System and methods for characterizing interest points within a descriptor are disclosed herein. The systems include generating a set of interest points related to an audio sample. A set of gradients relating to respective interest points in the set of interest points can be generated. A set of descriptors can then be generated based upon the set of interest points and the set of gradients and used in comparison to reference descriptors to identify the audio sample. The disclosed systems and methods provide for an audio matching system robust to pitch-shift distortion by using gradients that characterize the time-frequency neighborhood around an interest point rather than solely relying on interest points themselves. Thus, the disclosed system and methods result in more accurate audio identification.

Audio matching provides for identification of a recorded audio sample by comparing the audio sample to a set of reference samples. To make the comparison, an audio sample can be transformed to a time-frequency representation of the sample by using, for example, a short time Fourier transform (STFT). Using the time-frequency representation, interest points that uniquely characterize time and frequency locations of peaks or other distinct patterns of the spectrogram can then be extracted from the audio sample. Descriptors can be computed as functions of sets of interest points. Descriptors of the audio sample can then be compared to descriptors of reference samples to determine identity of the audio sample.
In a typical descriptor audio matching system, interest points uniquely characterize an audio signal; thus, there is likely little overlap between interest points of two different segments of the audio sample. Pitch-shifting can affect an audio sample by shifting the frequency of interest points. For example, when trying to match audio played on the radio, television, or in a remix of a song, the speed of the audio sample may be slightly changed from the original. Samples that have altered speed will also likely have an altered pitch. Even a small pitch shift that is hard to notice for listeners may present difficult challenges in matching the pitch shifted signal due to interest points being altered from the pitch shift. Therefore, it is desirable to identify and use supplementary features of interest points that can be incorporated within a descriptor or supplemented to a descriptor in a manner that is robust to pitch shift distortion.

Using local gradients for pitch resistant audio matching


An apparatus (200) for increasing field of view of optical system is provided. The optical system includes a lens module (20). The apparatus comprises a rotational mechanism (30) rotatably mounted in the optical system. The rotational mechanism includes a refraction means disposed on an optical axis of the lens module and configured for refracting a light signal from outside of the optical system into the lens module. The apparatus may be used in optical systems, such as camera modules, digital video cameras, image pick-up systems used in cars, infrared optical systems, projection optical systems, and real-time detector systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for increasing field of view of an optical system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, Many different types of optical systems such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, image pick-up systems used in cars, and real-time detector systems, are known and have different properties which may be of potential relative advantage in particular applications. However, application of some types of optical systems for purposes in which they might be otherwise advantageous may be precluded by corresponding constraints. As a simple example, large fields of view must generally be provided by wide-angle lenses, which characteristically exhibit substantial distortion that increases with off-axis angle. Correction of such distortion is often only possible with expensive aspheric elements or by using image processing which is expensive. However, it is difficult to achieve a relatively wide angle of view as required to accommodate the size of objects of interest while maintaining the overall system (object, lens, and camera/sensor) at an acceptable size.
What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus for increasing field of view of optical system, which satisfies the needs for performance enhancement, with low distortion.

Apparatus for increasing field of view of an optical system


An array antenna is steered by changing the time delays of a local oscillator signal feeding a number of mixers, each fed by an individual antenna element. The beat frequency thus produced can be made in-phase by compensating time delays of different antenna elements in the array with different delays from the local oscillator. The delays from the local oscillator are obtained with optical fibers of variable lengths.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to array antennas and is particularly concerned with providing time delay steering to array antenna elements. Co-pending with this application are U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/017,099 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,291 filed Feb. 2, 1998; 09/020,112 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,805 filed Feb. 6, 1998; and 09/032,937 filed Mar. 2, 1998.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An array antenna consists of a group of antenna elements uniformly spaced apart to form an array. The array can be used for transmitting a beam of microwave energy in a chosen direction or receiving a microwave signal from a particular direction. This beam steering is achieved by controlling the relative timing or phasing of the individual elements.
Controlling the relative phase of each of the antenna elements requires that each element contain a phase shifting device and that an electronic control system be used to control the phase of each of the elements. Such antenna systems, referred to as phased arrays, are employed in applications where it is required to steer the beam rapidly in space and where the use of parabolic dish antennas is not practical. However, the wide scale use of phased arrays has been limited by the high cost of their complex circuitry.
Another technique that is used to steer the beam in an array antenna is to control the relative timing of the transmitted or received signal at the array element. In the transmission mode, if the signal at each of the elements is emitted in unison, a wavefront is formed that is parallel to the plane of the array. The signal beam is directed perpendicular to the wavefront, therefore, when the signal is emitted from the antenna elements in unison, the beam is directed perpendicular to the plane of the array (the boresight direction). When the emission from the antenna elements is not in unison, but is varied in time along the array the angle of the wavefront relative to the plane of the array will change and the beam will be steered away from boresight. If, for example, the signal emission from any element relative to its nearest adjacent element is delayed a time t and each element is spaced a distance D apart, the steered angle .phi. between the boresight direction and the beam direction is given by the formula sin .phi.=t c/D, where c represents the velocity of electromagnetic propagation in space. True-time delay techniques allow antenna arrays to operate over extremely wide frequency ranges as the delay techniques are frequency independent.
The use of fiberoptic communication systems is known. A commercially available laser unit can be used to convert a microwave signal to an intensity modulated optical signal. The optical signal travels through the optical fiber to where it is converted back to a microwave signal by an optical detector and a microwave amplifier, which are commercially available.
Optical techniques have been suggested to control array elements. Schemes have been proposed to use a selection of optical fibers with lengths arranged in a binary or quadratic sequence and to switch in a series string combination to achieve a desired timing. This would result in a very complex control scheme employing thousands of optical fibers and optical switches for even the simplest array.
An optical commutator scheme using two sets of fiber optics, each having a parabolic distribution of lengths has been described. By aligning these two sets of fibers and moving one set relative to the other, a linear and variable set of delay paths can be generated which can be incorporated into an antenna array to provide the timing needed to form and steer the beam. This technique has been described as applied to a receiver system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,102. This system is complicated because each receiving element must produce an intensity modulated signal that is representative of the signal being received by that particular element. This means that every receiving element of the antenna array must have a light generation means such as a laser diode. Laser diodes are expensive, particularly those that are capable of being modulated at high frequency.

Antenna beam steering using an optical commutator to delay the local oscillator sigal


The present invention provides a reflective telescopic system, to control the generation of filamentation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses that includes: a flat mirror, an adaptive reflective mirror, a dichroic convex mirror, an off-axis parabolic mirror, and a first laser source. The convex mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror are mounted on an independent breadboard and set on a translation stage. The propagation axis of the laser beam reflected by the mirror should correspond to the off-axis of the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror reflects the beam at a specific angle. Finally, the propagation axis between the dichroic convex mirror and the off-axis parabolic mirror, the propagation axis between the flat mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror, and the axis of the translation stage should be substantially parallel to each other. The present invention also contemplates the boresighting of a weak laser beam from a second laser source.

During the past decade, the propagation of powerful laser pulses over long distances in air has attracted a lot of interest. In particular, the optical processes occurring during the propagation of these pulses in the atmosphere are of great interest. For instance, the propagation behavior of powerful and ultrashort laser pulses in air differs significantly from that of continuous wave or long pulse lasers. For ultrashort and intense laser pulses, numerous nonlinear optical effects are produced such as the Kerr self-focusing effect, the self-generation of plasma, and the spectral broadening effect due to self-phase modulation. Other novel laser properties may be found from ultrashort and intense laser pulses, such as self-collimated beams over long distance, spatial beam self-cleaning, and self-stabilization.
More than being of high scientific interest, the filamentation of ultrashort and intense laser pulse has a number of important applications. The propagation of these intense ultrashort laser pulses in the atmosphere can induce the ionization of air and create a conductive plasma channel along its path. Such a plasma channel can be used to guide other energy sources, such as microwave and high voltage energy sources. The plasma channel can also be used for counter-measures against improvised explosives devices, rockets and other similar threats. The use of laser pulse filamentation enables the scanning of a large area or the quick aim of the laser in the direction of a threat. Moreover, the filamentation of a laser pulse modifies its spectral distribution during the propagation and evolves into a continuous broadband (white-light) laser pulse. The broadband pulse can be used for broadband dazzling of optical devices—independently of the spectral range used by the optical detector of the threat.
The propagation of a high power laser beam into the atmosphere is characterized by numerous linear and nonlinear optical effects that influence the transportation of the laser power at long distances. A nonlinear optical effect, such as the Kerr self-focusing, or a linear optical effect, such as the atmospheric turbulence, can strongly decrease the achievable laser intensity at long distance. As such, reaching a high laser intensity at long range in the atmosphere with a compact optical device remains a challenge. Solutions for delivering the high laser intensity at long distances involve the use of optical components that correct the perturbations from the linear propagation effects and that modify the parameters of the laser beam to minimize the nonlinear intensity-dependent optical effects.
Many approaches exist to control the filamentation distance of ultrashort and intense laser pulse.
The use of a refractive telescope to expand the laser beam diameter is disclosed in the following reference: W. Liu, F. Theberge, J.-F. Daigle, P. T. Simard, S. M. Sarifi, Y. Kamali, H. L. Xu, S. L. Chin, "An efficient control of ultrashort laser filament location in air for the purpose of remote sensing," Applied Physics B, 85, 55 (2006). Here, a refractive beam expander is designed to control the filamentation distance of ultrashort and intense laser pulses. The generation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses at relatively long distances is done by increasing the radius of the beam and decreasing its peak power in such a way that the self-focusing distance zf is much longer than the effective focal length of the telescope feff.
Unfortunately, the refractive telescope method is only optimized for a single wavelength. Therefore, the pulse is subject to chromatic aberrations since the spectrum of ultrashort pulse is large (up to 10's of nm). Moreover, non-linear optical effects are more problematic in glass than in air, and the self-focusing within the refractive optics of the telescope tends to generate "hot spots" in the laser beam profile. These hot stops decrease the effective radius of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to self-focus at shorter distances. Another drawback with this prior art technique is that such refractive telescopes do not compensate for the aberrations from the laser beam itself and the perturbation from the atmospheric turbulences.
The following prior art reference discloses masking the edge of the laser beam with an iris: J.-F. Daigle, O. Kosareva, N. Panov, M. Bégin, F. Lessard, C. Marceau, Y. Kamali, G. Roy, V. P. Kandidov, S. L. Chin, "A simple method to significantly increase filaments' length and ionization density" Appl. Phys. B., 94, 249, (2009). The prior art reference teaches that by clipping the edge of a laser beam with the optimum aperture, it is possible to include multiple filaments around the propagation axis, thus forming a regularized and elongated filament structure with a higher overall amount of plasma.
One drawback of the clipping technique is that masking the edge of a laser beam with an iris may decrease the power of the laser beam. Unfortunately, the optimum iris diameter depends on the beam profile of the laser beam. Therefore, for real propagation in the atmosphere, the beam profile of the laser beam can strongly fluctuate due to the atmospheric turbulences, and it becomes impossible to determine an optimal iris diameter.
Another prior art reference discloses chirping the laser pulse to compensate for the dispersion of the atmosphere: M. Rodriguez, R. Bourayou, G. Méjean, J. Kasparian, J. Yu, E. Salmon, A. Sholz, B. Stecklum, J. Eislöffel, U. Laux, A. P. Hatzes, R. Sauerbrey, L. Wöste, J. P. Wolf, "Kilometer-range non-linear propagation of fs laser pulses," Physical Review E 69, 036607 (2004). By chirping the laser pulse (i.e., increasing its pulse duration) from the initial laser source, it is possible to decrease the peak power P of the laser pulse and pre-compensate for the dispersion from the atmosphere in order to control the self-focusing distance, i.e., control the range of filamentation. However, the self-focusing distance zf is proportional to the peak power P and the square of the beam radius a. Therefore, increasing the size of the beam is the most efficient way to increase the self-focusing distance, rather than only reducing the peak power. Any aberrations from the laser beam itself or any perturbations from the atmospheric turbulence are not compensated for by this prior art technique.
As suggested, the techniques utilized in the prior art are unsuitable or lack suitable efficiency for controlling the laser beam filamentation at long distances in the atmosphere.

Telescopic control of high power laser propagation

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE


A method of forming a coating film over a substrate is provided. The method includes spinning the substrate. The method further includes providing a central coating liquid spray over a central portion of the substrate. The method also includes providing first coating liquid sprays over the substrate. The first coating liquid sprays surround the central coating liquid spray and are spaced apart from the central coating liquid spray by a same first distance.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs. Each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs.
In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometric size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling-down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs.
However, since the feature sizes continue to decrease, fabrication processes continue to become more difficult to perform. The fabrication processes include gap-filling processes, etching processes, photolithography processes, alignment processes, or the like. Therefore, it is a challenge to form reliable semiconductor devices with smaller and smaller sizes.

Coating apparatus and method of forming coating film

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A method, apparatus, storage medium, and terminal for establishing a Wi-Fi connection is provided. The method includes the following steps: when a workstation is detected, determining a Bluetooth binding relationship with the workstation; if the Bluetooth binding relationship indicates that a binding has already been established with the workstation via Bluetooth, sending a session request to the workstation to request to start a session; when it is determined that the session is started successfully, requesting Wi-Fi connection parameter information from the workstation via Bluetooth; and after the Wi-Fi connection parameter information is received, using the Wi-Fi connection parameter information to establish a Wi-Fi connection with the workstation.

In currently available Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology, in order to connect a terminal (also called a "station," STA) to a workstation (also called an "access point," AP), a user needs to obtain Wi-Fi connection parameter information of the workstation and input it into the terminal to realize the connection. The Wi-Fi connection parameter information may include a service set identifier (SSID) and a password (PSW). Herein, the SSID is also called a Wi-Fi account number.
However, with the currently available technology, the user needs to obtain the Wi-Fi connection parameter information through human senses (for example, through inquiry or reading), and the Wi-Fi connection parameter information may easily be discovered, thus compromising security.
Furthermore, with the currently available technology, the Wi-Fi connection parameter information needs to be manually inputted into the terminal by the user after the user obtains the Wi-Fi connection parameter information, which is not convenient. Although some terminal devices are equipped with a hard-coded function, which allows storing the Wi-Fi connection parameter information after the user inputs the Wi-Fi connection parameter information for the first time in order to realize an input-free connection in subsequent connection processes, the user still needs to manually input said Wi-Fi connection parameter information once it is changed. This reduces the user's experience.

Method, apparatus, storage medium, and terminal for establishing a Wi-Fi connection


Technologies for power efficient display synchronization are disclosed. A compute device may be connected to two display devices. The compute device may send image data to be displayed on each of the display devices in a burst mode, sending the image data in less time than the time between frames. The compute device may then enter a low-power state prior to sending the next image to the display devices. Before sending the next image to the display devices, the compute device may send a synchronization signal, which the display devices may use to synchronize the timing of displaying images between the two display devices.

Compute devices that interface with two or more displays are becoming more common. Game systems, laptops, tablets, and embedded systems may have more than one display. Synchronizing the images on the displays can be done so that a clear image is presented to the user without artifacts.
However, presenting images on two displays can present some challenges. Image data may be streamed from a host to a particular display, allowing that display to update the image on the display as it receives the image data. Such an approach allows multiple displays to synchronize with each other based on the timing of the image data received.


Disclosed are thermoplastic compositions comprising partially or fully neutralized carboxylic acid-based ionomers modified with rosin or rosin derivatives and, optionally, organic acids and salts thereof. Methods of preparing the thermoplastic compositions are also provided. The thermoplastic compositions exhibit higher hardness and stiffness than typical ionomer compositions. Also disclosed are golf balls, sporting equipment, and other non-sport articles comprising said thermoplastic compositions and methods for their preparation.

Several patents and publications are cited in this description in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The entire disclosure of each of these patents and publications is incorporated by reference herein.
Ionomeric resins (ionomers) are copolymers of an olefin such as ethylene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or maleic acid, and optionally softening monomers, in which some portion of the acidic groups in the copolymer is neutralized with metal ions such as sodium or zinc. Ionomers are thermoplastic resins exhibiting enhanced properties, e.g. improved resilience, stiffness or softness, toughness, durability, etc. for golf ball cover construction over balata (see below). As a result of their resilience, toughness, durability and cut resistance, various ionomeric resins sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company of Wilmington, Del. (DuPont) under the trademark "Surlyn®" and by the ExxonMobil Chemical Corporation of Houston, Tex. under the tradenames "Escor™" and "lotek™" have become materials of choice for the construction of golf ball covers instead of the traditional balata (natural or synthetic rubber) covers. The softer balata covers, although exhibiting enhanced playability, lack the durability and cut resistance desirable for repetitive play. In addition to their improved durability, harder covers or mantles tend to minimize ball spin and maximize the straightness of the ball's travel off the clubface. Some golfers prefer golf balls that maximize distance and provide low spin characteristics. Thus, it is desirable to continue developing materials for golf balls with increased hardness and stiffness.
Current commercial ionomers derived from dipolymers have properties that vary according to the type and amount of metal cations, molecular weight and composition of the base resin (i.e. relative content of ethylene and methacrylic and/or acrylic acid groups). Ionomers can also be modified by the addition of comonomers to modify their physical properties. For example, terpolymers made from an olefin such as ethylene, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and other comonomers such as alkyl (meth)acrylates provide "softer" resins, which can be neutralized to form softer ionomers.
Approaches to providing harder ionomers include the use of relatively high percentages of the carboxylic acid moieties in the copolymer. Disadvantageously, ethylene acid copolymers with high levels of acid are difficult to prepare in continuous polymerizers because of monomer-polymer phase separation. This difficulty can be avoided by use of "co-solvent technology" as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,674 or by employing somewhat higher pressures than those at which copolymers with lower acid can be prepared. Despite these expedients, there is an inherent limit to the amount of carboxylic acid that can be incorporated as a monomer in ethylene acid copolymers. In addition, such methods result in higher costs and more complex processes.
The properties of thermoplastic resins, such as ethylene acid copolymers and ionomers thereof, can also be modified by blending other components into a polymer melt. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,127 describes golf balls having covers comprising an ionomeric resin modified by the addition of terpene resin tackifiers and/or rosin ester tackifiers. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,869 describes golf balls having covers comprising an ionomeric resin modified by the addition of thermoplastic elastomers and terpene resin tackifiers and/or rosin ester tackifiers. The compositions used for golf ball covers in these patents are characterized as having Shore D hardness of from 40 to 65.
Thus, it is desirable to develop a material for golf ball covers, mantles, intermediate layers, etc., having a combination of hardness, stiffness and good scuff resistance with improved heat stability and melt processibility. It is particularly desirable to develop compositions of ethylene acid copolymers with low to medium acid content that exhibit hardness comparable to or exceeding that exhibited by high acid copolymers.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an ionomer composition that is harder and stiffer than typical ionomeric compositions.
A further object of this invention is to provide a golf ball with a hard cover and/or intermediate layers having good resilience and durability.
A further object of this invention is to provide a golf ball having a favorable combination of low spin, durability and distance-carrying flight characteristics.
A further object of the invention is to provide a golf ball that is easy to prepare having a hard and stiff cover and/or intermediate layers. A further object of the invention is to provide a replacement for metal and wood components in sporting equipment, particularly golf clubs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ionomers modified with rosin and articles thereof


Disclosed herein is logic circuitry and techniques for operation that hardware to enable the construction of first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers from latches while permitting stuck-at-1 fault testing for the enable pin of those latches, as well as testing the data path at individual points through the FIFO buffer.

Integrated circuit devices, such as systems on a chip (SOCs) and microcontrollers, are ever increasing in complexity, with new and advanced features being introduced regularly. As a result, the area on such devices consumed by digital logic has increased, which is undesirable as it increases costs. Therefore, attempts at reducing such area consumption have been made.
One area of focus has been to reduce the area of data first-in first-out (FIFO) buffers utilized in SOCs and microcontrollers. A FIFO buffer is conventionally formed by flip flops. Some efforts in area reduction have focused on replacing the flip flops of data FIFO buffers with latches, since this may reduce the physical area consumed by such FIFO buffers by 45% to 50%. This, however, leads to issues with the ability to test the FIFO buffer fully.
A FIFO buffer 4 formed by latches, and its associated logic circuitry, is shown as reference 1 in FIG. 1. Here, data to be written to the FIFO buffer 4 is first written to a write data register 2, and is then passed appropriately through and by write logic circuitry 3 to the FIFO buffer 4 to perform the write. Data to be read from the FIFO buffer 4 is passed appropriately through and by read logic circuitry 5 to a read data register 6. Of note is that the write data register 2 and read data register 6 are part of a scan chain used in test modes. Test logic 7 operates upon the FIFO buffer 4, the write data register 2 part of the scan chain, write logic circuitry 3, FIFO buffer 4, read logic circuitry 5, and the read data register 6 part of scan chain so as to perform testing upon the FIFO buffer 4, such as using known techniques like Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) testing and Logic Built in Self Test (LBIST) testing.
In order to test the FIFO buffer 4 using ATPG testing and LBIST testing, the latches within the FIFO buffer 4 are, at appropriate times during the course of testing, made transparent by application of an asserted enable signal to their enable pins caused by the test logic 7, enabling the test of proper passage of data from the write data register 2 through the FIFO buffer 4 to the read data register 6, and enabling the test of the FIFO buffer 4 for stuck-at-0 faults on their latch enable pins. This testing capability, though, is more limited than would be desired—only the entire data path from the write data register 2 through the FIFO buffer 4 to the read data register 6 as a whole can be tested, meaning there is no ability to individually test the data path from the write data register 2 to the FIFO buffer 4 and to individually test the data path from the FIFO buffer 4 to the read data register 6. Also, there is no ability to test the FIFO buffer 4 for stuck-at-1 faults on their latch enable pins.
As such, further development into the area of FIFO buffers utilizing latches as their storage elements is desired so as to enable a larger range of testing to be performed on those FIFO buffers.

ATPG testing method for latch based memories, for area reduction


In an embodiment, a method of handling data packets within a processor includes intercepting, by a hardware packet integrity checking module, one or more data fields associated with a current segment of a data packet being forwarded from a first hardware entity operating in a cut-through mode to one or more processing clusters, where at least one data field of the one or more data fields is indicative of an operation associated with the data packet. At the hardware error detection module, integrity of the current segment of the data packet is checked based on the one or more data fields and parameters corresponding to the operation associated with the data packet. At least one data field of the one or more data fields is modified upon detecting an integrity error. The data fields are forwarded to the one or more processing clusters.

The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model defines seven network protocol layers (L1-L7) used to communicate over a transmission medium. The upper layers (L4-L7) represent end-to-end communications and the lower layers (L1-L3) represent local communications.
Networking application aware systems need to process, filter and switch a range of L3 to L7 network protocol layers, for example, L7 network protocol layers such as, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), and L4 network protocol layers such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). In addition to processing the network protocol layers, the networking application aware systems need to simultaneously secure these protocols with access and content based security through L4-L7 network protocol layers including Firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), Anti-Virus (AV) and Anti-Spam functionality at wire-speed.
Improving the efficiency and security of network operation in today's Internet world remains an ultimate goal for Internet users. Access control, traffic engineering, intrusion detection, and many other network services require the discrimination of packets based on multiple fields of packet headers, which is called packet classification.

Method and apparatus for data packet integrity checking in a processor


Provided is a liquid composition for treating stomatitis, the liquid composition including: an epidermal growth factor; an adhesive polymer; and at least one stabilizer selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and salts thereof, histidine, lysine and inorganic acid salts thereof, arginin and inorganic acid salts thereof, and dextran. The liquid composition includes a stabilizer selected from EDTA (or salts thereof) and a certain amino acid (or inorganic acid salts thereof) and thus, physicochemical and biological stability of the epidermal growth factor can be substantially increased. Thus, the liquid composition can be stored and distributed for a long period of time. The stabilized composition includes an adhesive polymer, and thus, when ejected in a spray form in the mouth of a user, the liquid composition can be quickly attached to an inflammation site and exhibits effectiveness for a long period of time.

Stomatitis is a disease that affects oral mucosa. Specifically, stomatitis is an inflammation which is caused or exacerbated by pharmaceutical treatment, specifically by a chemotherapeutic or radioactive treatment, and in some cases, is accompanied by an ulcer(s). Stomatitis exhibits mild to severe symptoms. Patients suffering from severe stomatitis cannot eat food through their mouth. Meanwhile, erythematous mucositis, which is a type of stomatitis, appears within three days, more commonly within 5-7 days after exposure to a chemotherapeutic or radioactive treatment. Erythematous mucositis can progress to an ulcerative mucositis within 7 days after exposure to a chemotherapeutic treatment in general and some erythematous mucositises can progress to such a serious level that any drug treatment should be stopped.
Among patients who are treated with chemotherapy, a large number of patients suffer from mucositis although the severity thereof may differ. So, there is a great need to develop an effective and simple method for treating stomatitis. Conventionally, stomatitis is treated by oral cleansing or administration with various kinds of vitamins. Specifically, stomatitis caused by a chemotherapeutic or radioactive treatment can be treated by mouth wash administration of allopurinol or sodium alginate (Archives, Vol. 55, No. 1:28, 1995; Japanese Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Vol. 18, No. 5:510, 1992; Japanese Journal of Nursing Acts, Vol. 37, No. 15:44, 1991; The Journal of Japanese Society for Cancer Therapy, Vol. 25, No. 6:1129, 1990). However, such a mouth wash administration shows low effectiveness in alleviating symptoms, is ineffective for serious stomatitis, and requires a long administration period to obtain any improvement in symptoms. Due to these problems, there have been many efforts to develop a drug or method for treating stomatitis which shows a high curative effect in a short period of time.
Most conventional compositions for treating stomatitis are prepared in ointments or patches which contain an adhesive polymer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 56,578,310 discloses a bioadhesive ointment formed of an emulsion containing mineral oil, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, and the like; and Korean Patent Application Pub. No. 1994-0023469 discloses plasters having a double film structure containing a steroid drug and a method of preparing the same.
As for other forms excluding ointments or patches, US Patent Application Pub. No. 2002/0219634 discloses a bioadhesvie solution or suspension having a viscosity ranging from 50-50,000 cps, and Korean Patent Application Pub. No. 2005-55858 discloses a drug delivery system for oral cavity in the form of a liquid or gel drug including a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a water-insoluble polymer.
Meanwhile, International Publication No. WO 03/95637 discloses use of an epidermal growth factor for treating stomatitis. The epidermal growth factor which is known as urogastrones is a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 6045 with 53 amino acids and three disulfide bonds. The epidermal growth factor stimulates mitosis and cell growth of various kinds of cells, such as an epithelial cell or a mesenchymal cell, and hinders gastric acid secretory, and thus, the epidermal growth factor is effective in treating a gastric ulcer or a wound on skin or a cornea (Carpenter, Experimental Cell Research, 164:1-10, 1986). Accordingly, if the epidermal growth factor is formulated together with an adhesive polymer, such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, high effectiveness in treating stomatitis can be obtained.
This method, however, is inconvenient and can cause a second infection because ointments or patches which contain the epidermal growth factor and the adhesive polymer should be directly applied or attached to an oral inflammation or a wound by a patient. To avoid these problems, the epidermal growth factor and the adhesive polymer can be prepared in a liquid type and then formulated in a spray form. The liquid formulation method, however, decreases stability of the epidermal growth factor due to use of an aqueous medium in which molecules move relatively more actively.

Stable liquid compositions for treating stomatitis comprising epidermal growth factor


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus comprising first interface circuitry to communicate with relying party circuitry, the first interface circuitry being configured to receive, from the relying party circuitry, an attestation request in respect of a processing operation requested by attester circuitry to be performed by the relying party circuitry; second interface circuitry to communicate with the attester circuitry, the second interface circuitry being configured to: transmit the attestation request to the attester circuitry; and receive, from the attester circuitry, evidence data associated with the processing operation, and third interface circuitry to communicate with verifier circuitry, the third interface circuitry being configured to: transmit the evidence data to the verifier circuitry; and receive, from the verifier circuitry, attestation result data indicative of a verification of the evidence data, wherein the first interface circuitry is configured to transmit the attestation result data to the relying party circuitry.

The present technique relates to the field of verification of actions that are to be performed in a processing system. For example, one device may interact with another device, and it may be desirable for the second device to prove to the first device that is configured in the manner expected by the first device. One way of performing such verification is attestation, wherein an attestation process is performed to securely verify, to the first device, that the second device will function as expected. Assurance is thus provided to the first device that it can trust the second device.
It would be desirable to provide a system in which an attestation process with improved security and resource consumption can be performed.

Methods and apparatus for performing attestation


An electric vehicle including a high-voltage power source at least including a first power source is provided. The electric vehicle further includes a low-voltage battery that is supplied with electric power from the high-voltage power source through a converter; an auxiliary vehicle controller for controlling a high-voltage contactor with electric power supplied from the high-voltage power source through the converter and/or with electric power supplied from the low-voltage; and an electric motor driving with electric power supplied from the high-voltage power source. The high-voltage contactor is connectedly provided between the high-voltage power source and the auxiliary vehicle controller, and the auxiliary vehicle controller controls the high-voltage contactor in such a manner that the electric power supply from the high-voltage power source is shut off if the electric power supply from the low-voltage battery to the auxiliary vehicle controller is cut off.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric vehicle provided with a high-voltage power source and a low-voltage battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an electric vehicle such as an EV (Electric Vehicle), a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and an FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) is provided with a high-voltage battery for driving the vehicle and an assistant low-voltage battery (of 12V or so), as disclosed in JP2001-202980A, for example.
In a gasoline engine vehicle, an alternator supplies electric power to a low-voltage battery. On the other hand, in an electric vehicle, it is common that electric power is supplied from a high-voltage battery (high-voltage power source) to a low-voltage battery through a DC/DC converter. In such a power supply system, even if electric power supply from the low-voltage battery runs down or is shutdown, electric power supply from the high-voltage battery through the DC/DC converter is maintained, so that an electric control unit (ECU) and a system including a high-voltage system can be kept operating. Accordingly, the vehicle can be kept driving even though output from the low-voltage battery runs down or is shutdown during driving.
To the contrary, in a case in which the vehicle is in a still state with an ignition switch thereof "ON", in order to stop the electric power supply from the high-voltage power source by setting to be opened a contactor for a high-voltage system, which is controlled with the electric power supply from the low-voltage battery, it is required to stop both the electric power supplies from the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage battery.
In a conventional electric vehicle, in light of failing to switch off the ignition switch when disassembling the body or during a maintenance operation, it is required to shut down the electric power supplies both from the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery, along with an operation to confirm that both the electric power supplies are shutdown, which makes the operations more tedious.
Therefore, to solve the above difficulties, it would be desirable to provide an electric vehicle which facilitates operations of ensuring shutdown of electric power supplies both from a low-voltage power source and high-voltage battery and confirming the shutdown.


According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element manufacturing method is provided. In this magnetoresistive element manufacturing method, a first ferromagnetic layer, tunnel barrier layer, and second ferromagnetic layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. A conductive hard mask is formed on the second ferromagnetic layer. The hard mask is patterned. A hard layer is formed on the side surface of the hard mask. The second ferromagnetic layer, tunnel barrier layer, and first ferromagnetic layer are processed by IBE in an oblique direction by using the hard mask and hard layer as masks. The IBE etching rate of the hard layer is lower than that of the hard mask.

A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (MRAM) including a magnetoresistive element containing a ferromagnetic material as a memory element has been proposed. This MRAM is a memory that stores information by controlling the electrical resistance of the magnetoresistive element to two states, i.e., a high-resistance state and low-resistance state by changing the magnetization direction in a magnetic layer by an electric current to be injected into the magnetoresistive element.

Magnetoresistive element and method of manufacturing the same


Techniques are described for automatically determining application composition and application ownership of an application that may include a plurality of files deployed to a plurality of host devices. The determination of application composition may be based on analyzing various types of metadata that may provide evidence of associations between deployed files, such as metadata describing the deployment of files to host devices, metadata describing the files tracked within a source control system, or other types of metadata. The determination of application ownership may also be based on analyzing the various types of metadata that provide evidence of associations between files and individuals or groups of individuals within an organization.

To support their operations, providers of online services or other computing services may deploy a large number of files across a variety of computing devices that are physically collocated or remote from one another. Such deployments may enable an organization to maintain a quality of service under a variety of operating conditions. However, a complex deployment of a large number of files may create challenges related to resource tracking and auditing, security, quality assurance, or other aspects.
Certain implementations and embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which various aspects are shown. However, various aspects may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Determining application composition and ownership


A method for providing search results to a user operating a third-party web page includes receiving a search request from the third-party web page. One or more search results may be identified that satisfy the search request. The one or more search results each have identifying information to be presented to a user, as well as substantive content. A unique identifier, such as an opaque token, is associated with each of the search results. The identification of the one or more results is provided to the third-party web page in a pop-up window or a widget. A request for the content for a selected search result of the one or more search results is received. The unique identifier may be used to validate the request, and the content is provided to the user, either directly or through the widget, on the third-party webpage.

Content delivery over the Internet allows computer users to receive search results, location information, e-mail, news, games, entertainment, music, books, and web pages with a simple Internet connection. Internet users also have access to numerous web resources such as maps, images, blogs, local searches, group discussions, and hosted content. Users often access these services to obtain information about a particular place, such as a business, attraction, destination, city or town, entertainment venue, or other point of interest, from web pages hosted by third-party providers that use proprietary search applications or information aggregation services. Web pages can facilitate locating desired information over the Internet, and the content related to a particular topic can, for example, be presented to the user after retrieving the content from such third-party sources.


A polyether compound which is as shown in Formula (I), wherein R1 is a polyether backbone of the polyether polyol; R2 is hydrogen or C1˜C5 alkyl; n is 3, 4 or 5. Furthermore, a photoresist composition comprising the polyether compound is disclosed. This photoresist composition is used to make the colored layer in a colored film substrate, in which the polymer film layer thus obtained has a small edge slope angle and is not prone to light leakage.

The quality of the colored substrate, an important component of a liquid crystal display, directly affects the quality of the liquid crystal display. A colored substrate generally comprises a colored layer formed from three colored photoresists (red, green, and blue). In a colored substrate, there are some requirements on the slope angle of the edge of the colored film layer. If the slope angle is too large, it may cause the missing of an orientation layer during the subsequent orientation layer coating process, thereby making it prone to light leakage.
Currently, the colored layer is often formed by exposure and development on a colored photoresist. A colored photoresist primarily comprises a polymerizable monomer, an alkaline soluble resin, a pigment dispersion, a photoinitiator, a solvent, and the like. After exposure and high temperature post-baking, the polymerizable monomer will polymerize to form a polymer. However, based on empirical data obtained by comparing the high temperature post-baking of various monomers, polymers formed from common polymerizable monomers have too high hardness which causes high brittleness of the edge of the film layer and poor fluidity under gravity, making it not prone to bending and depressing, which results in a smooth slope with a high slope angle, usually higher than 75°, making it prone to light leakage.

Polyether compound, method for preparing same and photoresist composition


In combination at least one drum having a drum head and a shell supporting the head, and having an outer side, at least one pad located proximate the shell outer side, to be supported by a drummer's leg, or legs, whereby the drum can be supported by the drummer's leg or legs via the pad.

This invention relates generally to drum supports, and more particularly to supporting of a drum or drums between the knees of a drummer.
There is need for improvements in the supporting of a drum or drums, as for example bongo drums, between the user's knees, to prevent or block slip-down of the drum or drums, as during use. Bongo drums typically are interconnected in pairs, so that the space occupied by the two drums between the knees is considerable, the drummer's legs having to diverge to provide such space; consequently, the force of knee gripping of the drums, to prevent slip down, is reduced by such leg divergence.


Systems and methods for improving the quality analysis of printheads that apply transparent or hard-to-detect fluids to a media. The system includes a printhead operable to apply a clear fluid to a print media. The system also includes a controller operable to enter a diagnostic mode for quality analysis of the printhead. The controller initiates a supply of diagnostic fluid to the printhead that includes a colorant. The controller then directs the printhead to apply the diagnostic fluid to the print media. Because the diagnostic fluid includes a colorant, the output of the printhead will be more visible on the media.

Businesses or other entities having a need for volume printing typically purchase a production printer. A production printer is a high-speed printer used for volume printing (e.g., one hundred pages per minute or more). Production printers are typically continuous-form printers that print on webs of print media that are stored on large rolls.
A production printer typically includes a localized print controller that controls the overall operation of the printing system, and a marking engine (sometimes referred to as an "imaging engine" or as a "print engine"). The marking engine includes one or more printhead assemblies, with each assembly including a printhead controller and a printhead (or array of printheads). An individual printhead includes multiple tiny nozzles (e.g., 360 nozzles per printhead depending on resolution) that are operable to discharge ink as controlled by the printhead controller. A printhead array is formed from multiple printheads that are spaced in series across the width of the print media.
When in operation, the web of print media is quickly passed underneath the printhead arrays while the nozzles of the printheads discharge ink at intervals to form pixels on the web. In order to ensure optimal print quality, a print quality chart can be printed in a pattern that exposes any print irregularities caused by clogged nozzles or misalignment. In cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) printing systems, a cyan, magenta or black nozzle defect will be apparent on a printed diagnostic chart since their output contrasts with the paper medium. However, it is difficult to detect problems in nozzles that apply yellow or clear fluids to a medium.

Quality analysis of printheads with clear fluid


A device for protecting door hardware from damage by a wheeled cart being pushed past the door. The device has a generally "T" shaped body with a cross member having its ends bent in a "U" shaped to fit over the hardware to be protected. The long member of the "T" extends at a slant back toward the door surface, there forming an inclined strike plate that a protruding corner of a cart can contact and ride over.

This invention relates to a device for protecting door opening hardware such as door knobs and related devices, in particular those devices commonly called "Panic Bars", from damage by wheeled carts or gurneys which are pushed past doors equipped with such hardware.
A panic bar is usually horizontally mounted on the inner surface of an out-swinging door at a level about three feet above the floor. The panic bar protrudes inwardly from the surface of the door and, at the hinge side of the door, has a protruding edge which is vulnerable to damage by a cart which is being pushed past the door especially when the door is at least partially open when contacted by the wheeled cart.


A method of fabricating an image sensor is provided. The method may include preparing a substrate with first to third pixel regions, coating a first color filter layer on the substrate, sequentially forming a first sacrificial layer and a first protection layer to cover the first color filter layer, forming a first photoresist pattern on the first protection layer to be overlapped with the first pixel region, performing a first dry etching process using the first photoresist pattern as an etch mask to the first sacrificial layer and the first protection layer to form a first color filter, a first sacrificial pattern, and a first protection pattern sequentially stacked on the first pixel region, and selectively removing the first sacrificial pattern to separate the first protection pattern from the first color filter.

Some image sensors are semiconductor devices capable of converting electric signals into optical images. These image sensors may be classified into various types, including a charge-coupled device (CCD) type and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) type.
As an integration density of the image sensor increases, the size of each pixel in the image sensor decreases. This may lead to various technical problems in a process of forming color filters on the pixels.

Image sensor and fabricating method thereof


A method of forming a magnetic switching device is provided. The method includes depositing a bilayer hardmask, which may comprise a first mask layer of titanium nitride with a second mask layer of tungsten formed thereon. A first lithography process is performed to pattern the second mask layer, and a second lithography process is performed to pattern the first mask layer. Thereafter, the magnetic tunnel junction stack may be patterned in accordance with the first mask layer. An etching process may be performed to further pattern the first mask layer in accordance with the second mask layer. An optional passivation layer may be formed over the first mask layer and the second mask layer.

Magnetic random access memory (MRAM or "MagRAM") is a solid-state device using magnetic thin film elements as a storage mechanism. The storage mechanism is dependent upon the relative orientation of the magnetization of two electrodes, and on the ability to detect this orientation by electrical means. MRAM arrays typically include an array of magnetic memory cells positioned at the intersections of wordlines and bitlines. Generally, each cell includes a magnetically changeable or "free" region, and a nearby magnetic reference region, arranged into a magnetic tunnel junction ("MTJ") device.
The principle underlying storage of data in these memory cells is the ability to change the relative orientation of the magnetization of the free and reference regions by changing the direction of magnetization along the easy axis ("EA") of the free region, and the ability to read this relative orientation difference thereafter. An MRAM cell is written by reversing the free region magnetization using applied bi-directional electrical and resultant magnetic stimuli via its received bitline and wordline. The MRAM cell is read by measuring the resultant tunneling resistance between the bitline and wordline, which assumes one of two values depending on the relative orientation of the magnetization of the free region with respect to the reference region. If the free region is modeled as a simple elemental magnet having a direction of magnetization which is free to rotate, but with a strong preference for aligning in either direction along its easy axis (+EA or −EA), and if the reference region is a similar elemental magnet but having a direction of magnetization fixed in the +EA direction, two states (and the two possible tunneling resistance values) are defined for the cell: aligned (+EA/+EA) and an-aligned (−EM +EA).
In operation, the MRAM device can be read by measuring the tunneling resistance to infer the magnetization state of the storage layer with respect to the fixed layer. The MRAM can be written by reversing the free layer magnetization using external magnetic fields. If the free layer is imagined as a simple elemental magnet which is free to rotate but with a strong energetic preference for aligning parallel to the X axis, and if the pinned layer is a similar elemental magnet but frozen in the +X direction, then there is at least two states possible for the device (e.g., aligned and anti-aligned in +X or −X directions).
In order to produce magnetic switching devices efficiently and with consistent results, there is a need for a method of fabricating and patterning the various layers of a magnetic switching device such that consistent results may be obtained.

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is a system and method for measuring 3D distances and dimensions of objects in endoscopic images by using a light plane to make Euclidean and geodesic measurements. The endoscopic measurement system of the invention comprises a flexible or rigid endoscopic device equipped with standard visualization means and a module containing components for generating a light plane. Based on triangulation, the intersection curve between the light lane and the object of interest is measurable in 3D in the coordinate system of the visualization means.

When using a camera equipped borescope to inspect engines or machined parts for imperfections of interior surfaces, it would be advantageous to be able to perform and record accurate, three-dimensional measurements to obtain the dimensions of the imperfections in order to be able to evaluate the extent of the damage and to determine what corrective measures should be taken.
During endoscopic medical procedures, it is of an advantage to perform accurate three dimensional measurements to obtain dimensions of anatomical structures within the lumen, such as lesions, stenoses, tumors, and the like. Tracking such measurements along time may further improve the level of care provided.
For example, Otorhinolaryngologists may benefit from recording the dimensions, opening, and alignment of patients' vocal cords. Pulmonologists can quantify airway size and establish treatment protocol accordingly. Monitoring these data provides valuable information related to effectiveness of a treatment, disease progression and the like. Another example is monitoring the size of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract or the stomach, to support further treatment decisions.
Currently, physicians using a state of the art endoscope, be it flexible or rigid, monocular or stereoscopic, do not have a true volumetric perspective within the acquired image and are unable to conduct accurate measurements. A common practice is to place an object of known size (e.g., a catheter with known diameter) next to the anatomical structure and use it as a scale to assess dimensions.
The actual necessity of obtaining accurate 3D measurements during endoscopic procedures is manifested by several patents and patent applications, describing inventions aimed at providing a solution to the problem. Some of these patents and applications are registered to key vendors in the medical devices arena, such as Olympus, Toshiba, Covidien and others. Most of the state of the art (issued patents and applications) attempts to obtain a full depth image of the endoscopic field of view. Additionally, several vendors are promoting stereoscopic endoscopy to answer complementary needs.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,400, 'Measuring Endoscope', issued to Toshiba on Feb. 25 1992, the use of a laser pattern generated at the end of a fiber by a standard diffraction grating is synchronized with the illumination light for observation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,098, 'Apparatus for Measuring Three-dimensional Configurations', issued to Olympus on Jul. 21 1998, an oscillating structured light and beam splitters are used to measure the 3D configuration of an object.
In U.S. Pat. No. 8,248,465, 'Measuring Endoscope Apparatus and Program', issued to Olympus on Aug. 21 2012, two images combined with triangulation on image data is used to generate the measurements.
In U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,575, 'Measuring Endoscope Apparatus, Program and Recording Medium', issued to Olympus on Jul. 30 2013, a system that includes an endoscope and a processing section that measures distances on two images received from the endoscope based on a triangulation method.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,558,879, 'Endoscope Apparatus and Measurement Method', issued to Olympus on Oct. 15 2013, further describes an apparatus and method, which is partly manual in nature, requiring the user to mark correspondence points in both images.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,465,415, 'Endoscope Apparatus and Measurement Method', issued to Olympus on Jun. 18 2013, takes a different approach, by measuring a shake in an interlaced image to generate a second image that is measurable.
There are yet other approaches to providing a solution to the problem, for example:
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,578, 'Direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument and method', issued to Paul K. Little on Jun. 22 2010, the invention relates to a physical reticule which is extended from the distal end of the endoscope and placed proximate to an anatomical structure to be measured, and then retracted accordingly.
In CN 2,689,888Y, 'Measuring type endoscope biopsy forceps', Apr. 6 2005, the inventors use color coded graduation marks to assess the extent of disease.
Additional background information may be found in the following patent applications: US2004/0242961 (corresponding to EP1480067A1), US2009/0225321, US2012/0289778, US2014/0028819, WO2005/027739A1, WO2012/147679A1, EP2106748A1, EP2160974A1, EP2630915A1 and in a paper published in 'Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 45:377-382 (2013—http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791553/)', titled 'Proof-of-concept of a Laser Mounted Endoscope for Touch-Less Navigated Procedures', which emphasizes the need for measuring 3D data in adjacent domains.
Further research includes 'Calibration of laryngeal endoscopic high-speed image sequences by an automated detection of parallel laser line projections' by T. Wurzbacher et al., Medical Image Analysis 12 (2008) 300-317, where two parallel planes of known distance, mounted on a rigid endoscope, generate two intersection curves with the vocal cords that are approximated as straight lines, and are merely used for coarse scaling of image pixels. Another research article titled 'Depth-kymography: high-speed calibrated 3D imaging of human vocal fold vibration dynamics' by N. A. George et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 53 (2008) 2667-2675, describes a rigid endoscope equipped with a laser projection channel that uses a large triangulation angle and a specific calibration method to enable highly accurate vertical measurement of the front surface of the vocal folds, as they vibrate in low amplitude. Both of these setups are inapplicable for measuring lumens with a large depth of field, and therefore are unsuitable for providing 3D measurements in general.
To the best of the inventor's knowledge, no commercially available medical endoscope to date has the capability to accurately take 3D measurements and to record them. Furthermore, the state of the art solutions for three-dimensional endoscopy are mostly complex. In some, the device includes a complex assembly of mechanical, electrical and optical components. In others, such as Olympus iPLEX stereoscopic borescope, the measured object must have salient features and the required extra user interaction renders the process cumbersome.
It is noted that the terms "endoscope" and "endoscopic device" are used herein in a generic sense to apply to endoscopes, catheters, laparoscopes, and similar instruments used in medical applications and also to borescopes and similar instruments used in non-medical applications.
It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a system and a method capable of making accurate 3D measurements of objects observed in the field of view of an endoscopic visualization system.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide systems capable of making accurate 3D measurements of objects observed in the field of view of an endoscopic visualization system that is structurally much less complex than existing systems.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a method capable of making accurate 3D measurements of objects observed in the field of view of an endoscopic visualization system that is structurally much less cumbersome to carry out than existing methods.
Further purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Endoscopic measurement system and method

V.T.M (Virtual Tape Measure) Technologies Ltd.


Provided is a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve. The damping force variable shock absorber includes: a base shell in which a damping force variable valve assembly is attached to an outside thereof; an inner tube which is installed inside the base shell and in which a piston rod is installed to be movable in a length direction; a piston valve which is connected to one end of the piston rod to partition an internal space of the inner tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber; a separator tube which is installed to partition a space between the base shell and the inner tube into a low-pressure chamber and a high-pressure chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a damping force variable shock absorber having a damping force variable valve assembly, and more particularly, to a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a shock absorber is installed in means of transportation such as automobile or the like, and improves a ride comfort by absorbing and damping a vibration or shock from a road surface during driving.
Such a shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston rod installed to be compressible and extendable within the cylinder. The cylinder and the piston rod are installed in a vehicle body, wheels, or axles.
A shock absorber, a damping force of which is set to be low, can improve a ride comfort by absorbing a vibration caused by unevenness of a rod surface during driving. On the contrary, a shock absorber, a damping force of which is set to be high, can improve a steering stability by suppressing a change in a posture of a vehicle body. Therefore, in a conventional vehicle, a shock absorber, to which a damping force characteristic is differently set, is applied according to the purpose of use of the vehicle.
Recently, there has been developed a damping force variable shock absorber in which a damping force variable valve capable of appropriately adjusting a damping force characteristic is mounted on one side of a shock absorber, such that a damping force characteristic is appropriately adjusted to improve a damping force a ride comfort or a steering ability according to a road surface and a driving condition.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an example of a conventional damping force variable shock absorber. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional damping force variable shock absorber 10 includes a base shell 12, and an inner tube 14 which is installed inside the base shell 12 and in which a piston rod 24 is installed to be movable in a length direction. A rod guide 26 and a body valve 27 are installed in an upper portion and a lower portion of the inner tube 14 and the base shell 12, respectively. In the inside of the inner tube 14, a piston valve 25 is connected to one end of the piston rod 24, and the piston valve 25 partitions the internal space of the inner tube 14 into a rebound chamber 20 and a compression chamber 22. A top cap 28 and a base cap 29 are installed in an upper portion and a lower portion of the base shell 12, respectively.
A reservoir chamber 30 is formed between the inner tube 14 and the base shell 12 to compensate for a change in a volume of the inner tube 14 according to a reciprocating motion of the piston rod 24. A flow of a working fluid between the reservoir chamber 30 and the compression chamber 22 is controlled by the body valve 27.
In addition, a separator tube 16 is installed inside the base shell 12. Due to the separator tube 16, the inside of the base shell 12 is partitioned into a high-pressure chamber PH connected to the rebound chamber 20, and a low-pressure chamber PL serving as the reservoir chamber 30.
The high-pressure chamber PH is connected to the rebound chamber 20 through an inner hole 14a of the inner tube 14. Meanwhile, the low-pressure chamber PL is connected to the compression chamber 22 through a lower passage 32 formed between a body of a body valve 27 and the base shell 12 (or the base cap 29) and a passage formed in the body valve 27.
Meanwhile, the conventional shock absorber 10 includes a damping force variable valve assembly 40 mounted on one side of the base shell 12 so as to vary a damping force.
The damping force variable valve assembly 40 is provided with oil passages connected to a base shell 12 and a separator tube 16 and communicating with the high-pressure chamber PH and the low-pressure chamber PL, respectively. In addition, the damping force variable valve assembly 40 includes a spool 44 installed to be moved by a driving of an actuator 42. An inner passage communicating with the high-pressure chamber PH and the low-pressure chamber PL is varied by a movement of the spool 44, and a damping force of the shock absorber 10 is varied accordingly.
However, the conventional damping force variable shock absorber could not perform a frequency selective function or an amplitude selective function that adjusts a damping force according to a frequency or amplitude of an input shock, and could not generate a damping force when a working fluid inside the shock absorber flows at an extremely low speed. Therefore, in designing a damping force variable shock absorber, there is a need to continuously conduct research and development on methods capable of selectively mounting an amplitude selective valve, a frequency selective valve, and an extremely-low-speed valve on a damping force variable shock absorber according to a vehicle type to be applied.

Damping force variable shock absorber having additional valve installed in rod guide


Disclosed is a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a current collector and a negative active material layer on the current collector, the negative active material layer having an active mass density in a range of about 1.6 g/cc to about 2.1 g/cc and including graphite and a pore-forming agent.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of preparing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable lithium battery has recently drawn attention as a power source for a small portable electronic device. It uses an organic electrolyte solution and thereby has twice or more the discharge voltage than that of a conventional battery using an alkali aqueous solution and as a result, has high energy density.
The rechargeable lithium battery is manufactured by injecting electrolyte into a battery cell, which includes a positive electrode including a positive active material capable of intercalating/deintercalating lithium and a negative electrode including a negative active material capable of intercalating/deintercalating lithium.
The negative electrode includes a current collector and a negative active material layer. The negative active material layer is formed by applying a negative active material slurry including the negative electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material in a solvent on the current collector, followed by compression.
The negative active material layer is formed to have a high active mass density to increase energy density of the negative electrode. However, the negative active material layer with the high active mass density has no pores through which an electrolyte flows in, which deteriorates impregnation properties of the electrolyte into the negative active material layer.

Negative electrode for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same


Method and terminal for processing short message are provided, wherein the method includes: when a short message is received, an index identifier corresponding to the short message is created, and the index identifier is stored into a preset index file, and the short message is stored into a preset message file according to the index identifier. The method performs processes to short message in storage space of mobile terminal according to actual data length of short message, and stores as many short messages as possible in limited storage space.

At present, with the development of mobile communication technology, the short message service has become a popularized service ranked second in frequency of use of all mobile communication services, because of the low expense and convenience in communication. Many value-added services, such as weather forecast and information delivery, of operators are increasingly introduced by taking the advantages of short message.
Therefore, the importance of the function and method of storing the short message to the mobile terminal is self-evident. The memory of mobile terminal itself can store short message. Nonetheless, because a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card has the unique feature of being replaceable and pluggable, users prefer to store short message in the SIM card.
According to requirement of the GSM11.11 specification, the structure of the 6F3C file of the currently used SIM cards, which is used for storing short message, is the linear fixed-length file. It means that the record length of each short message of the 6F3C file is fixed. However, in practice, data lengths of short messages are different. If space is reserved for each short message according to a fixed length, then the actually reserved space cannot be fully utilized because of different data length of each short message, thereby reducing the number of short messages actually stored in limited storage space, and inevitably wasting resources.


An escapement mechanism for a timepiece, includes an escapement wheel (1), an escapement anchor (2) including a body (2a), and a fork (5), the body (2a) including pallets (3, 3′, 4, 4′) that engage with the escapement wheel (1), the body (2a) having a shape that makes it possible to delimit an internal space (11) for arranging the escapement wheel (1), the pallets (3, 3′, 4, 4′) including two rest pallets (3, 3′) and two impulse pallets (4, 4′), protruding in the internal space (11). The mechanism includes a pin (7) of a roller (6) that is secured to a regulating device, characterized in that the roller (6) and the fork (5) are arranged with respect to one another such as to impart an alternating translation movement with respect to the escapement wheel (1) to the anchor (2) when the pin (7) engages with the fork (5).

Escapement systems are known and are consequently not described in detail in this document. These systems include a set of component parts in particular including at least one escape-wheel intended on the one hand to be rotated under the action of at least one drive organ, and on the other hand to cooperate mechanically with at least one regulating organ, to periodically transmit energy to it in order to maintain its oscillations.
Typically, the escape-wheel includes a hub, a felloe provided with teeth and connecting arms rigidly connecting the hub to the felloe.
The most widespread escapement mechanism is the Swiss lever escapement, due in particular to its reliability.
Also known is a pallet escapement by the Melly brothers, the escapement pallet of which includes a stick connecting a body, bearing pallet-stones, to a fork. Such an escapement is for example described in application EP 1,967,919. The stick pivots around a fixed axis parallel to the axis of an escape-wheel. It is widely known that such an escapement does not work properly. In fact, this escapement does not have high operating safety, the transitions between rest, impulse and drop being poorly defined. It is also very bulky and its construction gives it a strong moment of inertia.


In a fracturing control apparatus, a first chemical agent storage tank is connected with a first delivery pump, and a material outlet of the first delivery pump communicates with a first position of a first fracturing fluid conveying pipeline. An outlet of the first fracturing fluid conveying pipeline communicates with an inlet of a fracturing pump, an outlet of the fracturing pump communicates with an inlet of a second fracturing fluid conveying pipeline, and a first flow detector is arranged at a second position of the second fracturing fluid conveying pipeline. The first delivery pump is connected with a first output interface of a controller, and the first flow detector is connected with a first input interface of the controller. The fracturing control apparatus and the control method of the fracturing control apparatus are used for adding chemical agents into fracturing fluids.

In a fracturing process, in order to meet technological requirements and improve a fracturing effect, it is generally necessary to add chemical agents to fracturing fluids.
However, in the related art, the addition of the chemical agents is manually controlled at an operation site, and this control manner inevitably leads to a problem of untimely control.

Fracturing control apparatus and control method therefor

YANTAI JEREH PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.


A partition portion includes a proximal portion fixed to the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion and a sealing member mounted to the proximal portion in a manner that the sealing member is allowed to move in inner and outer circumferential directions of the peripheral wall portion. When receiving a force toward an outer circumferential direction, the sealing member is moved in the outer circumferential direction, and a distal end portion thereof is held in press-contact with a sliding contact portion of a ventilation member with a force generated along with the above-mentioned force.

Coating apparatus including a rotating drum have been used for performing film coating, sugar coating, and the like of medical products, food, pesticidal products, and the like, which are prepared as tablets, soft capsules, pellets, grains, and in other similar forms (hereinafter collectively referred to as "particles").
The following Patent Literatures 1 to 10 disclose this type of coating apparatus.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a coating apparatus including a ventilated-type rotating drum to be driven to rotate about a horizontal axis. The rotating drum includes a peripheral wall portion having a polygonal shape in cross-section, and the peripheral wall portion includes side surfaces having ventilation characteristics due to porous portions. Further, a jacket is mounted on an outer peripheral side of each of the side surfaces of the peripheral wall portion, and a ventilation channel is formed between the jacket and each of the side surfaces of the peripheral wall portion. Further, on another end side of the rotating drum where a rotary drive mechanism including a motor is set, there is arranged a ventilation mechanism for controlling ventilation of a process gas such as dry air for the rotating drum. The ventilation mechanism has a function to communicate the ventilation channels that have come to predetermined positions along with rotation of the rotating drum respectively to an air inlet duct and to an air outlet duct.
Further, Patent Literatures 2 and 3 each disclose a coating apparatus having what is called a jacketless structure. A rotating drum of a coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 2 includes the peripheral wall portion having a polygonal shape in cross-section. The peripheral wall portion of the rotating drum includes the side surfaces having ventilation characteristics due to the porous portions. Partition plates are provided respectively at apexes of the polygonal peripheral wall portion, and sliding frames are provided along both axial end portions of the peripheral wall portion. Ventilation spaces are formed by being divided by the side surfaces, the partition plates, and the sliding frames of the peripheral wall portion. The rotating drum is accommodated in an inside of an outer casing, and the outer casing includes an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion provided respectively on an upper side and a lower side thereof. The air outlet portion on the lower side includes a sealing plate made of rubber, a synthetic resin, or the like. Along with the rotation of the rotating drum, the partition plates and the sliding frames of the peripheral wall portion are held in sliding contact with the sealing plate. With this, air in an interior space of the outer casing is prevented from being exhausted without contributing to drying of particles in the rotating drum. The peripheral wall portion includes an upper part opened to the interior space of the outer casing. A drying gas supplied from the air inlet portion on the upper side to the interior space of the outer casing enters the rotating drum through the porous portion at the upper part of the peripheral wall portion, and passes through a particle layer in the rotating drum. Then, along with the rotation of the rotating drum, the drying gas is exhausted to the air outlet portion through the ventilation space that has come to a position corresponding to the air outlet portion on the lower side. A rotating drum of a coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 of Patent Literature 2 includes a peripheral wall portion having a circular shape in cross-section. Further, a sealing plate having a circular-arc shape in cross-section is provided on each of the air inlet portion side and the air outlet portion side. Patent Literature 3 also discloses a coating apparatus having a jacketless structure that is basically the same as that disclosed in Patent Literature 2.


A fuel-injection device adjusts a fuel-injection level with a solenoid valve disposed in a fuel-supply passage which supplies the fuel to a compressor. A pulse width of a drive pulse to actuate the solenoid valve, which is determined by the sum of a time lag in the valve's closing caused by the motion of the valve member of the solenoid valve and of the time length at which the valve is to remain closed, is made shorter than the time lag in the valve's closing when the engine load is low. Current supplied to the solenoid is thus cut off immediately before the solenoid valve is completely closed, and a preflow caused by a rise in injection-pressure is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a fuel-injection device which controls the amount of fuel-injection in an internal combustion engine by an opening/closing control of a solenoid valve installed at some point along a fuel-supply passage leading to the compressor of a fuel injection pump.
2. Related Art
Regarding fuel-injection devices, for example, the device disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Publication No. 61-268844 is well-known.
With this device, as shown by the formula (1) below, a pulse width Td for operating the solenoid valve is determined by the sum of the time delay in opening/closing of the valve and the injection time Tq corresponding to the desired injection level, to control the fuel-injection level of the internal combustion engine. EQU Td=Tv+Tq formula (1)
The Tv is almost constant regardless of the injecting conditions, and the drive pulse width Td can be adjusted by changing the Tq. FIG. 5 shows an ordinary injection-level control.
Once the drive pulse (Dp) corresponding to the Td is generated, based on this Dp, the solenoid valve is supplied with current which is generated for the time length Tv necessary to completely close the solenoid with greater valve lift, and with the current that is put out during the time length Tq necessary to keep the valve closed (the condition when DVC is high).
In the aforementioned control, to obtain a minimal injection level, the Tq can be set at 0, and Td=Tv, as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 6. However, when the solenoid valve is actually controlled by the Tv pulse width, electrical conduction to the solenoid valve is continued until the communication between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side is cut off; therefore, some time passes before the solenoid valve is completely opened again as it was in the earlier driving condition, and a substantial amount of fuel is injected due to the preflow caused by an injection pressure rise that occurs at this time.
This fuel-injection becomes significant as the rotation rate increases and the oil supply rate from the pumping system becomes greater; therefore, the inconvenience is that injection control is impossible when the engine load is small and the engine rotation rate is great (high idle time), in other words, when the domain below the a line in FIG. 7 is larger.


Disclosed are catalyst systems and methods of making the catalyst systems/supports for the polymerization of an olefin containing a solid titanium catalyst component having a substantially spherical shape and containing an internal electron donor, a support made from a magnesium compound, an alcohol, an ether, a surfactant, and an alkyl silicate. The catalyst system may further contain an organoaluminum compound and an organosilicon compound. Also disclosed are methods of making an impact copolymer involving polymerizing an olefin to provide a polyolefin matrix and polymerizing a polyolefin rubber using a catalyst component containing a support made from a magnesium compound, an alcohol, an ether, a surfactant, and an alkyl silicate.

Polyolefins are a class of polymers derived from simple olefins. Known methods of making polyolefins involve the use of Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts. These catalysts polymerize vinyl monomers using a transition metal halide to provide a stereoregulated polymer.
Numerous Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts exist. The catalysts have different characteristics and/or lead to the production of polyolefins having diverse properties. For example, certain catalysts have high activity while other catalysts have low activity, and similarly certain catalysts have a long life while other catalysts have a short life. Moreover, polyolefins made with the use of Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts vary in stereoregularity, molecular weight distribution, impact strength, melt-flowability, rigidity, heat sealability, isotacticity, and the like.
Impact copolymers are made of polyolefins and rubbers. While higher amounts of rubber in an impact copolymer increase the impact resistance, the higher amounts undesirably lower the flow properties of the copolymer. Lower amounts of rubber in an impact copolymer undesirably increase stiffness or rigidity, which in turn lowers the impact resistance.
Useful Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts made through a precipitation method are made using an organic magnesium compound starting material. The organic magnesium compound leads to the formation of a desirable spherical catalyst particle. Replacing the organic magnesium compound starting material with a markedly less expensive magnesium halide results in a catalyst particle with a morphology that is difficult to control and aspherical.

Spherical catalyst for olefin polymerization


The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a magnetic power component and to a magnetic power component. The component comprises a multi-layer coil (1) which consists of several windings disposed in the layers, first and second electrical conductors (5, 6) which are electrically connected to the selected windings, and a first and a second core part (7, 8) which are arranged to direct magnetism to the windings. The first side (2) of the multi-layer coil (1) is provided with a cavity (9) and the first core part (7) is at least partially mounted in the cavity.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a magnetic power component according to the preamble of claim 1.
The invention also relates to a magnetic power component according to the preamble of claim 3.
Magnetic power components where the core consists of a first core part which is on the first side of a multi-layer coil and of a second core part which is on the second side of the multi-layer coil require connecting feet because the coil of the magnetic component will be placed at a distance from the circuit board. The purpose of the connecting feet is to connect the coil of the magnetic power component and the conductors of the circuit board electrically so that electric current can be supplied from the conductors of the circuit board to the coil and vice versa.
Attachment of the above-mentioned connecting feet to the coil is expensive.
One solution to avoiding the connecting feet is to arrange the winding of the magnetic power component evenly against the surface of the circuit board, in which case the first and the second conductors of the multi-layer coil could be connected electrically to the conductors of the circuit board directly without separate connecting feet.
A solution similar to this has been disclosed in European Application No. 0,741,396 A1, which teaches that the circuit board may comprise an aperture at the ferrite core. The aperture enables placing of the multi-layer coil near the circuit board and thus separate connecting feet are not necessary.
However, such an aperture in the circuit board decreases the useful surface area of the circuit board and thus makes the design and manufacture of circuit boards more difficult.
The object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a magnetic power component and a magnetic power component which eliminate the above-mentioned problems.
The objects of the invention are achieved by a method and an arrangement which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims.
Dependent claim 2 discloses a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned method.
Dependent claims 4 to 9 disclose preferred embodiments of the magnetic power component according to the invention.
An advantage of the solution of the invention is that it simplifies the magnetic power component. The power component does not require separate connecting feet since the multi-layer coil of the magnetic power component can be placed against the circuit board and fused directly with the conductors of the circuit board without connecting feet.
Since no aperture is necessary in the circuit board at the ferrite core, the solution of the invention simplifies the manufacture and design of the circuit board and increases its useful surface area.

Method of manufacturing a magnetic power component and a magnetic power component


The present invention relates in general to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing high-speed digital communications through a communications channel. In one aspect, the present invention employs an automatic slicer level adaption to enhance the performance of a high speed communications system.

This application relates in general to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing high-speed digital communications through a communications channel, and more particularly to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing slicer level adaption for a high-speed digital communications system.
Digital communications systems are continuously increasing the transfer rate at which data is transmitted between devices through a communications channel, for example, a backplane. One technique for increasing the data transfer rate is to encode the data prior to transmission. In this regard, there are a number of techniques for encoding data. Many of these techniques utilize different numbers of signals and modulation of symbols in order to increase the data transfer rate. One such method of modulating symbols is to use a multi-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-n) scheme that encodes a plurality of bits of data into or onto a single signal in which the symbols are represented as a set of signal levels between minimum and maximum signal levels.
In order to properly decode the received signal to thereby recover the digital representation of the data bits being transmitted, signal levels need to be set between the minimum and maximum signal levels that allow the transmitted symbol to be decoded properly. These are typically referred to as slicer levels.
In conventional systems, the slicer levels are an equal distance between adjacent signal levels. These levels are typically set during system design. As such, each signal level has an equal weight and is fixed. This slicer level scheme, however, may not provide a sufficient result from the perspective of a bit error rate of the system performance.
Accordingly, there exists a need to increase the performance of channel communications by, for example, providing a system and technique that includes an improved slicer level adjustment mechanism and technique.

System and method for providing slicer level adaption