The invention relates to an FMCW radar system and a method of operating an FMCW radar system to produce a linear frequency ramp. The FMCW radar system includes a VCO, a frequency divider coupled to the VCO output, followed by an A/D converter. A down-converter shifts the digitally converted signal to baseband samples, followed by a low-pass filter coupled to an output thereof. A VCO frequency estimator produces instantaneous VCO frequency estimates from phase differences determined from the filtered baseband samples. A D/A converter coupled to an output of the VCO frequency estimator produces an input signal for the VCO to produce therewith a linear VCO frequency ramp. A Δ-Σ modulator is coupled between the VCO frequency estimator and the input of the D/A converter to produce a dithered VCO control signal, thereby increasing the effective number of bits of the D/A converter.

Since their early development, radar systems have detected and measured the distance to objects lying in their beams by transmitting high-power pulsed waveforms. An alternative way for measuring the distance to a reflecting object is the FMCW radar principle, which is based on continuous wave frequency chirps. For automotive radar systems this principle is very common because a high dynamic range can be achieved with respect to the frequency regulations and available MMICs (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits).
FMCW radars operate by generating a continuous, i.e., not pulsed, transmitted signal using an oscillator that produces a linear frequency ramp. Thus, FMCW radars are also "chirped." The linear frequency ramp is periodically generated, generally with a rapid linear transition from an end frequency to the initial frequency, i.e., the frequency ramp is produced with a sawtooth waveform. An object with sufficient radar cross-section lying within a beam of an FMCW radar antenna reflects a signal that is received by the radar system after a time delay proportional to the distance between the radar antenna and the reflecting object. In view of the substantially constant and known waveform propagation speed in a typical radar application, such distance measurements can potentially be made very accurately.
An FMCW distance measurement relies on the instantaneous frequency of the reflected signal being displaced from the instantaneous transmitted signal by a constant frequency difference dependent on the object's distance. Such constant frequency difference between transmitted and received signals relies on the linearity of the frequency ramp produced by the radar's oscillator. By multiplying a signal representing the transmitted signal by a signal representing the received signal, a waveform with a beat frequency is produced with a frequency proportional to the distance between the radar antenna and the reflecting object, with a small correction to account for Doppler shift resulting from the speed of the object relative to the radar antenna. By sampling the beat frequency waveform and estimating the beat frequency, a distance estimate can be produced.
VCOs ("voltage-controlled oscillators") can produce an output signal with a frequency that is roughly linearly dependent on an input control signal. The lack of perfect linearity in the frequency control process corrupts the distance estimate. Two areas of concern arise: The first is the deviation of the estimated object distance from proportionality to the beat frequency of the multiplied signals. The second is the multiplicity of beat frequency components produced by nonlinearity of the VCO control process, which can potentially produce multiple object images for a single reflecting object.
A known technique for generating a periodic VCO control signal that produces a perfect VCO frequency ramp is to measure the deviation of VCO frequency from a perfect frequency ramp, and adjust the periodic VCO control signal for the next transmit cycle accordingly. Although this technique is simple in principle, its execution in the prior art has resulted in inaccurate ramp generation and/or complex and expensive circuit designs.
Thus, a challenge in designing an FMCW radar to generate a unique and accurate distance measurement for a reflecting object is generating a periodic control signal for a VCO to produce an output signal with a periodic, linear frequency ramp, wherein the VCO control signal is compensated for nonlinearities of the VCO.

Ramp linearization for FMCW radar using digital down-conversion of a sampled VCO signal


A fitting for coupling a capillary to another component of a fluidic device is disclosed. The fitting includes a ferrule configured for enclosing a front part of the capillary and for contributing to a fluidic sealing between the fitting and the other component; a ferrule chuck configured for enclosing a back part of the capillary; and a housing configured for accommodating at least a part of the ferrule chuck and for pushing the ferrule chuck against the ferrule.

The present invention relates to a fitting for a fluidic device.
In liquid chromatography, a fluidic analyte may be pumped through a column comprising a material which is capable of separating different components of the fluidic analyte. Such a material, so-called beads which may comprise silica gel, may be filled into a column tube which may be connected to other elements (like a control unit, containers including sample and/or buffers). During operation, such columns may be subjected to high pressures of, for instance, up to 600 bar and more.
Fittings for coupling different components, such as separation columns and conduits, of fluidic devices are commercially available and are offered, for instance, by the company Swagelok (see for instance http://www.swagelok.com).
A known fitting element is configured to provide a fluidic coupling to a fluidic device, and comprises a capillary and an inlay located in a cavity of a front side of the capillary. The inlay protrudes over the front side, at least before coupling of the capillary to the fluidic device. Upon coupling of the capillary to the fluidic device, the front side is fitted to the fluidic device for connecting a fluid path of the capillary to a fluid path of the fluidic device, and the inlay provides a sealing of the fluid path of the capillary and the fluidic device.
A known fitting assembly comprises a nut, a ferrule, and a ferrule tip that may be assembled by an operator. The fitting assembly includes a nut with first and second ends, with the second end configured to receive the first end of a ferrule, and a ferrule tip with a first end having an externally tapered portion configured to abut the second end of the ferrule and a second end configured to be received in a component or fitting of a liquid chromatography system. The nut, ferrule and ferrule tip of the fitting assembly have passageways therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing.
Another known fitting includes an elongated cylindrical body with a conical ferrule secured to its forward end, and with the body and ferrule having aligned through bores sized to allow a capillary tube to be passed through them. The elongated body has medially located external helical threads, and a knurled nut is rotatably coupled to these threads. The body also has elongated axially directed gripping fingers with inwardly facing gripping regions thereon normally spaced from but suited to be biased radially against the capillary tube in the fitting bores. A tubular gripping nut is threaded onto the external body threads, suited to be axially shifted along the body upon relative nut/body rotation. The nut and body have cooperating cam surfaces suited to engage upon relative nut/body rotation and bias the finger gripping regions tightly against the capillary tube for securely retaining tube as positioned within the fitting.
However, the requirements regarding sealing performance and mechanical stability of a fitting of fluidic measurement devices further increases with further increasing operation pressure values.
What is needed, therefore, is a fitting for a fluidic device that overcomes at least the shortcomings of known apparatuses described above.


The method disclosed provides communication over short distances at high speed via fiber optics making it practical to replace standard copper conductors with optical fiber. This is a solution to the “last mile” problem in Internet high speed communications.

Communications via optical fiber is mature technology. Electronic signals are converted to light signals and the light signals are coupled to an optical fiber which carries the optical signals over the optical link. At the other end of the optical fiber link a photo detector converts the light signal to an electronic signal completing the connection. The means of converting the electronic signal to an optical signal for example employs laser diodes for long distances at very high speed and light emitting diodes for medium distances at high speed.
The means to couple signals from light emitting diodes and laser diodes to optical fiber is well established in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,676 describes means to align a light emitting diode to the centre of the fiber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,992 stresses the use of a rod lens to couple the light source to the optical fiber, and U.S. patent publication number US 2007/0031089 describes means to couple light in a highly efficient method. U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,696 further describes similar coupling of laser diodes or light emitting diodes to optical fiber for the same means to form a communications link between two points. All these methods require mechanically matching the emission angle of the light emitting source to the acceptance angle of the optical fiber by employing intermediary optical equipment.
An ongoing challenge in coupling light emitting diodes to an optical fiber is the mismatch in the physical dimensions of the light emitting diode and the optical fiber. Nominally a multimode optical fiber has a diameter of 60 to 100 microns. A light emitting diode is at least three times larger, nominally 300 microns. Most of the light is lost unless refractive optics are used to converge the light into the optical fiber. In the case where laser diodes are used, which have a smaller emission angle and a small aperture, the cost of the laser diode and the emission angle pose the same problem as with a light emitting diode.
Light emitting diodes, though far lower in cost and suited for medium distances, are still not considered for short distances. This is due to cost constraints. Communications over long and medium distances can carry vast amounts of data at very high speed and the cost is easily amortized over the traffic. At short distances, the amount of data is much less and has to be amortized usually over a single user. One example of this short distance communications problem is referred to as the "last mile problem". It is feasible to bring optical fiber to a common point in a community and this is common practice. From this common point, connecting to each user via an optical cable link is prohibitive and limits the bandwidth which can be provided to each user. This "last mile" link is presently connected via copper conductors which have limited bandwidth.
There is a need for means of coupling light emitting diodes to an optical fiber, namely without the use of any secondary devices such as refractive optics and mechanical holding devices.

Methods and apparatus for high speed short distance optical communications using micro light emitting diodes


Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:61-121 and 133-141, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1-60, 124-132, and 142-283, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram-positive spore forming soil bacterium characterized by its ability to produce crystalline inclusions that are specifically toxic to certain orders and species of insects, but are harmless to plants and other non-targeted organisms. For this reason, compositions including Bacillus thuringiensis strains or their insecticidal proteins can be used as environmentally-acceptable insecticides to control agricultural insect pests or insect vectors for a variety of human or animal diseases.
Crystal (Cry) proteins (delta-endotoxins) from Bacillus thuringiensis have potent insecticidal activity against predominantly Lepidopteran, Dipteran, and Coleopteran larvae. These proteins also have shown activity against Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Phthiraptera, Mallophaga, and Acari pest orders, as well as other invertebrate orders such as Nemathelminthes, Platyhelminthes, and Sarcomastigorphora (Feitelson (1993) The Bacillus Thuringiensis family tree. In Advanced Engineered Pesticides, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y.) These proteins were originally classified as CryI to CryV based primarily on their insecticidal activity. The major classes were Lepidoptera-specific (I), Lepidoptera- and Diptera-specific (II), Coleoptera-specific (III), Diptera-specific (IV), and nematode-specific (V) and (VI). The proteins were further classified into subfamilies; more highly related proteins within each family were assigned divisional letters such as Cry1A, Cry1B, Cry1C, etc. Even more closely related proteins within each division were given names such as Cry1C1, Cry1C2, etc.
A new nomenclature was recently described for the Cry genes based upon amino acid sequence homology rather than insect target specificity (Crickmore et al. (1998) Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62:807-813). In the new classification, each toxin is assigned a unique name incorporating a primary rank (an Arabic number), a secondary rank (an uppercase letter), a tertiary rank (a lowercase letter), and a quaternary rank (another Arabic number). In the new classification, Roman numerals have been exchanged for Arabic numerals in the primary rank. Proteins with less than 45% sequence identity have different primary ranks, and the criteria for secondary and tertiary ranks are 78% and 95%, respectively.
The crystal protein does not exhibit insecticidal activity until it has been ingested and solubilized in the insect midgut. The ingested protoxin is hydrolyzed by proteases in the insect digestive tract to an active toxic molecule. (Höfte and Whiteley (1989) Microbiol. Rev. 53:242-255). This toxin binds to apical brush border receptors in the midgut of the target larvae and inserts into the apical membrane creating ion channels or pores, resulting in larval death.
Delta-endotoxins generally have five conserved sequence domains, and three conserved structural domains (see, for example, de Maagd et al. (2001) Trends Genetics 17:193-199). The first conserved structural domain consists of seven alpha helices and is involved in membrane insertion and pore formation. Domain II consists of three beta-sheets arranged in a Greek key configuration, and domain III consists of two antiparallel beta-sheets in "jelly-roll" formation (de Maagd et al., 2001, supra). Domains II and III are involved in receptor recognition and binding, and are therefore considered determinants of toxin specificity.
The intensive use of B. thuringiensis-based insecticides has already given rise to resistance in field populations of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Ferre and Van Rie (2002) Annu. Rev. Entomol. 47:501-533). The most common mechanism of resistance is the reduction of binding of the toxin to its specific midgut receptor(s). This may also confer cross-resistance to other toxins that share the same receptor (Ferre and Van Rie (2002)).


The present disclosure relates to circuits and methods for accelerating a new frequency lock-in process of a digital phase-locked loop.

Numerous types of electronic devices make use of phase-locked loops (PLLs), wherein both analog and digital varieties of PLLs are known. Such devices include, for example, cellular telephones, radio transceivers, process controllers and other instrumentation, and so on. Phase-locked loops are often employed in frequency synthesis. Most advanced frequency synthesizers within RF communication systems have full digital implementations and are referred to as digital PLLs (DPLLs), or all-digital PLLs. The functional circuitries of a DPLL are designed as digital control blocks, wherein all internal signals between the different functional blocks of the PLL are digital in format.
One performance criteria of a DPLL is referred to as the "lock-in criterion" or "settling time", and is defined by the time required for the DPLL to lock onto (i.e., stabilize at) a new operating frequency. Thus, the lock-in criterion refers to a transitory characteristic of the DPLL. Typically, DPLLs have a relatively limited "capture range", or frequency range about the new operating point wherein the DPLL will positively lock (i.e., settle) once the digital controlled oscillator of the DPLL is shifted sufficiently toward the new operating frequency. It is desirable to achieve lock at the new operating frequency as quickly as possible.
FIG. 1 depicts a DPLL 100 in accordance with known techniques. The DPLL 100 includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) 102, which serves to measure the time delay between the phase of a reference clock input (Fref) and the phase of a divided-by-N (wherein N is integer or fractional value) digital controlled oscillator (DCO) signal (Fv) 114. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in modern PLL frequency synthesizers, the integer divider ratio is changed every reference period by a sigma-delta modulator in order to generate a fractional divider ratio on an average. The output from the TDC 102 is a digital word 104 representing the phase- or time-error between the two signals Fref and Fv. The digital word 104 from the TDC 102 is filtered and processed by a digital loop filter (DLF) 106. The DLF 106 thus derives a frequency control word (FCW) 108 that is sent to a DCO 110. The FCW 108 represents an error between the instantaneous operating frequency and the newly desired operating frequency of the DCO 110. These operating parameters can be thought of in terms of classic control theory as "process variable" (i.e., present value) and "set point" (i.e., desired value), respectively. In any case, the DCO 110 responds to the FCW 108 and shifts its operating frequency accordingly toward the new operating point. In turn, the output frequency (Fdco) 116 of the DCO 110 is provided to a counter/divider 112 that divides the Fdco signal 116 by an integer or fractional "N" so as to derive the Fv signal 114 in accordance with equation 1 below:Fv=Fdco/N  (Equation 1)
The lock-in criterion depends on various system and circuit parameters such as, for example, the loop bandwidth of the loop filter, the gain of the DCO (e.g., 110), and the gain of the TDC (e.g., 102) in a purely digital implementation. The capture range of the TDC is also an important parameter regarding lock-in performance of a DPLL (e.g., 100). Typically, the phase detector in an analog PLL (not shown) is implemented as a phase frequency detector that has a phase sensitivity of one period of the reference frequency signal (e.g., Fref), and an unambiguous frequency selectivity—that is, the present operating frequency is either too high or too low. Such analog PLL's often operate in accordance with "Up" and "Down" signals in regard to shifting their operating frequency.
In contrast, presently used DPLLs include TDCs (e.g., 102) having limited measurement ranges for the time interval between the phases of the two input frequencies (e.g., Fref and Fv). Additionally, the TDC often has no frequency selectivity—that is, it cannot distinguish between "too high" and "too low" with respect to operating frequency error. The limited range is inherent in the design of a TDC because a large capture range can generally be reached only with a low time resolution. Conversely, a satisfactory time resolution is only feasible with a small capture range. Thus, a balancing of opposed TDC performance characteristics has been generally necessary. This capture range vs. time resolution relationship is expressed equation 2 below:φcapt·(Tref/2π)=tcapt<<Tref=1/Fref  (Equation 2)
Wherein:                φcapt is the span of the capture range in radians;        Tref is the period of the reference frequency in seconds;        tcapt is the span of the capture range in seconds; and        Fref is the reference frequency in cycles per second
FIG. 2 is a time-to-digital converter (TDC) 200 in accordance with one known approach for dealing with the limited capture range characteristics of typical DPLLs. The TDC 200 receives a reference frequency signal Fref and divided-by-N oscillator signal Fv as respectively introduced above. The TDC 200 then derives a time difference (or error) output signal 202 analogous to signal 104 above. The TDC 200 further provides an out-of-measurement-range output signal 204 that, depending on value, indicates an in- or out-of-capture-range state for the TDC 200. This signal 204 is then used to trigger and/or control additional lock-in measures that are used within the corresponding DPLL (not shown).
FIG. 3 is a signal diagram 300 depicting input vs. output signal performance of a TDC (e.g., 200) having a restricted operating or capture range. As shown, there is a substantially linear relationship between the measured time difference between the Fref and Fv input signals, and the time difference output signal provided by the TDC. Furthermore, the time difference output signal varies, or "swings", over a limited predetermined range wherein a constant-level output signal is provided once the time error between the two input signals Fref and Fv exceeds some tmax threshold.

Phase alignment circuit for a TDC in a DPLL


An image area extracting method for extracting the desired areas from the image accurately and efficiently. The rough boundary area, in which the boundary area is roughly assigned between the desired area and areas other than the desired area, is divided into a plurality of small areas. The area extracting procedure is executed on each small area and the desired area and areas other than the desired area are detected from each small area. The boundary area mask image is formed based on the detection result and the desired area is extracted based on the boundary area mask image. Thus, the desired area can be extracted from the image accurately and efficiently.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image area extracting method and is suitably applied, for example, to the case of forming a key signal (a mask image) which is necessary at the time of an image synthesizing process among the works related to video production.
2. Description of the Related Art
Techniques to extract an object from an image are conventionally well-known as methods for special effects. The techniques to extract an object are the mask image hand painting (video mat) method, the method using chroma key processing and luminance key processing, and the rough contour assigning and thinning (Object Extracting Method for Image Mixing, by Seiki Inoue, The transactions of the Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers D-II vol. j74-D-II pages 1411-1418, 1991).
The mask image hand painting method, in which an operator assigns an object area by hand painting in utilizing a painting tool such as a tablet, is a method capable of inputting the boundary of an object precisely.
On the other hand, the chroma key processing or the luminance key processing is the method to divide the area with a specified color or specified luminance by performing threshold processing on color information or luminance information of the input image. In this method, only assigning of the specified color or the specified luminance by the operator makes it possible to execute a uniform processing automatically to all picture elements.
Moreover, in the method of rough contour assigning and thinning, the rough area including the contour of the object is assigned by an operator to obtain the shape of object by thinning the rough area based on the intensity of edge so as to match this rough area to the contour of object automatically.
However, in the chroma key processing and the luminance key processing, an input image of which its characteristics greatly differ according to the position in one screen is processed in accordance with single threshold value to the pixel value of the entire image, the chroma key processing and the luminance key processing cannot be applied to the image with the arbitrary background. Therefore, they can be applied only to the specified input image taken with the uniform background for the purpose of synthesizing.
The rough contour assigning and thinning method is the method to assign the rough area and which is capable of extracting the object area from the uneven background. However, since this method is the processing only dependent upon the edge intensity, the correct result cannot be obtained in the area with an intense edge which is not the contour of the object, and there are cases where the accuracy is worse as compared with the video mat method. Also, in the case where the characteristics of background differs according to the position on the image, since single area extracting method is used, it is impossible to cope with the arbitrary background thoroughly.
Accordingly, in these methods, it was only video mat method which was capable of extracting the object area accurately from the optional background. However, because the video mat method requires the process to assign the object area per one pixel, it requires much time and skill and there arises a problem that its operational efficiency is not favorable.


An apparatus may include an integrated circuit package comprising a plurality of conductive pads and having a face, and a socket coupled to the integrated circuit package and to the conductive pads, the socket having a footprint. In some aspects, the footprint is smaller than the face.

An integrated circuit (IC) package consists of an IC die and an IC package substrate. The IC package substrate is used to electrically couple the IC die to external components and circuitry. Conventionally, electrical contacts of the IC die are coupled to electrical contacts of the IC package substrate, which are in turn electrically connected to external electrical contacts of the IC package substrate. The external electrical contacts of the IC package substrate may comprise pins, solder balls or other types of electrical contacts arranged in any suitable pattern.
The external contacts of an IC package substrate are typically coupled to a socket. Such a socket receives the IC package substrate and provides physical and electrical coupling of the IC package to a substrate such as a motherboard. For example, electrical contacts of an IC package may be removably coupled to first electrical contacts of a socket, and second electrical contacts of the socket may be coupled to electrical contacts of a substrate.
In order to ensure a good electrical connection between package substrate contacts and socket contacts, some architectures require the socket to firmly retain the IC package and to bias contacts of the IC package substrate against corresponding contacts of the socket. The structure of the IC package and the structure of the socket therefore closely depend on one another. Such dependence may reduce flexibility and/or interchangeability of IC package and socket designs.


The present invention provides a novel humidity chamber suitable for use with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The humidity chamber of the present invention employs an intricate geometrical design which can accommodate a scanned-stylus AFM with an optical lever. This geometrical design allows the invention to enclose one or more of the AFM scanner, tip assembly, optical lever detection system, sample and an optical microscope objective lens, without degrading the ability to operate the AFM or the related systems. The invention is comprised of two major pieces: a chamber within which the AFM scanning head assembly is placed, and an integrated sample platform and spring-loaded base-plate that allows samples to be loaded and unloaded without removal of the chamber from the AFM scanning head assembly. The sample platform, which extends up from the base-plate and is inserted into the chamber, can include a magnet that is securely attached to the base. Once the sample platform is positioned inside the chamber, a locking pin can be inserted between the chamber and the bottom portion of the sample platform to secure the sample platform and base-plate. The spring-loaded base allows the z-directional motors of the AFM to be used to position the sample just below the probe prior to scanning, while at the same time providing an essentially air-tight fit between the chamber and the AFM scanning head. An embodiment of the present invention is suitable for use with components that sense and control the relative humidity inside the chamber.

The present invention relates to environmental control for atomic force microscopes, and in particular to controlling the humidity level of the environment local to the probe and sample during scanning with a scanning stylus atomic force microscope.
The Atomic Force Microscope, or AFM, allows high-resolution imaging at the subnanometer level, and in a liquid environment at the atomic level. The basic objective of the operation of the AFM is to measure the forces (at the atomic level) between a sharp probing tip (which is attached to a cantilever spring) and a sample surface. Images are taken by scanning the sample relative to the probing tip and measuring the deflection of the cantilever as a function of lateral position. The AFM probe is scanned across the sample surface to generate an image. As the scan progresses the AFM measures the small upward and downward movements that are needed to maintain a constant force of contact. Because the AFM senses the surface by xe2x80x9ctouchxe2x80x9d, it allows imaging of nonconducting materials such biological and molecules, plastics, ceramics, and insulating materials like glass or diamond, with nanometer resolution.
Because of its unique capabilities, the AFM is widely recognized as an important tool for evaluating materials and materials-enabled engineering systems. In particular, the ability to image materials in a variety of environments, including under ambient conditions and in liquids, enables high resolution imaging of biomaterials and polymers without causing significant deterioration of the materials or introducing artifacts related to the extensive sample preparation used in other high resolution microscopes. However, during imaging in ambient conditions, surface contamination will occur due to the presence of moisture in the form of humidity that will adsorb onto the sample surface. The amount of adsorbed moisture, which will depend on the ambient relative humidity, can affect AFM imaging and force measurements. When the tip of the AFM probe scans over a moist sample, it sometimes takes a hopping motion because of the way the water molecules are layered. This hopping motion, is believed to affect a sample""s image quality. Therefore, controlling the humidity level during scanning becomes an important factor when using the AFM.
To date, it is believed that only one commercially available humidity chamber exists for use with an AFM. The existing commercially available humidity chamber, however, is limited to a particular type of scanned sample AFMs, where the AFM probe and detection system are fixed and the sample is moved by the scanners. Thus, the currently available humidity chamber is limited to scanned sample AFMs and cannot be used with scanned stylus AFMs, where the sample is fixed and the probe is rastered across the sample by the scanners. The head of the scanned stylus AFM has a much more complicated geometric design than the scanned sample AFM, thus rendering the design of a humidity chamber a much more difficult task.
The present invention, however, overcomes these problems and provides a humidity chamber which can be used in conjunction with a scanned stylus AFM, and similar microscopes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus atomic force microscope (AFM) and similar microscopes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel humidity chamber comprising a novel geometrical design configured to accommodate a scanned-stylus AFM having an optical lever.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which also provides for full enclosure of one or more of the AFM scanner, tip assembly, optical lever detection system, sample, and side-mounted optical microscope objective lens (camera), without degrading the ability to operate the AFM or the related systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM, wherein the humidity chamber comprises a chamber, a spring loaded base and a side entry port.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which allows samples to be loaded and unloaded without removal of the chamber from the AFM scanning head assembly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which provides a snug, essentially air-tight, fit between the chamber and the AFM scanning head assembly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which provides easy access to an optical microscope lens.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which allows for the use of an optical system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which allows for the use of an optical system to locate and focus on a probe and/or sample surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which allows humid air to be delivered into the chamber, fill the chamber, and exit the chamber.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which both allows the z-directional motors of the AFM to be used to position the sample just below the probe (scanning tip) prior to scanning, and provides a snug fit between the chamber and the AFM scanning head.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidity chamber suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM which allows precise control of relative humidity.
These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a new and improved a humidity chamber which can be used to provide a humidity-free environment, or alternatively a humidity intense environment (humidity level can be maintained at a specified level) suitable for use with a scanned stylus AFM. The invention generally comprises a chamber within which the AFM scanning head assembly is placed, and an integrated sample platform and spring-loaded base-plate that allow samples to be loaded and unloaded without removal of the humidity chamber from the AFM scanning head assembly. Once the sample platform is positioned inside the chamber, a locking clip is inserted between the chamber and the bottom portion of the sample platform to secure the sample platform and base-plate. The spring-loaded base allows the z-directional motors of the AFM to be used to position the sample just below the AFM scanning tip (probe) prior to scanning, while at the same time providing a snug fit between the chamber and the AFM scanning head.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity chamber comprises a chamber of specified geometry within which the AFM scanning head assembly is placed, and an integrated sample platform and spring-loaded base-plate which allow samples to be loaded and unloaded without removal of the chamber from the AFM scanning head assembly.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity chamber comprises a chamber of specified geometry which allows the use of an optical system to locate and focus on a probe and/or sample surface.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity chamber includes adjacent entry and exit ports that allow humid air to be delivered into the chamber, fill the chamber, and exit the chamber.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the sample platform extends up from the base-plate and is inserted into the chamber, and includes a magnetic sample port comprising a magnet securely attached to the base-plate.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a locking pin secures the sample platform and base-plate once the sample platform is positioned inside the chamber.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity chamber includes a port configured to allow for the use of an optical system.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity chamber includes a large side-entry port configured to allow access to an optical microscope lens.
In an embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the AFM scanner, tip assembly (probe), optical lever detection system, sample, and side-mounted optical microscope objective lens (camera) are fully enclosed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic sample port is configured to provide a snug fit between the chamber and the AFM scanning head assembly.

Humidity chamber for scanning stylus atomic force microscope with cantilever tracking

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


Brain endothelial low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP-1) mediates vascular clearance of Alzheimer's amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) from the brain. Transport of Aβ occurs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the systemic circulation, but the brain endothelium is compromised in Alzheimer's disease. The invention is used to diagnose the disease in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, to identify those at risk for disease or already affected thereby, to determine the stage of disease or its progression, to intervene earlier in or alter the disease's natural history, to provide a target for therapeutic or prophylactic treatments, to screen drugs or compare medical regimens, to determine the effectiveness of a drug or medical regimen, or any combination thereof.

Deposition of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in brain occurs during normal aging and is accelerated in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ is central to pathology of AD, and is the main constituent of brain parenchymal and vascular amyloid (1-6). Aβ extracted from senile plaques contains mainly Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 (7), while vascular amyloid is predominantly Aβ1-39 and Aβ1-40 (8). Several sequences of Aβ were found in both lesions (9-11). A major soluble form of Aβ, which is present in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (12-14) and brain (15-16) is Aβ1-40. In the circulation, CSF and brain interstitial fluid (ISF), soluble Aβ may exist as a free peptide and/or associated with different transport binding proteins such as apolipoprotein J (apoJ) (17-18), apolipoprotein E (apoE) (19), transthyretin (20), lipoproteins (21), albumin (22), and alpha-2 macroglobulin (α2M) (23).
The neuronal theory argues that soluble brain-derived Aβ is a precursor of Aβ deposits. Neuronal cells secrete Aβ in culture (24), which supports this view. An increase in soluble Aβ in AD and Down's Syndrome brains precedes amyloid plaque formation (15, 25, 26), and correlates with the development of vascular pathology (27). Several cytosolic proteases that may degrade intracellular Aβ in vitro cannot degrade extracellular Aβ from brain ISF (28) or CSF (29) in vivo. An exception is enkephalinase that may degrade Aβ1-42 from brain ISF (28). However, the physiological importance of this degradation in vivo remains still unclear since the peptide was studied at extremely high pharmacological concentrations (30).
It has been suggested that decreased clearance of Aβ from brain and CSF is the main cause of Aβ accumulation in sporadic AD (31). Since Aβ is continuously produced in the brain, a working hypothesis in this study was that efficient clearance mechanism(s) must exist at the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) to prevent its accumulation and subsequent aggregation in the brain. Cell surface receptors such as the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) (32-33), scavenger type A receptor (SR-A) (34), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) (35-38) and LRP-2 (39) bind Aβ at low nanomolar concentrations as free peptide (e.g., RAGE, SR-A), and/or in complex with α2M, apoE or apoJ (e.g., LRP-1, LRP-2). RAGE and SR-A regulate brain endothelial endocytosis and transcytosis of Aβ initiated at the luminal side of the BBB (33), while LRP-2 mediates BBB transport of plasma Aβ complexed to apoJ (39). The role of vascular receptors and BBB transport in the removal of brain-derived Aβ is unknown.
In the present study, a technique to measure brain tissue clearance in mice was developed based on a previous model in the rabbit (40). This technique was used to determine in vivo the efflux rates of Aβ1-40 from the CNS as a function of time and concentration of peptide, and to characterize vascular transport and/or receptor-mediated efflux mechanism(s) involved in elimination of brain-derived Aβ across the BBB. The study focused on LRP-1 and its ligands, α2M and apoE because both promote Aβ clearance in smooth muscle cells (35), neurons (36, 38), and fibroblasts (37); and the apoE4 genetic locus is definitely, and the α2M genetic locus is possibly associated with increasing the risk for AD (41-42).
This study can be used to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and mechanisms of disease. New and nonobvious modes of diagnosis and treatment are suggested by this discovery. Other advantages of the invention are discussed below or would be apparent to persons in the art from the disclosure herein.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP-1)in clearance of alzheimer's amyloid-beta peptide from the central nervous system


A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly includes first and second electrode non-coating portions exposed from respective sides of an electrode assembly, first and second collecting plates in contact with and fixed to the respective first and second electrode non-coating portions, a retainer including first and second fixing slits that accommodate the first and second collecting plates connected to the electrode assembly, respectively, and a case that accommodates the retainer accommodating the electrode assembly and the first collecting plate. The retainer includes a first side part including the first fixing slit, a second side part facing the first side part and including the second fixing slit, and a bottom part connecting the first and second side parts to each other.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Secondary batteries are rechargeable, unlike primary batteries. Of these secondary batteries, a low capacity battery including a battery cell in the form of a pack may be used in portable small electronic devices such as cellular phones and camcorders, and a high capacity battery including tens of battery cells connected to one another may be used as a motor-driving power source for electric scooters, hybrid vehicles, or electric vehicles.
Secondary batteries may be manufactured in various shapes, such as a cylindrical shape and a prismatic shape. An electrolyte and an electrode assembly formed by interposing a separator as an insulator between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are accommodated in a case, and a cap plate is installed on the case, so as to form a secondary battery. The electrode assembly may be connected with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, which protrude through the cap plate and are exposed to the exterior of the electrode assembly.

Secondary battery including retainer for electrode assembly


A method and apparatus for forming an optical cable includes an extruder for extruding a sheath on each light waveguide to form an independent light waveguide lead, a cooling device immediately following the extruder for cooling the light waveguide lead, which is then stranded to form a lead bundle.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for manufacturing optical cables containing at least two light waveguides, which method and apparatus utilizes an extruder to which the light waveguides are supplied, and which serves the purpose of producing a protective sheath for the waveguide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,165, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto, and German Letters Patent 31 11 963, each disclose a method and apparatus for forming an optical transmission element having a fiber received in a tubular jacket containing filling material. Preferably, the jacket is formed by two concentric envelopes. As disclosed, one always proceeds so that the light waveguide is first manufactured and then is stored as an intermediate product, for example on a plate or a drum. The cable core is then composed of a plurality of these intermediate products on the basis of a separate stranding process that occurs at a different location and at a different time. The stranding itself can occur in a long lay or with changing stranding directions to form an SZ-stranding. Winding the intermediate product onto a drum or depositing the intermediate product represents an additional work outlay or cost and also requires storage in respective deposit areas.
German Patent 25 23 738 discloses a cable wherein the light waveguides are accommodated in interspaces or chambers of a core element that has the approximate cross sectional shape of a wheel having spokes. A tensile central element is provided in the middle and the overall structure is manufactured in one working cycle as a closed single-piece element. The disadvantage of such a structure is that the fiber of fiber bundles are placed into a closed structure and no protection is provided for these bundles or fibers, such as sleeves, without additional cost.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical cable


A method, apparatus, and software are presented for a device to provide information about operation of a button during operation of the button. The button performs a first action if the button has been operated a first way, and performs a second alternative action if the button has instead been operated a second way. The user is provided with information, during the operation of the button, indicative of the second way.

The invention is related to user interfaces where, for example, a long press of a button is used to perform a different function from a short press. Using a single button instead of multiple buttons to accomplish more than one functionality presents a very significant opportunity to reduce the hardware features of devices, especially small devices like wireless phones.
For example, consider the backspace key on a typical computer keyboard. Pressing it briefly will delete a single character, but if the backspace key is held down during a slight lapse of time, then the key suddenly begins to delete multiple characters continuously. Other examples include pressing and holding a button for moving clock hands continuously in a wristwatch, or pressing and holding a right key to initiate speech recognition in various mobile phones.
In many user interfaces with limited mechanisms for input (e.g. mobile phones), utilization of the few buttons available is enhanced by separating a short press of a button from a press where the button is held for a longer duration (the duration being preset by the device designer). Sometimes this works very nicely if the functionality occurring from the long key press is a natural extension of the functionality occurring from a short press. For example, it is natural to press and hold the delete button on a PC keyboard to delete many characters. In that case, the long keypress optimizes the user interface (UI) so that it requires fewer keypresses, and also so that the user interface does not require one button for single character deletion and another button for multiple character deletion.
However, when the function resulting from the long keypress is not obvious, and is an alternative to the function resulting from a short keypress, then the user of a prior art device often needs to guess what will happen. Furthermore, the long keypress is often a hidden feature in the user interface, and therefore the long keypress may be left unused. Frequently, the prior art provides no hint to the user that there is an extra alternative functionality that can be accessed by keeping the button pressed. Thus, users are often unaware of their options, especially when the function is a rarely used one (e.g. accessing the list of running tasks by long-pressing an applications key), or when the long press is used as a shortcut to a functionality that can also be reached by navigating through a more elaborate unhidden route in the UI. Style guidebooks often mention that the long-press should be used only when it is a natural extension of a short press, but in practice this rule is often breached.
It is known to hold a button down for a period of time in order to perform a function, such as turning off a device, and it is also known to preface this function by informing the user what will happen if the user continues to hold down the button. For example, a button can be held down, thus causing a progress bar to appear, and once the progress bar is full then the device shuts down. However, this type of device only describes one possible action resulting from release of the button (i.e. shutting down), and releasing the button prematurely causes no action at all. Thus, holding the button down is merely a way of ensuring that the user will not shut off the power unless the user is very certain that he wants the device to shut down, and this technique does not facilitate any actions in addition to shutting down. (The word "action" in this application excludes the do-nothing option.)
It is also known for a user to contact different touch-sensitive buttons in order to explore their functionality before actually pressing those buttons to activate them. See Hinckley et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,275). However, that technique would not significantly help a user to be aware that a transition (i.e. time-out) from one function to another is nearing, and furthermore that technique would require the user to remember which functionality corresponds to which period of time.
It is further known in the prior art to use soft keys (e.g. buttons that appear on a display screen), in a tap-and-hold manner. For example, an item on a menu can be selected, and a mouse button can be held down until the user selects a desired functionality, and then the user chooses that functionality by releasing the mouse button. Unfortunately, this type of scenario does not offer any advantage for a hard button (i.e. a physical key as distinguished from a soft key). Moreover, even for soft keys, this type of tap and hold scenario will not work if the device lacks a mouse or other similar device.

Method for describing alternative actions caused by pushing a single button


A content addressable memory (CAM) access system and method having self-timing and built-in margin test features. The present invention includes a compare array which has multiple comparator paths. The comparator paths generate multiple mismatch indications after receiving a system clock signal. The present invention also includes a row driver which receives the mismatch indications produced by the compare array after receiving a Tclock signal. The row driver generates multiple row enables based on the mismatch indications. The Tclock signal is generated only after the mismatch indications are valid. Thus, the row driver always receives valid mismatch indications. According to the present invention, the Tclock signal is generated by simulating a worst case path through the compare array. The worst case path produces a dummy mismatch indication. Since the dummy mismatch indication is a product of the worst case path through the compare array, the mismatch indications must be valid when the dummy mismatch indication is valid. Thus, the dummy mismatch indication may be used as the Tclock to cause the row driver to read the mismatch indications. In other words, the dummy mismatch indication may be used as a measure of the amount of time which the compare array requires to generate valid mismatch indications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to content addressable memory access systems and methods, and more particularly to content addressable memory access systems and methods having self-timing and built-in margin test features.
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional content addressable memory (CAM) 102 for use in a computer system. The CAM 102 has a compare array 104, row drivers 108, and an access array 112.
The compare array 104 has N rows and M columns. Each column of every row contains a data bit and a comparator. Thus, every row in the compare array 104 has M data bits and M comparators.
The compare array 104 receives a compare input 106 having M bits. The compare input 106 is received by every row of the compare array 104. For every row in the compare array 104, the M comparators determine whether the M data bits match or mismatch the compare input 106.
Each row of the compare array 104 has a mismatch indication 122. Thus, there are N mismatch indications 122. A row's mismatch indication 122 is true if the compare input 106 does not match the row's M data bits. A row's mismatch indication 122 is false if the compare input 106 matches the row's M data bits.
The mismatch indications 122 are input to a row driver 108. The row driver 108 produces N row enables 118. The N row enables 118 correspond to the N mismatch indications 122. Specifically, a row enable 118i is asserted if its corresponding mismatch indication 122i is false.
Note that the compare array 104 and the row driver 108 have clock inputs 116 and 117, respectively. The clock inputs 116, 117 are used to determine when the compare array 104 and the row driver 108 receive the compare input 106 and mismatch indications 122, respectively. In other words, the clock inputs 116, 117 are used to determine when the compare input 106 and mismatch indications 122 are valid. As shown in FIG. 1, signals on the clock inputs 116, 117 are conventionally produced by a system clock 114.
The access array 112 has N rows wherein each row contains X bits of data. In other words, the access array 112 contains N data words wherein each data word contains X data bits. A data word in the access array 112 is accessed if its corresponding row enable 118 is asserted.
The CAM 102 operates as follows. All of the N mismatch lines 122 are precharged false (that is, high) during a low phase of the system clock 114. The compare array 104 receives the compare input 106. The compare input 106 either matches none or one or more of the rows in the compare array 104.
If the compare input 106 matches none of the rows in the compare array 104, then all of the mismatch indications 122 fall true. As a result, the row driver 108 does not assert any of the row enables 118. Thus, none of the data words in the access array 112 are accessed.
If the compare input 106 matches a row in the compare array 104, then the row's mismatch indication 122 remains false. As a result, the row driver 108 asserts the corresponding row enable 118 when the system clock 114 attached to the clock input 117 falls. Therefore, the data word in the access array 112 associated with the asserted row enable 118 is accessed.
The mismatch indications 122 must be valid when the row driver 108 uses the mismatch indications 122 to produce the row enables 118. This occurs when the system clock 114 attached to the clock input 117 falls. Otherwise, the row enables 118 will be invalid and a data word from the access array 112 may be incorrectly accessed.
As noted above, the clock inputs 116, 117 determine when the compare array 104 and the row driver 108 receive the compare input 106 and mismatch indications 122, respectively. More precisely, the compare array 104 receives the compare input 106 on a rising edge of the system clock 114 on the clock input 116. The row driver 108 receives the mismatch indications 122 on the subsequent falling edge of the system clock 114 on the clock input 117.
The amount of time between the rising edge and subsequent falling edge of the system clock 114 must be sufficient to allow the compare array 104 to generate valid mismatch indications 122. Otherwise, the row driver 108 will produce invalid row enables 118.
Ordinarily, the amount of time between the rising and subsequent falling edges from the system clock 114 is sufficiently large to allow the compare array 104 to generate valid mismatch indications 122. In fact, the amount of time necessary for the compare array 104 to generate valid mismatch indications 122 is significantly less than the amount of time between the rising and subsequent falling edges from the system clock 114. Thus, it is wasteful to use the system clock 114 to produce the second clock signal on the clock input 117. In other words, the system clock 114 does not provide an adequate measure of the amount of time it takes the compare array 104 to generate valid mismatch indications 122.
Therefore, the conventional CAM 102 is flawed because the exclusive use of the system clock 114 in its access mechanism lowers the rate at which the access array may be accessed.
Therefore, optimized systems and methods for accessing content addressable memories are required. Also, systems and methods for testing such optimized CAM access systems and methods are required.

Self-timed content addressable memory access mechanism with built-in margin test feature


In one embodiment, a wireless network device identifies whether any other detectable network device advertises a higher advertised remaining power than a corresponding remaining power in the wireless network device. The wireless network device advertises as an active node for a zone of a wireless mobile ad hoc network, based on no other detectable network device advertising the higher advertised remaining power. The wireless network device also can advertise another wireless network device as a standby node for the zone, based on the other wireless network device advertising a lower advertised remaining power.

This section describes approaches that could be employed, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or employed. Hence, unless explicitly specified otherwise, any approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application, and any approaches described in this section are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Ad hoc networks are infrastructure-less, decentralized, multi-hop wireless networks in which wireless network devices cooperatively maintain network connectivity. Various routing protocols have been proposed for mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), including Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), Destination-Sequenced Distance-Vector (DSDV), Temporally-Ordered Routing Algorithm (TORA), Signal Stability-Based Adaptive Routing (SSA), Dynamic Adaptive Routing Protocol (DARP), Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance-Vector (AODV) protocol, and Wireless Routing Protocol (WRP). MANET routing protocols such as DSR, DSDV, TORA, and WRP use hop count and/or delay as a routing metric, whereas SSA, DARP, and others use link quality and/or location stability as a metric. More recent proposals use power-aware metrics for determining routes in wireless ad hoc networks based on battery power consumption.

Dynamic zone routing in a mobile ad hoc network based on maximum available network device battery power


A flow controlling apparatus for a power steering system includes a variable throttle mechanism installed in the pump to change the flow rate of discharged oil from the pump to a hydraulic device; a linear solenoid mechanism controlling the variable throttle mechanism by a predetermined energizing current; a spool feeding back the excess discharged oil to a bypass passage of the pump in accordance with a differential pressure between the upstream and downstream sides of the variable throttle mechanism when the excess fluid exceeds a predetermined value; and an ECU controlling the energized current to change the transition process in accordance with a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow controlling apparatus for a power steering system which constantly supplies operational oil from an oil pump to a hydraulic device to assist a steering wheel of a vehicle by hydraulic power.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known for a flow controlling apparatus for a power steering system to output a predetermined volume of the discharged operational oil to a hydraulic device in accordance with a vehicle speed or a steering angle of a steering wheel, for example as shown in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2001-163233. In this related art, the discharged fluid is controlled by a variable valve equipped in an outlet of the flow controlling apparatus by energizing a solenoid. The solenoid is controlled by an electric signal relating to the vehicle speed or the steering angle through control means such as a micro computer. The solenoid is energized in accordance with the electric signal to operate the variable valve in order to control the amount of fluid to the hydraulic device of the power steering system.
In the well known power steering system, since the solenoid is energized in accordance with the electric signal relating to the vehicle speed or the steering angle of the steering wheel to operate the variable valve in order to control the amount of fluid supplied to the hydraulic device of the power steering system, it is best for energy saving that the amount of discharged fluid is zero where the steering is judged to be not operated by judging the steering angle. However, where the amount of discharged fluid is zero, seizure of the hydraulic device or unsteady driving based on a disturbance such a kick-back and so on in a straight run can occur. Further, it requires time during rapid steering for the discharged fluid volume to increase to a suitable amount, causing delayed response of power assistance by the hydraulic device. Because of this reason, the well known flow controlling apparatus keeps a minimum flow of fluid discharged to the hydraulic device of the power steering as standby fluid when waiting to assist the steering wheel. Therefore, it is easy to reach the predetermined amount of fluid from the standby fluid amount even for rapid steering. The well known electrically controlled flow controlling device provides only a single way of transition from standby amount of fluid Qs to a suitable amount of fluid (Qa) needed for assisting the hydraulic device, that is to say the time constant relating to an increase from Qs to Qa is only a single value, as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, where the time constant is set for rapid steering in the control means, the assisting force suddenly and unexpectedly rises at slow steering, thereby making the driver feel uncomfortable.

Flow controlling apparatus for power steering


A system that allows a user to spotlight a region of particular interest in a large-scale display, such as a wall panel display. The spotlight can be a circular or other shape area around which the display is de-emphasized, such as by being darkened or blurred outside the circle. The spotlight can be moved by the user moving a cursor positioned in the circle. When the cursor encounters an edge of the circle the spotlight is moved in the direction of cursor movement. As the cursor is moved the outside region has less de-emphasis. When the movement is stopped the outside region is darkened to the maximum. A spotlight beam or other attention directing area of emphasis can be used to help focus a viewer's attention on the spotlight. The spotlight can follow objects in a scene as they move.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for directing the attention of audience members viewing a large-scale display and, more particularly, to a system that de-emphasizes portions of the display not pointed out by a spotlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
During a meeting or presentation in which a large-scale display, such as a wall panel display, is used, users or presenters frequently like to convey or point out an area of interest to other users or audience members to focus their attention on a particular area of the displays. This can be accomplished verbally by telling the users where to look or spatially by pointing to a target.
What is needed is a better approach to focusing attention on an area of interest in large-scale displays.


A marketplace diagnostics framework for analyzing and managing online marketplaces.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to marketplace analysis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Online marketplaces have been emerging for the last two decades. Online marketplaces, such as eBay, Amazon, and Yahoo have provided an arena to purchase and advertise various products and services. For example, billions of dollars are now being spent per year on online advertising, and there seems to be no end to the growth of the Internet or online advertising.
Although companies have achieved great success through online marketplaces, the scale of large online marketplaces makes them difficult to analyze and manage efficiently. For example, one tradeoff can be the complexity of determining pricing and potential revenue derived from an online advertisement. Another complexity can be understanding a structure of a marketplace and how various marketplaces may be interrelated. This is especially difficult, considering structure of an online marketplace may constantly change in unpredictable ways. Because of the abovementioned complexities and other issues that make analyzing and managing of online marketplaces difficult, users and operators of such marketplaces would benefit from an effective framework for analyzing and managing online marketplaces.


An apparatus is provided for feeding fabric workpieces one at a time from the top of a stack of like workpieces having a first rough side and a second smooth side, the workpieces being stacked with alternating sides up. A computer controlled picker is used to separate the top workpiece from the remaining workpieces in the stack, and for depositing the workpiece on a downstream conveyor. An ultrasonic face detector is mounted above the first conveyor for determining whether the side of the workpiece facing the face detector--the top surface--is relatively rough or relatively smooth. A pivoting feeder/inverter is provided at the end of the first conveyor. If the workpiece has the desired side up for subsequent sewing operations, the inverter/conveyor is placed in a first position so that the workpiece is directed into a sandwich belt type conveyor which will not change the orientation of the workpiece. If the workpiece has the desired side down, the feeder/inverter is pivoted to a second position to enable the workpiece to enter an inverter conveyor which will rotate the workpiece 180 degrees about an axis along the direction of travel to place the workpiece in the correct orientation for the subsequent sewing operation. Thus, this apparatus takes all of the fabric workpieces from a stack in which the sides facing up alternate, and automatically places all of them in the same orientation prior to arrival at a sewing station.

In the manufacture of clothing it is often necessary to feed small sections or pieces of fabric, called fabric workpieces, into processing machines which edge, sew, and the like. For example, in making dungarees or jeans, the rear seat patch pockets will first be cut as rectangles or polygons of denim, and then singly fed to a machine for hemming the top edge (prior to sewing the patch onto the pants to form the pocket). Or, one leg piece will be fed to a machine for sewing on a fly zipper tape.
Typically fabric pieces will be simultaneously cut from multiple layers on a conventional cutting table, and arrive at the processing machine stacked. The stacks of fabric pieces cut in this manner typically have individual pieces which alternate side up and side down in the stack. Jeans fabric, for example, usually has a rough, dark side and a smooth, light side, and all the pieces must arrive at a sewing station with a proper side up if the assembled jeans are not to be defective.
In the manufacture of jeans, pieces like pocket patches, belt loops and fly material have traditionally been picked off from the stack manually and hand fed into the sewing or processing machine, because existing devices were unable to reliably perform the necessary operations, which are: first, picking up from the stack only the single top piece of fabric (to avoid feeding double pieces to the processing machinery); next, inspecting the pieces to determine which side is facing up; third, flipping those pieces which have the wrong side facing up; and, fourth feeding the individual pieces into the processing machine.
Thus, the need exists for an automated device which can automatically remove fabric parts one at a time from a stack of like parts which alternate side up and side down, determine which side is up, and direct each part through a feeding path or an inverting path so that when all parts arrive at a sewing station they have the desired side up.

Automatic feeder and inverter for fabric workpieces


Provided is an arc furnace, including: a furnace body having a bottomed cylindrical shape; a furnace lid that openably closes an opening of the furnace body; an electrode that is provided at the furnace lid and melts a metal material supplied into the furnace body by electric discharge; a tilting floor that is tiltable within a plane substantially perpendicular to the tilting floor; and a rotation mechanism that is provided on the tilting floor inward from an outer circumference of the furnace body to support a bottom wall of the furnace body, and rotates the furnace body around a cylinder axis thereof.

In an arc furnace, in particular, a three-phase arc furnace, there has been the problem that the metal material in the furnace is not melted uniformly. That is, while melting of the metal material quickly advances in the hot spot near each of the three electrodes, the metal material tends to remain unmelted in the cold spot distant from each of the electrodes. Therefore, there have been the problems that electric power more than necessary to melt the metal material in the cold spots is required, and that the furnace wall lining is damaged due to excessive supply of electric power in the hot spot. Consequently, Patent Document 1 proposes the arc furnace that enables uniform melting by making a bottomed cylindrical furnace body rotatable around a cylinder axis thereof, and replacing the hot spots and the cold spots.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-S60-122886


A reconfigurable sensor front-end includes a logic block having a storage circuit to store hardware description information and a reconfigurable block including a plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits are to be set in a first configuration based on the hardware description information and are to be set in a second configuration when the hardware description information changes. The first hardware description information corresponds to a first sensor and the changed hardware description information corresponding to a second sensor.

Many electronic devices (instruments) are equipped with interfaces adapted for coupling to sensors and peripheral devices. Sensors and peripheral devices are made by different manufacturers, are designed based on different specifications, and/or have different functional requirements. Consequently, the host electronic devices often must be equipped with custom hardware front-end circuits in order to interface to specific sensors and peripherals.
The use of dedicated, custom front-end hardware limits flexibility and increases cost, complexity, power consumption, size and makes the device single-functioned. This requires users to purchase multiple dedicated devices for multiple applications. A single device or platform which can dynamically reconfigures itself to synthesize front-ends to interface to multiple sensors and peripherals is currently not available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reconfigurable sensing platform for software defined instrumentation


A clamp assembly provides an attachment point for securely gripping pipe or other tubular goods including, without limitation, a section of coiled tubing. The clamp assembly beneficially includes a pad-eye member for attaching the clamp assembly (and any attached tubing) to a hook of a crane or other lifting mechanism. The clamp assembly also prevents partially unspooled coiled tubing from re-winding through a winding guide of a spool, thereby maintaining a distal outer end of the coiled tubing in an easily accessible location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a clamp assembly for gripping a length of pipe and providing a means for attaching said pipe to a lifting means such as, for example, a crane. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a clamp assembly for use in safely and efficiently guiding and threading a length of continuous tubing from a spool or reel into and out of an injector head. More particularly still, the present invention pertains to a clamp assembly that can remain attached to a length of continuous tubing to prevent said tubing from passing through a guide on a reel or coil.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In servicing oil and gas wells, a continuous length of pipe, generally referred to as "coiled tubing", can be used. Such coiled tubing generally comprises a length of continuous pipe wrapped on a spool, such that a desired length of tubing may be unspooled from said spool, passed through an injector head mounted on a well and injected into said well. After operations are completed, said coiled tubing can be retracted from the well and wound back on said spool.
During setup of a coiled tubing operation, a crane or other lifting device is frequently used to move the outer end of a length of continuous tubing from a spool to an injector, both of which can be positioned twenty feet or more above the ground or other support surface. In order to accomplish such transfer, it is generally necessary to connect said crane or other lifting means to said tubing at or near the outer end of said tubing. Once said crane or other lifting means is securely attached to said tubing, the end of the tubing can be lifted and laterally moved (and partially unspooled) to the intake of an injector head.
Once a well service operation is complete, the process is typically reversed. Coiled tubing is retracted from a well until the distal end of said tubing reaches the intake of an injector head. Thereafter, a crane or other lifting device is connected to said outer end of said tubing, and moved laterally to said spool from said injector head while the tubing is reeled back on to said spool.
When a length of coiled tubing is fully wrapped on a spool, the outer end of said tubing can pull through the wind guide of said spool assembly, thereby making said outer end difficult to access. Consequently, it is generally advantageous to provide a means to prevent an outer end of said coiled tubing from being pulled completely through said guide toward said spool, thereby becoming loose on the reel and difficult to access.
Conventional tubing clamps are typically connected to a length of coiled tubing to provide an attachment means for attaching a crane or other lifting apparatus to said tubing. Such conventional tubing clamps generally comprise a plurality of pad-eyes—typically two (2)—disposed on a top face of said tubing clamp. A crane or other lifting means can then be connected to said pad eyes using slings or other connection means.
Conventional tubing clamps are generally not easy to use or reliable in terms of gripping strength. Further, conventional tubing clamps typically require a double leg sling set in order to attach to said clamp; such double leg sling sets are less readily available than other sling sets, and can take longer to connect and disconnect than other attachment means.
Thus, there is a need for a tubing clamp having a single lifting eye member that can attach to a crane hook, thereby beneficially providing a significant improvement in safety of operation as well as efficiency.


A football is provided with rearwardly extending fins which promote a tight spiralling rotation of the football when it is thrown through the air. A first of the fins is joined to the football by a centrally located notch therein which interlocks with a second fin integral with the football body when the first fin is passed through a centrally located slot in the second fin and adjacent football body. The fins include flat end surfaces which may be received on a supporting surface for supporting the ball in an upright position. The rearwardly extending fins elevate the body portion above the supporting surface and thereby make it easier to kick.

The instant invention relates to the toy art and more particularly to a toy football.
Toy footballs including fin elements on the body portion thereof have heretofore been known in the art. For example, finned footballs of the general type contemplated by the instant invention are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Goldfarb 3,225,488, and Smith 3,256,020 which represent the closest prior art to the subject invention of which the applicant is aware. Both the Goldfarb and Smith patents disclose inflatable footballs having fins on the body portion of the football at one end thereof. However, the footballs as illustrated in these prior issued patents do not teach the concept of providing a foam football having fins of foam material attached thereto that enables the football to be produced inexpensively but with considerable play value.


An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common node forming channels below blue color-select gates. A buried green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a first deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a green color-select gate. A red photocollector buried deeper than the green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a second deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a red color-select gate. A reset-transistor has a source disposed over and in contact with the common node. A source-follower transistor has gate coupled to the common node, a drain coupled to a power-supply node, and a source forming a pixel-sensor output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to CMOS active pixel sensors. More particularly, the present invention relates to such pixel sensors having depleted photocollectors coupled to a depleted common node.
2. The Prior Art
Active pixel sensors that use a pinned photodiode are well known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,493. The pinned photodiode is advantageous as it prevents the high leakage current due to surface defects in the semiconductor materials used to make the photodiode. An additional improvement to the pinned photodiode is the fully depleted pinned photodiode as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,243. The depleted photodiode allows for reduction in photodiode capacitance which improves light sensitivity and cancellation of reset noise which improves signal-to-noise ratio, in addition to the lower leakage of the pinned diode. Most active pixel sensors that employ a pinned photodiode also have a sensing node coupled to the diode, usually through a transistor. The sensing node can also be pinned to improve performance by reducing capacitance and leakage effects as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,322. Another trend in active pixel sensor design is the reduction of pixel size and the desire to reduce the amount of circuitry within each pixel. Reducing the pixel size reduces the photocollection area, thereby reducing sensitivity. In order to counteract this sensitivity reduction, it is desirable to share readout circuits among more than one pixel as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,670. However, sharing the circuits can introduce problems such as increased capacitance and noise.
A new class of image sensors uses multiple detectors stacked in a vertical arrangement to make a multi-color sensor as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,521. The multi-color sensor that employs vertically stacked pixel sensors also benefits from sharing of wires and circuitry, particularly because the stacked pixel design has more photocollection sites per unit area of the sensor as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,757. Sharing the sense node of a single readout circuit among a number of photocollection circuits in a vertical stacked pixel sensor can also lead to degradation of performance similar to the conventional sensor, and therefore a way to counteract the negative effects of sharing readout circuits is needed. The invention embodied herein provides a method for improving the performance of an active pixel sensor that uses a shared readout node.

CMOS pixel sensor with depleted photocollectors and a depleted common node


A titration apparatus, which operated volumetrically and/or coulometrically, includes a basic apparatus with a control and actuation arrangement for the volumetric metering of reagents, a metering unit for the volumetric titration removably attached to the basic apparatus, and mechanical coupling elements for connecting the metering unit to the actuation device. Instead of the volumetric unit or in addition thereto, a coulometric titration cell may be connected with the basic apparatus directly or by an adapter unit, while using the same control device as the metering unit.

The invention relates to a volumetrically and/or coulometrically operating titration apparatus. Titration apparatuses can be utilized in the most diverse areas for the chemical identification of one or several substances in specimens. In general chemistry, petrochemistry, in the foodstuff industry, pharmacology and medicine as well as in the water and waste water treatment sector, etc., the amount of a particular substance can be determined by titration. For this purpose, there occurs a precise metering of a reagent with a known content of an active substance, which reacts in a known relationship with the particular substance. The amount of the reagent required up to a specific end point, which is usually recognized with an indicator electrode, is a measure of the amount of the substance to be identified. The feeding of the specific reagent can be accomplished in two different ways, either volumetrically or coulometrically. In the volumetric method, the reagent is supplied to the titration vessel as an admeasured volume by a very precisely controllable piston/cylinder unit (metering unit). In the coulometric method, the reagent is generated electrolytically in a titration vessel. For this purpose, generator-electrodes are used which penetrate the content of the titration vessel. By means of an accurately measured current applied to the electrodes, the reagent is produced in a predetermined amount electrochemically in the titration vessel, which amount then reacts with the particular substance. The current-time period-area is a measure for the amount of the added reagent and thus of the substance to be determined.
As it has already been mentioned, the known titration apparatuses work either according to the volumetric or the coulometric method, meaning if a change of method is to occur it is necessary to use the other appropriate type of a titration apparatus. The procurement of both instruments results in high expenses.
Furthermore, a titration apparatus is known by means of which an associated coulometric titration cell can be operated. In addition, an associated instrument can be allocated which operates according to the volumetric method.
Accordingly, the main object of the invention is a titration apparatus, which can be utilized in a particularly versatile manner and can be purchased and utilized in a cost effective manner. Another object of the invention is a versatile titration apparatus having a simple construction.

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