It is a task of the present invention to provide a stapler of a small size, the structure of which is simple, into which a large number of staples can be charged. It is also a task to provide a cartridge, the structure of which is simple, containing the staples and attached to the stapler.

In a manually operated stapler, which is a kind of stationery generally called "Hotchkiss" and used in common-houses, offices and manually operating sections in factories, C-shaped staples are mostly used as described in JP-Y2-55-028457.
C-shaped staples are formed in such a manner that dozens of staples detachably bonded to each other constitute a row of staple. The staples are charged into a magazine portion of a stapler, keeping the row. When a handle is manually pressed down so as to make a driver, which is linked with the handle, go down, the staples are stricken one by one into sheets of paper to be stapled. In this way, the sheets of paper are stapled. When the above series of stapling work is conducted, the staples are fed out to the striking portion and to clincher portion by a stapler feed mechanism.
However, in the case where the staples are formed into a C-shape, only 100 to 200 staples can be charged into the stapler at the same time, that is, a large number of staples can not be charged into the stapler by one operation.
Therefore, for example, when the conventional stapler, in which C-shaped staples are used, is used in an office or a manually operating section of a factory where a large number of staples are consumed, it is necessary to frequently carry out a staple charging operation in the case where staples accommodated in the magazine of the stapler are used up, that is, the stapling operation is very inefficient. In order to avoid charging staples highly frequently, it is necessary to accommodate a very large number of C-shaped staples in the stapler. Accordingly, dimensions of the stapler body are necessarily increased.
As described in JP-B2-2663801 and JP-A-08-229846, in the case that an electric stapler is built in a copier or printer, linear staples are used. In this case, the linear staples are arranged in a row of a predetermined length being formed into a sheet-shape, and a large number of the thus obtained sheets of staples are stacked each other and charged into the stapler.
Concerning the method of charging the staples into the electric stapler, a large number of sheet-shaped staple connecting bodies are stacked and accommodated in a refill cartridge, and the refill cartridge is further accommodated in a cartridge. In this case, the refill cartridge is defined as an inner cartridge attached inside the cartridge, and the inner cartridge accommodates a large number of stacked sheet-shaped staple connecting bodies.
As described in JP-A-08-099273, the refill cartridge is a box-shaped structure made of a sheet of paper or a thin resin sheet, the front and the upper portion of which are completely open. When the refill cartridge is used, it is inserted so that a face with an opening of the refill cartridge directs to the staple striking side. After the insertion of the refill cartridge, a bundling tape is removed.
When the cartridge, in which the refill cartridge containing staples is provided, is inserted into the magazine portion of the electric stapler, the staple charging work of the electric stapler is completed. At the same time, the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is pressed to a floor face of the refill cartridge by a member disposed on an upper face of the inside of the cartridge, for pressing the sheet-shaped staple connecting body. Therefore, the sheet-shaped staple connecting body can be fed being slid on the floor face of the refill cartridge. In this way, the electric stapler can be put into a usable state.
In the case of actually striking the staples, the driver operated synchronously with the rotation of a motor is made to go down, and the staples are stricken one by one into sheets of paper to be stapled. In this way, the sheets of paper can be stapled. When the above series of stapling work is conducted, the staples are successively fed to the striking portion and to the clincher portion by the feeding mechanism such as a roller and pushing member which are interlocked with the motion of the driver.
In order to solve the problems of the stapler having a very large number of C-shaped staples, that is, in order to solve the problems that the dimensions of the stapler are increased, it is possible to consider the structure described in Japanese Patent Application Number. 2001-12520, in which not C-shaped staples but linear staples are used and a large number of linear staples are detachably bonded to each other and charged into the stapler and bent into a C-shape by a mechanism provided on the stapler side in the process of stapling.
Constitution of this invention is described as follows. A sheet-shaped staple connecting body is included in the cartridge made of paper or rigid synthetic paper. The cartridge is attached to the magazine portion of the stapler. When a C-shaped arm member and a pressure member supported by the C-shaped arm member are inserted into the cartridge, the upper portion of which is open, the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is pressed to a bottom portion of the cartridge, so that the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is fed to the stapling mechanism by the feeding mechanism.
However, in the manual stapler in which the cartridge made of synthetic paper and the sheet-shaped staple connecting body are used, it is necessary to be able to easily open the magazine portion, and at the same time, it is necessary to be able to simply charge staples into the stapler in a similar manner to that of the conventional manual stapler. Unless the manual stapler, in which the cartridge made of synthetic paper and the sheet-shaped staple connecting body are used, is composed as described above, the stapler will be more inconvenient than the conventional stapler when it is used, that is, there is a possibility that the stapler can not be widely used.
Furthermore, the cartridge used for the conventional electric stapler has a polarity with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge. Therefore, when the cartridge is erroneously set to the conventional electric stapler, it is impossible to use the stapler appropriately. Therefore, in the case where the cartridge of the manual stapler has a polarity in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge, for example, it is difficult for a person who is bad with machines to simply use the stapler.
Further, when the cartridge is composed of not a single part but a plurality of parts, from the viewpoints of manufacturers, since the number of parts is increased in the manufacturing process, the assembling work becomes complicated and the number of manufacturing processes is increased. From the viewpoints of consumers, there is a possibility that the parts are detached and lost. Therefore, when the cartridge is composed of not a single part but a plurality of parts, it is inefficient that the stapler is handily operated in the same manner as that of the conventional manual stapler, which causes an increase in the manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, only when the cartridge is formed into a box-shape, the feed mechanism for feeding the sheet-shaped staple connecting body does not operate properly. In the case where the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is directly put into the box-shaped cartridge, friction caused between the bottom face and the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is increased, and the cartridge is abraded. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the cartridge is damaged in the stapler before the sheet-shaped staple connecting body is used up. In addition, only when the cartridge is formed into a box-shape and has an opening portion for feeding a sheet-shaped staple connecting body, there is a high risk that the sheet-shaped staple connecting body drops from the cartridge while the cartridge is being conveyed.
Further, in the case of the cartridge concerned, when the member, which is provided on the inner roof of the cartridge of the conventional electric stapler so as to press the sheet-shaped staple connecting body to the cartridge floor, is adopted, the structure becomes complicated and further the number of parts is increased. Furthermore, it becomes necessary to enhance the mechanical strength of each member, which causes an increase in the manufacturing cost. Therefore, the member to press the sheet-shaped staple connecting body to the cartridge floor can not be provided.
Therefore, although it is necessary to provide on the stapler side the above member for pressing the sheet-shaped staple connecting body to the cartridge floor, the cartridge must be provided with a structure to receive the above pressing member.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to prevent an increase in the dimensions of a stapler body compared with the stapler, in which C-shaped staples are used, by adopting the cartridge of the present invention when a large number of sheet-shaped staple connecting bodies are charged into the stapler.
It is another object of the present invention to simply attach a cartridge containing a sheet-shaped staple connecting body to the stapler and reduce a possibility that the staples are erroneously charged.
It is still another object of the present invention to prevent a sheet-shaped staple connecting body from dropping off from a cartridge in the process of conveying the cartridge when the device is composed so that the damage of the cartridge can not be caused in the magazine.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cartridge having both the function of an outer cartridge to be attached to a stapler and the function of a refill cartridge in which staples are only contained.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stapler, a cartridge and a system in which the stapler and cartridge are combined with each other, characterized in that: the generation of refuse is prevented by using a thin plate for composing a cartridge; and even when the cartridge is composed of the thin plate, the structure can be made simple while the above structural conditions are being satisfied.
In the above system, even when two or more sheets of sheet-shaped staple connecting bodies are sent to the stapling system, only one sheet of sheet-shaped staple connecting body is made to pass in the actual stapling mechanism, so that the stapler can be prevented from jamming and damaging.

Stapler, cartridge for stapler, and system having the stapler and cartridge in combination

Abstract: The present invention provides a stapler in which a sheet-shaped staple connecting body is used and a staple is formed into a C-shape and stricken out by operating a handle, and the stapler includes: a handle; a pressing member; and a magazine portion having a protrusion by which the sheet-shaped staple connecting body can be horizontally lifted up on a bottom face of a magazine,                the present invention also provides a box-shaped cartridge composed of one piece of sheet, the thickness of which is smaller than the height of the protrusion, containing the sheet-shaped staple connecting body, and the box-shaped cartridge includes: a cutout engaging with a protrusion provided in the magazine portion; cutout portions, which are respectively formed in the front and the rear, in which at least one row of the sheet-shaped staple forming body can pass through; a flexible protrusion hanging from an upper portion of the cutout portion; and a hole in which the pressing member of the cartridge can pass through and the sheet-shaped staple connecting body can not pass through, and        the present invention also provides a system which is used when the cartridge is attached into the magazine portion of the stapler.


An LCD device includes a plurality of gate lines formed in an LCD panel; a plurality of driving stages, each of which sequentially outputting a respective enabling scan pulse to a corresponding one of the plurality of gate lines; at least one dummy stage responsive to an enabling scan pulse from a first one of the plurality of driving stages and supplying a disabling scan pulse to a second one of the plurality of driving stages to disable outputting of the enabling scan pulse; and a dummy gate line electrically connected to the at least one dummy stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a shift register with increased lifetime.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays images by controlling light transmittance of liquid crystal. For this, the LCD device is provided with an LCD panel including a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a matrix, and a driving circuit for driving the LCD panel.
The LCD panel includes a plurality of gate lines crossing a plurality of data lines to define a plurality of pixel regions. A thin film transistor (TFT) is provided in each pixel region. A plurality of pixel electrodes and a common electrode are formed in the LCD panel to apply an electric field to the respective pixel regions. Each of the pixel electrodes is connected with one of the data lines through a drain terminal and a source terminal of a corresponding TFT functioning as a switching device. The thin film transistor TFT is turned-on by a scan pulse applied to a gate terminal thereof through the gate line, while a data signal from the data line is charged in the pixel region.
The driving circuit includes a gate driver for driving the gate lines, a data driver for driving the data lines, a timing controller for supplying control signals to control the gate and data drivers, and a power supply for supplying driving voltages for the LCD device. The timing controller controls the driving timing of the gate and data drivers, and supplies pixel data signals to the data driver. The power supply generates driving voltages such as a common voltage VCOM, a gate high-voltage signal VGH, and a gate low-voltage signal VGL by raising or reducing an input power.
The gate driver supplies scan pulses to the gate lines in sequence, so as to sequentially drive liquid crystal cells of the LCD panel by one line. The gate driver includes a shift register for sequentially outputting the scan pulses. The data driver supplies a pixel voltage signal to each of the data lines whenever the scan pulse is supplied to any one of the gate lines. Accordingly, the LCD device displays images by controlling the light transmittance with the electric field applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode according to the pixel voltage signal by each liquid crystal cell.
FIG. 1 illustrates a shift register according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the shift register according to the related art is provided with 'n' stages (AST1 to ASTn) which are connected with one another, and one dummy stage ASTn+1. At this time, each of the stages AST1 to ASTn+1 outputs one scan pulse Vout1 to Voutn+1. The first to n-th stages AST1 to ASTn and the dummy stage ASTn+1 respectively output the scan pulses Vout1 to Voutn+1 in sequence. The scan pulses outputted from the first to n-th stages AST1 to ASTn except the dummy stage ASTn+1 are sequentially supplied to the gate lines, thereby scanning the gate lines in sequence.
In this case, a first voltage source VDD, a second voltage source VSS, and two clock pulses among first to fourth clock pulses CLK1 to CLK4 of the sequence phase difference are supplied to all the stages AST1 to ASTn+1. At this time, the first voltage source VDD is a voltage source of a positive polarity, and the second voltage source VSS is a ground voltage.
In the meantime, a start pulse SP as well as the first voltage source VDD, the second voltage source VSS, and the two clock pulses is also supplied to the first stage AST1 which is positioned uppermost.
An operation of the shift register according to the related art will be explained as follows. First, as the start pulse SP from the timing controller (not shown) is applied to the first stage AST1, the first stage AST1 is enabled in response to the start pulse SP. Then, as the first and second clock pulses CLK1 and CLK2 are applied to the enabled first stage AST1, the first stage AST1 outputs the first scan pulse Vout1, and supplies the first scan pulse Vout1 to the first gate line and the second stage AST2. Then, the second stage AST2 is enabled in response to the first scan pulse Vout1.
According as the second and third clock pulses CLK2 and CLK3 from the timing controller are applied to the enabled second stage AST2, the second stage AST2 outputs the second scan pulse Vout2, and supplies the second scan pulse Vout2 to the second gate line, the third stage AST3, and the first stage AST1. Then, the third stage AST3 is enabled in response to the second scan pulse Vout2, and the first stage AST1 is disabled in response to the second scan pulse Vout2, thereby supplying the second voltage source VSS to the first gate line.
As the third and fourth clock pulses CLK3 and CLK4 from the timing controller are applied to the enabled third stage AST3, the third stage AST3 outputs the third scan pulse Vout3, and supplies the third scan pulse Vout3 to the third gate line, the fourth stage AST4, and the second stage AST2. Then, the fourth stage AST4 is enabled in response to the third scan pulse Vout3, and the second stage AST2 is disabled in response to the third scan pulse Vout3, thereby supplying the second voltage source VSS to the second gate line.
In this method, the fourth to n-th stages AST4 to ASTn sequentially output the fourth to n-th scan pulses Voutn, and apply the outputted fourth to n-th scan pulses to the fourth to n-th gate lines in sequence. As a result, the first to n-th gate lines are sequentially scanned by the first to n-th scan pulses Vout1 to Voutn outputted from the first to n-th gate lines.
After the dummy stage ASTn+1 is enabled in response to the n-th scan pulse Voutn outputted from the n-th stage ASTn, the two clock pulses from the timing controller are inputted to the dummy stage ASTn+1. Then, as the n+1th scan pulse Voutn+1 is supplied to the n-th stage ASTn, the n-th stage ASTn is disabled, and the second voltage source VSS is supplied to the n-th gate line. The dummy stage ASTn+1 provides the n+1th scan pulse Voutn+1 to the n-th stage ASTn to output the second voltage source VSS, and doesn't provide the n+1th scan pulse Voutn+1 to the gate line. Accordingly, the total number of stages including the dummy stage ASTn+1 is larger than the number of gate lines.
Generally, each of the first to n-th stages and the dummy stage ASTn+1 includes a node control unit for controlling the charging and discharging state of first and second nodes, and an output unit for outputting the first scan pulse Vout1 or the second voltage source VSS according to the state of the first and second nodes, and supplying the first scan pulse Vout1 or the second voltage source VSS to the gate line of the LCD panel.
At this time, the first and second nodes are alternately discharged and discharged. In detail, when the first node is charged, the second node is discharged. In the meantime, when the second node is charged, the first node is discharged.
When the first node is charged, the scan pulse is outputted from a pull-up switching device of the output unit. When the second node is charged, the second voltage source is outputted from a pull-down switching device of the output unit. In this case, the scan pulse outputted from the pull-up switching device and the second voltage source outputted from the pull-down switching device are supplied to the corresponding gate line. Herein, a gate terminal of the pull-up switching device is connected with the first node, a drain terminal thereof is connected with a clock line for the clock pulse, and a source terminal thereof is connected with the gate line. The clock pulse is periodically supplied to the drain terminal of the pull-up switching device. At this time, the pull-up switching device outputs any one of the clock pulses inputted by each period at a predetermined point. The clock pulse outputted at the predetermined point corresponds to the scan pulse for driving the gate line. The predetermined point corresponds to a point in which the first node is charged. That is, the pull-up switching device outputs the clock pulse inputted at the predetermined point (the point in which the first node is charged) as the scan pulse. According as the first node is maintained as the discharge state until the next frame is started after the output of the scan pulse, the pull-up switching device outputs one scan pulse by each frame. However, since the clock pulse is outputted several times during one frame, the clock pulse is inputted to the drain terminal of the pull-up switching device even in the turn-off state of the pull-up switching device, i.e., even in the discharge state of the first node.
In other words, the pull-up switching device is turned-on once during one frame, and also the pull-up switching device outputs the clock pulse, which is inputted to the drain terminal thereof during the turned-on period, as the scan pulse. After that, as the pull-up switching device is turned-off until the next frame is started, the pull-up switching device can not output the clock pulse as the scan pulse even though the clock pulse is inputted to the drain terminal thereof during the turned-off period. According as the clock pulse is periodically applied to the drain terminal of the pull-up switching device, the coupling effect is generated between the first node connected with the gate terminal of the pull-up switching device and the drain terminal of the pull-up switching device. By the coupling effect, the first node is charged with the undesired voltage due to the clock pulse. That is, the first node is maintained in the charge state even at the undesired timing. In this case, the first node may be charged two or more times during one frame, whereby the pull-up switching device may be turned-on two or more times during one frame. Eventually, one stage may output scan pulses two or more times during one frame, thereby causing the multi-output.
A transistor for discharge is provided to prevent the coupling effect. The transistor for discharge responds to the signal outputted from the next stage, and discharges the first node of the corresponding stage, thereby preventing the first node from being charged. However, as the transistor for discharge is deteriorated, the pull-up transistor generates the multi-output due to the coupling effect. The deterioration of the transistor for discharge is caused by the connection between the dummy stage and the other stages, which will be explained in detail.
That is, the dummy stage of the shift register supplies the scan pulse to the n-th stage. However, the dummy stage doesn't supply the scan pulse to the gate line. In other words, the first to n-th stages are connected with the first to n-th gate lines. However, the dummy stage is not connected with the gate line. The gate line functions as one load. Accordingly, the scan pulse outputted from the dummy stage which is not connected with the gate line is larger in value than the scan pulse outputted from the other stages.
The scan pulse outputted from the dummy stage is supplied to the prior stage, and more particularly, to the transistor for discharge provided in the n-th stage. However, the value of the scan pulse outputted from the dummy stage is larger than the value of the scan pulse outputted from the next stage. Accordingly, the transistor for discharge of the n-th stage, to which the scan pulse is applied, can be easily deteriorated. In this case, it is difficult for the transistor to perform the discharge of the first node of the n-th stage. Accordingly, the n-th stage may generate the multi-output due to the coupling effect. The multi-output of the n-th stage is supplied to the prior stage, i.e., (n−1)-th stage. The multi-output is abnormal, whereby the transistor for discharge provided in the (n−1)-th stage is easily deteriorated.
As a result, the discharge transistors, provided in the stages, deteriorate, thereby generating the multi-output. That is, the picture quality of the LCD panel deteriorates due to one stage outputting scan pulses several times during one frame period.

Liquid crystal display device having a shift register


A multi display device and a method of photographing thereof. The multi display device includes a first body having a first display unit, a second body having a second display unit, a hinge unit disposed to connect the first and second bodies to each other, a first imaging unit provided in the first body, a second imaging unit provided in the second body, and a controller which, if photographing is performed by the first or second imaging unit when the first or second body pivots based on the hinge unit, combines a plurality of photographed images to generate a panorama image content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept generally relates to providing a multi display device and a method of photographing thereof, and more particularly, to providing a multi display device which captures one or more subjects by using a plurality of imaging units and captured images of the subjects, and a method of photographing thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of display devices have been used with the development of technologies. Such a display device includes a camera. In general, the camera installed in the display device provides basic functions of capturing subjects and moving pictures.
As a performance of hardware of a portable display device is improved, and a display unit displays a high-quality, clear image, various functions using a camera have been developed. A camera installed in a display device having a communication function includes a general photographing function and a function of capturing and transmitting an image to a user when performing a video conference.
However, a conventional camera using technology mainly premises a display device including one display unit. Therefore, researches on a camera using technology appropriate for a multi display device including a plurality of display units have been unsatisfied. In particular, if a plurality of cameras are installed, researches on a method of effectively using the cameras have also been unsatisfied.
Accordingly, there is required a technology by which a user variously uses a plurality of cameras in a multi display device including the plurality of cameras and a plurality of display units

Multi display device and method of photographing thereof


Disclosed are various examples of integrating multiple domains within a directory service. A computing device retrieves a first list of members in a first group of users for the domain from a first directory service for a first domain. The computing device then determines that a second group of users is a member of the first group of users, wherein the second group of users corresponds to a second domain. The computing device then retrieves a second list of members in the second group of users from a second directory service for a second domain. The computing device subsequently compares the first list of members in the first group of users and the second list of members in the second group of users with a third list of members in a third group of users, wherein the third list of members in the third group of users corresponds to a user list maintained by the application. The computing device then adds to the third list of members in the third group of users each user that is both present in the first list of members in the first group of users or in the second list of members in the second group of users and missing from the third list of members in the third group of users.

Electronic directory services store, organize, and provide access to information in a hierarchical manner by mapping names to values. Directory services may be narrow in scope, supporting only a small set of node types and data types, or may be broad enough to support an arbitrary or extensible set of types. For example, directory services such as Microsoft's Active Directory®, Novell's Netware Directory Services® (NDS), or NetIQ's eDirectory® can support managing nodes, such as users, computers, printers, or other shared resources, that represent resources that can be managed by an operating system. These directory services can store information about these resources (e.g. user names, computer names, group memberships of users or computers, and other information) and enforce policies for these resources (e.g. specifying user password strengths, limiting user access to particular files or computers, as well as other policies).
Directory services can be associated with a specific domain or domain name. For example, a directory service can store information for users and computers associated with the domain "example.com." Further, the directory service can track relationships between the domain and other domains. For example, the directory service can identify individual members of a group of users in a first domain (e.g. the individual members of the All-Sales group from the domain "example.com") even if those individual members are from a second domain. To illustrate the point, the directory service may be able to determine that members of the All-Sales group for "example.com" include the group US-Sales from the domain "us.example.com" and the group EU-Sales from the domain "eu.example.com". However, the directory service may not be able to recursively resolve or otherwise identify the members of groups from the second domain. In other words, the directory service may be able to identify that the members of All-Sales include the user groups US-Sales and EU-Sales, but may be unable to identify the individual members of the user groups US-Sales and EU-Sales. This problem compounds when attempting to correlate the directories corresponding to multiple organizations, such as when one organization acquires or spins off from another. The records for tens or potentially hundreds of thousands of users will need to be examined to ensure that resources are assigned to the correct groups and given the correct permissions.


A two-piece paperboard container composed of an outer carton and liner includes a paperboard pour spout formed from portions of the outer carton and liner. The pour spout includes a spout body and a pair of spout wings hingedly connected to opposing edges of the spout body. The outer carton encompasses the liner and includes a spout body reinforcing panel overlying the spout body. The spout body reinforcing panel is adhered to the spout body and moves in tandem with the spout body in response to the pour spout being opened and closed. The outer carton further includes a plurality of top and bottom flaps adapted to form the respective top and bottom of the container. A pair of backboard panels extending from one of the top flaps are folded to form a backboard of the pour spout.

Pour spouts are employed on containers to dispense various types of products, including, but not limited to, granular products (e.g., pet litter, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, etc.), rice, cereal, dry pet food, and gun pellets. Although metal and plastic pour spouts have been applied to containers for many years, the application of such metal and plastic spouts is costly because the spouts require special and expensive application equipment and cause decreased assembly line efficiencies.
In an effort to reduce the costs associated with the application of pour spouts to containers, pour spouts composed of paperboard have been introduced to the marketplace in recent years. One of the preferred features of such paperboard pour spouts is that they be relatively durable and adaptable to a wide variety of container types and sizes. Other preferred features of such paperboard pour spouts is that they include tactile or audible feedback indicative of positive reclosure and are able to prevent spillage or sifting of the contents of the container in the area of the pour spout. Although pour spouts having such features have been developed for smaller/lighter one-piece paperboard containers, they have heretofore not been developed for larger volume and/or heavier cartons requiring liners.
Accordingly, a need exists for a paperboard pour spout which overcomes the above-noted shortcomings associated with existing pour spouts.

Two-piece paperboard container with pour spout


A nonvolatile memory device including a control unit configured to read resistance value information for each of memory cells as initial resistance value information and store it temporarily before a voltage pulse for forming is applied, to set resistance value information as a threshold value serving as a target for completion of the forming, the resistance value information being obtained by multiplying the initial resistance value information by a predetermined coefficient, and to repeat application of the voltage pulse for forming and reading of the resistance value information until a resistance value indicated by the resistance value information on the memory cell becomes lower than a resistance value indicated by the threshold value.

Nonvolatile memory devices (also referred to as nonvolatile storage devices) are installed on many mobile devices such as a mobile phone or a digital camera, and its range of applications is rapidly increasing.
Out of nonvolatile memory devices, particularly, a nonvolatile memory device using, what is called, a variable resistance element is under active research and development. Here, a variable resistance element is an element which has the characteristic that its resistance value reversibly changes between at least two levels of values by electrical signals, and is further capable of storing information corresponding to the resistance value in a nonvolatile manner.
PTL 1 proposes a cross point nonvolatile memory device (hereinafter referred to as a "cross point nonvolatile memory") in which a memory cell array is formed by connecting a memory cell to a corresponding word line (row selection line) and bit line (column selection line), the memory cell being formed by connecting in series a variable resistance element and a current control element (for example, a diode).

Variable resistance nonvolatile memory device and method of performing the forming operation

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The invention relates to a filter device, in particular for filtering lubrication, consisting of at least one filter insert (19), in which a respective filter material (27) is received and which is provided with fluid passage points (70) that are delimited by wall parts (63) of the filter insert (19) and with a backflush device (37, 49) that has at least one flush nozzle (49), said flush nozzle being movable along the interior of the respective pairable filter insert (19) by means of a hollow drive shaft (37). The invention is characterized in that at least one pair of flush nozzles (49) is provided for each filter insert (19, 21), said flush nozzles having longitudinal slots (73, 74) which are arranged one over the other in the axial direction of the drive shaft (37), wherein the longitudinal slots have an offset relative to one another which runs transversely to the axial direction such that for adjacent flush nozzles (49), at least one part of the longitudinal slot (73) of one flush nozzle (49) overlaps with at least one of the fluid passage points (70) of the pairable filter insert (19, 21) and at least one part of the longitudinal slot (74) of the other flush nozzle (49) at least partly overlaps with the wall parts (63) which delimit the aforementioned fluid passage point of the filter insert (19, 21).

Keeping the lubricating oil in perfect condition is of major significance for the operational reliability and life span of combustion engines. In particular, the continuous operation of diesel engines that, for example in maritime applications, are operated with heavy fuel oil, make particularly high demands on the condition of the lubricating oil, making the use of filter devices for cleaning the lubricating oil in applications of this kind essential. The prior art in this respect is to use filter devices where the filter inserts can be backflushed to achieve longer operating times between filter insert changes to keep maintenance costs low. An example of such a filter device is described in DE 202016 003 089 U1.


A terminal metal piece connected to an electric wire is inserted into a housing and an outer periphery of the housing is attached with a shield shell fixedly attached to a distal end of a shield member surrounding electric wires. Even when the electric wire is bent to be deviated from the regular wiring path, a resin cover is protected against interference with the shield shell by an outer cylinder portion. Further, a mode of protecting the resin cover against interference with the shield shell includes a case in which the resin cover is prevented from being interfered with the shield shell and a case in which even when the resin cover is interfered with the shield shell, the resin cover is avoided from being impaired thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shield connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a summarized shield connector summerizingly shielding a plurality of pieces of electric wires disclosed in JP-A-2002-281654. According thereto, a terminal metal piece connected to the electric wires is contained in a housing, a distal end portion of a shield member comprising braided wires in a cylindrical shape summerizingly surrounding the plurality of pieces of electric wires is attached to an outer periphery of the housing and at the attached portion, a shield shell made of a metal in a ring-like shape fixedly attached to the distal end portion of the shield member is covered on the outer periphery of the housing.


Systems and methods of M-mode ultrasound imaging allows for M-mode imaging along user-defined paths. In various embodiments, the user-defined path can be a non-linear path or a curved path. In some embodiments, a system for M-mode ultrasound imaging can comprise a multi-aperture probe with at least a first transmitting aperture and a second receiving aperture. The receiving aperture can be separate from the transmitting aperture. In some embodiments, the transmitting aperture can be configured to transmit an unfocused, spherical, ultrasound ping signal into a region of interest. The user-defined path can define a structure of interest within the region of interest.

Conventional ultrasound (or "scanline based" ultrasound as used herein) utilizes a phased array controller to produce and steer a substantially linear transmit waveform. In order to produce a B-mode image, a sequence of such linear waveforms (or "scanlines") may be produced and steered so as to scan across a region of interest. Echoes are received along each respective scanline. The individual scanlines from a complete scan may then be combined to form a complete image (sometimes referred to as a "sector scan" image).
A display method known as M-mode (or motion mode) imaging is commonly used in cardiology and other fields where it is desirable to view the motion of imaged objects. In some forms of M-mode imaging, echoes from a one-dimensional line are displayed over time relative to a static reference point in order to allow a clinician to evaluate movement of a particular structure (such as a cardiac wall or valve) over time. Because a traditional scanline-based ultrasound path is directional (along the scanline axis), available M-mode lines tend to be limited to paths along a scanline.
Generally, M-mode imaging provides a graphic indication of positions and movements of structures within a body over time. In some cases, a single stationary focused acoustic beam is fired at a high frame rate and the resulting M-mode images or lines are displayed side-by-side, providing an indication of the function of a heart over multiple heart cycles.

M-mode ultrasound imaging of arbitrary paths


Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to assign primary keys and foreign keys to lists of any number of sites that are maintained by a database hosting service. More specifically, a scalable table, like the master table described below, may continue to be used without specifying primary keys or foreign keys within the table by using two additional tables in which the keys are specified for each list of each site. Integrity may be maintained by confirming that all changes to either a primary key or foreign key are appropriate before applying the changes to the master table.

Generally described, database hosting services provide the ability for multiple users to create sites with one or more lists, or tables, and store data for those lists in a database maintained by the database hosting service. Such services typically provide the ability for each user of a site to create multiple lists for each site. The database hosting service presents those lists as independent units to the site. However, internally, most database hosting services maintain larger sets of tables with a collective of the information from all of the different tables of the different sites. The reason for this is that for a large number of users working with the database hosting service, the number of tables being created is very large. Beyond a certain threshold, a large number of tables causes scalability and bottlenecks within the database hosting service.
A database hosting service typically is able to scale better with a smaller number of tables that could individually have a very large number of rows. For example, a database hosting service might scale better with hundreds or thousands of tables with billions of rows in each table than with millions of tables, even if those tables had very few rows in each. Accordingly, most database hosting services generate a small set of extremely large tables with a large number of columns and rows for various data types and maintain information from different user sites in the small subset of extremely large tables. While such a model provides good scalability in terms of numbers of lists that can be stored in the database, it suffers from the problems of not being able to maintain relationships between tables of a site or perform integrity checks between tables of a particular site.

Implementing referential integrity in a database hosting service


A manufacturing system and manufacturing method for an optical display device, which adheres upper and lower optical films to the optical display device using two rolls having optical anisotropies in the same direction, so that the optical anisotropies are orthogonal to each other. The manufacturing system includes a first feeding device for feeding a first optical film after cutting to a predetermined length, and a second feeding device for feeding a second optical film after cutting to a predetermined length. The first feeding device and the second feeding device correspond to the longer side and the shorter side of the optical display unit, so that the optical film having a width corresponding to the shorter side may be cut to a length corresponding to the longer side, whereas the optical film having a width corresponding to the longer side may be cut to a length corresponding to the shorter side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing system and a manufacturing method for an optical display device for bonding an optical film having the optical anisotropy such as an optical film including a polarizing plate to upper and lower sides of an optical display unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A production method of an optical display device mounted to a conventional liquid crystal display device is conceptually shown in FIG. 9. First, in an optical filmmaker, a step produces a long (web-like) sheet material having an optical film as a material roll (#1). The concrete production step is a known production step, and a description thereof will not be given. As the "long (web-like) sheet material", for example, there are a polarizing plate material, a retardation plate material, a laminated film material of the polarizing plate and the retardation plate, and the like which are used in a liquid crystal display device. Next, the material roll is slit to a predetermined size (a size in accordance with a size of the optical display unit) (#2). Next, the slit long material is cut to a fixed size in conformity to a size of the optical display unit (#3). Next, a step inspects an outer appearance of a piece of sheet material (an optical film) cut to the fixed size (#4). As the inspecting method, for example, there can be listed up a defect inspection in accordance with a visual observation, and an inspection using a known defect inspection apparatus. The defect means, for example, a dirty in a front face or an internal portion, a scratch, a special twisted defect like a hitting mark generated by biting a contaminant (which may be called as a knick), an air bubble, a contaminant or the like. Next, a step inspects a finished product (#5). The finished product inspection is an inspection in accordance with a quality standard having a severer non-defective determination than the outer appearance inspection. Next, a step works end faces in four sides of the sheet material of the piece of sheet material (#6). This step is carried out for preventing an adhesive or the like from running over from the end faces during transport. Next, a step cleanly packages the piece of sheet material under a clean room environment (#7). Next, a step packages for transport (a transport package) (#8). The piece of sheet material is produced as mentioned above, and is transported to a panel processing manufacturer.
In the panel processing manufacturer, a step dismounts the package of the piece of sheet material transported (#11). Next, a step inspects an outer appearance for inspecting the scratch, the dirt and the like generated at a time of transporting or dismounting the package (#12). The piece of sheet material which is determined as the non-defective by the inspection is fed to the next step. There is a case that the outer appearance inspection is omitted. An optical display unit (for example, a glass substrate unit in which a liquid crystal cell is enclosed) to which the piece of sheet material is bonded is previously produced, and the optical display unit is cleaned before the bonding step (#13).
A step bonds the piece of sheet material and the optical display unit (#14). A release film is peeled off from the piece of sheet material while leaving a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and it is bonded to one face of the optical display unit by using the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer as a bonding face. Further, it can be bonded to the other face of the optical display unit in the same manner. In the case of bonding to both the faces, the structure may be made such that the optical films having the same construction are bonded to the faces of the optical display unit, or the structure may be made such that the optical films having different constructions are bonded thereto. Next, a step carries out an inspection of the optical display device in the state in which the optical film is bonded and a defect inspection (#15). The optical display device which is determined as the non-defective in this inspection is fed to a mounting process (#16). On the other hand, a reworking process is applied to the optical display device which is determined as a defective (#17). In the reworking process, the optical film is peeled off from the optical display unit. The optical film is newly bonded to the reworked optical display unit (#14).
In the production step mentioned above, since the optical film maker and the panel processing manufacturer exist in the separate places, the end face working, the packaging of the piece of sheet material, the package dismounting and the like are particularly necessary steps. However, there are a problem of a production cost increase caused by multiple steps, a problem of the scratch, the dust, the dirt and the like generated by the multiple steps and the transport, a necessity of the inspection step caused thereby, and a problem that it is necessary to store and manage many kinds of sheet materials as a stock.
As a method for solving this, the applicant of the present invention has created the invention described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-140046 (patent document 1). In accordance with this invention, the structure is provided with a supply portion pulling out and supplying a long sheet material from a material roll around which the long sheet material having an optical film corresponding to a member of an optical display device is wound, a detection portion detecting a defect of the long sheet material pulled out by the supply portion, a cutting work portion cutting the long sheet material based on a result of detection of the detection portion and working to an individual sheet material, a transfer portion transferring the sheet material cut by the cutting work portion for a bonding work, and a bonding work portion bonding the sheet material transferred by the transfer portion and an optical display unit corresponding to a member of an optical display device, and these portion are arranged on a continuous production line. In the structure mentioned above, it is possible to directly cut the long sheet material having the optical film into a desired size, and to bond the cut sheet material to the optical display unit. Accordingly, it is possible to directly package the long sheet material wound around the material roll so as to deliver, in place of the conventional step which stamps the long sheet material, tightly packages the stamped sheet material, and delivers to the panel processing manufacturer.    Patent Literature 1: JP-A No. 2007-140046

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Manufacturing system and manufacturing method for optical display device


A data processing device which includes a common memory connecting mechanism which is located between a memory bus to which copyback cache is connected, and a common memory. The common memory connecting mechanism includes a slave type transfer mechanism which directly assesses the common memory bypassing the cache and processes thereof, and a data mover which transfers data between the common memory and main memory.

In a system composed of a plurality of data processing devices and a common memory, when the data processing devices include cache memories, it is necessary to have coherency in the information written in the memories. In other words, when information is rewritten by a certain processing device, the other processing devices can use the new information.
A general method for realizing coherency is, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-12020 (1974), hereinafter referred to as Reference 1. In Reference 1 writing is always carried out on a common memory. Simultaneously the fact of the rewrite is informed to cache memories of the other processing devices, and if there are corresponding addresses in the cache memories these addresses are invalidated. Such method is called as writethrough method.
In the writethrough method, all of the write accesses are input to a memory bus, thereby when performance speed of the processor is enhanced, the memory bus becomes a bottleneck. In particular, in case of a multi processor in which a plurality of processors are connected to one memory bus using the writethrough method, the above bottleneck is fatal because of the performance of the memory bus. For this reason, a copyback cache method has become broadly employed these days in which even if the cache memory is rewritten, the main memory is not rewritten until necessary. The copyback cache method is also assembled into the latest microcomputer chip as disclosed in "32 bits MPU with built-in bus snoop function suitable for multi processor" [NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, 1989, 7, 24, (No. 478), pp 173-179], hereinafter referred to as Reference 2, and in "68040 achieved to 13.5 MIPS by Harvard architecture and optimized command" [NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, 1989, 6, 26, (No. 476), pp 131-140], hereinafter referred to as Reference 3. Also, the copyback cache method is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,225 "Coherent cache structures and methods", hereinafter referred to as Reference 5.
On one hand, there is a system employing a plurality of data processing devices and a dual common memory for high reliability as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-16362 (1983), hereinafter referred to as Reference 4. For a data processing device in such system, it is preferred that the above described copyback cache method to be used. However, different from the case of the writethrough method, the case of the copyback cache method is difficult to maintain coherency. In the copyback cache method, a control flag has to be provided at every entry of caches as disclosed in Reference 2, and further for separating EU (exclusive unmodified) from SU (shared unmodified) at the control flag, the respective cache memories have to watch all of read accesses. In case of a single memory bus such watching is easily realized, however in the system which is constituted by a plurality of components as disclosed in Reference 4, copyback caches of the respective data processing devices have to perform watching of all the accesses to a common memory between data processing devices so that the data transfer ability of the interface between components (in case of Reference 4, the interface cable between the CPU and the common memory) becomes a bottleneck thus creating. Therefore, implementation of the copyback cache method is difficult (in the single memory bus of back plane type performance of about 150M byte/sec is easily achieved however, in case of the interface cable of several meter long performance of at most 20M byte/sec is achieved provided that the technical measures of the same level are employed).
The most simple method for solving the problems is a method in which, when the address to be accessed is in a common memory between data processing devices, a copyback cache is bypassed and the common memory is directly accessed. However, with this method, the copyback cache is not utilized, therefore, when a large amount of data is desired to be transferred to the common memory, for example a transference between a file and the common memory, the load of the memory bus in the data processing device increases, and the performance of the system decreases. One effect of this disadvantage is for example that data which would have been transferred by one transference of a 64 byte block if the cache were usable, requires instead that the data be transferred by 16 transferences of 4 byte. Thus, the load of memory bus extremely increases substantially.

Data processing device with common memory connecting mechanism


A method and apparatus for treating hiccups is disclosed. In the method, a physiological cold block is applied to the neck of a hiccuping individual at the level of the Adam's apple lateral to the sternocleidomastoid muscles near the superficially coursing phrenic nerve and/or medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscles near the superficially coursing vagus nerve. The apparatus provides a means for applying such a physiological cold block.

A hiccup is a spasmodic inhalation resulting from an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm followed by the closure of the glottis, thus checking air inflow and producing a familiar and characteristic sound. Although the anatomic mechanism responsible for producing hiccups remains unknown, a hiccup reflex arc has been proposed to account for what little is known about the pathophysiology of hiccups. See, for example, "Hiccups," P. Rosseau, M.D., Southern Medical Journal, Vol., 88, pp. 175-181, 1995. Briefly, the reflexive arc includes afferent and efferent branches that are centrally connected between cervical segments 3 and 5. The afferent branch is believed to encompass the phrenic, vagus, and T6 to T12 sympathetic nerve fibers, as well as a hiccup center located either in the brain stem and/or the respiratory center. The phrenic nerve serves as the principal efferent limb of the arc. Reflexive discharge of the phrenic nerve results in spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm, thus producing a hiccup.
Hiccups have been classified according to the length of their duration. Episodes lasting up to 48 hours are "hiccup bouts," hiccups continuing for longer than 48 hours are termed "persistent," and hiccups lasting longer than one month are referred to as "intractable." While hiccup bouts may be bothersome, persistent and intractable hiccups may have significant adverse effects including malnutrition, weight loss, fatigue, exhaustion, dehydration, cardiac dysrhythmias, wound dehiscence, insomnia, and in the extreme, death.
Although some causes of hiccups are not apparent, the cause of frequent or prolonged hiccup attacks may often be determined. In fact, more than one hundred causes of persistent hiccups are known. In some instances, hiccups are a symptom of an underlying disorder.
Hiccups can result from afferent nerve stimulation as a consequence of swallowing hot or irritating substances. Hiccups have also been known to accompany diaphragmatic pleurisy, pneumonia, uremia, alcoholism, and some abdominal surgical procedures. Hiccups may also be caused by abdominal disorders including disorders of the stomach and esophagus, bowel diseases, pancreatitis, bladder irritation, hepatic metastases, and hepatitis, among others.
Treatments for hiccups are numerous and varied, and include both anecdotal and scientific cures, with each achieving varying degrees of success. Many individuals have their own favorite remedies for hiccups. Suddenly frightening someone suffering from hiccups is commonly believed to be effective in "scaring away" hiccups. Drinking a glass of water while upside-down is another commonly practiced treatment by hiccup sufferers.
Other hiccup treatments include more scientific approaches. For example, while low blood levels of carbon dioxide have been found to accentuate hiccups, high carbon dioxide blood levels tend to have an inhibiting effect on hiccups. Accordingly, simple measures to increase blood carbon dioxide levels and decrease diaphragmatic activity include repetitive deep breath holding or rebreathing deeply into a paper bag. Vagal stimulation (i.e., stimulation of the viscus, an internal organ in the body such as the stomach) has been recommended as a treatment. Such stimulation may include rapidly drinking a glass of water, swallowing dry bread or crushed ice, inducing vomiting, applying traction on the tongue, and applying pressure on the eyeballs. In addition, massage techniques, such as carotid sinus compression and digital pressure applied over the phrenic nerves behind the sternoclavicular joints, have also been suggested as hiccup treatments.
Other more extreme maneuvers include gastric lavage, galvanic stimulation of the phrenic nerve, and esophageal dilation. These procedures are invasive and are undertaken only by medical professionals. To prevent injury or reinjury or aggravation of a condition, inhalation of oxygen containing carbon dioxide has been noted as valuable in inhibiting hiccups in post-operative patients. For sufferers of diaphragmatic pleurisy, tight adhesive support of the lower chest is thought to be helpful.
In addition to the treatments noted above, pharmacological agents have been administered and have gained widespread use in treating persistent hiccups. Commonly administered drugs include chlorpromazine, haloperidol, diphenylhydantoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, scopolamine, amphetamine, prochlorperazine, phenobarbital, metoclopramide, as well as some narcotics. As the length of the above list of drugs implies, successful treatment of hiccups by the administration of drugs is often elusive.
Methods that disrupt phrenic nerve transmission have been reported to be successful hiccup treatments. These methods range from simple rhythmic tapping over the fifth cervical vertebra at the level of the origin of the phrenic nerve, electrical stimulation, and anesthetic injection, to surgical transection of the phrenic nerve. Surprisingly, it has been noted that even bilateral phrenicotomy, surgical division of the phrenic nerve, does not cure all cases of hiccups.
Other methods that have been reported to successfully treat hiccups include cooling treatments. For example, the application of vapocoolant sprays over the skin representing the muscles associated with the hiccup reflex, particularly regions of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions across the back, have been reported to block myofascial reflex and relieve hiccuping. Ether spray on the epigastrium has also been suggested as a hiccup cure. Placing ice inside the mouth to cool the uvula, a purported trigger point for hiccups, has also been reported to be an effective hiccup treatment.
Cooling treatments directed to the neck, and indirectly to the phrenic nerve, have also been suggested as hiccup treatments. The application of ice bags, mustard paste, and ethyl chloride sprays either on the back of the neck along the course of the phrenic nerves, or over the area of the insertion of the diaphragm have been found to be effective in certain cases ("Hiccup," E. C. Noble, Can. Med Assc. J, Vol. 33, pp. 38-41, 1934). The application of ice packs to the sides of the neck has also been reported ("Hiccoughing," N. G. Hulbert, Practitioner, Vol. 167, pp. 286-289, 1951). However, the effectiveness of cooling sprays applied to the neck, chest, and epigastrium for the treatment of hiccups has been called into question ("A Trigger Point for Hiccup," J. G. Travell, J. Am. Osteopath. Assc., Vol. 77, pp. 308-312, 1977).
The breadth and diversity of the treatments noted above vividly illustrate that no single treatment has been demonstrated to be reliably effective in treating hiccups. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a simple, effective, reliable, and safe treatment for hiccups. The present invention seeks to fulfill this need and provides further related advantages.


This invention discloses a significantly improved linear machine system used for massive energy storage with vertical movement of heavy mass placed in containers. It adopts distributed rotor or mover structure to minimize the fringing effect and thereby enhancing effective lifting force. It further adopts the pulse transitional current to those non-transitional rows of rotor or mover conductors when the transitional rotor or mover coils cross the boundary between the magnetic and non-magnetic layers of the stator.

Most of the renewable energies such as wind energy, solar energy, and tidal wave energy etc are intermittent. To cope with such intermittence, massive energy storage is indispensable. Currently there are many existing energy storage systems, such as battery storage, pumped-hydro storage, fly-wheel storage, super-conducting magnetic energy storage, super-capacitor energy storage etc. Each of them has pros and cons. The main disadvantages of these systems are either relatively high cost to life span ratio or low efficiency.
To overcome the limitation in the existing energy storage systems, this invention introduces a heavy mass based energy storage system with less losses by shifting the heavy mass vertically or nearly vertically from low platform to high platform. Earlier the inventor filed one patent with the title "A MASSIVE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH VERTICAL OR NEARLY VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF HEAVY MASS". Its number is PCT/AU2017/050769. It described the fundamental working mechanism and basic structures. This invention further discloses more new structures and significantly improved working methods for practical application, which are expansion and extension from the inventor's three recently published papers: 1) Daming Zhang, "Review on Heavy Mass Energy Storage and a New Such a System Using Interleaved Magnetic Structure", AUPEC 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, pp. 1-8. 2) Daming Zhang, "A Heavy Mass Energy Storage System Using an AC-DC Linear Machine with Multiple Rotor or Movers and Enhanced Lifting Forces", Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology, on-line link: http://www.jmest.org/vol-6-issue-1-january-2019/, pp. 9361-9371, January 2019. 3) Daming Zhang, "Issues on Series-Parallel Circuits and their Drives in the Linear Machine for Heavy Mass Energy Storage System", 4th Asia Conference on Power Electrical Engineering (ACPEE) 2019, Mar. 28-31, Hangzhou, China, pp. 1-11.
Such massive energy storage system could be built along the side of a steep mound or mountain, on top of which and at the bottom of which the high and low platforms or parking lots are built respectively to accommodate containers with heavy mass.

Massive energy storage system with distributed rotor or mover structure and transitional rotor pulse current


A system, method and computer program product are provided for management of network access on a per application basis. Initially, applications are selected from a group of applications adapted for working in conjunction with a first application program interface to gain access to a network. Next, a second application program interface is utilized which is adapted for precluding all of the applications from accessing the network. In use, the selected applications are wrapped for allowing such applications to access the network via the second application program interface.

In the space of just a few years, the Internet—because it provides access to information, and the ability to publish information, in revolutionary ways—has emerged from relative obscurity to international prominence. Whereas in general an inlernet is a network of networks, the Internet is a global collection of interconnected local, mid-level, and wide-area networks that use the Internet Protocol (IP) as the network layer protocol. Whereas the Internet embraces many local- and wide-area networks, a given local- or wide-area network may or may not form part of the Internet.
As the Internet and its underlying technologies have become increasingly familiar, attention has become focused on Internet security and computer network security in general. With unprecedented access to information has also come unprecedented opportunities to gain unauthorized access to data, change data, destroy data, make unauthorized use of computer resources, interfere with the intended use of computer resources, etc. As experience has shown, the frontier of cyberspace has its share of scofflaws, resulting in increased efforts to protect the data, resources, and reputations of those embracing intranets and the Internet.
Firewalls are intended to shield data and resources from the potential ravages of computer network intruders. In essence, a firewall functions as a mechanism which monitors and controls the flow of data between two networks, or a network and a device. All communications, e.g., data packets, which flow between the networks in either direction must pass through the firewall; otherwise, security is circumvented. The firewall selectively permits the communications to pass from one network to another network or device, to provide bidirectional security.
Recently, there has been much work on software applications referred to as "personal firewalls." These applications are typically installed on a computer or any other computing device for protecting against unsecure networks coupled thereto. During use of such personal firewalls, network traffic is monitored and filtered based on a predetermined set of rules. Such rules may include any filtering criteria that protect the device. For example, such criteria may result in the prevention of computers having certain IP addresses from accessing the protected device, precluding access to certain ports associated with the protected device, the prevention of certain applications accessing the protected device, etc.
Various system and methods have been developed to accomplish the task of preventing certain applications from accessing a network. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,611 discloses a computing environment with methods for monitoring access to an open network, such as a WAN or the Internet. The system includes one or more clients, each operating applications or processes (e.g., Netscape Navigator®. or Microsoft Internet Explorer® browser software) requiring Internet (or other open network) access (e.g., an Internet connection to one or more Web servers). Client-based monitoring and filtering of access is provided in conjunction with a centralized enforcement supervisor.
The supervisor maintains access rules for the client-based filtering and verifies the existence and proper operation of the client-based filter application. Access rules which can be defined can specify criteria such as total time a user can be connected to the Internet (e.g., per day, week, month, or the like), time a user can interactively use the Internet (e.g., per day, week, month, or the like), a list of applications or application versions that a user can or cannot use in order to access the Internet, a list of URLs (or WAN addresses) that a user application can (or cannot) access, a list of protocols or protocol components (such as Java Script®) that a user application can or cannot use, and rules to determine what events should be logged (including how long are logs to be kept).
By intercepting process loading and unloading and keeping a list of currently-active processes, each client process can be checked for various characteristics, including checking executable names, version numbers, executable file checksums, version header details, configuration settings, and the like. With this information, the system can determine if a particular process in question should have access to the Internet and what kind of access (i.e., protocols, Internet addresses, time limitations, and the like) is permissible for the given specific user.
Unfortunately, systems such as that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,611 require an additional software layer between the operating system and the network device in order to govern network access.
Prior Art FIG. 1A illustrates one exemplary positioning of such a software layer. As shown, a software stack 10 is positioned between a plurality of applications 12 and a network device 14 such as network card, interface, etc.
Normally, such software stack 10 includes an operating system layer 16, a network driver interface specification (NDIS) layer 18, and an Internet Protocol (IP) layer 20. Systems such as that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,611 require an additional software layer 22 to intercept network access requests made by various applications.

Extractor system, method and computer program product for managing network access on a per-application basis


A processor for an activity monitor for a user has a reduced power mode in which it does not process data samples from an accelerometer. A wake up circuit or logic evaluates an output from the accelerometer and determines whether the output exceeds a threshold, indicating a threshold amount of activity of the user. If the threshold is exceeded, the wake up circuit or logic causes the processor to enter an active mode. The processor evaluates samples of the accelerometer in an evaluation period and decides whether to continue in the active mode or return to the reduced power mode. If the user is deemed to be sufficiently active, the processor continues in the active mode. In another aspect, the threshold can be set based on an activity level of the user before the reduced power mode or sensor data such as ambient light level or skin temperature.

Activity monitors or actigraphs have become popular as a tool for promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle. An activity monitor can include an accelerometer which can measure motions such as steps taken while walking or running, and estimate an amount of calories used. Moreover, user-specific information such as age, gender, height and weight can be used to tailor the estimate to the user. Such monitors can be worn on the wrist, belt or arm, for instance, or carried in the pocket. The monitor can be worn during an intended workout period or as a general, all day, free living monitor, where the user may perform specific exercises at some times while going about their daily activities at other times, e.g., including sitting, standing and sleeping.
An activity monitor can include a heart rate monitor. Heart rate monitors are also used to monitor individuals, typically during an exercise session in which the user tries to maintain a target heart rate. Some ECG-based monitors are worn on a chest strap, where the electrodes of the monitor are constantly in contact with the body and can therefore continuously determine heart rate. Heart rate data can be transmitted from the chest strap to a display such as on a wrist worn device for easy viewing by the user. Other monitors are wrist-worn, for example, and only determine the heart rate on demand, when the user touches electrodes on the monitor or provides another manual control input. Optical sensors can also be used to determine heart rate.

Ultra low power actigraphy based on dynamic threshold


Methods and pharmaceutical compositions relating to selective antagonists of the 5-HT6 receptor and 5-HT2A receptor useful for the treatment of cognitive disorders are presented.

Cognitive and/or degenerative brain disorders are characterized clinically by progressive loss of memory, cognition, reasoning, judgment and emotional stability that gradually leads to profound mental deterioration and ultimately death. In an example of such disorders, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a common cause of progressive mental failure (dementia) in aged humans and is believed to represent the fourth most common medical cause of death in the United States. In particular, AD is associated with degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain that play a fundamental role in cognitive functions, including memory (Becker et al., Drug Development Research, 1988, 12, 163-195). Cognitive and degenerative brain disorders have been observed in varied races and ethnic groups worldwide and present a major public health problem. These diseases are currently estimated to affect about two to three million individuals in the United States alone. These diseases are incurable with presently-used medications and will increase worldwide as the human life span increases.
Serotonin receptors have been divided into a number of families and subfamilies (5-HT1 through 5-HT7) and approximately 14 populations have been cloned. One of the newest populations identified is the 5-HT6 subtype. It has been observed that various tricyclic psychotropic agents (neuroleptics, antidepressants, and atypical neuroleptic agents) bind the 5-HT6 receptor with nanomolar affinities (Roth et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1994, 268, 1403-1410). A rat 5-HT6 receptor was first cloned in 1993 and, more recently, the same group described the cloning of a human 5-HT6 receptor. The 5-HT6 receptors are members of the G-protein superfamily, are positively coupled to an adenylate cyclase second messenger system and are found primarily in the central nervous system. Serotonin bound to the 5-HT6 receptor subgroup activates the adenylate cyclase enzyme, with concomitant increased levels of intracellular cAMP. Although the exact physiological function and clinical significance of the 5-HT6 receptor subgroup is not known, as noted above, many anti-psychotic agents bind these receptors with high affinity. Also, rats that do not express 5-HT6 receptors behave in a manner that seems to involve an increase in cholinergic function.
The 5-HT2A receptor subtype is widely yet discretely expressed in the human brain, including many cortical, limbic, and forebrain regions. This receptor subtype is highly expressed on blood vessel smooth muscle (e.g. aorta and femoral artery) where 5-HT is known to mediate contraction. It is also expressed on mature platelets where it mediates, in part, platelet aggregation, one of the initial steps in the process of vascular thrombosis. Recent studies have shown that antagonism of the 5-HT2A receptor is an alternate molecular mechanism for drugs with antipsychotic efficacy, possibly through antagonism of heightened or exaggerated signal transduction through serotonergic systems. 5-HT2A antagonists are therefore candidates for treating psychosis without extrapyramidal side effects. However, the involvement of the 5-HT2A receptor in cognitive functions is not fully understood and is considered controversial, with studies showing the stimulation of the 5-HT2A receptor to be either cognition-enhancing or impairing (Williams et al., J. Neurosci., 2002, 22, 2843-2854; Harvey, Learn. Mem., 2003, 10, 355-362, Umbricht et al., Neuropsycho-pharmacology, 2003, 28, 170-181).
Atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine or olanzapine, which are non-selective antagonists of the 5-HT6 and 5-HT2A receptors, have been implicated in improving cognitive function but they may also show adverse effects such as delirium and confusion (Mori et al., Prog. Neuropsycho-pharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry, 2004, 28, 659-665; Kennedy et al., Int. J. Geriatr. Psychology, 2001, 16, S33-S61). However these drugs have been tested only in psychotic patients and their efficacy in improving cognition in non-psychotic patients is not understood.

Compositions and methods for treating cognitive disorders


Word processing in a pocket sized alphanumeric programmable computer is made possible by means of a self contained movable magnetic recording medium and a keyboard accomodating touch typing with as few as twelve keys operable for a wide range of alphanumeric and computer instruction entries. The keyboard thus takes up little room to share panel space with a visual display for generating temporary text being processed by the computer and therefore providing panel room for a multiple line alphanumeric display for recall and editing of text in the word processing mode of computer operation.

Pocket sized portable computer systems are disclosed in these parent applications which can process alphanumeric information as well as many different computer commands from a keyboard having only twelve to sixteen keys. That is achieved by providing several modes of operation of the keys in the keyboard, typically a single stroke per entry decimal calculating mode, and a two key stroke per entry alphameric data processing mode which incorporates a significant number of computer commands. These parent applications have taken a direction contrary to the art in reducing the number of keys on a computer keyboard without the sacrifice of the wide range of operations that the computer can perform.
One feature of the parent application Ser. No. 07/092,372 now U.S. Pat. No., is the provision of a large display screen on a pocket sized computer, made possible by the reduction of the number of keys required on the keyboard. A typical prior art example of a small portable programmable computer attempting to provide a large screen, but being limited by the necessary forty five keyboard keys is the "Casio fx-7000 G" scientific calculator. Thus, the display screen occupies less than one-third of the front panel surface area.
There is no known portable pocket sized programmable computer having word processing capability or self contained movable magnetic storage means. The large number of keys heretofore required for processing alphanumeric data in word processors, such as typewriter type keyboards generally have in excess of thirty six keys in order to process the entire alphabet, numerical digits and computer commands.
Recent advertisements identify the introduction of a pocket computer for storing memos and providing several lines of alphanumeric display as the "Sharp Wizard". In order to provide even the limited display of several short lines of alphabetic data in a memo, this computer requires eighty five keys distributed over a first panel with the display screen and a further hinged keyboard panel with a set of alphabet keys, etc. Even so, this computer apparently is incapable of full scale word processing capabilities without swapping data with desk sized computers, and is limited to operation with the limited internal storage capacity of the electronic computer.
There have been suggestions in the prior art that tape recorders be associated with computers in desk top assemblies, as for example in M. Sato U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,037, Oct. 10, 1978 and 4,237,540, Dec. 2, 1980. There are no integrated relationships between computer operation and the tape recorder in this type of art, nor is there any suggestion that tape recorders are to be integrated into pocket sized comprehensive alphanumeric data processing systems.
However, there has been no capability demonstrated in the prior art in pocket sized subcompact computers to incorporate movable magnetic recording means that interchanges program and data with the computer or to provide keyboards capable of alphanumeric operation in the touch typing mode. Such features are critical to word processors. There are no known such prior art computers capable of incorporating word processing programs such as those currently available in desk top and lap top sized computers. In particular, the prior art has been substantially limited to the provision of a full typewriter type keyboard for any word processor versions of the computer arts.
Accordingly it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide practical word processing capabilities in subcompact pocket sized computers.
Another critical necessity for practical programmed word processing computers is the capacity to carry storage of computer generated data far in excess of that storable in the computer dynamic memory system. This is conventionally done by movable magnetic media such as discs and tapes that interchange data and programs with the computer.
Thus a further object of this invention is to provide a subcompact pocket sized computer with movable magnetic recording means controlled by the computer and computer keyboard for interchanging data and programs with the computer.
Further, it is an objective of this invention to provide programmable pocket sized electronic computers with enlarged electronic display panels affording with associated computer capabilities the capacity to display alphanumeric data for word processing.
It is a further objective of this invention to provide in such compact alphanumeric keyboard controlled computers the increased capacity for programming and storage of processed and pre-stored data by means of movable magnetic storage means.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be found throughout the following description, drawings and claims.


A wall construction system comprises a number of courses of masonry construction blocks stacked one atop another in any desired pattern, such as a running bond pattern. One or more fluid conduits are disposed in thermal communication with one or more of the masonry construction blocks and one or more fluids are passed through the fluid conduits. The fluid(s) may comprise one or more liquids, one or more gases, or a combination of liquid(s) and gas(es). The fluid(s) can transfer heat between an enclosed environment, such as a room, and the material of the masonry construction blocks.

1. Field of the Background
The present invention generally relates to construction materials, and more particularly, to a system for constructing a wall and a component thereof.
2. Description of the Background
Typical concrete wall structures are fabricated using concrete masonry units (CMU's—otherwise referred to as concrete blocks) that are positioned in courses atop a foundation and joined to one another by mortar. Ordinary CMU's include planar front and rear faces and, often, two or three spaced webs extending between the front and rear faces. The webs define one or two voids extending fully from top to bottom of the CMU. Outermost webs may comprise planar or recessed end faces of the CMU. The CMU is typically formed from cast concrete or other materials.
Building a structure using CMU's involves constructing one of more walls by assembling the CMU's together with other building structural components, insulating at least outer walls, covering inner portions of the outer walls and inner walls with gypsum board or plaster, and providing separate heating and/or cooling systems for the resulting structure. This is a time-consuming process that is best undertaken by skilled tradespersons, such as a mason, a heating and cooling contractor, a plasterer, and the like. The need for multiple tradespersons increases expense and involves complexity in terms of appropriately scheduling the various tradespersons during the construction process. Further, a delay involving one of the construction phases can result in an overall delay in constructing the structure, which, in turn, can further increase costs.
Shaw U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,432 discloses a retaining wall comprised of specialized blocks. Each block includes front, back, and two side walls that together define a void. Shaw discloses multiple embodiments, all of which include a means for interlocking adjacent blocks in the vertical and/or horizontal direction.
Blomquist et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,448 discloses a retaining wall system that comprises a plurality of different sized blocks assembled together in varying combinations to construct a retaining wall. Specifically, first, second, and third blocks are all of the same width but differ in length. Further, the second and third blocks have the same height, which is different than the height of the first block. Varying combinations of the first, second, and third blocks are assembled to form six different modules all of the same height, width, and depth.
Azar U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,951 discloses a block comprising first and second congruent panels joined together by at least one web. Each panel has vertical end edges with offset notches to interfit with the end edges of an adjacent block. The offset of the notches allows any two blocks to be placed adjacent to one another without orienting either face of the block in a particular direction. Specifically, at a first end, the notch on the edge of the first panel is on the outside of the block, while the notch on the edge of the second panel at the first end is on the inside of the block. At a second end, the notch of the first panel is on the inside of the block, and the notch of the second panel of the second end is on the outside of the block. Additionally, each of the first and second panels has lower and upper surfaces, wherein the lower surface is inset slightly and the upper surface protrudes slightly. The complementary shape permits a block to interfit with another block along the upper and lower surfaces.
Crespo U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,949 discloses a metal channel leveler utilized to level and to support a wall. In the preferred embodiment, the metal channel leveler becomes part of a footing. The leveler is positioned between two parallel form boards having wall footings and receives a first course of blocks. The top elevation of the form boards are above the bottom surface of the blocks of the first course. Once concrete is poured, the footing encompasses the leveler and a bottom portion of each block of the first course. The metal channel leveler comprises a steel channel with grooves along a bottom surface, a plurality of steel angles, and a plurality of threaded leveling screws. The steel channel is supported by the steel angles perpendicular to the channel fitting into the grooves. The ends of the angles rest on the form board wall footings. Each end has a threaded leveling screw to enable the user to adjust the height and level of the channel both crosswise and lengthwise. In another embodiment, the metal channel leveler is adapted for use on a floor slab. The leveler comprises a steel channel with sides having an outer surface, a plurality of ledges on the outer surfaces of the sides of the channel, and threaded machine screws in each ledge. The height or level of the channel is adjusted by rotating the machine screws.

Wall construction system and component thereof


The present invention relates to a convertible bag for carrying a laptop that can be converted from a tote configuration to a skin or sleeve configuration and back again. The convertible bag includes a body that is shaped and configured to receive a laptop computer; a pair of handles connected to the body, each handle defining an aperture that is sized to receive a hand or a portion thereof; and at least three fasteners, one fastener attached to each handle and one fastener attached to the body, whereby two or more of the at least three fasteners are positioned to engage one another when the pair of handles are in a first position that exposes the apertures and when the pair of handles are in a second position folded against the body.

Most laptop computer bags are equipped to carry a number of accessories, but when no such accessories are needed the bags essentially become excess weight. At the same time, most laptop computer sleeves are ill-equipped to carry much more than accessories and a few papers. When carrying books or traveling for business, it may be desirable to simply carry one's laptop in another, general-purpose bag and thereby avoid carrying two bags. It is believed that no laptop computer bag can satisfy both of these needs.
The present invention is intended to overcome these deficiencies in the art by providing a laptop computer bag that has two alternative uses, one as a tote and the other as a skin (or sleeve).


The fluid control device of the invention can be a reusable device for use on a variety of liquid containers. The fluid control device includes a set of air vents and a spout molded into its body. The device screws onto a container. There may be optional "legs" or tabs that serve to hold the device onto the container when it has been partially unscrewed for dispensing of the container's contents. A thin membrane or gasket is molded or situated inside the device. Slits are cut into this material adjacent to the first set of openings (air vents) and the second set of openings (the spout) allowing air to flow into the device as fluid flows out of the out of the spout opening. The gasket may have a molded channel, the channel having a first opening adjacent to the first set of openings in the device and a second opening located in the upper gasket lining of the device along the edge of the inside of the device midway between the first opening of the device and the second opening of the device.

Fluid containers are used by persons in a variety of situations from refreshments and sports drinks to medication or dietary supplements. In some instances it is a simple act to remove a cap from a bottle and drink or dispense of the container's contents. In other situations it may be difficult to drink or dispense of the container's contents in recommended volume or without spilling. Additionally, an open container, one without a fluid control device, will spill its contents freely when knocked over or dropped resulting in unnecessary waste.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,670 is a Flow Control Element and Covered Drinking Cup. This patent describes not only a cap, but the container to which it attaches. They are both part of the intended design. The cap (not including the container to which it attaches) is a two part device. The cap proper and a flow control element that is attached to the under side of the cap. There are two molded tubes or channels that extend down under the cap's spout and vent. The two parts have the a flow control element attached to them. The design is considered spill resistant, but the cap is always open.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,055 describes a snap-on, screw-off cap with a tamper-evident skirt and container. The patent relates to both the cap and bottle. The container has ratchet teeth molded into the outer wall off the upper neck allowing the snap-on cap to grip and lock to the container making the opening impossible without rupture of a tamper evident band.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,898 shows a screw cap closure. The cap design is thermo-formed from a sheet of thin plastic. It has a seal in its upper/inner lid so as to seal a container by screwing the cap down on the bottle and pressing the seal tightly against the upper rim of the container. This is a cost saving method of producing the generic screw cap for bottles. No spout or pouring ability is mentioned. No function beyond sealing the container is described.

Vented container seal with pouring spout


An interlocking control valve which can be used to control the flow of fluids such as water and gas. The control valve features a push button on the end of a handle which permits the interlocking valve to engage the valve stem when the push button is pressed. A fixed washer is provided with a hole-and-groove cutout, thereby preventing rotation of the handle with respect to the washer unless the push button is pressed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of valves used to control the flow of fluids. More specifically, the invention comprises an interlocking control handle which can be employed as a safety device for preventing a child from actuating a gas or water valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional water faucets feature control valves which a user can rotate to actuate water flow. Various control schemes are used in the prior art for control of water flow from a faucet. One common scheme employs two control valves, where one control valve regulates the volumetric flow rate of water from a hot stream and a second control valve regulates the volumetric flow rate of water from a cold stream. In this control scheme the hot water stream and cold water stream mix before the water is discharged from the faucet. A second common control scheme involves a single control valve which regulates the temperature of the water discharged from the faucet. In this scheme a single valve regulates the ratio of hot water volume to cold water volume. Sometimes an additional control valve is provided to control the overall flow rate of water through the faucet.
These conventional flow control valves are generally easy to operate as only a small amount of torque or rotational force is required to turn the valve. This can present a hazardous condition for a small child who is left unsupervised around a bath tub or shower. Incidents of drowning or scalding are not uncommon since most parents cannot always be aware of what their children are doing.
Although many inventors have sought to make a child-proof control valve, many of these devices have presented their own drawbacks. One problem with many of these prior art devices is that many adults find the devices too cumbersome to use. It is therefore desirable to provide a new control valve that is both child-proof and comfortable for adults to use.


A ceramic bandpass filter (10) that has transmission zeroes above the passband is accomplished without using the top patterning by a block structure that includes a localized mesa (26) formed at the top end of the block that provides increased capacitive coupling between the open circuits and the resonators (30, 32, and 34). This increased top end capacitance provided by the mesa (26) can provide high end or high side transmission zeroes to the characteristic transfer function of the filter.

Ceramic block filters are well known in the prior art. As these devices have evolved and their use in radio communications products has increased, the electrical performance characteristics required of them have become increasingly more stringent.
In many radio communications applications, a ceramic bandpass filter may not have a passband cutoff characteristic that is sufficiently steep, particularly above the passband frequency. While most prior art ceramic bandpass filters have a relatively sharp cutoff frequency below the passband, most have a relatively mild cutoff characteristic above the passband. A sharper cut-off characteristic above the passband can be achieved by a so-called transmission zero above the passband. (A transmission zero in the transfer function of a filter that is a mathematical term representing a physical characteristic of the filter. A transmission zero is usually a combination of a capacitive element connected in parallel with an inductive element, which is positioned in the signal path such that it will block signals of a particular frequency and pass signals within the passband. A transmission zero above the passband is called herein a high-side transmission zero.) Since many communications applications could benefit from a ceramic bandpass filter having a so-called high side transmission zero, a ceramic block filter that has an increased attenuation above the bandpass for these applications would be an improvement over the prior art.
In the prior art, these so-called high side zeroes are accomplished principally by so-called top patterning or top loading. This top patterning is well known in the art and is essentially comprised of patterns of conductive material that surround the metallized holes of a block filter and in part capacitively couples signals to ground metallization lining the block filter, at some frequency. These patterns are accomplished principally by screen printing conductive material onto the top of the block. Top patterning is difficult to precisely control and does not lend itself readily to batch tuning, a tuning process whereby many block filters are preferably tuned in the manufacturing process, and not individually.
Accordingly, a ceramic block filter that has or accomplishes so-called high side transmission zeroes that increase attenuation of undesired signals above the passband frequency and one that avoids the prior art problems of top pattern tuning, would be an improvement over the prior art.

Block filter having high-side passband transfer function zeroes