A wiring board module includes a multilayer wiring board. A crystal oscillator and an IC component, for example, are mounted on the mounting surface of the multilayer wiring board. Mounting lands for the IC component, mounting lands for the crystal oscillator, and mounting lands for other surface mount components are provided on the mounting surface. Each mounting land for the crystal oscillator is not a conventional single large-area land but is defined by four adjacent land pieces. The four land pieces are electrically connected via an external terminal of the crystal oscillator, thereby functioning as a mounting land for the external terminal. In other words, each of the plurality of mounting lands provided at locations corresponding to external terminals of the crystal oscillator is divided into four land pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring board, and more specifically, to a wiring board on which electronic components, such as an IC, are to be mounted, and to a wiring board module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high-frequency module in which various components, such as an IC component, a crystal oscillator, and other surface mount components, are mounted on the mounting surface of a ceramic wiring board is known (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-9225 (Patent Document 1)). Various mounting lands are provided on the mounting surface of this wiring board. Normally, one mounting land is provided for each external terminal of the mounted components. Generally, the sizes of these mounting lands are selected according to the sizes of external terminals of the mounted components. The reason is that mounting a large-size component requires a large amount of solder, and therefore, requires large-area lands.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional ceramic wiring board module 50. A crystal oscillator 1 and an IC component 2 are mounted on the mounting surface 51a of a wiring board 51, which are shown by an alternate long and short dash line, and other surface mount components (not shown) . Mounting lands 52 for the IC component2, mounting lands 53 for the crystal oscillator 1, and mounting lands 54 for other surface mount components are provided on the mounting surface 51a. The area of the mounting lands 53 is substantially larger than the other mounting lands 52 and 54.
However, when the large-area mounting lands 53 are provided, large local swells (protrusions) are generated at the locations of the mounting lands 53 on the mounting surface 51a of the wiring board 51. This is due to the difference in shrinkage factor between the wiring board body and the mounting lands upon firing. In general, when fired, a board body made of ceramic substantially shrinks, while mounting lands do not substantially shrink. Therefore, when large-area mounting lands are provided, the mounting surface of the wiring board swells.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the amount of swell in the X direction in the conventional wiring board 51 measured throughout the wiring board 51 at predetermined pitch intervals. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the amount of swell in the Y direction in the conventional wiring board 51 measured throughout the wiring board 51 at predetermined pitch intervals. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the vertical axis indicates the amount of swell (μm), and the horizontal axis indicates the locations of measuring points.
In the circles P1 and P2 in FIG. 9, large local swells caused by the mounting lands 53 are regenerated. These swells prevent small-size electronic components from being mounted in a desired location place and/or prevent electronic components from being mounted horizontally.


Obtainment of a present image, in which the arrangement of structural elements of a subject within the image approximates that of a past image of the same subject, and which is suitable for a temporal subtraction process, is enabled. A plurality of preliminary images of the subject are obtained, by a control unit controlling an imaging system constituted by an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, to perform imaging at a plurality of imaging angles. An optimal imaging angle calculating unit calculates an optimal imaging angle, based on characteristic anatomical points of the subject that reflect changes in the subject's position, which is optimal for obtaining a present image having the least differences, due to the position of the subject, from a past image. The control unit controls the imaging system to perform imaging employing the optimal imaging angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation imaging apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to a radiation imaging device which is capable of obtaining past radiation images and present radiation images of a single subject, suitable for extracting differences between the two by inter image calculations, such as a so-called temporal subtraction process.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are known methods of detecting temporal changes in subjects, based on temporal subtraction images. The temporal subtraction images are obtained by performing inter image calculating processes, such as a subtraction process, on a radiation image of a subject which has been obtained in the past (hereinafter, referred to simply as "past image") and a radiation image of the same subject which is obtained presently (hereinafter, referred to simply as "present image"). The temporal subtraction image represents differences between the past image and the present image. In the field of medicine, for example, a method for detecting tumors that develop over time employing temporal subtraction images is known. This method obtains temporal subtraction images from past images and present images of the same subject, and detects the presence of new tumors based on the temporal subtraction images.
In cases in which temporal subtraction is performed, artifacts are generated unless the portions of the past images and present images that correspond to the subject are not completely matched (excluding the portions that have changed over time). The artifacts become barriers to the detection of temporal changes, therefore it is preferable that they are removed as much as possible.
Accordingly, methods for eliminating artifacts have been proposed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010048757 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,341. In these methods, image processes, such as affine transform, are administered on one or both of the past and present images, to match the positions of the images that correspond to the subject.
Factors that cause artifact generation include differences in the position of a subject. In the case that the subject is a living organism, the respiratory phase and the cardiac phase (the phase of the constriction/expansion movement of the heart) of the subject are also factors that contribute to artifact generation. For example, in the case that the subject is a human body, if the subject's position is different, positional misalignment as a whole, centered on the bone portions, is likely to occur. If the respiratory phase of the subject is different, the degree of inspiration differs, therefore the size of the lungs and the positions of the organs in the periphery thereof change, causing positional misalignment of the organs. Further, if the cardiac phase of the subject is different, the size of the heart and the arrangement of blood vessels in the periphery thereof differs, causing positional misalignment of the blood vessels.
In the positioning methods by the aforementioned image processes, rough positioning is possible, yet fine positioning of detailed elements is difficult, and there is a limit in the artifact eliminating capabilities thereof. Accordingly, it is difficult to detect fine elements, such as tumors having diameters of about 5 mm, which are indicative of the early stages of lung cancer.
A method can be considered, in which imaging conditions of a present image are aggressively controlled such that the arrangement of structural elements of the subject approximate that of a past image, thereby enabling the generation of temporal subtraction images having few artifacts. However, such a method has not yet been proposed.


The partial decoding algorithm for decoding the partially damaged differential satellite positioning system (SATPS) messages is disclosed. The algorithm is based on the modified parity test. The information included in the decoded messages can be used for the high level differential SATPS testing.

The global positioning system (GPS) is a United States funded satellite system including twenty four satellites in a constellation that beams highly accurate timed signals to earth. There are other satellite systems which can be used for the same purposes. For instance, the GLONASS satellite system maintained by Russia also beams the accurately timed signals to earth. The generic term used for designation of any possible satellite positioning system is a satellite positioning system (SATPS). SATPS receivers can process the satellite signals from anywhere in the world.
With differential GPS, a stationary reference receiver is placed at a very accurately known point location. The reference receiver generates corrections which are sent to a transmitter, which in turn broadcasts the corrections to users within the area of the transmission broadcast. A differential GPS user receives these corrections through a radio/modem and applies them to the direct GPS measurements. This gives the user a position measurement of a very high accuracy, e.g., from one meter to ten meters. Differential GPS works quite well to produce meter-level accurate navigation as far as 100 kilometers from the reference station. Most radiolocation and radionavigation systems can be operated in a differential mode, and consequently provide improved accuracy. The features of continuous service, high effective update rate, and potentially large coverage areas make it possible for differential GPS to provide "real-time" positional information that could be obtained previously only in a "post-processing" mode of operation. This combination of capabilities of differential GPS makes it very attractive for a variety of applications.
The differential GPS finds application in the Marine Navigation. Indeed, in the restricted channels of some harbors and inland waterways 8-10 meters accuracy is required and the utilization of the differential GPS is essential to meet this requirement.
There is a general problem relating to all differential GPS receivers that is addressed in the present invention. The differences between the received and expected values are transmitted from the Reference Station to the GPS receiver over a separate communication link to correct the GPS receiver pseudorange measurements before the fix is computed. During the atmospheric noise, lightning, storms, weather anomalies, or electromagnetic interference the messages transmitted from the Reference Station to the GPS receiver can be damaged. Also, some differential GPS systems do not allow the use of error correction codes to correct the data errors resulting from the imperfect data transmission from the Reference Station to the GPS receiver. For instance, the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) doesn't recommend to use a self-correction code because it would increase the bandwidth required for the transmission.
Thus, what is needed is a correction algorithm which would allow the differential GPS receiver to process the damaged differential correction messages and to recover the useful information included in the damaged differential correction messages.

Optimum utilization of pseudorange and range rate corrections by SATPS receiver


A biological indicator access apparatus and method thereof is provided. The apparatus includes a cage positioned at least partially within an interior compartment of a medical sterilization container, wherein the cage has an interior portion sized to house at least one biological indicator. At least one access element is removably coupled to the cage and permitting access to the interior portion, wherein the at least one access element is located exterior to the medical sterilization container. A filter material at least partially forms the interior portion of the cage, wherein the filter material allows a sterilization substance to traverse from within the interior compartment of the medical sterilization container to the interior portion and prevents non-sterile substances from traversing from the interior portion to the interior compartment of the medical sterilization container.

Articles such as medical instruments and the like are usually sterilized in a sterilization machine, such as an autoclave, in which the articles are exposed to high-pressure saturated steam for a relatively brief interval. Unless the articles are to be used immediately and in close proximity to the autoclave, it is desirable to sterilize the articles while they are inside a sterilization container. Once the sterilization process is complete, the medical instruments may be housed within the sterilization container until they are used for a medical procedure. To ensure a safe medical environment, medical staff must ensure that the medical instruments are fully sterilized and that the sterilization container hasn't become contaminated since the sterilization process. A medical practitioner may use a biological indicator within the sterilization container to indicate if the environment within the sterilization container is sterile or non-sterile. However, it is difficult if not impossible to access a biological indicator within a sterilization container without opening the sterilized container, and thus comprising the sterile integrity of the environment within the sterilization container.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Apparatus and method for accessing a biological indicator within a container


The disclosure presents a number of reduced complexity architectures for despreading direct sequence spread spectrum communications signals. In a first despreading architecture for a sequence removal unit, received chip-spaced complex samples are negated in accordance with the processed phase of a complex spreading sequence. Furthermore, the in-phase and quadrature phase sample values are switched for each other in accordance with the processed phase. In a second despreading architecture, in a sequence removal unit, received chip-spaced complex samples are processed in the logarithmic domain, with the phase of the complex spreading sequence added to the detected phase, and the resulting complex signal then converted back to Cartesian coordinates. In a third despreading architecture for a correlator, sequence removal and correlation are performed in the logarithmic domain with the amplitudes and phases for the resulting complex signal arithmetically averaged and then converted back to Cartesian coordinates. architecture also for a correlator, sequence removal and correlation are performed in the logarithmic domain using circular averaging. In a fifth despreading architecture also for a correlator, wherein multiple component sequences are combined together to form an overall sequence, and wherein one of the multiple component sequences is shared by all channels, a common sequence removal is provided for removal of the shared sequence from all channels. The resulting signals are then sent to a plurality of individual correlators for removal of channel specific sequences.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spread spectrum communications systems and, in particular, to the despreading of direct sequence spread spectrum communications signals.
2. Description of Related Art
The cellular telephone industry has made phenomenal strides in commercial operations in the United States as well as the rest of the world. Growth in major metropolitan areas has far exceeded expectations and is outstripping system capacity. If this trend continues, the effects of rapid growth will soon reach even the smallest markets. The predominant problem with respect to continued growth is that the customer base is expanding while the amount of electromagnetic spectrum allocated to cellular service providers remains fixed. Innovative solutions are required to meet these increasing capacity needs as well as to maintain high quality service and avoid rising prices.
Currently, channel access is primarily achieved using Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) methods. In frequency division multiple access systems, a communication channel is a single radio frequency band into which the transmission power of a signal is concentrated. In time division multiple access systems, a channel comprises a time slot in a periodic train of time intervals over the same radio frequency.
Spread spectrum comprises a communications technique that is finding commercial application in wireless communications. Spread spectrum systems have been around since the days of World War II. Early applications were predominantly military oriented (relating to smart jamming and radar). However, there is an increasing interest today in using spread spectrum systems in commercial applications, including digital cellular radio, land mobile radio, and indoor and outdoor personal communication networks.
In a spread spectrum transmitter, a digital bit stream at a basic data rate is spread to a transmit data rate (or chip rate). This spreading operation involves applying a user unique digital code (the spreading or signature sequence) to the bit stream that increases its data rate while adding redundancy. This application typically multiplies (or logically XOR's) the digital bit stream by the digital code. The resulting transmitted data sequences (chips) are then modulated using a form of quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) to generate an output signal. This output signal is added to other similarly processed output signals for multi-channel transmission over a communications medium. The output signals of multiple users (channels) advantageously share one transmission communications frequency, with the multiple signals appearing to be located on top of each other in both the frequency domain and the time domain. Because the applied digital codes are user unique, however, each output signal transmitted over the shared communications frequency is similarly unique, and through the application of proper processing techniques at the receiver may be distinguished from each other. In the spread spectrum receiver, the received signals are demodulated and the appropriate digital code for the user of interest is applied (i.e., multiplied) to despread, or remove the coding from the desired transmitted signal and return to the basic data rate. Where this digital code is applied to other transmitted and received signals, however, there is no despreading as the signals maintain their chip rate. The despreading operation thus effectively comprises a correlation process comparing the received signal with the appropriate digital code.
In many spread spectrum communication systems, the transmitted data sequences include two components: an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature phase (Q) component. These components are typically viewed as the real and imaginary parts of a complex signal. In the spread spectrum transmitter, a complex spreading sequence is applied, and the two components are modulated (in accordance with the quadrature phase shift keying processing) and combined to form the generated output signal for transmission. Because the received signal now similarly includes both an in-phase component and a quadrature phase component, the despreading operation performed by the spread spectrum receiver must correlate the received complex signal to the appropriate digital code (signature sequence). This is typically accomplished using two scalar correlators, one fed with in-phase samples and one fed with quadrature phase samples. If a complex spreading sequence is used, however, four scalar correlators are needed further increasing the complexity of the correlation process.
The signals transmitted between two places in mobile communication systems may suffer from echo distortion or time dispersion. Multipath dispersion occurs when a signal proceeds to the receiver along not one, but many paths, so that the receiver receives many echoes having different and randomly varying delays and amplitudes. This is typically caused by, for example, signal reflections from large buildings or nearby mountain ranges. When multipath time dispersion is present in a spread spectrum communications system, the received signal comprises a composite of multiple versions (or images) of the transmitted signal that have propagated along different paths (referred to as "rays"). These versions of the transmitted signal typically have relative time delays with respect to each other of less than one symbol period. In certain situations, like macro-diversity and soft handoff, the delays may be greater.
The presence of multipath time dispersion with respect to a complex transmitted spread spectrum signal significantly complicates the receiving and correlating processes. A RAKE receiver, so named because it rakes the multipath contributions together using a weighted sum, is then used to receive the multiple rays of the signal. One correlation device (comprising an in-phase correlation section and a quadrature phase correlation section) is provided for each image of the transmitted signal. Each correlation device is aligned with its corresponding signal image (ray) through the use of a delay line. The received time diverse signals at each correlation device are then weighted in proportion to their received signal amplitudes, and the resulting signals summed (in-phase and quadrature phase) for output and further processing.
It is further noted that in some systems the overall spreading sequence may in fact comprise a combination of multiple sequences. For example, in the digital cellular standard TIA IS-95 for code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum communications, downlink information is spread by using a real signature sequence. The information is further scrambled with in-phase and quadrature phase scrambling sequences. Thus, the overall spreading sequence is complex, resulting from a composite of a complex scrambling sequence on top of a real spreading sequence. At the receiver, complex correlations are needed to process the signal giving rise to a high degree of complexity when using conventional techniques. The complexity is further increased when multiple channels (for example, traffic and pilot) need to be simultaneously despread.
There is a need then for reduced complexity correlation architectures for processing complex spread spectrum communications signals subject to multipath time dispersion, composite spreading and multi-channel reception.

Despreading of direct sequence spread spectrum communications signals


In the polyester film according to an embodiment, the strain with respect to tensile load and the crystallinity are adjusted to specific ranges, whereby it is possible to achieve the flexibility that does not cause deformation even when a certain load is sustained for a long period of time and the resistant characteristics to the impact of external pressing. Accordingly, the polyester film can be applied to a cover of a flexible display device, in particular, a foldable display device to exhibit excellent characteristics.

Display technologies continue to develop driven by the demand in tandem with the development of IT devices. Technologies on curved displays and bent displays have already been commercialized. In recent years, flexible display devices that can be flexibly bent or folded in response to an external force are preferred in the field of mobile devices that require large screens and portability at the same time. In particular, a foldable display device has the great advantages that it is folded to a small size to enhance its portability when not in use, and it is unfolded to form a large screen when used.
These flexible display devices mainly use a transparent polyimide film or ultra-thin glass (UTG) as a cover window. Transparent polyimide is vulnerable to scratches from the outside. Ultra-thin glass has a problem in that the scattering prevention characteristics are poor; therefore, a protective film is applied to the surface thereof. In a film applied to a foldable display device, a tensile load continues to be applied to the film in the folded state. If the film is deformed in this state, the layers may be delaminated from each other.
In order to prevent the above problem, a polymer film made of a soft material that does not easily deform even when a certain load is applied for a long period of time may be used as a protective film (see Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2017-0109746). However, there arise problems in that a soft material polymer has sticky characteristics, which makes the process control difficult, it is difficult to prepare a flawless transparent film due to the presence of gels, resulting in a feeling of heterogeneity with the cover window, it is difficult to prepare a thin film, and it is readily deformed by an external impact such as pressing.

Polyester film and flexible display apparatus comprising same


This invention relates to a compound having the formula I: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 1; when n is 1, one of dashed lines a and b is a single bond and the other of dashed lines a and b is a double bond, dashed line c is not present, and dashed line d is a single bond; when n is 0, dashed lines a, b, c and d are single bonds or one of dashed lines a and b is a single bond and the other of dashed lines a and b is a double bond, dashed line c is not present, and dashed line d is a double bond; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are, independently, lower branched or straight chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 ; and R.sub.4 is hydrogen, lower branched or straight chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl of C.sub.1 -C.sub.5, or C(O)R.sub.5, wherein R.sub.5 is hydrogen or lower branched or straight chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 ; wherein the sum of the carbon atoms in R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is less than or equal to eight carbon atoms. These compounds can be prepared by the cyclization of 1,1,3-trialkyl-1,6-heptadien-3-ols in the presence of an acid. The compounds of formula I are used as fragrance ingredients to confer, enhance, improve, or modify the aroma of a perfumery composition or an article.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cycloheptenols and their derivatives, products therefrom, methods for their use, and methods of synthesis thereof. In particular, the invention provides a convenient synthesis of substituted cycloheptenols and their derivatives and compositions, methods for their use, and articles prepared using the compounds, products and compositions. The compounds are particularly suited for fragrance applications.
2. Background
The use of some organic compounds as fragrance ingredients has been investigated and documented in the literature. In particular, some organic compounds and their derivatives have been used to enhance and improve the aroma of a number of articles, which include fine perfumes, soaps and detergents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,279 discloses the conversion of 5,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene to an ester of 3,3,5-trimethyl cycloheptanol by reacting the diene with an acid such as formic acid or acetic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst. This catalyst can be a Lewis acid such as boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, and stannic chloride, or strong mineral acids like sulfuric or phosphoric acid. Hydrolysis of the ester with water in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide generated 3,3,5-trimethyl cycloheptanol. Oxidation of the alcohol with aluminum isopropoxide in cyclohexanone, potassium dichromate, or chromic acid produced the ketone.
Using a similar procedure as described above, Hall et al. (J. Org. Chem. 1972, 37, 920), disclosed the cyclization of 5,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene and 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene with formic acid in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Hydrolysis of the formate esters to generate the corresponding cycloheptanol followed by oxidation to produce the ketone was also disclosed.
The two references cited above disclose that substituted cycloheptanols and its derivatives, where the seven-member ring is completely saturated, can be used as fragrance ingredients. The present invention describes the synthesis of substituted cycloheptenols and its derivatives, where a unit of unsaturation has been introduced into the ring or, if saturated, it is a bicyclo compound. The starting material 2,4-dimethyl-2,7-octadien-4-ol, which is a by-product made in the pyrolysis of 2-pinanol as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,821 herein incorporated in its entirety by this reference, is available in significant quantity. Until now, no valuable commercial products have been generated from 2,4-dimethyl-2,7-octadien-4-ol. Substituted cycloheptenols and its derivatives are readily available from 2,4-dimethyl-2,7-octadien-4-ol using the present invention. These compounds also possess fragrant aromas, and can be used to confer, enhance, improve, or modify the odor of an article.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Cycloheptenols and their derivatives, methods of making thereof, and utilization thereof as fragrances


The invention provides a polycyclic aromatic compound or a salt thereof having a partial structure represented by the following general formula (I):

Hitherto, research has been conducted on α-NPD, rubrene, Alq3, PBD, and the like, as a luminescent material and an organic semiconductor material used in organic light-emitting elements such as organic EL devices and organic light-emitting diodes (Patent Literature 1 to 3).
In an organic light-emitting element, a thin film including a fluorescent organic compound or a phosphorescent organic compound is sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The element utilizes light radiated when an exciton of the fluorescent compound or the phosphorescent compound, generated through injection of electron or hole (positive hole) from the respective electrodes, returns to a ground state.
Recent progresses regarding organic light-emitting elements have been remarkable. Since the elements have characteristics enabling realization of a lightweight and thin luminous device that has high-speed response, a diverse luminous wavelength, and high brightness when low voltage is applied thereto, a wide range of possible applications thereof is suggested.
However, presently, the output of light with further high brightness or high conversion efficiency is required. In addition, there are still many problems regarding durability, such as changes observed over time after being used for a long period of time, and deterioration due to moisture and atmosphere gas containing oxygen. Furthermore, although light emission of red, green, and blue with fine color purity is required when considering application thereof to a full-color display or the like, there has not been a sufficient answer for such problems.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a polycyclic aromatic compound having a single heteroatom in a non-aromatic ring.

Abstract: wherein X, ring A, ring B, ring C, and ring D are as defined in the specification.


A cluster implements a virtual disk system that provides each node of the cluster access to each storage device of the cluster. The virtual disk system provides high availability such that a storage device may be accessed and data access requests are reliably completed even in the presence of a failure. To ensure consistent mapping and file permission data among the nodes, data are stored in a highly available cluster database. Because the cluster database provides consistent data to the nodes even in the presence of a failure, each node will have consistent mapping and file permission data. A cluster transport interface is provided that establishes links between the nodes and manages the links. Messages received by the cluster transports interface are conveyed to the destination node via one or more links. The configuration of a cluster may be modified during operation. Prior to modifying the configuration, a reconfiguration procedure suspends data access requests and waits for pending data access requests to complete. The reconfiguration is performed and the mapping is modified to reflect the new configuration. The node then updates the internal representation of the mapping and resumes issuing data access requests.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of distributed computing systems and, more particularly, to distributed virtual storage devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Distributed computing systems, such as clusters, may include two or more nodes, which may be employed to perform a computing task. Generally speaking, a node is a group of circuitry designed to perform one or more computing tasks. A node may include one or more processors, a memory and interface circuitry. Generally speaking, a cluster is a group of two or more nodes that have the capability of exchanging data between nodes. A particular computing task may be performed upon one node, while other nodes perform unrelated computing tasks. Alternatively, components of a particular computing task may be distributed among the nodes to decrease the time required perform the computing task as a whole. Generally speaking, a processor is a device configured to perform an operation upon one more operands to produce a result. The operations may be performed in response to instructions executed by the processor.
Nodes within a cluster may have one or more storage devices coupled to the nodes. Generally speaking, a storage device is a persistent device capable of storing large amounts of data. For example, a storage device may be a magnetic storage device such as a disk device, or optical storage device such as a compact disc device. Although a disk device is only one example of a storage device, the term "disk" may be used interchangeably with "storage device" throughout this specification. Nodes physically connected to a storage device may access the storage device directly. A storage device may be physically connected to one or more nodes of a cluster, but the storage device may not be physically connected to all the nodes of a cluster. The nodes which are not physically connected to a storage device may not access that storage device directly. In some clusters, a node not physically connected to a storage device may indirectly access the storage device via a data communication link connecting the nodes.
It may be advantageous to allow a node to access any storage device within a cluster as if the storage device is physically connected to the node. For example, some applications, such as the Oracle Parallel Server, may require all storage devices in a cluster to be accessed via normal storage device semantics, e.g., Unix device semantics. The storage devices that are not physically connected to a node, but which appear to be physically connected to a node, are called virtual devices, or virtual disks. Generally speaking, a distributed virtual disk system is a software program operating on two or more nodes which provides an interface between a client and one or more storage devices, and presents the appearance that the one or more storage devices are directly connected to the nodes. Generally speaking, a client is a program or subroutine that accesses a program to initiate an action. A client may be an application program or an operating system subroutine.
Unfortunately, conventional virtual disk systems do not guarantee a consistent virtual disk mapping. Generally speaking, a storage device mapping identifies to which nodes a storage device is physically connected and which disk device on those nodes corresponds to the storage device. The node and disk device that map a virtual device to a storage device may be referred to as a node/disk pair. The virtual device mapping may also contain permissions and other information. It is desirable that the mapping is persistent in the event of failures, such as a node failure. A node is physically connected to a device if it can communicate with the device without the assistance of other nodes.
A cluster may implement a volume manager. A volume manager is a tool for managing the storage resources of the cluster. For example, a volume manager may mirror two storage devices to create one highly available volume. In another embodiment, a volume manager may implement striping, which is storing portions of files across multiple storage devices. Conventional virtual disk systems cannot support a volume manager layered either above or below the storage devices.
Other desirable features include high availability of data access requests such that data access requests are reliably performed in the presence of failures, such as a node failure or a storage device path failure. Generally speaking, a storage device path is a direct connection from a node to a storage device. Generally speaking, a data access request is a request to a storage device to read or write data.
In a virtual disk system, multiple nodes may have representations of a storage device. Unfortunately, conventional systems do not provide a reliable means of ensuring that the representations on each node have consistent permission data. Generally speaking, permission data identify which users have permission to access devices, directories or files. Permissions may include read permission, write permission or execute permission.
Still further, it is desirable to have the capability of adding or removing nodes from a cluster or to change the connection of existing nodes to storage devices while the cluster is operating. This capability is particularly important in clusters used in critical applications in which the cluster cannot be brought down. This capability allows physical resources (such as nodes and storage devices) to be added to the system, or repair and replacement to be accomplished without compromising data access requests within the cluster.

Highly available cluster virtual disk system


A subsurface imaging technique using distributed sensors is introduced. Instead of monostatic transceivers employed in conventional ground penetrating radars, the proposed technique utilizes bi-static transceivers to sample the reflected signals from the ground at different positions and create a large two-dimensional aperture for high resolution subsurface imaging. The coherent processing of the samples in the proposed imaging method eliminates the need for large antenna arrays for obtaining high lateral resolution images. In addition, it eliminates the need for sampling on a grid which is a time-consuming task in imaging using ground penetration radar. Imaging results show that the method can provide high-resolution images of the buried targets using only samples of the reflected signals on a circle with the center at the transmitter location.

Detection and localization of buried objects (e.g. land mines, pipelines, and cables) and subsurface features (e.g. tunnels and change in soil electrical properties due to pipeline leaks) are sought for various military, security, civilian, and industrial applications. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is the current technology that is widely used for imaging of buried targets and subsurface features in infrastructure development, mining, town planning, archaeology, construction, industry, and ecology. GPR systems utilize a monostatic transceiver to acquire data in a uniform grid of sampling points within the area under inspection. Despite its widespread use, GPR suffers from many limitations. For example, applicability of GPR and its penetration depth are site specific and depends on soil composition and moisture. According to GPR suitability map by USDA, soil in large areas in north, east, and west of US is not suitable for inspection using conventional GPR. Limited field of view of GPR systems requires scanning all the points within the area under inspection in order to provide a complete image of the subsurface. Consequently, GPR inspection in large areas or long distances is a very time-consuming process.
Conventional GPR systems also suffer from poor lateral resolution meaning that they are not able to resolve closely spaced targets. GPR systems have limited sensitivity and cannot detect small targets or certain targets that are buried deep. To enhance underground imaging resolution, large antenna arrays must be used that limits mobility and increases cost of the system. GPR systems must comply with the power regulations mandated by authorities. This sets a limit on the maximum penetration depth of GPR system. The low resolution of the images and appearance of spurious images require trained individuals to interpret the radar data. These limitations reduce the applicability and reliability of GPR.
Applications of subsurface imaging include but are not limited to: transportation of oil, gas, and hazardous materials using pipelines: localization of old pipelines and pipeline leaks over large areas and deeply buried pipelines is of great interest for many industries including construction and oil and gas industries; detection of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) that require high lateral resolution imaging and operation in wide range of soil moisture and composition and depth; and detection of deeply submerged features such as perimeter breaches tunnels that is required in security operations.
A subsurface imaging method has been developed to address the aforementioned limitations of conventional GPR systems. Based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, the proposed method has a large field of view meaning that it requires acquiring data at small number of points within the area under inspection to provide a complete 3D map of subsurface in a short period of time. Coherent processing of data points results in a high lateral resolution that make it simple to interpret the radar data. The system achieves high resolution and significantly higher sensitivity while maintains high mobility for the system. The high mobility transmitter and receiver can be mounted on ground robots or drones for automated imaging of hazardous large areas (such as mine fields) or long distances (such as pipelines).
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

All-direction high-resolution subsurface imaging using distributed moving transceivers

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game, such as a Bingo game, in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The outcome of the multi-player wagering game may be displayed to the player at the gaming unit, along with an alternate outcome display at two or more alternate outcome display devices at the gaming unit. In one embodiment, an outcome of a Bingo game may be mapped to an outcome of a slot machine having a bonus feature such as a wheel. Outcomes of the Bingo game may then be displayed on the plurality of alternate display devices as outcomes of the slot game and accompanying bonus feature.

The present disclosure relates to gaming networks and, more particularly, to a gaming network providing a multi-player Bingo game wherein the gaming units include multiple alternate outcome displays for displaying the outcome of the multi-player Bingo game.
Indian gaming in the United States is divided into Class I, Class II and Class III games. Class I gaming includes social games played for minimal prizes, or traditional ceremonial games. Class II gaming includes Bingo and Bingo-like games. Bingo is defined as games played for prizes, including monetary prizes, with cards bearing numbers or other designations in which the holder of the cards covers such numbers or designations when objects, similarly numbered or designated, are drawn or electronically determined, and in which the game is won by the first person covering a previously designated arrangement of numbers or designations on such cards. Class II gaming may also include pull tab games if played in the same location as Bingo games, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant Bingo, and other games similar to Bingo. Class III gaming includes any game that is not a Class I or Class II game, such as games of chance (slots, video poker, video blackjack, video Keno, and the like) typically offered in non-Indian, state-regulated casinos.
Two basic forms of Bingo exist. In traditional Bingo, the players purchase cards after which a draw takes place. The first player to achieve a designated pattern wins. In one type of Bingo game known as Bonanza Bingo, the draw for the game takes place before the players know the arrangements on their Bingo cards. After the draw occurs, the players may either purchase cards or expose previously purchased cards and compare the arrangements on the cards to the drawn numbers to determine whether predetermined patterns are matched. Play continues in Bonanza Bingo until at least one of the players matches a designated game-winning pattern. Bonanza Bingo may also encompass Bingo variations wherein a partial draw is conducted for some numbers (generally fewer than the number of balls expected to be necessary to win the game) prior to selling and/or revealing the Bingo cards. After the Bingo cards are sold and/or revealed, additional numbers are drawn until there is a winner.
As indicated above, a Bingo game is played until at least one player covers a predetermined game-winning pattern on the player's Bingo card. The game may also include interim winners of prizes based on matching predetermined interim patterns on the Bingo card using the same ball draw. The interim pattern wins do not terminate the Bingo game. For interim pattern awards, players covering certain interim patterns may receive an additional award as the game continues. Some exceptional Bingo versions may allow Bingo draws beyond those needed to achieve the Bingo game win so as to payout interim pattern wins at a desired rate. The game-winning awards may be partially or fully pari-mutuel in nature. That is, the Bingo win award is based upon the total amount wagered on a given occurrence of the Bingo game. However, interim pattern awards typically are not pari-mutuel.
For a given game-winning pattern, the expected number of balls drawn for at least one Bingo card to match the game-winning pattern depends on the number of Bingo cards being played in the Bingo game. Bingo is typically played with a variable number of Bingo cards resulting from varying numbers of players and players playing varying numbers of Bingo cards. Consequently, if the interim patterns are evaluated based on the balls drawn until at least one Bingo card matches the game-winning pattern, the odds of awarding interim awards also varies with the number of Bingo cards being played in the Bingo game. If the interim awards are determined based on the ball draw to Bingo, the Bingo game may be restricted to a fixed number of Bingo cards in order to achieve a desired payout rate for the interim pattern awards. However, it may be difficult to use a fixed number of Bingo cards in every occurrence of the Bingo game in a real-time environment wherein the players' expectation may be to play the Bingo game on demand.
For example, to achieve a desired interim award payout rate, it may be desirable to play each occurrence of the Bingo game with a fixed number of Bingo cards, such as fifteen. If there are at least two players but less than fifteen. Bingo cards are enrolled in the Bingo game within a short period of time, in order to serve the players, the casino may want to start the game for those players available to play. With the fewer number of Bingo cards, the average number of balls drawn for at least one of the Bingo cards to match the game-winning pattern may be expected to be greater than for fifteen Bingo cards. Correspondingly, the number of balls used by the players to match the interim patterns increases, thereby increasing the odds of players matching the interim patterns and increasing the interim award payout rate. Therefore, a need exists for a method for minimizing the impact of the players and/or Bingo cards upon the award structure for a multi-player Bingo game, including the impact on the odds of awarding interim pattern awards.
In general, players may find games such as slot machines, whether electro-mechanical or video, to be more appealing to Bingo games. Typically, slot machine outcomes are based upon the resultant patterns of symbols displayed on the reels. However, as mentioned above, slot machines and other similar type games of chance fall into the category of Class III games, which may be subject to stricter approval and regulation.
As such, there is a recognized need for providing a system wherein a Bingo outcome may be presented to the players with the display simulating the appearance of traditional Class III games, such as with electromechanical or video slot reels, but with the outcome of the Bingo game determining the outcome to be displayed instead of the game engine typically used for the selected Class III game. For example, a Bingo outcome may be used to determine the positioning of the reels of a display device having the look and feel of a slot machine. Thus, the positioning of the slot reels is based upon the Bingo pattern(s) matched by the player during the Bingo game. Further, the award amounts depicted by the display device may correspond to the award amounts, plus any scatter and bonus awards, represented by the Bingo patterns. The display device, therefore, serves as an alternate display of the results of the Bingo game. The Bingo card, which may also be displayed, is the ultimate outcome-determining entity, with that outcome determining the outcome that is displayed on the display device.
For slot machines and other games of chance having a single payline (i.e. a single sequence or grouping of game symbols that is evaluated to determine whether a winning combination occurs), mapping between the winning outcomes of the game of chance and patterns in a Bingo game may not be difficult to achieve. Such games of chance typically encompass a couple dozen possible winning combinations and associated payout amounts. Selecting Bingo patterns with odds of occurrence similar to those of each desired winning outcome of the game of chance may be readily achieved by one skilled in the art.
The current trend in slot machines, for example, is to provide multi-line spinning reel games (i.e., multiple sequences or groupings of game symbols that are evaluated to determine whether one or more winning combinations occur). The award resulting from the final positioning of the reels may be the sum of the awards for all the selected paylines, plus any scatter or bonus awards. Thus, the number of possible award amounts for a given play of the game is increased dramatically and can easily reach several hundred. In order to provide a display device for a Bingo game and offer the look and feel of a multi-line slot machine, a need exists for a method to map the Bingo patterns to each of a desired large number of award amounts. Attempting to define patterns for all or most such award amounts may be analytically challenging and potentially confusing to the Bingo player.
One example of a method of mapping Bingo game outcomes to a plurality of prizes to achieve a desired prize distribution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,017 to Enzminger et al. Enzminger et al. discloses a method including determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in a bingo-type game. Each pattern probability comprises a probability of achieving the respective target pattern in the bingo-type game. The method next includes associating or mapping different pattern sets to each different prize level in a desired prize distribution. The target patterns and their respective pattern probabilities are assigned or mapped to the different pattern sets so that the individual pattern probabilities included in each pattern set add up to the desired probability of the prize level with which the pattern set is associated. In this way, a desired prize distribution may be used in a bingo-type game

Multi-player bingo game with multiple alternative outcome displays


Various embodiments may provide a method of illuminating a sample plane. The method may include providing an illumination subsystem, the illumination subsystem including an optical source and at least one lens, having an optic axis at an incident angle greater than 0° and less than 90° to a normal of the sample plane. The method may also include rotating the illumination subsystem about a pivot point between the optical source and the sample plane along the optic axis so that an adjusted illumination distribution generated by the illumination subsystem at the sample plane has greater symmetry compared to a reference illumination distribution generated by the illumination subsystem at the sample plane without the rotation about the pivot point.

In certain biological applications (e.g., digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR)), an array of reaction chambers may contain biological samples (such as deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA)) and fluorescent dye. Neighboring reaction chambers may be separated by one or more partitions. In most cases of practical significance, it may be desirable to have consistent fluorescent signals (or at least approximately consistent fluorescent signals) from all partitions within an array (or, in the case of two or more arrays, consistent fluorescent signals from all partitions across the arrays). By "consistent signals", it is meant that when equal concentrations of dye are present in each partition, then each partition would give rise to equal fluorescence when illuminated by the instrument's source.
From an optical system design standpoint, in order to have consistent fluorescent signals from each partition within an array of partitions, it is required to achieve uniform illumination onto the array of partitions. Due to the fundamental nature of light to spread from its source as it travels onto a screen, the resulting illumination distribution is often non-uniform. FIG. 1A is a schematic depicting a condition where an illumination subsystem provides direct illumination onto the sample plane at normal incidence (i.e., 0 degrees incident angle), which results in non-uniform light distribution (the central area is brighter than the edges). FIG. 1B is another schematic depicting the use of a beam splitter (as is commonly done in fluorescence detection) to reflect the light down onto the sample plane. The reflection is merely a "mirror image" of direct illumination. Hence, this also results in the same type of non-uniformity at the sample plane.
In some cases of practical significance in fluorescence detection, one may wish to illuminate the sample plane without the use of a beam splitter (e.g., to eliminate stray light issues related to the beam splitter, or to reduce the cost of the instrument by not including beam splitters). In such cases, one would illuminate the sample plane at oblique incidence (i.e., incident angle >0 degrees), as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the illumination at oblique incidence for fluorescence detection with resulting asymmetric light distribution at the sample plane. In this case, an asymmetrical non-uniformity results, i.e. the edge that is closer to the lens is brighter than the edge that is farther from the lens.

Optical system, and method of illuminating a sample plane


The mounting apparatus includes: a bonding head 14 that bonds, while pressing, a semiconductor chip 100 onto a substrate 110 or another semiconductor chip 100; and a heating mechanism 16 that heats the semiconductor chip 100 from the side during the execution of this bonding. After two or more semiconductor chips 100 are stacked while being bonded by temporary pressure-bonding, the bonding head 14 heats and applies pressure to an upper surface of the resultant stacked body, thereby integrally pressure-bonding the two or more semiconductor chips 100, and at the time of this pressure-bonding the heating mechanism 16 heats the stacked body from the side.

Conventionally, a mounting apparatus that mounts a semiconductor chip by bonding the semiconductor chip on an upper surface of a substrate or an upper surface of another semiconductor chip (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "mounting surface") has been widely known. An adhesive made of a thermosetting resin, or a conductive metal called a bump that is for securing electrical connection is provided on a lower surface of the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is bonded onto the mounting surface by heating and hardening the adhesive or welding the bump to an electrode on the mounting surface.
For bonding the semiconductor chip, a bonding head that presses and heats the semiconductor chip from an upper surface thereof is provided in the mounting apparatus. By heating and pressing the upper surface of the semiconductor chip using the bonding head, the adhesive of the thermosetting resin is hardened, and the bump is welded to the electrode.

Semiconductor chip mounting apparatus and semiconductor chip mounting method


A buffered means for attaching a first device to a second device. The attachment means includes a camming surface. The invention provides a buffer element between the attachment device camming surface and the area to which the attachment device is affixed.

This invention relates to attachment means and more particularly to a buffered means for attaching a device to a weaver or angled railing.
In applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,871, issued on Jul. 11, 1989, for an "Attachment Device", and incorporated herein by reference, (hereinafter: '871 Attachment Device), there was disclosed a fastening device comprising a locking means and an actuating means. The locking means included a base portion with first and second camming areas
The '871 attachment device is used to provide a portable integrator for various add on devices, such as the locking weaver interface 33 of the '871 patent onto a first weaver interface 28 or onto a receiver sleeve as disclosed in applicant's copending application, Ser. No. 07/763,966, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,806, incorporated herein by reference, or directly onto the upper receiver of a firearm. The '871 attachment device is also sometimes referred to as a "throw lever", and may be used in tandem as seen in the '871 patent or singularly for applications like optics ring holders.
The limitation of the '871 Attachment Device and similar type devices lies in the camming areas. Weaver interfaces, receiver sleeves and upper receivers are generally made of aluminum or other light weight material. These materials are softer than the steel used for and necessary to make the camming areas of the '871 Attachment Device and similar type devices. Thus, over time and after repeated use, the '871 attachment device continuously scratches, cuts and erodes the area to which the '871 attachment device is affixed.


A method of forming monoammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole (BTA-1NH3) is presented comprising the steps of charging a mixing vessel with a solution of free BTA acid and distilled water, adding ammonium hydroxide in excess to obtain a pH of at least 9.5 and mixing the solution, and adding sulfuric acid cooled to 10-20 degrees Celsius to obtain a pH of at least 4.5 and mixing the solution. A gas generator 10 containing a gas generant 12 containing the BTA-1NH3 formed in accordance with the present invention is also presented. Gas generating systems 180 such as vehicle occupant protection systems 180, containing the gas generator 10, are also provided.

The monoammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole (BTA-NH3) has been found to be an excellent fuel for use in gas generants, in airbag inflators within vehicle occupant protection systems, for example. It has been found that the particle size and morphology of this fuel constituent nevertheless affects the performance of formulations that use it. It is believed that needle-like crystals of BTA-NH3 tend to bend and flex when exposed to a thermal gradient cycle spanning −40 C to 107 C. This effect creates aggressive ballistic results for propellant formulations that contain larger crystalline BTA-NH3 particles.
Smaller and amorphous BTA-NH3 particles apparently mitigate the detrimental effects of the bending and flexing of the larger needle-like structures. Accordingly, the size and shape of the BTA-NH3 particle has been found to be determinative of the stability of associated gas generant compositions with regard to temperature cycling or heat aging criteria. Furthermore, the improved bulk density provides advantageous packaging and storage requirements for BTA-NH3 when processed to produce particles having a desirable shape and size. When synthesized to the desired shape and size range, grinding to the desired size and shape is eliminated as a time critical step in the manufacturing process of BTA-NH3. Eliminating the grinding step also mitigates variability in combustion performance due to inconsistencies in the grinding process and therefore, inconsistencies in the average size of the BTA-1NH3.

Method of making monoammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole


An object of the present invention is to provide a novel prothrombin activator. The application of the activator to thrombin-related diseases is expected.. Described is a prothrombin activator derived from snake venom, which is a calcium requiring type and comprises three polypeptide chains composed of one heavy chain having a molecular weight of about 62,000 or about 60,000 and two light chains having molecular weights of about 17,000 and about 14,000, respectively.

In the body, the blood circulates under a certain balance between the coagulation system and the fibrinolytic system.
In the second phase of blood clotting, prothrombin (Factor II), which is one of the blood coagulation factors, is converted into thrombin by the action of thromboplastin (Factor III) in the presence of calcium ions (Ca.sup.2+ ions: Factor IV). In the third phase, fibrinogen (Factor I) is acted upon by the thrombin and changed into strands of fibrin, whereby the blood clotting is completed.
Anticoagulant therapy is given to patients suffering from ischemic heart diseases or patients having a heart valve prosthesis and for the monitoring of the therapy, prothrombin time is measured. The measurement of prothrombin time is carried out by measuring the time required for coagulation by adding thromboplastin, which is an exogenous substance causing blood clotting, to a specimen, whereby the extrinsic coagulation pathway activity can be studied. This method is used for total measurement of extrinsic coagulation factors (Factors I, II, V, VII and X).
Thromboplastin used as a reagent for the above measurement is prepared from an organ-extracted phospholipid so that it differs in the sensitivity according to the products or batches. The measured value therefore does not accurately reflect the amount of coagulation factors in the specimen, which tends to heighten the frequency of hemorrhage caused by excessive administration of an oral anticoagulant and has come to be a serious clinical problem (Poller L. "Progress in standardization in anticoagulant control", Hematol. Rev. 1, 225-241(1987); Latallo Z S, Thomson J M and Poller L, "An evaluation of chromogenic substrates in the control of oral anticoagulant therapy", Br. J. Haematol, 47, 307-318(1981); Poller L. and Taberner D A, "Dosage and control of oral anticoagulants", An international survey, Br. J. Haematol. 51, 479-485(1982)).
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problem by finding a novel prothrombin activator, applying it to the measurement of prothrombin in the blood and thereby providing a reagent for accurate measurement. An another object of the present invention is to apply the reagent to thrombin-related diseases.


An apparatus and method provide a solute-solvent solution that allows the solute to become photo-protonated by the solvent on absorption of ultraviolet light. The solute is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octamethylanthracene (OMA). The solvent is 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP). The protonated form of the solute absorbs visible light to change the coloration of the solution from a substantially clear state to a colored state.

This invention relates to substances known to change their light absorption characteristics when irradiated with light of different wavelengths.
Photochromism is a reversible change in the light absorption properties of a substance when the substance is irradiated with light of a different wavelength. Typically, irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light will cause a photochromic substance to absorb visible light (become colored). The irradiating light can be either monochromatic or polychromatic. When the irradiating light is removed, the substance returns to a colorless state. These photochromic compounds have applications in a variety of fields, the most well known being eyeglasses that darken outdoors (in the UV and visible light of the sun) and return to a transparent state indoors. Other uses can be UV driven filters (optical switches), display elements, or optical recording media, for example. One such optical switch can take the form of a liquid-filled fiber-optic, for example.
Photochromism can occur through a variety of photochemical mechanisms. A discussion of many of these mechanisms is given in a review article by Henri Bouas-Laurent And Heinz Dürr.1
Some of the mechanisms for reversible photochromic reactions discussed by Bouas-Laurent and Dürr, and typical compound types that exhibit these mechanisms, are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1Reaction MechanismRepresentative Compound TypePericyclic reactionsSpiropyransCis-trans isomerizationAzo compoundsIntramolecular hydrogen transferAnilsIntramolecular group transferPolycyclic quinonesDissociation processes (bond cleavage)TriarylmethanesElectron transferViologens
Photochromic molecules such as these relax back to a colorless form at different rates, depending on the chemistry involved. In general the back reaction rates are not externally adjustable. Obtaining a different relaxation rate usually requires the synthesis of a molecule with a modified structure. The relaxation lifetimes of photochromic molecules must often be different for different applications. For example, relaxation rates on the order of seconds may be desired for the steady state build up of coloration in a low light flux environment like sunlight, while much shorter relaxation rates would be desired for optical switches for communications.

Long-lived photo-protonated carbocation for photochromic, photoconductive liquids

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


The present invention provides a fault current limiter which can reduce an abnormal current, such as a fault current, in a power system through the magnetic turn-off which increases the reactance of an electric circuit by changing the magnetic circuit. The fault current limiter for limiting a current supplied through a power supply path, according to the present invention, includes: an iron core having three legs of which the upper and lower portions are connected to each other; a primary winding wound around each of the three legs of the iron core and having both ends connected to the power supply path; and a secondary winding wound around each of the three legs of the iron core and having both ends connected to each other through a first switching device.

On a power supply path including a power system, a fault may occur due to various reasons. The fault may indicate that a ground fault or short circuit occurs, under the supposition that the system is a circuit.
Representative examples of a fault current limiter may include a superconducting fault current limiter using a high-temperature superconducting element and a solid-state fault current limiter using a power-electronic element. However, since the two fault current limiters require a high cost, there is a limitation in increasing the capacity.
Recently, however, as the power system becomes more and more complex, the magnitude of a fault current in the power system has gradually increased. Thus, there is an urgent demand for a fault current limiter capable of limiting a fault current.

Power-electronic-type fault current limiter using magnetic turn-off principle


A digital indicator 1 includes a body case (10), a spindle (30) provided to the body case (10), the spindle (30) being movable in an axial direction, a displacement detector (40) that detects a moving amount of the spindle (30), and a digital display (50) that digitally displays the moving amount detected by the displacement detector (40). The display surface of the digital display (50) is arranged on the body case (10) in an attitude substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the spindle (30) and deviated from the moving axis of the spindle (30).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital measuring instrument. Specifically, the present invention relates to a digital measuring instrument whose display surface is arranged in an attitude substantially orthogonal to a moving direction of a spindle.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a digital indicator as the digital measuring instrument which measures dimensions, such as thickness, of a workpiece from a moving amount of a spindle and digitally displays the measured result.
The conventional digital indicator includes a body case, a spindle provided to the body case, the spindle being movable in the axial direction, a displacement detector that detects a moving amount of the spindle, and a digital display that digitally displays the moving amount detected by the displacement detector.
Since a display surface of the digital display is typically provided on a front surface of the body case, namely on a surface parallel with a moving direction of the spindle movably provided to the body case, when a measurement is performed in a condition where it is difficult to visually check the display surface from the front side of the display surface, the measured value displayed on the display surface will be difficult to read.
To solve this problem, there has been developed a so called "back-plunger" type digital dial gauge (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,798, FIGS. 4 to 6, etc.).
In the back-plunger type digital dial gauge, a body case having a digital display is movably provided with a spindle in the direction orthogonal to the display surface of the digital display, and a movable member movable in the direction orthogonal with the moving direction of the spindle. Also, a conversion mechanism is provided between the spindle and the movable member for converting a moving amount of the spindle into the moving amount of the movable member.
However, in the back-plunger type digital dial gauge described in the document, since the digital display is arranged on the body case in a position right above the spindle so as to be orthogonal to the moving direction of the spindle, the moving stroke of the spindle is restricted by the digital display, and therefore it is difficult to obtain a digital dial gauge having a spindle with a long moving stroke.


A physical quantity sensor includes: a substrate; first and second displacement members in a spatial plane on the substrate and having rotation shafts; fixed electrodes on the substrate opposed to the first and second displacement members; a support member supporting the rotation shafts; fixing members supporting the support member via a spring unit; and a driving unit oscillating the support member in an oscillation direction. Each of the first and second displacement members shifts perpendicularly to the spatial plane around an axis of the corresponding rotation shaft. Each rotation shaft is shifted in an opposite direction from the center of gravity of the corresponding displacement member.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a physical quantity sensor, and an electronic device including this physical quantity sensor.
2. Related Art
Recently, an angular velocity sensor capable of detecting an angular velocity has been widely used for a car navigation system, a video camera for attitude control such as correction of movement of the video camera during recording, or for other devices. There is a type of angular velocity sensor which detects an angular velocity around an axis within a plane where an element is disposed.
An angular velocity sensor disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0100930 includes an annular driving mass, an anchor disposed at the center of the driving mass, a substrate to which the anchor is fixed, a pair of first mass units disposed opposed to each other in the X axis direction of the driving mass, a pair of second mass units disposed opposed to each other in the Y axis direction of the driving mass, and detection electrodes disposed on the substrate at positions opposed to the first mass units and the second mass units, respectively, all of which components included in the sensor are provided in the X-Y plane.
The angular velocity sensor having this structure detects an angular velocity produced by rotations of the seesaw-shaped first mass units or second mass units caused when a Coriolis force is generated and given thereto by an angular velocity around the X axis or the Y axis inputted by alternate and repeated rotation of the driving mass around an anchor axis extending in the Z axis direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane.
According to the angular velocity sensor disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0100930, however, a centrifugal force is generated by the rotation of the driving mass and oscillates the seesaw-shaped detection electrodes particularly when the rotation direction changes. This oscillation of the detection electrodes generates an output even when an angular velocity is not inputted.
Therefore, such a physical quantity sensor and an electronic device including the physical quantity sensor have been demanded which can eliminate oscillation of detection electrodes at the time of driving, and avoid at least either the effect of a linear acceleration as a physical quantity producing an output other than the angular velocity, or the effect of an angular velocity around an axis other than the detection axis when the sensor is used as an angular velocity sensor, for example.

Physical quantity sensor and electronic device


A method is provided for combining signals and a receiver implemented on the RAKE principle. The receiver includes a plurality of branches by which the receiver receives a signal, a precombining circuit which combines signals received via the branches of the receiver, a transmitter which transmits the precombined signals to a second receiver, and a combining circuit which combines the signals received via the receiver branches with the precombined signal.

A receiver operating on the RAKE principle has a plurality of branches, each branch being capable of synchronizing to a different signal component. Consequently, the receiver is able to receive several signals simultaneously. RAKE receivers are used in CDMA receivers.
A CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system is a multiple access method which is based on spread spectrum technology and whose application in cellular radio systems has lately been initiated along with the earlier FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) technologies. The CDMA technology has several advantages over the earlier methods, such as spectral efficiency and simple frequency planning.
In a CDMA method, the narrow-band data signal of the user if multiplied by a spreading code of much wider bandwidth to a relatively wide band. In known experimental systems, the bandwidths used include, for example, 1.25 MHz, 10 MHz and 25 MHz. In the multiplying process, the data signal spreads across the entire band. All users transmit simultaneously by using the same frequency band. A separate spreading code is employed for each connection between a base station and a mobile station, and the signals from the users can be identified from one another in the receivers based on the spreading code of each connection. An attempt is made to select spreading codes so that the spreading codes are mutually orthogonal, i.e., do not correlate with each other.
In a typical radio system, such as a cellular radio system, a subscriber terminal communicates with one base station only. In, e.g., the CDMA system, a subscriber terminal may, however, also communicate with several base stations at the same time. In a prior art soft hand-off, an unbroken connection is maintained with a base station regardless of the hand-off. In such a hand-off, the base station typically changes. Also known in prior art is a softer hand-off in which the base station does not change, but the sector of the base station employed does. The soft and softer hand-offs are referred to as make-before-break type of hand-offs, which means that a new connection is established for a subscriber terminal before the previous base station connection is cut. Neither of these hand-offs change the frequency band used.
Cellular radio systems include cells that have been divided in sectors. A softer hand-off may be implemented, e.g., by placing in each sector a RAKE receiver which receives a signal. The signals received by the RAKE receivers placed in the sectors are routed via a bus to a combiner which carries out diversity combining for the signals. Diversity combining reduces the disadvantages caused by a fading signal. In practice, however, routing of signals to a combiner via a bus is difficult to implement because the implementation requires a very fast bus. In a cellular radio system, a base station receives a signal from the radio path by an antenna. Connecting the signals received by the antenna to a RAKE receiver causes additional problems. Problems occur particularly in case of a high capacity CDMA base station, which signifies a large number of signals to be connected.
Attempts have been made to overcome the aforementioned problems by grouping the RAKE receivers in a suitable manner. Such grouping has been accomplished with the receivers receiving antenna signals of a specific sector only. The grouping, however, has brought on new problems. A problem occurs when combining signals received by the RAKE receivers between receiver groups in different sectors. Combining signals has presented problems, especially in softer hand-off situations, particularly in high-capacity CDMA receivers. There have been attempts to overcome the problems met by routing the signals to a combiner which carries out diversity combining. The routing has, however, produced similar rate problems relating to the bus capacity as mentioned above.
A softer hand-off may be implemented, e.g., by detecting a signal first at a RAKE receiver, after which, instead of diversity combining, substantially the best diversity signal is chosen. This method, however, has not provided an acceptable performance level. An alternative to carrying out a hand-off is optimal combining of RAKE signals and signal detection. However, optimal signal combining is difficult to implement. The outputs of a Walsh-Hadamard transformation typically used at RAKE receivers are connected to the combiner, e.g., via the bus structure. In addition, the implementation is further impeded by the fact that the bus structure must be possible to configure to different kinds of softer hand-off situations dynamically. To implement the solution described above in practice has been difficult and problematic since very high rate requirements are set for the bus. In practice, the combining has been performed by direct summing of the signals of the RAKE receivers. In addition, the signals may have been weighted in different ways in the summing.

Method and receiver implemented on the rake principle


A vehicle control system may, during a deactivated state of the vehicle, generate a wake up signal, and responsive to a current or voltage associated with the wake up signal being outside a predetermined range, activate an ignition relay of the vehicle for a predefined period of time. The vehicle control system may further, responsive to a request to activate the vehicle, activate the ignition relay.

Certain vehicles, among other things, may include a traction battery and one or more electric motors for propulsion. The traction battery is the source of power for the one or more electric motors. These vehicles may provide a user the ability to schedule charging of the traction battery provided they are plugged in or suitably arranged with a wireless charging system. A user, for example, may plug in their vehicle after returning home in the evening and set a charge time for the traction battery to begin at 2 AM.

Default charging of automotive battery while parked


In a centrifugal chamber 9, an elastic rotation shaft 30 and a high-rigidity rotation shaft 34 extend coaxially. When a rotor selected from an angle rotor 17 and a swing rotor 36 which have different sizes and shapes is set in the centrifugal chamber 9, an optimal shaft is connected automatically to the selected rotor. The angle rotor 17 having a low tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported and rotated by the elastic rotation shaft 30 for high-speed rotation. The swing rotor 34 having a high tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported by the high-rigidity shaft 34 for low-speed rotation. Rotation torque is transmitted to the swing rotor 34 from the elastic rotation shaft.

In conventional centrifuges, rotation torque obtained from a power generator such as an electric motor or the like is transmitted to a rotor via a rotational drive shaft to rotate the rotor. A plurality of test tubes each encapsulating a sample can be set on the rotor, and the samples in the test tubes are subjected to centrifugal separation by rotation of the rotor. Angle rotors, swing rotors, and the like are used for the centrifuges of this kind. The amounts of samples vary according to test tubes, depending on the extent of collection of blood or the like. Therefore, when a plurality of test tubes thus enclosing samples of different masses are set on the rotor, the barycenter of the whole rotor and test tubes tends to deviate from the rotational axis, i.e., there must be so-called mass eccentricity.
As shown in FIG. 10, an angle rotor A has a round circular shape, as a whole, and a plurality of test-tube insertion holes are formed at a predetermined angle to the rotation axis X. The angle rotor A has a relatively small size and does not undergo severe restriction of centrifugal stress due to the dead weight of itself. In addition, high processing accuracy can be attained because the angle rotor is manufactured by machining. Also, the tendency toward mass eccentricity is low during rotation because the number of attachable test tubes is small. As a result, the angle rotor A used for a centrifuge called a multi-cooling centrifuge which has the maximum rotation speed of 10,000 rpm or so cannot centrifuge much amounts at once but is suitable for centrifugation within a high-speed rotation range of, for example, 6,000 rpm to 10,000 rpm. Although the definition of the high-speed rotation rotor is not clear, the high-speed rotation rotor is used for centrifugation or separation of samples which require high centrifugal acceleration.
On the other side, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of (four) arms extend horizontally in radial directions from the axis X in case of a swing rotor S. The distal end of each arm is branched into two. Pins are provided in directions of opposite branches of adjacent arms. A bucket having a shape like a bottomed cylinder is pivotally movably supported to each pair of pins. Each bucket is provided with engaging portions corresponding to the pins. The engaging portions are detachable from the pins. A rack in which a plurality of test-tube holes are formed is provided in each bucket. Test tubes are inserted in these test-tube holes. In operation of centrifugation, buckets are engaged with and hang on all of the arms by the pins while two buckets are omitted from FIG. 11 to help easy understanding. When the swing rotor S set on the centrifuge reaches a predetermined rotation speed, each bucket pivotally moves to the horizontal direction about the pins due to centrifugal force, and thus, componential separation is performed on the samples.
The swing rotor S is larger as compared with the angle rotor A, and is advantageous in that a greater number of test tubes can be inserted. However, the greater number of inserted test tubes means also a tendency to greater variants among the samples filled in the test tubes. The swing rotor has a large radius of rotation and a center portion has a relatively small mass. Further, each arm of the swing rotor S has a complicated shape, and is manufactured by casting for the purpose of reduction in manufacturing-cost in many cases. In these cases, the dimensional accuracy is lower than that of the angle rotor A. Further, each bucket is detachable from the pins, so that there is a rattling between the engaging portions of the buckets and the pins. As mentioned above, centrifugal stress generated at the pins and the engaging portions is large in the swing rotor S. Further, there are great variants among samples, considering the mass. Consequently, tendency toward mass eccentricity is greatly higher as compared with the angle rotor A, and is thus not suitable for high-speed rotation. Therefore, the swing rotor is used mainly for centrifugal separation dealing with a large number of test samples within a low-speed rotation range of, for example, 2,000 to 5,000 rpm.
Next, a rotation drive shaft of a centrifuge will be described in relation to reaction force from a bearing. In case of making a large rotor usable at a low rotation speed, rigidity of the rotation shaft is increased and the flexural vibration frequency is shifted to a higher speed than a normal operating range, to improve the operation ability with high rigidity. A specific description will now be made on the basis of FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows a rotating situation in which a rotor R1 is coaxially connected to a high-rigidity shaft S1, and the high-rigidity shaft S1 is also coaxially connected to an output shaft of a motor M as a power generator. The high-rigidity shaft means a shaft which is rigid within a range of operational rotation speed. At this time, the output shaft of the motor M is supported on a motor housing or the like not shown, by a bearing B. Where the mass of the rotor R1 is m, deviation of an actual barycenter position from a geometric center is ε which is induced from imbalance of the rotor, the rotational angular speed is ω, flexure of the high-rigidity shaft S1 is ρ, and flexural rigidity of the high-rigidity shaft S1 is k, centrifugal force Fs induced by the imbalance is expressed as follows, according to "Dynamics of rotary member" co-authored by R. Gasch and H. Pfutzner, translated by Shuzo Miwa, published by Morikita-shuppan".Fs=mεω2The bearing reaction force Fu is obtained as follows.Fu×L1=(L1+L2)×FsFu={(L1+L2)/L1}×mεω2Obtained hence is the relationship of Fu∝ω2.
On the other hand, in case of rotating the rotor at a high speed, an elastic shaft is used as the rotation drive shaft. The elastic shaft described herein is a shaft which is elastically deformed, e.g., bent within a range of operational rotation speed. Flexural rigidity of the rotation drive shaft is lowered in the elastic shaft, so that the flexural natural frequency is within a low-speed range during rotation. That is, the elastic shaft is arranged so that the reaction force due to imbalance is reduced in the high-speed side. More specifically, FIG. 13 shows a rotating situation in which a rotor R2 is coaxially connected to an elastic shaft S2, and the elastic shaft S2 is coaxially connected to an output shaft of a motor M. At this time, the output shaft of the motor M is supported on a motor housing or the like (not shown) through a bearing B. Where the mass of the rotor R2 is m, deviation of an actual barycenter position from a geometric center is ε which is induced from imbalance of the rotor, the rotational angular speed is ω, flexure of the elastic shaft S2 is ρ, and flexural rigidity of the elastic shaft S2 is k, centrifugal force Fd induced by the imbalance is expressed as follows.Fd=m(ε+ρ)ω2=ρkFrom this expression, ρ is obtained as follows.ρ=mεω2/(k−mω2)Provided that the flexural natural frequency is represented by √(k/m)=ωn, k=mωn2 is given and the following is obtained.ρ=ε×(ω/ωn)2/{1−(ω/ωn)2}When ω/ωn=1 exists, i.e., when the rotation speed is equal to the flexural natural frequency (at the resonance point), the flexure becomes infinite. After the rotation speed exceeds the natural frequency, the flexure comes asymptotically close to ε. Therefore, after the rotation speed exceeds the natural frequency and the rotation speed further increases, the bearing reaction force Fu′ then takes the following relationship.Fu′∝εk
Differences in bearing reaction force between the high-rigidity shaft and the elastic shaft are shown in a graph in FIG. 14. In this graph, the ordinate axis represents the bearing load F and the abscissa axis represents the angular speed ratio. Since the high-rigidity shaft has high rigidity, it provides good usability. However, the bearing reaction force due to imbalance increases sharply as the rotation speed increases. On the other side, the elastic shaft has a resonance point at a low speed (the area of 1.0). However, stable rotation can be achieved at a high speed after the rotation speed exceeds the resonance point. Note that the flexure at the resonance point can be reduced to be low by providing an external damping mechanism.
In view of the foregoing, if an elastic shaft is adopted when both of a high-speed rotor and a bulky low-speed rotor are to be used in one centrifuge, stable rotation is obtained at a high speed. However, the rigidity of the shaft is so low that the rotation shaft easily bends if the bulky rotor is attached to the rotation shaft. In some cases, the rotation shaft may be broken. In addition, the rotor having a large volume causes great imbalance at samples treated by users, as described previously. Therefore, if the large swing rotor is rotated on an elastic shaft, the primary natural frequency (primary resonance point) of flexure of the rotation shaft becomes so large that the rotating rotor may contact fixed components or the rotation shaft may be bent and broken. To summarize the above, when an elastic shaft is adopted, the high-speed angle rotor provides good usability but the low-speed swing rotor provides adverse usability or cannot be mounted.
On the other side, when a high-rigidity shaft is adopted, the low-speed swing rotor provides good usability but bearing reaction force caused by imbalance of samples increases in proportion to square of the rotation speed. Therefore, no problem appears within a low-speed rotation range but the load to the bearing increases within a high-speed rotation range. Consequently, problems appear in that the lifetime of the bearing is shortened and the birling noise is large. It is hence inevitable to restrict the allowable amount of imbalance of samples to be small, and the user must take labor for adjusting amounts of samples in test tubes in uniform fashion. This is a factor of adverse usability. To summarize the above, when a high-rigidity shaft is adopted, the large low-speed rotor provides good usability while the high-speed rotor provides adverse usability.
The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and has an object to provide a centrifuge capable of selectively installing various rotors therein without sacrificing operability of the selected rotor.


A system having an initiator adapter coupled to a computing system and communicating with a target adapter coupled to a target controller managing a plurality of storage devices is provided. The initiator adapter initiates an input/output (I/O) request for the target adapter; assigns an exchange identifier for processing the I/O request and embeds a cookie in the exchange identifier for performing a function. The target adapter then sends a response to the I/O request to the initiator adapter with the exchange identifier and the cookie; and the initiator adapter extracts the cookie from the exchange identifier received from the target adapter.

A computer network, often referred to simply as a network, is a group of interconnected computing devices that facilitates communication among users and allows users to share resources, for example, storage space at storage devices using a storage area network (SAN). Adapters, switches, and routers may be used to interconnect network devices.
Initiators are used to send input/output (I/O) requests for storing or reading data at storage devices that are managed by a target controller. An initiator may be an adapter coupled to a computing system that sends out I/O requests for reading or writing data. A target may be an adapter coupled to the target controller that provides a response to the I/O request. Various transport protocols, for example, Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel over Ethernet, iSCSI (Internet over Small Computer System Interface) and others are used for sending I/O requests. Continuous efforts are being made to improve I/O processing.

Method and system for inserting cookies in I/O commands


An oral care implement having an internal reservoir. In one embodiment, the invention can be a toothbrush comprising: a handle having an internal reservoir containing an oral care fluid; a head coupled to the handle; an applicator located on the head; a partition member positioned within the internal reservoir that divides the internal reservoir into a storage chamber and an overflow chamber; a passageway extending through the partition member from the storage chamber to the overflow chamber, the passageway terminating as a first opening in a first surface of the partition member and as a second opening in a second surface of the partition member; and a wick member having a first end in fluid communication with the applicator and a second end terminating in an end surface that abuts the second surface of the partition member to prohibit axial movement of the wick member in a first axial direction.

Oral care implements, particularly toothbrushes, are typically used by applying toothpaste to a bristle section followed by brushing regions of the oral cavity such as the teeth, tongue and/or gums. Some oral care implements are equipped with built-in fluid reservoirs and systems for delivering dentifrice and other oral care agents to the bristle section of the oral care implement. There is a continuing need, however, for improved oral care implements for dispensing dentifrice and other oral care agents from the implement.