A pass-through duodenal enteroscopic device utilizes the natural contraction wave of the small intestine to propel the device through the small intestine at about the same speed as any other object therein. The exterior of the device is streamlined over the greater portion thereof with a video camera and illumination source at the forward end of the device. Covering the camera lens and illumination source is a transparent inflatable balloon adapted to gently expand the small intestine immediately forward the camera for better viewing. A small diameter communication and power cable is wound within the device and unwinds through an aperture in the rear of the device as the device moves through the small intestine. Upon completion of movement through the small intestine the cable is automatically separated from the device permitting the cable to be withdrawn through the stomach and intestine. The device continues through the large intestine and passes from the patient through the rectum.

The field of the invention pertains to devices that visualize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from within the tract, in particular, devices such as endoscopes and enteroscopes.
Endoscopic technology has long since matured to visualize the entire colonic mucosa via colonoscopy and to visualize the esophagus, stomach and first 20 cm of the small intestine(duodenum). There is as of yet no fully satisfactory way of visualizing the full length of the small intestine. Currently, there are two types of endoscopes used to visualize the small intestine, the push endoscope and the Sonde (pull type) enteroscope. These two devices are very limited in their usefulness. The most efficacious way of inspecting the entire small bowel mucosa is to perform an intraoperative enteroscopy where the surgeon performs a laparotomy on the patient and actually moves the small intestine over the enteroscope. The enteroscope is driven by a gastroenterologist. Such a procedure is fully invasive and obviously an expensive and extreme measure to inspect the intestinal mucosa.
Adequate and efficacious visualization of the small intestine is the final frontier in the field of gastroenterology. Since the invention of the fiberoptic endoscope, there has been ceaseless improvement of upper (gastric) endoscopy and colonoscopy. Continual improvement has made inspection of the upper gastrointestinal mucosa (esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenal) a routine procedure that is highly effective and safe. Technology is now tending to plateau. For example, the current Olympus video endoscope has a scope diameter of 8 mm, and provides a high resolution magnified view of the stomach.
Similarly, colonoscopes are now highly maneuverable and quite small in diameter. Apparently it is no longer the goal of manufacturers to make smaller colonoscopes because it is believed that smaller, more flexible scopes will be more difficult to advance through the colon to the cecum.
Visualization of the small intestine, in contrast, has progressed little over the last ten years. Visualization of the small intestine is important especially in patients who have occult GI blood loss with no obvious source from the esophagus, stomach or colon. It is also important to examine the small intestine in patients with abdominal pain of unexplained origin and in patients with known diseases such as Crohn's disease or carcinoid syndrome. Barium small bowel follow-through is used most often to examine the small intestine, because of its ease and cost. However, this procedure rarely produces sufficient information for diagnoses. Physicians would usually prefer to visually inspect the small intestine mucosa if an adequate technique was available.
When a physician wishes to pursue investigation of the small intestine, the physician is left with the options of push enteroscopy, Sonde (pull type) enteroscopy or open intraoperative enteroscopy. Each of these technologies has failed to achieve widespread use because of the inherent drawbacks in each procedure.
The push enteroscope is similar in length and maneuverability to a colonoscope. However, trying to push a scope beyond the Ligament of Treitz is quite difficult because of the multiple turns of the small bowel. At best most push enteroscopes can visualize less than half of the small intestine.
The Sonde enteroscope is a narrow device about 300 cm long. The Sonde device is inserted into the stomach and then is allowed to advance through the small intestine by peristalsis. Approximately six hours are required to pass this scope through the entire length of the small intestine because of the resistance to movement. The device allows visualization of the entire small intestine when successfully passed, however, the great length of time for the procedure is a definite drawback.
The intraoperative enteroscope procedure is done when a diagnosis of small bowel pathology is sought and less invasive tests have been non-diagnostic. The procedure requires a laparotomy by a surgeon in combination with small bowel enteroscopic viewing by a gastroenterologist working in concert to advance the scope over the entire length of the small intestine. It is obviously much more risky to the patient and involves high costs and intensive use of resources.
A variety of experimental devices have been studied. These devices fall into two broad categories. The first group comprise electromechanical devices that are bendable or articulated over their length and are advanced by force produced at their proximal ends outside of the patient. The second group comprise devices that crawl by means of traction producing apparatus acting against the wall of the small intestine. The traction devices may exacerbate the potential damage to the wall of the small intestine beyond the potential damage of existing commercial enteroscopes.
Because of the failure to develop adequate means of evaluating the small intestine, patients frequently undergo a step-wise approach of undergoing one procedure followed by another, each with increasing invasiveness, risks and costs. If a device could be developed that would easily, efficiently and effectively visualize the entire length of the small intestine, this would be a dramatic step forward in the practice of medicine. To overcome the shortfalls of the existing enteroscopes and eliminate the difficulties of the crawling mechanisms, a new mechanism which enables a device to be easily delivered through the small intestine and allow access of light and power to the distal end is disclosed below.

Pass-through duodenal enteroscopic device


There are provided a wireless charging device and a control method thereof, the wireless charging device including: a receiving module receiving power from the outside in a magnetic induction scheme or a magnetic resonance scheme to thereby charge a battery; and an input signal determining unit receiving an input signal from the outside and determining characteristics of the input signal, wherein the receiving module includes a reception controlling unit controlling the receiving module to be operated in the magnetic induction scheme or the magnetic resonance scheme according to the characteristics of the input signal received from the input signal determining unit.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless charging device and a control method thereof.
Recently, cellular phones and personal portable electronic products with many additional functions have been released onto the market while maintaining an ultra-slim form. In order for the personal portable electronic product to be actuated, a power source such as a battery is necessary therein. Therefore, in the case of personal portable electronic products, battery use times, charging matters, and the like must be necessarily considered as important factors.
Meanwhile, in order to provide a user with a degree of freedom with respect to battery charging, the introduction of wireless charging technology has recently been promoted by cellular phone manufacturers. In this case, representative examples of wireless charging schemes include a microwave receiving-type scheme using microwaves, a magnetic induction scheme using a magnetic field and a magnetic resonance scheme utilizing energy switching between a magnetic field and an electrical field, and the like.
Here, in the microwave receiving-type scheme, power may be transmitted for a relatively long distance through microwaves being radiated in the atmosphere using an antenna, but significant radiation loss may occur, to thereby limit the efficiency of power transmission.
Meanwhile, in the case of the magnetic induction scheme and the magnetic resonance scheme, the respective technological standard associations therefor have been established. In the case of the magnetic induction scheme, a resonance frequency of 110 KHz to 282 KHz is used, and in the case of the magnetic resonance scheme, a resonance frequency of 6.78 MHz and 13.56 MHz is used. That is, due to the different resonance frequencies of the respective schemes and a communications protocol difference therebetween, the wireless charging schemes are incompatible with each other.
The following Patent Document 1, the related art document, relates to a wireless power transmission system selectively using a magnetic induction scheme or a magnetic resonance scheme depending on distance. That is, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a wireless charging device which may be operated in both respective technological standards through an analysis of an input signal provided from a transmitter.

Wireless charging device and control method thereof


A metal transaction card is provided having a metal core layer with metal cladding layers connected thereto on opposing sides thereof. The metal core layer may have a density and/or thickness that is significantly greater than the density and/or thickness of the metal cladding layers. The density of the metal core layer may be at least 2.5 times greater than the density of the metal cladding layers. The density of the metal core layer may be at least 7.5. The outward facing lateral surface of one or both of the metal cladding layers may be anodized, or anodized and colorized. The anodized lateral surface(s) may be coated to increase the performance of a one or more hot-stamped elements attached to the coated surface(s).

The prevalence of the use of transaction cards continues to grow. With the increasing use of transaction cards by individuals for value in purchases, the market for different types of transaction cards also continues to grow.
In this regard, a number of different varieties of cards are offered to consumers that may each offer a unique set of benefits and features. For example, a number of ultra-premium transaction card types have been proposed that are marketed to individuals with high net worth that also establish large balances using a transaction card. Card issuers that offer such ultra-premium transaction card types often provide associated premium services to holders of such ultra-premium transaction cards such as, for example, concierge services, increased involvement rewards programs, increased travel benefits, consumer protection features with respect items purchased using such cards, or other ultra-premium services not typically offered with standard transaction cards.
In addition to ultra-premium services offered in connection with such transaction cards, card issuers may also wish to provide a premium physical card as evidence of the ultra-premium nature of the transaction card. In fact, the awareness of such ultra-premium transaction cards has grown to the point where such ultra-premium cards have become associated with the high net worth individuals to whom such cards are issued. In this regard, such ultra-premium cards have become status symbols for many individuals.
To further increase the exclusivity of such cards and to differentiate such cards from traditional transaction cards, it has been proposed to manufacture cards using different precious metals rather than the typical plastic materials employed in traditional cards. For example, titanium, palladium, other precious metals, or the like have been proposed to be used to construct ultra-premium transaction cards. However, to produce precious metal cards of the kind proposed for use in the ultra-premium transaction card market, it is often the case that traditional methods of card manufacture are not applicable. In turn, the cost of such cards is often much greater than the cost associated with the production of traditional transaction cards made from plastics and the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image processing device for performing image processing on a facial image including a mouth of a person is provided, comprising a first organ likelihood identification unit configured to identify, based on a difference between a color of a location and a first representative color which is a representative color of an organ to be processed, a likelihood of the location being the organ as a first organ likelihood for each location of a first region including at least a part of the mouth; a first weight determination unit configured to determine a first weight which becomes smaller the greater a distance from a first location of the first region for each location; a correction degree determination unit configured to determine a correction degree of the location which becomes greater the greater the first organ likelihood and the first weight; and an image correction unit configured to correct an image.

The present invention relates to image processing devices and image processing methods, and in particular, to an image processing device and an image processing method for performing correction of a facial image.
When an image such as a photograph, a video, or the like includes a person's face, the face in the image is often the portion that attracts the attention of a person observing the image. A technique for correcting or adjusting the facial image to improve the appearance of the face included in the image is conventionally known.
For example, patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-231879, published Oct. 8, 2009) discloses a technique of extracting contours of the upper and lower lips, identifying the portion surrounded by the detected contours on the inner side of the upper and lower lips as the portion corresponding to the teeth, and adjusting the brightness of the portion corresponding to the teeth. For example, the pixel values of the portion corresponding to the teeth are made light to improve the appearance of the face. In the technique of patent document 1, the contour of the lip is detected from the change in the luminance value of each pixel of the image to identify the portion corresponding to the teeth. Specifically, a plurality of detection lines in a vertical direction (height direction of the face) is defined in the mouth region, the change in the luminance value of the pixel is examined along each detection line, and the point where the change in the luminance value is relatively large is identified as the contour point of the lip. The contour points corresponding to the contour on the outer side and the contour on the inner side of the upper and lower lips are identified from a spatial distribution of the identified contour points, the region surrounded by the contour on the inner side of the upper and lower lips is identified as the inside of the mouth, and the region corresponding to the teeth is assumed to exist thereat. If a histogram for the luminance values in the region inside the mouth is created, many hills appear. According to patent document 1, the pixel having a luminance greater than a local minimal value of the histogram closest to the maximum luminance value is assumed as the tooth.
However, the conventional configuration described above has the following problems.
Consideration is made to first detect the contour of the lip to identify the region to correct the lip or the teeth. However, a facial image with satisfactory illumination condition needs to be prepared to detect the contour of the lip using the technique of patent document 1. The luminance value of the image greatly changes depending on the photographing environment such as illumination, and the like. For example, in the facial image photographed under a backlight condition, the light does not shine on the portion of the face and the entire face becomes dark. Thus, the change in the luminance value for every pixel becomes small, the change in the luminance value of the contour portion of the lip also becomes small, and a problem that the identification of the contour point becomes difficult (erroneous detection tends to easily occur) arises. Furthermore, when photographed under low illumination intensity such as indoor and the like, the noise becomes relatively large and the identification of the contour point of the lip becomes more difficult.
When photographed under the illumination condition in which light shines on the face, the change in the luminance value of the contour portion of the lip becomes large and the contour point can be easily identified. However, shadow may form by the bumps of the face depending on the manner the light shines on the face, where change in luminance greater than the change in the luminance value at the contour of the lip may occur at the boundary portion of the shadow. As a result, distinction between the boundary of the shadow and the contour of the lip becomes difficult.
When photographed under the illumination condition in which light strongly shines on the face, the entire face appears whitish (luminance is large). Thus, the vicinity of the contour of the lip becomes whitish, the change in the luminance value of the contour portion becomes small, and the identification of the contour point becomes difficult. If a great change in luminance occurs at the boundary of the shiny region due to the reflection (shine) of the light hitting the lipstick or lip gloss, the distinction between the contour and the boundary of the shine becomes difficult and erroneous detection tends to easily occur.
In the technique of patent document 1, the pixel, whose luminance is greater than a certain value in the oral region identified from the contour of the lip, is identified as the correction target, and tone curve is uniformly applied on the pixel to be corrected to increase the luminance. In this case, the boundary of the region determined as the correction target and the other regions may appear unnaturally emphasized due to the correction of increasing the luminance.
In light of the foregoing, it is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to realize image processing for appropriately performing the correction on the organ to be processed such that the boundary of the region to be processed is not unnaturally emphasized.

Image processing device, image processing method, and computer readable medium


A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may include instructions stored thereon for propagating changes to copied text. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to at least present copied text within a user interface of the computing system, monitor the user interface for changes to the copied text, receive a change to the copied text, the change including replacing a first instance of a first word, within the copied text, with a first instance of a second word, and in response to receiving the change to the copied text, present a prompt to replace, within the copied text, a second instance of the first word with a second instance of the second word.

Computers may enable users to easily copy text, saving the user time by not requiring him or her to re-type the same text. Some parts of the text, such as the addressee, may change. A user may make one or more changes to the copied text, but forget to make corresponding changes throughout the copied text.


The present application relates to the technology of communications. Disclosed are a method and device for shunting IP streams during 3GPP access switching; after having received a command for 3GPP access switching transmitted by a source 3GPP access device, a user equipment (UE) determines the IP streams to be transferred, and then performs 3GPP access switching and IP stream transferring at the same time, thus improving IP stream transferring efficiency. In addition, the IP streams to be transferred contain an IP stream capable of being transmitted via WLAN access after a target 3GPP access device fails to allocate resources to a bearers for transmitting the IP stream, thereby avoiding service interruption due to bearer loss, and thus improving the QoS ensurance for the service.

At the Meeting #90 of the Third Generation Partnership Project Service and Systems Aspects Working Group 2 (3GPP SA WG2), a work item for Study on Optimized Offloading to WLAN in 3GPP-RAT mobility (WORM) has been approved to focus on investigate routing optimization by moving one or more Internet Protocol (IP) flows of a User Equipment (UE) to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access according to an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) policy (relative priorities of a 3GPP access and the WLAN access) during the 3GPP inter-RAT handover. The work item is concerned with the technologies of the 3GPP inter-RAT handover of the UE, IP flow mobility and the ANDSF, an introduction of which will be given below respectively.
(I) 3GPP Inter-RAT Handover of a UE
A 3GPP access refers to a radio access network, e.g., a UTRAN, an E-UTRAN, etc., deployed with an access technology defined by the international standardization organization 3GPP. A 3GPP access device refers to a radio access device, e.g., a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), etc., manufactured as per the specification defined by the 3GPP; and a source 3GPP access device refers to a 3GPP access device with which the UE is connected before handover. 3GPP inter-RAT handover of UE has been introduced in details in the 3GPP TS 23.401, and this procedure will be introduced below in details by way of an example where a UE is handed over from an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) to a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Iu mode:
The procedure in which the UE is handed over from the E-UTRAN to the UTRAN Iu mode includes a handover preparation phase and a handover execution phase, and the handover preparation phase as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes:
In the step S101, a source eNB initiates a procedure of 3GPP inter-RAT handover so as to hand the UE over to a target access network, i.e., the UTRAN Iu mode;
In the step S102, the source eNB sends a Handover Required message to a source Mobility Management Entity (MME) to request allocation of a resource for the UE in a target Radio Network Controller (RNC), a target Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) and a serving gateway (GW);
In the step S103, the source MME sends a Forward Relocation Request message to the target SGSN to initiate a handover resource allocation procedure;
In the step S104, the target SGSN determines whether to relocate the serving GW for the UE, and if the serving GW needs to be relocated, then the target SGSN sends a Create Session Request message to the target serving GW per Packet Data Network (PDN) connection;
In the step S104a, the target serving GW allocates its local resource for the PDN connection and returns a Create Session Response message to the target SGSN;
In the step S105, the target SGSN sends a Relocation Request message to the target RNC to request the target RNC for allocation of radio resource for the UE;
In the step S105a, the target RNC allocates resource and returns to the target SGSN a Relocation Request Acknowledge message carrying information on Radio Access Bearers (RABs) established by the target RNC;
In the step S106, if Indirect Forwarding and Direct Tunnel is adopted and a serving GW is relocated, then the target SGSN sends a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message to the target serving GW;
In the step S106a, the target serving GW returns a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response message to the target SGSN;
In the step S107, the target SGSN sends a Forward Relocation Response message to the source MME;
In the step S108, if Indirect Forwarding is adopted, the source MME sends a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message to the serving GW used for Indirect Forwarding; and
In the step S108a, the serving GW returns a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response message to the source MME.
The target network side allocates the desired resource for the UE at the end of the handover preparation phase, and the UE is handed over from the E-UTRAN to the UTRAN Iu mode in the handover execution phase as illustrated in FIG. 2 including:
In the step S201, the source MME sends a Handover Command message to the source eNB at the end of the handover preparation phase;
In the step S202, the source eNB sends an HO from E-UTRAN Command message to the UE to instruct the UE to execute a handover to the target access network;
In the step S203, the UE moves to the target UTRAN Iu (3G) system and executes the handover according to parameters in the HO from E-UTRAN Command message, which is a UTRAN Iu access procedure;
In the step S204, the target RNC sends a Relocation Complete message to the target SGSN after the UE and the target RNC exchange successfully an RNC-ID and a Serving-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (S-RNTI). This message indicates that the UE has moved from the E-UTRAN to the RNC;
In the step S205, after the UE has arrived to the target side, the target SGSN sends a Forward Relocation Complete Notification message to the source MME to inform the source MME that the UE has arrived to the target side, and the source MME starts a timer upon reception of the message;
In the step S206, the target SGSN starts a timer upon reception of a Forward Relocation Complete Acknowledge message;
In the step S207, the target SGSN sends a Modify Bearer Request message to the target serving GW to complete the handover procedure;
In the step S208, the target serving GW sends a Modify Bearer Request message to a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (GW) to modify a context of the UE;
In the step S208a, if the serving GW is relocated, then the PDN GW updates the context of the UE and returns a Modify Bearer Response message to the target serving GW;
In the step S209, the target serving GW sends a Modify Bearer Response message to the target SGSN to indicate that the user plane switch procedure has been completed; and
In the step S210, when the UE recognizes that its current Routing Area is not registered with the network, or when a Temporary Identity used in Next update (TIN) of the UE indicates a Globally Unique Temporary Identifier (GUTI), the UE initiates a Routing Area Update (RAU) procedure;
In the step S211, after the timer started by the source MME in the step S205 expires, the source MME sends a Release Resource message to the source eNB, and if the serving GW serving the UE is changed, then the source MME sends a Delete Session Request message to the source serving GW. The source serving GW deletes the context of the UE and then sends a Delete Session Response message to the source MME;
In the step S212, if Indirect Forwarding is used, then after the timer started by the source MME in the step S205 expires, the source MME sends a Delete Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message to the source serving GW to release the temporary resource allocated by the source serving GW used for Indirect Forwarding; and
In the step S213, if Indirect Forwarding is used and the serving GW is relocated for the UE, then after the timer started by the target SGSN in the step S206 expires, then the target SGSN sends a Delete Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message to the target serving GW to release the temporary resource allocated by the target serving GW used for Indirect Forwarding.
(II) IP Flow Mobility
The UE is connected to an EPC through a WLAN access in three different network architectures including an S2a interface based architecture, an S2b interface based architecture and an S2c interface based architecture. S2a interface locates between a trusted WLAN access and GW in EPC, S2b interface locates between an un-trusted WLAN access and GW in EPC, S2c interface locates between UE and GW in EPC. Because the locations of the three interfaces are different, so the procedure to move an IP flow to the WLAN access is different in different architectures. Whether a WLAN access is trusted or not is decided by the operator.
IP Flow Mobility (IFOM) enables IP flow mobility between a 3GPP access and a WLAN access, including a process of seamless offloading to a WLAN, mobility of an IP flow between the 3GPP access and the WLAN access, and interaction of a PCC with an ANDSF. This process has been described in details in the 3GPP TR 23.861.
The UE has established a PDN connection through the 3GPP access, and after the UE finds the WLAN access, the UE can add the WLAN access to the PDN connection. A particular process thereof is as illustrated in FIG. 3 which illustrates a method of adding a WLAN access to a PDN connection including:
In the step S301, the UE searches for, finds and is connected with the WLAN access and configures an IPv4 address and/or an IPv6 address/prefix;
In the step S302, the UE performs functions of discovering a Home Agent (HA), bootstrapping the Dual-Stack Mobile IPv6 (DSMIPv6) and monitoring a DSMIPv6 home link, and reference can be made to the TS 23.402 for details thereof;
In the step S303, the UE transmits a Dual-Stack Mobile IPv6 (DSMIPv6) Binding Update message to the HA over the WLAN. The UE can carry a plurality of routing rules in the message. The DSMIPv6 Binding Update message carries an indicator that it is still connected over the home link (i.e., through the 3GPP access), and a binding identifier mobility option in the message describes relevant binding to the home link and other binding to a forward address from the WLAN access;
In the step S304, if the home agent of the UE functions on the PDN GW and dynamic PCC is deployed, then the PDN GW transmits an IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) Session Modify Request message to a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) by carrying an updated routing rule in the request message;
In the step S305, if the home agent of the UE functions on the PDN GW, then the PCRF transmits an acknowledgment message including an updated PCC rule (if the PCC rule is updated) to the PDN GW according to resource established successfully in a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF);
In the step S306, the HA creates DSMIPv6 binding, is configured with the IP flow routing rule and returns a Binding Acknowledge message to the UE to indicate to the UE that the routing rule requested by the UE has been accepted;
In the step S307, the PCRF acknowledges the configuration of a Quality of Service (QoS) rule relevant to Service Data Flows (SDF's) in the target BBERF in response to the IP-CAN Modify Request, which is a procedure performed in a gateway control session and a QoS rule provision procedure, and reference can be made to the TS 23.203 for details thereof; and
In the step S308, if the home agent of the UE functions on the PDN GW, then a resource allocated by the source 3GPP access system for the IP flow moved to the WLAN access is removed in a procedure of releasing a 3GPP resource.
FIG. 4 illustrates an IP flow mobility process in a PDN connection including:
In the step S401, the UE is connected with both the 3GPP access and the WLAN access, and all of current traffic of the UE is forwarded from the UTRAN Iu mode whereas no traffic is passed through the WLAN access;
In the step S402, the UE transmits a binding update message to the HA to configure a new routing rule or to modify an existing routing rule so as to apply an IP flow specific to a WLAN access route;
In the step S403, when the HA is deployed to function in the EPC, the PDN GW transmits an IP-CAN Session Modify Request message including an updated routing policy to the PCRF, and mapping between routing addresses and SDF's is stored in the PCRF;
In the step S404, if the HA is deployed to function in the EPC, then the PCRF transmits an acknowledgment message including an updated Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule to the PDN GW according to resource established in the WLAN
In the step S405, the HA transmits a Binding Acknowledge message to indicate to the UE that the routing rule requested by the UE has been accepted;
In the step S406, if the HA is deployed to function in the EPC, then the PCRF makes sure in response to the IP-CAN Session Modify Request that the target RAT has been configured with the relevant QoS rule and the relevant QoS rule has been removed from the source RAT. With a non-3GPP access, this procedure is performed in a Gateway (GW) control session and a QoS rule provision procedure. Reference can be made to the 3GPP TS 23.203 for the GW control session and the QoS rule provision procedure; and
In the step S407, if the HA is deployed to function in the EPC, then a procedure of releasing an Evolved Packet System (EPS) resource is performed to release the resource from the 3GPP source access system. Reference can be made to the 3GPP TS 23.402 for details thereof.
(III) An ANDSF
A user equipment for which multiple access systems are supported can be provided by a network with information about available radio access systems, and this function is performed by the ANDSF in the network. FIG. 5 illustrates the architecture of discovering and selecting an access network in a non-roaming scenario, where the ANDSF is a home ANDSF (H-ANDSF).
The user equipment communicates with the ANDSF via an S14 interface. With the ANDSF, the UE can know some information about an access network. The user equipment communicates with the ANDSF through pulling and pushing, where in the former case, the UE requests the ANDSF for the relevant information on its own initiative, and in the latter case, the ANDSF pushes the relevant information to the user equipment on its own initiative. The ANDSF can provide the UE with an Inter-System Mobility Policy (ISMP), an Inter-System Routing Policy (ISRP), Access Network Discovery Information (ANDI) and other information.
Particularly the ISMP relates to information about a series of operator defined rules and preferences, where the policy defines whether to allow inter-system mobility, the most appropriate type of RAT for an access to an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), different priorities of different access schemes and other information. The ISRP includes some information required for inter-system routing, and a user equipment for which multiple radio access interfaces are supported, e.g., a user equipment for which IP Flow Mobility (IFOM) or Multiple-Access PDN Connectivity (MAPCON) is supported, can decide, under the ISRP policy, over which of available access networks, data is transmitted when a specific routing condition is satisfied; and when some access network is disabled for a specific IP data flow and/or a specific APN. The ANDI includes a list of access networks, available nearby the position where the UE is located, of a requested type of RAT, and relevant parameters thereof, e.g., the type of RAT, the identifiers and carrier frequencies of the radio access networks, etc.
The ISRP policy has been extended by the WORM task force and will be introduced below in details. The ISRP policy includes one or more ISRP rules including IP flow description information, routing conditions (rule valid positions and rule valid periods), routing rules and rule priorities. When the current position of a UE and the current time satisfy the routing condition or conditions of one or more ISRP rules, the UE selects an ISRP rule at the highest one of the priorities of these rules. Then the UE selects one of the access networks under the routing rule in the ISRP rule, accesses the access network and moves IP flows, transmitted by the UE, matching with the IP flow description information of the ISRP rule, to the access network.
A routing rule in an ISRP rule includes an access technology, an RAT identifier, a secondary RAT identifier and the priority of an access network. A format of the routing rule is as illustrated below, where the access technology includes a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and a WLAN. Only if the access technology is a WLAN, then the routing rule will include the RAT identifier, the secondary RAT identifier and other information, where the SSID of the WLAN is stored in the RAT identifier, and the HESSID of the WLAN is stored in the secondary RAT identifier. The priority of the access network represents the priority of the access technology in the routing rule.
In summary, there are the following problems during the 3GPP inter-RAT handover of a UE:
Since there are such a limited resources of the target 3GPP access system that one or more bearers of the UE may be lost or the QoS of thereof may be degraded, there may be a poorly guaranteed QoS of IP flows over these affected bearers, thus discouraging the experience of the user and consequently possibly interrupting the services; and after the UE is handed over from the source 3GPP access to the target 3GPP access, the UE moves the specific IP flow to the WLAN access under the policy (e.g., the ANDSF policy) so that two handovers occurs.

Method and device for shunting IP stream during 3GPP access switching

China Academy of Telecommunications Technology


A hand-held tool is provided for applying threads to an earring post, to enable the earring post to thereafter receive a clutch member in a non-slip relationship. This novel tool comprises an elongate member of generally cylindrical configuration, around one end of which a cap member may be removably secured, such as by the use of interfitting threads. The one end of the elongate member defines a flat recess of circular configuration designed to receive therein, a flat circular die equipped with centrally disposed female threads. The recess is slightly shallower than the thickness of the die, and the die is preferably held in a non-rotative position in the recess by the internally threaded cap being tightened into firm contact with the threaded end of the elongate member. The cap member has a centrally disposed hole therein, into which an earring post may be inserted, and thus be brought into contact with the female threads of the die. As a result of this construction, upon rotation of the elongate member relative to the post, threads will be formed on the post. A die may be operatively mounted on both ends of the elongate member, so that a pair of different size dies may be mounted in a ready-to-use condition.

For many centuries people have pierced their ears so that they can wear earrings involving either "wire" earrings or "post" earrings. In a wire earring, a dangling ornament may be provided with a U-shaped wire at one end of the ornament, with the other end of the U-shaped wire being threaded through the ear and then engaged with a catch provided adjacent the ornament.
In a post earring, the earring is connected to the ear by the end of a slender short rod or post being pushed through the opening in the person's ear, with a friction nut or clutch thereafter being slid onto this other end, to prevent loss of the earring. Unfortunately, the friction nut or clutch sometimes slips off of the relatively smooth sidewalls of an ordinary earring post, which in some instances may lead to the loss of the earring.
In recent years an improvement has been made, designed to prevent the loss of post-type earrings, with this involving the threading of a portion of the post remote from the earring itself. The element used to secure the post on the ear is a clutch, which is a device having a base portion equipped with a central opening about which a plurality of springy fingers are arrayed in a substantially evenly spaced relationship. The free ends of these fingers are being adapted to being brought together in a manner in which these ends tightly engage the threaded exterior of the earring post as the clutch is inserted thereover. In this way the threads on the post are effective to prevent the clutch member from sliding off.
The Block Pat. No. 4,170,118 describes an arrangement of this type in some detail, setting forth that although the clutch can be readily inserted over the threaded portion of an earring post, the clutch cannot be removed without the clutch actually being unscrewed. This is because the tips of the springy fingers that passed over the convolutions of the threading are held in the threading, for these tips of the fingers are biased so as to catch on the flanks of the threads.
It has previously been known that threaded posts can be substituted on an existing earring by having a jeweler or other such craftsman cut off the original post, and then weld on a new, threaded post. Such a procedure as this may well involve temperatures being applied to the earring in the vicinity of 1200.degree. F. to 2000.degree. F., thus requiring the removal of the ornament from some earrings, in order to prevent damage thereto. As is obvious, this will necessarily involve a considerable expense.
It is therefore to be seen that a clear need exists for a person having earrings that are valuable for reasons of sentiment or otherwise, to be easily able to apply threading to unthreaded earring posts, to prevent loss of the earring, and such an invention is described herein.

Hand held threading device for earring post


A tissue everting apparatus includes at least one elongated frame, at least one actuator slidably mounted to the frame and longitudinally movable between proximal and distal positions, a tissue everting bulbous tip, and at least two prongs which are laterally movable between open and closed positions. The bulbous tissue everting tip is positioned, for example, in the lumen of a vascular segment to evert the edge and the prong is closed to capture the everted edge of the vascular segment. The edge of a second vascular segment is everted and captured in a similar manner with the edges being brought together to form a flange-like structure to which one or more surgical clips may be applied to fasten the segments together.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure herein relates to surgical instrumentation for everting body tissue, particularly blood vessels, in minimally invasive or open surgery, and methods for using same.
2. Background of the Art
In surgical procedures for edge to edge joining of body tissue, the edges of the tissue are often everted and held in close approximation in order for the tissue to be sutured. For example, to join the ends of tubular structures such as blood vessels, the ends of the blood vessels can be everted to facilitate joining by suture threads and more recently by clips. Other methods of joining such as side-to-side and end-to-side can also be used for joining tubular structures. A preferable way to join body tissue is by the application of non-tissue penetrating clips, which cause less trauma to the body tissue than suturing or penetrating clips. Such clips require proper eversion of the body tissue.
Everting instruments are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,065 to Anderson discloses a method and apparatus for holding and sealing a longitudinally extending edge of tissue. The tissue is everted and held in position by a clamping member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,324 to Krantz et al. discloses a surgical stent for use in supporting the walls of a tubular organ during anastomosis. The stent includes a circumferential ridge adapted to evert the edges of the tubular organ to facilitate suturing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,970 to Wozniak discloses a vascular everting instrument having an annular member with an iris-diaphragm mechanism to flare the leading edge of the blood vessel to facilitate anastomosis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,187 to Schenck discloses a method and device for anastomosis of blood vessels. The device includes a ring-like member through which the end of a first vessel is extended and everted back over. A second vessel end is drawn over the everted first vessel end to place the lumen of these vessels in apposition. Fasteners are then applied to clinch the vessels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,704 to Castro et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,281 to Kirsch et al. disclose everting forceps which include first and second outer resilient legs interconnected at one end, and a third leg intermediate the pair of outer legs. The outer legs terminate at tips provided with arcuate jaws. The intermediate leg terminates in a spherical tip.
What is needed is improved instrumentation for everting vessels.
What is also needed is improved instrumentation which can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures such as laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures. Typically, in minimally invasive procedures a cannula is placed in an opening in a wall of body tissue and the surgical instrumentation is sent through the cannula into the patient's body wherein the operation is performed. One or more additional cannulas provide access for fiberoptic viewing instruments and other surgical instrumentation. The operating end portion of the instruments is generally long and narrow to be able to fit through the cannula and reach the inside of the body cavity where the operation is being performed. In procedures such as abdominal surgery wherein the operating site is insufflated, it is generally necessary to have a seal both within the equipment and between the equipment and cannula to prevent the entry or egress of gases or other fluids into or out from the patient's body. An advantage of minimally invasive surgery is that there is much less trauma to the patient. Both operating time and recovery time are significantly shortened.


An apparatus and method automatically adjusting the brightness and the color temperature of a screen to an optimum state according to input RGB signals. The apparatus includes an RGB color signal generator and a system controller. The RGB color signal generator determines a maximum value of each of the input RGB color signals and a total maximum value, compares the total maximum value with a predetermined critical value, adjusts the brightness level of the input RGB color signals based on the comparison result, compares the maximum values, and if one of the maximum values is higher than the others, generates RGB color signals, one of which has a color temperature varying according to a predetermined value. The system controller provides the RGB color signal generator with data on the predetermined critical value and a reference value used for detecting the color signal having the higher maximum value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the brightness and the color temperature of a screen on which input RGB color signals are displayed, according to the input RGB color signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
With an existing image display apparatus, the brightness and the color temperature of a screen is adjusted with values set by a user using an on-screen display (OSD) menu, or with adjustment values set when manufacturing the image display apparatus.
In the above method, values necessary for adjusting the brightness and the color temperature are set, in consideration of the brightness levels and the color temperatures of RGB color signals input, when adjusting the brightness and the color temperature of the screen. Thus, in a case where the brightness and the color temperature of an input RGB color signal vary, the user has to readjust the brightness and the color temperature of the screen using the OSD menu.

Apparatus and method for adjusting brightness and color temperature


In an image processing system in which a plurality of image processing apparatuses and a management apparatus are connected to each other via a network, the management apparatus forms the image processing apparatuses into one or more groups based on apparatus attribute information, acquires control variable value information from an image processing apparatus in a group, and sends the acquired information to the other image processing apparatuses in the group. The other image processing apparatuses receive the control variable value information sent from the management apparatus, and execute image processing based on the received information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system, a management apparatus, an image processing apparatus, a management method, a computer program, and a storage medium, the system including the management apparatus and a plurality of image processing apparatuses, which are connected to each other via a network.
2. Related Art
In printers and other known image processing apparatuses a reduction in image quality levels occurs when jobs are executed continuously under fixed control conditions. Variations in internal temperature and wear and tear on the photosensitive drum and other structural elements, for example, result in the image density and image positioning relating to executed jobs failing to meet target control values, and the quality level of processed images (hereafter "image quality level") suffers as a result. In order to counter this deterioration in the image quality level, image quality stabilization processing is conducted in known image processing apparatuses to fine tune the control conditions in accordance with the existing environment of the apparatus.
In the image quality stabilization processing, control variables that affect image quality in the image processing apparatus are determined. If the image processing apparatus is a printer or similar image forming apparatus, tests are conducted to detect the density of a plurality of toner patterns of differing densities formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum as part of the test process, and the optimal adjustment values for control variables such as the developing bias voltage of the developing unit and the grid voltage of the charging unit are determined based on the test results. Other control variables affecting image quality include heater output and the oil supply levels of the heat fixing unit.
If the image processing apparatus is a scanner or similar image reading apparatus, on the other hand, control variables include the exposure voltage applied to the exposure lamp.
Execution of the image quality stabilization processing in an image processing apparatus naturally requires a certain amount of power usage. In the case of a printer, for instance, a surprisingly high amount of power is needed to rotate the photosensitive drum and to drive the charging unit in order to form the toner pattern on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
Moreover, the recent increase in the number of business offices operating a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a local area network (LAN), means that major power consumption is required to execute the image quality stabilization processing in all of these apparatuses.
A result of the enhanced focus in recent years on the depletion of energy resources has been a comprehensive move across a broad spectrum of fields to achieve reductions in power consumption. Thus the increased power usage of businesses operating a large number of image forming apparatuses is of major concern.
Of course, this problem relates not only printers and other image forming apparatuses as but also to image reading apparatuses such as scanners or any other image processing apparatus that executes image quality stabilization processing.

Image processing system and method for providing image quality stabilization processing in devices on a network


Disclosed are an optical recording reproducing apparatus which can effectively remove contamination material attached thereto and an optical recording medium used in the optical recording reproducing apparatus. To this end, the apparatus comprises: a catalyst layer formed at a specific part thereof; and a light irradiation unit for irradiating light on the catalyst layer. An optical disc used in an optical recording reproducing apparatus includes a catalyst layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical recording reproducing apparatus and an apparatus for removing dust and contamination material attached to an optical disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an optical recording reproducing apparatus is an apparatus for making laser beam irradiated from an optical pick-up unit be incident on an active recording layer of an optical disc, an optical recording medium, through an objective lens and thereby reproducing information recorded in the optical disc or recording information in the optical disc. The optical recording reproducing apparatus was disclosed in the application Ser. No. '5,661,711' registered in the U.S.A patent with a date of Aug. 26, 1997.
The optical recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium can have high density recording capacity when a pit size is small and a track width is narrow. However, a structure of the recording medium including a protective layer, an active recording layer, and a reflective layer, a condensing method according to that, diffraction of a spot size of light collected on the recording medium in order to form a pit on the active recording layer of the recording medium are limited. According to this, an optical recording reproducing method has been actively researched.
Hereinafter, a conventional optical recording reproducing method using a far-field method will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an objective lens and an optical disc for explaining the conventional optical recording reproducing method using a far-field method.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the conventional optical recording reproducing method using a far field, laser beam irradiated from an optical pick-up unit (not shown) is concentrated into an optical disc through an objective lens 11 having a numerical aperture NA of approximately 0.5˜0.6. Herein, the concentrated laser beam transmits a transparent substrate 12 of the optical disc and then is made to be incident on an active recording layer 13 of the optical disc. That is, in order to prevent the active recording layer 13 from being damaged due to the user's fingerprint, dust, and contamination material, the thick transparent substrate 12 is formed on the active recording layer 13 of the optical disc.
A recording density of the optical disc is determined by a size of the concentrated laser beam, and the size of the laser beam is determined by wavelength λ of light source and the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens.
Therefore, in the conventional optical recording reproducing method using a far field method, a lens having a high refraction index, that is, high NA can not be used since the laser beam reaches to the active recording layer 13 by transmitting the thick transparent substrate 12.
Also, in order to form a focal point of the laser beam concentrated through the objective lens 11 on the active recording layer 13, the objective lens 11 and the active recording layer 13 have to maintain a constant distance. However, since a surface of the transparent substrate 12 is not generally smooth, it is impossible that the objective lens 11 contacts to the surface of the transparent substrate, the surface of the optical disc, thus records and reproduce a signal. According to this, a predetermined interval is necessary between the objective lens 11 and the optical disc, and a lens having high NA can not be used.
In order to solve said problems of the conventional optical recording reproducing method using a far field, recently, an optical recording reproducing method using a near field has been proposed as a method for enhancing a recording density in a region where diffraction of light is not generated.
A principle of the optical recording reproducing method using a near field will be explained as follows.
Incident light into a lens with a degree of an angle more than a critical angle is totally reflected when it progresses from glass having a high refraction index to air having a low refraction index. At this time, light having a very weak intensity is on a surface of the lens by the total reflection of light, which is called as evanescent wave. By using the evanescent wave, high resolution which was impossible in the conventional far field due to diffraction of light is possible. In the optical recording and reproducing optical system using the near field, light is totally reflected in the lens thus to generate the evanescent wave on the surface of the lens, and information is recorded and reproduced by coupling between the evanescent wave and the recording medium.
FIG. 2 shows a construction of the optical recording reproducing apparatus using the near field in accordance with the conventional art in order to explain an optical recording reproducing method using the near field.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the optical recording reproducing method using the near field, laser beam irradiated from the optical pick up unit (not shown) is focalized on an objective lens 22 having high NA through a slider 25 where the objective lens 22 is mounted, and evanescent wave generated from the focal point and an active recording layer 23 formed on the surface of the optical disc are coupled thus to record or reproduce information.
Therefore, in the optical recording reproducing method using the near field, the objective lens 22 having very high NA has to be used, the active recording layer has to be formed on the surface of the optical disc in order to form the focal point of the lens on the active recording layer 23 of the optical disc, and an interval between the objective lens and the optical disc surface has to be tens of nm which is less than wavelength of light.
According to this, a space for forming a passivation layer (for example, a transparent substrate) on an outer surface of the active recording layer 23 of the optical disc was not enough.
In the meantime, the objective lens 22 reciprocates the optical disc rotated in a high speed with a very near interval corresponding to tens of nm in order to scan a track of the optical disc. Also, laser beam is focalized on the active recording layer of the optical disc when information is recorded in the optical disc, which causes temperature of the surface of the optical disc to be increased.
According to an experimental result, temperature of the active recording layer is increased up to 200˜250° C. in case of a magneto-optical disc, and increased up to 600° C. in case of a disc of a phase change method. At this time, temperature of the surface of the optical disc formed by a dielectric layer and a protective layer which protect the active recording layer is also increased up to 60˜300° C., so that a following problem is generated on the surface of the objective lens adjacent to the surface of the optical disc.
That is, material constituting the optical disc and contamination material attached to the surface of the optical disc are transferred to the surface of the objective lens and a lower surface of the slider and coated by high heat of the surface of the optical disc. Herein, the contamination material includes transparent substrate material of the optical disc, hub material, cartridge material, material for constituting the surface of the optical disc such as a lubrication layer and a protective layer, material for constituting a man's fingerprint, dust, and etc. As a result of an analysis, the contamination material included carbon and fluorine compound mainly and sodium, silicone compound, and etc. were also detected.
Also, when information of the optical disc is continuously reproduced or information is continuously recorded in the optical disc, the contamination material attached to the surface of the optical disc is transferred to the surface of the objective lens and coated on the surface of the objective lens and on the lower surface of the slider by heat thus to decrease transmissivity of the objective lens. Besides, if the contamination material is coated on the surface of the objective lens for a long time, information can not be recorded in the optical disc and information recorded in the optical disc can not be reproduced.

Optical recording reproducing apparatus and optical recording medium used therein


A compression type coaxial cable F-connector includes a conventional coupling nut and tubular post. A cylindrical body member is secured to the tubular post and includes a sleeve for receiving the jacket of the coaxial cable. A circular relief in the sleeve allows the end of such sleeve to be deformed inwardly toward the cable jacket. A compression ring is mounted over the outer wall of the sleeve of the cylindrical body member and includes a tapered inner bore which forces the end of the sleeve inwardly against the cable jacket as the compression ring is advanced axially over the cylindrical body member. As the end of the sleeve is deformed inwardly, it extends just behind a circular barb formed about the tubular post to pinch the cable jacket therebetween. The compression ring can be manufactured as a separate component, or the compression ring can initially be integral with the sleeve of the cylindrical body member and attached thereto by a frangible connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to so-called F-connectors used primarily in the cable television industry to connect coaxial cables to threaded ports, and more particularly to such F-connectors that are installed using an axial compression tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coaxial cable F-connectors are often used to terminate a drop cable in a cable television system. The coaxial cable typically includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, in turn surrounded by a conductive grounding foil and/or braid (hereinafter referred to as a conductive grounding sheath); the conductive grounding sheath is itself surrounded by a protective outer jacket. The F-connector is secured over the prepared end of the jacketed coaxial cable, allowing the end of the coaxial cable to be threadedly connected with a threaded port of a terminal block.
Crimp style F-connectors are known wherein a crimp sleeve is included as part of the connector body. A special radial crimping tool, having jaws that form a hexagon, is used to radially crimp the crimp sleeve around the outer jacket of the coaxial cable to secure such a crimp style F-connector over the prepared end of the coaxial cable. Examples of such crimp connectors are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,050 to Hayward, assigned to Gilbert Engineering Co., Inc.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,106 to Szegda, assigned to John Mezzalingua Assoc. Inc.
It is known in the art that the passage of moisture between the coaxial cable jacket and the surrounding F-connector can lead to corrosion, increased contact resistance, reduced signal strength, and excessive RF leakage from the connector. Those skilled in the art have made various efforts to form a seal between the F-connector and the jacket of the coaxial cable to preclude such moisture ingress. F-connectors are known in the cable television industry wherein special sealing compounds are included in an effort to form leakproof seals. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,152 to Elliot, et al., and assigned to Tele-Communications, Inc. discloses a crimp connector incorporating a glob of a gel or other movable sealing material within a cavity of the connector to form a seal between the jacket of the coaxial cable and the interior of the F-connector.
Still another form of F-connector is known wherein an annular compression sleeve is used to secure the F-connector over the prepared end of the cable. Rather than crimping a crimp sleeve radially toward the jacket of the coaxial cable, these F-connectors employ a plastic annular compression sleeve that is initially attached to the F-connector, but which is detached therefrom prior to installation of the F-connector. The compression sleeve includes an inner bore for following such compression sleeve to be passed over the end of the coaxial cable prior to installation of the F-connector. The F-connector itself is then inserted over the prepared end of the coaxial cable. Next, the compression sleeve is compressed axially along the longitudinal axis of the connector into the body of the connector, simultaneously compressing the jacket of the coaxial cable between the compression sleeve and the tubular post of the connector. An example of such a compression sleeve F-connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,675 to Samchisen and assigned to LRC Electronics, Inc.; such patent discloses a compression sleeve type F-connector known in the industry as "Snap-n-Seal". A number of commercial tool manufacturers provide compression tools for axially compressing the compression sleeve into such connectors; for example, the CablePrep division of Ben Hughes Communication Products Company of Chester, Conn. sells such a hand-operated compression tool under the commercial designation "Terminx".
The aforementioned "Snap-n-Seal" compression connector requires substantial manipulation by an installer. The installer must detach the annular compression sleeve from the connector, slide the compression sleeve over the end of the coaxial cable, then install the connector, and finally compress the compression sleeve into the body of the connector. During assembly, the compression sleeve can easily become lost. In addition, such "Snap-n-Seal" connectors are significantly more expensive than conventional crimp style connectors.
A somewhat related radial compression-type F-connector is disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,257 to Szegda. A tubular locking member protrudes axially into the open rear end of the outer collar or sleeve. The tubular locking member is displaceable axially within the outer collar between an open position accommodating insertion of the tubular post into the prepared end of the coaxial cable, and a clamped position fixing the end of the cable within the F-connector. An O-ring is mounted on the rear end of the tubular locking member to seal the connection between the tubular locking member and the outer collar as the tubular locking member is axially compressed. Such connectors have been sold in the past under the designation "CMP". The O-ring provided on the tubular locking member is exposed and unprotected prior to axial compression of the F-connector.
It is known in the coaxial cable field generally that collars or sleeves within a coaxial cable connector can be compressed inwardly against the outer surface of a coaxial cable to secure a coaxial cable connector thereto. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,274 to Hayward and assigned to Gilbert Engineering Company Inc., a connector assembly for a signal transmission system is disclosed wherein a body portion threadedly engages a nut portion. The nut portion includes an internal bore in which a ferrule is disposed, the ferrule having an internal bore through which the outer conductor of a coaxial cable is passed. As the nut portion is threaded over the body portion, the ferrule is wedged inwardly to constrict the inner diameter of the ferrule, thereby tightening the ferrule about the outer surface of the cable. However, the connector shown in the Hayward '274 patent is much more expensive than conventional F-connectors and can not be installed quickly, as by a simple crimp or compression tool; rather, the mating threads of such connector must be tightened, as by using a pair of wrenches.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive F-connector that can easily be machined from a small number of components, and which can be quickly installed over the prepared end of a coaxial cable using a conventional F-connector axial compression installation tool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an F-connector that does not require any threaded, rotational movement of the connector components during installation in order to secure such connector over the end of the coaxial cable.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an F-connector which forms a reliable moisture proof sea l between the F-connector and the jacket of the coaxial cable to preclude moisture from passing between the F-connector and the jacket of the coaxial cable extending therein, while avoiding the need for gels or other sealing compounds.
A further object of the present invention to provide such an F-connector that is shipped to a user as a one-piece structure, and which is installed onto the end of a coaxial cable as a one piece structure without detachment of any components, in order to simplify the installation of such connector over the end of a coaxial cable, and to avoid the loss of detachable components.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an F-connector which avoids the need for the assembly of any O-rings for the purpose of creating a seal between the connector and the jacket of the cable.
A further object of the present invention is to increase the pull-out strength of the F-connector/coaxial cable assembly by making it more difficult to dislodge the cable jacket from the F-connector following installation.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the present invention proceeds.

F-connector with deformable body and compression ring


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating reaction molecular byproducts of pyrotechnic reactions. A closed calorimetry bomb holds pyrotechnic material, which is detonated by a charge. The calorimetry bomb is vented directly into a gas chromatography machine, where gas phase molecules are separated based on their polarity. The separated molecules are then injected into a mass spectrometer and characterized by their mass fragmentation. The remaining residual solids within the bomb are extracted and injected into a liquid chromatography instrument where they are separated by their polarity. The separated molecules are then injected into a mass spectrometer and characterized by their mass fragmentation pattern. The method provides a complete picture of the reaction pathways and products to aid in regulatory compliance of incorporating energetic materials into real-world applications, particularly those in the family of PFAS containing compositions.

Fluorine containing compounds, such as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and other long-chain PFAS are an emerging family of compounds found in many industrial and consumer products. These compounds are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being toxic to human health and persistent in the environment. Largely due to their use in fire suppressants, these long-chain PFAS have contaminated thousands of sites. Such contamination has attracted regulatory and citizen attention, which has fueled recent efforts to evaluate the regulation of all types of PFAS. Another area of concern is related to the growing public concern of PFAS contamination from open burning, open detonation (OB/OD) and testing operations on military ranges. Currently, special-interest groups are using unsubstantiated claims regarding PFAS emissions to pressure the EPA to ban OB/OD of polymer-based explosives.
Current methods for the study of reaction byproducts are primarily performed using one of two different methods. The first method involves sampling the open burn/detection and injecting the collected headspace into a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The second method uses a direct heating probe connected to GC/MS. The problems inherent with these methods are that open headspace collection results in diluted samples that may allow low concentrations byproducts to be missed or require addition equipment to concentrate sample. Additionally, when a direct heating probe is used, some pyrotechnics burn at a high enough temperature to result in damaged equipment. Furthermore, a direct heating probe only allows for the analysis of anaerobic gases.

Evaluation of gaseous and solid byproducts from chemical reactions

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. The substrate for suspension includes: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer. The ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower.

In recent years, due to the spread of the Internet and others, the information processing amount of personal computers and the processing speed of information have been required to be increased. Following to that, it has been requested that the capacity of hard disc drives (HDDs) integrated into personal computers and the speed of information transmission are made larger. The type of the component for supporting a magnetic head used in an HDD, which is called a magnetic head suspension, has also been shifting from a conventional type, to which signal lines such as gold wires are connected, to a wiring-integrated type, i.e., the so-called wireless suspension type, wherein signal lines such as copper wires are fitted directly to a stainless steel spring.
Recently, demands for HDDs to be mounted into various small-sized devices, typical examples of which are portable devices, have been increasing. For this reason, the density of HDDs has been made higher, and further the size of magnetic heads has been becoming smaller. Thus, with an increase in the sensitivity of the magnetic heads, the magnetic heads are easily affected by electrostatic charging. Accordingly, there is caused a problem that the properties of small-sized magnetic head elements are changed by electric charges collected in their sliders, and at worst the elements are broken.
Another problem is the following problem: in order to improve the signal transmission speed and precision of HDDs, there has been a tendency that electric signals having a higher frequency are used in recent years; as the frequency becomes higher, noises of transmitted electric signals increase. It has been considered that a cause for generating noises is based on a difference in potential between the metallic substrate and the wiring layer.
Against these problems, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following matters for preventing a damage of a magnetic head by electrostatic discharge: the use of an electroconductive resin between the magnetic head and the suspension for the purpose of attaining electric connection; the formation of an earth electrode on the suspension side from an electroconductive material such as copper by sputtering, plating, vapor deposition or the like; and others.
For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a method to restrain the generation of noises, wherein a ground terminal is set up on a wired suspension for attaining a short circuit between wiring and a substrate for the suspension. In the process of forming the ground terminal, an additive method is used; therefore, required are the step of forming a power-feeding layer through a dry process, and the step of forming a wiring layer by electrolytic plating.
According to the above-mentioned prior arts, it is necessary to conduct a process for which a relatively long time is required, such as sputtering, plating or vapor deposition, when an earth electrode or a ground terminal is formed. For this reason, there remain problems that the productivity is low and costs increase.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application publication (JP-A) No. 08-111015
Patent Document 2: JP-A No. 2006-12205

Substrate for suspension, and production process thereof


A fold-down seat frame for a motor vehicle is provided. The seat includes a seat bottom disposed in a predominantly horizontal position and a seat back adapted for movement between a predominantly vertical seating position and a predominantly horizontal reclined position. The seat back and seat bottom share an adjacent edge that forms a vertex between the two. An auxiliary section is adapted for movement between a seated position and a reclined position. When in the seated position, the auxiliary section is located substantially below the seat bottom, and when in the reclined position, the auxiliary section is interposed between the seat back and seat bottom and aligned in substantially horizontal fashion therewith. A hinging assembly interconnects the seat back, and the seat bottom, and the auxiliary section and operates to controllably and concertedly move the seat back, the seat bottom, and auxiliary section between the seated and reclined positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to reclining seats for motor vehicles, and more particularly to reclining seat-beds for motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, there has been a vast proliferation in the automotive industry of vans and mini-vans. Indeed, competition in the marketplace for these vehicles is intense. In this particular niche (i.e., the vans and mini-vans), a competitive edge is often gained by providing amenities over and above those offered by competitors. Built-in television sets and child safety seats that fold out from the passenger seats are examples of amenities presently provided in these vehicles.
Another feature often provided in the conversion van and mini-van market is the provision of a fold-out or fold-down seat-bed. Upgraded bench seats are known which include an auxiliary cushion or section; in addition to the normal seat back and seat bottom, when the seat is disposed in an upright or seated position, the auxiliary section is located in a storage position. When, however, the seat back is reclined to a position flush with the seat bottom, the auxiliary section is extended into horizontal alignment with the flattened seat back and seat bottom.
More specifically, at least one bench seat is often provided in both conversion vans and mini-vans. Typically, a seat bottom is disposed in a generally horizontal position and forms an angle with a seat back generally disposed in an upright or predominantly vertical position. The seat bottom and seat back share an adjacent edge forming a vertex between the seat bottom and seat back. In upgraded model vehicles, fold-down seat-beds are often provided, whereby an auxiliary section of cushion is hingedly attached to the seat back and disposed for pivotal movement in relation therewith. When the seat is disposed in its upright position, the auxiliary section is typically located in a storage position immediately behind the seat back.
An extendible support assembly is provided in connection with the auxiliary section to pivot the auxiliary section relative to the seat back and extend it into a reclined position, while at the same time providing adequate structural support to support the weight of a person or two with the assembly extended. It is appreciated that the extension/support assembly is designed to be responsive to, or to move in concert with, the seat-back as the seat-back is pivoted with respect to the seat bottom. That is, the seat is moved from its upright to its reclined position by pivoting the seat-back with respect to the seat bottom so that the two are horizontally disposed substantially flush with one another. In this regard, the adjacent edge shared between the seat-back and the seat bottom remains so positioned or shared as the seat-back pivots from its upright to reclined position. At the same time, as the seat-back is pivoted to its reclined position the support/extension assembly pivots the auxiliary section from its storage position immediately behind the seat-back toward an extended position, wherein the auxiliary section, the seat-back, and the seat bottom are aligned in a substantially horizontal position to form a bed.
The extension/support assembly is presently provided in the form of a collection of mechanical linkages that move in relation to one another between extended and storage positions. Several shortcomings are identified in fold-down seat-beds of this type. One shortcoming relates to the forward motion of the seat as the seat-back and auxiliary section are extended into the reclined position. Specifically, these seat-beds are typically provided in the rearmost seating position of a van. As the seat-back folds downwardly (and rearwardly) and the auxiliary section extends out therefrom, and also rearwardly, it is known that the auxiliary section often contacts and therefore jams against the back wall of the vehicle. Therefore, the entire seat assembly must be adjusted forwardly to provide room for the seat-back and auxiliary section to properly extend. This requires either manual adjustment of the seat forwardly or, if the seat is motor driven, a separate motor to advance the seat.
Another shortcoming noted in these seat-beds relates to the movement of the seat sections and the extension/support assembly. Certain models of these seat-bed assemblies are provided with a motorized drive mechanism to move the seat between upright and reclined positions. Due to the relatively complex movements of the seat-back pivoting with respect to the seat bottom, and the extension assembly pivoting the auxiliary section with respect to the seat-back, frequently two or more drive motors are provided for moving the seat between seating and reclined positions. This not only adds to the cost of the system but also introduces another component (the added motor) subject to failure and replacement.
A further shortcoming noted in these types of seat assemblies relates to the configuration of the extension/support assembly. As previously mentioned, these assemblies generally take the form of mechanical linkages configured to extend and retract so as to pivot the auxiliary section with respect to the seat-back. A number of pinch points are noted in the linkages, which increase the potential dangers to children or other persons which may get a finger or other object caught as the seat is extended and retracted.


A vehicle driving system having a wireless power transmission function includes a driving controller configured to generate a high frequency AC voltage corresponding to a device by using a DC voltage applied from a battery within a vehicle and generate a magnetic field by applying the generated high frequency AC voltage to a primary coil. A smoother is configured to smooth an AC voltage induced by a secondary coil into a predetermined level of DC voltage and supply a constant voltage to the device, wherein the device is operated based on the constant voltage supplied from the smoother.

A vehicle is an apparatus which moves from one place to another place by allowing engine power to drive its own front wheels and rear wheels and includes various devices to secure the safety of passengers within a vehicle.
The device includes a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor which senses a tire pressure to optimally maintain an air pressure of a tire and provides the sensed tire pressure to a driver, and a hot wire tire which prevents a tire from sliding on a snowy road or an icy road. A wheel lighting system (LED) provides a getting on/off safety of passengers of a vehicle, and a variable wheel increases a driving performance of the vehicle.
The above-mentioned devices consume battery power of the vehicle and do not operate without power.
Therefore, the devices are necessarily supplied with power. However, since all of the TPMS sensor, the hot wire tire, the wheel lighting system, and the variable wheel are mounted in rotating bodies (hub bearing, wheel, and the like) of the vehicle, the devices are not easily supplied with power.

Vehicle driving system having wireless power transmission function and method thereof


A mosaic picture processing apparatus and method is disclosed. The present invention includes a memory device for storing picture data, which include index data, pattern data, and pattern control data. A pattern coordinate generating device is used for generating a horizontal coordinate and a vertical coordinate. A mosaic device is used for generating a mosaic control signal. Next, the index data is read from the memory device in response to the horizontal coordinate, the vertical coordinate, and the mosaic control signal. Further, the pattern data is read from the memory device in response to the horizontal coordinate, the vertical coordinate, the index data, and the mosaic control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of mosaic picture processing, and particularly to a method and apparatus of mosaic picture processing using an image cell as a processing unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of two main conventional picture processing systems is called a frame buffer, which maps each pixel on a screen to some bits of a memory buffer. As shown in the timing allocation diagram of FIG. 1A, only one pixel is read in a time interval using the frame buffer scheme for a 16 bit system. The bandwidth usage is only 50% for processing a picture of 256 colors or 8 bits. Moreover, the bandwidth usage is 25% for processing a picture of 16 colors or 4 bits. The other situations are further listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ number of colors 256 16 4 2 depth 8 4 2 1 bandwidth usage 50% 25% 12.5% 6.25% ______________________________________
Owing to the structural simplicity, this frame buffer scheme can be easily constructed, but requires a lot of memory space. For example, 64K bytes memory is needed for a screen having 256 colors and 256.times.256 pixels. Further, these 64K bytes are moved whenever the picture on the screen is updated, consequently slowing down the whole picture processing system.
Another kind of the conventional picture processing systems is a system which uses an image cell in order to save memory space and accelerate the process. The primary advantage of using the image cell is that a pattern defined by the image cell can be repeatedly retrieved, greatly saving the memory space. An address of an image cell is initially generated to obtain an index stored in a pattern name table (PNT), followed by acquiring a pattern data stored in a pattern generation table (PGT) according to the previously obtained index. As the contents of different image cells on the screen are usually the same, and therefore occupy only one block of memory instead of two as in the frame buffer method. More data and attributes such as horizontal mirror data, vertical mirror data and palette are also stored in the PNT in addition to the aforementioned index.
The relationship between the PNT and the PGTs is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2E, where an 8.times.8 image cell is used. The color mode of 2 colors, 4 colors, 16 colors and 256 colors are represented by FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D and FIG. 2E respectively with depth of 1, 2, 4 and 8. The relationship among the depth, the number of colors and the required memory is further listed in Table 2, where the relationship between the depth and the number of the colors is: number of colors=2.sup.depth. For example, there are 256 or 2.sup.8 colors available for a depth of 8. Also, the relationship between the required memory and the depth is: required memory=8.times.8.times.depth/8 bytes. For example, 64 (or 8.times.8.times.8 8) bytes are required for a depth of 8.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ depth number of colors memory (byte) ______________________________________ 1 2 8 2 4 16 4 16 32 8 256 64 ______________________________________
FIG. 1B shows the timing diagram of a traditional picture processing system using the image cell, where the index of the PNT is firstly read, and then the PGT data is read. The bandwidth usage of PNT is only 12.5% owing to the fact that the same PNT data of neighboring eight pixels are repeatedly read.
A mosaic picture processing is commonly required in a picture processing system such as a video game, making an image vague purposely or a smooth transition between two images. For example, the picture in FIG. 3A is processed by a mosaic picture processing to produce the picture as shown in FIG. 3B.

Apparatus and method of mosaic picture processing