A battery separator includes a polyolefin microporous membrane and a porous layer placed on at least one surface of the polyolefin microporous membrane. The polyolefin microporous membrane has a variation range of an F25 value in a longitudinal direction of 1 MPa or less. The F25 value indicates a value obtained by dividing a load value measured at 25% elongation of a specimen with use of a tensile tester by a cross-sectional area of the specimen. The porous layer contains a fluorine-based resin and an inorganic particle and has an average thickness T(ave) of 1 to 5 μm.

A thermoplastic resin microporous membrane is widely used as a membrane for separation, a membrane for selective permeation, a membrane for isolation and the like. Examples thereof include, for example, a battery separator to be used in lithium ion secondary battery, nickel-hydrogen battery, nickel-cadmium battery or polymer battery; a separator for electric double layer capacitors; various filters such as reverse osmosis filtration membrane, ultrafiltration membrane and microfiltration membrane; a moisture-permeable waterproof clothing; a medical material and the like.
In particular, a polyethylene-made microporous membrane is suitably used as a lithium ion secondary battery separator, the polyethylene-made microporous membrane ensuring ion permeability due to impregnation with an electrolytic solution, excellent electrical insulating properties, and a pore blocking function of avoiding an excessive temperature rise by cutting off a current at a temperature of approximately from 120 to 150° C. when the temperature in a battery shows an abnormal rise.
Furthermore, the lithium ion battery separator greatly affects battery properties, battery productivity and battery safety, and requires heat resistance, electrode adhesion, permeability, melt rupture property (meltdown property) and the like. It has hitherto been studied to impart heat resistance and adhesiveness to a battery separator, for example, by providing a porous layer on a polyolefin microporous membrane. As resins used for the porous layer, polyamideimide resins, polyimide resins and polyamide resins having good heat resistance, and fluorine-based resins having good adhesiveness are suitably used. In addition, in recent years, a water-soluble or water-dispersible binder that can be used for lamination of the porous layer in a relatively easy step has also been used. Herein, the porous layer is a layer obtained by a wet coating process.
In Example 1 of Japanese Patent No. 4988973, both surfaces of a polyethylene microporous membrane is coated with a coating solution prepared by dissolving a polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in a mixed solvent of dimethylacetamide/tripropylene glycol, followed by placement in a coagulation bath, and subjecting to water washing and drying, thereby obtaining a non-aqueous secondary battery separator.
In Example 1 of Japanese Patent No. 5226744, a coating solution prepared by dissolving VdF/HFP/CTFE in a mixed solvent of DMAc/TPG is placed in a tank in which two Meyer bars have been arranged in parallel at the bottom thereof, and a polypropylene microporous membrane transported from the upper part of the tank into the tank at a transport rate of 3 m/min to pass through the two Mayer bars to coat the both surfaces with a coating solution, followed by placing it in a coagulation tank, and subjecting to water washing and drying, thereby obtaining a composite porous membrane.
In recent years, lithium ion secondary batteries have been studied for a wide variety of uses such as lawn mowers, weed whackers and small boats, in addition to electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and electric bicycles. With the spread of such uses, lithium ion secondary batteries are demanded to increase in capacity and decrease in cost. Accordingly, to reduce production cost, it is expected that an increase in length of battery separators to as long as 1000 m or more will advance more and more in the future. By the increase in length of the separators, the switching time of battery separator rolls is reduced during a slitting step or a battery assembling step, and the battery separators to decrease material loss can be obtained.
On the other hand, when a porous layer is placed on a polyolefin microporous membrane having increased length by wet coating to produce a battery separator, when the variation in thickness of the porous layer is large in a longitudinal direction (particularly, when partially thin portions are formed in the porous layer), the average thickness is required to be 1.5 to 2 times the necessary minimum thickness to sufficiently ensure functionality of the porous layer. This results in a factor for cost increase. In addition, the thicker separator decreases the number of turns in an electrode roll, which also results in a factor hindering an increase in capacity of the battery.
Furthermore, the increase in length of the battery separator exerts an adverse influence on a winding appearance of the roll such as easy occurrence of winding displacement due to an increase in diameter when the roll is formed. This tendency tends to be remarkable as the number of turns of the roll increases, and it is expected that the number of turns of the roll increase further by a decrease in thickness of the separator.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a battery separator suitable for realizing higher capacity of a battery, in which a porous layer having a uniform thickness is placed on the above-mentioned polyolefin microporous membrane. The porous layer having a uniform thickness means a porous layer having a variation range (R) of the thickness in a longitudinal direction of 1.0 μm or less.

Polyolefin microporous membrane, battery separator and production method


Positions of a plurality of marks formed in a correction mask are measured as first positions. A plurality of marks in the correction mask are transferred onto a photosensitive substrate, and transferred positions of the plurality of marks are determined as second positions. Subsequently, amounts of deviation of the first positions from the second positions are determined as correction data. After that, positions of a plurality of marks formed in an exposure mask are measured as third positions by a method similar to that used for measurement of the first positions, and the third positions are corrected on the basis of the correction data.

The present invention relates to an exposure method for transferring an image of a pattern formed in a mask onto a photosensitive substrate through a projection optical system.
As an exposure apparatus for transferring an image of a pattern formed in a mask onto a photosensitive substrate, various types of apparatus have been developed. For example, as a projection exposure apparatus for production of a liquid crystal display (LCD), many step-and-repeat type apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as "stepper") are being used. In such a stepper, after a predetermined area of a substrate is exposed to a pattern of an LCD formed in a mask, a stage on which the substrate is placed is shifted a predetermined distance in a stepping manner to perform exposure of another area of the substrate. Such an operation is repeatedly performed on the entire area on the substrate to complete exposure of the entire substrate. Normally in this stepper, an LCD pattern is formed by a picture composition method. That is, four exposed patterns 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d on a substrate are combined, as indicated in FIG. 13, thereby forming a single LCD pattern on the substrate. Each of the patterns 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d corresponds to a different mask. That is, the patterns 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are sequentially formed by exposure while one of the four masks is sequentially replaced by another mask. The four patterns are then combined into an LCD.
In exposure using such a picture composition method, a positional deviation of a transferred pattern 112 may sometimes occur as indicated in FIGS. 14(a)-(c). In the drawings, dotted lines indicate a desired transfer position, and solid lines indicate transferred positions that have errors. As positional deviations at the time of pattern transfer, there are: (a) a positional deviation wherein a transferred pattern 112 has a shift error; (b) a positional deviation wherein a transferred pattern 112 has a rotational error; and (c) a positional deviation wherein a transferred pattern 112 has a magnification error. Since an LCD is formed normally by superimposing about seven to eight layers on a glass substrate, an error as mentioned above can be a cause for an overlay deviation between layers. In a TFT (thin film transistor) LCD, a positional deviation at a stitching 110 (see FIG. 13) or an overlay deviation between layers degrades characteristics of transistors and causes defects such as color irregularity or the like. As factors that cause errors as indicated in FIGS. 14(a)-(c), optical aberrations, such as distortion, in the projection optical system, mask alignment errors, mask patterning errors, and the like can be considered.
Several methods for solving these problems have now been proposed. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of coordinate measurement marks (126a, 126b, 126c, 126d, 126e, 126f, 126g, 126h) are arranged around an LCD pattern 122 within an effective exposure area 124 on a mask 120, and coordinates of the images transferred from the coordinate measurement marks (126a-126h) onto a substrate through a projection optical system are measured using a predetermined position detection device provided in the apparatus. From the amount of deviation between measured values and desired values of coordinates where these marks (126a-126h) are transferred, a correction value (a mask shift, a mask rotation, a magnification) that minimizes the amount of deviation is calculated by means of, for example, least square approximation or the like. After that, using the thus-calculated correction value, the mask 120 is precisely aligned, and then exposure is performed. Such a method can optimize a positional deviation of transfer caused by a patterning error of the mask 120 and an optical aberration of the projection optical system, and can reduce the positional deviation at stitchings and the overlay deviation between layers.
In the conventional methods as described above, however, there is a possibility that when coordinates, on a substrate, of the images of the coordinate measurement marks (126a-126h) in the mask 120 are detected by a position detection device, a deviation may occur between a detected coordinate and the actual transferred position on the substrate. This problem becomes serious especially in a case where images of reference marks provided on a stage, at substantially the same height as a substrate surface, are reversely projected onto a mask through a projection optical system, and coordinates at which the reference mark images superimpose on the coordinate measurement marks (126a-126h) are measured by a predetermined sensor, which coordinates are determined as positions at which the coordinate measurement marks (126a-126h) are transferred onto the substrate. More specifically, variations in optical aberrations, such as curvature of image field and the like, due to variations in the projecting direction in the projection optical system, cause deviations between imaginary transfer positions determined by the above-described method and the actual transferred positions on the substrate. Therefore, an error becomes included in a correction value that is calculated from a difference between a measured value of mask position provided by the position detection device and a desired value of position where an image is transferred, thereby making it impossible to properly correct the mask position, the magnification of the projection optical system, or the like, at the time of exposure. As a result, the positional deviation at stitchings of the exposed LCD screens or the overlay deviation between layers is not improved, and may be degraded.

Position measurement method for measuring a position of an exposure mask and exposure method for transferring an image of the pattern formed in an exposure mask


A method for providing dynamic disturbance compensation to an inertial system is described. The method includes determining estimated correction factors based on received acceleration components, and dynamically determining filter coefficients for a filter configured to receive velocity and position signals and output a prediction error. The method further includes combining the estimated correction factors and the prediction error into adjustment factors, where the prediction error is configured to be a feedback control signal, and applying the adjustment factors to compensate the inertial system such that effects of the dynamic disturbance are removed.

This invention relates generally to flight control systems, and more specifically, to methods and systems for providing dynamic disturbance compensation for a flight platform, for example, shock compensation during a flight utilizing adaptive control techniques.
An inertial sensor assembly (ISA), typically includes an inertial measurement unit (IU) that detects acceleration and rotation in three planes. A typical IMU includes three accelerometers and three rotational rate sensors arranged with their input axes in a perpendicular relationship. The accelerometers and sensors are generally rigidly and precisely mounted within a housing along with other related electronics and hardware. Commonly, the housing is mounted to a support or chassis through suspension mounts or vibration isolators. The chassis is rigidly and precisely mounted to a frame of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or missile. An ISA typically forms a portion of a flight control system.
Certain components of flight control systems, for example, the above described inertial measurement units (IMUs), are likely to experience performance degradation when exposed to motion as a result of body bending and induced vibration. Such motions are typically high shock transients at low frequencies.
Example applications where such shock transient conditions are encountered include missile and other interceptor applications. In missile and interceptor flight control systems, the IMU is likely to sustain shock wave transients at accelerations up to multiple G levels over a period of time. These shock wave transients, when above predefined and specified thresholds, may be destructive to the IMU. However, the IMU is required to provide accurate and reliable navigation in order to achieve mission success. Consequently, an IMU is called upon to operate reliably in a highly vibratory environment accommodating low frequency/high amplitudes and high frequency/low amplitudes conditions. Therefore, accelerations sensed by the IMU due to missile vibration are to be resolved into the IMU chosen navigation reference frame.

Systems and methods for shock compensation utilizing an adaptive control technique algorithm


A machine for preparing aromatic beverages by extraction, such as espresso coffee and similar beverages. The machine comprises at least one optimized beverage discharge disposition, in particular presenting a first and second flow sections separated by a throttling section that configures a double deflection of the prevailing flow direction, so that it provides a streamlining of the discharge flow.

The discharge of beverage is a relevant aspect in the perception of quality of said beverage by a consumer, in particular in the case of aromatic beverages with production of crème, such as for example espresso coffee. Along the beverage discharge there may occur substantial pockets of air in the flow leading to an irregular discharge of said beverage, hiccups wise, affecting the formation of crème and the visual aspect of the beverage in a respective recipient.
The prior art includes several solutions relating to beverage discharge dispositions in machines for preparing beverages by means of extraction, in particular coffee machines, adapted so as to provide the removal of said pockets of air, that is, providing a streamlining of the beverage flow at the exit of said beverage discharge.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,651 discloses mixing and discharge means including a beverage discharge disposition that presents two flow sections for connecting a beverage extraction zone to a beverage discharge zone and that presents an inclined bottom surface and an air exhaust opening in the top surface, and a second flow section presents the form of a vertical conduct of smaller diameter than said first flow section. Moreover, the exhaustion opening is provided inside of the machine body, which constrains its efficacy.
Document EP 1658001 B1 discloses a machine for preparing beverages comprising a discharge flow disposition that presents two flow sections disposed successively in the flow direction and separated by a flow throttling section. In this case, the upstream flow section provides an initial flow accumulation zone and the downstream flow section presents the form of a inclined conduct of circular section.
It thus results the need of further optimizing the beverage discharge disposition, in particular in view of a greater constructive simplicity and reliability of operation thereof.

Beverage preparation machine with an optimized beverage discharge

NOVADELTA—COMÉRCIO E INDÚSTRIA DE CAFÉS S.A.


Provided is a flood protection system for protecting an area from flooding water, wherein the area includes a trench defined at least along a portion of the boundaries thereof and a at least one depression on the side of the trench facing away from the area to be protected. The system comprising a barrier, configured for being at least partially fitted in the trench; and a float coupled to the barrier and being configured for at least partially is disposed in the depression. The float is configured for rising in response to a rise in the water level inside the depression and about the boundaries of the area. The float is further configured for lifting the barrier out of the trench therewith, thereby blocking the waters from entering the area.

Floods are caused by variety of factors: heavy rainfall, snowmelt, severe winds over water, unusual high tides, tsunamis. In addition floods can be caused by failure of dams, levees, retention ponds, or other structures that retained the water. Flooding can be exacerbated by increased amounts of impervious surface or by other natural hazards such as wildfires, which reduce the supply of vegetation that can absorb rainfall.
Periodic floods occur on many rivers, forming a surrounding region known as the flood plain.
There are known systems for protecting buildings and other areas such as fields, or facilities from the flood. CN102011506A discloses an automatic flood control facility, in particular to an automatic flood control buoyancy device for a building, and belongs to the field of buildings. The flood control buoyancy device is that: surrounding storage trenches are formed on the ground of the building; waterproof layers are arranged on wall surfaces of the storage trenches; waterproof films and buttresses are arranged inside the storage trenches; the waterproof layers are connected with one end of each waterproof film in a sealed mode; and the other ends of the waterproof films are connected with the buttresses in a sealed mode.
DE10143621A1 discloses a wall construction is an integrated closed system. It consists of a vertical wall constructed in a ditch, etc. This is supported by two hydraulic rams. The excavation is connected to the water via a pipe, and during floods, incoming water raises the wall vertically above the area to be protected. When the water level drops, the wall sinks below ground level.
WO09145653A discloses a system for protection of houses against floods is an automated system, being self-activating in the case of floods, where after the floods it returns to the initial position. Immediate beside to the walls, all around the building under protection, there are channels wherein are set barriers—envelopes of water proof material which are stretched on the carriers, where the carriers are fixed to the tube which, together with the floating material, that it is coated with, represents a float, being set at the bottom of the channel. In the case of flood, water passes through the openings, made in the covers of the channel, into the channel wherein are the above mentioned float, which moves up as the level of the water in the channel rises and in such a way the barrier around the building which is under protection against floods, is created.


An incremental multiple-forced vise of epicyclic gear train type mainly comprises basic components of vise's main body and movable jaw etc. to accommodate a lead screw, two sets ( i.e. double-layer ) of epicyclic gear train and a buffer device. By applying force to the handle and through the buffer device as well as the double-layer epicyclic gear train, it can drive the lead screw to turn, thereby, to make the double hook, movable jaw and jaw plate to move until it touches the workpiece, thereafter, one can keep on applying force to the handle and by using the buffer device and the double layer epicyclic gear train to generate incremental multiple force and transmit the force to the lead screw so as to let the workpiece gain huge incremental multiple clamping force; on the contrary, if one turns the handle in counter-clockwise direction, the incremental multiple-forced function of the double-layer gear train will retreat back to zero in order to release the workpiece, thereby, it is very simple and labour-saving in performing the clamping and releasing operation as well as in creating huge clamping force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a vise having a force multiplying gear train that includes two sets of epicyclic gears, a buffer device to accommodate a driving handle and a lead screw, and a visible scale that displays the force applied to the lead screw. The gear ratio of the epicyclic gear train provides the multiplying force transmitted to the lead screw and the the scale provides a direct reading of the applied force so that consistent clampling forces are applied to successive workpieces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vises of the prior art generally use a fixed jaw together with a movable jaw driven by a screw to generate displacement and to obtain clamping force. Although hydraulic vises have a high clamping force, they require a lot of maintenance because the frequency of oil leaks is rather high. Insufficient oil requires the operator to stop a hydraulic vise to perform maintenance, which increases manufacturing costs.

Incremental multiple-forced vise of epicyclic gear train type


Storage devices allow for the efficient storage of objects which include a substantially cylindrical member such as a fishing rod. The storage device includes a support member which is coupled to a retaining member. The retaining member includes multiple protruding members positioned substantially perpendicular to the support member to form multiple tapered slots which can have openings of varying widths. The substantially cylindrical member of an object is inserted into the tapered slot to create a friction fit to retain the object in a substantially vertical position.

1. Field of the Inventions
The field of the invention relates generally to storage devices and more particularly to rack-type devices for storing multiple, cylindrical objects such as fishing rods.
2. Background Information
There are a number of everyday objects that include a cylindrical handle or other cylindrical member. Rakes, brooms, shovels and other tools typically include an extended cylindrical handle with an implement attached to its end. Similarly, fishing rods include a long cylindrical portion with a reel attached at one end of the rod, and guides attached at intervals along the length of the rod. While all of these products help to make everyday life a little easier, the awkward shape and unique configuration of these products can make it difficult to safely and efficiently store them. For the reasons discussed below, these difficulties are particularly relevant to the storage of fishing rods.
Fishing rods have been used for decades to catch fish of all species, shapes and sizes. With improvements in technology, available materials, and better construction techniques, the fishing rods used today offer incredibly high performance. But the one universal that remains is the fact that these fishing rods can still be broken quite easily. Oftentimes, the fishing rod is not broken or damaged while it is being used at the water, but rather when it is stored between uses.
The difficulty in safely, effectively and efficiently storing fishing rods is caused by a number of factors. First, fishing rods are designed to be strong while retaining a significant amount of flexibility. This requires the rod to be constructed from a lightweight material. In addition, the diameter of the fishing rod is often quite small, particularly at the tip of the fishing rod. These factors result in a fishing rod that can be easily broken if the rod is not handled or stored correctly.
Second, fishing rods typically include a number of guides which are periodically spaced down the length of the fishing pole. These guides function to route the fishing line from the reel to the rod tip and allow for smooth casting and retrieval of the bait or lure. Typically, each guide consists of a ring that is connected to at least two supporting members. The supporting members are then coupled to the rod with a wrap. The wrap consists of a length of thread-like material that is repeatedly wound around the rod to secure the supporting members of the guide to the rod. Because these guides protrude from the body of the fishing rod, they can be easily snagged and broken.
Third, fishing rods usually include a reel that is attached toward the handle-end of the fishing rod. The reel is wider than the fishing rod itself because the reel includes a housing to store a volume of fishing line. The reel also includes a handle which is used to retrieve the fishing line. The handle extends even further from one side of the reel, causing the reel to be even wider than the rod. Therefore, to store multiple fishing rods adjacent to each other, an increased amount of storage space is needed, not because of the fishing rods, but rather because of the additional width added by the reel and its handle.
Current devices for storing fishing rods typically require a device that capitalizes on the increased width of the reel portion of the fishing rod when the fishing rod is oriented vertically. To do this, the device includes a hole through which the handle-end of the fishing rod is inserted. When the fishing rod is oriented vertically, the hole is sized such that the reel cannot pass through. Instead, the device carries the weight of the rod based on contact with the reel.
In some case, current storage systems require a second, additional component which is configured to align the tips of the fishing rods after they have been supported near the handle-end of the fishing rod. However, in these system, all of the reels of the fishing rods are at the same level when they rest on the support member. Therefore, a significant amount of storage space is lost when the reels are placed directly adjacent to each other, because the device must account for the total widths of the various reel positions.
Other methods for storing fishing rods also require a two-piece system but attempt to orient the reels in a manner to maximize storage space. These systems operate similarly to those described above but require an additional, top component which also includes a hole through which the tip of the rod must be inserted. The weight of the reel is then supported by the top component as the rod hangs down in a vertical position. Therefore, rather than placing all of the reels adjacent to each other on the bottom support member, these storage devices require the rods to be inserted into the storage system in alternating directions. For example, if one rod has its reel supported by the bottom support member, the adjacent rod must have its reel supported by the top support member.
Similar systems have also been implemented to store the rods in a horizontal manner. However, the rods must still be placed in alternating directions and carefully guided through the dual openings which support the weight of the rods.
The storage systems described above cause several difficulties, particularly when considering the fragile nature of the rod itself as well as the guides that are spaced down the length of the fishing rods. Current storage systems which rely on supporting the weight of the reel of the fishing rod often require careful insertion of the rod and the guides through relatively small openings. During this process of manipulation, the guides or the fishing rod itself can be easily broken and the fishing line can easily become tangled. These problems are further magnified as fishing rods are typically stored in crowded areas such as a garage, basement, closet, or even a boat, mobile home, or camper. Thus, if the fishing rods are not stored efficiently, they can be accidentally damaged as other items are moved or stored around them.


A roll support system for supporting a roll of web material is provided which includes a mechanism for retaining and easily releasing a roll of web material wound around a core and having a telescoping core plug adapted to snugly fit in each end of the core. A core plug is provided with a telescoping spindle biased toward its extended position to support a roll in the support mechanism.

Paper and packaging material are often produced in roll form wrapped around a central core. When being dispensed the roll is mounted on a support and unwound as it is used. The core is supported by a core plug at each end of the roll core. Core plugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although the main purpose of a core plug is the support of a roll of wound web material, core plugs also serve a variety of other purposes.
It is important that the web material be unwound evenly and smoothly from the roll. Dispensing of paper or packaging material in roll form often presents problems in smooth unwinding such as uneven tension across a web caused by an off center positioning of the rolled material, or even in the roll becoming unseated from its support.
Another example of problems occurring during unwinding is that the roll core may become deformed resulting in uneven turning of the roll. Also, when a roll is supported on a single shaft running the axial length of the core the turning of a roll having a deformed core is uneven and jerky. These effects of uneven dispensing are often enlarged when the roll is large and heavy. Additionally, it is important that the roll of web material be securely retained in the roll support and yet be easily and quickly removed therefrom for replacement with a new roll of web material. Many of the attempts to eliminate these problems result in ineffective, cumbersome or costly solutions.
Thus, there exists the need for a simple and economical device for supporting a roll of web material and securing the roll in place.

Telescoping core plug and support therefor


A methor for storage cell read timing evaluation provides read strength information by using a pulsed ring oscillator. A pulse generator is coupled to a bitline to which the storage cell to be measured is connected. The storage cell thereby forms part of the ring oscillator and the read strength of the storage cell is reflected in the frequency of oscillation. A pulse regeneration circuit is included in the ring so that the storage cell read loading does not cause the oscillation to decay. Alternatively, a counter may be used to count the number of oscillations until the oscillations decay, which also yields a measure of the read strength of the storage cell. The pulse generator may have variable output current, and the current varied to determine a change in current with the storage cell enabled and disabled that produces the same oscillation frequency. The read current is the difference between currents.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to memory design evaluation circuits, and more particularly to a memory circuit having an oscillator circuit that has a frequency that accurately reflects internal read timing of a memory cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Storage cell speed, circuit area and environmental operating ranges, e.g., supply voltage and temperature range, are critical limitations in today's processing systems and are predicted to become even more of a critical limitation as technologies move forward. In particular, static random access memory (SRAM) cells are used in processor caches and external storage to provide fast access to data and program instructions. Static storage cells are also used within processors and other digital circuits for storing values internally, for example, in processor registers.
With processor cycle frequencies reaching well above 4 Ghz, development of SRAM cells that can store and provide access to stored values within that period has become necessary. However, actually measuring the internal read timing of memory cells presents a challenge. In a typical storage cell, there is no mechanism for determining read timing of the cell itself, only the total delay including the wordline access and bitline read circuits. Probing the storage cell affects the operation of the storage circuit and therefore the results of any evaluation based on probing the cell. Test circuits can be built that simulate the operation of a storage cell for the purposes of cell read timing measurement, but are typically not integrated within the actual environment of a cell in a storage array, including bitline and wordline loading effects.
Memory cell timing for a combination of read and write delays has been evaluated using ring oscillator circuits or cascaded cell delay circuits wherein a large number of cells are cascaded. A ring oscillator may be formed with feedback of an output of the last cell to an input of the first cell, or a one-shot delay may be measured through the cascade of cells. The frequency at which the ring oscillator operates or the one-shot delay indicates the read/write cycle timing, which provides some measure of ultimate operating frequency and access times of the storage array. Typically, the cell design is then changed in subsequent design iterations having parameters adjusted in response to the results of the ring oscillator test.
However, the above-mentioned ring oscillator circuits and other delay-oriented circuits for performing delay tests do not provide an independent measure of read timing, since the inclusion of a cell in the oscillator ring or delay line requires that the cell values will be written in some manner to change the value in the next cell as a transition of the oscillation is propagated around the ring. Further, such circuits do not provide for measuring read current or read strength independent of the speed of a write operation.
It is therefore desirable to provide a test circuit and method for accurately measuring cell read timing independent of write timing under the load conditions of actual array. It is further desirable to provide a circuit and method that can measure read strength/read current directly. It is further desirable to provide such a test circuit that can be integrated within a production storage device.

Pulsed ring oscillator circuit for storage cell read timing evaluation

International Business Machines Corporation


A circuit for a matrix calculation of the discrete cosine transformation includes a read only memory, multipliers, summing devices, registers, selectors and a control unit. The multiplication and the summing calculations, with regard to one input data, are successively carried out by using a plurality of transformation coefficients of discrete cosine transformation read from the read only memory, row elements of the matrix of discrete cosine transformation are obtained by carrying out, a number of times equal to the number of row elements, the processes successively updating the registers based on the result of the calculations, and all the row and column elements of the matrix of discrete cosine transformation are obtained by carrying out, a number of times equal to the number of column elements, the calculations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit for a matrix calculation of the discrete cosine transformation (DCT). The circuit according to the present invention is used for an orthogonal transformation unit in a picture image processing device in a video transmission system. The circuit for a matrix calculation of the discrete cosine transformation is useful for high efficiency coding in a video transmission system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the matrix calculation circuit of the discrete cosine transformation is constituted by, for example, 8 multipliers and 8 summing devices, the number of the multipliers is the same as the number of summing devices. Received input data X.sub.11 is multiplied by transformation coefficients of the discrete cosine transformation d.sub.11, d.sub.21, d.sub.31, . . . read from a read only memory for storing the transformation coefficients. The results of the multiplication X.sub.11 d.sub.11, X.sub.11 d.sub.21, X.sub.11 d.sub.31, . . . are registered in registers connected to the summing devices.
The next received input data X.sub.21 is multiplied by transformation coefficients of the discrete cosine transformation d.sub.12, d.sub.22, d.sub.32, . . . read from the read only memory for storing the transformation coefficients. The results of the multiplication X.sub.21 d.sub.12, X.sub.21 d.sub.22, X.sub.21 d.sub.32, . . . are added to the results of the preceding multiplication X.sub.11 d.sub.11, X.sub.11 d.sub.21, X.sub.11 d.sub.31, . . . registered in the registers, and the results of the summation are stored in the registers to achieve a cumulative summation. The calculation is repeated 8 times to obtain the elements y.sub.11, y.sub.12, . . . y.sub.18 of the matrix. These calculations are further repeated 8 times to obtain all elements y.sub.11, y.sub.12, . . . y.sub.88 of the matrix. Thus, an 8.times.8 matrix calculation of the discrete cosine transformation [Y]=[D].times.[X] is completed.
However, in said matrix calculation circuit of the discrete cosine transformation, it is necessary to provide a number of summing devices equal to the number of multipliers, and accordingly the scale of the circuit increases. Since a multiplier has a relatively large number of gates, the scale of the gate of the entire calculation circuit is increased, which causes an undesirable increase in scale for constituting a matrix calculation circuit of the discrete cosine transformation of the large scale integrated type circuit.

Circuit for matrix calculation of discrete cosine transformation


Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and compositions for producing recombinant transglutaminases. The purified recombinant transglutaminases of the invention are reactive to a broad range of compounds and exhibit broad substrate activity. In one embodiment, Streptoverticillium mobaraense (ATCC 29032), and Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum (ATCC 11874) recombinant transglutaminase fusion proteins purified from E. coli are provided to a better yield, higher purity, and activity than hitherto possible by recombinant DNA technology.

Transglutaminases (EC 18.104.22.168: TG) are protein cross-linking enzymes capable of catalyzing an acyl transfer reaction in which a gamma-carboxy-amide group of a peptide-bound glutamine residue is the acyl donor. Primary amino groups in a variety of compounds such as peptides, proteins, and similar compounds may function as acyl acceptors with the subsequent formation of monosubstituted γ-amides of peptide bound glutamic acid. When the ε-amino group of a lysine residue in a peptide or polypeptide chain serves as the acyl acceptor, the transglutaminases form intramolecular or intermolecular γ-glutamyl-ε-lysyl crosslinks.
The crosslinking activity of transglutaminases has been shown to be useful for a variety of industrial purposes, including in the field of food processing, such as processing of raw fish meat paste, tofu noodles, confectionery/bread, food adhesives, sheet-like meat food, yogurt, jelly, cheesegelling of proteins, improving baking quality of flour, improving taste and texture of food proteins, as well as casein finishing in leather processing, etc. Transglutaminases have also been employed in the production of thermally stable materials such as microcapsules, carriers of immobilized enzymes and the like.
A wide array of transglutaminases have been identified and characterized from a number of animal species and a few plant species. The most widely used animal derived transglutaminase, factor XIIIa, is a Ca2+-dependent multi-subunit enzyme. Factor XIIIa is a product-inhibited enzyme, which means the activity of the enzyme is inhibited by the product synthesized after the enzymatic reaction. Such a property is a disadvantage for many industrial applications and for obtaining product of the enzymatic reaction. A Ca2+-dependent transglutaminase from the slime mold Physarum polycephalum has also been described in Klein et al., (1992). However, only few microbial transglutaminases have been disclosed, e.g., from the species Streptoverticillium lividans, Streptoverticillium mobaraense, Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum, and Streptoverticillium griseocarneum (in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,956) and from the species contemplated to be Streptomyces lavendulae (in U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,469, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,956). Bacterial transglutaminases which do not require the presence of calcium for their activity are usually identified and tested by using a conventional enzyme assay in which hydroxylamine is converted to hydroxamic acid (Folk, J. E. & Cole, P. W. (1966)).
Biological agents such as transglutaminases have limitations in that they cross-link only a limited number of very specific compounds, i.e. they are very as substrate-specific. Moreover, despite some industrial applications, biological agents have not been used as cross-linking agents for preparing antigens or in other immunological applications. Most known cross-linking biological agents such as enzymes have not been considered desirable for immunological applications due to problems such as the lack of an adequate quantity of the enzymes, high cost, difficulty in purification, and the like. For example, the cross-linking biological agent, microbial transglutaminase, has been purified mainly from culture medium (JP-B-6-65280, Agric. Biol. Chem., vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 1301–1308). Microbial transglutaminases purified from crude lysate, culture medium, or batch fermentation may not be suitable for vaccine development due to contamination by toxic compounds or other cellular proteins or components which may induce undesirable cross-reactive antibodies.
One approach to prepare transglutaminase has been to use recombinant DNA techniques to produce bacterial strains that produce recombinant transglutaminases. For example, the Streptoverticillium mobaraense transglutaminase gene has been cloned for expression in Escherichia coli, Streptomyces lividans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Washizu et al., Tahekana et al., and EP-A-0 481 504). However, even the most successful of these approaches (Washizu et al.) resulted in a production yield much lower than the yield in the wildtype Streptomyces mobaraense strain. Thus, none of the efforts to overproduce the S. mobaraense enzyme have been successful, despite utilization of a number of different approaches such as chemical synthesis of a codon-optimized gene and its subsequent expression (as a cleavable heterologous signal peptide fusion to the mature transglutaminase) to the periplasm of E. coli or S. cerevisiae, expression as a fusion protein to pro-transglutaminase in S. cerevisiae, and traditional isolation and expression of the natural transglutaminase from wildtype S. mobaraense.
Furthermore, protein cross-linking reactions by transglutaminase have the following problems. Since transglutaminase is an enzyme forming an intramolecular or intermolecular bridge as a result of the acyl rearrangement reaction, some proteins or peptides cannot serve as substrates for the enzyme due to an insufficient number of glutamine residues or lysine residues. For example, albumin proteins cannot be used as the substrate for transglutaminase in its native form despite the presence of intrinsic glutamine and lysine residues.
It would, therefore, be desirable to engineer a recombinant transglutaminase with a broad substrate specificity that can be efficiently and effectively be purified with a large yield. Such a transglutaminase could be used in antigen preparation, vaccine development, immunotherapy, and medical diagnostic applications. It further would be desirable to develop a reproducible transglutaminase purification procedure so as to meet the FDA purity standard required for the use of transglutaminase in a vaccine and/or diagnostic detection kit.

Method of producing transglutaminase having broad substrate activity


The system for increasing the call capacity of a wireless communications system degrades voice quality of the communications connections within a predetermined limit in order to increase the efficiency of the available RF spectrum as measured by the call carrying capacity of this allocated RF spectrum. This is accomplished by adjusting the transmission rate of the speech coder at the mobile subscriber unit and/or the speech coder that may be located at the mobile switching center so that the call carrying capacity of the wireless communications system is therefore increased. Additionally, the situation of call blocking is monitored to determine if frame error rate targets should be adjusted to further increase the call capacity. At times when the wireless system is not experiencing peak usage, the voice quality is restored to normal levels. The term xe2x80x9cmobile subscriber unitxe2x80x9d does not imply that the mobile unit is restricted to a moving vehicle. The present state of the art includes the use of mobile subscriber units in fixed wireless applications as an alternative to traditional wire telephony services.

This invention relates to wireless communications systems, such as a cellular mobile telecommunication system, that utilizes variable speech coders and, in particular, to a system for increasing the call capacity of CDMA channels that functions to determine the rate of call blockage and adjusts the transmission rate of the associated speech coders in existing wireless call connections to reduce the rate of call blockage and maintain quality of service in the cellular mobile telecommunication system.
It is a problem in the field of wireless communications systems reduce the rate of call blockage. With the explosive growth of service provided by Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, it is imperative that the available radio frequency (RF) spectrum be utilized in as efficient means as possible. CDMA technology is based upon presently available spread spectrum technology and is being adapted to support new services, such as third generation wireless communication. In a CDMA system, when the RF capacity is reached (as measured by the number of calls being supported) the service provider may be forced to add additional RF spectrum to service additional calls, if any additional RF spectrum is available. Moreover, the call traffic is controlled by an underlying stochastic process, and thus the call carrying capacity experiences peaks in usage. It is therefore desirable to have a mechanism that improves the call carrying capacity of existing RF spectrum, especially during times of peak usage.
One approach to decreasing interference within a cellular communication system is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,967, issued to Kotzin et al., which uses the measured distance between the mobile subscriber unit and the serving base station to determine if the speech coder transmission rate should be reduced in order to reduce the associated interference level within the wireless system. This approach to controlling interference is restricted to using the measured distance criterion. It does not approach the problem from a total system point of view and does not provide a flexible means for a system provider to manage the call capacity of a wireless system.
Therefore, there is presently no system that can simply and effectively improve the call carrying capacity of existing RF spectrum in a CDMA system, especially during times of peak usage.
The above problem is solved and a technical advance achieved in the field of wireless communications systems by the present system for increasing the call capacity of CDMA channels. In this system, if call blocking is detected in the wireless communications system it may be acceptable to degrade voice quality of the communications connections within a predetermined limit in order to increase the efficiency of the available RF spectrum as measured by the call carrying capacity of this allocated RF spectrum. This is accomplished by adjusting the transmission rate of the speech coder at the mobile subscriber unit and/or the speech coder that may be located at the mobile switching center so that the call carrying capacity of the wireless communications system is therefore increased. Additionally, the situation of call blocking is monitored to determine if frame error rate targets should be adjusted to further increase the call capacity. At times when the wireless system is not experiencing peak usage, the voice quality is restored to normal levels.
The term xe2x80x9cmobile subscriber unitxe2x80x9d does not imply that the mobile unit is restricted to a moving vehicle. The present state of the art includes the use of mobile subscriber units in fixed wireless applications as an alternative to traditional wire telephony services.
The system for increasing the call capacity of CDMA channels has separate criteria and control for the reverse link and for the forward link of the CDMA channels. Separate control is desirable since the call carrying capacity may be different for the two directions and channel usage may be asymmetric. The later observation may result from data services that are offered in parallel with voice services. Data services often have the characteristic of being asymmetric, such as a file being downloaded into a personal computer. Criteria include, but are not limited to: total power, frame error rate and quality of service (QoS) associated with specific mobile subscriber units. Each mobile subscriber unit may be associated with an individual level of quality of service. For example, a wireless communication system may offer both xe2x80x9cpremiumxe2x80x9d service and xe2x80x9cbasicxe2x80x9d service, with xe2x80x9cpremiumxe2x80x9d service providing better perceived voice quality to the mobile subscriber unit under peak call durations. The number of levels of QoS is not limited to two.
This system for increasing the call capacity of CDMA channels also offers the flexibility in that various degrees of speech coder rate reduction are supported to better match the varying conditions of traffic demands and the desired quality of service. Moreover, additional flexibility is provided in that the service provider can affect only calls that are being set up or all calls (calls being set up as well as calls after set up).

System for increasing the call capacity of a wireless communication system


A local bus interface for providing high-speed data transfer between the local bus of a personal computer and one or more data storage devices. The local bus interface bypasses the standard expansion bus (ISA, EISA, Micro Channel) on the personal computer, is directly connected to the local bus, and is transparent to the system software.

The present invention relates generally to personal computers, also known as microcomputers. In particular, the present invention relates to an interface between the local bus of a personal computer (PC) and one or more data storage devices. The interface facilitates high speed data transfers (reads and writes) from the central processor of the PC over the local bus to the data storage devices. The present invention allows for faster data transfers than transfers through standard data storage interfaces that may be connected to the local bus or to the standard input/output expansion slots (ISA, EISA, and Micro Channel), generally found in PC architecture.
Personal computers can be characterized as single central processor devices. PCs have a single, multi-functional, general-purpose central processor (CPU) providing the computational power for the computer. The CPU is located on the motherboard which also includes other core logic chips and high speed memory (cache, DRAM). Although a PC is generally a single CPU device, a PC may include other devices called processors, e.g., math co-processors, processors on the keyboard and processors on disk drives. CPUs are made by a variety of manufacturers, including Intel Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, and Motorola.
Since PCs first appeared in the 1970s, new generations of CPU have provided more computational power. This "power" can be identified by the increased clock speed of the devices, meaning that operations are being performed faster, and by wider buses (8-bit to 16-bit to 32-bit to 64-bit) that allow more data or instructions to be moved at a time. In order to fully realize the capability of the increasingly powerful CPUs, the related devices (memory, add-on cards, etc.) should operate at the same level.
For example, powerful CPUs need to access a certain amount of memory very quickly to fetch key instructions. This high speed memory (cache, DRAM) is located closest to the CPU, but has limited storage capacity (e.g., cache 1 Mbyte, DRAM typically 64 Mbytes but up to 256 Mbytes). Larger-capacity data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, serve as the primary data storage component of a PC. PC hard disk drives include several magnetic data storage disks and typically have up to 540 Mbytes of memory available (drive manufacturers are continuously developing larger capacity drives). Generally available PC-type hard disk drives have 16-bit data ports for data transfer and support a fixed sector size of 512 bytes.
Over time, there has evolved a hierarchy of needs for the CPU and a related hierarchy in the PC structure. In order to meet the most time-critical needs of the CPU, the concept of the local bus was implemented in PC architecture. In short, a local bus is a high-speed bus accessing a limited number of devices by direct addressing. The local bus provides cost and reliability advantages, a smaller power budget, and higher density packaging, in addition to its high speed performance. However, the local bus is not a general purpose expansion bus and does not allow for a large number of input/output connections. The term "local bus" also includes the concept of a "mezzanine" bus that is separate from the physical local bus of the CPU. Examples of such local bus interfaces are the VL-Bus.TM. and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. A general block diagram of the PCI bus is shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the local bus 1 can be conceptualized as a component interface for a limited group of I/O devices. There is another level of component or board interface, the standard expansion bus 2 (ISA, EISA, Micro Channel). The expansion bus 2 is the standard interface for additional data storage devices and add-on boards. The problem with using the expansion bus 2 for data read/write operations is that it is slow, i.e., it takes numerous clock cycles from the time the CPU signals the initiation of an operation before a data storage device on the expansion bus 2, such as a hard disk drive, is capable of completing the operation.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of a read or write operation from the CPU to a hard disk drive on the expansion bus showing the delay from the time the CPU places an address on the local bus until the time a disk drive connected to the expansion bus can complete the operation. At time t.sub.1, the CPU initiates an operation with an address (ADS#) strobe. Several clock cycles later, at time t.sub.2, the system address line (SA) shows that the address is valid on the expansion bus. Next, buffered address latch enable line (BALE) is asserted, starting the expansion bus cycle. At time t.sub.3 the command line (CMD) is asserted for several clock cycles, depending on the timing of the particular hard disk drive performing the read or write operation (signalled on the IOR or IOW lines). Finally, at time t.sub.4 the ready (RDY#) signal designates the operation is complete. (This signal is actually generated by expansion bus chip set 3 in FIG. 1, acting as the expansion bus controller). A PC that could access large data storage by means faster than access via the expansion bus 2 would be a distinct improvement over the prior art.
The disparity of bus widths between newer CPU's and standard hard drives is another limiting factor for PC I/O operations. Generally available PC hard disk drives have data port widths of a maximum of 16 bits. New generations of CPUs, such as the Intel i486.TM. CPU, are 32-bit devices. Further, 64-bit devices are currently being implemented, e.g., the Intel Pentium.TM.. Therefore, if a 32-bit (or 64-bit) CPU wants to read or write to a conventional hard disk drive, then each 32-bit (or 64-bit) data word must be at least divided into 16-bit words, and the two (or four) 16-bit words must be sent sequentially to the hard disk drive. Therefore, there is a need to overcome this second limitation in PC data storage, the bottleneck created by data words on the larger data path of the CPU being sent to the smaller data port of the hard disk drive.


A pay phone capable of establishing data communications between a notebook computer and a remote communication device over a telephone line as well as voice communications between a telephone handset and a remote communication device over the same telephone line. The pay phone has a data communication circuit comprising a voice switching unit including a tip and ring switches which are connected to a central office line to receive voice data and a ring signal, respectively; a key input unit having a data communication key, a data communication change-over key and a numeric key pad; a voice communication unit having a handset for establishing voice communications when said tip and ring switches of the voice switching unit are switched-on; a tone detecting unit for detecting a calling tone in tone signals received from the central office line; a data switching unit having a tip and ring switches connected to the central office line for establishing data communications; and a control unit for controlling operations required for the voice communications and data communications in response to inputs of the calling tone, the data communication key signal and the data communication change-over signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a telephone system, and more particularly to a data communication circuit of a telephone system having a data communication terminal for allowing a user to establish either voice communication or data communication when a portable communication device such as a notebook computer is connected to the data communication terminal of the telephone system.
2. Background Art
Generally, communication systems such as telephone systems and facsimile systems having telephone handsets today are capable of allowing subscribers to establish voice or telephone communication as well as data communication over a single telephone line. Such facsimile systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,189 for Communication Apparatus With Telephone And Data Communication Capability issued to Kurosawa et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,673 for Data Communication Apparatus Having The Function Of Automatically Switching Data Communication And Telephone Communication issued to Nakagawa in which internal switching devices are provided to automatically switch data communication and telephone communication. These conventional switching device may be constructed external to the facsimile systems and alternatively telephone systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,218 for Apparatus For Switching Telephone Line A Response Device, A Data Terminal Or A Telephone issued to Hoshirnoto, U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,200 for Interface Device For The Intercommunication Of A Computer And A Fax Machine issued to Lin and U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,736 for Telephone Data Communication Switching System issued to Moriizumi so that different communication systems can effectively share the same telephone line.
Conventional telephone systems also include switching arrangements to accommodate both voice and data communication over a single telephone line. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,374 issued to Serrano and U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,267 issued to Gutzmer, a manually operated switch is inserted between a telephone handset and base to allow both voice and data transmission. When the switching arrangement is used with a computer system or a facsimile machine, the user must manually take the telephone handset off-hook and place a call to a remote station. When the remote station answers the call, the user must then manually prompt the modem to go off-hook and begin communications with the remote station. While the switching arrangement may be made automatic as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,770 for Telephone Handset Interface For Automatic Switching Between Voice And Data Communications issued to Davis et al., the switching between voice and data communications during a conversation remains the same and the interface device connected between the telephone handset and base to selectively couple a modem to the telephone base for data communications remains complex and sensible only in offices and home.
As portable communication devices such as notebook computers become increasing common in today business environment however, there is a need to facilitate data communications over conventional telephone systems and particularly to those telephone systems that are accessible to the public so that the users of the notebook computers can simply plug their notebook computers into the telephone systems to establish data communications over a shared telephone line.

Data communication circuit and method using telephone system


A system and method are provided for summarizing multiple aspects of tags associated with media events. In the system and method, tag metadata for tags generated at one or more user interfaces associated with at least one media event is obtained. Thereafter, tags are organized into a hierarchy of tags based on the metadata and a metadata sorting criteria. Additionally, tag significance data for tags is computed based on the metadata and the hierarchy. A visual representation of the tags can then be generated, where indicia for the tags is spatially arranged to visually depict the hierarchy of the tags are selected to visually depict at least a relative significance among sibling tags in the hierarchy.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to tagging of media event and more specifically to systems and methods for displaying tag metadata associated with media events.
2. Introduction
A conventional tag cloud or word cloud (or weighted list in visual design) generally provides a visual depiction of user-generated tags, metadata, or content of a web site or other on-line content. Tags in a tag cloud are usually presented as a list of words, where the words are normally listed alphabetically and the importance of a tag is shown with font size or color. Thus, it is possible to find a tag alphabetically and by popularity. The tags can also provide hyperlinks that lead to content, at the web site or other web sites, which is associated with the tags.
Tag clouds can also be used to provide a summary of tags for other types of media events, such a teleconferences, video conferences, and television broadcasts, in real time or thereafter. For example, during a concert, users viewing the event can tag portions of the concert with tags such as "nice guitar solo", "Hotel California", or "MP3 available at iTunes". Thereafter, the tags can be summarized as a tag cloud. Accordingly, a user can thereafter view the tag cloud and obtain a summary of the media event based on other users' tagging and the frequency and/or importance of the tags to these other users. Unfortunately, tag clouds are generally configured to provide an overall summary of the tags associated with a media event and are of limited use in evaluating or summarize other metadata associated with the tags.

System and method for visualization of tag metadata associated with a media event


A viscera bag includes a closure and a valve connection. The bag is flexible and a vacuum line can be connected thereto. The vacuum line can withdraw fluids from the bag and the bag can be vacuum sealed to ensure that fluids will not leak out of the bag. A method of performing an autopsy includes using the viscera bag to contain any organs that have been removed and placing the removed organs in the bag back into the body after fluid has been withdrawn from the bag.

Many jurisdictions require an autopsy to be performed to assure that death was from natural or accidental causes, and an autopsy is sometimes requested or permitted by the family of the deceased, even though not legally required. It is not unusual for a Medical Examiners' office, in an urban area, to perform a number of autopsy examinations a day.
During the autopsy, a medical examiner may perform different procedures on a person's body to determine the cause of death and other medical information that may not have been known during the person's life. Incisions may be made to the skull and chest and organs such as the brain, the stomach, the kidneys, the liver and the heart may be detached and lifted out of the body. The organs are examined and weighted then tissue samples may be taken for further examination. Finally, the organs are placed in a viscera bag and replaced inside the body, the incisions are sewn shut and the person's body is prepared for burial or cremation.
However, some body fluids often remain in the body organs that have been removed from the body and placed in the viscera bag. As a result, leaks can occur with the viscera bag which can be undesirable.
Therefore, there is a need for a viscera bag that can contain organs and the like without leakage.

Vacuum bag with a valve adapted to hold fluids


A method executed on a server for distributing user-acceptable and highly effective advertisements and enabling detailed status representation on an awareness system. Advertisement icons such as a company symbol can be subsequently added to alternatives of user statuses and the icons can be set as user statuses. Display of an advertisement icon as status of an acquaintance in a buddy list allows companies to announce services or items they provide as used by the acquaintance represented by the status. Since advertisement icons are propagated via a reliable network composed of acquaintances in the buddy list, users form a favorable impression of the advertisements and high advertising effectiveness is expected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to technologies of an advertising method on a network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a distributing method of information based on a system enabling statuses of each user to be referred to via a network.
2. Description of Related Art
In the present invention, an awareness system means a system enabling statuses of each user to be referred to via a network. In this system, users set a list of acquaintances, what is called a buddy list, and obtain statuses of other users registered in the buddy list. The user statuses and the buddy list are managed by the awareness server.
In these years, communication with an awareness system such as ICQ or AOL Instant Messenger has been rapidly diffused on the Internet. When a user sets a user list called a buddy list in such a system, the user is notified of another user's status registered in the buddy list such as "connected," "present," or "busy." The user refers to the notified user status and can select communication means such as instant message or chat according to the other party's status.
Meanwhile, use of cellular phones having a function for connecting to the Internet rapidly expands and wireless Internet access services for PDA are starting. For these mobile terminals, development of applications for an awareness system is also in progress. For mobile terminals, more detailed user statuses such as "aboard a train," "driving a car," and "at table in a restaurant" are more important than a status such as "connected" in considering timing of making a call or promoting communication.
An effective thing for notifying such status information is an image in icon format. Since display area is limited in mobile terminals, icons that can represent condensed information in a small display area are needed. Therefore text sets of many mobile terminals usually include icons representing faces with various expressions, weather, conveyance, place, etc. Mainly young generations frequently use these icons for short messages or e-mail, using mobile terminals.
In an awareness system, status information that users can select and input themselves as well as information such as network connection status that the system can automatically obtain as user status are useful. Above all, when a user uses a mobile terminal on an awareness system that is used under various conditions, status information that the user inputs is a good source of topics.
However, since input of statuses is troublesome for users and there are no direct merits that counteract such troubles, users often neglect to input statuses. Thus it is conceivably necessary to make status inputted through natural activities of users or give users incentive to voluntarily input status.
Further, a large variety of icons representing status information are needed for detailed status notification. However, in an existing conventional awareness system, since icons are limited to the ones that are prepared by the system, representation of status is limited. To richly represent status, a scheme that can dynamically increase kinds of icons according to needs is required.
Meanwhile, of various services provided on the Internet, services provided for free are almost entirely dependent on advertisement, such as a Web banner. Many awareness systems are provided as one of the free services like this. However, since awareness systems provide private communication among users, advertisements irrelevant to users is less effective and may be repulsive to users, such advertisements are all the worse for mobile terminals with limited display area.
Since Web banner advertisements overflow, the trend is that the level of attention paid to the advertisements is decreasing year after year. An advertisement approach in which only advertisements of interest are distributed by e-mail with a consumer's permission, called opt-in mail is also used. However, the process to generate applications for opt-in mall depends on other advertisement means. Above all for individual-oriented media such as mobile terminals, many users express feelings of resistance toward advertisement distribution by e-mail.
Although companies provide advertisements for consumers, consumers usually have a distrust of companies' advertisements. Accordingly, reputation spread by word of mouth is often a more critical factor than advertisements on the occasion of purchasing services or items. On the Internet, evaluation sites of services and items are provided and are popular among consumers. However, such sites are always occupied by some enthusiastic evaluators and general users do not bother to input evaluation. Therefore, it is difficult for users to naturally know evaluation of familiar friends on the above-mentioned evaluation sites.


A printing press for security printing has an Orloff offset printing unit comprising a plurality of stencil cylinders which can be inked, in each case, by an associated inking unit, an ink-collecting cylinder which interacts with the plurality of stencil cylinders, an Orloff plate cylinder which interacts with the ink-collecting cylinder, a transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder which forms a printing point with the transfer cylinder. At least the transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder in the thrown-on position is included by a first printing unit section and is mounted in or on a first part frame. The ink-collecting cylinder is included by a second printing unit section and is mounted in or on a second part frame which is different from the first part frame. The first and the second part frame can be moved optionally into a first relative position with respect to one another, which forms a working position, and into a second relative position with respect to one another which forms a maintenance position. In the maintenance position, a space is formed between the first and the second printing unit section and/or between the first and the second part frame, which space ensures direct access at least to the ink-collecting cylinder, to the Orloff plate cylinder and to the transfer cylinder which interacts with the Orloff plate cylinder. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for changing a printing forme and for starting production.

From a chapter relating to security printing in the specialist book "Handbuch der Printmedien" ["Handbook of Print Media"] Helmut Kipphan, Springer, 2000, a printing unit of a security printing press with an Orlof printing unit is known, wherein a transfer cylinder interacts with an Orlof plate cylinder and the latter with an ink collecting cylinder. The printing unit further comprises an additional offset printing unit that forms an additional nip point with the transfer cylinder for inking thereof. The sheet delivery is performed away from the transfer cylinder of the Orlof printing unit diagonally towards the back of a bottom delivery tray.
EP 1 264 686 A1 discloses a web-fed rotary offset printing press having four vertically stacked double printing units, which is separable between the forme cylinder and the associated inking units for set up purposes.
In WO 95/24314 A1 four double printing units of a printing tower are also disclosed, wherein the double printing units can be separated at the printing positions between the interacting transfer cylinders for servicing purposes.
EP 0 563 007 A1 discloses an intaglio printing press, the cylinders of which are mounted on three sectional frames that can be separated from each other in order to allow a switch from an indirect- and a direct printing method upon removal of the middle section.
EP 1 280 666 B1 discloses a multi-ring bearing for setting a distance between cylinders, in particular the distance between a transfer cylinder to both a forme cylinder and to an impression cylinder, where the latter may also be movably mounted in the radial direction between a print-on-position and a print-off-position. The transfer cylinder can be brought out of contact with the impression- and the forme cylinder by means of a first eccentric bearing, and the width of the printing gap can be adjusted by means of a second eccentric bearing.
In an anilox inking unit of DE 42 11 379 A1, an ink form roller is mounted in a multi-ring bearing comprising two eccentric bearings. Throw-on and throw-off is accomplished by movement of one of the eccentric rings against a limit stop by means of a working cylinder engaging with one of the eccentric rings. This limit stop as well as the second eccentric ring are each motor-adjustable in order to set the imprint width in the two nip points.
EP 1 088 658 B1 discloses an ink form roller of a short inking unit mounted in a four-ring bearing between a forme cylinder and an anilox roller, which, during the printing operation, and timed with the rotation of the forme cylinder is alternately thrown-on or thrown-off from the latter. The nip point between the ink form roller and the anilox roller is thereby to stay in engagement during the printing operation, while it must be separated during printing interruption.
DE 101 58 093 A1 discloses a gravure press in which the printing unit cylinders that form the printing position are mounted in a first, stationary frame section, an Orlof cylinder and interacting stencil cylinder are mounted in a second frame section that can be moved away from the first frame section, and the inking units that ink the stencil cylinders during operation are mounted in a third frame section that can be moved away from the second frame section.
DD 240 172 A5 discloses a printing press for securities printing with an Orlof offset printing press, comprising a plurality of stencil cylinders that are each inkable by an associated inking unit, an ink collecting cylinder cooperatively interacting with the stencil cylinders, an Orlof plate cylinder interacting with the ink collecting cylinder, a transfer cylinder interacting with the Orlof plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder forming a printing position together with the transfer cylinder. In addition, two printing units are provided, the plate cylinders of which form two additional nip points with the transfer cylinder for inking thereof. In one embodiment of the printing press with horizontal web travel, the aforementioned cylinders are mounted in a stationary main frame, while the inking units interacting with both the stencil cylinders and the plate cylinders are mounted on either side of the main frame in removable inking carriages. Laterally moveable inking carriages are further provided for the inking units interacting with the impression cylinder.
DE 10 2005 014 255 A1 relates to a mounting of rollers and/or cylinders, the cones of which are thereby mounted in eccentric bearings that are rotatable by adjusting elements so as to change the distances between the axes. To dampen the vibrations caused by tension channels during unwinding, rotatably mounted support discs are provided on the cones, and support elements arranged between the support discs of respective adjacent rollers/cylinders. The print quality is controlled by a shared control device by variation of the axis distances of the means acting on the eccentric adjusting means of one or several of the rollers or cylinders. The support elements are tracked when one or several of the axis distances are varied.
DE 103 28 801 A1 discloses a device for setting print-on and print-off in a printing press, wherein a middle cylinder designed as forme- and/or blanket cylinder can be set via a cam ring of a so-called three-point bearing. A forme roller can be brought into contact with the forme- and/or blanket cylinder, which is mounted in an adjusting element designed as an eccentric bearing.
DE 26 27 963 B1 discloses a device for adjusting ink forme rollers, wherein the inking rollers set to a certain contact pressure are moved at the same time as when the plate cylinders are set, while maintaining the contact pressure.
DE 41 42 791 A1 discloses a device for adjusting the printing pressure as well as the print-on and print-off position in printing presses.
DE 197 19 304 C1 discloses a bearing arrangement for a roller of an inking- or damping unit that can be thrown-on.
EP 2 583 828 A1 discloses a printing press having a combination of offset printing units and an additional printing unit comprising an ink collecting cylinder in various embodiments. In one embodiment in which the additional printing unit operates as an intaglio printing unit, an inking unit can be moved away from the gravure cylinder.

Printing press for security printing and method for changing a printing forme and printing press start-up


A non-invasive system for accurately determining the counter EMF or speed voltages in an electric motor during motor operation. The system includes a mechanism for determining the phase angle of the stator current within the dq frame of reference and a mechanism for transforming feedback voltages into a new frame of reference defined by this phase angle. The speed voltage values thereby detected are free from stator resistance effects and represent parameters of improved accuracy which can be used in motor control functions.

The present invention relates to systems for controlling electric motors and, more particularly, to systems for deriving accurate input parameters for use by electric motor controllers.
All electric motors are characterized by a counter EMF which opposes the terminal voltage during the operation of the motor. For example, in accordance with the dq axis model of an AC induction motor the counter EMF components or speed voltages w.sub.e .lambda..sub.qe and w.sub.e .lambda..sub.de along the d and q axes in the synchronous frame of reference are related to other voltage parameters as shown in equations 1 and 2 below: EQU V.sub.qe =r.sub.s i.sub.qe +w.sub.e .lambda..sub.de +p.lambda..sub.qe eq. ( 1) EQU V.sub.de =r.sub.s i.sub.de -w.sub.e .lambda..sub.qe +p.lambda..sub.de eq. ( 2)
where:
V.sub.qe, V.sub.de =terminal voltage components PA1 r.sub.s =stator resistance PA1 i.sub.qe, i.sub.de =terminal current components PA1 w.sub.e =field frequency PA1 .lambda..sub.de, .lambda..sub.qe =flux linkage components PA1 p=derivative operator
Equations 1 and 2 can be simplified for steady state conditions and solved for the speed voltages as shown in equations 3 and 4 below: EQU w.sub.e .lambda..sub.de =V.sub.qe -r.sub.s i.sub.qe eq. ( 3) EQU w.sub.e .lambda..sub.qe =r.sub.s i.sub.de -V.sub.de eq. ( 4)
Deriving the counter EMF components is then simply a matter of measuring the terminal voltages, transforming into the synchronous frame of reference and differencing these voltages with the voltage drops r.sub.s i.sub.qe and r.sub.s i.sub.de. However, while the currents i.sub.qe and i.sub.de can be sensed or formulated as command quantities, the stator resistance r.sub.s is difficult to ascertain with accuracy under most operating conditions. Fixed estimates of stator resistance r.sub.s are quickly rendered inaccurate by conditions inherent in motor operation which cause heating of the stator winding. Alternately, direct measurements may be made of stator resistance r.sub.s by the injection of signals into the stator winding. However, such signal injections inevitably result in disturbance of the motor system which is unacceptable under most operating conditions. Therefore, while the speed voltages remain important quantities to be determined in many motor control systems, adequate techniques have not been available for deriving these quantities with accuracy during motor operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for determining counter EMF parameters during motor operations with a high degree of accuracy.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system for determining counter EMF or speed voltage parameters during motor operations which is not invasive and provides no disturbance of the motor system.

Counter EMF detector for use in electric motor controllers


Ingredients of loaded dielectric media are specified for the achievement of high absorption and/or high reflection of electromagnetic power over very broad frequency bands and with very low material mass requirements on the absorbing or reflecting agents. The loading consists of dilute distributions of small metallic particles specified in terms of their individual properties, namely electrical conductivity, permeability, size, shape, and their collective properties, i.e., number densities, metallic volume fractions. The required permittivities of sustaining dielectrics and the thicknesses or penetration depths for absorption or reflection of the loaded media are also specified. These particulate and supporting dielectric properties are scaled with respect to the electromagnetic wavelength or frequency bands for the achievement of the desired percentage power absorption and/or reflection (in nonoverlapping bands). The invention applies to all frequencies below visible optical. Typical volume fractions for aluminum are 10.sup.-8 for greater than 95% absorption and 10.sup.-6 for greater than 95%. reflection.

This invention relates to material for broadband-selected absorption and reflection of electromagnetic waves for all frequencies below optical (hereinafter referred to as RF) using dilute concentrations of metallic particles suspended in a lightweight dielectric for such applications as radar cross section suppressors, microwave heat exchangers, plasma generators, transformation of RF energy into thermal optical energy, shields for RF discharge devices, etc. , and lightweight RF broadband reflecting material for such applications as radar reflectors, broadband antennae with prescribed or variable gain pattern, optically transparent RF shields, EMI shields and RF filters.
Such absorptive material is useful in antenna-communication links (low elevation angles) , RF microwave laboratory insulation, EMI absorptive shields. Such reflective material is useful for satellite antennas, communication links, cable television, shielding electronic computers, computer games, microwave ovens, commercial RF microwave laboratory shielding and in high RF energy discharge technology in industrial research and development. Additional utilization may be in frequency-band sensitive radar beacon reflectors, EMI filters, selective absorbers in solar heat exchange devices and RF transparent thermal insulators. Still other uses may be suggested to one skilled in the art from the following description of the invention which exploits the efficient RF absorbing and reflecting properties of dilute concentrations of small, suitably shaped metal particles and metal coated dielectric particles suspended or sustained in a low loss dielectric material. The terms metal and metallic are used interchangeably to denote materials with high electrical conductivity.
Methods of synthesizing dielectric materials with dilutely distributed metallic particles for the achievement of effective RF band-selective absorption and reflection have been limited to semiempirical trial and error recipes, tested by repeated measurement. They have the limitations of expense in the time consuming and materially costly repetitive testing and successive modification of the dielectric ingredients to achieve results that suffer from excessive mass or weight requirements and are constrained by narrow band performance, and highly complex circuitry or microcircuitry.
The internal electric field, and hence the electric moment of an RF irradiated particle, is derived from the perturbation solution to Green's theorem integral equation depicting the depolarizing effect of the induced surface charge and the power dissipation due to the volume current. The resultant internal field is thus the depolarized incident field within an attenuation depth from the particle surface, referred to hereinafter as skin depth. The depolarizing factor derives naturally from the integral formulation, as the internal solid angle subtended by the surface normal component of the incident electric field. The efficiency of absorbers is then characterized by their depolarizing factors, conductivities, and ac permeabilities for ferromagnetic materials.
Through the conventional Lorentz-Lorenz formulation of the composite permittivity of dilute distributions of particle dipole classes, the coefficients of power reflection and absorption of the synthetic dielectric medium are established. The penetration lengths, mass requirements and mean constitutent particle dimensions and conductivities are described or prescribed in parametric form for high absorption, and its complement, high reflection within broad frequency bands. The volume fraction parameter used in the description refers to the volume fraction of metallic conducting material.

Synthetic dielectric material for broadband-selective absorption and reflection


An imaging apparatus comprises an image pickup unit, a recording unit for recording image data obtained by the image pickup unit on recording unit, a display unit for displaying images relating to the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and a control unit for making different the luminance of images to be displayed on the display unit in standby mode during which the recording of image data by recording unit is stopped, from the luminance in recording mode during which the image data are being recorded by the recording unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to display control in standby mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, video camera devices using a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, optical disk or the like have become popular and achieved widespread use. In such video camera devices, as shown in FIG. 2, in general, a video camera body 200 is equipped with a finder 202 or a liquid crystal panel 204 for displaying input images or indicating modes of the video camera. Reference numeral 206 denotes a mode change-over switch, and 208 indicates a toggle switch for switching start and pause of recording in camera mode. In such a video camera in many cases, in the camera mode at the time when an electric-power source is turned on, three modes, that is, "stop", "standby" and "recording" modes may take place by operating the mode change-over switch 206 and the toggle switch 208. The "stop" mode is the state that the electric-power source of the video camera body is off, and all the operations except for that of the power switch are not allowed.
The "standby" mode is the state that the operation of the camera is temporarily stopped by operation of the toggle switch 208 upon setting the mode change-over switch 206 to "camera". In the standby mode, no actual recording is effected although it is possible to display input images from the camera on the liquid crystal panel 204 or the finder 202 and the recoding medium is in a writable state.
The "recording" mode is the state that video data are actually being recorded on the recording medium. This state is realized by depressing the toggle switch 208 upon setting the mode change-over switch 206 to "camera".
The information indicating current operating states of the video camera except for the "stop" mode may be displayed on a display in a manner of overlaying it on the input video images from the camera.
When the "standby" mode is changed to the "recording" mode by operating the mode change-over switch 206 and the toggle switch 208 by a user, a recording lamp may be turned on to notify the transition of the mode on the finder or liquid crystal panel, while characters "during recording" may be displayed and beep sound may be produced to notify the completion of the transition to the recording mode. These functions may be provided in many video cameras.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-193771, in addition to the above functions, there is provided a function of turning a display screen into monochrome display when in standby mode, thereby enabling a user to easily recognize the current mode.
However, it would be generally difficult for users, particularly beginners to distinguish between the standby and recording modes only by the conventional indications and the audible notification in the standby mode described above, so that they would be likely to forget the transition to the recording mode, resulting in failure to record images in many cases.
There are many concrete cases that users can not recognize the mode indication on a display unit because their attention would be absorbed in input video images themselves when they are in a state of tension.
In the function of notifying the transition from the standby mode to the recording mode by the beep sound, the beep sound is generated only when the mode transition occurs, so that a user can not know a situation that the video camera is left in standby mode.
In the case of using the monochrome display in the standby mode, moreover, in a situation of awaiting a recording chance, while watching a moving object in crowds, for example, in an athletic meeting or the like, the visibility would be remarkably lowered, then resulting in frequent failures to record images.

Imaging apparatus displaying images in recording and standby modes with different luminances


A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to receive a query, receive information about the identity of the query requester, send the query to at least one data source, receive data from the at least one data source, and apply confidentiality criteria to the data based on a set of rules to produce masked confidential data. The masked confidential data is returned in a report in response to the query.

There are a number of commercially available products to produce reports from stored data. For instance, Business Objects Americas of San Jose, California, sells a number of widely used report generation products, including Crystal Reports™, Business Objects OLAP Intelligence™, Business Objects Web Intelligence™, and Business Objects Enterprise™. As used herein, the term report refers to information automatically retrieved (i.e., in response to computer executable instructions) from a data source (e.g., a database, a data warehouse, a plurality of reports, and the like), where the information is structured in accordance with a report schema that specifies the form in which the information should be presented. A non-report is an electronic document that is constructed without the automatic retrieval of information from a data source. Examples of non-report electronic documents include typical business application documents, such as a word processor document, a presentation document, and the like.
A report document specifies how to access data and format it. A report document where the content does not include external data, either saved within the report or accessed live, is a template document for a report rather than a report document. Unlike, other non-report documents that may optionally import external data within a document, a report document by design is primarily a medium for accessing and, formatting, transforming and or presenting external data.
A report is specifically designed to facilitate working with external data sources. In addition to information regarding external data source connection drivers, the report may specify advanced filtering of data, information for combining data from different external data sources, information for updating join structures and relationships in report data, and instructions including logic to support a more complex internal data model (that may include additional constraints, relationships, and metadata).
In contrast to a spreadsheet type application, a report generation tool is generally not limited to a table structure but can support a range of structures, such as sections, cross-tables, synchronized tables, sub-reports, hybrid charts, and the like. A report design tool is designed primarily to support imported external data, whereas a spreadsheet application equally facilitates manually entered data and imported data. In both cases, a spreadsheet application applies a spatial logic that is based on the table cell layout within the spreadsheet in order to interpret data and perform calculations on the data. In contrast, a report design tool is not limited to logic that is based on the display of the data, but rather can interpret the data and perform calculations based on the original (or a redefined) data structure and meaning of the imported data. The report may also interpret the data and perform calculations based on pre-existing relationships between elements of imported data. Spreadsheets applications generally work within a looping calculation model, whereas a report generation tools may support a range of calculation models. Although there may be an overlap in the function of a spreadsheet document and a report document, the applications used to generate these documents contain instructions with express different assumptions concerning the existence of an external data source and different logical approaches to interpreting and manipulating imported data.
Confidentiality and security need to be maintained on a number of levels when data sets that contain confidential information are accessed from a database or plurality of databases. Various rules may be applied to specify what information is accessible based on various confidentiality, data protection and freedom of information policies For example, users may have certain role based rights (Role-Based Access Control-RBAC) and these rights to view a record may exist for only specific periods of time. In addition, even when a user has access to the record, certain fields within the record may be maintained as confidential sensitive personal data (SPD) from all but a required subset of the users.
Additionally, the information in a single data source may not in itself be confidential, until it is linked to data within a second (or plurality) of data sources. For example, one data source stores information about the financial or health status of an individual based on a client number and a second data source stores the personal details such as name, address, etc. and can be linked to the first data source by the common client number. The data in the first data source on its own is not necessarily confidential, but when the two data sources are linked, it becomes important to protect the information that is now linked to a specific identity based on the link between the two data sources. This issue of linked data can also exist within a single data source at the table level.
Currently, there are no reporting systems that support rigorous confidentiality constraints. Thus, it would be highly desirable to centralize data access restrictions at the level of the report query so that sensitive data that results from combining data from different sources can be identified and confidentially protected within the resulting report.

Apparatus and method for generating reports with masked confidential data