A Potter-Bucky device for a radiation image recording apparatus in which an image recording medium is exposed to radiation which has passed through an object in order to record a radiation image of the object on the recording medium includes a grid which is movably supported between the object and the recording medium and is reciprocated parallel to the recording medium. A counter-weight is connected to the grid and is reciprocated in synchronization with the grid but in an opposite direction. Among other benefits and features, the disclosure reduces or eliminates vibrations produced by the reciprocating grid.

One of the most effective ways to reduce scattered radiation from an object being radiographed is through the use of a Potter-Bucky device. The Potter-Bucky device is used with most diagnostic x-ray equipment. More commonly known as a 'bucky', this is an assembly which is normally located under the table of a diagnostic x-ray set and holds the x-ray film cassette and a secondary radiation grid. The grid is used to prevent secondary x-ray emission from the patient from reaching the x-ray film, and is formed from a large number of thin strips of lead separated by a radiolucent material. To prevent the outline of the grid from appearing on the film, a mechanism is provided for rapidly moving the grid in a reciprocating manner during exposure.
However there is a problem in that, though rapidly moving the grid prevents the outline of the grid from appearing on the film, rapidly moving the grid is also apt to transmit vibrations to other parts of the x-ray system. What is still desired, therefore, is a new and improved Potter-Bucky device for use with medical diagnostic imaging and scanner systems. In particular, what is desired is a new and improved Potter-Bucky device that prevents grid outlines from appearing on x-ray film, but transmits less vibrations to other parts of the x-ray system.


The present disclosure provides method of preventing, lessening the effects, or treating cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or related disorders, and/or neurotoxicity associated with immunotherapy comprising administering defibrotide. The defibrotide can be administered after the immunotherapy begins or be administered prophylactically before immunotherapy begins or before the patient develops CRS and/or neurotoxicity.

Immunotherapy, including the use of lymphodepletion or monoclonal antibodies, has become an important tool in the treatment of cancer and neoplasms. T cells expressing chimeric antigens (CAR-T cells) and bispecific antibodies are becoming an option for lymphodepletion. However, while these therapies show promise, treatment with the CAR-T cells or bispecific antibodies may lead to a large, rapid release of cytokines into the blood and cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or CAR-T cell related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES) [also referred to herein as CAR-T associated neurotoxicity or ICANS (immune effector cell (IEC) therapy associated neurotoxicity syndromes)].
CRS is characterized by high fever, hypotension, hypoxia, and/or multi-organ toxicity, and can lead to death. Rarely, CRS can evolve into fulminant hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which is characterized by severe immune activation, lymphohistiocytic tissue infiltration and immune-mediated multi-organ failure associated with severe pancytopenia. Neurotoxicity is characterized by damage to nervous tissue that can lead to tremors, encephalopathy, dizziness, or seizures.
In a pivotal multicenter ZUMA-1 trial of Axi-cel in one hundred and one adult patients with refractory aggressive B-cell NHL, the rates of grade ≥3 CRS and CRES were 13% and 28% respectively. Additionally, in the JULIET trial of tisagenlecleucel in ninety-three adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBLC, these rates were 22% and 12% respectively (Schuster, S., et al., N. Eng. J. Med. (2019); 380:45-56).
The present disclosure is directed to methods of administering defibrotide to prevent and/or treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS), especially CRS associated with CAR-T therapy.

Defibrotide for the prevention and treatment of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity associated with immunodepletion


A method for producing a semiconductor device with an SOI substrate having a support substrate 1 and a semiconductor layer 3 that interpose a first insulating film 2 between them includes the following steps. An element region and an element-separation region 4 are formed in the semiconductor layer 3. A gate insulating film 5 is formed on the semiconductor layer 3. A gate electrode 6 is formed on the gate insulating film 5. A second insulating film 7 is formed. The gate insulating film 5 is removed. First thickness adjustment is performed. Ion implantation introducing low concentration impurities is performed on the thickness-adjusted semiconductor layers 3 and 8. A first sidewall portion 7a is formed on the side surfaces of the gate electrode 6. A second sidewall portion 10a is formed on the side surfaces of the first sidewall portion 7a.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and a method for producing a semiconductor device.
2. Background Information
Recently, significant attention has been given to SOI (Silicon on Insulator)-MOS technology as one technique to achieve higher integration, higher performance, and lower power consumption in semiconductor devices. The following description describes a conventional method for producing an SOI-MOS transistor.
First, an SOI substrate composed of a silicon support substrate, a buried oxide (BOX) film, and a silicon semiconductor layer (SOI layer) is employed, and a field oxide film is formed by a LOCOS (Local Oxidation of Silicon) process or the like, thus, elements are separated. Then, a gate insulating film is formed on the silicon semiconductor layer, and a polysilicon film is additionally formed on the gate insulating film. After a gate electrode is formed by lithography or etching, a low concentration of impurity ions is introduced, thus, an extension region is formed.
Next, a silicon oxide film is deposited by a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process, and etch back is performed on the silicon oxide film by anisotropic etching. Thus, a sidewall portion is formed. In this etch back process, over etching is performed on the surface of the silicon semiconductor layer in a drain region and a source region of a MOS transistor. Thus, the thicknesses of the regions become thinner than the initial thicknesses thereof.
Subsequently, a silicon epitaxial layer is formed by selective epitaxial growth (SEG) performed on the silicon semiconductor layer in the drain region and the source region. Besides, in selective epitaxial growth, since a crystal also grows on the polysilicon film, a silicon crystal grows also on the upper part of the gate electrode where the surface of polysilicon is exposed.
After the above process is conducted, the MOS transistor is formed through processes such as implantation of a high concentration of impurity ions into the drain and source regions, and the formation of electrode by using silicide.
A semiconductor device including a MOS transistor produced by a semiconductor process is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication TOKUKAI No. 2001-68666 (especially pages 3–4, FIGS. 1–2), though the semiconductor device does not have an SOI substrate, for example.
The semiconductor device disclosed in JP 2001-68666 has a double sidewall structure composed of a first sidewall portion with an L-shape when viewed in a cross-section of oxide film and a second sidewall portion extending from the side surfaces to a bottom surface of the first sidewall portion of the nitride film. Although the semiconductor device has an electric-field-relaxing structure formed by using LDD (Lightly Doped Drain), implantation of low concentration impurity ions into the extension region is performed after formation of the gate electrode, in other words, previous to the formation of the first and second sidewall portions. Since this semiconductor device does not employ an SOI substrate but a conventional bulk substrate, the silicon semiconductor layer in the drain and source regions has sufficient thickness, thus, the parasitic resistance is small. Accordingly, thickness adjustment for the silicon semiconductor layer by using selective epitaxial growth is not necessary.
Typically, in an SOI substrate, a silicon semiconductor layer (SOI layer) is thin having a thickness of the order of several tens nm. When a silicide electrode is directly formed on a silicon semiconductor layer, the silicide electrode cannot be formed with a sufficient thickness. This causes an increase in sheet resistance. Accordingly, with an SOI-MOS transistor, a technique, which increases the thickness of silicon to the thickness necessary for formation of a silicide electrode with low resistance by growing silicon in drain and source regions by selective epitaxial growth (elevated source/drain structure), is used.
However, in the case that selective epitaxial growth is performed on a thin silicon semiconductor layer, silicon aggregates in the case of growth at typical growth temperatures (for example, 800° C.). The amount of aggregation is inversely proportional to the thickness of the silicon. That is, such aggregation becomes more remarkable as a silicon semiconductor layer is thinner. As mentioned above, in the conventional method for producing an SOI-MOS transistor, over etching is performed on the surface of the silicon semiconductor layer in the etch back process in the formation of the sidewall portion. As a result, the silicon semiconductor layer becomes thinner, and thus, silicon tends to aggregate. Accordingly, it is difficult to provide a silicon epitaxial film with the desired film quality.
Furthermore, implantation of a low concentration of impurity ions into the extension region, so-called extension ion implantation, is performed in order to reduce the resistance value of the silicon semiconductor layer corresponding to the region directly under the sidewall portion. Since the silicon semiconductor layer is thin throughout, this causes large parasitic resistance and reduces the drive power of a MOS transistor.
With the semiconductor device disclosed in JP 2001-68666, the double sidewall structure is composed of the first sidewall portion with an L-shape and the second sidewall portion extending from the side surfaces to the bottom surface of the first sidewall portion, as mentioned above. According to the downscaling of the semiconductor device, reduction of the resistance value directly under the sidewall portion becomes an important issue, particularly with SOI-MOS transistors, whose importance has been indicated. When a double sidewall structure similar to this semiconductor device is applied to a SOI-MOS transistor, the thickness of a double sidewall in the SOI-MOS is almost the same as that of a thick single sidewall that is applied to the SOI-MOS. The reason is that the first sidewall has a L-shape, and even if the side portion of the first sidewall is thinly formed, the bottom portion of the first sidewall needs to have a given length. In an SOI substrate, a semiconductor layer (SOI layer) is thin having a thickness on the order of several tens nm. Accordingly, if the width of the sidewall portion were large, the parasitic resistance directly under the sidewall portion would become large. With the semiconductor device disclosed in the JP 2001-68666 employing a bulk substrate, the device has a semiconductor layer directly under the sidewall portion with a sufficient thickness. Hence, reduction of parasitic resistance by thickness adjustment of the semiconductor layer in the drain and source regions is not taken into consideration.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved semiconductor device and method for producing the same. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Semiconductor device and method for producing the same


A candidate region extraction unit (110) extracts candidate regions from an image by using a common characteristic amount. A part region extraction unit (120) separates a part region, which has a high likelihood of being a part, from a second-part candidate region other than the part region. A characteristic amount calculation unit (130) calculates the intrinsic characteristic amount of each of the part region and the second-part candidate region. A characteristic amount correction unit (140) corrects the intrinsic characteristic amount of either one of the candidate regions on the basis of the length, the width, and the angle of the other candidate region. A determination unit (150) determines whether or not the part region and the second-part candidate region are parts that constitute a pair on the basis of the similarity between the corrected intrinsic characteristic amount and the intrinsic characteristic amount of the other candidate region.

There have been active studies on estimation of human posture based on a captured moving image data. A posture estimation apparatus can determine person's motions from a moving picture through computer analysis and thus can perform behavior analysis without involving manual works. Applications of behavior analysis include detection of unexpected behaviors on the street, analysis of in-store purchase behaviors, aid in work efficiency improvement at a factory, and form coaching in sports, for instance.
When estimating a human posture, it is desirable that estimation of part posture be possible, for instance. Here, the "part" refers to a component of an articulated object (e.g., head, trunk, arm and leg). The "part posture" refers to a position or angle of the part in human posture. Since a person changes part posture by motion, if the position of the part can be estimated, it is possible to estimate motion, that is, what this person is doing or what the person is going to do from now on.
Such human posture estimation is preferably performed without attaching any apparatus such as an azimuth sensor to the person. This is because an estimation technique requiring attachment of an apparatus to a person has a difficulty in handling an unspecified person as a subject of estimation and will incur more cost when there are many subjects of estimations.
PTL 1 discloses a technique of estimating a person's posture based on an image of the person captured
The technique described in PTL 1 (hereinafter referred to as "related art 1") determines a center of gravity of a person's silhouette from a captured image, calculates a distance from the center of gravity to each point on a contour of the person's silhouette, detects a vertical axis that extends upward from the center of gravity and assumes a point of intersection with the contour of the person's silhouette as a vertex of the head. Related art 1 searches for a point at which the distance calculated counterclockwise with the vertex the head as a start point becomes a maximum, determines a point at which the distance first becomes a maximum as a tip of the right hand and determines points at which the distance next becomes a maximum as tips of the right leg, left leg and left hand. According to this related art 1, it is possible to estimate a person's posture without attaching any apparatus such as an azimuth sensor to the person.
For example, PTL 2 describes a technique of estimating a person's posture based on an image of the person captured.
The technique described in PTL 2 (hereinafter referred to as "related art 2") takes pictures of a person wearing clothes in color other than blue and varying from one part to another against a blue background. Thus, related art 2 acquires the person's silhouette based on a difference in color information between the background image and the person's image and detects the person's part from color information of the clothes. Using this related art 2, it is possible to estimate a person's posture without attaching any apparatus such as a sensor to the person.

Posture estimation device, posture estimation method, and posture estimation program


The present disclosure generally pertains to a biomimetic apparatus configured to simulate physiological conditions by, in part, providing for both barrier and transport interfaces. The presently disclosed apparatus may be used to: test therapeutics for different diseases; to study transport; form a substrate for any organ tissue with a barrier and/or transport function; provide a closed loop assembly for fluid flow; mimic underlying and enveloped tissue; and model external environmental conditions.

Improved treatment options for diseases require new drug development. Drug research and development, however, remain expensive and slow in large part due to inadequate methods for modeling diseases and evaluating potential therapeutics. Animal models, although widely used for such evaluations, raise numerous ethical concerns and are an imperfect medium for such research. In fact, approximately 90% of the therapeutics that succeed in animal models subsequently fail to advance through human trials. Therefore, efforts have been ongoing to engineer an in vitro environment that is configured to mimic, in vivo, human physiological conditions.
Efforts to engineer such environments remain inadequate. Cells in conventional, static culture dishes, for example, are not physiologically suitable for modeling blood vessels—the primary pharmacokinetic interface—because vascular cells cultured in the absence of appropriate hemodynamic stresses, such as shear, pressure, and stretch, fail to mimic the phenotype and function of cells from intact vessels. Many current or proposed solutions address just one of many variables necessary for suitable evaluation of therapeutics. For example, such current or proposed devices: (a) support only single cell systems; (b) do not provide any interfacial function; (c) provide interfacial function that is not configurable for perfusion; (d) are unable to mimic the layered architecture characteristic of various organ tissues performing barrier, transport, or both functions; and/or (e) are too complex or too expensive for widespread adoption.

Biomimetic interface device and methods of using the same


A parallel processing system includes a plurality of stages operatively coupled in parallel and operating simultaneously. Each stage including a process unit generating a predetermined function and a buffer coupled via a slow output and a slow input ports to the process unit. The buffer also includes a fast input port and a fast output port. A controller drives the buffer to operate in a Slow Read Phase when data is written from the buffer into the process unit, a Slow Write Phase when data is written into the buffer from the process unit, a Fast Write Phase when data is written at a fast rate into the buffer and a Fast Read Phase when data is read from the buffer.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to parallel processors computer system in general and in particular to the use of such computer systems in communications technology.
2) Prior Art
The use of parallel processing generically called multiprocessing is well known in data processing technology. In conventional data processing a plurality of processors are constrained to process subportions of a partitioned task and/or individual tasks in a set of tasks. The prior art abounds with multiprocessor patents, examples of which include:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,006
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,945
U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,419 and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,119.
Even though multiprocessing systems are well known and used in data processing their use in communications technology is somewhat limited.
In this technology several problems have to be overcome if the system is to function satisfactorily. Among the many problems is that of sequencing. In particular, the sequence of data at the output of the system should be the same as when the data was received at the input. The proper sequencing of data is particularly difficult in communications technology in which the data is delivered in units called a frame or packet which can be of different lengths.
Because of the difference in frame length, among other things, a processor could complete processing a short frame in less time than is required to process a long frame. As a consequence the processed short frame would be available at the output of the system before the processed long frame even though the sequence at the input was long frame followed by short frame.
To maintain the sequence the prior art uses complicated circuits to keep track of the sequence at delivery and at the output organizes the processed frames in the same order in which the frames were delivered at the input of the system. These circuits are costly and increase the cost of the system. In addition, additional silicon space is required to implement the circuits. In most designs silicon space is a scarce commodity and should be preserved whenever possible.
Another problem is throughput. In most communications networks data is received from a network operating at a particular data rate process by a receiving system and returned to the network. Usually, the processing rate of the receiving system is much slower than the data rate of the network. The discrepancy between data rates results in a bottleneck within the receiving system. In some applications the bottleneck is a negative that cannot be tolerated. As a consequence there is a need to provide receiving systems with throughput matching that of the network to which the receiving systems are connected.

Sequence-preserving multiprocessing system with multimode TDM buffer

International Business Machines Corporation


The disclosure discloses methods and systems for assisting users via interactive voice-based job-related instructions. The method includes receiving a job having one or more attributes. A call from a mobile device of the user is received and a connection is established between the mobile device and a multi-function device. It is then checked whether the mobile device is a registered mobile device. Based on the check, an interactive voice response unit is automatically activated over the established the call. Then, one or more voice-based instructions are sent to change at least one attribute related to the job. Based on the voice-based instructions, an input key submitted through the mobile device is received to change the at least one attribute. The at least one attribute is changed at the multi-function device in real-time. Finally, the job is printed in accordance with the at least one changed attribute and remaining attributes.

Multi-function devices have gained popularity due to their wide variety of features and functions and thus, have become the need of every business, be it small or big. A multi-function device incorporates the functionality of multiple devices into a single device including a printer, a scanner, a copier, and a fax machine. Generally, the multi-function device is used by sighted users but can also be used by visually impaired users. To assist the visually impaired users, braille supported devices, or 508 enabled devices are provided to provide their inputs to the multi-function device or to read their printed version/output in a better fashion. To use such services, the visually impaired users need to handle several navigations.
It is always difficult for the visually impaired users to handle submitted/processing jobs in the multi-function device. Though the visually impaired users have some easier options to submit secure print jobs (via print drivers) but they still face difficulty while handling the submitted secure print jobs. For example, after sending the secure print jobs, a visually impaired user may need to release his job using a smart card or using a braille keyboard. In both the releasing methods, the visually impaired user needs to navigate to corresponding screen to release his specific secure print job. In case the visually impaired user uses the braille keyboard to enter the secure print job's passcode, then the entered passcode may be easily exposed to other users.
Like the submitted jobs, the visually impaired user faces difficulty while handling his processing/progressing jobs in the multi-function device. If multiple jobs of different users are present in a job queue, then the visually impaired user does not know the details such as when his job will be completed, how much time it will take to complete, etc. Further, the visually impaired user is not sure about the resource availability for his job or is not sure about the current status of his job. Moreover, after completion of his job, it is difficult for the visually impaired user to find in which output tray the job is delivered and is equally difficult to trace the correct printouts among the delivered printouts of different users. Also, the visually impaired user does not know where the documents are getting delivered. However, if the visually impaired user is not able to confirm the delivery of the printed documents, it is necessary for the visually impaired user to query the contents of the printed documents from other users without visually impaired. Such a query work is a labor-intensive for the visually impaired user, thereby making the usage of the multi-function device difficult.
Similar problems associated with the submitted and/or progressing jobs can even be faced by sighted users. For example, they are not sure about the time for their jobs, which output tray will be used for delivering their printouts, and so forth. Once jobs are submitted, they may not be able to change the submitted attributes but if they are, the users have to access the multi-function device to complete the same. Therefore, there is a need for efficient methods and systems to address the above-mentioned problems in the state of the art.

Systems and methods for providing assistance through one or more voice-based instructions via multi-function device


A multi-row ultrasound transducer array having a central row of transducer elements and a pair of outermost rows of transducer elements on opposing sides of the central row. The corresponding elements of the outermost rows are connected in parallel to a respective signal lead. The area of each element in the central row is less than the combined area of each pair of elements of the outermost rows. The greater total area of the combined elements of the outermost rows as compared to the area of each element of the central row provides improved elevation performance (thinner and more uniform image slice, greater contrast resolution), especially in the very near field, as compared to conventional transducers. The array may further include one or more pairs of rows of elements intermediate the central row and the respective outermost rows. The corresponding elements of the intermediate rows are connected in parallel to respective signal leads. The combined area of each pair of elements of the intermediate rows is less than the combined area of each pair of elements of the outermost rows, but greater than the area of a central row element.

Conventional ultrasound imaging systems comprise an array of ultrasonic transducers which are used to transmit an ultrasound beam and then receive the reflected beam from the object being studied. For ultrasound imaging, a one-dimensional array typically has a multiplicity of transducers arranged in a line and driven with separate voltages. By selecting the time delay (or phase) and amplitude of the applied voltages, the individual transducers can be controlled to produce ultrasonic waves which combine to form a net ultrasonic wave that travels along a preferred vector direction and is focused at a selected point along the beam. Multiple firings may be used to acquire data representing the same anatomical information. The beam forming parameters of each of the firings may be varied to provide a change in maximum focus or otherwise change the content of the received data for each firing, e.g., by transmitting successive beams along the same scan line with the focal point of each beam being shifted relative to the focal point of the previous beam. By changing the time delay and amplitude of the applied voltages, the beam with its focal point can be moved in a plane to scan the object.
The same principles apply when the transducer array is employed to receive the reflected sound (receiver mode). The voltages produced at the receiving transducers are summed so that the net signal is indicative of the ultrasound reflected from a single focal point in the object. As with the transmission mode, this focused reception of the ultrasonic energy is achieved by imparting a separate time delay (and/or phase shift) and gain to the signal from each receiving transducer.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array 10 comprised of a plurality of separately driven transducer elements 12, each of which produces a burst of ultrasonic energy when energized by a pulsed waveform produced by a transmitter (not shown). The ultrasonic energy reflected back to transducer array 10 from the object under study is converted to an electrical signal by each receiving transducer element 12 and applied separately to a beamformer 14.
The echo signals produced by each burst of ultrasonic energy reflect from objects located at successive ranges along the ultrasonic beam. The echo signals are sensed separately by each transducer element 12 and the magnitude of the echo signal at a particular point in time represents the amount of reflection occurring at a specific range. Due to the differences in the propagation paths between an ultrasound-scattering sample volume and each transducer element 12, however, these echo signals will not be detected simultaneously and their amplitudes will not be equal. Beamformer 14 amplifies the separate echo signals, imparts the proper time delay to each, and sums them to provide a single echo signal which accurately indicates the total ultrasonic energy reflected from the sample volume. Each beamformer channel 16 receives the analog echo signal from a respective transducer element 12.
To simultaneously sum the electrical signals produced by the echoes impinging on each transducer element 12, time delays are introduced into each separate beamformer channel 16 by a beamformer controller 22. The beam time delays for reception are the same delays as the transmission delays. However, the time delay of each beamformer channel is continuously changing during reception of the echo to provide dynamic focusing of the received beam at the range from which the echo signal emanates. The beamformer channels also have circuitry (not shown) for apodizing and filtering the received pulses.
The signals entering the summer 18 are delayed so that when they are summed with delayed signals from each of the other beamformer channels 16, the summed signals indicate the magnitude and phase of the echo signal reflected from a sample volume located along the steered beam. A signal processor or detector 20 converts the received signal to display data. In the B-mode (grey-scale), this would be the envelope of the signal with some additional processing such as edge enhancement and logarithmic compression. The scan converter 6 receives the display data from detector 20 and converts the data into the desired image for display. In particular, the scan converter 6 converts the acoustic image data from polar coordinate (R-.theta.) sector format or Cartesian coordinate linear array to appropriately scaled Cartesian coordinate display pixel data at the video rate. This scan-converted acoustic data is then output for display on display monitor 8, which images the time-varying amplitude of the envelope of the signal as a grey scale.
In most conventional transducer arrays the elements are arranged in a single row, spaced at a fine pitch (one-half to one acoustic wavelength on center). In the elevation direction (perpendicular to the array axis and imaging plane), single-row transducer elements are large (tens of wavelengths) and beam formation is provided by a fixed-focus acoustic lens. Conventional one-dimensional phased-array probes have excellent lateral and axial resolution, but their elevation performance is determined by a fixed aperture focused at a fixed range. The focal length of the lens is chosen to give maximum contrast resolution near the imaging range of greatest importance for the intended application of the probe. The elevation aperture is a tradeoff between contrast resolution and sensitivity near the lens focus (improved by a large aperture) and depth of field or contrast away from the focus (improved by a smaller aperture) The elevation aperture is typically 1/6 to 1/3 of the lens focus distance (.function./6 to .function./3), which gives good slice thickness (i.e., beamwidth in the plane perpendicular to the imaging plane, also referred to as "elevation beamwidth") and contrast resolution at the focus and a moderate depth of field. However, the near-field and far-field performance (elevation slice thickness and contrast resolution) of such a probe is significantly worse than the performance at the lens focus.
Various types of multi-row transducer arrays, including so-called "1.25D", "1.5D", and "2D" arrays, have been developed to improve upon the limited elevation performance of present single-row ("1D") arrays. As used herein, these terms have the following meanings: 1D) elevation aperture is fixed and focus is at a fixed range; 1.25D) elevation aperture is variable, but focusing remains static; 1.5D) elevation aperture, shading, and focusing are dynamically variable, but symmetric about the centerline of the array; and 2D) elevation geometry and performance are comparable to azimuth, with full electronic apodization, focusing, and steering. The elevation aperture of a 1.25D probe increases with range, but the elevation focusing of that aperture is static and determined principally by a mechanical lens with a fixed focus (or foci). 1.25D probes can provide substantially better near- and far-field slice thickness performance than 1D probes, and require no additional system beamformer channels. 1.5D probes use additional beamformer channels to provide dynamic focusing and apodization in elevation. 1.5D probes can provide detail resolution comparable to, and contrast resolution substantially better than, 1.25D probes, particularly in the mid- and far-field.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a conventional 1D array 10A, with a single row of tall, narrow transducer elements 12. The ultrasound pulses are transmitted through a semi-cylindrical focusing lens 24. Each transducer element is connected to a separate beamforming channel 16 (see FIG. 1) by a respective electrical conductor 26.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show a conventional 1.5D array 10B with Fresnel row pitch and five rows 12a-12e of transducer elements. The ultrasound pulses are again transmitted through a single-focus lens 24. For a 1.5D array with a single-focus lens 24, the Fresnel row pitch minimizes the worst-case phase error (focusing error) across the aperture. If the centerline of the array is defined to be y=0 and the outer edge to be y=y.sub.max, then the row edges are at distances ((1/3).sup.1/2, (2/3).sup.1/2, 1)y.sub.max from the centerline. The signal leads 26 from the central row transducer elements are brought out for connection to a first set of beamformer channels 2a. The array elements in rows other than the central row are electrically connected in pairs, symmetric across the centerline. Signals leads 28 from each pair of intermediate row transducer elements are brought out for connection to a second set of beamformer channels 2b. Similarly, signals leads 30 from each pair of outermost row transducer elements are brought out for connection to a third set of beamformer channels 2c. The beamformer channels 2a-2c provide independent time delays, apodization and filtering for each transducer element or pair of elements in 1.5D array 10B. The outputs of the beamformer channels are combined in summer 40, analogous to summer 18 of the 1D beamformer shown in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show a conventional 1.25D array 10C with five rows 12a-12e of equal-area transducer elements. In this case, the ultrasound pulses are transmitted through a multi-focus lens 32. The row edges are at distances (1/3, 2/3, 1)y.sub.max from the array centerline. For each elevational column, the paired elements from the outer rows have a summed area which is the same as the area of each element of the central row. Thus, the pairs of elements in the outer rows have the same electrical impedance and acoustic sensitivity as that of the central row elements. The multi-focus lens improves the uniformity of the elevation beam profile by focusing the central row in the near field, where only the central row is active, and the outer rows in the far field, which is the only region where they are active.
In the 1.25D array shown in FIG. 4A, a multiplicity of multiplexers 34 are respectively connected to a corresponding multiplicity of signal leads 35 (only one multiplexer and one signal lead are seen in FIG. 4A). Each signal lead 35 is connected to a respective beamformer channel (not shown in FIG. 4A). Each multiplexer 34 has three internal switches which multiplex signal leads 26, 28, and 30 to connect with signal lead 35. Each column of transducer elements is connected to a respective set of such signal leads: the central row element 12a being connected to signal lead 26; the paired elements 12b, 12c of the intermediate rows being connected in parallel to signal lead 28; and the paired elements 12d, 12e of the outermost rows being connected in parallel to signal lead 30. In practice, the pairing of elements (i.e., connection of 12b to 12c and of 12d to 12e) is accomplished within the probe head, whereas the multiplexers may be located within the probe head, at the console end of the probe cable or within the system console itself.
Because changing the state of the multiplexer switches generates noise, use of this probe typically requires three transmit-receive cycles per beam. With the multiplexer switches 34a for the center row of elements 12a closed and switches 34b and 34c open, the transmit delays are set to provide azimuthal focusing in the near field, and the near portion of the beam data is acquired. Next, switches 34a and 34b are closed, the transmit and receive delays are reconfigured, and the mid-field data is acquired using rows 12a, 12b and 12c. Finally, all the multiplexer switches are closed, the transmit and receive delays are reconfigured, and the far-field data is acquired using rows 12a-12e. Data from the three zones are spliced together in the imaging system, with care being taken to compensate for the change in sensitivity at the transition.
All multi-row 1.25D and 1.5D arrays (and annular arrays) known at present either have a large center and small outer rows, to reduce the phase error across the aperture in the far field, or have equal-area elements, so that all beamformer channels see the same electrical and acoustic impedance and all transducer elements have the same transmit and receive efficiency. The elevation height of the central rows of these transducers sets a lower bound on the near-field slice thickness and prevents these probes from achieving optimum contrast resolution in the very near field.
Thus there is a need for a transducer which provides excellent elevation performance (minimum slice thickness) throughout the imaging field. Preferably, such a transducer should be compatible with existing ultrasound imaging systems having 128 or fewer beamformer channels.

Multi-row ultrasonic transducer array with uniform elevator beamwidth


The present invention comprises compositions and methods for delivery systems of agents, including therapeutic compounds, pharmaceutical agents, drugs, detection agents, nucleic acid sequences and biological factors. In general, these vector compositions comprise a colloidal metal, derivatized PEG (polyethylene glycol) and an agent. The invention also comprises methods and compositions for making such colloidal metal compositions and for treatment of cancer.

It has long been a goal of therapeutic treatment to find the magic bullet that would track to the site of need and deliver a therapeutic response without undue side effects. Many approaches have been tried to reach this goal. Therapeutic agents have been designed to take advantage of differences in active agents, such as hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, or size of therapeutic particulates for differential treatment by cells of the body. Therapies exist that deliver therapeutic agents to specific segments of the body or to particular cells by in situ injection, and either use or overcome body defenses such as the blood-brain barrier, that limit the delivery of therapeutic agents.
One method that has been used to specifically target therapeutic agents to specific tissues or cells is delivery based on the combination of a therapeutic agent and a binding partner of a specific receptor. For example, the therapeutic agent may be cytotoxic or radioactive and when combined with a binding partner of a cellular receptor, cause cell death or interfere with genetic control of cellular activities once bound to the target cells. This type of delivery device requires having a receptor that is specific for the cell-type to be treated, an effective binding partner for the receptor, and an effective therapeutic agent. Molecular genetic manipulations have been used to overcome some of these problems.
Specific delivery of genetic sequences into exogenous cells or for over-expression of endogenous sequences are methods of great interest at the current time. Various techniques for inserting genes into cells are used. These techniques include precipitation, viral vectors, direct insertion with micropipettes and gene guns, and exposure of nucleic acid to cells. A widely used precipitation technique uses calcium phosphate to precipitate DNA to form insoluble particles. The goal is for at least some of these particles to become internalized within the host cells by generalized cellular endocytosis. This results in the expression of the new or exogenous genes. This technique has a low efficiency of entry of exogenous genes into cells with the resulting expression of the genes. The internalization of the genes is non-specific with respect to which cells are transfected because all exposed cells are capable of internalizing the exogenous genes since there is no reliance upon any particular recognition site for the endocytosis. This technique is used widely in vitro, but because of the lack of specificity of target cell selection and poor uptake by highly differentiated cells, its use in vivo is not contemplated. In addition, its use in vivo is limited by the insoluble nature of the precipitated nucleic acids.
A similar technique involves the use of DEAE-Dextran for transfecting cells in vitro. DEAE-Dextran is deleterious to cells and also results in non-specific insertion of nucleic acids into cells. This method is not advisable in vivo.
Other techniques for transfecting cells, or providing for the entry of exogenous genes into cells are also limited. Using viruses as vectors has some applicability for in vitro and in vivo introduction of exogenous genes into cells. There is always the risk that the presence of viral proteins will produce unwanted effects in an in vivo use. Additionally, viral vectors may be limited as to the size of exogenous genetic material that can be ferried into the cells. Repeated use of viral vectors raises an immunological response in the recipient and limits the times the vector can be used.
Exogenous gene delivery has also been used with liposome-entrapped nucleic acids. Liposomes are membrane-enclosed sacs that can be filled with a variety of materials, including nucleic acids. Liposome delivery does not provide for uniform delivery to cells because of uneven filling of the liposomes. Though liposomes can be targeted to specific cellular types if binding partners for receptors are included, liposomes suffer from breakage problems, and thus delivery is not specific.
Brute force techniques for inserting exogenous nucleic acids include puncturing cellular membranes with micropipettes or gene guns to insert exogenous DNA into a cell. These techniques work well for some procedures, but are not widely applicable. They are highly labor intensive and require very skilled manipulation of the recipient cell. These are not techniques that are simple procedures that work well in vivo. Electroporation, using electrical methods to change the permeability of the cellular membrane, has been successful for some in vitro therapies for insertion of genes into cells
There have been some attempts at targeted delivery of DNA for specific cells that relied upon the presence of receptors for glycoproteins. The delivery system used polycations, such as polylysine, that were noncovalently bonded to DNA, and that were also covalently bonded to a ligand. Such use of covalently bonding of the polycations to a ligand does not allow for the disassembly of the delivery system once the cellular internalization mechanisms begin. This large complex, covalently bonded delivery system is very unlike the way nucleic acids are naturally found within cells.
Simple, efficient delivery systems for delivery of specific therapeutic agents to specific sites in the body for the treatment of diseases or pathologies or for the detection of such sites are not currently available. For example, current treatments for cancer include administration of chemotherapeutic agents and other biologically active factors such as cytokines and immune factors that impact the entire organism. The side effects include organ damage, loss of senses such as taste and feel, and hair loss. Such therapies provide treatment for the condition, but also require many adjunct therapies to treat the side effects.
What is needed are compositions and methods for delivery systems of agents that effect the desired cells or site. These delivery systems could be used for delivery to specific cells of agents of all types, including detection and therapeutic agents. What is also needed are delivery systems that do not cause unwanted side effects in the entire organism.

Colloidal metal compositions and methods


A thermally regenerative deodorizing filter, which comprises a deodorizing filter comprising a deodorant which is adaptable to a thermal regeneration and a honeycomb base material having a heat conductivity which carries the deodorant, and a heating element for regenerating the deodorizing filter which is integrated in the deodorizing filter, wherein the heating element is controlled to a predetermined temperature during the regeneration.

Hitherto, offensive smells industrially emitted in factories and the like and offensive smells derived from wastes in service industries such as restaurants and hotels have been considered to be problematic. Recently, bad smells in spaces of daily life such as in automobiles and in common rooms have come under closer scrutiny.
Therefore, there are increasing needs for removal of harmful substances such as these smells, and hence air cleaners integrated with a deodorizing apparatus or a deodorizing filter have been actively developed.
On the other hand, in consideration of the global environment, reduction in weight of wastes is desired and it becomes a problem that the deodorizing filter turns into waste after use. Thus, it is required to use the deodorant filter repeatedly by regeneration.
Some of recent home electric appliances such as air conditioners have adopted a mode of regenerating their deodorizing ability by cleaning a filter with water or a detergent after using (for example, see JP-2002-066223 and JP-2001-070418). However, it is necessary for a user to remove and wash the filter regularly, and therefore, a more convenient regeneration method is desired.
In recent air cleaners, filters containing active carbon are employed and a method of removing harmful substances such as offensive smells by adsorbing thereof on the active carbon is adopted.
Among all, a deodorizing filter in which particulate active carbon is packed into cells of a honeycomb and both openings of the honeycomb are sealed with a gas-permeable base material has a large amount of active carbon per a unit volume and exhibits a high gas-permeability taking the amount of active carbon into consideration. Thus, it is especially excellent as a deodorizing filter using active carbon and hence is employed in various air cleaners.
Among recent air cleaning equipments, an equipment mounted with a deodorizing filter which is packed with active carbon capable of regeneration by washing with water has been commercially available, but the washing operation is difficult. Further, in general, the washing with water can regenerate the filter when hot water is used, but complete regeneration effect cannot be obtained when low-temperature water like tap water is used. In addition, since the particulate active carbon is not easily dried after washing, more convenient and effective regeneration method is desired.
Recently, there has been a raw garbage disposer in which a plate-form heater is provided in close contact with a honeycomb surface of a catalyst to impart a mechanism of thermal regeneration at 200° C. to 300° C. when the catalyst reaches saturation for adsorption of odors and oxidative decomposition and its deodorizing ability decreases.
However, in general air conditioning equipments, continuous use is problematic since it is a rare case where a heat source capable of achieving such a high temperature of 200° C. or higher is available and, in the case of using a catalyst, regeneration efficiency by thermal treatment is remarkably lowered when the catalyst surface is covered with dirt, dust, and the like and hence the catalyst becomes physically impossible to work (cf. JP-A-7-136628).
As the other equipment, there is reported a deodorizing equipment in which regeneration of deodorization performance is intended by heating an absorbent through electrification of the adsorbent as a heating means of odor components. However, the deodorant should be an electroconductive substance or a material having no conductivity should be subjected to a treatment for suitable impartment of conductivity. In addition, even when the adsorbent is electrified, it is virtually difficult to achieve uniform electrification of all over the adsorbent of the whole filter to reach a constant elevated temperature, so that the equipment is not suitable for practical use (cf. JP-B-7-16579).
Furthermore, as a deodorizing filter for an air cleaner, there is known a filter in which a deodorizing filter made of a non-woven fabric formed with a carbon fiber and capable of effecting deodorization by the reaction of the carbon fiber with odor components in the air and of releasing the adsorbed odor components by heating at about 110° C. is shaped into a flat pouch and a plate-form heater having air permeability is enveloped in the pouch-like deodorizing filter to integrated them, but the filter has a problem in view of regeneration efficiency (cf. JP-A-10-332).
An object (purpose) of the invention relates to a deodorizing filter having a large capacity of deodorization performance and is to provide a thermally regenerative deodorizing filter which can be repeatedly used by conducting a thermal regeneration treatment.


An A/D converter converts a to-be-measured analog signal to digital data while being sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency. A data sorting circuit sorts the digital data which is outputted from the A/D converter alternately into two signal paths and outputs them in parallel form at a xc2xd sampling frequency rate.

This application is based upon claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-330650 filed Nov. 19, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a signal analyzing apparatus and, in particular, a signal analyzing apparatus adopting the technique for analyzing various kinds analog signals having different band center frequencies and band widths.
In a mobile communications system, for example, a local signal is quadrature modulated with digital data and an obtained digital modulation signal is transmitted and received.
In order to evaluate the apparatus of such a mobile communications system, various analyses are sometimes made on the digital modulation signals of an intermediate frequency band.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a prior art signal analyzing apparatus used in the analysis of a digital modulation signal, etc., of the intermediate frequency band.
In the signal analyzing apparatus 10, first, an input analog signal as an object to be analyzed is converted by an A/D converter 11 to digital data D while being sampled with a sampling signal CKs of a predetermined frequency Fs.
Then the base band components I, Q of the digital data are found by a baseband detection section 12.
Calculation processing is performed by a calculation processing section 13 on the baseband components I, Q to find the characteristic values of the input signal 12.
In the baseband detection section 12, a frequency shift circuit 12a multiplies the digital data D by a local signal of a frequency equal to the band center frequency Fc of the analog signal S to calculate two quadrature signals.
In the baseband detection section 12, digital filters 12b, 12c perform bandpass limitation processing on these quadrature signals and, by doing so, the baseband components I, Q are detected.
In the signal analyzing apparatus thus structured, in order to analyze various signals of different band widths and band centers, it is necessary to use an A/D converter 11 having its operation speed (sampling frequency) correspond to a maximal band width and a baseband detection section 12 having its operation speed correspond thereto.
In recent years, there appears, as a W-CDMA system, a communications system using a digital modulation signal having a band as broad as over 20 MHz.
In order to analyze the signal of such a broadband, it is necessary to use the operation speed of over 40 MHz.
At a present time, as the A/D converter, there has been realized an A/D converter having an operation speed of over 40 MHz.
However, it has been very difficult to realize a baseband detection section for allowing multiplying processing and filtering processing to be performed on digital data outputted from a high-speed A/D converter and for allowing its local frequency and filter factor to freely vary in a broader range.
For this reason it has not been possible to effectively utilize the high-speed characteristic of the A/D converter and to make accurate analysis on digital modulation signals of the W-CDMA system, etc.
It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide a signal analyzing apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problem and can analyze various kinds of analog signals of different band widths and band centers including a broadband signal such as a digital modulation signal of a W-CDMA system and can do so without sacrificing a high-speed characteristic of the A/D converter.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal analyzing apparatus comprising an analog/digital (A/D) converter (21) for converting a to-be-measured analog signal to digital data while being sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency; a data sorting circuit (22) for sorting the digital data which is outputted from the A/D converter alternately into two signal paths and outputting two digital data each having a xc2xd rate of the sampling frequency in parallel form; a first frequency shift circuit (30) for multiplying the two digital data which are outputted in parallel form from the data sorting circuit by a first local signal whose local frequency is set to xc2xc of the sampling frequency to shift a band center frequency of the digital data signal by xc2xc of the sampling frequency toward a lowband side and generating corresponding two quadrature signals; two xc2xd decimating circuits (31, 32) for receiving the two quadrature signals outputted from the first frequency shift circuit, performing band limitation processing with xc2xc of the sampling frequency as an upper limit and generating two quadrature signals whose rates are reduced to xc2xd relative to input signals; a second frequency shift circuit (33) for multiplying the two quadrature signals which are outputted from the two xc2xd decimating circuit by a second local signal of a pre-set local frequency to shift the band center frequency to a lowband side and outputting corresponding two quadrature signals with the band center frequency set to zero; a controller (40) for setting the second local frequency so as to obtain baseband components of the to-be-measured analog signal as outputs from the second frequency shift circuit; and calculating means (37) for calculating characteristic values of the to-be-measured analog signal by performing calculation processing on the baseband components on the basis from the outputs from the second frequency shift circuit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal analyzing apparatus, comprising an A/D converter (21) for converting a to-be-measured analog signal to digital data while being sampled with a predetermined sampling frequency; a data sorting apparatus (22) for sorting the digital data which is outputted from the A/D converter alternately into two signal paths and outputting two digital data each having a xc2xd rate of the sampling frequency; a first frequency shift circuit (30) for multiplying the two digital data which are outputted in parallel form from the data sorting circuit by a first local signal of a local frequency set to zero to shift the band center frequencies of the two digital data to zero and generating corresponding two quadrature signals; two xc2xd decimating circuits (31, 32) for receiving the two quadrature signals outputted from the first frequency shift circuit, performing band limitation processing with xc2xc of the sampling frequency as an upper limit and generating two quadrature signals whose rates are reduced to xc2xd relative to input signals; a second frequency shift circuit (33) for multiplying the two quadrature signals which are outputted from the two xc2xd decimating circuits by a second local signal of a pre-set local frequency to shift the band center frequency toward a lowband side and generating corresponding two quadrature signals whose band center frequencies are set to zero; a controller (40) for setting the local frequencies of the first local signal and second local signal so as to obtain baseband components as outputs from the second frequency shift circuit; and calculating means (37) for calculating characteristic values of the to-be-measured analog signal by performing calculation processing on the baseband components on the basis of the outputs from the second frequency shift circuit.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.


Pourer consisting of an elongated, tubular part of plastic material. This part of plastic material is made resilient and has an external diameter greater than that of the associated bottles. The tubular part is provided with a split, as a result of which the diameter can be reduced to some extent and the pourer can be accommodated with a clamping action in a bottle. This clamping can be even further promoted by providing ribs. The pourer is provided with a search point to facilitate introduction into a bottle and the pouring end is flared.

The present invention relates to a pourer, comprising a sleeve-shaped elongated body constructed at one end for introduction into the pouring facility of a container with a tight fit and constructed at the other end as a collector for liquid droplets, wherein a pouring section is arranged in said other end, the free end of said pouring section in the pouring position protruding further than the free end of the collector, wherein a collection channel is delimited between said collector and said pouring section, said collection channel having a transverse section extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongated body and merging into a longitudinal section on either side.
A pourer of this type is disclosed in FR 622 696 and FR 559 597. In both cases the pourer is designed to be fitted on the neck of a bottle. Although the present invention also relates to a pourer to be fitted on the neck of a bottle, it must be understood that this pourer can also be used with any other container that is provided with a pouring facility, such a tea- or coffee-pot.
In the construction according to the abovementioned publications, a channel extending essentially in the shape of a ring is arranged around the pouring section. This ring is arranged somewhat inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pourer and at the lowest point there is a join to the sleeve-shaped section. When the bottle is placed upright any droplets move along the ring/circular channel towards the lowest point thereof and there flow into the sleeve-shaped section and thus move back into the bottle. It has been found that it cannot be guaranteed under all circumstances that such a return flow takes place in the optimum manner. In particular, spillage has been observed when the bottle is abruptly brought upright.


A mobile radiocommunications terminal contains or is operatively connected to a position estimator, such as a GPS receiver. The mobile terminal stores at least one reference position. The mobile terminal updates its position at a frequency that is a function of its distance from the reference position, or as a function of the rate of change of its distance from the reference position.

The present invention generally relates to position estimating devices and, more particularly, to a method of controlling the update frequency of a position estimating device in a mobile terminal.
The wireless communication industry has made phenomenal strides in commercial operations in the United States and the rest of the world. Growth in major metropolitan areas has far exceeded expectations. If this trend continues, it is possible that wireless communications will provide the bulk of telecommunication services in some areas. As a result of this growth, wireless communication services have become more affordable. In light of the recent trend of competitive air-time rates, customers may choose to make wireless communication devices their primary means of personal communication. The popularity of wireless communication devices is further enhanced by their ability to be used for non-voice communication, such as facsimile and data transmission.
In the near future, wireless communication devices will incorporate position estimating devices to enhance the function and utility of the wireless communication device. Perhaps the best known use of position estimating technology is for navigation. Another common use for position estimating devices is to identify facilities, such as hotels or restaurants, that are nearby the current position of the wireless communication device. Position information can also be used to enhance intrinsic functions of wireless communication devices. For example, position information can be used to improve cell reselection or hand-off decisions in mobile terminals. Examples of how position information may be used to enhance intrinsic functions of the mobile terminal are illustrated in the following U.S. patent applications: Ser. No. 09/498,785 entitled "Position Assisted Handoff in a Wireless Communication Network"; Ser. No. 09/505,431 entitled "Position Assisted Service Selection"; and Ser. No. 09/498,772 entitled "System and Method For Improving Channel Monitoring In a Cellular System."
Position estimating devices have a broad variety of uses and can significantly enhance the utility and, therefore, the desirability of wireless communication devices

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method to control the update frequency of a positioning device by a mobile terminal


A controller, which may be a controller for solid-state lighting, includes a transformer, and a control circuit having a bias voltage input. The control circuit activates when voltage applied to the bias voltage input reaches a threshold. The transformer has a feedback output to the bias voltage input. The controller also has a bias voltage circuit including a resonant circuit providing a resonant current, and a bias capacitor charged by the resonant current, applying start-up bias voltage to the bias voltage input. The controller further has a cutoff to shut down the resonant current when the transformer feedback output is above the threshold. A method of operating the a controller includes providing a resonant current to charge a start-up bias capacitor. The method also includes automatically cutting off the resonant current when the transformer feedback output is above the threshold. This may be determined by monitoring the bias voltage input.

This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing initial start-up voltage for a controller for solid-state lighting.
Solid-state lighting controllers typically involve an AC-DC switching converter such as a flyback or buck-boost AC-DC power converter. Many switching power supplies transfer energy from an auxiliary tap on the main switching transformer or coil. However, entry into the switching mode requires an initial relatively high start-up voltage (e.g., mains voltage). The high-voltage input typically continues to draw power even after start-up is complete. Moreover, components of the controller have to be engineered for high-voltage operation, which is more expensive than providing low-voltage components.

Start-up voltage for solid-state lighting controller


A connection assembly for mounting a ground engaging tool to earthmoving equipment includes a body into which is received a resilient member, a force applying member, a locking member with an O-ring seal to be received in an annular channel around the locking member, a locking member stop received in a hole in the locking member, and a body stop to be fitted into an aperture under the body. The locking member stop prevents the force applying member from rotating within the body when the bolt is rotated and advances the piston by threaded engagement.

Ground engaging tools (GET), for earth-moving equipment, such as those used in mining operations, operate in a highly abrasive environment, are subjected to high impact forces and therefore wear out or become damaged through use. GET, such as teeth used on the front lip or edges of a bucket of the earth moving equipment, therefore require regular replacement.
Traditionally, GET are welded onto the lips of buckets. When the GET come to the end of their useful life, they can be cut from the bucket, and new GET welded in their place.
It will be appreciated that such cutting and re-welding operations are complex, time-consuming and relatively expensive. Further, they must generally be done in a workshop to ensure the cutting off and welding is done correctly, requiring the bucket to be transported away from the earth-moving equipment.
Various mechanical attachment methods have been proposed in an attempt to alleviate these problems. Many of the methods involve the use of bolts and similar fastening devices, inserted within the lip of the bucket. In general, such devices have proved to be of limited use. The insertion of a bolt or similar within a bucket lip can lead to undesirable stress concentrations within the lip, resulting in cracking of the bucket lip. Even where this is avoided, the large forces to which GET are exposed have a tendency to deform connecting bolts, thus making difficult their subsequent extraction using mechanical tools. Indeed, in some cases the deformation can be so severe that the GET must be cut away, completely negating any advantage of mechanical connection.
In response to these issues, the applicant has devised a number of mechanical connection means which overcome these problems. Examples of the applicant's devices are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,454 and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,472,503 and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/133,213 (also published as International PCT publication number WO 2010/065990), the contents of all of which are included herein by reference.
These connection means involve the use of a shroud which mounts about a lug or boss on the lip of an excavator bucket; a locking device which locates between the shroud and the boss; and the application of an external compressing force to maintain the relative position of the shroud, locking device and boss.
Although these connection means have proved far less susceptible to deformation than previous mechanical connectors, there have nonetheless been occasions where the connection means have had one or more problems. Sometimes failure of the GET or connection means can occur when the GET is in use due to a load being applied which is higher than the means can bear. The number of individual components forming the connection means can make fitting/refitting a GET time consuming. Other times, when it is necessary to remove the GET, the connection means is troublesome to undo to release the GET from the bucket, or, even if the connection means is released, the GET does not readily remove from the bucket lip, usually because of dirt and/or deformation of the connection means and/or GET preventing removal.
The present invention seeks to provide a means by which removal and preferably application of the GET to earthmoving equipment can be substantially improved.

Ground engaging tool mechanical attachment


An assistive apparatus and method for remote control of an appliance by a subject are provided. The apparatus can comprise a tracer unit affixed to the tongue of the subject such that a change in position of the tongue changes position of the tracer; at least one sensor for detecting a position of the tracer unit; and a transmitter for transmitting a sensor signal to an appliance based on the detected position of the tracer unit, wherein the sensor signal effects control of the appliance. A method for tracking movement, position, or both of a tongue in a subject using the assistive apparatus is also provided.

Assistive technologies are important for people with severe disabilities to lead a self-supportive, independent life. Persons severely disabled as a result of causes ranging from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries to stroke generally find it extremely difficult to carry out everyday tasks without continuous assistance. Assistive technologies that help them communicate their intentions and effectively control their environment, especially to operate a computer, can greatly improve the quality of life for this group of people and may even help them to be employed.
Several assistive technology devices are presently available that are controlled by switches. For example, the switch integrated hand splint, blow-n-suck (sip-n-puff) device, chin control system, and electromyography (EMG) switch are all switch-based systems and can provide the user with some limited degrees of freedom. A group of head-mounted assistive devices has been developed that emulate a computer mouse with head movements. Cursor movements in these devices are controlled by tracking an infrared beam emitted or reflected from a transmitter or reflector attached to the user's glasses, cap, or headband (Chen et al. 1999; Takami et al., 1996). Tilt sensors and video-based computer interfaces that can track a facial feature have also been implemented (Chen, 2001; Betke et al., 2002). A limitation of these devices is that only those people whose head movement is not inhibited can avail of the technology. Another limitation is that the subject's head should always be in positions within the range of the device sensors. For example the controller may not be accessible when the subject is lying in bed or not sitting in front of a computer.
Another category of computer access systems used in assistive technologies operate by tracking eye movements from corneal reflections (Hutchinson et al., 1989) and pupil position. Electro-oculographic (EOG) potential measurements (Xie et al., 1995; Gips et al., 1993) have also been used for detecting eye movements. A limitation of these devices is that they affect the subject's eyesight by requiring extra eye movements that can interfere with the subject's normal visual activities such as reading, writing, and watching.
Some available assistive devices can provide proportional control. Most of these devices, however, require some degree of physical ability such as foot movement, hand or finger movements, or head movement. The needs of persons with severe motor disabilities such as those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or middle to advanced locked-in syndrome, who cannot benefit from mechanical movements of any extremities can potentially be addressed by utilizing electric signals originated from brain waves or muscle twitches. Such brain computer interfaces (BMI), either invasive, or noninvasive have been the subjects of extensive research activities (Lal et al., 2005). For example, BRAINFINGERS™ (Brain Actuated Technologies, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.) is a non-invasive solution consisting of a headband with three electrodes that sense and respond to surface electrical signals generated from forehead muscles, eye movements, and brainwave activities. THINK-A-MOVE™ (Think-A-Move, Ltd., Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.A.) is another interface platform, which utilizes the capabilities of the ear as an output device. BRAINGATE™ (Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc., Foxborough, Mass., U.S.A.), on the other hand, is an example of an invasive technology using intracortical electrodes to record brain signals from the motor cortex area. All of these technologies rely on signal processing and complex computational algorithms, which can results in delays or significant costs. These technologies can also be susceptible to external noise and interferences. In addition, the subjects may not want to go through a brain surgery for the sake of regaining partial control over their environment.
Very few assistive technologies presently available have made a successful transition outside research laboratories and are widely utilized by severely disabled individuals. Financial, technical, and psychophysical factors affect the acceptance rate of an assistive technology. Among factors beneficial for adopting an assistive technology are the ease of usage and convenience in control. Operating the assistive device should desirably be easy to learn and require minimum effort on the subject's part. The device is desirably small, unobtrusive, low cost, and non- or minimally invasive. Finally, a factor that is often overlooked, but important to a disabled subject, is that the device is desirably cosmetically acceptable. Therefore, there is presently an unmet need for assistive technologies for the disabled that provide some or even all of such features.

Tongue operated magnetic sensor based wireless assistive technology


According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a determination unit, a first setting unit, a second setting unit and a wireless unit. The determination unit determines whether a signal degradation degree is higher than a threshold value. The first setting unit sets first parameters relating to a first data rate and a first communication robustness. The second setting unit sets second parameters relating to a second data rate and a second communication robustness if an instruction signal is received and if the signal degradation degree is higher than the threshold value. The wireless unit communicates with a communication partner using one of the first parameters and the second parameters.

Some conventional close-proximity wireless communication schemes assume that multipaths are not generated at the time of communications. A communication apparatus includes a contact detection unit which detects contact with a communication partner. If the contact detection unit detects contact, the communication is regarded as close-proximity wireless communication. The communication apparatus performs high-speed transmission using a wireless communication scheme susceptible to a multipath but having a high data rate. Conversely, if the contact detection unit detects noncontact, the communication is regarded as non-close-proximity wireless communication. The communication apparatus performs low-speed transmission using a wireless communication scheme resistant to the multipath but having a low data rate (See, e.g., JP-A. No. 2007-235605 (KOKAI)).

Wireless communication apparatus and method


A recording apparatus such as an optical disk and a file management method are disclosed by which wastefulness caused by free slots in an index file can be reduced. To each slot of a property entry of the index file, valid/invalid information representative of whether the slot is valid or invalid is set. Further, to the header of the property entry, a last valid slot number indicative of a last one of those slots which are set to valid with the valid/invalid information is set.

This invention relates to a recording apparatus, a file management method, a program for a file management method and a recording medium having a program for a file management method recorded thereon and can be applied typically to an optical disk apparatus.
In recent years, disk apparatus and the like have been proposed which use a randomly accessible recording medium having a large capacity such as an optical disk.
A method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-84705 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) which uses such a disk apparatus as described above to improve the operability in operation of a large number of files. According to the method of the Patent Document 1, an index file for indexing a large number of files recorded on a recording medium is produced from the large number of files and recorded on the recording medium. The large number of files on the recording medium can be operated using the index file.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-278996 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2) discloses a method which further improves the operability in operation of a large number of files recorded on a recording medium. According to the method of the Patent Document 2, an index file produced in such a manner as described above manages the files hierarchically.
In the methods described above, an index file is composed of a part of actual data which collectively includes extract information formed by extracting information relating to a management object file and so forth and another part of management data which collectively includes position information and so forth necessary for accessing to the actual data.
Referring to FIGS. 9A to 9D, the actual data part is composed of a sound entry E1, a text entry E2, a thumbnail picture entry E3 and a property entry E4 which are data sets which collectively include extract information classified for individual types into groups. The sound entry E1 has allocated thereto a disk title and extract information of audio data for a short period of time representative and contents of management object files. The sound entry E1 includes a sound entry header SH set at the top thereof and representing that the entry is the sound entry E1 and a sequence of sound entry slots SES0, SES1, SES2, . . . each including extract information collected as a block.
The text entry E2 has allocated thereto the disk title and extract information of a character sequence of management object files. The text entry E1 includes a text entry header TXH set at the top thereof and representing that the entry is the text entry E1 and a sequence of text entry slots TEXS0, TXES1, TXES2, each including extract information collected as a block.
The thumbnail picture sensor E3 has allocated thereto the disk title and extract information of still pictures representative of contents of the management object files. The thumbnail picture sensor E3 includes a thumbnail picture entry header THH set at the top thereof and representing that the entry is the thumbnail picture entry E3 and a sequence of thumbnail picture entry slots THES0, THES1, THES2, each including extract information collected as a block.
In contrast, the property entry E4 has allocated thereto the disk title and data representative of properties of the management object files and has allocated thereto extract information of binary data which are set to the management object files. The property entry E4 includes a property entry header PH set at the top thereof and representing that the entry is the property entry E4 and a sequence of property entry slots PES0, PES1, PES2, . . . each including extract information collected as a block.
Consequently, for example, when a desired file is to be selected with reference to thumbnail pictures, when a file is to be selected based on titles, or in some other case, the index file can provide extract information set to a corresponding one of the entries E1 to E4 to the user in accordance with a selection criterion of the user so that the user can select a desired file simply, easily and with certainty.
Incidentally, where extract information is classified for different kinds of property information into groups to form the entries E1 to E4 in this manner, depending upon the type of the management object file, also such a situation possibly occurs that, although a corresponding slot is present in the property entry E4 without fail, no corresponding slot is present in some other entry or entries. Thus, it is expected that, if each of the slots of the property entry E4 has recorded therein management information for managing the slots of the property entry E4 and the corresponding slots of the other entries and the slots recorded in the other entries E1 to E3 are referred to in accordance with the management information as indicated by arrow marks in FIGS. 9A to 9D, then the management of the extract information can be simplified.
Further, if one of the different kinds of management information to be set to each of the slots of the property entry E4 is flags which individually represent whether the slot itself and corresponding slots of the other entries are valid or invalid and the flags are set so as to indicate that they are free or empty slots, then if only the flags are suitably operated upon deletion of a management object file, then the corresponding extract information can be deleted from the index file. Consequently, it is expected that management relating to the index file can be simplified.
Further, in the index file described above, since the length of the extract information sometime varies, it is expected that, if the slots of the index file are formed with a fixed length and extract information relating to one file is allocated to one or a plurality of slots while free or empty slots are allocated to the entries taking such variation of the extract information into consideration, then possible wastefulness when the entries are recorded on a recording medium can be eliminated and a drop of the processing speed can be prevented effectively. In particular, if the measures described above are taken, then even if the number of management object files varies, logical positions and physical positions of the entries on the recording medium can be allocated to individually continuous regions, and consequently, the index file can be read out at a high speed.
However, where the measures described above are taken, a great number of free or empty slots may appear in the index file, and in a process of reading out the index file from the recording medium, useless slots may be read out in vain. Further, for example, where all of the slots of the property entry are read out and stored into a memory and a management object file is processed with reference to the index file stored in the memory, the information of the free slots is recorded wastefully in the memory, and the capacity of the memory is consumed uselessly.
One of possible solutions to the problem just described is to record the number of valid slots in the property entry header. In this instance, however, while data of the property entry is read out from the recording medium, it is necessary to discriminate the flag set in each of the slots thus read out to count the number of valid slots. Therefore, a longer period of time is required for the reading out of the property entry as much.
It is to be noted that, where the data of the property entry is read out from the recording medium in this manner, since the reading out process is performed upon starting of the pertaining apparatus, an increased period of time as much is required for the starting of the apparatus. The waiting time upon such starting appears conspicuously where the apparatus is a recording apparatus which requires a comparatively long period of accessing time like an optical disk apparatus.

Recording apparatus, file management method, program for file management method, and recording medium having program for file management method recorded thereon


A thin peripheral devices for mating with electrical connectors where the thickness of the device is less than the dimensions needed for mechanical engagement with the connector, has a body including electronic circuitry and a selectively deployable plug arrangement. The plug arrangement includes a first plug portion including a plurality of electric contacts and a second plug portion. At least part of the plug arrangement is selectively displaceable relative to a remainder of the body between a non-deployed configuration wherein the entire plug arrangement lies within a thickness dimension of the body and a deployed configuration wherein the first and second plug portions together define an effective plug having thickness greater than the thickness dimension of the body for mating with the electrical connector.

The present invention relates to thin peripheral devices for connection to conventional connectors where the connector requires dimensions greater than those of the device itself.
USB connectors are defined under standards available from the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. Different connector types have been specified over the years: A, B, mini A, mini B, mini AB. Each type was devised for a specific market; A for the PC platform, B for peripheral devices and the mini type for hand held devices. As a result, USB peripherals for the PC market have always been configured to mate with the "USB A" receptacle form.
FIG. 8 shows a drawing of standard USB A-type plug taken from the aforementioned standard and illustrating the external dimensions of the plug in millimeters. The insertable portion of the plug is about 12 millimeters long, about 11 millimeters wide and about 4 millimeters high, defined by a rectangular metal casing of shielding. An inner insulating block carrying four contact strips is about 2 millimeters thick.
In order to mate with the standard USB A receptacle, existing peripheral devices typically use one of two options. A first option is to use a cable to connect between the device and the PC receptacle. The use of cables/adaptors, while seeming to solve many form factor problems, has gained a very low customer acceptance, since the need to carry an additional item (cable or plastic adaptor) in addition to the peripheral device itself is an unwelcome additional burden on the customer.
The alternative to a cable is an "embedded connector" where the connector is formed as part of the device itself. While this option is relatively straight forward for many peripheral devices, it is particularly problematic for thin peripheral devices, specifically where one of the dimensions of the device is designed to be smaller than all the dimensions of a conventional USB A plug, i.e., less than about 4 millimeters.
Thus, conventional approaches to designing thin USB-compatible peripheral devices have taken one of two approaches:                1. According to one approach, a device as thin as 3.9-4.5 mm is formed with a connector or captive cable of conventional USB A plug dimensions, meaning the device is as narrow as the height of a standard USB connector A-type plug. An example of such a device is commercially available under the name "USBCard Pro™" from Freecom Technologies, Inc. (Berkeley, Calif.).        2. A second approach provides a device as thin as low as 2 mm with an embedded connector, while removing the metal casing around the plug. In this case, the inner connector structure remains the same as a conventional USB A-type plug without the metal casing. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,718. An example of such a device is commercially available under the name "Intelligent Stick" or "I-Stick" from PQI Corp. (Fremont, Calif.). If the thickness of the embedded connector is reduced below 2 mm, it would no longer wedge reliably into the recess of the socket and the electrical connections would become unreliable.
As a variant of this second approach, US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0259423 A1 discloses selective application of resin to thicken specific regions, for example lateral ridges, of a thin dongle to the required 2 mm in order to provide reliable mechanical engagement with a standard USB socket.
Current card technology is capable of producing a wide range of devices of thickness less than 2 mm. Such devices are desirable for a range of applications including, but not limited to:                memory cards for hand held devices, similar to the Secure Digital (SD) card, that are required to be as thin as possible;        data storage devices that can be carried in a wallet;        data storage devices or authentication and payment devices that need to comply with ISO standards, for example functioning as credit cards or the like.
The possibility of connecting such devices to a PC without the mediation of any external plug or connector would simplify many existing applications and facilitate many new applications or enhancements. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a memory storage device or other PCB-containing device with a thickness dimension less than 2 mm but which would maintain the capability of mating with a connector requiring dimensions of at least 2 mm, such as a standard USB A-type socket, thereby facilitating use of the device with a wide range of standard PC platforms.

Thin peripheral for mating with thicker connector