A method includes changing a read reference level for reading a group of memory cells as a function of changes in a threshold voltage distribution of a different group of memory cells. The changing step includes determining a history read reference level of a group of history cells associated with a group of memory cells of a non-volatile memory cell array, allowing correct reading of the group of history cells, selecting a memory read reference level according to the first read reference level, and reading the non-volatile memory array cells.

Dual bit memory cells are known in the art. One such memory cell is the NROM (nitride read only memory) cell 10, shown in FIG. 1 to which reference is now made, which stores two bits 12 and 14 in a nitride based layer 16 sandwiched between a conductive layer 18 and a channel 20. NROM cells are described in many patents, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,972, assigned to the common assignees of the present invention, whose disclosure is incorporated herein.
Bits 12 and 14 are individually accessible, and thus, may be programmed (conventionally noted as a '0'), erased (conventionally noted as a '1') or read separately. Reading a bit (12 or 14) involves determining if a threshold voltage Vt, as seen when reading the particular bit, is above (programmed) or below (erased) a read reference voltage level RD.
FIG. 2, to which reference is now made, illustrates the distribution of programmed and erased states of a memory chip (which typically has a large multiplicity of NROM cells formed into a memory array) as a function of threshold voltage Vt. An erased bit is one whose threshold voltage has been reduced below an erase threshold voltage EV. Thus, an erase distribution 30 has typically its rightmost point in the vicinity of (and preferably at or below) the erase threshold voltage EV. Similarly, a programmed bit is one whose threshold voltage has been increased above a program threshold voltage PV. Thus, a programmed distribution 32 has typically its leftmost point in the vicinity of (and preferably at or above) the program threshold voltage PV.
The difference between the two threshold voltages PV and EV is a window W0 of operation. Read reference voltage level RD is typically placed within window W0 and can be generated, as an example, from a read reference cell. The read reference cell is usually, but not necessarily, in a non-native state, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,204, assigned to the common assignee of the present invention, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. In such case, the threshold voltage of read reference cell may be at the RD level in FIG. 2.
The signal from the bit being read is then compared with a comparison circuit (e.g. a differential sense amplifier) to the signal generated by the read reference level, and the result should determine if the array cell is in a programmed or erased state. Alternatively, instead of using a reference cell, the read reference signal can be an independently generated voltage or a current signal. Other methods to generate a read reference signal are known in the art.
Since the sensing scheme circuitry may not be perfect, and its characteristics may vary at different operating and environmental conditions, margins M0 and M1 are typically required to correctly read a '0' and a '1', respectively. As long as the programmed and erased distributions are beyond these margins, reliable reads may be achieved.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Method for reading non-volatile memory cells


The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses that enable an apparatus to identify sounds from short samples of audio. The apparatus may capture an audio sample and create several audio signals of different lengths, each containing audio from the captured audio sample. The apparatus my process the several audio signals in an attempt to identify features of the audio signal that indicate an identification of the captured sound. Because shorter audio samples can be analyzed more quickly, the system may first process the shortest audio samples in order to quickly identify features of the audio signal. Because longer audio samples contain more information, the system may be able to more accurately identify features in the audio signal in longer audio samples. However, analyzing longer audio signals takes more buffered audio than identifying features in shorter signals. Therefore, the present system attempts to identify features in the shortest audio signals first.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A vehicle could be any wheeled, powered vehicle and may include a car, truck, motorcycle, bus, etc. Vehicles can be utilized for various tasks such as transportation of people and goods, as well as many other uses.
Some vehicles may be partially or fully autonomous. For instance, when a vehicle is in an autonomous mode, some or all of the driving aspects of vehicle operation can be handled by a vehicle control system. In such cases, computing devices located onboard and/or in a server network could be operable to carry out functions such as planning a driving route, sensing aspects of the vehicle, sensing the environment of the vehicle, and controlling drive components such as steering, throttle, and brake. Thus, autonomous vehicles may reduce or eliminate the need for human interaction in various aspects of vehicle operation.

Method for siren detection based on audio samples


A method and device are provided for dynamic flash combustion reaction connected with gas chromatography for the elemental analysis of C H N S O in an automatic elemental analyzer. A combustion reactor is provided with a sampling device and an oxygen feed line. Controlled volumes of oxygen are admitted with the oxygen feed line into the combustion reactor depending on the sample for the complete combustion thereof. A pneumatic circuit is provided, in which the oxygen feed line converges and the pneumatic circuit creates a continuous flow of a carrier gas that is able to carry the oxygen to the reactor and the gases of the combustion through the reactor, then through a gas chromatographic analyzer, and after their separation, into a thermal conductivity detector. An electronic apparatus with a data processor is provided for controlling the process systems. The difference in the pressure of the gas upstream and downstream of a restrictor or restriction is determined. The electronic pressure regulator or flow regulator of the reference carrier gas and at least one carrier gas outlet valve, which is also used as purging, is inserted on this carrier gas reference line.

Automatic elemental analyzers are based on the principle of dynamic flash combustion of a sample followed by the elimination of the excess oxygen, the separation of the gases produced by the combustion, the passage of the gases produced through the packed column of a gas chromatographic column and subsequent quantitative determination with a thermal conductivity detector.
The accuracy and reproducibility of the elemental analysis is dependent on a number of factors, one of which is the completeness of the Combustion process. A minimum quantity of Oxygen is necessary to ensure complete combustion. The minimum quantity of Oxygen required depends on the nature of the sample matrix, the sample weight and the adjuvant to the combustion itself. The use of a large excess of Oxygen favors the completeness of the combustion process but results in undesirable consequences such as reduction in the lifetime of the expensive catalysts used in the elimination of the excess Oxygen downstream of the combustion, and an increase in the downtime of the instrument.
Furthermore, the optimization of the combustion process also relies on the capability to control the duration of the Oxygen admission. For identical Oxygen volume requirements, some sample matrices require a very sharp and short injection time, whilst others require that the Oxygen be administered at a slower rate.
The commercially available devices, to date, are based on the admission of fixed volumes of Oxygen from reservoirs of defined volumes, swept by a carrier gas. Whenever different volumes of Oxygen are required, the reservoirs must be manually exchanged, thus making the optimization of the oxygen quantity, labor intensive. Additionally none of these devices have the capability to control the rate of the Oxygen admission. These devices rely on the admission of a significant excess of Oxygen in order to endeavor to achieve complete combustion, however, even with a large excess of Oxygen, complete combustion is not necessarily achieved.
A recent application of the same applicant (Italian Patent Application BS97A000033) describes an arrangement which provides a facility to admit varying quantities of Oxygen. An Oxygen flow maintained constant by a mass flow controller is allowed to pass into the combustion chamber of the system, for periods of time which can be defined by the operator. In this arrangement, the admission of Oxygen occurs whilst the flow of carrier gas is interrupted. The flow of carrier gas is restored after the admission of Oxygen, hence these two gases flow alternately in the carrier line.

Method and devices for improving the dynamic flash combustion reaction connected with gas chromatography for the elemental analysis of C H N S O


An implantable medical device includes a sensor for sensing a first signal in a patient, detection circuitry for receiving the first signal, determining a parameter therefrom, and detecting a first event in response to the parameter. The device further includes control circuitry configured to receive a second signal corresponding to a second event and to determine a threshold from the stored parameter in response to receiving the second event signal. The detection circuitry detects the first event in response to the parameter crossing the determined threshold.

Implantable medical devices are available for monitoring physiological signals of a patient. Physiological signals may be analyzed by the device for automatically detecting an adverse physiological condition or event. The physiological monitoring may be used by the device for controlling automatic delivery of a therapy, such as an electrical stimulation therapy or a drug therapy. The medical device may be provided with a patient alarm for notifying the patient of the presence of the detected physiological event or condition. The patient may then take appropriate action, such as seeking medical attention, as previously advised by a clinician. Typically a threshold value is defined, which when crossed by a monitored physiological parameter triggers the patient alarm. The threshold for triggering an alarm may be set to a nominal value or a value derived from clinical data relating to a selected patient population. The threshold may not be individualized for a particular patient, potentially resulting in the triggering of false alarms. Such false alarms are inconvenient both to the patient and the treating physician. Accordingly, a method and apparatus are needed for setting an appropriate threshold for individual patients for detecting a physiological condition and triggering a patient alarm.

Event registration for automatic threshold setting


A method includes generating a first modulated continuous wave from a generating location; transmitting the first modulated continuous wave to an object positioned at a distance from the generating location; generating a second modulated continuous wave from the generating location, wherein the second modulated continuous wave is generated at a predetermined time that is different from a predetermined time at which the first modulated continuous wave is generated; receiving, at a mixer, the first modulated continuous wave from the object; receiving, at the mixer, the second modulated continuous wave from the generating location; mixing the received first modulated continuous wave with the second modulated continuous wave to produce a beat signal to determine a range of the object from the generating location; and outputting the determined range of the object from the generating location.

The exemplary embodiments described herein relate generally to radar systems and, more specifically, to a radar system capable of detecting an object at different ranges.
A state of the art radar system generally uses a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) generator. In such a system, a waveform is transmitted, and a received signal is mixed with the transmitted signal. The system analyzes the frequency spectrum, with each peak of the spectrum representing a frequency difference (F-beat) and therefore the distance of the object from the transceiver. This system and its associated methods find use in mid- and long-range radar applications where the distance is substantial and therefore the frequency of the received signal is clear and accurate. In such a system, range resolution is defined by the bandwidth used, which also defines the minimum detectability of an object.
Radar systems have been developed for autonomous driving and for other applications in which radar is used at short range. Various approaches to improve radar performance for short-range applications include the use of wider bandwidth, sometimes as wide as 7 gigahertz (GHz), with faster sweep time at high frequency (for example, in the 122 GHz range). Some use digital waveform, such as a Pseudo Random Binary Sequence (PRBS), and super-fast digital pipeline using multi-channel state-of-art Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs). Drawbacks of such approaches, however, are that wider bandwidths and faster sweep times limit the number of devices that can be used simultaneously due to the need for extra computation, power consumption, and the use of state-of-art hardware.
Mid- and long range radar systems pose additional challenges, as the F-beat is high and therefore requires more computation. In such systems, this is mitigated by the use of a long waveform, which reduces the frequency and computation requirements. However, this results in slower than possible radar readings.

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate having two main surfaces; and an active layer forming part, which is made of a compound semiconductor material, formed on one of the main surfaces, and includes an active layer. A plurality of holes, which pass through the active layer, are formed from the upper surface of the active layer forming part; a plurality of hollow parts, each of which corresponds to each hole, are provided between the active layer and the substrate; and the area of each hollow part is larger than that of the corresponding hole in plan view, and spreads on the lower surface of the active layer forming part, so as to expose a part of the lower surface of the active layer forming part, which overlaps the hollow part in plan view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device using a nitride compound semiconductor, and to a manufacturing method thereof.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-327294, filed Dec. 4, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in various technical fields, techniques using light have been commonly used, and semiconductor light-emitting devices such as a GaN-type blue LED have been used as a device for emitting light.
Although such semiconductor light-emitting devices may use a light-transmitting substrate such as a substrate made of sapphire or silicon carbide, a silicon (Si) substrate may be used in consideration of cost reduction. However, silicon substrates do not transmit light. Therefore, light, which is emitted from an active layer and reaches a silicon substrate, does not pass through the silicon substrate, and is absorbed as heat or the like.
As a result, among the light emitted from the active layer, a light element, which is directed upward (i.e., to the side opposite to the silicon substrate), can be extracted, but a light element, which is directed downward (i.e., toward the silicon substrate), is absorbed as described above, and thus cannot be extracted.
Therefore, when using a silicon substrate, the output signal has a power of only ¼ to ⅕ of that obtained when using a light-transmitting substrate.
In consideration of such a problem, a structure has been disclosed, which has a substrate and a light-emitting part provided on one of main surfaces of the substrate, wherein a recessed part is provided in at least a part of the one of the main surfaces, an electrically conductive layer is provided in the recessed part, and light emitted from the light-emitting part is reflected by the conductive layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-237467). In accordance with the disclosed structure, as the light emitted from the light-emitting part is reflected by the conductive layer, it is possible to reduce a light element absorbed by the silicon substrate. Additionally, as the reflected light is directed upward, it is possible to improve light extraction efficiency on the upper side.
In accordance with the diagram showing the structure of the semiconductor light-emitting device in Patent Document 1, the distance between the center part of the active layer and the conductive layer provided in the recessed part in the horizontal direction seems not so large. However, the actual sectional structure of the semiconductor light-emitting device has a thin-sheet form. Therefore, in comparison with the route of light which is directly directed upward, the route from the center part of the active layer to the conductive layer (provided on a side of the active layer) is very large in plan view.
Therefore, in the above conventional semiconductor light-emitting device, light, emitted from the center part of the active layer to the side thereof; may be consumed as heat before it reaches the conductive layer (for reflecting the light upward) in the recessed part, that is, during the traveling toward the conductive layer.
Also in the above conventional semiconductor light-emitting device, when light is reflected in the recessed part, a part of the optical energy of the light is absorbed at a boundary between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate, and the absorbed energy is transformed into heat.
Additionally, with respect to the semiconductor light-emitting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when filling a recessed part (provided in at least a part of one of main surfaces of the silicon substrate) with a conductive layer, the material for the conductive layer should have (i) a relatively excellent adhesion with respect to the silicon substrate, and (ii) a higher reflectance in comparison with the surface of the silicon substrate. In addition, an embedding process for filling the recessed part with the conductive layer is also necessary. Therefore, the total manufacturing cost is increased.

Semiconductor light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof


An arrangement structure of an electric junction box is provided, by which damage of the electric junction box in the event of a collision of a vehicle can be reduced and a plurality of electric wires can be easily connected to the electric junction box with good workability. The arrangement structure includes: a high voltage battery; a battery pack for receiving the battery, the battery pack being mounted on a vehicle; and an electric junction box arranged in the battery pack, the electric junction box being connected to the battery, wherein on the assumption that a collision takes place on the battery pack-mounting side of the vehicle, the electric junction box is arranged on the side of a wall of the battery pack, the wall being situated on the side opposite to the collision side of the vehicle.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of an electric junction box, in which the electric junction box is arranged in a battery pack mounted on an electric vehicle and electric wires are arranged from the electric junction box to an inverter and so on.
(2) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional arrangement structure of an electric junction box (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-277840; pages 4-5 and FIG. 1).
In this conventional arrangement structure, an electric junction box 72, inverter 73 for driving a motor, motor controller 74 and DC/DC converter 75 are arranged in an electric box 71, and the electric junction box 72, inverter 73 for driving a motor and DC/DC converter 75 are connected to each other by an electric harness 76 and connector 77.
A direct current power is supplied from a battery to the electric junction box 72 through an electric connector 78, then on the basis of a command from the motor controller 74 a direct current power from the battery is converted to an alternating current power by the inverter 73 so as to drive the motor and then, a direct current power from the electric junction box 72 is reduced by the DC/DC converter 75 and supplied to an electric instrument with an output harness 79.
The electric box 71 is placed on the front of a vehicle while the battery is placed on the rear of the vehicle. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 80 and 81 denote insulating casing, 82 a power transistor, and 83 a passage for cooling water.
FIG. 5 shows another example of a conventional arrangement structure of an electric junction box.
In this conventional arrangement structure, an electric junction box 85 is placed in a battery pack 84 made of metal mounted on the rear of an electric vehicle (including a hybrid vehicle), then each electric wire 86 is guided out from the electric junction box 85 penetrating through outer walls 84a-84c of the battery pack 84.
The electric junction box 85 is placed in a space 87 situated on one side in the battery pack 84 and the battery 88 is placed adjacent to the electric junction box 85 in the battery pack 84. The longitudinal direction of the battery pack 84 is parallel to the width direction of the vehicle. The battery pack 84 stably fixes the battery 88 and the electric junction box 85, that is, the battery 88 and the electric junction box 85 are fixed to a vehicle body by means of the battery pack 84.
An electric wire 89 continuing to an anode (i.e. plus electrode) of the battery 88 and an electric wire 90 continuing to a cathode (i.e. minus electrode) of the battery 88 are connected to the electric junction box 85, then a relay 91 of an anode and a relay 92 of a cathode for high voltage mounted on the electric junction box 85 are connected to the electric wires 89 and 90, so that the respective electric wires 86 of the anode and cathode advance toward the inverter from the electric junction box 85, the electric wire 86 for driving the relay and the electric wire 86 for an AC 100V conversion are guided out in three directions.
However, in the conventional arrangement structure (FIG. 5) of the electric junction box 85, in the event that the vehicle is brought into a collision (above all, into a rear-end collision), the electric junction box 85 is affected with a great damage in the battery pack 84 so that the relays 91 and 92 of high voltage, parts such as fuses and high voltage circuit mounted on the electric junction box 85 might be brought into a trouble such as a short circuit.
Moreover, since a plurality of the electric wires 86 are guided out into a plurality of directions from the electric junction box 85, the outer walls 84a-84c of the battery pack 84 must be provided with notched holes for guiding out the electric wire therethrough, causing deterioration in the collision strength of the battery pack 84. Furthermore, since the respective electric wires 86 must be connected through a connector and terminal mount in a multi-directions of the electric junction box 85, resulting in that the connection work needs a lot of time. Since the electric wires 86 must be protected with a vinyl tube or the like per several electric wires, resulting in that the mounting of the protection tubes needs a lot of time. Since the electric wires 86 must be separately arranged per several electric wires, resulting in that the arrangement work needs a lot of time.

Arrangement structure of electric junction box


In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of diagnosing sepsis or a virus-related infection (often a viral hemorrhagic fever infection) in a subject by detecting and measuring the level of a set of sepsis and virus infection-associated-GTPase biomarkers in a sample obtained from the subject using multiplexed flow cytometry. Related kits are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides point of care diagnostic methods for determining an early stage sepsis or the severity of a virus infection, especially in a hospital or other setting.

The Ras superfamily of small GTPases is comprised of five major groups: Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf and Ran that regulate many aspects of cell behavior. The Ras (e.g. H-Ras, K-Ras, R-Ras and Rap 1) and Rho subfamily (e.g. Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA) of GTPases synergistically regulate signaling pathways that originate from extracellular stimuli, to yield overlapping sets of cellular phenotypes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and remodeling of the cytoskeleton. The GTPases function by cycling between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states. Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide-dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) (Guilluy et al., 2011; Jaffe and Hall, 2005) control the activity of the GTPases. GEFs activate Rho proteins by catalyzing the exchange of GDP for GTP, while GAPs inactivate the proteins by stimulating intrinsic GTPase activity. GDI inhibits the activation of Rho GTPases by sequestering them in the cytosol away from membranes. Activated GTPases interact with specific downstream-effector proteins to yield definite physiological responses in response to the upstream stimuli. Ras and Rho family GTPases function as components of a broader signaling network and are interconnected across overlapping signaling pathways that involve positive and negative feedback loops.
The superfamily of GTPases has numerous cellular effects that are dysregulated in disease. Ras (35 members) primarily involved in signaling and cancer. Rho (23 members) GTPases are primarily involved in cell motility, infection and cancer among others. Rab (70 members) GTPases are primarily involved in intracellular transport, cancer, infectious disease, genetic disease and downstream growth factor signaling Ran (1 member) nuclear import, cellular differentiation, Arf (30 members) intracellular transport, infectious disease, human ciliopathies and retinopathies. The dysregulation of these systems can be measured as an increase in the enrichment of active GTPases caused by factors in patient samples. Active GTPases preferentially bind to specific cognate effector molecules that are immobilized on beads, thus providing evidence as to the dysregulation of the systems involved.
The interactions of viruses and host cells is known to elicit the activation of multiple GTPases to promote the cytoskeletal remodeling required for breaching inter- and intracellular cellular barriers to infection as well as intracellular trafficking of internalized virions to allow replication. Most studies investigating the role of GTPases in viral interactions with host cells use traditional methods of active GTPase pull-down and detection by Western blot, which are slow, labor intensive and require large amounts of starting material. Newer, commercially available plate-based effector binding assays for detecting activated GTPases known as GLISA (Cytoskeleton, Inc.) require less material than western blot based assays, yet are still labor intensive; requiring freezing of aliquots, protein assays to ensure linearity and numerous binding and washing steps. Accordingly, most studies tend to focus on a limited subset of GTPases, which presents significant limitations when one wants to examine the broader spectrum of cell signaling space impinged upon by viral activity. Based on these considerations, we have developed a rapid, and quantitative flow cytometry-compatible, bead-based effector binding assay to analyze, in parallel, multiple GTPases that are activated in a single virus-infected cell sample.
Sepsis is a disease that now affects more than 900,000 patients with an estimated mortality rate of 30% in the US.22-25A Annual costs are estimated to exceed $20 billion.26A Severe trauma patients who survive the initial injury are at risk of developing sepsis syndrome and multiple organ failure.24A, 25A, 27A Systemic microvascular leakage, most likely due to the release of inflammatory, coagulation and fibrinolysis factors, is a signature of sepsis in trauma patients.22A An improved understanding of the clinical mechanisms of sepsis, including the roles of pathogens, sites of injury and patient heterogeneity, is urgently needed to enable better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.22A The goal of this project is to address the need for timely and accurate differential diagnosis of sepsis and SIRS due to sterile inflammation. The pathophysiology of sepsis involves nearly all cell types, tissues, and organ systems, and has so far been associated with about 180 distinct potential biological markers.4-8A These markers are organized as follows: vasoactive amines, vasoactive peptides, fragments of complement components, lipid mediators, cytokines, chemokines, and proteolytic enzymes involved in the coagulation and fibrinolytic system.9A This level of heterogeneity continues to confound efforts to discover universally applicable models.
A heterogeneous patient population and a diverse ensemble of pathogenic bacteria highlight a cardinal problem in defining the pathogenesis of sepsis.1-3A So far, about 180 potential biological markers of sepsis are known.4-8A Their broad-spectrum applicability to sepsis and other pathologies has limited their early diagnostic utility.9A New approaches accounting for the complexity of the inflammatory response and changes that occur during the course of sepsis are needed.
Small GTPases and their regulators, as they actuate and fine-tune pivotal molecular pathways, constitute vulnerable nodes of the cell. Their activities are associated with a a diverse range of biological functionality in health and disease, such as cancer[1-3], cardiovascular diseases or developmental diseases [6], and infections [4,5] In disease, GTPAse signalng pathways are diverted during the onset or progression of the disease, and disorders in which the expression, regulation, or function of regulators is directly impaired by mutations. These include congenital diseases in which GTPase regulators carry missense mutations that impair their biochemical properties, and infections in which pathogens have created new regulators of their own to take command of host pathways. For some of these diseases, understanding the biochemical basis may help in discovering pharmaceuticals to correct these defects. Through evolution, bacterial pathogens ha % e evolved a batter of toxins and virulence factors that target small GTPases that attenuate GTPases functions, in order to facilitate host entry and dissemination.    1. Vega. F. M.; Ridley, A. J. Rho gtpases in cancer cell biology. FEBS letters 2008, 582, 2093-2101.    2. Iden, S.; Collard, J. G. Crosstalk between small gtpases and polarity proteins in cell polarization. Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology 2008, 9, 846-859.    3. Agola, J.; Jim, P.; Ward, H, Basuray, S.; Wandinger-Ness, A. Rab gtpases as regulators of endocytosis, targets of disease and therapeutic opportunities. Clinical genetics 2012.    4. Lemichez, E.; Aktories, K. Hijacking of rho gtpases during bacterial infection. Experimental cell research 2013, 319, 2329-2336.    5. Aktories, K.; Schmidt, G. A new turn in rho gtpase activation by Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factors. Trends in microbiology 2003, 11, 152-155.    6. Cherfils, J.; Zeghouf, M. Regulation of small gtpases by gefs, gaps, and gdis. Physiological reviews 2013, 93, 269-309.

Activated GTPase-based assays and kits for the diagnosis of sepsis and other infections


The invention describes a method to facilitate the use of low-sensitivity monitoring equipment for detecting and monitoring defects on the surface of semiconductor wafers. The method includes the use of a hydrofluoric acid solution for increasing the dimensions of a defect and the application of a thin-film layer of a metal, such as titanium, for improving the appearance of the defect such that the defect dimensions increase to above 0.1 nanometer, the detection threshold for economical low-sensitivity monitoring equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor processing and, more particularly, to the monitoring and detection of defects in connection with the fabrication of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the semiconductor industry an important consideration is the yield as a percentage of tested acceptable chips per wafer. This percentage is directly related to the profitability of the manufacturer. One factor influencing the yield is the quality of the raw material, including the density of surface defects (number per cm2). Another factor is the number of surface defects introduced by the manufacturing process (including chemical and mechanical polishing).
Surface defects need to be made visible to assess further treatment for ideally eliminating the defects. The sizes of these defects can be in the range below 0.1 nanometer or 1,000 angstroms (Å). For the detection and monitoring of defects below 0.1 nanometer, high-sensitivity, expensive monitoring equipment may be needed which for example may be more suited for laboratory rather than production applications. It would be desirable to be able to detect defects sized below 0.1 nanometer with commonly used low-sensitivity monitoring equipment.

Monitoring semiconductor wafer defects below one nanometer


Systems and methods for implementing a centralized customizable operating solution. The system comprises: a central server module that is in communication with a plurality of input modules and a plurality of execution modules, wherein each input module is configured to accept inputs from a user relating to customized operations associated with the user; wherein the central server module is configured to: generate corresponding outputs based on the accepted inputs; and transmit each output to a relevant execution module for execution of the output.

In many fields of customer service, customers interact with computers in a variety of ways because businesses that provide customer services rely more and more on the interface between customers and computers, and to save costs it has become crucial for many businesses to find ways to facilitate this interaction. There are a wide range and variety of applications designed for handheld computers that use graphical user interfaces (GUI) and voice user interfaces (VUI) and other voice dialogue recognition and synthesizing systems, allowing for customers to engage and communicate wirelessly in many ways destined to evolve further, contributing to the evolution and progress in customer and computer interaction, resulting in a creative service orientated intelligent adaptive interface rather than command and action based, leading to customers to be more active rather than passive. Established customer interactions with computers are based on an archetypal structure and feedback loops, providing for a plurality of information and instruction flows between a customer and a system installed in a computer. For example, a customer has a goal and acts with the intent to achieve the intended goal through a computer that provides for a customer friendly environment under which a customer hopes to achieve the intended goal.
Currently available point of sales (POS) and customer relation management (CRM) systems that are used in the hospitality and restaurant industry still constrains customers choices to a plurality of pre-composed menu items with limited options to fully accommodate customers' requirements, needs, and preferences. As a result, operators are handicapped by such inflexible systems, and customers are inclined to make choices customers would not make if there was a more comprehensive menu solution available to them. Existing POS and CRM systems offer some flexibility, but do not allow customers to comprehensively influence and customize ingredient selection for menu items, or the creation of own menu items to meet a customer's own budgets, health concerns, ingredient preferences, and other personal lifestyle choices, and customers are still required to rely on the presumed skill of service staff within a restaurant, or the willingness of the operator to address all customer's wishes and concerns, especially allergies and diabetic concerns, and personal lifestyles and ingredient preferences. Even when visiting chain restaurants, customers also find themselves again and again to repeat wishes, needs, preferences, and concerns because there is no service platform available today that allows for the sharing of a customer's wishes, needs, preferences, and concerns between said chain restaurants.
A need therefore exists to provide systems and methods for implementing a centralized customizable operating solution.

System and method for implementing a centralized customizable operating solution


An information processing apparatus, which can be connected to a print device which has a function of saving a print job and combining a plurality of saved print jobs, spools an accepted print job. The apparatus adds first identification information indicating a print job to be combined to the print job to be combined of a plurality of spooled print jobs. The apparatus transmits the print job added with the first identification information to the print device as a save job to be saved on the print device side. The apparatus designates the print device to combine save jobs added with the first identification information. By designating to print the combined save job according to the combining designation, an interrupt of another print job is prevented in print processing of a plurality of print jobs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and print device control method and, more particularly, to control of a print job.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the development of networking in recent years, an environment in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected on a network sharing a printer on that network is becoming increasingly popular. In such environment in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share a printer, these information processing apparatuses issue print requests and the like to one printer. When a single printer accepts print requests from a plurality of information processing apparatuses and executes copy operations, discharged printed materials are mixed with those of other users, and as a result, printed materials may be lost.
Some proposals have been made to solve such problem. As one of such proposals, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-134261 proposes a method which spools accepted print jobs, combines a plurality of spooled print jobs into one print job, and sends the combined print job to the printer side to form images. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-027492 proposes a method which allows the user to designate files to be printed and their print order at an operation unit upon printing stored image data, and processes a plurality of files set by the user as a series of image groups which have a sequence in the setting order.
The above two methods handle a plurality of print jobs as one print job, and can prevent the results of these print jobs from getting mixed up upon discharge.
However, since the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-134261 must combine jobs before transmission to the printer and then transmit a combined job to the printer, the load on the information processing apparatus side and that on the network become heavier. Also, the method of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-027492 requires much labor of the user, since the user must designate files and their print order at the operation unit. Furthermore, when the user forgets to designate a given file, a required file cannot be printed in some cases.

Information processing apparatus and print device control method


A conveyor chain with a universal coupling joint connecting consecutive chain links. The joint includes a joint member unitarily molded with a first link body engaged by a separately formed joint element insertable into a second adjacent link body to link the two link bodies at the joint. The insertable joint element may be made of a different material from the link body. The joint member has a convex or concave spherical bearing surface that engages a complementary concave or convex bearing surface on the joint element for universal pivoting.

The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to conveyor links coupled together in series at universal joints into a linked chain.
Conveyor chains constructed of a series of connected links are used to convey articles, often in single file, through a plant. In the food processing industry, chain links are often molded out of plastic materials, which offer many advantages in sanitation over metal chain links. In some applications, a chain conveys articles horizontally in a straight line. The joints between consecutive links of a straight-running chain need to pivot only about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of chain travel so that the chain can backbend and articulate about drive sprockets. In other applications, a chain must negotiate turns to one side or the other. In these applications, the chain must be able to rotate about a vertical axis, too. But other applications require that a chain be made to twist about an axis in the direction of chain travel. A universal joint between adjacent chain links gives the chain three degrees of freedom to rotate between consecutive links.
But there are problems associated with universal joints in conveyor chains. Rubbing contact between bearing surfaces at the joints, especially between like materials, can cause the chain to squeak annoyingly. Furthermore, the constant motion between the bearing surfaces can cause premature or uneven wear of the links, requiring their replacement.
Thus, there is a need for a conveyor link chain with a universal joint that runs quietly and offers a longer wear life.

Conveyor link chain with universal coupling joint


Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of reducing the amount of protrusion of a write shield layer, thereby preventing a collision with a recording medium, and thereby ensuring a recording operation with stability. A heat sink layer is disposed on the leading side of a thin film coil in order to dissipate heat produced by the thin film coil. When the thin film coil produces heat during the recording of information, priority is given to the guidance of the heat to the leading side of the thin film coil, namely, the side opposite to the position of the write shield layer, rather than the guidance of the heat to the trailing side of the thin film coil, namely, the position of the write shield layer, so as to dissipate the heat. Thus, the thin film magnetic head reduces the likelihood of the heat accumulating in the write shield layer, thus reduces the likelihood of the write shield layer expanding thermally, and thus reduces the amount of protrusion of the write shield layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a thin film magnetic head including an inductive magnetic transducer for use in at least recording, and a magnetic recording apparatus equipped with a thin film magnetic head.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an improvement in performance of a thin film magnetic head mounted on a magnetic recording apparatus (e.g., a hard disk drive) has been sought in accordance with an increase in a surface recording density of a magnetic recording medium (e.g., a hard disk). A longitudinal recording type and a perpendicular recording type, for example, are known as the recording types of the thin film magnetic head. The longitudinal recording type is designed to orient a signal magnetic field in the in-plane direction of the hard disk (i.e., the longitudinal direction thereof). The perpendicular recording type is designed to orient a signal magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the hard disk. Although the longitudinal recording type is widely used at present, the perpendicular recording type rather than the longitudinal recording type can be regarded as promising in the future, taking into account market trends incident to an increase in the surface recording density of the hard disk. The reason is as follows. The perpendicular recording type can obtain the advantage that the hard disk having information recorded thereon is less susceptible to thermal fluctuations, as well as the advantage of being capable of ensuring a high linear recording density.
The thin film magnetic head of the perpendicular recording type includes a thin film coil which generates a magnetic flux; a magnetic pole layer which emits to the hard disk the magnetic flux generated by the thin film coil, the magnetic pole layer being located on the leading side of the thin film coil and extending rearward from an air bearing surface; and a write shield layer which prevents divergence of the magnetic flux emitted from the magnetic pole layer, the write shield layer being located on the trailing side of the thin film coil and extending rearward from the air bearing surface. This thin film magnetic head performs a recording operation in the following manner. A current is fed through the thin film coil so that the thin film coil generates a magnetic flux for recording. Then, the magnetic pole layer emits the magnetic flux to the hard disk. The magnetic flux generates a magnetic field for recording (i.e., a perpendicular magnetic field), and the recording magnetic field magnetizes the hard disk. In this manner, the thin film magnetic head magnetically records information on the hard disk. During the recording operation, the write shield layer takes in a divergent component of the magnetic flux emitted from the magnetic pole layer, thus preventing divergence of the magnetic flux, that is, an increase in a write width.
During the recording operation of the thin film magnetic head, a current is fed through the thin film coil in order that the thin film coil generates a magnetic flux, as mentioned above. Thus, the thin film coil produces heat, which is consequently prone to accumulate in and near the thin film coil in the thin film magnetic head. In this case, too large an amount of heat accumulating in the write shield layer causes thermal expansion of the write shield layer under the influence of thermal energy, thus causes considerable protrusion of the write shield layer beyond the air bearing surface, thus causes a collision of the write shield layer with the rotating hard disk, thus causes damage to the thin film magnetic head, and thus leads to an increase in the likelihood of the hard disk drive breaking down. From this viewpoint, the thin film magnetic head has to minimize the amount of heat accumulating in and near the write shield layer in order to reduce the amount of protrusion of the write shield layer for the purpose of ensuring the recording operation of the thin film magnetic head with stability and also preventing the occurrence of a breakdown of the hard disk drive.
However, it cannot be said that conventional thin film magnetic heads provide satisfactory solutions to heat accumulation in the write shield layer. Thus, considerable protrusion of the write shield layer can occur and cause damage to the thin film magnetic head, depending on conditions such as the amount of heat produced by the thin film coil or the coefficient of thermal expansion of the write shield layer. Therefore, the conventional thin film magnetic heads may still cause a breakdown of the hard disk drive. More recently, the amount of levitation of a head slider having the thin film magnetic head mounted thereto, namely, the distance between the air bearing surface of the thin film magnetic head and a recording surface of the hard disk, has been reduced to about 10 nm. Accordingly, the thin film magnetic head must minimize the amount of protrusion of the write shield layer in order to prevent the thin film magnetic head from colliding with the hard disk.
For example, techniques for reducing the amount of heat accumulating in the thin film magnetic head include the approach of utilizing a thermally conductive heat sink layer to dissipate heat and thereby prevent heat from accumulating in the thin film magnetic head. For example, a magnetic head including a thin film coil, a magnetic pole layer, and a heat sink layer, wherein the heat sink layer is disposed on the trailing side of the thin film coil, more specifically beside or over the magnetic pole layer is specifically known as a thin film magnetic head which the above-mentioned approach is applied to (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-085707). However, this type of thin film magnetic head still has room for improvement in prevention of a collision of the thin film magnetic head, taking into account the recent trend, specifically that the amount of levitation of the head slider is decreasing year by year as mentioned above.

Thin film magnetic head and magnetic recording apparatus with partitioned heat sink layer


Systems and methods for heating and cooling a vehicle are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for heating and cooling the vehicle includes: running a compressor of an air-conditioning system; and sensing the temperature inside the cab of the vehicle. The method further includes, closing a path of refrigerant to the compressor by a solenoid valve, pumping-down refrigerant by the compressor, and deactivating the compressor when a lower set point of the temperature inside the cab is reached. The method also includes opening the path of refrigerant to the compressor by a solenoid valve, sensing pressure of refrigerant at an inlet of the compressor by a pressure sensor, and activating the compressor based on a signal from the pressure sensor when an upper set point of temperature inside cab is reached.

Vehicle cabins typically include heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to keep drivers comfortable in different climates. Some vehicles, such as over-the-road trucks, include a sleeping compartment ("sleeper") attached to a cabin ("cab"). A driver may rest or sleep in the sleeper while a second driver operates the truck, or while the truck is parked, for example, overnight, during mandatory rest periods, etc. The cab and sleeper may share a common HVAC system, or may have dedicated systems for the cab and the sleeper.
FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a truck 10 in accordance with conventional technology. The truck ("tractor") 10 may be part of a tractor-trailer combination, which typically includes the tractor 10 having a so-called "fifth wheel" by which a box-like semi-trailer 20 may be attached for transporting cargo. The illustrated truck 10 includes a cab 12 and an attached sleeper 14. The heating and cooling system keeps the driver comfortable in the cab 12 and the sleeper 14.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air-conditioning system 200 in accordance with conventional technology. In operation, a compressor 172 compresses vapor refrigerant from a low pressure (shown as a dashed line) to a high pressure (shown as a solid line). The air-conditioning system includes a pressure transducer 174 for monitoring the pressure of the vapor at the outlet side of the compressor 172. The high pressure vapor is directed from the pressure transducer 174 (or directly from the compressor 172 when the pressure transducer is not used) to a condenser 176. As the condenser 176 rejects heat QH to the environment, the high pressure vapor at the inlet of the condenser condenses into a high pressure liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser. A metering device 180 may be included in the system 200 to measure the flow rate of liquid refrigerant. An expansion valve 182 reduces high pressure liquid refrigerant down to a low pressure liquid refrigerant.
Continuing with the operation of the air-conditioning system, the low pressure liquid refrigerant flows from the expansion valve 182 to an evaporator 186, where heat Qc is received from the environment (e.g., from the cab or sleeper). In response, low pressure liquid refrigerant evaporates into a low pressure vapor refrigerant. The low pressure vapor refrigerant returns to the compressor 172, and the cycle repeats.
With some conventional technologies, heating and cooling is provided by a heat pump that runs in a cooling mode (air-conditioning mode) when the outside temperature is high, and in a heating mode when the outside temperature is low. However, with these systems the compressor may be at a relatively low point (e.g., at the level of the vehicle transmission), which may even be the lowest point within the HVAC system. As a result, when the system is off, liquid refrigerant migrates toward the compressor, especially when the ambient temperature is low. Next, when the compressor starts, it attempts to compress the liquid refrigerant instead of the vapor refrigerant, which damages the compressor.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved truck cab/sleeper heating and cooling systems that aims to address one or more problems of prior art systems.

Systems and methods for reducing slugging in HVAC compressor of vehicle


A device (1) for storing a plurality of protective cases (2) on a holding element (11). The protective cases (2) have an insertion opening (5) on one end face (4) for inserting flat information carriers (3), particularly CDs or DVDs, and a second face (16) resting at least partially on the holding element (11). To simplify the storage of the protective cases (2) and the removal or insertion of the information carriers (3), the holding element (11) has a tab (15) in an edge area, which engages with a recess (17) in the second face (16) of the protective cases (2), such that a corresponding protective case (2) can be pivoted from a storage position (9) into a removal position (10). In the removal position (10) the information carrier (3) can be removed from the protective case (2) without the necessity of detaching the protective case (2) from the holding element (11).

The invention relates to a device for storing a plurality of protective cases on a holding element. The protective cases each have an insertion opening disposed on one face for the insertion of flat information carriers, particularly CDs or DVDs. With a second face they rest at least partially on the holding element.
A protective case of the above-described type is already known from published German patent application no. DE 101 17 159 A1. This protective case has a bottom plate and a cover plate, which are interconnected by sidewalls on three sides. The bottom plate and the cover plate form a U-shaped holding space for a flat information carrier, e.g., for a CD or a DVD, accessible via an insertion opening that is arranged on one face. To facilitate the insertion of the information carrier, the bottom plate has a circular segment-shaped recess on the side of the insertion opening. A U-shaped engagement opening for removing the information carrier is provided in the cover plate. It opens towards the side of the insertion opening and ends approximately in the center of the information carrier. The protective case can be constructed as one piece or several pieces and is made, for example, of a clear plastic. It is also possible to arrange one or more booklets or inserts in the protective case, which can likewise be inserted into and removed from the protective case via the insertion opening.
A device for holding a plurality of these protective cases is known in practice through prior use and thus forms part of the prior art. In this device, several protective cases are arranged next to one another on a holding element that is configured as a CD rack, for example. To remove an information carrier from one of the protective cases, the case has to be taken down from the holding element with one hand and the information carrier pulled out of the protective case with the other hand. Thereafter, the empty protective case is placed back onto the holding element or is temporarily stored elsewhere.
The drawback is that both hands are required to remove the information carrier from the protective case, which substantially limits the ease of operation. The protective case, which is now empty after the information carrier has been removed, subsequently has to be reinserted into the gap on the holding element created between the other protective cases by the removal of the one protective case. This insertion requires a substantial amount of dexterity. When the removed information carrier is to be reinserted into the empty protective case, the respective empty protective case located on the holding element next to the other protective cases must be found and taken down from the holding element before the information carrier can be inserted and the protective case can be returned to the holding element. This requires time and effort, which has proven to be a substantial drawback.

Device for storing a plurality of protective containers


The present invention relates to a spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea) which may comprise a genetic determinant that leads to the plant having a red coloration of the leaves, which genetic determinant may be obtainable from a spinach plant comprising said genetic determinant, representative seed of which was deposited with the NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 41954, NCIMB 41955 and NCIMB 41956.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a flowering plant of the Amaranthaceae family that is grown as a vegetable. The edible parts of the spinach plant are the leaves of the vegetative stage. During the vegetative stage spinach produces a rosette of leaves. These leaves are crinkly and curly in the case of savoy leaf types, slightly crinkled in the case of semi-savoy leaf types, or broad and flat in the case of smooth leaf types. The leaves of a spinach plant are usually sold fresh clipped and bagged, fresh bunched, canned or frozen. The dominant spinach product in the market is the fresh clipped and bagged spinach. This bagged product is sold as either baby spinach containing very small, young leaves, or as teenage spinach containing slightly older, medium-sized leaves. Both baby and teenage spinach leaf sizes are smaller than the leaf sizes at harvest of bunched, frozen or canned spinach. Usually the harvested leaves of baby spinach are no longer than about eight centimeter. These tender, sweet leaves are often used in salads, but can also be lightly cooked or steamed.
Lifestyles change and the demand from restaurants, catering firms and even from the customer in the supermarket for colourful and attractive leafy vegetables for salads or other dishes continues to rise. As a result, vegetable breeding companies are looking for varieties with prominent colour, better taste and a wide variety of textures.
Though spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a popular product due to its attractive taste and high nutritional value, at present spinach cannot add a lot of colour other than green to dishes or salad mixes. The most colourful spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) that has been known so far has green leaves with a red petiole and red major veins. These plants have green leaves with a red colouration of the leaves that is confined to the petiole and leaf blade areas where the primary, secondary, and in some cases also tertiary, veins are located, while the leaf blade areas between the veins are green. An example of such a plant is presented in FIG. 2D.
FIG. 1 shows a picture and a schematic representation of a spinach leaf, indicating the petiole and the lamina, which is often indicated as the leaf blade, with its primary, secondary and tertiary veins.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.


A paint brush container (10) is disclosed which includes has a base (11) and a lid (12) pivotally coupled to the base through an elongated hinge (13). The base has a bottom wall (15) with a linear array of first mounting holes (22) and second mounting holes (23). The base also includes a brush handle holder (24) and two laterally spaced, removably mounted restricting walls (26) which include a pair of mounting posts (27) configured to be releaseable received within the first and second mounting holes (22) and (23). The brush container also includes a pair of latches (41) which enable the lid to be releaseably held to base.

In the painting industry, painters typically rely on expensive paint brushes. Professional painters desire a paint brush that provides excellent coverage, durability, precise lines, proven results for smooth finishes, and a lack of bristles or filaments left within the paint. When a paint brush no longer fulfills these desired qualities, they are discarded and a new paint brush is purchased.
To prolong the life of a paintbrush a painter must clean the brush in an appropriate solution to remove all of the remaining paint from the brush. After the paint brush has been cleaned, the bristles tend to separate or splay, this condition may be referred to as "brooming". This becomes a problem when the painter subsequently uses the paint brush since the edges of the brush are not uniformly aligned and thereby results in the paint being applied unevenly.
Therefore, a need existed to provide a paint brush container that can prevent the splaying of the bristles after cleaning. Accordingly, it is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.


A lock having a movable shroud for protecting a lock shackle is disclosed. The lock includes a lock body, a locking mechanism attached to the lock body, a shackle and a shroud. The shackle has a first portion disposed within the lock body and a second portion movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The shroud is attached to the lock body and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the shroud covers at least a portion of the shackle that extends beyond the lock body. The lock may include corresponding detents and openings on adjacent lock body and shroud surfaces to guide the movement of the shroud relative to the lock body. A method of use is also disclosed.

Padlocks, combination locks, and other types of conventional locks are known in the art for use in a variety of applications. Locks may be used by an owner to secure many different objects against theft or accidental misplacement. Many locks, such as for example, padlocks and cable locks, often include a lock body and a shackle. The shackle may be placed through a set of apertures, around a hasp, a locking point or otherwise attached to an object to be secured.
A shackle is one lock component that may be susceptible to compromise, either through weather, misuse, or damage. Consequently, certain locks have been provided with a shroud or protective covering over a portion of the shackle. Shrouds of this type are typically molded into the body of the lock and thus form one continuous integral piece. In application, the shroud protects the shackle from being cut, damaged or otherwise compromised.
The lock of the present invention incorporates a movable shroud. As such, the lock can be selectively changed from a standard lock to a shrouded lock. In the shrouded position, at least a portion of the shackle extending beyond the lock body is covered by a protective covering. The flexibility of the shroud position allows for a operator to vary the position of the shroud dependent on the application condition of the lock. The shroud also advantageously locks when in the extended position when the shackle is locked. The shroud may also be moved between positions without unlocking the shackle.


Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about packaged identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.

It is known in the prior art to apply product identification to cartons, packages and the like, often by means of application of a bar code or other such identification system.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) has developed as a technology for identifying packages, to facilitate their tracking and to more readily determine the information that has been applied to the package.
Typically RFID technology includes the placement of a tag in the form of a microchip with an antenna on the package, such that the microchip can be encoded with information via the antenna, so that one can subsequently use a reader to read data off the microchip. Typically, the technology uses radio waves.
The RFID tags (or transponders) can either be of the active RFID systems, or they can be of the passive RFID systems.
Active RFID systems are ones in which the chip sends out a signal when it approaches a reader. Typically, such active systems must employ batteries, but being active systems, have a wide range, but generally are more costly than passive RFID systems.
Passive RFID systems employ tags with no power source and no transmitter. However they do employ a microchip and an antenna, to which the microchip is electrically connected.
Because passive tags operate at generally lower frequencies, and because they do not employ batteries, they have limitations on the distance at which they can be read from a reader. However, because they are less costly than active systems, passive tags can be used to tag packages or other items, and eventually discarded.

RFID product identification and tracking system

Hershey Chocolate and Confectionary Corporation


A transliteration mechanism is provided that allows a user to view a text in one Indian language, to highlight a word or phrase, and to easily transliterate the selected word or phrase into a target language or script. The mechanism may be an application, an applet, or a plug-in to another application, such as a Web browser. The target language and/or script may be stored in a user profile. Preferably, the source language may be any known Indian language in any known script.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to data processing and, in particular, to text processing. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for transliteration of text in various Indian languages.
2. Description of Related Art
Many people in India are multilingual. About 400 million people speak Hindi and English or Urdu. Over 200 million people speak Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, English, or another regional language. Many have only a spoken/hearing understanding of even more languages. India has eighteen official languages—the total number of languages spoken is unknown—and the languages have numerous dialects. For example, Tamil alone has over 128 dialects. Languages vary from state to state and the scripts used by the languages are completely different.
The ability to speak and understand a locally used language is important for living and/or working in India. In addition, Indian languages are spoken by groups of people all over the world. People long to be able to communicate with others in their native language, some of whom may be half way around the world for business or personal reasons.
A problem arises when a person has a knowledge of some Indian languages, but does not know the script that is used to represent this language. A person may understand a spoken Indian language, but may not be able to read documents written in the language. Additionally, a person may be looking for a name in a telephone directory, which is published in a different script. The user might know how a name is said, but might not know how it is represented in the other script.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanism for presenting a transliteration of a selected word, phrase, or document in a target language or script.

Method, apparatus, and program for transliteration of documents in various Indian languages


A method for trading in a financial derivative of an underlying asset includes determining a trend predictive of a future value of the asset and a predicted variance of the future value. Responsive to the trend and the variance, a density function is calculated, which is indicative of a probability distribution of the value at a first time in the future. Based on the density function at the first time, the density function is recalculated to find the probability distribution of the value at a second time, subsequent to the first time, and a trading decision is made with regard to the derivative of the asset based on the density function.

A wide and growing range of different types of derivatives is available in financial markets around the world. Broadly speaking, a derivative is an option to buy or sell an underlying asset in the future at a given exercise price, which may be fixed in advance or determined by conditions yet to occur. The asset typically comprises a financial instrument, such as a share, collection of shares or bonds traded on a public market. There are also derivatives based on other assets or instruments, such as commodities, currency values, share price indices and even other derivatives. In the context of the present patent application and in the claims, the term "asset" refers to any and all such entities that may underlie a given derivative. The challenge for the trader in derivatives is to determine, based on the price and expected behavior of the underlying asset, whether the current purchase price of the derivative is justified by the profit that is likely to be made from its future exercise and the potential risk.
The simplest type of derivative is known as a European "vanilla" option. It gives the buyer the right to buy ("call") or sell ("put") the underlying asset at a certain fixed time in the future at a given exercise price. The buyer should purchase the option if the expected difference between the exercise price and the actual price of the asset at the specified time of exercise is greater than the current price of the option while the risk is within defined limits. American options allow the buyer to buy or sell the asset at the specified price at any time in the future, typically up to a certain fixed time limit. In this case, the buyer must decide both whether the current option price is justified and, after buying the option, when is the best time to exercise it.
While traditional European and American vanilla options specify a fixed exercise price and conditions, path-dependent options can have variable exercise prices and conditions, which depend on the behavior of the underlying asset over time. Such exotic options are described at greater length by Hull, in Options, Futures and Other Derivatives (Prentice Hall, 1977), pages 457-489, which is incorporated herein by reference. In Asian options, for example, the exercise price is based on an average price of the underlying asset, taken over a certain period prior to exercise. Another example of a path-dependent option is the barrier option, which becomes exercisable only when the price of the underlying instrument rises above or falls below a given threshold.
Even the simplest vanilla options pose a substantial challenge to the derivatives trader, because of the volatile nature of share price values in the stock markets. In deciding whether and when to buy, sell or exercise a given derivative, the trader must assess the trends driving the price of the underlying instrument and the likely variability of the price. These assessments must be factored into a model that can form the basis of a trading strategy that maximizes the profitability of the investment. Models used for this purpose typically view the asset price as a stochastic process.
Various methods are known in the art for determining the stochastic behavior of a process (S) over time (t), based on a trend function μ(S,t) and a variance function σ(S,t). In the simplest case, S is a scalar, representing the price of a given asset over time. This simplistic model does not reflect the complex reality of financial markets, however. More generally, S is a vector that includes a number of related economic or financial factors, so that μ(S,t) is similarly a vector, and σ(S,t) is a covariance matrix. The change in S over time is modeled as a multidimensional Wiener process, given by:dS=μ(s,t)*dt+σ(s,t)*dW  (1)Here dW is a multidimensional Wiener differential, wherein each component of dW is distributed randomly with a normal probability density. This model is well known in the art and is described at greater length in the above-mentioned book by Hull, for example.
In order to evaluate a financial derivative based on S, it is necessary to solve equation (1), based on specified boundary conditions. Black and Scholes showed that when S can be treated as a scalar log-normal process, equation (1) can be used to derive a differential equation giving the price of a derivative contingent on S. The derivation of the Black-Scholes equation and its use in analyzing options are described by Hull on pages 229-260. There are many derivatives, however, to which the Black-Scholes analysis is not applicable, such as path-dependent and other exotic options and, more generally, processes that cannot be properly modeled as log-normal.
For these more complex analyses, a number of alternatives are known in the art, for example:                Monte Carlo methods can be used to simulate the behavior of the underlying asset and/or derivative over time. Such simulation becomes extremely computation-intensive, however, when high accuracy is required, and small values of the time step dt must be used. Furthermore, Monte Carlo methods are not applicable to American-style path-dependent options.        Numerical solutions of partial differential equations can be used to evaluate some types of derivatives, but they are very sensitive to choice of boundary conditions and are likewise demanding of computation resources.        Binary and tertiary trees are useful particularly in some path-dependent assessments, but are limited in their ability to deal with multi-dimensional problems. They also require a great many nodes of the tree to be evaluated in order to achieve high accuracy.A further limitation of all of these methods is that they typically provide only the expected value of the asset or derivative at a given time, without indicating the probability distribution of possible values about this expectation. This distribution can be very important in determining the risks associated with a given derivative.


There is provided an internal combustion engine in which oil can be kept in an oil passageway when oil is supplied, so that the time required to supply oil can be reduced. In an internal combustion engine in which an oil supply inlet for replenishing, with oil, an oil pan reservoir chamber disposed in a lower portion of a crankcase extends obliquely downwardly from an oil supply port at an upper end thereof, the oil pan reservoir chamber has an oil pan inlet port disposed in a position offset from a vertical plane, including the oblique oil supply inlet, and a horizontal oil supply passageway bent and extending substantially horizontally from a lower end of the oil supply inlet is connected to the oil pan inlet port.

Generally, an oil level gage is used to measure an amount of oil in an oil pan reservoir chamber. A gage insertion tube inserted with the oil level gage is held in fluid communication with the oil pan reservoir chamber. There is an example in which an oil supply inlet for supplying oil to the oil pan reservoir chamber is used as the gage insertion tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).


A computer-based method and system of processing records read respectively from first and second related tables of a database includes determining whether data contained in the records read from the first or second tables is unevenly distributed. Records corresponding to evenly distributed data are searched for matches using a first set of instances of the hash-join operator, and records corresponding to data which is unevenly distributed are searched for matches using a second set of instances of a hash-join operator.

This invention relates generally to processing records from a database.
A database is a body of information that is logically organized so that the information can be retrieved, stored and searched by a computer system in a coherent manner by a "database engine"--a collection of methods for retrieving or manipulating data in the database. Databases generally fall into one of several categories, such as relational databases, object-oriented databases and object-relational databases.
A relational database (RDB) is a collection of fixed-field two-dimensional tables that can be related or "joined" to each other in virtually any manner a database developer chooses. The structure of a relational database can be modified by selectively redefining the relationships between the tables. A database engine may perform complex searches on a relational database quickly and easily with a protocol known as the Structured Query Language (SQL). The relationships between the tables enable results of a search automatically to be cross-referenced to corresponding information in other tables in the database. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a relational database 1 includes a customer table 2 which is joined by a logical link 3 to an order table 4 which in turn is joined by a logical link 5 to an inventory table 6. A user may query the database 1, for example, for all order numbers higher than a threshold value. The list of order numbers resulting from the query can be retrieved and displayed along with the respective customer names and inventory items that correspond to the identified order and numbers because the order table 4 is joined with the customer table 2 and the inventory table 6. As illustrated by this example, a "join" operation builds a relation from two or more specified tables consisting of all possible combinations of tuples, one from each of the two or more tables, such that the tuples contributing to any given combination satisfy some specified condition. Generally, a join operation is performed in response to a query in which data is to be retrieved from more than one table in a database.
Hash operations can be used to simplify and provide fast access to a specific stored record on the basis of a given value for some field in the database. More specifically, a "hash-join" operation can be used to provide a quicker response to a query requiring data retrieval from multiple tables in the database. Consider, for example, a join operation involving two tables, "build" and "probe". Data entries or records from the "build" table, for example, are used to construct a hash table in a computer memory using a hash-function. A hash-function is similarly applied to the appropriate records in the "probe" table. The hashed values from the "probe" table are then used to search for matches in the hash table constructed from the "build" table. When a match is found, the data from the "probe" table is joined with the corresponding data from the "build" table. The matched data is returned to the user as a result of the "hash-join" operation.
In the context of parallel processing, various operations executed during a hash-join operation can be performed in parallel by executing multiple instances of the various operations simultaneously on one or more processors. For example, the operator, or software module, producing the data for the "build" side, the operator producing the data for the "probe" side, and the hash-join operator can be performed in parallel.
Ideally, each bucket in the hash table of each instance of the hash-join operator receives approximately the same amount of data. However, this ideal distribution may not occur because the distribution of data values in the "build" and "probe" tables is skewed, or unevenly distributed. For example, if all the entries in a particular column of the table "build" are identical, then all the records from the build-table will be sent to the same instance of the hash-join operator, leaving the remaining instances of the hash-join operator idle, and resulting in a waste of available processing power.
Several types of skewing of data can be identified: (1) "build" skew; (2) "probe" skew; and (3) "join" skew. Build skew indicates that the data used to construct the hash table is unevenly distributed, or, in other words, that the data from the build table is unevenly distributed. Probe skew indicates that the data from the probe table is unevenly distributed. Finally, join skew indicates that the output data produced by the hash-join operation is unevenly distributed. Join skew can occur even if the input data from the build and probe tables is evenly distributed.

Applying distinct hash-join distributions of operators to both even and uneven database records


In a wireless keyboard-video-mouse (“KVM”) system in which a remote computer accesses the video output data of a target computer, a method of providing video data from the target computer to the remote computer, includes obtaining an analog video signal from a target computer; disabling data compression of the video signal; determining a first phase (P) for analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of the video signal; beginning compression of the video signal; and adjusting the first phase of the A/D conversion to produced a second phase (P′), based, at least in part, on a number of segments required to transmit the compressed video signal.

Systems exist to facilitate remote control of and access to a computer by an operator at a remote station. Such systems typically use a device or mechanism that enables an operator at a remote station to control aspects of a so-called target (or local) computer. More particularly, such systems typically allow a remote station to provide mouse and keyboard input to the target computer and further allow the remote station to view the video display output, and hear the audio output of the target computer. These types of systems are typically called keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) systems.
Traditional KVM systems rely on wired technology to connect remote and target computers. It is, however, sometimes desirable to allow wireless connection between remote stations and target computers (included as part of a target system). For example, in addition to minimizing the number of actual wires needed in a KVM system, a wireless KVM system allows for target systems and remote stations to be added to the system without the addition of switches or wires.
In order for a remote computer to control the operation of a target computer, it is desirable that the video display of the remote computer keep up, in essentially real-time, with the display of the target computer. It is further desirable for a remote computer or system to be able to switch rapidly between different target systems. However, each target system is potentially different from each other such system. In particular, different target systems may have different types of video output. Also, large amounts of data are required to keep the remote computer's video display current. Accordingly, it is desirable to efficiently compress the video data being sent from the target computer to the remote computer in a manner that both presents an acceptable image to the target display and, at the same time, does not create significant delay between the creation and transmission of the video data.

Phase optimization for wireless KVM transmission


This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining media level in a cassette. A single, fixed media level sensor is located adjacent to where the media is fed from the cassette. The bottom of the cassette is moved up until the top piece of media triggers the fixed sensor. The number of steps of the stepper motor (or the time an analog motor is on) indicates the distance the bottom of the cassette must be raised before the top of the media stack hits the sensor. The number of steps is used directly to determine the height of the stack of media and, therefore, the level of media in the cassette.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining media level in a cassette. A single, fixed media level sensor is located adjacent to where the media is fed from the cassette. The bottom of the cassette is moved up until the top piece of media triggers the fixed sensor. The number of steps of the stepper motor (or the time an analog motor is on) indicates the distance the bottom of the cassette must be raised before the top of the media stack hits the sensor. The number of steps is used directly to determine the height of the stack of media and, therefore, the level of media in the cassette.
It is known, in liquid level measurement devices, to employ a stepper motor. Exemplary of such prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,860 (""860) to P. Habart, entitled xe2x80x9cLiquid Level Measurement.xe2x80x9d While the (""860) reference employs a stepper motor in which the stepper motor steps are counted in order to determine the level of the contained fluid, the moving sensor position is tracked by a marked belt that is moved by the stepper motor. The stepper motor counts are used to interpolate a level between the marks on the belt. Consequently, a more advantageous system would be presented, then, if the marked belt could be eliminated.
It is also known, in other types of measuring systems, to employ a stepper motor. Exemplary of such prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,985 (""985) to R. C. Mott, entitled xe2x80x9cStepper Motor System for Digitally Measuring Input Quantities.xe2x80x9d While the (""985) reference employs a stepper motor, the invention set forth in the (""985) reference is based on a relationship of forces. The input quantity results in a force and the stepper motor creates a second force. The relationship of the forces determines the value of the input. In particular, the stepper motor and the device are used for sensing something, which appears to be their only purpose. Conversely, a further advantageous system would be presented, then, if the stepper motor were used to lift and measure the motion of a stack of media.
In devices that have a bin to store sheet media, such as a laser printer paper tray, it is often desired to know the level of the media relative to xe2x80x9cfull.xe2x80x9d Many products currently use a system of photo-interrupt devices and xe2x80x9cflagsxe2x80x9d which activate them. In printers, for example, there are commonly two photo-interrupts for each paper tray. Based on the location of the flag relative to the two interrupts, four different combinations of the flag locations can be generated, namely, off/off, on/off, on/on, and off/on. In turn, the combinations are logically decoded to indicate media level. However, the problems associated with this method of detection are that it does not allow the users to:
1. Accurately know the number of pages left. This is because the system gives a maximum of only four levels i.e., plus or minus xc2xc or more of the media capacity for the tray.
2. Calculate and adjust for thicker/thinner media on-the-fly.
3. Furthermore, it is limited to spatial constraints (size, orientation, and location) of the photo-interrupt sensors and the added cost of these sensors.
Fundamentally, it is desirable for people using printers to know accurately and with high resolution the amount of paper remaining in each tray. The current art is to move an arm past several switches as the level of the paper changes. Resolution is limited by the number of switches. Clearly, more switches cost more money.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for an apparatus and method for detecting media level in the cassette that is lightweight through simplicity of parts and uniqueness of structure, and which at least equals the media level detecting characteristics of the known apparatus and methods, but which at the same time employs a method of counting stepper motor steps. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills these needs by providing an apparatus for detecting media level in a media cassette, comprising a media cassette containing an amount of a media, a media sensing means located at a predetermined distance above the media cassette, a media cassette moving means operatively connected to the media cassette, a drive means operatively connected to the media cassette moving means, and a drive monitoring means operatively connected to the drive means.
In certain preferred embodiments, the media cassette is a paper tray. Also, the media sensing means is a single, fixed sensor. Also, the media cassette moving means is a lift mechanism. Also, the drive means is a stepper motor. Finally, the drive monitoring means employs a counter to count the steps of the stepper motor.
In another further preferred embodiment, the use of the media sensing means, the drive means, and the drive monitoring means provides an accurate measurement of the height of the media located within the media cassette.
The preferred apparatus for detecting media level in a media cassette, according to this invention, offers the following advantages: accuracy in determining the number of pages in a media cassette; good stability; good durability; lightness in weight; improved resolution of media level; and excellent economy. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these factors of accuracy, lightness in weight, resolution, and economy optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known apparatus for detecting media level in a media cassette.

Method and apparatus for detecting media level in a cassette