A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including pixels and a backlight unit disposed at a rear side of the liquid crystal display panel to supply first and second color lights having different wavelengths to the liquid crystal display panel. In each pixel, first and second color filters having first and second colors different from each other are sequentially arranged in a first direction. Each pixel also includes a first open portion allowing the first and second color filters to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction and a second open portion allowing the second color filter to be spaced apart from a color filter of an adjacent pixel in the first direction. The backlight unit supplies the first and second color lights to the liquid crystal display panel during first and second sub-fields obtained by dividing a frame.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid crystal display having an improved display quality and response speed.
2. Description of the Background
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) realizes a full color image using a space division scheme. For instance, a liquid crystal display panel may include red, green, and blue color filters repeatedly arranged to correspond to sub-pixels in a one-to-one correspondence. A combination of the red, green, and blue color filters may serve as a minimum unit to realize a color, and the full color image is realized by a transmittance difference between the sub-pixels of the liquid crystal display panel and the color combination of the red, green, and blue color filters. An arrangement in which the red, green, and blue color filters are arranged in different spaces is called the space division scheme.
In a time division scheme (or a field sequential scheme), which is able to realize the full color image with high transmittance and low manufacturing cost, the color filters are omitted from the liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit disposed at a rear side of the liquid crystal display panel may include red, green, and blue light sources respectively to emit red, green, and blue color lights. In addition, a frame is divided into three fields timely separated from each other. The red, green, and blue light sources are lighted in each field, thereby sequentially displaying red, green, and blue color images. Accordingly, an observer perceives the full color image obtained by combining the red, green, and blue color images by a physiological visual sensation.
In the liquid crystal display in which the time division scheme is applied, a color breakup phenomenon, in which the red, green and blue color images are separately perceived, may momentarily occur when a viewpoint is changed due to a blinking of eyes or a movement of the observer regardless of the high transmittance and the low manufacturing cost.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


Method and apparatus for measuring the time of short events, such as characteristics of a source of short radiation pulses or lifetime of excited states of a sample. The method and apparatus is based on a multi-step photoemission process from an active element target exhibiting superlinear photoemission. A short prompt radiation pulse is used to raise electrons to an excited state, and a following overlapping short probe pulse is used to raise the excited electrons to the vacuum level where they leave the sample, changing its charge state. The number of escaped electrons is measured as a function of the time delay between the prompt and probe pulses to provide the sought after information. Preferably, the charged target is suspended or supported in an electric field, and the voltage needed to restore the charge-changed target to its original position is used.

Photoemission of electrons from a condensed phase can occur even when the absorbed photon energy is lower than the ionization potential of that phase. In such cases, the mechanisms of photoionization may involve interactions between excited states, excited state-photon absorption phenomena, or multiple photon absorption, giving rise to superlinear intensity dependence of photoelectron yields.
One known apparatus for measuring ps optical pulses is known as a Streak camera. However, it is very costly, and its resolution is about 3-5 ps, so that events lasting 1 ps or less, down into the femtosecond (fs) range, can not be measured.
A less expensive commercially available technique embodied in the (INRAD Autocorrelator available from Interactive Radiation, Inc., of Northvale, N.J.) is based on the superlinear characteristics of certain crystals. In these crystals, light of long wavelength is converted into light of shorter wavelength with an efficiency that varies with light intensity. The measuring device is referred to as an autocorrelator. Using this device, the light pulse width may be determined. There are some drawbacks with this device: (1) The crystals will only work in a limited range of optical wavelengths. They are not suitable for measuring light in the blue spectrum region, for example, or light that will produce fluorescence in the crystal. (2) The angle of polarization of the incident light must be precisely oriented with respect to the optical axes of the crystal, if maximum efficiency is to be realized. The efficiency of conversion accuracy of modeling one pulse shape falls off rapidly with a misorientation. (3) The incoming light of long wavelength must be diverted from the path of the outgoing light of shorter wavelength in order to avoid overloading the response of a photomultiplier that measures the efficiency of conversion to the shorter wavelength. (4) The auto-correlator is still a relatively expensive device.
Several recent papers have been published describing high speed circuit measurements using photoemission sampling. See Springer Series in Chemical Physics 46; Ultrafast Phenomena V Proceedings 5th Optical Soc. America Topical Meeting; Edited by G.R. Fleming & A.E. Siegman; Springer-Verlag Berlin Pub. Co., 1986, pages 123-130. These papers describe associating a sample metal electrode with a circuit part to the measured, and impinging on the metal electrode 500 fs optical pulses. This causes the generation of photoelectrons which are accelerated by an electric field between the sample and an electron collector. Useful information is obtained by measuring at the collector the change of electric current. However, the time resolution of this technique is limited by the transit time of the electrons from the sample surface to the collector. Since it is difficult to make collector-emitter spacings under one micron, measurement of sub-ps wide pulses cannot be done by this known technique.

Measurement apparatus and techniques for ultrashort events using electron photoemission with a superlinear photoemission active element


A female connector structure includes a plurality of pin insertion holes arranged in a row to correspond to a plurality of columnar connector pins arranged in a male connector section and adapted to receive the respective connector pins individually inserted thereinto. A pair of connector inner walls is formed externally of the pin insertion holes of opposite ends extending in a depth direction of the pin insertion holes. A pair of grooves is formed on an inner surface of the connector inner wall to be gradually shallower as the groove goes from an opening side of the pin insertion hole toward a deepest side thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a female connector structure, a male connector structure, a battery, an adaptor and an electric device suitably applied to e.g. a video camera. More specifically, the invention relates to a technology of easily attaching a battery and an adaptor to a video camera or the like. In addition, the invention relates to a technology of reducing a load applied to the connector pin of a male connector section, the load resulting from an external force in a direction of pulling off an attached battery or adaptor from a video camera or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video cameras have been designed so as to be removably attached with a battery or adaptor and to receive electricity supplied thereto from the battery or adaptor. In this case, the video camera and the battery or adaptor are electrically connected to each other by fitting a male connector section provided on one of them to a female connector section provided on the other. Specifically, a plurality of columnar connector pins arranged on the male connector section are individually inserted into respective pin insertion holes of the female connector section to thereby establish conduction between the male connector section and the female connector section.
The battery or the like is repeatedly attached to a video camera. At the time of attachment, the connector pins of the male connector section have to be inserted into the corresponding pin insertion holes of the female connector section. It is necessary to secure the battery or the like attached to the video camera in such a manner that the connector pins inserted into the pin insertion holes will not break or bend.
To meet the necessity, an adaptor and a battery are disclosed which are designed to execute smooth joint between the male connector section and the female connector section (insertion of the connector pins into pin insertion holes). Specifically, there are provided a projecting side member fitted to a recessed side member provided on the rear surface of a video camera body; and a female side member fitted to a male side member composed of a plurality of vertical connector pins and provided on the rear surface of the video camera body. The female side member has a downward-facing lower surface formed with a plurality of vertical pin-insertion holes adapted to receive the connector pins inserted thereinto. At the time of attachment to the video camera, the downward movement due to its own weight resulting from the fit between the recessed side member and the projecting side member allows the pin insertion holes to be inserted to the connector pins. (See e.g. Japanese Patent No. 3,778,202.)
An attachment side attachment mechanism portion is disclosed in which when a battery or the like is removably attached directly to the attachment surface of a video camera, the attachment and detachment can be done easily and the reliability of the attachment can be enhanced. Specifically, the attachment side attachment mechanism portion adapted to mechanically and electrically join a battery side attachment mechanism portion to the attachment surface in a removably manner includes a connector, a fitting portion with locking mechanism and a pair of guide means. The connector is electrically and removably connected to a downward-facing electric terminal provided on a battery by moving the front surface of the battery provided with the battery side attachment mechanism portion, from the upside to the downside along the attachment surface. The fitting portion with locking mechanism includes an attachment surface side tapered guide and a locking means. The attachment surface side tapered guide is adapted to guide a fitting portion as a battery side attachment mechanism portion so as to center the battery side electric terminal with respect to the connector when the front surface of the battery is moved from the upside to the downside along the attachment surface. The locking means is adapted to engage with the fitting portion as the battery side attachment mechanism portion to lock the battery to the attachment surface. The pair of guide means are disposed on the attachment surface and on both the right and left sides of the connector, and when the battery is attached or removed, guide a to-be-guided means provided on the battery side to prevent the entrapment of the battery along with the to-be-guided means. (See Japanese Patent No. 3,528,844.)
Further, FIG. 1 in Japanese Patent Nos. 3,399,055, 3,508,188, and 3,632,688, illustrates a male connector section (a male side member 142 of a connector 14) and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3B illustrate the relationship between the connector 14 and a battery pack 11. Specifically, a pair of right and left vertical guide projections 148 are formed parallel to the rear surface 2d of a video camera body on both the right and left lateral edges of the male side member 142 of the connector 14. On the other hand, a pair of right and left vertical guide grooves 149 are respectively formed on both right and left sides of a female connector section (a female side member 144 of the connector 14). In addition, the guide projections 148 are fitted to the respective guide grooves 149. Also FIGS. 6, 7 and 8B in Japanese Patent Nos. 3,404,951 and 3,693,110 disclose the same connector 14. Incidentally, also FIGS. 1, 2 and 3B in Japanese Patent Nos. 3,778,202 and 3,528,844 mentioned above disclose the same connector 14.

Female connector structure, male connector structure, battery, adapter and electric device


In the arrangement for fastening a machine part on a foundation by using vertical anchor studs, a multiplicity of vertical anchor tubes are cast into the foundation and these are connected to one another, at least in groups, by means of an auxiliary frame. Provided at the lower end of each anchor tube, there is a ring whose inner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the anchor stud and whose outer diameter is greater than or at least equal to the outer diameter of the anchor tube. A space with an essentially square outline is recessed in the foundation underneath this ring. Laid in this space with clearance, there is a threaded nut with an essentially square external contour and a height smaller than the clear height of the space mentioned, the lower end of the anchor stud being able to be screwed into this threaded nut. This design makes it possible to omit expensive templates when casting the foundation. In addition, the subsequent horizontal alignment of the machine part or machine is possible without difficulty.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an arrangement for fastening a machine part on a foundation by using vertical anchor bolts or anchor studs.
The invention makes reference to a state of the art such as is given, for example, in DE-A 26 42 590.
2. Discussion of Background
In the erection of large electrical machines or heat engines, particular attention has to be paid to fixing the machine and/or bearing casing in order to ensure an accurate and enduring alignment and so that the forces arising can be safely introduced into the foundation. For this purpose, it was previously usual to place the base plate or bearing feet of the machine casing or bearing casing on an intermediate plate laid on the concrete foundation. The forces arising were transmitted to the intermediate plate via pins or fitting pieces. The intermediate plate itself was in turn connected to the foundation, in the vertical direction, by means of anchor bolts and, in the horizontal direction, by means of form-fit steel sections cast in the foundation. Because such an intermediate plate is complicated and the danger exists that large horizontal forces cannot be fully absorbed, the patent application mentioned at the beginning proposes that a strengthened base plate be used and the bearing casing placed directly on the foundation and clamped by anchor bolts to the latter. In order to absorb horizontal forces, a stud let vertically into the concrete foundation is provided whose head ends in a corresponding recess in the base plate. In order to ensure clearance-free force transmission, the stud head consists of a welded-on ring with an outer diameter which is greater than that of the stud, this ring lying as a form fit in the base plate recess mentioned.
In the known fastening arrangement, complicated and expensive templates are necessary when the anchor bolts are cast into the foundation in order to ensure exact positioning of the anchor bolts. The positioning of the studs (for accepting horizontal forces), on the other hand, is much less critical because the stud head does not have to be welded onto the stud until later.

Arrangement for fastening a machine part to a foundation


An infrared laser light source spreader has a first biconvex lens, a biconcave lens, a convex-concave lens, and a second biconvex lens. Light from an infrared laser light source is emitted incident to the first biconvex lens, spreads and exits to be incident on the biconcave lens, is further spread and inverted by the biconcave lens, exits to be incident on the convex-concave lens, which collimates the light, and becomes incident on the second biconvex lens, which spreads the light further.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to infrared laser light source spreaders, and more particularly, to an infrared laser light source spreader that uses two biconvex lenses, a convex-concave lens, and a biconcave lens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the growth of technology adoption, and particularly the development of improved video display and video recording technologies, video surveillance systems are becoming ever more popular. Many businesses and residences today use video surveillance apparatuses to prevent theft and vandalism, or to aid law enforcement in related investigations/prosecutions. The video surveillance system typically includes a video camera, a video recording apparatus, and a video display.
Normal video cameras traditionally are designed to perform well under daylight conditions. Most acts of theft and vandalism occur at night, as fewer people are outside, and darkness provides a measure of cover from the naked eye. This means that the video camera must also perform well at night. To capture video at night, when visible light is greatly reduced, or in other low-light environments where visible light is unavailable, the video cameras typically employ light emitting diodes (LED) to provide a supplemental light source for the video camera. Because the LED is a scattering light source, a visible range of the video camera is severely limited. The prior art typically provides a visible range of about 50 m, and a longest range provided by the prior art is approximately 150 m. For some applications, this range is insufficient.


A gas bearing face seal assembly for a gas turbine engine having improved sealing characteristics. The assembly can include support means which concentrically position a face seal member with respect to a seal radius, while permitting translation of the face seal with respect to a rotating sealing surface and radial growth of the seal member with respect to the housing. A clearance control ring means can be included to reduce and maintain radial clearance between the face seal member and a housing surface. The face seal member may be pressurized radially outwardly, and can include improved vent channel and vent passage means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to seals in gas turbine engines to restrict fluid flow between rotating and stationary engine members, and more particularly is related to a gas bearing face seal having improved sealing characteristics.
2. Description of the Known Art
Air leakage through gas turbine engine seals may significantly increase fuel consumption, reduce engine efficiency, and increase maintenance costs by increasing turbine inlet temperatures. Gas turbine engines have traditionally included labyrinth seals at critical sealing locations. Labyrinth seals control leakage of high pressure gas, such as compressor discharge air, from a generally high pressure area to a generally low pressure area. The seals operate by throttling gas flow through a series of annular constrictions formed between annular teeth, which may be located on a rotating component, and an annular rub strip, which may be located on a stationary engine member. The rub strips are abradable to allow the teeth to rub lightly during dynamic operating conditions, such as thermal transients or maneuver loads. The effectiveness of these labyrinth seals is dependent on keeping the radial clearance between the rub strip and teeth to a minimum. However, the minimum radial clearance is limited by manufacturing tolerances, rotor concentricity control, and thermal growth between rotating and stationary components. Too small a radial clearance results in premature seal wear and possible engine damage, while too large a radial clearance results in excess leakage. As seal diameters increase and gas temperatures increase in advanced engines, the radial clearance must increase, thereby lowering the effectiveness of the labyrinth seals.
Gas bearing face seals provide an alternative to the labyrinth seal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,033, issued to C. Moore, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a gas bearing face seal for use as a compressor discharge seal, and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. An air bearing is used to actively control the spacing between a flow restricting tooth and a rotating sealing surface on a rotating component. A face seal ring member, which carries the restricting tooth, is supported for movement toward the rotating sealing surface. A ring seal, such as a piston ring seal, provides a secondary seal between the ring member and a stationary engine frame.
During low or no power conditions the ring member and restricting tooth are biased away from the rotating sealing surface by springs. During higher power operation high pressure compressor discharge air acts on the ring to urge the ring and tooth toward the sealing surface. A portion of the high pressure discharge air is supplied to a gas bearing space between the ring and the rotating sealing surface to establish a predetermined gas bearing face clearance. Pressure forces developed in the gas bearing space oppose further motion of the ring and tooth toward the sealing surface, and permits close spacing of the restricting tooth with respect to the sealing surface by actively maintaining the predetermined clearance. Further motion of the ring and tooth toward the rotating sealing surface increases the pressure forces in the air bearing space, thereby urging the ring and tooth away from the sealing surface to maintain the predetermined clearance.
While the seal as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,033 attempts to overcome disadvantages of the labyrinth seal, the disclosed seal, itself, includes a number of significant disadvantages. First, the disclosed seal does not include means for maintaining the ring member concentric with respect to the axis of the engine or with other seal components. The applicant has found that concentricity of the ring member with respect to other seal components is important for proper seal operation. Concentricity helps to maintain concentric, balanced pressure forces on the seal components. Concentric, balanced pressure forces, in turn, promote good sealing characteristics while permitting the use of smaller, more lightweight seal components. In addition, pressure forces that are not concentric with respect to the engine centerline can result in nonconcentric forces acting on critical rotor assembly components.
Second, the seal as disclosed shows the ring member pressurized radially inwardly by the higher pressure region. Rings pressurized radially inwardly will deform to an out-of-round shape with reduced sealing capability unless they are sufficiently massive and stiff. However, the ring member should ideally have a low mass inertia and relatively high compliance for reduced seal weight and, more importantly, reduced hysteresis in the clearance between the radial sealing surface and the restricting tooth. A low mass inertia ring can more quickly and efficiently track motion of the sealing surface with lower actuating forces.
Third, differential thermal growth and other effects influencing the clearance between the seal housing and face seal ring member can result in changes in pressure forces acting on seal components, which can result in poor sealing.
Fourth, the seal as disclosed includes an auxiliary restrictor tooth integral with or mounted on the ring member, which adds weight to the ring member, and increases pressure closing forces on the ring member, with the result that heavy spring means must be used to bias the ring member away from the sealing surface.
Fifth, the seal as disclosed does not efficiently vent air exiting the air bearing space and the restrictor tooth to the low pressure region. Improved venting is desired to assure proper pressure balance on the ring member.


A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a carriage carrying the liquid ejecting head, a plurality of subtanks carried on the carriage, a main tank disposed on a body of the apparatus, and a feed pipe. The carriage is moved back and forth in a main scanning direction. Each subtank contains a highly concentrated color ink which corresponds to one of the respective ink colors. The main tank contains a diluent containing no coloring component and/or a colorless ink. The diluent and/or the colorless ink is supplied from the main tank to the carriage through the feed pipe. The liquid ejecting head is supplied with the respective color inks and ejects the inks.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus having a small-sized carriage for carrying a recording head.
2. The Relevant Technology
Several ink printers have been developed, each having a liquid ejecting apparatus, including a head that ejects liquid, such as ink. The liquid ink is usually contained in an ink cartridge, within the liquid ejecting head.
Currently, such ink printers for office use and commercial use consume large amounts of ink because their printing frequencies are high. In such high volume printers, it is necessary for those printers to have large-capacity ink cartridges. In printers having an on-carriage type printer, or a configuration wherein the carriage includes a cartridge holder for carrying ink cartridges, difficulties arise when the printer requires large-capacity ink cartridges. In order to accommodate the larger ink cartridges, the carriage is increased in size, which also increases the load applied on the printer while moving the carriage.
FIG. 6 shows a carriage 1 carrying on-carriage type ink cartridges of the variety described above. As illustrated, a plurality of ink cartridges 2 containing different color inks are mounted on the carriage 1. In order to accommodate the large ink cartridges 2, the carriage 1 has a large size. As a result, the carriage 1, also has a large weight, and is generally not suitable for use in small-sized liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as the compact printers which are popular today.
One common approach used to solve this problem is an off-carriage type printer, where the ink cartridges are disposed away from the carriage. In the off-carriage type printer, it is necessary to move the different color inks from respective ink tanks arranged in a body of the printer to the carriage, or more specifically, to a series of subtanks on the carriage. Additionally, the carriage must remain movable in a main scanning direction.
It is therefore necessary to use a thick or multilayer tube as a feed pipe in order to prevent evaporation of water from each ink supply and to arrange a plurality of thick or multilayer tubes corresponding to the different color inks.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Number JP-A-9-11498, as illustrated in FIG. 7, discloses an ink jet recording apparatus having a carriage 3 carrying a plurality of small-sized subtanks (not shown). In this apparatus, each highly concentrated color ink is diluted in a body of the apparatus and is then supplied to the corresponding subtank on the carriage every printing. Additionally, the described ink jet recording apparatus takes countermeasures to reduce the evaporation of water from each supplied ink.
Disadvantageously, however, since the apparatus has a structure in which a plurality of ink cartridges are arranged in the apparatus body, each color ink is diluted in the apparatus body, and the diluted ink is then supplied to the corresponding subtank on the carriage. Thus it is necessary to connect a plurality of tubes 4 to the carriage 3 moved in the main scanning direction in a manner similar to the off-carriage type.
Unfortunately, however, in many small-sized liquid ejecting apparatuses, the power of a driving unit which moves the carriage is limited. Accordingly, the structure in which a plurality of or many tubes are connected to a carriage and the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction has a disadvantage in that the resistance to the movement is higher as the number of tubes is larger. Thus, it is difficult for the driving unit to move the carriage in the main scanning direction.


Apparatus for aiding removal and replacement of a spa cover. The apparatus includes at least one lifting assembly secured relative to the spa tub, each having a lifting arm mounted for rotation relative to the spa tub and including a cover-engaging end coupled to the spa cover and a pivot end mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The lifting arm is rotatable through a range of motion about the pivot axis between a covering position and an uncovering position. A lifting system is provided for exerting a lifting force on the arm tending to lift the arm as the arm moves from the covering position toward the uncovering position, and for exerting a resistance force on the arm tending to resist movement of the arm from the uncovering position toward the covering position. The lifting system includes a link lever having a pivot end pivotally mounted to the lift arm at a link pivot location disposed between the arm pivot end and the cover-engaging end. A slider end of the link lever is constrained for sliding movement along a slider path of travel. A spring structure is connected to the link lever at a spring pivot location between the link lever pivot end and the slider end. The spring structure is also connected to the lift arm at a spring connection point, and is under compression when the lift arm is at the covering location.

Residential spas are widespread sources of enjoyment and relaxation. Such spas are typically formed with dimensions several feet on a side. Spas may be located in the ground, within a gazebo, or surrounded by a deck. They are preferably covered when not in use both to maintain water temperature and to prevent contamination of the spa water. Spa covers typically employ a rigid frame across which a cover of wood, fabric, or plastic is spread.
Due to its considerable mass, a spa cover mounted on a conventional mounting system is quite heavy to lift from a closed position into an open position. Considerable strength is required to lift the spa cover through an arc of ninety degrees in moving it to cover and uncover the spa tub. At present there are various assist mechanisms available for moving a spa cover between open and closed positions. Conventional spa covers, when moved from a position covering the spa into an open position, are sometimes mounted on hinge mechanisms which allow the spa covers to be rotated between a generally horizontal orientation above the surface of the spa and a generally vertical orientation extending upwardly along one edge of the spa deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,403 describes a spa cover lift apparatus, which uses gas springs to aid in the lifting process. The described apparatus is susceptible to damage to the gas springs due to overstretching the spring with the cover in the upright position. With the cover in the upright position, forces due to wind gusts or improper use can tend to rotate the cover past the upright position, placing a stretching force on the gas spring. This can cause failure of the gas spring. Another disadvantage of the lift apparatus described in this patent is that, due to the pivotal connection of the spring to the lifting arm and spa, the spring will exert considerable lifting force when the cover is in the closed position. This can assist the cover being opened under undesired circumstances, e.g. due to wind gusts.
It would therefore represent an advantage to provide a spa cover lift system which provides protection against overstretching the assisting spring at the upper travel limit.
It would further be an advantage to provide a spa cover lift system which provides little or no lift assistance when the spa cover is in the covered position, and which rapidly provides increased lift assistance after the cover has been lifted away from the top of the spa.


The present invention relates to a compound which when administered to Leydig cells in the testes stimulates the production of androgen such as testosterone. This compound, when mixed with other known compounds, can produce testosterone levels in excess of those obtained by the administration of a maximal stimulatory dose of Lutenizing Hormone (LH).

The testes of male animals including humans, is divided into two function compartments. One compartment which is responsible for the production of sperm, contains a tightly packed series of tubular coils known as the seminiferous tubules. The seminiferous tubules make up the majority of the testes structure. Hormone producing cells located within the seminiferous tubules which assist in the transformation of germ cells to sperm cells are known as Sertoli cells. The other compartment of the testes contains Leydig cells. Leydig cells are responsible for the production of androgens or male sex hormones. These Leydig cells are interspersed between the various coils of the seminiferous tubules.
For years it was known that when a certain chemical bound to specific membrane receptors on Leydig cells, a series of reactions is initiated which result in the production and secretion of androgens. "Androgen" refers to a family of male sex hormones which include, without limitation, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione and testosterone. Androgens such as testosterone, play a key role in the development of male sexual characteristics such as growth of the penis, muscles and beard as well as deepening of the voice. Testosterone secreted by the Leydig cells was also known to bind to specific receptors in the Sertoli cells and this binding was known to be important in sperm production.
The compound that was known to bind to Leydig cells was Lutenizing Hormone (LH) which is secreted by the pituitary gland under the brain. (A functionally analogous compound produced in females, Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG) or human Chronic Gonadatropin (hCG) can also bind to LH receptors on Leydig cells. CG is easier to obtain than LH and, therefore, clinical studies often use CG instead of LH. Because they are functionally interchangeable, they are often referred to as "LH/CG".) It was originally thought that the binding of LH/CG to the Leydig cell was the sole mechanism for initiating the production of androgens. Another compound, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) was known to be released by the pituitary gland under the brain and was known to bind to specific membrane receptors on the Sertoli cells. The binding of FSH along with testosterone, to the Sertoli cells were thought to be key to sperm production.
These simplistic explanations of the operation of the Sertoli and Leydig cells were fine for a basic understanding of testicular biology. However, there were certain situations which these explanations just could not accommodate. For example, it was found that when Sertoli cells were damaged, the Leydig cells surrounding them underwent rapid enlargement, without a change in LH levels. This suggests that the life cycle of both types of cells are interdependent, at least to some extent. Furthermore, there is a disease in children that causes the Leydig cells to produce large amounts of testosterone, even in the absence of LH. It has long been believed that some other substance, contained within the testes, activates the Leydig cells to produce androgen in this instance. Finally, in the fetus, testosterone or other androgens are produced before the Leydig cells LH receptors are operational. These observations suggested a symbiotic relationship between the Sertoli cells and the Leydig cells above and beyond their respective known roles in sperm cell production.
The understanding of the chemical interaction between the Sertoli cells and the Leydig cells has gradually grown, particularly over the last ten years. During that period, the results of a number of studies were released and those studies appear to support the symbiotic relationship of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. For example, when porcine Leydig cells were cultured alone in chemically defined medium, the cells exhibited regression and showed the loss of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of the mitochondria. These changes were not prevented by the addition to the medium of either LH which stimulates Leydig cells or FSH which stimulates Sertoli cells.
In contrast, the co-culturing of Leydig and Sertoli cells resulted in Leydig cells that retain the smooth endoplasmic reticulum at the same level as exhibited in Leydig cells from intact animals. Furthermore, the addition of FSH to the co-culture appeared to stimulate Leydig cell development. (Tabone, et al., '84). Such observations have led numerous investigators to search in various unfractionated biological fluids from the testes for factors which affect Leydig cell function. These studies have led to the identification of both inhibitory and stimulatory activities.
Stimulatory activities include a group of biological activities that appear to be stable to heat, acids, or organic solvents and are capable of increasing both basal and LH-stimulated testosterone secretion. These factors have an average molecular weight of between about 5,000 and about 10,000. (Syed Int. J. Androls' '86) (Sharp & Cooper '84).
Other investigators have identified another group of Leydig cells stimulatory activities that are heat and enzyme sensitive and appear to be proteins with average molecular weights between about 10,000 and 60,000. These factors can also stimulate both basal and LH-stimulated testosterone secretion. (Sharpe INSERM '84); (Sharp & Bartlett '85); (Sharp Mol. Cell Endo. '88); (Benahmed Am. J. Phys. '85); (Benahmed J. Ster. Biochem '86); (Parvinen Mol. Cell Endo. '84); Papadopoulus '87a); (Papadopoulus '87b); (Verhoeven & Cailleau '85); (Verhoeven & Cailleau '87); (Janecki Mol. Cell Endo. '85); (Jansz Biol. Reprod. '87); and (Liu & Dahl '88).
The present inventors have isolated a hitherto unknown protein which has important and unique functionalities and which has potentially significant therapeutic properties. This factor, known as Leydig Cell Stimulator, or "LCS", acts in ways which are not characteristic of other identified stimulatory factors. Furthermore, LCS acts to enhance and in some instances synergistically enhance the production of androgens such as testosterone when co-administered with LH/CG. This discovery not only provides a better overall understanding of the interplay between Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, but may also be useful in the treatment of infertility, low sperm count, premature or late onset of puberty as well as other conditions.


Disclosed herein is a method for producing an elongated (rolled) carbonaceous film by polymer pyrolysis while suppressing the fusion bonding of the carbonaceous film. The method for producing a carbonaceous film includes the step of heat-treating a polymer film wound into a roll, wherein the heat treatment is performed after the polymer film is wound into a roll to have a gap between adjacent layers of the polymer film at a temperature lower than a pyrolysis onset temperature of the polymer film so that the roll of polymer film as a whole satisfies a relationship that a value obtained by dividing a thickness of a gap between adjacent layers of the polymer film (Ts) by a thickness of the polymer film (Tf) (Ts/Tf) is 0.16 or higher but 1.50 or lower. As a method for forming gaps between the layers of the polymer film, a method in which the polymer film is wound into a roll together with a slip sheet and then the slip sheet is removed can be used, which is effective at suppressing the fusion bonding of a carbonaceous film.

Graphite film is a material having excellent properties such as high thermal conductivity, and is therefore widely used in electronic parts and the like. Examples of a method for producing a commonly-available high thermal conductive graphite film include an expanding method in which exfoliated graphite is rolled into a sheet and a polymer pyrolysis method.
For example, a graphite film production method has been disclosed, in which a polymer film is wound around a graphitic carbon cylinder, more specifically, a laminate of three sheets of POD film having a width of 180 mm and a thickness of 50 μm is wound around a graphitic carbon cylinder having an outer diameter of 68 mm, an inner diameter of 64 mm, and a length of 200 mm and heated at 1800° C. or higher in an inert gas or in a vacuum to obtain an elongated graphite film. (Patent Document 1)

Method for producing carbonaceous film, method for producing graphite film, roll of polymer film, and roll of carbonaceous film


A reciprocating saw, including a housing, a spindle mounted for reciprocation relative to the housing, the spindle having an end adapted to receive a saw blade, the saw blade having a first orientation relative to the spindle to have a first cutting direction and a second orientation relative to the spindle to have a second cutting direction opposite the first cutting direction, and a drive assembly connected to the spindle and operable to selectively drive the saw blade along a first path of travel during a first cutting stroke and along a second path of travel during a second cutting stroke. The first path of travel is characterized by movement at least partially in the first cutting direction and the second path of travel is characterized by movement at least partially in the second cutting direction.

Reciprocating saws are used to cut a variety of objects, such as metal pipes, wood and drywall. Such saws typically include a housing and a spindle mounted in the housing for reciprocating motion along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal extent of the spindle. An electric motor provides power to the spindle through a mechanical reciprocating device that converts the rotary motion of a motor shaft to reciprocating motion. Such mechanical reciprocating devices can, for example, include an eccentric drive, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,844, or a wobble plate drive, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,025,562 and 5,050,307.
In some reciprocating saws, the spindle reciprocates in an orbital motion as opposed to a straight line reciprocating motion. The orbital motion is characterized by a forward (i.e., in the cutting direction) motion of the saw blade as the saw blade is being retracted toward the saw on the cutting stroke, and a corresponding rearward (i.e., opposite the cutting direction) motion of the saw blade as the saw blade is being extended away from the saw on the return stroke. The result is a circuitous, or orbital, path of the saw blade. Such orbital motion is believed to improve the speed at which the saw cuts a workpiece by driving the saw blade into the workpiece during the cutting stroke and withdrawing the saw blade from the workpiece during the return stroke.
Orbital motion has been achieved in a number of different ways. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,238,884 and 4,628,605, a forward force (in the cutting direction) is applied by a blade roller directly to the saw blade during the cutting stroke, and forward motion of the saw blade is accommodated by a forgiving interconnection between the spindle and the drive mechanism. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,887, the spindle reciprocates through a pivotally-mounted bushing, and the back end of the spindle is connected to an eccentric member that provides forward-rearward motion to the spindle. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,588 and 4,550,501, the back end of the spindle is moved forward-rearward by connection to a cam surface on a rotating gear, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,519 the back end of the spindle in moved forward-rearward by connection to an eccentric member.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system includes a processor configured to communicate with a remote server to provide and obtain vehicle performance information, wherein the processor is further configured to receive and present a list of one or more available race opponents respond to the server with an opponent selection present a countdown timer and measure and report to the server one or more vehicle statistics relating to a race beginning at the end of the countdown timer.

From digital content delivery, to on-demand directions, to streaming movies and internet feeds, modern infotainment systems provide vehicles with a variety of services for operators and passengers. Users can use network connections, such as a portable phone, to connect a vehicle computing system to a remote network, and this connection can provide access to a variety of data. While much of the data is similar to data one might request on a home-PC, there are certain functions that may be more desirable in a vehicle setting. For example, turn-by-turn directions with delivery upon reaching GPS coordinates. While it may be useful to get the directions beforehand, so a route is known, the delivery of the next-direction when a GPS coordinate is reached is something that is generally far more useful while actually in the vehicle.
Another example of an application that is vehicle-related is seen in U.S. App. 2010/0160013, which generally relates to a "Vehicle Tracking System and Game," integrating a GPS navigation system with invention specific hardware and software. A user installs a mobile unit on his race vehicle which features software allowing a processor connected to the electronics of the user's vehicle to communicate with an inertial navigation system which collects racing information, with a remote database which features software for various interactive real-time or virtual GPS Racing Games and processing the racing information of all users, and with a GPS system in real time. The mobile unit collects, processes, saves and transmits user specific racing information continuously throughout the game. This racing information is data of racing performance parameters specific to the game subscribed for by the user. The database processes and evaluates the received racing information, offsets this information with the users' basic input data and compares the information of all users.


A camera module, in which a recessed portion that has a greater depth than the thickness of an imaging device is disposed on the surface (top surface) of an embedded-component substrate. An imaging device is bonded to a bottom of the recessed portion such that an opening is present between the surface (top surface) of the imaging device and the surface (top surface) of the embedded-component substrate. Connection pads on the imaging device are connected to conductor pads disposed on the surface (top surface) of the embedded-component substrate by bonding wires that go through the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera module using an embedded-component substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
Disclosed in FIG. 16 of Patent Document 1 below is a configuration of a camera module, used in mobile devices such as mobile phones and smartphones, that uses an embedded-component substrate (a multilayer substrate with electronic components embedded therein) instead of a wiring substrate.
This type of camera module must ensure a gap corresponding to the minimum focal distance between the light-receiving part of the imaging device and the lenses. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the height of the camera module, or in other words, for the camera module to be made thinner, in a structure in which the imaging device is bonded to the surface (top surface) of the embedded-component substrate, as in FIG. 16 in Patent Document 1 below.
Mobile devices such as mobile phones and smartphones becoming thinner has led to strong demand for this type of camera module to also be thinner. In view of this, the development of a camera module that satisfies this demand is of the utmost importance.


Methods and apparatus for transitioning from one speech recognition system to another and for reusing existing speech recognition data are described. In particular, various methods of converting speech recognition templates or models from a first format to a second format are described. Methods for improving the recognition rate achieved using converted templates or models are also described. These methods involve storing source and/or scoring information for templates or models so that converted models or templates can be scored differently than original models or templates to thereby reflect the effect the conversion process has on recognition scores. In order to enhance recognition results in one embodiment an available compressed voice recording is used in the conversion process. The methods and apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of speech recognition template and model conversion applications. Methods and apparatus for generating garbage models are also described. In one embodiment a garbage model is generated dynamically at recognition time using a period of silence in the utterance upon which the recognition operation is to be performed as the source of the data required to generated the garbage model. In this manner a garbage model is generated to reflect the particular background noise conditions, associated with a particular utterance, upon which speech recognition is to be performed.

Speech recognition involves the identification of words or phrases in speech. It generally involves using a speech recognition system including, e.g., a computer, that analyzes the speech according to one or more speech recognition methods to identify the words or phrases included in the speech. Speech recognition may be either speaker dependent, speaker independent or a combination of both.
Speaker dependent speech recognition normally uses a computer that has been "trained" to respond to the manner in which a particular person speaks. In general, the training involves the particular person speaking a word or phrase, converting the speech input into digital signal data, and then generating a template or model of the speech which includes information about various characteristics of the speech. Because template and models include speech characteristic information, e.g., energy level, duration, and other types of information, templates and models are well suited for speech recognition applications where such characteristics can be measured in received speech and compared to the information included in the templates or models. However, because templates and models do not include all speech characteristics less speech information can be derived from a template or model than can be derived from a voice recording which has not been compressed.
Templates or models generated during a speech recognition training process are normally stored in a database for future use during a speech recognition operation. During real time speech recognition applications, input speech is processed in a manner similar to that used to generate a template or model during training. The signal characteristic information or data generated by process the speech upon which a recognition operation is to be performed is then normally compared to a user's set of templates or models and/or speaker independent templates or models. The best match between the input speech and the templates or models is determined in an attempt to identify the speech input. Upon recognition of a particular word or phase, an appropriate response is normally performed.
Speaker independent speech recognition normally uses composite templates or models or clusters thereof, that represent the same sound, word, or phrase spoken by a number of different persons. Speaker independent templates are normally derived from numerous samples of signal data to represent a wide range of pronunciations. Such data can often be collected during the normal course of business by various services or from a company's own employees thereby eliminating the need for users of the speech recognition system to be consciously involved in the generation of speaker independent speech recognition templates or models.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a known voice dialing telephone system 100 which supports a speech recognition capability. The known system 100 includes a plurality of telephones 101, 102 which are coupled to a switch 116. The switch 116, in turn is coupled to what is sometimes referred to as an intelligent peripheral 124 via a T1 link. The intelligent peripheral 124 is responsible for supporting voice dialing services by performing speech recognition operations and outputting telephone numbers to the switch associated with spoken names, words, or phrases which are to be used to complete the call initiated by the voice dialing service subscriber.
Upon receiving a request from a voice dialing service subscriber to initiate a voice dialing call, the switch 116 couples the subscriber to the intelligent peripheral 124. The intelligent peripheral 124 than process the subscribers speech to identify names and/or commands in the subscribers speech. This is done using the speech recognizer 126, application processor 130 and database 129.
The application processor 130 controls the storage and retrieval of speaker dependent and speaker independent templates or models stored in the database 129. Frequently speaker independent templates or models are used for commands while speaker dependent templates or models are used for names of individuals to be called. Thus, the database 129 normally includes subscriber specific speech recognition information, e.g., a plurality of speaker dependent templates or models, for each subscriber. In addition, the database 129 normally includes a destination telephone number or instruction associated with each stored speaker dependent template or model and, optionally, a compressed voice recording of the name represented by the template or model which can be played back to the subscriber when placing a call to the number associated therewith. Each subscriber may have a plurality of speaker dependent templates, e.g., of 20 or more names. Accordingly, the creation of a subscriber's speaker dependent templates may represent a substantial investment in terms of training time contributed on the part of each individual subscriber. Speaker dependent templates or models for an individual subscriber are normally retrieved from the database 129 and loaded into the speech recognizer 126 each time the individual subscriber attempts to initiate a voice dialing operation.
In as much as a system of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 may have many thousands of subscribers, it can be appreciated that the cumulative investment in subscriber time in generating the stored speaker dependent templates can be quite substantial.
Over time the cost of computers and electronics has decreased while, at the same time, the processing power of such devices has increased. In addition, over time, various advances in speech recognition techniques have resulted in increased recognition accuracy. Such improvements in both speech related recognition hardware and the methods by which speech recognition is performed have provided a significant incentive to users of speech recognition systems, e.g., telephone companies among others, to upgrade older systems and to increase the use of speech recognition systems in general. In addition, with the increased use of speech recognition systems in general, it has become desirable to be able to port a set of speech templates or models created for one application to another application.
Unfortunately, switching from one speech recognition system to another rarely involves a simple substitution of hardware and/or software. This is because databases, e.g., databases of speech recognition templates, used with one, e.g., older speech recognition system, will frequently include data, e.g., speech recognition templates or models, which are incompatible with another, e.g., newer, speech recognition system due to differences in the speech characteristic information included in the speech recognition templates or models. Differences in template or model format or data storage techniques may also complicate matters.
At the present time many users of speech recognition systems are being confronted with the problem of transitioning from older speech recognition systems and platforms to newer ones. Or, alternatively, the problem of sharing or using speech recognition templates or models developed for one application or system with another application or system. As discussed above, various applications and/or systems often use different models or templates with differences in the speech characteristic information stored therein.
Because of the differences between the templates and models used in various applications and systems it is often necessary to generate new speaker dependent templates or models to replace already existing ones when transitioning from one application or system to another. Unfortunately, since the original utterances used to generate the stored templates or models are normally not available to serve as the basis for the generation of new templates or models, it is often necessary to have each user of the speech recognition system repeat the training process for the new application or system. Accordingly, new speaker dependent templates or models often need to be generated to replace those previously used with an application or system being replaced.
The need for users of a speaker dependent speech recognition system to actively participate in the training of a new speech recognition system is a substantial deterrent to the replacement or upgrading of older speech recognition systems. Consider, for example, the case of the telephone provider who provides voice dialing services to many thousands of customers and the inconvenience to those customers that would result if they had to participate in generating entirely new sets of speaker dependent templates or models to replace already existing ones. Differences between speech templates and/or models developed for one system or application, and those developed for other applications or systems have greatly reduced the ability to share or re-use existing speech recognition databases.
In view of the above, it becomes apparent that there is a need for methods and apparatus which are capable of facilitating the transitioning from one speech recognition application or system to another without requiring the generation of new sets of speech recognition templates. Such methods and apparatus may be required, e.g., when upgrading speech recognition applications and systems; when a service provider desires to change vendors or to deploy multiple vendors without impacting an existing customer base and/or when a customer changes residences and wishes to carry his speaker dependent directory, e.g., with a large number of trained names, with him to a new service provider.
Thus, there is a need for methods and apparatus which will allow the reuse and/or sharing of speech recognition templates or models developed for one application or system with another application or system which uses templates or models having a different characteristic information content and/or format. As with most speech recognition systems it is also desirable that any new methods and/or apparatus achieve a suitable recognition rate and degree of accuracy when used.

Speech recoginition methods and apparatus


An image processor, for example a digital color copier, receives an image signal transmitted in one of a plurality of different modes to process an image of one picture. An analyzer determines the processing mode of the received image signal. A first processor is selected for sequentially processing the image signal for one picture a line at a time in accordance with the analyzer determining one processing mode was received. A second processor is selected and receives the whole image signal for one picture for processing as a block in accordance with the analyzer determining a different mode was received. A processed image is output from the processor selected by the analyzer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for image processing and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for image processing capable of processing an image signal in each of a plurality of processing modes.
2. The Prior Art
A conventional image processing apparatus is known which generally consists of a memory and an interface and which effects processing for inputting an image from an external unit or outputting an image to the external unit. For example, this apparatus is used in combination with a reader, a printer or the like in such a manner as to output an image read by the reader to an external unit or output by a printer an image which is transferred from an external unit.
Such an image processing apparatus requires being adaptable to a printer having a printing process as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows an ink jet head unit 400, a rail 401 on which the unit 400 moves, and a recording sheet 402. The ink jet head unit 400 is driven by a driving unit (not shown) to scan from the left to right as viewed in FIG. 12 to output an one-line image. "One-line image" denotes an image formed on the recording sheet by one cycle of scanning of the ink jet head unit 400. Accordingly, "one-line image" as hereinafter referred to in this specification denotes an image or image data formed by one cycle of scanning of a recording head provided in a printer.
After a one-line image has been output, the recording sheet 402 is transferred upward as viewed in FIG. 12 (in the direction of the arrow) to an extent corresponding to one line, while the head unit 400 moves on the rail 401 to return to the left end position. This process is repeated to form the entire image.
A printer having such a process is characterized such that the printing process can be stopped each time one head scanning cycle is completed. In a case where this printer is operated in association with the above-mentioned image processing apparatus, a process may be adopted such that a one-line image signal is written in a memory from the outside and is output, and another one-line image signal is transferred from the outside to the memory after the outputting of the former signal has been completed, to enable an image output having an amount of data exceeding the memory capacity.
Although an apparatus operating in a mode of repeating processing by reading one-line image data and outputting the data for printing (hereinafter referred to as "line data sequential processing") can process a large amount of image data which exceeds the memory capacity, it cannot be adapted to editing processing, including registration of the entire image data in the memory or modifying a registered image layout.
Also, the apparatus cannot be applied to processing image data in which R, G and B color components are expressed by multi-value data, and the data is entirely transferred to a frame memory and developed with respect to each color (which processing is hereinafter referred to as "frame data sequential processing").

Image processing method and apparatus for processing an image signal in each of a plurality of processing modes


A visual aim indicator shows players the position of a selected one of a set of aim points during a video game. Each of the set of aim points has a predetermined position. The predetermined positions are within a target region, so that the visual aim indicator shows players the likely destination of their aim. Each aim point is associated with a range of control input values, so that players do not need to provide a precise control input value and can quickly select one of the set of aim points. The sizes of the ranges of control input values associated with the aim points can vary so that a player's aim inputs can be biased towards or away from specific aim points. The visual aim indicator is displayed intermittently during an aiming mode of operation and removed from view when the player completes the aiming mode of operation.

The invention relates to the field of video games, and specifically to methods and systems for displaying control input. Many video games feature one or more characters directed by at least one player. A player provides control input through a control device, such as a joystick, to direct the activities of characters. Depending upon the type of game and the context in which control inputs are received, character responses may or may not be immediately visible to a player.
For example, in a hockey video game, the player may provide control input via a joystick to direct the motion of one or more characters. Typically, a player's control input in this context is immediately visible, as the video game moves the character as directed by the control input. Additionally, the player can provide a control input, such as a pressing a button, to direct the character to shoot the puck towards an opponent's goal. To provide additional interactivity and challenge to the video game, many hockey video games allow the player to aim or direct the puck towards a specific region of the goal. In typical prior video game control schemes, this is accomplished by moving the joystick in a direction of a region of the goal at the same time or shortly after providing shot control input. For example, moving the joystick to an "up" position during a shot control input will direct the character to aim the puck towards the top region of the goal, while moving the joystick to a "lower-right" position will direct the character to aim the puck towards the bottom right region of the goal.
In prior video games, the results of this aiming command are not visible to the player until after the shot has been taken. To receive confirmation of his or her aiming command, the player must observe the position of the object, such as a puck, when it arrives at its destination, for example the goal. Because players cannot see the intended destination of their shot until after the shot has been completed, the level and quality of interactivity of the video game is decreased. The lack of visual aim indicators makes it difficult for beginning players to acquire the fundamental skills of the game. For more advanced players, the lack of visual feedback during the aiming process makes it difficult to quickly and precisely perform the full range of available shots in the video game, which unnecessarily limits players' strategies and slows the pace of gameplay.
It is therefore desirable for a system and method to provide players with a visual indication of an object's intended destination during the aiming process to enhance the interactivity of video games. It is further desirable for the visual indication to be intuitive to understand and to avoid unnecessarily complicating the game. It is also desirable for the system and method to be easily implemented in a variety of different types of games and to provide players with additional options for customizing games to their tastes.


A bypass assembly for use in a downhole tool comprises a chamber, a first fluid port in fluid communication with the chamber, a second fluid port in fluid communication with the chamber, a flow restrictor disposed in a first flow path between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, a piston moveable in a first direction by the application of a first fluid pressure, a biasing member, and a restraining member disposed adjacent to the piston. The biasing member biases the piston to move in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the restraining member is actuated by movement of the piston in the first direction in response to a predetermined fluid pressure. Movement of the piston in the second direction to a predetermined position configures the bypass assembly to divert fluid flow around the flow restrictor along a second flow path.

The disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, more particularly, to the application of flow control devices to manage fluid flow into and out of a tubular body.
Without limiting the scope of the disclosure, its background will be described with reference to producing fluid from a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation, as an example.
During the production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean well, it was desirable to substantially reduce or exclude the production of water produced from the well. For example, it is desirable for the fluid produced from the well to have a relatively high proportion of hydrocarbons, and a relatively low proportion of water. In some cases, it is also desirable to restrict the production of hydrocarbon gas from a well.
In addition, where fluid is produced from a long interval of a formation penetrated by a wellbore, it is known that balancing the production of fluid along the interval can lead to reduced water and gas "coning," and more controlled conformance, thereby increasing the proportion and overall quantity of oil produced from the interval. Inflow control devices (ICDs) have been used in the past to restrict flow of produced fluid through the ICDs for this purpose of balancing production along an interval. For example, in a long horizontal wellbore, fluid flow near the "heel" of the wellbore may be more restricted as compared to fluid flow near a "toe" of the wellbore, to counteract a horizontal well's tendency to produce at a higher flow rate at the "heel" of the well as compared to the "toe."

Apparatus, systems and methods for bypassing a flow control device


A heart beat cycle indicating device for indicating to a firearm operator a defined stage of the heart beat cycle of the firearm operator includes a heart beat cycle monitoring unit for monitoring the heart beat cycle of the firearm operator and a heart beat cycle indicating unit for indicating to the firearm operator a specific stage of the heart beat cycle. A heart beat cycle override unit may be used in combination with the heart beat cycle indicating device to prevent discharge of a firearm during a specified stage of the heart beat cycle of the firearm operator. An automatic firing assembly for automatically firing a firearm when the firearm is aligned with a target comprises a target detection unit in combination with a trigger actuation unit for actuating a firearm trigger. Methods for making a heart beat cycle indicating device and an automatic firing assembly are disclosed, together with methods for operating a firearm in combination with a heart beat cycle indicating device or an automatic firing assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device and methods for controlled manual or automatic operation of a firearm. In particular, the invention relates to a device and method for manually firing a firearm during specific periods of the heart beat cycle. The instant invention also relates to a device and method for automatically firing a firearm which has been primed for automatic fire. The invention further relates to a device and method for preventing the manual firing of a weapon during specific parts of the heart beat cycle. The invention still further relates to a device and method for preventing automatic firing of a firearm in response to identification of a friendly target.
2. Background of the Related Art
The heart is a muscular organ which undergoes a series of contractions and relaxations during the heart beat cycle. The heart beat cycle can be briefly summarized as consisting of three stages: diastole, atrial systole, and finally ventricular systole, to be followed once more by diastole. The heart of an individual beats more or less perpetually, at varying rates, throughout life. The heart is located in the left side of the thorax. However, the forces associated with the beating heart and the resultant blood flow throughout the vasculature, are of sufficient magnitude that they are responsible for relatively small yet distinct movement of remote parts of the external body surface. Consequently, involuntary movements associated with the beating heart may interfere with certain intricate tasks requiring extremely finely controlled voluntary movement of the fingers or other body parts.
It is well known in the field of rifle shooting, the decathlon, and other firearm related activities that in order to perform consistently as a marksman it is necessary to fire a firearm at a certain point or period during the heart beat cycle. With extensive training, firearm operators may eventually learn to become aware of and ascertain certain stages of their heart beat cycle, and to coordinate discharge of the firearm with such periods for optimum marksmanship. However, this is at best an imprecise technique. The instant invention provides a heart beat cycle indicating device to clearly indicate to an individual using a firearm, with complete accuracy, a given point in the heart beat cycle of that individual. The firearm operator may then consistently discharge the firearm at the optimum point in the heart beat cycle, thereby achieving the most accurate and consistent results.
Many firearms such as rifles currently in use typically include a sighting device, such as telescopic sights mounted on the firearm, in order to assist the operator of the firearm in aiming the weapon at a target. After lengthy periods of peering through a sighting device of a firearm, a certain amount of fatigue and lack of concentration is inevitably experienced by the operator of the firearm, thereby directly relating to decreased performance, e.g. the probability of hitting the target with any one round from the firearm is decreased.
Furthermore, during combat, assault, and hostage rescue operations, etc., it is often required to engage several targets almost simultaneously or within a very short period of time. Fully automatic assault weapons, such as the H&K MP-5, the Ingram MAC-10, and the Israeli Military Industries UZI, provide a high rate of fire necessary for engaging multiple targets under arduous and/or rapidly changing conditions. (By "fully automatic" in this context denotes a weapon which is capable of firing at a high rate (e.g. 600 rounds per minute) while the trigger continues to be pulled. In contrast, a "semi-automatic" weapon requires a separate pull on the trigger for each round fired.) A high rate of fire consumes a proportionately large amount of ammunition. Since there is a practical limitation on the amount of ammunition that can be carried, it would be useful to have a device for use in conjunction with a weapon for increasing the probability of hitting any given target with each round of ammunition, thereby increasing the likelihood of accomplishing a given task, and/or decreasing the amount of ammunition required to accomplish the task. Such a device for increasing the hit probability for each target would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the weapon with which the device was to be used. A device of the type contemplated for increasing hit probability should be effective against multiple rapidly moving targets which are being engaged from a moving target (e.g. a running soldier).
It would also be advantageous for a device for increasing hit probability of a target by a weapon to provide an indication to an operator of the weapon when a target or potential target is critically aligned with the weapon, and to provide for automatic firing of a weapon having been primed for automatic firing in response to a target being in critical alignment with the weapon. It would also be useful to provide a device enabling automatic firing of a firearm, the firearm having been primed for automatic firing and strategically positioned to fire at a target which may move into critical alignment with the weapon.
According to one embodiment of the instant invention, there is provided devices and methods for the automatic firing of a rifle or other weapon in response to detection of a defined electromagnetic signature (e.g. infrared radiation) emitted from a target. Once such a weapon has been primed for use, it may fire automatically (i.e. in the absence of an operator of the weapon) upon alignment with a target.
U.S. Statutory Invention Registration No. H218, to Marshall et al., discloses a marksmanship training system comprising an infrared detector mounted on a rifle or simulated rifle. A positive indication is provided when the rifle is pointed at an infrared emitting target, e.g. a human. A second detector indicates when the trigger of the rifle is pulled. If a trigger pull is detected at a time when an animal-derived infrared signal is present, the system generates an electronic pulse indicating that a target hit has occurred. The pulse may drive a signaling device to inform the marksman that a target hit has occurred. The device of Marshall et al. relies on manual operation of the rifle trigger, and furthermore the time point at which the trigger is pulled is independent of the alignment of the rifle with the infrared emitting target.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,494 to Philbrick, et al. discloses a terrestrial telescope including an image motion stabilization system for eliminating motion of an image being viewed from an unstable support. The telescope may be mounted on a rifle, and the rifle aimed at a target such that the cross hairs of the telescope appear stationary with respect to the target scene. However, the longitudinal axis of the rifle bore is still prone to angular gyration with respect to the target axis. When the rifle bore is aligned with the target the condition may be sensed electronically, at which time a firing device may be actuated. An optional inhibiting circuit is provided, whereby actuation of the firing device is prevented unless a minimum pressure is applied to the trigger. The automatic firing mechanism of Philbrick et al. requires manual operation to aim the weapon at a suitable target and, where the optional inhibiting circuit is employed, to apply a minimum amount of pressure to the trigger. Furthermore, the device of Philbrick et al. will not automatically fire in response to the electromagnetic signature of a target.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,739 to Piotrowski et al. discloses a fire control system for increasing the hit probability on a target of a cantilevered adjustably mounted gun. The system includes a flat mirror fixed to the muzzle of the gun. A light source disposed within a gunner's periscope directs a beam of light on a movable mirror only in the absence of gun to periscope positioning errors. The reflected beam from the muzzle mirror impinges on a charge coupled detector matrix array, and provides appropriate compensatory azimuth and elevational error signals which are algebraically added to azimuth and elevational range signals produced by a ballistic computer in response to a range finder sighted on a target. The compensated azimuth and elevational signals are employed to position a movable reticle in the periscope to enable the gunner to aim the gun accurately.
None of the above references teach a device for controlled manual operation of a firearm with respect to the heart beat cycle of the firearm operator, nor a device for automatic discharge of a primed firearm in response to detection of a defined electromagnetic "signature" emitted from an appropriate target.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for teaching additional or alternative details, features, and/or technical background.

Devices and methods for controlled manual and automatic firearm operation


Some embodiments include receiving a radiation treatment plan for delivering at least a portion of a prescribed radiation dose to a target volume in a series of individual treatment beams, each individual treatment beam defined by a segment including start angle and a stop angle, and delivering a portion of the prescribed radiation dose to the target volume over each of the segments, the segments arranged in a contiguous manner on an arc.

1. Field
The embodiments described below relate generally to the delivery of radiation therapy to a patient according to a "dynamic strobe" delivery scheme. In some embodiments, the "dynamic strobe" delivery scheme may encompass and/or seamlessly combine with one or more other radiation therapy delivery methods.
2. Description
According to conventional radiation therapy, a beam of radiation is directed toward a tumor located within a patient. The radiation beam delivers a predetermined dose of therapeutic radiation to the tumor according to a treatment plan. The delivered radiation kills cells of the tumor by causing ionizations within the cells. A major concern is limiting the damage to healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional patient treatment process that includes radiation therapy. According to some examples of process 100, image data of a patient is acquired, and a target volume and critical internal structures are identified based on the image data during diagnosis (105). A radiation dose is prescribed (110) for achieving desired results with respect to the target volume while minimizing damage to the critical structures. Next, a treatment plan for delivering the dose is determined (115).
The treatment plan is then delivered (125) to the patient during several sessions, or "fractions", spaced over some period of days. Prior to each fraction, the patient is positioned (120) as required by the treatment plan. Such positioning may involve the use of lasers, skin markers, etc.
Various methods or modes of radiation therapy delivery have been proposed and utilized. In prior systems, each radiation therapy delivery method is typically implemented using specific modes that require a control system optimized for one specific mode of radiation therapy delivery. Some modes of radiation therapy delivery include, for example, CT Guided IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy conventional IMRT, and Dynamic Modulated Arc Therapy. In a CT Guided IMRT system, such as a TomoTherapy® system provided TomoTherapy Incorporated, a linear accelerator is mounted in a ring-shaped gantry and moves in a 360 degree rotation around the patient. During delivery the beam is always on and it is partially blocked or unblocked by a binary MLC (multileaf collimator) that rapidly opens and closes the MLC leaves as the gantry rotates. In a Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy system, such as provided by the RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems, an L-shaped gantry performs a 360 degree rotation around the patient. The beam is constantly on and the dose rate may be modulated. Also, the MLC leaves are also in constant motion, thus creating different shapes as the gantry rotates. In a conventional IMRT system, beams with modulated intensity are generated at a number of fixed positions or angles around the patient. These beams are then delivered with the gantry stationary at each fixed position. The beam intensity is modulated by either superimposing several shapes at a fixed position ("Step and Shoot IMRT") or by moving MLC leaves across the beam with varying speeds ("Sliding Window IMRT"). In a Dynamic Modulated ARC therapy system the gantry of the delivery system performs a contiguous rotational motion (360 degrees or less per arc). Throughout the rotational motion, the beam remains on at constant dose rate, and the MLC leaves constantly re-form to maintain a shape which is conformal with the shape of the tumor, as viewed from the respective angle.
During the planning stage (115) for the radiation therapy treatment, a decision is made regarding which delivery mode to use. The decision may be based on a number of factors, including for example the patient's diagnosis, delivery system constraints, time issues related to schedules and availability of the patient and/or radiation therapy systems, etc. After the specific mode of delivery is decided, the treatment plan is determined that is adapted to the specifically chosen delivery mode.
Systems have attempted to address various aspects of the foregoing. For example, a delivery mode may be chosen based on the location of a tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue, the capabilities of treatment systems available for treating the patient, etc. However, trade-offs or compromises may be made since a specific radiation therapy treatment mode is chosen and used. More flexible radiation therapy delivery methods are desired.

System and method for dynamic strobe arc therapy


The present invention relates to equine Fc epsilon receptor alpha chain nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins, and inhibitors of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to detect IgE using such proteins and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to mediate Fc epsilon receptor-mediated biological responses.

Diagnosis of disease and determination of treatment efficacy are important tools in medicine. IgE antibody production in an animal can be indicative of disease including, for example, allergy, atopic disease, hyper IgE syndrome, internal parasite infections and B cell neoplasia. In addition, detection of IgE production in an animal following a treatment is indicative of the efficacy of the treatment, such as when using treatments intended to disrupt IgE production.
Immunological stimulation can be mediated by IgE antibodies when IgE complexes with Fc epsilon receptors. Fc epsilon receptors are found on the surface of certain cell types, such as mast cells. Mast cells store biological mediators including histamine, prostaglandins and proteases. Release of these biological mediators is triggered when IgE antibodies complex with Fc epsilon receptors on the surface of a cell. Clinical symptoms result from the release of the biological mediators into the tissue of an animal.
The discovery of the present invention includes a novel equine Fc epsilon receptor (FcεR) alpha chain protein and the use of such a protein to detect the presence of IgE in a putative IgE-containing composition; to identify inhibitors of biological responses mediated by an equine FcεR protein; and as a therapeutic compound to prevent or treat clinical symptoms that result from equine FcεR-mediated biological responses.
Prior investigators have disclosed the nucleic acid sequence for: the human FcεR alpha chain (Kochan et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 16:3584, 1988; Shimizu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85: 1907–1911, 1988; and Pang et al., J. Immunol. 151:6166–6174, 1993); the human FcεR beta chain (Kuster et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267:12782–12787, 1992); the human FcεR gamma chain (Kuster et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265:6448–6452, 1990); and the canine FcεR alpha chain (GenBank™ accession number D16413). Although the subunits of human FcεR have been known as early as 1988, they have never been used to identify an equine FcεR. Similarly, even though the canine FcεR chain has been known since 1993, it has never been used to identify an equine FcεR. Moreover, the determination of human and canine Fc epsilon receptor sequences does not indicate, suggest or predict the cloning of a novel FcεR gene from a different species, in particular, from an equine species. Previous investigators have found a low degree of similarity between rat, mouse and human FcεRα (Ravtech et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. Vol. 9, pp. 457–492, 1991). Thus, given this low degree of sequence similarity, it would appear only "obvious to try" to obtain an equine FcεRα nucleic acid molecule and protein.
Thus, products and processes of the present invention are needed in the art that will provide specific detection of IgE, in particular equine IgE, and treatment of Fc epsilon receptor-mediated disease.

Equine Fc epsilon receptor alpha protein


The application provides for MEFA constructs and vaccines against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Methods for reducing the incidence of diarrhea associated with ETEC are also provided. The representative adhesin tip MEFAs and the representative major subunit CFA MEFA-II provided in the disclosure has an adhesin tip backbone or major subunit CFA with one or more adhesin tips, adhesin subunit or major structural subunit epitopes incorporated onto the backbone. The adhesin tip MEFAs and the CFA MEFA-II provided advantageously prevents the ETEC molecule from attaching to the intestine.

Diarrhea continues to be a leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years who living in developing countries. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a leading bacterial cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. ETEC bacteria attaching host receptors at epithelial cells and colonizing in the small intestine initiate ETEC-associated diarrheal disease. Therefore, preventing ETEC attachment has been considered the first line of defense against ETEC diarrhea. However, ETEC strains produce over 23 immunologically heterogeneous adhesins, which makes developing vaccines that broadly protect against ETEC bacterial attachment challenging. Accordingly, what is needed is a composition that provides a protective effect against ETEC. What is further needed is a composition that induces antibody responses to multiple ETEC adhesins. What is also needed is a composition that impairs, reduces, or even prevents ETEC attachment.

Adhesin tip multiepitope fusion antigen platform and vaccines and their use in the treatment of enterotoxigenic diarrhea

Kansas State University Research Foundation


A system and method for determining a re-configuration of a wireless surface with a multi-coil system are provided. The system includes a reference generator to determine a reference parameter associated with the wireless surface; a recheck initiator to instigates a re-measurement; a re-measurer, in response to the initiated re-measurement, to measure a parameter associated with the reference parameter; and an analyzer to retrieve a determination about the wireless surface based on a difference between the measured parameter and the measured reference parameter.

Mobile electronics and devices are becoming increasingly popular. Often times, the mobile device includes an energy storage device, and employs the power in the energy storage device to operate the functionality associated with the mobile device. The mobile device may be, but is not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, or the like.
In order to charge the mobile device, a wired power charging system has been conventionally provided. An operator of the mobile device may connect the mobile device to a charging source (for example, a wall outlet or a vehicle electricity adapter), and wait for the device to become charged fully, or charged at higher level than affixed on the charging source. The connection may be permeated via a wire, or a socket associated with the mobile device that allows a user to plug in the mobile device into a charging source.
In recent years, the concept of wired charging has been replaced or augmented by wireless charging. The early implementations of wireless charging employed a coil that transmitted wireless energy to a mobile device. The mobile device would be equipped with a technique to receive the wireless energy, and translate the wireless energy to usable and storable power.
In this implementation, a singular coil is provided. Thus, an implementer of this sort of wireless charging may provide various indicia that serves to guide a user of a location or context of where to place the mobile device. In this way, the user is effectively guided in placing the mobile device in an area that optimizes and ensures wireless charging efficiency.
Recently, a plethora of mobile devices have been released. The various mobile devices each have different sizes and charging capabilities. Accordingly, the single coil system may not effectively serve the wireless charging demands of a user.
To counter this concern, a wireless surface or sheet is provided. Accordingly, a user may place their mobile device on the wireless surface or sheet, and in response to this action, initiate a charging of the wireless device. Thus, a user may not be prompted to place the device in a specific location.
The wireless surface or sheet, to permeate wireless charging, may be provided with multiple coils. Each coil may be selectively turned on and off at different times to initiate the charging of a mobile device. Each coil may wirelessly charge the mobile device with a varying amount of power and efficiency.
In certain situations, the wireless surface or sheet may be implemented in a moving environment. For example, if the wireless surface or sheet is implemented in a vehicle, the mobile device may move from one spot to another. In another example, the wireless surface or sheet may be in different locations. Accordingly, if a user or operator bumps the wireless surface or sheet, the mobile device may move. In these situations, because the mobile device is in a different location, the wireless charging efficacy may be changed.

Determining a re-configuration of a wireless surface with a multi-coil system


Provided is a method of etching a silicon oxide film. The method includes exposing a workpiece including the silicon oxide film and a mask formed on the silicon oxide film to plasma of a processing gas to etch the silicon oxide film. The mask includes a first film formed on the silicon oxide film and a second film formed on the first film, and the second film is constituted by a film having an etching rate lower than that of the first film with respect to active species in the plasma.

In manufacturing semiconductor devices, etching may be performed to form features such as contact holes in a silicon oxide. Further, with miniaturization and high integration of the semiconductor devices, the aspect ratio of such a feature is increasing every year. That is, it is requested that finer and deeper features be formed in the silicon oxide film.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-288119 discloses an example of a method for etching a silicon oxide film. The method for etching a silicon oxide film as described in the Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-288119 includes exposing a workpiece having a mask on the silicon oxide film to plasma of a processing gas such as, for example, a fluorocarbon gas so as to etch the silicon oxide film. In the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-288119, an amorphous carbon film is used as the mask.
In such etching of the silicon oxide film, a phenomenon that a side wall defining a hole foil led in the silicon oxide film expands partially transversely, but not vertically may occur. That is, a phenomenon that the width of the hole is increased partially may occur. Such a phenomenon is called "bowing", and its major factor is that ions or electrons contributing to etching are incident obliquely with respect to holes and collide with the side wall defining the hole. As a method for suppressing the bowing, U.S. Pat. No. 7,977,390 discloses a method for etching a silicon oxide film in which a polysilicon film is used as a mask, and a silicon-containing protective film is formed on a mask surface exposed to plasma, as well as on a side wall of the silicon oxide film which is a hole portion formed on a layer to be etched so as to etch the silicon oxide film while protecting a side wall of a hole from oblique incidence of ions.