chemical entity beyond a tolerable degree.
Though there are certain methods to alter the pharmacokinetic profile of the compounds, which may or may not result in the alteration of the pharmacodynamic profiles, there are no methods available that are applicable to a wide range of drugs.
Hence there is a need for a novel method of modification of the drugs, which alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of the drugs.

Compounds, their synthesis and their uses


A speaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit and a deflectable diaphragm. The frame supports the magnetic circuit and the deflectable diaphragm. The magnetic circuit includes a yoke, permanent magnet, top plate and a voice coil former. The voice coil former includes a voice coil wrapped around a lower portion of the perimeter. In an embodiment, an inner wall of T-Yoke forms a through hole along the height of the T-Yoke. A lead wire fixture is positioned at least partially within the through hole. The lead wire fixture includes a cable that is spliced or stripped into one or more lead wires that electrically couples with the voice coil. In an embodiment, the cable, the lead wire fixture, and the lead wires are pre-assembled or integrated into a component. This integration helps to reduce the height and width of the speaker and helps to create a more compact speaker.

Conventional speakers produce audible sounds by displacing air via the movement of a diaphragm. Specifically, the diaphragm (e.g., often referred to as a dome, membrane, cone, etc.) is attached to a voice coil former (sometimes also referred to as a bobbin) and moves under the control of a voice coil through which electric current associated with the sounds to be reproduced. The voice coil is typically disposed in an annular air gap defined by a permanent magnet that provides radial magnetic flux in the air gap. Lead wires provide the electric current to the voice coil which interacts with this magnetic flux to provide axial forces on the voice coil and voice coil former which displace the voice coil, former, and the diaphragm (e.g., causing an up and/or down movement along an central axis). The displacement or movement of the voice coil and former may be controlled by the magnitude and direction of current in the voice coil and the resulting axial forces.
Typically, speaker lead wires are routed from the voice coils along the voice coil former, and either through or beneath the diaphragm to an input terminal board connector. The lead wires are generally single strand wires connected to the voice coil which are then attached to flexible cables. The voice coil wires are affixed to the voice coil former and routed along the former to a location above the diaphragm where the wires are spliced to the cables. The cables are typically routed outside of the voice coil and along the diaphragm, through an aperture or hole therein, and terminated at an external electrical connector.
However, this routing of the cables outside of the voice coil requires additional space within the speaker. Recent advancements in speaker technology have created a need for smaller and more compact speakers. Thus, there is a need to reduce the size of a speaker, and make the speaker more compact.

Audio speaker with a voice coil assembly and a method of manufacturing the speaker


An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method in a node of a wireless network able to receive packets that exactly or substantially conform to a wireless network standard according to which each packet includes a header having bits that have respective correct values in the case that the packet exactly conforms to the standard. The method includes receiving a start-of-packet (SOP) trigger that indicates that a packet may have been received, checking one or more bits in the header to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and continuing to process the packet in the case that the checking indicates that the checked bits have their respective correct values. In one implementation, the header includes a first field modulated at a known rate that has one or more reserved bit locations, and a second field modulated at a data rate indicated in the first field. In such an implementation, the checking includes processing the first field and checking one or more bits in the first field to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and, if the checked bits of the first field have their respective correct values, checking the second field for integrity.

This invention is related to wireless networks, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for the early detection of false receiver start-of-packet (SOP) triggers at a station (STA) in a packet-based wireless network such as a wireless local area network (WLAN).
Wireless networks are known and their use is becoming widespread. The IEEE 802.11 standard for local area networks describes variants in the 2.4 and 5 GHz range. A node of a wireless network such as one conforming to one of the variants of the IEEE 802.11 standard includes a radio transceiver/modem providing physical layer level (PHY) processing and a MAC processor. The receiver of the physical layer processor (the PHY processor) needs to accurately detect the SOP. Conventional receivers use a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for so detecting the SOP. See for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/095,668, titled AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL AND LOW-POWER START-OF-PACKET DETECTION FOR A WIRELESS LAN RECEIVER to inventors Ryan, et al, filed: Mar. 8, 2002, that describes a low-power SOP detector based on RSSI. Patent application Ser. No. 10/095,668 is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g (OFDM) standards include sending a SIGNAL field in the first section of the packet that describes the modulation type and coding rate for the payload of the packet. The SIGNAL field is not very well protected—only a single parity bit is provided. As a result, there are many false triggers where the parity bit falsely indicates a valid SIGNAL field. As a result, the wireless node of the network is unnecessarily blocked from receiving valid packets while it processes what is effectively useless information. Moreover, the wireless node will not perceive that this is a bad packet until it has completely finished processing the packet and detected that the payload fails its frame checksum (FCS) check, which is much more robust than the single parity bit protecting the SIGNAL field.
Thus there is need in the art for fast and early detection of false SOP triggers.

Early detection of false start-of-packet triggers in a wireless network node


Under control of the consumer, it is determined that a first buffer is empty and that a second buffer contains data; a first compare-double-and-swap operation within a spin loop is executed to swap a double pointer of the first buffer and a double pointer of the second buffer, wherein responsive to the executing of the operation the consumer drains the second buffer, and wherein the executing of the operation directs the at least one producer to fill the first buffer; and it is determined that the first buffer and the second buffer are empty and the consumer waits for a notification from one of i) the at least one producer and ii) a timer. Under control of the at least one producer, a second compare-double-and-swap operation within a spin loop is executed to atomically locate the first buffer and update the double pointer of the first buffer.

In a variety of applications, data produced by multiple parallel threads (also referred to as producers or data producers) are serialized and consumed (processed or logged) by a single thread (also referred to as a consumer or data consumer).
An example of such an application is a real-time performance monitor collecting variable-length data from multiple sensors (or intercepts) installed in target threads. For example, the target threads are the threads that produce a stream of data (i.e., producers) to be monitored. A monitoring software tool ("monitor" or consumer) installs sensors (i.e., intercepts) into the desired places in the code execution path of the producers. The sensors see the data and make the data available to the monitor. In another example, the target threads produce streams of data from some sources (e.g., measuring devices) to be consumed by a recording device (i.e., a consumer). The variable-length data are serialized at some point before they are externalized by a logger. A consumer performs a serialization phase of the logger so that the data is pushed in a sequence, record by record, thru a single thread before being externalized (e.g., written to an external medium). Thus, the consumer is a single thread that performs serialization.

Dual-buffer serialization and consumption of variable-length data records produced by multiple parallel threads

International Business Machines Corporation


Electric oil separator that separates oil from an airflow of a ventilator. The separator includes an emission electrode and a collecting electrode. Moreover, the separator includes an injection device structured and arranged to inject oil as a cleaning fluid onto at least one of the emission electrode and the collecting electrode, so as to inject oil obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the collecting electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric separator for separating oil from an airflow of a crankcase ventilator of an internal combustion engine, with an emission electrode and with a collecting electrode.
2. Discussion of Background Information
A generic electric separator is known from DE-U-299 053 02.
If one or both electrodes of the separator are to be freed from impurities adhering, a problem can exist that when mechanical cleaning installations are used, it is not possible to effectively remove hardened deposits. Since the mechanical cleaning installations are operated intermittently, depending on the operating mode of the internal combustion engine, an interval between two cleaning operations can be so great that the deposits in the separator harden in the above-mentioned disadvantageous manner.

Electric separator with a rinsing cleaning system


The invention relates, in particular, to a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool, comprising at least one base body (21), a plurality of at least two punches (22-25) which, in a press position, are arranged to be insertable from one side into a die cavity (3) of a die (2) filled with ceramic and/or metal powder (P), a plurality of at least two punch carriers (26-29) each for the attachment of one of the punches, wherein at least part of the die carriers (28; 29) is couplable to at least two adjustment drives (39-42) and wherein the punch carriers are arranged to be adjustable relative to each other and relative to the base body, and positive-stop devices (48°, 49, 50) arranged to divert at least part of a pressing force (Fp) from the punches via the base body in a press end position, wherein at least one of the punch carriers is coupled to or mounted on at least two coupling rods (30-33) and each of the coupling rods is couplable to or mountable on its own such adjustment drive. Electromotive adjustment drives are particularly preferred.

1. Field
The invention relates to a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool, comprising the features as recited in the preamble of claim 1, to a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press comprising such a press tool, to a modular system comprising such a press tool or such a press, to a method for assembling such a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool or such a press, and to a method of operating such a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press, respectively.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example, a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press is known from DE 102 54 656 B4. It comprises a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool comprising at least one base body, a plurality of at least two punches which, in a press position, are arranged to be insertable from one side into a die cavity of a die filled with ceramic and/or metal powder, a plurality of at least two punch carriers each for the attachment of one of the punches, wherein at least part of the die carriers is couplable to at least two adjustment drives, and wherein the punch carriers are arranged to be adjustable relative to each other and relative to the base body, and positive-stop devices arranged to divert, in a press end position, at least part of a pressing force from the punches via the base body.
Herein, the adjustment drives are formed by hydraulic cylinder arrangements, wherein two pistons of the cylinder arrangements extend through the tool up to the associated punch carrier and have to be fixedly coupled with the punch carrier. A problem in this can be that a single pump is used to feed the two cylinder arrangements, for cost reasons, and thus the two cylinder arrangements are driven by a common control system. To prevent undesirable pressure compensation between the cylinder chambers of the two cylinder arrangements, it is thus necessary to provide on the one hand a very rigid connection between the piston and the associated punch carrier, and on the other hand, in addition, a guide arrangement for the punch carrier. Guide rods serve as the guide arrangement. Such guide rods extend from a base body through all punch carriers and as a rule also serve to guide the die.
The punch carriers are formed in a corresponding manner, in particular, as square plates having a wide dimension in the direction transverse to the pressing axis. A drawback of such an arrangement is, in particular, that it must be possible to press a great number of variously formed and variously dimensioned press parts with such a tool. Each of the components thus has to be able to pass on the greatest possible proportion of the pressing force, which is to be received by the punch supported on the plate. As a consequence, all components have to have large dimensions in the direction of the pressing axis and in the direction of the plane transverse to the pressing axis enabling these forces, comprising almost the entire pressing force of the main press cylinder, to be received. For this reason, there is a great need for space. Moreover, a great amount of material is necessary to construct the individual components, which not only makes the tool very heavy, but also leads to a great increase in material cost. This also entails the need for large-size adjustable positive stops, in particular. As a result of the great space requirements of the positive stops, the plate drives or adjustment drives of the punch carriers have to be arranged far on the outside or far removed from the pressing axis. A thickness of the punch carriers must be increased correspondingly, so that they do not bend.
To provide variability with respect to various parts and in view of the dimensions of the individual components, a maximum punch carrier stroke between two of the punch carriers of, for example, 100 mm, must be possible. To achieve variability, this should apply to every distance between any combination of two adjacent ones of the punch carriers. Since it must be possible that the punch carriers are able to travel a full stroke independently from each other and the punch carriers are arranged one on top of the other, the strokes and heights of the punch carriers are added, increasing the structural height. In order to bridge such heights, usually, additional spacers are inserted between punch carriers and the tool, or further tool components.
In arrangements with height-adjustable positive stops in the area of the base plate, high cups have to be set on top of the positive stops, which leads to problems in view of the cups being upset under the effective pressing force.

Ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool, ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press, modular system with such a press tool, method for assembling and operating a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool or a press


The present invention provides a newspaper printing ink that has rub off resistance; is fast drying on the paper; does not mist or dry on the press; offers excellent printability, high color strength, good water balance, and sharp half tone reproduction; and is relatively inexpensive. The present invention provides an ink concentrate suitable for preparing the printing ink, the ink concentrate comprising a colorant having a particle size of from about 0.01 .mu.m to about 25 .mu.m, a hydrocarbon resin, and a binder resin selected from the group consisting of a polyamide-oil polymer and a polyester-oil polymer. The present invention further provides a printing ink comprising a colorant having a particle size of from about 0.01 .mu.m to about 25 .mu.m, a vegetable oil, a polyamide-oil polymer, and a styrene-acrylic copolymer. The present invention further provides a printing ink comprising a naphthenic oil, a colorant having a particle size of from about 0.01 .mu.m to about 25 .mu.m, a hydrocarbon resin, and a polyester-oil polymer. The present invention further provides a continuous process for preparing the ink and the ink concentrate.

Conventional newsprinting inks are generally composed of a colorant such as carbon black, a mineral oil having a high viscosity, a mineral oil having a low viscosity, and a resin. Certain problems have been encountered in using such inks in newsprinting. For instance, these inks do not adhere strongly to the newspaper with the result that the ink tends to smudge and transfer to the reader's hands.
Attempts have been made to alleviate this problem by designing alternate printing methods. Newspaper is generally printed either by offset printing or by letterpress printing, each printing method having certain advantages and disadvantages.
Offset printing generally produces higher quality images on newsprint than letterpress printing because offset printing is planographic, i.e., the character and background structure areas on the printing plate are at the same height, and because in offset printing the ink is applied by means of a conformable rubber cylinder. With offset printing the ink is relatively gently applied to the surface of the paper by this conformable rubber cylinder and thus tends to rub off to a great extent. This problem is particularly severe in the case of newspapers printed with offset printing press because of the nature of the ink generally used to print newspapers. On the other hand, images produced by offset printing appear to have stronger colors when colored ink is used and are darker when black ink is used.
Although a letterpress printing press strikes the surface of the paper with greater force than an offset printing press, newspapers printed with conventional newspaper inks on letterpress printing presses are also subject to rub off. In an attempt to improve the appearance of letterpress printing, letterpress printers have been applying ink films to newsprint that are heavier than the ink films previously used. The use of such heavy ink films exacerbates the tendency of the ink to be rubbed off when the newspaper is handled by the reader.
Attempts have also been made in the industry to solve this rub off problem by developing certain new ink formulations. However, none of the inks heretofore known have completely eliminated the rub off problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,932 discloses a printing ink comprising a pigment, an oil, and a tall oil pitch useful as a letterpress or offset ink that reduces rub off to an extent that is significantly lower than the rub off generally associated with conventional newspaper inks. The exemplified inks had 10% and 50% of the rub off of a conventional ink as determined by the standard rub off test of the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) of Reston, Va.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,132 discloses a newspaper printing ink consisting of a pigment, a Gilsonite resin, and a tall oil fatty acid. The ink of the '132 patent is directed to the problem of limiting rub off in a particular manner. Thus the reported invention does not eliminate the rub off completely.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,188 discloses a vegetable oil based printing ink formulation stated to have low rub off characteristics comprising a vehicle consisting essentially of a substantially non-oxidized heat bodied vegetable oil, the vegetable oil having a molecular weight of about 2600-8900, a viscosity of about 1.6-18 poises and a color on the Gardner Color Scale of about 6 or less.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,349 discloses certain moisture setting printing inks having high gloss and suitable for printing weekly and monthly magazines comprising an imine modified acidic resin. Examples of disclosed imines include the trifunctional imines, tri-(1,2)-propylene phosphoramide and the sulfur analog, tri-(1,2)-propylene thiophosphoramide. Examples of acidic resins disclosed include fumarated rosin resin, alcohol soluble maleic resin, and modified phenol resin having an acid number of 60-90. The reaction product of the acidic resin and the imine is used to prepare the moisture setting high gloss inks. Acid number of a sample is the milligrams of KOH required to neutralize the acid groups in 1 gram of the sample.
Copending and commonly owned U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 07/909,977, filed Jul. 7, 1992, and 08/267,039, filed Jun. 27, 1994, disclose certain encapsulated pigments suitable for use in printing inks and in magnetic recording media. The pigment is encapsulated by a composition comprising a vegetable oil such as soya oil and optionally an ionomer such as polyethylene-acrylic acid copolymer.
From the foregoing, it is clear that there exists a need for a non-rub off printing ink that is suitable for use in newsprinting, and particularly for use in newsprinting by letterpress printing or by offset printing.
In addition to having non-rub off characteristics, the printing ink should be fast-drying because of the short time between printing and packaging for delivery to the reader. The ink should also possess other desirable characteristics such as excellent printability, high color strength, good water balance, and sharp halftone reproduction. The ink should not mist or dry on the press. The ink should also be manufacturable at a reasonable cost.
Thus there exists a need for a newspaper printing ink that has non-rub off characteristic, is fast drying on the paper, does not dry on the press, and offers excellent printability, high color strength, good water balance, low mist, and sharp halftone reproduction, and that can be produced at a reasonable cost.


A tractor is disclosed having an engine fitted with a speed governor, drive wheels, a transmission connecting the engine to the drive wheels, a controller serving to select the effective transmission ratio, and an engine driven power take-off (PTO) shaft for driving ancillary equipment connected to the tractor. When in a part load operating mode in which the PTO shaft is connected to drive an implement and the tractor is moving, the governor is set to maintain the engine working point to follow a selected speed governor line on the speed/load map of the engine. The controller is operative to initiate a change in the transmission ratio when the engine speed cannot be maintained within the specified tolerance of the desired engine speed.

Tractors are known that have a hand operated demand lever that is used to set a minimum engine output power and a spring-biased foot pedal that can be used by the operator to increase the engine output power beyond the level set by means of the hand operated lever. Whichever of the hand lever and the foot pedal sets the higher power output level determines the governor line on the speed/load map of the engine along which the engine operates.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a typical speed/load map for diesel engines driving a tractor. The lines 110, 112 and 114 are three speed governor lines corresponding to three different desired engine speeds set by the hand lever and the foot pedal. When the engine is operating at part load, that is to say the operating or working point is below the maximum power curve 118, a slight decrease in load results in the working point moving from a first position (D) to a second position (E), simultaneously the engine speed rises from a desired value to a higher value while the governor reduces the amount of injected fuel to reduce output power and conversely a slight increase in load results in the working point moving from a first position (D) to a further position (F) and simultaneously the engine speed drops to a lower value while the governor increases the amount of injected fuel to increase the engine output power.
When the PTO shaft is connected to drive an implement, the conventional strategy used to control the transmission of the tractor is to maintain the engine operating near its maximum power, that is to say around point A on the maximum power curve which lies within a relatively flat region 120 of the curve 118. The total engine output power is shared between the drive wheels and the PTO. The PTO shaft always rotates at a fixed fraction of the engine speed but the loading on the PTO shaft may vary. The transmission control system acts to vary the power applied to the drive wheels, resulting in the vehicle aiming to move at the highest speed consistent with the engine operating at all times around working point A.
Because the maximum power curve is relatively flat around the point A, the engine speed can vary between the values B and C while still operating at nearly maximum efficiency. Consequently, the engine speed can vary quite significantly while still operating near is maximum output and efficiency.
PTO shafts are however intended to operate implements and ancillary equipment at preset speeds, typically one or other of 540 RPM and 1000 RPM. To achieve these speeds, the engine in the former case is required to run at a desired speed of, for instance, 1950 RPM and in the latter case at a desired speed of, for instance, 2154 RPM.
The load on the engine from the drive wheels is thus determined from the error in the engine speed and whenever the speed differs from a desired speed by a certain amount, referred to as the engine droop, a transmission ratio change is initiated.
The optimum engine droop depends on the implement that is being driven using the PTO shaft of the tractor. Some implements can tolerate considerable variation in the speed of the PTO while others are more sensitive and require tighter control over the speed of the PTO shaft. It is for this reason that some known tractors allow the operator to set the engine droop.


Provided is a door opening/closing device unit which is capable of preventing shifting of the mounting position of a connecting rod to door opening/closing devices and facilitating the mounting work. The door opening/closing device unit has at least one support member 8 mountable on a housing 1, a pair of door opening/closing devices 4 for moving a door 2 relative to the housing 1 and a connecting member 5 for connecting the door opening/closing devices so as to synchronize operations of the door opening/closing devices. First the support member 8 is mounted on the housing 1, and then, at least one of the paired door opening/closing devices 4 connected by the connecting member 5 is mounted on the one support member 8.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door opening/closing device unit and a method for mounting the same, the door opening/closing device unit having a synchronized pair of door opening/closing devices for moving a door relative to a housing.
2. Related Art
There is known a cabinet of which the door is moved by a pair of door opening/closing devices mounted on the housing in order to facilitate the opening and closing operation of the door relative to the housing (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-538938). The paired door opening/closing devices are mounted on inner surfaces of left and right side walls, respectively, of the housing. Each of the door opening/closing devices has two links between the housing and the door thereby to determine the attitude of the door when opening and closing the door.
The paired door opening/closing devices disclosed in JP2008-538938 mentioned above are connected to each other via a connecting rod. The connecting rod is provided for the purpose of synchronizing the operations of the right and left door opening/closing devices. If no connecting rod is provided, the paired door opening/closing devices will be movable independently, which causes a problem of the door slanted or swayed in opening and closing operations. The connecting rod is required particularly for a wide housing.
The conventional door opening/closing devices are mounted on the housing in the following manner . First, the door opening/closing devices are mounted on the respective inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing with use of fastening members such as screws. Then, the connecting rod is provided to run between the paired door opening/closing devices and both axial ends of the connecting rod are fixed to the paired door opening/closing devices.
Here, there have been various ideas made to fix the connecting rod to the paired door opening/closing devices. JP2008-538938 discloses that a notch is provided on a rotational shaft of a link of the door opening/closing devices, a cuboid part is formed at an axial end of the connecting rod for fitting the notch, the cuboid part of the connecting rod is fit in the notch off the rotational shaft, and then, they are fixed to each other with screws. Besides, JP2008-538938 also discloses the connecting rod being extensible. A polygonal part is formed at each axial end of the extensible connecting rod, a polygonal recess is formed in the rotational shaft of the link of the door opening/closing device and the polygonal part of the extended connecting rod is inserted in the polygonal recess of the rotational shaft. Meanwhile, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-339906 discloses links of a pair of left and right door opening/closing devices which are connected by a plate-shaped connecting member at the position away from the rotational shafts of the links.
In the inventions disclosed in the above-mentioned publications, the paired door opening/closing devices are first mounted on the inner surface of the paired side walls, respectively, of the housing and then, the door opening/closing devices mounted on the side walls are fixed to ends of the connecting rod. In such a case, there will be no problem as long as each door opening/closing device is mounted at a proper position of the side wall of the housing, however, if the mounting position is shifted, the connecting rod cannot be fixed or even when the connecting rod can be mounted, it may be deformed problematically. Therefore, there is need to mount the door opening/closing device on the side wall of the housing again and mounting work becomes troublesome.
The present invention was carried out to solve the above-described problems of the conventional door opening/closing devices, and aims to provide a door opening/closing device unit and a method for mounting the same capable of preventing shifting of the mounting position of the connecting rod to the door opening/closing devices and facilitating the mounting work.

Door opening/closing device unit and method for mounting the same


The laser targeting system of the present invention eliminates the problem of parallax between the arrow's path and the archer's line of sight. An embodiment is a laser integrated into an arrow such that the beam is projected down the axis of the arrow. Another embodiment is an arrow rest with an integrated laser, which can have an angular adjustment. By having the laser extend the axis of the arrow to the target, the laser spot produced on the target accurately represents where the arrow will hit once released, and eliminates the parallax angle between the archer's line of sight and the arrow's path. The present invention also provides a means for using a single laser beam to project a diffractive pattern onto a target, such as several spots or crosshairs. For advanced visibility of the laser spot, an optical filter or infrared vision optical sensors can be used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to archery equipment, particularly to the method and apparatus for aiming with lasers and enhanced laser sighting with optical filters and imaging devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lasers have been used on archery equipment for aiming, but they all suffer from the problem of parallax. Currently, there are no functional lasers that are mounted on or near to the arrow, such as arrows, arrowheads, or arrow rests with integrated lasers. Lasers at visible wavelengths and other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum may be used, such as in the infrared. Additionally, there are no sights that allow for the enhanced visibility of the laser spot by utilizing optical filters or imaging devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,793, issued on Oct. 24, 2000 to James C. Sauers, describes a laser attached to an arrow used only for alignment of a bow sight and not while aiming, and is not capable of being shot from the bow as a projectile. The laser as used in this prior art patent is temporarily mounted to an arrow in place of the arrowhead. This prior art does not describe the capability of holding an arrowhead and the laser at the same time.