The present invention provides an apparatus of novel design for use in the rapid, non-surgical removal of foreign bodies from the urethra and bladder. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transurethral snaring tool for encircling and ensnaring a foreign body within the urethral lumen or bladder. The snaring tool is further provided in one embodiment with an introduction sheath, suitable for housing a cystoscope lens or other viewing means, and an obturator, for the atraumatic introduction of the sheath. In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a foreign body removal apparatus having additional tools to insert through the transurethral sheath, including a rigid forward forceps and a lateral grasping forceps. There is additionally provided a non-surgical method for removal of a foreign body from a body cavity.

The present invention relates generally to the field of instruments for insertion into a body cavity. More specifically, the present invention relates to instruments which are used to remove foreign bodies from the urethra and bladder.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that extends around the urethral lumen from the neck of the bladder to the pelvic floor. Because of the close relationship of the prostate to the urethra, enlargement of the prostate, usually referred to as hyperplasia or hypertrophy, may fairly quickly obstruct the urethra, particularly if the hyperplasia occurs close to the lumen. Such an obstruction inhibits normal micturition, which causes an accumulation of urine in the bladder.
Various methods of treatment for hyperplasia of the prostate gland have been developed. Recently, methods of treatment have been developed comprising the steps of transurethrally inserting and positioning a tubular stent within a restricted portion of the urethra. The use of such implantable stents for dilating the urethra is disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,128 issued to Robert F. Rosenbluth on Aug. 9, 1988, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present case. This method has significant advantages over previous surgical methods of treatment of hyperplasia including a significant reduction of many complications including impotence, incontinence, bleeding, infection, residual urethral obstruction, urethral stricture, and retrograde ejaculation. Accordingly, use of this method is becoming increasingly widespread.
The tubular stents associated with the aforementioned method are generally designed to remain in place indefinitely. However, removal of the stent may occasionally be required. For example, the stent may have been placed poorly, or it may have drifted out of its appropriate location. Removal of the stent may also be required if complications, such as infection, bleeding or urethral stricture, develop.
Open surgical removal of the stent whereby an incision is made to expose the stent for removal under direct vision is one option when removal of the stent is desired. However, use of such surgical methods are highly invasive and may involve significant patient discomfort, a potentially long hospital stay, and a not insignificant rate of morbidity. Therefore, such surgical procedures are, preferably, avoided.
Thus, notwithstanding the availability of surgical procedures for the removal of foreign objects from the prostatic and urethral environment, a less invasive procedure which would reduce or eliminate the occurrence of complications from surgery would be of significant value. In this regard, a procedure for entering the prostatic environment through the natural opening of the urethra would avoid the need for making an incision into the patient. It is important that such a procedure minimize trauma to the soft tissues of the urethral lining. Additionally, a means for easily locating both the object to be removed and the removal instrument would preferably be provided to minimize the time and difficulty of the procedure. Moreover, it would be desireable to have a plurality of techniques available which can be successively attempted without delay, in the event one technique was unsuccessful. The availability of a plurality of techniques would allow surgery to be used only as a last resort.
One prior art method used for the removal of foreign bodies and pieces of tissue from the urethra, bladder or other body cavity comprises transurethrally inserting a forceps through a cystoscope-urethroscope sheath, grasping the foreign body with the forceps under the vision of a transurethral telescope, and pulling the foreign body through the sheath. Such forceps, sheaths and telescopes are available, for example, from Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc., Culver City, Calif. The foreign body may require substantial crushing and/or breaking in order to fit through the sheath when this prior art method is practiced. Many of the stents useful in the treatment of hyperplasia are too large and/or rigid to be effectively pulled into the sheath with the available forceps. Moreover, even where removal of the stent with these devices is possible, it is only possible with much patience and effort. It is desirable to perform these procedures as rapidly as possible, in order to avoid complications and patient discomfort. Additionally, in the event use of the forceps is not successful in removing the stent, an emergency open surgery may be necessary.
Another prior art procedure that has been used in removing kidney stones and other foreign bodies from the bladder makes use of what have come to be called stone baskets. These stone baskets are comprised of two or more flexible wires forming a "basket" into which the stone or other foreign body may be trapped. The baskets are then pulled into a transurethral sheath which is then removed. However, stone baskets are not capable of crushing kidney stones or other foreign bodies trapped by the basket. Removal of larger objects requires the use of a forceps or other tool prior to use of the stone basket to break up and/or crush any objects which will not fit through the sheath. Breaking the object into pieces, also, necessitates the removal of many pieces, taking additional time. Moreover, it may be difficult to ascertain that all of the pieces have been removed. Thus, there is a need for a more rapid and effective means for removal of foreign bodies from the urethra and/or bladder.
Cutting loops have been used in the surgical treatment of hyperplasia of the prostate and other urological conditions. These sharp, rigid prior art loops have been adapted to fit through a transurethral sheath in a nonsecured fashion. The cutting loops have been used for cutting undesired tissue, however, such loops have never been adapted for the removal of foreign objects.

Method and apparatus for removal of a foreign body cavity


An improved RFID tag reader is provided. More specifically, an RFID tag reader is provided that includes a plurality of antenna panels arranged to form a sensing volume in which RFID tags are read. Additionally, the RFID tag reader includes a novel switching mechanism that activates the antenna panels in sequence while minimizing cross coupling between the antenna panels. Furthermore, a novel antenna geometry also reduces antenna cross coupling.

The invention relates generally to RFID readers. More specifically, the invention relates to an RFID reader with an antenna array and an antenna switching unit for selectively coupling or decoupling the antennas in the antenna array.
Identifying and tracking assets is a considerable expense for any business that handles significant volumes of inventory. For example, inventory items that are brought to a storage facility must be identified, categorized and stored so that the items can be readily retrievable, while inventory items that are to be shipped from storage must again be identified to provide an accurate accounting of items remaining in storage. Additionally, entire inventories may need to be periodically recounted to ensure that accounted inventory levels remain accurate over time despite occasional human error. Thus many man-hours of labor may be consumed just in asset tracking alone. Similarly, in shipping applications, large quantities of different items may need to be counted, listed, checked, and manifests or declarations may need to be generated for the shipper, receiver, and customs authorities.
Recent developments in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology may make it possible, however, to greatly decrease the cost of asset tracking. RFID technology utilizes a circuit known as an RF tag, which is capable of carrying a small amount of identification data related to an item to which it is attached. To identify an item, an RF tag reader transmits an RF signal to an RF tag. The RF signal powers the RF tag, inducing the RF tag to transmit a return signal that carries the identification information embedded on the RF tag. By automating most of the asset tracking process, RFID technology can provide a quicker, more accurate and less expensive method of tracking assets.
However, current RFID techniques may not be suitable for certain applications. For example, international RF spectrum regulations often vary greatly, meaning that certain RFID tags may not be usable in all of the countries to which assets might be delivered. Additionally, certain RFID tags may not operate reliably when used with assets that include a number of small metal items. Furthermore, LF (Low Frequency) RFID tags are generally directional and operate over relatively short distances, compared to higher frequency RFID tags.
It may be advantageous, therefore, to provide an RFID tag reading system that is compatible with international RF spectrum regulations, operates effectively over a significant reading range and can read RF tags oriented in any reading direction.


In an antenna device, a radiation slot formed in a metal plate includes a main slot part on one diagonal line of the metal plate and first and second branch slot parts. The first and second branch split parts extend along two adjacent sides of the metal plate and are connected to one end of the main slot part. A power feeder line and a ground line are formed in the vicinity of another end of the main slot part. The length and relative position of each slot part is set such that the plane of polarization of an electric wave radiated from the main and first slot parts and the plane of polarization of an electric wave radiated from the main and second slot parts are orthogonal to each other and the two electric waves differ in phase by 90 degrees.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device with a slot antenna structure and, more particularly, to a compact antenna device that radiates a circularly polarized wave.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a circularly polarized antenna with a slot antenna structure, in the related art, there has been proposed an antenna device provided with a two-point power feeding scheme in which a pair of radiation slots, which are equal in length and perpendicular to each other, is excited by feeding power to each of the radiation slots and electric waves radiated from the radiation slots differ in phase by 90 degrees. However, there is a problem in that the above-mentioned antenna device with the two-point power feeding scheme needing a 90-degree phase difference circuit or the like requires a complex circuit configuration.
Recently, there has been proposed an antenna device provided with a one-point power feeding scheme in which an L-shaped radiation slot, which is formed by connecting the respective one ends of first and second slot parts that are arranged spatially perpendicularly to each other, is formed on a conductor plate, and power is fed to a predetermined position in the vicinity of an edge of the radiation slot so that electric waves radiated from the two slot parts differ in phase by 90 degrees (for example, see JP-A-2004-194218 (page 6, FIG. 7)).
The above-mentioned conventional antenna device has an advantage in that it requires a simple circuit configuration since it employs the one-point power feeding scheme. However, when the wavelength of the electric wave is λ, the length of each of the first and second slot parts is about λ/2, such that one side of a conductor plate provided with an L-shaped radiation slot should be more than λ/2 in length. Accordingly, when an operating frequency is, for example, 2.4 GHz, the antenna device needs a conductor plate with an L-shaped radiation slot whose one side is more than 6 cm in length, such that it is difficult to reduce the size of the antenna device.

Compact antenna device radiating circularly polarized wave


The invention provides an image processing apparatus and method and an information providing medium by which a three-dimensional model can be plotted accurately. A model data production section performs a model data production process for shape data and surface color data of a measured object in a corresponding relationship to each other to produce model data and outputs the model data to a model data optimization program section. The model data optimization program section performs a model data optimization process for the model data supplied from the model data production section based on conditions such as a size on a display of the measurement object supplied from a model plotting section, an arithmetic processing performance and a data transmission performance to produce optimization model data, and supplies the optimization model data to the model plotting section. The model plotting section causes the optimization model data supplied from the model data optimization section to be plotted on a VRAM and to be displayed on a display unit.

This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method and an information providing medium, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and method and an information providing medium by which a three-dimensional model can be plotted efficiently and accurately.
Various methods of plotting a three-dimensional model by group approximation data CG (Computer Graphics) have conventionally been developed and include a lighting process or rendering process proposed by Foly. van Dam., xe2x80x9cComputer Graphics, principles and practicexe2x80x9d, Addition Wesley Publication, image-based rendering proposed by Paul E. Debevec et al., xe2x80x9cModeling and Rendering Architecture from Photographs: A hybrid geometry and image-based approachxe2x80x9d, Proceedings of SIGGRAPH 96, pp.11-20 wherein a plurality of paste images to a general shape are prepared and a paste image is switched and plotted in accordance with a viewpoint direction so that detailed plotting of a high quality can be executed, a method proposed by Huges Hoppe, xe2x80x9cMesh Optimizationxe2x80x9d, Proceedings of Siggraph 93, pp19-26 wherein shape data of different particularity degrees are produced from the most particular shape of a three-dimensional model and a shape of a model is approximated, and texture mapping proposed by Foly. van Dam., xe2x80x9cComputer Graphics, principles and practicexe2x80x9d, pp.827-828, Addison Wesley Publication, 1996 wherein textures having different resolutions are prepared in advance and a texture of a resolution suitable for a size of a three-dimensional model on a display is pasted to a surface of the three-dimensional model.
Further, in recent years, development of a plotting processing method for plotting an existing object with an increasing accuracy has been proceeded. For example, a method of changing a plotting processing method in response to a shape of a model to be plotted has been proposed. According to the method, from among displacement mapping by which a concave and convex configuration of a surface of a model can be plotted with a high degree of accuracy, flat shading which is suitable to paint a surface of a model with a single color but cannot plot a concave and convex configuration accurately and bump mapping by which a concave and convex configuration can be plotted with an intermediate degree of accuracy between those by the displacement mapping and the flat shading, an optimum plotting processing method is selected in response to a shape of a portion of a model to be plotted. Details of the method are disclosed in Barry G. Becker, xe2x80x9cSmooth Transitions between Bump Rendering Algorithmxe2x80x9d, Proceedings of Siggraph 93, pp.183-190.
Another method has been proposed wherein the color of a surface of an object (the color is hereinafter referred to as surface color) which varies depending upon the position of a viewpoint or the position of a light source for lighting an object is measured in advance and surface color data measured are approximated in response to the position of a viewpoint or the position of a light source when a model is plotted. If the direction V in which a user observes an object (or the direction in which a camera for picking up an image of the object is directed) (the direction is hereinafter referred to as viewpoint direction) is set, for example, as seen in FIG. 17A, to a direction V1 perpendicular to the plane of the figure and the direction L in which a light source for lighting the object is directed (the direction is hereinafter referred to as light source direction) is set, for example, to a direction light source direction L1 in which the object is lighted obliquely from left above, then a highlight is formed at a left upper portion of the object.
Since the surface color of an object varies finely stepwise (gradually) in the proximity of a highlight, with the proposed plotting processing method, the portion at and around the position at which the highlight is present is approximated comparatively finely while the remaining portion is approximated comparatively roughly. For example, when an object is modeled with polygons of a wire frame display as seen in FIG. 17B, a portion of the object at which a highlight is present is displayed with more dense wire frames and approximated more accurately than the other portion of the object. Therefore, an object can be plotted more accurately than where it is approximated alternatively such that it is displayed with uniform wire frames as seen in FIG. 18.
FIG. 19A shows an image of the object when the viewpoint direction V is maintained at the direction V1 perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 19 whereas the light source direction L is changed from the light source direction L1 to another light source direction L2, and FIG. 19B shows a model corresponding to the image. In this instance, the model is approximated in accordance with a highlight formed on the left side of the object.
It is to be noted that a method of optimizing the reflection characteristic of a point on the surface of an object in such an instance to produce image data of the surface color (the data are hereinafter referred to as surface color data) is proposed in the model of Lambert, the model of Phong or the model of Cook-Torrance, and is disclosed in Andrew S. Glassner, xe2x80x9cPrinciples of Digital Image Synthesisxe2x80x9d, Morgan Kaufmann Publication.
While methods of plotting a model with a high degree of accuracy are being studied in this manner, since the plotting processing method described above produces a model with the surface color and the shape of the model optimized separately from each other, it after all has a subject to be solved in that a model of an existing object cannot be plotted accurately even at present.
Further, since optimization of data is involved, an apparatus which executes a plotting process has a subject to be solved in that it cannot execute a plotting process efficiently.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method and an information providing medium by which a model can be plotted efficiently and accurately.
In order to attain the objects described above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for producing a model of an object, including inputting means for inputting model data of the object having shape data of the object, and control means for allocating an optimum process to each of a plurality of regions which compose the model data.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for performing display control of a model of an object, including inputting means for inputting model data with which a process is allocated to each of a plurality of regions of the model of the object, and plotting means for selecting a process allocated to each of the regions of the model data and plotting the region to which the process is allocated based on the selected process.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for producing a model of an object, including an inputting step of inputting model data of the object having shape data of the object, and a control step of allocating an optimum process to each of a plurality of regions which compose the model data.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for performing display control of a model of an object, including an inputting step of inputting model data with which a process is allocated to each of a plurality of regions of the model of the object, and a plotting step of selecting a process allocated to each of the regions of the model data and plotting the region to which the process is allocated based on the selected process.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing medium which provides a program to an information processing apparatus which includes a control apparatus which can execute a program, the program having an inputting command for inputting model data of the object having shape data of the object, and a control command for allocating an optimum process to each of a plurality of regions which compose the model data.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing medium which provides a program to an information processing apparatus which includes a control apparatus which can execute a program, the program having an inputting command for inputting model data with which a process is allocated to each of a plurality of regions of the model of the object, and a plotting command for selecting a process allocated to each of the regions of the model data and plotting the region to which the process is allocated based on the selected process.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing medium for providing image data to an information processing apparatus which can read in data, the image data being produced by an inputting step of inputting model data of the object including shape data of the object, and a control step of allocating an optimum process to each of a plurality of regions which compose the model data.
With the image processing apparatus and methods and information providing media, model data of an object including shape data of the object and surface color data of the object which correspond to each other are produced and optimized based on a plotting condition for plotting a model, and a model of the object is plotted based on the optimized model data. Consequently, the model of the object can be plotted efficiently and accurately.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

Image processing apparatus and method, and information providing medium


An ergonomic portable telecommunication device that can be completely operated with a depressable trackball.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to portable telecommunication devices and in particular to the physical design of such devices.
2. Description of Related Art
As telephones and other telecommunication devices have become more portable, there has arisen a design conflict between the physical size for these devices and the trend for smaller devices due to the advances in integrated circuit technology. From an ergonomic viewpoint, it is only practical to reduce the size of these devices including the size of the traditional twelve button dialing keypad typically found on these devices and other functional interface buttons to a size that still allows for speedy, effective and accurate use of these devices. From a technological viewpoint, however, as integrated circuitry and other electronic components are continually decreasing in physical size, these portable communication devices can be designed and manufactured at relatively very small sizes. The technology has reached a point where it is no longer ergonomically desirable to continue to decrease the size of the personal telecommunication devices because it becomes difficult and almost impossible for users to operate these devices. For example, the dialing keypad buttons become so small that it becomes difficult for a user to touch one key without accidentally touching another key or the entire device becomes so small that it becomes difficult for a user to use the device as a telephone because the distance between the device's microphone and speaker is not sufficiently long to extend from the user's ear to the user's mouth.

User interface for portable telecommunication devices


The invention relates to an optical system that is capable of providing a zoom lens having improved image-formation capability with a reduced number of lenses, and fabricating a slim yet high-performance digital or video camera. The optical system comprises a cemented lens having a cementing surface on its optical axis. Air contact surfaces on the light ray entrance and exit sides of the cemented lens G2 are aspheric, and at least one cementing surface in the cemented lens G2 satisfies condition (1).6.4<|(r/R)|   (1)Here r is the axial radius of curvature of the cementing surface, and R is the maximum diameter of the cementing surface.

The present invention relates generally to an optical system and an imaging system incorporating it, and more particularly to a zoom lens well suitable in construction for use on digital or video cameras, in which its optical system portion is so elaborated that albeit having a high zoom ratio, it can be slimmed down with reduced influences of decentration and so little or no performance deteriorations, and an imaging system incorporating the same.
There is now a growing demand for slimming down zoom lenses in general and those for digital cameras in particular. With digital cameras using small-format image pickup devices, in general, lenses may be designed to be smaller than those used with silver halide cameras. However, lens part fabrication errors, and errors upon incorporation of lens parts in a lens barrel become relatively large, often incurring performance deteriorations due to decentration and, hence, resulting in yield drops. Often for slimming down cameras, lenses that form a zoom lens must be as few as possible, and as many aspheric surfaces as possible must be used for correction of aberrations with fewer lenses.
However, such an optical system is susceptible of image-formation capability drops by reason of relative decentration between aspheric lenses due to fabrication errors, and so it is still difficult to offer a sensible tradeoff between high-yield mass fabrication and slimming-down.
Reductions in the number of lenses through use of many aspheric surfaces, for instance, are set forth in patent publications 1, 2, 3 and 4; in any case, however, the sensitivity to decentration of aspheric surfaces in the second lens group is unacceptably high, failing to reduce the total thickness of each lens group to a sufficient level.
There are also patent publications 5, 6 and 7. However, with the zoom lens of patent publication 5 there are problems such as noticeable performance deterioration (regarding off-axis aberrations in particular) ascribable to decentration of fabrication errors of individual lenses, and inadequate correction of chromatic aberrations by reason of a small Abbe constant difference between lenses that forms a cemented lens. The zoom lenses of patent publications 5 and 6 are less than satisfactory in terms of slimming-down, because no aspheric surface is used at all.
Patent Publication 1
JP (A) 1-183616
Patent Publication 2
JP (A) 10-282416
Patent Publication 3
JP (A) 11-95102
Patent Publication 4
JP (A) 11-142734
Patent Publication 5
JP (A) 2004-102211
Patent Publication 6
JP (A) 2002-350726
Patent Publication 7
JP (A) 2004-198855

Optical system and imaging system incorporating it

Olympus Imaging Corp. and Olympus Corporation


The preferred embodiment provides a computer system and method for providing secure access to a software application from a web browser over the WWW. The system and method allows a user of the web browser to access the software application after performing appropriate security checks. The user inputs data via the web browser, which is communicated to the web server application. The web server application then authenticates the web browser, and passes appropriate input data to an application gateway, including data to uniquely identify the web browser. The application gateway then uses authentication data received from the browser to determine whether the user of the browser is authorized to access the software application. According to the preferred embodiment, the browser authentication information is used to correlate the user to appropriate authentication information for the software application. The application gateway then uses this new authentication information to gain access to the software application. The application gateway then performs the function requested in the web server input data by formatting appropriate commands for the software application. The software application responds by outputting data to the application gateway that includes an identifier that the application gateway uses to match the output data with the web browser that requested the output data. This system thus allows numerous web browsers access to the software application simultaneously.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to interactions on the world-wide web, and more specifically relates to an apparatus and method that allow a web user to interact with a software application on another computer system that is accessible via the world-wide web.
2. Background Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, and computer systems may be found in many different settings. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware (e.g., semiconductors, circuit boards, etc.) and software (e.g., computer programs). As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer hardware higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful that just a few years ago.
Computer systems typically include operating system software that control the basic function of the computer, and one or more software applications that run under the control of the operating system to perform desired tasks. For example, a typical IBM Personal Computer may run the OS/2 operating system, and under the control of the OS/2 operating system, a user may execute an application program, such as a word processor. As the capabilities of computer systems have increased, the software applications designed for high performance computer systems have become extremely powerful.
Other changes in technology have also profoundly affected how we use computers. For example, the widespread proliferation of computers prompted the development of computer networks that allow computers to communicate with each other. With the introduction of the personal computer (PC), computing became accessible to large numbers of people. Networks for personal computers were developed to allow individual users to communicate with each other. In this manner, a large number of people within a company could communicate at the same time with a software application running on one computer system.
One significant computer network that has recently become very popular is the Internet. The Internet grew out of the modem proliferation of computers and networks, and has evolved into a sophisticated worldwide network of computer systems linked together by web pages that collectively make up the "world-wide web", or WWW. A user at an individual PC (i.e., workstation) that wishes to access the WWW typically does so using a software application known as a web browser. A web browser makes a connection via the WWW to other computers known as web servers, and receives information from the web servers that is displayed on the user's workstation. Information displayed to the user is typically organized into pages that are constructed using a specialized language called Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
As the WWW has experienced explosive growth in the last few years an ever increasing concern is web security. In particular, where web browsers and web servers are being used to provide web-based access to other computer resources (i.e., software applications, data files, HTML web pages, etc.) those resources must be kept secure. This involves assuring that access to those resources is granted only to approved web users.
In some cases, a system must be provided where different users are granted access to different resources accessible through the web server. For example, one web server may provide web access to two software applications, and each software application accesses multiple databases. Some users access one software application, but not the other, while other users access to both software applications, but only specified databases for those software applications. If a user is authorized to access one of the two software applications, and security checking is only performed at the web server level, gaining access to the user will grant access to both software applications even though the user is not authorized to access the second software application. Even if security checking is performed before granting access to each software application, granting access would allow the user to access any of the databases that are accessible to the software application. Thus, more sophisticated security checking techniques are needed to assure that unapproved users cannot gain access to sensitive resources while access for approved users is maintained.
Typical web security uses a password and userID combination to authenticate a particular web user to access a particular web server or specific resources through that web server. When a web user attempts to access such a protected resource, he is prompted to supply a userID and password. This is typically done by web server issuing a request that requires the web user to enter a userID and password, which is then stored by the web browser and transmitted back to the web server application.
This process is typically repeated for each specific resource that is accessible through the web server application. Thus, a web user that accesses several secure resources is prompted and required to enter his or her password and userIDs for each resource. For example, a user might have to enter his or her password and userID to gain access to a web server, a second password and userID to gain access to a software application through the web server and a third password and third userID to gain access to a particular software application database. This requires the user to memorize a large number of passwords and userIDs in addition to the inconvenience of having to submit them multiple times. Even if the password and userID are the same at each level, it becomes annoying to repetitively enter the same information again and again.
In traditional web server authentication systems, the web browser resends the password an userID each time a submission is sent to the web server. Thus, the password and userID repeatedly subjected to the risk of "snooping" (i.e., the unauthorized and unwanted interception of the transmissions between web server and web browser). Some systems try to limit this problem by regularly requiring the users to change their passwords and userID's, but this can be major problem where multiple passwords and multiple userID's are required to access multiple software applications.
The problems associated with the prior art solutions have lead some system operators to remove additional security protection measures and rely only on the web server authentication with a userID and password. Again, this solution is acceptable only where a high risk of unauthorized access to the web-accessible resources is acceptable. Without improved methods for security checking of web users, computer systems will remain less secure and will be inconvenient when used to access multiple secure resources via the World-Wide Web.

Computer apparatus and method for providing security checking for software applications accessed via the World-Wide Web

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of answering a query includes deconstructing documents into path segments. Identical path segments from different documents are arranged contiguously to form a set of partitions, where each partition has identical path segments. The structure of a query is then analyzed to find a match with a document. Based upon the analysis, a sub-set of partitions is selected for searching. Content from the query is compared to content within the sub-set of partitions to identify matched content. The matched content has associated structural attributes. The matched content structural attributes are compared to the structure of the query to identify an answer to the query.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) are examples of widely used markup languages. These markup languages are used to ascribe structure to the content of a document through the use of tags or element types. Thus, they are referred to as structured documents. XML has grown in popularity because it allows users to define their own tags and document structures. XML is used to create complex documents and to facilitate data exchange and data connectivity.
Querying markup language data is difficult because it involves the structure (e.g., tags) and the content (e.g., data associated with the tags) of the document. Effective markup language querying necessitates effective processing of both structure and content.
Existing technology maintains the markup language structure. This markup language structure is a node tree structure. The node tree structure can be stored using object database technology or hybridized relational technology. In either implementation, complex node tree structures are stored as objects in a database with pointers to adjacent nodes.
There are problems associated with these technologies. For example, since each node is an object and pointers are used, each search path must be completely traversed. This translates into an excessive search space since all intervening nodes between significant nodes must be read and processed.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide improved techniques for processing structural documents. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a technique that does not necessitate traversal of node trees. Ideally, such a technique would support linear processing of content. In addition, such a technique would rely upon indirect or inferred structural processing instead of the explicit structural processing associated with prior art techniques.

Apparatus and method for matching a query to partitioned document path segments


A resonator element includes a base portion, and a vibrating arm which extends from the base portion and on which a weight portion is provided, and the weight portion includes a first weight portion which is disposed on one main surface of a distal end portion of the vibrating arm, and a second weight portion which is disposed on the distal end side with respect to the first weight portion and has a thickness smaller than that of the first weight portion. The vibrating arm transmits an energy beam, and a laser incidence area where incidence of the energy beam to the inside of the vibrating arm is allowed, is disposed in a position of the other main surface on the opposite side of the vibrating arm overlapped with the second weight portion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a resonator element, a resonator, an oscillator, an electronic apparatus, a physical quantity sensor, a mobile object, and a frequency adjustment method of a resonator element.
2. Related Art
In the related art, a resonator element using quartz crystal has been known. Such a resonator element has an excellent frequency temperature behavior, and thus, it is broadly used as a reference frequency source or a transmission source of various electronic apparatuses. For example, a method disclosed in JP-A-2003-133879 has been known, as a method of adjusting a frequency of the resonator element.
The frequency adjustment method disclosed in JP-A-2003-133879 is a method of performing the frequency adjustment in a state where the resonator element is accommodated in a package. More specifically, a weight portion (metal film) is provided on both surfaces of a distal end portion of a vibrating arm included in the resonator element. A cover of the package is set so that laser light can penetrate therethrough. The frequency adjustment method is a method of performing the frequency adjustment of the resonator element with the incidence of the laser light to the weight portion through the cover, and removing at least a part of the weight portion provided on both surfaces of the vibrating arm to decrease mass of the vibrating arm. However, such a frequency adjustment method has the following problems.
In the frequency adjustment method disclosed in JP-A-2003-133879, the weight portion (hereinafter, referred to as a "cover side weight portion" for convenience) is provided on the main surface of the vibrating arm on the cover side. Accordingly, the cover side weight portion evaporated by the laser emission is scattered to be attached to the inner surface of the cover. The weight material attached to the inner surface of the cover is evaporated again by the heat of the laser emitted with the deviated emission position through the cover, and the evaporated weight material is scattered to be attached to the cover side weight portion again. As described above, in the frequency adjustment method disclosed in JP-A-2003-133879, reattachment of a part of the removed weight may occur, an adjustable frequency range may be narrowed, and thus, low efficiency and low accuracy of the frequency adjustment are obtained.

Resonator element, resonator, oscillator, electronic apparatus, physical quantity sensor, mobile object, and frequency adjustment method of resonator element


The invention relates to a control element for media, for instance, a pneumatic valve or a hydraulic valve, comprising a valve body in which one or several channels are arranged, at least one moving element arranged in a channel and means for carrying out a relative movement of and/or deforming the moving element. The means are directly arranged on and/or directly act upon the moving element.

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of Austrian application No. A 220/98, filed on Feb. 6, 1998. Applicant also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7120 of PCT/AT99/00030, filed on Feb. 4, 1999. The international application under PCT article 21 (2) was not published in English.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to control elements.
2. The Prior Art
Control elements for media are known in many varieties, in particular pneumatic valves which consist of a valve body that has a plurality of openings and bores or channels. A control element is located in at least one bore or channel, which releases or closes one or several bores or channels depending on the switching position. Such a control element is linearly and relatively movably controlled in a channel and has an armature that projects from the body of the valve into a driving device. Such a means for the relative movement of moving elements consists of a coil, to which current is admitted, and which by means of magnetic force moves the armature and thus the moving element in the bore or the channel. In addition to the drawback that such a structure comprises a multitude of individual components, which has a negative effect on the manufacture and assembly of such control elements, the high component of moving mass is an additional drawback, which in particular increases the switching time of such control elements. This in turn leads to unfavorable or uneconomical cycle times especially in connection with automated assembly installations.
The invention, furthermore, also relates to means for the relative movement between a moving element and a valve body.
Such means, which are known, are formed by coils, which are manufactured by winding a thin conductor on a cylindrical body. The body has a bore, with a cylindrical armature arranged therein. Said armature is connected with the moving element via a connecting element. The coil, i.e. the body provided with the winding of a thin conductor, and the part of the armature projecting into the bore of said body, are mounted in this connection outside of a control element. The drawback of such a means is substantiated by the fact that the increased mass of the moving element, such mass being increased by the armature, also prolongs the time required for the relative movement. If one wants to reduce in connection with such a means the required time, this can be achieved only by increasing the energy, which has an adverse effect on the operating costs and the useful life of such means.
The invention, however, also concerns a moving element.
Such moving elements are usually formed by pistons, which permit short switching times by virtue of their mass.
Finally, the invention also concerns a method of producing a relative movement between a moving element and a valve body, whereby known methods effect such a relative movement by exerting a tensile force or a force of pressure on the moving element, such forces being produced by generating electromagnetic forces acting on an intermediate element, which disadvantageously increases the switching times because of the mass of the intermediate elements.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a control element that comprises a low number of individual components; a means for the relative movement between a moving element and a valve body; a moving element for a control element; and a method of generating a relative movement, which permit the shortest possible switching times and which can be realized with the smallest possible dimensions.
The object of the invention is achieved by the present invention. The surprising advantage in this connection is that the switching time and the kinetic energy are reduced by the arrangement and design of the means as defined by the invention, through which a substantially reduced cycle time and lower operating costs are realized especially in connection with automated manufacturing installations.
Advantageous is in this connection a further development of the invention, by which the operating costs and in particular the energy costs are reduced.
However, advantageous is also an embodiment, through which it is made possible to provide the control element with a small structural size.
A design variation offers the advantage that the structural size of the control element can be reduced further, as well as the possibility of actuating the control element in a rapid manner.
However, possible are also the variations, through which components of the control element are saved and the manufacturing costs of the control element are consequently reduced accordingly.
Favorable, however, is also a further development of the invention, by which media are prevented from exiting from the transmission element.
A design variation is advantageous because the generation of kinetic energy is facilitated in this manner in a simple way.
A design variation is advantageous because it permits building the control element in a compact form.
A further development of the invention offers the advantage that standard elements can be used for the structure of the control element, so that the manufacturing costs of the control element can be substantially reduced.
Favorable, however, is also a design variation because it makes it possible to individually, i.e. separately control the actors that are actuated by the control element or control elements.
Possible is also a further development, through which wear is reduced in a simple way and the manufacturing and maintenance costs are consequently reduced.
A design variation is advantageous because the moving element can be positioned with greater accuracy, and precise coordination of the switching times in the switching routes is facilitated.
A design variation is advantageous in that it is characterized by high flexibility with respect to the individual switching possibilities of the control element.
The further development offers the advantage that media are prevented from circulating when the moving element is in its closing position.
A further possibility is described, through which the structural size of the control element can be reduced further.
Advantageous is also a design variation, through which a double functionality of the control element is achieved with respect to the control of the flow and in regard to exact positioning possibilities.
It describes an advantageous variation that permits even more positioning accuracy of the control element or moving element.
Possible is also a further development of the invention, which provides a line connection with stop means which, when energy is admitted, exert an electromagnetic force on the moving element and thereby lock the latter in a predetermined position.
The design variation offers the advantage that line connections can be installed that will not obstruct the relative movement of the moving element.
In the embodiment, a line connection to the means is established in a simple way.
Favorable, however, is also a further development of the invention, through which it is possible to prevent an undesireable relative movement of the moving element resulting from pressure admission.
The features specified facilitate the installation of the control element in an advantageous way.
Advantageous, however, is also a design variation, through which a spring effect is achieved, so that additional means for the relative movement can be saved.
The further development of the invention represents advantageous measures, through which the structural size of the control element can be minimized further.
It describes a favorable variation through which any unintentional relative movement of the moving element is prevented.
A further development is advantageous in that free mobility of the moving element is assured in the released state of the holding and/or locking device.
It describes an advantageous design variation through which the energy requirement of the holding and/or locking device is reduced by controlling the heating elements in a way occurring in the form of a star.
Favorable embodiments are described, through which the volume of the flow passing through the control element can be varied in a simple way.
Possible, however, is also a variation, through which a corresponding transmission element can be associated with each heating element, and the control element can be easily installed in this way.
An embodiment is advantageous in that a line connection can be made in a simple way, and in that the installation or removal of the control element is facilitated further in this manner.
Advantageous in this connection is a further development, through which the manufacture of the control element is facilitated further.
The tightness and the centering of the moving element are assured in a simple manner by the design variation.
Favorable design variations are described, through which automatic resetting of the moving element is achieved when the volume of the cover changes.
However, possible is also a further development of the invention, through which a multitude of switching possibilities are created that are independent of each other, and moving elements are not influenced by means for other moving elements.
Advantageous is a variation, through which any unintentional axial movement of the moving element is prevented.
Advantageous in this connection is an embodiment, through which elastic resetting of the holding and/or locking device is achieved.
Another favorable variation is achieved, through which the holding and/or locking device can be reset by means of current.
The embodiment provides for a desirable elastic deformation of the holding and/or locking device, which makes locking or cancellation of the lock easy.
However, the object of the invention is achieved also by the features described. The advantage in this connection is that no additional elements have to be mounted on the outside of the control element, which means the dimensions and structural sizes of such means or control elements can be reduced.
The object of the invention, however, is achieved also by the features described. The surprising advantage gained in this connection is that the moving element has only a low amount of mass, which means switching positions can be changed in the shortest possible time.
Advantageous is in this connection the design variation, through which an over-dead point position of the moving element is created and any automatic change of the switching position is prevented.
The further development of the invention is advantageous in that good tightness is assured in the respective switching position.
Favorable further developments of the invention are described, which assure movement of the moving element with low energy expenditure.
Finally, the object of the invention is achieved also by the features described. It is advantageous in this connection that the kinetic force can be generated directly within the zone of the moving element, the result being a reduction of switching times.
Advantageous is in this connection also a design variation, through which switching times can be reduced further.
Advantageous is a further development of the invention in that it reduces the energy expenditure.
Possible is finally a design variation, through which it is possible to achieve exact positioning of the moving elements.

Control element, especially a pneumatic valve


A method for inhibiting automatic actuation of an electric parking brake (EPB) system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has an ignition switch for receiving an ignition key so as to mobilize or immobilize the vehicle. The EPB system includes an EPB mechanism for applying an actuating force to a park brake of the vehicle, an EPB control module for automatically applying the force when at least the ignition key is detected as removed from the ignition switch and an EPB control switch. The EPB control switch can be moved towards two instable positions from a neutral position respectively a brake release position and a brake apply position so as to apply or release the park brake. To inhibit the automatic actuation of the park brake, the driver has to complete within a specific time period the cycle of turning the ignition from off to on to off, pressing and maintaining the EPB control switch into the brake release position, removing the ignition key and releasing the EPB control switch after at least a predetermined time period. Such cycle of actions will be interpreted by the EPB control module as a wish to not apply the park brake.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting automatic actuation of electrically powered park brake (EPB) for a motor vehicle.
2. Background Art
Electrical parking brake (EPB) systems include an EPB mechanism for applying an actuating force to a park brake of the vehicle. The EPB mechanism is generally actuated in response to operation of an EPB control switch by the driver, the EPB control switch having a brake release position and a brake apply position. These EPB systems further comprise an electronic control module configured to automatically apply the park brake in response to a predetermined combination of vehicle operating conditions, e.g. removing the ignition key from the ignition switch. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary for the driver to leave the vehicle without the park brake applied. This is the case in extreme cold weather where there is a risk of the park brake freezing in the applied condition, thus immobilising the vehicle. To achieve this, the driver can hold the EPB control switch in the release position whilst removing the ignition key so as to inhibit the automatic actuation of the park brake force.
With such a method of inhibiting the automatic actuation of the EPB mechanism the driver could unintentionally prevent the EPB operating by accidentally pressing the EPB control switch when removing the ignition key.


An illuminated fishing float with high intensity multi colored high intensity light emitting diodes signals fish activity beneath the float. When the float is activated a single color of light is emitted. When fish activity occurs beneath the float a flashing light is displayed. When a fish takes the bait the flashing light and the single color steady light are extinguished and a steady light of another color is displayed. The float is hollow and is composed of two sections which screw together.

1. Field of Invention
Night fishing is difficult and frustrating at best, and for centuries, fishermen have tried many methods and devices designed to make the activity easier and more enjoyable with varying degrees of success.
2. Related Prior Art
The lights utilized in conventional lighted floats are typically small and dim. They are difficult to see, do not clearly indicate the difference between a fish nibbling and a fish hooked, and quickly disappear from sight under water. This severely limits the kind and amount of information relayed to the fisherman.
3. Summary of Invention
The float of this invention has various signal lights to indicate varying conditions. A motion detector in the float activates a flashing light to indicate fish are in the vicinity of the float. A different colored light is illuminated when a fish comes in contact with the hook. The two lights are extinguished leaving a third light of another color illuminating the float. The light sources are very high intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The lights of the float can easily be seen in cloudy and deeper water and at greater distances than other types of illuminated floats. The water beneath the float is illuminated by a light which may attract fish. The lights in the top portion also attract flying insects which may attract fish to the vicinity of the float. The shape of the float is immaterial as long as it is buoyant and the two sections can be fastened together to complete the electrical connections. The bottom section must be shaped so that a light beam can shine below the float. Otherwise the shape of the float may vary for interest and novelty, usually, however the shape will be round or oval. Other shapes may include for instance boat shape, duck shape etc. The batteries which power the LEDs and electronic circuitry can be quickly and easily replaced even in the dark by separating the top and bottom section and popping out the used batteries and replacing them with new batteries.
The illuminated fishing float is composed of a hollow top section and a hollow bottom section. The hollow top section and the hollow bottom section are fastened together with fastening means which may be threading between the sections forming a hollow float. The top section is composed of light conductive material such as clear or translucent plastic or glass. The top section contains a first light source which is a single color and is capable of intermittent flashing. The first light source may be a red flashing light-emitting diode (LED) and a third light source may be an bicolor red and green light-emitting diode (LED). The hollow float contains an electrical power source which is ordinarily a battery such as a lithium hydride, nickel cadmium or any other dry cell type. This power source powers the various LEDs and electronic circuits. The hollow float also contains a second light source and a motion detecting means. The motion detecting means may be a first photo transistor tuned to the wavelength of the second light source. The first photo transistor is connected through an electronic circuit to the first light source. The variation of light intensity causes the electronic circuit to turn on the first light source. The second light source is positioned to form a beam of light through the clear lens. The first photo transistor senses variations in the intensity of the reflected light from the second light source as fish approach the float thereby switching on the first light source.
The hollow float can also contain a third light source capable of emitting a first color and a second color when the top section and the bottom section are fastened together. The first color is preferably red and the second color is preferably green. The first light source and the third light source are connected through an electronic switching means to a hook. The second color is turned on when fish come in contact with the hook. The first color of the third light source is turned off when fish come in contact with the hook and additionally the first light source is also turned off when fish come in contact with the hook. The electronic switching means may be a second photo transistor tuned to the wavelength of the second light source. The second photo transistor is partially shaded from the light of the second light source by a light shading member which is connected to the hook through a pivot point. The movement of the light shading member when a fish comes in contact with the hook exposes the light-sensitive surface of the second photo transistor to the increased light, causing an electrical current to flow from the second photo transistor. This current causes the first color of the third light source to be turned off and the first light source to be turned off leaving the second color of the third light source illuminating the fishing float.
The top section and the bottom section may be joined by water tight threading between the top and the bottom sections and have electrical contacts to complete electrical circuits in the motion detecting means and the switching means when the two sections are screwed together. The contacts are composed of concentric electrical conducting strips of material located adjacent to the bottom opening of the top section. Spring contacts are located adjacent to the top opening of the bottom section. When the top section and the bottom section are screwed together, the electrical conductive strips of material contact the spring contacts completing the circuits thereby activating the motion detector and the switching means.

Lighted fishing float with motion detector


The present invention provides an apparatus using dry cleaning techniques for cleaning a read/write head of the contact transducing type such as found on computer data backup tape drive systems. The apparatus includes a housing enclosing a supply reel holding a supply of cleaning tape, a takeup reel for holding used or soiled cleaning tape, and a gear train for transmitting rotary power at a reduced rotational speed from an external power source such as the tape drive capstan to the takeup reel. The gear train includes a plurality of gears that constitute a gear reduction system such that the cleaning tape can be driven past the head at an effective cleaning speed which is substantially less than the normal read/write speed of the tape drive. The apparatus further includes a movable shutter mechanism for blocking one of a pair of light paths between a light emitter and a light sensor forming part of the tape drive system, thereby providing a unique signal to the tape drive. The shutter mechanism is activated upon insertion into the tape drive by the tensioning of the cleaning tape against the shutter mechanism so as to move it into operational, light-path blocking position against the influence of a biasing spring, thereby alerting the tape drive that a cleaning apparatus has been inserted into the tape drive so that the cleaning cycle operates for a tape drive manufacturer preferred time period.

The contact-type transducer recording heads used to read and write data in backup drives of computers can become dirty with use. The accumulation of contaminants such as dust, debris, etc., on the heads can interfere with their normal operations, which can in turn lead to errors in the reading and the writing of the data from and to the magnetic tape. In addition, the magnetic recording tape engages the recording head under tension, leading to the erosion of the magnetic oxide particles forming the recording media from the recording tape and the subsequent emplacement of those eroded particles upon the head. These and other known sources of contamination make periodic cleaning of the head necessary if the head is to continue to operate properly. Proper cleaning is important since a dirty head--whether due to no cleaning at all or an ineffective cleaning--may result in a loss of data whose value is often inestimable.
Known head cleaning devices for magnetic recording heads include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,452 to Nemoto; U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,241 to Ogawa; U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,600 to Cecil et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,910 to Rudi; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,377 to Siddio; and Japanese Patent Nos. 60-10411, 60-170017, 2-35618, and 3-173912. The Nemoto and Ogawa patents appear to be directed principally to audio tape players, while the majority of the remainder of the aforementioned patents appear to be directed to cleaning read/write heads associated with computer hardware. Japanese 60-170017 and, in part, Siddio, appear to be directed to video applications.
The Cecil and Rudi patents disclose a head cleaner that comprises a sponge that is held in a cassette similar in size to that used to hold the magnetic tape. A cleaning solution is applied to the sponge which is reciprocated up and down upon the surface of the head by means of a crankshaft-type of mechanism driven by the capstan of the computer backup tape drive. Thus, to use the Cecil or Rudi cleaner, cleaning solution must be applied by hand to the sponge, after which the cassette is inserted into the tape drive for the cleaning process. Cleaning continues until the cleaning cassette is removed from the tape drive.
While potentially valuable as a head cleaning aid, the Cecil/Rudi types of cleaning devices suffer from several well recognized deficiencies. For example, the length of time that the cassette is in the backup drive cleaning the head is determined solely by the end user or customer. The ability of anyone--manufacturer or customer--to control the quality of the cleaning of a single unit let alone an entire product line in a consistent manner is minimal as a result. In addition, because these kinds of cleaning devices wipe generally the same area of sponge over the head repeatedly as the sponge is moved up and down over the surface of the head, the contaminants whose removal is desired may instead be smeared out over the head and only partially removed. Yet another shortcoming in the ability to control the quality of cleaning that these types of cleaners provide is that they each rely upon the placement of a specific amount of cleaning solution on the sponge. Putting too little solution on the sponge may result in an ineffective cleaning. If too much solution is placed on the sponge, however, the excess cleaning solution may be squeezed out of it when the sponge is placed into contact with the head, thereby causing the cleaning solution to drip off the sponge into the interior of. the tape drive and creating the potential for damaging the tape drive or other electronic equipment associated therewith.
A final deficiency of the Cecil/Rudi type of device is that, with presently available equipment, the need for the addition of the cleaning solution to the sponge means that human intervention is required in what could otherwise be an automated process. Thus, this deficiency is a particular hinderance to the use of these types of wet cleaning devices in data library systems where robotic arms are otherwise used to manipulate the data cassettes and to insert and remove them from tape drives. This need to add the solution to the sponge by hand therefore, prevents the cleaning process from being performed by robotics according to a pre-established cleaning schedule.
Dry cleaning techniques, rather than the aforementioned wet cleaning techniques are also known. Thus, as shown in Nemoto, which as noted is directed to an audio application, a dry cleaning tape formed of a woven material is used to remove contaminants from a read/record head of an audio player. The cassette is inserted into the audio tape drive and the takeup reel is driven directly by the drive of the audio unit. In this type of cleaning cassette, the contaminants are caught by the interstitial gaps that exist between the threads in the weave of the cleaning tape. While effective in this particular application, such cleaning devices have been generally considered ineffective for use in a computer tape backup drive system because the drive speed of the cleaning tape past the read/write head generally lies between ninety (90) and one hundred twenty (120) inches per second (ips), the normal range of operational speed of such tape drives when reading or writing data. This speed is too great to clean the head of a computer backup tape drive effectively. Additionally, because these types of dry cleaning tapes can be generally rewound, they can be reused over and over again, thus eliminating any ability of the manufacturer of the cleaning tape to control the quality and effectiveness of the cleaning process. Again, this feature of this type of cleaning device makes it undesirable for use in the computer tape drive backup system application where suitable cleaning is essential for a properly operating recording head.
It would be desirable to have a new and improved head cleaning device that utilizes dry cleaning rather than wet cleaning techniques to remove contaminants from a read/write head; that cooperates with a tape drive to indicate that a cleaning media rather than a data media has been inserted into the tape drive; that does not rely upon cleaning the head with an already used cleaning surface; that does not rely upon the customer to unwittingly use the cleaning device a proper length of time; and that cannot be reused when the supply of cleaning tape has been used once.

Magnetic tape recording head cleaning apparatus


A voltage regulator and a method for voltage regulation are described. An adjustable driver is coupled to receive an input voltage, a gating voltage, and first control signaling. The adjustable driver includes driver transistors. The adjustable driver is configured to provide a drive current responsive to the gating voltage. The drive current is provided through one or more of the driver transistors at least a portion of which are selectively gated responsive to the first control signaling. A controller is coupled to receive the input voltage and the gating voltage. The controller is configured to provide the first control signaling responsive to the gating voltage. Control circuitry is configured to provide the gating voltage responsive to load current.

Programmable logic devices ("PLDs") are a well-known type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array ("FPGA"), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks ("IOBs"), configurable logic blocks ("CLBs"), dedicated random access memory blocks ("BRAMs"), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks ("DSPs"), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops ("DLLs"), and so forth. Notably, as used herein, "include" and "including" mean including without limitation. One such FPGA is the Xilinx Virtex™ FPGA available from Xilinx, Inc., 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95124.
Another type of PLD is the Complex Programmable Logic Device ("CPLD"). A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to input/output ("I/O") resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in Programmable Logic Arrays ("PLAs") and Programmable Array Logic ("PAL") devices. Other PLDs are programmed by applying a processing layer, such as a metal layer, that programmably interconnects the various elements on the device. These PLDs are known as mask programmable devices. PLDs can also be implemented in other ways, for example, using fuse or antifuse technology. The terms "PLD" and "programmable logic device" include but are not limited to these exemplary devices, as well as encompassing devices that are only partially programmable.
For purposes of clarity, FPGAs are described below though other types of integrated circuits, including other types of PLDs, may be used. FPGAs may include one or more embedded microprocessors. For example, a microprocessor may be located in an area reserved for it, generally referred to as a "processor block."
Heretofore, linear voltage regulators had a quiescent or standby current which was excessive owing to having to size a drive transistor sufficiently large to allow sufficient drive current. Accordingly, it would be desirable and useful to provide an adjustable driver where quiescent current may be reduced responsive to a reduction in load current.

Linear voltage regulator with dynamically selectable drivers


An automobile rear windshield sunshade device includes a base, a moving unit having a case pivotally supported by the base, a motor and two gears engaging with each other and rotated by the motor. Two driving arms to are moved up and down by the two gears, to extend and retract a sunshade unit having a winding roller for winding a sunshade curtain. The upper end of the curtain is connected with a strip fixed with an elongated bar, which is raised up and down by the two driving arms. The case and the driving arms can be adjusted in their angle relative to the base to adapt to the angle of the rear windshield.

This invention concerns an automobile rear windshield sunshade device controlled by a switch on a gauge panel to raise and lower a sunshade curtain and which is adaptable to various inclined angles of rear windshields.
A conventional rear windshield sunshade device is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a support base A, a sunshade curtain and roller B, a position block E, and a support bar D as main components.
The support base A has two threaded holes A2 for screws to fix the support base A on a soft flat surface under the rear windshield of a car, a curved wall A1 at a rear end, and a hole A3 in a center of the top surface.
The sunshade curtain and roller B is received in the curved wall A1, having a pull grip B1 in the center of an upper side of the sunshade curtain, with the pull grip B1 hung on a hook E1 of the support block E.
The position block E has a hook E1 for the pull grip B1, a hole E2 in a lower portion, and a downwardly curved wall E3 in the top to be fitted firmly with a rubber strip at a connect line between the rear windshield and the roof of a car.
The support bar D has an upper end fitted in the hole E2 of the position block E and a lower end fitted in the support base A.
The pull grip B1 is pulled to be hung on the hook E1 of the support block E, moving up the sunshade curtain from a winding roller B.
However, the known conventional sunshade device has drawbacks as follows.
1. It hardly adapts to different inclined angles of rear windshields as the sunshade curtain is moved and positioned in a definite preset direction. PA1 2. Different cars have rear windshields of different sizes, so if the support rod has a definite length and the distance between the flat surface C and the roof F of a car is longer or shorter than the support rod D, the sunshade curtain may not cover the whole rear windshield. PA1 3. It is operated manually, so if no one sits in the back seat and sunlight is reflected by a rearview mirror to shine on the driver's face, the driver must stop the car and then pull up the sunshade curtain.

Automobile rear windshield sunshade device


An image pick-up device with an electronic image sensor (IS.sub.1 IS.sub.2) is described, which includes a matrix of sensor elements (SE) and a low-pass filter for suppressing image frequencies exceeding the sampling frequency of the sensor. The low-pass filter has a first, composite filter function (F.sub.com) consisting of a variable component and a constant component and the device has a second filter function (F.sub.c) in conformity with the constant component which is optically or electronically subtracted from the first filter function.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image pick-up device comprising an imaging lens system, a radiation-sensitive detection system comprising discrete detection elements arranged in a regular pattern with a given period, and a low-pass filter for suppressing image frequencies which exceed the spatial sampling frequency of the detection system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A device of this type may form part of an electronic video camera or of an electronic photocamera and is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,193.
A sensor termed "CCD" (Charge-Coupled Device) is currently used in such cameras. Such a sensor comprises a, for example, two-dimensional matrix of small radiation-sensitive elements which are integrated with an electronic circuit with which the elements are read line or matrix-sequentially. The radiation-sensitive elements have dimensions of the order of, for example 10.times.10 .mu.m.sup.2 and a sensor may comprise several hundred rows and columns of such elements. Such a sensor performs, as it were, a spatial sampling of the image applied thereto, the spatial sampling frequency being determined by the spatial frequency of the sensor matrix. Due to this image sampling, the image reconstructed from the image sensor signals will exhibit a Moire effect because the image formed on the sensor has spatial frequencies which are higher than the sampling frequency. This Moire effect, also referred to as aliasing, results in a pattern of blocks and flicker of the reconstructed image.
To prevent the Moire effect it has already been proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,193, to arrange a low-pass filter between the imaging lens system and the detection system, which filter blocks the image frequencies exceeding half the sampling frequency. In the known device, the low-pass filter comprises one or more birefringet plates, for example, quartz plates which split a beam incident thereon into, for example, two beams. This creates on the image sensor, for example, two images which are slightly offset with respect to each other. The resultant composite image is then slightly extended version of the original image, with the extended version having a smaller resolution.
Practice has proved that the birefringent plates cause a reduction of the modulation transfer function of the image pick-up device, which reduces the pick-up quality.


A method is provided for associating a first user using a first device and a second user using a second device. The method may include receiving an invitation request from the first user; verifying, by a verification server, the invitation request; sending an invitation to the second user after verifying the invitation request; and receiving an acknowledgement from the second user to acknowledge an association between the first user and the second user. The invitation request may be identified as directed to the second user and may include at least a device token associated with at least one of the first and second devices and an identification associated with at least one of the second device and the second user.

Network societies have been emerging quickly with the widespread use of Internet, especially with the increasing accessibility through various portable communication devices, including smart phones. Network societies typically have at least one network server that manages the relationships among the members of each society. An example of a network server is a social network server (SNS), with the network consisting of its members that manages the relationships among those members. Such a network is sometimes known as a "social network."
Each person may be considered as a node in a social network, and each node may have associations with other node(s) in the social network. An association between two persons may be represented by a line linking two nodes. Several metrics can be derived from or used to quantify characteristics in a social network having multiple nodes and lines. For example, a "relation degree" can be a simple metric for characterizing how close two nodes are. Two nodes have a first-degree relation if there is a line directly linking the two nodes, which may reflect that the two nodes can contact with each other directly, such as by phones, e-mails, instant messages, peer-to-peer streaming, and etc. Two nodes have a second-degree relation if they have one node in between and are coupled through two lines. Two nodes having a relation degree order beyond the first degree relation may suggest that the two corresponding persons do not know each other, but do have a certain relationship, such as one common contact, between them.
Various social-network platforms may be set up to connect users and provide their associations. Those platforms may present themselves in the form of websites, through which associations between people can be made, contacts can be stored, and networks can be constructed. Privacy measures or rules may be applied, such as by basing on certain metric(s) (characteristics) to limit direct contacts between users who might not know each other. There may be tradeoffs between loose and strict rules. Loose rules may unnecessarily expose user privacy, while strict rules may limit the interactions among members of a social network. Some social network applications may also provide limited functions or capabilities, making the use of computers preferable or necessary, which may limit the growth of the social network.
Therefore, it may be desirable to provide methods, systems, or both for associating users with one or more characteristics, such as adequate privacy protection, convenience in access, compatibility with mobile or portable devices, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and systems for associating users through network societies

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A system and method for electrochemically machining a work-piece contains a fixture capable of receiving a work-piece and securing the work-piece to the fixture. An electrolyte source is also provided. In addition, the system contains a rotary drive subassembly capable of receiving a portion of the work-piece therein, motion of the rotary drive assembly being determined by a received control signal, wherein frequency and amplitude of the control signal increases and decreases motion of the rotary drive subassembly, and wherein the control signal is a trapezoidal waveform.

Electrochemical machining is a well-known process used for the machining of a workpiece. In a typical electrochemical machining process, a workpiece is typically provided with a positive voltage to create an anode portion, and an electrode is provided with a negative voltage to create a cathode portion. An electrolyte is provided in a gap between the workpiece and the electrode for electrochemical machining of the workpiece.
As is known in the art, the gap between the anode portion and the cathode portion needs to be closely monitored and maintained in order to prevent touching of the cathode portion and the anode portion and also to maintain machined form and tolerance. In addition, the gap between the anode portion and the cathode portion needs to be maintained so as to allow an appropriate amount of electrolyte to flow therebetween.
Electrochemical machining is particularly of interest in the shaping of airfoils (i.e., single blades), turbocharger nozzle rings and bladed disks (i.e., blisks). The unique shape and size of blades of a bladed part requires intricate attention to detail in the electrochemical machining process. Due to this requirement, the amount of electrochemical machining performed is required to be closely regulated. Unfortunately, improper electrochemical machining may result in inaccurate geometry and permanent damage to the blades of the bladed part.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

System and method for providing electrochemical machining of a device


A composite material includes a carrier material, wherein the carrier material is coated on a first surface with a first coating material and on a second surface with a second coating material, the composite material has links of coating material which run from the first surface of the carrier material to the second surface of the carrier material, and the links of coating material start from 1% to 90% of at least one of the surfaces of the carrier material. A method includes producing a composite material of this type.

Coated composite materials are generally known. Composite materials in general have a carrier material, which is coated on one side or on both sides. Depending on the carrier material and coating material used, however, a integral adhesion between the carrier material and the coating material can be achieved only with difficulty. As a rule, adhesion promoters are used. The carrier material can thereby be coated with the aid of a chemical process, for example. To this end, as a rule an adhesion promoter is applied onto the carrier material and subsequently a coating is carried out. Through the adhesion promoter the carrier material, the coating and the adhesion promoter together form a composite material. One disadvantage of the use of adhesion promoters is that constituents of the adhesion promoter can be detached from the composite material. Moreover, the adhesion promoter as a rule must be specially adjusted to the carrier material used and the coating material used. Quick production changes are therefore not possible.
Alternatively to the use of an adhesion promoter, the carrier material can also be prepared, for example, by a so-called corona treatment in order to improve the adhesion between the carrier material and the coating material. However, the disadvantage with a corona treatment of this type is that the effect of the treatment is only brief, so that the coating must take place immediately after the corona treatment in terms of time. This makes the production process inflexible and expensive. Overall, the previously suggested methods for generating an adhesion between the carrier material and the coating material are complex and expensive.
Such disadvantages of the products and their production methods have an effect in particular in the case of large-area applications of coated composite materials, such as, for example, with applications in the field of textile architecture. Applications in the field of textile architecture are, e.g., composite materials or membranes and in particular coated woven fabric for canopies, intermediate ceilings, false ceilings, factory buildings, inflatable structures or marquees, or also containers, silos, tanks, etc. Above all in the case of large-area applications of this type, the ultimately important factor with respect to the extreme tensile forces and compressive force, for example, with constructions under tension, is a high tear resistance, in particular a high tear propagation resistance and a good sealability of the webs, for which a high adhesive strength between the textile carrier and coating is an important prerequisite.
A corona treatment is very complex, particularly in the production, e.g., of large-area coated woven fabric. On the other hand, with large-area applications in the field of textile architecture the migration of adhesion promoters and possibly further additives plays an important role, especially as the coated composite materials with applications of this type are also sometimes exposed in particular to aggressive environmental and light impacts. With applications in the field of food technology, such as, for example, with containers for food of a coated woven fabric, it can have a negative impact if, e.g., an adhesion promoter or constituents of an adhesion promoter migrate to the surface of the coated woven fabric and from there are emitted to the food.

Composite material with coating material


The present invention relates to a light source apparatus that has a base structure capable of generating SC light and further having a structure that enables the shaping of the spectral waveform of the SC light, power adjustment of the SC light, or adjustment of the frequency of repetition of the pulse train that contains the SC light. For example, a light source apparatus that enables shaping of spectral waveforms comprises a seed light source that emits seed light which is a pulse train or continuous light; an optical fiber that generates SC light from the seed light, and spectrum shaping means for completely or partially changing the spectral waveform of the SC light. The shaping of the spectral waveform changes the maximum power of the seed light by changing the optical coupling efficiency of the seed light source and optical fiber, for example, thereby suitably deforms the spectrum of the SC light.

An SC light source, which is one example of a wideband light source, is an important light source that is expected to be applied to a variety of fields of application from the standpoint of the high output characteristic, wide range characteristic, and spectrum flatness.
Although a variety of constitutions have been proposed as such SC light source apparatus, a constitution that generates SC light within an optic fiber is generally widely used on account of being straightforward and allowing an increase in the interaction length and because spectrum control is also straightforward.
Further, a coherent wideband light source disclosed in Patent Document 1 and a wideband infrared pulse laser light source disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 for example, are known as an SC light source apparatus of this kind.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-160744    Non-Patent Document 1: Okuno and five others, "Wideband near infrared pulse laser light source that uses nonlinearity of optical fiber", Proceedings of the Twenty-first Near Infrared Forum, the Near infrared Society, November 2005, page 173


An electromagnetic wave transmitting device having a body and a heating assembly. The body can include a transmitting end and a receiving end. The heating assembly can be disposed on at least a portion of the transmitting end of the body. The heating assembly can include an electrically resistive element having an electrical connector. The heating assembly can also include a first electrically non-conductive film disposed over the electrically resistive element.

Light fixtures (and other devices that transmit electromagnetic waves) that are located in harsh environments can experience one or more problems that prevent such light fixtures from operating properly. For example, in cold-temperature environments, whether indoors or outdoors, frost and other forms of ice can form on the lens of a light fixture. In such a case, the light emitted from a light source inside the light fixture can be altered, suppressed, or otherwise impaired, making the light fixture ineffective for its intended purpose.

Heaters for electromagnetic wave transmitting surfaces in cold-temperature environments


An electrical device such as a lamp is energized and deenergized remotely by a system in which pulses of different duration are transmitted to a receiver unit capable of discriminating between the length of the pulses in order to switch between an "on" mode and an "off" mode. A battery energizing the receiver unit is recharged by a photovoltaic cell. Advantageously associated with the battery charging circuit is an ambient lights sensing device capable of interrupting current from the battery to a load whenever the battery is being charged by the photovoltaic cell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the control of electrical loads such as lamps, and more particularly to the remote and the ambient light control of lighted Christmas tree ornaments, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light displays have long been very popular to help celebrate special occasions and major holidays, particularly the Christmas Holidays in the Christian world. Lights for this purpose conventionally are provided as a plurality of brightly colored lamps arranged in sockets strung on electrical wires. Anyone familiar with decorating a Christmas tree or creating an outdoor Christmas display is familiar with the hassle created by the necessity of arranging the wires so as to permit a suitable placement of the lamps without distracting from the appearance of the tree, house, or other structure, in the light of day. In addition, the insulation of the electrical wires often becomes frayed and broken with use, a situation that not only can limit the usefulness of a string of lights, but can create fire and shock hazards as well.
In view of the disadvantages of the conventional strung Christmas tree lights, and the like, it has been proposed to construct Christmas tree ornaments, and the like, having a self-contained power supply. While such an arrangement eliminates the need for the bothersome wires to be connected between the individual lamps, these lights never became popular because of the impracticality of manually controlling the operation of each individual lamp. When one considers the large number of lights normally used on Christmas trees and other light displays, it can be readily appreciated that it is not practical to be manually turning on and off say fifty or more lamps individually.
Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,580, issued Sep. 12, 1989, to C. Blackerby is directed to an ornamental lighting device that can be turned on and off by remote control. The remote control link is formed in this system by infrared light being transmitted to each of the lamps. A difficulty has been encountered with the use of light as a coupling between the remote control systems transmitter and individual receivers, however, inasmuch as some of the lamps may be behind a Christmas tree, for example, and not be in the line of sight of the transmitter, thus requiring a person operating the transmitter to move about in order to turn on or off all of the lamps in a display.
This brings about another difficulty with the conventional remote control systems for controlling lights on a Christmas tree, since repeated actuation of the transmitter will turn off lights already on, or turn on lights already off. U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,351, issued Oct. 13, 1970 to J. D. Harnden, Jr. et al discloses a light coupled remote control apparatus in which a bistable multivibrator is triggered each time it senses one of a series of uniform pulses. Such systems have made the use of self-powered, remotely-controlled lights for Christmas trees and other displays impractical until now.

Remote controlled, solar and battery powered lights