The permissible degree of opening of a cabinet door is limited by the interengagement between a cover member for an upper door hinge and abutment structure carried by the door itself. In a preferred embodiment, the abutment structure is defined by another cover member that is secured upon an upper portion of the door. The hinge cover member is provided with a tab that projects into a cavity or recessed section of the door cover member and a portion of this projecting tab is directly engaged by a portion of the door cover member to limit the permissible angular door movement. Furthermore, the hinge cover member is preferably mounted for movement relative to the cabinet. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge cover member is pivoted in direct response to engagement with the first abutment portion of the door cover member and the door is prevented from further pivotal movement when the first abutment portion of the door cover member engages a stop portion defined by the projecting tab of the hinge cover member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cabinets wherein access to an interior compartment of the cabinet is provided by opening a pivotally mounted door and, more particularly, to a cover assembly for at least an upper hinge unit used to pivotally mount the door, which cover assembly also functions to limit the degree of opening of the door.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In the art of cabinets, it is extremely common to provide access to one or more compartments defined within a cabinet by pivotally mounting a door for movement between open and closed positions upon the cabinet. For example, a refrigerator cabinet will include one or more doors which are pivotally mounted through hinge assemblies that define generally vertically extending pivot axes such that the door(s) can be readily shifted relative to walls of the cabinet to provide selective access to interior fresh food and/or freezer compartments. In a typical refrigerator cabinet arrangement, an upper hinge is provided that includes a first portion fixed at a top wall of the cabinet and a second, hinge axis defining portion that is connected to an upper portion of the door and about which the door can rotate. Because such an upper hinge is generally, readily visible, it has become common to fix a cover atop the cabinet that simply extends over the first and second hinge portions for aesthetic purposes.
In many instances in the art of cabinets, it is desirable to limit the degree to which a cabinet door can pivot open, whether it be for the sake of convenience in enabling the door to be readily closed, to protect an object positioned adjacent the cabinet, to prevent direct damage to the door or otherwise. In the art of refrigerators, limiting door movement can be of particular concern since a typical refrigerator door is generally provided with item supporting shelves and therefore the door can be quite heavy such that a fair amount of momentum can be developed if the door is permitted to swing open an overly unrestricted amount. For at least these reasons, it has also been heretofore proposed to provide stop arrangements for limiting the angular degree to which cabinet doors can open. Such known stop arrangements have generally taken the form of either fixed abutment members which are directly engaged by the door upon a predetermined degree of opening or elements which tend to bias the door closed with increasing force as the door is progressively opened. Unfortunately, these known stop arrangements simply add to the cost of the overall cabinet, can be rather complex in nature and actually detract from the overall aesthetics of the cabinet.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art of cabinets for a stop arrangement for limiting the degree to which a cabinet door can be pivoted which is simple in construction and has an associated cost factor that is greatly outweighed by its advantageous aesthetic qualities. In addition, there is a need for such a door stop arrangement, particularly in the art of refrigerators, which can be incorporated without requiring alterations to the basic cabinet construction and therefore can be readily retrofitted to existing cabinets if desired.


The invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising nanotubes and nanopores for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing, in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial organs, and related therapeutics. The invention provides lock-in nanostructures comprising a plurality of nanopores or nanotubes, wherein the nanopore or nanotube entrance has a smaller diameter or size than the rest (the interior) of the nanopore or nanotube. The invention also provides dual structured biomaterial comprising micro- or macro-pores and nanopores. The invention provides biomaterials having a surface comprising a plurality of enlarged diameter nanopores and/or nanotubes.

It is known that the nano-scaled materials exhibit extraordinary electrical, optical, magnetic, chemical and biological properties, which cannot be achieved by micro-scaled or bulk counterparts. The development of nano-scaled materials has been intensively pursued in order to utilize such properties for various technical applications including biomedical and nano-bio applications.
Ti and Ti alloys are corrosion resistant, light, yet sufficiently strong for load-bearing, and are machinable. They are one of the few biocompatible metals which osseo-integrate (direct chemical or physical bonding with adjacent bone surface without forming a fibrous tissue interface layer). For these reasons, they have been used successfully as orthopaedic (orthopedic) and dental implants. See Handbook of biomaterial properties, ed. J. Black and G. Hasting, London; Chapman & Hall, 1998; Ratner et al., Biomaterials Science, San Diego, Calif., Academic press, 1996.
The bioactivity of Ti, such as the relatively easy formation of hydroxyapatite type bone mineral on Ti is primarily caused by the occurrence of Ti oxide on the surface of Ti and its alloys. Among the various crystal structures of Ti oxide, the anatase phase is known to be better than the rutile and other phases. See, e.g., Uchida (2003) J. Biomedical Materials Res. 64:164-170. Surface treatments such as roughening by sand blasting, formation of anatase phase TiO2, hydroxyapatite coating, or other chemical treatment have been utilized to further improve the bioactivity of Ti surface and enhance bone growth.
While the fabrication of vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes on Ti substrate was demonstrated by anodization process, an investigation of such titanium oxide nanotubes for bone growth or other bio application has not been attempted. An investigation of such titanium oxide nanotubes for bone growth type bio application has only recently been reported, showing a significantly enhanced bone growth on TiO2 nanotube array structure. See, e.g., Oh (2005) "Growth of Nano-scale Hydroxyapatite Using Chemically Treated Titanium Oxide Nanotubes", Biomaterials 26:4938-4943. Patients who go through Ti implant operations for repair of hip joints, broken bones, or dental implants often have to wait for many months of slow bone growth recovery before they are cured enough to get off the confinement on a bed or crutches and have a normal life. Accelerated bone growth would thus be very beneficial for such patients.
The structure of the anodized TiO2 nanotube array, such as the diameter, spacing and height of nanotubes, is not always easy to control during the electrochemical anodization process of pore formation. For example, the largest reported diameter of TiO2 nanotubes is less than approximately (about) 100 to 150 nm. While a portion of filopodia, the thin branches of growing cells, can get into such a small pores and enhance cell adhesion/growth, the approximately 100 nm regime of dimension is too small to accommodate the main part of typical osteoblast and many other cells as these have a much larger dimension of micrometers. In addition, the desired insertion of biological agents such as biomolecular growth factors, cytokines, collagens, antibiotics, antibodies, drug molecules, small molecules, inorganic nanoparticles, etc. within the pores for further accelerated cell/bone growth or for medical therapeutics can be facilitated if the inner diameter of the pores are made somewhat larger. Therefore, an ability to artificially design and construct a biocompatible nanostructure, e.g., with a specific desired nanotube diameter, nanopore dimension and spacing, is desirable for further controlled and accelerated growth of bones and cells. For orthopaedic and dental applications, a dual structure of larger dimension pores, which in one aspect can be of re-entrant shape, in combination of nanostructured surface would be desirable to have both accelerated cell/bone growth and physically locked-in bone configuration in the re-entrant large pores for improved mechanical durability on tensile or shear strain. Furthermore, if such a biocompatible nanostructure can be made to easily accommodate biological agent storage in the nano/micro pores to enhance multifunctional roles to additionally accelerate bone and cell growth, its practical usefulness can be much enhanced for various biomedical applications.
Coating of bioactive materials such as hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate on Ti surface is a commonly used technique to make the Ti surface more bioactive for bone growth purposes. See, e.g., Shirkhanzadeh (1991) J. Materials Science Letters volume 10; de Groot (1987) J. Biomedical Materials Res. 21:1375-1381; Cotell (1992) J. of Applied Biomaterials 8:87-92. However, the fatal drawback of these currently available coating techniques is that such a flat and continuous coatings tend to fail by fracture or de-lamination at the interface between the implant and the coating as an adhesion failure, or at the interface between the coating and the bone, or at both boundary interfaces. Thick film coatings tends to introduce more interface stresses at the substrate-coating interface, especially in view of the lack of strong chemical bonding or the absence of common elements shared by the substrate (e.g., Ti implant) and the coating material. See, e.g., Yang (1997) J. Biomedical Materials Res. 36:39-48. It would thus be desirable if the interface is bonded with an improved and integrated structure, for example, with a locked-in configuration with a much increased adhesion area, and as a discrete, less continuous layer to minimize interface stress and de-lamination.
An additional, worthy consideration of bone growth/repair implants is the ability of the implants to withstand a tensile or shear stress, which tends to break off the interface bonding between the implant and the bone that is allowed to grow on the implant surface. It would thus be desirable if the surface geometry of the implant is improved so that not only nanoscale interfacial adhesions occur, but microscale and macroscale lock-in structure is provided to guard against slippage of the implant on tensile stress or breakage of the bond on shear stress.
Accelerated cell growth is also desirable not only for bones but also for a variety of cells including liver cells, kidney cells, blood vessel cells, skin cells, periodontal cells, stem cells, and so forth. Liver in human body is the largest gland and a dynamic organ which serves several important functions, working closely with many fundamental biological systems and bio-processes in the body. The liver is like the main chemical factory and food storehouse in human body, as it helps the body digest food and help purify the blood of the poisons and wastes. The complex functions associated with the liver include; (a) The regulation of blood glucose level, lipids and amino acids, (b) The production and secretion of bile, red blood cells, blood proteins (such as albumin, globulin, fibrinogen), cholesterol, and glucose, (c) The purification of blood by removing toxins, wastes, unnecessary hormones, and hemoglobin molecules, (d) The storage of blood, vitamins and minerals.
The parenchymal cells known as hepatocytes are the major cells populated in the liver. In additions, several other cells such as endothelial cells, adipocytes, fibroblastic cells and Kupffer cells are also included in the liver.
A significant portion of the human population (e.g., about one in ten people) has been afflicted with liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver cancer, and acute or chronic liver failure. Although liver transplantation is an optional treatment method, there is a very limited supply of donor organs, and the medical and associated costs for the transplant procedure and post-operation immunosuppressive drug therapy are considerable.
Many research investigations related to liver cell culture in vitro have been conducted to figure out the problem often caused by long-term culture of liver cells. Cultured liver cells can be useful for hepatocytes transplantation, implantable constructs and bioreactor production. The primary cultures of rat hepatocytes have been extensively used to research the effects of potential toxins on enzyme leakage, metabolism, and cellular membranes. See, e.g., Grisham (1979) International Review of Experimental Pathology 20:123-210; Acosta (1981) Biochemical Pharmacology 30:3225-3230. However, there are a number of known drawbacks about long-term liver cell culture as some loss of liver function is frequently observed. So far, there has been no successful means of proliferating healthy liver parenchymal cells.
In vitro culture of adult hepatocytes does not show prolonged ability to produce albumin and display cytochrome P-450 enzyme activity. In suspension culture, the viability of hepatocytes and their cytochrome P-450 enzyme activity declines gradually as a function of incubation time. In addition, cell division usually is limited to the first 24-48 hr of culture after which the cell division is no longer significant. See, e.g., Sirica (1980) Pharmacology Review 31:205-228; Clayton (1983) Molecular and Cellular Biology 3:1552-1561; Chapman (1973) J. Cell Biology 59:735-747. In a two-dimensional culture system, the viability of adult hepatocytes adhered to the culture plate show somewhat longer activity periods than other culture systems, but the functionality of hepatocytes decreased rapidly. See, e.g., Deschenes (1980) In Vitro 16:722-730.
To improve hepatocyte growth and prolong liver-specific functions in vitro, various kinds of matrices have been studied, such as type I and IV collagen substrates, homogenized liver biomatrix (see, e.g., Reid (1980) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 349:70-76), sandwich-shaped collagen substrate composed of two layers of type I collagen, and fibronectin coated plates. See, e.g., Michalopoulos (1975) Experimental Cell Res. 94:70-78, Bissell (1987) J. Clinical Investigation 79:801-812; Dunn (1989) FASEB J. 3:174-177; Deschenes (1980) In Vitro 16:722-730. Even though many of these experimental approaches have demonstrated an extended viability of hepatocyte and the stability of liver specific function under in vivo environment, they are still not satisfactory enough for practical applications.
An alternative way, which allows liver cells to possess some long-term viability and liver-specific functionality, utilized co-culturing liver parenchymal cells with a diversity of structurally supportive, non-parenchymal stromal cells or non-hepatic stromal cells. See, e.g., Allen (2005) Toxicological Sciences 84:110-119; Bhatia (1998) Biotechnology Progress 14:378-387. Adult hepatocytes co-cultured with endothelial cells of the same species showed good maintenance of liver-specific functions for several weeks in vitro, even though they did not show significant expansion in cell population. See articles by Guguen-Guilluozo (1983) Experimental Cell Res. 143:47-54; Begue (1983) Biochemical Pharmacology 32:1643-1646. In addition, rat hepatocytes which were co-cultured with human fibroblasts and endothelial cells were reported to exhibit stable cytochrome P-450 activity for more than 10 days. See, e.g., Kuri-Harcuch and Mendoza-Figueroa (1989) Differentiation 41:148-157; Begue (1983) Biochemical Pharmacology 32:1643-1646. Therefore, mixed hepatocyte co-culture systems with non-liver derived cells may provide microbiological environments similar to those in vivo by optimizing cell-cell interactions. However, there are still problems about the nature of non-liver derived cells. The viability and functional activities of co-cultured hepatic primary cell can be prolonged in vitro, but primary cell proliferation is limited or absent in these system, which is a critical flaw. Even though several reports indicate that non-parenchymal liver cells may express functions similar to hepatocytes, the nature of non-liver derived cells co-cultured with liver primary cells has not been established unequivocally. See, e.g., Grisham (1980) Annals of the NY Acad. Sci. 349:128-137. It is therefore highly desirable to develop culture methods and culture devices that can allow artificial in vitro (or in vivo) growth of healthy, fully functional and long-lasting liver cells that can be transplanted to the patients in need of liver cells.
There is also a critical need for an artificial liver device that can remove toxins and improve immediate and long-term survival of patients suffering from liver disease. An artificial liver device can be useful as a temporary artificial liver for patients awaiting a liver transplant, and also provide support for post-transplantation patients until the grafted liver functions adequately to sustain the patient. One of the major roadblocks to the development of an effective artificial liver device is the lack of a satisfactory liver cell line that can provide the functions of a liver.
Yet another benefit of being able to culture healthy liver cells is to meet the demands for supply of the cells for toxicity testing of enormous numbers of new or experimental drugs, chemicals, and therapeutics being developed in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. With the unique toxin-filtering capability of liver cells, any toxicity of a new drug can be manifested first by the reaction of the liver cells. An array of liver cells can thus be utilized as a fast testing/screening vehicle to basically simultaneously evaluate the potential toxicity of many new drugs and compounds.
Two-dimensional and three-dimensionally cultured cells are useful not only for liver cell related applications, but for producing a number of other cells in a healthy and accelerated manner. There are needs to supply or implant various types of cells including bone cells, liver cells, kidney cells, blood vessel cells, skin cells, periodontal cells, stem cells, and other human or animal organ cells.
A fast growth and supply of cells especially rare cells, such as stem cell enrichment, can be crucial for many potential therapeutic applications as well as for enhancing the speed of advances in stem cell science and technology. In addition, fast detection and diagnosis of disease cells or possible bio-terror cells (such as epidemic diseases, anthrax or SARS) from a very small or trace quantity of available cells can be accomplished if the cell growth speed can be accelerated.

Compositions comprising nanostructures for cell, tissue and artificial organ growth, and methods for making and using same

The Regents of the University of California


Disclosed herein are through-the-lens tracking systems and methods which can enable sub-pixel accurate camera tracking suitable for real-time set extensions. That is, the through-the-lens tracking can make an existing lower precision camera tracking and compositing system into a real-time VFX system capable of sub-pixel accurate real-time camera tracking. With this enhanced level of tracking accuracy the virtual cameras can be used to register and render real-time set extensions for both interior and exterior locations.

Combining real world imagery with additional imagery from another source requires careful control over which sections of each image are to be used in the final composite image. One common application is to combine images generated by a computer with images acquired from a traditional motion picture, video or digital camera. In order to seamlessly combine the images, the camera parameters from the point of view of the virtual scene camera must be closely matched to the parameters of the live action camera. In addition, for use in on set and live applications, the match between virtual and live action sceneries must be completed quickly, preferably in a matter of milliseconds in order to be useful at standard motion picture and television production frame rates of 24 to 30 frames per second.
Tracking the live action camera and lens may be achieved in a variety of ways. (See U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/832,480, filed Jul. 8, 2010, entitled "Methods and Systems for Calibrating an Adjustable Lens," which was published on Feb. 3, 2011 as Publication No. 20110026014, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,310,663 ('663) and whose entire contents are hereby incorporated by reference.) The measurement of the live action camera's position and orientation may be achieved with optical encoders, by solving the pose of fiducial markers located overhead or in the scene, with inertial accelerometers, by matching high contrast points from one image to the next, and many other methods common in the field.
Real-time measuring methods that measure the angular tilt of the camera (pan, tilt and roll) at the camera itself share a common problem. Small errors in angular measurement become large positional errors when projected out several feet, which is where the majority of live action and virtual scenery seams are located. This can be seen clearly in a composited image as a shifting or sliding between the virtual and live action elements when the camera is moved.
A traditional method of solving this high precision seam is to use post-production software tools, such as Syntheyes, 3D Equalizer, Boujou, PF Track, or Nuke that locate and track multiple high contrast regions from one frame to the next. By analyzing the relative motion of several points on the screen, the live action camera motion and lens parameters can be derived and the motion of the virtual background matched cleanly to the live action foreground.
This process has several limitations. Firstly, if an actor walks in front of the high contrast area being tracked, the camera solution mathematics can easily be disrupted. Secondly, the process of measuring the motion by tracking the individual pixels of the high contrast part of the image is both fragile and time-consuming. It typically cannot be computed in real time, and if a frame of the live action image has a lighting change where the pattern is unrecognizable, the artist must re-specify the high contrast area at the frame of failure to continue the process. In fact, the process of solving an accurate camera track from an arbitrary moving background can exceed the time required to complete the rest of the shot due to the handwork required.
In addition, if the live action camera is zoomed in, the high contrast area that was being tracked can simply disappear from the image, resulting in the camera failing to track the object. It is notoriously difficult for the algorithms used to derive camera intrinsic parameters from shots where the camera is simultaneously changing its focal length ("zooming in") and translating.
Accordingly, the pure pixel tracking based methods do not work well for the demands of real-time visual effects processing, which must be very rapid to compute as well as robust to the frame-by-frame changes in the live action video image and changes in the adjustment of the cinema lens being used to record the image.
A prior art system is the PREVIZION system, which is available from Lightcraft Technology, LLC. of Venice, Calif. The PREVIZION system includes a camera tracking system, a lens calibration system, a real-time compositing system, and a built-in 3D renderer. An example of a publication disclosing the prior art PREVIZION system is the PREVIZION product brochure, entitled "Previzion Specifications 2011," published on Apr. 8, 2011, and whose contents are incorporated by reference.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Technology is described for a durable and provably complete archival of streaming data for a potentially indefinite retention period. According to the present technology, streaming data may be prepared for storage to meet completeness and consistency requirements that may result in once-and-only-once delivery and serialization of the streaming data. In one example, a storage preparation service may archive a data stream in real-time to a first data store that provides eventual write consistency and use another data store to provide a consistent view of the data. The storage preparation service may capture metadata that satisfies the completeness requirements and may provide conflict resolution to ensure write consistency.

Streaming data may include data that is generated continuously by one or more data sources. Typically, the data sources send the data in data records, and in small sizes (order of Kilobytes). Streaming data may include a wide variety of data such as log files generated by customers using mobile or web applications, ecommerce purchases, in-game player activity, information from social networks, financial trading floor data, geospatial services, and telemetry from connected devices or instrumentation in data centers.
Often, the data is processed sequentially and incrementally on a record-by-record basis or over sliding time windows. The data can be used for a wide variety of analytics including correlations, aggregations, filtering, and sampling. Streaming data processing may use two layers: a storage layer and a processing layer. The storage layer may support record ordering and strong consistency to enable fast, inexpensive, and replayable reads and writes of large streams of data.


A needle is guided to a target along a pre-determined needle insertion trajectory. A method that utilizes a fluoroscope can be used to locate the target. The target can be an internal structure within the human body. A device can be used with the fluoroscope to aim and insert a needle or sharp probe along the pre-determined trajectory to the target. By using the device with the fluoroscope, a user can receive real time visual confirmation of contact between the needle and the target.

Many medical procedures are undertaken through small tracts formed within a patient's tissue. Such procedures generally are referred to as "minimally invasive." In order to form the tract running from outside of the patient to a target within the patient, a probe typically is inserted in the initial stages of a procedure. This probe extends from the surface of the patient's skin to the target inside the patient's body. Later in the procedure, the passageway formed by the probe can be widened to accommodate other and larger diameter medical devices necessary for the procedure.
Typically, inserting the probe is a time-consuming procedure. The probe must be positioned properly, typically under the guidance of an energy emitting medical device, such as an x-ray emitting device, and a fluoroscope. X-ray energy passes through the patient's body and differentially impinges on a fluoroscope receiver. In response, the fluoroscope receiver generates electronic signals that are transmitted to a fluoroscope display screen. Signals received by the fluoroscope display screen excite fluorescent material, such as calcium tungstate, to create a screen display of the body and probe. The probe is visualized on the fluoroscope screen as it enters the patient. The probe appears on the screen because it does not allow the energy to pass through it (i.e., it is opaque to the X-ray energy).

Methods and apparatus for guiding a needle


An improved riding crop that allows a horseback rider to retain the crop on her hand without needing to tightly grip the crop includes a rod having opposite ends, a clapper fixed at one or both ends of the rod, a grip fixed to the rod or slidably retained on the rod, and an elastic cord extending from opposite ends of the grip and through an adjustable cord lock. Other preferred embodiments include a clapper fixed at each of the opposite ends of the rod, and a grip slidably retained on the rod between a clapper at one end of the rod and a stop located between the opposite end of the rod and the midpoint of the rod, which allow a rider to use either end of the crop for cueing the horse.

A riding crop is a type of whip used in horseback riding to supplement or amplify other cues communicated to a horse by a rider. Riding crops usually consist of a rod, typically about 60 to 70 millimeters in length, with a grip or handle fixed at one end, and a clapper, comprising a pair of overlapping leather tongues, fixed at the other end. The rod is typically comprised of fiberglass reinforced composite material to provide appropriate strength, durability and flexibility. The leather tongues strike against each other, making a clapping noise, when properly struck against the horse's rear section. In general, it is the clapping sound that cues or stimulates the horse to respond as commanded rather than the force of the strike. A typical riding crop is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,670. U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,391 describes a combined riding crop and longeing whip.
There are certain disadvantages associated with the use of known riding crops. Because it is difficult to grip both reins and the typical riding crop simultaneously for an extended period of time, riders often stow the crop in their boot, a pocket or other location until it is needed. However, this results in a delay between the time the crop is needed and the time it is in hand and ready for use. Further, there is a significant risk that the crop will be dropped as it is being retrieved. As another alternative to constantly gripping the crop during horseback riding or stowing it when it is not needed, the rider could allow the crop to dangle from a strap looped around the rider's wrist. However, a crop dangling from a strap looped around a wrist of a rider tends to flop or whip around, often violently, during aggressive riding. This can be annoying, distracting and even dangerous.


A non-stoichiometric clathrate of lipid and sulfur has been shown to effectively stabilize nerve cell membranes. As such, said compound has proven useful in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders such as, addiction, depression, autism, Tourette's syndrome, and the like.

Dr. Emanuel Revici in his book Research in Physiopathology as a Basis of Guided Chemotherapy described a method of preparing sulfur. His process involved the formation of hydropersulfides. He also described the use of other sulfur containing compounds such as; alkyl sulfides, colloidal sulfur, organic thio compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts such as ethylene trithiocarbonate, thioglyceraol, thioglycol, and the like.
Utilizing a different method of preparation of a substance was formed that has no evidence of ionic bonding, but instead has physical characteristics that constitute by definition a liquid crystal. The reaction itself is non-stoichiometric. The resulting compound is best described as a non-stoichiometric clathrate with no evidence of ionic bonding. As a result, this unique compound has broad effects on neurophysiology that could not have been predicted by analysis of prior art.

Compositions for the treatment of neurological disorders


An atomic clock may include substantially isolated particles that are capable of exhibiting hyperfine transitions. An alignment device of the clocks may establish a predominant direction of spin of the particles. The clocks may include an excitation device to, at regular intervals of time, cause the particles to undergo the hyperfine transitions by exciting the particles. A detection device of the clocks may detect the hyperfine transitions of the particles. In an aspect, the particles may be included in a layer over a substrate. In an aspect, the detection device may include a magnetoresistive sensor. In an aspect, the atomic clock may fit within one cubic millimeter. Methods of making the atomic clocks and systems in which the atomic clocks may be employed are also disclosed.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the invention relate to the field of time keeping devices. In particular, one or more embodiments of the invention relate to the field of atomic clocks.
2. Background Information
Atomic clocks have been around for many years. Early atomic clocks were manufactured in the 1940's.
Atomic clocks may keep time based on the hyperfine interaction between the outer electron(s) and the nuclear spin of an atom. The use of the hyperfine interaction generally allows extremely accurate time keeping. By way of example, some atomic clocks are able to keep time with a precision of 1 part in 1015, or better.
The ability to keep time so accurately has resulted in atomic clocks having numerous industrial applications. Representative applications include, but are not limited to, time keeping for wireless communication, networking, and global positioning systems (GPS), to name just a few examples.
However, many of the atomic clocks that are presently in widespread use tend to be relatively large and to have relatively complicated designs that are not very conducive to miniaturization. Much of the innovation in atomic clock design has focused primarily on increasing the time keeping accuracy of the atomic clocks, often at the expense of increased design complexity and/or insignificant reductions in the size of the atomic clocks. The large size and/or complex designs of the atomic clocks may tend to limit the use of atomic clocks in certain situations, such as, for example, in small portable electronic devices that need to be manufactured relatively inexpensively and that may have limited battery power available.


An article for connecting a fluid conduit and a fluid container includes a receptacle configured to receive the fluid conduit. The receptacle has a base defining an opening for providing communication between the container and the fluid conduit and a sealing surface at least partially surrounded by a wall extending from the base. The wall is also configured to extend about the fluid conduit.

This invention relates to fittings, and more particularly to fittings for connecting a fluid conduit and a container.
Generally, fittings can be used to connect lengths of piping or tubing together. Frequently, one end of a pipe or tube is fluidly connected to some form of fluid reservoir and the other end is fluidly connected to process piping or tubing, e.g., to direct fluid toward or away from the reservoir. In-line connectors connect ends of piping or tubing together using a sealing gasket positioned there-between to form a seal that is distally spaced from the reservoir. The seal can be a critical feature of the assembly, particularly in high purity applications.


A method for forming a semiconductor structure having an opening is provided. First, a substrate is provided, wherein a first region and a second region are defined on the substrate and an overlapping area of the first region and the second region is defined as a third region. A pattern density of the first region is substantially greater than that of the second region. Then, a material layer is formed on the substrate. A first hard mask and a second hard mask are formed on the material layer. The first hard mask in the first region is removed to form a patterned first hard mask. The second hard mask in the third region is removed to form a patterned second hard mask. Lastly, the material layer is patterned by using the patterned second hard mask layer as a mask to form at least an opening in the third region only.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a semiconductor structure having an opening, and more particularly, to a method that uses two lithography processes to define a first region and a second region so that the formed opening is formed in the overlapping area of the first region and the second region.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In semiconductor manufacturing processes, in order to transfer an integrated circuit layout onto a semiconductor wafer, the integrated circuit layout is first designed and formed as a photo-mask pattern. The photo-mask pattern is then proportionally transferred to a photoresist layer positioned on the semiconductor wafer.
In recent years, with the increasing miniaturization of semiconductor devices, the design rule of line width and space between lines or devices has become finer. However, the width is subject to optical characteristics. To obtain fine-sized devices in the exposure, the interval between transparent regions in a mask is scaled down with device size. When the light passes through the mask, diffraction occurs, which reduces the resolution. Moreover, when light passes through the transparent regions of a mask having different interval sizes, the light through the regions having small interval sizes is influenced by the transparent regions having large interval sizes, which results in a deformation of the transfer pattern.
A double-exposure technique has been developed in recent years. The double-exposure technique involves decomposing a target pattern into two separated patterns, which are then transferred to a photoresist layer respectively by two exposure processes. Since the pitch of the decomposed pattern is larger, the pattern can be formed by current exposure systems. However, the patterns are formed by two separated lithography processes, so the two sets of patterned may not be identical. For example, one set of patterns formed by one lithography process may be larger than another set of patterns formed by another lithography process that may be smaller. Moreover, the spacing between two set of patterns may become different. This can seriously affect the quality of devices.

Method for forming semiconductor structure having opening


A trip unit in a miniature circuit breaker includes a magnetic yoke and a bimetal mounted on the outside of the yoke. The bimetal is welded at one end to a load terminal that leads to a terminal connector and at the other end to a pigtail. The pigtail, instead of the bimetal, passes through the yoke for connection to the blade of the circuit breaker. To induce a higher magnetic field for faster tripping, a second pigtail may be passed through the yoke in which one end of the second pigtail is connected to the load terminal near the terminal connector and the other end is connected to the bimetal near the load terminal connection point. The load terminal may include at least two parts, one part including the adjustment screw and the other part including the terminal screw. These parts may be separated by air or an insulator.

Circuit breakers provide automatic current interruption to a monitored circuit when undersired overcurrent conditions occur. These overcurrent conditions include, for example, arc faults, overloads, ground faults, and short-circuits. In a thermal magnetic circuit breaker, an overcurrent is detected when the fault current generates sufficient heat in a strip composed of a resistive element or bimetal to cause it to deflect. The mechanical deflection triggers a trip assembly that includes a spring-biased latch mechanism to force a movable contact attached to a movable blade away from a stationary contact, thereby breaking the circuit. When the circuit is exposed to a current above that level for a predetermined period of time, the trip assembly activates and tripping occurs thereby opening the circuit.
The bimetal deflects in a predictable and repeatable manner across a thermal profile over a period of time, and the rate and extent of deflection is a function of various parameters, including the cross-sectional area (width, thickness), length, and composition of the bimetal element. The bimetal is attached to a yoke that is magnetically coupled to a movable armature. The movement of the bimetal in response to excessive electrical current causes the armature to move relative to the yoke, triggering a chain of mechanical actions that cause the breaker to thermally trip. For magnetic tripping in response to sudden overloads, a magnetic field induced relative to the magnetic yoke causes the armature to be moved relative to the yoke, triggering a magnetic trip.
In miniature circuit breakers, such as the QO® and Homeline® family of circuit breakers available from Square D Company, the width of the bimetal (typically ¼ inch) is limited by the width of the housing (typically ¾ to 1 inch). To decrease the width of the overall miniature circuit breaker, such as in half-size or tandem circuit breakers, the width of the bimetal would have to be decreased as well, but at the expense of the trip ratings for the circuit breaker. Alternately, the thickness of the bimetal would have to be increased in order to maintain the same cross-sectional area, but increasing thickness substantially reduces bimetal flexibility and renders thermal tripping and calibration very difficult if not impossible. Bimetals must maintain a minimum cross-sectional area for a desired I2t (current squared time) capacity in order to be flexible enough to move a given distance when heated. It is desirable to decrease the width of a miniature circuit breaker without encountering these difficulties.
Existing thermal circuit breakers utilize a bimetal that is either received inside a yoke or in line with a yoke. In the former implementations, the width of the bimetal is constrained by the width of the yoke, so a decrease in the width of the circuit breaker results in a reduction in yoke width, which in turn reduces the bimetal width, requiring an increase in its thickness in order to maintain the same I2t value. In the latter implementations, both the width and the length of the bimetal is constrained by the form factor of the circuit breaker. A shorter bimetal is used because it is in line with the yoke. The shorter length reduces the overall effective travel distance of the bimetal so as its width is reduced, its flexibility is significantly reduced by any increase in thickness if the I2t capacity is to be unchanged. It is desirable to decrease the width of a miniature circuit breaker without encountering these difficulties.
Thus, a need exists for an improved apparatus and method. The present invention is directed to satisfying one or more of these needs and to solving other problems.

Trip unit having bimetal element located outside the yoke


A method and apparatus for processing a rich media user interface composed of a plurality of component objects that is capable of transferring information from a group of component objects having a specific function but not supporting the export of information to a group of component objects importing information only through predetermined paths through unpredictable path are provided. The method for processing content composed of user interface component objects includes receiving content including a plurality of user interface component objects, extracting exportable information which is defined to be exportable outside the content, and transferring the extracted exportable information to a target object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to user interfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a rich media user interface composed of a plurality of component objects that is capable of transferring information from a group of component objects having a specific function but not supporting the export of information to a group of component objects importing information only through predetermined paths through an unpredictable path.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user interface is a physical or virtual means implemented to provide interaction between a user and an object or system, such as machine or computer program, so that the user can input manipulation information for the system to output an execution result. Typically, the user interface is implemented as a system-specific application so as to operate in the system designated by the designer and is accordingly limited in configuration. Recently, the user interface has evolved from the static arrangement of the image and text buttons to a rich media content composed of various configurable media objects including text, audio, video, font, image, graphics, and the like. The Binary Format for Scene (BIFS) and the Lightweight Application Scene Representation (LASeR) are representative rich media standards. The LASeR is a recent rich media standard designed for representing and delivering rich media services using various multimedia elements such as scene description, video, audio, image, font, text, metadata, script, etc.
With the emergence of new services integrating diverse types of media including video, voice, and data, along with the diversification of terminals and services, a flexible and dynamic rich media interface, applicable to heterogeneous devices and even remote devices, beyond the concept of a device-specific functional interface is needed.

Method and apparatus for processing user interface composed of component objects


A method and an apparatus for determining rotary angle related measurement data of a body mounted rotatable about an axis of rotation, the body being a vehicle wheel or a part of a vehicle wheel, in particular a tire or a rim, the method comprising the steps of obtaining measurement data comprising a plurality of measurement data elements of the rotating body together with respective measuring times, determining at least one rotational speed or revolution period of the body for at least one point in time, and associating the obtained measurement data elements to respective rotary angles of the body based on the respective measuring times and the at least one rotational speed or revolution period of the body.

From EP patent application 1 731 891, a method and apparatus for obtaining rotary angle related data of vehicle wheels in a wheel balancer is known. In that wheel balancer, vibration forces caused by imbalance of the wheel and variations of forces caused by a load roller bearing against the tyre are determined with respect to the rotary angle of the wheel. The determined rotary angle related vibration force data is used to calculate sizes and mounting positions of balancing weights for balancing the wheel. The determined rotary angle related load force data is used to improve balancing operation.
Another method or apparatus determining rotary angle related data of a vehicle wheel is known from EP patent 1 398 610 and relates to a vehicle wheel service apparatus such as wheel balancers or tyre mounting or demounting machines which are scanning the surface of the wheel by a preferably contactless sensor device in order to obtain geometrical data of the wheel. This geometrical data is rotary angle related data and may represent a three dimensional model of the geometrical shape and position of the wheel or of parts of the wheel. That rotary angle related data is used for diagnostic purposes or serves to improve the balancing operation or the tyre mounting operation in order to improve running characteristics of the wheel.
In the methods and apparatuses of the prior art, a rotary angle sensor is used in order to generated rotary angle position signals. That rotary angle position signals captured during measurement are then associated to the measurement data obtained from the force sensors or surface sensors in order to generate rotary angle related data such as imbalance measurement data, load force variation data or three dimensional geometrical data of the wheel. Such rotary angle sensors are required to detect the rotary position of the rotating wheel with a resolution sufficient to create suitable and precise rotary angle related data. Common rotary angle sensors comprise magnetic or optical sensors detecting the dents of a toothed wheel, for example, each tooth representing a certain rotary angle increment. Providing a rotary angle sensor having a suitable resolution increases both costs and number of parts of an apparatus.

Method of determining rotary angle related data of a vehicle wheel


An improved automatic microphone actuation control system. The system exhibits a high degree of resistance to inappropriate secondary microphone actuation by reverberant sound, even when two or more microphones in a system are operated at significantly different electroacoustic gains. The system further exhibits improved actuation sensitivity to local conference room speech occurring simultaneously with teleconference loudspeaker sound which is strongly coupled acoustically to the microphones. A Reverb Inhibit Bus, which is the maximum of a reduced level speaker inhibit signal and substantially attenuated versions of the DC microphone signal level representations, drives the microphone channels' noise adapting threshold circuitry. Such circuitry is driven in a manner to inhibit microphone actuation for teleconference loudspeaker sound reverberation and reverberation of local conference room speech which has already actuated a microphone. Further, a stronger level speaker inhibit signal is applied to each microphone channel through a direct inhibit bus. This inhibits microphone actuation by directly coupled loudspeaker sound, while not modifying the noise adapting threshold.

The present invention relates generally to microphone control systems and, more particularly, to an enhancement and refinement of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,425, issued to Stephen D. Julstrom and entitled "Microphone Actuation Control System Suitable for Teleconference Systems." U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,425 has the same inventor and is owned by the same entity as the present application.
The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,425 are incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth below. For ease of reference, U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,425 is hereinafter referred to simply as "the previous Julstrom patent."
The automatic microphone control referred to pertains to systems with multiple microphones and is suited for use in sound reinforcement, recording, broadcast, teleconference, and other applications. Only the most appropriate microphone or microphones of a multiple microphone conference pickup system are automatically actuated (brought up to full gain) in response to speech originating within the conference room. Microphones which are not, at some moment, the most optimum ones to pick up the conference room speech are not actuated (remain attenuated or turned off). The control system does not allow speech from the far end of a teleconference emitting from a conference room loudspeaker to actuate the conference room microphones.
The major benefits of keeping the minimum number of microphones actuated at any given time are a minimization of the pickup of room noise and reverberation for clearer sound quality and minimization of the pickup of loudspeaker sound for lessened feedback potential in local reinforcement or teleconference applications. This is discussed more fully in the previous Julstrom patent and in "Direction-Sensitive Gating: A New Approach to Automatic Mixing" by Stephen Julstrom and Thomas Tichy, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 32, Nos. 7/8, July 1984, pp. 490-506.
Generally, the objects of the previous Julstrom patent were to actuate only the most appropriate microphone or microphones for one or a plurality of talkers with maximum sensitivity in the presence of varying background room noise, and to inhibit actuation of microphones for teleconference loudspeaker sound with minimal inhibition of desired microphone actuation for locally originating speech. These objects were generally met by the invention of the previous Julstrom patent. However, two problem areas remained.
The initial application of the previous Julstrom invention was in a modular teleconference system where all microphones were operated at the same electroacoustic sensitivity with presumably acoustically similar local surroundings for each microphone in a system. Under these conditions, unwanted actuation of a second microphone by the reverberant "trail" of speech following the proper actuation of a first, more appropriate microphone was adequately inhibited by the action of the MAX bus, as explained in the previous patent. However, when two or more microphones in a system were operated at significantly different gains in a reverberant environment, the MAX bus alone did not always prevent secondary actuation of a microphone with higher electroacoustic gain. (Electroacoustic gain refers here to the combined effects of microphone sensitivity and the following electrical gain.)
Also, while the previous Julstrom invention properly inhibited microphone actuation for teleconference loudspeaker sound, it also tended to excessively inhibit microphone actuation for local conference room speech occurring simultaneously with loudspeaker sound when strong direct acoustical coupling from the loudspeaker to the microphones was present.


The present disclosure provides an exhaust assembly for an aerostat, including a valve base (2) provided with a valve port (1), and a valve cover (3) that selectively covers the valve port (1), and further including: a motor driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism that are arranged on the valve base (2). The motor driving mechanism propels the transmission mechanism to drive the valve cover (3) to selectively cover the valve port (1). When the valve cover (3) is in a position where the valve port (1) is open, the valve cover (3) is arranged at an angle with respect to a plane at which the valve port (1) is located. A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide the exhaust assembly that is for an aerostat and whose exhausting pressure can be flexibly adjusted, and an aerostat provided with the exhaust assembly.

Aerostats generally include balloons and airships. A shaped aerostat lifts off from the ground. As a flight height increases, external air density and atmospheric pressure gradually decrease, and a volume of lifting gas inside the aerostat expands rapidly. For the sake of safety and to maintain an aerodynamic configuration of the aerostat, some gas in the aerostat needs to be exhausted, to adjust a difference between the internal and external pressure to a specific range. The range is determined by a material strength, a flight strategy, and an aerodynamic parameter. Even if the aerostat is anchored on the ground or flies at a specific height, gas in the aerostat also expands as an ambient temperature increases. In this case, some gas needs to be exhausted. Otherwise, a body of the aerostat cracks due to excessive pressure. Therefore, the aerostat needs an exhaust apparatus to maintain the difference between the internal and external pressure within the specific range when being anchored on the ground, lifting off after taking shape, and floating in the air.
A conventional exhaust valve includes a valve body, a valve cover, a spring, and a pull rod. The valve cover of the exhaust valve is closed by using elastic pull force of the spring. When pressure of gas in the aerostat increases, a force of the internal pressure on the valve cover is greater than preset elastic pull force of the spring, and the valve cover is opened, to exhaust gas; then, the internal pressure decreases, and the valve cover is closed under the action of the spring; and so forth. Using this type of exhaust valve mainly brings the following problem: passive control, lacking flexibility. This is because the valve cover is of a pure mechanical structure, and it relies solely on an action of the spring and the internal atmospheric pressure to open or close the valve cover. When the atmospheric pressure is large, the valve cover is opened; and when the atmospheric pressure is small, the valve cover is closed. The valve cover cannot be actively controlled to open or close, lacking flexibility and resulting in a narrow range of application.

Exhaust assembly for aerostat, and aerostat


A concrete finishing device for steps including a trowel blade and an adjustable gauge coupled with respect to the trowel blade. The adjustable gauge can be adjusted to correspond with the width of a form riser on concrete steps to allow the concrete poured beneath the form riser to be properly finish the steps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a concrete finishing device for steps and more particularly pertains to smoothing poured concrete beneath formed riser on steps with a concrete finishing device for steps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of concrete trowels is known in the prior art. More specifically, concrete trowels heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of applying and smoothing various materials are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,916 to Mitchell discloses a trowel for masonry steps. U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,458 to Haivala discloses a step tool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,312 to Clark discloses a hand trowel. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 296,294 to Neece discloses the ornamental design for a concrete trowel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,209 to Dragich discloses an elongated concrete groover. U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,235 to Lindqvist discloses methods and apparatus for spreading semi-liquid compositions on a base surface.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a concrete finishing device for steps for smoothing poured concrete beneath formed riser on steps.
In this respect, the concrete finishing device for steps according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of smoothing poured concrete beneath formed riser on steps.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved concrete finishing device for steps which can be used for smoothing poured concrete beneath formed riser on steps. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


In a multistage combustion furnace having a motor driven inducer blower and a pressure sensing device or set of switches for sensing pressure in the combustion gas flowpath through the furnace, a high firing rate blower speed and low firing rate blower speed are set based on the blower speed setting required for a medium firing rate. Each particular furnace, having its own pressures and combustion gas resistance to flow characteristics, may be provided with a database of inducer blower motor speeds required to achieve predetermined pressures in the combustion gas flowpath for a variety of combustion gas venting systems generating such resistance.

Efficient combustion furnaces for heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment applications are typically provided with a motor driven so-called ventilating or inducer blower which draws air through the combustion passageways of the furnace heat exchanger to improve the efficiency of the combustion and heat transfer processes and to prolong the life of the furnace. Selection of the proper speeds of the inducer blower drive motor for multistage combustion furnaces, in particular, has been a somewhat nettlesome problem. Combustion furnaces which include electronic controls have been developed wherein the inducer blower motor speed is controlled based on opening and closing of pressure switches which measure the pressures developed by the inducer blower at one or more particular points in the air flowpath.
Moreover, so-called learning algorithms have been developed which require setting a blower default speed for multistage furnaces for the low firing rate and high firing rate which is the first speed that the inducer motor will be controlled to when a call for the low firing rate or high firing rate is signaled to the furnace controller. The inducer blower then "learns" a speed based on opening and closing of the pressure switches. Still further, typically, a low speed limit is defined in the control system program to avoid the combustion gas control valve closing prematurely. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,257,870 and 6,377,426 to Hugghins, et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention disclose and claim methods for setting inducer blower operating speeds.
However, for multistage furnaces including, for example, three stage furnaces, it is desirable to maintain the inducer flow pressures above a predetermined setpoint which is particularly important at low firing rates to avoid low combustion gas pressures which could create undesirable combustion characteristics. This occurs because the gas valve output pressure tracks the inducer or system pressures in the aforementioned type of furnace. Still further, it is desirable to simplify the "learning" of the inducer blower motor speeds for respective furnace firing rates in multistage furnaces, including three stage furnaces. In accordance with the present invention, improvements in determining and setting inducer blower speeds and operating pressures have been realized and attendant advantages enjoyed as a result.

Inducer speed control method for combustion furnace


An antenna device has an antenna part and a filter part combined into a single unit. The antenna part has a radiating electrode formed on a surface of layered dielectric substrates and a grounding electrode formed inside the layered structure. The filter part is formed below the antenna part and includes shield electrodes, capacitor electrodes and coil electrodes. A feed point on the antenna part and an input section of the filter part are electrically connected to each other through a roughhole, and external electrodes are formed on side surfaces of the multi-layered structure of the dielectric substrates, connecting the grounding electrode of the antenna part and the output section of the filter part. A slot electrode having a slot formed therethrough and a strip line extending perpendicularly to the slot may be inserted between the radiating electrode and the grounding electrode of the antenna part.

This invention relates to an antenna device which combines an antenna and a filter into a single unit.
As shown in FIG. 5, a prior art antenna device used for a system such as the GPS (Global Positioning System) installed on an automobile is composed of an antenna, a filter, a preamplifier and a receiver. Signals received by the antenna are sent to the filter, by which a desired frequency is selected, and are transmitted to the receiver through the preamplifier. As shown in FIG. 6, such a prior art antenna device 57 is formed by providing a printed circuit board 51 with electrode patterns 51a and 51b formed on its surfaces and mounting a microstrip-type antenna 55 on its upper surface and a filter 56 on its lower surface, the antenna 55 having a radiating electrode 53 formed on the upper surface of a dielectric substrate 52 and a grounding electrode 54 formed on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate 52. A feed line 58 is provided to connect a feed point 53a on the radiating electrode 53 of the antenna 55 to one end of the electrode pattern 51a on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 51, and the filter 56 is attached to the opposite end of the electrode pattern 51a. Thus, electromagnetic waves received by the radiating electrode 53 of the antenna 55 are transmitted to the filter 56 through the feed line 58 and the electrode pattern 51a. The grounding electrode 54 of the antenna 55 is connected to the ground through the other electrode pattern 51b on the printed circuit board 51.
For a prior art antenna device of this type, however, the antenna 55 and the filter 56 must be manufactured separately and mounted to the printed circuit board 51 separately. This means not only that both the cost of parts and that of the mounting are high but also that the antenna device 57, as a whole, becomes rather large. Since the antenna 55 and the filter 56 are connected through the electrode pattern 51a, furthermore, the impedance matching between the antenna 55 and the filter 56 becomes unstable. This has the adverse effect of increasing the reflection loss and the transmission loss of the signals.

Antenna formed of multiple dielectric substrates including shielded LC filter


The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for treating primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) based on mRNA therapy. The compositions used in treatment of PCD comprise an mRNA comprising a dynein axonemal heavy chain 5 (DNAH5) coding sequence and are administered at an effective dose and an administration interval such that at least one symptom or feature of PCD is reduced in intensity, severity, or frequency or has a delayed onset. mRNAs with optimized DNAH5 coding sequences are provided that can be administered without the need for modifying the nucleotides of the mRNA to achieve sustained in vivo function.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an auto recessive disorder characterized by abnormal cilia and flagella that are found in the linings of the airway, the reproductive system, and other organs and tissues. PCD occurs in approximately 1 in 16,000. Symptoms are present as early as at birth, with breathing problems, and the affected individuals develop frequent respiratory tract infections beginning in early childhood. People with PCD also have year-round nasal congestion and chronic cough. Chronic respiratory tract infections can result in condition called bronchiectasis, which damages the passages, called bronchi, and can cause life-threatening breathing problems. Some individuals with PCD also have infertility, recurrent ear infections, abnormally placed organs within their chest and abdomen.
Mutations in the DNAH1 or DNAH5 genes account for about a third of all cases of primary ciliary dyskinesia. The DNAH5 gene encodes dynein axonemal heavy chain 5, which forms the inner structure of cilia. With an absent or abnormal dynein axonemal heavy chain 5, defective cilia cannot produce the force and movement needed to eliminate fluid, bacteria, and particles from the lungs. The movement of cilia also helps establish the left-right axis during embryonic development and propel the sperm cells forward to the female egg cell.
There is currently no cure for PCD. Current standard of care includes aggressive measures to enhance clearance of mucus and with antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections of the airways. Routine immunizations are administered to prevent respiratory infections and other secondary complications. For some patients, lobectomy, lung transplantation, and sinus surgery are considered. Gene therapy has been studied to address the urgent need for new, more effective treatments of PCD. However, due to the large size of DNAH5 conventional gene therapy methods remain challenging.

Composition and methods for treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia


The continuous casting device according to the present invention enables at least some of a plurality of hearths (3) to be converted between being hearths (13) used for titanium, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium ingots, and being hearths (23) used for titanium alloy, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium alloy ingots. The number of hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the number of hearths (13) used for titanium. Also, the total capacity of the hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the total capacity of the hearths (13) used for titanium. Thus, titanium ingots and titanium alloy ingots can each be continuously cast by means of a single piece of equipment.

Continuous casting for producing ingots made of titanium or a titanium alloy has conventionally been performed by injecting titanium or a titanium alloy melted by plasma arc melting into a bottomless mold and while solidifying it, withdrawing the resulting ingot downward. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a molten metal obtained by melting titanium or a titanium alloy is temporarily retained in a retainer called "hearth" and the molten metal is injected into the mold from this hearth.
The hearth is usually a container made of copper and equipped, inside or outside thereof, with a forced cooling mechanism such as water cooing hole in order to prevent titanium from being contaminated. In addition, in order to prevent the molten metal from solidifying in the hearth, the surface of the molten metal in the hearth is heated. The purpose of providing such a hearth is to make the molten metal temperature uniform, prevent the raw material which has remained without being melted from entering the mold, precipitate inclusions and separate them from the molten metal, and reduce variation in the injection amount of the molten metal into the mold due to variation in a melted amount of the raw material.

Continuous casting method and continuous casting device for titanium ingots and titanium alloy ingots


A method, program and system for processing data is disclosed. The method, program and system comprising the steps of: (a) receiving (e.g., during an enrollment process) a first biometric data and a first personal key, (b) processing the first biometric data and the first personal key through an irreversible cryptographic algorithm, sometimes after: (i) generating one or more variants from the first biometric data, (ii) processing the first personal key through a reversible cryptographic algorithm, and (iii) adding salt to the first biometric data or first personal key, (c) receiving (e.g., during an authentication process) a second biometric data and a second personal key, (d) processing the second biometric data and the second personal key through the irreversible cryptographic algorithm, (e) comparing the second processed data to the first processed data, and (f) generating a signal pertaining to the comparison of the second processed data to the first processed data, such as: (i) a confirmation reflecting authentication when the second processed data matches the first processed data (sometimes allowing access to a facility or system) or (ii) a denial reflecting no confirmation when the second processed data does not match the first processed data.

Biometric data (e.g., DNA, fingerprints, retinal scans, voiceprints or other data corresponding with a physical representation of a natural person) is, and will continue to be, utilized in a variety of situations. For example, biometric research and testing has been and will likely continue to be utilized to: (a) provide greater understanding, and increase the likelihood, of curing physical challenges, (b) provide evidence supporting or undermining claims alleged in legal proceedings, (c) create greater specificity and accuracy with respect to certain archeological discoveries, and (d) using a template (e.g., a sample, abstract or other electronic or digitized system which enables sufficient parameters through an algorithmic mathematical reduction to compensate for a less than constant input or output), authenticate a natural person, such as prior to access into secure systems or facilities.
However, the increased use of biometric data has raised several privacy and ethical issues. Such issues include, without limitation: (a) using human subjects for potentially speculative results, (b) extrapolating the results of biometric testing beyond the reasonable scope of the tests, (c) establishing a framework within which to cause or increase discrimination against protected classes, and (d) using and disclosing personally identifiable information beyond the scope of any use authorized by the natural person providing the information and/or relevant privacy laws.
Some current systems use data emanating from one or a combination of the following to authenticate a natural person: (a) something the natural person knows (e.g., passwords, pass-phrases, log-on numbers), (b) something the natural person possesses (e.g., plastic ID cards, tokens), (c) a physical representation of the natural person (e.g., biometrics) and (d) a behavioral representation of the natural person (e.g., keystroke cadence). Some of the means are less reliable than others and combining various means may prove to be more reliable and provide higher certainty against any identity fraud.
Some current systems use a reversible cryptographic algorithm (e.g., encryption or encoding or other algorithm which can be reversed to the original data, such as using decryption or decoding) in association with biometric data using a template. A template is used because most biometric data changes based upon several factors, such as illness, stress, hygiene or extraction variables. For example, an authentication system may use a fingerprint of the natural person during an enrollment process to prepare a corresponding fingerprint template. Thereafter, the system may capture biometric data corresponding to the fingerprint (which is subject to collection variability or even physical changes, such as burns, blisters, scratches, or dirt, which causes the resulting data to be inconsistent as compared to earlier captured fingerprint data) and compare the captured fingerprint data to the fingerprint template in determining whether to authenticate the natural person. Depending upon the parameters (e.g., statistics, patterns or other factors) of the system and the template, the natural person identity is authenticated or rejected. The reversible cryptographic algorithm is used with the template for confidentiality purposes (e.g., while the data is in transit), but the original biometric data can be reversed and analyzed to determine whether the parameters of the system and/or the template are appropriate.
Some current systems (e.g., NT or Unix) use an irreversible cryptographic algorithm (e.g., a one-way function, such as MD-5 or other algorithm having the effect of a one-way function, such as using a reversible cryptographic algorithm and destroying the corresponding decryption key) in conjunction with password storage to authenticate the natural person, such as prior to access to a secure system. Using the irreversible cryptographic algorithm minimizes the possibility of disclosing all stored passwords should the system or password file be compromised. Furthermore, the irreversible cryptographic algorithm requires a constant input because any change in the input, such as a space, will cause a different result when processed through the irreversible cryptographic algorithm.
However, no current system, in association with a template or otherwise, utilizes the biometric data in association with the irreversible cryptographic algorithm, whether or not the biometric data is used in combination with any other means, such as a personal key.

International Business Machines Corporation


An acoustic cannon has a plurality of acoustic sources with output ends symmetrically arranged in a planar array about a central point. Pressure pulses are generated in each acoustic source at substantially the same time. The pressure pulses exit the output ends as sonic pulses. Interaction of the sonic pulses generates a Mach disk, a non-linear shock wave that travels along an axis perpendicular to the planar array with limited radial diffusion. The Mach disk retains the intensity of the sonic pulses for a time and a distance significantly longer than that achievable from a single sonic source. The acoustic cannon is useful as a non-lethal weapon to disperse crowds or disable a hostile target.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an acoustic device that emits repetitive sonic pulses capable of dispersing or incapacitating a biological target. More particularly, a planar array of multiple acoustic pulse sources cooperates to generate highly focused pulses of high intensity sonic energy over a small area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Military and law enforcement personnel have a need for non-lethal weapons. Such weapons are useful in riot control to disperse a hostile crowd. In sniper and hostage situation, a non-lethal weapon provides a means to neutralize a hostile target without collateral damage to hostages, bystanders or property. In combat, a non-lethal weapon is useful to neutralize sentries and warning devices. Since the weapon produces casualties, rather than fatalities, each hit removes three opponents, the injured and a two-person rescue squad, from the combat zone instead of the one person removed by a fatality.
High intensity sound pulses have a debilitating effect on biological targets. Humans become disoriented by exposure to sonic pulses exceeding a threshold of pain of about 150 decibels (dB). Eardrum rupture occurs at about 190 dB, the threshold for pulmonary injury is about 200 dB and the onset of lethality is about 220 dB.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,899 to Longinette et al. discloses a parabolic reflector that focuses and transmits a continuous sound at a frequency of between 8 kilohertz (kHz) and 13 kHz. Within this frequency range, sound attenuates rapidly and the disclosed device is believed effective only at close ranges. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,889 patent discloses utilizing the device in close proximity to a riot or in enclosed areas, such as a bank vault.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,898 to Drewes et al. discloses a sonic weapon to destroy buildings and disable personnel. A plurality of tubes each conduct a continuous sound generated by a jet engine. Rotating fans at the ends of the tubes create pulsed sound of a desired frequency. The fan speeds are set such that each tube has a pulse sound frequency two times the frequency of a preceding tube leading to an additive effect of sound waves referred to as a parametric pump. The disclosed device appears heavy and requires careful alignment of a number of large apparatus for operation.
There remains, therefore, a need for a portable acoustic weapon capable of dispersing or disabling biological targets at distances of up to 100 meters that does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above.

Maxwell Technologies Systems Division, Inc.


An exposure apparatus includes: an optical system having an optical element on which a first exposure light and a second exposure light are incident, the first exposure light and the second exposure light from the optical element being irradiated onto a first exposure field and a second exposure field; and a detection device that detects at least one of the first exposure light and the second exposure light, which are from the optical element and are directed towards a different direction from directions towards the first and second exposure fields.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate, an exposure method, and a device manufacturing method.
2. Background Art
In an exposure apparatus used in a photolithography process, there is devised an exposure apparatus for example as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-297976, which combines a plurality of optical lights in a combining optical element (a light combining member), and exposes (multiply exposes) a substrate with the combined exposure light.
In order to favorably expose the substrate, then even in the case where a plurality of exposure lights are combined in a combining optical element, it is necessary to irradiate exposure light of a desired state onto the substrate. Therefore, it is desired to devise a technique that is capable of smoothly detecting the condition of the exposure light. In this case, if exposure light from the combining optical element which is not directed towards the substrate is generated, then this has an influence on for example on the various equipments which constitutes the exposure apparatus, so that this can influence the exposure accuracy. In addition, for example, in micro device such as semiconductor device and the like, miniaturization of circuit pattern and also improvement in productivity are important.
A purpose of some aspects of the invention is to provide an exposure apparatus, an exposure method, and device manufacturing method, that can favorably expose a substrate with good efficiency, even in the case where a plurality of exposure lights are combined using a combining optical element. Another purpose is to provide an exposure apparatus, an exposure method, and device manufacturing method, that can expose a substrate efficiently.

Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method


An image processing apparatus which processes a captured image including angle information of a light beam traveling from the object, comprises a generation unit configured to generate a reconstructed image by reconstructing the captured image, an extraction unit configured to extract an address of a defective photoelectric conversion element which is included in photoelectric conversion elements which captured the captured image based on a plurality of reconstructed images corresponding to different imaging distances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus which detects and corrects a defect, and control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recent digital image processing technique, the progress in a field of study called light field photography is significant. In light field photography, first, an image is captured so that a captured image obtained from an image capturing apparatus including an imaging optical system such as a lens, and a solid-state imaging sensor such as a CCD or CMOS sensor includes not only two-dimensional light intensity information of the object field, but also light beam angle information.
The captured image including the light beam angle information is equivalent to division into a considerable number of pupils exceeding division into a pair of pupils in so-called phase difference autofocus detection (AF). This captured image is data not always having the list and order of pieces of significant information when the image is directly observed. To solve this, there have been proposed an image capturing apparatus and image processing apparatus capable of focusing again (to be also referred to as refocusing) on an arbitrary object in the object field after imaging by performing reconstruction image processing closely related to an image capturing process in which the captured image was obtained.
An example of this image capturing apparatus and image processing apparatus is a hand-held plenoptic camera (to be also referred to as a light field camera hereinafter) described in literature 1 "Ren. Ng, et al., 'Light Field Photography with a Hand-Held Plenoptic Camera', Stanford Tech Report CTSR 2005-02". The building components of the light field camera are as follows: a "main lens", which is an imaging optical system in a well-known image capturing apparatus, forms mainly an object image on a "microlens" array having a predetermined pitch. A "solid-state imaging sensor" including photoelectric conversion elements at a smaller pitch than the predetermined pitch is arranged behind the microlens array.
In other words, by a special image capturing process and image processing premised on this, the light field camera described in literature 1 obtains an image having new information which has not been obtained by a well-known image capturing apparatus.
To the contrary, most image processes which are performed in a conventionally well-known image capturing apparatus are executed on the assumption that the signals of photoelectric conversion elements, which constitute a captured image, have continuity to some extent. An example is a real-time defective pixel detection method of determining a defective pixel from a level difference from the signal of a surrounding photoelectric conversion element in every imaging by the image capturing apparatus.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286825 discloses a defective pixel correction apparatus characterized by comprising a first defective pixel detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel by comparing, with a predetermined value, each of signals output from a plurality of pixels, a first correction unit configured to correct a signal from the defective pixel detected by the first defective pixel detection unit, a second defective pixel detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel by comparing, with a predetermined value, each of signals output from the plurality of pixels in which correction has been performed on the defective pixel detected by the first defective pixel detection unit, and a setting control unit configured to set the predetermined values to be different from each other in the first defective pixel detection unit and the second defective pixel detection unit.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286825 also discloses that information of a defective pixel detected by the first defective pixel detection unit is recorded, and the second defective pixel detection unit refers to even the defective pixel information in the first defective pixel detection unit. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286825 describes that it is determined whether the detected pixel is actually a defective pixel or an object edge, and if the detected pixel is considered to be an object edge, no correction is performed to prevent degradation of the image quality.
Real-time defective pixel detection is especially effective to suppress degradation of the image quality accompanying a subsequent defective pixel which has not been recorded in the memory of the image capturing apparatus or the like, or a flickering defective pixel whose output level varies in every imaging. However, the most important task in the real-time defective pixel detection method is discrimination between a defective pixel which should be a correction target, and an object edge.
In a well-known image capturing apparatus, a unit element constituting a captured image is generally called a "pixel". It has not been necessary to definitely discriminate the "signal of a photoelectric conversion element" serving as a unit element constituting a solid-state imaging sensor, and the "pixel" serving as a unit element constituting a final image having undergone signal processing. In the light field camera, however, they are concepts which should be definitely discriminated.
As described above, to obtain a significant feature such as refocus reconstruction processing, a special image capturing process as mentioned above occupies an important position in the light field camera. The special image capturing process means simultaneous acquisition of light intensity information and light beam angle information. The light beam angle information appears in the intensity distribution of many photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to one microlens. At this time, there is an image shift in which the intensity distribution of the signals of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements shifts in accordance with the distance to an object and focusing of the imaging optical system. The image shift is a phenomenon in which a coordinate shift occurs in images constituted by the signals of photoelectric conversion elements belonging to the same quadrant of microlenses. The image shift is regarded as expansion of a shift between a pair of images to a shift between many images in phase difference detection AF.
More specifically, a captured image obtained by arranging the signals of many photoelectric conversion elements in the output order of the solid-state imaging sensor without performing any refocus reconstruction processing is data not suitable for direct observation. It is therefore difficult to accomplish the task of discriminating an object edge and a defective pixel by only applying, to a captured image including light beam angle information, the aforementioned real-time defective pixel detection method which assumes that the signals of photoelectric conversion elements have continuity to some extent. In the light field camera, the address of a pixel in a reconstructed image that may be influenced by the signal of a defective photoelectric conversion element (to be also referred to as a defective element hereinafter) changes upon every refocusing in refocus reconstruction processing.
For this reason, to suppress degradation of the image quality accompanying a defective element in the light field camera, it is necessary to perform real-time defective pixel detection on a reconstructed image upon every refocus reconstruction processing, and further correct the detected defective pixel. However, real-time defective pixel detection takes the processing time to scan a reconstructed image. This means that much time is taken until a reconstructed image is displayed after an operation of focusing again on an arbitrary object in the object field of a captured image. The user may feel uncomfortable.

Image processing apparatus and control method thereof


In an embodiment of the invention, a dongle is configured for communication with an electronic device. The dongle includes a connector, a controller, a first memory and a second memory. The connector is for interfacing with the electronic device. The controller is for controlling the interface between the connector and the electronic device. The first memory includes a file system. The controller is configured to provide automatic recognition of the dongle and mounting of the file system to the electronic device by using the connector when the dongle interfaces with the electronic device. The second memory has data for automatic navigation to a predetermined location. The dongle is configured for automatic execution of an element of the file system.

A new area of electronic games is the television plug and play product. These are games contained in a single-use handheld controller that a user simply plugs into a TV to play. In 2005, $550 million was spent on television plug and play products through retail purchases.
At the same time, online activities have increased over the past several years. These online activities, requiring only a computer and an internet connection, include online gaming, communities, trading, downloading media and subscription activities. The gaming portion alone is a large portion of the revenue generated by companies that foster these activities.
However, to participate in an online activity associated with network games, or with online community content in general, a player must typically connect their PC to the online network and provide some very personal and/or financial information. This has created barriers for those consumers who are either (1) technically challenged or techno phobic such that finding and navigating the desired content is sufficiently discouraging of participation, or (2) are concerned about privacy and unwilling to enter personal identifying and/or financial information. Some online access requirements are quite invasive and require name, address, telephone number(s), email address(es), and/or credit card information.
What is needed is a simple, secure and inexpensive means from a retail store to connect with the online experience.

Method and apparatus for providing games and content


This invention relates to cleaning large format movie screens, such as vinyl screens and painted screens. There are different variations of the basic concept of using a cleaning head, cables, pulleys, an upper mounting bracket and a winch. In one instance a track may be used instead of a cable. The winch is connected to the cleaning head using cables and is used to move the cleaning head vertically across the screen through pulleys and other arrangements.

Large format or giant screen movies are movies shot with film larger than the conventional 35 mm format. This includes, but is not limited to the following formats: 15-perf/70 mm, 10-perf/70 mm and 8-perf/70 mm. For the purposes associated with this invention, large format or giant screen movies that fall under the preceding formats require large format movie screens for most effective use
Large format screens are generally not prone to the normal abuses associated with regular format movie screens due to their distance from the audience. Large format screens are further away and are usually sealed off from moviegoers, therefore most foreign objects (pop, popcorn, gummy bears, spit wads, etc.) are not able to reach the screen. Despite this protection, large format movie screens nevertheless require periodic cleaning to ensure proper light reflection and picture sharpness. Accumulated dust is the main deterrent to light reflection, sharpness, and clarity of picture. Screens develop a layer of dust that must be removed for optimal performance. However, if the screen is not cleaned in the correct manner, the dust will form streaks, which will yield results worse than a dim, evenly dusted, screen.
The problems associated with cleaning large format screens are a consequence of their extremely large size and precarious locations. It is nearly impossible to get any type of cleaning head to every square foot of the screen by conventional and inexpensive means. Poles that can reach upwards of 60 feet are too cumbersome to maneuver with consistent results, man lifts cannot be maneuvered into place because of theater floor arrangements, and scaffolding is prohibitively costly and time consuming.
Due to the extremely high cost of all types of large format movie screens, it is beneficial for theater owners to be able to clean them at regular intervals. This is far more cost-effective than replacing them when they become too dirty.
Therefore, a method is needed to cover the entire screen in a systematic process, in order to achieve even cleaning.

Process for cleaning large format or giant screen movie screens


An image forming apparatus includes an incorrect attachment or detachment preventing mechanism configured to prevent attachment and detachment of the image forming unit in the transmission state. The incorrect attachment and detachment preventing mechanism includes a locking member capable of moving to a restrict position where the locking member restricts movement of the image forming unit from the predetermined position and a permission position where the locking member permits movement of the image forming unit from the predetermined position. In the transmission state, the locking member is configured to engage with the first engaging part of the manual lever at the restrict position to prevent movement of the image forming unit. In the transmission release state, the locking member is configured to be moved to the permission position and then engaged with the second engaging part of the manual lever to permit movement of the image forming unit.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus including an attachable/detachable image forming unit.
In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, there is a construction that an image forming unit such as a photosensitive drum or a development device is attachably/detachably provided at an apparatus main body, and a driving source which drives the image forming unit is provided at the apparatus main body. Such a construction requires a mechanism which transmits a rotation force of the driving source to the image forming unit attached to the apparatus main body.
As a mechanism which transmits the rotation force of the driving source to the image forming unit, there is employed a gear transmission manner of engaging a gear provided at the image forming unit and a gear provided at a driving shaft of the driving source or a coaxial driving transmission manner which coaxially couples the driving shaft of the image forming unit and the driving shaft of the driving source with each other by employing a joint member. In recent years, the coaxial driving transmission manner has become mainstream owing to advantages that space saving can be achieved on the image forming unit side, heating can be restricted, and gear phase alignment can be achieved on the apparatus main body side in the photosensitive drum or the like.
Incidentally, at the time of carrying out replacement or maintenance of the image forming unit, a serviceman or a user attaches or detaches the image forming unit, and however, if the image forming unit is not attached at a normal position under a predetermined operating environment, a malfunction or a damage of the image forming apparatus can occur. In particular, in the coaxial driving transmission manner, in a case where the image forming unit is attached or detached in a direction orthogonal to the driving shaft of the driving source, if the image forming unit is incorrectly attached, the driving shaft of the image forming unit and the driving shaft of the driving source interfere with each other, and a coupling part of the driving shafts may be damaged.
In order to prevent incorrect attachment of the image forming unit, there is an image forming apparatus configured so that if the image forming unit is incorrectly attached, the attached posture is apparently clearly different from a normal attached posture. Also, there is an image forming apparatus in which, in a case where the image forming unit is incorrectly attached, a handle for unmovably fixing the image forming unit to the image forming apparatus is made inactive.
However, these image forming apparatuses both cause a user to recognize incorrect attachment after the image forming unit has been incorrectly attached, and it is not an essential measure for solving a problem such as damage occurred at the time of incorrect attachment.