A method and apparatus for recording magnetic information on traveler's checks. The invention is directed to a method of making it easier to validate traveler's checks and to identify stolen or counterfeit traveler's checks. The method utilizes an information carrying medium, such as a magnetic "stripe," on the surface of, or embedded into, the traveler's check itself. The information carrying medium is encoded with the unique identifying code of the check. Further, a database object corresponding to the unique identifying code is stored along with check status information in a central database. At the time of encashment, the traveler's check is run through a swipe-style reader, and the unique identifying code is sent to a central database for verification. The central database returns an indication to the merchant as to whether the traveler's check is valid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of document fraud prevention, and, particular, to documents equipped with a magnetic stripe.
2. Background Art
Travelers often resort to forms of payment other than personal checks hen traveling far from home. Many merchants do not accept personal checks from out-of-town or out-of-state customers because of the financial risk that the personal check will not be honored, i.e. the check will "bounce." The merchant may request further identification for the transaction, such as a driver's license number, but there is little accountability for a visiting customer. It is in the merchant's best interest to confine accepted forms of payment to forms of payment with a high likelihood of being honored.
Cash documents are a widely honored form of payment. Cash documents, such as currency in the form of printed bills and minted coins, are easily recognizable and readily exchangeable. Because the value of these cash documents is backed by the issuing agency, typically the national government, the merchant has a high degree of confidence in the value of the documents. Further, because the document is so widely recognized, the document is "self-identifying." No additional identifying documents are needed to establish or confirm the value of the document. The value is inherent in the document itself regardless of the bearer. This "self-identifying" nature is much preferred over the nature of personal checks, wherein the value of the check is determined by the unconfirmed value of an individual's account, and is therefore dependent on the bearer's identity. A personal check acts as a promise of a transfer of funds between two specified parties, and thus lacks the generic value of a cash document.
With regard to the interests of the customer/bearer, cash documents in the form of printed or minted currency pose a financial risk. Because the value of the currency resides in the document itself, and not in the bearer, lost or stolen currency is most often unrecoverable. For this reason, traveler's checks are often preferred to currency. A traveler's check is an internationally redeemable draft purchased in various denominations from a bank or traveler's aid company and valid only with the purchaser's endorsement (i.e. countersignature) against his or her original signature on the draft. The signing and countersigning process provides some protection from the fraudulent use of lost or stolen traveler's checks. Further, as a purchasing incentive, the issuing institution often provides for a refund of traveler's checks declared lost or stolen. Therefore, unlike currency, lost or stolen traveler's checks are recoverable for the bearer.
Traveler's checks are generic and self-identifying in nature because they do not require that a specific payee be identified, and the value of the traveler's check is established primarily by the check document itself. After a traveler's check is countersigned, the traveler's check is treated as a cash document. Traveler's checks are treated as cash documents because traveler's checks are backed by an established financial institution with high accountability relative to that for an individual traveler.
FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of how a traveler's check is used. In block 100, a purchaser visits an issuing institution, such as a bank or traveler's aid company, and purchases a traveler's check with a specified value. The purchaser pays for the traveler's check using cash, payment card, or other form of payment. It is not necessary for the purchaser to have an account with the issuing institution because the traveler's check is backed by the institution and not the purchaser. After receiving the traveler's check from the issuing institution, in block 101, the purchaser signs the traveler's check to provide the comparison model for the later countersignature. Barring forgery of the signature, endorsement of the traveler's check to establish the check document as a cash document is limited to the purchaser.
Decision block 102 refers to the time period after the purchaser first signs the traveler's check and prior to presentation of the traveler's check to another party, e.g. a merchant, as a cash document (encashment). If, during the time specified for block 102, the traveler's check is lost or stolen, then, as indicated in block 103, the purchaser informs the issuing institution of the loss or theft, and arranges for reimbursement or replacement. The issuing institution may then structure a list of reported lost and stolen traveler's check serial numbers for identification during check processing after encashment. If, during the time specified for block 102, the traveler's check is not lost or stolen, the traveler's check is presented as a cash document to a merchant or other party in block 105 at encashment, also referred to as a point of sale. Traveler's checks obtained through unlawful means (e.g. lost, stolen or counterfeit traveler's checks) as indicated in block 104 may also be presented as cash documents in block 105.
In block 106, the purchaser countersigns the traveler's check for visual verification by the merchant. If, in block 107, the countersignature does not match the original signature, the merchant refuses the traveler's check in block 108 on the grounds that the person presenting the traveler's check is not the original purchaser of the traveler's check. If, in block 107, the countersignature and original signature are a visual match, in block 109, the merchant accepts the traveler's check as a cash document. The countersigned traveler's check is then submitted to the merchant's bank for processing, and ultimately, to the issuing institution for an exchange of funds.
Problems with traveler's checks include theft, loss and fraud. Each check is signed upon purchase and is countersigned upon use. For the merchant taking the check, as long as the countersignature appears genuine, the check is honored as cash. If the merchant has doubts, the merchant may request some form of personal identification, though this is not the norm. In even rarer cases, the merchant may call the check issuing institution with the serial number of the check to determine if the check has been reported as stolen. Typically, however, the only manner in which the traveler's check is verified at encashment is by visually comparing the original signature and the countersignature. Because of this, the traveler's check industry suffers significant annual losses due to signature forgeries on lost and stolen traveler's checks.
As stated above, in block 103 of FIG. 1, the issuing institution may construct a list of lost and stolen traveler's checks in response to reported loss or theft. However, fraudulent use of these lost or stolen traveler's checks is often not detected until the traveler's check with its forged signature is processed back to the issuing institution and compared with the lost/stolen list, usually at least several days after encashment. Therefore, though the lost/stolen list aids in the discovery of the forgery and later investigation, the list does not necessarily prevent encashment of the traveler's check with the forged countersignature.
In addition to forged signatures, fraudulent transactions in traveler's checks also include the counterfeiting of traveler's checks. Duplicates of issued traveler's checks may be copied using state of the art color-copying methods, or original counterfeit traveler's checks can be printed. If the merchant does not call in the serial number of the counterfeit checks, the checks will be used undetected until presented to the issuing institution.
The traveler's check industry has developed several means for preventing counterfeit traveler's check activity. For instance, watermarks are used in the printing of traveler's checks to differentiate authentic traveler's checks from printed counterfeits. Also, various specialized inks and patterns are used to complicate the printing process beyond the abilities of most counterfeit printing and copying operations. Unfortunately, as copying technology improves, the capabilities of copying counterfeiters also improve. It becomes problematic for the traveler's check issuing institution to stay ahead of counterfeiting technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,668, granted to Wright, discloses a check checker system wherein a "CC.TM." check is equipped with a magnetic stripe or bar code along one edge of the document to store the bank number and customer account number. A swipe style reader, or an optical reader in the case of the bar code, reads the data from the stripe or bar code and provides the information to a programmed computer system. The computer system verifies the customer's credit in his account and transfers the funds to the merchant's account at the time of encashment. The account number identifies the customer's account to the programmed computer system, and it is the customer's account status that is queried. Therefore, the customer is required to maintain such an account with the issuing bank to use the "CC.TM." check. The "CC.TM." check is thus an internal bank transaction document rather than a cash document. Also, because the customer is issued more than one check with the same account number on it (i.e. the number on the check is not uniquely identifying), it is possible for a counterfeiter to print duplicate checks using the same account number. Such a counterfeit attempt would succeed under Wright if the unsuspecting account holder has sufficient funds in his account. The "CC.TM." check is therefore susceptible to fraudulent use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,919, granted to Rotondo, discloses a bank check having two magnetic stripes applied to the rear surface. One stripe is placed along a bottom edge of the check away from a front endorsement region, and a second stripe is placed along a side edge away from a rear endorsement region. The magnetic stripes are run through a magnetic character reading device either lengthwise or edgewise. The dual stripes are used to provide redundant information in case of damage to either stripe, and for standard check processing as with MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,798, granted to McWhortor, discloses a system for enhancing detection of counterfeit financial transaction documents. A financial transaction document, such as a check, is provided with a first band of MICR encoded financial information in magnetic ink and a second band of non-magnetic information printed in specific locations either above or below the first band. A magnetic scan sensor is used to read the MICR information and an optical scan sensor is used to read the non-magnetic information. Both MICR and the non-magnetic information are used to differentiate between properly printed documents and improperly printed documents that do not employ this printing technique. McWhortor applies the reading of the two bands during check processing, which occurs after a purchase transaction has taken place.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,318, granted to Mantegazza, discloses a document with forgery prevention means. The document, e.g. a check, is provided with an indication-writing portion wherein a forgery may take place, such as where the payee is indicated. The indication-writing portion is provided with regions made of magnetic or magnetizable material spaced by magnetically blank regions, so as to provide a code which can be detected by a magnetic reading head. The magnetic or magnetizable material is erasable by chemical and/or mechanical action, thus providing evidence of tampering if an attempt is made to alter information in that region. Further, the destruction of the magnetic material is detectable by the magnetic reading head as a corruption of the code in that region.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,060, granted to Dono et al., discloses a check negotiation system using a check card with a magnetic stripe similar to a bank card. The check card is made out of plastic or hard paper. Characteristic information and the user's account number are stored on the magnetic stripe prior to distribution to the user for purposes of authenticating the check card. A portable check card drawing apparatus is used to write appropriate information, such as the amount of the check, onto the check card. A person receiving a check card may cash it at an ATM having an exclusive check card read-out apparatus. The check card is not a self-identifying cash document. No means are provided for the person receiving a check card to establish whether the check card is fraudulent prior to cashing of the check card at an ATM.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,917, granted to Gunderson et al., discloses an apparatus for providing an extended printing region for a document such as a bank check, wherein magnetic ink is used for duplicating an identification code that may have been rendered unreadable on the original check. The apparatus consists of a separate sheet of paper adhesively attached to the back of the check such that a portion of the paper extends beyond the bottom edge of the check. When the check is processed by the bank, the duplicate code on the extended portion of the attached sheet is read by the processing machinery instead of the unreadable code on the original check.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,644, granted to Vaccaro et al., discloses a multi-layered document, such as a payment card, having a magnetic stripe on an intermediate layer of the document to protect the magnetic stripe from abuse. To individualize the document, a bar code is imprinted over the concealed magnetic stripe to cause ridges of varying size. An electronic device is then used to detect the different magnitudes of the magnetic fields near the ridges to decode the information stored in the bar code. The magnetic stripe/bar code combination can be substituted with a bar code of magnetic ink printed on an internal layer of the document.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,092,526 and 4,146,664, granted to Beck, disclose a payment card having a magnetic stripe overlaying an optical data track. The magnetic stripe is opaque to visible light, but transparent to infrared radiation. A card reader including a magnetic read head and an optical IR read head is used to read both the magnetic and optical data tracks at once. The concealed optical data is then used to verify the authenticity of the card.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,484, granted to Whitehead, discloses an identification card with a magnetizable core. Magnetizable pairs located throughout the core are oriented to represent information. Dummy pairs are used to prevent counterfeiting. OCR (optical character recognition) data on the surface of the card is compared with the data from the magnetizable core to verify authenticity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,286, granted to Golarz, discloses a reusable time card carrier with a magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe contains employee identification, schedule, and time summary information. An imprintable time card is attached for a billing period and then replaced with a new imprintable time card at the beginning of the next billing period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,211, granted to Greene, discloses a machine readable document wherein fluorescent ink is used to highlight data portions of the document for an optical scanner. The highlighted regions are coded according to function using OCR, magnetic ink, or a fluorescent ink omission format, such that a scanning machine may locate a specific field of interest.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,727, granted to Stockburger et al., discloses a reusable payment card body whereon adhesive magnetic stripes can be placed. By using removable magnetic stripes, the payment card body can be reused by replacing one magnetic stripe with another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,188, granted to Stockburger et al., discloses a data card and data strip measuring means for providing secured access to a data bank. Only those cards with appropriate authorization are granted access to the data in the data bank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,740, granted to Gold et al., discloses a method for authenticating or identifying an object on the basis of a repeatably sensible, random magnetic medium. A magnetic medium on an object or document is sensed to obtain a magnetic characteristic of the object. The magnetic characteristic is recorded in digital format on a magnetic stripe for comparison with the sensed magnetic characteristic when authentication of the object is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,287, granted to Tucker et al., discloses a verification and identifying system similar to Gold et al. However, the system of Tucker et al. employs encryption and error correction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,279, granted to Hanna, discloses a method for printing MICR data on a bank check correction sticker in an offset position such that a deep reader encounters the correction information prior to crossing over the covered erroneous information. The deep reader can therefore lock onto the correct information and tune out the erroneous information as noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,068, granted to Nusbaum, discloses an authorization card for the purchase of ammunition. The rigid card has ammunition and weapon identification information imprinted upon it, as well as encoded on a magnetic stripe. Purchase of ammunition is permitted only for the specified ammunition type and only if an accessed data bank indicates that the weapon is registered.

Method and apparatus for recording magnetic information on traveler's checks


A toilet attachment for placing the user in the proper crouched configuration for bowel movement. Various embodiments are disclosed. Certain embodiments lift the legs of the user by a bar under the knees or feet. Other embodiments provide a tilting seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to toilets or water closets. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved attachment for a standard toilet which will allow the user to assume a physiologically correct position for bowel movement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toilets or water closets are typically designed with a seat which extends in a substantially horizontal plane. This forces the user to a sitting position in which the trunk of the body extends substantially vertically and the thighs extend substantially horizontally. This is despite the fact that it has been known for many years that a crouching position, in which the legs are elevated such that the thighs extend at an angle and approach the trunk of the body, is the proper physiologic position for a bowel movement, as this position straightens the colon.
Various arrangements have been proposed to allow the user to assume such a crouched position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 559,304 to Muckenhirn and U.S. Pat. No. 906,053 to McAuliffe both propose toilets in which the entire bowl is formed to facilitate such a position. However, both of these arrangements would require the user to replace existing toilets, and both would present problems for the user to mount and dismount the toilet. This problem in mounting is especially aggravated for the elderly, which may most benefit by the crouched position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,514 to Sakamoto discloses a toilet seat and foot rest which would replace the standard seat on a typical toilet. While this arrangement does not require the replacement of the existing toilet, the mounting and dismounting problems are still present, and the footrest will interfere with passage in front of the toilet. Similar problems are associated with the device proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,140 to Sakamoto, which discloses a footrest which attaches to the front of a standard toilet and fits beneath the standard toilet seat, raising the seat in the front. A further footrest attachment is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,298,440 to Lyons. This arrangement reduces the problems associated with the foot rest extending outwardly from the toilet, by pivoting the foot rest such that it may be lowered to an inoperative and space saving position. However, the foot rest is maintained in the operative position by engagement with the toilet rim, causing an unsanitary arrangement for a user when moving the device between the operative and inoperative positions.


A device and method for illustrating geometric shapes are disclosed which enables individuals to study and visualize the interrelation between geometric shapes and more particularly complementary geometric shapes such as tetrahedrons. The apparatus includes a plurality of tubes that pass through a central support member. Cords pass through the tubes, each cord having its ends connected, forming a closed loop. The tubes are movable within the support member. As the tubes are manipulated, the size and geometry of the visualized shapes are altered. In one embodiment, four tubes and three cords define two complementary tetrahedrons. When the tubes are manipulated to expand one tetrahedron, the complementary tetrahedron shrinks.

Prior art devices for educating individuals as to the multitude of possible geometric shapes and the mathematical theories that underlie the geometric shapes are well known. Many of these devices use struts and/or strings to demonstrate static geometric shapes.
Struts and strands are also used in the prior art to demonstrate the theories behind tension. U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,344, to Gorczyca, discloses three struts that are held in a geometric configuration by a plurality of tension strands. A removable block holds the struts in position while the tension strands are applied.
Although the known prior art discloses a variety of geometric display devices and multi-strut assemblies, nothing known in the prior art discloses or suggests a device where two or more geometric shapes displayed by the device can be readily changed relative to each other so that the relative changes in shape between the two can be visualized. No known prior art shows a device displaying two geometric shapes where one shape is expanded in size while the other shape is contracted. Also, the prior art fails to disclose or suggest a device where the geometric shape defined by cords can be rapidly varied such as by moving tubes relative to each other. It is believed that teaching of younger children is enhanced when visualized geometric shapes can be varied between different structures, such as a cubic structure and tetrahedrons.

Geometric display device and method of demonstrating geometric shapes


The present invention is directed to providing a template with alignment marks that are opaque to selective wavelength of light. In one embodiment, a template is provided having patterning areas and a template, with the template mark being formed from metal and disposed outside of the patterning areas. The alignment marks may be surrounded by a moat to prevent curable liquid from being in superimposition therewith during imprinting. In this manner, opaque alignment marks may be employed without degrading the quality of the pattern formed during imprinting.

The field of invention relates generally to imprint lithography. More particularly, the present invention is directed to producing templates having alignment marks formed thereon.
Micro-fabrication involves the fabrication of very small structures, e.g., having features on the order of micro-meters or smaller. One area in which micro-fabrication has had a sizeable impact is in the processing of integrated circuits. As the semiconductor processing industry continues to strive for larger production yields while increasing the circuits per unit area formed on a substrate, micro-fabrication becomes increasingly important. Micro-fabrication provides greater process control while allowing increased reduction of the minimum feature dimension of the structures formed. Other areas of development in which micro-fabrication has been employed include biotechnology, optical technology, mechanical systems and the like.
An exemplary micro-fabrication technique is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,960 to Willson et al. Willson et al. disclose a method of forming a relief image in a structure. The method includes providing a substrate having a transfer layer. The transfer layer is covered with a polymerizable fluid composition. A mold makes mechanical contact with the polymerizable fluid. The mold includes a relief structure, and the polymerizable fluid composition fills the relief structure. The polymerizable fluid composition is then subjected to conditions to solidify and polymerize the same, forming a solidified polymeric material on the transfer layer that contains a relief structure complimentary to that of the mold. The mold is then separated from the solid polymeric material such that a replica of the relief structure in the mold is formed in the solidified polymeric material. The transfer layer and the solidified polymeric material are subjected to an environment to selectively etch the transfer layer relative to the solidified polymeric material such that a relief image is formed in the transfer layer. The time required and the minimum feature dimension provided by this technique are dependent upon, inter alia, the composition of the polymerizable material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905 to Chou discloses a lithographic method and an apparatus for creating ultra-fine (sub-25 nm) patterns in a thin film coated on a substrate in which a mold having at least one protruding feature is pressed into a thin film carried on a substrate. The protruding feature in the mold creates a recess of the thin film. The mold is removed from the film. The thin film then is processed such that the thin film in the recess is removed exposing the underlying substrate. Thus, patterns in the mold are replaced in the thin film, completing the lithography. The patterns in the thin film will be, in subsequent processes, reproduced in the substrate or in another material which is added onto the substrate.
Yet another imprint lithography technique is disclosed by Chou et al. in Ultrafast and Direct Imprint of Nanostructures in Silicon, Nature, Col. 417, pp. 835–837, June 2002, which is referred to as a laser assisted direct imprinting (LADI) process. In this process, a region of a substrate is made flowable, e.g., liquefied, by heating the region with the laser. After the region has reached a desired viscosity, a mold, having a pattern thereon, is placed in contact with the region. The flowable region conforms to the profile of the pattern and is then cooled, solidifying the pattern into the substrate. A concern with each of the above-identified pattern formation processes relates to proper orientation of the template with the substrate. For example, it is desired to properly align the template with an existing patterned layer so that the proper orientation between the existing patterned layer and a subsequent patterned layer is obtained.
Thus, a need exists for producing a template having alignment marks for use with imprint lithographic techniques.

Imprint lithography template having opaque alignment marks


A lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device can include a light bar and a base having an elongated groove shaped to receive the light bar. The light bar can be rotatable relative to the base around an axis substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the light bar. Rotation of the light bar around this axis can move the light bar into and out of the elongated groove, thus converting the lighting device between compact and expanded configurations. For greater maneuverability, the light bar can include a light source housing portion rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to the long axis of the light bar. The light source housing portion can include two or more light emitting diodes positioned along the long axis of the light bar. The lighting device can be used with a mounting sleeve shaped to receive, for example, one end of the base.

Several varieties of collapsible lighting devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,226 (US'226) discloses a "portable desk light" including "a flat thin battery case with laterally spaced battery chambers defining an upwardly opening channel therebetween." US'226, abstract. The upwardly opening channel "receives an elongate support arm" with a pivot point at one end and a lamp housing at the opposite end. US'226, abstract and FIG. 1. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. D278,461 (US'461) discloses a "sun lamp" including a base with a channel configured to receive a portion of a support arm connected to a lamp housing. US'461, title and FIG. 1.
The lighting devices disclosed in US'226 and US'461 are limited, in part, because their lamp housings are only rotatable around a single axis. In both cases, the lamp housings are only rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the associated support arm. US'226, FIG. 1 and US'461, FIG. 1. This limits a user's ability to direct light to areas on either side of the lighting device.


For integrating multiple different touch based inputs, a method is disclosed that includes displaying a graphical object on a touch screen device, receiving an input of a user touch of the graphical object on the touch screen, and altering an indicated portion of the touch screen responsive to a characteristic of the touch.

Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to using a touch interface and more particularly relates to the selection of graphical objects using a touchscreen.
Description of the Related Art
In general, computing devices may be configured with a touch based input capability. A computing device with a touch based interface, or input system, may allow a user to communicate with the computing device. Through a touch interface, a user may change settings, execute programs, respond to notifications, or operate the computing device in another way. As the accuracy and sensitivity of touch based technologies increases, more computing devices may offer a touch based interface.
Using a touchscreen may make it difficult to select graphical objects or regions of a touch screen display. Selecting portion of text or a portion of a drawing typically requires some kind of special tool such as "lasso" or similar. Using a "lasso" to select a portion of text or a portion of a graphical display via a touchscreen can be slow, difficult to perform accurately, and difficult to perform consistently.

Touchscreen selection of graphical objects


Poinsettia `490 White` is a new cultivar, distinguished by creamy white bracts and intense dark green foliage with self-branching characteristics. `490 White` is a color sport of the dark red bracted `490` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,825) with the same early flowering response and cultural requirements. The new plant produces a very desirable branched flowering pot plant. The new plant is resistant to epinasty after being confined to shipping containers and recovers rapidly if the plant does become epinastic. The post-production foliage and bract retention is excellent even under low light intensities in the consumer's home.

This new poinsettia cultivar originated as an induced white bracted sport of `490` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,825) in my greenhouse in Skibby, Denmark. It was induced through irradiation of a group of 100 vegetative plants of `490` with 2500 rads of gamma radiation randomly applied to the whole plant. A single plant from the irradiated group exhibited white bracts. The mutant was characterized by its early flowering, self-branching, white flower bracts, and dark green foliage; traits which distinguished it from other poinsettia cultivars on the market and seemed to make it a desirable plant for commercial greenhouse production. No other similar plants were observed from the irradiation nor were any other changes in the group observed which would appear to have commercial merit. `490 White` differed from its parent `490` in having white bracts as compared to the dark red bracts of `490` but otherwise had characteristics similar to the parent. After selection, `490 White` was vegetatively reproduced from stem cuttings for test purposes in Encinitas, Calif. By subjecting clones of this plant to successive generations of vegetative propagation, it was demonstrated that the distinctive characteristics of `490 White` held true from generation to generation.


An epoxy resin cured article has a high glass transition temperature and low dissipation factor. An epoxy resin composition from which the cured article can be having excellent solubility in solvents is used to produce the cured articles. A polyester as a curing agent of an epoxy resin composition having an aromatic polyhydroxy coumpound residue including an aryloxycarbonyl group at the molecule of the terminal, an aromatic polyvalent hydrocarbon group residue, and bulky structure, is used. Since the curing agent behaves as a polyfunctional curing agent, a cured article produced therefrom has a high crosslink density. Since highly polar hydroxyl groups are not formed during curing, a cured article has high glass transition temperature and a low dissipation factor. The cured article does not release low molecular weight carboxylic acids though hydrolysis of ester bonds at crosslinked bonds. Since the polyester has a bulky structure, the crystallization of the molecular chain is prevented and the solubility of the epoxy resin composition containing the polyester is excellent.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to epoxy resin compositions which may be used to manufacture cured products which exhibit low dissipation factor and high heat resistance, and relates to cured products made therewith.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-317672, filed Oct. 31, 2002, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Epoxy resins are widely used in the fields of electrical components and electronic components exemplified by semiconductor encapsulants, varnishes for printed circuit boards, and resist materials, since epoxy resins have excellent properties in electrical insulation, mechanical properties, and adhesive properties. In fields such as electrical components and electronic components, phenol resins such as phenol-novolak resins and amines such as dicyandiamide, and acid anhydrides curing agent are widely used as curing agents of epoxy resins.
However, high frequency bands are suitable to carry much information being tele-communicated recently in electrical components and electronic components exemplified printed circuit boards, and other electric insulation resist materials. For this reason, it is desired to present epoxy resin systems with a low dissipation factor to decrease the transmission loss in high frequency bands. However, when phenol resins, amine type curing agents, and anhydride curing agents are used, which are widely used as curing agents for epoxy resins, it was difficult to decrease the transmission loss since highly polar hydroxyl groups are formed in the curing reaction with epoxy resins.
Consequently, a curing agent which does not form hydroxyl groups during a curing reaction, for example, an aromatic polyester as the esterification reaction product of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an aromatic dihydroxy compound, is known from Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 5-51517. When this type of aromatic polyester is used as a curing agent, it is possible to minimize the formation of hydroxyl groups during the curing reaction as well as maximize the crosslinking density of the epoxy resin cured articles since this curing agent acts as a polyfunctional curing agent which has many ester groups per molecule and accordingly, the glass transition temperature is high and the material is useful as electrical insulating materials for electrical components and electronic components.
However, hydroxyl groups or carboxyl groups remain in cured articles because the aromatic polyesters at terminals of molecular chains are polar groups which are hydroxyl groups or carboxyl groups. When the hydroxyl groups remain, the hydroxyl groups markedly increase the dissipation factor. When the carboxyl groups remain, the carboxyl groups react with unreacted epoxy groups, and then hydroxyl groups are also formed. The existence of these hydroxyl groups caused a problem of increasing the dissipation factor.
As another technique for applying the ester resin which forms neither hydroxyl groups nor carboxyl groups at the terminals of curing agents for epoxy resin, a technique to lower the dissipation factor of the cured articles using an aromatic ester composition obtained by the reaction of naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and α-naphthol as curing agents for epoxy resin is known as claimed in claim 6 and disclosed in synthesis example 5 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-12650.
However, although the dissipation factor of the aromatic ester compounds is reduced, those ester compounds have only a few ester groups per molecule and thereby, the volume fraction of the inert terminal groups is increased. Since these terminal groups do not form crosslinking in the curing reaction, the concentrated terminal groups bring about decreased crosslinkng density in the cured articles that are inferior in heat resistance.


A semiconductor device comprises a first contact layer, a first drift layer adjacent the first contact layer, a buried body layer adjacent the first drift layer and a second contact layer. A first vertical trench and a second vertical trench are provided, the first and second vertical trenches being spaced with respect to each other and extending from the second contact layer to substantially beyond the buried body layer. A second drift layer is also provided and sandwiched between the buried body layer and the second contact layer.

Bi-directional switches switch high currents through their conduction electrodes while blocking high voltages applied to the conduction electrodes. Bi-directional switches are used in a variety of electrical systems. A typical bi-directional switch is specified to supply high currents, which may range from several Amperes of maximum current to several hundreds of Amperes depending on the specific switch and application, while blocking relatively high voltages, e.g. of at least 25 V without breaking down.
Bi-directional switches are typically implemented using electromechanical switches or a configuration of semiconductor devices, e.g. power transistors. However, standard power transistors have a low blocking voltage in one direction, making them unidirectional devices. Consequently, current bi-directional switches typically are implemented using two separate serially coupled power MOSFETs. The separate MOSFETs are formed on separate semiconductor dice, and often housed in separate packages, which results in a high manufacturing cost and a large area occupied on a circuit board. When the separate MOSFET dice are housed in a single package and interconnected with wire bonds, the area occupied on a circuit board is reduced but the manufacturing cost is still too high for many applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,101,969 discloses an integrated circuit with several different transistors integrated on the same circuit, including a p-channel bi-directional trench power transistor for battery charging protection. The transistor comprises two vertical trenches between which a body is present. The body is separated from current carrying electrodes above and below the body by high-voltage regions with a lesser doping concentration than the electrodes.
However, a disadvantage of the bi-directional trench power transistor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,101,969 is that it exhibits a potential to breakdown unexpectedly. Furthermore, it exhibits a slow switching behaviour.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacture therefor


The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dedranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Rage in North America. Rage is distinguished by its bright red floret color and long shelf life.

Rage was identified as P89-001 originated from a cross made by Peter S. Hesse in a controlled breeding program at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif. 98444, USA.
The female parent of Rage was Lucido (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,586), and the male parent was Stop Light (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,721). Rage was discovered and selected as a flowering plant in October 1989, at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif. by Peter S. Hesse in a controlled Greenhouse environment.
The first act of asexual reproduction of Rage was accomplished in March of 1990, when vegetative cuttings were taken in a controlled greenhouse environment at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif., by technicians working under the direction of Peter S. Hesse.
Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Rage are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
Rage has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in controlled greenhouse environments at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck into 6.5 inch pots and grown in a controlled environment under the natural temperature and day length prevailing June 1990 to December 1992.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Rage which, in combination distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.
1. Flat Capitulum Form
2. Daisy Capitulum Type
3. Very bright red ray florets under fluorescent lights.
4. Shiny green foliage color.
5. A diameter of 7.8 cm across the face of the capitulum.
6. An average of 9.0 flowers per break.
7. Excellent upright spreading habit with an average of 5.2 breaks after a single pinch.
8. An average flowering response to 59 days from the start of short days.


A control apparatus for input screens includes a display unit, a switch portion and a control unit including a microcomputer. If one of a menu switch of the switch portion and a plurality of dummy switches included in a screen displayed by the display unit is operated, the microcomputer causes the display unit to display a new screen including a plurality of dummy switches. The microcomputer estimates a time period required for the operator to watch a screen to operate the dummy switch, depending on the displayed screen (the number of dummy switches). If the sum of estimated time periods exceeds a reference time period, the microcomputer nullifies operation of the dummy switch to prevent the screen from being switched. After the lapse of a predetermined time period, the microcomputer cancels the nullification of the operation of the dummy switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control apparatus and method for input screens that includes display means such as a display used for a navigation system installed in a vehicle or a computer exchanging information with external components.
2. Description of Related Art
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 10-90390, this kind of apparatus has display means for displaying information including map information and current position information, operation means provided to control contents displayed by the display means and designed to be operated by a passenger, and prohibition means for prohibiting the displayed contents from being controlled by the operation means while the vehicle is traveling. The displayed contents cannot be controlled through operation of the operation means while the vehicle is traveling. Thereby restrictions are imposed on operation of the operation means by the driver.
However, according to the aforementioned art, since displayed contents cannot be controlled at all through operation of the operation means while the vehicle is traveling, the vehicle has to stop to update the displayed contents. This is inconvenient, for example, when driving along an expressway where it is difficult to stop.

Control apparatus and method for input screens


A monoclonal secretory IgA antibody, which binds to and neutralizes human TNFα. The secretory antibody is useful in treating a variety of inflammatory conditions in humans.

Inflammation represents a key event of many diseases, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and sepsis. Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and platelets, respond to inflammatory stimuli and foreign substances by producing bioactive mediators. These mediators act as autocrines and paracrines by interacting with many cell types to promote the inflammatory response. There are many mediators that can promote inflammation, such as cytokines and their receptors, adhesion molecules and their receptors, antigens involved in lymphocyte activation, and IgE and its receptors.
Cytokines, for example, are soluble proteins that allow for communication between cells and the external environment. The term cytokines includes a wide range of proteins, such as lymphokines, monokines, interleukins, colony stimulating factors, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, and chemokines. Cytokines serve many functions, including controlling cell growth, migration, development, and differentiation, and mediating and regulating immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. Even within a given function, cytokines can have diverse roles. For example, in the context of mediating and regulating inflammation, some cytokines inhibit the inflammatory response (anti-inflammatory cytokines), others promote the inflammatory response (pro-inflammatory cytokines). And certain cytokines fall into both categories, i.e., can inhibit or promote inflammation, depending on the situation. The targeting of proinflammatory cytokines to suppress their natural function, such as with antibodies, is a well-established strategy for treating various inflammatory diseases.
TNFα (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha) is a cytokine which promotes an inflammatory response and is involved in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases or disorders. Binding TNFα has been proposed as a strategy for providing various diagnostic and therapeutic effects. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,236 teaches forming murine anti-TNFα antibodies by a hybridoma method. The anti-TNFα antibodies can be used in an assay to detect Kawasaki Disease.
A line of patents including U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,272, U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,452, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,444 relate to treating TNF-α-mediated diseases using an anti-TNFα antibody or peptide. The antibody is preferably a monoclonal chimeric antibody known as cA2. The A2 refers to a murine antibody that effectively binds human TNFα. The antigen binding region of A2 is combined with the constant region of a human IgG1 to make a chimeric antibody designated cA2. The diseases to be treated include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, etc. The chimeric antibody cA2 has been commercialized under the name infliximab and is sold under the brand name REMICADE® (Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,690 relates to a TNFα receptor polypeptide that binds TNFα. A recombinant chimeric antibody can be formed using the receptor sequence in place of the variable domain of the heavy and/or light chain. Human IgG1 is suggested for the constant regions. A chimeric antibody containing a combination of the TNFα receptor linked to an Fc portion of an IgG1 has been commercialized under the name etanercept, which is sold under the brand name ENBREL® (Immunex Corporation). Etanercept is approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and plaque psoriasis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,382 relates to human antibodies, or the antigen binding portions thereof, that bind human TNFα. The heavy chain constant regions of the human antibody can be IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD and preferably is IgG1 or IgG4. The antibodies are taught to be useful in treating a variety of conditions including autoimmune (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis) and intestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn's disease, IBD, ulcerative colitis). The preferred IgG1 antibody has been commercialized under the name adalimumab and is sold under the brand name HUMIRA® (Abbott Laboratories).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,135 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,820 relate to an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds TNFα wherein the variable domain region comprises specified CDR sequences. The constant region domains, when present, may be human IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, or IgM domains, with IgG being preferred. A PEGylated modified Fab fragment has been commercialized as certolizumab pegol and sold under the brand name CIMZIA® (UCB Group of Companies) and is approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
Published U.S. application 2009/214528 shows the production of another anti-TNFα antibody known as golimumab and sold under the brand name SIMPONI® (Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.). Golimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed to TNFα. It is approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
The currently approved anti-TNFα antibodies are IgG-based. And these compounds are administered systemically to a patient via multiple injections or infusions (e.g., multiple intravenous or subcutaneous injections). See Reimund, J-M et al., Inflammation Allergy Drug Discovery 1, 21-34 (2007). These IgG-based anti-TNFα compounds, however, suffer from one or more undesirable effects. For example, it has been reported that REMICADE® infliximab; a chimeric IgG1κ monoclonal antibody specific for TNFα) is associated with hypersensitivity reactions in the patient, likely due to the non-human portions of the REMICADE® antibodies. Id. Similarly, it has been reported that patients taking HUMIRA® (adalimumab; a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for human TNFα) developed an immune response against the HUMIRA® antibodies. Id. It has also been reported that patients taking CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol; a recombinant humanized antibody Fab′ fragment with specificity for human TNFα conjugated to an approximately 40 kDa polyethylene glycol) developed an immune response against the CIMZIA® compound and reported mild to moderate adverse effects (most common being headache). Id. Alternatively, it has also been reported that the subcutaneous injection of ENBREL® (etanercept; a dimeric fusion protein consisting of the extracellular ligand-binding portion of the human p75 TNF receptor linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1) was not shown to be better than placebos in treating Crohn's patients. Id.
Systemic depletion of TNFα furthermore increases the risk of the patient for infections, as indicated by black box warnings (as required by FDA for HUMIRA®, REMICADE®, SIMPONI® (golimumab; a human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody specific for human TNFα), and CIMZIA®) for increased risk of serious infections leading to hospitalization or death, including tuberculosis (TB), bacterial sepsis, invasive fungal infections (such as histoplasmosis), and infections due to other opportunistic pathogens.
In an attempt to reduce side effects associated with systemic treatment and to eliminate the inconvenience and expense of infusions, an article proposed an oral anti-TNF therapy that could be useful in treating Crohn's disease. Worledge et al. "Oral Administration of Avian Tumor Necrosis Factor Antibodies Effectively Treats Experimental Colitis in Rats." Digestive Diseases and Sciences 45(12); 2298-2305 (December 2000). This article describes immunizing hens with recombinant human TNF and an adjuvant, fractionating polyclonal yolk antibody (IgY, which in chickens is the functional equivalent to IgG), and administering the unformulated polyclonal IgY (diluted in a carbonate buffer to minimize IgY acid hydrolysis in the stomach) to rats in an experimental rodent model of colitis. The rats were treated with 600 mg/kg/day of the polyclonal IgY. The uses of animal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies, however, are undesirable.
In a similar attempt to avoid adverse events associated with systemic administration, another group, Avaxia Biologics Inc., describes a topical (e.g., oral or rectal) animal-derived polyclonal anti-TNF composition that could be useful in treating inflammation of the digestive tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease. WO2011047328. The application generally states that preferably the polyclonal antibody composition is prepared by immunizing an animal with a target antigen, and the preferably the polyclonal antibody composition is derived from milk or colostrum with bovine colostrums being preferred (e.g., p. 14). The application also generally states that the animal derived polyclonal antibodies could be specific for (among other targets) other inflammatory cytokines (e.g., pp. 6-7). This application describes working examples in which cows were immunized with murine TNF and the colostrum was collected post-parturition to generate bovine polyclonal anti-TNF antibodies (designated as AVX-470). The uses of animal-derived antibodies and polyclonal antibodies, however, are undesirable.
IgA molecular forms have been proposed as treatments for various diseases, most notably as treatments for pollen allergies, as treatments against pathogens, and as treatments for cancer.
For example, two articles proposed the use of an anti-streptococcal antigen I/II secretory IgA-G hybrid antibody. Ma et al. "Generation and Assembly of Secretory Antibodies in Plants." Science 268(5211), 716-719 (May 1995); Ma et al. "Characterization of a Recombinant Plant Monoclonal Secretory Antibody and Preventive Immunotherapy in Humans." Nature Medicine 4(5); 601-606 (May 1998). The hybrid antibody contains murine monoclonal kappa light chain, hybrid Ig A-G heavy chain, murine J-Chain, and rabbit secretory component. The antibody was made by successive sexual crossing between four transgenic N. tabacum plants and filial recombinants to form plant cells that expressed all four protein chains simultaneously. The parent antibody (the source of the antigen binding regions, is identified as the IgG antibody Guy's 13. The group proposes that although sIgA may provide an advantage over IgG in the mucosal environment, such is not always the case (1998 Ma at p. 604, right column).
A related article identifies the anti-streptococcal antigen I/II secretory IgA-G hybrid antibody, which was derived from Guy's 13 IgA, as CaroRx. Wycoff. "Secretory IgA Antibodies from Plants." Current Pharmaceutical Design 10(00); 1-9 (2004). Planet Biotechnology Inc. This related article states that the CaroRx antibody was designed to block adherence to teeth of the bacteria that causes cavities. Apparently, the CaroRx antibody was difficult to purify; the affinity of Protein A for the murine Ig domain was too low and protein G was necessary for sufficient affinity chromatography. Furthermore, the article states that several other chromatographic media had shown little potential as purification steps for the hybrid sIgA-G from tobacco leaf extracts. The article also indicates that the authors were unable to control for human-like glycosylation in tobacco, but that such was not a problem because people are exposed to plant glycans every day in food without ill effect.
WO9949024, which lists Wycoff as an inventor, Planet Biotechnology Inc. as the applicant, describes the use of the variable regions of Guy's 13 to make a secretory antibody from tobacco. The application contains only two examples—the first a working example and the second a prophetic example. Working Example 1 describes the transient production of an anti-S. mutans SA I/III (variable region from Guy's 13) in tobacco. The tobacco plant was transformed using particle bombardment of tobacco leaf disks. Transgenic plants were then screened by Western blot "to identify individual transformants expressing assembled human sIgA" (p. 25). Prophetic Example 2 states that in a transformation system for Lemna gibba (a monocot), bombardment of surface-sterilized leaf tissue with DNA-coated particles "is much the same as with" tobacco (a dicot). The prophetic example also stops at screening by immunoblot analysis for antibody chains and assembled sIgA, and states that the inventors "expect to find fully assembled sIgA."
It is desirable to have alternative antibody treatments for TNFα-related inflammatory diseases that preferably avoid the disadvantages of current systemic and previously-proposed topical treatments of inflammation.

Anti-TNF alpha monoclonal secretory IgA antibodies and methods for treating inflammatory diseases


A structure for creating brighter viewing three dimensional images which have a spacer with a rastor pattern having parallel lineations of alternately opaque and optically clear portions on one side of the spacer; an image on the opposite side of the spacer parallel to and spaced apart from the rastor pattern such that when viewed from said rastor side of the spacer, a three dimensional image is seen; and, the rastor pattern, spacer and or the image form a light enhancing structure to increase light impingement through the structure by various means and combinations of structure of the rastor, spacer and/or the image.

Many methods have been developed to generate 3-D images. These methods differ from two dimensional display technologies such as photography and television in that they deliver laterally displaced images of a subject to a viewer's eyes. The viewer synthesizes three-dimensional experience of objects and space from these slightly displaced views. Many methods deliver a specific pair of images, one to each eye. With these methods the viewer is confined to looking at the subject from a predetermined position for a particular stereo effect. In contrast, holography, lenticular screen, and rastor display methods enable many viewing angles of a subject.
Holography is significantly different from other methods of three-dimensional imaging. Because holography requires the use of coherent light sources such as lasers to store interference patterns of light, it is color and scale limited, and complex to practice relative to lenticular and rastor methods.
Lenticular screen methods utilize ordinary light sources to record and display a 3-D image. Different views of a subject are interlaced and laminated behind an array of semi-cylindrical lenticular lenses. Interlacing is the process of placing together images that have been recorded from different viewing positions in thin parallel linear strips (or lineations), usually through the use of a black line rastor or lenticular screen. The resultant interlaced pattern of images is then placed behind the lenticular lenses at their focal distance so that only one lineation is visible through each lens from any particular viewing angle. Each eye sees different lineations (which represent corresponding distinct views of the original subject) and consequently people looking at the display can construct three dimensional images in their minds.
Lenticular screen images are limited in terms of clarity and resolution, but more importantly, because of the geometric properties of their optics, many viewing zones result. A slight shift in viewing position will often present the viewer with lineations from the adjacent grouping. The result is a pseudoscopic or compromised effect.
Rastor methods of three dimensional display are capable of higher quality results. As with lenticular screens, different views are interlaced in parallel lineations but, rather than displaying this interlaced pattern behind a lenticular screen, it is presented behind a black line rastor. The rastor is formed of parallel lineations which are alternately clear and dark. The widths of these clear and dark lineations can be adjusted to reduce the viewing zone "jump" that is intrinsic to lenticular optics. However, the use of opaque lineations reduces the amount of light that illuminates the interlaced pattern behind it, so back-lighting is employed. This enables the interlaced pattern to be viewed through the slits in the rastor so that individual images are visible from different viewing angles. This produces the three dimensional effect.
Prior art rastor displays have produced satisfactory images for viewing. However, they have not solved problems of viewing in bright ambient lighting conditions or extreme image dislocation at the viewing transition point between groupings of lineations. In addition, they usually required means to illuminate the structure from behind the image.

Free-vision three dimensional image with enhanced viewing


A pixellated light valve projector with optical image resizing, comprising: a) a lamp and optical integrator for generating a rectangular beam of light according to a predetermined aspect ratio; b) a pixellated panel for generating a rectangular image of a video signal in any one of a plurality of native pixel formats; c) a relay optical system intermediate the optical integrator and the pixellated panel for automatically concentrating the light onto the image in accordance with the one of the plurality of native pixel formats; d) a projection screen; and e) a projection lens for projecting the image onto the projection screen so that the projected image fills the projection screen in accordance with the one of the plurality of native pixel formats while image brightness level is maintained by concentrating the light onto the image on the pixellated panel.

The popularity of LCD and other pixellated light valve projectors is increasing as a replacement to traditional CRT projection systems because of their smaller size and lighter weight. In the future, it is also expected that pixellated light valve projectors will become less expensive to manufacture than traditional CRT projectors.
One problem inherent in the new crop of LCD and other pixellated light valve projectors is that the number of displayable pixels often does not correspond to the same number of pixels in the original signal source. This can result, for example, when a pixellated panel designed according to one of the common standards (e.g. SVGA having 800.times.600 pixels) is used to display a signal generated according to a different standard (e.g. VGA having 640.times.480 pixels). Prior art traditional CRT projection systems are format flexible with multi-sync operation, due to their analog design. Such systems can display optimized images with any number of pixels per line and variable number of lines per frame.
In order to match signal resolution to a native fixed pixel format of the pixellated panel in an LCD or other pixellated light valve projector, there are three options currently being practiced. The first option is to create a black border around the image by simply projecting the underscanned pixellated display panel. The second option is to electronically "resize" the image to fully utilize the panel area. The third option is to "window" or show only a small portion of the complete picture thereby sacrificing portions of the picture to accommodate the display size.
A fundamental disadvantage of the first option is that the full display surface of the panel and projection screen in underutilized, and the total brightness of the image is reduced. According to the second option, the digital resizing engine is required to "invent" information by computational interpolation to fill blank pixels in the resized image (e.g. expanding 640 pixels onto a line of 800 pixels). The circuitry required is expensive and can result in defocussing (or aliasing) artifacts due to the uncertainties inherent in the interpolation calculations. An example of a "resizing engine" according to the second option, is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,328 (Arbeiter et al).
Several prior art patents have issued relating generally to the field of projection systems with image compression and expansion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,692 discloses an image projecting apparatus which uses micro-lenses and mechanical adjustment of the optical axis to eliminate keystoning.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,386,252 and 5,499,062 disclose a projection system including means for compressing and expanding the aspect ratio of a picture. These two patents address the problem of projecting a picture whose vertical length is different from its horizontal length, whereby upon projection, the source image generated on the face plate panel of the projection CRT becomes oblong. Picture compression apparatus is disclosed in these two patents for distorting the original image so that the aspect ratio of the picture as applied to the CRT (or LCD panel) becomes one (i.e. it is square). The inventions described in these two patents are said to improve luminance and contrast of the magnified picture projected onto a screen when the original image size has an aspect ratio other than one.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,952 discloses a digital scaling device to accommodate different broadcast standards utilizing interpolation means to format data for a number of standardized--format video broadcast signals and to eliminate artifacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,299 discloses an automatic projection zoom based on measured distance between the projector and the screen. Distance measuring is used to control zoom of the projection lens and is also used to drive a picture quality correction circuit for adjusting luminance, contrast, edge emphasis, etc., in accordance with the distance between the projector and the screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,532 discloses an automatic focus adjuster for projection display systems wherein a range measuring device is used for measuring the distance between the projection lens and a screen via infrared light, and automatic adjustment elements are used to adjust the focal point of the projection lens system to an optimum focal point or position based on the measured distance. The system functions automatically each time the projection display is moved or repositioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,447 relates to an automatic digital convergence system including a pattern generator for generating pattern video signals to drive RGB tubes, and a TV camera which takes pictures of the screen. These pictures are digitized via an A/D converter, stored in a frame memory and then processed via a CPU for automatic registration adjustment in relation to each beam.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,815 is similar to the '447 patent in that it deals with the problem of automatic convergence correction of projected color images. The invention relates to a system for calculating converging angles of individual projector tubes and automatically determining correction data for deflection linearity, luminance and focusing.
None of the above-discussed prior art patents provide any description of a solution to the problem of optical resizing in pixellated panel projection systems.


A communication processing unit includes communication processing units which use different communication manners. A user interface unit receives input of information indicating a calling destination from a user. An information storage unit stores a person to contact and plural phone numbers of that person in association. When a person to contact is input to the user interface unit, a control unit acquires a phone number associated with the input person, and information indicating a communication manner to be used from the information storage unit, and controls the communication processing unit to make a call to the acquired phone number in the acquired communication manner. If the person to contact has plural phone numbers, the control unit controls the communication processing unit to make calls to these phone numbers in parallel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal apparatus, a communication method, and a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable terminals are widespread as a communication terminal apparatus. For example, in a case where someone wants to get in touch with a family member from outside the home, he/she first calls the land phone of the house and then calls the mobile hone of the family member if no one answers the call, or reversely, calls the mobile hone of the family member and then calls the land phone of the house if not connected to the family member. In this case, it is necessary to make calls plural times to plural destinations, requiring a long time to get in touch.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. H8-237742 discloses a scheme that enables a person, who uses a mobile phone which can be used anywhere, his/her home, his/her workplace, or outdoors, to be exempted from having to make calls plural times, wherever the mobile phone exists, the person's home, workplace, or outdoors. According to this scheme, a mobile phone terminal at the receiver side switches its communication modes among home use, business use, and outdoors use, for which different phone numbers are prepared, and notifies and registers the switched and now set communication mode to a mobile phone system control device connected to a public network. Then, when a phone call is made to the phone number of the communication mode that is not registered, the mobile phone system control device transfers the phone call to the phone number of the communication mode registered, so that the mobile phone terminal at the receiver side receives the phone call by the set communication mode.
In exchanging urgent information, it is crucial for both the calling side and the receiving side to be able to start a phone talk quickly. In this case, if the communication partner has phone numbers for plural destinations, it is often not possible to easily know the present whereabouts of the partner. Therefore, thinking which phone number of the partner to call to start a phone talk most effectively takes labor and extra minutes and imposes a great load on the user. Further, when the user fails in his/her prediction and cannot be connected to the partner, he/she has to again make a call to another phone number, causing a delay in making an urgent contact.
Further, according to the above-described prior art, in addition to the mobile phone terminal having a plurality of communication modes, the mobile phone system control device is necessary, additionally requiring costs for installation. Further, it is necessary to switch the communication modes of the mobile phone terminal according to where the terminal is used and notify the switching of the communication modes to the mobile phone system control device via a public network every time the modes are switched, requiring a lot of labor.

Communication terminal apparatus, communication method, and recording medium for establishing communications with a plurality of persons in a plurality of communication manners

Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.


A system for starting up a flowline suitable for conveying hydrocarbons is provided. The flowline is extended over the seabed from a wellhead and terminated at a joint end. The joint end is suitable for connection to a subsea riser extended in a catenary. The flowline is able to stretch and a lock fixes the joint end with respect to the seabed for maintaining the flowline in its stretched position, and preventing its return movement.

The present invention refers to a method and a system for starting up a flowline suitable for conveying hydrocarbons for offshore production.
According to previously known methods, the flowline, a rigid-type pipeline for example, is first extended over the seabed and connected to an oil production wellhead or to a multiplicity of wellheads and its joint end is then connected to the free end of a subsea riser extended in a catenary, which can itself be rigid. This subsea riser is intended for linking to a surface installation, such as a platform for example.
To make this connection, a known method involves connecting horizontally the subsea riser to the joint end of the flowline, essentially parallel to the seabed surface.
After making the connections, flowline start-up involves conveying hydrocarbon, which arrives at the wellhead, through the flowline and the subsea riser up to the surface installation.
The subsea riser is therefore placed completely on the seabed before making the connection using remote-controlled robots (Remotely Operated Vehicle or ROV), which position themselves either on the flowline for pulling the subsea riser with a cable or on the free end of the subsea riser for drawing it as far as the joint end of the flowline. The other end of the subsea riser is then raised up to the surface installation.
Such a method is notably illustrated in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,803. However, other known methods allow the same result to be achieved.
The subsea riser therefore has a free end, which is connected to said joint end of said flowline, a first section, which extends over the seabed from this free end and a rising section, which extends asymptotically, right below the surface installation. A so-called touch-down zone, which corresponds to a dynamic area of the riser, between the first section and the rising section is able to feature a touch-down point which, in turn, is pulled against the seabed, especially by surface installation movements.
The flow line, for its part, is able to deform longitudinally.
In a rigid pipeline, the hydrocarbon passing through the wellhead is, moreover, hot, which causes expansion and elongation of the flowline. In flexible flowlines, injection of fluid under pressure inside also causes their elongation.
The result of this is that movement of the joint end of the flowline and the first section of the subsea riser is produced over a distance of the order of 1 meter, for example 5 meters.
However, the hydrocarbon pressure is not necessarily constant throughout the flowline and, furthermore, supply to the flowline can cease either because of an incident or to allow performance of a maintenance operation at the wellhead.
There is therefore a drawback in dimensional variations of the flowline associated with heating or cooling of the flowline or a pressure variation, which can then cause not only friction of said first section of subsea riser on the seabed, which can be abrasive, but also variation in the radius of curvature of the subsea riser between this section and the rising section or even displacement of the touch-down point position on the pipeline. These drawbacks contribute to its damage in particular.
According to the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1A, the abovementioned drawbacks are overcome by connecting the riser to the flowline using a flexible pipe. This FIG. 1A shows a riser 1, which extends between a free end anchored in the seabed and a surface installation 2, and a flowline 3, whose joint end 4, also anchored, is connected to the riser 1 by a flexible pipe 5. A first section 6 of the riser 1 is moored to the blocks 7 outside the axis of the flowline 3 such that dimensional variations in the flowline 3 are compensated by deformation of the flexible pipe 5. The latter can, moreover, comprise a rigid U-shaped pipe member capable of deformation.
Implementation of such a system is uneconomical, given the different anchor points to be created.
A problem raised, which the present invention aims to solve, is to propose a method and system for starting up a flowline, which allows the service life of subsea risers to be prolonged by preventing their friction on the seabed and their deformation, at an advantageous cost.

Method and system for starting up a pipeline


A nearest neighbor phase correction technique is implemented to reduce image artifacts due to phase errors in data acquired in an EPI scan. Image quality for EPI applications, such as DWI, DTI, and fMRI, is improved.

The present invention relates generally to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and, more particularly, to a method of image artifact reduction using nearest-neighbor phase correction.
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, or "longitudinal magnetization", Mz, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A signal is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B1 is terminated and this signal may be received and processed to form an image.
When utilizing these signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (Gx, Gy, and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.
Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) is used for many MR imaging applications, including Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), because of its ability to rapidly acquire diagnostic images. Echo Planar Imaging relies upon bi-polar magnetic gradient fields to acquire MR data. More particularly, EPI is a rapid imaging technique that records an entire image in a repetition interval or TR period. An EPI pulse sequence is generally characterized by a 90° slice selective RF pulse that is applied in conjunction with a slice selection gradient. An initial phase encoding gradient pulse and an initial frequency encoding gradient pulse is used to position spins at a corner of k-space, the matrix that is used to define the relative position of acquired signals along a phase encoding and a frequency encoding direction. A 180° pulse is then applied. Typically, this 180° pulse is not slice selective. The phase and frequency encoding directions are then cycled using phase encoding and readout pulses so as to transverse k-space. In this regard, a frequency encoding gradient follows a phase encoding gradient to record a time signal. Another phase encoding gradient is then applied followed by a reverse polarity frequency gradient during which another time signal is recorded. This cycling continues until k-space is filled. Because k-space can be rapidly traversed in this fashion, images can be acquired at a rate tantamount to video rates, e.g. 15–30 images per second, or faster.
EPI has been successfully used for a number of clinical applications, and is particularly useful in studies involving the human brain. DWI and DTI are imaging sequences that can be used to obtain useful diagnostic information, e.g. localization of areas damaged by ischemia or hemorrhagic stroke, creation of anisotropic diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, enhanced anisotropic diffusion coefficient (eADC) maps, and tractography images.
Another important EPI application is fMRI of the brain. Brain fMRI is an imaging technique that relates functional activity occurring in specific locations of the brain to various stimuli, such as speech, motor functions, or visual stimulus. With fMRI it is possible to measure momentary increases in blood flow to specific thought or motor control centers that occur in response to a stimulus. For example, in response to movement of the right index finger, a rapid momentary increase in blood circulation of the specific part of the brain controlling finger movement occurs. Such an increase in blood circulation also yields an increase in oxygen which is paramagnetic and thus affects spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times of local brain tissues. These differences in relaxation times manifest themselves as variations in image contrast and can then be exploited with EPI to measure brain function.
A drawback of EPI is that phase errors that lead to image artifacts when not removed from the raw data may be introduced during data acquisition. EPI sequences use a single RF pulse followed by multiple data acquisition windows to encode multiple frames of MR data per RF excitation. While this speeds the rate of data collection, EPI data contains phase errors that result in "Nyquist" ghosting in the phase encoding direction. For a single-shot EPI data collection, Nyquist ghosting manifests itself as an artifact resembling the original image shifted and split in the phase direction.
A number of processes have been developed to correct for these phase errors. Known processes are predicated upon the acquisition of non-phase-encoded reference data, determining phase errors in the reference data, and correcting phase-encoded data based on the phase errors present in the reference data. While these processes have been fruitful in reducing phase errors in EPI, there still remains a need for further improvement in phase error reduction with EPI.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of correcting phase errors in EPI acquired MR data to reduce image artifacts in reconstructed images.

Method and system for image artifact reduction using nearest-neighbor phase correction for echo planar imaging


A 3D video system is disclosed. The 3D video system includes a frame rate converter that stores an input video signal in a rate conversion frame memory included in the frame rate converter, then reads and outputs the input video signal at a doubled clock rate, a signal format converter that converts a pixel sequence of the video signal output from the frame rate converter and outputs the converted video signal, a controller that outputs a timing signal based on the converted video signal, 3D glasses that transmit light alternately to left and right eyes, and switch the transmission of the light to the left and right eyes, based on the converted video signal and the outputted timing signal, and a spatial modulator that spatially modulates light emitted from a light source, based on the converted video signal. The 3D video system enables the modulated light to be viewed stereoscopically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus for spatially modulating light emitted from a light source and displaying the spatially modulated light on a screen, more particularly to an image display apparatus and method that enable a three-dimensional (3D) video signal to be displayed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the size of the screens of display apparatus has been increasing. Micro device displays, for example, have established a strong presence in the large-screen display market because their structure, in which light emitted from a light source is spatially modulated and projected through a projection lens onto a screen, facilitates increased screen area, and they take advantage of the excellent image display performance of the micro display devices used for spatial modulation, such as digital mirror devices (DMDs), high temperature polysilicon (HTPS) devices, and liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) devices.
The traditionally popular content displayed on large screens is movies and sports. Recently, however, there has been an increasing need for the display of three-dimensional video (3D video) such as three-dimensional movies and three-dimensional video games.
A known method of displaying three-dimensional video with a micro device display is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Tokuhyo Publication No. 2007-531473 (Published Japanese translation of PCT International Publication WO 2005/099279).
The method described in Japanese Tokuhyo Publication No. 2007-531473 is problematic in that light from the light source is sequentially filtered by a color filter wheel to obtain specific colors and three-dimensional glasses having left and right lenses that transmit light of different wavelengths are used to view the spatially modulated light, so the amount of light entering the observer's eyes is cut in half in comparison with the amount emitted from the light source; consequently, the picture is darkened.
In this method, the input video signal is separated into sub-frames for left-eye and right-eye images and the sub-frames are displayed sequentially. With this method, however, if the input video signal has the generally used rate of 60 Hz, the micro display device must switch and display the left-eye and right-eye images at a rate of at least 120 Hz. Since the response speeds of liquid crystal devices such as HTPS and LCOS devices are low, if the left-eye and right-eye images are switched at a high speed for 3D display, there is a possibility that residual images of a frame previously displayed may be seen, that is, crosstalk may occur.
The video signal displayed on the display has generally undergone picture quality enhancement processing, such as noise processing and edge enhancement, in order to compensate for noise arising in the signal transmission system and for reduction in resolution due to bandwidth restriction. However, there is a problem in that if the same uniform pixel-to-pixel filtering process as used for a two-dimensional video signal is carried out on a 3D video signal having left-eye and right-eye images in one frame of the input signal, unwanted filtering will be performed across the left and right image data, degrading the quality of the image when displayed as a 3D video picture.
When liquid crystal devices such as HTPS and LCOS devices are employed, overdrive processing is indispensable to improve motion response. There is also a problem in that when a video signal with a frame rate doubled due to sub-frame separation for three-dimensional display undergoes overdrive processing, a large bus bandwidth is required for frame memory access, increasing the cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A nitride semiconductor device of the present invention has a source-electrode-side insulator protection film layer disposed between a source electrode and a drain electrode on a second nitride semiconductor layer and formed at least partially covering the source electrode, a drain-electrode-side insulator protection film layer disposed separately from the source-electrode-side insulator protection film layer and formed at least partially covering the drain electrode, and a gate layer formed in contact with the second nitride semiconductor layer between the source-electrode-side insulator protection film layer and the drain-electrode-side insulator protection film layer and made of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, and the gate layer has regions opposite to the second nitride semiconductor layer across each of the source-electrode-side insulator protection film layer and the drain-electrode-side insulator protection film layer and a region in contact with the second nitride semiconductor layer.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a hetero-junction field effect transistor (HFET) described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-273486 (Patent Document 1).
An HFET 100 depicted in FIG. 10 has a nitride buffer layer 102, a first nitride semiconductor layer 103, and a second nitride semiconductor layer 104 formed in this order on a substrate 101.
The HFET 100 depicted in FIG. 10 also includes a source electrode 105, a gate layer 109, a gate electrode 110, and a drain electrode 106. The source electrode 105, the gate layer 109, and the drain electrode 106 are formed separately from each other on the second nitride semiconductor layer 104. The gate electrode 110 is formed on the gate layer 109. A material of the gate layer 209 is a p-type semiconductor layer.
In the HFET 100 depicted in FIG. 10, a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) generated in an interface between the second nitride semiconductor layer 104 and the first nitride semiconductor layer 103 acts as a channel.
The HFET desirably has a normally-off characteristic. As used herein, the "normally-off characteristic" refers to a state in which a thickness of a depletion layer immediately below a gate is sufficiently thick while no electron is present when the gate voltage is 0 V.
When a predetermined voltage is applied between the source electrode 105 and the drain electrode 106, electrons in the channel move from the source electrode 105 to the drain electrode 106. In this case, the "normally-off characteristic" means that no drain current flows when the gate voltage is 0 V, i.e., when no voltage is applied to the gate electrode 110.
A conventional nitride semiconductor device has the gate layer 109 made of a P-type semiconductor disposed as described above so as to acquire the normally-off characteristic. The P-type semiconductor depletes the electrons of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) immediately below the gate layer 109 to acquire the normally-off characteristic.
A nitride semiconductor device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-076845 (Patent Document 2) uses NiO as the P-type semiconductor.

Nitride semiconductor device and method for manufacturing nitride semiconductor device

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A convertible shipper container used for shipping and displaying packaged products. The shipper includes a top panel, a bottom panel and a partially open front side. The shipper additionally includes a first side including a first slot therethrough and a first portion of a separation strip included therein. The shipper further includes a back panel including a second portion of the separation strip included therein and a second side including a second slot therethrough and a third portion of the separation strip included therein.

All sorts of goods or products are shipped to retail outlets in shipper containers constructed to hold a plurality of individual units, i.e. goods, packages or boxes. Such shipper containers hold the units firmly in place and protect the units from being damaged during shipping. Typically, to present the units at the point of sale, the individual units are removed from the shipper container and transferred to a shelf or separate display container. This involves the manual removing of each unit from the shipper container and placing it on the shelf or display container. To reduce the extra handling involved and the extra display containers required, at least one known shipper container also serves as a display container.
Generally, transforming the shipper container into a display container involves the removal of a portion of the container to expose the contents enclosed. One such shipper container comprises a two piece container having a body and lid. This two piece design is labor intensive to manufacture, uses excessive material and typically requires some mechanism to hold the lid on the body during shipping, for example a strap or tie wrap. Other such shipper containers comprise containers having a piece of separation tape included or embedded that is torn from the container to separate the container into two sections or containers having a tear strip that is torn away to separate the container into two sections. Although these types of shipper containers can be converted to display containers, the edges of the display containers generally have rough, unfinished, jagged, and uneven surfaces that are somewhat unsightly and do not provide the appeal of a neat, clean and presentable display.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a convertible shipper container that can be fabricated efficiently, economically and which can be converted into display container having a neat, clean appearance.


A comb has a plurality of prongs each having two prong parts movable relative to one another between an open position in which hair can engage between them and a closed position in which the hair are clamped between them, a user-actuated element for moving the prong parts to one of the positions, and an automatic returning element for returning the prong part to an initial position.

The present invention relates to combs which are provided as usual with a plurality of elongated prongs with gaps therebetween for combing hair.
Combs of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. Some of the combs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,230,134, 4,345,608, 4,487,211, 4,502,498, 4,520,565. It is desirable to further improve existing combs, and in particular to design such combs which will allow clamping and releasing of substantial quantity of hair.


A decorative sock and method of using the same is provided whereby a series of bangle-like objects are affixed to streamers depending from the down turned cuff of the sock. During walking or dancing the objects collide to generate a pleasant sound which will draw attention to the wearer. Young girls are particularly interested in the decorative and attractive qualities of the sock.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein pertains to decorative apparel and particularly for ornate socks of the dress variety which are worn by young girls for dancing and other occasions.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention
In recent years cosmetics, hair styling and clothing have become exceedingly important to teenage and younger girls. Many decorated and colorful garments are now commercially available and the present invention yet adds another dimension for the style conscious young lady. Thus, with much added emphasis on personal appearance and attractiveness of late, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a sock having a cuff which is pleasing in appearance and is decorative.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a sock for wear with a downwardly turned cuff with a plurality of crocheted streamers suspended therefrom.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a sock which includes a series of colorful bangles which can be audibly recognized as a result of the wearer's movement.
It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a method for generating sounds utilizing the suspended bangles such as in a dance step or in other activities.
Various other ojectives and advantages of the present invention become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed presentation is set forth below.