The invention provides β3-adrenoreceptor agonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising β3-adrenoreceptor agonist compounds, and methods of using such compounds for stimulating, regulating or modulating metabolism of fats in adipose tissue in animals.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists and to methods of their preparation, formulation and use to stimulate, regulate and modulate metabolism of fats in adipose tissues in animals, particularly humans and other mammals. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of treating obesity and overweight conditions in animals, particularly humans and other mammals and associated effects of conditions associated with obesity and overweight, including Type II diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent diabetes), insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, hypothyroidism, morbid obesity, and the like.
2. Prior Art
It was long thought that obesity was a consequence of self-indulgence and undisciplined behavior. Obesity was seen as evidence of gluttony, through a lack of will or capacity for self-discipline. The overweight have been disparaged, and thinness has been celebrated. Indeed, the perception of thinness as a major aspect of human beauty and attractiveness has become endemic in modern culture, and overweight conditions and obesity has increasingly grown to be an unacceptable condition for social reasons.
Masked by these cultural icons are the hard medical facts: for many individuals, a tendency to overweight and even obesity are often symptoms of organic disease or disorders of the metabolism, associated with serious and even life-threatening conditions. In medical economic terms alone, the costs attributable to overweight and obesity are staggeringly high.
A wide variety of approaches to the alleviation of obesity have ebbed and flowed though modern culture, ranging from a diverse collection of dietary strategies, to drugs, to surgical interventions, to hypnosis. All have met with indifferent success at best. Some have proved to be outright quackery. Others have proved to be effective only for the short-term, with loss of effectiveness over time. Still others have proved to be generally or at least partially successful so long as the regimen is sustained, but long term compliance is difficult to attain and in some cases has proved hazardous to other aspects of health and well-being. Some surgical procedures have had some successes, but as with any invasive procedures, there are risks. Some approaches to weight loss and control, in the extreme, lead to conditions which are themselves pathological, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Other effects are less extreme, but still highly undesirable, such as amennorhea, vitamin and essential nutrient deficiencies, and the like.
A great deal of the difficulty in the art and practice of obesity and overweight management has been a consequence of attention focused on the control of appetite, and reducing the amount of food intake. It has long been the belief of many that only by the control of caloric intake is it possible to regulate body weight and fat deposition and utilization. Since appetite is controlled and regulated in the brain, brain pharmacology and the alteration of brain chemistry has been a primary focus of weight regulation and control efforts. Such approaches have led to addictions to appetite suppressants, to primary pulmonary myopathy, cardiac valve damage, and to reports of serotonin disruptions and disorders and psychotic episodes among users. Morbities and mortalities have been unacceptably high.
In another aspect of technology relating to fat is the dietary emphasis on limiting dietary fat intake. For those who eat meats, there is increasing emphasis on low fat content meats in the carcasses of the animals employed in food stocks. Much recent efforts have been devoted to the production of beef, pork, poultry and the like with reduced fat content. Breeding patterns are being manipulated and generic engineering of farm animals is being directed at lowering fat content of the animals. The techniques of fattening of animals intended for table meat production is highly developed, but is gradually being limited by the emphasis on limiting dietary fats and interest in leaner carcass animals.
Only in very recent times has obesity been addressed in relation to the metabolic pathways of the body and their role and import in fat storage and usage in the body.
Recent research has elucidated some of the mechanisms of obesity and overweight, and has revealed that much of the limitation of prior and current weight-loss techniques stems from the fact that they are biochemically and particularly metabolically unsound and incapable of stimulating, regulating and modulating metabolism of fats in adipose tissues. Without these characteristics, it is now known, weight loss and control strategies are likely to fail or to produce conditions as bad as or worse than the weight problems they are intended to alleviate. Without heroic dedication and discipline, and even fanaticism, by the subject, most strategies are short term in their weight loss and control effects.
Increasing efforts have been directed to biochemical research into the mechanisms of fat deposition and metabolism and into stimulating, regulating and modulating metabolism of fats in adipose tissues. Considerable recent progress has been made.
Among the biochemical work of note has been the recent recognition of a role of β-Adreno-receptor activity in the metabolism of fats. It has been recognized that agonists for β-Adrenoreceptors have, in some cases, produced marked weight loss in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.
More recently, the loss of weight has been identified with the β-Adrenoreceptor sub-type, β3-Adrenoreceptors. The specific structure of the b3-Adrenoreceptor has been characterized, and demonstrated to be a distinct cellular structure which is Distinguishable from the b1-Adrenoreceptor and the b2-Adrenoreceptor.
It has been demonstrated that compounds which are significant β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists produce marked weight loss in animals, and that the loss is sustained with continuation of the administration of such compounds. These compounds provide potent regulation of fat metabolism. The compounds employed to date are also agonists for the β1-Adrenoreceptor and the β2-Adrenoreceptor sites. The lack of selectivity represents unwanted side effects of such compounds, and the compounds known as β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists to date are not suitable candidates for therapeutic usage because of the unwanted and dangerous side effects.
3. Problems and Needs in the Art
The existing strategies for weight and body fat regulation are inadequate. The current strategies are ineffective, unsafe, or both. Whether through diet manipulations or through drug usage, or combinations of such strategies, there is a lack of a clear path to safe and effective regulation of body weight and body fat which is safe and effective, which can provide significant and long lasting relief from the health consequences of overweight and obesity and the conditions associated therewith, and from the disease conditions which are aggravated by overweight and obesity.
It is clear that the art lacks and needs therapeutic agents which are highly potent and highly selective β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists for effective stimulation, regulation and modulation of metabolism of fats in adipose tissues.
It is also clear that the art lacks and needs agents which are effective β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists free of unwanted side effects, and which are safe for stimulating, regulating and modulating metabolism of fats in adipose tissues.
It is clear that the art lacks and needs agents which are effective at regulating the body fat of animals, particularly humans and other mammals, both in the reduction of body weight in the obese and the attendant health problems and issues, and in the production of low fat table meats from domesticated animals for human consumption.
4. Objects of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide novel compounds which are safe and effective β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists.
It is another object of the present invention to provide syntheses of such β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of safe and effective β3-Adrenoreceptor formulations for administration to stimulate, regulate and modulate metabolism of fats in adipose tissues in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide safe and effective administration of β3-Adrenoreceptor agonists for stimulating, regulating and modulating metabolism of fats in adipose tissues in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safe and effective regimen for causing and promoting weight loss in humans, and for the maintenance of healthy and personally desired body fat levels.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide safe and effective adjuncts to the husbandry of domesticated animals for the production of low fat dietary meats for human consumption.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide for weight and body fat regulation through modalities which are effective and safe. The present invention provides a clear path to safe and effective regulation of body weight and body fat which is safe and effective, which can provide significant and long lasting relief from the health consequences of overweight and obesity and the conditions associated therewith, and from the disease conditions which are aggravated by overweight and obesity.
These and related objectives are met by the terms of the present invention as set out in detail in the following specification and defined in the claims appended hereto.


A versatile upper body garment formed of a stretchable fabric is configured to provide a variety of modes of wear with respect to head covering. A coat, jacket, shirt or vest has an integral hood which covers the wearer's head. Within the hood is an integral face shield which may be swung behind the wearer's head or neck when not covering the face, enabling protection of various portions of the face. The hood may be tightened to expose a variable extent of the head or face. The hood and face shield may be configured to be rolled into a hollow collar for storage when not needed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to upper body garments. More specifically, the invention relates to multifunctional garments which may be worn in a variety of different modes to accommodate a wide range of atmospheric conditions and activities of the wearer. The invention more particularly pertains to coats, jackets, vests or shirts, with appurtenances thereto particularly addressing headwear for cold weather conditions.
2. State of the Art
The need for warm upper body garments, e.g. coats and jackets, has always been important for humanity. In regions which experience cold temperatures, it has been found that heat transfer from a person's head and extremities, e.g. arms and legs (particularly the hands and feet) is most critical. This is because the ratio of surface area to mass is highest in these areas, and human activity is often predicated upon having at least a portion of the head and hands being exposed, i.e. uncovered at times. This is true of many outdoor winter activities which are becoming very popular, such as skiing, ski-touring, ice climbing, mountain climbing, rock climbing, ice sailing, skating, ice fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, winter camping and the like.
In cold-weather use of an upper body garment such as a jacket or coat, heat transfer from a wearer's body typically occurs in several specific areas. First, there is general heat transfer through the body and arms of the garment. This heat loss may be controlled by varying the insulative value of the coat material, and/or as commonly practiced, by layering of shirts, sweaters, etc. under the outer garment. Secondly, there is heat loss by movement of air through the space between the lower extremity of the coat and the person's waist. This heat loss may be controlled by varying the tightness of the coat about the person's waist. Thirdly, there is heat loss from exposure of the wearer's head, which in many cases is the major source of heat loss from a wearer's upper body. Control of the head area which is exposed, and varying the insulative properties of the head covering, are two methods used to effect a desired head temperature. Fourthly, heat transfer from the hands and lower arms is also very important but is not addressed herein.
Several patents relating to head coverings are known to the applicant:
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,230 to Sivret et al., a head apparel is shown as a tubular hood configured so that a bottom portion may be rolled up inside the upper portion to become a face covering. Alternatively, the user's face may be projected through a face opening and the apparel placed on the shoulders.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,690 to Carey et al., a head covering includes a neoprene mask member with holes for breathing. Goggles may be fitted to complete substantial covering of the user's head, face and neck.
Neither of the references shows a garment hood in which a face shield may be retracted without changing the overall dimensions of the hood. Furthermore, none of the references show an attached face shield which may be rolled into a collar and concealed together with a hood.


A distributed system for software verification includes a plurality of processors, each of which actively executes a verified software to perform a verifying operation of a corresponding target object under no external instruction, wherein the plurality of processors independently perform verifying operations of different target objects; a switch including a plurality of first connection ports electrically coupled to the plurality of processors, respectively, and a second connection port electrically coupled to each of the plurality of first connection ports; and a data collector electrically coupled to the second connection port. An information report is generated and sent to the data collector via the corresponding first connection port and the second connection port in response to the verifying operation.

When the verification of products is performed on the manufacturing side, it is general to verify the functions of products or versions of firmware or software by way of a so-called client/server model. Furthermore, for mass production, it is preferred to verify a plurality of products simultaneously to improve the efficiency of verification. Practical implementation examples can be found in the US Patent Publication No. US 20190392869 and Taiwanese Patent Application No. TW 107114058.
In the client/server model, a plurality of objects is simultaneously inspected or verified by way of an independently main processor, e.g., a personal computer, together with a plurality of command executors, which are controlled by the commands issued by the main processor to perform inspection or verification of the objects corresponding thereto. Accordingly, the command executors cannot execute inspecting or verifying operations until receiving relevant instruction codes from the main processor. It is thus critical for the prior art to precisely allocate the control procedures of the main processor to assure that a stream channel between a command executor and the main processor would not be affected by another streaming channel between another command executor and the main processor.
Furthermore, the prior art might suffer from a change in the amount of the command executors. Whenever the amount of the command executors is changed, the control procedures need to be modified. The ability to adapt to changes is unsatisfactory.

Distributed system for software verification


An optical reflection film in which haze is reduced and cracking hardly occurs. An optical reflection film is provided. An optical reflection film includes at least one unit formed by laminating a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer on a substrate. The high refractive index layer contains zirconium oxide particles, and the low refractive index layer contains silicon oxide particles and two or more cationic polymers.

In recent years, concern for energy saving measures has increased. In order to shield solar radiation energy entering a room or a car in a building glass or a vehicle glass and to reduce a rise in temperature and a cooling load, a heat insulating glass having an infrared shielding property has been adopted. Meanwhile, an infrared shielding film formed by laminating layers having different refractive indices is conventionally known. A method for shielding transmission of a heat ray in sunlight by bonding the infrared shielding film to glass has attracted attention as a simpler method.
Examples of a method for manufacturing an infrared shielding film include a method for manufacturing a laminated film in which a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer are alternately laminated by a gas phase film formation method such as a vapor deposition method or sputtering. However, the gas phase film formation method has problems of high manufacturing cost, difficulty in increasing the area, limitation to a heat-resistant material, and the like.
Therefore, for manufacturing the infrared shielding film, it is more advantageous to use a liquid phase film formation method (wet) from viewpoints of low manufacturing cost, capability of increasing the area, and a wide selection range of a substrate. As a technique using the liquid phase film formation method, for example, JP 2012-93482 A discloses a method for manufacturing an optical reflection film by applying a coating liquid containing a mixture of a water-soluble polymer and metal oxide fine particles by a wet coating method and performing lamination (near-infrared reflection film). JP 2012-93482 A describes that a coating liquid containing zirconium oxide as a high refractive index layer coating liquid and a coating liquid containing a low refractive index oxide such as silicon oxide as a low refractive index layer coating liquid are prepared and that these coating liquids are applied in a multilayer manner to prepare a laminated film. This makes it possible to manufacture a high-performance optical reflection film at low cost.


The present invention relates to methods of overcoming the resistance to an EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor)-targeting antibody through a peptide that binds specifically to neuropilin-1 (NRP1). Moreover, the present invention relates to a fusion antibody in which a peptide that binds specifically to NRP1 is fused to an EGFR-targeting antibody, and to a composition of overcoming the resistance to an EGFR-targeting antibody alone by co-administration of the EGFR-targeting antibody and an NRP1-binding peptide-fused Fc. In addition, the fusion antibody according to the present invention, in which the NRP1-specific binding peptide is fused to an EGFR-targeting antibody, overcomes the resistance to the EGFR-targeting antibody alone in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, the fusion antibody, in which the NRP1-specific binding peptide is fused to the EGFR-targeting antibody, also overcomes resistance to the EGFR-targeting antibody alone even in lung cancer. Thus, the NRP1-specific binding-fused EGFR-targeting antibody according to the present invention may be highly effective in the treatment of various tumors resistant to EGFR-targeting antibody alone.

EGFR is a member of the cell receptor involved in cell function, such as cell growth, survival and metastasis, and overexpression or mutation of EGFR causes tumors. Accordingly, a number of antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which target EGFR, have been developed. For example, EGFR-targeting antibodies developed include cetuximab, panitumumab, zalutumumab, nimotuzumab, and matuzumab, and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed include gefitinib and erlotinib. These EGFR-targeting agents are used for the treatment of colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. However, therapies employing these single drugs exhibit effects against specific types of tumor cells, and thus have limitations on their indications for use, or show resistance to various tumors or mutated tumors, and thus do not exhibit satisfactory therapeutic effects. For this reason, the development of multiple combination therapies that target two or more types of tumor cells is required for more effective cancer treatment.
Among various types of cancers, pancreatic cancer is a cancer with a very poor prognosis, and 60-80% of patients with pancreatic cancer show local severe diseases or metastatic diseases. For most pancreatic cancers, it is are known that EGFR and its ligands among a variety of receptor tyrosine kinases are overexpressed and play a major role in promoting the growth and survival of the cancers (Oliveira-Cunha et al., 2011; Wheeler et al., 2010). However, EGFR targeting agents developed to date are still not effective against pancreatic cancer. This is because many pancreatic cancers are resistant to the EGFR target agents. Accordingly, EGFR-targeting agents have been widely used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in combination with the chemotherapeutic gene gemcitabine, but a problem arises in that they exhibit significant toxicity (Chong and Janne, 2013; Philip et al., 2010). Thus, there is a need to develop EGFR-targeting therapy effective against pancreatic cancer.
For lung cancer known as the main cause of cancer death worldwide, it is known that EGFR also plays a major role in the growth of the cancer (Sharma et al., 2007; Morgillo Floriana et al., 2016). Accordingly, various EGFR-targeting agents have been developed to treat lung cancer, and in particular, representative drugs include Gefitinib and Erlotinib, which are EGFR-targeting small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, although these targeting agents are highly effective drugs, only about 10% of lung cancer patients actually respond to these drugs (Socinski Mark A, 2007). Therefore, there is also an urgent need for a new alternative EGFR-targeting therapy against lung cancer.
Among EGFR-targeting agents, cetuximab (Ctx), an anti-EGFR antibody, inhibits the ligand (EGF, TGFα)-dependent activation of EGFR and prevents downstream signaling of EGFR. Ctx was FDA-approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer, but was not approved for use for pancreatic and lung cancers that are resistant to EGFR-targeting agents. However, a clear mechanism of the resistance of pancreatic cancer and lung cancer cells to EGFR-targeting agents has not yet been found, and a method for improving this mechanism has not yet been developed.
The resistance mechanisms identified previously for colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer include: 1) high copy number of EGFR gene; 2) mutation of EGFR gene; 3) mutation of KRAS gene or BRAF gene, and the like (Oliveira-Cunha et al., 2011). To date, the mechanism of resistance against EGFR-targeting agents revealed in pancreatic cancer has been reported to be associated with the activation of the abnormal PI3K-Akt pathway by the EGFR family (EGFR, HER2, HER3), but this mechanism is also still unclear (Larbouret et al., 2012; Wong et al., 2014). For lung cancer, it has recently been reported that integrin β3 binds to the KRAS gene and activates signaling from the KRAS-RalB-NFκB pathway, thereby inducing resistance to an EGFR-targeting agent (Laetitia Seguin, 2014). The absence of effective therapeutic drugs against pancreatic cancer and lung cancer is associated with a high mortality rate in patients, so it is necessary to accurately elucidate the mechanism of resistance to pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a transmembrane glycoprotein, binds to VEGF-family ligands and class-3 semaphorin (Sema3A, Sema3B, Sema3C, Sema3D, Sema3E, Sema3F, Sema3G) ligands (Guo and Vander Kooi, 2015; Prud'homme and Glinka, 2012). NRP1 is very weakly expressed in normal cells, whereas it is overexpressed in most tumor vascular endothelial cells, solid tumor cells, and hematologic tumor cells, and plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Some agents, small interfering RNAs, peptide inhibitors or NRP1-targeting antibodies have also been reported to reduce the growth, angiogenesis and metastasis of cancer cells by interfering with the function of NRP1 (Berge et al., 2010; Hong et al., 2007).
In addition, NRP1 is also overexpressed in pancreatic and lung cancer and plays a role in tumor growth. NRP1 acts as a co-receptor for various ligands. In particular, in pancreatic cancer, it binds to integrin β1, thereby amplifying the signal of integrin β1. It has been reported that integrin β1 mainly activates the signal of the Src/Akt pathway and thus induces the resistance of lung cancer to erlotinib, an EGFR-targeting small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Kanda et al., 2013). However, the relationship between the activation of NRP1/integrin β1 in pancreatic cancer and the resistance of pancreatic cancer to EGFR-targeting agents has not been elucidated, and a new therapeutic agent for alleviating the resistance is also remarkably needed.
Under this technical background, the inventors of this application have identified a marker capable of predicting whether pancreatic cancer shows intrinsic resistance to an EGFR-targeting agent, and have used the marker to determine whether resistance to the EGFR-targeting agent appears, and particularly, have identified the possibility of regulating expression of the resistance-related marker by a peptide that binds specifically to neuropilin-1, as well as the mechanism of the regulation, and thus have found that resistance to the EGFR-targeting agent can be overcome. In addition, the present inventors have found that not only in pancreatic cancer but also on lung cancer resistant to EGFR-targeting agents, resistance to the EGFR-targeting agents can be overcome by a peptide that binds specifically to neuropilin-1, thereby completing the present invention.
The information disclosed in the Background Art section is only for the enhancement of understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may not contain information that forms a prior art that would already be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Composition for overcoming resistance to EGFR-targeting agent


A method and apparatus is provided in which an eviscerating means is moved into and out of poultry to be processed. The spine of the poultry extends horizontally and transversely to the direction of conveying the poultry. During the evisceration, the eviscerating means reciprocates horizontally in the direction of the poultry and moves synchronously with the poultry in the direction of conveying during the evisceration.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for eviscerating poultry, with legs is suspended from a suspension conveyor, wherein the eviscerating means is moved into and out of the poultry.
A known eviscerating means enters into a bird or poultry to be processed in the downward direction. During a following upwardly directed motion the entrails and the like are removed from within the bird. A veterinary inspection of the entrails requires that these hang downwardly over the back of the bird.
Although this known method and means is extremely fit, per se, for eviscerating poultry its application may, under some circumstances, cause problems. While eviscerating turkeys, for example, it is disadvantageous that the entrails hang downwards over the back of the bird, for this may contravene local conditions in respect to hygienics.

Method and apparatus for eviscerating poultry


A malware monitoring method includes: obtaining a malware sample; extracting operational parameters corresponding to the malware sample; configuring an emulator application corresponding to the malware sample using the operational parameters; executing a plurality of instances of the configured emulator application; collecting output data from each of the plurality of instances; and generating indicators of compromise (IOCs) based on the collected output data.

Malware detection relies on the detection of indicators of compromise (IOCs), such as traffic patterns, data and the like that indicate the possible presence of malware at a monitored device. Techniques for discovering IOCs for use in malware detection applications include deploying a sandbox environment in which a malware sample is executed and classified, and in which IOCs are derived from the execution of the sample. However, such techniques may provide only limited views of malware activity that are computationally costly and labor-intensive to scale.

Automated malware monitoring and data extraction


A generative adversarial network device and a training method thereof. The generative adversarial network device includes a generator and a discriminator. The generator is configured to generate a first sample according to an input data; the discriminator is coupled to the generator, and is configured to receive the first sample and be trained based on the first sample; the generator includes a first memristor array serving as a first weight array. The generative adversarial network device can omit a process of adding noise to fake samples generated by the generator, thereby saving training time, reducing resource consumption and improving training speed of the generative adversarial network.

In the field of neuromorphic technology, the data processing capability and machine learning capability of a computer can be greatly improved by constructing a computing architecture similar to the structure of a human brain. Compared with the implementation of serial software based on a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), the implementation of simulating biological neural activity through circuit devices and hardware systems allows a large number of parallel computations, has the advantages of high computing speed, low power consumption, etc., and has become an important research direction in the field of neuromorphic technology.
Memristors have the characteristics of high integration, low power consumption, continuous resistance, non-volatility and CMOS process compatibility, etc., and are widely used in neural network circuits. Crossbar arrays constructed by memristors are widely used in multi-layer neural networks, adaptive resonance networks, and convolutional neural networks to achieve weight adjustment of neural networks.

Generative adversarial network device and training method thereof


Techniques for protecting a power amplifier (PA) are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes (i) a PA module to amplify an input RF signal and provide an output RF signal and (ii) a protection circuit to control a transmitter gain to protect the PA module against high peak voltage. In an exemplary design, the protection circuit includes a set of comparators to quantize an analog input signal and provide digital comparator output signals used to adjust the transmitter gain. In another exemplary design, the protection circuit reduces and increases the transmitter gain with hysteresis. In yet another exemplary design, the protection circuit has faster response to rising amplitude than falling amplitude of the output RF signal. The hysteresis and/or the different rise and fall responses may allow the protection circuit to avoid toggling the transmitter gain under severe load mismatch and to handle time-varying envelope due to amplitude modulation.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and more specifically to a protection circuit for a power amplifier.
II. Background
A wireless communication device typically includes a transmitter to support data transmission. The transmitter typically includes a power amplifier to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal and provide high output power. The power amplifier may be designed to drive a particular load impedance, e.g., 50 Ohms. The load impedance may vary due to various disturbances and may result in the power amplifier observing a high peak voltage. The high peak voltage may exceed a level that can ensure reliable operation of the power amplifier. It may be desirable to detect for high peak voltage and perform corrective actions so that the power amplifier can be protected from high peak voltage.


An apparatus, system and method of using RFID systems to help blind and visually-impaired individuals function efficiently in society without the use of canes and/or seeing-eye dogs are provided. Generally, each object may contain an RFID tag affixed thereto. The tag will include information needed to help a blind or visually-impaired individual. The individual may create a profile within which the individual may have indicated the means to use for conveying the information. It is envisioned that the individual will carry a battery-operated RFID reader for reading information from the RFID tags and for conveying the information in accordance with the conveying means indicated in the profile.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed generally to Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) systems. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method of using RFID systems to help blind and/or visually-impaired-individuals function in a modern society without the help of canes and seeing-eye dogs.
2. Description of Related Art
RFID is a technology that places identification data on small tags to be read by computers attached to antennas. An RFID system typically consists of a radio-enabled device that communicates with (i.e., interrogates) a tag or label, which contains a chip attached to an antenna. The chip and the antenna together are called a transponder. The chip contains the RF circuitry and information to be transmitted. The antenna enables the chip to transmit the information to the device.
In operation, the radio-enabled device, which is also known as a reader, sends out electromagnetic waves to the tag. The tag antenna is tuned to receive these waves. The tag, which is usually passive (i.e., un-powered), draws power from the electromagnetic waves and uses it to power the chip's circuit. Upon receiving the electromagnetic waves, the chip retrieves the stored information and passes it to the reader in the form of modulated radio waves. The reader converts the modulated radio waves into digital data.
Recently, RFID systems have been used to help the blind and the visually-impaired. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs has now started to place RFID tags on prescriptions. The tags contain sufficient information to be able to convey the drug name, instructions, warnings, etc. to a reader. A talking RFID reader is used to supply the information to a blind or visually-impaired person.
Further, in METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING AN OBJECT AND ANNOUNCING A VOICE MESSAGE, by Krukowski et al. US Patent Application No. 20020121986 A1 (application Ser. No. 10/067,504) filed on Feb. 7, 2002 and published on Sep. 5, 2002, a method by which objects are identified and the identification of which is supplied in audible voice to the blind and the visually-impaired is disclosed. The method includes the steps of attaching an RFID tag that contains a code to an object and correlating a voice message to the code. The voice message is then stored in memory. When the code is read from the RFID tag, the voice message is obtained from memory and provided to a blind or visually-impaired person.
In the disclosure of the patent application mentioned above, which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as in the case of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a rather limited aspect of RFID systems is used to help the blind and the visually-impaired.
What is needed, therefore, is a system, apparatus and method of making broader uses of RFID systems to help the blind and the visually-impaired.

Method of using RFID systems to help blind and visually-impaired individuals

International Business Machines Corporation


A refrigerant precooler device, connecting into the Freon line of an existing air conditioning unit, and directing this freon through a finned cooling coil, and having a downdraft fan blowing air downward onto a supply of water in the bottom of the precooler device, and the fan blades being surrounded at a strategic location by a venturi shroud, which tends to disperse some of the air from the fan outward, and over the fins of the cooling coil, thereby causing an accelerated evaporation effect, with the added cooling of the Freon. A controlled supply of water in a reservoir at the bottom of the device is pumped upwards through a tubing device and into a pipe which is located onto the top of the cooling coil, and the pipe has a slot cut lengthwise of its bottom longitudinal dimension, and the pumped water drips out of the slot in the pipe, and drains downward over the fins of the cooling coil.. As stated, the air from the fan tends to cool the supply of water in the reservoir, and, the venturi shroud tends to direct some of the airstream outward, onto, and through the fins of the cooling coil, and, this venturi effect also tends to evaporate some of the water on the fins, which provides even more cooling for the refrigerant.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method of precooling the Freon in an air conditioning system, to provide a more efficient system, thereby allowing for less usage of the system to cool an area, with the resulting savings in energy usage.
It has been customary to cool the Freon in air conditioning systems by routing the Freon through a condenser unit, consisting of a sealed coil, through which the Freon is routed, and over which air, water, or other fluids are passed for cooling the Freon. The Freon, thus cooled, is pressurized by a compressor system, until the Freon is converted from a gas to a liquid. This conversion from a gas to a liquid releases heat from the reaction, and this heat is sometimes used to heat an area. In the case of air conditioning, this heat is usually allowed to dissapate in the immediate area. The pressurized liquid Freon is now pumped through an expansion valve, and is subjected to atmospheric pressures, which causes the liquid to re-convert to a gas, and this reaction of converting a liquid Freon to a gas Freon requires heat. The required heat is extracted from the outer surroundings of the expansion valve, and, as a fan blows air over this expansion valve compartment, heat is extracted from the air, thusly cooling the air, and this cooled air is blown outward from the air conditioner into the area to be cooled.
Now, this cooled air having lost some of it's ability to hold water vapor, releases some of its moisture, called the condensation process, and this condensed water, now in liquid form itself, is drained away from the air conditioning system, and is normally wasted. The Freon, now in a gaseous state, is re-routed to the condensing unit, on to the compressor, on to the expansion valve, and a new cycle is repeated.
It has been known for many years in the industry that a lower temperature liquid refrigerant produces a more efficient air conditioning cycle, and, several methods of improving the efficiency of this cycle have been taught in the industry. Engalitcheff, in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 254,149 teaches a water injected cooling tower, that can be used to reduce the temperature of cooling water, or other refrigerants. However, such a device would be too large, and bulky, for use in a normal size domestic, or, commercial air conditioning system. Also, a cooling tower design, taught by Miyamoto in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 284,211 would be somewhat suitable for use with coolants in power plants, or other large installations, but would be impractical for use in typical air conditioning systems.
Bronaugh, in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 296,711, teaches an outdoor condenser cabinet for an air conditioning unit. This unit is designed for use in traditional air conditioning systems, and provides an adequate enclosure for the standard condenser, and condenser cooling fan, however, it does not provide any means of pre-cooling the Freon for the greater efficiency.
Kessler, in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 299,528 teaches an outdoor heat exchanger cabinet which encloses a standard air conditioner condenser, and fan, but, here again, no means of precooling the Freon, before it is pumped through the expansion valve is provided.
Powell, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,541,943, and 4,559,154, teaches an improved coolant for vapor recompression type, and absorption type heat pump systems. This coolant is proposed for use in these systems because of its improved heat transfer characteristics, when compared to the traditional coolants used in heat pumps. While these teachings do represent a proposed improvement in the efficiency of air conditioners, the use Freon is still the major refrigerant today.
Continuing, Walker, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,935 teaches an evaporative cooling system, in which air from two fans is blown on porous belts which have been immersed in water. This system tends to produce more moisture in the air, thereby sabotaging the entire teaching.
Hinton, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,075, teaches another evaporative cooling apparatus, specifically designed for use as its output. In addition, the cooled air, coming from this system is specifically not protected against unpleasant odors, which can be caused by bacteria, and other microorganisms, growing in the evaporation pads, and is clearly not suitable for use in the normal household.
Still another approach is taught by Zimmera, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,497, wherein a portion of the coolant itself is used to provide cooling of the comporessor motor. This method is to be somewhat compared to a perpetual motion device, in that the motor give off heat, when operated, and this heat would be absorbed by the refrigerant system, thereby sabotaging the air conditioning philosophy itself.
It can be seen that many approaches to this problem have been taught in the prior arts, but, none with really good and practical results.


To prevent illegal duplication of an ID containing type mobile unit, and illegal duplication of an IC card for an IC card insertion type mobile unit, in manufacturing a COB device, a public key KE.sub.COB, corresponding to a common secret key KD.sub.COB determined through consultation among communications carriers, is stored into a ROM in an unalterable form. In manufacturing a mobile unit, KE.sub.Cj that corresponds to a secret key KD.sub.Cj uniquely assigned to each communications carrier, is signature-encrypted with KD.sub.COB. The result E(KD.sub.COB, KE.sub.Cj) is entered into a COB device to write in KE.sub.Cj ; the COB device 22 is then assembled, prior to shipment, into the mobile unit into which a mobile unit secret key KD.sub.MSNi and public key KE.sub.MSNi have been stored. In registration of the mobile unit, E(KD.sub.Cj, ID) received from the communications carrier is entered into the COB device 22, thereby writing personal information ID. For a readout, KD.sub.MSNi is input to read out the ID.

For mobile units used for mobile telephones such as car telephones, portable telephones, etc., Japan currently employs a leasing system under which the subscriber leases the mobile equipment from the communications carrier that provides the telephone network, but a purchase system of the mobile equipment is expected to be introduced soon. While it is hoped that the introduction of the purchase system will help to further increase the use of mobile telephones, such problems as illegal duplication of mobile units (clone mobile units) are expected to arise. In fact, other countries where purchase plans are employed are facing such problems.
There are two types of information stored in a memory of a mobile unit: information, such as built-in software, whose contents are identical with other mobile units of the same model, and information different for each individual mobile unit and used to authenticate the mobile unit to the communications network for connection. The former information need not be read out or written in from the outside, and also, the amount of information is large; therefore, it is so designed that external readout or write-in is difficult or impossible. On the other hand, the latter individualized information includes information concerning the telephone number (Mobile Subscriber Number: MSN) assigned to each subscriber of the telephone network, the mobile unit number (Mobile Station Identity: MSI) for identifying the mobile unit, the authentication key (MSN-key) for the communications network to authenticate the subscriber, and the authentication key (MSI-key) for the communications network to authenticate the mobile unit. The amount of such personal information is relatively small. After the mobile unit purchase system is put into effect, it is required when a contract is made between the communications carrier and the subscriber who purchased the mobile unit, that after sale of the product, personal information should be written into the mobile unit for registration with the communications carrier as soon as possible. Therefore, there must be a capability that such personal information is quickly written in and read out from the outside. Furthermore, the personal information must be alterable to allow for a possible future change in the contents of the contract.
In the case of an ID containing type mobile unit in which such personal information is stored in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM contained in the mobile unit, a stand-alone ROM writer is connected to write the information into the internal EEPROM when the contract is made. It is desirable, from the standpoint of promoting the sales of mobile units, that the ROM writer be installed at every mobile unit dealer who is authorized under contract with the communications carrier so that the user who purchased the mobile unit can have the unit registered on the spot without having to take the unit to the communications carrier for registration.
Another method of sale which is desirable from the standpoint of sales promotion is to sell mobile units with no personal information written therein at mass-volume retail stores, so that the user who purchased one from such a store takes his mobile unit to an authorized dealer having the ROM writer and has the personal information written into the mobile unit for registration upon making a contract.
To make such a method of sale possible, the mobile unit must be designed so that personal information can be written in and read out from outside the unit. However, the fact that mobile units with no personal information written in are sold on the market and that the personal information stored in each mobile unit can be read out, means that duplicate units that cannot be distinguished by the communications network can be made easily by reading out the personal information and writing it into other mobile units with no personal information previously written therein.
Even if the personal information is stored in encrypted form so that the contents cannot be recognized, duplicates of mobile units that can be connected to the communications network can be made by simply copying the same contents into other mobile units of the same model. Even if perfect protection can be provided by some means against read out attempts, it is possible to make duplicate units by reading out personal information from a mobile unit of a previous model from which the personal information can be read out, and by writing it into other mobile units with no personal information written therein. Such illegal duplications of registered mobile units would not only make it impossible to collect basic charges that could otherwise be collected, but cause a problem that when a number of such indistinguishable mobile units are simultaneously connected to the communications network, the registration of mobile unit locations would become confused, thus disrupting the communications network system.
To facilitate the contract and registration procedures at the carrier's authorized dealers where the ROM writer is installed, it is desirable that the ROM writer be connected to a terminal installed at the communications carrier via a communication line so that the contract and registration procedures can be performed on-line. This, however, gives rise to the possibility that someone may intercept the communication line. It is therefore necessary to provide some measures so that if intercepted, duplication of mobile units cannot be made by using the intercepted information.
Furthermore, provisions must be made so that even if information known only to the communications carrier or the mobile unit manufacturer leaks out for some reason, duplication of mobile units cannot be made by using the information from one party alone unless the information from the other party is combined with it.
Moreover, for the mobile unit to be connected to the ROM writer via a cable, the mobile unit needs to be provided with a connector for cable connection with the ROM writer; this prevents a reduction in size of the mobile unit. Further, if the type of connector is different for each mobile unit model, the dealer needs to have as many ROM writers as the number of mobile unit models that the dealer carries.
On the other hand, it is planned that the personal information will be stored in an IC card instead of writing it directly into a mobile unit so that the IC card is inserted into a mobile unit for use in communication, allowing the shared use of one mobile unit by plurality of subscribers, or conversely, allowing one subscriber to use a plurality of mobile units. In this case also,the IC card must be made secure from illegal readout and write-in (dead copy), and furthermore, measures must be taken so that illegal duplication of the IC card cannot be made by using the information from one party alone, the communication carrier or the manufacturer, as in the case of the built-in ID type mobile unit.
Since each IC card is identical in physical shape, it can be inserted into any mobile unit. However,when the IC card is inserted into a mobile unit that cannot be connected to the communications network or that is not permitted to be connected to the communications network,such a mobile unit must not operate and transmit illegal radiowaves.
One way this can be accomplished is by storing information on the IC card that restricts the use only to the mobile units approved by the communications carrier for connection. In this case, when an additional mobile unit is approved for connection after the registration of the IC card, a request will have to be made to the communications carrier or its authorized dealer to have additional information written to the IC card in order that the additional mobile unit is able to be used. This imposes a cumbersome procedure on the subscriber.

Method of mobile unit registration and method of IC card registration for mobile communications system, and mobile unit, IC card, and IC card insertion type mobile unit implementing such methods


A bond pad (18, 58) may comprise a base (20, 60) of bondable material. The base (20, 60) may have a periphery (26, 66). A segment of an interconnect (24, 64) may contact an extended section (28, 68) of the periphery (26, 66) to electrically couple the interconnect (24, 64) to the bond pad (18,58). The interconnect (24, 64) may comprise a material less resistive than the bondable material.

Integrated circuit chips often include a number of bond pads to establish electrical contacts between the chips and external devices. The devices may be lead frames, printed circuit boards, interposers and the like.
In accordance with conventional bond pad layout rules, bond pads are indirectly connected to interconnects of the integrated circuit. Typically, bond pads are separated from interconnects by a layer of insulation. A via in the layer of insulation may provide an electrical contact point between the interconnect and the bond pad.
Bond pads generally have a relatively high resistance. This resistance has become increasingly problematic as the performance standards of integrated circuits has increased.


The invention is directed to the mitigation of nuisance insects, predominantly common flies and wasps, attracted to and gathering in discarded food, spills and related waste in garbage receptacles. A solar-powered, programmable or programmed dispenser of an aerosol agent releases the aerosol agent into the waste receptacle at selected intervals. The solar panel acts both as a power source and as a dusk-to-daylight sensor to turn the dispenser system off at night when insect populations are less troublesome but on in the morning to clear any accumulated insects and prepare the receptacle for use during the day. The dispenser system of the invention reduces the exposure of visitors to stings suffered by both patrons of a given establishment as well as the sanitation workers providing for a more enjoyable recreational experience and workplace.

Waste receptacles are used outdoors and indoors in many places for the convenient control of casual waste. Such covers are generally open and unobstructed for convenient use, but they are also open for the emissions of scents, vapors and ingress by foraging insects in search of food. The unpleasant issues of odors and insects that become associated with such open waste containers often dictates the use of swing lids or doors to close the receptacle that can break, cause noise and pose maintenance issues to repair damaged doors.
It would be desirable to have a waste receptacle that could remain open and readily available for use but with some system within the cover that would be available to control insects and/or odors that might be attracted to waste within the receptacle.


The present invention provides a mobile communication terminal comprising a wireless communication module and a host, wherein the wireless communication module further comprises a first interface connector and a module case; the host reserves positions for the insertion of the wireless communication module, and further comprises a second interface connector corresponding to the first interface connector positioned on the wireless communication module; the wireless communication module is connected to the host via the first interface connector and the second interface connector. The present invention also discloses a wireless communication module which is integrated with a SIM card unit. The present invention can reduce the waste in development and application, and shorten the development period of mobile communication terminals. Thus, the wireless communication module interface is simplified so that the wireless communication module interface is easy to use.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a wireless communication module thereof.
2. Description of Prior Art
As the mobile communication technology is rapidly developing, the mobile communication terminals are provided with a space for great improvement. There are two main implementing solutions for the mobile communication terminals.
One solution integrates the chipsets of the base band and radio-frequency circuits. This solution employs a standard single or double circuit board(s) to integrate the periphery circuits including, for example, keyboard, LCD, SIM card and so on. Generally, mobile phones employ this solution. However, such a solution needs a complex design for radio-frequency and base band circuits and the functions of mobile communication have to be completely and finely tested. There are therefore the disadvantages of significantly increasing the cost of development and manufacture and the elongated development period which are adverse to the speedy renewal of the mobile communication products.
The other solution modularizes the wireless communication circuits to design wireless communication modules. The designed modules are welded onto a host. Radio-frequency transmission/reception, base band encoding/decoding and the run of protocol stack are implemented by the stable and mature wireless communication modules. The periphery circuits such as keyboard, LCD, SIM card and the likes perform their control functions through the host. This solution is mainly used in personal information products such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and notebook computers to perform wireless communication functions, but is rarely used in mobile phones at present. For example, in PDA, the wireless communication module is typically welded onto the main board of the host. Also, in some cases, both the wireless communication modules and the host are directly designed on a single printed board and are connected to each other with interface circuits. Such wireless communication modules are also installed inside the host and do not support plug and play neither. Further, there is no standardization of the interface among different manufacturers. The hardware configuration thereof is shown in FIG. 1 which is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of PDA for implementing the wireless communication functions in a prior art. Herein, a wireless communication module 100 includes a radio-frequency antenna socket 102, a radio-frequency processing unit 103, a base band processing and power supply managing unit 104, a memory 105 and so on. The base band processing and power supply managing unit 104 is connected to the radio-frequency processing unit 103 and the memory 105. The base band processing and power supply managing unit 104, the radio-frequency processing unit 103 and the memory 105 collaborate to perform radio-frequency transmission/reception, base band encoding/decoding and the run of protocol stack. The radio-frequency processing unit 103 and the base band processing and power supply managing unit 104 are connected to an interface circuit 111 of a host 110 through an interface circuit 101. The host 110 mainly includes a battery and power supply managing unit 112, a micro control unit (MCU) 113, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 114, a speaker and a microphone (SPK & MIC) 115, a keyboard 116, a SIM card unit 117, a memory 118, a radio-frequency antenna plug 121, and other parts. The battery and power supply managing unit 112 supplies power to the wireless communication module 100 and the other parts of the host 110. The micro control unit (MCU) 113 controls interface communication to perform foundational functions such as LCD display, keyboard control and charging/discharging management. The liquid crystal display (LCD) 114 displays a man-machine interface and performs information interactivity and controls the operations between the user and the PDA. The speaker and the microphone 115 output and input audio signals. The memory 118 stores host program, ring tones, short messages and phone book. The radio-frequency antenna plug 121 connects a radio-frequency antenna 120. The signals transmitted between the interface circuits 101 and 111 comprise power supply signals, control signals, SIM card signals, data and command signals and audio signals. The data and command signals can be transmitted through a standard serial communication interface.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the software architecture of the PDA for implementing the wireless communication function in prior art. A wireless communication module 200 is composed of software modules such as an interface driver program 201, a CSD protocol 202, an AT command interpreter 203, a PPP protocol 204, an IP relay 205, a GSM/GPRS protocol stack 206 and a physical layer 207. These software programs are stored in the memory 105 of the wireless communication module 200 and executed by the base band processing and power supply managing unit 104 in the wireless communication module 200.
Corresponding to the wireless communication module, the host 210 is composed of software modules such as an AT command/data processing program 211, an IP application program 212, a TCP/IP protocol 213, a PPP protocol 214 and an interface driver program 215. These software programs are stored in the memory 118 of the host 210 and executed by the MCU 113 in the host 210.
In PDAs with the same model, the interface driver program 201 in the wireless communication module 200 corresponds to the interface driver program 215 in the host 210. The PDAs with different models may employ different interfaces. Therefore, the interface driver programs for the PDAs with different models are somewhat different. Typically, the interface is a serial communication interface.
The basic operation flow with the above software architecture is as follows. During the transmission of commands, if an application program on the host side intends to interact with a network, a corresponding message is firstly packaged into an AT command by using the AT command processing program. The packaged message is then sent through the interface driver program. On the side of the wireless communication module, after this module receives the AT command through the interface, the AT command is interpreted into an actual protocol message at the AT command interpreter layer, and then is sent to the protocol stack.
During the transmission of data, the data stream is transparently transmitted between the host side and the side of the wireless communication module though the interface, and is not processed by the AT interpreter layer. The user may select CSD or GPRS for data transmission.
(1) If CSD is selected to transmit data outward, the AT command/data processing program on the host side sends an AT command to request the establishment of a communication link through a serial port. After receiving the AT command through the serial port, the AT command interpreter on the side of the wireless communication module performs corresponding processes, and controls the CSD protocol and the GSM/GPRS protocol to make a connection of the data communication link. After establishing the connection, the AT command interpreter on the side of the wireless communication module then returns the network information to the AT command/data processing program on the host side. Then, the AT command/data processing program may transmit the data.
(2) If GPRS is selected to transmit data outward, similarly, the AT command/data processing program on the host side, the AT command interpreter and the GSM/GPRS protocol on the side of the wireless communication module are responsible for the establishment of a link connection. When the connection is established, the data may be transmitted. The transmission of data is achieved by the IP application program, the TCP/IP protocol, and the PPP protocol of the host and the PPP protocol, the IP relay of the wireless communication module.
This solution provides significant advantage that only the design for the host needs to be modified. That is, it is unnecessary repeatedly to design the radio-frequency (RF) and most of the base band circuits in the mobile communication terminals. Further, the research and development period is shortened so that the manufacturers put new products into market more rapidly. However, since the wireless communication module interfaces produced by different manufacturers are not standardized at present, the development for software and hardware are limited in many aspects.
With the development of mobile phones, more and more functions are being provided, and the performance of the mobile phones is getting better and better. For example, more vivid music, color display screen, more fashionable designs, and multimedia applications are provided. The users are largely motivated to change their mobile phones due to these factors. And thus, a disadvantage common to the above-mentioned two solutions becomes apparent. Since both the wireless communication circuit and the mobile communication module are fixedly welded on the printed board, therefore the mobile phone as a whole is thrown away when a user changes his/her mobile phone due to its housing or additional functions. That is, the wireless communication module which can be repeatedly used is also thrown away, resulting in a great waste of resources.
As to other mobile terminals, since the wireless communication interfaces are not standardized, each mobile terminal is equipped with one wireless communication module, which also results in a waste of resources.

Mobile communication terminal and wireless communication module thereof


An image forming apparatus includes a character distinguishing unit, a character string extraction unit, a character specifying unit, a determination unit, an overwrite image data generation unit, and a control unit. The overwrite image data generation unit generates, if it is determined by the determination unit that there is a plurality of matches, overwrite image data that has been overwritten such that a character specified by the character specifying unit is indistinguishable as a character. The control unit performs control using the overwrite image data generated by the overwrite image data generation unit so as to cause a printing unit to perform printing on a printed material set in a printed material setting unit.

This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus.
In an image forming apparatus, which is typified by a digital multifunction peripheral and the like, an image of an original document is read by an image reading unit, and then, a photoreceptor included in an image forming unit is irradiated with light, on the basis of the read image, to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. Thereafter, a developer, such as a charged toner and the like, is fed onto the formed electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, the image is transferred and fixed onto a sheet of paper, and then, the paper is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.
There has been a known technology in which, for a printed material that was output after an image was formed on a sheet of paper, image data is overwritten thereon again such that characters are indistinguishable, thereby preventing leakage of confidential information.
A typical image input and output system includes an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit, an image output unit, a reading and overwriting unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, and an image forming unit. The image reading unit reads an area in a printed material to generate pre-overwrite image data, which is image data before the read area is overwritten. The image output unit outputs an image for concealment to the read area in which reading has been already performed and overwrites the read area, thereby making the read area into a concealment area. The reading and overwriting unit includes an interface unit that outputs the pre-overwrite image data. The communication unit receives the pre-overwrite image data from the reading and overwriting unit. The storage unit stores the pre-overwrite image data received by the communication unit. The image forming unit forms an image, on the basis of the pre-overwrite image data.
Also, a typical image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, an extraction unit, a determination unit, and a painting-out unit. The storage unit stores a specific character that is a painting-out target in advance. The extraction unit extracts, as a painting-out target character, a character that matches the specific character stored in the storage unit from a print medium on which characters have been already printed. The determination unit determines a painting-out area on the print medium, which includes the painting-out target character extracted by the extraction unit. The painting-out unit paints out the painting-out area determined by the determination unit such that the painting-out target character extracted by the extraction unit is indistinguishable.
Also, a typical image processing apparatus includes an already printed surface specifying unit, a printing unit, and an obfuscation printing unit. The already printed surface specifying unit specifies an already printed surface of a sheet of paper that is supplied. The printing unit performs printing on a printable surface of the sheet of paper, which has been specified by already printed surface specifying unit. The obfuscation printing unit performs printing of a plurality of overwrite patterns on the already printed surface of the sheet of paper, which has been specified by the already printed surface specifying unit.


A system for changing the coder-decoder utilized during a voice over Internet protocol telephone call is disclosed. The system includes two local area networks connected to each other via a wide area network. Each local area network includes a router connected to the wide area network, a switch connected to the router and a voice over Internet protocol telephone connected to the switch. The voice over Internet protocol telephones are configured to detect when voice packets are being dropped and utilize a lower bandwidth coder-decoder.

VoIP applications that utilize internal data networks are becoming more prevalent. Typically, VoIP is deployed across a broad network infrastructure including local area networks ("LAN") and wide area networks ("WAN") which serve to connect the LANs to each other. The quality and reliability of VoIP depends on the underlying network's capabilities and limitations. As more network traffic travels between LANs via the WAN, including VoIP telephone calls, the amount of available bandwidth for making additional VoIP telephone calls becomes limited.
When the available bandwidth of the WAN is reduced such that the bandwidth remaining is inadequate to transmit a VoIP telephone call, previous solutions would simply prevent any new VoIP telephone calls from being placed. Therefore, there exists a need for a system that can allow additional VoIP telephone calls to be placed when the available bandwidth of the WAN is reduced below a desired level.

Voice over internet protocol codec adjustment


An electronic content distribution system may include functionality for defining and tracking instructional classes. Assignments may be created for an instructional class, defining electronic content that is to be consumed as part of the assignment. Assignments may be presented to students on devices that the students use for consuming electronic content, such as handheld eBook readers. In addition, the listed assignments may allow the students to easily open the electronic content specified by the assignments, for consumption and study using the same device.

A large and growing population of users is consuming increasing amounts of digital content, such as music, movies, audio books, electronic books, executables, and so on. This is particularly true in academic environments, which are often dominated by younger people who are very comfortable with electronic media.
The widespread adoption of handheld computing devices, such as smartphones, notebook computers, tablet/slate computers, and dedicated electronic book reading devices, has further encouraged the electronic distribution and consumption of media. Increasingly, academic textbooks are available electronically for viewing on handheld readers or other devices.

Course content and assignment distribution


A flat article conveyor system comprises a forming wheel which is provided for operative cooperation with a grooved roller whereby a relatively shallow and temporary longitudinal crease, rib, or spine is formed or impressed within relatively thin pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, as the pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, are conveyed so as to effectively reinforce the piece or unit of mail, or similar article, such that the piece or unit of mail will not experience curl or sag so as not to subsequently rollover when, for example, the particular piece or unit of mail, or similar flat article, is being released from a conveyor mechanism into a stacking or similar accumulation chamber.

The present invention relates generally to flat article conveying or transporting systems, and more particularly to a new and improved system for use within, for example, mail sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking systems wherein flat mail pieces or units, or similar articles, such as, for example, post cards, magazines, and the like, which would otherwise tend to roll over on themselves in a semi-circular form, as a result of being pre-curled, or as a result of undergoing curvature or sagging, after being released from its conveyor mechanism and introduced into a stacking chamber or compartment within which a stack of mail pieces or articles are accumulated, are effectively prevented from undergoing or experiencing such rollover so as not to adversely affect the continuous mail sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking operations.
In connection with mail or similar flat article sorting, transporting, stacking, and handling systems, flat units or pieces of mail, or similar articles, are conventionally transported by means of a suitable conveyor, such as, for example, a belt conveyor comprising a plurality of laterally spaced endless belts, and the transported pieces of mail or similar articles are then adapted to be stacked within stacked arrays or piles formed within a stacking chamber or receptacle compartment. In view of the fact that different types of pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, having, for example, different size or length dimensions, are being continuously conveyed or transported by means of the transport conveyor mechanism toward and into the stacking chamber or compartment, care must be taken so as to ensure the fact that the pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, are in fact serially placed upon each other in a flat stacked array. This mode of operation, however, is not always able to be readily achieved, and therefore, problems or difficulties often occur in connection with maintaining the system continuously operative with minimum operational downtime.
For example, in connection with the conveyance, transportation, and handling of conventional stiff post cards, and due to the inherent structural characteristics of stiff post cards, that is, that they exhibit a somewhat greater degree of rigidity than, for example, twenty pound weight paper or the like, as a result of being fabricated from a different type of paper product than, for example, twenty pound weight paper, post cards are easily bent and also tend to exhibit or undergo curling. Similarly, magazines have a relatively low degree of rigidity and therefore tend to readily curve downwardly or sag. Accordingly, when such flat articles are being transported or conveyed within a conventional mail sorting, transporting, stacking, and handling system, they can cause operational problems or difficulties because they do not tend to remain in a relatively flattened state. More particularly, when such flat articles are released from the belted conveyor transport and allowed to fly toward and into the stacking chamber or compartment so as to be placed flatly on top of or into a stacked array within the stacking chamber or compartment, the curling of the flat articles often causes leading edge portions of the flat articles to roll over onto themselves in flight or to trip and roll over when encountering a trailing edge portion of a previously stacked flat article within the stacking chamber or compartment.
As a result of such encounter, the incoming flat article is not in fact deposited, in a face up flat orientation, on top of the stacked array of previously stacked units or pieces, or similar articles, or is improperly deposited upon the stacked array of mail pieces or units, whereby subsequent flat articles are not properly deposited upon the stacked array of previous flat articles. In this case, jamming of the conveyor and stacking system can occur necessitating an operational stoppage of the system until the jammed state of the mail pieces or units, or similar flat articles, is able to be rectified. Equally important, even if a jam does not occur, subsequent mail fed to the stack will not always come to rest fully and completely on top of the previously curled piece which had come to rest in a semi-circular form because such curled piece then causes the following piece of mail to nest inside of it. This nesting of the following piece partially inside of the previous semi-rolled-over piece causes an out of order mixed situation to occur with respect to the previously serially sorted flat articles.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system, particularly a conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, wherein the various pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be conveyed or transported, for example, from the belt conveyor toward and into the stacking chamber or compartment in a substantially flat state regardless of the inherent tendency of the particular pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, to either curl, curve, or sag, causing partial or complete rollovers, whereby the pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be properly stacked within the stacking chamber or compartment so as not to cause any hindrance to the continuous conveyance or transportation of the pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, whereby, further, the article conveyor or transportation system can operate in a substantially continuous manner without experiencing any jamming and wherein the flat articles all stack serially in their previously sorted order.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, and which effectively overcomes the various disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of current conventional article sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking systems.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, wherein the various pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be conveyed or transported, for example, from the belt conveyor toward and into the stacking chamber or compartment in a substantially flat state regardless of the inherent tendency of the particular pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, to either curl, curve, or sag, causing partial or complete rollovers, whereby the pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be properly serially stacked within the stacking chamber or compartment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, wherein the various pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be conveyed or transported, for example, from the belt conveyor toward and into the stacking chamber or compartment in a substantially flat state regardless of the inherent tendency of the particular pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, to either curl, curve, or sag, causing partial or complete rollovers, whereby the pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be properly stacked within the stacking chamber or compartment so as not to cause any hindrance to the continuous conveyance or transportation of the pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, whereby, further, the article conveyor or transportation system can operate in a substantially continuous manner without experiencing any jamming so as to obviate or render unnecessary required maintenance in order to rectify the problem and to additionally eliminate any operational downtime of the apparatus or system.
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved article conveyor or transportation system which is especially useful in connection with the sorting, transporting, handling, and stacking of different pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, and which comprises a belt conveyor for conveying or transporting the pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, and a stacking chamber or compartment within which the conveyed or transported pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, are stacked. In accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, the system comprises a mechanism by means of which a temporary longitudinal crease, spine, or rib is effectively formed or impressed into the piece or unit of mail, or similar flat article. In this manner, the crease, spine, or rib effectively rigidifies the piece or unit of mail, or similar flat article, so as to prevent any downward curling, curving, or sagging of the particular piece or unit of mail, or similar article, whereby the particular piece or unit of mail, or similar flat article, effectively maintains a substantially flattened state so as to be delivered from the belt conveyor and into the stacking chamber or compartment in a proper disposition. Accordingly, continuous stacking of the various pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, can be serially and continuously achieved without the system experiencing jamming and consequent operational stoppages and necessary downtime due to the need for maintenance or repair, and in addition, the flat articles are stacked flat and serially as pre-sorted without undesired intermixing.
The mechanism for achieving the formation of the crease, spine, or rib within the particular piece or unit of mail, or similar article, comprises a forming wheel which is pivotally mounted upon a support wall of the conveyor system and which is adapted to cooperate with a groove in a roller which is rotatably mounted upon a leading edge support bar of the belt conveyor section disposed immediately upstream of the stacking chamber or compartment. A lifter wheel or roller is operatively associated with and disposed upstream of the forming wheel, and the lifter wheel or roller is adapted to engage relatively thick pieces or units of mail, or similar articles, so as to elevate the forming wheel above the relatively thick piece or unit of mail, or similar article, whereby the forming wheel is effectively removed from its cooperative disposition with respect to the grooved roller such that the relatively thick piece or unit of mail, or similar article, will not have a crease, rib, or spine impressed or formed therein in view of the fact that such relatively thick piece or unit of mail, or similar article, does not require such a crease, spine, or rib to be formed therein in order to maintain its substantially rigidity and flattened state. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the upstream lifter wheel or roller can be eliminated and a suitable actuator can be operatively associated with the forming wheel for lifting the forming wheel out of engagement with the grooved roller when, for example, a piece or unit of mail, or similar article, having a predeterminedly sensed thickness dimension, is detected.


Object images taken for a predetermined period before a shutter key is pressed are stored in a buffer. During the period, past object images taken at every one second are read from the buffer, the read images are displayed in predetermined areas in a through image, and the images in the areas are updated. When the shutter key is pressed, a moving image for the predetermined period is generated from the object images stored in the buffer. Thereby, in a digital camera which records images for a predetermined period acquired just before as the moving image, it is possible to precisely determine a timing to perform the recording and saving instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving-image recording device for recording a moving image, and more specifically, to a moving-image recording device and a moving-image recording method used for a digital camera capable of recording the moving image acquired before a recording instruction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a technology for retro activating a time for click of a shutter even when the time for the click of the shutter has been missed, or a shutter timing has been failed in a digital camera that images and records an object by use of an image pickup element such as a CD or a CMOS sensor has been proposed by the present applicant (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-78452).
In such a technology, a predetermined number of object images taken at even intervals are temporarily stored (cyclically stored) in a buffer such as a semiconductor memory in a recording standby state while sequentially updating them. Stated another way, a temporary storage area (buffer) of a predetermined size is provided in a memory. Object images (frame images) which are cyclically captured are sequentially stored in an empty area of the buffer. Each time when the buffer is full of data (the empty area does not remain), the oldest object image (frame image) is deleted from the buffer to keep the empty area for a new object image (frame image). Then, for example, when a shutter timing has been failed (the time for the click of the shutter has been missed), its user is prompted to perform a switching operation to a shutter timing retroaction mode. In this mode, on a monitor screen that displays a through image of the object in the recording standby state, a series of object images temporarily stored in a buffer memory are displayed sequentially in accordance with key operations, whereby the user is made to select an image at a past arbitrary recording timing desired by the user. Thereafter, the selected image is recorded as a shot image into an image recording medium such as a semiconductor memory card. To store a moving image which is captured before the shutter operation (release operation) is called a PAST capture mode.
On the other hand, most of recent digital cameras generally have not only a still image recording function but also a moving image recording function, and can record a shot moving image as video data in various video formats, including, for example, Motion JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group) format, and MPEG (Moving Picture coding Experts Group) format.
Meanwhile, in the digital camera that enables the retroaction of the time for the click of the shutter as mentioned above, the series of object images cyclically stored in the memory card may be used as a moving image. Accordingly, also in a digital camera having the moving image recording function, a predetermined number of object images taken at even intervals are temporarily and cyclically stored in the memory card, for example, in a recording standby state. As a result, at the moment of a recording and saving instruction by a shutter operation (release operation) or the like, it is possible to record a past moving image with the latest shot object image at the end.
In this case, however, a user cannot know the contents of the moving image to be recorded actually, or the accumulation condition of the object images forming the moving image, the accumulation condition including the number of effective object images (frame images) or a period of time (from the start scene to the end scene) of the object images until the user actually performs a shutter operation, etc. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to determine a timing of the shutter operation, etc. in recording a desired moving image, which has been a problem in the prior art.

Moving-image recording device for recording moving image


Embodiments of the invention disclose a touch display panel and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The touch display panel comprises a color filter substrate. A first conductive layer (1021) is formed on a base substrate (103) of the color filter substrate, and a first insulation layer (1101) is formed on the first conductive layer (1021). A pattern of the first conductive layer (1021) is same as a pattern of a black matrix (104) that is formed on the base substrate (103). A pattern of the first insulation layer (1101) in a display region of the touch display panel is same as a pattern of the first conductive layer (1021) in the display region.

Currently, liquid crystal display (LCD) panel plays a dominant role in the panel display field. The touch function of the LCD panel is generally achieved in "In-Cell" mode or "On-Cell" mode. In the "In-Cell" mode, the component for achieving the touch function is embedded in pixels of the LCD panel. In the "On-Cell" mode, the component for achieving the touch function is formed between a color filter substrate of the LCD panel and a polarizing film corresponding to the color filter substrate.
FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view illustrating a conventional touch display panel in the "On-Cell" mode. In FIG. 1, a reference number 101 refers to a polarizing film, and a reference number 103 refers to a base substrate of the color filter substrate. The base substrate 103 may be made of glass or plastic. A black matrix 104, a color filter layer 105, a common electrode layer 106 and an alignment layer 107 are formed on the base substrate 103. A conductive layer 102 is provided between the polarizing film 101 and the base substrate 103. The conductive layer 102 is used to form a capacitive sensor for achieving the touch function. When a user puts a finger on the polarizing film 101, a coupling capacitance Cf is formed between the finger of the user and the conductive layer 102 due to an electric field caused by the user's body. In addition, further referring to FIG. 1, a reference number 109 refers to an array substrate, and a polarizing film 101 is provided on an outer side of the array substrate 109. Liquid crystal 108 is filled between the array substrate 109 and the color filter substrate. The conductive layer 102 is typically formed of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).
In the structure as shown in FIG. 1, the conductive layer 102 is fabricated on the entire surface of the base substrate 103 of the color filter substrate, and thus the conductive layer 102 reduces the transmittance of the liquid crystal display panel. In addition, since the conductive layer 102 is fabricated on an outer side of the base substrate 103 and is not provided on a same side as the black matrix 104 and the color filter layer 105 formed on the base substrate 103; therefore, a substrate reversal process has to be performed, which increases the complexity of the process.

Touch display panel and fabrication method thereof, and display device

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Embodiments are directed to managing data in a file system. A source bucket that contains a plurality of objects on a cloud computing environment may be determined. The source bucket may be associated with a target directory in the file system based on an integration relationship. Object keys from the object store may be provided based on a query and filter rules such that each object key corresponds to an object in the source bucket that conforms to the filter rules. Source objects in the source bucket may be determined based on the object keys such that each source object corresponds to one of the object keys. Target files that correspond to the source objects may be determined based on the integration relationship. In response to determining changed target files or changed source objects, copying the changed source objects or the changed target files to the target directory.

Modern computing often requires the collection, processing, or storage of very large data sets or file systems. Accordingly, to accommodate the capacity requirements as well as other requirements, such as, high availability, redundancy, latency/access considerations, or the like, modern file systems may be distributed across multiple hosts, storage volumes, networks, or data centers, and so on. Some organizations (for various reasons) may store data as objects in cloud-based object stores. Object stores may enable less expensive long-term storage. Or, in some cases, certain applications used by organization may generate data objects that are stored in object stores. Often object stores behave differently than file systems. Also, in some cases, clients of a distributed file system may require access to data that is stored in an object store or such clients may require file system semantics that are not offered by a cloud-based object store. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Integrating distributed file systems with object stores


A method and apparatus for correcting internally defective devices by routing signals on an I/O line to a spare internal network. Such devices enable a system designer to substitute good internal networks, e.g., memory arrays, for failing internal networks without loss of functionality at the I/O level. A device includes a plurality of I/O lines, a plurality of internal networks, a plurality of multiplexers for routing signals from the individual I/O lines to the individual internal networks, and a multiplex controller for controlling the signal routing. Routing can be performed using multiplexers that operatively interconnect any I/O line with any internal network, multiplexers that shift signals on an I/O line to and adjacent internal network, and/or multiplexers that can shift signals on an I/O through a multiplexer to any other multiplexer, and then to any internal network.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to device architectures. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices, e.g., memory devices, having spare input-output lines and to methods of using such devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
High reliability computers are often required in critical missions for medical, financial, and military applications. Such computers usually include processors and memory devices that manage and manipulate data to achieve mission objectives. Memory devices typically have input-output (I/O) lines that connect to memory "cells" that are organized into arrays. Such memory devices further include support circuitry that can access the individual memory cells by memory addresses and that can WRITE data into and READ data from addressed memory cells. Memory devices are often categorized by how wide their I/O ports are. Common memory device port widths are 4, 8, and 16 lines, which enables 4, 8, or 16 data bits to be input/output at a time.
Due to inherent processing limitations, it is not uncommon for one or more memory cells to be faulty. While a memory device may contain millions of memory cells, if even one memory cell is faulty the memory device is defective. To address this problem some memory device manufacturers have included "redundant" memory cells that can be selectively used to repair faulty primary memory cells. Such repairs have been made by selectively activating "fuses" that are disposed in the memory device. Whenever a fuse is opened, routing logic accesses a redundant memory cell or array of redundant memory cells instead of the defective primary memory cell.
Although redundant memory cells are useful in improving manufacturing yields, even after manufacture memory devices can fail. Most failures are caused by a single bit error that results from the failure of a single memory cell or associated banks of memory cells. Logic is often utilized to detect faulty memory cells, typically during memory initialization e.g., during power-on or following a reset. When a memory cell is found faulty the memory address associated with that memory cell (or cells) is marked as "bad" and not used. Unfortunately, the computer may crash or become unusable until the failed memory device can be replaced. Such problems are simply not acceptable in mission critical systems.
One approach to improving reliability is to implement memory I/O with error correcting Code (ECC) capabilities. While this can greatly enhance reliability by enabling error correction and detection, additional memory to store the error correcting code is required. By using error correction and detection a defect on any particular I/O line can be found and corrected. Error correcting more than one I/O line, while possible, becomes fairly complicated and requires more memory. Typically, error correction is limited to one line while error detection is limited to two lines.
While common memory device port widths are 4, 8, and 16 lines, modern high-end processors have 32 or 64 (or greater) bit wide ports. To accommodate such port widths, memory devices are often arranged into memory modules. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art dual-inline memory module (DIMM) 100 that is used to supply memory for a 64-bit wide processor. The DIMM 100 includes 5 memory devices, the memory devices 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 that are mounted on a circuit card 112. All of the memory devices are x16 (have 16 I/O lines). All of the I/O lines of the memory devices 102, 104, 106, 108 connect to DIMM contacts 116. Those memory devices provide 64 I/O port connections for the processor (which is not shown). The memory device 110 only connects 8 of its 16 I/O lines to the DIMM contacts 116. As shown, the other 8 I/O lines 120 are unused. Thus, DIMM 100 provides 72 I/O lines while 8 I/O lines are unused and represent wasted potential. While all I/O connections are shown in FIG. 1, in practice both sides of the DIMM 100 have contacts.
Therefore, a system architecture that makes use of unused I/O lines would be beneficial. Also beneficial would be a device architecture that enables a system supplier to make use of all available I/O pins. Also beneficial would be memory devices that enable a system designer to correct a memory system for defects.

Device having spare I/O and method of using a device having spare I/O