The field of the disclosure relates to anvils for comminuting apparatus such as grinders or chippers. In some embodiments, the anvil is adjustable in length to maintain a clearance between a comminuting drum and a shear edge of the anvil.

Comminuting apparatus such as grinders and chippers are used to mechanically grind, chip or shred material to reduce the size of the material. Such apparatus may be used to reduce the size of material such as tree limbs, stumps or brush (i.e., arboraceous material) in land-clearing, municipal waste, composted materials or other vegetation, building materials or recycled material (e.g., car tires and the like). One common type of reducing machine is known as a horizontal grinder. A horizontal grinder may include a power in-feed mechanism that forces larger material (e.g., wood-based material such as tree trunks, tree branches, logs, etc.) into contact with a rotating comminuting drum. The larger material is contacted by reducing elements such as teeth, grinding elements or "knives" carried by the comminuting drum and portions of the material are forced past a fixed shear edge defined by an anvil of the horizontal grinder.
Upon passing the shear edge of the anvil, the material enters a chamber in which the material is further reduced by the reducing element carried by the comminuting drum. Once the material within the chamber is reduced in size, the material is discharged. Upon passing through the chamber, the reduced material is typically deposited on a discharge conveyor that carries the reduced material to a collection location. An example of a horizontal grinder is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0242677, which is incorporated herein by reference for all relevant and consistent purposes.
A continuing need exists for comminuting apparatus that maintain proper clearances between shear edges without replacement of comminuting components.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Adjustable anvil for comminuting apparatus


A non-English text generation system and method is presented by which text can be generated in any language without a keyboard. Initially, only a few base characters or radicals of a language are displayed. A desired character or derivative symbol is reached by lookup through successive menus. When a desired character or symbol is reached, it can be displayed on a computer monitor using a computer mouse or a similar interactive device. This system and method can be applied to any non-English language such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, That, Lao, etc. The system and method has significant utility in internet searching, authentication, email, chat, wireless messaging, document preparation, online advertisement creation, form filling in e-commerce etc, in non-English languages.

Generating text in non-English languages is a challenging task, especially for Asian languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, That, Lao, Thaana, and Indian. Particularly in online HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) forms, text generation for the aforementioned languages makes the page size too big to be accessed via the Internet as it requires several thousand characters to be defined in the HTML code. For example, Hindi, the national language of India, has more than one million characters that can be generated by several combinations of conjunct consonants, vowel signs and modifiers.
On the other hand, Chinese, which is a symbolic language, has several thousand symbols. These symbols are derivatives of the 214 Chinese base radicals. The derivative patterns are not the same for all the base radicals, unlike the vowel patterns of Indian languages. Incorporating these myriad conjunct characters or derivative symbols in a web page makes the page too large and impractical to be loaded from a web server to its client via the Internet, taking several minutes to hours.
Another interesting observation is that Japanese has three alphabets, Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. While Hiragana is used for writing the native Japanese words. Katakana is used for writing foreign names and words. Kanji is a character set imported from the Chinese language. A typical Japanese text is written using all the three alphabets.
Text generation in non-English languages is necessary to search web pages in those languages on the Internet and intranet. There are several web sites on the Internet in non-English languages, especially Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, European and Indian languages.
Some websites on the Internet enable visitors to generate non-English text through transliteration (See a transliteration facility in the Telugu language on the web at url http://old.quilpad.in/telugu/). Transliteration is the technique of transcribing a word or text written in English into another language. Often transliteration for Indian languages generates inaccurate text and requires a lot of trial and error adjustments due to ambiguities in character mapping between English and the target language. For example, Tamil, a south Indian language has three characters that map to the English letter 'L'. Similarly, there are three characters in Tamil representing the English letter 'N'.
Indian languages have more consonants than English, resulting in ambiguities in mapping. Also, the vowel signs in Indian languages cannot be produced exactly with English vowel combinations unless a transliteration guide on a website is thoroughly studied.
Another drawback with transliteration is its implementation is very difficult and inaccurate for Mandarin Chinese and the Kanji part of Japanese as these scripts are not alphabet based but symbol based. In Chinese and Japanese Kanji, each symbol represents a word or a set of words.
Another means of generating non-English text is translation, wherein words typed in English are translated into the desired language. However, translation has its own limitations. It is not useful for those who are not proficient enough in English. Some words may be native to a particular language and may not even have their equivalents in English. Some times an English word may have more than one equivalent in other languages.
There are also some websites providing virtual key boards for generating text in non-English languages. For example, www.guruji.com is one such website providing a virtual key board in the Telugu language at the url http://www.guruji.com/te/index.html. However, the virtual key board of this prior art web site requires as many as six mouse clicks to generate a triple-consonant conjunct character in the Telugu language, which is a tedious job for a user. Another website, at the url http://www.search.webdunia.com/telugu.html, also provides a virtual keyboard which requires many mouse clicks to generate a triple-consonant conjunct character in the Telugu language.
A url on the web http://www.lookera.com/base/keyboards/chinese-keyboard.php provides a virtual key board in the Chinese language. However, it requires multiple mouse clicks and page scrolls to generate a typical Chinese character. Also, a couple of urls on the web http://www.gate2home.com/ and http://www.virtualkeyboard.ws/ provide virtual key boards in different languages, but these keyboards do not enable to generate characters with single mouse clicks in non-English languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc.

Dynamic language text generation system and method


A system for protecting commercials included in a digitally distributed and recorded video that minimizes user's inconveniences resulting from restrictions imposed on playback of the video. The video is encrypted at the distributor side and playback of the encrypted video at the user side is limited in such a way that fast forward and reverse playing is not performed, and a lower limit is imposed on skip forward and backward so that only parts of video whose playing time is greater than the time of typical commercial break can be skipped. This arrangement prevents a user from selectively skipping commercials without missing pieces of program itself and thus discourages skipping when the user wants to watch an entire program, but still enables quick browsing before watching the entire program as well as moving fast to any part of the program for watching that part again.

This invention relates to information technology for television and more particular, to digital video recorders (DVRs) and digital rights management (DRM).
Digital media files can be easily copied and distributed without any reduction in quality and as a result, they are being widely distributed on the Internet through both authorized and unauthorized distribution channels. DRM systems maintain control over intellectual property distribution defining rules for delivery, playing and copying. Limitations on playing usually include start and end time, maximum duration and maximum count, i.e. single play or limited number of plays. Typically, a DRM system protects intellectual property by either encrypting data so that it could only be accessed by authorized users or marking the content with a digital watermark or similar method thereby warning that the content may not be freely distributed.
While this invention contributes to DRM in general, it addresses first of all a specific problem: skipping commercials by users of digital video recorders (DVRs).
Since introduction of VCR television viewers can record any television program, watch it at the time of their choice and skip commercials using a fast forward button on the remote control. For decades it has no impact on television advertising because viewers have been using VCRs much more for playing rented tapes than for recording transmitted programs. But DVR is, in fact, a computer that records video data on its hard drive and uses intelligence inherent in computerized systems to make the recording easier. Today DVRs automatically record television series and in the nearest future they will do the same for all genres including movies. Users will watch more recorded than "live" programs and skip commercials in the programs. All major consumer electronics companies manufacture DVRs coupled with DVD players and personal computer manufacturers are building multimedia units capable of receiving, storing and playing television programs. The largest cable and satellite operators have already made DVR equipment and services available to their subscribers.
Unlike videotape, which is a sequential access medium, hard disk drive is direct access storage. While VCRs allow sequential fast forward and fast reverse movements, DVRs may allow instant jumps to any part of stored program. DVR pioneers, TiVo and ReplayTV, provided buttons on the remote control to jump 30 second forward over a commercial and 7 seconds backward for a "correction", if required. Cable operators do not offer this feature in cable boxes to avoid a legal battle with media companies but with digital fast forward, users can get through a typical 2-minute commercial brake in about 30 seconds. In no way this compromise can prevent users from skipping commercials.
Currently there are a number of ideas how to "punish" users that are trying to skip commercials. TiVo is experimenting with running a 90-second advertisement when user fast forward through a 30-second commercial. A similar idea is disclosed in the published application Ser. No. 10/481,151 filed by Kelly at al. Consumer however could fight back giving preference to harassment-free products and services.
It seems the new video recorders are going to take away a powerful tool that television gave advertisers a half-century ago. And as a result, free television programming funded by advertisement is about to be history together with television commercials.
Fortunately DRM approach can help to keep free programming alive. Paradoxically, in the digital age free television programming needs DRM protection. At the same time DVR, as a device with high-capacity storage and intelligence, has a potential to dramatically improve the technology of advertisement.

Preservation and improvement of television advertising in digital environment


A guillotine surgical cutter. The cutter includes an inner sleeve that moves within the inner channel of an outer sleeve. The distal end of the outer sleeve may have a plurality of outer ports. The inner sleeve may also have an inner channel and one or more openings that are in fluid communication with the outer ports of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve can be connected to a diaphragm and a disk spring. The diaphragm may be adjacent to a drive chamber that is coupled to a source of pressurized air by a control valve. Actuation of the control valve pressurizes the drive chamber and moves the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve. The cutter may include a snap spring that is attached to the disk spring and which provides an additional acceleration of the inner sleeve. The springs return the inner sleeve back to the original position when the control valve is switched to reduce the pressure of the drive chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical cutter.
2. Background Information
There are many surgical procedures that require the cutting and aspiration of tissue. For example, in a retina re-attachment procedure the surrounding vitreo tissue must be removed before the retina is repaired. The cutting device must be delicate enough to remove the tissue without further damaging the retina. Vitrectomies are frequently performed with guillotine surgical cutters.
FIG. 1 shows a guillotine surgical cutter which include an inner sleeve 1 that moves relative to an outer port 2 of an outer sleeve 3. The sleeves 1 and 3 are coupled to a handpiece 4 that is held by a surgeon. The inner sleeve 1 is coupled to a vacuum system which pulls tissue into the outer port 2 when the inner sleeve 1 moves away from the port 2. The inner sleeve 1 then moves in a reverse direction past the outer port 2 to sever the tissue in a guillotine fashion. The vacuum system draws the severed tissue away from the outer port 2 so that the process can be repeated.
The inner sleeve 3 is connected to a diaphragm 5 and a return spring 6 that are rigidly attached to the handpiece 4. The diaphragm 5 is adjacent to a pneumatic drive chamber 7 that is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized air (not shown) that is controlled by a solenoid air valve (not shown).
In operation, the inner sleeve 1 is in an open position so that tissue is pulled into the outer port 2. The solenoid air valve is then opened to pressurize the drive chamber 7 and expand the diaphragm 5. Expansion of the diaphragm 5 moves the inner sleeve 1 so that the tissue within the outer port 2 is severed by the sleeve 1. Expansion of the diaphragm 5 also deflects the spring 6. The air valve is eventually switched to vent the drive chamber 7. The spring 6 then pulls the inner sleeve 1 back to the original position so that the process can be repeated.
The drive chamber 7 has a relative large amount of fluidic capacitance which limits the speed of the device. Additionally, the spring 6 becomes stiffer as the diaphragm 5 expands and moves the inner sleeve 1. The relative high fluidic capacitance and spring stiffness increases the pressure requirements for the drive chamber 7. Having to pressurize the drive chamber 7 to a higher level reduces the speed of the cutter. Many prior art guillotine cutters have a cut rate in the range of 500 cuts per minute (CPM). At these speeds the guillotine cutter tends to pull the tissue. It would be desirable to provide a guillotine cutter that operates at higher speeds than cutters of the prior art.
There is only one aspiration port in the outer sleeve and a single opening in the inner sleeve which perform the guillotine cutting action. The inner sleeve typically moves within the outer sleeve to fully close the outer port. Closing the outer port creates an instantaneous change in pressure which causes the remaining tissue to bounce back and send shock waves throughout the vitreous body. It would be desirable to provide a guillotine cutter that would minimize the bounce back effect of severing tissue within the port of the cutter.

Guillotine cutter used with medical procedures


A panel-carrying-out apparatus used for conveying panels ejected from a press machine includes: a semicircular sorting conveyor adapted to be driven switchably in a normal direction or a reverse direction; and a pair of straight conveyors respectively disposed at ends of the sorting conveyor. Each of the panels from the press machine is mounted on the center position of the sorting conveyor in terms of a conveying path. Specifically, an arced conveyor included in the sorting conveyor, on which each of the panels is initially mounted, is adapted to be driven switchably in the normal direction or the reverse direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel-carrying-out apparatus, an example of which is a carrying-out apparatus for carrying out panel products manufactured by a press machine.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of panel-carrying-out apparatuses for loading in a container such as a pallet panel products ejected from a press line are conventionally known (for instance, see Document 1: JP-A-6-345254, Document 2: JP-A-2001-1088, Document 3: JP-A-2001-1089, Document 4: Specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,144). In such an apparatus, panels are turned by 90 degrees by use of a robot sorting device provided therein. With such an arrangement, inspection and loading of the panels are facilitated, thereby coping with an increase in manufacturing speed and size of the panels.
However, since such a conventional panel-carrying-out apparatus requires a robot sorting device for turning panels by 90 degrees, a larger space is required for installing such a conventional panel-carrying-out apparatus. In addition, with such a robot sorting device requiring a positioning device for positioning panels, the entirety of such a panel-carrying-out apparatus tends to be large scale, thereby increasing a manufacturing cost.


An exercise device is easily adjusted in resistance by changing a first cassette therein to a second cassette having a different resistance or in exercise type by changing the support mechanism.

Many exercise devices are known. Whether the exercise device is used for recreational or fitness purposes, or for the more critical physical therapy purposes, adding flexibility to an exercise device, which otherwise has a single use, is greatly desired. For example, if the resistance of such an exercise device can be changed efficiently with a compact device, great advantages can be obtained.
With an exercise device, it is very desirable to have a device, which can be used in many different ways. One of the key factors in accomplishing this matter involved being able to change the resistance of the exercise device. Another key factor is being able to adjust an exercise device in order to change the part of the body to be exercised. Either class of adjustments is difficult.
If the adjustment of resistance can be more efficiently and more easily changed, the advantages of such an exercise device improve in a geometric progression. Those greater advantages will be obtained from the changes in the resistance of the exercise device.
This exercise device can be adjusted to correspond to a set of desired workout capabilities of a particular person. Also, the resistance of the work out provided by the device can be changed as a particular person changes or develops physical ability. Such changes can also be effective when a different person desires to use the same device.
Such a simple factor in adjusting the resistance of an exercise device does not exist. It thus becomes clear that a compact resistance variation device for a compact exercise device is an extremely desirable device.
Also, for a person having a desire to or being required to exercise a different part of the body, it is extremely useful to adjust the exercise device to provide a workout for a different part of the body. If a device can be adapted efficiently to exercise a different part of the body, even further advantages are obtained.
With an exercise device being able to adjust a variety of different body parts, the device may become more useful for a physical therapy procedure. Such an improved device can facilitate rehabilitation for a person requiring the same. This is especially true if the exercise device can be programmed in order to require the patient to stick to a required routine.
For example, if a specific exercise is required with a specific weight, there is no effective way to be sure that the patient sticks to the required exercise program. It is too easy for a patient to deviate from a prescribed exercise at a prescribed weight. If the exercise can avoid that deviation, great advantages are obtained.
Thus, a device, which facilely provides exercises both for different parts of the body and at different resistances, gives a great advantage. This is especially true for physical therapy. To a lesser extent, but still as an important issue, this exercise device is suitable for fitness exercise.


The present invention relates to motion estimation and compensation. For example, a screen capture encoder performs motion estimation that is adapted to screen capture video in various respects. For example, the motion estimation uses a distortion measure based upon the count of equal/unequal pixels in two regions, sub-samples the distortion measure to speed up motion estimation, and/or uses a search pattern that prioritizes types of motion common in screen capture video. Or, a screen capture decoder performs motion compensation that is adapted to screen capture video in various respects. For example, the decoder performs the motion compensation for pixels with different values at corresponding locations in a current frame and a reference frame, but not for all pixels of the current frame. Alternatively, an encoder/decoder performs the motion estimation/compensation to compress/decompress other kinds of content.

Screen capture tools let a computer user record an image displayed on a visual display unit such as a computer monitor. The user might use the captured screen area (alternatively called a screen area, screen image, screen shot, screen frame, screen region, capture area, capture image, capture shot, etc.) in a help manual or report to show the results displayed on the display unit at a particular time.
For some applications, a user captures a series of screen areas to show how screen content changes. The user might use the series of captured screen areas within an instructional video for job training or remote instruction. Changes in screen content can occur, for example, when windows or menus are opened, closed, moved, resized, or scrolled.
FIG. 1a is a captured screen area (100) of a computer desktop environment according to the prior art. The captured screen area (100) shows the entire desktop, but could instead show only the window (130) or some other portion of the desktop. A cursor graphic (140) overlays the window (130), and several icon graphics (120, 122, 124) overlay the background (110). FIG. 1b shows a captured screen area (101) following the captured screen area (100) of FIG. 1a in a series according to the prior art. Much of the screen content shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is identical. Screen content such as the background (110) and icon graphics (120, 122, 124) usually does not change from frame to frame. On the other hand, the cursor graphic (140) often changes position and shape as the user manipulates a mouse or other input device, and the position and contents of the window (130) often change as a user moves or resizes the window, types, adds graphics, etc. FIG. 1b shows the cursor graphic (140) and the window (130) changing locations as the user drags the window (130) across the desktop, which in turn changes which portions of the background (110) are exposed.
Screen capture video and other forms of digital video consume large amounts of storage and transmission capacity. A typical screen capture video sequence may include 10 or more frames per second. Each frame can include tens or hundreds of thousands of pixels (also called pels). Each pixel is a tiny element of the picture. In raw form, a computer commonly represents a pixel with 24 bits. Thus, the number of bits per second, or bitrate, of a raw digital video sequence can be 5 million bits/second or more.
Many computers and computer networks lack the resources to process raw digital video. For this reason, engineers often use compression (also called coding or encoding) to reduce the bitrate of digital video. Compression can be lossless, in which quality of the video does not suffer but decreases in bitrate are limited by the complexity of the video. Or, compression can be lossy, in which quality of the video suffers but decreases in bitrate are more dramatic. Decompression reverses compression.
I. Compression Techniques for Camera Video
Numerous techniques have been developed for compressing conventional camera video. Such techniques include intraframe compression techniques (in which a frame is compressed as a still image) and interframe compression techniques (in which a frame is predicted or estimated from one or more other frames). Intraframe compression often involves frequency transformations on data followed by lossy and lossless compression. Interframe compression can include motion estimation.
Motion estimation is a process for estimating motion between frames. In one common technique, an encoder using motion estimation attempts to match a block of pixels in a current frame with a similar block of pixels in a search area in another frame (called the reference frame). When the encoder finds an exact or "close enough" match in the search area in the reference frame, the encoder parameterizes the change in position of the blocks as motion data (such as a motion vector).
Conversely, motion compensation is a process of reconstructing frames from reference frames using motion data. In one common technique, an encoder or decoder reconstructs a current frame by applying motion data for the current frame to a reference frame, creating a predicted frame. The encoder can compress the difference (sometimes called the residual) between the predicted frame and the original version of the current frame using the same techniques as used for intraframe compression (e.g., lossy and lossless compression). The overall bitrate of the camera video depends very much on the bitrate of the residuals, which can predominate in the overall bitrate compared to the bitrate for motion data. The bitrate of residuals is low if the residuals are simple (i.e., due to motion estimation that leads to exact or good matches according to some criteria), or if lossy compression drastically reduces the complexity of the residuals. On the other hand, the bitrate of complex residuals (i.e., those for which motion estimation fails to find good matches) can be higher, depending on the degree of lossy compression applied to reduce the complexity of the residuals.
The goal of motion estimation for camera video is usually to minimize the variance of the residual following motion estimation. Variance is an estimate for complexity/compressibility of the residual for camera video, and minimizing the variance tends to find a match for which fewer bits are needed to code the residual at a given distortion level. An exact match rarely occurs for a block of pixels in camera video and is not essential, since the variance of the residual is approximately minimized at an approximate match. (An approximate match may result in a slightly more complex residual for the block than the best match would, but a slight increase in the complexity of the residual usually does not dramatically increase bitrate. Rather, lossy compression of the residual reduces the slightly increased bitrate without introducing an objectionable amount of distortion upon reconstruction of the block.) Accordingly, distortion measures such as mean absolute difference, mean squared error, sum of squared errors, or some other variation of Euclidean L2 norm are conventionally used in motion estimation for camera video.
For camera video, motion estimation may use a hierarchical search to find general motion data then more precise motion data for a block of pixels. The measure being minimized (e.g., mean squared error or sum of absolute differences) to find a suitable match usually decreases monotonically on the approach to the suitable match. For example, a graph of the distortion measure often has a "bowl" shape: the best match has the minimum distortion (i.e., bottom of the bowl); for other matches, the distortions get worse as the matches get farther away from the best match (i.e., climbing the sides of the bowl). The hierarchical search thus improves search speed by finding good low-precision motion data, and then finding better, higher precision motion data around it.
II. Compression Techniques for Screen Capture Video
Some encoding tools allow coding of screen capture video with any of multiple encoders on a system. The multiple encoders can include, for example, a screen capture encoder that uses lossless compression and conventional video encoders that use a combination of lossy and lossless compression.
Screen capture images often contain a mixture of continuous tone content and palettized content. Continuous tone content includes, for example, photographs or other images with gradually varying colors or tones, and typically uses a range of image tones that appears substantially continuous to the human eye. While it is desirable to encode continuous tone content using only lossless compression if sufficient resources are available, lossy compression can be used (i.e., with a conventional video encoder) to effectively compress continuous tone content at a lower bitrate. The lossy compression, however, can introduce unacceptable distortion in palettized content.
Palettized content includes, for example, icons, toolbars, and command or notepad windows consisting of a flat color background and foreground text of a contrasting color. A color palette typically includes a relatively small set of image colors or tones (e.g., 256 different 24-bit colors). Palettized content often includes areas of perceptually important fine detail—spatially localized, high frequency variations depicting text elements or other image discontinuities. Applying lossy compression to palettized content can result in the loss of perceptually important fine detail. For example, text and sharp edges may be blurred or distorted in the decompressed content. As a result, lossless encoding of palettized content is preferred in many circumstances. Because screen content often includes palettized content, most prior art screen capture encoders use lossless compression to compress screen capture video.
One prior art screen capture encoder uses a lossless encoding algorithm with a pixel map when coding a current frame of screen capture content with interframe compression. The encoder compares pixels at locations (e.g., x, y coordinates) in the current frame with corresponding pixels at the same locations in the previous frame. The pixel map indicates locations at which pixels in the current frame have changed in value and locations at which pixels have not changed in value. For the pixels in the current frame that have not changed in value, the values from the previous frame are used. The encoder then codes the changed pixels (called the intra pixels). In such cases, the number of intra pixels in the current frame is often a good indication of the number of bits needed to code the current frame because coding other data for the current frame (e.g., the map) usually consumes relatively few bits.
This interframe compression is efficient when screen content is fairly static since the number of intra pixels is zero or small. On the other hand, this interframe compression can be inefficient when the number of intra pixels is large, and in screen capture video, even small on-screen movements can change the values of large numbers of pixels.

Motion estimation/compensation for screen capture video


A fishing line composed of a strand of a plurality of steel wires twisted together and coated with synthetic resin, wherein the steel wire is a low carbon duplex structure steel wire in the fibrous fine metallic structure having a tensile strength of 300 to 600 kgf/mm.sup.2 and coated by plating with anticorrosive metal on the outer surface, the twist pitch of the strand being 13 to 20 times the diameter thereof and the thickness of coating layer of synthetic resin being 4 .mu.m or more. This fishing line is high in tensile strength and knot strength, and is hardly kinked or curled when subjected to impact.

As fishing lines for use in fishing, there have conventionally been adopted synthetic resin wires composed of polyamide, polyester, or polyvinylidene fluoride resin, or metal wires composed of piano steel wire, stainless steel wire, or tungsten steel wire. Fundamental characteristics required for such fishing lines include a lower cutwater resistance, a better bite sensitivity, less subaqueous deterioration in the sea and river, and even flexibility. Moreover, the fishing lines are required to have different characteristics depending on the type of fish to be caught as well as on the way of fishing, and according to these characteristic requirements the aforementioned materials are selected. For example, fishing for ayu with a live decoy goes in such a way that the catch is drawn out in a rapidly flowing river approximately the instant the strike occurs, in which case the fishing lines involved are required to have greater tensile strength against impact force in addition to the fundamental characteristics described above. Therefore, the fishing lines for use in fishing are preferably metal wires that have about 1.5 times larger tensile strength than synthetic resin wires as well as smaller wire diameters.
Also, of the above-described fishing lines there has been a desire that such a one be realized as can be improved in tensile strength while being made further thinner in wire diameter, and that still has sufficient flexibility. Examples of such type of fishing line include one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 62-320472 (JP1-160443). This prior-art fishing line is formed by joining a plurality of amorphous metal wires together into a stranded wire and further coating it with a synthetic resin. This type of fishing line, which employs an amorphous metal, allows its tensile strength to be improved while being made thinner in wire diameter than conventional metal wires such as piano steel wires. Moreover, since the fishing line is structured by stranding together a plurality of solid wires, sufficient flexibility can be ensured.
However, the prior-art amorphous metal wire according to the above-cited patent laid-open publication, although being superior in tensile strength to those conventional metal wires, yet has suffered from lower knot strength for joining two fishing lines together or tying the fishing line to the hook such that the wire is easy to break. To prevent this, there has been adopted a countermeasure that some adhesive is used to bond the wire.
Furthermore, there is another problem in the above conventional fishing lines that they are inferior in their curling characteristic and kink characteristic which matter when some impact force acts thereon.
The curling mentioned above refers to the fact that a fishing line, when pulled into a tensional state with a large load and thereafter abruptly freed therefrom, will be subject to shape change in curls in its longitudinal direction. A large amount of such curls will cause the fishing line to be extended in length and reduced in tensile strength. Therefore, it is of significance to minimize the amount of curls in terms of improving the service life of the fishing line.
The kink mentioned above, in turn, refers to the state in which the curled portions are bent at an acute angle, bringing about a possibility that the fishing line may break. Accordingly, occurrence of kinks can be a critical wound for the fishing line. In consequence, it is important to minimize the occurrence of both curls and kinks with a view to improving the service life of fishing lines.
One method of improving the curling and kink characteristics may be that the fishing line is formed into such a wire diameter as to withstand any impact force; however, in such a case, subaqueous resistance will increase as much as the fishing line gets thicker, so that it can no longer meet the fundamental characteristic for the fishing line.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a fishing line which can be improved in their knot strength while satisfying the fundamental characteristics for the fishing line, and yet which is superior in curling characteristic and kink characteristic.


A method for measuring fat assimilation, such as fat digestion and fat absorption, in a person is provided comprising feeding the person labeled fat, nonabsorbable marker, and a means for coloring stool; allowing the fat, marker and stool coloring means to travel through the digestive tract of the person; monitoring stool from the person for the appearance of the coloring means; collecting stool containing the coloring means; and measuring the amount of marker and labeled fat in the stool to determine the portion of fat digested and/or absorbed by the system. Also provided is a formulation to facilitate one-step administration and specimen collection of a fat-digestion and fat-absorption determinant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and formulation for measuring fat digestion and absorption and more specifically to a method and formulation for measuring fat digestion and absorption in individuals predisposed to inadequate fat digestion and absorption due to disease.
2. Background of the Invention
Certain diseases prevent persons from properly digesting and/or absorbing fat (triglycerides). For example, cystic fibrosis, the most common lethal genetic disorder of Caucasian populations, often results in a patient's inability to digest fat. This is due to the patient's pancreas being unable to supply the enzymes in sufficient amounts for hydrolysis. Another example is Celiac disease in which absorption of digested dietary fat is impaired due to reduced surface area of the small intestine.
Major advances in cystic fibrosis treatment have increased the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis to more than 30 years. As no treatment is currently on the horizon to alleviate the pancreatic/gastrointestinal components of the disease, there is a growing population of cystic fibrosis patients who require life-long nutritional management. The diets of these patients generally are supplemented with pancreatic enzymes. To assure proper enzyme dosage, however, an accurate measurement of a patient's fat digestion and absorption is required.
A number of methods for determining the extent of fat digestion exist. For example, a direct and somewhat unpleasant method involves duodenal intubation and subsequent measurement of enzyme levels withdrawn from the intestine. The procedure is highly invasive, specialized, expensive and difficult to use in young children.
A myriad of indirect measurement procedures based on the appearance of a test substance in bodily fluids such as blood, urine, or breath are also available. These procedures have drawbacks, such as limitations related to the sampling compartment because of the underlying disease, and complications due to disease of related effects on other organ systems, such as the liver and the kidneys, which can lead to inaccurate results.
As an example of the limitations of current fat digestion and absorption measurement techniques, the problems inherent in the .sup.13 C-labeled fat breath test are highlighted below:
1.) Conversion rate of absorbed label to CO.sub.2 is influenced by the metabolic status of the individual. (e.g. liver function); PA1 2.) CO.sub.2 excretion is effected by lung function; PA1 3.) Variations in body fat content influence the rate of CO.sub.2 excretion; PA1 4.) Breath samples are not easily obtained from infants and young children; and PA1 5.) Long (6 to 12 hours) breath sampling times are required.
There are analogous limitations for tests which rely on the appearance of a test substance in blood or urine. Generally, appearance methods are unsuitable for quantitative measurements of gastrointestinal absorption of fat.
A widely used method for measuring fat absorption is the "72-hour stool fat test" (72-h SFT). This test requires that a patient consume 100 grams of fat daily for at least three days, during which the stools are collected for measurement of total fat content. The 72-h SFT is considered the "Gold Standard" for the purpose of determining a patient's ability to digest and/or absorb dietary fat.
However, there are many limitations to the 72-h SFT method. Overall, it is tedious and difficult to perform accurately. For example, a constant fat intake for at least three days is required. Also, quantitative collection of stools, (typically by the patient) is not assured. Only the most diligent adult patients supply accurate information regarding fat intake and accurate stool collection. Hospitalization and close monitoring is required for other adult patients, infants and children, which makes the procedure expensive. As a result, the 72 h SFT is most reliable to detect only significant steatorrhea (excessive fat in stool). Similarly, variability in the coefficient of fat absorption from test to test may be large.
A need exists in the art for an easy and economical method and formulation for directly measuring fat digestion and/or absorption under conditions of normal dietary intake. The method and formulation should depend neither on a patient's skill in collecting all stool for several days, nor in assuring constant fat intake for such a long period of time. The new method should be accurate, reliable, reproducible and noninvasive so as to facilitate easy monitoring and medical management of underlying disease. The results of the new method and formulation would be particularly useful in repetitive monitoring of changes in fat digestion as is recommended for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Method for measuring fat digestion and absorption formulation to aid in measuring fat absorption


An image stabilizer is provided having a pair of transparent plates enclosing a soft substance therein. The image stabilizer further includes a driving element for tilting the pair of transparent plates, and an inhibiting element for inhibiting the pair of transparent plates from being tilted in response to removing the image stabilizer from an objective lens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image vibration correcting device used in an image pickup apparatus such as a television camera or a video camera and capable of obtaining a stable image free of image vibration when disturbance vibration is applied to the image pickup apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, image pickup apparatus such as television cameras and video cameras have been advanced in their automatization and the technique of realizing the vibration correcting function of automatically correcting image vibration attributable to the vibration of the entire apparatus has also been put into practical use.
As vibration correcting means, there is known a variable angle prism which, as shown in FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings, is disposed on the photo-taking optical path of a photo-taking lens and inclines the photo-taking optical path by the relative tilting of a pair of transparent plates having transparent liquid interposed therebetween to thereby correct the vibration of an image field.
That is, two transparent plates 1 and 2 each comprising a glass plate or the like have their outer peripheral frame members 3 and 4 sealed by bellows-like film 5, and this hermetically sealed space is filled with liquid of a high refractive index, and a variable angle prism 6 is constituted by these.
The frame member 3 has a flattened coil 7 secured to one end thereof, and permanent magnets 8 and yokes 9, 10 opposed to each other with the coil 7 interposed therebetween are disposed on the opposite sides of the coil 7 to thereby constitute driving means 11 comprising a closed magnetic circuit. The frame member 3 also is provided with an arm 13 having a slit 12, and a light emitting element 14 and a light receiving element 15 are disposed on the opposite sides of the arm 13 in an opposed relationship with each other, and a beam of light emitted from the light emitting element 14 may pass through the slit 12, and thereafter may be applied to the light receiving element 15. The light emitting element 14 is, for example, an infrared light emitting element emitting infrared light such as an IRED, and the light receiving element 15 is, for example, a photoelectric conversion element such as a PSD of which the output is varied by the spot position of the received beam of light.
The frame member 4 is also provided with an arm 17 having a slit 16, and, although not shown, there are disposed a flattened coil, permanent magnets, yokes, a light emitting element and a light receiving element similar to those on the frame member 3 side.
On the supporting portion of the apparatus, vibration detectors 18 and 19 as vibration detecting means are mounted with respect to the pitch direction P and the yaw direction Y so as to be capable of detecting the amounts of vibration of the entire apparatus in the pitch direction P and the yaw direction Y, and there are provided a control circuit 20 as control means comprised of an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a CPU, a memory, etc. and receiving as inputs the detection signals of the vibration detectors 18 and 19 and controlling a system, and a coil driving circuit 21 for supplying an electric current to the coil 7 on the frame member 3 side and the coil on the frame member 4 side in accordance with the command of the control circuit 20.
The frame members 3 and 4 are supported on a frame, not shown, by a pitch shaft P and a yaw shaft Y, and a lock pin 24 protruding to the outside in the direction of the pitch shaft P is secured to the outer peripheral surface of the frame member 4. A lock knob 25 formed with a V-shaped recess for receiving the lock pin 24 is provided on the frame and also, a limit switch 26 for detecting the operated position of the lock knob 25 is provided. Although not shown, a lock pin 24, a lock knob 25 and a limit switch 26 are also disposed on the frame member 3 centering around the direction of the yaw shaft Y to lock the frame member 3 in its neutral position.
In an operator's the image vibration preventing device of such a construction, when vibration is caused to the entire apparatus due to the vibration of the hands holding the entire apparatus, disturbance vibration or the like, the vibration detectors 18 and 19 detect the vibration and the signals thereof are inputted to the control circuit 20, whereby the vertical angle of the variable angle prism 6 necessary to eliminate the vibration is calculated.
On the other hand, the fluctuation of the angles of rotation of the opposed transparent plates 1 and 2 about the shafts P and Y, i.e., the vertical angles of the variable angle prism 6 in the pitch and yaw directions, causes a fluctuation to the spot position on the light receiving surface when the beam of light emitted from the light emitting element 14 is transmitted through the slits 12 and 16 formed in the arms 14 and 17 of the frame members 3 and 4 rotated with the opposed transparent plates 1 and 2 and enters the light receiving element 15. The light receiving element 15 transmits to the control circuit 20 an output conforming to the amount of movement of the spot thereon, i.e., the magnitude of the vertical angle of the variable angle prism 6. This control circuit 20 calculates the difference between the magnitude of the aforementioned calculated vertical angle and the magnitude of the vertical angle at the present point of time and transmits it to the coil driving circuit 21. This coil driving circuit 21 supplies the coil 8 with a driving current conforming to a coil driving command signal.
The variable angle prism 6 effects rotative movement about the shafts X and Y by the coil 8 and is deformed so as to coincide with the magnitude of the aforementioned calculated vertical angle. That is, the variable angle prism 6 is designed to effect the correction control of vibration by feedback control using the value of the vertical angle calculated so as to correct vibration as a reference signal and using the value of the current vertical angle as a feedback signal.
Also, when vibration correction is not effected, the lock knob 25 is moved upwardly and the lock pin 24 is held in the recess at the upper end of the lock knob 25. Thereupon, the frame member 4 becomes unable to rotate relative to the yaw shaft Y and is locked in the yaw direction. On the other hand, when the lock knob 25 is moved up to its lock position, the limit switch 26 is operated and the operation is transmitted to the coil driving circuit 21 and in conformity therewith, the supply of electric power to the coil of the frame member 4 is stopped. Although not shown in FIG. 11, the pitch direction P is likewise locked. Besides this, there is a system which, when the operation of the camera is in a standby state, electrically moves the lock knob 25 up to its lock position in response to this state and stops vibration correction.
However, for the above-described example of the conventional art to be used in the large photo-taking lens, particularly the high-magnification photo-taking lens, of a television camera or the like, the variable angle prism 6 generally disposed forwardly of the front lens portion of the high-magnification photo-taking lens need be made large when the effective beam of light of the lens is taken into consideration. Accordingly, the driving means for tilting the transparent plates 1 and 2 of the variable angle prism 6 also becomes bulky and the image vibration correcting device tends to become bulky. Further, the balkiness of the device including the photo-taking lens and an increase in the weight thereof result.
Therefore, there is not so great a problem in the photographing on a vehicle or a helicopter, while during the photographing on a shoulder, i.e., the photographing in hands, there is the disadvantage that the mobility thereof is lost.

Image stabilizing device having a locking element for locking when removed from a lens


A system and method are provided for monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric material that may form part of an actuator or sensor device. A switch is used to selectively electrically couple an inductor to the piezoelectric material to form an inductor-capacitor circuit. Resonance is induced in the inductor-capacitor circuit when the switch is operated to create the circuit. The resonance of the inductor-capacitor circuit is monitored with the frequency of the resonance being indicative of performance capacity of the device's piezoelectric material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to piezoelectric material performance. More specifically, the invention is a system and method for monitoring piezoelectric material, such as the type used in actuators and sensors, in order to evaluate the piezoelectric material's performance capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Piezoelectric material-based sensors and actuators are used extensively in aircraft, spacecraft, and in a wide variety of other electromechanical applications to include automotive noise control, automotive airbag sensing circuitry, and traffic control sensing circuitry, just to name a few. In general, these are small actuators/sensors that are easily embedded in structures. Unfortunately, once embedded in structures, it is difficult to quickly and quantitatively ascertain the performance capacity of the actuator/sensor devices which may deteriorate over time due to changes in the piezoelectric material.

System and method for monitoring piezoelectric material performance

United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Based on the MAP criterion, a category of optimal timing estimators is disclosed. These estimators work with known or unknown channel information, and with received information bits over frequency-selective, slowly fading channels. A sub-optimal timing estimator with a k-taps, multiplication-free, finite impulse response (FIR) filter is also disclosed, where k equals 22 when the Barker sequence of length 11 is employed. The sub-optimal estimator is robust with respect to frequency offset impairment. Using simulations, the disclosed timing estimators are demonstrated to be effective. However, in the special case of timing estimation without channel information, in a multi-path channel with a long delay spread, it is disclosed that it is more effective to estimate the received carrier phases and amplitudes of multi-paths before timing estimation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communications systems, and in particular, to transmissions over imperfect channels.
2. Description of Related Art
When a radio frequency communication signal is transmitted, it usually does not follow the straight line path from the sender to the receiver—unless, of course, the two are physically connected, say by a telephone wire. Instead, the signal typically radiates in all directions from the sender. Thus, while some of the radiated signal actually travels a straight line path to the receiver, other portions of the radiated signal may take a more circuitous route, perhaps being deflected off of some physical body en route to the receiver. Consequently, the different portions of the signal that eventually reach the receiver may not arrive simultaneously. This creates a type of distortion known as multi-path distortion. Multi-path distortion is characterized by the fact that multi-path copies of a signal arrive at a receiver, offset in time from each other.
Moreover, these various versions of the signal, and additional signals from sources other than the sender, may introduce interference that tends to distort the signal. The clarity of the signal may be further compromised if the receiver is moving relative to the sender.
A type of radio frequency communication signal that is often utilized is a spread spectrum signal. Spread spectrum signals differ fundamentally from AM or FM radio signals. On the one hand, AM and FM signals have their signal information encoded in a fixed bandwidth assigned to a radio frequency. On the other hand, spread spectrum signals spread the energy contained in a signal across the entire radio frequency spectrum. In addition, in the spread spectrum context multiple signals may co-exist across the radio frequency spectrum, without interfering with each other.
A spread spectrum signal appears as a slight increase in the noise floor, when received by an uncorrelated receiver such as is used to receive AM and FM signals. The signal is correlated to a prescribed code sequence in order to detect the signal.
In a direct sequence spread spectrum transmitter an information containing carrier is modulated by a repeating code sequence. The speed of the code sequence is the chipping rate—measured in chips per second (cps). At the receiver, information from the signal is recovered by multiplying the transmitted signal by a locally generated replica of the code sequence. The replica of the code sequence is applied to the received signal with a set timing relationship.
The circuitry in the receiver that extracts the desired signal is called a spread spectrum correlator. The correlator may be envisioned as a special type of matched filter. The filter only responds to signals encoded with a code that matches its own code, and the receiver is tuned to another signal by changing codes.
Spread spectrum demodulation has two main steps: removing the spectrum spreading modulation—a process known as dispreading—and demodulating the signal to extract its information content. Despreading is accomplished satisfactorily when timing synchronization of the spreading code between the transmitter and receiver is achieved. Synchronization has two components: the initial acquisition of timing information, and the tracking of the timing. Synchronization, or timing information, is typically transmitted with the information content of the signal, and may be affected by any distortion encountered.
One device that is used to help the receiver to home in on the signal is a training sequence. A training sequence is a predetermined signal that is regularly sent as a sort of reference. Thus, the receiver is set to expect that the training sequence has certain predetermined characteristics. If the receiver receives an uncorrupted training sequence, no adjustment to the receiving unit is necessary. However, if there is some deviation from what is expected in the training sequence, the receiver can be adjusted to correct for the error, thus ensuring that when the actual communication signal is sent, it is received without any problem.
It is desirable to use the characteristics of the transmission channel in providing a system and method of estimating timing information. This is especially desirable in frequency-selective, slowly fading channels.
The problem of synchronization of DSSS communications over frequency-selective, fading channels, has not been completely solved. In frequency-selective, fading channels—unlike AWGN channels—estimates of both the received carrier phases and the amplitudes of the multi-paths must be made, whereas phase and amplitude estimates are not utilized in the simpler AWGN model. Moreover, the mutual interference due to multi-paths further complicates the problem of timing recovery. Therefore, there is a significant need for a method and an apparatus that will solve the problem of synchronization in DSSS communications over frequency-selective, fading channels.
While it is useful to estimate the received time, carrier phases, and amplitudes of the factors listed above, the timing estimate tends to play a dominant role in synchronization. The dominance is because the received time provides important prior information that allows the estimation of the received carrier phases and amplitudes. Therefore, to provide improved synchronization in DSSS communications over frequency-selective, fading channels, there is a real need for a method and an apparatus to estimate the received time.
Thus, the embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus to estimate the received time, by solving the synchronization problem in DSSS communications over frequency-selective, fading channels.

Timing estimation of direct sequence spread spectrum communications systems over frequency-selective, slowly fading channels


A method for manufacturing a chip package is provided, the method including: forming a layer arrangement over a carrier; arranging a chip including one or more contact pads over the layer arrangement wherein the chip covers at least part of the layer arrangement; and selectively removing one or more portions of the layer arrangement and using the chip as a mask such that at least part of the layer arrangement covered by the chip is not removed.

Several challenges are associated with component assembly in semiconductor modules. Such semiconductor modules may include semiconductor chip packages with one or more chips arranged over a leadframe substrate.
With such semiconductor modules, it may be necessary that a leadframe be structured with appropriate contact surfaces onto which chips may be arranged or contacted, in order to be in electrical contact with the leadframe. The chip contact areas may be in each case formed from different types of materials in comparison to the normal leadframe surfaces to optimize a chip adhesion process and to ensure an optimal adhesion of the leadframe to the polymer encapsulation. The production of a structured leadframe is associated with clearly high costs, as a lithographic process may be necessary, and a hard mask must be produced. Furthermore, for every new component design, for different chips with different positions and sizes, a hard mask for the lithography process must be manufactured, which is costly and time intensive. Furthermore, there is a high risk of chip errors with different chip types, and logistic costs for redesigns. Therefore, structured leadframes are normally associated with a costly manufacture and delivery.
Furthermore, through the use of structure leadframes for chip assembly, the respective surfaces of the chips must be brought onto the exact respective surfaces of the leadframe, in other words, the exact positions must be known. Furthermore, the edges/sides of the existing substrate surfaces are a weak point in reliability tests as they have a weaker adhesion in comparison to the rest of the leadframe, which may possibly be roughened. This poses a reliability risk for the components and there is currently no means to overcome these challenges.
With respect to the chip assembly process, i.e. during the component assembly, contaminants, e.g. organic materials, may exist near the chip side and/or on the substrate leadframe top surfaces, and unless additional cleaning is carried out, may hinder further processes such as substrate roughening, or may cause the reliability of connecting the leadframe to encapsulation material to deteriorate. As a result, complicated cleaning processes with damage and contaminations risks may have to be carried out for the removal of contaminants.
With respect to other aspects of component assembly, such as for example during the sawing process, the chip backside bather may be attacked or partially destroyed thereby causing copper from the leadframe to diffuse through the porous chip backside barrier, and electrical drifts and/or precipitation/leakages, may cause a huge reliability problem. Up till now, there has been no means to overcome these challenges related to increased failure rate of the assembly and reliability risks of the components.


Disclosed are various embodiments related to intercepting, modifying, and analyzing messages being exchanged between two entities. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises intercepting messages being exchanged between a first entity and a second entity. The intercepted messages are modified to substitute sender information identifying the sender with proxy sender information such that the sender is anonymous to the intended recipient. The messages are also analyzed to determine at least one performance metric associated with the messages being exchanged.

Individuals sometimes communicate via the Internet and may have a discussion. After obtaining the email address of a correspondent, a person may proceed to send numerous emails to the email address of the correspondent containing advertising that the correspondent does not wish to receive. Also, the person may sell the email address of the correspondent to other people who also desire to send the correspondent additional advertising.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are a device and a method for tracking a sound source location by removing wind noise. The disclosed method for tracking a sound source by removing wind noise comprises the steps of: performing a Fourier transform for input signals of a time domain received by a plurality of microphones; detecting a first sound source section on the basis of an average power value of the Fourier-transformed input signals; detecting a second sound source section from which wind noise has been removed, on the basis of the first sound source section and a difference of power values of the input signals received by the microphones; and detecting a location of a sound source on the basis of the second sound source section and a phase difference of the input signals received by the plurality of microphones.

A sound source localizing technique for an outdoor intelligent CCTV camera is to sense an important sound event such as a scream of a human, a sound of collision of vehicles, or the like, turns the CCTV camera to a location where the corresponding sound source is generated to intensively monitor the event, and informs the monitoring result to a relevant security department so that surrounding situations may be more safely protected.
However, an outdoor environment has various and random noise, different from an indoor environment. Such noise representatively includes motorcycle noise, engine sound of vehicles, wind sound or the like, and a false alarm (or, misrecognition) frequently happens due to such noise. In case of wind noise, it is difficult to find regular patterns, in comparison to other noise (for example, vehicle or motorcycle noise) since the wind strength and direction varies randomly due to various factors. An existing sound direction monitoring system generally ensures good operation only in a silent indoor environment. If there is noise, the existing sound direction monitoring system may operate satisfactorily just in an environment having noise which is very low or very stable. In other words, there is urgently needed a sound direction monitoring technique which may effectively respond to wind noise which is always present in an outdoor environment.

Device and method for tracking sound source location by removing wind noise

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A responsive gastrointestinal stimulation device is provided where one or more sensors sense data corresponding to a subject or the gastrointestinal tract of a subject and responds to sensing the data by stimulating, adjusting stimulation, or stopping stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. A stimulation device is also provided to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to produce a sensation of satiety or to control hunger or food consumption.

Various organs of the gastrointestinal tract such as the stomach, small intestine and colon contain cells that are believed to govern the organs' periodic contractile behavior. In healthy humans, in certain regions of the organs, these cells generate and propagate rhythmic electrical signals. In general, several types of electrical potential activity have been observed in the gastrointestinal tract. Consistent cyclic slow wave or pacesetter potentials have been observed and higher frequency spike activity has been observed that may correspond to some extent with smooth muscle contractile activity and peristalsis. The stomach and digestive system is also controlled by the nervous system that includes a highly complex enteric nervous system and to some extent, the central nervous system. It is believed that when the pacesetter potentials are combined with a chemical or neural excitation of the cells that smooth muscle contractile activity occurs. It is also believed that stimulation of the stomach may effect a subject's sensation of satiety through a complex system involving smooth muscle stimulation or contractions, and neural and chemical pathways.
Obesity has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Electrical stimulation has been proposed to treat obesity by causing a feeling of satiety, for example, by altering gastric motility. Some electrical stimulation is believed to interfere with the electrical potential activity of the stomach and to slow the movement of food through the stomach. Electrical stimulation may cause the stomach to retain food for a greater duration. This gastric retention among other factors may induce a sensation of satiety.
Electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract has also been proposed to treat motility related disorders and other gastrointestinal diseases. The electrical stimulation has been proposed in a number of forms or for a number of applications, such as, e.g., pacing, electrical contractile stimulation or other stimulation.
In some disease states, dysrhythmias of the gastric pacesetter potentials may be present. Electrical pacing of gastric pacesetter potentials has been proposed to induce regular rhythms for the pacesetter potentials with the intent of inducing regular or controlled gastric contractions. The result of abnormal pacesetter potentials may be gastric retention of food. Electrical stimulation of gastric tissue has also been proposed to induce peristalsis. Electrical stimulation has also been proposed to slow the gastric emptying to treat a disorder known as dumping syndrome where the stomach empties at an abnormally high rate into the small intestine causing various gastrointestinal disorders.
An early attempt at a gastric stimulation device included an electrode at the end of a nasogastric tube or catheter. The nasogastric tube was passed into the stomach transnasally. Electrical stimulation was applied using an external stimulator unit through the electrode on the end of the tube. The return electrode was placed on the abdomen. This device required a transnasal procedure whenever stimulation was required.
Other devices used to pace the stomach have generally been implanted by accessing the outside of the stomach through an opening in the abdomen, either through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Electrodes have been attached to the stomach laparoscopically with attached leads extending through the abdomen to a subcutaneously or sub-muscularly implanted electronics unit. The devices may be anchored into the subcutaneous or sub-muscular pocket initially by a suture anchor and/or eventually by fibrous tissue ingrowth around the unit.
Other devices are described, for example in related U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,764, fully incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,764 describes a gastric stimulator that is implanted by delivering the device through the esophagus of a subject and attaching to the stomach wall from the inside of the stomach. Also, related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/109,296, fully incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric stimulator that is implanted submucosally within the stomach wall.
Some gastric stimulation procedures have proposed electrical stimulation in response to sensing innate electrical pulses within the stomach that fall within particular ranges. According to these procedures, sensing electrical signals are indicators of when or how to stimulate or when or how to stop stimulation. Additionally, a device has been proposed to sense electrical parameters to determine the fullness of an organ and the absence of muscular contraction, and to deliver electrical muscular contraction stimulation to the organ in response (i.e., presumably to treat gastro-paresis). However, some sensed electrical signals are not reliably detected and have not always corresponded with appropriate indicators of need for stimulation.
A gastrointestinal stimulator has be described that senses food being swallowed by sensing motion (with an accelerometer), temperature, or pressure and responsively stimulates to coordinate contractions in various gastrointestinal organs to prevent esophageal acid reflux or, to increase speed of movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract (under the theory that less food will be absorbed when food moves more quickly through the stomach). As described, the stimulator stimulates when the gastrointestinal tract fails to act normally. While there has been some success in gastric stimulation, it is believed that over time the stomach may become desensitized to ongoing stimulation. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a gastric stimulator that reduces desensitization of the stomach from ongoing stimulation.
Also, implanted stimulators have limited battery life, particularly when the device is smaller. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a device that operates to conserve battery life.
It would be desirable to provide a gastric stimulator that stimulates the stomach under predetermined circumstances or conditions or at appropriate times.
It would further be desirable to provide such a stimulator that stimulates in order to produce a sensation of satiety.
Furthermore, to control eating disorders or to treat obesity, it would be desirable to provide a stimulator that senses when food has been ingested and/or can regulate stomach contractions based on identification of the contents of the stomach or according to an eating regimen.


An apparatus having n-number of working cross-connects for cross-connecting an n-bit input signals arriving from a plurality of input paths on a per-bit basis; n-number of first logic circuits for calculating the exclusive-ORs of each said n-bit and applying outputs to a standby cross-connect for providing outputs; n-number of second logic circuits for calculating the exclusive-ORs of said output signals from each of said working cross-connects and from the single standby cross-connect; and third logic circuits for selecting output signals of said working cross-connects and outputs of the second logic circuits. The apparatus detects the occurrence of an abnormality in working cross-connects by monitoring the outputs of the second logic circuits, identifies the faulty cross-connect by successively turning off one of the n-inputs to the first and second logic circuits, and select outputs from the second logic circuits instead of from the faulty cross-connect by using the third logic circuits.

This invention relates to a cross-connect apparatus having a plurality of cross-connects. More particularly, the invention relates to a cross-connect apparatus which, while reducing the burden of control performed by a controller, is capable of detecting cross-connect abnormality, detecting the cross-connect in which the abnormality has occurred, switching over to a standby cross-connect and switching back to a working cross-connect at the time of recovery.
It is believed that the interfacing of optical signals to optical transmission devices will undergo a shift in emphasis from the handling of serial signals to the handling of parallel signals in the future. The present invention furnishes a cross-connect apparatus, the input to which is an optical parallel signal, with a highly reliable redundant structure and the ability to detect errors within the apparatus at minimum cost.
Structure of Cross-Connect Apparatus According to Prior Art
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an optical cross-connect apparatus according to the prior art. If m(=4) represents the number of input paths and n(=4) represents the number of bits of each channel arriving in time-shared fashion from each input path, then n-number of m×m working optical cross-connects 1011 to 101n are provided and one standby optical cross-connect 102 is provided for the n-number of working cross-connects. As Illustrated in FIG. 14, an m×m cross-connect has m-number of input terminals and m-number of output terminals (where m=4 holds in the Figure), m-number of input lines and m-number of output lines are arrayed to intersect in the form of a matrix, and a switch is provided at each intersection. In order to implement a cross connection in such a manner that a signal that has arrived at an ith input terminal will be output from a jth output terminal, the switch at the intersection (i,j) is turned on (see the black circles). The Figure illustrates a case where a first input signal is cross-connected to a fourth output, a second input signal to a first output, a third input signal to a third output and a fourth input signal to a second output. It should be noted that although signals on a plurality of channels arrive in time-shared fashion from a single input path, each channel that arrives from an input path #i shall be referred to as an ith channel for the sake of explanation.
Optical signals of first to fourth channels that arrive from optical input paths #1 to #4 are input to optoelectronic transducers (O/E) 1031 to 1034, respectively, upon being converted to n(=4)-bit parallel signals by serial/parallel converters, which are not shown. The optoelectronic transducers 1031 to 1034 convert the optical signals that enter from each of the input paths to electrical signals. A distributor 105i (i=1 to 4) inputs the first to fourth bit signals of a channel i that arrives from input path #i to ith input terminals of respective ones of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 and to a selector 106.
By way of example, the distributor 1051 inputs the first to fourth bit signals of the first channel that arrives from input path #1 to the first input terminals of respective ones of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 and to the selector 106. Similarly, the distributor 1052 inputs the first to fourth bit signals of the second channel that arrives from input path #2 to the second input terminals of respective ones of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 and to the selector 106. If an abnormality occurs in the ith optical cross-connect 101i, the selector 106 selects the ith bit signals of the first to fourth channels that enter the ith optical cross-connect 101i and inputs these to the standby optical cross-connect 102.
Electro-optic transducers (E/O) 1071 to 1074, 108 are provided on the input side of the working and standby optical cross-connects 1011 to 1014, 102, respectively, and optoelectronic transducers (O/E) 1091 to 1094, 110 are provided on the output side of these cross-connects. Signals sent from the first output terminals of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 are converted to electrical signals by the optoelectronic transducers 1091 to 1094, and the electrical signals are input to an electro-optic transducer 1041 via a selector 1111. Similarly, signals sent from the second output terminals of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 are converted to electrical signals by the optoelectronic transducers 1091 to 1094, and the electrical signals are input to an electro-optic transducer 1042 via a selector 1112. Signals sent from the third output terminals of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 are converted to electrical signals by the optoelectronic transducers 1091 to 1094, and the electrical signals are input to an electro-optic transducer 1043 via a selector 1113. Signals sent from the fourth output terminals of the first to fourth cross-connects 1011 to 1014 are converted to electrical signals by the optoelectronic transducers 1091 to 1094, and the electrical signals are input to an electro-optic transducer 1044 via a selector 1114. The electro-optic transducers 1041 to 1044 convert the cross-connected electrical parallel signals input thereto to optical parallel signals and input these parallel signals to parallel/serial converters (not shown). The parallel/serial converters convert the optical parallel signals to optical serial signals and send these signals to prescribed optical output paths #1 to #4.
The first to fourth optical signals of the standby optical cross-connect 102 are converted to electro-optic signals by the optical electro-optic transducer 110, and these signals are input to a distributor 112. If an abnormality occurs in an ith optical cross-connect 101i, the distributor 112 inputs the first output signal of the standby optical cross-connect 102 to an ith terminal on the standby side of the selector 1111, inputs the second output signal of the standby optical cross-connect 102 to the ith terminal on the standby side of the selector 1112, inputs the third output signal of the standby optical cross-connect 102 to the ith terminal on the standby side of the selector 1113, and inputs the fourth output signal of the standby optical cross-connect 102 to the ith terminal on the standby side of the selector 1114. When operation is normal, the selectors 1111 to 1114 select parallel signals of four bits input to the four input terminals of the working channels and input these signals to the electro-optic transducers 1041 to 1044, which constitute the next stage. If an abnormality occurs in the ith cross-connect 101i, however, the selectors 1111 to 1114 select a four-bit signal that is the result of replacing the signals input to the ith input terminals on the working side by signals input to the ith input terminals on the standby side.
A signal cut-off detecting circuit 113 detects cut-off of the signal output from each output terminal of the working optical cross-connects 1011 to 1014, thereby detecting an abnormality in a working cross-connect, and proceeds to notify a controller 115 of the result of detection. A signal cut-off detecting circuit 114 detects cut-off of signals output from the distributor 112, thereby detecting an abnormality in the standby optical cross-connect 102, and proceeds to notify the controller 115 of the result of detection.
Operation
Assume that signals on the first channel that enters from the input path #1 are output upon being cross-connected to the output path #2. As indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 15, the working optical cross-connects 1011 to 1014 each cross-connect the first input to the second output. Further, the standby optical cross-connect 102 also cross-connects the first input to the second output. Operation is similar with regard to the other input paths as well. Generally, if a signal on an ith channel that arrives from input path #i is output upon being cross-connected to an output path #j, the working optical cross-connects 1011 to 1014 and the standby optical cross-connect 102 each cross-connect the ith input to the jth output.
If the signal cut-off detecting circuit 113 detects cut-off of the signal from, e.g., the working optical cross-connect 1011 in a state in which a signal on the first channel that is input from the input path #1 is cross-connected to the output path #2, then the signal cut-off detecting circuit 113 notifies the controller 115 of result of detection. The controller 115 controls the selector 106, which, as indicated by the dashed lines, selects the first bit signals of the first to fourth channels that are input to the working optical cross-connect 1011 and inputs these signals to the four input terminals of the standby optical cross-connect 102. As a result, the standby optical cross-connect 102 attains an input state identical with that of the working optical cross-connect 1011.
Further, the controller 115 controls the distributor 112 so that the four output signals of the standby optical cross-connect 102 are input to the first input terminals on the standby side of respective ones of the selectors 1111 to 1114 that are the same as those that receive the four output signals of the working optical cross-connect 1011. Furthermore, the controller 115 instructs the selectors 1111 to 1114 to select the signal from the standby optical cross-connect 102 instead of the signal from the working optical cross-connect 1011 as the first bit. As a result, the selectors 1111 to 1114 select the signal from the standby optical cross-connect 102 as the first bit and select the signals from the working optical cross-connects 1012 to 1014 as the second to fourth bits.
By virtue of the foregoing, rescue is possible and cross-connect control can continue even if the working optical cross-connect 1011 develops an abnormality. Similarly, rescue is possible if an abnormality should occur in the other working optical cross-connects 1012 to 1014. If the working optical cross-connect that malfunctioned returns to normal after the changeover is made to the standby optical cross-connect 102, then the original normal state is restored and cross-connect control continues.
Problems
With the conventional optical cross-connect system, it is necessary to control the two selectors, namely the selector 106 on the input side and the selectors 1111 to 1114 on the output side, simultaneously even though changeover of the signal to the standby optical cross-connect 102 is performed when a malfunction occurs. As a consequence, there is an increase in the number of optical parallel signals and an increase in the number of optical cross-connects, resulting in an apparatus of large size. A problem which arises is that there is an increase in load with regard to selector control.
Further, what can be detected by the signal cut-off detecting circuit 113 is only the fact that a signal has been cut off. A problem which results is that signals cannot be checked for error.


An example method to maintain services in a cloned virtual machine (VM) includes detecting a cloning operation of a virtual machine, the cloning operation causing the cloned virtual machine to be generated from a source virtual machine having a first virtual network interface card (VNIC) with a first machine access control (MAC) address, the cloned virtual machine having a second VNIC with a second MAC address unique from the first MAC address, and causing a device identifier associated with the second VNIC of the cloned virtual machine to be changed to match a device identifier associated with the first VNIC of the source virtual machine, the device identifier of the cloned virtual machine being generated by a guest operating system running in the cloned virtual machine upon detection of the presence of the second VNIC with the second MAC address.

A new virtual machine (VM) may be created by cloning an existing VM. The cloning process includes copying the disk image and configurations of the existing VM and then modifying some of the configurations, such as the MAC address and security identifier (SID), to give the clone its own identity thus allowing it to reside on a network along with the original VM. As a result of the changes in virtual hardware configuration, the guest operating system, i.e., the disk operating system that executes within the cloned VM, may recognize the new virtual hardware configuration as a new device, and generate a new handle or software interface for it, which can render it inaccessible to other guest software configured to work with the original, now absent, device. As a result, the new VM may become inoperable without manually configuring the virtual hardware components so that they are consistent with the expectations of the guest software.

Maintaining virtual hardware device ID in a virtual machine


A short-range wireless communication apparatus comprising an own connection device and a control device is disclosed. The own connection device is capable of connecting a first predetermined communication protocol to a communication-destination-side connection device. The control device performs a first connection process of connecting the first predetermined communication protocol between the own connection device and the communication-destination-side connection device. The control device performs the first connection process at a time that is outside a period during which a second connection process of connecting a second predetermined communication protocol between the communication-destination-side connection device and a different connection device is performed.

In a known system, multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses can connect respective short-range wireless communication links to a single short-range wireless communication apparatus (also referred to as communication destination apparatus). The short-range wireless communication is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication. For such a system, see JP 2010-68406A1 corresponding to U.S. 2010/0070637A1.
In this relation, the inventor of the present application has found out the following.
In the system in which multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses can connect respective short-range wireless communication links to a single communication destination apparatus, if, for instance, the multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses simultaneously change from a power-off state to a power-on state and simultaneously send a communication protocol connection request (communication protocol may be a profile in Bluetooth communication) to the communication destination apparatus, a connection process of connecting one communication protocol between one of the short-range wireless communication apparatuses and the communication destination apparatus conflicts with a connection process of connecting another communication protocol between another one of the short-range wireless communication apparatuses and the communication destination apparatus. If such a connection process confliction occurs, all the communication protocol connection requests sent from the multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses may be rejected by the communication destination apparatus. In this case, none of the multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses can connect a communication protocol to the communication destination apparatus.
If the multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses simultaneously change from the power-on state to the power-off state in a state where a communication protocol is connected between any one of multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses and the communication destination apparatus, the following situation can arise. A first short-range wireless communication apparatus (a first one of the multiple short-range wireless communication apparatuses) sends a request to connect a first communication protocol to the communication destination apparatus before the completion of a disconnection process of disconnecting a second communication protocol between a second short-range wireless communication apparatus and the communication destination apparatus. In this case, a connection process of connecting the first communication protocol between the first short-range wireless communication apparatus and the communication destination apparatus conflicts with the disconnection process of disconnecting the second communication protocol between the second short-range wireless communication apparatus and the communication destination apparatus. If such a conflict occurs between the connection process and the disconnection process, the request to connect the first communication protocol, which is sent from the first short-range wireless communication apparatus, may be rejected by the communication destination apparatus. In this case, the first short-range wireless communication apparatus cannot connect the communication protocol to the communication destination apparatus.

Short-range wireless communication apparatus and system


Switching losses and conduction losses are isolated by networks which are partially cryogenic and partially at room temperature. Switching losses are independent of temperature. Advantageously the switching losses are taken in a snubber network at room temperature and conduction losses are incurred at cryogenic temperatures, where majority carrier devices like MOSFETs operate with ultra low on-state resistance and corresponding low conduction losses. Low loss leads carry current efficiently from the cryogenic environment to room temperature without adversely affecting refrigeration. Switch and snubber network may both operate cryogenically.

Snubber circuits are routinely used to reduce the dV/dt across switching networks and to reduce ringing. This is usually done with series RC networks placed in parallel with the switch as shown in FIG. 1. There an electronic switch 10 is in series with a source impedance 12 and a load impedance 14 across a voltage input Vo to ground. A snubber network, including a resistance R 16 in series with a capacitor C 18, is in parallel with the switch 10. This circuitry costs energy due to the joule heating of the snubber network. At cryogenic temperatures this can lead to large losses amplified by the refrigeration factor. For example for LN2 systems (liquid nitrogen) the refrigeration factor can approach 12 watts refrigeration per watt of dissipation at 77K.
High performance cryogenic solid-state switches such as MOSFETs operated at low temperatures exhibit extremely high switching speeds, and are therefore prone to ringing. One can reduce the ringing by slowing down the gate voltage drive at the cost of higher energy dissipation. One can also add snubber networks, which produce additional dissipation. In many devices, such as thyristors, one has no alternative but to add snubbers. In some cases, the switches (particularly thyristor-based devices) are very sensitive to false triggering due to high dV/dt and require snubbers to operate.

Snubbers for low temperature power electronics


A new concept toilet cleaning system that, in its preferred embodiment, includes a low cost disposable cleaning brush that is preconditioned with a detergent and disinfectant cleaning agent on its bristles is presented. The cleaning agent may take a dried or liquid form and may be disposed in openings in the bristles in some configurations. The brushes are meant to be of very low cost molded manufacture and are designed to nest for shipment and storage. The user simply removes one of the disposable toilet cleaning brushes from a package, rinses it in clean toilet water to activate the cleaning agent, cleans the toilet with the brush, and then disposes of the brush in a disposal bag that is normally supplied with the shipping and sales package. Options include a variant that has a liquid cleaning agent built into a squeezable reservoir that is part of the handle whereby squeezing of the reservoir disperses the liquid cleaning agent to the brush's bristles. Applications, in addition to standard household toilets, include hotels, hospitals, schools, and the like.

Cleaning of toilets is an unsanitary task that is exasperated by the need to store a contaminated brush between uses. The user of a toilet brush is also subject to obvious medical hazards related to bacteria and contaminants in the toilet. This is bad enough for toilets in private homes but is particularly troublesome for toilets in hospitals, hotels, and other commercial locations.
Heretofore there have been no low cost disposable toilet brushes. It would be possible to purchase a standard toilet brush and dispose it after each use; however, that would be rather costly as the standard toilet brush is rather durably built since it is meant to be reused over a substantial period of time. The normal procedure for use is to spray a detergent and/or disinfectant liquid around the inside of the toilet bowl and then brush the bowl. The brush is then rinsed by dipping it into the toilet water and stored for future use. All parts of this procedure leave the user subject to dirt and disease plus the stored brush is normally contaminated and unsightly.
The instant invention offers a low cost, attractive, and viable solution for cleaning toilets as it is provides a truly antiseptic disposable toilet cleaning system. In its preferred embodiment it is supplied with built in detergent and/or disinfectant agents and a disposal bag. From a cost competition standpoint, the preferred method of design and manufacture calls for a one piece flexible rubberlike plastic material that lends to high volume low cost molding. The bristles of the molded brush, in the preferred embodiment, are dipped in a solution of detergent and/or disinfectant which is then dried on the bristles. Since the brushes are optimally designed to nest for shipment and storage several brushes are conveniently supplied in one sales and storage package where said sales and storage package can also contain an equal number of disposal bags.
The beauty of all of this is that the user simply removes one chemically treated brush from the storage package, rinses same in clean toilet water to activate the chemical agent(s), brushes the toilet bowl clean, and then disposes of the used toilet brush in the disposal bag provided. There are no requirements for handling, cleaning, or storing of the contaminated brush head or bristles after cleaning of the toilet.
Alternative embodiments of the instant invention call for liquid detergents and/or disinfectants. The first approach is similar to the previously described system except that liquid chemicals are entrapped in hollow compartments in the ends of the bristle. In this instance, the liquid chemicals are released upon rubbing the brush bristles against the toilet bowl. A multiple-use concept that uses a liquid chemical approach has a squeezable liquid chemical reservoir that is in liquid communication with the brush bristles. As the user squeezes the reservoir the liquid chemicals are dispensed to the bristles during toilet cleaning.
In contrast to disease and contaminant prone prior art reusable toilet brushes, the instant invention, particularly in its preferred embodiment, offers a low cost disposable toilet cleaning system. Use of detergent and/or disinfectant agents pre-applied to the instant invention brush's bristles greatly simplifies use. That feature coupled with a concept that nests low cost molded brushes for shipment and storage in a single package where said package also includes brush disposal bags makes for a very attractive solution to the very nasty problem of toilet cleaning. The prior art does not address this.
German patent 496,181 shows hollow bristles to which end a liquid cleaning agent, supplied thorough a handle "h", can be ejected through its bristles marked "f" as well as other hollow bristles marked "e". The "e" bristles are also hollow; however, they are angled outward from the a center of the dispensing head. Further, all bristles show constant diameter and not tapered hollows. Therefore, German patent 496,181 cannot accomplish the nesting of bristles and hence brushes as does the instant invention because German patent 496,181 has the following shortcomings that render it unable to accomplish such nesting: 1) Bristle hollows are constant diameter and not tapered, 2) Many bristles are angled outward from the center of the brush head, and 3) The back side of the brush head is enclosed by a cover. Because of any of the three aforementioned reasons, singularly or in combination, nesting of German patent 496,181 cleaning brushes is not possible.