The present invention particularly provides an identification card and an access system for its use. The identification card has recorded thereon visually-readable bearer information and encoded machine-readable data. The encoded machine-readable data includes encoded data representative of a personal identifier of the bearer and encoded data representative of at least one event or transaction. When used in the access system, the identification card is scanned by an information processing apparatus. When the bearer of the identification card presents a personal identifier to the information processing apparatus, the presented personal identifier is analyzed and compared with the encoded personal identifier data. If there is an acceptable correlation between the presented personal information and the encoded personal identifier data, and if there is a determination that access would not exceed a predetermined number of permissible occurrences, access is effected. Subsequent to the provision of such access, or contemporaneously with presentment, the encoded machine-readable data is altered to record the provision of such access.

It is common practice to regulate access to events (or participation in transactions) to authorized individuals. In this regard, several systems have been implemented whereby proof of individual identity is utilized for determining authorization for said access. For certain events, proof of identity is the only requirement for access. Several current identification systems operate sufficiently to satisfy such requirement. For other events, however, access systems (and the selectivity associated therewith) will benefit from automated regulation on the further basis of prior event-related occurrences. While desirable, automated access systems are not known wherein regulated access based on the dual determination of both identity and prior event-related occurrences is achieved satisfactorily, i.e., without incurring problems seemingly inherent in such system. To illustrate such problems, reference may be made to one useful application of an access system, i.e., elections.
In conducting an election, a traditional method for regulating the access of voters to, for example, voting booths is to physically screen and intercept voters as they enter the voting arena. At that time, voting personnel will typically verify that each voter's name is on a master list of registered voters and that the voter has not already voted in that election. This manual verification and certification process is slow, potentially inaccurate, and not easily disposed to practical and efficient automation. Drawbacks--seemingly more pronounced in automated access systems, in general--are manifest. First, it will be appreciated that the security of an access system (automated or manual) based solely on identity verification is often easily circumvented. Second, despite advantage, the addition of a further determinative access parameter relating to the occurrence of prior events frustrates and complicates the design of a practical automated access system.
A desirable goal in the design of an automated access system would be to maximize access while minimizing opportunity for circumventing the system's access parameters. In this regard, for the several applications envisioned for the present system, access should be generally provided based on the principles that (1) an event or transaction should be attended only by an authorized individual; and (2) the event or transaction should be attended only for a predetermined number of occasions. Further, it should be recognized that (1) overlong screening processes generally increase the opportunity for circumvention, and accordingly, an access system should be sufficiently efficient to thereby promote expedient processing; and (2) telecommunication lines--and other means of sharing information across geographical distances--are either non-existent, limited, or poorly developed in those areas where the access system may be foreseeably implemented.

Identification card with delimited usage


An acoustic microscope assembly for atomic level inspection of a target object includes a cantilever arm with a sharp tip on its lower surface and a zinc oxide piezoelectric thin film on its upper surface. High frequency excitation signals, having a frequency of at least 50 Megahertz, are applied to the piezoelectric thin film so as to generate high frequency acoustic signals that are transmitted through the sharp tip so as to impact on a target object. The assembly can either receive acoustic signals reflected by the target object, or it can receive acoustic signals that have propagated through the target object. One method of using this assembly is to apply a continuous wave signal to the piezoelectric thin film while scanning the target object, and measuring characteristics of the target object at various positions thereof by measuring the resonant frequency of the transmitted high frequency acoustic signals. Other methods include pulsed operation, and combining acoustic measurements with atomic force measurements and/or tunneling current measurements to characterize a target object. The acoustic microscope assembly can also be used for storing information on a substrate, by deforming the substrate at selected positions, and for reading such stored information by determining which positions on a substrate have been deformed.

The present invention extends the capabilities of near field acoustic microscopes by (1) using a new scanning probe design, (2) using much higher frequencies than previously used, thereby increasing lateral resolution and making accurate phase measurements possible, and (3) combining the capabilities of near field acoustic microscopy with those of atomic force microscopes, scanning tunneling microscopes, and/or other measurement methods.
Near field acoustic microscopy is one of several microscopy methodologies capable of atomic resolution microscopy. In near field acoustic microscopes the tip of a scanning prove is used to confine acoustic energy at high frequencies to a small diameter equal to that of the tip itself. The tip's diameter is much less than the acoustic wavelength. Acoustic energy quickly spreads out in the lateral direction as the spacing between the tip and a sample is increased. Therefore, in order to realize the full benefit of the confinement of acoustic energy by the narrow tip, it is necessary to observe the sample when it is placed very near the apex of the tip. Hence the name "near field" acoustic microscopy.
There has been previous work in this field. Zieniuk has transmitted sound waves through a narrow tip into water. The waves in the water propagate to the sample and enter the sample with a diameter that is more or less equal to the path length in water. In this situation the lateral resolution is determined by the spacing between the tip and sample. The system is quite inefficient since there is an impedance mismatch between the tip and water, and between the water and sample. J. K. Zieniuk, "Imaging Using Ultrasonic PIN Scanning Microscopy," IEEE Proceedings 1986 Ultrasonics Symposium, edited by B. R. McAvoy, Vol. 2, pp. 1037-1039. See also, W. Durr, D. A. Sinclair and E. A. Ash, "High resolution acoustic probe," Electronic Letters, Vol. 16, pp. 805-806, 1980.
Guthner and Dransfeld have demonstrated a second system by using the sharp corner of a tuning fork. With the tuning fork vibrating at its resonant frequency they brought it near to a sample and determined that the resonant frequency changed in the presence of the sample. The change was proportional to the spacing, and as they translated the sample beneath the tuning fork's corner the spacing would change, due to the topography of the sample's surface. Spacing changes were reflected by the changes in the resonant frequency. See (1) P. Guethner, E. Schreck, K. Dransfeld, "Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Related Methods," edited by R. J. Behm et al., pp. 507-513 (chapter entitled "Scanning Nearfield Acoustic Microscopy"), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands 1990; and (2) P. Guthner, U. Ch. Fischer, and K. Dransfeld, "Scanning Nearfield Acoustic Microscopy," Applied Physics and Laser Chemistry, Applied Physics B., pp. 89-92, Springer-Verlag 1989.
Uozumi has demonstrated a system in which a bulk piezoelectric transducer was mounted in back of the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and used this to excite sound waves at 1.4 MHz. These waves traveled down to the apex of the tip and returned. Thus, a reflection mode of operation was used. Uozumi found that the magnitude of the reflected signal was dependent on the spacing between the tip and sample. Kiyohiko Uozumi et al., "A Possible Novel Scanning Ultrasonic Tip Microscope," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 28, No. Jul. 7, 1989 pp. L 1297-L 1299.
In still another experiment, Takata of Hitachi, Ltd., demonstrated a system where sound was transmitted from the tip through the sample to a piezoelectric detector place on the back side of the sample, thereby using a transmission mode of operation. The frequency used was a few kilohertz. See (1) Keiji Takata et al., "Tunneling acoustic microscope," Appl. Phys. Lett. 55(17), Oct. 23, 1989 pp. 1718-1720; and (2) Keiji Takata et al., "Electrostatic Force Imaging by Tunneling Acoustic Microscopy," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 30, No. 2B, February 1991 pp. L 309-L 312.
The previously cited prior art methods for generating ultrasonic sound are cumbersome and inefficient. They are also restricted to low frequencies.
The present invention improves on the prior art acoustic microscopes by providing a scanning probe with a piezoelectric thin film transducer and using significantly higher ultrasonic frequencies, made possible by the use of a piezoelectric thin film instead of bulk piezoelectric transducers. It is desirable to operate a high frequencies, e.g., above 50 MHz, with short wavelengths. The inventors believe that the efficiency, and lateral resolution, of near field acoustic microscopy will improve as shorter and shorter wavelengths are used. Previous experiments have demonstrated that sound can be generated and detected at 100 GHz, with wavelengths in solids near 50 nanometers.
The present invention provides a number of different methods of exciting these high frequency sound waves, and detects the waves after interaction with a sample using a thin film of piezoelectric material such as Zinc oxide. These new modes of operation which expand the utility of acoustic microscopes, and combination AFM/acoustic microscopes and STM/acoustic microscopes.

Near field acoustic ultrasonic microscope system and method

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A magnetic motor generator that produces electric power by rotating a one piece magnetic floating flywheel assembly that is operated by a linear induction motor and repelled upward by a stationary natural magnet. The floating flywheel assembly magnetic axel rotates inside magnetic collar bearings, which have repelling stationary magnets to center the axel at speed. The floating flywheel assembly rotors move inside generator stators to generate electric power. The floating flywheel assembly has no physical contact with other components to prevent bearing losses at speed. A timing computer controls the operation of the linear induction motor, assesses the speed of the floating flywheel assembly and fires only when necessary to maintain rotation. The moving components are enclosed in a vacuum chamber to prevent wind resistance, or windage losses at speed. Surplus electric power can ether be stored/used by the system or used to supply a load.

Many conventional designs already exist for producing electricity by spinning the rotor assemblies of AC/DC generators, and some make use of natural forces, such as generators that use flowing water, as in hydroelectric systems, or by the use of wind-power, such as in wind turbine systems. There are also thermal systems drawing heat from the ground, which turns steam-powered turbines, which in turn rotate a generator to produce electricity. Solar powered electricity produced by systems that use photovoltaic solar panels are also commonly known. Such conventional designs suffer several disadvantages.
One disadvantage of such conventional designs is that they often rely on weather conditions to generate power. Hydroelectric power relies on the water supply and rainfall conditions. Wind turbines rely on wind conditions and weather systems moving through a given area. Thermal power will rely on the small abundance of hot-springs or other natural heat sources to produce the steam needed to operate the systems. Solar power can only be achieved in the daytime and often relies on direct sunlight for best results. Weather conditions can be unpredictable and often unreliable.
Another major disadvantage of such conventional designs is that they are usually fixed to one given location where predictable weather patterns can be forecast. With the exception of small portable solar panels, such systems are often fixed to the environment where they are originally installed and sometimes take up a large amount of space.

Magnetic motor generator having a floating flywheel


Pressure trapped in an inactive hydraulic actuator can result in the actuator moving in a direction which is opposite to that desired upon subsequent activation. The present method detects a trapped pressure condition and takes remedial action before activating the hydraulic actuator for motion. The pressure differentials across valves that control the fluid flow to and from the hydraulic actuator are used to detect a trapped pressure condition. In response to that detection, a selected valve is initially opened in a manner that releases the trapped pressure while producing motion in the desired direction. After the trapped pressure condition has been resolved, one or more other valves are operated to produce the desired motion of the hydraulic actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydraulic systems for operating machinery, and in particular to electronic circuits that operating valves to control the flow of fluid in such hydraulic systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of machines have components that are moved by an hydraulic actuator, such as a cylinder and piston arrangement, which is controlled by a valve assembly. Traditionally a manually operated spool type hydraulic valve was used to control the fluid flow to and from the actuator. There is a present trend toward electrical controls and the use of solenoid operated valves. With this type of control, pressurized fluid from a pump is applied to one chamber of the hydraulic cylinder by opening a first solenoid operated, proportional poppet valve and at the same time a second solenoid operated, proportional poppet valve is opened to allow the fluid in the other cylinder chamber to flow back to the system tank.
When those valves close, i.e. when motion of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder is not desired, pressure often becomes trapped in the cylinder chambers thereby affecting the workport pressure at the valve assembly. Trapped pressure of a significant magnitude can produce undesired motion when the valves reopen to activate the hydraulic actuator again. For example, load "droop" when the trapped pressures are released when both valves are modulated without taking the initial workport pressure into account. Depending upon the trapped workport pressure states, supply and return pressures, the metering mode and the direction of the commanded motion, the condition can result in the piston initially moving slightly in the wrong direction when small magnitudes of fluid flow are being sent to the hydraulic actuator. As a result, the machine member driven by the hydraulic actuator may shudder during a transition period while the pressures normalize. Such unexpected motion of the components driven by the hydraulic actuator are disturbing to the machine operator.
The existence of trapped pressure that may result in such undesired motion upon subsequent operation of the associated hydraulic actuator is referred to herein as a "trapped pressure condition." The trapped pressure condition can be produced by the relative closing times of the inlet and outlet valves, a relief valve opening for one of the cylinder chambers but not the other chamber, thermal effects, and valve and cylinder leakage.
Prior manual spool values partially compensated for the effects produced by the trapped pressures by opening the return passage from workport to tank through the spool slightly before the passage from the supply line to another workport opened. However, this only compensated for the bootstrap effect.
Present day electrically controlled hydraulic functions use separate pairs of solenoid operated valves to connect each cylinder chamber to the fluid supply and return lines. This arrangement allows use of more metering modes that just standard powered extension and powered retraction of the cylinder provided by conventional spool valves. Specifically several regeneration modes are available by opening the solenoid operated valves in different combinations, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,974. Any one of several metering modes can be used to produce the same motion of the hydraulic actuator, with the particular mode to use depending upon the operating conditions at a given point in time. Providing the capability of selecting among a plurality of metering modes significantly complicates the alleviating the undesirable effects due to a trapped pressure condition.
Therefore, a mechanism still is needed to reduce or eliminate the shudder and other effects produced by pressure trapped in the hydraulic cylinder and ensure that the machine member will move only in the commanded direction.

Hydraulic system with mechanism for relieving pressure trapped in an actuator


An induction resistivity tool incorporated into a downhole tool string comprises an outer wall of a downhole component having an outer surface, and at least one induction transmitter assembly disposed along the outer surface. The transmitter assembly includes at least one induction transmitter coil which is wound about one or more transmitter cores. The transmitter assembly is adapted to create electromagnetic fields that originate the induction signal from outside the outer wall while substantially preventing the induction signal from entering the outer wall.

For the past several decades, engineers have worked to develop apparatus and methods to effectively obtain information about downhole formations. This is especially beneficial during the process of drilling and following this process and is accomplished using wireline methods or pushed tool methods for use in horizontal wells. All of these methods are collectively referred to in the industry as logging.
During the drilling process and, with time afterward, drilling fluids begin to flush and intermingle with the natural fluids in the formation forming an invasion zone near the drilled borehole. This fluid exchange increases with time and the formation wall can degrade or become damaged with further drilling operations which can mask or alter information about the formation that is of interest.
Logging-while-drilling (LWD) refers to a set of processes commonly used by the industry to obtain information about a formation near the drill bit during the drilling process in order to transmit the information from logging tools or components located downhole on oil and gas drilling strings to the ground's surface. Measurement-while drilling (MWD) refers to a method of LWD that will store part of the information obtained by the logging tools and transmit the remaining information to the surface or store all of the information collected during drilling for later retrieval and download into surface electronics. LWD methods are also used in smart drilling systems to aid or direct the drilling operations and in some cases to maintain the drill in a specific zone of interest. The terms MWD and LWD are often used interchangeably in the industry and LWD will be used here to refer to both methods with the understanding that the LWD encompasses systems that collect formation, angular rotation rate and depth information and store this information for later retrieval and/or transmission of this information to the surface while drilling.
A common sensor used in logging systems is for the measurement of resistivity or its complement, conductivity. The resistivity of the formation is often measured at different depths into the formation to determine the amount of fluid invasion and aid in the calculation of true formation resistivity. The formation resistivity is most often used with other sensors in an analysis to determine many other formation parameters. There are various types of resistivity sensors including direct current (DC) focused resistivity which utilizes one or more electrodes devices, alternating current (AC) focused resistivity which utilizes one or more electrodes devices, AC scanned resistivity which measures in a specific circumferential or angular pattern around the borehole, and a fourth type called induction or propagation resistivity which also utilizes AC methods. Induction resistivity sensors generally use lower frequencies, below 100 KHz, while propagation sensors use higher frequencies. The terms induction sensor or induction tool will be used interchangeably herein and will refer to both induction and propagation resistivity methods.
Induction tools with varying number and combinations of transmitter(s) and receiver(s) with varying separation distances and operating frequencies have been used to explore formations at various depths of investigation. The prior art includes the following references to resistivity tools and resistivity logging, each having a common design problem in that they either allow the transmitted field to penetrate the induction tool or, if a shield is utilized, do not actively direct the field away from electrical and magnetic tool surfaces and materials.
The prior art comprises the following references to resistivity tools and resistivity logging which have a common design problem that either allows the transmitted field to penetrate the induction tool or if a shield is utilized, do not actively direct the field away from electrical and magnetic tool surfaces and materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,756 to Fanini, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an induction tool for formation resistivity evaluations. The tool provides electromagnetic transmitters and sensors suitable for transmitting and receiving magnetic fields in radial directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,438 to Bittar, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a resistivity tool for use in an LWD system that includes a transmitter array with multiple transmitters positioned above a pair of receivers. The transmitters are selectively energized, causing current to be induced in the collar of the tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,129 to Thompson, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an electromagnetic wave propagation resistivity borehole logging system having multiple groups of electromagnetic transmitter-receiver arrays operating at three frequencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,447 to Bittar, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a multi-mode resistivity tool for use in a logging-while-drilling system that includes an asymmetric transmitter design with multiple transmitters capable of generating electromagnetic signals at multiple depths of investigation.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,981 to Folbert, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a resistivity logging tool suitable for downhole use that includes a transmitter, and two spaced apart receivers. The measured resistivities at the two receivers are corrected based on measuring the responses of the receivers to a calibration signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,842 to Bittar, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a resistivity tool for use in LWD systems that includes an asymmetric transmitter design with multiple transmitters capable of generating electromagnetic signals at multiple frequencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,795 to Gianzero, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a coil array which is installed on a MWD drill collar for use in a resistivity logging system The drill collar is provided with upper and lower coil support rings. The coil support rings are toroids which support individual coil segments, and are connected by suitable magnetic shorting bars. The coil segments and shorting bars inscribe a specified solid angle or azimuthal extent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,260 to Giordano et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a microdevice that is provided for measuring the electromagnetic characteristics of a medium in a borehole. The microdevice includes at least one emitting or transmitting coil (31), and at least one receiving coil (41,51). The microdevice generates an AC voltage at the terminals of the transmitting coil and measures a signal at the terminals of the receiving coil. The microdevice also includes an E-shaped electrically insulating, soft magnetic material circuit serving as a support for each of the coils and which is positioned adjacent to the medium in the borehole.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,696 to Sinclair, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a directional induction logging tool that is provided for measurement while drilling. This tool is preferably placed in a side pocket of a drill collar, and it comprises transmitter and receiver coils and an electromagnetic reflector.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,155 to Bittar et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a downhole method and apparatus for simultaneously determining the horizontal resistivity, vertical resistivity, and relative dip angle for anisotropic earth formations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,609 to Bittar et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an antenna configuration in which a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna are oriented in nonparallel planes such that the vertical resistivity and the relative dip angle are decoupled.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/676,494 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an induction resistivity tool comprising a flexible ring of magnetically conducting material disposed intermediate an induction coil and a surface of an annular recess.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/687,891 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a resistivity tool comprising an actuator in a downhole component that is adapted to put an electrically conductive element into and out of electrical contact with at least one electrically insulated induction coil and thereby change an optimal signal frequency of the at least one coil.

Externally guided and directed field induction resistivity tool


A method for controlling a display in a terminal and to a terminal comprising means for having a bi-directional connection with a telecommunication network and a graphic display. The terminal is arranged to change the properties of a wallpaper shown on the display in response to the remaining amount of pre-paid telecommunication costs.

In a plurality of telecommunication systems, the user is charged for the telecommunication capacity used. This occurs particularly in wireless telecommunication networks. Two types of charging methods are generally employed. In the first method, the user is charged afterwards for the capacity used at a particular time. In the second method, the user pays a particular sum in advance, by which the user acquires a particular telecommunication capacity for use, for example a certain amount of telecommunication time. The latter method has constantly increased in popularity, as it provides certain advantages. Possibly immense bills do not take the user by surprise afterwards, since the sum is paid in advance. In addition, the user may hand the terminal over to someone else knowing the maximum amount of expenses in advance. Such subscriber connections comprising prepaid airtime are often referred to as prepaid subscriber connections.
Solutions are presented in the prior art that allow the user to check how much prepaid airtime remains or how much is already used. In a known solution, the user may call a charge-free number of his/her operator and a voice responder may inform the user about the remaining time. As to the operator, a drawback with this solution is that the limited connection resources of the system are employed. As regards the user, a drawback is that balance information is not automatically obtained.
Publication EP 1030506 shows a solution, in which the remaining airtime is numerically presented on the terminal display.
Publication GB 2371448 discloses a solution, in which the remaining airtime is shown as a graphical bar on the terminal display.
At present, many terminals show various icons, which operate as such as a user interface of the terminal. The size of the display in portable devices is limited. A disadvantage associated with prior art solutions is the space they take up on the display.

Terminal and method for controlling display in terminal


A surgical instrument has an insertion section, an operation section disposed in a proximal end of the insertion section, and a treatment section disposed in a distal end of the insertion section. First and second driving rods are disposed in the insertion section. The operation section is opened/closed and rotated to transmit an opening/closing force to the first driving rod, and a rotating force to the second driving rod. The treatment section comprises a pair of jaws. The treatment section is connected to the distal end portions of the first and second driving rods disposed in the insertion section to rotate and open/close the pair of jaws with respect to the insertion section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical instrument which operates a treatment section disposed in a distal end of an insertion section by an operation section disposed in a proximal end of the insertion section.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,383,888, 5,417,203, 5,549,637 etc., disclose surgical instruments. In these surgical instruments, distal ends of treatment sections can be rotated.
In the surgical instruments disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,383,888 and 5,417,203, the distal ends of the treatment sections can be rotated, and tip-tools disposed in the distal ends of the treatment sections can be opened/closed. In the surgical instrument described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,888, an opening/closing operation is carried out utilizing the tension of a flexible cable connected to the tip-tool. In the tip-tool of the surgical instrument described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,203, a joint portion to realize rotation of the tip-tool is made of a shape memory alloy.
The surgical instrument disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,637 is a surgical stapler. In the distal end of the treatment section of the stapler, three joints are disposed to rotate the distal end. Each joint has a rotational angle of 60°. A pair of bands is connected to the distal end of the treatment section of the stapler. The three joints in the distal end of the treatment section are sequentially rotated by tensing or slackening the bands. Accordingly, the distal end of the treatment section of the stapler can be changed in direction by 180° (6°×3) with respect to an insertion direction of the stapler.


This invention provides a nucleic acid amplification device whereby the abundance of a target molecule can be maintained before and after a step of separately amplifying a sample such that highly accurate analysis results that can be applied to gene expression analysis can be obtained. Also, a nucleic acid amplification device having a structure in which a plurality of minute reaction cells each comprising a set of a bead-retaining space capable of retaining a single analysis bead and a reagent reaction space retaining no bead but having a volume that is large enough to cause a reagent reaction therein are positioned so as to form a planar face is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gene analysis technique. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid amplification device in which target molecules to be analyzed, such as mRNA, are separately amplified on the surfaces of solid phases such as beads in a manner such that the utilization of the target molecules is improved and mixing or excessive amplification of the target molecules can be resolved.
2. Background Art
For a gene sequence analysis technique, amplification of a target molecule to be analyzed, such as mRNA or a DNA fragment in a state in which the sequence information is preserved therein, is an important technique. One example thereof is a sequence analysis system using pyrosequencing (NATURE, Vol. 437, pp. 376-380 (2005)). In such system, it is necessary for target molecules to be separately amplified such that one type of a target molecule to be analyzed is immobilized on the surface of a single bead.
Meanwhile, as an elemental technique for amplification in a separate manner, there exists a method involving separation with the use of aqueous micelles in oil (PNAS, Vol. 100, No. 15, pp. 8817-8822 (2003)). In this method, stirring of two phases (an aqueous phase and an oil phase) is performed to form aqueous micelles each retaining a set of a bead, a target molecule, a reagent necessary for amplification of nucleic acid, and the like, and then nucleic acid amplification is carried out on the bead surface with a thermal cycle. Ideally, a single micelle should contain a single bead and a single target molecule. However, it is impossible to achieve such conditions for every micelle. Thus, a micelle containing a bead but no target molecule or a micelle containing a target molecule but no bead could exist. Furthermore, a micelle containing a plurality of beads and/or target molecules or a micelle containing neither bead nor target molecule could exist (PNAS, Vol. 100, No. 15, pp. 8817-8822 (2003)). In a case in which a single micelle contains a plurality of target molecules, a mixture of target molecules is generated upon amplification, making sequence analysis impossible. In addition, in a case in which a micelle contains a target molecule but no bead, the target molecule cannot be amplified on the bead surface, resulting in loss of the target molecule. Further, in a case in which a micelle contains a plurality of beads, amplification derived from an identical target molecule is carried out on the surfaces of a plurality of beads, resulting in excessive analysis, which is problematic.
Furthermore, an amplification method wherein an assembly region (colony) is generated on a part of the flat plate surface of a glass slide or the like has been reported (Cell, Vol. 129, pp. 823-837 (2007)). According to this method, a flat plate having amplification primers immobilized thereon is used to cause complementary strand binding between the primers on the flat plate and target molecules, provide that the concentration distribution of the molecules is determined in a manner such that a certain distance is secured between the target molecules. Then, primer elongation and complementary strand binding (bridge type) are repeatedly induced with the use of primers surrounding each target molecule, such that amplified product colonies are formed. The method is problematic in that excessive amounts of target molecules are necessary due to low efficiency of complementary strand binding of primers to a plane face, and in that complementary strand binding of a plurality of neighboring target molecules might cause binding of amplified product colonies, resulting in mixing of amplified products.


An optical measuring apparatus comprises: an illuminating section that illuminates a first object with a first light; a light changing section that changes an intensity of the first light illuminating the first object; a light receiving device that receives a second light transmitted through or reflected from the first object; and an output section that outputs a measurement result according to i) a state of the light changing section and ii) an amount of the second light received by the light receiving device. In addition, an optical measuring apparatus comprises: the illuminating section; the light receiving device; a light receiving time changing section that changes a light receiving time of the light receiving device; and an output section that outputs a measurement result according to i) the light receiving time and ii) an amount of the second light received by the light receiving device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical measuring apparatus and an optical measuring method in which an object is illuminated with light, and light transmitted through or reflected from the object is measured.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an apparatus for measuring an amount of a substance by means of light measurement, an object under measurement which is horizontally placed is illuminated with light from a light source, light reflected from the object is converted into an electric signal by a light receiving device, the signal is converted to a logarithm to obtain the optical density value, and the amount of the object is obtained from the optical density value.
In an optical measuring apparatus for clinical examination, a slide in which a monolayer of a reagent is applied to a transparent support medium is used as an object under measurement, a liquid specimen such as blood is dropped on the slide, and a change of the optical density due to a reaction with the reagent layer is measured to obtain the optical density value. The optical density value is converted to a clinical value to attain a desired analysis.
In clinical examination or the like, it is required to measure the optical densities of plural components contained in blood. In an optical measuring apparatus, therefore, blood of the same person is dropped on plural slides to which different reagents are applied respectively, and the above-described measurement is conducted on each of the slides (for example, see JP-A-05-018895).
Usually, the amount of a substance is proportional to the optical density of the substance. By contrast, the common logarithm of the amount of light received by a light receiving device is proportional to the optical density, and hence the light amount is inversely proportional to the optical density. Depending on the component to be examined, namely, the amounts of light reflected from the slides are varied. In the conventional optical measuring apparatus, therefore, the light receiving device must have a wide dynamic range in which lights reflected from all the slides can be accurately received. A light receiving device having a wide dynamic range is expensive, and hence the production cost of the conventional optical measuring apparatus is inevitably increased.

Optical measuring apparatus and optical measuring method


The disclosure provides methods for isolating nucleic acids from a biological fluid. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for isolating RNA. In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for isolating DNA. In one aspect, the methods described herein utilize a protocol that combines a detergent-based initial denaturation, protease digestion, and organic extraction followed by column purification that maximizes RNA/DNA yield and preserves RNA/DNA integrity. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a kit for isolating RNA and/or DNA.

RNA impacts nearly every aspect of gene expression and many human diseases are caused by or result in mistakes in RNA metabolism, e.g. mutations in pre-mRNAs lead to splicing defects or degradation of mRNAs by trigger nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. It has been shown that in addition to RNA's fundamental roles in information transfer from DNA to protein, RNA molecules play crucial roles in gene regulation as their stability or rate of protein synthesis is regulated by mRNA binding proteins or ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs), e.g. microRNA-containing RNPs. Accordingly, RNAs present a possible new class of biomarkers.
In a medical context, biomarkers are indicators for the presence or severity of disease and are usually detected in tissue samples or body fluids by various assays. Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other metabolites are commonly utilized in order to evaluate or diagnose a patient's status. In order for all biomarker substances to be analyzed ex vivo, they need to be extracted from the host body fluid, tissue material or cell sample, processed and analyzed accordingly. Ideally, all experimental steps, consequently leading to clinically valuable results, are performed with great caution to minimize any bias introduced by extraction or specific evaluation procedures.
Ribonucleic acids show potential to serve as biomarkers in today's clinical routine for the diagnosis of various types of cancer but also cardiovascular, kidney or autoimmune diseases. Ribonucleotide biomarkers presently studied are often based on small RNA types like microRNAs, isolated from body fluids or tissue samples, or longer ribonucleic acids, based on the study of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) generally isolated from tissue or cell samples. In order to analyze ribonucleic acids by using various techniques they need to be isolated, purified and protected from ubiquitously expressed ribonucleases. Common methods identifying specific, possibly disease-related ribonucleic acids in biological samples include but are not limited to: Northern blotting, RT-PCR, microarray and sequencing analysis. After clinically relevant and significant differences in RNA composition between samples of diseased patients and healthy controls were found, the change in abundance of one or more specific RNAs can then be used as a biomarker in order to detect this disease pattern in future applications.
The process of isolating RNA raw material is one of the most crucial steps concerning the detection of (micro)RNA-based biomarkers. Where stable RNA isolation procedures are vital to obtain meaningful results, multiple reports pointed out that differences in RNA isolation and library preparation procedures introduced substantial biases during sample analysis. Numerous studies compared these differences and pointed out inconsistencies during RNA isolation utilizing frequently used commercial kits or components like TRIzol or column based approaches. Considering these substantial biases introduced during the isolation procedure, deviations in yield after RNA extraction were shown to cause significant variability in qPCR and microarray-based results when several already available RNA isolation techniques were used and compared. In summary, significant discrepancies in RNA isolation, preparation procedures, and downstream analysis were highlighted in recent literature, possibly caused by the utilization of potentially unstable and uncontrolled RNA purification approaches.
Isolating ribonucleic acids (RNA) from biological samples is a frequently utilized method in biochemical, medical and biological research. Since circulating microRNAs (miRNA) in various body fluids were initially proposed to potentially serve as biomarkers in clinical routine, the immanent need for successful small RNA purification procedures concerning these samples arose.
The isolation of small RNAs from biological sample material, however, is not trivial as prevalence is generally low and intrinsic ribonucleases (RNases) naturally present in body fluids rapidly degrade and destroy unprotected RNA. Furthermore, the isolation and purification procedures currently described in the literature or offered through commercial kits provide varying results terms of ribonuclease protection, automation capabilities, and homogeneity of RNA extracted from multiple samples.
Therefore, there remains a need for improved methods to isolate RNA from nuclease-rich and RNA-poor human clinical samples, which maximizes yield and preserves RNA integrity.

Method of RNA isolation from clinical samples


A safety knife functions as both a box cutter and a separate line cutter. A slidable grip is manually displaceable between two stable safety positions. In one safety position, the grip obstructs access to a forwardly projecting blade. In a second safety position, the grip obstructs access to the line cutter.

This disclosure relates generally to utility knives which are commonly referred to as box cutters. More particularly, this disclosure relates to utility knives which have a dual cutting blade configuration.
For utility knives to which the present disclosure relates, an elongated housing employs a slide assembly which is manually displaceable for projecting a cutting blade through a frontal opening. The cutting blades are typically trapezoidal or quasi-trapezoidal in shape. The housing is formed by a pair of elongated sections which are relatively displaceable to allow for blade replacement or removal. In some conventional utility knives, multiple replacement blades are stored within the housing and are mountable for use to replace a degraded cutting blade.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention comprises an inertia! sensor comprising a frame, a proof mass; a first resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the first resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end and coupled to the proof mass at its distal end, a second resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the second resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end, adjacent to the first resonant element such that there is no coupling between the second resonant element and the proof mass, a means for coupling the first resonant element to the second resonant element; a drive means coupled to the first and second resonant elements for vibrating the first and second resonant elements; and a sensor assembly for detecting the amplitude of vibration of the resonant elements.

Accelerometers and gyroscopes are in wide use today for a variety of motion sensing applications ranging from inertial navigation to vibration monitoring. Accelerometers measure changes in acceleration (linear or rotational) while gyroscopes provide information about angular motion (rotation). These devices use the inertial properties of light or matter for their operation and have hence been broadly classified as 'inertial sensors'.
Inertial sensors have traditionally served navigation markets. Macroscale gyroscopes and accelerometers are used to provide information about the position, orientation and velocity for aircraft and naval vessels. They have also been incorporated into control systems that are used for robotic applications, such as missile guidance, unmanned aircraft, and industrial machine control. Commercial inertial navigation grade sensors are available from Honeywell Corporation, Northrop Gumman and Navsys Corporation, amongst others.
While these macroscopic accelerometers and gyroscopes still remain the premier instruments for inertial grade navigation systems, microscopic mechanical inertial sensors fabricated using MEMS technology have been perceived as a breakthrough in inertial navigation and motion sensing, due to the substantial reduction in cost, size and power that may be achieved in such micromechanical sensors relative to their macroscopic counterparts. These attributes have enabled the use of such inertial sensors in a variety of applications that have traditionally not been possible due to either their prohibitive cost or size restrictions, for example, in mobile phones, MP3 players, PDAs, notebooks, surgical instruments etc. Commercial MEMS inertial sensors are now available from Analog Devices Inc., Motorola, ST Microelectronics and Silicon sensing systems amongst several others.
Micro-machined MEMS resonant accelerometers and gyroscopes are well known in prior art. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,803, CN101303365 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,249. Most of the disclosed MEMS resonant inertial sensors respond to acceleration or angular rotation by producing a frequency shifted output signal arising from an oscillating unit incorporated as a part of the sensor.
However, the resolutions achievable in these devices are still lower than that required for inertial grade navigation systems. It is an object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage by enhancing the output sensitivity and in effect, the resolution of such sensors.

MEMS inertial sensor and method of inertial sensing


A bump-less chip package is provided. The bump-less chip package includes a chip, an interconnection structure and a panel-shaped component. The panel-shaped component has a plurality of electrical terminals on a first surface thereof. The back surface of the chip is disposed on the first surface of the panel-shaped component, and the chip has a plurality of first pads on the active surface thereof away from the panel-shaped component. The interconnection structure is disposed on the first surface of the panel-shaped component and the active surface of the chip. The first pads of the chip may electrically connect with the electrical terminals of the panel-shaped component through the interconnection structure. Furthermore, the interconnection structure has a plurality of second pads on the surface away from the chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chip package. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bump-less build-up layer (BBUL) type of chip package.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid development of new electronic technologies, the electronic devices have developed to have higher processing speed, multi-function, high integration, miniaturized size and low cost. As a result, chip packaging is also developing towards miniaturization and densification. The conventional ball grid array (BGA) packaging technique often utilizes a package substrate to serve as a carrier for an integrated circuit (IC) chip and then applies flip-chip bonding or a wire bonding method to electrically connect the the chip to the top surface of the package substrate. Then, a plurality of solder balls are disposed on a bottom surface of the package substrate to form an area array. Thus, the chip can electrically connect with an electronic component in the next level, such as a printed circuit board, through an electrical circuit inside the package substrate and the solder balls at the bottom surface of the package substrate.
However, since the conventional BGA packaging technique requires a high layout density package substrate, together with a flip-chip bonding or wire bonding electrical connection, signal transmission pathway becomes too long. In solution, a new type of chip packaging technique, called the bump-less build-up layer (BBUL) method, has been developed. In the BBUL method, flip-chip bonding or wire bonding is omitted. Instead, a multi-layered interconnection structure is directly fabricated on the chip and then a plurality of electrical contacts, such as solder balls or pins, are disposed on the multi-layered interconnection structure to form an area array for electrically connecting with an electrical component in the next level.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional bump-less build-up layer (BBUL) chip package. As shown in FIG. 1, the bump-less build-up layer chip package 100 mainly comprises a stiffener 110, a chip 120, an interconnection structure 130, an encapsulating layer 140 and a plurality of solder balls 150. The stiffener 110 has an opening 110a and the chip 120 is disposed inside the opening 110a. The encapsulating layer 140 is disposed between the chip 120 and the inner surfaces of the opening 110a. The chip 120 has a plurality of bonding pads 122 on its active surface. The interconnection structure 130 is disposed on the active surface of the chip 120 and is electrically connected to the bonding pads 122.
The interconnection structure 130 further comprises a plurality of dielectric layers 132, a plurality of circuit layers 134 and a plurality of conductive vias 134a. The circuit layers 134 are sequentially stacked over the chip 120 and the stiffener 110, and one of the circuit layers 134 closest to the chip 120 is electrically connected to the pads 122 on the chip 120 through the conductive vias 134a. In addition, each dielectric layer 132 is disposed between two neighboring circuit layers 134 and each conductive via 134a passes through one of the dielectric layers 132 for electrically connecting at least two circuit layers 134. Furthermore, the conventional BBUL package chip 100 includes a plurality of bonding pads 160 and a solder mask layer 170. The bonding pads 160 are disposed on the interconnection structure 130, and the solder mask layer 170 is disposed on the interconnection structure 130 to expose the bonding pads 160. The solder balls 150 are disposed over the bonding pads 160, respectively.
Although the conventional bump-less build-up layer chip package 100 has good reliability and high electrical performance, the problem of cross talk at high frequency transmission is increasingly serious due to increased circuit layout density and reduced line pitch. In other words, the quality of the BBUL package chip 100 will deteriorate as the circuit layout density is increased and the line pitch is reduced.

Chip package with embedded panel-shaped component


A voice identification method comprises: obtaining audio data, and extracting an audio feature of the audio data; determining whether a voice identification feature having a similarity with the audio feature above a preset matching threshold exists in an associated feature library; and in response to determining that the voice identification feature exists in the associated feature library, updating, by using the audio feature, the voice identification feature obtained through matching.

With the continuous development of artificial intelligence technologies, face identification and fingerprint identification technologies and the like have all been greatly improved. Intelligent identification is also applied more widely. Voiceprint identification as an innovative identification technology also has an increasingly fast development speed, and the voiceprint identification technology may also be referred to as speaker identification. The so-called voiceprint identification is an identification technology of extracting a speech feature from a speech of a speaker, and then performing identity verification based on the extracted speech feature.
The voiceprint identification depends on a feature gradually formed by a sound producing organ of a person in a development process, and voiceprints of all people are different, may be different in timbre, intonation, speaking speed, and the like, and may also be different in sound spectrum formed by a voice. Even if mimicking on purpose, voiceprints of different people are also different. Similar to fingerprints, different people have different voiceprints.
However, if identification is intended to be performed by using a voiceprint, a feature set for performing voiceprint matching needs to be established to achieve voiceprint identification.
For how to easily and efficiently establish an accurate feature library used for voiceprint identification, no effective solution has been put forward currently.

Voice identification feature optimization and dynamic registration methods, client, and server


This invention relates to a small-sized refrigerator comprising an evaporator being of a plate shape to provide an increased cold air producing area, and a defrosted water drain pan formed with a plurality of cold air passage openings to allow smooth convention of cold air in a refrigerating chamber, thereby enabling a proper temperature in the chamber to be achieved promptly and the temperature differences between the respective areas of the chamber to be minimized. To this end, the evaporator of a plate shape is mounted horizontally at the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber, and the defrosted water drain pan having a plurality of the cold air passage openings, overflow prevention walls and guide members for preventing defrosted water from passing through the openings is detachably disposed below the evaporator to collect the defrosted water dropping from the evaporator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a small-sized refrigerator, and more particularly a small-sized refrigerator having improved evaporator and defrosted water drain pan to allow smooth convection of cold air produced at the evaporator, resulting in more uniform distribution of a temperature in a refrigerating chamber and a reduction in power consumption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a small-sized refrigerator does not comprise divided freezing and refrigerating chambers, but only a refrigerating chamber, in which there are provided an evaporator and a defrosted water drain pan disposed below the evaporator to receive defrosted water dropping thereform.
Such a small-sized refrigerator according to the prior art comprises, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a body 21 having a refrigerating chamber 22 provided therein, an evaporator 23 disposed at the upper side of the refrigerating chamber, a defrosted water drain pan 24 of a tray shape mounted below the evaporator to prevent the defrosted water from dropping to the lower portion of the chamber, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves 25 disposed transversely below the drain pan to support foodstuffs, a door 26 mounted in the front of the body 21 to prevent the cold air in the refrigerating chamber from flowing out, a compressor 27 disposed outside of the lower portion of the body to feed a refrigerant to the evaporator 23, and a temperature sensor (including a temperature control function) 28 mounted in the refrigerating chamber to turn on and off the compressor 27 depending upon the temperature in the chamber.
With this construction, the foodstuffs put on the shelves 25 in the refrigerating chamber 22 can be refrigerated and freshly preserved by cold air circulating in the chamber through a natural convection phenomenon. The cold air is produced by the action of the refrigerant compressed by the energized compressor 27 and introduced into the evaporator 23, and distributed in the chamber through the natural convection. At this time, when the temperature in the refrigerating chamber drops below a set temperature, the temperature sensor 28 disposed in the chamber detects it and stops the operation of the compressor 27. Thereafter, when the temperature rises again above the set temperature, the operation of the compressor is resumed through the sensing operation of the temperature sensor.
The foregoing describes one cycle of the operation of the refrigerator. Therefore, as long as the electric power is supplied to the refrigerator, "ON" and "OFF" of the compressor 27 is continually repeated in response to the sensing operation of the temperature sensor 28 depending upon temperature variations from the set temperature.
During the operation of the refrigerator, ice is usually formed on the outer surface of the evaporator 23 due to the cold air flow produced around the evaporator. With continued use of the refrigerator, the ice is excessively formed on the evaporator, to thereby reduce the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator, so that there is a need to melt the ice by temporarily turning off the refrigerator. Therefore, in order to prevent the water produced by the deicing operation from dropping downwardly to the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber, the defrosted water drain pan 24 is usually mounted below the evaporator 23.
This prior small-sized refrigerator however has a drawback in that since the evaporator 23 for producing the cold air is of a L-shape and secured to the body 21 by means of fastening members 29 provided on the interior of the body, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a cold air producing area is restricted to one side of the refrigerating chamber 22, so that there is a very excessive temperature difference between the side of the evaporator 23 and the area opposite to the side. Further, in the prior refrigerator, since the naturally convective flow of the cold air originating from the evaporator is intercepted by the defrosted water drain pan 24 disposed below the evaporator and passes through only the gap between the body 21 and the drain pan, smooth convection of the cold air may not be achieved and a long operating time of the compressor 27 is required to maintain the average temperature (usually 3.degree. C.) in the refrigerating chamber, so that power consumption is increased.


This application provide a method for determining an energy-efficient route, and relate to the communications field. The method includes: acquiring a topology structure, a starting node, a target node, and traffic data of a network, where the traffic data includes a record of traffic among all nodes on the network; and calculating, according to the topology structure and the traffic data of the network by using an integer linear programming algorithm, an energy-efficient route between the starting node and the target node and reserved bandwidth corresponding to the energy-efficient route.

A large amount of electric energy is required during Internet running. In 2007, electric energy consumed by the Internet accounts for 5.3% of electric energy consumed globally in that year, and in the same year, total electric energy consumed by the Internet in America accounts for 9.4% of total electric energy consumed in America. However, among the consumed electric energy, a large amount of electric energy is wasted. With continuous expansion of a network size and a rapid growth of service volumes, a requirement of a network on electric energy and consumption of electric energy by the network increase constantly, which imposes great pressure on running costs of a network and an ecological environment. Therefore, a network energy-efficient technology attracts increasingly more attention.
Deployment of redundant links and bandwidth has greatly improved reliability of a network. However, experience shows that an average link bandwidth occupation rate of a backbone network is less than 40%. In addition, a link has to keep enabled even if a bandwidth occupation rate is extremely low, which means that a large amount of electric energy is wasted.
In a method for determining a route in the prior art, there are problems of a poor energy-efficient effect and long energy-efficient route calculation time.

Method and apparatus for determining energy efficient route


A liquid crystal device having multiple pixels includes an input terminal that receives a display signal including multiple pixel signals to be supplied to the multiple pixels. The display signal has a predetermined signal embedded therein for generating a common signal, which is to be commonly supplied to the multiple pixels, during a predetermined period that does not include the pixel signals in the display signal. The liquid crystal device further includes: a common signal line that is commonly connected to the multiple pixels; and a common signal line driving circuit that generates the common signal in response to the predetermined signal included in the display signal input from the input terminal and supplies the generated common signal to the common signal line. Such arrangement desirably enhances the reliability of the liquid crystal device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of generating a common signal that is commonly supplied to respective pixels of a liquid crystal device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal panel is widely used as an optoelectric device for generating images. The liquid crystal panel is an optoelectric device that applies a voltage corresponding to a display signal to liquid crystal forming respective pixels and regulates the light transmittance of each pixel, so as to generate an image in response to the display signal.
In the prior art liquid crystal panel, a common signal representing a standard level of the display signal is input via an exclusively provided input terminal, separately from the display signal. An electronic apparatus, such as an image display apparatus, with the prior art liquid crystal panel, accordingly has a common signal generation circuit for generating the common signal.
Different offset values depending on respective devices are set to the level of the common signal. The common signal generation circuit is thus constructed to enable adjustment of the level of the common signal according to the generated offset.
In order to enhance the reliability of the liquid crystal panel and reduce the manufacturing cost, however, it is desirable to reduce the total number of input terminals for receiving externally supplied signals.
In order to enhance the reliability of the electronic apparatus with the liquid crystal panel, reduce the size of the electronic apparatus, simplify the structure of the electronic apparatus, and reduce the manufacturing cost, it is also desirable to omit the common signal generation circuit.

Liquid crystal device, image processing device, image display apparatus with these devices, signal input method, and image processing method


A power unit to replace the manual crank handle of a vehicle window, including a housing for a drive unit that will connect to the splined shaft from which a crank handle has been removed, the power unit including drive means to be affixed to a vehicle door when the drive means is coupled between a splined output shaft of the drive means and a splined shaft connected to operate the window; the housing having an exterior face plate and a surrounding wall with each having an exterior decorative finish and with a control switch for the motor projecting through the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to powered operation of side windows in automobiles. The use of powered vehicle window operations has become increasingly popular, largely because to operate a window by merely pushing a button allows an operator to maintain better attention to driving than can be achieved if the operator must perform a cranking function, often while driving a vehicle. Nevertheless, because of the increased cost of vehicles having factory installed powered window systems, many vehicles are still sold with simple crank systems for raising and lowering side windows. The need for powered windows becomes even more apparent to operators of what are often identified as full size pick-up trucks. Full sized wider bodied vehicles, such as full size pick-up trucks, are so wide that an operator cannot easily reach across a passenger side to manually operate a passenger side window even though there may be a need for such operation. Certainly, it is not safe to operate a window crank on a passenger side of a vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.
2. Prior Art
At the present time, many automobiles include factory installed power driven side windows. Such windows are generally controlled both at a driver's location and at the location of the window being operated.
The addition of such factory installed powered window drive systems generally come only at a significant increased sales price for the vehicle.
Because of the expense involved in having factory installed powered windows, many people continue to purchase new vehicles without such powered windows. Also, at the present time, there are a large number of older vehicles, in use, that do not have powered windows. It has been found that the owners of many vehicles, not factory equipped with power windows, and particularly in wider bodied vehicles such as full size pick-up trucks, there is a need to convert the windows that are not factory powered to operate in the same manner as the factory installed power windows. It is also desirable that a conversion unit to modify the manual crank operated windows to be power driven must be low in cost and easily installed as an add-on unit to the vehicle.


There is disclosed an apparatus for updating a viewer profile stored in a digital television device. The apparatus comprises: 1) receiver circuitry for receiving audio-video data packets associated with a plurality of incoming television signals and extracting therefrom at least one data request data packet containing a first data request operable to retrieve a first requested profile datum from the stored viewer profile; and 2) an update controller for receiving the at least one data request data packet from the receiver circuitry and determining if the first requested profile datum is present in the viewer profile, wherein the update controller, in response to a determination that the first requested profile datum is not present in the stored viewer profile, displays on an associated television screen information related to the first requested profile datum.

In modern television broadcast systems, a wide variety of interactive digital television (DTV) content is broadcast to the home from broadcast facilities. The manner in which the DTV content is used and displayed by the viewer's television varies according to profile information known about the viewer. This profile information is usually stored somehow inside of a terminal unit, such as a television set, a set-top box (STB), a personal computer (PC), or similar device.
Many digital television systems have shown how content can be tailored within the terminal device according to this stored information. For example, some digital television systems display local merchant addresses according to a postal code stored during setup of the terminal unit. Some digital television systems are capable of providing directed advertising, in which a multiplexed group of advertisements are broadcast and the one displayed is selected by the terminal unit according to some demographic information (e.g., viewer age) stored in the viewer profile in the terminal unit. Other examples include game shows, home shopping opportunities, and the like, all of which have an element of choice that is made in the terminal unit according to some local data.
However, there are problems associated with digital television content selection by the terminal unit. Specifically, there are no explicit standards regarding what may be stored in the terminal unit and how the downloaded software accompanying the digital television content (e.g., ATSC/DASE or DVB/MIHP Java applications) might access the stored viewer profile data (also called "personalization data"). In essence, there is a "chicken-or-the-egg" problem. There will not be a strong push for standardizing viewer profile (personalized) data until there is a sufficient amount of interactive digital television content included in broadcast signals and there will not a lot of interactive digital TV content without a standard for viewer profile data.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved interactive digital television systems. In particular, there is a need for an interactive digital television capable of modifying and augmenting viewer profile information associated with the interactive digital television content without the development of a fixed fully standardized protocol.

Apparatus and method for dynamically updating a viewer profile in a digital television device


A flow control device for controlling the flow of a stream of air through an air passage aperture, such as the open end of a duct in a heating and/or air conditioning apparatus of a motor vehicle, comprises a strip of film, the two ends of which are wound on two rollers spaced apart from each other. The film has an active region extending between the rollers and displaceable across the aperture by rotation of the rollers. The active region has open regions and closed regions for the selective control of the air stream. The device has a case defining two reserve spaces, each surrounding a respective roller, and serving as a magazine for receiving a slack loop of the film resulting from the differences between the overall diameters of the two rollers.

In an installation of the above type, it is necessary to provide at least one control device for controlling the flow of a stream of air through an air passage aperture. This air stream may, according to requirements, be cold air, heated air, or conditioned air. The air passage aperture may in particular be defined by a duct, a distribution vent, a channel, or other element of the installation.
From French patent publication No. FR 2 580 791A, it is known to make use of a control device of the type comprising a film which is wound on two rollers spaced apart from each other, the film being adapted to have an active or working position extending across the air passage aperture between the two rollers, this active portion being formed with open regions and solid or closed regions. The flow of the stream of air is selectively controlled according to the amount by which the film is wound on one roller relative to the other. Suitable driving means are provided for rotating the two rollers in synchronism with each other. The film is thus able to be displaced in one direction or the other by winding on to one of the two rollers, being simultaneously unwound from the other roller, thus offering various possibilities for control of the flow of the stream of air. Such a device is also referred to as a film obturator.
In a film obturator the film must be sufficiently thick, i.e. with a typical thickness of the order of a few tenths of a millimeter, in order to give enough mechanical strength to the film. In addition, due to the fact that the film must be put into various positions, each of which corresponds to a different setting in the control of the flow of the air stream, the strip of film must be sufficiently long, and its length may for example be anywhere in the range between 10 centimeters and 1 meter.
Thus, according to the relative position of the film on the rollers, there is likely to be, at any given time, a different number of turns of film on one roller than on the other. Since the film has a not insignificant thickness, and since the two rollers have the same diameter and rotate in synchronism with each other, the respective overall diameters of the rollers including the turns of film wound on them (this overall diameter also being referred to in this application as the "roll diameter"), vary continuously. This gives rise to consequent tensions which are exerted on the film and which can lead to rupture of the film.

Airflow control device of the wound film type, in particular for motor vehicles


A method, a system and a computer program product of transmitting availability information in an electronic mail system are disclosed. The system includes a first system including a sender, the first system is adapted to activate an availability indicator having a start date, wherein the activation is performed by the sender and extract availability indicator metadata from the availability indicator. The availability indicator metadata includes the start date, an end date, and at least one availability indicator message. If an e-mail has not been sent to a receiver since activation and if a current date is prior to the start date, the first system is further adapted to attach the availability indicator metadata to the e-mail, and send the e-mail to the receiver. The electronic mail system further includes a scheduling system functionally coupled to the first system, and is adapted to define the availability indicator.

The electronic workplace facilitates collaboration in enterprises, both within and with the outside entities. An electronic mail system is one of the tools included in the electronic workplace. In addition to sending e-mail, there are many other features and tools that the electronic mail system provides. Out of office is an optional feature provided by many of the popular electronic mail systems, especially by POP3 (Post Office Protocol) electronic mail system. POP3 is a version of the POP standard.
In computing, the POP is an application-layer Internet standard protocol used by local e-mail clients to retrieve e-mail from a remote server over a TCP/IP connection. POP and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval. Virtually all modern e-mail clients and servers support both.
When the out of office agent is enabled, it automatically responds to e-mail that arrives when the user is out of the office. While configuring the agent, the user can specify the text of the message, and set rules on who should receive the special alert messages or who should not receive the alert messages. The out of office agent also provides an option to mark the user's calendar "busy" for the time he/she is away. The agent generates automatic alert messages once for each person who sends e-mail to the user, even if the person sends several messages during the user's absence.

Out-of-office electronic mail messaging system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and system for granular access control. An access control system allows a user or administrator to restrict access to electronic documents on a granular basis. Access may be restricted for individual data objects, types of objects, or even on a byte-by-byte basis. When a user attempts to access the electronic document, the access control system determines what parts, if any, of the document the user is permitted to access, and retrieves only those parts for access by the user. Data objects may include, for example, audio, video, graphics, or text.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to restricting access to electronic documents, and more particularly to restricting access to desired information subsets of electronic documents.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A content management system is a system that can typically manage all types of electronic documents including, for example, HTML and XML Web content, document images, office documents, e-mail messages, textual data, printed output, audio, video, and other digital representations of information. A conventional content management system provides security in the form of access control settings or permissions, whereby the extent of users' access to various resources is set forth. For example, in a company, certain users may have read only privileges for a particular electronic document, other users may have read/write privileges, while still other users may have no access privileges at all. These access control settings are usually tracked by means of an access control list, which is a data structure such as a table that specifies the rights of a user or group of users to access specific electronic documents.
Access control lists can restrict and provide a basic level of security, but may not provide the degree of access granularity desired to specific electronic documents of interest. For example, it may be desirable to limit access to certain sensitive documents or parts thereof, but not desirable to entirely disable or block access to the documents or hide their existence. Accordingly, individuals, organizations, associations and other types of entities interested in controlling access to electronic documents have a continuing interest in developing more flexible access control technologies that provide a greater degree of access granularity.

System and methods for granular access control


A method of manufacturing a rare earth permanent magnet comprises the steps of: forming a rare earth magnet by applying mechanical processing to a magnet block material, thereby damaging the surface of the magnet and causing a magnetic characteristic (BH)max of the magnet to deteriorate, followed by transforming a rare earth metal or an alloy thereof into fine particles or a vapor, and allowing the fine particles or vapor to diffuse and permeate the magnet, thereby improving the quality of the damaged magnet surface portion so that the magnetic characteristic (BH)max is recovered.

An Nd—Fe—B rare earth sintered magnet is known as the permanent magnet with the best performance, widely used in voice coil motors (VCMs) of hard disc drives, magnetic circuits for magnetic resonance imaging devices (MRIs) and so on. Furthermore, it is known that in the magnet, the internal structure has a microstructure in which a periphery of an Nd2Fe14B primary phase is surrounded by a thin Nd-rich sub-phase, and thereby a coercive field is generated and a high magnetic energy product is exhibited.
On the other hand, in the case of a sintered magnet being used in an actual motor or the like, in actuality, grinding is applied to obtain the final dimension and concentricity. However, in this case, owing to such phenomena as minute grinding cracks or oxidation, the Nd-rich phase of the magnet surface layer is damaged, and as a result, the magnetic properties of the magnet surface portion deteriorate to a small fraction of that within the magnet.
This phenomenon is pronounced particularly in a small magnet where a ratio of surface area to volume is large; for instance, in the case of a block magnet of a 10 mm cube with the (BH)max of 360 kJ/m3, when cut and ground to 1×1×2 mm, the (BH)max deteriorates to about 240 kJ/m3; that is, the magnetic properties intrinsic to the Nd—Fe—B rare earth permanent magnet cannot be obtained.
In order to improve such defects of the Nd—Fe—B sintered magnet, there is a proposal in which a layer denatured by mechanical working is removed by means of mechanical polishing and chemical polishing (for instance, patent document 1) . Also, another method is proposed in which the magnet surface is ground and then covered by a rare earth metal, followed by diffusion heat treatment (for instance, patent document 2). Also, there is a method in which a SmCo film is formed on the surface of an Nd—Fe—B magnet (for instance, patent document 3).
Patent document 1: JP-A-09-270310
Patent document 2: JP-A-62-74048 (JP-B-06-63086)
Patent document 3: JP-A-2001-93715

Minute high-performance rare earth magnet for micromini product and process for producing the same


A dispensing valve arrangement is provided which includes a series of pinch valves and their respective deformable hoses. A pair of actuating mechanisms is provided so that some of the pinch valves first move to full flow position before other pinch valves move towards opened position to provide sequential operation and an additional feed which confluently merges and mixes with the feed from the first valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dispensing valve arrangement and, more particularly, to a multi-solution dispensing valve arrangement that might be utilized in an extractor or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Related Art
Although pinch valves are old and well known for the dispensing of fluids and some are even arranged in parallel to provide a solution comprising a mixture of fluids and some are even arranged to be operatively connected so as to alter the flow of some of the pinch valve feeds as others are opened, while at the same time altering the total flow, no pinch valve arrangement is known which permits the intermixture of at least two feeds with the selective intermixture of at least a third feed.
A valving arrangement having these structural and functional characteristics could find great utility in the dispensing art. For example, such an arrangement, could yield many operating advantages if utilized in an extractor. The initial two feeds could be water and detergent giving a washing solution flow of sufficient strength to clean all but the most stubborn spots on a floor covering. A third feed could also be detergent so that when added to the first flow, a more concentrated detergent solution and a greater flow volume would result, increasing, momentarily, both cleaning and flushing power of the extractor. This valving arrangement might also be utilized to selectively provide a desired mixed solution, to which, selectively, could be provided an additional constituent, or constituents.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a valving arrangement that admixes at least a pair of flows and then selectively introduces at least a third flow to this mixture.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a pinch valve arrangement that provides mixing of a pair of flows and the selective introduction of at least another flow to the mixture.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a pinch valve arrangement utilizable in an extractor for solution dispensing where a pair of flows such as water and detergent are co-mingled and then an additional flow of detergent is selectively introduced to the solution for spotting and flushing purposes.
It is even a further object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing valve arrangement.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing valve arrangement for use in an extractor.


An automatic transmission fluid basestock of mineral oil origin is produced from a neutral distillate fraction, preferably a medium neutral distillate, by severe furfural extraction to a dewaxed oil equivalent VI of about 95, severe hydrocracking, at temperatures ranging from at least about 700.degree. F. and pressures of at least about 1,500 psig, to achieve a minimum product VI of 120. The hydrocracked product is vacuum distilled to recover a lubricant oil product boiling above about 650.degree. F. which has a VI of at least 120 and a viscosity at 100.degree. F. of at least 100 SUS. The viscosity of the 120 VI product can be increased by increasing the distillation cut point without impacting the VI. The lubricant oil, having a wax content below 30 wt. %.

An automatic transmission fluid (ATF) must fulfill special requirements because of the conditions of its use. During normal use, automatic transmission fluids can be exposed to extremes of low and high temperatures, i.e. temperatures which can range from about -30.degree. C. to +175.degree. C. Therefore, essential features of an ATF include a low viscosity at a low temperature, a high viscosity index (VI) and a low pour point.
The measurement of viscosity indicates a fluid's resistance to flow which tends to decrease as the temperature increases and increase as the temperature decreases An ATF, under normal operating temperatures (i.e., 80.degree. C. to 120.degree. C.) must have a sufficiently high viscosity to provide adequate lubrication. However, when the temperature increases, it must retain sufficient viscosity for adequate film and wear protection. As temperatures decrease, it must maintain proper fluidity.
Viscosity Index (VI) is an indicator of how fast a fluid decreases in viscosity, or thins, as the temperature increases and the amount of thickening, or increase in viscosity, which occurs as the temperature decreases. VI is determined from the kinematic viscosity of a fluid based on known viscosity-temperature relationships.
However, knowing the VI does not always help predict the lubricant viscosity at temperatures below about -5.degree. C. At these lower temperatures, the viscosity of even very high VI oils can deviate from the expected viscosity as predicted from the known viscosity-temperature relationship. Thus, when an oil is described as possessing a high VI it is not entirely clear that this oil will have the necessary low viscosity at low temperatures required for ATFs.
A special test called the Brookfield viscosity test (ASTM D2981) has been developed to evaluate low temperature viscosity performance, as pointed out in Schodel "Automatic Transmission Fluids (ATFs)-The Improvement of Low Temperature Characteristics", 47 Lubrication Engineering pp 463-467 (June 1991). The Brookfield viscosity test measures the viscosity of fluids over temperatures ranging from -5 to -40.degree. C.
To achieve low pour point and good viscosity properties for ATF basestocks, refiners have considered solvent extraction followed by catalytic dewaxing of neutral distillates to produce 100 SUS oils. However, this has only achieved moderate success as the lubricants can suffer from low viscosity and VI.
Although high severity catalytic dewaxing of slack waxes can meet the very low pour point requirements, this is a costly proposition.
Upgrading crude fractions of low quality, such as high asphaltene, resinous fractions, for lubricant manufacture can be performed by hydrocracking, sometimes referred to as "severe hydrotreating". In this process a fraction from the upper portion of the lubricant boiling range is catalytically reacted with hydrogen under pressure. The process converts the components which are unsuitable for lubricant performance to those which are suitable. A substantial fraction of the polynuclear aromatics is hydrogenated and cracked to form naphthenes and paraffins. Process conditions and choice of catalyst are selected to provide an optimum conversion of the polynuclear aromatic content of the stock since this component degrades the viscosity index and stability of the stock. The paraffins are isomerized to impart good VI characteristics to the final product.
Hydrocracking to produce conventional base stocks from marginal crudes has been carried out as a stand-alone process in which the feed is directly subjected to the hydrocracker without preliminary solvent extraction. The hydrocracking process has greater feedstock flexibility and gives higher yield and quality compared to solvent refining. The disadvantages, however, include higher capital cost, lower basestock viscosity and lower aromatics content which may require reformulation to aid in additive solubility. Also, although hydrocracking improves product VI, hydrocracked stocks generally have poor seal compatibility, an unacceptably high pour point and must be dewaxed by solvent or catalytic dewaxing.
Processes which combine solvent refining and hydrocracking have been proposed with the goal of retaining the high product yield of standalone hydrocracking while maintaining the viscosity properties and lower processing costs of solvent refining.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,129 describes a process for making lubricating oils from nitrogenous distillates and/or deasphalted oils by the solvent extraction and hydroprocessing of a wide variety of crude oils. A more valuable lubricant product, in high yield and of consistant product quality is proposed. The base oils after solvent dewaxing are described as possessing pour points below about -9.degree. C. and VI of about 95. There is no indication of the low temperature viscosity properties necessary for a basestock to be used in automatic transmission fluids and from the VI, the product has not met the VI requirements.
United Kingdom patent No. 1240913 describes a modification in lubricant processing by solvent extraction and catalytic hydrotreating to achieve a high VI product. The described chargestock covers a wide range of petroleum fractions having a VI less than 90 and the proposed solvent extraction and hydrorefining conditions applicable to this range of feeds is equally as broad. There is no description of the low temperature properties of the product. A wax distillate fraction (VI of 70) is subjected to furfural extraction to a VI of 107 and pour point of +105. The raffinate is then mildly hydrorefined at a temperature of 775.degree. F. and pressure of 2,500 psig and solvent dewaxed to produce a lubricant having a VI and pour point ranging from VI 101, 0.degree. F. pour point, to VI 110 and -20.degree. F. pour point, depending upon the space velocity. Although the pour point is good, and a VI of 101 is not considered low, for purposes of ATF performance, better properties would be a significant advance in basestock production for automatic transmission fluids. Also, there is no indication that the lubricant product would meet the low temperature Brookfield viscosity specifications essential for an ATF.
United Kingdom patent application No. 2059433 describes another attempt to improve the VI of a paraffinic raffinate to achieve a base oil suitable for manufacturing a high performance industrial oil. The base oil is made by mild extraction and mild hydrocracking conditions of temperature ranging from 375-450.degree. C. and pressure ranging from 30 to 100 bars (435 to 1,450 psig). The properties of the chargestock are defined in terms of the aromatics content which range from 10 to 35% by weight. The highest reported VI is 114 with pour points ranging from -9 to -24.degree. C. For purposes of achieving an ATF basestock suitable for purposes of an automotive ATF performance, at minimum additive treat levels, it is preferred for the basestock to achieve a still higher VI, while maintaining a low pour point.
Moreover, industrial oils which are referred to in U.K. 2059433 are not expected to meet the same rigorous performance specifications as automotive oils which are exposed to much more severe conditions.
The automatic transmission is a hydrokinetic unit, converting power from the engine into kinetic energy in the torque converter pump. The engagement of clutches and bands has to be rapid and smooth for good driver shift feel characteristics and vehicle performance. It is this mechanism that automatic transmission companies are concerned with for new designs. As well as focusing on automatic transmission design, automobile manufacturers have looked at ATFs for improving driveability. Certain manufacturers have developed specifications which ATFs must meet, i.e., General Motors DEXRON II and Ford MERCON. The concern for better driveability also prompted General Motors to set the lead for more stringent low temperature viscometric requirements for ATFs, i.e. 20,000 cP (DEXRON IIE) vs. 50,000 cP (DEXRON IID) maximum Brookfield viscosity at -40.degree. C.
By contrast, the most common type of power transmission units used in industrial applications (i.e. manufacturing machines, farm, construction and off-highway vehicles and equipment) are hydrostatic drive transmissions. The hydrostatic transmission consists of a pump and motor as opposed to the torque converter, planetary gears, clutches and bands of an automatic transmission. The DEXRON IIE specifications for industrial hydrostatic transmission fluids have no low temperature viscosity performance specifications and allow the VI to range from 105 to 150, as opposed to the Brookfield viscosity maximum of 20,000 cP at -40.degree. C. and VI of 190 which are required for automatic transmission fluids. Thus, although a VI of 114 is reported in U.K. 2059433, because of the unpredictability of the viscosity properties at low temperatures, success in terms of low temperature viscosity properties would not be expected by utilizing a specific feedstock at more severe process conditions.
U. S. Pat. No. 3,880,747 discloses treating a naphthenic distillate stock boiling above 580.degree. F. with an aromatics selective solvent and hydroprocessing to produce a basestock for automatic transmission use. The broad hydroprocessing conditions include temperatures ranging from about 500.degree. F.-800.degree. F. 0.1-8.0 L.H.S.V., pressure of 500 to 3,000 p.s.i, and hydrogen circulation ranging from 0-20,000 SCF/bbl. There is no description of achieving a high VI oil which has good viscosity properties at low temperatures.
A "naphthenic" distillate, as referenced in U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,747, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,189. The naphthenic distillate is a vacuum distillate fraction which is preferrably wax-free and has a viscosity-gravity constant (VGC) in the range of 0.820 to 0.899 and a viscosity in the range of 150-12,000 SUS at 100.degree. F. The fraction can be obtained by deep furfural extraction to produce a wax-free low VGC fraction.
These disclosures fail to recognize the advantages of using a medium neutral distillate and high pressure hydrocracking conditions in order to obtain good viscosity properties at low temperatures.

Process for making basestocks for automatic transmission fluids