A bone conduction hearing aid system for generating bone conduction vibrations is disclosed. The bone conduction hearing aid system has a hearing aid with a vibrator. The hearing aid system includes an interconnection unit to connect the hearing aid to the user. There is a coupling between the interconnection unit and the hearing aid to connect and disconnect the hearing aid to and from the interconnection unit. The interconnection unit has connection portion and contact plate portion. The connection portion and the contact plate portion are designed in one integral piece of continuous polymer material. The interconnection unit has a concave or planar adhesive surface that can be adhered to the skin on the head of the user without applying any specific pressure against the skin. The sound vibrations are transmitted from the vibrator to the hearing organ as bone conduction sound vibrations.

Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull, and a bone conduction hearing aid, or bone conductor, is a device that stimulates through bone conduction. Other types of hearing aids may instead directly stimulate the tympanic membrane, the middle ear ossicles, the round window, the oval window or the cochlear fluid. Several different types of bone conduction hearing aids are available. A bone conduction hearing aid may amplify sound or it may also work as a tinnitus masker. A bone conductor may also be used in audiometry to determine bone conduction hearing thresholds. Current bone conductors include however several drawbacks, as described below.
The traditional bone conductor consists of a hearing aid with a vibrator that is pressed against the head behind the ear by a spring arrangement extending from the other side of the head. The steel spring arrangement is sometimes built into an eyeglass frame. The vibrations are transmitted through the skin and the skull bone into the inner ear. For the traditional bone conductors with a spring arrangement around the head, the constant pressure against the skull bone often causes headaches and skin irritation. A constant pressure against living tissue tends to lead to poor blood supply and irritation. The spring arrangement is also bulky and is not a practical or user friendly solution.
Another type of established bone conductor, which is sometimes called a direct bone conductor, includes a vibrator, which is directly and firmly connected to an anchoring component that is anchored to the skull bone through which the vibrations are directly transmitted from the vibrator to the skull bone. The vibrations do not pass through the skin on its way from the vibrator to the skull bone. This type of bone conductor may be designed with a permanent skin penetration which may lead to problems with skin infections. If this type of bone conductor is instead designed with an implanted vibrator and where energy are transmitted from an external hearing aid there is a significant energy loss when transmitting the energy with an inductive link through the skin. Another drawback is that the vibrator cannot easily be repaired if it breaks down.
To avoid the need for surgery or bulky spring arrangements, adhesively attached bone conductors have also been suggested, however these have not become successful. To transmit the vibrations to the skull, these suggested adhesive bone conductors includes a protruding portion pressing towards the skin. The pressure is achieved by the surrounding adhesive attached to the skin. The drawbacks are that there will still be a constant pressure against the skin and the arrangement tends to come loose since there will be a constant force trying to remove the adhesive from the skin since it is the adhesive is counteracting the pressure force from the protruding portion. To try to adjust this type of device the protruding portion is made adjustable with a screw to try to make it work and the arrangement then becomes more complex and expensive due to its design. Other suggestions such as taping the bone conductor to the head have not become successful arrangements. Some of these arrangements also required removal of the adhesive from the skin to remove the bone conductor which may cause too frequent stress on the skin.
Another type of bone conductor is a type where the vibrator is placed in an external unit outside the skin and where this external unit is kept in place through a magnetic attachment to a part that is anchored to the skull bone and implanted under the skin. In this arrangement, the signal from the external part is passing through the skin to the implanted part and the skull bone. For this type of bone conductor, surgery is still required and the pressure towards the skin may cause skin necrosis due to the constant pressure against the skin. When a magnetic attachment is used, the hearing aid may also easily fall off.
For all non-surgical bone conductors, the firmly established design tradition has been that the arrangement has to include some sort of member creating a pressure against the skin to obtain a sufficient transmission of the vibrations from the vibrator to the skull. Applying a pressure against the skin improves the transmission through the skin. With an improved transmission through the skin, the hearing aid with the vibrator, electronics and battery can be made smaller and does not have to be as powerful as if there were no pressure against the skin. There has been a long tradition in the industry of trying to make the hearing aid systems as small and as light-weight as possible for the convenience of the user. Due to this strong trend and tradition, the industry has been completely focused on designs that require that a pressure against the skin must be created by the hearing aid system. This has almost been a dogma. In spite of many efforts during several decades, no system has become successful because the pressure makes the device fall off, irritates the skin or becomes complicated particularly when adjustable arrangements are used. Since pressure against the skin in an adhesive bone conductor has to, in some way, include a protruding area or component, previous solutions have not included any kind of soft rubber portions to follow the curvature of the head of the individual since such portions would not contribute to the creation of a pressure against the skin.
For conventional adhesive bone conductors, the coupling between the hearing aid and the adhesive carrier has been placed at the center of the carrier. The coupling has been placed at the center to reduce the risk of the adhesive coming loose from the skin due to the weight of the hearing aid. However, the general anatomy of the hair free area behind the ear is such that the placement of the coupling at the center results in the coupling and the hearing aid touching the outer ear causing undesirable acoustic feedback and discomfort.
Furthermore, the industry has been completely focused on arrangements where only the adhesive component in itself has been the disposable single-use component that has been replaced when it does not adhere well to the skin anymore. It has been the established design tradition to have a complex component carrying the adhesive component. A double-sided adhesive-sheet, for example, is inexpensive but it is difficult for the patient to replace it on the carrier and the remaining adhesive disposed around the edges often collects dirt and bacteria. There is a need for a more effective bone conduction hearing aid system that is reliable and does not have the drawbacks discussed above.
The present invention provides an effective solution to the above-outlined problems of bone conduction hearing aids. More particularly, the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention has a hearing aid device with a vibrator disposed in a hearing aid housing. The hearing aid device has a first connection portion. Furthermore, the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention has an interconnection unit that has a contact plate portion and a second connection portion. The second connection portion is located on a first side of the contact plate portion. The contact plate portion has a second side at least partly provided with an adhesive component. The second side is configured to, when in use, face a skin of a user of the bone conduction hearing aid system. The first connection portion of the hearing aid device is connectable to the second connection portion of the interconnection unit so that these two portions form a coupling. The adhesive component has a first adhesive side and a second adhesive side. The first adhesive side is attached to the second side of the contact plate portion and the second adhesive side is adhesively attachable to a skin of a user. The present invention allows the interconnection unit with the adhesive component to be at least partly positioned between the hearing aid device and the skin of the user to enable a practical and cosmetic solution. The present invention also allows the hearing device to be connected to and disconnected from the interconnection unit without having to, at the same time, connect or disconnect the interconnection unit to the skin of the user. The contact plate portion and the second connection portion are made in one piece continuous injection molded polymer material and this unique design makes it possible to manufacture the entire interconnection unit in one injection molded part with an attached adhesive component which makes it possible to do the interconnection unit as a low cost disposable component.
The second connection portion protrudes from the first side of the contact plate portion which makes it easier to locate the second connection portion when connecting the hearing aid to the interconnection unit. In the present invention, one of the first and the second connection portion is a female connection portion and the other one of the first and the second connection portion is a male connection portion. The male connection portion is at least partly insertable into the female connection portion and one of the female and male-connection portion is flexible with a snap-in ridge and the other of the first and the second connection portion having a circular rigid coupling ridge to ensure a secure retention when attached. In the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention the second side of the contact plate portion is concave or planar without convex areas and without protruding means from the interconnection unit, i.e. there are no protruding parts or portions designed to cause specific pressure against the skin. This unique design is critical for the success of the invention since this offers a much more secure adhesive retention of the hearing aid system than if the adhesive would have to counteract a specific pressure against the skin. The lack of specific pressure against the skin is also more skin friendly. Our research has surprisingly shown that bone conduction vibrations can be successfully transmitted from an external vibrator to the skull also without any pressure applied to the skin. The reason for this successful transmission may be due to the incompressibility of skin tissue which might not have been fully considered before.
The interconnection unit of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention has preferably a weight lower than 2 grams and the contact plate portion has preferably at least 5 through holes to enable moist transportation and these holes also contribute to keeping the weight down.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the second connection portion is positioned non-centrically on the first side of the contact plate portion so that a front end of the contact plate portion extends at least twice as far out from a center point of the second connection portion compared to the extension of a rear end of the contact plate portion. These proportions are essential to use the non-hair-bearing area behind the ear for adhesion and still enable a suitable attachment of the hearing aid device without interfering with the outer ear.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the first connection portion is a rigid female connection and the second connection portion is flexible male connection and wherein the flexible male connection portion has at least two flexible spring arms having a snap-in ridge at a connection end of the spring arms.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the second connection portion is a rigid male connection portion protruding a distance out from the first side that is at least the 50% of an average thickness of the contact plate portion. These proportions are essential both to keep the thickness of the contact plate portion down and to ensure an efficient function of the second connection portion.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the contact plate portion has a flexible peripheral frame around at least part of the periphery of the contact plate portion so that it can be more easily adapted to a curvature of the head of a user. The contact plate portion is preferable still fairly rigid to offer a stable base for the use of the second connection portion.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the contact plate portion is at least partly transparent to allow at least one of visible light and UV light to be transmitted through the contact plate portion to the adhesive component.
In a preferred embodiment of the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention, the adhesive component has a light sensitive switchable release agent that is transformable to change at least the adhesive component of the second adhesive side from a high adhesive state providing a high adhesive strength to a low adhesive state providing a low adhesive strength that is lower than the high adhesive strength. With this design it is possible to minimize the stress on the skin when tearing off the interconnection unit from the skin.
The contact plate portion and a second connection portion of the present invention is preferably manufactured in a single injection molding cavity having a shape of the contact plate portion and the second connection portion together. A melted polymer is then injected into the cavity, thus forming a contact plate portion and a second connection portion in one unit made of the polymer, and then the unit is ejected from the molding cavity after cooling down.
The hearing aid device can be standardized since the coupling to the interconnection unit can be the same for more or less all patients which is important since the hearing aid is quite expensive. The interconnection unit that is more frequently changed and cost efficient to manufacture can, however, easily be manufactured in various shapes and sizes to fit different users.
The present invention is unique since it works without any protruding parts in the adhesive area that cause pressure against the skin. Because the skin pressure is minimal, the retention is secure and skin friendly. The design of the present invention enables an adhesive interconnection unit to be cost-efficiently produced as a single use disposable component which is important for practical and cost aspects.
The present invention goes against the established design tradition. One drawback of the present invention is that it requires a more powerful hearing aid device since it works without any pressure against the skin. As explained above, conventional thinking in the hearing aid industry has been to focus on minimizing size and weight and therefore prior art designs have relied on applying a pressure against the skin because that improves the conduction from the hearing aid devices into the skull of the user and thus make it possible to use small and light-weight devices. Another drawback of the design of the present invention is that there is no adjustable member that could be used to create and adjust the pressure against the skin in case a patient prefers more power at some time. However, it has surprisingly been found that the advantages of reduced risk of fall off the skin, less skin irritation and less complicated design requirements outweigh the drawbacks of the need for a more powerful hearing aid device that is heavier and bigger than conventional designs. Although the hearing aid device of the present invention needs to be more powerful and is therefore usually bigger and heavier compared to conventional designs , the retention is still more secure and it is more skin friendly compared to conventional design that requires a constant pressure against the skin. A somewhat heavier hearing aid device of the present invention may also be compensated by the fact that the interconnection unit can be made very light when it is an integrated part without adjustable parts, and therefore the total weight of the arrangement carried by the adhesive may still be similar to conventional designs.
The interconnection unit of the present invention where the contact plate portion and the second connection portion are made integral enables the entire interconnection unit to be a cheap disposable component. This is a key to make the arrangement hygienic and practical to handle. A drawback of the present invention is that the interconnection unit is a more expensive disposable component than if only the adhesive component was changed when the adhesive does not adhere sufficiently to the skin anymore. However, surprisingly the advantages of replacing the entire unit instead of just the adhesive sheet outweigh the drawbacks of higher costs since it is much more practical for the patient and the replacement of the entire unit significantly improves the hygiene. Also, the material of the interconnection unit is preferably recycled for environmental purposes.
The solution of the present invention go against several established design parameters as described above and the result is a surprisingly excellent hearing aid system where the advantages outweigh the drawbacks and the present invention provides valuable improvements in hearing rehabilitation.
As described above, the bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention includes a unique combination of solutions and provides new solutions and several advantages to meet complex user requirements.


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for sorting purchase items. A selection module selects a plurality of categories. In one embodiment, the selection module receives a category selection. In addition, the selection module may receive a criterion selection for the category selection and receive a modification for the criterion selection. The selection module may further modify the criterion of the selected category with the modification. An identification module identifies a purchase item. An association module associates a selected category of the plurality of categories with the purchase item. A sorter sorts the purchase item to a specified bin. The specified bin is associated with the selected category. In one embodiment, a bagger may bag one or more purchase items from a bin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sorting purchase items and more particularly relates to sorting purchase items for scan and bag self-checkout systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Scan and bag self-checkout systems are often used to allow customers to pay for purchase items with little or no intervention from retail or store personnel. As used herein, scan and bag self-checkout systems are referred to as self-checkout systems. Self-checkout systems may allow a store to make more checkout stations available including the self-checkout systems using a small number of store personnel. In addition, store personnel may be more flexibly employed when self-checkout systems are used.
When using a self-checkout system, a customer typically brings purchase items to the self-checkout system and scans each purchase item using a bar code scanner, radio frequency identifier (RFID) scanner, or the like. The customer may then place the scanned purchase item in a bag. After scanning the purchase items, the customer pays for the purchase items using cash, debit cards, credit cards, and the like.
Unfortunately, the customer often does not scan purchase items in an optimum order for bagging purchase items. Verification devices that verify the bagging of scanned purchase items may also erroneously request that store personnel intervene and check the purchase items if a customer attempts to sort and/or arrange purchase items after the purchase items are scanned and initially bagged.
As a result, self-checkout systems may include a conveyer belt to move the scanned purchase items away from the scanning area after scanning. The customer may then sort and bag purchase items from the conveyer belt after scanning the purchase items, allowing the customer to sort and arrange the purchase items in the bags.
Unfortunately, other customers are typically unable to use the self-checkout system while the customer is bagging purchase items from the conveyer belt. As a result, the bagging customer may feel rushed and may fail to adequately sort the purchase items. The customer may then bag the purchase items in a way that can damage some of the items such as by bagging heavy purchase items with fragile purchase items.
Even if the customer properly sorts the purchase items for bagging, waiting customers may become impatient during the sorting. As a result, the waiting and the bagging customers' shopping experiences may be diminished and the customers may view self-checkout systems less favorable.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that sort purchase items at a self-checkout system. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would aid a customer in rapidly sorting the purchase items for bagging and transport.

Apparatus, system, and method for sorting purchase items

International Business Machines Corporation


The memory, in integrated circuit form, is supplied with a low supply voltage and includes a read circuit enabling the detection of the state of the cells of the memory. In a current mirror of the read circuit, there is provided a shifting circuit between the drain and the gate of a reference transistor. The shifting circuit may include a shift transistor and a bias transistor.

A memory comprises a network of memory cells organized in matrix form in columns and in rows.The memory cells of one and the same column are connected to a bit line and the memory cells of one and the same row are connected to a word line. During a reading stage, the bit line delivers an information element on the state of the memory cell at the intersection of the bit line and a selected word line.
The read circuits are connected to the bit lines either directly or, more generally, by means of a multiplexer used to associate a read circuit with several bit lines. Only one bit line is described as associated with the read circuit to simplify the explanation as follows. The working of a read circuit can generally be sub-divided into three stages: a bit line pre-charging stage, a balancing stage and a memory cell reading stage. Hereinafter, it should be assumed that the memory is an EEPROM whose cells may have an erased state in which they pass an electrical current, or a programmed state in which they hinder the passage of a current. To read an information element on the state of the selected cell, it is desired to detect the presence of a current in the bit line connected to the selected cell. And a current of this kind exists if the cell is erased or blank, and it does not exist if the cell is programmed.
To detect the presence of this current, a bit line connected to blank cells called reference cells is used. This bit line, called a reference line, carries a reference current during the reading stage. During the pre-charging stage, the bit line connected to the memory cell to be read and the reference line are taken to a reference potential. The balancing stage that follows enables the balancing of the potential of the two bit lines. Then, during the reading stage, the current of the bit line is compared with the reference current. The result of this comparison makes it possible to find out-the state of the cell read. This comparison is generally made by a differential amplifier preceded by a current/voltage converter.
FIG. 1 gives a simplified view of an exemplary prior art read circuit. For the sake of greater clarity, this Figure does not describe the mechanisms for balancing the bit lines. A memory cell CM comprising a selection transistor TS series connected with a floating-gate transistor TGF is connected to a bit line LB. The gate of the selection transistor TS is connected to a word line LM, while the gate of the floating-gate transistor TGF is connected to a read line LL to which there is applied a read voltage VL during the reading phase. At the end of the reading operation, the information representing the state of the memory cell CM is delivered on the bit line LB.
Similarly, a reference cell CR comprising a selection transistor TSR and a floating-gate transistor TGFR is connected to a reference line LR. The gate of the selection transistor TSR is also connected to the word line LM and the gate of the floating-gate transistor TGFR is connected to a read line LLR to which there is applied the read voltage VL during the reading stage. During the pre-charging stage, the two bit lines LB and LR are pre-charged at a reference value of about 1 volt respectively by means of the pre-charging transistors T1 and T2. These transistors T1 and T2 have the function of respectively giving a pre-charging current to the two bit lines LB and LR, while at the same time limiting the reference voltage to a predetermined value close to one volt.
Indeed, if the reference voltage of the line is too high, there is a risk of parasitic programming of the memory cell CM attached to the bit line LB. If the reference voltage is too low, the current flowing in the bit line LB will not be high enough to obtain sufficiently fast reading of the memory cell CM.
The transistors T1 and T2 are preferably N channel natural transistors and their sources are connected respectively to the bit line LB and to the reference line LR. To simplify the drawing, the pre-charging circuit is shown in the form of a feedback block CTR connecting the gate of the transistors T1 and T2 to the source of the transistor T1. The role of this feedback block is to provide a sufficient pre-charging voltage Vp to the gate of the transistors T1 and T2 to pre-charge the bit lines LB and LR at the reference voltage.
Furthermore, the drains of the transistors T1 and T2 are connected to the two arms of a current mirror. The first arm has a P-channel reference transistor T3 having its drain and its gate connected to each other (in a diode configuration) and its source connected to a supply terminal Vcc. Its drain is furthermore connected to the drain of the pre-charging transistor T1. The second arm of the current mirror is provided by a P-channel transistor which mirrors transistor T4. Transistor T4 has its gate connected to the gate and drain of the transistor T3, with its source connected to the supply terminal Vcc and its drain connected to the drain of the transistor T2.
To make it easier to understand the explanations that follow, the drain of the reference transistor T3 is indicated by the point A, its gate by the point B, and the source of the transistor T1 by the point C.
Finally, a differential amplifier AD has its inputs connected to the drains of the transistors T3 and T4 and measures the difference between the potentials at these two drains. The output of the amplifier AD produces a signal that indicates whether the difference is positive or negative.
This type of circuit works well when it is supplied with a supply voltage in the range of 5 volts. However, it has the drawback of being unsuited for memories supplied with a voltage in the range of about 1.8 volts. Indeed, in the latter case, when the reference transistor T3 is conductive, the potential at the point A is at most equal to 1 volt if it is assumed that the threshold voltage Vt of the reference transistor T3 is equal to 0.8 volts. It is then difficult to maintain a stable potential of about 1 volt at the point C during the pre-charging phase if it is assumed in addition that the current flowing in the reference line LR will contribute to further lowering of the potential at the point C.

Read circuit for non-volatile memory working with a low supply voltage


A rapid white balance method for color digital image is disclosed. This method is applied to RGB color regions in an image. First, the image is divided into several blocks to obtain the G parameter, then the averaged R and B parameters of each block, thereby obtaining the R and B parameters of the whole image. Using the R and B parameters, the method obtains an R gain and a B gain. Finally, the image is adjusted. The method only uses one RGB value for each pixel. The processing time is reduced, while the quality of the image is increased.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a white balance method and, in particular, to a white balance process for color digital images.
2. Related Art
Nowadays, there are more and better digital products and coding technologies introduced to the world. The demand of a digital life has become the new driving force for the digital technology to develop toward a wider space. Digital products such as computers, cell phones, video cameras, digital cameras, PDA's are changing our daily life. It is believed that more new digital products will be developed and affect our life in the future. The developments in basic structures and functioning principles of the digital image technology are also subjects that scientists are after.
White balance is a basic function in color digital image equipment. This function defines "white" as "white" no matter how the environmental light changes. When the colors on a real object are recorded using a color sensor, there might be deviations existing between the recorded colors and the actual colors. Only when an appropriate light source with a specific color spectrum exists can the actual colors on the real object be captured. For many sensors, the sunlight is the most appropriate illuminant. When the sunlight shines on a white object, the image captured by the sensor will manifest the actual white color. However, when the same object is in the light produced by artificial white light, the image captured by the sensor tends to be slightly red. This is because the spectrum of the artificial white light has a strong red light component. When using a digital camera without the white balance function, one will discover that the white object under the artificial white light, the image is actually bluish. The image shown in FIG. 1a is obviously bluish. The reason human eyes detect the color as white is because they correct the color. The image after the white balance process will produce a satisfactory effect like FIG. 1b. The conventional AWB algorithm is used in the process by obtaining simulation results by processing a huge amount of test color images. All areas in an image have to be white balance processed. Therefore, it takes a longer processing time. It is based upon the assumption that the composite color of the whole image is white. However, this method cannot process correctly for big monochromic object or background.

Rapid white balance method for color digital images


Device for implanting occlusion spirals in body cavities or blood vessels with a catheter, an occlusion spiral that can be moved within the catheter in the longitudinal direction, and at least one securing means attached in the occlusion spiral, structured as a flexible lengthwise element, which passes through the length of the occlusion spiral at least in a partial region, which is characterized in that the securing means contains a material with shape memory properties.

The invention relates to a device for implanting occlusion spirals in body cavities or blood vessels with a catheter, an occlusion spiral that can be moved within the catheter in the longitudinal direction, and at least one securing means attached in the occlusion spiral, structured as a flexible lengthwise element, which passes through the length of the occlusion spiral at least in a partial region. The invention furthermore relates to an occlusion spiral as well as to a medical implant that is intended to be deposited in body cavities or blood vessels to be closed off.
The use of endovascular techniques for the occlusion of body cavities or blood vessels such as arteries, veins, Fallopian tubes, or vascular malformations (e.g. vascular aneurysms) is a known state of the art. In this connection, the occlusion spiral is generally introduced and deposited in the cavity to be occluded using an endovascular guide wire, by means of a catheter.
In advance of being deposited, the occlusion spirals to be implanted are guided through the vascular system using the catheter, and are advanced out of the catheter into the area to be occluded when they reach the target location. In an ideal case, this is followed by separation of the spiral. In the case of incorrect positioning or an occlusion spiral that is too large for the region to be occluded, however, the spiral has to be repositioned or completely retracted into the catheter, in order to subsequently permit correct positioning or introduction of a correctly sized occlusion spiral. Such maneuvers in the vascular system are fraught with the risk that parts of the spiral will be pulled apart under tensile or torsion stress, and thereby will be irreversibly plastically deformed, will tear, or will break, bringing with this the risk of a life-threatening embolism.
In order to minimize these risks, it is known from the reference PCT/US 98/17885 to attach a flexible securing means in the occlusion spiral. The disadvantage of this device is that the securing means, consisting of a polymer material, is not ideal with regard to bending stress or tensile strength. Therefore with this device, too, tearing of the spiral within the blood vessel system can occur if the torsion stress and/or the tensile stress is too great.


An image detecting device includes an image detector for recording an image therein and outputting the recorded image as image information, and a cooling panel disposed on a surface of the image detector for cooling the image detector, wherein the cooling panel has a thermal conductivity oriented in a planar direction along the surface of the image detector.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an image detecting device for outputting image information representative of an image recorded in a given recording area, and to an image capturing system that incorporates such an image detecting device therein.
2. Description of the Related Art:
In the medical field, there have widely been used image capturing apparatuses, which apply a radiation from a radiation source to a subject (a patient) and which detect the radiation that has passed through the subject with an image detector, in order to acquire radiation image information of the subject.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-281343 discloses an active matrix substrate with a detector mounted thereon and a base plate laminated on the rear surface of the active matrix substrate by a gel sheet. The gel sheet is made of a thermally conductive viscoelastic material, and the base plate is made of a highly thermally conductive material for reducing variations in the temperature distribution of the active matrix substrate.
According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-281343, as described above, the base plate supports the active matrix substrate through the gel sheet for reducing variations in the temperature distribution of the active matrix substrate. It is expected that a detector (image detector) mounted on the active matrix substrate will suffer variations (irregularities) in the temperature distribution thereof. However, there is nothing disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-281343 for quickly removing irregularities in the temperature distribution of the detector.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-281343 merely shows the manner in which the base plate is laminated onto the active matrix substrate by the gel sheet, and is silent concerning how to increase the thermal conductivity of the gel sheet in order to radiate heat out of the active matrix substrate.

Image detecting device and image capturing system


Methods and apparatus are provided for programmable codeword encoding and decoding. Data blocks are represented as a number of codewords. Data is encoded into one or more full size codewords and at least one truncated codewords. Typically, data is encoded and decoded using one or more full size codewords and one truncated codeword. The truncated codewords are a two-dimensional array having a number of columns (or rows or both) less than the full size codeword. In this manner, the disclosed truncated codewords are adaptable to various system parameters that affect code rate.

Error correction techniques are used in a number of communication and storage systems. Error correction codes, such as Reed-Solomon codes, add one or more redundant bits to a digital stream prior to transmission or storage, so that a decoder can detect and possibly correct errors caused by noise or other interference. One class of error correction codes are referred to as "turbo" codes. Generally, turbo codes employ a combination of two or more systematic convolutional or block codes. Typically, an iterative decoding technique is employed where the output of each decoding step serves as an input to the subsequent decoding step. Turbo encoders typically employ a limited number of programmable choices of block size. The number of bits generated for each input block depends on the size of the input block, as well as the amount of redundancy added by the encoder.
In block coding, the data to be transmitted is broken into smaller blocks and each block is separately encoded. Generally, redundant bits are appended to each block of data. A block code is referred to as an (n, k) code, where n is the total number of bits in the encoded transmission block and k is the number of bits in the unencoded message block. Thus, n-k redundancy bits, also referred to as parity bits, are added to the message block during encoding.
Turbo Product Codes are a well known class of error correction codes that use a block parity mechanism, whereby a number of parity bits are added to each block of data prior to transmission or storage. Product codes generally arrange two dimensional codes (n, k) into (r×c arrays of r rows and c columns. Data is encoded as a two-dimensional codeword. Typically, one row and one column contain parity bits for columns and rows, respectively. The size of the codeword (i.e., the number of rows and columns) directly affects the code rate and the redundancy per user bit. For example, if a codeword size is 20 rows by 20 columns, and one row and one column contain parity bits, each codeword contains 361 bits of user data (400−20−19). The code rate is thus (400−39)/400.
When the amount of data to be transmitted does not completely fill an integer number of codewords, the final codeword is only partially filled with valid data and the code ratesuffers. In addition, system requirements vary so that one codeword size does not satisfy all systems. For example, a number of configurable parameters, such as choice of modulation code, error correction code, sector size, and format efficiency, affect the optimal codeword size for efficient transmission. While one system may transmit or store data in units of 512 bytes, another system may transmit or store data in units of 560 bytes. For example, in a storage application, one storage system may employ a sector size of 512 bytes, and another may employ a sector size of 560 bytes. Meanwhile, a manufacturer of the encoders/decoders employed in such systems does not want to provide a unique encoder/decoder solution for each application.
A need therefore exists for improved methods and apparatus for codeword encoding and decoding over a range of transmission sizes.

Method and apparatus for programmable codeword encoding and decoding using truncated codewords


A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.

1. Field of the Invention
The technique disclosed in this specification relates to a storage controller and its control method, and more particularly to a storage system in a remote copy environment in a computer system having a plurality of storage controllers.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the amount of data has increased explosively, the number of host computers within a computer system and the capacities of storage systems tend to increase.
Additionally, as businesses depend more on information processing systems and the amount of damage caused by lost of data increases to an enormous level, the importance of disaster recovery of the data increase more and more.
A typical fabrication example of disaster recovery is a remote copy configuration. For example, JP-A-HEI-11-85408 discloses the techniques by which data issued by a host computer is received by a storage system, the storage system writes the data therein, and transfers the data to a different storage system installed at a physically remote location to make it store the data.

Storage system, remote copy and management method therefor


A self emission device (644) that emits light (526). The self emission device can include at least one light emission layer (104) encompassing an area, and generating light over such area in a distributed fashion. The self emission device also can include a first electrode (113) interfacing with a first side (116) of the light emission layer and a second electrode (114) interfacing with a second side (117) of the light emission layer. The first electrode and the second electrode can provide energy used by the light emission layer to illuminate. The self emission device can be a component of a display (100) comprising a reflective display panel (102).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic displays and, more particularly, to reflective displays.
2. Background of the Invention
A reflective display is a display that includes a reflective surface from which visual information is presented. There are a number of reflective display technologies known in the art, examples of which include a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD), an electrophoretic display (EPD), a reflective type thin film transistor display, a flip-dot display, and so on.
Rather than using backlighting for illumination like an emissive electronic display, a reflective display typically relies on ambient light. Thus, a reflective display generally requires less power to operate in comparison to an emissive electronic display. Moreover, a reflective display can be made to be very thin. Indeed, EPDs oftentimes are considered prime examples of the electronic paper category of displays because of their paper-like appearance. Notwithstanding, although reflective displays are typically well suited for use in sunlight or in bright indoor lighting, they typically do not perform well in low-light conditions.

Light generating layer for a reflective display


A device has a housing with a top part that accommodates one or more pressable keys forming the user-interface of the device. Each specific key has a specific keycap. The top part is formed from a harder plastic element and a softer rubber layer in a two-shot injection molding process. The harder plastic element has one or more openings occupied by the softer rubber layer. The harder plastic element has a specific pin positioned in a specific hole of the softer rubber layer. The specific keycap has a bottom face with a specific protruding sleeve configured for engaging with the specific pin. The bottom face of the specific key and an area at a top face of the softer rubber layer have complimentarily shaped profiles configured for accurately orienting the keycap relative to the top part.

Devices of the kind specified in the preamble are well known in the art. Examples of such devices are: handheld electronic devices such as remote control devices, video game controllers and mobile telephones, keyboards for text entry or playing music, switches at the dashboard or at the doors of an automobile, etc.
If real estate is scarce for accommodating the keycaps, or if the spatial distribution of the keycaps needs to comply with aesthetic requirements, an accurate positioning of the keycaps is required so as to make full use of the room available or so as to give a precise, regular character to the spatial arrangement of the keycaps. This is especially relevant to a so-called "piano key arrangement".
The expression "piano key arrangement" indicates a lay-out of the keycaps, wherein the keycaps form a visually regular one-dimensional array or a visually regular two-dimensional array, wherein the keycaps themselves are flat and wherein neighboring ones of the keycaps are separated by a relatively very narrow gap. The lay-out of the piano keycaps requires accurate sizing and accurate mounting of the keycaps, as any difference in the orientation or in the height between a pair of neighboring ones of the keycaps is easily noticed by the user. This difference may then hamper the pleasing aesthetics of the piano-key lay-out or may interfere with the operation of the user-interface.

Two-shot injection molded housing with seats for keycaps in user-interface


A recessed electrical box including a flange having a rear surface formed to fit flush against siding. An inner cavity for accepting an electrical device extends well behind the flange. A removable cover is included for closing the inner cavity from the elements. The box is easily installed by forming a hole in the siding and sliding the box therein until the rear surface of the flange contacts the siding. The closeness of fit between the rear surface of the flange and the siding enables easy and rapid sealing between the box and the siding.

Siding is commonly installed as the outer finish on the exterior of houses or other buildings. After a house has been built with the siding secured thereto, homeowners quite often find it necessary and desirable to mount additional electrical devices, such as duplex outlets, switches, and timers, to provide additional electrical services.
In several patent applications sharing common ownership and inventorship with the present application, including U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/863,942, 11/009,116, 11/070,344, and 11/102,392, various electrical boxes were presented which provided the advantage of recessing the electrical device well behind the outer wall of the building. When mounted as a retrofit to a wall having siding installed thereon, recessed electrical boxes of the aforementioned patent applications included a flat rear surface of the box in contact with the siding. Although this provided an adequate means of recessing an electrical device well within a wall, the seal between the electrical box and the siding was not optimized.
What is needed therefore is a recessed electrical box that is easily retrofitted onto siding and with an optimal sealing surface between the electrical box and the wall surface.

Recessed outlet box retrofit siding construction


A palm operable electrical switching apparatus which is integrally constructed with the cover plate of an electrical junction box. The switching apparatus comprises a padded button assembly which is easily operable from off-center directions, an activator assembly which converts motion transferred from the button assembly to straight line movement suitable for operating an electrical switch such as a contact block and a contact block positioned for actuation by the activator assembly. The switching apparatus enables a higher degree of operational flexibility and greater amount of conformity with human operators.

The present invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to manually operated pushbutton switches.
In the past, electrical pushbutton switches have used straight line linkages between the button and the switch mechanism for making or breaking electrical contact. With this type of linkage, operation of the button from off-center directions requires progressively greater operating forces. The operation of the switch therefore does not conform to different human operators having different physical characteristics and does not enable easy operation of the switch from varying positions or postures. Additionally, some types of pushbutton switches have been designed with shapes which allow small amounts of debris to collect around the button and the shaft on which it is mounted.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomically designed electrical switching apparatus which is articulated to allow the operation of the apparatus to conform to the human operator and which may be operated from off-center directions with the use of low levels of force.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a electrical pushbutton switching apparatus in which the travel stops and button itself are cushioned to facilitate rapid and comfortable operation of the apparatus by human operators.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a palm operable electrical switching apparatus which is protected against mechanical interference and contamination by fluids or debris.

Articulated pushbutton electrical switching apparatus


A semiconductor memory device is provided. The device includes a substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region; a plurality of lower electrodes disposed on the substrate in the cell region; a dielectric layer disposed on the plurality of lower electrodes; a metal containing layer disposed on the dielectric layer; a silicon germanium layer disposed on and electrically connected to the metal containing layer; a conductive pad disposed on and electrically connected to the silicon germanium layer; and an upper electrode contact plug disposed on and electrically connected to the conductive pad; The conductive pad extends from the upper electrode contact plug towards the peripheral region in a first direction, and the silicon germanium layer includes an edge portion that extends past the conductive pad in the first direction.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a semiconductor memory device.
Due to their small-size, diverse functionality, and low-cost characteristics, semiconductor devices are increasingly viewed as important elements in the electronic industry. With the advancement of the electronic industry, there is an increasing demand for a semiconductor device with higher integration density. To increase the integration density of the semiconductor device, it is necessary to reduce linewidths of patterns constituting the semiconductor device. However, in order to reduce the linewidths of patterns, it is necessary to develop a novel and expensive lithography technology, and thus, it becomes more and more difficult to increase an integration density of a semiconductor memory device. Recently, a variety of new technologies are being studied to increase an integration density of a semiconductor memory device. For example, a structure, in which word lines are buried in a semiconductor substrate, is being studied for a next-generation dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.


A vacuum belt feeder comprising a means of conveyance having a pitch, for retrieving items from a supply zone, and then distributing them at target locations in a discharge zone.

A number of manufacturing processes need, at some point thereof, transferring items from a supply zone to a discharge zone.
In the food industry, vacuum belt feeders are used from ovens to containers for retrieving baked goods still in baking moulds and conveying them, while at some point along the way dropping the baked goods from the moulds. A means of suction actuated by vacuum is used on the vacuum belt feeders, which allows the moulds to adhere to the conveyor and then dropping them for example.
However, in cases where the transferred items must be sorted out in relation to classification criteria, it is not sufficient that the items be conveyed then dropped. They must also be dropped at target locations, which requires that the vacuum belt feeders be synchronized. For example, in a wood floor manufacturing line, boards processed by a tenoner are conveyed to a wood grader. It may be contemplated using mechanical setups or automated handling to feed the grader. However, such solutions usually involve complex installations, as well as expensive monitoring and maintenance.
There is therefore a need in the art for a synchronized vacuum belt feeder.


A semiconductor laser has a first conduction type clad layer, an active layer and a second conduction type clad layer formed on a first conduction type semiconductor substrate in this order. An inverted mesa-shaped ridge is formed on a part of the second conduction type clad layer and a first conduction type current stopping layer is formed on each side of the ridge. Each side of the inverted mesa-shaped ridge is curved into a concave surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ridge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor laser, and more particularly to a semiconductor laser having an inverted mesa-shaped ridge on its upper surface and to a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor laser.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been employed a semiconductor light emission device as a light source in information/image processing, communication, measurement, medicine and the like and there have been made various attempts to obtain a high power light beam of a single wavelength.
In a semiconductor laser having an oscillation wavelength of 0.6 to 1.1 .mu.m, improving its beam quality is useful in increasing function of information/image processing. As a method of improving beam quality of a semiconductor laser, it has been proposed to control the laser to oscillate in a single transverse mode. Conventionally, in order to realize oscillation in a single transverse mode, a ridge is formed by etching a multi-layered semiconductor structure including an active layer (light emission layer) short of the active layer by use of an insulating film or the like as a mask and then a current stopping layer is formed by regrowth so that current is poured only into a limited area.
The shape of the ridge is an important parameter which governs properties and production of devices. For example, when the ridge 8 is of a regular mesa shape (a trapezoid tapered outward) as shown in FIG. 8, the region of the semiconductor layer through which an electric current flows is narrower than the light emission region, which increases resistance of the device.
In order to avoid this problem, it is proposed to make the ridge 8 inverted mesa shaped as shown in FIG. 4, thereby reducing resistance of the device.
Though it is easy to form a ridge of an inverted mesa, a (111) crystal face is exposed on one side of the inverted mesa-shaped ridge when the ridge is formed by normal liquid etching. The (111) crystal face exposed on one side of the inverted mesa-shaped ridge makes it difficult to embed a semiconductor layer by regrowth. That is, it has been known that growth of crystal on a (111) face is very difficult and crystal hardly grows on the side of the ridge by a normal method of crystal growth, which makes it difficult to produce devices at high duplicability and high yield.

Semiconductor laser and method of manufacturing the same


A drive unit for driving an electrically-operated compressor mounted in an automotive vehicle is provided with a ventilation arrangement. The ventilation arrangement includes a casing having a vent hole defined therein. A filter having an air permeability and a water repellency is mounted on the casing so as to cover the vent hole. An elongated ventilation member is mounted on the casing so as to communicate with the vent hole and extends in a direction diverting from the direction in which the casing is splashed with water. The filter may be accommodated in the elongated ventilation member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a hermetically sealed waterproof casing for covering a drive unit which is supplied with electric power from a battery or a generator to drive an electrically-operated compressor mounted in an automotive vehicle and, more particularly, to a ventilation arrangement for such a casing.
2. Description of Related Art
An apparatus of a waterproof structure is generally provided with a hermetically sealed casing. However, in applications where the casing accommodates a heating element such as, for example, an electric component or the like, heat generated from the heating element causes expansion of air inside the casing, which in turn causes leakage of the air from between incompletely sealed portions of the casing. If operation of the heating element is consequently stopped, the air inside the casing contracts and, hence, air outside the casing is conversely sucked thereinto through the incompletely sealed portions. It is hardly possible to hermetically seal such incompletely sealed portions, because they include power lead wires made up of a core wire and a covering material. If water is drawn in together with the air, an electric circuit occasionally breaks down.
FIG. 11 depicts a casing 1 for covering a bath control unit installed in a wet bath room. This casing 1 has a vent hole 1a defined therein and a filter 2 mounted thereon so as to cover the vent hole 1a. To prevent water from entering the bath control unit, the filter 2 has a selective permeability to allow air to pass therethrough but repel water.
Accordingly, entry and exit of the air, which would be caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the air, are carried out through the filter 2 and not through the incompletely sealed portions, thus preventing entry of water.
A drive unit for driving an electrically-operated compressor for use in an automotive vehicle is required to be of a waterproof structure. It is therefore conceivable to form a vent hole in a casing of the drive unit and to cover the vent hole with an air-permeable and water-repellent filter as employed in the bath control unit.
However, unlike the inside of a house, automotive vehicles are exposed to a harsh environment, and attention must be paid to filter protection against water, salt, dust, oil, gases, mechanical stresses (impingement of an object against the filter) and the like.

Ventilation arrangement for a casing covering a compressor drive unit

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


There is provided a kit of parts configurable for assembly within a window assembly, that defines a window opening, and includes a frame and a sash, wherein the sash is slidably mounted relative to the frame for slidable movement relative to the frame from a first position to a second position, wherein the kit comprises a frame member of the above-described frame, a sash member of the above-described sash; wherein: the frame member defines a retainer; and the frame, the retainer, and the sash are co-operatively configured such that, while the sash is disposed relative to the frame in the first position, the retainer is interfering with movement of the sash member in an inwardly direction, and while the sash is disposed relative to the frame in the second position, there is an absence of interference to movement of the sash member in the inwardly direction. There is also provided a window construction obtainable from assembly of at least the parts of the kit of parts.

Existing window constructions are defined by assemblies that include sashes, made of relatively flexible material, that are susceptible to deflection in response to excessive force applied by the wind. Such deflection, in some cases, defeats sealing engagement of the assembled components, thereby permitting flow of air between opposite sides of the window.


A method of treating patients suffering from interstitial cystitis comprising the administration to such patients of an inhibitor of neurohormonal activation of mast cell secretion selected from the group of histamine-1 receptor antagonists consisting of azatadine, azelastine, cetirizine, hydroxyzine and ketotifen, by oral, parenteral, transmucosal, and transdermal routes of administration.

This invention relates to a method of treatment for interstitial cystitis. More particularly, this invention is directed to the administration of an inhibitor of neurohormonal activation of bladder mast cell secretion as a methods of treatment for interstitial cystitis.
Interstitial cystitis is a urologic condition of unknown etiology that predominantly (90%) affects young and middle-aged females although men and children can also be affected. It is characterized by irritative voiding symptoms, symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency, dysuria, nocturia, and suprapubic or pelvic pain related to and relieved by voiding. A great number of interstitial cystitis patients also experience headaches, gastrointestinal and skin problems which suggest that interstitial cystitis may represent the end organ (bladder) response of a systemic condition affected by many heterogeneous stimuli triggering a common denominator, the mast cell.
The ulcerative form of the disease is uncommon, accounts for ten percent (10%) of cases and is associated with a reduced bladder capacity and the presence of ulcers and scars. The more common form of the disease is the early or non-ulcerative variety associated with normal bladder capacity and an absence of ulcers. These two forms of the disease may have different etiologies and pathologic characteristics. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis are usually present for many years before diagnosis and they usually peak and stabilize within a few years of diagnosis. Progression of the disease often leads to social and emotional crippling. The pain and frequency may interfere with an individual's ability to work and to socialize, and the nocturia may lead to chronic loss of sleep.
The pathology and pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis have not been clearly elucidated. Theories proposed include infection, vascular obstruction, autoimmunity, inflammatory, neurogenic and endocrine causes. The role of the mast cell in the bladder wall and the bladder surface protective glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer are current areas of research interest. Recent evidence indicates that bladder mast cells may be activated without necessarily an increase in numbers. Histamine and other mediator release in the bladder wall of interstitial cystitis patients may be a pathogenetic mechanism for the causation of the disease. In spite of the description of increased numbers of mast cells in the bladder wall, there is no agreement regarding whether the mast cell is a consequence of interstitial cystitis or a pathogenetic factor in its causation. However, it appears that mast cells are uniformly activated and have secreted their mediators.
Past treatments for interstitial cystitis have included the administration of antihistamines, sodium pentosanpolysulfate, dimethylsulfoxide, steroids, tricyclic antidepressants and narcotic antagonists. However, these methods have not been successful (Sant, G. R. Interstitial cystitis: pathophysiology, clinical evaluation and treatment. Urology Annal 3:171-196, 1989).
The histamine-1 receptor antagonist, pyribenzamine, was first reported in 1958 (Simmons, J. L. and Bunce, F. L. On the use of an antihistamine in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. American Surgery 24:664-667, 1958) for use in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. The oral administration of 50 mg of pyribenzamine three times daily was said to produce some symptomatic improvement. However, the duration of the response was variable and this work was never duplicated later.
Oral sodium pentosan polysulfate (Elmiron) has been used in the clinical treatment of interstitial cystitis (Mulholland, S. G. Hanno, P., Parsons, C. L., Sant, S. R, Staskin, D. R. Pentosan polysulfate sodium for therapy of interstitial cystitis. Urology 35:552-558, 1990). This compound is a synthetic analogue of a sulfonated glycosaminoglycan, which is the natural compound found in the surface mucin of the bladder mucosa. In interstitial cystitis this protective mucin layer appears to be lost. Oral or intravesical administration of this preparation has been said to replace the protective surface mucin. A disadvantage of this type of treatment is that the drug must be taken numerous times per day because of its short duration. Another disadvantage is that the dosage administered must be high because only a small amount of the drug will reach the site of treatment, since it is primarily liver-metabolized.
Intravesical injections of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) have also been used to treat interstitial cystitis (Sant, G. R. Intravesical 50% dimethyl sulfoxide (RIM50-50) in treatment of interstitial cystitis. Supplements to Urology 29:17-21, 1987). This method of treatment involves extreme discomfort and inconvenience because it requires the anesthetization and catheterization of the urethra. Most patients experience a garlic-like breath odor and a similar taste in their mouths due to pulmonary excretion of a small percentage of the DMSO as dimethyl sulfide. Bladder spasms and irritability may be experienced with DMSO treatment, as well as urethral burning during voiding which necessitates treatment with oral anticholinergics.
Steroids have been used both intravesically and systemically because their anti-inflammatory action reduces bladder wall inflammation. The improvements obtained with steroid treatment are short-lived, many patients relapse and side effects, such as fluid retention and osteoporosis are common. The unpredictable response and the risk of side effects from prolonged therapy limit the use of steroids.
Tricyclic antidepressants have recently been used to treat patients with interstitial cystitis with about 30% responding. However, patients treated with amitriptyline, the only tricyclic on which data are available, have experienced troublesome side effects such as hypotension, tachycardia, anxiety, or palpitations (Hanno, P. M., Buehler, J., Wein, A. J. Use of amitriptyline in the treatment of interstitial cystitis. Journal of Urology 141:846-848, 1989).
Also utilized in the past have been the subcutaneous and intravesical injection of heparin, intravesical injection of silver nitrate and bladder distension. The inconvenience and the potential side effects of these methods do not make them acceptable therapeutic approaches. Therefore, the need exists for a method of treatment of interstitial cystitis that is safe and effective, which need is met by the method of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,518 (May 19, 1981) discloses that compounds related to 1,3-bis (2-carboxy chromon-5-yloxy)-2-hydroxypropane may be used for the treatment of cystitis in general. However, such compounds do not inhibit secretion from mucosal mast cells (Pearce, F. L., Befus, A. D., Gauldie, J., Bienenstock, J. Effects of antiallergic compounds on histamine secretion by isolated intestinal mast cells. Journal of Immunology 126:2481-2486) which are an important component of the pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis. Moreover, such compounds do not block neurohormonal activation of mast cell secretion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,791 (Oct. 21, 1989) discloses the daily administration to patients suffering from interstitial cystitis of the narcotic antagonists, nalmefene or naltrexone. The disadvantages of utilizing narcotic antagonists in the treatment of interstitial cystitis are: a) that they may block mast cell activation by only one trigger (endorphins) not operating in this disease, b) will cause dysthymia, which is characterized by lack of pleasure appreciation and sensation, c) blockade of endogenous opioids (endorphins) which help alleviate the pain and d) inability to use opioids (eg. morphine or demerol) for additional treatment of pain associated with IC. In other words, long-term therapy may lead to more pain.

Method of treatment for interstitial cystitis


A method and system for managing queries in business intelligence platforms. It is determined that at least one requirement to complete a first query exceeds a threshold and in response, a redacted report failing to exceed the threshold is generated. The first query requests data from at least one business intelligence content from a first geographical region. In response to detecting a rejection, by a user, of the redacted report after the user had been prompted, to accept or reject the redacted report: (i) the first query is converted to a second query configured to be used by an Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) program from a second geographical region; and (ii) a report responsive to the first query is generated.

The Information Age represents an economy based on information computerization. The ever-increasing data constantly pressure organizations to organize, understand, and react quickly. Equipped with a capable and efficient business intelligence ("BI") solution, enterprises of all sizes to cost can effectively manage and analyze the massive volume, variety, and velocity of data that consumers and businesses create every day. As activities in our world become more integrated, however, the rate of data growth is increasing exponentially. This data explosion is rendering commonly accepted practices of data management to be inadequate. As a result, this growth has given birth to a new wave of business challenges around data management and analytics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Managing queries in business intelligence platforms


A dielectric ceramic composition may include a base powder represented by (1−a)[(1−x)BaTiO3−xBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3]+a[(1−y)BaTiO3−yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3](wherein x, y, and a satisfy 0≦x≦0.05, 0.05≦y≦0.5, a≧0, and 0.01−x≦a≦1−y) and formed by mixing a first powder represented by [(1−x)BaTiO3−xBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3] with a second powder represented by [(1−y)BaTiO3−yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3]. Each of the first powder and the second powder contains a first main component represented by BaTiO3 and a second main component represented by Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3, but at different ratios.

The present disclosure relates to a novel dielectric ceramic composition having guaranteed X8R temperature characteristics and reliability, and a multilayer ceramic capacitor containing the same.
Generally, electronic components using ceramic materials, such as capacitors, inductors, piezoelectric elements, varistors, thermistors, and the like, include a ceramic body formed of a ceramic material, internal electrodes formed in the ceramic body, and external electrodes formed on surfaces of the ceramic body to be connected to the internal electrodes.
Among ceramic electronic components, a multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, internal electrodes disposed to face each other with the dielectric layers interposed therebetween, and external electrodes electrically connected to the internal electrodes.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors have been widely used as components for mobile communications devices such as computers, personal digital assistances (PDAs), mobile phones, and the like, due to advantages thereof such as a small size, high capacitance, easiness of mounting, and the like.
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may be generally manufactured by forming dielectric layers and internal electrodes using a paste for an internal electrode and a paste for a dielectric layer by a sheet forming method, a printing method, and the like, stacking the dielectric layers and then performing a co-sintering process.
Dielectric materials used in existing high capacitance multilayer ceramic capacitors, and the like, are ferroelectric materials based on barium titanate (BaTiO3) and have high dielectric constants at room temperature, a relatively small dissipation factor, and excellent insulation resistance.
However, the dielectric materials based on barium titanate (BaTiO3) have limitations in satisfying X8R characteristics, capacitance temperature characteristics ranging up to a temperature of 150° C., and ensuring reliability.
Therefore, a material satisfying X8R characteristics, capacitance temperature characteristics ranging up to a temperature of 150° C. and ensuring reliability is required.

Dielectric ceramic composition and multilayer ceramic capacitor containing the same


A slave switch having a number of connections for traffic with switch-external users, and a number of extensions intended for connection with switch-internal users, is disclosed. The slave switch is characterized in that it is constructed to initiate originating calls only, and in that the switch includes by-pass signalling means. A method of communication between the slave switch and a master switch is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a telephone switch from which only originating calls are made. The switch can be considered as being a slave switch to a superordinate or master switch which functions as an intermediary for incoming traffic to users in the slave switch. The directory numbers of the users of the slave switch belong to the number series of the master switch, and consequently an incoming call is directed to the master switch. Instead of connecting the incoming call to the slave switch, the master switch performs a by-pass signalling procedure to the slave switch, which in response to the by-path signals makes an outgoing call which "meets" the incoming call in the master switch. By by-pass signalling is meant signalling over a signalling path which is separate from the connection path. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the slave switch is mobile and permits traffic between a local network and a host network. The local network may be a fixed line network or a business-cordless network, and the host network may be the fixed telephone network or the mobile telephone network.

System in which call connections are established between a master switch and a slave switch via bypass signaling


An electronic device includes: a housing having a concave portion in the first surface of the housing; a lid made of a semiconductor material containing an impurity material; a first metal film formed in a metal film formation region on the first surface of the housing, wherein the metal film formation region is defined as a region surrounding the concave portion on the first surface of the housing; a second metal film formed on the first surface of the lid to overlap with the metal film formation region in a top view of the electronic device; a third metal film formed on the second surface of the lid to overlap with the metal film formation region in the top view; and an electronic component disposed in the concave portion. The lid is bonded onto the housing via the first and second metal films to cover the electronic component.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device.
2. Related Art
In the related art, there is a semiconductor package which includes a base substrate in which a cavity having an opening portion on an upper surface is provided and an electronic component which is mounted into the cavity, wherein a lid is welded to an upper surface of the base substrate so as to seal the cavity. In the semiconductor package, each of convex portions having the same height is formed in a rectangular frame shape and formed on the upper surface of the lid to face the peripheral wall portions of the cavities formed in the base substrate (see e.g., JP-A-2012-039022).
However, since the lid which is welded to the base substrate of the related-art semiconductor package is formed of a metal such as Kovar, current or heat is diffused at the time of welding, and power required for the welding is increased.
In the related art, since the power required for the welding is increased, there is a problem that a hollow housing in which the lid is welded to the base substrate cannot be effectively manufactured.


Provided is a system for predicting a driver's intention to change lanes at a high accuracy involving a minimum amount of time delay. A driver's intention to change lanes is predicted by a prediction unit (9) by comparing motivators and inhibitors (7, 8) which may be determined from the speed of the traffic in particular the vehicle traveling ahead of the vehicle and the traffic in the adjacent lanes in relation to the traveling speed of the ego vehicle by using an ego vehicle sensor (1) and an environmental sensor (3, 4, 5) that may comprise a radio wave, optical or acoustic radar. The criteria for the motivators and inhibitors may be empirically or statistically determined, preferably by conducting a large number of tests on roads. As they can be determined before the vehicle operator starts a lane changing maneuver, the prediction made by the prediction unit may be used on a real time basis in a warning system or steering/acceleration assist system.

Continuous maneuver based advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as a lane change assistance system (LCAS), assist the driver, for example, before and during lane changes. These systems have the risk to act as a nagging guardian for the driver as soon as there is a mismatch between the system support and the driver's intention, and this may unduly annoy the driver. For instance, the driver intends to follow the vehicle ahead on a motorway but LCAS may continuously recommend a lane change maneuver to the left adjacent lane by e.g. haptic, visual, acoustic or active longitudinal/lateral interventions, in order to overtake the vehicle in front. To solve this mismatch between the system and driver behavior the detection of the driver's intention is essential (e.g. left lane change, follow vehicle). This drastically reduces the paternalism of the driver and thus increases the driver's acceptance and the effectiveness of such a system.
Furthermore, to realize a LCAS that analyzes different lane change alternatives (as depicted in FIG. 1), and recommends the best gap (considering safety and comfort aspects) which is in line with the driver's lane change intention, an early driver intention recognition is indispensable.
DE 10 2006 043 149 A1 discloses an integrated transverse and longitudinal guidance assistant for motor vehicles, which has a trajectory calculating unit to calculate a lane change trajectory with a given distance of a vehicle traveling in front. The time to line crossing (TLC) is calculated so that the driver's intention to change lanes may be determined by detecting the driver steering toward the left or right line marker and the TLC being smaller than a certain threshold. However, as the driver's intention to change lanes is detected only after the lane changing maneuver is initiated, the detection of the driver's intention may be too late for most of the ADAS applications. Furthermore, it is necessary that the lane marker must be detected continually.
DE 10 2005 022 663 A1 discloses a vehicle driver assistance method that alerts the vehicle operator by using a voice output when the current lane ends and the vehicle is required to filter into the traffic of the adjacent lane. The lane filtering situation is detected if the lane on which the vehicle is traveling ends. The detection signal controls an acoustic indication such as a voice output and/or visual indicator. This patent document also discloses an apparatus for assisting the vehicle operator in filtering into the traffic of the adjacent lane. The disclosure is however limited to this scenario, and is not transferable to other scenarios.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,363,140 discloses a lane changing assistant for motor vehicles that assists the vehicle operator in finding an available window in the adjacent lane and computing an acceleration strategy adjusted to the window. The lane changing decision is left to the vehicle operator, and the system computes the acceleration strategy when the decision is an acceptable one.
US 2008/0201050 A1 is directed to a system for detecting gaps in an adjacent lane on a multi-lane road. The system provides a human machine interface (HMI) to assist a vehicle operator change lanes. The detection of the vehicle operator's intension is based on a set of driver reactions, such as activation of a turn indicator, and the acceleration and deceleration of the ego vehicle and the distance to the vehicle ahead. As the vehicle operator's intension is detected from the turn indicator and motion of the ego vehicle, the detection of the vehicle operator's intension is necessarily delayed.
The prior art thus fails to provide a system for predicting an intention of a vehicle driver to change lanes which is capable of an adequately early detection to be implemented as an effective part of a ADAS because the prediction is based on the detection of the initiation of a lane changing or overtaking maneuver. If the prediction is based on the detection of available gaps or windows in the adjacent lane, the prediction may be made earlier, but the availability of gaps may not necessarily means that the vehicle driver wishes to change lanes.
The prior art, even if it is configured to detect a driver's intention to change lanes, focuses only on one factor as a criterion that determines the intention of the driver to change lanes. In view of this limitation of the prior art, the inventors have realized that a vehicle driver snakes a lane changing or overtaking decision based on a number of factors (motivators and inhibitors), such as:
Slow vehicle driving ahead
Decelerating vehicles driving ahead
Faster vehicle approaching from behind
End of lane
Obligation to drive on left or right lane (depending on left- or right-hand-traffic)
Narrow lane (e.g. during road works)
Lane changes due to selected route (e.g. provided by navigation system).
Thus, there is a need to solve the problems described above, and provide an early and reliable driver intention recognition or prediction which accounts for a plurality of reasons for lane change/overtaking maneuvers and decisions.

System for predicting a driver's intention to change lanes