The invention concerns a device for piercing and positioning a piece of body jewelry with a bent bar in a skin portion. The device comprises an inner boundary surface which defines a cavity for holding a bent bar, the bar being movable out of the cavity to the surroundings through an opening defined by the boundary surface. The device also has a cam which is formed in the boundary surface and along which the bar is movable for such guiding of the bar that, during each incremental step of pressing-out, the bar has a cross-section exiting the opening, seen perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar, which cross-section somewhere along a distance between the opening and an exit hole intended for piercing is perpendicular to an aiming line for piercing.

Piercing of body parts and skin portions thereof is frequently performed and occurs either manually or by some kind of instrument. The best known and most used instruments are especially adapted to piercing of ear lobes and can be divided into hand-operated and spring-operated instruments. An example of the former is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,170 and an example of the latter is given in EP 0 559 637. However, the prior art instruments for piercing of ear lobes are, due to their construction, less suited or not at all suited for use on other body parts, in particular for pieces of body jewelry having a bent bar.
In all surgical operations, including piercing and positioning of pieces of jewelry in body parts, it is desirable to use products and methods which enable and facilitate aseptic handling. By asepsis is meant a process and technique which aim at preventing spreading of pathogenic microorganisms. Since piercing of body parts for insertion of body jewelry is often performed by non-medically trained staff, products and methods which allow a simple aseptic process are highly important.
A crucial aspect which differs piercing of ear lobes from piercing of certain other body parts, such as a navel, is the appearance of the bar of the piece of body jewelry which is to be preferred. When piercing an ear lobe, a completely straight bar is generally preferred. This means that the motion required for positioning the piece of ear jewelry is completely linear. The straight bar can be used since an ear lobe constitutes a well-defined flap-like area with a front side and a rear side. The straight bar can also advantageously be used as a piercing means.
When piercing other body parts where the hole is made by pinching an originally substantially plane skin portion, for example adjacent to a navel, a piece of body jewelry with a bent bar is preferred. The purely medical reason for this is that in piercing an originally substantially plane skin portion, a piece of body jewelry with a straight bar would cause more tension in the skin portion since the locking means and the decorative member of such a piece of jewelry abut against the plane skin and act to press out the bar from the plane skin surface. On a short view the risk of irritation and infection increases, while on a slightly longer view the risk increases that such a straight piece of jewelry is rejected by and migrates out of the body. Purely cosmetically, it is an advantage that in certain body parts, for instance a navel, a piece of body jewelry with a bent bar has a more attractive appearance.
The design of the bar of the piece of body jewelry affects the requirements placed on the piercing process since a piece of body jewelry with a straight bar can be inserted by completely linear motions, whereas a piece of body jewelry with a bent bar must be inserted by a non-linear motion. This motion can be resembled to a digging motion. The instruments that are known for piercing and positioning of jewelry, however, allow merely piercing and positioning of pieces of body jewelry with straight bars.
Piercing before and positioning of pieces of body jewelry with bent bars therefore take place to a great extent using purely manual aids by the skin in the area in which piercing is to take place, for example a navel, being disinfected and squeezed by a squeezing means in the form of a pair of tongs with loops in such a manner that the desired entry and exit holes are arranged opposite each other. Then piercing takes place by the operator holding a piercing means in the form of a cannula directly by his fingers and manually pressing the same through the skin portion through a marked desired entry hole and a marked desired exit hole. The cannula, which is straight, is pressed by a linear motion through the squeezed skin portion to form a straight passage therethrough. After that the bent bar is moved, by being gripped with the fingers, through the straight passage, which takes place by the operator making a digging motion with the bar. The digging motion is performed in order to reduce trauma to a minimum. By trauma is meant an action exerted on the skin portion and the associated tissue which can cause a remaining or temporary effect. In particular, a mechanical action in the form of pull, pressure or friction is intended. The digging motion means, in practice, that the operator presses the bent bar through the straight passage to form a passage having a curvature which as much as possible corresponds to the curvature of the bar, and a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passage, which as much as possible corresponds to the corresponding cross-section of the bar. This takes place with minimum effect on the surrounding tissue, that is to cause as little trauma as possible. By definition, trauma cannot be avoided but only reduced.
It also happens that the cannula is mounted directly on the bar, whereby the bar is put in place in direct connection with the pressing of the cannula through the skin portion. To fix the piece of body jewelry in the skin, a locking means is mounted on the free end of the bar, which usually takes place manually.
The above described method requires the operator to have great experience and dexterity, and the risk of poor quality piercing is obvious.
Manual piercing is a bloody method, that is the handling is such that it is basically not possible to avoid blood being seen and exposed, which thus involves a serious risk of infection for the operator and discomfort to the person who is being pierced. The manual method also means that the operator is to touch with his fingers all components included in the piece of body jewelry, including the piercing means, and also comes into contact with the skin portion involved, which separately and together with the exposure of blood creates a serious risk of infection for both the patient and the operator. These risks of infection, of course, concern microorganisms which may cause seriously infected wounds, but the risks of infection also concern deadly blood virus, such as HIV and hepatitis.
There is also a need for a technique for piercing and positioning pieces of body jewelry with a bent bar, which proposes simple handling, reduces trauma and allows an aseptic process with respect to both the person being pierced and the operator.

Device for piercing and positioning of body jewellery having a bent bar


The present invention is directed towards a prosthetic anchor (36) including a central layer (1) through which embedded fibers (2), such as artificial tendons, pass in defined pathways (4), a ‘deep’ surface membrane (7) which interfaces with a hard structure, whether that is a prosthesis, a bone, or other hard tissue, and a ‘superficial’ surface membrane (8) which interfaces adjacent tissue and may be configured to adhere or not to adhere to that tissue. The central layer (1) is positioned intermediate the surface membranes (7, 8) which are mechanically and/or adherently attached thereto. Also, non-limiting examples of methods of fabrication and of affixing the anchor (36) to a relatively rigid structure, natural or prosthetic, in a human or animal body with improved stress distribution in the fixed tension member end are taught.

Fixation of prosthetic flexible tension members, such as tendons or ligaments, to relatively rigid structures is a serious problem. A notable example is the use of artificial ligaments, such as the Leeds-Keio anterior cruciate ligament replacement in the knee. In that example, published experience with the usual means of bone fixation—drilling a hole in the tibia, inserting the ligament, and securing with a suture or pin—has included several instances of fragmentation of the polyester fibers of the prosthesis within a few months to a few years. A compression plate fixation has been used whereby tension members are cut and the end grasped between two plates, generally textured and held together by compression screws to grasp the tension member. While this allows greater control of local stress concentration than does a simple bone-hole, in theory it delivers extremely high shear stresses to the tension member locally, which may cause fatigue failure and breakage over the immense number of stress cycles expected to be required.
A knob-loop fixation device has been previously disclosed to address the stress-concentration issue, but requires a substantial thickness that may be disadvantageous. Such thickness could be problematic in some cardiac surgical, plastic and reconstructive surgical, or orthopaedic surgical devices, for example, in regions where skin is quite close to a coupled bone (e.g., the frontal bone in the case of a cosmetic surgical 'brow lift' prosthesis and the olecrenon in an orthopaedic surgical elbow prosthesis). Further, for either of these applications, for other plastic and orthopaedic surgical applications, or for some potential configurations of mechanical energy converters for cardiac power applications, the surface to which the coupler is attached may vary in its contour. Therefore a much thinner adapting terminus, which maintains sufficient flexibility to allow a finite number of size/shape models to conform to anatomy of reasonable individual variation, would be of benefit. Further, a structure with a soft flexible interface to fibers (reducing stress concentration) and yet a harder external surface (to interface with other tissues, adhering or not as desired) would also be advantageous.
Natural tendon ends, which are living tissue, have been connected to 'towel bar' fixtures on artificial bones, over which they are looped and sewn. Because of the shape of tendons—generally flattened in the plane of attachment, the axis of curvature is generally perpendicular to the surface to which they are to be attached. To avoid intolerable protrusion dimensions into surrounding tissue structures, the radius of curvature is very small. Since the compressive stress on a tension member surface, when that tension member is looped about any rod or pulley, is directly proportional to the tension applied and inversely proportional to both the radius of curvature and the projection of contact surface perpendicular to the transmitted tension, compressive forces intolerable by the tension member may be generated. An artificial force transmitting tension member, however, such as an artificial tendon, can be formed in any cross-sectional configuration. This allows the central stabilizing point to be relatively thin, flat, and oriented in the plane of the surface to which the tension member is to be attached.
In contrast to the 'towel bar' concept, the radius of curvature of the present invention may be made substantially larger with only minimal protrusion into surrounding tissue structures. In contrast to the 'knob loop' or 'tangential pulley' concept, the present invention does not require fibers to be organized into a circular cross-section, with imposition of a minimum thickness for a given number of fibers. The number of fibers still dictates the cross-sectional area of the bundle that passes through the matrix, but it can be very wide and quite thin, or any other combination of dimensions dictated by the device (e.g., a mechanical energy converter) or anatomic structure (e.g., a bone) to be joined.

Prosthetic anchor and method of making same


Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling FTP (file transfer protocol) control packets. In general terms, mechanisms are provided for facilitating FTP sessions between devices utilizing different protocols, such as IPv4 and IPv6. For example, FTP control packets from an IPv6 client to an IPv4 server are handled to facilitate such communication. Likewise, FTP control packets from an IPv4 client to an IPv6 server are handled to facilitate such communication. Communication is also facilitated when either or both of the client or server is in the form of a dual-stack device. To facilitate FTP session between devices having different protocols, FTP control packets between two different protocol devices are translated from one protocol to another protocol when required, e.g., from an IPv6 to an IPv4 format or visa versa.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for processing data within a computer network. More specifically, it relates to mechanisms for handling FTP (file transfer protocol) control packets within a data network having IPv4 only devices, IPv6 only devices, and dual-stack devices.
For a particular computer to communicate with other computers or web servers within a network (e.g., the Internet), the particular computer must have a unique IP address. IP protocol version 4 specifies 32 bits for the IP address, which theoretically gives about 4,294,967,296 unique IP addresses. However, there are actually only between 3.2 and 3.3 billion available IP addresses since the addresses are separated into classes and set aside for multicasting, testing and other special uses. With the explosion of the Internet, the number of IP addresses is not enough to give each computer a unique IP address.
One solution for addressing computers with the limited number of IP addresses is referred to as network address translation (NAT). NAT allows an intermediary device (e.g., computer, router or switch) located between the Internet network and a local network to serve as an agent for a group of local computers. A small range of IP addresses or a single IP address is assigned to represent the group of local computers. Each computer within the local group is also given a local IP address that is only used within that local group. However, the group's local IP addresses may duplicate IP address that are used outside of the local network. When a local computer attempts to communicate with a computer outside the local network, the intermediary device matches the local computer's local IP address (and port) to one of the intermediary device's assigned IP addresses (and ports). The intermediary device then replaces the local computer's local address (and port) with the matched assigned IP address (and port). This matched assigned IP address (and port) is then used to communicate between the local computer and the outside computer. Thus, NAT techniques allow IP address to be duplicated across local networks.
Another solution to the lack of available IP addresses is to redesign the address format to allow for more possible IP addresses. The recent introduction of IPv6 provides 128 bits for the IP address, as compared with IPv4 which provides 32 bits for the IP address. However, until all network devices and computers are converted to IPv6, it is still necessary to allow an existing IPv4 device to communicate with an IPv6 device. One popular method that allows IPv4 to IPv6 communication is referred to as protocol translation (NAT-PT). The IP addresses are converted by NAT-PT from one protocol to another protocol (e.g., IPv4 to IPv6 or vice versa). In addition to the IP addresses, the NAT-PT also converts any relevant IPv4 or IPv6 information during a protocol translation. Several embodiments of NAT-PT are described in Internet Engineering Task Force's Request for Comments document RFC 2766, entitled "Network Address Translation—Protocol Translation (NAT-PT)" by G. Tsirtsis and P. Srisuresh (February 2000), which document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A packet may also contain address(es) embedded in the payload that require translation. Particular applications may embed address(es) in the payload for various application specific purposes, such as DNS (domain name system), FTP (file transfer protocol), or H.225/H.245. Consider a topology where IPv4-only devices, IPv6-only devices and dual-stack devices coexist in a network. The same topology may also contain disparate networks that are IPv4-only (with only IPv4 devices) and networks that are IPv6-only (with only IPv6-devices). With the rising need for moving to IPv6 networks, this kind of topology is a very possible real world situation. In such a topology, and considering the fact that FTP is one of the most commonly used protocols by any IPv4 or IPv6 device, there is an immediate need for any FTP client to be able to use any FTP server. For example, an IPv4 client should be able to download/upload files from an IPv6 server located within the client's network or outside the client's network. Similarly, an IPv6 device should be able to download/upload files from an IPv4 device.
Currently, there are no mechanisms that allow an FTP session between an IPv4 and IPv6 server, and visa versa. In these situations, the FTP control packets have IP addresses (IPv4 or IPv6) embedded in the payload. Also, the commands understood by IPv4 FTP client and IPv4 FTP server are different from the commands understood by IPv6 FTP client and IPv6 FTP server. An IPv4 formatted address and IPv4 formatted control command will not be understood by an IPv6 device. Likewise, an IPv6 formatted address and IPv6 formatted control command will not be understood by an IPv4 device. Therefore, FTP downloads and FTP uploads do not work from IPv4 to IPv6 and vice versa because of the disparate command and address formats.
In view of the above, there is a need for improved mechanisms for facilitating FTP sessions between a client and server which utilize different protocols, such as IPv4 and IPv6.


The diathermic fluid heat generator comprises a plurality of pipe nests for fluid circulation, which define the internal walls of a combustion chamber, where the diathermic fluid is heated directly by radiation; and at least a pipe nest in a conveying path for the combustion gas, where the fluid is heated in countercurrent by convection. A fluid distributing header unit comprises an inlet header section, an outlet header section and a main header section having an annular form, positioned at the front side of the combustion chamber. The pipe nest of the gas conveying path is connected in series to the pipe nests of the combustion chamber, by the main header section. Moreover temperature and pressure control means are provided for controlling the fluid circulation; the control means comprise a temperature and pressure detecting device in each section of the fluid distributing header, and an electronic control unit fed by temperature and/or pressure control signals generated by each detecting device to monitor and control the generator operation.

The present invention refers to a diathermic fluid heat generator, also said pipe nest heating furnace, of the type described in the preamble of claim 1, by which it is possible to carry out a selective control of the thermal fluid circulation to detect the starting of possible cracking phenomena or unusual operating conditions.
In several fields, in particular in the production of synthetic fibres and yarns, it is required to dispose of large quantities of thermal energy at high temperature, maintaining low operating pressures of the plant for safety as well as for management economy reasons.
It is also known that some type of synthetic oils, more generally known as diathermic oils, used as heat transfer fluid, even at temperatures in the range of some hundreds of degrees, have a very low vapour pressure, typically of some bars, with respect to pressure values which are remarkably higher than the steam used as thermal fluid for heat transfer.

Fluid heat generator, with selective control of the flow


Colloidal fluids having improved insulating and/or cooling properties. Embodiments of the invention involve colloidal fluids which comprise a carrier liquid and a dispersed phase of non-metallic particles, wherein the colloidal fluid has a saturation magnetization of less than about 50 Gauss. The compositions may be employed to insulate and/or cool electromagnetic devices, including high power devices, such as power transformers.

Liquid insulation in an electromagnetic device, such as a power transformer, is subject to different types of voltages: AC voltages having a wide range of amplitudes and frequencies, and impulse (essentially, short-lived DC) voltages of even higher amplitude. The ability of liquid insulation to withstand the stresses imposed by electric fields of a particular voltage is often the most important property of such an insulation. This determines whether a particular liquid can be used as an insulation in a transformer (or any other electromagnetic device where high voltage is employed) of a given voltage rating. The selection of an insulation is important in that it can determine the design of all of the main elements of the device.
Typically, the highest voltage stressing the liquid insulation is the impulse (lightning) voltage. When the volume of liquid insulation is subjected to a critical dielectric stress produced by rising to its peak value impulse voltage, an insulation breakdown may occur.
To maximize the efficiency of electrical energy transmission and distribution, it is often necessary to utilize high current densities and high AC voltages inside the electromagnetic device. High currents lead to increased heat generation, while high voltage increases the level of electric stress applied to the insulation components of an electromagnetic device. Increased heat generation limits the maximum current which can be safely carried by the conductive elements of an electromagnetic device, and also increases the costs associated with the transmission, distribution, and final use of electrical energy due to the increased need for conductive materials. This also results in an overall increase in the weight and size of a given electromagnetic device. High electric stress also limits the voltage drop per unit of space inside an electromagnetic device, thereby leading to increased costs associated with the transfer of energy from generation point to the final user. Moreover, to compensate for higher stress, it is often necessary to increase the space between winding turns filled with insulation liquid, such as transformer oil, thereby further increasing transformer dimensions and cost.
Since electric current generates both heat and electric stress, it is important that the electric insulation performs two different functions continuously: (a) prevents current flow between different conductive components having different voltages; and (b) transfers heat from the windings and magnetic core to the outer walls of the device to be cooled. The dielectric properties of the liquid insulation are the most critical ones, for they are responsible for the functioning of a high voltage electromagnetic device, and dielectric strength of an insulation liquid cannot be compromised. As a result, practically all prior art liquid insulation systems have substantially high dielectric strength, low electric conductivity and high levels of purity; it is believed that this latter property is necessary for desirable dielectric strength. However, liquid insulation systems of the prior art also possess low heat conductivity, which prevents efficient heat transfer via conduction. Instead, electromagnetic devices generally employ Archimedes convection which results from the expansion of liquid insulation, e.g., transformer oil, upon heating to elevated temperatures so an Archimedes force develops which lifts the hot (and less dense) oil up and pushes the cold (more dense) oil down. Thus, thermal convection is established and heat transfer becomes possible from the windings to the outer wall of an electromagnetic device. This type of heat transfer, however, has relatively low efficiency and requires that there be provided special paths (ducts) inside the windings and the magnetic core so that the oil can flow through the hottest inner sections of the parts of the device which generate heat. Relying on heat transfer through the rather inefficient mechanism of Archimedes convection leads to an increase in the size of the device as well as an increase in cost by lowering the amount of conductive or magnetic material per unit volume. Moreover, even if the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure heat transfer, so-called hot spots can develop inside the windings/magnetic core assembly which further limits the voltage and current.
Prior art liquid insulation systems perform their functions within a limited range of current, voltage, and environmental conditions which define the power rating of an electromagnetic device. There is a need to expand these limits so that high power, i.e., higher voltage or current, can be transmitted via the device without compromising its safety and reliability, or so that the same power can be transmitted but with a smaller and less costly device. The present invention is directed to this, as well as other important ends.


An improved output buffer circuit applicable to dynamic random access memories (DRAms) is disclosed. First power supply voltage Vcc1 is supplied to a conventional output main amplifier 3ai. Second power supply voltage Vcc2 is supplied to output driver circuit 4i. Potential fixing circuit 3bi operated in response to power supply failure detecting signal PFR of first power supply voltage Vcc1 is connected to the output of output main amplifier circuit 3ai. When second power supply voltage Vcc2 is applied without first power supply voltage Vcc1 being supplied, the gates of driving transistors Q1 and Q2 are fixed to ground potential in response to the signal PFR. Consequently, undesired current consumption is avoided, since a penetrating current does not flow through transistors Q1 and Q2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device supplied with an additional power supply voltage for a data output driving circuit. The present invention has particular applicability to Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAMs).
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, high integration of a semiconductor memory has been realized, and storage capacity of the semiconductor memory has been increased. The demand for the semiconductor memory having multi-bits configuration is increased as the storage capacity increases. The semiconductor memory having multi-bits configuration can handle data, for example, in 1 byte (8 bits) or 2 bytes 2.0 (16 bits) unit. It means that the semiconductor memory having multi-bits configuration can simultaneously read and write a plurality of bits of data.
Generally, a number of semiconductor memories are placed on a printed circuit load (memory board), and their data output terminals are connected to data buses. Accordingly, when data stored in a semiconductor memory is read out, the semiconductor memory drives a data bus (load) connected to a data output terminal in response to the read out data signal. In order to drive the data bus, the semiconductor memory comprises at its output stage a driving circuit for driving the data bus. Generally, the load which must be driven by the driving circuit is large, since the long data bus is provided on the memory board. Therefore, the driving circuit is constructed by a transistor having large current driving capability.
Since the driving circuit provided within the semiconductor memory needs to drive such a large load as mentioned above, it consumes much current, i.e. power. When a single power supply voltage is supplied not only to the primary circuits constituting the semiconductor memory, namely, a memory cell array and a sense amplifier, but to the driving circuit, a power supply voltage level is decreased by current consumption in the driving circuit. The decrease of the power supply voltage causes malfunction of the primary circuits in the semiconductor memory. Recently, for the purpose of preventing the decrease of the power supply voltage supplied to the primary circuits, additional power supply voltage for the driving circuit is applied to the semiconductor memory. Therefore, although the driving circuit consumes much current, malfunction of the primary circuits in the semiconductor memory caused by that current consumption can be avoided.
Furthermore, the semiconductor memory supplied with two power supply voltages also has an advantage in view of noise control as mentioned in the following description. When a single power supply voltage is supplied, it is difficult to transmit noise generated in the driving circuit to the power supply, that is,, noise hardly escapes, since impedance of a gold line connected between a power supply lead and a bonding pad formed in the semiconductor substrate is high. Therefore, in this case, peripheral circuits in the semiconductor memory are easily affected by noise. However, when two or more power supply voltages are supplied, noise generated in the driving circuit is easily transmitted to the power supply, that is, from the semiconductor memory to outside (noise easily escapes). As a result, peripheral circuits in the semiconductor memory are rarely affected by noise.
In view of the advantages mentioned above, two or more power supply voltages are applied to recent semiconductor memories having multi-bits configurations. A plurality of power supply voltages are supplied to the semiconductor memory through a plurality of power supply lines provided on the memory board, but their timings are often different from each other, because the plurality of power supply lines have different lengths and hence different impedances. As a result, even if a plurality of power supply voltages are simultaneously provided to the memory board, the timings of these power supply voltages supplied to the semiconductor memory often differ. It should be noted that, depending on the situation, there may be a case where one of a plurality of power supply voltages is not supplied because of some failure.
In the-following description, at first the semiconductor memory will be described. Next, there will be a description of possible problems caused when the timings of a plurality of power supply voltages differ, or when one of the power supply voltages is not applied. The present invention is generally applicable to the semiconductor memories, and a dynamic random access memory (referred to as "DRAM" hereinafter) will be described as one example in the following description.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional DRAM. Referring to FIG. 5, the DRAM la comprises a primary circuit 2a energized by an externally applied first power supply voltage Vcc1, and an output driving circuit 4 energized by a second power supply voltage Vcc2. Primary circuit 2a comprises a memory cell array 60 including. memory cells arranged in rows and columns, an address input buffer 63 for receiving externally applied address signals AO to Am, a row decoder 61 for decoding a row address signal RA, a column decoder 62 for decoding a column address signal CA, and a sense amplifier 64 for amplifying data signals read out from memory cells. Sense amplifier 64 is connected to an output buffer circuit 3a and to an input latch circuit 65 through an IO line.
A clock signal generator 67 generates various control signals for controlling DRAM 1a in response to an externally applied row address strobe signal /RAS and a column address strobe signal /CAS. An OE buffer 68 receives an externally applied output enable signal /OE to provide a signal OEM. A power on reset circuit 69 is supplied with power supply voltage Vccl to generate a power on reset signal (referred to as "PORI, hereinafter).
Output driving circuit 4 is supplied with second power supply voltage Vcc2 to drive a load connected to I/O terminals DQl to DQn, namely, a data bus DB in response to n-bit data signals generated from output buffer circuit 3a. I/O latch circuit 65 is connected to I/O terminals DQl to DQn through a bypass line bypassing output driving circuit 4.
In write operation, since a write enable signal /W falls, n bit data signals applied through terminals DQl to DQn are latched in latch circuit 65. The latched signals are written into the memory cell designated by external address signals AO to Am. In read operation, n-bit stored data signals are read out from the memory cell designated by external address signals AO to Am. output buffer circuit 3a applies n-bit data signals to output driving circuit 4 in response to output enable signal /OE. Output driving circuit 4 drives data bus DB connected to terminals DQl to DQn in response to the applied data signals.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an output main amplifier 3ai provided in an output buffer circuit 3a and a circuit 4i provided in output driving circuit 4 shown in FIG. 5. Circuits 3ai and 4i handle 1 bit read out data signal, namely, an ith data signal RDi. In other words, output buffer circuit 3a and output driving circuit 4 shown in FIG. 5 comprise n-circuits 3ai and 4i shown in FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 6, a first stage circuit 5 comprises PMOS transistors 11 and 12, and NMOS transistors 13 and 14 connected in series between power supply voltage Vcc1 and ground Vss1. The ith read out data signal RDi is applied to the gates of transistors 12 and 13 constituting an inverter. First stage circuit 5 is activated in response to data obtaining signals DOT and /DOT generated from clock signal generator 67 shown in FIG. 5, to apply read out data signal RDi t-o a latch circuit 6. Latch circuit 6 comprises two cross coupled CMOS inverters. One CMOS inverter is constructed by a PMOS transistor 15 and an NMOS transistor 16. The other CMOS inverter is constructed by a PMOS transistor 17 and an NMOS transistor 18. Latch circuit 6 applies mutually inverted two signals to a CMOS inverter constructed by a PMOS transistor 19 and an NMOS transistor 20, and to a CMOS inverter constructed by a PMOS transistor 21 and an NMOS transistor 22. These two signals provided from the two CMOS inverters are applied to output timing control circuits 7 and 8, respectively.
Output timing control circuit 7 is constructed by PMOS transistors 23 and 24, and NMOS transistors 25 and 26. When externally applied output enable signal /OE is at a low level, an OE buffer 68 shown in FIG. 5 provides a high level signal OEM. Transistors 24 and 25 are turned off and on, respectively, in response to signal OEM. Accordingly, at this time, output timing control circuit 7 transmits the signal applied to an input node N1 to CMOS inverter 9. When output enable signal /OE is at a high level, transistors 24 and 25 are turned on and off, respectively. Accordingly, at this time, circuit 7 applies a high level signal S2 to inverter 9. Inverter 9 applies a low level signal S1 to driver circuit 4i in response to the applied high level signal.
Output timing control circuit 8 has the same circuit configuration and operates in the same manner as circuit 7. Accordingly, when a high level signal OEM is applied, circuit 8 applies to CMOS inverter 10 an inverted one of the signal applied to a node N2. Therefore, at this time, inverter 10 provides inverted signal S2 and applies it to driving circuit 4i. Since transistors 28 and 29 are turned on and off, respectively when signal OEM is at a low level, CMOS inverter 10 provides a low level signal S2.
Driving circuit 4i comprises NMOS transistors Q1 and Q2 connected in series between second power supply voltage Vcc2 and ground Vss2. A common connection node of transistors Q1 and Q2 is connected to ith data I/O terminal DQi. When output enable signal /OE is at a low level, mutually inverted data signals S1 and S2 are applied to transistors Q1 and Q2, respectively, in response to a high level signal OEM. Consequently, either one of transistors Q1 and Q2 is turned on, and either one of the potential Vcc2 and Vss2 in response to ith readout data RDi is provided through terminal DQi.
When second power supply voltage Vcc2 is applied without any supply of first power supply voltage vccl, there will be a problem as mentioned in the following description. When first power supply voltage Vccl is not applied, output signals S1 and S2 of inverters 9 and 10 indicate an unstable potential. Accordingly, conductive/non conductive state of transistors Q1 and Q2 in driving circuit 4i become unstable. As a result, current consumption is increased, because a penetrating current flows from power supply voltage Vcc2 to ground Vss2 through transistors Q1 and Q2. Depending on the situation, transistors Q1 and Q2 may be damaged because of excessive penetrating current.
Furthermore, because output terminal DQi is connected to Vcc2 or Vss2 through transistors Q1 or Q2 having a low resistance, other circuits or devices connected to output terminal DQi will have an unpreferable influence.

Circuit for decreasing current consumption in data output circuit in case one of two supply voltages fails


A system, method and software for isolating information handling system memory system devices are disclosed. In dual-channel double-data-rate memory system implementations, teachings of the present disclosure facilitate accurate identification of memory system devices that fail diagnostic testing or cause memory errors. A BIOS level application is provided which permits user or application selection and isolation of memory system devices or components, thereby eliminating the need for physical removal of such components during testing as well as permitting continued use of the information handling system with defective memory system devices isolated.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
With the increase in complexity reflected in current information handling system designs has come a corresponding increase in difficulty in diagnosing error messages when the information handling system fails. One area of particular complexity flows from advances in information handling system memory systems and their corresponding devices. One such advance is information handling system support for dual-channel double data rate (DDR) memory.
In one aspect, dual-channel DDR memory generally involves concurrent operation of at least two memory controllers. For every clock cycle, there are preferably two reads executed into the memory. In addition, dual-channel DDR memory systems typically simultaneously employ at least two memory cards or memory sticks. The simultaneous use of multiple devices in dual-channel DDR memory systems in particular, creates significant problems in diagnosing information handling system memory errors.
In operation, many conventional memory software diagnostics typically point to a suspected faulty address location when attempting to ascertain reasons for memory failures. With a dual-channel memory system, identifying precisely which dual-inline-memory-module (DIMM) is at fault or failing using such diagnostic routine is often impossible. The diagnostic problem is further exacerbated in information handling systems employing as many as four (4) DIMMs.
Alternate methods for identifying failing DIMMs in a dual-channel memory system typically involve the expenditure of man hours iteratively disassembling the computer system and alternating the DIMMs included in the information handling system throughout repeated boots. In addition to the resources wasted through such iterative remove and reboot diagnosis routines, computer manufacturers dispatching replacement parts for such systems will frequently need to dispatch entire sets of replacement parts instead of sending replacement parts for only those parts legitimately suspected as defective or faulty. In many instances, if a customer calls an information handling system service center with a memory problem, a dispatch of multiple DIMMs must typically be sent to fix the problem when in fact only one DIMM is defective or faulty. Such scenarios create additional costs and expenses for information handling system servicers or providers in the form of dispatching multiple DIMMs first, and second in the form of later information handling system providers testing of those DIMMs received from the customer to identify those DIMMs which are indeed defective and those which are still operational.

System, method and software for isolating dual-channel memory during diagnostics


An improved non-invasive respiration monitor combines signals from a spirometer and laser chest displacement sensor to reduce signal error. The improved respirations signal can be used for position correction in radiation therapy and imaging applications and can be displayed to a user in breath control techniques.

The present invention relates to respiration sensing equipment and in particular to a respiration sensing device suitable for monitoring respiration during radiation therapy during breath-hold protocols and synchronized breathing protocols.
Accurate monitoring of a patient's breathing can be important in a wide variety of medical applications. In imaging, an accurate knowledge or respiration phase may be used to properly assemble x-ray tomographic or magnetic resonance imaging components acquired during breathing into an image free of image artifacts. In radiation therapy, accurate knowledge of respiration phase may be used to steer or limit the radiation beam to accurately apply radiation to the correct tissue. In a new radiation treatment delivery described in application U.S. Ser. No. 10/702,810 filed on Nov. 6, 2003 and hereby incorporated by reference, accurate knowledge of the respiration phase is used to synchronize the treatment plan phase and respiration phase allowing continuous breathing by the patient during treatment to produce an imaging and radiation treatment.
Current systems for monitoring respiratory motion include: (1) chest displacement sensors that track the surface of the abdomen by measuring the position of a reflective marker on the chest with a fixed camera or by measuring the distance from a fixed point to the surface of the abdomen using a laser-based distance sensor, (2) spirometers measuring air flow into and out of the patient's lungs, and (3) internal markers placed on tissue of interest and monitored using x-rays, magnetic fields, or the like.
Although invasive internal markers provide the most reliable method of target position tracking, convenient non-invasive chest displacement or flow measurement spirometers are widely used in a radiotherapy clinic. Yet, these latter systems have significant disadvantages. Chest displacement systems are strongly affected by variations in set-up. Radiation treatment can extend over many sessions so it is not easy to reproduce the same measurements over the entire course of treatment. Spirometer systems measure air flow only and this signal must be integrated to obtain air volume as a function of time such as provides a measure of respiration. Slight errors in flow measurement accumulate in time and cause signal drift. Generally, spirometers exhibit a nonlinear response to air flow.
When the respiration signal is used for determining precise positioning of tissue for imaging or radiation treatment, set-up sensitivity and drift are significant problems.

Combined laser spirometer motion tracking system for radiotherapy


A catheter for use with a radioactive source within the catheter to irradiate a selected area of a blood vessel in combination with angioplasty procedures, to prevent restenosis of that area of the blood vessel. The catheter has a guidewire channel formed near its distal end to facilitate use of the catheter as a rapid exchange catheter, allowing insertion of the catheter over a guidewire also used in performance of an angioplasty procedure. The catheter can also have a guidewire channel formed near its proximal end to provide an O-ring sealing surface and to facilitate free guidewire movement. The catheter also has a closed end to retain the radioactive source within the catheter. The catheter can also be provided with a centering balloon or a set of centering wire loops to center the radioactive source radially within the blood vessel.

A common problem after performance of a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is the restenosis of the treated area. In fact, restenosis occurs in 30% to 50% of cases. Restenosis occurs, at least in part, as a result of vascular smooth muscle cell migration, proliferation, and neointima formation at the site of the angioplasty. It has been shown that intracoronary delivery of ionizing radiation causes focal medial fibrosis, which when delivered at the site of the angioplasty, impedes the restenosis process. Adjacent coronary segments and the surrounding myocardium are undamaged by the irradiation treatment.
Delivery of the ionizing radiation at the site of the stenosis can be achieved by the introduction of an irradiation ribbon through an infusion catheter. In known systems, the infusion catheter is inserted to the site of the stenosis over a guidewire which may be inserted before, or alternatively, left after, the performance of an angioplasty procedure. After insertion of the infusion catheter, the guidewire is removed from the catheter, and the irradiation ribbon is inserted in its place. The irradiation ribbon typically incorporates a plurality of Iridium-192 seeds or pellets near its distal end. Other sources of ionizing radiation can be used, as well. This plurality of radioactive sources arranged essentially in a line approximates a line source, although the intensity of the radiation will vary axially to some extent, depending upon the spacing and length of the seeds. The irradiation ribbon is inserted to the point where the radioactive material is placed in the area of the stenosis. The Iridium-192 emits gamma radiation having a range of energies between 296 and 612 thousand electron volts (keV).
The currently known systems have several disadvantages. First, the guidewire must be withdrawn before insertion of the irradiation ribbon. Withdrawal of the guidewire is not favored by physicians because it adds at least one step to the procedure, and because it takes additional time. The performance of any additional step presents additional opportunities for complications. Time is of the essence during angioplasty because much of the procedure involves at least partial blockage of the flow of blood in the blood vessel, which can be harmful to the muscle served by the vessel. This problem is compounded during the irradiation procedure, since the radioactive source must often be left in place for several minutes in order to deliver the desired dose of radiation to the vascular tissue. The time problem can be further compounded by the need to reinsert the guidewire after delivering the radiation, in some cases.
A second disadvantage of known systems is that the irradiation ribbon is exposed to blood flow in the infusion catheter, and it is even possible that some of the radioactive seeds could be lost out the distal end of the infusion catheter, or the irradiation ribbon itself can break.
A third disadvantage is that location of the radioactive material radially within the blood vessel is largely uncontrolled. Rotation of the infusion catheter may assist in centering the radiation source within the stenosis, in some cases, but this method is not always effective. Centering of the radioactive material within the tissues injured by the angioplasty may be required, because it is important to deliver a known dose of radiation uniformly to the affected tissue. The intensity of gamma radiation emanating from a line source varies inversely with the square of the radial distance from the source. Therefore, if the radiation source is not centered within the blood vessel, the dose delivered to one side of the vessel can vary greatly from the dose delivered to the opposite side. In addition, if the line source lies at an angle to the centerline of the vessel, rather than being concentric therewith, or at least parallel thereto, the dose delivered can vary axially by an appreciable amount, throughout the length of the stenosis. In some cases, it can even be desirable to position the radiation source parallel to, but offset from, the centerline of the blood vessel, if it is desired to irradiate one side of the stenosis more than the other side. This can be desirable if restenosis is expected to result more from proliferation of the tissues on one side than on the far side.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter assembly for irradiation of a stenotic segment of a blood vessel, which can be inserted to the site of the stenosis over a guidewire. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a catheter assembly which can place an irradiation source at a desired location within a blood vessel, both axially and radially. It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide an irradiation catheter assembly which is economical to manufacture and easy to use.


The invention relates to a method for reducing visual artefacts in a digital image, which is coded by blocks (B1, B2, B3, B4) and then decoded. In the method filtering is performed to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary (R12, R13, R24, R34) between a current block and an adjacent block (B1, B2, B3, B4). The filtering is performed after the current block (B1, B2, B3, B4) is decoded and there is a boundary available for filtering between the current block and a previously decoded block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for reducing visual artefacts in a digital image, which is encoded and decoded by blocks, in which filtering is performed to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention also relates to a device for reducing visual artefacts in a digital image, which is encoded and decoded by blocks, the device comprising means for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention also relates to an encoder comprising means for coding and means for locally decoding a digital image by blocks, which encoder comprises means for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention also relates to a decoder comprising means for decoding a digital image by blocks, which decoder comprises means for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention also relates to a terminal comprising an encoder, which comprises means for coding and means for locally decoding a digital image by blocks, means for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention further relates to a terminal comprising means for decoding a digital image by blocks, means for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention further relates to a storage medium for storing a software program comprising machine executable steps for coding and locally decoding a digital video signal by blocks, and for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block. The present invention further relates to a storage medium for storing a software program comprising machine executable steps for decoding a digital video signal by blocks, and for performing filtering to reduce visual artefacts due to a boundary between a current block and an adjacent block.
2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97.
An arrangement like that shown in FIG. 1 is generally used for transferring a digital video sequence in compressed form. The digital video sequence is formed of sequential images, often referred to as frames. In some prior art digital video transmission systems, for example ITU-T H.261/H.263 recommendations, at least three frame types are defined: an I-frame (intra), a P-frame (predicted or inter), and a B-frame (bi-directional). The I-frame is generated solely on the basis of information contained in the image itself, wherein at the receiving end, this I-frame can be used to form the entire image. P-frames are formed on the basis of a preceding I-frame or P-frame, wherein at the receiving stage a preceding I-frame or P-frame is correspondingly used together with the received P-frame in order to reconstruct the image. In the composition of P-frames, for instance motion compensation is used to compress the quantity of information. B-frames are formed on the basis of one or more preceding P-frames or I-frames and/or one or more following P- or I-frames.
The frames are further divided into blocks. One frame can comprise different types of blocks. A predicted frame (e.g. inter frame) may also contain blocks that are not predicted. In other words, some blocks of a P-frame may in fact be intra coded. Furthermore, some video coders may use the concept of independent segment decoding in which case several blocks are grouped together to form segments that are then coded independently from each other. All the blocks within a certain segment are of the same type. For example, if a P-frame is composed mainly of predicted blocks and some intra-coded blocks, the frame can be considered to comprise at least one segment of intra blocks and at least one segment of predicted blocks.
As is well known, a digital image comprises an array of image pixels. In the case of a monochrome image, each pixel has a pixel value within a certain range (e.g. 0-255), which denotes the pixel's luminance. In a colour image, pixel values may be represented in a number of different ways. In a commonly used representation, referred to as the RGB colour model, each pixel is described by three values, one corresponding to the value of a Red colour component, another corresponding to the value of a Green colour component and the third corresponding to the value of a Blue colour component. Numerous other colour models exist, in which alternative representations are used. In one such alternative, known as the YUV colour model, image pixels are represented by a luminance component (Y) and two chrominance or colour difference components (U, V), each of which has an associated pixel value.
Generally, colour models that employ luminance and chrominance components provide a more efficient representation of a colour image than the RGB model. It is also known that the luminance component of such colour models generally provides the most information about the perceived structure of an image. Among other things, this allows the chrominance components of an image to be spatially sub-sampled without a significant loss in perceived image quality. For these reasons colour models that employ a luminance/chrominance representation are favoured in many applications, particularly those in which data storage space, processing power or transmission bandwidth is limited.
As stated above, in the YUV colour model, an image is represented by a luminance component and two chrominance components, Typically, the luminance information in the image is transformed with full spatial resolution. Both chrominance signals are spatially subsampled, for example a field of 16×16 pixels is subsampled into a field of 8×8 pixels. The differences in the block sizes are primarily due to the fact that the eye does not discern changes in chrominance equally well as changes in luminance, wherein a field of 2×2 pixels is encoded with the same chrominance value.
Typically, image blocks are grouped together to form macroblocks. The macroblock usually contains 16 pixels by 16 rows of luminance samples, mode information, and possible motion vectors. The macroblock is divided into four 8×8 luminance blocks and to two 8×8 chrominance blocks. Scanning (and, encoding/decoding) proceeds macroblock by macroblock, conventionally from the top-left to the bottom-right corner of the frame. Inside one macroblock the scanning (and encoding/decoding) order is from the top-left to the bottom-right corner of the macroblock.
Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates a typical encoding and decoding system (codec) used, for example, in the transmission of digital video, a current video frame to be coded comes to the transmission system 10 as input data In(x,y). The input data In(x,y) typically takes the form of pixel value information. In the differential summer 11 it is transformed into a prediction error frame En(x,y) by subtracting from it a prediction frame Pn(x,y) formed on the basis of a previous image. The prediction error frame is coded in block 12 in the manner described hereinafter, and the coded prediction error frame is directed to a multiplexer 13. To form a new reconstructed frame, the coded prediction error frame is also directed to a decoder 14, which produces a decoded prediction error frame Ên(x,y) which is summed in a summer 15 with the prediction frame Pn(x,y), resulting in a reconstructed frame În(x,y). The reconstructed frame is saved in a frame memory 16. To code the next frame, the reconstructed frame saved in the frame memory is read as a reference frame Rn(x,y) and is transformed into a new prediction frame Pn(x,y) in a motion compensation and prediction block 17 according to the formula:Pn(x,y)=Rn[x+Dx(x,y), y+Dy(x,y)]  (1)The pair of numbers [Dx(x,y), Dy(x,y)] is called the motion vector of the pixel at location (x,y) and the numbers Dx(x,y) and Dy(x,y) are the horizontal and vertical shifts of the pixel. They are calculated in a motion estimation block 18. The set of motion vectors [Dx(·), Dy(·)] consisting of all motion vectors related to the pixels of the frame to be compressed is also coded using a motion model comprising basis functions and coefficients. The basis functions are known to both the encoder and the decoder. The coefficient values are coded and directed to the multiplexer 13, which multiplexes them into the same data stream with the coded prediction error frame for sending to a receiver. In this way the amount of information to be transmitted is dramatically reduced.
Some frames can be partly, or entirely, so difficult to predict using only the reference frame Rn(x,y) that it is not practical to use motion compensated prediction when coding them. These frames or parts of frames are coded using intra-coding without any prediction from the reference frame Rn(x,y), and accordingly motion vector information relating to them is not sent to the receiver. In prior art another kind of prediction may be employed for I-frames or those parts of P-frames which are intra-coded, namely intra prediction. In this case, the reference is formed by the previously decoded and reconstructed blocks which are part of the same frame (or slice if independent segment decoding is used).
In the receiver 20, a demultiplexer 21 separates the coded prediction error frames and the motion information transmitted by the motion vectors and directs the coded prediction error frames to a decoder 22, which produces a decoded prediction error frame Ên(x,y), which is summed in a summer 23 with the prediction frame Pn(x,y) formed on the basis of a previous frame, resulting in a decoded and reconstructed frame În(x,y). The decoded frame is directed to an output 24 of the decoder and at the same time saved in a frame memory 25. When decoding the next frame, the frame saved in the frame memory is read as a reference frame Rn(x,y) and transformed into a new prediction frame in the motion compensation and prediction block 26, according to formula (1) presented above.
The coding method used in the coding of prediction error frames and in the intracoding of a frame or part of a P-frame to be sent without using motion prediction, is generally based on a transformation, the most common of which is the Discrete Cosine Transformation, DCT. The frame is divided into adjacent blocks having a size of e.g. 8×8 pixels. The transformation is calculated for the block to be coded, resulting in a series of terms. The coefficients of these terms are quantized on a discrete scale in order that they can be processed digitally. Quantization causes rounding errors, which can become visible in an image reconstructed from blocks, so that there is a discontinuity of pixel values at the boundary between adjacent blocks. Because a certain decoded frame is used to calculate the prediction frame for subsequent predicted (P) frames, these errors can be propagated in sequential frames, thus causing visible edges in the image reproduced by the receiver. Image errors of this type are called blocking artefacts, Furthermore, if intra-prediction is used, blocking artefacts may also propagate from block to block within a given frame. In this case blocking artefacts typically lead to visual effects which are specific to the type of intra prediction used. It should therefore be appreciated that there exists a significant technical problem relating to the spatial and temporal propagation of blocking artefacts in digital images that are coded for transmission and subsequently decoded.
The principles presented above are also applicable to a situation where segmented frames are used. In that case the coding and decoding is performed in segments of the frame, according to the type of blocks in each segment.
It should also be noted that although the preceding discussion and much of the following description concentrates on application of the invention to image sequences, such as digital video, the method according to the invention may also be applied to individual digital images (i.e. still images). Essentially, the method according to the invention may be applied to any digital image that is encoded and/or decoded on a block-by-block basis using any encoding/decoding method.
Furthermore, the method according to the invention may be applied to any luminance or colour component of a digital image. Taking the example of an image represented using a YUV colour model, as introduced above, the method according to the invention may be applied to the luminance (Y) component, to either chrominance component (U or V) to both chrominance components (U and V), or to all three components (Y, U and V). In this case, where it is known that the luminance component provides more perceptually important information relating to image structure and content, it may be sufficient to apply the method according to the invention only to the luminance component, but there is no limitation on the number or combination of luminance/colour/colour difference components to which the method according to the invention may be applied.
Some prior art methods are known for removing blocking artefacts. These methods are characterized by the following features:                determining which pixels require value correction in order to remove a blocking artefact,        determining a suitable low-pass filtering for each pixel to be corrected, based on the values of other pixels contained by a filtering window placed around the pixel,        calculating a new value for the pixel to be corrected, and        rounding the new value to the closest digitized pixel value.
Factors that influence the selection of a filter and the decision whether to use filtering can be, for example, the difference between the values of pixels across the block boundary, the size of the quantization step of the coefficients received as the transformation result, and the difference between the pixel values on different sides of the pixel being processed.
In prior art methods, the filtering of blocking and other types of visual artefacts is performed frame by frame, i.e. the whole frame is first decoded and then filtered. As a result, the effects of blocking artefacts easily propagate within a frame or from one frame to the next. This is especially true when predictive intra-coding is used.
It has been found that prior art methods also tend to remove lines that belong to real features of the image. On the other hand, prior art methods are not always capable of removing all blocking or blocking-related artefacts.
A primary objective of the method according to the invention is to limit the propagation of blocking artefacts within frames and from one frame to another. Another objective of the present invention is to present a new kind of filtering arrangement for removing blocking and other blocking-related artefacts which are especially visible when predictive intra-coding is used. The invention also has the objective that the method and associated device operate more reliably and efficiently than prior art solutions.

Method for filtering digital images, and a filtering device


An envelope comprising a tear strip that functions as an efficient opening means for access to the envelope contents.

The invention is an easy to open envelope that provides the user easy access to its contents, by virtue of a tape strip located along one side edge of the envelope body.
The stationery envelope has been an indispensable tool for communication throughout the last century, and, accordingly, much effort has been focused on making the design, manufacture and user-friendliness of this instrument more efficient and economical. In particular, several attempts have been made to improve the technical design of the envelope to allow the user easier access to the envelope contents, while at the same time reducing the risk of accidentally tearing the envelope body and damaging its contents or causing injury to the user.
The use of tear guides has been one means of providing simple, controlled access to the envelope contents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,161,958 (MacDonald) discloses an envelope in which a cutting element is secured to the inner face of the rear section of the envelope. The cutting element, which may be a thin, twisted ribbon of cellophane, is secured between the upper and lower edges of the inner rear face of the envelope. In this position, according to the patent, the cutting element is in a concealed and inaccessible position within the envelope. Arced perforations near one or both corners of the rear section expose one or both ends of the cutting element at the back of the envelope, allowing the exposed ends to be grasped and pulled outward with a slitting motion to open the envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,956,727 (Chevan) describes an envelope that includes a side strip secured to the inside of the front panel near the fold between the front and rear sections of the envelope. The portion of the strip that is between the front and rear sections has a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on either side, which permits the strip to function as a tearing member. The strip also allows functions as a re-sealing member that can be inserted between the open edges of the envelope to close it after it has been opened. An exposed portion of the strip containing no adhesive extends beyond the upper edge of the front panel, and when the envelope is sealed, this exposed portion is partially positioned beneath the upper sealing flap to provide an end or tab that can be lifted by the user and pulled to remove the strip and open the envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,908 (Shelley) discloses a paper stationery envelope with a combination of corner guides and an internal tear strip of paper, plastic or cloth placed on the interior surface of the envelope along substantially the entire length of one or more edge folds of the envelope. The strip placed along the edge fold extends either over the entire length of the edge fold or close to the end of each edge, but, in any event, does not extend beyond the edges and there is no external indication of its presence.
This prior art, while recognizing the need for an envelope that can be torn open without detriment to the contents, has not solved the problem of providing an envelope with a reliable tear mechanism that can readily be identified by the user, and which is easy to manufacture on-line in a machine process for making envelopes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easy-open envelope equipped with a tear mechanism that is visible to the user yet appropriately placed so as not to detract from other indicia located on the envelope, or to be accidentally snagged or otherwise engaged to permit unintentional opening of the envelope. In this respect, the invention is an envelope comprising a tape strip extending the length of one side edge of the front panel of the envelope and the corresponding region of the seal flap. Removal of the tear strip via a pull mechanism allows efficient removal of the side fold area of the envelope along a prefabricated opening while avoiding damage to the envelope contents.
In one aspect, therefore, the invention is an envelope comprising: a body formed from a front panel, the front panel having two opposing side edges, and a rear panel also having two opposing side edges; an overlapping seal flap which is foldably connected to the front panel; side flaps, each side flap being formed as an extension of a side edge of the front panel; and a tape strip affixed in contiguous, unbroken fashion along one side edge of the front panel and along the corresponding side edge of the seal flap; wherein the cut edge of the tape strip at the free edge of the seal flap is contiguous with and symmetrical in alignment to said free edge of the seal flap; a perforated region along the length of the seal flap adjacent to the tape strip; and a perforated region in the lower region of the front panel, said perforation being disposed at an angle in relation to the lower end of the tape strip; wherein a rip tab is formed by the aligned free edges of the tape strip and seal flap and said perforated region along the length of the seal flap.
The tape strip may be formed from any suitable adhesive, reinforcing material that is itself tear-resistant. For example, the tape strip may be formed form plastic tape or fiber-reinforced paper or plastic tape. Typically, the tape is adhesive-backed or is affixed to the envelope body with an adhesive. Desirably, the length of tape is not visible from the outside of the envelope. The tape strip may be formed of a transparent, colored, white or opaque material, and may optionally be printed, for example with a pattern or with text, such as advertising information.
Preferably, the tape strip is applied along one side of the front panel of an envelope blank, which has been scored and so divided into a front panel, rear panel, seal flap and side panels. The length of the tape strip may be extended beyond the length of the front panel and along the length of a corresponding region of the seal flap. Typically, before application of the tape strip to the seal flap, a gummy adhesive is applied to form a seal zone which, when adhered to the outside of the rear panel, forms the envelope closure. The tape strip may or may not overlap the seal zone, depending on the design and configuration of the seal flap. After the tape strip is applied to the blank, the corners of the seal flap are tapered by trimming the ends of the corners in an angular or curved fashion. This trimming step cuts through the excess paper substrate as well as the length of tape strip affixed to the excess substrate, and provides an identical cut line over the substrate material of the seal flap as well as the tape. After trimming, the upper free edge of the tape strip is contiguous with and symmetrically aligned to the upper free edge of the corresponding corner of the seal flap. A perforation may then be made along the region of tape affixed to the seal flap. The perforation may partially extend along the length of the tape strip, or it may extend along the entire length of the tape strip. In practice, the perforation permits the end of the tape, which is not itself covered by the gummy adhesive on the seal flap, to be lifted and torn away from the envelope body. The end of the tape strip thus forms a rip tab that allows easy initiation of the tearing action. In this respect, the seal flap and the attached rip tab so formed can be run through a stamp cancellation machine without being snagged or torn away by the equipment. An additional perforation may be included at or near the bottom of the front panel, to improve the tearing performance of the tape strip. This lower perforation may be angled between the side and lower edges of the front panel. The presence of both perforations, on the seal flap and on the lower front panel, allows the tape strip to be more precisely torn away from the envelope body such that the tear line is kept at or close to the edge of the tape strip itself.
To complete formation of the envelope, an adhesive is applied to the side flaps, after which the envelope throat is then formed by folding the rear panel to face the front panel, folding the side flaps inward, then folding and affixing the rear panel over the exteriors of the side panels.


A shaving aid including a lubricant and an antioxidant in accordance with general formula (I). Also provided is shaving aid including a lubricant and an antioxidant in accordance with general formula (I), in which the lubricant includes a water soluble polymer with an initial molecular weight of at least 1,000,000 g/mol. The water soluble polymer exhibits a molecular weight loss of less than 500,000 g/mol within a predefined time period.

Hair removal devices such as razors and hair removal heads such as razor cartridges often incorporate shaving aids to provide lubrication benefits during use. Shaving aids may include a lubricant and a carrier matrix such as a structurant or polymer matrix in which the lubricant is dispersed. Alternately, the lubricant may comprise a major portion of the shaving aid and the shaving aid may lack a carrier matrix, such as in pressed-pellet type shaving aids, or shaving aids included in a container. Shaving aids that include a polymer matrix may include extruded shaving aids in which the carrier matrix material is a polymer. Shaving aids that include a structurant may include melt-formed shaving aids in which the carrier matrix material is a non-polymeric room-temperature solid.
Shaving aids can also take a variety of forms. One common form is the lubristrip, which is typically integrated into the hair removal head such as the cartridge of a razor to provide lubrication during shaving. Another common form is a "wing" or "soap wing" which are disposed outward of the cartridge, and generally attached to it. Other common forms include pressed powders such as tablets and liquid shaving aids that may be used separately from the hair removal device or dispensed from a container within the hair removal device.
The lubricant is most commonly composed, at least partly, of polyethylene oxide (PEO), also called POLYOX™ (Dow Chemical). PEO is a high molecular weight water soluble polymer. When activated by water during the shave cycle, the PEO deposits onto the skin, adding a layer of lubrication. PEO in water is a viscoelastic fluid, and the rheological properties are directly correlated to the coefficient of friction (CoF) of the fluid. As the molecular weight of the polymer increases, the viscoelastic fluid properties increase as well, which can lead to a lower CoF.
Many currently marketed shaving aids use a matrix polymer material of high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The shaving aid is formed by co-extruding the matrix polymer (e.g. HIPS) and the PEO under set conditions. Importantly, the matrix (i.e., the HIPS) must be flowable during extrusion, which requires heating and/or shearing of the HIPS/PEO mixture.
High temperatures and/or shear such as that experienced during processing, or storage and use conditions such as high temperatures and/or exposure to water and/or oxygen, can limit the stability (i.e., in-process stability and long-term stability such as on-shelf stability) of the PEO. Further, the availability and/or effectiveness of stabilizing agents may be limited by the processing conditions (i.e. temperature, shear). By way of example, commercially available PEO products may include an antioxidant, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), to help maintain the stability of the PEO. Unfortunately, BHT and other known antioxidants suffer from one or more critical disadvantages when applied to shaving aids, and particularly to shaving aids that are heated and/or sheared during manufacture.
Thus, there is a need for an improved shaving aid that maintains the stability of the lubricant and avoids the known disadvantages of antioxidants.


The storage box employs an inner box surrounded by an outer box. The inner box houses an electronic control unit. Between the two boxes is a space in which air circulates to cool the electronic control unit. A hole in the inner box is sealed with a filter that is impervious to water but allows air to freely pass. Thus, the electronic control unit is cooled without being damaged by water and dirt in the cooling air.

To assist in understanding the context of the Invention, a conventional insulation terminal and a method for producing the same will be described below by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4.
Automobiles are equipped with electronic units for controlling various devices such as electronic fuel injection systems, antilock brakes, and the like. These units can be placed in the passenger compartment or the engine compartment. In the former case, as shown in FIG. 3, control unit 1 is disposed in passenger compartment 2a of automobile 2. Wire harness W/H must pass from engine compartment 2b to passenger compartment 2a. Not only would this require wire harness W/H to be long, it also necessitates an opening in panel 2c which separates the passenger compartment from the engine compartment. This requires complex operations and increases costs.
On the other hand, if the control unit is located in the engine compartment, it is exposed to water which can enter the compartment and thereby damage the unit. Moreover, the heat generated by the engine also presents a serious problem. These units contain semi-conductors which do not have adequate heat resistance. In order to obtain such resistance, special semi-conductors must be used. This also increases the cost.
Another solution for protecting the electronic control units has been suggested in Japanese Patent Application number 7-321584. In this Application, a storage box protects the electronic control units and is disposed in the engine room. As shown in FIG. 4, electronic control unit 1 is stored in inner box 3 which, in turn, is stored in outer box 4. Outer box 4 is sealed with cover 5. Spaces 5A and 5B are formed between inner box 3 and outer box 4 to allow cool air to circulate between the two boxes and prevent overheating. Inner box 3 is watertight due to a seal at opening 3a. Since inner box 3 is watertight, it prevents water from entering the inside of inner box 3 and damaging the electronic control units.
Heat is generated by the electronic control units which, in turn, increases the temperature inside inner box 3. It has also been found that, with the storage box shown in FIG. 4, the temperature in spaces 5A and 5B is lower than the temperature inside inner box 3. This difference in temperature results in a negative pressure because air tries to flow from the inside of inner box 3 into spaces 5A and 5B, but is prevented from doing so because inner box 3 is watertight. This negative pressure causes the inner box to deform, which, in turn, creates a gap that allows water and dirt to enter.

Storage box for electronic control units


Systems and methods for generating an integrated market and credit loss distribution for the purpose of calculating one or more risk measures associated with a portfolio of instruments are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, compound risk factor sampling is performed that comprises conditionally generating multiple systemic credit driver samples for each market risk factor sample generated per time step of a simulation. There are also disclosed systems and methods for determining an optimal number of sample values for each of the market risk factors, systemic credit drivers, and optionally, idiosyncratic credit risk factors that would be required in order to obtain an acceptable amount of variability in the calculated risk estimates and/or to satisfy an available computational budget.

Financial institutions, resource-based corporations, trading organizations, governments, and others may employ risk management systems and methods to measure risk associated with portfolios comprising credit-risky instruments, such as for example, the trading book of a bank. Accurately evaluating the risk associated with a portfolio of instruments may assist in the management of the portfolio. For example, it may allow opportunities for changing the composition of the portfolio in order to reduce the overall risk or to achieve an acceptable level of risk to be identified.
Evaluating the risk associated with a portfolio is a non-trivial task, as instruments (e.g. securities, loans, corporate bonds, credit derivatives, etc.) in the portfolio can be of varying complexity, and may be subject to different types of risk. An instrument may lose value due to adverse changes in market risk factors, for example. An instrument may also lose value due to changes in the credit state (e.g. a downgrade) of the counterparty associated with the instrument, for example. Consider, by way of illustration, that the price of a bond generally declines as interest rates rise. Interest rates are examples of market risk factors. Further examples of market risk factors may include equity indices, foreign exchange rates, and commodity prices.
Also consider, by way of illustration, that an AA-rated counterparty associated with an instrument of the portfolio may transition to a credit state with a lower rating (e.g., B) or one with a higher rating (e.g., AAA), resulting in an accompanying decrease or increase, respectively, in the values of its financial obligations. These changes may, in turn, affect the values of the associated instrument. In an extreme case, a counterparty may default, typically leaving creditors able to recover only some fraction of the value of their instruments with the counterparty.
Credit state migrations (e.g. transitions to different credit states) may be determined by evaluating movements of a creditworthiness index calculated for a specific counterparty. The creditworthiness index may be based on values of a number of systemic credit drivers that generally affect all counterparties and of an idiosyncratic credit risk factor associated with the specific counterparty.
The systemic credit drivers may comprise macroeconomic variables or indices, such as for example, gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rates, and country/industry indices. Accordingly, these systemic credit drivers generally provide a credit correlation between different counterparty names in a portfolio. In contrast, each idiosyncratic credit risk factor is a latent variable independently associated with a specific counterparty name in the portfolio. Accordingly, these idiosyncratic credit risk factors may also be referred to as counterparty-specific credit risk factors herein.
In general, changes to market risk factors and systemic credit drivers tend to be correlated (i.e. in statistical terms, the market risk factors and systemic credit drivers are co-dependent, not independent). Accordingly, many modern risk management systems and methods may be expected to employ methodologies that integrate market and credit risk (e.g. by ensuring that such co-dependence is reflected in the computation of risk measures associated with a portfolio) in order to more accurately assess the financial risks associated with portfolios of interest. Furthermore, approaches that integrate market and credit risk have been further validated by the advent of the International Standard for Banking Regulations Basel II.
To evaluate risk associated with a portfolio, at least some risk management systems and methods perform simulations in which a portfolio of instruments evolves under a set of scenarios (e.g. a set of possible future outcomes, each of which may have an associated probability of occurrence) over some specified time horizon. The losses (or gains) that a portfolio of interest may incur over all possible scenarios might be represented by a loss distribution. With knowledge of the loss distribution associated with the portfolio, it is possible to compute a risk measure for the portfolio of interest.
However, as it is not possible to determine the exact loss distribution analytically, it may be approximated by an empirical distribution. By way of simulation, under each scenario, an individual loss sample may be generated. The scenario used to generate a given loss sample may represent a certain specific set of market and credit conditions, identified by particular sampled values of market risk factors, systemic credit drivers and/or idiosyncratic credit risk factors defined for the respective scenario.
The loss samples generated under a plurality of scenarios may be used to generate the empirical distribution that approximates the actual loss distribution. Accordingly, it will be understood that the larger the number of scenarios used in the simulation and thus the larger the number of loss samples generated, the more accurate the approximation of the actual loss distribution will be.
Estimates of risk measures associated with the portfolio may then be computed based on the empirical distribution that approximates the actual loss distribution. In this regard, the quality of the estimated measurement of risk will also depend on the number of loss samples generated. It will be understood that the individual loss samples may also be referred to collectively as a "loss sample", and the number of individual loss samples may be referred to as the size of the "loss sample".
Some known risk management systems generate loss samples according to a methodology that may be classified as a "simple sampling" approach. In accordance with a "simple sampling" approach, to generate a given loss sample, a corresponding market risk factor sample, systemic credit driver sample, and idiosyncratic credit risk factor sample is generated. In order to integrate market and credit risk, the market risk factors and systemic credit drivers are assumed to evolve in accordance with a pre-specified co-dependence structure. It will be understood that in order to obtain N loss samples using this approach, N market risk factor samples, N systemic credit driver samples, and N idiosyncratic credit risk factor samples will be generated in the simulation for a portfolio of interest. Accordingly, the "simple sampling" approach may be considered to be an example of a "brute force" approach to generating loss samples for the portfolio in the simulation.
Some other known risk management systems generate loss samples according to a methodology that may be classified as a "two-tier" approach. In accordance with a "two-tier" approach, a joint sample of market risk factors and systemic credit drivers is combined with multiple samples of idiosyncratic credit risk factor values to obtain multiple loss samples. In order to integrate market and credit risk, the market risk factors and systemic credit drivers are assumed to evolve in accordance with a pre-specified co-dependence structure. The "two-tier" approach attempts to reduce the number of market risk factor and systemic credit driver samples needed to obtain N loss samples. However, it will be understood that if joint samples of market risk factors and systemic credit drivers are employed, where there is a need to consider a larger number of samples of one type of risk factor (e.g. systemic credit drivers), then a larger number of samples of the other type of risk factor (e.g. market risk factors) will be required.
Yet other known risk management systems do not attempt to integrate market and credit risk when evaluating risk associated with a portfolio. For example, some known risk management systems may derive a loss distribution analytically, ignoring the correlation between changes in market risk factors and systemic credit drivers that exists, in reality.

Systems and methods for compound risk factor sampling with integrated market and credit risk


An improved clip, includes two interconnected clip bodies which each is a miror image of the other and which are formed integrately, the supporting point for the pressure action is exactly the connection of the two bodies, a groove is formed between the force action arm of each body and each side of the supporting point, the grooves suit a U shaped spring strip which presses the force action arms of the bodies to render the clamping arms on the opposite ends of the bodies capable of clamping an article.

The present invention relates to an improved clip, especially to the improvement in a clothes clip.
A conventional clothes clip, such as shown in FIG. 1, comprises mainly two separated clip bodies which are pressed to close their arms by a pressure spring; it has the following drawbacks: 1. the two bodies are separated, they need to be aligned., besides, two arms of the pressure spring must be forced into the grooves provided in the bodies, and this is a very hard work to assemble into the grooves; 2. when in use, the clip bodies are subjected to being disconnected due to the structural weakness of the clip.
In view of this, the inventor studied and improved the structure of the clip, and finally produces the present invention, a renovated clip.


A reflector having a reflection pattern for compensating for a lighting characteristic of an LED package includes a body configured to be matched and coupled with the LED package having a discontinuous chip arrangement structure to improve the lighting characteristic of the LED package for divergent light. The body includes an inner wall having a diameter which is increased upwardly to form a narrow bottom and a wide top and including an opening formed at a lower end thereof so as to arrange the LED package therein. The inner wall of the body is formed with a trigonometric cross-wave pattern part which is patterned such that sine wave-type waves curved to form peaks and valleys are arranged to cross in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at predetermined intervals over the whole area. The reflection pattern can compensates for an incomplete lighting characteristic of an LED package itself.

Recently, LEDs have been more widely used as light sources throughout the industry including lighting devices. Thus, researches are actively carried out in each industrial field so as to use LEDs effectively and efficiently.
In particular, researches for LED lamps as new lamps in a concept of replacing traditional lamps have come to greatest prominence.
However, LED-related companies and markets lack basic knowledge of traditional lamps and actual approaches thereof do not fulfill the expectations. In particular, in the price range which is put first in the market, the price of LED lamps is very high to the extent that LED lamps cost five times to twenty times as much as traditional lamps. Thus, in practice, the LED lamps are very inadequate as a replacement for the traditional lighting sources.
For example, a Multifaceted Reflector (MR) lamp of a halogen lamp, which is a kind of traditional lamp, has a form and configuration in which a reflective material is uniformly coated on respective facets on a reflecting plate surface of a pressed glass having a polyhedron structure and the respective facets exhibit a characteristic of optically collecting or concentrating light emitted from a filament. Some MR lamps have a smooth structure rather than a polyhedron structure but yet, are collectively called "MR lamp" or "MR 16" (here, the number 16 indicates the largest diameter size of the MR lamp).
Such MR lamps were originally developed for use as a light source of a slide projector. At present, the MR lamps are widely used for direct lighting, such as indoor lighting of department stores, hotels, restaurants, or the like, or for display lighting.
However, there is an inconvenience in that attention should be paid always when using such an MR lamp which is a kind of traditional lamp since a dangerous situation may occur when the MR lamp is not normally used.
Specifically, the temperature of the filament increases to at least 260° C. and a halogen regeneration cycle is executed during lighting-up. Thus, there is danger of burns due to the high temperature and attention should be paid when handling an object which may be damaged by heat. When the heated filament lamp surface is touched by hand, the lamp may be destroyed. Further, since the MR lamp is not a light source with high efficiency like a fluorescent light, there is a limit in that the MR lamp is not suitable for an application for entire lighting but only for localized lighting.
In order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the existing MR lamps and enhance efficiency, the LED lamps for use in MR lamp replacement, which include a chip type LED module (LED package), are proposed in the forms as illustrated FIGS. 1a and 1b. Most of the LED lamps include a chip type LED package, a heat sink, and a socket.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 1a, a lens unit having a plurality of lenses, of which the number corresponds to the number of LED chips of the LED module in a one-to-one relationship, may be provided, or in some cases, a transparent or translucent cover may be provided instead of the lens unit.
In addition, in order to improve efficiency, the LED lamps may further include a reflector configured to control divergent light of the LED chips.
Here, in order to replace an existing 50 W MR lamp, a chip type LED package with 8 W to 10 W power is used, and in order to replace an existing 20 W MR lamp, a chip type LED package with a 4 W to 5 W power is used.
However, the LED lamps conventionally proposed for use in MR lamp replacement have a problem in that the energy efficiency and lighting efficiency are not so high compared to the existing MR lamps. When the power of the LED packages is increased in order to solve this problem, the efficiency of the LED packages may be improved. However, this newly causes problems of increasing the price. In addition, there is also a problem in that the sizes of the LED lamps as well as the sizes of the LED packages are increased. Further, there is an inconvenience in that a problem of heat dissipation caused by the size increase should be solved.
In addition, an LED package in which a plurality of chips is arranged at an interval basically has an unstable chip arrangement due to discontinuous chip mounting. Due to this, the LED package unavoidably has an incomplete lighting characteristic. This will cause a problem of locally deforming color coordinates, generating a color separation phenomenon. In particular, there is a problem in that, as illustrated in FIG. 9b, a yellow pattern such as a yellow stripe and a black portion are formed on a light radiation surface.
Furthermore, in the LED lamps conventionally proposed for use in MR lamp replacement, the yellow pattern is not removed even though a reflector and/or a cover are provided. Thus, an improvement in terms of efficiency is requested and a product which may be implemented at a low cost is demanded.

Reflector having reflection pattern for compensating for lighting characteristic of LED package and LED lamp including the same