A “piano”-style MEMs device includes an elongated platform pivotally mounted proximate the middle thereof by a torsional hinge. The middle portion of the platform and the torsional hinge have a combined width less than the width of the rest of the platform, whereby several of these “piano” MEMs devices can be positioned adjacent each other pivotally mounted about the same axis with only a relatively small air gap therebetween. In a preferred embodiment the range of angular motion of a MEMs device's platform is increased by reducing the field strength, i.e. the force per unit area, that is sensed at the outer free ends of the platform. Ideally two-step electrodes are provided with a lower step positioned beneath the outer free end of the platform.

Conventional MEMs mirrors used in optical switches, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,319 issued Mar. 18, 2003 to Buzzetta et al, for redirecting beams of light to one of a plurality of output ports, include an electro-statically controlled mirror pivotable about a single axis. Tilting MEMs mirrors, such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,404 issued Dec. 10, 2002 in the name of Edward Hill, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0052569, published Mar. 20, 2003 in the name of Dhuler et al, which are incorporated herein by reference, comprise a mirror pivotable about a central longitudinal axis. The MEMs mirror device 1, disclosed in the aforementioned Hill patent, is illustrated in FIG. 1, and includes a rectangular planar surface 2 pivotally mounted by torsional hinges 4 and 5 to anchor posts 7 and 8, respectively, above a substrate 9. The torsional hinges may take the form of serpentine hinges, which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,855 issued Dec. 11, 2001 in the name of Hill et al, and in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0126455 published Sep. 12, 2002 in the name of Robert Wood, which are incorporated herein by reference. In order to position conventional MEMs mirror devices in close proximity, i.e. with a high fill factor (fill factor=width/pitch), they must be positioned with their axes of rotation parallel to each other. Unfortunately, this mirror construction restraint greatly restricts other design choices that have to be made in building the overall switch.
When using a conventional MEMs arrangement, the mirror 1 positioned on the planar surface 2 can be rotated through positive and negative angles, e.g. ±2°, by attracting one side 10a or the other side 10b of the planar surface 2 towards the substrate 6. Unfortunately, when the device is switched between ports at the extremes of the devices rotational path, the intermediate ports receive light for fractions of a millisecond as the mirror 1 sweeps the optical beam past these ports, thereby causing undesirable optical transient or dynamic cross-talk.
One solution to the problem of dynamic cross-talk is to initially or simultaneously rotate the mirror about a second axis, thereby avoiding the intermediate ports. An example of a MEMs mirror device pivotable about two axes is illustrated in FIG. 2, and includes a mirror platform 11 pivotally mounted by a first pair of torsion springs 12 and 13 to an external gimbal ring 14, which is in turn pivotally mounted to a substrate 16 by a second pair of torsion springs 17 and 18. Examples of external gimbal devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,652 issued Mar. 4, 2003 to Brenner, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,421 issued Sep. 24, 2002 to Yu et al. Unfortunately, an external gimbal ring greatly limits the number of mirrors that can be arranged in a given area and the relative proximity thereof, i.e. the fill factor. Moreover, the external gimbal ring may cause unwanted reflections from light reflecting off the support frame 13, 14.
Another proposed solution to the problem uses high fill factor mirrors, such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,947 issued Mar. 18, 2003 to Nasiri et al, which include hinges hidden beneath the mirror platform. Unfortunately, these types of mirror devices require costly multi-step fabrication processes, which increase costs and result in low yields.
The solution to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art proposed by the inventors of the parent application listed above is to provide a high fill factor MEMs mirror device that can pivot about the same axis as an adjacent mirror. In a preferred embodiment the MEMs mirror device is relatively easy to fabricate, with an internal gimbal ring and applicable in high fill factor applications.
Typically MEMs devices are independently actuated by an electrode mounted on the substrate below the tilting platform for inducing a voltage-controlled rotation via an electrostatic torque. In open loop configuration, the angular position of the platforms depend non-linearly on the voltage applied by the electrodes, i.e. as the applied voltage is increased linearly, the incremental change in angular platform position is greater as the voltage increases. Accordingly, there is a maximum voltage, i.e. an angular platform position, at which the platform angular position becomes unstable and will uncontrollably tilt until hitting part of the lower structure. This maximum voltage sets the range of angular motion that the platform can travel. The instability in the platform's angular position is a result of the distance between the platform and the electrode (the hot electrode) decreasing more rapidly at the outer free ends of the platform than at the inner sections, nearer the pivot axis θy. As a result, the force per unit length along the platform increases more rapidly at the outer free ends of the platform than the inner sections.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by increasing the range of angular motion of a MEMs device's platform by reducing the field strength, i.e. the force per unit area, that is sensed at the outer free ends of the platform.

Two-step electrode for MEMs micromirrors


A gas separating asymmetric membrane such as a gas separating asymmetric hollow fiber comprises an aromatic polyimide comprising recurring units of the formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein A.sup.1 is a tetravalent unit having a diphenylhexafluoropropane structure, A.sup.2 is a tetravalent unit having a benzene structure, and A.sup.3 is a divalent aromatic unit which is a unit derived from a sulfur atom-containing diamine such as diaminodibenzothiophene, diaminodiphenylenesulfone, diaminothioxanthene-5,5-dioxide or diaminothioxanthone-5,5-dioxide. The aromatic polyimide contains the recurring unit of the formula (I) in an amount of 40 to 90 molar % and the recurring unit of the formula (II) in an amount of 10 to 40 molar %. Further, a process for the preparation of the gas separating asymmetric hollow fiber membrane is also disclosed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a gas separating asymmetric membrane comprising an aromatic polyimide. Particularly, the invention relates to a gas separating asymmetric membrane (including a gas separating asymmetric hollow fiber membrane) exhibiting an excellent gas transmission property (e.g., gas transmission rate) and an improved mechanical property. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such excellent gas separating asymmetric membrane.
2. Description of Prior Art
It has been previously known the process to prepare an asymmetric gas separating membrane (including an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane) having a homogeneous surface layer on one side and a porous layer on another side by a wet membrane-forming method. In the method, a coagulation liquid and a dope solution of an aromatic polyimide made from the aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component comprising mainly biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine component comprising mainly an aromatic diamine having --SO.sub.2-- group in its molecular structure are used. For example, the process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,873.
A gas separating asymmetric membrane of the biphenyltetracarboxylic acid-type aromatic polyimide not only has good heat and chemical resistance but also shows excellent gas selectivity, particularly, for collecting carbon dioxide gas from a gaseous mixture. However, the membrane does not always exhibit satisfactory gas transmission rates when it is used for separating various gaseous mixtures in practical uses. Therefore, it is desired to develop a gas separating asymmetric membrane exhibiting improved gas transmission rate.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,309, No. 3,899,309, No. 4,705,540 and No. 4,717,394, a polyimide gas separating membrane of aromatic polyimide in the form of a homogeneous body which is prepared from an aromatic diamine having one or two benzene rings and an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component such as pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride or 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropanic dianhydride (hereinafter referred to as "6-FDA") is disclosed.
As for 6-FDA, it is apt to give a polyimide of an unfavorably low molecular weight when it is caused to react with an aromatic diamine having one benzene ring such as 1,3-diamino-4,6-dimethylbenzene. Otherwise, 6-FDA cannot give a polyimide gas separating membrane having both high gas permeation ratio and high gas selectivity, when it is caused to react with an 4,4'-diaminodiphenylether or 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane.
In "Polymer Preprints", Peggy Cebe et al, Vol. 29, No. 1, 130 (1988), it is described that polyimide molding (e.g., film) using 6-FDA as an acid component is inferior to others in mechanical property from measurement of mechanical characteristics of various aromatic polyimide films. In practice uses, a gas separating asymmetric hollow fiber membrane consisting of 6-FDA-type polyimide is apt to be destroyed or ruptured, when it receives a relatively strong pressure in a procedure for its preparation process or its converging procedure for module of fiber. Therefore, it is desired to develop a gas separating membrane having both an excellent gas transmission property such as high gas transmission rate and selective permeability (selectivity) and an improved mechanical property.
Hence, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,992 discloses a polyimide gas separating asymmetric membrane of aromatic polyimide which is prepared from 6-FDA and 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyldiphenylenesulfone. According to the study by the present inventors, however, the membrane does not also sufficiently satisfy properties of both the gas transmission property and the improved mechanical property, particularly does not exhibit excellent mechanical property.
Further, the specification of the application Ser. No. 835,605, filed Feb. 13, 1992 now abandoned, describes a polyimide gas separating asymmetric membrane of aromatic polyimide which is prepared from 6-FDA and a sulfur atom-containing diamine such as diaminodibenzothiophene, diaminodiphenylenesulfone or diaminothioxanthene-5,5-dioxide and an aromatic diamine having at least two benzene rings. The above application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 669,523, filed Mar. 14 1991, now abandoned.


An X-ray fluorescence analyzer includes a sample stage having an opening at an X-ray irradiation position, an X-ray source which irradiates a sample placed on the opening with a primary X-ray from below, a detector which detects an X-ray fluorescence generated from the sample, a transparent drop prevention plate supported to be advanced and retracted immediately below the opening, a drive mechanism which advances and retracts the drop prevention plate, an observation camera which observes the drop prevention plate positioned immediately below the opening, and an operation unit which processes an image of the drop prevention plate which is captured by the observation camera. The operation unit detects a foreign matter on the drop prevention plate based on an image difference between images before and after the drive mechanism moves or vibrates the drop prevention plate within an observation range of the observation camera.

An X-ray fluorescent analysis is used for a qualitative analysis and a quantitative analysis of a sample by irradiating the sample with an X-ray emitted from an X-ray source, detecting an X-ray fluorescence which is a characteristic X-ray emitted from the sample by an X-ray detector, and then obtaining spectrums from the generated energy. The fluorescent X-ray analysis can be rapidly performed without destroying the sample, and thus widely used in a process and quality control or the like. In recent years, since a trace measurement can be performed with high-precision and high-sensitivity, the fluorescent X-ray analysis is expected to be used particularly as an analyzing method of detecting hazardous substances included in materials or composite electronic components.
A bottom-surface type apparatus which irradiates the sample with a primary X-ray from below is known as the X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Since a detector or the like is positioned below the sample, the bottom-surface type apparatus includes a transparent drop prevention plate disposed to a sample stage to prevent, for example, dropping a part of the sample when placing the sample. For example, JP-A-2011-203102 discloses an apparatus in which, while using a sample holder attached with a resin film such as a PET film called a Mylar film, a sample is put on the resin film, and the sample holder is placed to cover an opening of a base plate, and then, the sample is irradiated with an excited X-ray through the opening and the resin film.


An analog-to-digital conversion module, QADC (1), and method minimize software involvement by providing a pause capacility. Each queue in the QADC (1) has one or more Conversion Command Words, CCWs (82), in a Conversion Command Word Table (62). Each conversion command word, CCW (82), has a Pause bit which can be used to create multiple sub-queues of A/D conversions without requiring the use of interrupts. The Pause bit can be used to place a queue in a pause state. When a queue enters a pause state, the scanning of CCWs (82) is stopped. The queue must then receive a trigger in order for the scanning of CCWs (82) to continue again.

The present invention has utility in applications requiring the conversion of an analog signal into a digital signal, for example, for computer sensing of analog information in an automotive control system. To further illustrate, in an automotive engine control system, a microcomputer requires analog signal information from various sensing devices which must be converted into digital signal information before it can be processed by the microcomputer. Examples of such analog signal information are the outputs of sensors for manifold pressure, oxygen, rotational speed, operator input, battery voltage, etc.
In a typical automotive application, many different analog signals need to be converted. Some analog signals need to be measured frequently, such as rotational speed, and other analog signals must only be measured occasionally. Still other analog signals need to be measured only when a defect or error condition has been detected within the automotive system. In addition, some analog signals which are part of the same automotive system, such as the anti-lock braking system, must be measured at points very close together in time.
Prior art microcomputers used a software program, executed by the central processing unit, in order to determine which analog signals were to be converted by an A/D (analog to digital) converter. The A/D conversions which were required to be measured at points close together in time were generally placed in the same software subroutine. It was usually necessary to place an upper limit on the maximum interrupt latency of the system. A maximum interrupt latency ensured that the conversions within the same subroutine all occurred within a known maximum period of time. However, as automative systems increased in complexity, the need for more conversions in a subroutine required an increase in the maximum interrupt latency; while the need to take measurements closer together in time required a decrease in the maximum interrupt latency.
Thus there is a significant need to provide an A/D converter system in which interrupt latency is not a limiting factor.

Automatic A/D converter operation with pause capability


A food warming apparatus includes a housing defining at least one warming cavity having a ceiling. A heater warms food products within the cavity. A grate is provided within the cavity spaced below the ceiling of the cavity. At least one food tray is provided for containing food products and is supportable on the grate beneath the ceiling of the cavity. A seal is operatively associated between the top of the tray and the ceiling of the cavity. The grate includes a biasing portion for biasing the tray upwardly toward the ceiling to assure operability of the seal.

Various types of ovens or food warming apparatus are used in a wide variety of applications, particularly in the food preparation and distribution fields. Such apparatus may range from a completely closed oven to an open-front oven to a pass thru oven which is open at both its front and rear ends. For instance, in high volume restaurants or similar establishments, various menu items are precooked, and the precooked items are held in warming ovens to maintain the temperature of the items for serving to a customer shortly thereafter. An example is a common sandwich. The sandwich may include a meat component and bread component, with the meat component being precooked and the bread component being pre-toasted, for instance. These precooked components are temporarily held in separate trays which are placed in ovens within which the temperatures of the components are maintained until the components are assembled and prepared as the final menu item for serving to the customer. The ovens sometimes are called staging cabinets or holding cabinets. They do not heat the precooked food components up to a given temperature, but they maintain or hold the prescribed precooked temperature of the components.
One of the problems in using food warming apparatus of the character described above is that the food components have a tendency to lose their prescribed moisture content while being temporarily held in food trays in the warming apparatus. Various sealing systems have been used to seal the food trays to contain the moisture of the food products therewithin. For instance, a food tray may simply be provided with a sealing cover. However, the cover often loses its seal, and the cover creates an extraneous component which must "travel" with the food tray and cause space problems as well as efficiency problems. Seals have been provided within the ovens themselves, but the seals often lose their effectiveness during use because no compensation is made for wear of the sealed components over their normal life. They also are not cost-effective and do not assure proper positioning of the food trays.
The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing various improvements in food warming apparatus for sealing food trays and maintaining temperature and moisture control over food products held within the trays without undue labor costs.


Mold tooling for molding plastic parts having cavities therethrough includes mold halves together with core pins to define passageways through the molded part. The core pins are locked together to rigidify these connections, and one of the core pins includes a rib to contact an adjacent pair of ribs to rigidify a column of ribs.

It is common in the field of molding, and in particular, in the field of molding plastic parts, to provide injection molds, where the part to be molded is defined by a cavity, profiled in the corresponding molds. Obviously, the injection molten plastic fills the cavity void, and defines the injection molded part by the cavity void. When passageways are to be defined in the molded part, so-called core pins are positioned on corresponding mold halves, such that the injected plastic fills the void, but leaves a passageway where the core pins existed, after the part is removed. One such system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,479, incorporated herein by reference.
So is the case when molding plastic housings for electrical connectors. Typically, mold tooling will include a plurality of cavities for "multi-shot" injection molding, of a plurality of electrical connectors. The electrical connector housings include a plurality of passageways extending between a mating face and a rear face, and are generally profiled to receive electrical contacts or terminals therein. A plurality of core pins exist to define the passageways, such as various geometries, shoulders for locking lances and the like.
In recent years, electrical connectors have become smaller; have overall reduced dimensions and center-line spacings, and at the same time, have become more complicated in design, requiring primary and secondary locking for the terminals, terminal position assurance devices (TPA), shunting, and the like. Resultantly, it is sometimes necessary then to increase the pressure of the injection molded plastic in order to fill the ever decreasing interstices of the mold cavity.
All of the above factors have increased the complexity of the molding process. As the core pins are cantilevered within the molding cavity, it is not uncommon to have core pins deflect due to the enormous pressure within the cavity. Deflected core pins result in passageways which may be off center relative to their specifications.
Thus, the objects of the invention are to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art mold tooling.


A system for automating identifications of forbidden network connections is configured to create a network connectivity matrix comprising allowability indications indicating whether establishing network connections between network zones are allowed or forbidden. The system determines whether there is any network connection between devices connected to a firewall device that violates a corresponding allowability indication in the network connectivity matrix. In response to determining at least one network connection between different devices that violates the corresponding allowability indication, the system determines that the at least one network connection is a forbidden network connection.

Forbidden network connections between particular devices may occur, for example, when a system administrator intentionally or inadvertently allows network traffic between the particular devices to flow. In such situations, the particular devices may become vulnerable to information security threats and unauthorized access from outsiders. It is challenging to identify forbidden network connections between devices. Current information security and data loss prevention technologies are not configured to provide a reliable solution to identify forbidden network connections between devices.

System and method for detecting forbidden network accesses based on zone connectivity mapping


An optical amplifier to reduce signal loss by reducing crosstalk, and method therefor. A demultiplexer isolates an optical signal into a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band. The first and second wavelength bands are separately amplified in first and second optical amplifiers, respectfully, first and second optical amplifies each including cutoff filters to cutoff the wavelength band not corresponding to the particular amplifier. Optical receiving elements monitor light input to the first and second optical amplifiers and receive crosstalk signals on an output side.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical amplifier that reduces signal loss by reducing crosstalk.
With the rapid development of multimedia networks, demand for information is increasing remarkably and therefore there is a need for further improvement in capacity and network flexibility. These needs may be addressed by improving the main optical transmission system for concentrating information capacity.
The wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system is currently the most effective system for meeting the above-described demand and it is now intended for commercial use mainly in North America. In the WDM transmission system, an optical fiber amplifier is an essential device.
The present invention is applied to a structure of an optical amplifier to amplify a plurality of multiplexed bands. More specifically, the present invention allows the band of an optical amplifier to be widened.
2. Description of the Related Art As a method of widening the bandwidth of a repeater utilizing an optical fiber amplifier, there is provided a structure in which a plurality of bands are respectively amplified with exclusive optical amplifiers. An optical multiplexer and an optical demultiplexer are respectively provided at the input and output ends for parallel amplification.
Referring to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a multiple-band-transmission system with a parallel amplifying structure, including a transmitting part 1-1 and a receiving part 1-2, a demultiplex coupler 100 demultiplexes the C-band (1.53 to 1.56 xcexcm) and the L-band (1.57 to 1.60 xcexcm). A multiplex coupler 200 multiplexes the C-band and L-band. An optical amplifier 700 amplifies the C-band and an optical amplifier 800 amplifies the L-band.
The optical amplifying repeater of FIG. 1 has a multiple bandwidth parallel amplifying structure such that crosstalk exists in the demultiplex coupler 100 and the multiplex coupler 200. Namely, in demultiplex coupler 100, the C-band output is in the range of 1.53 to 1.56 xcexcm. Ideally, this output is at the port on the C-band side of optical amplifier 700, but when isolation for rejecting the L-band is set to a higher value, the insertion loss of demultiplex coupler 100 tends to become large and therefore loss of the signal transmitted (main signal light) becomes large, resulting in deterioration of an SN (signal to noise) ratio of the communication system as a whole.
Conversely, when isolation of the demultiplex coupler 100 is set to a relatively low value in order to maintain lower loss for the main signal, a problem arises in that the light of the L-band (1.57 to 1.60 xcexcm) is output as the crosstalk light (leakage light), also at the port of the optical amplifier 700 side of the demultiplex coupler 100 which naturally has to output only 1.53 to 1.56 xcexcm of the C-band. Similarly, a certain amount of C-band leakage light is also incident to the port on the optical amplifier 800 side on the L-band side of demultiplex coupler 100.
If crosstalk light occurs, it will result in detection level error in an optical input monitor located within optical amplifier 700 on the C-band side and optical amplifier 800 on the L-band side. In particular, when the optical amplifiers 700,800 are controlled based on such a detection level (gain constant control or AGC control) and input off monitor (shut-down detection control) control error occurs because an L-band optical light leaks toward the C-band side and a C-band light leaks toward the L-band side.
For example, we will discuss the case of AGC control as applied to optical amplifier 700, noting that the AGC control is performed in a similar manner at optical amplifier 800. The optical power level of the exciting light source of optical amplifier 700 is controlled so that the gain becomes constant by detecting an input to output ratio. The input light monitor of optical amplifier 700 detects an input level in which a crosstalk light is added to the optical power of the wavelength band of the main element and the monitor of an output light of optical amplifier 700 can neglect the crosstalk light because optical amplifier 700 does not amplify the light outside the amplifying bandwidth.
Therefore, since the influence of the crosstalk light on the input monitor and output monitor is different, correct detection of gain, namely, AGC control, is not conducted for a light within the amplifying wavelength band of the optical amplifier 700.
Moreover, when a shut-down detection is to be performed to prevent surge at the time of recovery by monitoring the input light and stopping pumping of optical amplifier 700 or fixing pumping to a particular value if there is no optical input, it may occur that the shut-down condition of the light cannot be detected due to the influence of the crosstalk light despite the fact that the light in the band of the optical amplifier 700 is shut-down. Moreover, such crosstalk may also occur in multiplex coupler 200.
In the case when the output of optical amplifier 700 and the connectors of the transmission lines are disconnected, to assure operator safety, it is required that such a condition be automatically detected in order to stop or decrease the output of optical amplifiers 700,800.
In general, the output of optical amplifier 700 is stopped or decreased by obtaining an amount of reflection with detection of the levels of the reflected light and output of light at the output of each optical amplifier 700,800 in order to determine a difference in reflection amount when the connectors are connected or when they are disconnected.
When the connectors are disconnected, the light, which is subjected to Fresnel reflection (xe2x88x9214 dB) at the connector, and loss equal to two times the loss of the multiplex coupler 200, is returned to optical amplifiers 700,800. Assuming the maximum multiplex filter loss, the connector opening detection threshold value is set to a value less than the amount of reflection.
Meanwhile, when the connectors are connected, considering two times the loss of multiplex coupler 200 as the amount of reflection (determined by reflection attenuation of the connector and Rayleigh scattering in the transmission line), the maximum amount of reflection is assumed and the threshold value of the connector connecting condition is set higher than the maximum reflection amount.
When isolation of optical multiplex coupler 200 is set to a relatively low value, the light of the other bands return to optical amplifiers 700,800 as the crosstalk light (leakage light). Therefore, a problem arises in that the amount of reflection when the connectors are connected increases, a difference of setting values of threshold values when the connectors are opened and connected becomes relatively small, and it becomes difficult to set the threshold value and thereby normal operation is lost.
In the present invention, in order to overcome the crosstalk of the filter for dividing the band and for amplifying the light in the multiple wavelength bandwidths during optical communication, the optical monitor for each band of the optical amplifier is given the characteristic of rejecting the crosstalk light.
Thereby, rejection of the crosstalk light can be realized without increasing the loss of the main signal and accordingly the structure of the optical amplifier/repeater, which maintains the controllability of the optical amplifier without determining the signal characteristics, is realized.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows


The present invention provides an improved affinity membrane device and method for the effective removal of target molecules in plasma. The affinity membrane device is designed for use in an extracorporeal blood circuit and can be employed concurrently with other therapeutic processes for the purification of blood. The device of the present invention consists of hollow fiber membranes having specified dimensions and transfer properties, ligand immobilized to the pore surface of the hollow fibers, and a housing to encase the hollow fibers and allow appropriate entry and exit of the blood. In a preferred embodiment, specific immobilization chemistries are utilized to attach the ligands to the hollow fibers for optimal function.

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic processes designed for the purification of blood. More specifically, the present invention relates to affinity membrane systems designed to remove specific solutes from blood.
Affinity separations rely on the highly specific binding between a molecule in solution and an immobilized ligand to achieve a high degree of purification. Conventionally, separations are performed on affinity columns packed with porous beads in which the ligand is immobilized. Such ligand is located deep in the pores of the porous beads. The affinity separations proceed by pumping the protein solution through the packed bed containing the porous beads.
These column systems, which are currently used for absorptive plasma treatment, are based on devices and adsorbance which, in many cases, have been adapted for other types of separation processes, such as industrial separation. Naturally, the goals driving the development of an industrial separation process may be quite different from those associated with a therapeutic procedure. This difference can result in an adopted technology which, while efficacious, is far from optimal. See Kessler, "Adsorptive Plasma Treatment: Optimization of Extracorporeal Devices and Systems," Blood Purification, Vol. 11, pp. 150-57 (1993) (hereinafter Kessler, "Adsorptive Plasma Treatment").
A variety of goals have been postulated for the design and optimization of extracorporeal systems for plasma treatment. One of the primary goals is to minimize the amount of costly ligand, usually an antibody, utilized to capture the target molecule. By minimizing ligand quantity, the cost per treatment can be reduced substantially. Another goal is to minimize system volume, which in turn minimizes the impact of the procedure on the patient. Such volume minimization can reduce both acute reactions and chronic effects such as protein loss. See Kessler, "Adsorptive Plasma Treatment," p. 150 (1993). From a marketing perspective, other desirable characteristics of an affinity device are that it be easily scaled up and manufactured, and that it require little ancillary hardware for operation.
As noted above, current therapeutic devices which are utilized to remove targeted molecules consist of columns packed with porous beads. A number of disadvantages exist with these devices. For instance, the capture rate in these devices is limited by slow intraparticle diffusion, especially for large target solutes, and high pressure drops with higher flow rates. See Suen & Etzel, "A Mathematical Analysis of Affinity Membrane Bioseparations," Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 1355-1364 (1992) (hereinafter Suen & Etzel, "Mathematical Analysis"). Such diffusion-limited adsorption leads to inefficient use of expensive ligand since significant amounts of ligand may be inaccessible to target solute.
Aside from the problems associated with diffusion-limited adsorption, other disadvantages also exist. In order to limit the size and cost of separation devices, two columns are usually employed, using one column for adsorption while target solute is eluted from the other. The use of two columns not only increases the cost of the process but also increases the treatment time needed to conduct the separation and solute removal. Moreover, the slow flow rates used to avoid excess pressure drop across the bed in such columns result in increased loading times.
Still further, the bioincompatibility of the substrate material in such columns necessitates the separation of plasma from the other cellular components of the blood prior to introduction of the plasma into the packed bed column. The blood is initially separated into cellular components and plasma components by a process known as plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis may be performed by either filtration or centrifugation. Membrane plasmapheresis uses membranes with pore sizes greater than the size of plasma proteins but smaller than the cellular components of blood which allows the separation of the plasma. Centrifugation separates components on the basis of density in either a batch or continuous process. Next, the blood plasma is pumped through a packed column to remove targeted solutes, such as toxins. The treated plasma is then combined with the cellular components and returned to the patient. This multistep process is time consuming and utilizes large extracorporeal volumes. The process also requires a great deal of equipment and substantial handling of blood products, which leads to increased potential for infections.
In recent years, hollow fiber membranes have been proposed as an attractive alternative to porous beads as an affinity substrate. The large surface area present in the flow channels of the fiber wall eliminates the diffusional limitations imposed by adsorption associated with porous beads. Shifting the rate limiting step to the adsorption kinetics between target solute and membrane-bound ligand allows the use of greater flow rates and potentially more efficient use of ligand, as all ligand is accessible to bind target solute.
Attempts have been made to formulate affinity type systems to facilitate the removal of targeted solutes from bloods. For instance, Shettigar et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,850, relates to a hollow fiber system in which sorbent beads are placed in a specially designed U-shaped device. In the device, plasma solutes are preferably filtered through the porous hollow fiber membrane into a plasma chamber where unwanted components are removed by adsorptive binding techniques. Plasma and unbound solutes then reenter the hollow fiber and are returned to the patient.
Parham et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,149, relates to the removal of low density lipoprotein cholesterol complex from whole blood. The system set forth in Parham et al is directed to utilizing a microporous plasmapheresis membrane wherein an immobilized affinity agent is integral to the membrane. A blood pump is utilized to pump the whole blood into the affinity membrane. Another pump, namely a plasma pump, is then utilized to draw plasma through the channels of the microporous fibers and separate same from the cellular components of the blood.

Affinity membrane system and method of using same


A method for detecting a finger occlusion image includes: N first original occlusion images and M first non-occlusion images are acquired, and first training data set is generated based on first original occlusion images and first non-occlusion images; first training is performed, based on first training data set, on neural network model for detection of finger occlusion image; L second original occlusion images and K second non-occlusion images are acquired, and second training data set is generated based on second original occlusion images and second non-occlusion images; linear classifier in neural network model having completed first training is replaced with iterative training module to form finger occlusion image detection model; second training is performed on finger occlusion image detection model based on second training data set; image to be detected is input into trained finger occlusion image detection model, to determine whether image to be detected is finger occlusion image.

When a user takes a photo by a mobile phone in a lateral direction, the edge of the lens is easily occluded by fingers due to a photographing habit and the like, so that the edge of the photo has a small occlusion area. Since this type of occlusion is not easily noticed instantly, the user usually does not re-take the photo, thus he/she may regret for not having taken a perfect photo. The task of finger occlusion detection is to immediately determine whether an image is occluded or not after the image is taken, and to prompt, in real time, the user to take an image again after the occlusion image is detected.
Currently, finger occlusion detection may be performed by the following methods.
(1) A first method determines lens occlusion based on depth information. The method has the following characteristics: depth information of a background region needs to be known in advance; a depth sensor is provided to periodically acquire foreground information; conventional features such as histogram features, differential features and the like are used for determination. Therefore, the method first extracts the depth information using the depth sensor, establishes the foreground/background depth features, and then determines whether there is occlusion or not by establishing a foreground-background difference model. The method has the following disadvantages: low-end depth sensors may cause large depth data noise and introduces many uncertainties; high-end depth sensors may result in increased costs; in addition, due to some limitations in the effect, conventional features have been gradually in a position of assistance.
(2) A second method determines lens occlusion by using brightness information of a camera. The method uses the information of a brightness sensor to determine whether there is lens occlusion from the perspective of imaging brightness of the lens. This method has the following disadvantages: the recall rate is very low and an alarm is given only when the occlusion range is very large (the alarm is given only when the occlusion area is more than about ⅕ of the photo area); a false alarm may occur when the boundary compensation light is insufficient, for example, a frequent alarm may occur in a specific scene where there is a significant light-dark difference.

Method and apparatus for detecting finger occlusion image, and storage medium

Beijing Xiaomi Pinecone Electronics Co., Ltd.


Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device. The method comprises pointing using a pointing device at a link device in order to create a wireless data transmission connection between the pointing device and the link device, and transferring identification data between the pointing device and the link device along the created data transmission connection. Next, a first association between the identification data of the pointing device and the identification data of the link device is formed. After this, a second association between the identification data of the user of the pointing device and the identification data device to be controlled communicating with the link device is formed.

The control of electronic products has developed considerably in recent years. Previously electronic devices, such as televisions or audio equipment, were controlled using wireless remote controls, for instance. Current pointing technologies employ wireless mice or keyboards for controlling a computer. General-purpose remote controls also exist, in which control software can be loaded for controlling the device to be controlled. Studies have also been carried out concerning graspable user interfaces, in which the data of electronic devices is controlled using physical objects symbolizing the data. With the progress of technology a concept of "ubiquitous computing" has been created, which mainly refers to the fact that the data processing capacity previously found only in computers has been transferred to electronic devices by placing microprocessors thereto. What has become a problem is how to intelligently control these very different devices using for instance a single wireless control device.
However, the object of ubiquitous computing, and particularly of a sub-type thereof—context sensitive applications—is to create applications that serve the user, if not automatically, then at least semi-automatically. In order to be able to do this, the applications require context information, or information concerning the user context. When the control of electronic devices is concerned, the context information allows selecting the devices that the user is assumed to be willing to control. The context information can be derived or deduced from a set of different types of data. Such types may include the position of the user or another physical measurement unit associated with the environment. The types also comprise the operations that occur in data processing systems (such as home automation systems), which can thus not be measured. Creating the data needed to form the context information requires a measurement functionality in the user environment systems, and in order to process the measurement results the use of various computationally heavy methods may be required. For example, measurement and determination to be carried out for accurately locating the user is an extremely complex process, particularly in interior surroundings. No solutions are currently known for selecting the device to be controlled, in which context data formed of sensor data is not used.
In brief, the most significant problem is the complexity and costs of creating the data required for forming the context information and of interpreting said context information.

Method for controlling electronic device and electronic system


The invention introduces a non-transitory computer program product for adjusting operating frequencies when executed by a processing unit of a device, containing program code to: collect an interface-activity parameter comprising information about data transmissions on a host access interface and/or a flash access interface; select one from multiple frequencies according to the interface-activity parameter; and drive a clock generator to output a clock signal at the selected frequency, thereby enabling the host access interface and/or the flash access interface to operate at an operating frequency.

The disclosure generally relates to flash memory and, more particularly, to method and computer program product and apparatus for adjusting operating frequencies.
Flash memory devices typically include NOR flash devices and NAND flash devices. NOR flash devices are random access—a host accessing a NOR flash device can provide the device any address on its address pins and immediately retrieve data stored in that address on the device's data pins. NAND flash devices, on the other hand, are not random access but serial access. It is not possible for NOR to access any random address in the way described above. Instead, the host has to write into the device a sequence of bytes which identifies both the type of command requested (e.g. read, write, erase, etc.) and the address to be used for that command. The address identifies a page (the smallest chunk of flash memory that can be written in a single operation) or a block (the smallest chunk of flash memory that can be erased in a single operation), and not a single byte or word. Actually, NAND flash devices usually read or program several pages of data from or into memory cells. In reality, the NAND flash device always reads from the memory cells and writes to the memory cells complete pages. After a page of data is read from the array into a buffer inside the device, the host can access the data bytes or words one by one by serially clocking them out using a strobe signal.
Power-consumption saving is always an important topic. Conventionally, the host controls the flash device to operate in one of sleep modes to reduce battery power-consumption when no data access is performed. The flash device selectively activates or deactivates the whole or a portion of circuits therein according to the advised sleep mode to achieve the purpose. However, such control mechanism does not apply to an active mode in which data is transferred between the host and the flash device. Thus, it is desirable to have an apparatus, a method and a computer program product for adjusting operating frequencies in the active mode to yield better battery power-consumption.

Method and computer program product and apparatus for adjusting operating frequencies


A light emitting diode (“LED”) Device with Flexible Containment for Liquid Encapsulant is disclosed. The LED Device with Flexible Containment for Liquid Encapsulant includes an LED in a concave base housing, the LED having a p-doped semiconductor body and an n-doped semiconductor body. The device further includes a liquid containment chamber over the LED, configured to contain liquid encapsulant, and space permitting expansion and contraction of the liquid encapsulant in the chamber.

Light emitting diode ("LED") devices are useful for generating light output. LED devices may convert electricity into photonic emissions more efficiently than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. There accordingly are potentially great benefits, including energy conservation benefits, to LED utilization for lighting and other photonic applications. Further, as solid state devices, LEDs may have a larger average lifetime of utilization than and often are more resistant to physical damage than are conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
An LED may be positioned in a concave base housing and provided with anode and cathode bonding wires, placing the LED in communication with an electrical circuit for supplying a bias voltage to the LED. The LED may then be encapsulated in a material suitable to protect the LED from external contaminants and from being physically damaged or dislodged, and to form part of a lens system for focusing the light output of the LED. As an example, epoxy resin is often selected as the encapsulant, due to its useful material properties including hardness, resistance to chemicals, good adhesion to diverse materials, and good optical properties. The epoxy resin may be applied in the form of a liquid casting or molding composition. After the epoxy resin composition cures to form a solid polymer encapsulant, the LED device may be connected to an external circuit, and a bias voltage may be applied to the LED to generate light. The light generated by such an LED device may be intense, and substantial heat may also be generated. Extended exposure of the epoxy polymer resin encapsulant to light emitted by the LED, such as ultraviolet light, may cause molecular degradation of the epoxy polymer resin. Thermal cycling of the LED device as it is repeatedly activated to generate light and then allowed to cool may also cause heat degradation of the epoxy polymer resin encapsulant. Heat degradation may include further molecular degradation of the epoxy polymer resin, as well as mechanical degradation of the LED device itself due to repeated expansion and contraction of the encapsulant body having an embedded LED and bonding wires, since the encapsulant body may be juxtaposed with a concave base housing and other device elements that may have very different coefficients of thermal expansion.
In an effort to overcome the drawbacks of a permanent, solid epoxy polymer resin encapsulant, LED devices have been made using a liquid encapsulant housed in a suitable containment element. As an example, silicone liquids and silicone oils have been so used. However, these silicone encapsulants may have high coefficients of thermal expansion. Repeated heat cycling of the LED device accordingly may generate corresponding cycles of expansion and contraction of the liquid encapsulant. These cycles may in turn cause expansion and contraction of the containment element. The consequent stress applied to the other elements of the LED device, such as a concave base housing, may cause cracking and eventual failure of elements of the LED device, including the containment and base housing elements.
Therefore, as LED devices are implemented for diverse end use applications, there is a continuing need to provide LED device structures permitting the use of liquid encapsulants and having improved containment for such encapsulants.

LED devices having improved containment for liquid encapsulant

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


Methods for image-based detection of the tops of sample tubes used in an automated diagnostic analysis system may be based on a convolutional neural network to pre-process images of the sample tube tops to intensify the tube top circle edges while suppressing the edge response from other objects that may appear in the image. Edge maps generated by the methods may be used for various image-based sample tube analyses, categorizations, and/or characterizations of the sample tubes to control a robot in relationship to the sample tubes. Image processing and control apparatus configured to carry out the methods are also described, as are other aspects.

In vitro diagnostics allows laboratories to assist in the diagnosis of disease based on assays and/or chemical analysis performed on patient fluid samples. In vitro diagnostics includes various types of analytical tests and assays related to patient diagnosis and therapy that can be performed by analysis of a liquid sample taken from a patient's bodily fluids. These assays are typically conducted in automated analyzers of automated diagnostic analysis systems into which tubes or vials containing patient samples have been loaded. Because of the variety of assays and analyses that may be needed, and the volume of testing necessary to operate such laboratories, multiple automated analyzers are often included in an automated diagnostic analysis system.
Numerous patient samples may be transported from various doctors' offices to a laboratory having an automated diagnostic analysis system. The samples may be initially stored at one location, placed into one or more automated analyzers, and/or subsequently stored at another location prior to additional testing. Storage and transport between automated analyzers and storage locations may be done using trays. A tray is typically an array of several patient samples stored in test tubes, vials, or the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as "sample tubes"). These trays may be stackable and may facilitate easy carrying of multiple samples from one part of a laboratory to another. In some automated diagnostic analysis systems, an analyzer can accept a tray of patient samples and handle the samples accordingly, while some analyzers may require the samples to be removed from a tray by an operator and placed into carriers before further handling. In other embodiments, a robot including an end effector may remove the sample tubes from the tray and transport them to a carrier or to an automated analyzer.
To facilitate handling and processing of numerous sample tubes in an automated diagnostic analysis system, existing Image-based tube top detection methods and systems may be used to capture images of the tops of the sample tubes in order to categorize and/or characterize each sample tube (e.g., tube height, diameter, and center offset from a tube tray slot). However, some existing image-based detection methods and systems may erroneously detect and provide a stronger edge response to other objects that may appear in an image rather than a tube top. For example, the other objects may include, e.g., sample tube barcode tags, tube tray slot circles, and/or tube tray metal springs inside the tube tray slots. This may adversely affect sample tube handling and processing in an automated diagnostic analysis system. Accordingly, there is a need for improved image-based detection methods and systems of processing images of tops of sample tubes used in automated diagnostic analysis systems.

Methods and systems for learning-based image edge enhancement of sample tube top circles


Based on the three-dimensional structure of albumin, the inventors have designed variant polypeptides (muteins) which have one or more cysteine residues with a free thiol group (hereinafter referred to as “thio-albumin”). The variant polypeptide may be conjugated through the sulphur atom of the cysteine residue to a conjugation partner such as a bioactive compound.

Serum albumins provide valuable scaffolds to which bioactive molecules may be fused, either through genetic fusions or chemical fusions to improve the properties of the fused molecule(s) (Leger, R. et al. (2004). Bioorg Med Chem Lett 14(17): 4395-8; Thibaudeau, K., et al. (2005). Bioconjug Chem 16(4): 1000-8; Balan, V. et al. (2006). Antivir Ther 11(1): 35-45; EP 0 413 622; WO 90/13653; EP 1 681 304; WO 1997/024445; WO 01/79271). Albumins and albumin particles are also important for carrying and delivering drugs and prodrugs to their sites of action (Kratz (2008) Journal of Controlled Release, 132 (3), p. 171-183). Fusion and particle technologies offer improved dosing regimes due to improved pharmacokinetic properties, such as half-life extension, and may improve bioavailability and protect the fused bioactive molecule from inactivation.
The biochemistry, genetics and medical applications of albumins are well characterized ("All about Albumin", T. Peters Jr., Academic Press N. Y.). Human serum albumin (HSA, also referred to as HA) is the most abundant protein in human plasma at ˜60 g/L. The sequence of HSA is provided in SEQ ID NO: 1. Natural variants of HSA occur and a list of know polymorphisms is given in Minchiotti et al. (2008). Hum Mutat 29(8): 1007-16.
The production and purification of recombinant human albumins are well established (WO 95/23857; WO 00/44772; WO 2006/066595; EP 0 305 216; Sleep et al. 1990 Biotechnology (NY). 1990 January; 8(1):42-6)) and include recombinant human albumin for pharmaceutical applications (Bosse et al. (2005). J Clin Pharmacol 45(1): 57-67). The three-dimensional structure of HSA has been elucidated by X-ray crystallography (Carter et al. (1989). Science 244(4909): 1195-8; Sugio et al. (1999). Protein Eng 12(6): 439-46). The HSA polypeptide chain has 35 cysteine residues, which form 17 disulphide bonds and one unpaired (free) cysteine at position 34 of the mature protein (SEQ ID NO: 1). Cysteine-34 has been used to for conjugation of molecules to albumin (Leger et al. (2004) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 14(17): 4395-8; Thibaudeau et al. (2005). Bioconjug Chem 16(4): 1000-8), and provides a precise, well defined site for conjugation. However, conjugation at cysteine-34 provides only one site for attachment of a single moiety thus there is no choice of conjugation site. Also, the provision of a single conjugation sites means that only one moiety can be conjugated to each albumin molecule. What is required is an albumin molecule which provides one or more alternative attachment sites.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An ink set having (i) a black ink having a surface tension of not less than 40 dyne/cm, the black ink including a first dye; and (ii) at least one color ink having a surface tension of not more than 40 dyne/cm, the at least one color ink including a second dye which is rendered insoluble by the first dye when the black ink and the at least one color ink are mixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink set and a method of recording a color image on a recording material by using a combination of a plurality of inks for primary colors. In particular, the invention relates to a set of inks and an ink jet recording method which permit the formation of a sharp and high-quality image having a sufficient density.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink jet recording method employs one of various ink discharging means for generating ink droplets including electrostatic suction means for applying a high voltage to ink, means for applying mechanical vibrations or displacement to coloring ink by using a piezoelectric element, means for heating ink to form bubbles by applying pressure thereto, and so forth. Upon recording, the ink droplets generated are ejected to adhere to a recording material such as recording paper or the like and form ink dots. This recording method causes less noise and enables high-speed printing and multicolor printing.
The printed images recorded by this ink jet recording method are used for various applications, such as observation of a surface image recorded on a recording material such as paper, ink jet recording paper or the like, or observation of an image recorded on a light-transmitting recording material by projecting the image on a screen or the like using an optical apparatus such as a slide, OHP (Over Head Projector) or the like. The recorded images are also used for a color separation plate for forming a color printing positive plate; CMF (Color Mosaic Filter) used in a liquid crystal color display and the like.
On the other hand, a typical example of recording processes used for forming color images by such an ink jet recording method is a subtractive color mixture process.
When a color image is formed by the subtractive color mixture process, the three primary colors of cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) are generally used.
Colors which can be produced by mixing the primary colors in the same pixel, i.e., superposing ink droplets having different colors in the same pixel, include the following four colors:
(1) C+M=B (blue) PA0 (2) C+Y=G (green) PA0 (3) M+Y=R (red) PA0 (4) C+M+Y=Bk (black)
The colors which can be produced by the primary colors C, M and Y are basically seven colors including C, M, Y, R, G, B and Bk. A multicolor image having two or more of the seven colors is referred to as a "false color image".
Thus, when an image is recorded by this recording method, inks for the primary colors C, M and Y may be prepared.
However, when the color Bk is produced by the primary colors of C, M and Y, the color Bk is printed by superposing ink droplets of the primary colors C, M and Y. In this case, since the amounts of the ink droplets of the respective primary colors are substantially the same, the ink droplets of the three colors in a Bk portion are superposed and adhere to a recording material, and the dot formed is excessively enlarged, as compared with a dot formed by each of the colors other than Bk, which comprises only one or two of the three primary colors. This causes the problem of line thickening and thus forming an unnatural image, or the problem that the ink is not sufficiently absorbed by the recording material because large amounts of the inks are used. Since an image is frequently recorded with the color Bk, these problems are very important.
In order to overcome the problems, inks of the three primary colors C, M and Y are generally used, and a fourth ink of the color Bk is used for producing the color Bk.
When inks of the four colors C, M, Y and Bk are used for recording, however, since ink droplets of two different colors are superposed in a printed portion of each of the colors B, G and R, as described above, if a recording material is composed of wood free paper containing a sizing agent, a large duration of time is required for absorbing large amounts of ink droplets. Consequently, the ink droplets enter gaps between the fibers of the paper not only in the sectional direction of the recording material but also in all other directions thereof during the absorption over the large time duration. This causes the formation of nonuniform dots and line thickening, i.e., so-called feathering. There is thus the problem of recording an unclear image without edge sharpness.
In addition, even when ink droplets having two different colors are placed adjacent to each other, the unfixed portions of the ink droplets are mixed at the boundaries therebetween, thereby causing bleeding at the boundaries between different colors and thus resulting in an unclear image.
A possible method of solving the above problems is to increase the speed of penetration of ink droplets into the recording material. This method may decrease the surface tension of each color ink and thus realize an improvement in the wettability of the recording material by the ink.
However, when the surface tension of each ink is decreased, the dots formed on the recording material are excessively enlarged, thereby causing line thickening. Alternatively, an increase in the penetration causes the coloring materials to deeply penetrate into the recording material, and thus decreases the color density.
As described above, the color Bk is frequently used for characters. If a character of the color Bk could have a higher color density than that of a character of each of the other colors, and could further have a sharp edge without unnatural thickening, the character so formed would have a preferred appearance.

Ink set recording apparatus and method using ink set having a dye that becomes insoluble when mixed with another dye


A mini pump having a body includes a head, a handheld portion extending from the head and having a groove, a nozzle device having a cover element, a nozzle and an anti-sliding element. The anti-sliding element is disposed on the head and partially received in the groove. The cover element engages the anti-sliding element to the cylinder and prevents the nozzle from coming off the body. The handheld portion and the anti-sliding element are made of resins with different hardnesses. The material of the handheld portion of the body is tougher than that of the anti-sliding element of the nozzle device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nozzle device and a handheld portion for a mini pump. In particular, the nozzle device and the handheld portion are made of two kinds of materials with different hardnesses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The nozzle device for a conventional mini pump 1 is provided for inflating a bicycle tire. Referring to FIG. 10, when holding the mini pump, a user's hand might sweat. The anti-sliding portion of the nozzle device and the holding portion of the mini pump where the user holds are usually adapted to prevent the mini pump sliding on the user's hand. The conventional anti-sliding portion and the holding portion of the mini pump are usually made from bicolor resins with different hardnesses. Specifically, the anti-sliding portion that is gripped by the user's finger is preferred to be softer resin than the holding portion that is held by the user's palm so that it is comfortable for the user to operate the pump. In addition, the bicolor resin is formed by a bi-color injection molding machine. Moreover, the nozzle device of the mini pump has interior threads for engaging with the head of the mini pump, and the holding portion of the head of the mini pump also has interior threads for engaging with the tube of the mini pump. However, the bi-color injection molding machine is driven via a rotary drive. If the step of forming the threads on parts of the mini pump has to be proceeded with the step of simultaneous bi-color injection molding the resin parts of the mini pump extra power is added to the rotary drive of the bi-color injection molding machine for multiple functions. Hence, the manufacture process will become extremely complicated, and the cost will increase.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

Mini pump's nozzle device and handheld portion made of dual material with different hardnesses


The player is dealt two hole cards. Each opponent is dealt two hole cards. The player has the option to raise or check. If the player raises, all opponents must raise. If the player checks, all opponents must check. Then three community cards are dealt. If the player raises or checks, all opponents must raise or check likewise. Then the final two community cards are dealt. If the player raises or checks, all opponents must raise or check likewise. All of the opponents hole cards are exposed. Whoever has the highest five card poker hand by category wins the pot. If two or more of the opponents and the player have the same highest five card poker hand by category, the hand is a tie and the pot carries over to the next round of play.

Many forms of poker use multiple players. Quite often in these multiple player games, the object for the player is to have a higher ranking poker hand than all of the other players. In order to participate in the game, the players make wagers which are collected in a common pot. Usually, the first wager by each player is called the Ante wager. During the play of the poker game, various betting rounds occur at which each player may make additional wagers. Players may also fold at any point in the poker game upon which the player is withdrawing from further participation in that round of the game. Poker games that have more than one betting round can result in much larger common pots.
At the end of the round of the game, the player with the best poker hand wins the pot. These multiple player poker games can be played as either draw poker games or stud poker games.
Poker can be played using community cards. A community card is a card that is shared among all of the players in the game. Typically, community cards are displayed face up in the center of the table so that all players can see the community cards.
A very popular form of poker that uses one or more community cards is the Hold 'Em format. A player initially receives one or more Hole cards which are cards unique to that player. Then a plurality of community cards are displayed during which betting rounds occur. The player with the best five card poker hand at the end of the game wins the common pot.
In Texas Hold 'Em Poker, each player receives two Hole cards and a round of betting occurs. Then three community cards (the Flop) are displayed and another round of betting occurs. Then a fourth community card (the Turn or Fourth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. Finally, a fifth community card (the River or Fifth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. The player with the best poker hand out of the seven cards (his two Hole cards and the five community cards) wins the common pot.
Because of the current popularity of Hold 'Em poker games, there have been attempts to adapt Hold 'Em poker to a video poker machine format.

Hold 'em poker with multiple opponents hands


An image reproducing apparatus includes an input part for inputting digital signals indicating an image and for inputting supplementary digital signals, a composition part for coding the digital signals through a prescribed coding process so as to generate a matrix of blocks in which coded data described by coefficients produced through the coding process is contained, the blocks being arranged in two-dimensional coordinates depending on a level of a frequency corresponding to each of coded digital signals, a first control part for determining a first region of low-frequency blocks in which the coded data corresponding to the digital signals are substantially located within the matrix, and a second control part for placing allocation data defining a location of the first region within the matrix into a maximum-frequency block of the matrix, and for placing data corresponding to the supplementary digital signals into a second region of high-frequency blocks of the matrix.

The present invention relates generally to an image reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for reproducing an image by coding supplementary digital signals together with image signals through a transform coding process, the apparatus having capabilities of inputting and outputting digital signals for carrying out a text/image composition process and a text/image separation process.
Conventionally, there is a technique for coding a supplementary digital signal together with an image signal so as to compress the range of data to a narrower range, and for decoding the resulting combined signal. The image signal can be a facsimile signal which exhibits a high degree of correlation. The digital signal can represent any other data which is independent of the image signal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,484 discloses such a technique. There is also a text/image composition technique for combining text data with a halftone image signal by using a prescribed discrete orthogonal transform process. In this technique, a redundant portion of image data produced after the transform process is performed is replaced by the text data, the resulting image data containing the text data being encoded into coded information which have a form of a matrix of blocks in orthogonal transform coordinates. The redundant portion, which includes frequency components produced when the transform coding process is performed, is used for combining the text data with the halftone image data, and only a small quantity of text data can be combined with the halftone image data without seriously degrading the picture quantity.
However, in the above mentioned techniques, no preprocessing of the supplementary digital signals is performed, and the quantity of the digital signals to be combined with the image signals is limited and not reduced to a narrower range so that a large quantity of supplementary digital signals cannot be combined with the image signals without degrading the picture quality. Thus, there is a problem in that it is difficult to reproduce an image containing a large quantity of text data combined with image signals without seriously degrading the picture quality.


The common base of the comb-shaped clearing device is made of a shaft. Screws are provided for blocking pairs of parallel arms on a shaft in variable positions as a function of a longitudinal position of a series of points on the cutting cylinder (2). The two arms of each pair, which are symmetrical with respect to a symmetry vertical plane, have inner faces turned toward one another and formed in such a manner as to define therebetween an interval having a width which increases from front to rear.

Rotary cutting apparatus for cutting individual blanks from a web of material such as a web of cardboard, these individual blanks being adapted for ulteriorly forming packagings, for example, are currently used in industry. After the cutting of these individual blanks, there always remain scraps or rejects of cardboard which correspond to the zones of the web which are not used for forming the individual blanks. These cardboard scraps must be eliminated from the surface of the cutting cylinder after each cutting operation. To this effect, piercing points or spockets are carried by the surface of the cylinder in positions where the scraps are formed after cutting. Each bit of cardboard which forms a scrap is thus pierced by a piercing point and is carried, while being maintained on this piercing point, towards a clearing device adapted for relieving, from each point, the bit of cardboard carried by this piercing point.
The clearing devices currently known include generally a comb-shaped unitary member having teeth directed toward the surface of the cutting cylinder and inclined according to an appropriate angle with respect to this surface. Such a unitary clearing comb is positioned so that the various piercing points carried by the cutting cylinder will pass in intervals between teeth of the comb. Therefore the cardboard scraps carried by the outer extreme end portions of the piercing points are detached progressively from these piercing points by sliding on the neighboring teeth of the unitary clearing comb. A clearing device of this type has however a disadvantage in that there is often a jamming of cardboard bits in the bottom of the intervals between the teeth of the clearing comb, and these cardboard bits can accumulate together and will eventually cause a breaking of the piercing points when an obstacle, which is progressively formed by the carboard bits, is sufficiently important.

Clearing device associated with a rotary cutting apparatus of a web of material


A positioning structure is applied to a male end connector and a female end connector. The female end connector has an inserting slot and two guiding slots. The positioning structure has a case, two guiding pins, two elastic parts, and a positioning member. The two guiding pins are connected to the case. The male end connector is located between the two guiding pins. The elastic parts are connected to the case and to the male end connector. The positioning member has a first positioning hole and two second positioning holes. The first positioning hole is used for the male end connector passing through to enter the inserting slot. The second positioning holes are used for the guiding pin passing through to enter the guiding slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning structure; more particularly, the present invention relates to a positioning structure for adjusting the connecting position of the male end connector and the female end connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern society, the computer is ubiquitous in daily life. The common computer has a female main slot, which can connect to an external device with a male connector such as a USB memory device, an external connecting station, or a mouse; therefore, the computer can work with many kinds of external devices via the connection between the female main slot and the male connector to provide various application modes.
However, in the structure of the female main slot, there is usually an assembly tolerance; also, the male connectors of the external devices, which are produced by different manufacturers, usually have different assembly tolerances. Therefore, when the female main slot connects to the male connector of an external device, because of the differences in those assembly tolerances, the connecting position of the female main slot and the male connector can easily tilt, become loose, be excessively tight, be poorly positioned, or even be unable to connect.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a new connecting structure design that can provide the function of adjusting the position of the female main slot and the male connector such that the female main slot and the male connector can be connected smoothly.

Positioning structure and connector assembly


A temperature compensating device for a torque measuring apparatus of the magneto-strictive type. A torque transmission shaft has a magnetically anisotropic portion formed on the periphery of the shaft. A sensing coil is disposed around the torque transmission shaft in corresponding relation to the magnetically anisotropic portion. A DC voltage from a constant voltage generator is supplied to the sensing coil. A torque detection signal is derived from the AC component of the voltage developed across the sensing coil, and the DC resistance of the sensing coil is detected from the DC component of the voltage, whereby the temperature of the sensing coil is detected. The torque detection characteristics of the apparatus is temperature-compensated on the basis of the temperature detection signal.

Torque measuring apparatuses are known which are of the type having a pair of magnetically anisotropic portions formed on the periphery of the torque transmission shaft such that a change in the magnetic permeability of the magnetically anisotropic portions, when torque is applied to the shaft, is detected by a pair of sensing coils disposed adjacent the magnetically anisotropic portions, so that the magnitude of the torque acting on the shaft is converted into an electric signal on the basis of the difference between the detection signals from the sensing coils. Typically, torque measuring apparatuses of this sort have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open Publication No. 64-29723 and No. 63-33634.
In such torque measuring apparatus, sensor means comprises a shaft portion having magnetically anisotropic portions formed thereon, and other elements such as sensing coils and exciting coils. When a temperature change occurs in the sensor means, the magnetic and electrical characteristics of the sensor means are subject to changes. As a consequence, the torque sensing characteristics of the sensor means undergo considerable changes which in turn unfavorably affect the sensing accuracy of the sensor means. This poses a problem when torque is to be measured with respect to such kinds of equipment as industrial machinery, motors, engines, and automobiles, in which comparatively high temperatures are prevalent when they are in operation.
In the foregoing Japanese laying-open publication Nos. 64-29723 and 63-33634, therefore, it is arranged that the sensor means includes built-in temperature sensing elements, such as thermistors or thermo-sensitive resistances, or elements are provided for detecting the alternating exciting currents of the exciting coils thereby to detect the temperature at the sensor means, so that torque detection signals are temperature-compensated on the basis of the detection signals from such elements.
However, the provision of built-in temperature sensing elements in the sensor means results in increased number of parts, including cable lines required for transmission of temperature detection signals from the elements. This makes the construction and assembly of the sensor means very much complicated as a whole. Another problem is that variations in the inherent properties of the elements may result in variations in temperature characteristics.
Where the apparatus is adapted for detection of the alternating exciting currents of the exciting coils, the sum of changes due to temperature in the magnetic and electrical characteristics of individual components, such as shaft, coils, shields, and casing, which define a coil impedance is utilized to give a temperature detection signal. As such, characteristic variations, if any, of the components per se or as caused during assembly operation thereof may unfavorably affect the temperature detection accuracy of the sensor means. Another problem is that when torque is applied on the shaft, the exciting current is likely to fluctuate to some extent, because the construction and material of the sensor means cannot be of magnetically and electrically complete symmetry thereacross even if the apparatus is of the differential detection type. Moreover, it must be noted that the higher the temperature, the lower is the magnetic permeability .mu. of the sensor components, while on the other hand the higher the temperature, the higher is the resistivity .rho. of the sensor components. Also, it must be noted that the lower the magnetic permeability .mu., the lower is the impedance of the exciting coils, whereas the higher the resistivity .rho., the higher is the impedance of the exciting coils. Therefore, changes due to temperature of the impedance of the exciting coils eventually become smaller as changes due to temperature of both the magnetic permeability .mu. and the resistivity .rho. negate each other. Accordingly, changes of the exciting currents per se due to temperature changes become smaller and this necessitates a sensing circuit of higher sensitivity and higher detection accuracy. As such, no sufficient temperature compensation can be obtained, with an added disadvantage that the cost of the apparatus is unacceptably high.

Temperature compensating device for torque measuring apparatus


A computerized system, method, and computer program product for migrating applications are disclosed. A processor is configured to execute the stored instructions. The instructions may cause the processor to perform the steps including: analyzing a legacy application to be migrated to a new platform; generating one or more reports showing results of the analysis of the legacy application; migrating a schema of the legacy application to the new platform; and migrating a content of the legacy application to the new platform.

There are a wide variety of technologies and platforms from which computer applications can be developed. In some cases, organizations decide to transition legacy applications from one platform or technology to another. This type of migration can be time consuming and fraught with complexity. Transitioning legacy applications is particularly difficult because the migration process needs to capture not only underlying data of users, but also the forms and business logic associated with the applications.
For example, many organizations are decommissioning applications from a product called Lotus Notes™ by IBM of Armonk, N.Y., and are transitioning to a platform based on Microsoft collaboration technologies (e.g., Exchange Server™, SharePoint™ and Office™). One technology to which companies are migrating is Microsoft SharePoint™ offered by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., because of its capabilities in creating collaboration, integration and an enterprise portal as per the business need.
According to one embodiment, this disclosure provides a system and method for migrating an application from a legacy platform to another platform. In moving towards adoption of a mature web platform from a legacy platform, such as Lotus Notes™, one step of the migration process can be to leverage a platform, such as Microsoft's SharePoint™ 2010 OOB (out-of-box), with capabilities such as collaboration, content management, business forms, workflows and business intelligence through controlled access, which results in better governance policies and reductions in administration cost.
The next logical step is to extend the OOB capabilities utilizing an application development platform, such as Microsoft's SharePoint 2010™. In the case of using a development platform, such as SharePoint 2010™, advanced capabilities can be utilized, such as integrating with external LOB (line-of-business) applications, data aggregation, search and advanced collaboration through a rapid development and deployment framework. In some cases, this may include the use of cloud computing, such as for services and/or data storage. Since SharePoint 2010™ is supported on a cloud platform (e.g., Office 365™ from Microsoft), this provides an agile business platform available with SharePoint 2010™ and Office 365™ adoption in coming years. In some cases, business processes can be improved and optimized as well, not just migration of the applications "as is."
Thus, in some embodiments, this disclosure provides a system and method that caters to the current Lotus Notes™ to SharePoint™ migration requirements. For example, the system and method can provide an automated, integrated and managed solution for migration of Lotus Notes™ data to SharePoint™. Although the use of the system and method to migrate from Lotus Notes™ to SharePoint™ is described for purposes of example, embodiments are contemplated in which the system/method could be used to migrate to/from other types of platforms and technologies. For example, embodiments are contemplated in which the system/method could be used to migrate a product called eRoom™ from EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass., to SharePoint™. By way of another example, embodiments are contemplated in which the system and method discussed herein could be used to migrate from Lotus Notes™ to a product called Documentum™ from EMC Corporation.
According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a computerized system for migrating one or more applications. The system includes memory for storing instructions and data associated with a computerized migration tool. A processor is configured to execute the stored instructions. The instructions may cause the processor to perform the steps including: analyzing a legacy application to be migrated to a new platform; generating one or more reports showing results of the analysis of the legacy application; migrating a schema of the legacy application to the new platform; and migrating a content of the legacy application to the new platform. The analysis of the legacy application may include determining a complexity of migrating the legacy application to the new platform.
According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a computerized system for migrating one or more applications. The system includes one or more processing devices and one or more storage devices. The one or more storage devices may store instructions, which, when executed, cause the one or more processing devices to implement: a user interface, a pre-migration analysis unit, and a migration unit. The user interface may be configured with one or more interface elements from which a user can select one or more of an application schema and application content from a legacy application to be migrated to a new platform.
The pre-migration analysis unit may be configured to analyze complexity of migrating the legacy application by counting one or more types of design elements in the legacy application, wherein the pre-migration analysis unit is configured to generate a report based on the analysis of legacy application. The migration unit may be configured to migrate the legacy application to the new platform based on one or more selections on the user interface.
According to yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, a computerized method for migrating applications is disclosed. A legacy application may be analyzed to determine a complexity of migrating a legacy application to a new platform. One or more reports may be generated showing the complexity of migrating the legacy application to the new platform. A schema of the legacy application may be migrated to the new platform. Further, content of the legacy application may be migrated to the new platform. In some cases, portions of the content may be migrated independent of migration of the schema. Also, during migration, links of one portion to another portion of the content may be preserved.
According to yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium is disclosed. The medium may comprise: code for analyzing a legacy application to determine a complexity of migrating the legacy application to a new platform; code for generating one or more reports showing the complexity of migrating the legacy application to the new platform; code for migrating a schema of the legacy application to the new platform; and code for migrating a content of the legacy application to the new platform.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.


A method to reduce a probability of occurrence of a hidden node in a data transmission process in a high-frequency system is disclosed. The method implemented by a communications apparatus includes determining at least one beam to be used for sending a resource reservation message, where the at least one beam includes a first beam, where a direction of the first beam is opposite to a direction of a second beam, and where the direction of the second beam is a potential transmission direction in which the communications apparatus sends information. The method further includes sending the resource reservation message by using the at least one beam, where the resource reservation message includes a resource reservation request message or a resource reservation response message, where the resource reservation request message is used to request to reserve a transmission resource, and where the resource reservation response message is used to determine to reserve a transmission resource.

With large-scale popularization of mobile intelligent terminal devices, especially emergence of services requiring large traffic, for example, videos, live broadcast, augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), and games, users impose increasingly high requirements on a rate of a mobile communications cellular network. As a wireless data service volume increases sharply, a licensed spectrum can hardly meet a communication requirement. Therefore, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) Release (R) 13 and R14 introduce licensed-assisted access (LAA) and enhanced licensed-assisted access (eLAA) technologies, that is, a long term evolution (LTE) system or an LTE-advanced (LTE-A) system deployed on an unlicensed spectrum in a non-standalone (NSA) manner, to maximally utilize unlicensed spectrum resources with assistance of a licensed spectrum. Likewise, in a 5th-generation mobile communications technology (5G) new radio (NR) system, use of an unlicensed spectrum is also an indispensable technical means, referred to as NR-Unlicense (NR-U for short), to meet a service requirement and improve user experience.
Unlicensed bands, such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, can be used for all of LAA, eLAA, and NR-U. However, the unlicensed bands are shared bands, and various communications systems may work on these bands. For example, systems such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, LAA, eLAA, and NR-U coexist on a same frequency. In addition, different communications systems may be incapable of mutual coordination. This results in quite severe interference between different communications systems or even within a same communications system, and further causes low spectrum utilization. To avoid or mitigate this problem, an international organization stipulates that a carrier listening mechanism to which a device using an unlicensed band needs to conform is a listen before talk (LBT) mechanism. In other words, the device needs to first listen to a channel before sending information. If determining, by using the LBT mechanism, that the channel is idle, the device starts to contend for the channel after an LBT process ends. For example, a device used as a sending device may send a resource reservation request message, where the resource reservation request message is used to request to send data; a device used as a receiving device may return a resource reservation response message after receiving the resource reservation request message, where the resource reservation response message is used to confirm that data can be received; and the device used as the sending device may send data after receiving the resource reservation response message.
A significant difference between NR-U and LAA/eLAA lies in that LAA/eLAA works only on a low frequency, for example, an unlicensed band below 6 GHz; however, in addition to a low frequency, NR-U may further use an unlicensed band of a high frequency, for example, an unlicensed band of 28/37/60 GHz, for communication. A system working on a low frequency already has a relatively mature LBT mechanism and a data transmission process after LBT ends. Because a frequency of a low band is not high, in other words, a wavelength is relatively large, data is usually transmitted in an omnidirectional transmission mode. However, for a high-frequency system such as NR-U, because a frequency of a high band is relatively high and a wavelength is relatively small, if data is transmitted through omnidirectional transmission, a transmission coverage area is quite small. Therefore, a beam may be used for transmission in the high-frequency system. In this case, if the LBT mechanism is also used in the high-frequency system, in the high-frequency system, for example, a sending device A determines, by using the LBT mechanism, that a channel is idle, and after an LBT process ends, the sending device A may send a resource reservation request message by using a beam. A direction of the beam is usually a potential transmission direction of the sending device A, that is, a direction in which the sending device A sends data. Therefore, another device not located in the direction of the beam cannot receive the resource reservation request message. If the another device is also performing an LBT process, the another device determines, in the LBT process, that a channel is idle, and therefore normally transmits data after the LBT process ends. However, a data transmission process of the another device may interfere with a data transmission process of the sending device A, thereby possibly causing a data transmission failure. This problem occurs because the sending device A becomes a hidden node that cannot be identified by the another device, and interferes with the data transmission process of the another device.
It can be learned that when a device in a high-frequency system starts to transmit data after performing an LBT mechanism, the data transmission of the device may fail because a hidden node exists.

Method for sending resource reservation message and apparatus


A computing system can include a memory controller and a first storage device. The first storage device is to receive a serially encoded request and forward the serially encoded request to a second storage device before deserializing the serially encoded request. The first storage device is also to return a training sequence from the target storage device to the memory controller. The first storage device is additionally to return a response from the target storage device to the memory controller.

Serializer/deserializer (SERDES) links are used for communication in computing systems. A SERDES link includes a serializer to serialize outgoing parallel data, such as data from a bus, into serial data. The SERDES link also includes a deserializer to deserialize incoming serial data to parallel data. A SERDES link is popular in computing systems employing high speed, power efficient communications.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.