A system and method applied to a communications network which transmits document portions in which an original document portion having an identifier portion and an information portion is replaced or swapped with a substitute document portion. The system has a controller, typically a proxy server, for reading the identifier portion of the original document portion, determining the information portion of the original document portion, and issuing a swap order when an undesired original document portion is found. A substitute document server receives the swap order and sends the substitute document portion to the controller. A swapping device or mechanism inserts the substitute document portion in place of the original document portion and the substitute document portion is passed on to the user set and displayed. The controller and swapping mechanism can be integrated with the user set or with the resources of the service provider and their functionality can reside in software.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to modifying documents sent over a communications network, and in particular to a system and method for determining the information contents of document portions and replacing undesired document portions with substitute document portions or inserting substitute document portions.
2. Description of Prior Art
To a large degree, the information age has been brought about by rapid advances in the field of communications and communications networks in particular. Increasingly, information which could formerly be presented in tangible, permanent media is reformatted and rendered for display on screens and monitors. Virtually any information presentable as text or text and graphics is being converted into suitable electronic messages or packets for shuttling across a communications network.
A communications network, e.g., the Internet, has an architecture in which information packets from resources or content providers is made available through service providers to users who subscribe to the service. The actual transmission takes place over the communication links of various bandwidths and types which make up the network. Content providers typically store this electronic data on server machines connected directly to the Internet in standard format. The data is broken down into packets and these are then transmitted over the communication link. Among the diverse types of information which may be placed on the Internet in this way are articles, news briefs and updates, weather maps, books, summaries, files, software, catalogues, documents, pictorials, video files, public records, commercial literature and so forth.
Clearly, the number of packets which can be transmitted via a communications network is vast and varied. To aid in sorting, routing and transmitting information on the Internet the content of any given packet is usually identified by its origin (address of the content provider), a brief summary located in a conspicuous portion of the packet (e.g., in the header) or some other identification information. For example, the Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) protocol followed by NetWare routers, distributed by Novell, Inc., execute a so-called Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Service Advertising Protocol (SAP). The RIP protocol involves periodic RIP broadcast packets containing all routing information known to the router. These packets are used to keep the global network synchronized. In addition, the protocol provides for periodically sending SAP broadcast packets containing all server information known to the SAP agent. Thus, the network system keeps track of the contents of the various packets to facilitate transfer, mitigate traffic problems and perform other vital operations.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,852 issued to Meske, Jr. et al. the inventors disclose a method and system for receiving information in a first file written in a first markup language and identifying the information contents. The method and system ensure that even complex packets of information are processed by generating a list of profiles and topics for each list of the profiles. Secondary and tertiary files are created with anchors referencing particular information in the first file. A parsing procedure is taught by Meske to ascertain whether any information in the first file (original packet) is relevant. If so, fourth and fifth files containing the desired information are created and sent to the user.
Meske's system and method can be adapted to block or filter entire packets or portions thereof on a content-basis before performing the necessary steps to display the information--usually in the form of a page--on the user's screen. The document is later parsed to extract the profile and build additional pages to catalog and access the information. This method for building a knowledge base with embedded content profiles and in a document is useful but limited to processing the received information only.
The above-mentioned IPX protocol and similar methods which determine the information contents of packets and use them in the routing process can be employed to control the transfer of packets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,911 issued to Nilakantan et al. discloses a remote smart filtering communication management system which uses the information contents data to alleviate network traffic problems.
In particular, Nilakantan controls the traffic across a communication link between a remote network and a central device by applying forwarding rules. The resources monitor the characteristics of the forwarded data packets received across the communication link to learn characteristics of the users of the remote network. In response to the learned characteristics, the resources generate link management messages and forward these to the remote interface. The remote link management resources in the remote interface are responsive to the link management messages and tailor the forwarding rules to the user characteristics. The packets can now be filtered or blocked based on user characteristics.
The use of selective blocking and filtering of packets by Nilakantan et al. is applied to ultimately reduce network traffic. The invention is centered around sending management messages which are then used to optimize packet traffic across given links in the network. In other words, the problem addressed by this invention is the high volume caused by the proliferation of packets on the network.
Blocking and filtering of packets or their parts can be employed to speed up the page rendering process on the user's screen. For example, blocking functions may restrict packets from a list of providers or an entire block of providers from ever being sent to the user. This feature allows one to prevent undesired packets (e.g., packets containing adult material) from being sent to the user and rendered on his or her screen. Filters can be preset to chose packets based on the time they require for rendering or in accordance with other user-specified standards (e.g., information contents). Proper application of these two functions results in an optimized and personalized page rendering procedure.
In the most common practical scenario, however, a network user sends a direct request for an entire document from a terminal located on his or her premises to the service provider. The provider verifies whether the document is already stored in local memory and, if not, obtains this document from the content provider. While the user's request is processed the service provider usually passes on to the user a number of unsolicited document portions, e.g., document portions from other service providers such as advertisement servers. Thus, the subscriber receives, in addition to the requested document(s), numerous other document portions of varying degrees of interest or importance to him or her. When the page is rendered on the user's screen these embedded document portions are displayed as a part of the document.
Under these circumstances, what is needed is a system and method for modifying or substituting undesired document portions rather than performing blocking and filtering functions on the packet level. For example, the service provider, the user or another party may wish to exchange or modify a document being sent to the user. This situation may occur when the service provider wishes to enclose vital information with the document requested by the user. The use of the bandwidth allocated to a less important document portion, hence a document portion swap, would be highly appropriate for this purpose. In another situation, the user may wish to block undesired document portions. For instance, when recording television programming on the VCR recorder the user can selectively block advertising material from being recorded. Analogously, when rendering a web page the user may wish to omit specific document portions from being rendered on the page.
At the present time the problems associated with this type of document modification have not been addressed, much less solved. Consequently, what is needed is a system and method which solves the problems associated with document modification based on the information contents in a communications network such as the Internet.

System and method for modifying documents sent over a communications network


A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring a flow path having plurality of different solid components flowing therethrough. For example, in the harvesting of a plant material, many factors surrounding the threshing, separating or cleaning of the plant material and may lead to the inadvertent inclusion of the component being selectively harvested with residual plant materials being discharged or otherwise processed. In accordance with the present invention the detection of the selectively harvested component within residual materials may include the monitoring of a flow path of such residual materials by, for example, directing an excitation signal toward of flow path of material and then detecting a signal initiated by the presence of the selectively harvested component responsive to the excitation signal. The detected signal may be used to determine the presence or absence of a selected plant component within the flow path of residual materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to monitoring characteristics of a flow path and, more particularly, to monitoring a flow path which includes solid components such as, for example, grain or other components of a harvested plant material.
2. State of the Art
Combine harvesters are conventionally used in harvesting a wide variety of crop materials. Such combine harvesters may be used to cut a crop or plant material from the field or, they may be used to collect a crop or plant material which has already been cut and arranged in what is known as a windrow within the crop field. Upon collection of the crop or plant material, the material is conventionally passed through a threshing and separating mechanism of the combine harvester to separate the grain therefrom. The grain, along with other impurities such as, for example, chaff, dust, leaves or other straw particles, is fed to a cleaning mechanism to further clean and separate the grain from such impurities. Such a cleaning mechanism might include one or more sieves with an air stream directed therethrough to assist in the removal of chaff and residual straw.
The grain, now separated and cleaned from the crop material, is collected and temporarily stored in a grain tank located on the combine harvester while the residual material (i.e., material other than grain) is conventionally discharged from the combine harvester back onto the crop field. In some combine harvesters the residual material may be "rethreshed" such as by processing it through another threshing and separating mechanism to increase the amount of grain recovered.
The residual materials, such as the straw and chaff, may be discharged from the combine harvester in scattered manner for reintroduction into the soil as a nutrient therefor, or they may be discharged in a narrow row for subsequent collection by another machine. For example, a baler may pass across the field to collect and package (bale) the discharged residual material.
As a practical matter, the harvesting of grain or some other crop material is not a completely efficient process. In other words, some of the material being harvested (e.g., the grain) may be discharged with what is considered to be the residual plant material. Various grain-loss sensors have been developed in the past in an effort to determine the amount of grain being discharged with residual plant material. Conventionally, such sensors have included a piezoelectric transducer which is configured to produce an electrical signal in response the impingement of a material upon a surface of the sensor. Such sensors have been placed, for example, at the discharge end of a cleaning mechanism, to determine whether kernels of grain are intermixed with the residual plant material which is being discharged from the combine harvester.
Generally, such a piezoelectric sensor has been employed in an effort to detect the impingement of a component having a minimum specified mass while remaining unaffected by other materials exhibiting a mass below the specified minimum. Thus, for example, it was intended that a grain kernel would be detected by the sensor while residual material such as straw, leaves, etc., would not be detected by the sensor due to their relative lack of mass in comparison with the grain kernel. However, such sensors do not necessarily provide an accurate indication of the amount of grain being discharged, or otherwise processed, with residual plant materials. Rather, such piezoelectric grain loss sensors often do not distinguish between, for example, a grain kernel and a large piece of straw. Thus, the electrical signal generated by such a sensor may inaccurately indicate that a significant amount of grain is being discharged with the residual material. Such an indication may persuade an operator of the combine harvester to change one or more operating parameters thereof. The changes made to the any operating parameters in response to the indications of the grain loss sensor may, thus, be improper and cause the combine harvester to operate inefficiently.
While various attempts have been made to improve such grain loss sensors, there remains a need to provide an accurate grain loss sensor which properly discriminates and differentiates between multiple components (e.g., between grain kernels and straw) within a flow path and which provides an accurate indication of the same.
Thus, in view of the shortcomings in the art, it would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for accurately monitoring one or more characteristics of a flow path which includes a solid component flowing therethrough. It would further be advantageous to utilize such a method and apparatus in conjunction, for example, with a combine harvester to optimize the production of such a harvester such that the desired component of a crop or plant material may be more efficiently harvested.

Method and apparatus for monitoring characteristics of a flow path having solid components flowing therethrough


Processes and techniques are disclosed to identify regions of suspected malignancy and their localization within a body part or organ. These methods rely on the analysis of infrared images to identify thermal abnormalities using image post-processing techniques, numerical modeling, iterative solutions methodology or a digital library. The methods utilize noninvasive, non-radiative and no contact infrared imaging that can be used for breast cancer screening for improved prognosis.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., with more than 246,000 new cases diagnosed in 2018. It is estimated that one in every eight women (12.5%) will develop BC during her lifetime and that one in every 24 woman (4.16%) will die of BC. Early detection of BC is crucial to increase the survival of individuals; since 2003, the mortality rate has dropped ˜1.2% annually mainly due to improvements in detection and treatment. Improving BC screening techniques for more accurate early detection will save lives. The exact reasons for developing BC have not been determined, but researchers agree that age and breast density are two of the most important factors that increase the risk. In the U.S., ˜80% of individuals diagnosed with cancer are at least 50 years old. The risk of developing cancer is six times greater for women with more than 60% dense tissue as compared to women with ˜30% dense tissue; approximately >40% women have dense breast tissue. There are a variety of screening techniques available to detect BC. However, mammography, the most accepted and widely used, is suboptimal in breasts with dense tissue (found in 40-50% of women). Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), similar to mammography, is being explored to improve cancer detection, however it suffers from subject discomfort, higher cost and increased radiation exposure. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an option but is time consuming and too expensive to be used for general screening and as such is limited to high risk populations (lifetime risk >20%) by most insurers. Ultrasound is one of the most commonly used adjuncts for the general population; however, it is very operator dependent and findings may be difficult to reproduce.
Infrared Imaging (IRI) has the potential to detect thermal signatures that allow for detection of BC with less likelihood of dense breast tissue masking the tumor. IRI captures the heat emitted by the breast surface and generates a thermal image, which is altered by the presence of a tumor. Dynamic IRI, with a cold air blast on the breast surface, induces discomfort and is ineffective for deeper tumors. Steady-state IRI is painless and does not expose subjects to radiation. Since IRI does not require special equipment other than the IR camera and positioning stand, it can be easily incorporated into existing mammography centers. However previous usage of this technique reported in literature is not founded on rigorous scientific approach.
Various methods to detect and analyze thermal contours include thermal trajectories, contouring and thermal indices. One study described a method to determine a 3D thermally distinguishable region. The method consists of obtaining a thermal image defined over a 3D spatial representation of a living body. Later, spots are identified in the thermal image and a thermal path is calculated. At least two thermal trajectories (paths) are used to determine at least one internal 3D thermally distinguishable region. Another invention created a method for detecting, diagnosing and guiding treatment of cell irregularities in an examined tissue. The steps of the method are: applying thermo-modulating means to at least a portion of said examined tissue (cooling or warming), collecting thermal data of the tissue, and calculating at least one heat transfer index over time (between 10 ns and 10 s). The thermal index is computed as the derivative of any order of such thermal index over time. The thermal index is normalized in a scale between 1 and 10, where higher values indicate more severity of the cell irregularities. The index is associated with malignant tumor, precancerous tumors, benign tumors, infections, pneumonia, necrotic cells and any combination thereof. The indexes are computed in a pixel or set of pixels with salient thermal characteristics. These techniques are often simplistic, not reliable due to lack of scientific rigor, or rely on operator experience to identify suspicious tumors.
Other methods explore a combination of techniques in order to adequately compare surface features. Some inventors developed a system using both IR imaging and x-rays. The device is housed inside a closed chamber, where both acquisition systems are used simultaneously. Patients are imaged in prone position without compression. The device is used to correlate anatomical and physiological characteristics and post process analysis in order to reduce the number of false positives. The device has multiple IR cameras, one of the cameras is aligned parallel to the x-ray source, other IR camera is aligned perpendicular to the x-ray source, other positions of the IR camera can be used to obtain cranial, medial, candid, lateral and frontal images. The x-ray and the IR cameras can rotate around the opening and can be moved along the x and y axes. Another invention made a system and methods to improve the performance of breast IR imaging by employing a combination of near IR and mid IR frequencies for detection of cancer and other subsurface defects. The system also contains an IR transparent window that can be used to distort the breasts or impose an artificial heat flow to and from the breasts. Near IR provides information about deeper structures because it is a penetrating wavelength and mid IR provide information about surface characteristics. The device uses a source of mid IR wavelength such as led lamps. Some inventors created a similar system that consists of thermal and electrical impedance scanning together. The novelty of their invention is the frequency dependence of the electrical impedance of the tissue, which allows the acquisition of multiple thermal images with currents at different frequencies injected in the region under inspection. The method without application of electrical current provides conventional thermal images. The application of electrical current enhances the thermal contrast in the surface, depending on the electrical properties of the tissue. The IR detector must operate in two bands (MWIR and LWIR). The images without electric current and with electric stimulation are compared at different frequencies. Electrodes are attached to the surface for delivering the electric current. Another used a device for multi-modality test of breast cancer utilizing thermography, ultrasound and optical spectroscopy.

Detection and characterization of cancerous tumors


A voltage detecting circuit to perform voltage detection by introducing a voltage from a detection node, comprises: a first resistance, a second resistance, and a first switching element, connected in series with each other from the detection node to reference electric potential in order; and a detection circuit for performing a detection operation of a voltage by receiving input of the voltage from a node between the first resistance and the second resistance, wherein a control voltage generated on the basis of the voltage at the detection node is supplied to a control terminal of the first switching element, and the first switching element is turned on when the voltage at the detection node is large, and the first switching element is turned off when the voltage at the detection node is small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage detecting circuit to perform voltage detection by introducing a voltage from a detection node, and to a switching power source apparatus to perform a control operation of a switching element on the basis of the voltage output of the voltage detecting circuit.
2. Related Art
As shown in FIG. 6, there is, for example, a flyback system switching power source apparatus (switching power source apparatus of flyback system) adopting the configuration of detecting a drain-to-source voltage Vds52 of a synchronously rectifying element SW52, made of a power MOS FET or the like, and of performing the on-off control of the synchronously rectifying element SW52 on the basis of the detected voltage Vds52.
In such a switching power source apparatus, as shown in a time chart of FIGS. 7A-7C, when the synchronously rectifying element SW52 is in its off-state (at the time of the low level of the gate voltage Vgs52), the voltage Vds52 at the drain terminal of the synchronously rectifying element SW52 becomes a high voltage composed of an output voltage Vo and an added voltage Vin/N, which is equal to the input voltage Vin divided by a turn ratio N.
Generally, the method of constituting a detection circuit 51 with high-voltage withstanding elements or the method of inputting a dropped voltage into the detection circuit 51 by the use of voltage dividing circuits R51 and R52, as shown in FIG. 6, or by the use of a pull down resistor to perform the voltage detection at a detection point to which the high voltage mentioned above is applied, is used in order to perform the detection.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-129364 discloses the circuit to step down an output voltage with a voltage dividing circuit to input the stepped-down voltage into a shunt regulator for generating a reference voltage in order to detect the output voltage.
However, in the case where the voltage Vds52 at the detection node is introduced into the detection circuit 51 through the voltage dividing circuits R51 and R52 as shown in FIG. 6, a detection voltage Vdet50, which is a uniformly divided voltage of the voltage Vds52 from the high range thereof to the low range thereof as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, is input into the detection circuit 51 Consequently, in a period T50, in which the voltage Vds52 at the detection node is a low voltage and voltage changes are small, the detection voltage Vdet50, the voltage changes of which are made to be further smaller by the voltage division, is input into the detection circuit 51.
It is supposed here that the detection circuit 51 detects the timing at which the detection voltage Vdet50 reaches a predetermined threshold voltage (for example, a voltage slightly lower than a voltage of zero) Vth in the period T50. In this case, since the voltage changes of the detection voltage Vdet50 become smaller by the voltage dividing circuits R51 and R52, the problem in which the detection accuracy of the timing falls is caused.
Moreover, parasitic capacitance Ca, such as the gate capacitance of a MOS FET, is generated at the input terminal of the detection circuit 51. Consequently, if the voltage dividing circuits R51 and R52 as shown in FIG. 6 exist, a time constant circuit is formed by the resistance R51 and the parasitic capacitance Ca, and consequently the problem of the generation of waveform rounding in the detection voltage Vdet50 by the passage of the voltage Vds52 at the detection node through the time constant circuit is caused. Furthermore, if the voltage drop quantity by the voltage dividing circuits R51 and R52 is made to be larger, then the resistance R51 on the side of the detection node must be the one having a large value. Consequently, even if the parasitic capacitance Ca is that of rather small, the time constant of the time constant circuit becomes a large value. Then, the problem in which, if the waveform rounding is caused in the detection voltage Vdet50, a delay is produced in the detection timing of a voltage is caused.

Voltage detecting circuit and switching power source apparatus


A freight management method and system for arranging for shipment of a load, offering equipment, selling a product, or providing a service from a shipper by a carrier, based on shipping data and carrier data supplied by the shipper and the carrier, respectively, comprising a central processing system (10), inputting into the central processing system (10) a request for bids (18), which includes requests to apply pre-defined rates from the shipper (12) for shipping a load; electronically transmitting an invitation to bid (19) for shipping the load from the central processing system (10) to a plurality of carriers (13); electronically receiving bids (20) at the central processing system (10) from at least some of the carriers (13) for shipping the load; electronically transmitting to the shipper a bid report (21) with bids received from at least some of the carriers (13) receiving the invitation to bids; and electronically receiving from the shipper a bid selection (22) and notifying the carrier of acceptance (23) of at least one of the bids.

In the past, freight commerce between shippers and carriers has involved individual to individual telephone-based communications as well as telephone-based clearinghouses or third party companies employing few to many people to receive requests for shipments and to find available carriers. The shipping industry has relied on many oral communications along with handwritten forms and notes. This has led to widespread mistakes and miscommunication in the areas of load, loading, equipment, routing, delivery, billing and payment information. Such verbal and manual processes have been inefficient, time consuming, personnel intensive and expensive.
The introduction of desktop computers has made more data available to agents handling shipment requests, but the process for matching shippers' requests for shipping loads to freight carriers' critically important equipment availability and prices has yet to be truly addressed. Present products and systems that indicate fixed or variable established carrier lane rates for selection by shippers without guaranteed equipment availability are quite limited at best and can actually fail at high volumes. Many companies spend most of their communication time and efforts in the very attempt to ascertain carrier equipment availability. In this effort some use telephone and facsimile (fax) communication in conjunction with computer database information. Other systems are known generally to be in development with some recently completed, but these systems, while beginning to incorporate some of the basic portions of this invention that were an integral part of this invention at a time substantially prior to their offerings as components of the initial parts of the full concept development of this invention, differ greatly from the methods, system and capabilities of this invention in very important aspects. Companies are rushing to the marketplace with services beginning to parallel or outright copy certain aspects or portions of this invention but in their narrow view actually exacerbate the fragmentation in the industry. This will eventually create a proliferation of thousands of unrelated, non-integrated web sites causing a communications overload. Their directions lack the core requirements and approach to effect a comprehensive universal freight transportation management communication utility method for shippers and carriers along with truly electronically integrating systems, networks, and users. Even present Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and E-mail approaches just cannot address the requirements to meet the needs in the burgeoning freight transportation communication environment.
There also exist certain electronic bulletin boards for posting loads and/or equipment. These are still even more basic concepts of communication. The information posted on these bulletin boards is developed using the non-automated methods mentioned above as well as computer transmissions. As with other systems, posting services differ even more so from this invention. Such services typically just list origin and destination cities and states, the type of equipment needed, pick-up date, the shipper or carrier name along with a telephone number of same requesting an interested carrier to reply. Some services also indicate a price that would be paid along with the type of commodity being shipped. Recently some of these services have placed these types of bulletin boards on the internet to access carriers. A few of such posting services also let carriers list their names and telephone numbers to offer their equipment at certain locations for shippers to reply. These are very basic services with non-qualified, non-anonymous yet typically unknown participants.

Method and system for e-commerce freight management


A layer of microscopic printed VLEDs is sandwiched between a first conductor layer and a transparent second conductor layer so that light exits the second conductor layer. Touch sensor electrodes are formed overlying the VLED layer so that the VLEDs illuminate the touch sensor. In one embodiment, the touch sensor electrodes are independent from the conductor layers for the VLEDs. In another embodiment, the transparent second conductor layer also serves as a touch sensor electrode. In another embodiment, both the conductor layers for the VLEDs serve as touch sensor electrodes. The conductor layers for the VLEDs may be segmented in groups to selectively illuminate groups of the VLEDs under each touch sensor position. The touch sensor electrodes may be transparent or opaque, depending on whether the electrodes are intended to allow the VLED light to pass through.

Capacitive touch sensors allow a user to make a selection by touching an area of the sensor surface. Such sensors may be transparent, where a touch screen is provided over a conventional display screen, and the user touches a displayed icon to select it. Other touch sensors do not need to be transparent, since there is no display screen behind it.
For touch sensors that do not overlie a display screen, there may be a need to uniformly illuminate the sensor or identify touch positions on the sensor by illuminated areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,638,314 describes an electro-luminescent (EL) layer (typically a phosphorescent powder) sandwiched between upper and lower electrodes of a capacitive touch sensor, where the top electrode is transparent. The sensor may be for a single touch button or part of a larger sensor where touching different areas of the sensor signify a different selection. An electric field across the EL layer causes it to illuminate. For the touch sensor function, an increase in the mutual capacitance between the opposing electrodes indicates that the user's fingertip is touching the spot directly above the electrode. A controller rapidly time-multiplexes a high voltage EL energization voltage with a touch detection signal to multiplex the functions of the two electrodes. Therefore, the EL appears to be constantly on to illuminate the touch sensor. The shapes of the electrodes could be patterned so that the abutting EL portion illuminates with the same shape (e.g., to identify a number 0-9). One problem with such an EL layer is that a high voltage DC to AC converter is needed to supply the high voltage (over 100V) to the EL layer. The multiplexer must be designed to handle the high voltage at the high switching frequency. Further, since the optical characteristics of the phosphorescent layer are related to the thickness of the layer, and the operation of the touch sensor is also related to the gap between the electrodes, there is some trade-off between the optimal EL design and the optimal touch sensor design. Further, the EL layer becomes saturated beyond a certain voltage, so brightness control is limited. Additionally, the design only works for touch sensors of the type that sense the change in mutual capacitance between upper and lower electrodes. Thus, the EL function could not be used with a planar type of touch sensor, where all the electrodes are formed on a single layer. Other drawbacks exist.
US Patent Application Publication 2012/0206392 describes a transparent touch pad with an array of conventional packaged LEDs on a printed circuit board attached to the back of the touch pad to backlight the touch pad. Such an arrangement is expensive and relatively thick. Also, there is poor light coupling to the touch pad. Such an arrangement is analogous to the touch pad being a touch screen laminated over a display screen.
What is needed is a different design for an illuminated capacitive touch sensor that does not suffer from the drawbacks of the prior art.

Integrated capacitive touch screen and LED layer


A machine tool apparatus and method for exterior and interior cutting operations on a workpiece is provided. In one form, the machine tool apparatus has a common support assembly with a tailstock and a boring tool holder mounted thereto. The common support assembly has a common support carriage that is mounted to a machine base for travel along a longitudinal axis parallel to a central axis of the workpiece. The tailstock and boring tool holder are mounted to a mounting base portion for travel transverse to the workpiece central axis. In one form, a turret having external cutting tools is separate from the boring tool holder and mounted to the machine base for performing external cutting operations on the workpiece. This separate mounting allows the turret to machine the exterior of the workpiece while also permitting a longer boring tool to perform deep internal cutting operations on the workpiece.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools are generally known in the art for use in machining various workpieces for a variety of uses. CNC tools commonly comprise a tooling center that secures the workpiece to be machined, as well as providing a plurality of tools for machining various internal and/or external features of the workpiece, as desired. The CNC tooling center machines the workpiece as directed by the computer, in response to computer aided design or computer aided manufacturing instructions.
One type of CNC machine tool is a CNC turning center, such as the Mazak QTN450MY 3000U machine tool, provided by the applicants' assignee herein, Mazak Corporation. A CNC turning center generally includes a headstock, for securing one end of a workpiece and rotationally driving the workpiece, a tailstock for securing the opposite end of the workpiece, and a turret for holding multiple cutting tools that can be selected during machining to perform various machining operations on the workpiece. Some turning centers include a steady-rest that can selectively support the workpiece between the headstock and the tailstock to provide additional support to an elongated body of the workpiece during machining.
In general, the workpiece is secured at each end and turned via the headstock, which can rotate the workpiece at a predetermined speed. The tailstock can rotate in accordance with the rotation of the workpiece caused by the headstock. Likewise, the steady rest can allow the workpiece to rotate while the steady rest supports the workpiece between the headstock and the tailstock.
The turret can travel along the axis of the workpiece to machine various axial locations along the outer surface of the workpiece between the headstock and the tailstock. The turret holds multiple cutting tools that can machine the outer surface of the workpiece. Additionally, the turret may hold a boring tool that can machine the interior of the workpiece when the turret is translated beyond the end of the workpiece supported by the tailstock. In a typical CNC turning center, the turret is a generally disc shaped member mounted for rotation on a carriage. These tools extend from the perimeter of the turret for selection via rotation of the turret. However, because the boring tool is elongated, the boring tool axis will extend perpendicularly to the plane of the disc-shaped member of the turret and generally parallel to the rotary axis of the turret and the central axis of the elongate workpiece. The boring tool mounted to the turret extends toward the driven end of the workpiece held by the headstock.
A turning center having a turret allows for multiple machining operations due to the number of different tools that are attached to the turret. Based on the programming of the computer, the turning center can switch from using one external cutting tool to another, and subsequently switch from an external cutting tool to the boring tool. This tool switching allows for complex machining of a workpiece without requiring an operator to change out tools, providing for an efficient process.
The boring tool is typically an elongated cylindrical bar having a cutting tip disposed at one end. The depth that the boring tool can machine inside the workpiece is limited by the length of the boring tool. The longer the boring tool, the deeper the boring tool can bore within the workpiece.
However, having the turret carry the boring tool limits the range of machining on the workpiece. The typical turning center is generally enclosed to keep debris and machining coolant from entering the air and to shield the machinist from such debris. This allows the machinist to closely monitor the machining process, but limits the amount of space within which the tools can operate. The headstock is located at one end of the machine and includes a rotary drive for rotating the workpiece. When the boring tool is mounted at the turret, it extends toward the headstock. Because the boring tool extends toward the headstock, the turret cannot travel closer to the headstock than the length of the boring tool. In the Mazak QTN450MY 3000U machine tool, the length of the boring tool is restricted to 210 mm to allow the full length of the workpiece, and particularly portions thereof near the headstock to be machined by the external cutting tools carried by the turret. In other words, if the boring tool was longer than 201 mm, then external machining operations on portions of the workpiece adjacent the headstock would not be able to be undertaken due to the interference between the longer boring tool and the headstock. For example, if the boring tool extends 500 mm from turret, there is an axial window within which exterior machining of the elongated workpiece cannot be performed. In this example, the window is about 290 mm (500 mm-210 mm). Therefore, mounting a longer boring tool to the turret limits the axial machining range of the turret along the elongated workpiece.
For the boring tool to machine the interior of the workpiece, the turret must travel beyond the end of the workpiece engaged by the tailstock. The turret must be able to clear the end of the workpiece at least by the distance that the boring tool extends from the turret. As discussed above, in the QTN450MY 3000U machine tool, the maximum length of the boring tool is about 210 mm without restricting the length of the workpiece that can have exterior cutting operations performed thereon. The maximum length of the workpiece is about 3331 mm, minus the chucking length at the headstock and the length of the boring tool. In one form, a 21 inch diameter chuck has a chucking length of 254 mm. Thus, a 210 mm boring tool would require a reduction in the length of the workpiece to 2867 mm. Increasing the length of the boring tool to 500 mm would reduce the length of the workpiece to 2577 mm. Therefore, mounting the boring tool to the turret requires a decreased length of the workpiece between centers if boring operations are desired. The longer the boring tool, the shorter the workpiece must be to allow for the boring tool to sufficiently clear the tailstock end of the workpiece. To perform deep boring operations without sacrificing the length of the workpiece, the workpiece would need to be removed from the turning center and machined using a different machine tool dedicated to deep boring.
Moreover, the turret has a limited size in which cutting tools or boring tools can be mounted. Mounting the boring tool to the turret typically results in a decrease of the number of cutting tools that can also be mounted to the turret. Increasing the diameter of the boring tool further limits the number of other tools that can be mounted to the turret. Decreasing the number of cutting tools reduces the number of machining operations that can be performed. In the QTN450MY 3000U machine tool, the diameter of the boring tool at the turret is about 50 mm.
Additionally, the boring tool length is limited by the manner in which it is secured. As mentioned, the turret is generally disc-shaped, and thus the area of the boring tool held by the turret is generally limited to the thickness of the disc-shaped turret. As the length of the boring tool is increased, the boring tool has a greater length thereof that is cantilevered from the relatively thin disc-shaped body of the turret so that there is an increase in the instability of the boring tool due to the limited clamping area the turret provides. In the QTN450MY 3000U machine tool, the maximum diameter to length ratio of the boring tool when mounted to the turret has been found to be about 1:4.2 before the boring tool would become unstable during interior machining, resulting in chatter. Increasing the diameter of the boring tool to 100 mm, would allow for increased length of the boring tool to 420 mm, but this increased length would restrict the range of machining and the length of the workpiece, as described above, in addition to further limiting the area at the turret to mount cutting tools.
Thus, the length of the boring tool or the length of the workpiece is restricted. First, with the boring tool extending orthogonally from the face of the turret, the length of the boring tool limits the distance that the turret can translate toward the headstock, thereby limiting the axial machining range of the cutting tools held at the turret. Second, the elongate boring tool is mounted to the disc-shaped body of the turret to be cantilevered therefrom, such that the portion of the boring tool that is held by the disc-shaped body is limited to the thickness of the disc-shaped body of the turret. The limited support of the boring tool limits the length of the boring tool to avoid instability of the boring tool during machining. Third, for the boring tool to machine the interior of the workpiece, the turret needs to translate beyond the end of the workpiece at the tailstock end a distance far enough to permit the entire length of the boring tool to be beyond the end of the workpiece. Thus, for a given size of the turning center, a longer boring tool will typically require a shorter workpiece.


An input interface circuit for a logic device having a configuration of pull-up and pull-down devices for defining the logic level based on an undriven input signal where the pull-up and pull-down devices are independently and separately programmable to follow the input signal (e.g., a keeper circuit), or follow the inverse of the input signal, or programmed permanently on, or programmed permanently off. The interface circuit can be used to provide a known and programmable output signal for an IC input (or internal line) that does not have a known driving source. By allowing this degree of flexibility, the input interface circuit of the present invention, under programmed control, generates an output signal with positive or negative feedback based on the input signal; or the input interface circuit provides a constant high or constant low signal output, or can oscillate or provide a high impedance response as output. In cases when the input pin (or internal line) is not being driven by a bus or source driver, the input interface provides a number of flexible configurations for supplying predetermined outputs. Within a programmable logic device, a separate input interface circuit is provided with each external pad (or internal line) that provides signals within the integrated circuit originating from associated input pins. The input interface contains two multiplexers which drive the pull-up and pull-down devices, each multiplexer being coupled to receive inputs from programmable memory cells and having a common control line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of input signal interface circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to an input interface circuit useful for controlling input signal lines within an integrated circuit device.
2. Background of the Invention
Signals are often carried to an integrated circuit (IC) via an input pin of the IC which is also coupled to an external pad within the IC. Other signals are carried within an IC from one portion of the IC to another portion of the IC; these signals can also be called input signals. A significant problem exists with present circuit designs regarding input signal lines to an IC when the input signal characteristics (e.g., voltage, driving source) are unknown. With respect to complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, for example, the voltage applied to an input pin over a bus is in many instances unknown because the source driver can be switched during operation, removed completely, or in a power conservation mode. In these instances when no source device is driving the input pin, the voltage seen by the integrated circuit over its associated external pad may be unknown and may be driven with a very weak high or weak low signal or may simply "float." Likewise, certain internal lines in an IC can float to an unknown voltage. In such conditions, there may be amplification of ambient noise, as well as excessive power dissipation associated with the input pin of the IC device or with an internal line of the IC device. Therefore, it is desired to provide a known or predicted voltage that can be applied to each input pin of an IC device even during conditions when the connected bus does not have a driving source or the bus is disconnected or electronically isolated. To this end, it is also desired to provide flexibility in generating signal outputs from an interface circuit based on signals received over an input pin that may not have a driving source. The present invention offers this functionality.
One method of preventing input pins or internal lines from floating at unknown or unstable voltages, caused by leakage currents on a line, is to provide a pull-up or pull-down resistance. Using such mechanisms, in the event that the normal driving source is mechanically disconnected or electrically not driven, as in a tri-state bus, the resistor provides a defined level for the input pin. For tri-state buses, use of pull-up or pull-down resistors may result in unnecessarily changing the logic level of many of the lines as the bus changes from one driving source to another.
The use of a circuit to minimize floating by retaining the last voltage applied is also known in the art. Such circuits are often referred to as "keeper circuits". FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art keeper circuit 90. With respect to this prior art device, a pair of inverters 100 communicate an input signal 102 through a feedback impedance 104, which in this example is a resistor 104. The signal then reinforces the logic value.
The output state of the prior art circuit 90 of FIG. 1 is therefore determined by the last state of the input signal at an input terminal 98, and this state is maintained by the keeper circuit if the normal source is removed or if the normal source becomes tri-stated. An amplifier/buffer circuit 99 communicates the `kept` state to a logic circuit which, in this example, is a logic array.
Signal interface circuitry has been known to utilize an interface that contains an active keeper circuit in conjunction with a pull-up transistor where the pull-up transistor can be programmed out of the interface and where the keeper circuit is always present. This design does not offer as much flexibility as desired because the keeper circuit is always active in the interface and only the pull-up transistor can be programmed in or out. Further, this design has only been applied to internal lines of a logic device and has not been applied to external pads of the IC (e.g., those coupled to receive signals from the input pins of the IC).
In addition, pull-up transistors and pull-down transistors have been applied to external pads of a logic device. However only one of the transistors is allowed to be programmed permanently "on" at a time, while both can be programmed permanently "off." This design does not offer as much flexibility as desired because the pull-up and pull-down devices are limited in their configuration with respect to each other and are programmed only in permanent states. Further, in this application there is no keeper circuit function.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an input interface circuit having the flexibility to independently control a set of pull-up and pull-down transistors such that multiple configurations can be obtained, including a keeper arrangement. It is further desired to apply such interface circuit to an external pad of an IC device which is coupled to receive signals from an input pin. It is also desired to provide the above flexibility such that each transistor in the above configuration can be independently programmed permanently off, or programmed permanently on, or programmed to follow the input voltage, or follow the inverse of the input voltage. It is desired to provide this interface circuit for each external pad of the IC device using circuitry that is internal to the IC device. These and other aspects of the present invention not specifically recited above will become clear within discussions of the present invention to follow.

Input signal interface with independently controllable pull-up and pull-down circuitry


After a wireless device registers with a wireless carrier, a registration process is initiated with a provisioning server. The provisioning server, based on at least one of a device identifier for the wireless device and an identifier of the wireless carrier, retrieves database information from a database. This information may be used by the provisioning server to decide whether to return (i) address information for a relay server which provides centralised management services or (ii) address information for an enterprise network.

An enterprise with a computer network may wish to provide its employees with access to the enterprise network using remote wireless devices. There are a variety of wireless network carriers serving different geographical areas. Historically, to provide enterprise network access by wireless devices, an enterprise could first determine the required geographic coverage. Next, the enterprise could identify one or more wireless carriers which, together, provide the required geographic coverage. The enterprise could then approach each of the identified carriers and arrange a private communication line between the enterprise network and the wireless carrier (often referred to as a leased line). Thereafter, wireless devices within the geographic scope of the wireless network of one of these wireless carriers could access the enterprise network using the wireless network and the communication line set up between the wireless network and the enterprise network.
An obvious drawback with this approach is that an enterprise that wished to allow wireless communication with the enterprise network over a broad geographic area must make, and maintain, arrangements with many different wireless carriers. Further, a message intended for a wireless device that was disconnected (e.g., off or not in any of the coverage areas) would need to be retained by the enterprise network. This is for the reason that it would not be known with which wireless carrier the wireless device would next register (consequent upon entering, or being turned on within, the coverage area of the wireless carrier). As an enterprise network may not be configured to handle, or to handle efficiently, undeliverable messages until they can be sent, this could prove problematic. Also, any given wireless device will normally be assigned a different (typically IP) address when entering each of the different wireless networks. It may fall on the enterprise network to keep a mapping to the current address of each wireless device.
To address these and other difficulties, a centralised infrastructure was conceived in order to provide centralised management services for wireless communications. Connections were negotiated between the centralised infrastructure and many different wireless carriers in order to provide comprehensive geographic coverage. Further, for an enterprise subscribing to the centralised management services, the centralised infrastructure will receive messages from the enterprise network intended for any wireless device, whether or not the wireless device is currently connected. Where a given wireless device is disconnected, the centralised infrastructure will store the message and forward it to the given wireless device whenever it next registers with one of the included wireless carriers. Additionally, the centralised infrastructure, by holding appropriate mapping tables, allows the enterprise network to communicate with each authorised wireless device no matter what address a given wireless carrier may assign to the wireless device. Yet further, historically, wireless carriers employ web-browser technology. As such, a message to a wireless device registered with a given wireless carrier is stored by the wireless carrier and must be actively retrieved from the wireless carrier by the wireless device. In contrast, using technology described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,378 issued Mar. 2, 2004 to Gilhuly et al., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, the centralised infrastructure may be configured to push the message onto a wireless device.
With the advent of virtual private networks (VPNs) over the public Internet, the need for a leased line between an enterprise and a wireless carrier has, in many instances, disappeared. This, together with inter-carrier agreements, may make it less difficult to ensure a broad geographic coverage even by concluding a service agreement with only one wireless carrier. Further, newer wireless carriers might employ push technology, might handle disconnects by storing and forwarding messages, and might off-load wireless device addressing problems from the enterprise network. With such high capability wireless carriers and inter-carrier agreements, the aforedescribed centralised infrastructure could become an unwanted added expense.
This invention seeks to ameliorate this potential problem.

Switch-in of centralised infrastructure for management for wireless communications


An ultraviolet C light-emitting diode includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a first electron blocking layer, and a second electron blocking layer. The active layer is disposed between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The wavelength of the maximum peak of the spectrum emitted by the active layer ranges from 230 nanometers to 280 nanometers. The concentration of magnesium in the active layer is less than 1017 atoms/cm3. The first electron blocking layer and the second electron blocking layer are disposed between the p-type semiconductor layer and the active layer. The concentration of magnesium in the second electron blocking layer is greater than that of the first electron blocking layer and is greater than 1018 atoms/cm3.

In order to make an electron hole carrier to be easily injected into a light-emitting layer, active layer or multiple-quantum well (MQW), an electron blocking layer (EBL) in an ultraviolet C light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) structure is doped with beryllium, magnesium or zinc, etc. to form a p-type semiconductor. In this way, in addition to increasing the electron hole concentration, the efficiency of the ultraviolet C light-emitting diode element can be further improved.
However, when the electron blocking layer is doped with beryllium, magnesium or zinc, etc., since the concentration of aluminum in the electron blocking layer is greater than the concentration of aluminum in the quantum barrier in the light-emitting layer, active layer or multiple-quantum well (MQW), it is not easy for beryllium, magnesium or zinc, etc. to be doped. On the other hand, if the doping amount of beryllium, magnesium or zinc, etc. is increased, the problem of memory effect of beryllium, magnesium, zinc, etc. and its diffusion into the quantum well or quantum barrier will be caused. As a result, excessive impurities may form defects in the quantum well or quantum barrier, resulting in a decrease in the luminous efficiency of the ultraviolet C light-emitting diode device and an unnecessary defect illumination.

Ultraviolet C light-emitting diode having electron blocking layers

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Method of making a casting by investment casting of a metal or alloy, especially titanium and its alloys, in a ceramic investment shell mold in a manner to provide enhanced x-ray detectability of any sub-surface ceramic inclusions that may be present below exterior surfaces of the casting. The method involves forming a ceramic mold facecoat and/or back-up layer including erbia or other x-ray or neutron-ray detectable ceramic component. The facecoat/back-up layer is/are formed using a ceramic slurry comprising erbia and other optional ceramic particulates, an inorganic binder, and an inorganic pH control agent. The slurry is applied to a pattern of component to be cast to form the mold. A metal or alloy is cast in the mold, and the solidified casting is removed from the mold. The casting is subjected to radiography to detect any sub-surface ceramic inclusions below the exterior surface thereof not detectable by visual inspection of the casting.

Investment casting of titanium and titanium alloys and similar reactive metals in ceramic molds is made difficult by the metal's high affinity for elements such oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. At elevated temperatures, titanium and its alloys can react with the mold facecoat that typically comprises a ceramic oxide. For example, at elevated temperatures during investment casting in a ceramic investment shell mold having a ceramic oxide facecoat, such as zirconia, a titanium alloy such as Ti-6Al-4V will react with the ceramic oxide to form a brittle, oxygen-enriched surface layer, known as alpha case, that adversely affects mechanical properties of the casting and that is removed by a post-casting chemical milling operation as described, for example, in Lassow et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,806.
Moreover, ceramic oxide particles originating from the mold facecoat can become incorporated in the casting below the alpha case layer as sub-surface inclusions by virtue of interaction between the reactive melt and the mold facecoat as well as mechanical spallation of the mold facecoat during the casting operation. The sub-surface oxide inclusions are not visible upon visual inspection of the casting, even after chemical milling.
The manufacture of titanium based structural airframe components by investment casting of titanium and its alloys in ceramic investment shell molds poses problems from the standpoint that the castings should be cast to near net shape so as to require only a chemical milling operation to remove any alpha case present on the casting. However, any sub-surface ceramic inclusions located below the alpha case in the casting are not removed by the chemical milling operation and further are not visible upon visual inspection of the casting. There thus is a need in the art for a method of making such structural airframe components by investment casting of titanium and its alloys in ceramic investment shell molds in a manner that enhances detectability of any sub-surface ceramic inclusions that may be present below exterior surfaces of the casting.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of making castings, such as for example, structural airframe component castings, by casting titanium and its alloys as well as other metals and alloys in contact with a mold facecoat that satisfies this need by providing for ready detectability of sub-surface ceramic inclusions that may be present below the exterior surface of the casting.

Method of casting with improved detectability of subsurface inclusions


An air sterilizing apparatus is created which can be set within an environment without adversely affecting people, pets, or plants within the environment such as a room. The apparatus uses a passage through which ambient air passes. The passage has a treatment chamber in which ultraviolet light (ideally UV-C) is used to sterile the ambient air. Each end section of the passage is configured to block light from exiting the passage. In the preferred embodiment, each end section includes a coating of UV adsorbing material to provide further protection to the environment from the UV light.

At the present time, and into the foreseeable future, there is a significant need to provide protection to the populace from air borne and contact pathogens such as bacterium and viruses. A variety of chemicals and treatments have been developed which are used to protect the populace.
It has long been known that ultraviolet (UV) light has the affect of sterilizing bacterium and if emitted in certain wave lengths (UV-C) can even sterilize viruses. Unfortunately, UV-C is also harmful to humans, pets, and plants so must be used only when the area is isolated. Typically, a UV-C generating apparatus is placed within a vacant room, the windows are blocked, and then the UV-C generator is activated for a period of time. This methodology is used in operating rooms overnight to sterilize the operating room when not in use.
Such UV generators are described in: U.S. Pat. No. 10,221,081, entitled "UV Sensor" issued to Kruger et al. on Mar. 5, 2019; U.S. Pat. No. 10,583,212, entitled "Portable UV-C Disinfection Apparatus, Method and System" issued to Ufkes on Mar. 10, 2020; U.S. Pat. No. 10,556,025, issued to Ufkes on Feb. 11, 2020; U.S. Pat. No. 10,441,671, entitled "Disinfecting Apparatus" issued to Sobhy et al. on Oct. 5, 2019; U.S. Pat. No. 10,376,604, entitled "Sterilization Units, Systems, and Methods" issued to Romo et al. on Aug. 13, 2019; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,265,540, entitled "Mobile Device Case with Ultraviolet Light Sanitizer and Light Therapy" issued to Yehezkel on Apr. 23, 2019; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
As noted, UV-C has some significant disadvantages which means the technology cannot be used in a continuous manner within a room which might be habituated. For this reason, the use of UV and UV-C has been significantly limited.
It is clear there is a need for a continuously operating sterilizer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making an electrical connector. The method may include: obtaining a part having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an interim 1 portion between the first and second end portions; flattening the second end portion; trimming the flattened second end portion; and forming a hole in the flattened second end portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and a method for making the same. In one aspect, the invention relates to pin shaped connectors.
2. Discussion of the Background
There is a need for a method of producing an electrical connector in a cost competitive manner.

Electrical connector and method of making the same


A computer system including a modular keyboard assembly allows input device modules to be inserted into the keyboard assembly. The modular keyboard assembly includes a plurality of recessed opening in which an input device module can be inserted. A connector on the input device module mates with a connector in the recessed opening, thereby providing electrical contact between the input device module and the keyboard assembly. Each input device module can be replaced by the user with a different input device module providing flexibility to the user as well as minimizing the amount of cabling that typically confronts the user. A controller in the keyboard assembly determines the types of input device modules coupled to the keyboard assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to personal computer (PC) systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved input/output device for use in a computer system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a modular keyboard that can be easily and quickly configured to suit the needs of a user.
2. Background of the Invention
Many improvements have been developed for computer systems since the introduction of the first systems. One of the areas that has experienced dramatic improvement is the user interface to the computer system, and in particular, the keyboard. Modern system keyboards have greater input capabilities than the keyboards used with earlier computer systems. The early keyboards typically had 83 input keys. To give the user additional options, keyboards with added keys (such as the CONTROL and FUNCTION keys) were introduced. However, the addition of keys to the original keyboard design had certain drawbacks.
Early computer systems required the user to type in memorized commands. For many computer users, memorizing and typing in commands to the computer via the keyboard is awkward and complicated. Because of this problem, additional or alternate data input devices to the keyboard have been developed. One of the most popular of these alternate data input devices is a mouse. To maximize the usefulness of the mouse and to simplify entry of commands into a computer, software vendors have developed graphical user interfaces (GUI's) that implement graphics, special menu technology, and the mouse. One of these graphical user interfaces has been referred to as "WIMP" (which stands for Windows, Icons, Mouse, and Pull-down) menus. The WIMP concept includes windows on the screen, icons, mouse operation, and pull-down menus containing lists of functions. By using a mouse, the user can move a pointer, a cross-hair, or a cursor across the screen. When the user presses the mouse button, she can select items from a menu, mark text in a word processing program, or paint in a drawing program. Other input devices, such as trackballs, joysticks. touch pads, to name a few, were also developed to provide easier control over the computer's operations.
Each input device must connect to the computer system, typically via an electrical cable. The connections to the computer system are often to connectors mounted in the back panel of the chassis. Connecting cables to the rear portion of a chassis can be extremely awkward and cumbersome. The chassis, for example, may be located under a desk or table or up against a wall, thereby making access to the chassis' back panel difficult. In such situations, the user must pull the computer chassis out from under the desk or away from the wall to provide sufficient access to the connectors on the back panel. Even if the chassis can be moved, the user may still have difficulty accessing the connectors on the back of the chassis. Computer system connectors are usually keyed or are constructed with a non-symmetric shape or pin arrangement to ensure cable mates properly with the connector on the back of the chassis. Although keyed connectors are necessary to ensure proper electrical connectivity, such connectors nevertheless exacerbate the user's problem in mating a cable to the back of the chassis in a situation in which the user can hardly reach the back panel connector, much less see it to determine the proper orientation of the cable connector.
Further, the length of the cable connecting an input device to the computer system usually limits where the chassis can be located. In fact, it may not be possible to place the chassis under a table or desk simply because the cable from an input device such as a trackball is not long enough to reach from the top of the table or desk to a chassis placed underneath the desk. The cable associated with the input device thus may require the computer chassis to be located on top of the desk occupying space that the user could otherwise use more efficiently. Additionally, because each input device has a cable connecting it to the computer chassis and a typical computer system may typically include numerous input devices, the cables themselves may get in the user's way, become entangled, and generally be bothersome to the user.
Many keyboards are available with one or more input devices such as trackballs, joysticks, touch pads, and the like. While some users, for example, may prefer a keyboard with a built-in trackball, other users prefer a keyboard with a built-in joystick instead of a trackball. To market computer systems for a large market segment of users, computer and keyboard manufacturers thus must manufacture keyboards that suit the needs of all potential buyers. Accordingly, computer and keyboard manufacturers manufacture differently configured keyboard systems to cover the anticipated needs of potential buyers. Re-tooling a keyboard assembly line or creating multiple assembly lines, however, to manufacture differently computer systems adds to the manufacturing cost, and thus the price, of the computer system.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a computer system in which input devices can easily be connected to the computer system, thereby avoiding many of the problems identified above with previous computer systems. It would also be desirable to provide a keyboard that can be easily configured by manufacturers during assembly without the need for changes to an assembly line.

Modular keyboard for use in a computer system


The improved composite panel trailer sidewall of the present invention provides a recessed groove or a pair of recessed grooves on the interior of the panel that are spaced apart from the edges of the panel. Slots are cut in the composite panel in the recessed groove or between the recessed grooves. An interior vertical support having logistics slots is seated in the recessed groove or grooves to provide additional locations to secure and divide cargo without creating snag points in the interior of the trailer.

Designers of cargo containers have long faced many related challenges in the design of container sidewalls. First, the structural integrity of the overall container depends on the rigidity and strength of the sidewalls. Second, the sidewalls are optimally light in weight to reduce the transportation costs for the overall container.
Third, government regulations and industry standards often limit the exterior dimensions of cargo containers. Thus, to maximize the capacity of the container, designers of cargo containers seek to minimize the width of the walls of the container without compromising the structural integrity of the container.
Fourth, because cargo containers are repeatedly loaded and unloaded, the interior walls of the container must be resistant to the repeated impact of vehicles and implements used to load and unload the container, and must also optimally be free of protrusions and snag points that could impede the loading or unloading of the container. Fifth, means for securing and dividing cargo within a container are often desirable, and may be provided by incorporating logistics slots in the sidewalls of the container. Other considerations, including the cost and availability of the sidewall components and the ease of manufacturing the sidewalls, are also important.
Composite panel sidewalls have been used in the construction of over-the-road trailers to address many of these challenges. Composite panels are made of a core plastic material and an outer skin of aluminum or steel. The use of composite panels provides many advantages in the construction of trailers. The metal skin of the panels is resistant to damage when the cargo is loaded and unloaded. Also, because of the strength and rigidity of the composite panels, trailer sidewall thickness can generally be reduced as compared to designs that rely on thick structural posts to provide the essential structural rigidity for the trailer. By decreasing the thickness of the walls, an interior width of at least 101 inches can be obtained without exceeding an exterior width of 102.38 inches, the current maximum exterior width under state and federal regulations.
The composite panels are typically joined at their edges with vertical splicer plates on the inside and outside of the trailer, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,017 (FIG. 9) issued to Ehrlich, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,693 (FIG. 2) issued to Ehrlich and U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,564 (FIG. 3) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,902 (FIGS. 4 and 5) issued to Sill. The composite panels may also be joined with posts on the inside and outside of the trailer, as disclosed in the applicants' U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/210,076 filed Aug. 23, 2005 that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,912, and incorporated herein by reference. These vertical members are typically provided with logistics slots to provide for securing and dividing cargo within the trailer.
Because composite panels provide high strength and rigidity in the construction of the overall trailer, the use of structural posts can be reduced or eliminated. Although the reduction or elimination of such structural posts is generally desirable to reduce the weight of the trailer, these posts have traditionally provided a location for logistics slots where cargo may be secured. Thus, when structural posts are reduced or eliminated through the use of composite panels, the potential locations for logistics slots are also reduced, decreasing the trailer owner's options for securing and dividing cargo within the trailer.
Because composite panel construction and flexibility in the securing and dividing of cargo within the trailer are both highly desirable, a need exists for a composite panel sidewall construction that provides additional logistics slots other than between the edges of adjoining composite panels. Such logistics slots, however, must not create snag points or protrusions on the interior of the trailer. Snag points or protrusions on the inside of the trailer may cause cargo, pallets and loading vehicles to catch on the interior wall of the trailer as cargo is loaded and unloaded, thus creating the potential for damage to cargo and the trailer sidewall. Therefore, it is desirable for the sidewalls of the trailer to be free of snag points and protrusions.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a composite panel sidewall construction for a cargo container that provides additional interior logistics slots in the sidewalls of the container for securing cargo loaded into the container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cargo container with interior walls free of protrusions and snag points that could impede the loading or unloading of the container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cargo container with sidewalls of minimum overall thickness to maximize the capacity of the container.
Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide a cargo container sidewall configuration that is economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

Composite panel trailer sidewall with additional logistics slots


An improved secure communication arrangement separates the tasks of identity verification and certificate issuing, which allows a disassociating of the long-term binding between Alice and her public/private key pair. This is accomplished by a registration authority issuing a password to Alice once it is satisfied of Alice's bona fide. Thereafter, whenever Alice wishes to communicate with Bob, she contacts a certification authority, identifies herself with the password and obtains a private key and a corresponding short-lived certificate. The certificate typically includes Alice's name and a public key in plaintext, and a signature. The signature is derived by hashing the plaintext portion of the certificate to obtain a value, and encrypting the value with the CA's private key. She then contacts Bob, submits her certificate, Bob performs the same hashing function to obtain a value, decrypts the signature with CA's public key to obtain a decrypted value, and compares the value Bob created with the decrypted value. If the two match, Bob is assured that the person submitting the certificate may be communicated with by using the public key included in the certificate.

This invention relates to certifications used in connection with secure and authorized communications.
In some applications, a user who wishes to obtain goods or services from a provider is asked to authorize a charge against the user's credit card number. In such applications, the security concern lies most heavily on the user, who worries about the security of the transmitted information. In other applications, a user may seek to obtain proprietary information from the provider, and there the security concern lies most heavily on the provider. In the latter situation, however, the provider is also concerned about the identity of the user.
With respect to securing communication, it is well known that secret keys may be used to encrypt information, but that requires both parties to have a secret key. Consequently, a party that communicates with many people needs to have many different secret keys. The effort to securely distribute and manage many secret keys was considered just too great, until public key encryption was invented. In public key encryption, a party, say Alice, develops a pair of keys: one is private (which the party keeps secret) and one is public (which the party makes available to others). Unless her secret key is compromised, no one but Alice can encrypt a message that can be decrypted with Alice's public key, and no one but Alice can decrypt a message that was encrypted with Alice's public key. Thus, public key encryption eliminates the need to securely exchange secret keys and also eliminates the need to have and to manage many secret keys.
Public key encryption, however, does not eliminate concerns about the identity of the party supplying the public key. The reason: anyone can claim to be Alice. To remedy this problem, the notion of certification was created whereby Bob can demand a certificate which confirms that the party is who it claims to be. To obtain a certificate, Alice authenticates herself to a certification authority (CA) in some manner that satisfies the CA. For example, the CA may require Alice to show her driver's license, an original birth certificate, or even more. Alice is then given (or creates) a public key encryption pair, and is given a certificate that is derived by the CA from information that binds the certificate to Alice. The information may comprise, for example, Alice's name, some information that further identifies Alice, and her public key. When Alice wishes to contact Bob, she submits her certificate and Bob decrypts it with CA's public key. The decrypted certificate identifies Alice and Alice's public key, and Bob is assured that a person named Alice owns a private key that corresponds to the public key which the decrypted certificate provided.
This certification approach still has a problem, however, in that while Alice was certified by the CA at one point, she may no longer be certified, in the sense of still being authorized to receive the information that Bob may have. To that end, the certification process is augmented, requiring Bob to check Alice's certification against a revocation list. This list is accessed by downloading a revocation list at some regular intervals from a revocation list storage means.
A number of problems remain, however, with the certification approach, and which relate to the fact that the certificates are long-lived and there is a private key that is associated with the certificate. For one, it introduces a burden on the mobility of users because it requires users to carry with them their private key. Of course, that represents a security risk. Another problem is that the longevity of a certificate provides an incentive to discover, or break, the private key that is associated with the public key found in the certificate. To reduce the risk to the private key, users typically increase the length of their keys, but that increases the computational burden of the applications that encrypt or decrypt the communicated information. A third problem relates to the cost of managing and administering the valid and revoked certificates for large scale intranet environments.


An intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens to be inserted into an eye more stably and easily than ever before. A supporting portion 102 of an intraocular lens 100 arranged on a lens-advancing side in a lens-advancing direction x is pressed against a protrusion 21 so as to be bent backward. Thus, releasing the intraocular lens 100 from a nozzle portion 13 is allowed to begin with the releasing of a curved portion of the supporting portion 102 that has become U-shaped and hard to move freely. As a result, there can be provided an intraocular lens insertion device and a cartridge which enable the intraocular lens 100 to be inserted into an eye more steadily and easily than ever before.

In a cataract operation, removing an opacified lens by phacoemulsification (PEA), and implanting an intraocular lens after removing an opacified lens are widely performed. Intraocular lenses include: a hard intraocular lens whose optical portion is made of a hard material such as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), and a soft intraocular lens which is made of a soft material such as silicone elastomer, soft acrylic, or hydrogel.
When using a hard intraocular lens, the intraocular lens must be inserted through an incision formed in the cornea or sclera that is of the same or slightly wider width than the diameter of the optical portion. On the other hand, when using a soft intraocular lens, folding of the optical portion allows the intraocular lens to be inserted into the eye through an incision smaller than the diameter of the optical portion.
FIG. 12 shows a soft intraocular lens of this kind. A front view is shown in FIG. 12(A) and a side view is shown in FIG. 12(B). In practice, a soft intraocular lens 100 of this kind is formed in a flat circular shape and comprises an optical portion 101 serving as a crystalline lens in an eyeball and two supporting portions 102, 102 formed in a linear shape. These two supporting portions 102, 102 are provided at two symmetrically opposite sections on the circumference of the optical portion 101. The supporting portions 102, 102 are extended in the form of a circular arc in such a manner as gradually departing away from the outer fringe of the optical portion 101 at a curvature slightly larger than that of the outer fringe of the optical portion 101
The soft intraocular lens 100 of this kind is designed so as to be able to be inserted through a small incision into an eye after the optical portion 101 thereof is folded in two by an intraocular lens insertion device disclosed, for example, in Intl Application Publication Pamphlet of WO2006/090531 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-351196.
Patent Document 1: WO2006/090531 Intl Application Publication Pamphlet
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-351196

Intraocular lens insertion device and cartridge


A method of coating a polyimide film and a method of fabricating a display panel are provided by the embodiments of the present invention. The method of coating a polyimide film includes providing a glass substrate and at least one nozzle; forming a nanomaterial filled graphic letterpress on the glass substrate, wherein the nanomaterial filled graphic letterpress is formed with a plurality of protrusions; and spraying a polyimide liquid on the nanomaterial filled graphic letterpress by the at least one nozzle to form a polyimide film.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have many advantages, such as thin body, power saving, and no radiation, and have been widely used. Most of the liquid crystal display devices on the market are backlight type liquid crystal display devices, which include a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight module. The working principle of the liquid crystal display panel is to place liquid crystal molecules in two parallel glass substrates, the change direction of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled through whether the glass substrate is electrified or not, and light rays of the backlight module are refracted to generate images.
Generally, a liquid crystal display panel includes a color filter (CF) substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, a liquid crystal (LC) sandwiched between the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor substrate, and a sealant frame (Sealant), a molding process thereof generally includes: front end (Array) process (i.e., thin film, photography, etching and peeling), middle section (Cell) process (i.e., bonding of the TFT substrate and the CF substrate) and rear end module assembly process (i.e., pressing of a driving IC and a printed circuit board). The front end (Array) process mainly forms the TFT substrate used to control the movement of liquid crystal molecules, the middle section (Cell) process mainly adds liquid crystal between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, and the rear end module assembly process is mainly to bond the driving IC and to integrate with the print the circuit, in turn, drives the liquid crystal molecules to rotate and display images.
The liquid crystal display panel usually coats a polyimide film (Polyimide, PI) on the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, and forms a pretilt angle on the polyimide film by rubbing or photo etching to give a bearing angle for the liquid crystal molecules. Currently, the polyimide coating process mainly adopts the following method: wherein the polyimide liquid is evenly distributed on the relief plate (APR plate), and then the polyimide liquid is transferred to the TFT substrate or the CF substrate through the relief by a roller, and the TFT substrate or the CF substrate is moved in a plane at the same time to complete the coating of the polyimide.

Method of coating polyimide film and method of fabricating display panel using same

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A system and method for estimating parameters of transmission lines employing phasor measurement units is provided, wherein measurements are provided from the phasor measurement units relating to a transmission line. These measurements are filtered to remove invalid measurements. Using the remaining valid measurements, resistance, reactance and grounding admittance are calculated and estimated and checked for errors.

High voltage transmission line parameters include resistance, reactance, and equivalent admittance which represent reactive charging power along the line. These parameters are a necessary and important input in power system modeling, power flow computations, voltage stability assessment, line protection design and other applications. In the prior art, the transmission line parameters are calculated using theoretically derived formulas based on information of the line's size, length, structure and type, etc., which are assumed to be constant during the power flow modeling. However, there is a difference between the calculated and actual parameters. Some prior art methods have been developed to measure the resistance and reactance of a line. However, the equivalent admittance representing reactive charging power is not measurable. Also, a "snapshot" off-line measurement of resistance and reactance parameters is not sufficient for on-line and real time applications, because in a real live environment, resistance, reactance and equivalent admittance of lines vary with environment and weather (such as temperature and wind speed). Therefore, the assumption of constant parameters may create unacceptable error, particularly when the environment or weather around the line has a relatively large change.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,569, entitled "Impedance measurement in a high-voltage power system" discloses a power monitoring instrument for evaluating and displaying the source impedance, load impedance, and distribution system impedance. The focus of this patent is placed on sources, loads and distribution systems but not on transmission line parameters. U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,245, entitled "Impedance measuring", discloses a measurement method for impedance of a power system adapted for operation at a predetermined line frequency. This patent focuses on the effect of frequency on the measurement and requires a testing signal of frequency. U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,156, entitled "Impedance measurement system for power system transmission lines" discloses an impedance measurement method to improve various protection functions. All of the above methods are not designed for an application operating in real time or for on-line power flow modeling and calculations, and also cannot provide an estimation of equivalent admittance representing reactive charging power of a transmission line.
PMU technology has developed quickly in the utility industry of both developed and developing countries in recent years since the basic concept was presented, as described in A. G. Phadke, "Synchronized Phasor Measurements in Power Systems", IEEE Computer Applications in Power, April 1993, pp 10-15; M. Zima, M. Larsson, P. Korba, C. Rehtanz and G. Anderson, "Design aspects for wide-area monitoring and control systems", Proceedings of IEEE, Vol. 93, No. 5, May, 2005, pp 980-996; "Eastern Interconnection Phasor Project", 2006 IEEE PES Power Systems Conference and Exposition, 2006 (PSCE '06), Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2006, pp 336-342; and Xiaorong Xie, Yaozhong Xin, Jinyu Xiao, Jingto Wu and Yingduo Han, "WAMS applications in Chinese power systems," IEEE Power & Energy magazine, Vol. 4, No. 1, January/February 2006 pp 54-63. The application of PMU is currently limited to phasor monitoring, enhancement of system state estimator and protection relays as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 684,533, entitled "Protective relay with synchronized phasor measurement capability for use in electric power systems" and U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,159, entitled "Electric power transmission network state estimation".

Method and system of real-time estimation of transmission line parameters in on-line power flow calculations

British Columbia Transmission Corporation