An improved receiver for use in a robotic theodolite spatial positioning apparatus that allows a single user to determine elevation and azimuth angle data. To determine elevation angle of the receiver, the receiver has a sensor that receives a first position signal and a second position signal emitted from an optical transmitter. The receiver outputs a first and a second receive signal. A calculator in the receiver determines the first interval time separation between the first and second receive signals, converts the first time interval separation into elevation angle data and outputs the elevation angle data. A display in the receiver receives and displays the elevation angle data. The receiver is selectively positionable within a workspace. Determination of azimuth angle of the receiver is made by receiving a strobe pulse, determining the periodicity of the pulse and comparing the periodicity with transmitter calibration information stored in the receiver, and converting the measure of time separation into azimuth angle data. The display in the receiver receives and displays the azimuth angle data. Additionally, the user can select desired azimuth and/or elevation angles, and the display can guide the user to the desired location.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for determining position information. More particularly, this invention relates to a receiver unit that receives direction and timing information and, using the received information, can be used to determine azimuth and elevation of an object or point within an area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Precise position measurement data is necessary or useful in a variety of technical fields. Obvious examples include navigation for airplanes and ships which in light of recent technical advances often include navigational aides utilizing global positioning system (GPS) data that may be overlaid on maps to facilitate navigation. The precision of GPS, however, is limited to within a few meters due to the granularity of the satellite sensors and the errors that build up over the long distances. Three dimensional position information and data is likewise useful in many other industrial arts including robotic control, virtual reality, augmented reality and particularly the building and construction trades.
Three-dimensional positional information gathering apparatus and systems are often costly to deploy in construction type environments and often require highly skilled operators to install and operate the equipment. For example, multiple transmitters might require multiple line of sights and other setup criteria that can only be obtained using large and expensive equipment which is often not well adapted to field use. One example is a low cost precision three-dimensional system described in the U.S. patent applications identified above. These user friendly precision three-dimensional measurement systems employ at least two optical transmitters, one or more selectively positional optical receivers and sophisticated algorithms for calculating three-dimensional data within the predetermined work area.
As will be well recognized by those skilled in the construction and building trades, many commercially significant tasks require precise position measurement information or data. For example, in land surveying it is known to measure the height, distance and angular position with respect to a known reference point using three separate instruments.
Three-dimensional data is generally not required for most building and construction uses. For example, leveling a floor in the building trade requires only a horizontal plane which is only-one value of elevation (elevation equal to zero). Turning an angle from a corner location to mark the position of a wall requires a vertical plane rotating about an axis, only one dimension in this case azimuth. Laying out a dual slope requires azimuth and elevation data, totaling two dimensions. Similarly, a myriad of other such applications in the building and construction trades can be performed with combinations of elevation and azimuth data relating to a particular task. Thus a precise position measurement system that provides two-dimensional data would have many practical commercial building and construction applications. However, as with the three-dimensional position measurement systems, two-dimensional position measurement systems in the past have not been adapted for efficient field use. Additionally, prior art two-dimensional measurement systems generally required two or more operators and were difficult to set up and maintain for field operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,809 to Dudley et al. teaches the taking of all three surveying measurements, the height, the distance, and the angular position, by a single operator using a two-part instrument: a beam transmitter and a receiver. The receiver unit requires two sensors spaced a known distance apart in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of a transmitted beam. In this manner, when a V-beam is transmitted about a vertical axis to define a horizontal reference plane, the sensors are vertically spaced. The distance between the leading and trailing edges of the beam is greater at the upper sensor than at the lower sensor. If a measure of these distances is made, the distance of either sensor from the horizontal reference plane and their distance from the axis of rotation can be calculated. However, the transmitter sends a corresponding RF signal carrying a digital signal containing the rotational information related to the angular position of the beam. This RF signal is received by the receiver and supplied to a circuit that contains pulse counters. Light sensors provide start and stop times as the laser beam sweeps for use by the counters. An opaque mask having apertures matching the beam inclination and orientation is placed in front of the light sensor. This allows only predetermined beam portions corresponding to sharp pulses to be detected and sent to the pulse counters. In this manner, Dudley ""809 requires 1. that the receiver must be level in order for the beams to proceed through the mask apertures, 2. at least two sensors spaced apart in the vertical plane, 3. encoders for counting the received signals, and 4. a separate RF signal receiver for receiving RF pulse signals from the transmitter.
Thus there is a need for a low cost spatial positioning system capable of generating precise two-dimensional information and which is well adapted to efficient field setup and use, including not requiring two spaced apart sensors, does not require a separate RF receiver for receiving RF pulse signals from the transmitter, and does not require an opaque mask.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost two-dimensional position measurement apparatus and process which is both easy to set up in the field and capable of single operator utilization.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a two-dimensional measurement apparatus and process which is precise, rugged, reliable and easy to set up and used by a single operator under construction site conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a receiver having a single optical sensor for use in a robotic theodolite system.
It is another object if the present invention to provide a receiver having a single optical sensor that can compute at least one of azimuth and elevation relative to a transmitted optical signal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved low cost robotic theodolite system and procedure for conveniently generating azimuth and elevation angle data based upon detected timing differences between illuminating laser beam strikes and a reference strobe and based upon convenient calibration data for the utilized optical transmitter.
Novel features of applicants"" invention are directed to overcoming the above described deficiency in prior art precision position measurement systems by providing a novel receiver apparatus and processes for: (i) calculating elevation angles based upon laser fan beam strikes or hits from a single rotatably mounted transmitter that emits two constant laser beams from a rotating head, where selected parameters of the rotating fan beams have been determined during a calibration procedure associated with the manufacture of said transmitter, and a receiver which uses a single light responsive element, (ii) further calculating azimuth angles using a single periodic reference pulse from a series of light emitting diodes, (LEDs) the reference pulse preferably generated once per revolution of the transmitter rotating head and the reference pulse being received by the same single light responsive element. In another embodiment of the present invention the improved system and process can be adapted to make distance calculations by using two receivers, which are positioned in the measurement field at a known distance separation, and which receive only the two rotating laser beams and the reference pulse.
In the apparatus and method of the present invention, following setup of the transmitter, a single user transports the receiver to a desired location, points the receiver in the general location of the transmitter, and from a user readable display on the receiver is informed of the desired parameters of the location. The desired parameters can be one of many parameters derived from the receiving of the transmitted optical beams, including azimuth, elevation, and distance from the transmitter.
User interaction with the receiver is another important feature of the apparatus. For example, a display screen on the receiver can indicate to the user a direction to move the receiver in order to arrive at a predetermined location. Alternatively, the user can input into the receiver the desired location, and the receiver, upon receiving the transmitted beams, indicates to the user which direction to move the receiver within up to six degrees of freedom, that is, up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards in order to approach and arrive at the desired location.
In the preferred embodiment of the receiver, a single broadband wide-angle detector is used to detect the two transmitted optical beams and the periodically transmitted strobe.
These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Apparatus and method for determining position


The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a print head which discharges ink droplets; a conveyance device which relatively moves a printing medium in a printing medium conveyance direction with respect to the print head, the conveyance device having a holding conveyance member which holds the printing medium and conveys the printing medium; a test printing control device which controls printing of a test image to the holding conveyance member; and a reading device which reads the test image printed on the holding conveyance member with the test printing control device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus and a method for detecting discharge defects, and more particularly to technology for detecting discharge defects in nozzles that discharge ink droplets.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, inkjet recording apparatuses (inkjet printers) serving as recording apparatuses that print/record images or the like taken by digital still camera have become widely distributed. Inkjet recording apparatuses have a plurality of recording elements in the head, the recording head is moved to scan the recording medium while ink droplets are discharged from the recording elements to the recording medium, the recording medium is conveyed by a single line when one line of image has been recorded on recording paper, and an image is formed on the recording paper by repeating these steps.
There are inkjet printers that use a short serial head and record images while causing the head to scan in the width direction of the recording medium, or those that use a line head in which recording elements are arrayed across the entire range of one side of the recording medium. In printers in which a line head is used, images can be recorded on the entire surface of the recording medium by scanning the recording medium in the direction orthogonal to the array direction of the recording elements. In printers in which a line head is used, a carriage or another conveyance system for moving the short head back and forth is unnecessary, and complex scanning control for the carriage movement and recording medium is not required. Also, the recording medium alone moves, so recording speed can be increased in comparison with printers in which a serial head is used.
In inkjet printers, some of the large number of nozzles sometimes no longer discharge ink for some reason, and the amount of ink discharged (the size of the dot deposited onto the recording paper) or the flight direction (droplet deposition position) becomes defective. The defective discharge of such nozzles causes the quality of recorded images to be degraded, so a countermeasure thereto is required.
Conventionally, known methods for detecting discharge defects in nozzles include a method for measuring a printed test pattern, a method for measuring an actual print job (the printed result of a target image that actually requires printing output), and a method for measuring the characteristics (resistance and other physical properties) during discharge inside the head.
In the inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-315318, non-discharge nozzles are identified by detecting drive voltage changes via the ink on the print head substrate by means of a detection electrode disposed inside the recording head.
The inkjet recording apparatus cited in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-24008 forms a continuous line composed of all the nozzles of one head in a position in which a plurality of heads do not interfere with each other, and optically or electrically detects the existence of intermittent portions in the line thereof.
In the method and device for manufacturing a color filter cited in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-101410, detection is performed based on the state when ink discharged from an inkjet head passes through a laser beam.
Nevertheless, the method for measuring a printed test pattern requires that a special purpose test pattern be printed separately from a target image that is actually to be printed. With a simple pattern, there is a drawback in that the results are affected by measurement position errors, and it is difficult to detect discharge-defective nozzles. Furthermore, there is a drawback in that the results are affected by the output variability of the line sensors that image the test pattern.
In the case of the method for measuring an actual print job, there is a drawback in that it is difficult to determine whether the actual print job is the original image content or whether it is an image defect due to a defective nozzle, and it is difficult to accurately identify discharge-defective nozzles due to the effect of measurement position errors because the actual print job, which is the measurement object, is commonly a complex image. Also, in the same manner as in the above test pattern, the results are affected by variability in the line sensors.
In the inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-315318, non-discharge due to bubbles becoming intermixed in the nozzle can be detected, but non-discharge due to adhering foreign matter or other causes cannot be detected.
The inkjet recording apparatus cited in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-24008 requires trial discharge paper, and paper is wasted.
In the method and device for manufacturing a color filter cited in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-101410, time is required for detection when the number of nozzles has increased. Also, light-emitting diodes and photodetectors must be disposed under the nozzle, and a long head must be provided with a standby mechanism.

Inkjet recording apparatus and method for detecting discharge defects


A method is provided for updating an existing netlist to reflect a design change. A register transfer level (RTL) design incorporating the design change and the existing netlist are provided to a synthesis tool. The existing netlist is set to a read-only condition to prevent a change to the existing netlist. The design and the read-only existing netlist are processed with the synthesis tool reusing logic structures from the read-only existing netlist by performing an optimization of the design and the read-only existing netlist with an objective to minimize the design space. The optimization is constrained by the read-only existing netlist. A result is generated by the synthesis tool including the existing netlist and a new portion of a netlist reflecting the design change.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to methods for synthesizing an integrated circuit design.
Logic synthesis is a process by which an abstract form of desired circuit behavior (typically register transfer level (RTL)) is turned into a design implementation in terms of logic gates. Typical practical implementations of a logic function utilize a multilevel network of logic elements. Starting from an RTL description of a design, a synthesis tool constructs a corresponding multilevel Boolean network. Next, this network is optimized using several technology-independent techniques before technology-dependent optimizations are performed.
Finally, technology-dependent optimization transforms the technology-independent circuit into a network of gates in a given technology. Mapping is constrained by factors such as the available gates (logic functions) in the technology library, the drive sizes for each gate, and the delay, power, and area characteristics of each gate. The result of this synthesis is generally a netlist, which describes the connectivity of an electronic design.
After synthesis, the resulting netlist is used for placement and routing of the gates and other components, as well as used for additional simulations such as timing. Because the synthesis and optimization are highly numerical processes, the results generated by these processes may be very path dependent. Because of the numerical aspects of the path dependency, a side effect of synthesis tools is that generated netlists may be very different based on small changes in inputs, causing extensive efforts and repetitive work for placement, routing and timing of any updated designs.
In an ASIC chip development process, for example, once the logic synthesis and initial place and route stage have taken place, any engineering change due to RTL modification is a very complicated and time consuming task, potentially adding delay to the development process. The development process is taxed due to last minute RTL changes, as a complete new netlist is generated every time such a change occurs, forcing a time consuming manual processes to find minimal changes in the new netlist (when the new RTL has induce some additional change) as compared to the previous design.
What is needed therefore is a process that minimizes the impact of design changes late in the product development process.

Minimizing impact of design changes for integrated circuit designs

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus includes an optical sensor, a lens system, and an optical stop system. The optical sensor includes photocells each of which has a respective photocell active area in a capture plane. The lens system includes lenses each of which is operable to focus light from a respective subfield of a scene into a corresponding focused beam. The optical stop system includes aperture systems each of which confines a corresponding one of the focused beams to a respective illumination area in the capture plane. In a method, light from respective subfields of a scene is focused into corresponding focused beams. Corresponding ones of the focused beams are confined to respective non-overlapping illumination areas in the capture plane. Optical data is generated from light of the focused beams illuminating the illumination areas. Motion measures indicative of movement in relation to the scene are produced from the optical data.

Imaging devices are being incorporated in a wide variety of devices, including digital still image cameras, digital video cameras, cameras designed for desktop and mobile computers (often referred to as "pc cameras"), input devices (e.g., optical navigations sensors in computer mice), handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile telephones), and other embedded environments. With the increasing trends of minimizing the sizes of devices and combining multiple functionalities into single devices, there is a constant push toward reducing the space required for implementing each and every device functionality, including imaging functionality.
Most imaging devices require large and bulky components that cannot be accommodated in most compact device environments. For example, optical navigation sensors typically are designed to track features in high quality images of areas of a navigation surface that are on the order of one square millimeter and are captured through imaging optics with a magnification in the range of 2:1 to 1:2. In a typical optical navigation sensor design, the imaging optics consist of a single plastic molded lens, and the image sensor consists of a 20×20 photocell array with a 50 micrometer (μm) pitch. An optical navigation sensor module with these imaging components and capable of satisfying these operating specifications typically requires a spacing of more than ten millimeters (mm) between the image sensor and the navigation surface.
The size constraints inherent in traditional optical navigation sensor designs are not a significant issue in application environments such as desktop computer mice. These size constraints, however, will inhibit the incorporation of optical navigation sensor technology in compact application environments, such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile telephones) and other embedded environments. What are needed are imaging systems and methods that are capable of satisfying the significant size constraints of compact imaging application environments.

Lens array imaging with cross-talk inhibiting optical stop structure


Methods, apparatus and computer program products for removal of elements from a linked list while other elements of the linked list are allowed to be accessed during the removal operation. In one embodiment, the method, apparatus and computer program product include identifying an add/remove area of a linked list and a static area of the linked list. Elements may only be added or removed from the linked list in the add/remove area or by a garbage collector that performs garbage collection only on elements in the static area of the linked list. The garbage collector identifies an element after the last element in the add/remove area and performs garbage collection beginning with that element and moving through the static area. In an alternative embodiment, a “next element” pointer in a previous list element is set to point to the element being deleted's “next element” pointer. Any global references to the element being deleted must be modified. A message may then be issued to the processors of a multiprocessor system at a same interrupt priority as a reading process priority. Once the processors respond to the message, garbage collection may be performed on the element to be deleted.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to removal of elements from a linked list. In particular, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for removing elements from a linked list while allowing access to other elements of the linked list during the removal.
2. Description of Related Art
In data management, a linked list is a group of items, each of which contains a pointer to the next item. A linked list allows for the organization of a set of data in noncontiguous storage locations. Linked lists are used in many types of computing environments and are used for the management of various types of data.
One computing environment in which linked lists may be utilized is a multiprocessor system. In a multiprocessor system a plurality of processors may attempt accesses and/or modifications to elements in the linked list at substantially the same time. Thus, there is a system of locks utilized to make sure that only a single processor may access and/or modify a particular element in the linked list at one time. If such a mechanism were not used, two or more different processors may perform conflicting actions on the linked list element or the action of one processor on the linked list element may be negatively impacted by the actions performed by the other processors.
This problem is further exacerbated when elements need to be removed from the linked list, e.g., elements that are no longer being used by any of the processors (garbage collection). It is important, however, during such removal of elements of a linked list in a multiprocessor system, that elements are not modified or removed that are or may be utilized by one or more of the processors during the removal process.
In known mechanisms for removal of elements in a linked list, the list is protected from any changes at all times during the removal process. Such an approach has the disadvantage that it will synchronize all accesses to the list, making multiprocessor use of the list prohibitively slow. Another common way of handling such removal of elements is to have a second linked list that maintains elements to be freed, i.e. deferred freeing of the elements, and free the entire second list at once. Unfortunately, this implementation requires the element be removed from the first list by, again, locking the linked list and adjusting pointers in the linked list elements to remove the element. Thus, in all known mechanisms for removing elements from a linked list, a lock of the linked list is required and serialization of accesses to the linked list results.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an apparatus and method for removing elements from a linked list that allows access to elements of the linked list during removal of other elements of the linked list. In this way, serialization of accesses to the linked list are avoided.

Apparatus and method for removing elements from a linked list


A method and apparatus for resisting ballistic impact including an outer energy absorbing assembly having a plurality of interconnected fibers, and a barrier positioned behind the outer energy absorbing assembly. A movement restraint is positioned behind the barrier and a dampener is positioned intermediate the barrier and the restraint.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for resisting ballistic impact, and more particularly to a ballistic resistant composite structure and its related method of manufacture.
There has been an increased emphasis on compliance with ballistic impact standards in an effort to improve anti-ballistic protection for people and property. Potential applications for anti-ballistic structures include body armor, vehicle protection, building protection, and ordnance transit containers.

Method and apparatus for resisting ballistic impact

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An image processing device includes a histogram generation unit configured to generate a density histogram on the basis of image data of an original document, a white-reference value detection unit configured to acquire as a white reference value a density value at a density distribution peak in a predetermined white side range of the density histogram, a background-removal level determination unit configured to determine a background-removal level value having the maximum density to remove a background component by using a reference table on the basis of the white reference value, and a background removal unit configured to remove the background component from the image data by using the white reference value and the background-removal level value.

Generally, in an image processing device such as a digital copying machine for treating image data, image data is read from an original document by image reading means such as a scanner, and digitized. The digital image data is processed in accordance with the purpose, multileveled, and output through image output means such as a laser printer. The image processing device has a density adjusting function. The density adjusting function automatically adjusts density of the print to be suitable for the original document, if the image data read by the scanner includes a background portion of the original document or the letters in the original document are light-colored.
The density adjusting function includes the following functions. First function generates a density histogram from an input image data. Second function determines the kind of the input original document, that is, the kind of the input image data on the basis of characteristic value of the generated density histogram. Third function corrects an image tone of the input image data in accordance with the determination result.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-191059 discloses an image processing device. The image processing device has a function of removing a background. When removing a background, the image processing device selects a density correction table from a plurality of predetermined density correction tables on the basis of the determination result of the characteristics of the original document. The image processing device performs a process of removing the background on the basis of the selected density correction table.

Device and method removes background component from image using white reference value and background removal level value


Disclosed is a method of preparing acrylic acid from glycerol, including: (a) preparing products including allyl alcohol from reactants including glycerol and carboxylic acid; (b) adding a heterogeneous catalyst and a basic solution to the product including allyl alcohol and then performing oxidation, thus preparing a mixture composed of 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid; (c) dehydrating 3-hydroxypropionic acid of the mixture composed of 3-hydroxypropionic acid and acrylic acid, thus producing acrylic acid.

Currently industrially useful as preparation of acrylic acid is a preparation method including bringing propylene produced by a petrochemical process into contact with a molecular oxygen-containing gas so as to oxidize it. Specifically, acrylic acid is prepared via a two-step reaction mechanism including a first step for gas oxidation of propylene into acrolein by a molecular oxygen-containing gas and a second step for additional oxidation of a reactive gas containing the acrolein into acrylic acid.
Meanwhile, methods of preparing acrylic acid from a biomass-derived material due to fossil fuel exhaustion are receiving great attention. Among biomass-derived materials, glycerol is obtained as a byproduct in the course of producing biodiesel from vegetable or animal oil. Biodiesel synthesis techniques have been already commercialized, and the demand thereof is increasing every year. Glycerol may be used in a large amount, and is renewable and eco-friendly because it may be safely stored and transported without the risk of explosion and toxicity. Hence, glycerol is considered to be a promising material for preparing acrylic acid.
Thus, there is an urgent need for a novel method of preparing acrylic acid from glycerol that is a byproduct of a biodiesel synthesis process.

Method for producing acrylic acid from glycerol


An apparatus includes a cut guide including a locking area, an alignment guide, and a connect mechanism to connect the cut guide to the alignment guide, wherein the connect mechanism includes a cone lock connect mechanism configured to engage with the cut guide locking area.

Orthopedic procedures for the replacement of all, or a portion of, a patient's joint typically require resecting (cutting) and reshaping of the ends of the bones of the joint. For instance, total knee replacement procedures typically involve resecting the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia prior to implanting the prosthesis components. Resecting the distal end of the femur often involves making several cuts of the distal end of the femur including a distal cut. Resecting the proximal end of the tibia often involves making a proximal cut.
Cut guides can be used to guide the saw and achieve the proper angle and position of these cuts. Cut guides can be in the form of blocks having slots therein for receiving and guiding the saw. In use, the block can be positioned against the bone with the help of positioning and alignment equipment. The block can then be secured to the bone using fasteners. For instance, the cut guide block can be slidably mounted to an alignment guide, which can be mounted at an angle relative to an extramedullary guide or intramedullary rod. For tibial resection, an extramedullary guide is located relative to the patient's anatomy to provide proper alignment relative to the tibia, and a cut guide block is positioned on the proximal side of the tibia. Similarly, an intramedullary rod can be inserted into a pre-drilled hole in the intramedullary canal of the tibia to provide anatomic alignment with a cut guide block positioned on the proximal side of the tibia. For preparation of resection of the femur, an intramedullary rod can be used that extends across the distal end of the femur and the cut guide block is positioned on the proximal the side of the femur. The cut guide block can be slid toward or away (medially-laterally) from the tibia or femur until it is properly positioned against the surface of the bone. The block can then be pinned to the bone using fasteners. The cut guide can be connected to the alignment guide using pin/hole connect mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,336 is directed toward a guide assembly for guiding cuts to a femur and tibia during a knee arthroplasty.
U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20070233138 is directed toward apparatuses and methods for arthroplastic surgery.


There is disclosed an IR ablateable driographic printing plate (10) including a substrate (12), an IR absorbing layer (14) comprised substantially of a first water based emulsion and a top IR ablatable layer (16) comprised substantially of a second water based emulsion. The term water based is used herein to indicate the precursor materials from which each layer is being deposited are dissolvable in water and not in an organic solvent or solvents.

IR ablateable waterless offset printing plates, also termed IR ablateable driographic printing plates, are well known in the art. They typically include, in order, a substrate, e.g. a polyester film, an intermediate oleophilic Infra Red (IR) radiation absorbing layer and a top oleophobic layer.
Offset printing plates, including waterless offset printing plates are selectively exposed to radiation in order to expose a latent image thereon, the image subsequently is selectively colored during printing with oil based inks, typically the four process inks Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) inks.
In most IR sensitive driographic plates, the latent image is recorded by ablating the top oleophobic layer and therefore during printing, the oil based inks are repelled by the areas of the top oleophobic layer which have not been ablated during imaging and are not repelled by the oleophilic absorption layer and the substrate revealed in the ablated areas.
Typically, the top ablateable oleophobic layer is composed of silicone (polysiloxane) or a mixture of silicones cross-linked by cross-linking agents deposited on the plate from a solution dissolved in an organic solvent.
For example, naphtha was described as the solvent employed for producing the top ablateable oleophobic layer using one silicone composition in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,580 to Leenders and using a mixture of silicone solutions with cross linking agents in U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,869 to Lewis et al.
In the prior art, the IR absorption layer of driographic printing plates have been also produced employing organic solvents. For example, published PCT application GB93/01413 to Gutes et al describes the use of a water-alcohol mixture, for producing the IR absorption layer.
Generally speaking, since organic solvents are used in preparing prior art driographic printing plates, the plates are not environmentally friendly.

IR ablateable driographic printing plates and methods for making same


A user trusted device and a software update method for updating the device. The device includes: a connection interface enabling connection with a host computer; a persistent memory storing a boot enabling data structure and a network updater, wherein: the network updater is configured to interact with firmware of the host computer to initiate communication over a network; and the boot enabling data structure: is detectable by the firmware upon connection of the user trusted device with the host computer; is such that host computer can boot from the user trusted device, as per the data structure of the boot enabling data structure; and includes instructions for the firmware to initiate a transfer of the network updater on the host computer for subsequent execution, upon the host computer booting from the user trusted device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the field of user trusted devices equipped with a connection interface for connecting to a host computer, and in particular to software update methods for updating such devices via a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
User trusted devices (including secure, tamper proof devices) are generally known. For example, for online transactions, a solution which has been developed is the so-called Zone Trusted Information Channel (or ZTIC for short). The ZTIC is a secure, non-programmable device for the authentication of transaction data. Since the ZTIC maintains a secured end-to-end network connection to the server, the ZTIC itself is tamper-proof against malicious software attacks and as it has its own input and output components independent of the host it connects to, the data shown on the ZTIC display is genuine. More details can be found in e.g., The Zurich Trusted Information Channel—An Efficient Defence against Man-in-the-Middle and Malicious Software Attacks, by Thomas Weigold, Thorsten Kramp, Reto Hermann, Frank Höring, Peter Buhler, Michael Baentsch. In P. Lipp, A.-R. Sadeghi, and K.-M. Koch (Eds.): TRUST 2008, LNCS 4968, pp. 75-91, 2008. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008.
Some secure devices that have a built in network card (e.g., routers, storage attached network devices) provide a functionality to be network updatable. These devices, however, need their own network connection.
Other devices use a secure channel through a PC to be updatable (such as the Migros banking memory stick, see e.g., http://www.kobil.com/nc/press-news/newssingleview/article/migros-bank-launches-new-system-for-safer-e-banking.html?tx_ttnews%/5BbackPid%5D=596&cHash=4480355b72). However, these devices require a given operating system to be available on the PC for the update to be successful.


A filter apparatus having a filter membrane, a main body, a supply channel running perpendicular to the surface of the filter membrane and a gap running between it and the filter membrane, for the formation of a tangentially directed transverse flow, a return channel connected with the supply channel, a circulation channel located around a circumferential edge of the membrane, having an inlet connected to the gap and an outlet connected to the return channel, and a circulator to impart a circular movement to the fluid in the circulation channel.

German Patent DE 72 25 662 U1 discloses an apparatus which has a filter membrane and a main body located upstream from the filter membrane, which body has a supply channel running perpendicular to the surface of the filter membrane and a gap running between it and the filter membrane for the formation of a tangentially directed transverse flow and a return channel. There, a tangential or transverse flow filtration is essentially carried out.
The problem thereby arises of removing undesired components from a liquid with an accumulation of such undesired components, such as particles, microorganisms, chemical substances, such as oils and the like. In this respect, the use of separators, using centrifugal force, or a simple sedimentation, are generally known. Centrifuges have an expensive structure, make high demands on the material and the manufacturing precision because of the required high centrifugal accelerations and are therefore expensive, susceptible to disturbances, and maintenance-intensive.
For a high degree of separation, the sedimentation requires large volumes, on the one hand, and a relatively large time period, on the other hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,569 A1 also shows a filter apparatus with a filter membrane, in which the loaded fluid is circulated in a closed cycle.
In order to attain a high throughput, for example, centrifuges in parallel operation or so-called separators are used. The separators consist of large thick containers, in which numerous thin plates are above one another, parallel, at a distance to each other and at an angle with respect to the symmetrical axis of the container. These plates are rotated at a high rpm (up to 6000 rpm). The interior is filled via an inlet and with the rapid rotation of the plates and the resulting segregation, fluid components of different densities are separated so that the heavier components along the inclined plates are deflected downwards and the light components, upwards, where they are respectively conducted away.
The problem of the invention under consideration is to improve the filter apparatus of the type mentioned in the beginning to the effect that a very extensive, continuous removal of the fluid components to be separated or to be disposed of is possible, wherein the filter apparatus, to a large extent, works free of maintenance and is of simple construction. Furthermore, if at all possible, no movable components should be required.

Filter device comprising integral centrifugal separation


A system for controlling the playing of rented compact discs on an end-user's compact disc player. The end-user obtains a validation disc on which is stored a control program and an expiry date. When the validation disc is inserted into the user's player, the player downloads the control program into its memory and runs the program. This causes the expiry date to be read from the disc and stored in the player's memory. Discs to be played on the player have stored thereon a second control program which is downloaded into the player's memory when they are inserted into the player. This second control program causes the player to check whether or not the current date, as maintained by the player, is later than the stored expiry date. If the current date is later, playing of the disc is prevented, while if it is earlier, playing of the disc is allowed.

The present invention relates to interactive compact disc systems and in particular to systems for controlling the use of compact discs in an interactive compact disc player.
In many areas, it is important to be able to precisely control the playing time of compact discs in compact disc players. For example, in locations where compact discs are used to provide background music, for example pubs and supermarkets, it is customary for the Background Music (BGM) supplier to supply the music subject to a rental contract which stipulates payment in advance and the return of all tapes or discs at the end of the contract period. It sometimes happens that customers default in their payment, but having possession of (though not title to) the tapes or discs continue to play them. It is a comparatively lengthy and expensive process for the BGM supplier to exercise his legal rights for payment or repossession--while the customer is still enjoying the benefits of the music service. In addition, the rentor is legally liable to the copyright authorities (in this country the PPL) for the payment of copyright fees while the music is being played. There is presently no available system which automatically controls CD playing to facilitate collection of licence payments.


Systems and methods for decreasing transmission timing variations include precharging a data channel at a level before data is sent over the channel. The driver sets the level in response to the reception of a precharging control signal.

In systems that transmit and receive (e.g., transceivers) data at high rates (or high bandwidths), both the speed at which data is transmitted or received and the reliability and stability of such data may be important.
In data transmission systems that use system clocks for control and high-speed operations, data or control signals may be synchronized to a system clock or be transmitted within a desired time frame based on the system clock. However, the time at which signals are transmitted may vary due to noise, circuit mismatches or inconsistent data patterns.
As the timing variations deteriorate, an effective data window may become narrower. This may make it more difficult to accurately receive data. That is, a receiver's ability to ensure that data is correctly received may be reduced. Moreover, such a problem may be more pronounced in systems where data is transmitted at a high-rate of speed.
For example, in a transceiving system operating in a current mode that includes a rambus DRAM (RDRAM), a data bit which is transmitted first (a signal bit transmitted first after a long waiting state) may exhibit a larger timing variation because an efficient set up time may not be guaranteed with respect to the first bit under the condition of reducing the system latency. Generally, if data cannot be read, a logic state "0" is assigned. The result being, for example, that a data pattern becomes unreliable when the first data bit indicating "1" is read instead as a "0".
Other problems may also occur related to individual circuits. FIG. 1 illustrates an output driver 1 operating in a current mode of an RDRAM. A signal ENVG 2 applied to a gate of output transistor M1 has settled at a specific voltage before the data bit DATA 3 shown in FIG. 2A is applied to a gate of output transistor M2. Thereafter, data is output to a data channel (DC) 4 in response to a logic state (e.g., "0" or "1") of the data bit DATA 3. Sometimes, however, data may be output before the signal ENVG has had a chance to stably settle at a specific voltage. This may lead to data transmission timing variations and errors.
Further, node N1 between the output transistors M1 and M2 may be precharged to reduce channel noise. In conventional systems, a precharge voltage may be coupled with the voltage associated with a first data bit output from transistor M2. The first data bit has the highest voltage ΔVi (the other data bit is ΔVn), as shown in FIG. 2B, such that the timing is deteriorated.
FIG. 3 illustrates differences in a timing variation, ΔTQ, between the first data bit and subsequent data bits under specific process, voltage and temperature conditions. The timing variation, ΔTQ, shows an irregular distribution over the range of 0-36 pico-seconds (ps).

Methods and systems for decreasing transmission timing variations


The invention relates to a strain relief/bending protection apparatus for a cable, in particular a high speed cable, connected to a plug connector, comprising a base section which can be fastened to a housing of the plug connector and a sleeve section projecting from the base section for surrounding the cable in a region disposed outside the housing, wherein the sleeve section continuously has a round cross-section and the cross-sectional area of the sleeve section reduces as the spacing from the base section increases.

Strain relief/bending protection apparatus are generally known and should prevent damage to the cable in the transition region to the plug connector housing.
In a known strain relief/bending protection apparatus, the sleeve section has a cylindrical design and such a high stiffness that the section of the cable surrounded by the sleeve section cannot move at least substantially relative to the plug connector housing under normally occurring forces. This means that the cable always bends in the same region on a deflection relative to the plug connector housing, namely directly outside the sleeve section, whereby there is an increased risk of a cable break.
It is known for the provision of a certain elasticity of the sleeve section to introduce incisions oriented transversely to the cable direction into the sleeve section, with the incisions being able to be formed on oppositely disposed sides of the sleeve section or peripherally. However, due to the incisions, the manufacture of such strain relief/bending protection apparatus is associated with an increased economic effort. If, for example, the apparatus are manufactured using an injection molding process, the introduction of the incisions into the sleeve section typically takes place with the aid of sliders which have to be pushed into the injection mold used for manufacturing the apparatus, i.e. the injection mold has a more complex design.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.


Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of a mitochondrial disease in an individual with the mitochondrial disease. Aspects of the methods include administering an inhibitor of a mitochondrial transport protein to a subject having a mitochondrial disease. Also provided are reagents and kits for practicing the subject methods.

Mitochondrial dysfunction can result in a host of debilitating mitochondrial diseases or disorders characterized by poor growth, loss of muscle coordination, muscle weakness, visual problems, hearing problems, learning disabilities, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological problems, autonomic dysfunction, and/or dementia. In many instances, these mitochondrial diseases are caused by acquired or inherited mutations in mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear genes that code for mitochondrial components or for cellular components that act as quality control checkpoints of mitochondrial function. For example, the mitochondrial disease Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting 1% of the population above the age of 60 that has been linked to acquired or spontaneous mutations in mitochondrial genes or nuclear genes relevant to mitochondrial function. PD is characterized by the preferential loss and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta and formation of Lewy bodies. PD patients exhibit resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity and postural instability.
Although research is ongoing, treatment options are currently limited; vitamins are frequently prescribed, though the evidence for their effectiveness is limited. Rescuing dysfunctional mitochondria provides one approach for treating mitochondrial diseases or disorders. Membrane penetrating antioxidants and pyruvate are two examples of treatment options for improving mitochondrial dysfunction. As such, there is a need for the development of new therapeutic agents and methods for the treatment of mitochondrial disease.

Compositions and methods for treatment of mitochondrial diseases

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A body portion of a decorative shoe accessory is located beneath the flaps of the shoe and is releasably attached to the shoe by frictional engagement associated with the overlying configuration of the flaps relative to the body of the accessory. The accessory includes a three-dimensional object releasably attached thereto.

While the main purpose of footwear is to protect and support the foot of a wearer, the ornamental appearance of footwear has always been important. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular, especially among children, to wear special decorations on shoes. These decorations can be ornamental or can enhance the appearance of clothing worn with the shoes.
For many reasons, including economic, any means used to ornament the appearance of a shoe should be easy and expeditious to apply, versatile, and attractive to as many potential wearers as possible.
Therefore, there is a need for a decorative means for use on shoes that is fascinating and appealing to a wide variety of potential users, yet is easy to apply.
In the past, the art has contained many accessories which can be affixed to a shoe to either ornament the appearance of the shoe or enhance the operation of the shoe. However, many of these items require some sort of interengagement between the item and the shoe or some portion of the shoe. For example, the elements disclosed in patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,650,399, 3,473,198, 4,999,888, 5,402,589, 5,459,947 and Des 308,283 are fixed to a shoe by interengaging with the laces of the shoe. Interengagement with the laces may make it difficult for a child to fix the item to the shoe, and may make it somewhat difficult to change the item if desired. Furthermore, if the item requires interengagement with the laces of the shoe, the item may not be amenable for use on shoes that are closed by other means, such as by means of hook-and-loop fasteners. This restriction limits the versatility of the item and may tend to wear out the laces in some instances. Other items that are known in the art, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,229,940, 2,022,554, 5,042,119, 5,671,517 and 5,566,477 are primarily intended to protect the laces of the shoe, and thus suffer from the same problems as just discussed.
Therefore, there is a need for a decorative means for use on shoes that is fascinating and appealing to a wide variety of potential users and does not require interengagement with a portion, such as the laces, of the shoe.


The invention relates generally to transmission of digitized information and more specifically to a digital receiver locking device that provides a decreased lock-in time and minimizes requirements to a permissible frequency and phase matching error. Outputs of a digital phase detector 1 are coupled, respectively, to an addition input of an analog adder 2 and a first information input of a multiplexer 3 having an output coupled to a subtraction input of the analog adder 2. An output of the adder 2 is connected via a low-pass filter to an input of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 5 having an output connected to a clock input of a decision unit 6 whose information input is coupled, along with a first input of the phase detector 1 and a first input of a lock state detection circuit 7, to an input of the locking device. A second input of the phase detector 1 and a clock input of the decision unit 6 are coupled to an output of the VCO 5. A first output of the lock state detection circuit 7, which is an unlocked state indication output, is coupled to a control input of the multiplexer 3, and a second output of the circuit 7, which is a lock lead/lag indication output, is coupled to a second information input of the multiplexer 3.

It is known that a receiver can be locked by input data a through a locking device with a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator. The oscillator signal is employed to clock the writing of input data to a locking device and to track the input data at further transmission of the received signals to the other apparatuses. The locked condition is achieved at definite limitations on the initial matching error in phase and frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and input data (see F. M. Gardner. Phaselock Technique. J. Wiley & Sons, 1979, ch.4). If initial frequency or/and phase values exceed permissible limits, the PLL circuit will not achieve the locked condition. To expand the range of the initial frequency and phase values at which the PLL circuit can be locked by input data, a forced variation of frequency and/or phase is employed.
In digital communication system receivers, the PLL circuit can be phase locked to the VCO through the use, within the PLL circuit, of a phase detector and a supplementary unit for forced scanning of the controlled oscillator frequency (see F. M. Gardner. Phaselock Technique. J. Wiley & Sons, 1979, ch.5) or an input signal phase (T. N. Lee, J. F. Bulzacchelly. 155 MHz Clock Recovery Delay-and-Phase-Locked Loop. IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, v.27, No.12, pp 1736-1745). With the prior art device, a locking band of the PLL circuit is expanded owing to a coarse frequency or phase lock during scanning.
Described in F. M. Gadner. Phaselock Technique. J. Wiley & Sons, 1979, ch.5, is a digital receiver locking device comprising a phase detector and a decision unit, each one having inputs to which an information signal is provided, a VCO for generating a clock frequency for the phase detector and the decision unit, a low-pass filter (LPF) having an input coupled to an output of the phase detector, an analog adder having one input coupled to an output of the LPF, another input coupled to a saw-tooth generator via a controllable switch, and an output coupled to a control input of the VCO, and a block information signal decoder having an input coupled to an output of the decision unit, and an output coupled to a control input of the switch. The saw-tooth generator, the switch and the analog adder make up a frequency scanning unit.
In the above apparatus, a digital data signal is generated at the output of the decision unit, and a clock frequency locked to the digital signal is generated at the output of the VCO. If a block lock condition is systematically lost, the decoder generates a scanning enable signal, responsive to which the switch connects an output of the saw-tooth generator to an input of the adder. As the result, a saw-tooth voltage is generated at the adder output, causing a variation in the VCO generation frequency. Scanning of the VCO generation frequency is terminated when the decoder generates a control signal of appropriate level, that is provided to the switch.
A problem with the prior art locking device is a considerable time spent for initial locking. The reason is that a short-term loss of the PLL lock condition may result in scanning a control signal in a direction opposite to the optimum one.
Closely approaching the claimed invention from the viewpoint of technical essence is a locking device comprising a digital phase detector having a delay unit at an input and an analog adder at an output, a LPF and a VCO based on a quartz-crystal generator. An input data signal is provided to a first input of the delay unit, the delayed data from an output of the delay unit are, in turn, provided to first inputs of the phase detector and decision unit. From the LPF output, a signal is provided to a second control input of the delay unit. A signal of the VCO is provided to second inputs of the phase detector and decision unit. The phase detector has several outputs of a first and second type. Averaged weighted amplitude values of pulses generated at the inputs of the first and second type are used as the estimates of the VCO frequency lag and lead, respectively, relative to the input data frequency. To obtain the estimates, the analog adder combines appropriately weighted voltages generated at the first type outputs of the phase detector, and subtracts appropriately weighted voltages generated at the second type outputs of the phase detector. An output signal of the analog adder is averaged by the LPF, the averaged signal being provided to control inputs of the VCO and delay unit. To lock the VCO by input data, the oscillator frequency should be equal to a code generation frequency. A digital signal is provided from an output of the decision unit, and a clock frequency locked to the received digital signal is generated at the VCO output (see the aforementioned reference of T. H. Lee, J. F. Bulzacchelly).
The prior art locking device, however, exhibits a narrow locking band of the PLL circuit, resulting in a necessity to use a VCO based on a quartz-crystal resonator.


A flap-type pressure relief valve particularly intended for relieving overpressure conditions in a vehicle passenger compartment includes a frame having an integral peripheral sealing gasket that is formed on the frame by being injection molded directly thereto. The frame is molded from a relatively rigid plastic and the gasket is molded from a plastic that is significantly more resilient and flexible but selected to permanently bond to the plastic of the frame when brought into contact therewith under injection molding conditions.

The subject invention is directed to the valve art and, more particularly, to a flap-type relief or check valve.
Valves of the type under consideration are commonly used to relieve overpressure conditions in vehicle passenger compartments. Typically, the valves comprise a frame which defines a flow passage and a plurality of valve seats. Flexible valve flaps are joined to the frame along one edge and overlie the valve seats. Should an overpressure condition occur on the upstream side of the valve, the flaps move to an open position until pressure balance is achieved at which time the flaps close and prevent reverse flow into the passenger compartment.
A valve of the type discussed is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,731. In the valve shown therein, the main frame of the valve is arranged to fit within an opening in a body panel of the vehicle. The frame is held in position by resilient clips molded in the frame. A suitable resilient seal or gasket is clamped between the periphery of the frame and the vehicle body panel to prevent undesired ingress of air or water.
The use of the separate seal or gasket member between the frame and the body panel has caused assembly problems. In addition, the separate gasket increases inventory problems.


A transdermal patch for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease includes: a backing, a rivastigmine-containing layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a release liner. In the transdermal patch, the rivastigmine-containing layer contains rivastigmine and an alkyl(meth)acrylate resin, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is composed of an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a (meth)acrylic acid ester having a hydroxyl group, and neither the rivastigmine-containing layer nor the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer contains an anti-oxidizing agent.

Rivastigmine is one of the acetylcholine esterase inhibitors and is used as a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's dementia (anti-dementia drug).
For such an anti-dementia drug, oral administration such as a tablet, a capsule, syrup, and granules, and administration by injection or through the rectum have been studied depending on a medicinal agent or a disease condition. In recent years, transdermal administration, that is, administration using a transdermal patch has also been developed for such an anti-dementia drug.
It is considered that the rivastigmine is relatively easily oxidized, and it is indicated that decomposition products of the rivastigmine may increase with time. To address this, a technique of adding an anti-oxidizing agent into a transdermal patch containing the rivastigmine has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 discloses a preparation in which a storage layer containing the rivastigmine is laminated to a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive. However, the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive itself is expensive and a release liner for such a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive needs special treatment. Hence, the preparation has a problem of high cost.
Each transdermal patch disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 uses an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a carboxy group. However, the use of such an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive is considered to affect the oxidation of the rivastigmine to not a little extent. To address this, there is a report that the use of a pressure-sensitive adhesive having no carboxy group and no hydroxy group as the acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive enables the formation of a transdermal patch excellent in temporal stability of the rivastigmine (Patent Document 3).
In order to improve skin permeability of the rivastigmine or to reduce skin irritation caused by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a transdermal patch using a hydroxy group-containing acrylate-rubber hybrid pressure-sensitive adhesive (Patent Document 4) and a transdermal patch including an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that has a hydroxy group, etc. and that contains a nonvolatile substance such as citric acid in order to reduce the loss of an active substance (medicinal agent) due to vaporization in the production process (Patent Document 5) have been developed. However, there is no discussion on the stability of the rivastigmine in these documents.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The combination wedge and notch trowel includes a reversible grip handle and an integrated wedge, for applying cement or adhesive to a substrate surface for installation of tiles. The ergonomically contoured reversible handle allows a user to use the notch trowel in a forward or backwards position with the same hand. The blade portion includes a notch pattern of conically shaped trapezoidal notches and large parabolic notches. The integrated wedge allows a user to use the wedge side of the trowel to pry up and remove tiles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to trowels for use in spreading of a cement or adhesive on a substrate surface for the laying of tiles on the substrate surface, and more particularly relates to a notch trowel having a substantially rigid trowel blade portion with a peripheral blade edge having a notch pattern providing improved contact between the cement or adhesive and applied tiles, a wedge member or shank for prying up tiles to be removed, and an ergonomic reversible grip handle used to manually grasp the notch trowel.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Trowels are commonly used for spreading cement or adhesive for installation of tiles on a substrate surface such as a wall or floor. Such trowels typically have a generally flat blade portion for spreading and smoothing the cement or adhesive, and a handle connected to the blade portion. Such trowels are also commonly used to pry up tiles to be removed, which can bend and otherwise damage the trowel to such an extent that the trowel can become unusable for spreading cement.
One conventional trowel is known having a blade that includes two adjoining edges having multiple notches, for spreading cementitious material, and a third edge that includes a rectangular extension of the blade for use as a margin trowel for prying up tiles. The trowel also includes a tubular handle rigidly attached to the trowel body.
Conventional notch trowels have used patterns of notches having square, rounded, saber tooth, and triangular shapes, as well as rounded shapes with obliquely angled sides flaring outwardly and inwardly. One conventional adhesive trowel has a blade edge with large notches, and small notches interspaced between the large notches. It has been found that spreading of cement or adhesive with a trowel having square notches or round notches commonly forms air bubbles in the cement or adhesive, interfering with optimal contact of the cement or adhesive with applied tiles, requiring application of heavy pressures to improve the degree of contact to an acceptable amount. For example, without application of pressure to applied tiles, such notch trowels commonly provide a contact spread with the tiles of only about 50%, indicating that approximately half of the surface of the applied tiles faces a space left between ridges of the cement or adhesive. In order to achieve a greater contact spread of 80%, which is considered to be the industry standard, it is commonly necessary to apply heavy pressures to tile applied to a cement or adhesive spread on a substrate surface, which can cause the contact spread to be inconsistent. It would be desirable to provide a notch pattern that can achieve a greater contact spread of 80%, without the application of heavy pressures, and with improved consistency.
It is also often necessary to turn a trowel around to use the trowel backwards to use a smooth flat side of a trowel to fill in pores or spaces in spreading cement based adhesive. This can be accomplished by switching from using the dominant hand to the non-dominant hand in using the trowel, i.e. using the trowel with both the left and right hands for the different directions of use of the trowel, but this can be awkward for users who are not ambidextrous. For trowels with a conventional short cylindrical configuration with a relatively thin rod connecting the handle to the blade portion of a trowel, using the trowel forwards and backwards with the same hand can be awkward. Although trowels having a handle with a "D" shaped configuration allow the trowel to be more easily reversible for use with a dominant hand, this type of handle is commonly centered on the blade of the trowel, making use of the trowel equally awkward forwards and backwards, with either hand.
It would be desirable to provide a notch trowel with a wedge on one side of the trowel allowing a user to use the wedge side of the trowel as a margin trowel to pry up tiles. It would also be desirable to provide a notch trowel with a notch pattern with conically shaped trapezoidal and parabolic notches with non-parallel sides to produce improved suction of the notches over the cement or adhesive to be spread, and that provides an improved, more consistent contact spread of cement or adhesive. It would also be desirable to provide a notch trowel with an ergonomic reversible handle with a rounded shoulder and thinner neck portion, allowing users to more easily turn the trowel around to use the trowel backwards with a dominant hand. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.

Combination wedge and notch trowel with reversible grip handle


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a preliminary lower electrode layer on a substrate, the preliminary lower electrode layer including a niobium oxide; converting at least a portion of the preliminary lower electrode layer to a first lower electrode layer comprising a niobium nitride by performing a nitridation process on the preliminary lower electrode layer; forming a dielectric layer on the first lower electrode layer; and forming an upper electrode on the dielectric layer.

The inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device including a capacitor structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
Downscaling of semiconductor devices also reduces the sizes of capacitor structures of DRAM devices. However, even if the size of a capacitor structure is reduced, a capacitance demanded by a unit cell of a DRAM device is unchanged. Therefore, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor employing a high-k dielectric material having a high dielectric constant and a metal electrode has been proposed.

Semiconductor devices and method of manufacturing the same


A semiconductor integrated circuit memory device is repaired by receiving an externally-supplied signal containing failure information that identifies at least row or column of memory cells in the memory device that has a failure. The externally-supplied signal contains failure information derived from error correction or other failure logs. The failure information is stored in the memory device and used for comparison against an incoming memory request. If a match is detected between the failure address information and the incoming memory request, then a redundant row or column is used for the memory access request. The repair feature may be performed during power up of the memory device, or normal operation may interrupted by a repair command that places the memory device in a standby mode for the repair.

The present invention relates to semiconductor memory integrated circuit devices, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, and more particularly to repairing a memory device when it is deployed in a memory module in a computing system.
With the increasing density of memory modules, such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), sparse failures of the DRAM chips that make up the memory modules become an increasing economic concern for the memory manufacturer. At the same time, computer system manufacturers of large server computers face an increasing challenge in achieving the desired reliability of their systems with ever-increasing memory capacities. Currently, computer systems collect fail addresses (via failure scrubbing and error correction logs) but they do not repair failing addresses until the entire memory module with the affected memory device is exchanged during the next maintenance downtime.
Therefore, the capability of an in-situ repair of faulty memory addresses while the system is running would be highly beneficial to both memory manufacturers and system manufacturers.

Repair of semiconductor memory device via external command


In a process for milking animals and with the aid of teatcup liners, each teatcup liner is brought to be cyclicly partly opened during an initial milking phase (I), when the teat in the teatcup liner still is slack, so that the teatcup liner is prevented from crawling upwards on the teat and throttle the milk passage between udder and teat. During a subsequent main phase (II) of the milking, when the teat is extended, the teatcup liner is brought to be cyclicly opened at least substantially completely. The initial phase is ended and the main phase is started when at least one monitored milking variable reaches a predetermined value. According to the invention the milking variable is the milk quantity extracted from the animal. Alternatively, further milking variables may be monitored such as the milk flow and the time from the beginning of the initial phase (I). Hereby the initial phase can be adapted to individual animals, whereby the milking time is minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of milking an animal, in which the animal's teats are applied in teatcup liners with tubular walls. The interior of each teatcup liner under the teat is exposed to an underpressure for extracting milk from the teat, while the wall of the teatcup liner is exposed to a cyclicly varying pressure difference between the interior of the teatcup liner under the teat and the outside of the teatcup liner, so that the teatcup liner cyclicly moves towards an open and a closed position. During an initial phase of the milking, when the milk flow is non-existent or relatively small, said pressure difference is varied such that the teatcup liners are cyclicly partly opened. During a main phase of the milking, when the milk flow is relatively large, said pressure difference is varied so that the teatcup liner is cyclicly open at least substantially completely. At least one milking variable is monitored during said initial phase, the initial phase being ended and the main phase being started when said milking variable reaches a predetermined value.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a milking method is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,221 and intends to prevent the teatcup liners from crawling upwards on the teats, when the milk flow still is relatively small and the teats as a consequence thereof are relatively slack. Thus, it is ensured that the frictional engagement between the teatcup liners and slack teats are kept intact by not opening the teatcup liners completely during said initial phase of the milking.
A teatcup liner which has crawled upwards on its teat may throttle or even completely close the passage between the udder cistern and the teat, which results in that the milk flow from the teat is reduced or ceases.
Teatcup liner crawling can therefore result in a decreased milk yield and/or prolonged milking time. It would be possible to remedy an occurred case of teatcup liner crawling by first completely detach the teatcup liner in question from its teat and then reattach it on the teat. However, in practice it is difficult to discover teatcup liner crawlings, and consequently, it is important that these as much as possible are prevented from occurring at all.
By means of the known milking method according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,221 the initial phase of the milking is ended in response to the lapse of a predetermined time period, which can be chosen in the interval of 40-90 seconds, counted from the beginning of the initial phase. However, for for instance cows the time each cow will need to give such a relatively large milk flow which results in distended teats and thereby a good engagement with fully opening teatcup liners is very individual. Thus, some cows may give a large milk flow already after a few seconds of the initial phase, while other cows will give a large milk flow first after about a minute of the initial phase. Therefore, the known milking method has the disadvantage that some cows are treated during an unnecessary long initial phase, which has the consequence that the total milking time will be unnecessarily long.
Therefore it may seem to be better to control the duration of the initial phase in response to the milk flow from the teats, so that the initial phase is ended when the milk flow is large enough to indicate that the teats are extended. However, the milk flow is not a reliable indicator on how prepared a cow is for milking, since the milk flow after an initial increase again may be reduced in case the cow is not sufficiently stimulated. The reduction of the milk flow in such a case depends on that only the minor milk quantity already being in the udder cisterns is extracted, while the major milk quantity being in the alveoli of the udder still has not been released.


The present invention is directed to a system, method and computer program for automatically extracting and mining relations and related entities from unstructured text. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: extracting relations and related entities from unstructured text data, representing the extracted information into a graph, and manipulating the resulting graph to gain more insight into the information it contains. The extraction of relations and related entities is performed first by automatically inducting pattern and second by applying these induced patterns to unstructured text data. For each relation and entity, several features are extracted in order to build a graph whose nodes are entities and edges are relations.

Structured information may be defined as information whose intended meaning is explicitly represented in the structure or format of the data. The canonical example of structured information is a relational database. Unstructured information may be characterized as information whose meaning requires interpretation in order to approximate and extract the intended meaning. Examples include natural language documents, speech, audio, images, and video. In other words, unstructured data is any data residing unorganized outside a database. Unstructured data can be text, audio, video, or graphics.
Unstructured information represents the largest, most current, and fastest growing source of information available to the world of business or to governments. In some estimation, unstructured data represents 80% of all corporate information. High-value information in these huge amounts of data is difficult to discover. Unstructured information is not in a format adapted to search techniques. Searching for information in unstructured sources is impractical. First, data must be analyzed to detect and locate items of interest. The result must then be structured so that powerful search engines and database engines can efficiently find what is requested, when it is requested. The bridge from the unstructured world to the structured world is called Information Extraction (IE).
An Unstructured Information Management (UIM) application is generally a software system that analyzes a large volume of unstructured information (text, audio, video, images, etc.) to discover, organize and deliver relevant knowledge to a client or to an end-user. An example is an application that processes millions of medical documents and reports to discover critical interactions between drugs, side effects and a disease history. Another example is an application that processes millions of documents to discover key evidence indicating probable terrorist threats.
The management of unstructured data is recognized as one of the major unsolved problems in the information technology (IT) industry, the main reason being that the tools and techniques that can successful transform structured data into business intelligence and usable information simply don't work when applied to unstructured data.
An Unstructured Information Management (UIM) system deploys Information Extraction (IE) techniques on large volumes of unstructured information in order to discover, organize and deliver relevant knowledge to a client.
Information Extraction (IE) is an important unsolved problem of Natural Language Processing (NLP). One of the most important problems in information extraction is the extraction of entities from text documents and the extraction of relations among these entities. Examples of entities are "people", "organizations", and "locations". Examples of relations are "ORG-EMPLOY-EXECUTIVE", "ORG-LOCATION", and so on. For instance, the sentence "John Adams is the chief executive officer of XYZ Corporation" contains an "ORG-EMPLOY-EXECUTIVE" relation between the person "John Adams" and the organization "XYZ Corporation".
Various techniques have been used to extract relations between related entities. In supervised approaches, human experts manually identify entities and relation in given examples. A classifier is trained on these examples and is used later to identify relations and entities at runtime. Semi-supervised approaches use seed samples provided by an expert and try to automatically obtain more examples similar to the seed samples. Then, the seed samples and the obtained examples are used to train a classifier like in the supervised case.
Unstructured data comprises additional information other than entities and relations, such as the social network that represents the relations between the different entities, the period during which the entities have some relations, common factors shared between different entities, . . . , . This complex and rich information is difficult to acquire and very difficult to represent in an informative way.
The HITS ("Hypertext Induced Topic Selection") algorithm is an algorithm for rating, and therefore also ranking, Web pages. HITS uses two values for each page, the "authority value" and the "hub value". "Authority value" and "hub value" are defined in terms of one another in a mutual recursion. An authority value is computed as the sum of the scaled hub values that point to that page. A hub value is the sum of the scaled authority values of the pages it points to. Relevance of the linked pages is also considered in some implementations. The HITS algorithm takes profit of the following observation: when a page (hub) links to another page (authority), the former confers authority over the latter. The HITS approach is described in the publication entitled "Authoritative Sources in a Hyperlinked Environment", J Kleinberg, J. ACM (1999).
Extracting knowledge from unstructured data for some domains is a costly and unfeasible task since many hand crafted rules need to be generated to capture various information. Although it is very difficult operation to extract such knowledge for any given domain, it is more difficult to present and visualize data in a clear and useful way to the user. There are several issues associated with extracting and presenting information from unstructured data including, for example: the automatic discovery of patterns for extracting relations between entities from any unstructured data and in any domain (application); extraction of knowledge characterizing each entity and relation from the unstructured data (such as the time during which the relation was valid and the location of this entity at that time); definition of Multi-Layered relations (relations with various constraints and conditions, for example relations in a given time frame or relations between two persons in a given organization, . . . ); and visualization of the extracted knowledge (presenting the extracted knowledge in way that enables the user to ingest and digest this knowledge).
Most prior art only focus on the first issue which consists in extracting relations between entities from unstructured text. Work in this field can be found in the article entitled "Extracting Patterns and Relations from the World Wide Web", (by Sergy Brin—Computer Science Department Stanford University) published in "The proceedings of the 1998 International Workshop on the Web and Databases". This publication is directed to the extraction of authorship information as found in book descriptions on the World Wide Web. This publication is based on dual iterative pattern-relation extraction wherein a relation and pattern set is iteratively constructed. This approach has two major drawbacks: (1) using hand-crafted seed examples to extract more examples similar to these hand-crafted seed examples; and (2) employing a lexicon as main source for extracting information.
The article entitled "Snowball: Extracting Relations from Large Plain-Text collections" (Eugene Agichtein and Luis Gravano—Department of Computer Science Columbia University, 1214 Amsterdam Avenue NY), published in "Proceedings of the Fifth ACM International Conference on Digital Libraries", 2000 discloses an idea similar to the previous work by using seed examples to generate initial patterns and to iteratively obtain further patterns. Then ad-hoc measures are deployed to estimate the relevancy of the patterns that have been newly obtained. The major drawbacks of this approach are: (1) its dependency on seed examples leads to limited capability of generalization, (2) using hand-crafted examples leads to domain dependency, and (3) the estimation of the relevancy of patterns requests the deployment of ad-hoc measures.
US patent application publication 2004/0167907 entitled "Visualization of integrated structured data and extracted relational facts from free text" (Wakefield et al.) discloses a mechanism to extract simple relations from unstructured free text. However, this mechanism has several major drawbacks:                The mechanism to extract relations depends on a parse tree. This is a major drawback because accurate relations cannot be extracted.        It depends on human made rules. The mechanism is designed for certain problems and must be changed for each problem which is costly and not easy.        It deploys lexicons and other costly resources to extract information.        It is not general and cannot solve different problems in different domains.        It provides only simple relations and is not capable of providing highly detailed relations.        It is not fully automatic and needs a human intervention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,197 entitled "System and method for automatically and iteratively mining related terms in a document through relations and patterns of occurrences" (Sundaresan et al.) discloses an automatic and iterative data mining system for identifying a set of related information on the World Wide Web that define a relationship, using the duality concept. Specifically, the mining system iteratively refines pairs of terms that are related in a specific way, and the patterns of their occurrences in web pages. The automatic mining system runs in an iterative fashion for continuously and incrementally refining the relates and their corresponding patterns. In one embodiment, the automatic mining system identifies relations in terms of the patterns of their occurrences in the web pages. The automatic mining system includes a relation identifier that derives new relations, and a pattern identifier that derives new patterns. The newly derived relations and patterns are stored in a database, which begins initially with small seed sets of relations and patterns that are continuously and iteratively broadened by the automatic mining system. However, this patent suffers from several drawbacks:                It depends on human work for providing seed patterns.        Resulting patterns are similar to the original seed patterns.        For each domain or application, new seed patterns have must be provided by an expert; this is tedious and costly process.        Extracting relations and patterns depends only on lexical (words) features which is very limited
U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,625 entitled "Wrapper induction by hierarchical data analysis" (Muslea et al.) discloses an inductive algorithm generating extraction rules based on user-labeled training examples. The problem is that the labeling of the training data represents a serious bottleneck.
All previous solutions suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks:                They need hand-crafted rules or a large number of human annotated examples for composing the patterns used to extract the relations.        They are domain-specific and designed to solve very specific problems.        They depend on seed examples. The resulting patterns are not general and are very similar to the seed examples.        They are not language independent.        They provide only simple relations and are not capable of providing highly detailed relations.        They do not extract detailed features for each entity and relation.        They do not allow a sophisticated data mining on the extracted information.        They do not provide an efficient visualization for large amount of data.

Method and system for extracting and visualizing graph-structured relations from unstructured text


According to an embodiment of the invention, a system, operable to facilitate dissipation of thermal energy, includes a mold compound, a die, a first lead frame, and a second lead frame. The die is disposed within the mold compound, and in operation generates thermal energy. The first lead frame is disposed at least partially within the mold compound and is operable to facilitate transmission of a signal. The second lead frame is disposed at least partially within the compound, at least partially separated from the first lead frame, and is operable to facilitate a dissipation of thermal energy.

A packaged integrated circuit may generally include semiconductor chips and their associated components embedded within a molding. The packaged integrated circuits may be connected to a printed circuit board of an electronic device. Through the printed circuit board, the packaged integrated circuit may be connected to other chips and to external inputs and outputs. In operation, the components of the packaged integrated circuits create thermal energy, which dissipates in attempts to seek thermal equilibrium.


Methods of inhibiting fibrosis comprising administering certain pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazones or analogs thereof are disclosed. Preferred hydrazones are pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazone, 3-hydroxyisonicotinaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone and salicylaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone. The methods are useful in treating fibrosing disorders, including dermal fibrosing disorders, fibrosis of internal organs and fibrotic conditions of the eye.

Fibrosis, characterized by an excessive accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix of the involved organi, is a long-standing and challenging clinical problem for which no effective treatment is currently available. The production of collagen is a finely regulated process, and its disturbance may lead to the development of tissue fibrosis. The formation of fibrous tissue is part of the normal beneficial process of healing after injury. However, in some circumstances there is an abnormal accumulation of fibrous material such that it interferes with the normal function of the affected tissue.
Central to the development of fibrotic conditions, whether spontaneous or induced, is the proliferation of fibroblasts, the major cell type responsible for collagen synthesis. Many common debilitating diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis, involve the proliferation of fibrous tissue, as do certain skin diseases such as scleroderma, keloids, and hypertrophic scars.
Attempts to control the abnormal accumulation of collagen during fibrosis have focused on several inhibitors of the translational and post-translational reactions in collagen biosynthesis, but their therapeutic value is limited by certain undesirable features, i.e., poor permeability across cell membrane, nonspecificity in action, or toxicity. There is accordingly, a continuing need for new antifibrotic agents.

Method of inhibiting fibrosis with pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazone and analogs thereof


A cable riding transporter having one or more drive sheaves in rolling contact with the upper side of a suspended cable and including a motor operatively engaging at least one of the drive sheaves for propelling the retriever along the cable and including a control for operating the motor and its direction of rotation and mechanism to interconnect the transporter with a load, such as a zip line trolley.

A zip line basically consists of a trolley movably suspended on a cable that is erected over an inclined area. It is designed to enable a user to be propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or attaching to, the freely moving trolley. Zip-lines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. They may be short and low, intended for child's play as found on some playgrounds. Longer and higher rides have become popular amusement rides and vacation activities. After the rider reaches the bottom end of the zip line cable the trolley must be returned to the top. The trolley return has been accomplished by several means. In simple low to the ground installations the return can be done by simply pushing the trolley back to the top of the cable on foot. The return has also been carried out with a line leading from the trolley to the uphill end of the line. In other installations the trolley is removed from the zip line and transported in some manor back to the top of the ride. Another method of return includes the passenger, as shown in U.S. Patent Application publication No. 2014/0182477.
The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the necessity for additional personnel, vehicles and time to carry out the cumbersome task of returning the zip line trolley to the higher elevation starting point.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple transporter apparatus that can tow or push a cable suspended load carrier.
Other and further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from an examination of the following specification, drawings and claims.