A system for repelling insects from an object (e.g., a beverage dispenser), the system including a mister device configured to generate a mist at the object; and a sensor operatively coupled to the mister device and configured to produce a sense signal when a user of the object is detected by the sensor, wherein the mister device is configured to stop generation of the mist based at least in part on the sense signal such that the user can use the object without being exposed to the mist, and wherein the mister device is further configured to restart generation of the mist once the user is no longer detected by the sensor. A method that includes generating a mist at an object; detecting a user of the object; and stopping the generating of the mist based at least in part on the detecting of the user.

Problems associated with the presence of bees and other flying insects are well known, particularly in summer and fall months when people typically engage in many outdoor activities. People have long endured the nuisance and dangers associated with bee and other insect stings and bites, and these risks are often magnified near outdoor beverage dispensers because of the attraction that insects like bees and wasps have to the sugar/syrup associated with sugary beverages like soda.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,658 by Edward W. Duhon, et al. (hereinafter, "Duhon et al."), titled "ELECTRICAL SWITCH MAT," issued on Apr. 25, 2000, and is incorporated herein by reference. Duhon et al. describe an electrical switch mat which includes an electrical contact, a support frame, and a plate member. The electrical contact is operable under pressure between a closed condition and an open condition and is maintained in either the opened or closed condition in the absence of pressure. The support frame defines a two-dimensional area and is formed with a protective housing to prevent excessive compression from being transmitted to the components of the electrical contact during activation. The plate member is sized to fit within the two-dimensional area of the support frame and is supported at its perimeter by the support frame. The plate member transmits activating compression to the electrical contact. The electrical contact can be a ribbon switch that may either run substantially continuously or be placed intermittently along the perimeter of the plate member. The ribbon switch includes a pair of vertically spaced electrical conductors enclosed in an insulative jacket such that the conductors are urged into electrical engagement upon compressing the plate member to activate the ribbon switch. The protective housing is generally channel shaped and the electrical contact is positioned within the channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,397 by John Grzan (hereinafter, "Grzan"), titled "WATER RESISTANT SWITCH MAT HAVING ACTIVATION ACROSS ITS ENTIRE SURFACE," issued on Feb. 13, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference. Grzan describes an electrical switch mat which generally includes a first layer of flexible matting material, a second layer of flexible matting material, and a perimeter ribbon switch disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The ribbon switch has a longitudinal edge and is operable under pressure between a closed condition and an open condition and maintained in one of the open and closed conditions in the absence of pressure. The first and second layers have a peripheral edge which is aligned with the longitudinal edge of the ribbon switch in a coplanar relationship to form a peripheral edge of the electrical switch mat.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,337 by Robert Clarence Pearce, III, et al. (hereinafter, "Pearce et al."), titled "LIGHT-ACTIVATED PORTABLE AEROSOL MIST SPRAYER DEVICE," issued on Apr. 30, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference. Pearce et al. describe a portable, light-activated, mist sprayer system comprising direct current power supply, an ambient light sensor, electronic circuitry that evaluates an electrical signal received from the light sensor to determine whether a "dusk" or "dawn" light condition exists; a container of treating fluid at a desired concentration; a motor and pump that are activated at the appropriate time as determined by the sensed light condition; at least one sprayer nozzle that will dispense a mist containing the treating fluid whenever the pump is operating; and a timer that turns off the pump after a preset interval to terminate the spraying cycle. A preferred utility for the system of the invention is spraying dilute solutions of insecticide or insect repellent during the periods of significant insect activity that typically occur around dusk and dawn. An RF receiving unit is also disclosed for optional activation using a remote transmitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,782 by Tai P. Luc, et al. (hereinafter, "Luc et al."), titled "DISPENSING SYSTEMS WITH IMPROVED SENSING CAPABILITIES," issued on Aug. 18, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference. Luc et al. describe a dispensing system that includes a dispenser, at least one sensor, and a shroud including at least one aperture. A virtual shield is provided between the sensor and the shroud to reduce background noise.
What is needed is an improved, non-toxic and inexpensive apparatus and method to reduce and/or prevent insect gathering near outside food and garbage areas.

Apparatus and method for repelling insects


The conical disc spring column has a central shaft with retention shields at both ends thereof and with aligned superposed conical discs positioned about the shaft, the shaft being formed of two coaxial telescopic sections having a sliding connection therebetween for controlled retraction and extension of the shaft.

The present invention is broadly concerned with conical disc spring columns.
To operate properly, certain machines require conical disc spring columns rather than disc-shaped steel wire springs.
The use of conical disc springs is limited by the fact that they must be guided by an external tubular cylinder, or have an inserted cylindrical shaft to hold them mutually juxtaposed in columnar form; such guides being required for their use.
The guides are provided at their ends with a number of disc-shaped shields that serve as stops of the ends of the conical disc spring column while keeping the ends from escaping the guide.
For a specific machine to use a disc spring column, it must possess an appropriate mechanical system with a component which presses on the conical disc springs and causes them to compress.
In known disc spring columns, when the guide is in the form of a single-piece central shaft, and the height of the spring column is to be reduced when subjected to sufficient perpendicular pressure for that purpose, the inserted rigid single-piece shaft does not collapse, rather, a central opening must be allowed for the emergence of the upper end of said single-piece rigid central shaft.
However, in connection with the vertical or longitudinal emergence of the rigid single-piece central shaft, the presence of the projecting portion disturbs and obstructs the proper operation of the conical disc spring column, thus limiting its use.
It has been proposed that the compression support piece which receives the compressing force having a housing with sufficient clearance so that the protruding guide is not exposed and so that it is protected by the housing chamber having appropriate clearance provided for such time as when the guide is in the projected position.
The housing chamber must occupy an amount of space that varies depending on the height of the path created on the compression of the column of conical discs that form it, and must take into account the vertical emergence of the inserted rod.
The trapped volume, which must be present, adversely affects the installation and proper operation of the spring and the machine in which it is installed.


A document reading device includes an image reading part, a document conveying part, an operation display part including a display device and receiving operation input, a double feed detecting part detecting double feed of a conveyed document, and a controlling part. In conveyance reading for documents, when double feed is detected from a double feed document, the controlling part stops the conveyance reading for a following document following to the double feed document. In re-reading for the double feed document, the controlling part displays, on the display device, urging to place the double feed document onto the document conveying part and sets a double feed detection function to OFF. After re-performing the conveyance reading for the double feed document, in restarting the following document, the controlling part sets the double feed detection function to ON and restarts the conveyance reading for the following document.

The present disclosure relates to a document reading device performing scanning operation, such as document conveying and image reading, and an image forming apparatus including this document reading device.
An image forming apparatus, such as a multifunction peripheral, includes a document reading device performing scanning operation, such as document conveying and image reading. The document reading device includes an image reading part, such as a scanner, obtaining image data by reading a document, and a document conveying part conveying the document one by one to the image reading part.
For example, a conventional sheet conveying device as the document conveying part interrupts conveying and reading of the document, when double feed of the document is detected by a double feed sensor. The conventional sheet conveying device displays a screen for a user to select disabling detection of double feed and restarting a job or maintaining enable of detection of double feeding and restarting a job, when the document in a conveying path is replaced on a document tray.
Conventionally, in the document reading device, when double feed of the document is caused, missed image data may be obtained by reading the document in an overlapped state. Thereupon, when overlap of the document is detected as double feed, scanning operation, such as document conveying and image reading, is stopped. In the document conveying part as mentioned above, when double feed of the document is detected, the document is not read, and a job with regard to the document to which double feed is detected is restarted, that is, the scanning operation is restarted. Moreover, the document conveying part enables setting whether or not detection of double feed of the document is performed while the scanning operation is restarted.
Incidentally, scanning operation of the document may be performed in a state that an attached article, such as a tag paper, a photograph or an attached paper, is stuck on the document, and then, the conventional document reading device detects the attached article stuck on the document as double feed. In order to avoid detection of double feed with regard to the attached article stuck on the document, it is necessary to disable detection of double feed or to remove the attached article from the document. When detection of double feed is disabled, the attached article stuck on the document is not detected as double feed, but if double feed of two or more documents is caused, because this double feed is also detected, loss of page is caused in a scanning operation result. Moreover, when the attached article is removed from the document, image data of the document in a state that the attached article is stuck cannot be obtained.

Document reading device and image forming apparatus


A quick connector structure includes a fitting connector, a connector, and a U-shaped positioning snap pin. The fitting connector is a pipe connector, a three-way valve connector, or a washing machine valve connector. The fitting connector is combined with a pipe body. The U-shaped positioning snap pin ensures the stability of the connection between the fitting connector and the connector. The quick connector structure enables rapid positioning and assembly, reducing the assembly difficulty in a smaller or concealed space and achieving the effects of assembly stability and convenience.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two usage states of a conventional pipe connector. A pipe body 40 is directly fitted to a pipe connector 50. In order to prevent the pipe body 40 from being detached from the pipe connector 50, one often uses an adjustable pipe clamp device 60 to tighten or hold the connection. Each fitting part in the pipeline requires one such pipe clamp device 60. This is inconvenient for pipe connections. Moreover, the pipe connections are often in a smaller or concealed space. After the pipe body 40 and the pipe connector 50 are fitted, it becomes extremely difficult to adjust the pipe clamp device 60. Due to the limited space, the use of tools is quite inconvenient. Hence, improvements are required.


An L-shaped coaxial connector manufacturable at low costs includes a housing having a cylinder portion and a back portion. The cylinder portion includes a first opening and a second opening, and the cylinder portion is in contact with an external conductor of a receptacle inserted from the first opening. The back portion is connected to the cylinder portion and covers the second opening. The housing is made of a metal plate. The diameter of a part of a bushing contained in the cylinder portion is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first opening. The housing further includes a crimping portion extending from the back portion. The crimping portion fixes the bushing to the housing by being bent so as to face the back portion with the bushing therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an L-shaped coaxial connector. In particular, the present invention relates to an L-shaped coaxial connector that may be connected to and disconnected from a receptacle having a center conductor and an external conductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Existing L-shaped coaxial connectors include, for example, a coaxial connector as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-228614. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a coaxial connector 210 and a receptacle 230 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-228614.
The coaxial connector 210 includes a housing 212, a bushing 214, a socket 216, and an insulation sheet 218. The coaxial connector 210 is attached to an end of a coaxial cable 220, and can be connected to and disconnected from the receptacle 230. The coaxial cable 220 includes an outer conductor 222 and a center conductor 224. The receptacle 230 includes an external conductor 232 and a center conductor 234.
As shown in FIG. 17, the housing 212 includes a cylinder portion 226, a lid portion 228, and a crimping portion 229. The housing is connected to the outer conductor 222 of the coaxial cable 220. As shown in FIG. 17, the bushing 214 is attached to a cylinder portion 226 of the housing 212. The bushing 214 is made of an insulating material. The socket 216 is attached to the bushing 214 and connected to the center conductor 224 of the coaxial cable 220. The insulation sheet 218 is disposed between the socket 216 and the lid portion 228. After the bushing 214, the socket 216, and the insulation sheet 218 are attached to the housing 212, the lid portion 228 is closed and the crimping portion 229 is crimped. Thus, the cylinder portion 226, the lid portion 228, and the coaxial cable 220 are fixed to one another.
The coaxial connector 210 having the above-described structure can be connected to the receptacle 230. Specifically, the external conductor 232 is inserted into the cylinder portion 226, so that the external conductor 232 contacts the cylinder portion 226, and the center conductor 234 is inserted into the socket 216. Thus, the outer conductor 222 of the coaxial cable 220 is electrically connected to the external conductor 232 of the receptacle 230, and the center conductor 224 of the coaxial cable 220 is electrically connected to the center conductor 234 of the receptacle 230.
The coaxial connector 210 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2006-228614 and manufactured, as described hereinafter, is difficult to manufacture at low costs. Specifically, the housing 212 is made by pressing a metal plate. In assembling the coaxial connector 210, the bushing 214, the socket 216, and the insulation sheet 218 are attached to the housing 212, as shown in FIG. 17. The lid portion 228 is then closed and the crimping portion 229 is crimped.
Thus, in manufacturing of the coaxial connector 210 shown in FIG. 17, the process of attaching the bushing 214, the socket 216, and the insulation sheet 218 to one another has to be performed between the process of making the housing 212 and the process of closing the lid portion 228. In order to reduce manufacturing costs of the coaxial connector 210, it is desirable that the housing 212 be continuously processed on one production line. That is, it is desirable that the process of manufacturing the housing 212 as shown in FIG. 17 and the process of closing the lid portion 228 be continuously processed on one production line.
However, with the coaxial connector 210, if the lid portion 228 is closed right after the housing 212 has been made, the bushing 214, the socket 216, and the insulation sheet 218 cannot be attached to one another and be assembled in the housing 212. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture the coaxial connector 210 shown in FIG. 17 at low costs.


The invention relates to a method and device for generating a large static image M(n), such as a sprite or a mosaic, from a video sequence including successive video objects. This method comprises a first step for estimating motion parameters related to the current video object V0(n) of the sequence with respect to the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921), a second step for warping this video object on the basis of the estimated motion parameters, and a third step for blending the warped video object WV0(n) thus obtained with the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921). According to the invention, an additional step for computing, for each picture element of the current video object, a weighting coefficient wWF(n)[x,y] correlated to the error between the warped video object and the static image M(nxe2x88x921) is provided, and the blending formula now takes into account said weighting coefficients.

The invention relates to a method for generating a large static image M(n), such as a sprite or a mosaic, from a video sequence including successive video objects VOs, said method comprising the steps of:
(A) estimating motion parameters related to the current video object V0(n) of the sequence, with respect to the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921);
(B) warping said current video object V0(n), on the basis of said estimated motion parameters;
(C) blending the warped video object WV0(n) thus obtained with the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921); and to a corresponding device. This invention may be useful in relation with the MPEG-4 and MPEG-7 standards.
The MPEG-7 standard has for object to standardize within some years generic ways to describe multimedia content, in view of a fast and efficient retrieval of data on the basis of various types of features such as text, color, texture, motion and semantic content. In this context, a mosaic can play a useful role. As indeed explained for instance in the article xe2x80x9cEfficient representations of video sequences and their applicationsxe2x80x9d, M. Irani and al., Signal Processing: Image Communication, vol.8, 1996, pp.327-351, a mosaic image is constructed from all frames in a scene sequence, giving a panoramic view of said scene. It is possible to extract for instance from this panoramic view the main features of the sequence, such as chrominance or luminance histograms, objects shapes, global motion parameters, and so on.
The definition of a mosaic may be compared to that of a sprite, as used in the context of the MPEG-4 standard. As described for instance in the case of a sprite in the document WO 98/59497, which can be also applied to the case of a mosaic, three main steps may compose a sprite or mosaic generation (in the following, the generic word xe2x80x9cstatic imagexe2x80x9d will therefore be used in place of sprite or mosaic). A motion estimation step is first provided, in order to find the motion parameters that allow to merge correctly a current frame F(n) with the static image M(nxe2x88x921) already composed of the previous frames F(1), F(2), . . . , F(nxe2x88x921). The inverse parameters are then computed, so that the current frame may be compensated in their direction; this second step is also called warping. The warped current frame F(n) is finally blended with M(nxe2x88x921) in order to form a new accreted static image M(n), with which the next incoming frame F(n+1) will be merged, and so on.
It is an object of the invention to propose a static image generation method with an increased robustness to outliers.
To this end, the invention relates to a method such as described in the introductory paragraph of the description and which is moreover characterized in that:
(1) said method also comprises, between said warping and blending steps, an additional step for computing, for each picture element of the current video object V0(n), a weighting coefficient wWF(n)[x,y] correlated to the error between the warped video object WV0(n) and the static image M(nxe2x88x921) at each picture element [x,y];
(2) the blending step provided for determining the newly generated static image M(n) takes into account said weighting coefficients according to the following blending formula, used for each pixel [x,y]:             M                    (        n        )                        [              x        ,        y            ]        =                                          w                          M                                            (                                  n                  -                  1                                )                                                                    [                          x              ,              y                        ]                          ·                              M                                      (                              n                -                1                            )                                                      [                          x              ,              y                        ]                              +                                    w                          WF                                            (                n                )                                                                    [                          x              ,              y                        ]                          ·                              WF                                      (              n              )                                                      [                          x              ,              y                        ]                                              w                  M                                (                          n              -              1                        )                              +              w                  WF                                (            n            )
xe2x80x83where the definitions of the terms are the following:
(a) n greater than 0
(b) whatever (x,y), wM(0)=0;
(c) whatever (x,y), wWF(n)[x,y]=                    w                  WF                                (            n            )                                            [                  x          ,          y                ]              =                  1                  r                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                                            ⅆ                  ⅆ          r                                  ρ                          (                      r                                      (                              x                ,                y                            )                                )                      ;
(d) wM(n)=wM(nxe2x88x921)+wWF(n).
It is another object of the invention to propose a static image generation device for carrying out said method.
To this end, the invention relates to a device for generating a large static image M(n), such as a sprite or a mosaic, from a video sequence including successive video objects VOs, said device comprising:
(A) a motion estimation circuit, provided for estimating a motion information related to the relative motion between the current video object V0(n) of the sequence and the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921);
(B) a warping circuit, provided for defining on the basis of said current video object and said motion information a warped video object WVO(n);
(C) a blending circuit, provided for updating the static image, said previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921) being replaced by the new one M(n) generated by blending said previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921) and said warped video object; characterized in that:
(1) said device also comprises a pixel-based weighting circuit, receiving the current video object V0(n) and the associated motion information and computing for each picture element of said current video object a weighting coefficient that depends on the error between the warped video object WVO(n) and the previously generated static image M(nxe2x88x921) at each picture element [x,y];
(2) the blending formula used in the blending circuit for determining the newly generated static image M(n) takes into account the computed weighting coefficients according to the following blending formula, used for each pixel [x,y]:             M                    (        n        )                        [              x        ,        y            ]        =                                          w                          M                                            (                                  n                  -                  1                                )                                                                    [                          x              ,              y                        ]                          ·                              M                                      (                              n                -                1                            )                                                      [                          x              ,              y                        ]                              +                                    w                          WF                                            (                n                )                                                                    [                          x              ,              y                        ]                          ·                              WF                                      (              n              )                                                      [                          x              ,              y                        ]                                              w                  M                                (                          n              -              1                        )                              +              w                  WF                                (            n            )
xe2x80x83where the definitions of the terms are the following:
(a) n greater than 0
(b) whatever (x,y), wM(0)=0;
(c) whatever (x,y),                     W                  WF                                (            n            )                                            [                  x          ,          y                ]              =                  1                  r                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                                            ⅆ                  ⅆ          r                          ρ                    xe2x80x83                          (                  r                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                          )              ;
(d) wM(n)=wM(nxe2x88x921)+wWF(n).
The advantageous principle of the proposed method and device is that it is possible to accumulate confidence in the weight static image, in order not to take into account picture elements with low weight (i.e. outliers), which is carried out by summing for each picture element in the weight static image weights of the same picture element.

Static image generation method and device


In an embodiment, a processor includes multiple cores each to independently execute instructions and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the cores to control power consumption of the processor. In turn, the PCU includes a control logic to cause the processor to re-enter a first package low power state responsive to expiration of an inter-arrival timer, where this expiration indicates that a time duration subsequent to a transaction received in the processor has occurred. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Advances in semiconductor processing and logic design have permitted an increase in the amount of logic that may be present on integrated circuit devices. As a result, computer system configurations have evolved from a single or multiple integrated circuits in a system to multiple hardware threads, multiple cores, multiple devices, and/or complete systems on individual integrated circuits. Additionally, as the density of integrated circuits has grown, the power requirements for computing systems (from embedded systems to servers) have also escalated. Furthermore, software inefficiencies, and its requirements of hardware, have also caused an increase in computing device energy consumption. In fact, some studies indicate that computing devices consume a sizeable percentage of the entire electricity supply for a country, such as the United States of America. As a result, there is a vital need for energy efficiency and conservation associated with integrated circuits. These needs will increase as servers, desktop computers, notebooks, Ultrabooks™, tablets, mobile phones, processors, embedded systems, etc. become even more prevalent (from inclusion in the typical computer, automobiles, and televisions to biotechnology).
To conserve power, various power management schemes are utilized both within a processor of a system and other system components such as system memory and so forth. One technique to save on power consumption is to place a processor into a so-called package low power state in which all cores of the processor are in a lower power state in which the cores are not actively performing work. Oftentimes when in this package low power state, one or more cores of the processor will need to be awoken in order to handle a processing task such as a memory access request received from a peripheral device or other entity. When exiting this low power state, typically the processor remains in a higher power active state for a longer time than needed, namely for a fixed interval of time. This can lead to reduced power saving opportunities.

Providing an inter-arrival access timer in a processor


Provided is a pigment distribution system. The pigment distribution system includes a pigment encapsulated by physically adsorbing a diblock copolymer to the pigment. The diblock copolymer is represented by Formula 1 below:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pigment distribution system having improved dispersion characteristics, an ink composition for fabricating a color filter including the pigment distribution system, a color filter fabricated using the ink composition, and a method of encapsulating a pigment, and more particularly, to a pigment distribution system having improved dispersion characteristics for preventing agglomeration of particles of a pigment, an ink composition for fabricating a color filter including the pigment distribution system, a color filter fabricated using the ink composition, and a method of encapsulating a pigment for preventing agglomeration of particles of the pigment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of display devices, much research has recently been conducted to fabricate display devices using an inkjet printing method. For example, when a color filter of a liquid crystal display (LCD) is formed using an inkjet printing method, precise, reliable, and durable inkjet ink, head structures, systems, and measurement methods are required. One of the most important requirements for inkjet ink is that the inkjet ink should include a durable pigment capable of stably dispersing. To obtain good ink-jettability, a solvent having a high boiling point, such as dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (DPMA), is used in a pigment distribution system of inkjet ink the viscosity of the inkjet ink is adjusted within a range of about 5 cp to about 25 cp and the surface tension of the inkjet ink is adjusted within a range of about 20 mN/m to about 30 mN/m. To obtain high printing quality, it is required to minimize degradation of the color purity of the inkjet ink caused from dispersants and additives.
When fabricating a pigment dispersed solution, a dispersant can be attached to particles of a pigment by physical or chemical adsorption. The attachment of the dispersant to the pigment particles by chemical adsorption is more physically and chemically stable than when using physical adsorption. However, in the case of chemical adsorption, an additional process such as a dialysis process or a centrifugation process is required to remove byproducts or remaining reactants.

Pigment distribution system and method of encapsulating pigment

Abstract: where -A- denotes a hydrophilic monomer, -B- denotes a hydrophobic monomer, m denotes an integer ranging from 1 to 10, and n denotes an integer ranging from 3 to 30, wherein hydrophilic monomers of neighboring diblock copolymer chains are crosslinked using a crosslinker.


Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate playback manipulation based upon a received notification. A client device such as a set-top box may receive information associated with a notification, wherein the notification comprises a reminder or action that is to be completed. The client device may output information associated with the notification to a display that is being used to present content to a viewer, wherein the output of information includes an identification of the reminder or requested action. The reminder or action may be associated with a predetermined duration of time within which the action is to be completed. If the action is not completed within the predetermined duration of time, the client device may manipulate playback and output of the content to the display until a confirmation of the action being completed is received by the client device.

Typically, multiple services (e.g., video, voice, data, etc.) are received at a subscriber premise by a customer premise equipment device (e.g., gateway device), and the multiple services are provided to consumers over a local network (e.g., local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, etc.). Devices connected to the local network may be configured to receive services offered by a service provider (e.g., multiple systems operator (MSO)) and may be configured to communicate with other devices connected to the local network.
The types of devices that may be connected to a local network continues to grow in number. For example, local network access is not limited to only multimedia devices (e.g., set-top boxes (STB), televisions, mobile devices, tablets, etc.), but is now available to a multitude of other home and personal devices (e.g., Internet of things (IoT) devices) such as appliances, wearables, home automation devices, health monitoring devices or equipment, automobile sensors, and others. Once connected to a local or home network, these devices may communicate with each other over the local or home network.
However, subscribers are left without a means for monitoring and easily accessing communications that may be passed between component devices making up the home network. Moreover, subscribers are without a system for integrating networked devices and a common user interface for monitoring and interacting with networked devices. For example, a message indicating that an action needs to be taken at a networked device may not be received by a user or the user may simply ignore the message. Therefore, it is desirable to improve upon methods and systems for delivering a request for action to a subscriber.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Playback manipulation in response to notification


A bipod robotic walking apparatus consisting of two feet on the coupler link of a spherical four-bar linkage, for movement in a forward or rearward direction by repeated motions of the four-bar linkage. Three four-bar linkages may be connected in tandem to form a hexapod with three points of contact with the ground.

There have been many attempts to make walking apparatus-like mechanical systems for propelling objects ranging from robotic vehicles to toy bugs. However, a problem persisting in complexity and efficiency is providing power to the robotic walking apparatuses, particularly in the case of multiple walking apparatuses. A design achievement in any device using energy is simplification by reducing the number of operating parts to a minimum sustainable number so the functional relationships and operating range of the component parts are minimized, reducing operating space and energy consumption.


An article of footwear with straps is disclosed. The article includes provisions for releasably securing the straps to a sole structure of the article. End portions of the straps are provided with separable portions that can be individually inserted through apertures in the sole structure. In addition, a thong portion includes separable portions that can be individually inserted through an aperture in the sole structure.

The present invention relates generally to an article of footwear, and in particular to an article of footwear with straps.
Methods of securing straps to a sole have been previously proposed. Bathum (U.S. patent application publication number 2008/0196269) teaches sandals with adjustable center post assemblies. Bathum teaches a center post assembly including a body portion fixedly attached to a sole assembly and two flexible second straps projecting from the post. The straps may be inserted through an aperture in the post to secure the straps.
Loughnane (U.S. patent application publication number 2009/0038181) teaches footwear with detachable straps. Loughnane teaches a sole member having a pair of loops attached on an opposite side of the sole. A strap is attached to the sole by tying loops to the respective grommets.
Bathum or Loughnane require the use of various fasteners for securing straps in place on footwear.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Some implementations process, using warm word model(s), a stream of audio data to determine a portion of the audio data that corresponds to particular word(s) and/or phrase(s) (e.g., a warm word) associated with an assistant command, process, using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) model, a preamble portion of the audio data (e.g., that precedes the warm word) and/or a postamble portion of the audio data (e.g., that follows the warm word) to generate ASR output, and determine, based on processing the ASR output, whether a user intended the assistant command to be performed. Additional or alternative implementations can process the stream of audio data using a speaker identification (SID) model to determine whether the audio data is sufficient to identify the user that provided a spoken utterance captured in the stream of audio data, and determine if that user is authorized to cause performance of the assistant command.

Humans may engage in human-to-computer dialogs with interactive software applications referred to herein as "automated assistants" (also referred to as "chatbots," "interactive personal assistants," "intelligent personal assistants," "personal voice assistants," "conversational agents," etc.). For example, humans (which when they interact with automated assistants may be referred to as "users") may provide spoken natural language input (i.e., spoken utterances) to an automated assistant, which may in some cases be converted into text and then processed, and/or by providing textual (e.g., typed) natural language input. An automated assistant generally responds to the spoken utterances by providing responsive user interface output (e.g., audible and/or visual user interface output), controlling smart device(s), and/or performing other action(s).
Automated assistants typically rely upon a pipeline of components in interpreting and responding to spoken utterances. For example, an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine can process audio data that correspond to a spoken utterance of a user to generate ASR output, such as a transcription (i.e., sequence of term(s) and/or other token(s)) of the spoken utterance. Further, a natural language understanding (NLU) engine can process the ASR output to generate NLU output, such as an intent of the user in providing the spoken utterance and optionally slot value(s) for parameter(s) associated with the intent. Moreover, a fulfillment engine can be used to process the NLU output, and to generate fulfillment output, such as a structured request to obtain responsive content to the spoken utterance.
In some cases, this pipeline of components can be bypassed. For example, some machine learning (ML) models (also referred to as "warm word models") can be trained to detect particular words and/or phrases (also referred to as "warm words") that are mapped directly to fulfillment output. For instance, if a user is listening to music and provides a spoken utterance of "volume up", one or more of these ML models can process the audio data, and generate a structured request that causes the volume of the device playing the music to be turned up without generating any ASR output and/or NLU output. However, these warm words are typically common words and/or phrases that may occur in everyday speech. As a result, assistant commands associated with these warm words may be unintentionally triggered by users, thereby wasting computational resources. Further, in some of these cases, the user may have to undo some of these assistant commands, thereby wasting further computational resources.

Contextual suppression of assistant command(s)


A system and method are provided for controlling movement of a marine vessel. An operator controllable device outputs a signal that is representative of an operator-desired rate of position change of the vessel about or along an axis. A sensor outputs a signal that is representative of a sensed actual rate of position change of the vessel about or along the axis. A rate of position change controller outputs a rate of position change command based upon the difference between the desired rate of position change and the sensed rate of position change. A vessel coordination controller controls movement of the vessel based upon the rate of position change command.

The present application relates generally to movement and coordination control of a marine vessel and, more particularly to improved systems and methods for damping unwanted motions of the marine vessel about or along an axis.
In one embodiment, a system is provided for controlling movement to of a marine vessel. An operator controllable device outputs a signal that is representative of an operator-desired rate of position change of the vessel about or along an axis. A sensor outputs a signal that is representative of a sensed rate of position change of the vessel about or along the axis. A rate of position change controller outputs a rate of position change command based upon the difference between the desired rate of position change and the sensed rate of position change. A vessel coordination controller controls movement of the vessel based upon the rate of position change command.
In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a operator controllable device that is a joystick and wherein movement of the joystick is a function of a operator-desired velocity about the yaw axis of the marine vessel. In this arrangement, zero movement of the joystick outputs a desired yaw change rate of zero.
In another embodiment, a method is provided for controlling movement of a marine vessel. A manually controllable device is operated to detect a operator-desired rate of position change of the vessel about or along an axis. An actual rate of position change of the vessel about or along the axis is sensed and a rate of position change command is outputted based upon the difference between the desired rated of position change and the sensed actual rate of position change. Movement of the vessel is controlled based upon the rate of position change command.
In a preferred embodiment, the method controls movement of the marine vessel about the yaw axis. A joystick is operated to output a proportional signal that is a function of the operator-desired velocity of the marine vessel about the yaw axis. The method further can include the step of outputting a desired yaw change rate of zero when there is zero movement of the joystick.

System and method for controlling movement of a marine vessel


A container is described herein which uses three different types of restraining mechanisms to help secure glass sheets therein so that the glass sheets can be safely transported from one facility (e.g., a manufacturing facility) to a second facility (e.g., a customer facility). The first type of restraining mechanism includes two collapsible retainer bar mechanisms which are connected to one another by a support bar that can be moved so as to secure the major surfaces of the glass sheets. The second type of restraining mechanism includes two side restraints which are used to help secure the two opposing sides of the glass sheets. The third type of restraining mechanism includes two secondary retainer mechanisms each of which has a stopper that is moved to help secure/support the bottom portion of the glass sheets.

In the past, containers known as "dense packs" have been used in the glass industry to provide safe, high density and cost-effective transportation of large glass sheets such as Gen 5 glass sheets (e.g., LCD panels, Thin Film Transistor panels, Color Filter panels). However, as glass sheets have become even larger such as with the Gen 7 glass sheets and beyond, new challenges have arisen for dense packaging, particularly around the size and weight of the container components, which become even more unwieldy for operators to handle, as well as transportation constraint issues like transporting containers through standard size doors, finding properly sized shipping containers and standard trucks. To help address these needs, the assignee of the present invention has designed several different glass containers which have been disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/187,339. Although these containers work well there is still a desire to design a new and improved container which can be used to safely and effectively transport a stack of glass sheets. This particular need and other needs have been satisfied by the container of the present invention.

Container for packaging and transporting glass sheet(s)


The present invention relates to an individual answering method for an automatic answering telephone set which can selectively ring the telephone when a call is received by distinguishing absent users from users who are at home. A plurality of individual answering mode setting buttons are provided and enable each user to individually set an automatic answering function. Also, the user can push an automatic answering mode setting button or individual answering mode setting button during a conversation to allow the caller to leave a voice message for another user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone, and in particular, an automatic answering telephone set and an individual answering method for an automatic answering telephone set.
2. Background of the Related Art
Automatic answering telephone sets provide various functions in order to ensure privacy of their users and provide convenience in a multi-user household. For example, a background art automatic answering telephone set divides recording regions for each user, and assigns secret numbers to the divided recording regions. Accordingly, a caller records a message to a wanted user, and the user selectively listens to the message by inputting his secret number or code.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an automatic answering operation of a background art automatic answering telephone set, which is provided with a single automatic answering button. When one of the users pushes the automatic answering button, the automatic answering function is set. First, it is presumed that the automatic answering function is set in the automatic answering telephone set, and that users A, B, and C are all absent.
When a specific user, for example, the user A is called (S1), an answering message is transmitted to a caller under the control of a control unit (S2). Here, the answering message may indicate "push '1' to leave a message for user A, push '2' to leave a message for user B, or push '3' to leave a message for user C," or the like.
According to the answering message, the caller inputs '1' for user A, and leaves a message for user A. The message is sequentially recorded at the recording region for user A among the recording regions divided for each user A, B, C (S4). Thereafter, user A can input his secret number (S5), and listen to the message of the caller (S6).
However, it may happen that users A and B are absent and user C is at home, among the plurality of users A, B and C living together. In this case, whether or not the automatic answering function is set, the telephone set rings to notify user C of a telephone call regardless of whom the telephone call is intended for and even if user C does not want to be inconvenienced by calls that are not intended for him/her.
If the automatic answering function is not set, user C can answer the call or not answer the call. If user C answers the call, user C is inconvenienced by calls for users A and B and further inconvenienced by taking messages from the caller on a piece of paper and user C has to remember to give the message to user A or B. However, is user C decides not to answer the call, he/she may miss telephone calls intended for him/her.
If the automatic answering function is set, user C can answer the call or not answer the call. Again, if the call is not for user C and user C answers the call, he/she is inconvenienced and if the caller wants to leave a message for user A or B, user C has to write the message and remember to give the message. However, if user C decides not to answer the call, the generic answering message is played to the caller, and the caller can leave a message.
If user C is curious to find out whether the call is intended for him/her, user C has to listen to the generic answering message and wait until the caller starts to record the message. If user C recognizes the caller's voice, user C can stop the recording by answering the call. However, such call screening may sometime irrate the caller, especially if the call is important, and user C is inconvenienced by waiting until the recording process starts. Moreover, if user C does not recognize the caller's voice, he/she may not realize the call is intended for him/her.
In addition, a caller informed by user C that user A or B is absent may want to leave a message for user A or B, instead of speaking to user C. However, the background art automatic answering telephone set is not provided with a function of converting a speech mode into a message recording mode, and thus the caller cannot record a message. As described above, user C has to write the message onto a piece of paper, and remember to give the message to user A or B.
On the other hand, although the individual answering mode is set in the automatic answering telephone set, user C may not be able to answer the telephone because he/she is busy. Even if the caller calls user C on urgent business, he/she has to leave a recording message according to the answering message, instead of speaking to user C who is at home.
As described above, the background art automatic answering telephone set is not provided with a function of distinguishing the absent users from the users who are at home and ringing the telephone appropriately. Nor is it provided with a function of converting speech mode into message recording mode. As a result, the users must willingly submit to privacy invasion and inconvenience when living in a multi-user household.

Automatic answering telephone set with individual answering and method thereof


Technologies pertaining to computing a metric that is indicative of whether an n-gram in a large corpus of text is a collocation are described herein. The metric is computed in connection with a distributed computing framework, wherein n-grams of varying lengths can be analyzed in a single input data pass, and wherein secondary sorting functionality of the distributed computing framework need not be invoked.

Web-based applications have allowed users to be both producers and consumers of content. In an example, web sites have been developed to include web log (blog) applications that allow users to generate documents that include text and images, and share such documents with others. Additionally, social networking applications allow users to generate status messages (which can also be classified as documents) that include images and/or text and publish such information to defined contacts of the user and/or the general public, if desired. In yet another example, micro-blogging applications have been developed that facilitate user-publishing of micro-blogs (e.g., messages of a limited number of characters) that are accessible to subscribers and/or the general public. Much of this content that is produced by users is retained, at least temporarily, in data repositories that are accessible to web search engines.
For many applications, it is desirable to ascertain some semantic meaning of documents in a document corpus; for example, it may be desirable to identify trends in web-based documents for purposes of designing or marketing products. Further, it may be desirable to identify words or phrases that summarize a document, such that when a query that corresponds to one of such words or phrases is submitted by a user to a search engine, the search engine can consider the correspondence between the query and the word or phrase that summarizes the document when positioning the document in a ranked list of search results. Manually undertaking this task of analyzing a large corpus of text (e.g., millions of web-based documents), however, is not possible on a wide scale. For instance, several million micro-blogs are generated over the period of just a few days. Therefore, it is impractical to dedicate human resources to manually review each micro-blog for purposes of understanding and/or classifying a respective micro-blog.
Accordingly, computer-based algorithms have been developed to analyze large corpuses of text. An exemplary analysis undertaken over large corpuses of text is the identification of collocations therein. As used herein, a collocation refers to a sequence of terms that are co-located more often in a corpus of text than would be expected if terms in the corpus of text were arranged randomly. For example, the terms "President George Washington" in sequence may be collocations, as such terms may appear together often in text.
As described above, a significant amount of text is constantly being generated by web users. Relatively recently, algorithms have been developed for execution in distributed computing environments for the purpose of analyzing a large corpus of text, such that analysis of text is performed in parallel across multiple computing nodes. Conventional algorithms that have been developed for execution in distributed computing environments for identifying collocations in documents, however, are relatively inefficient and inflexible.

Identifying collocations in a corpus of text in a distributed computing environment


A metal matrix composite article that includes at least first and second regions, first and second reinforcement materials, a metal matrix composite material occupying the second region of the body and comprising a metal matrix material and the second reinforcement component, a preform positioned in the first region of the body and infiltrated by at least the metal matrix material of the metal matrix composite material. The article further includes a transition region located proximate an outer surface of the preform that includes a distribution of the second reinforcement component comprising a density increasing according to a second gradient in a direction toward the outer surface of the preform.

Traditional materials (e.g., metals, plastics, ceramics, resins, concrete, etc.) do not always provide components with all the requisite properties sufficient for adequate performance under field service conditions. As is well known, one manner of modifying and/or enhancing the final properties of a component is to reinforce the primary material making up the component with one or more additional materials. One class of reinforced materials are matrix composites, which are generally formed from traditional materials (e.g., a matrix material) that include one or more discrete reinforcement constituents (e.g., a reinforcement material or component) distributed within a continuous phase of the matrix material. Such matrix composites exhibit functional and structural characteristics that depend upon, for example, the properties of the reinforcement constituent(s), the architectural shape and geometry of such constituent(s), and the properties of the interfaces between and among different constituents and the matrix material.
Composite materials typically include one or more different types of reinforcement materials. Particle reinforcement often includes non-metallic, and commonly ceramic, particles (e.g., SiC, Al2O3, etc.), but may include a variety of particles and materials that provide advantages or reinforcement for one or more properties of the matrix composite. Reinforcement of matrix material with fibers, including continuous-fibers, monofilament, and/or short-fibers is also known in the art. Generally, different types of matrix composites require or are typically associated with different primary processing routes/methods. Examples of different processes for forming matrix composites include, though are not limited to, in-situ reactive processes, diffusion bonding, blending and consolidation, vapor deposition and consolidation, liquid-state processing, stir casting/slurry casting, centrifugal casting, and infiltration processes involving infiltration of matrix material into porous preforms.
Some existing manufacturing and forming processes are designed to provide distributions of a reinforcement material within a matrix material. In some cases the reinforcement material may be distributed uniformly throughout an area, while in other cases the distribution may be non-uniform. In many cases, though, limitations with past techniques have led to less than desirable outcomes, resulting in a continuing search for forming processes, and corresponding composite materials, that exhibit desired structural and/or functional properties.
A brief overview of some processes that have been used to form composite materials will now be provided. In situ selective reinforcement methods involve placing and positioning a pre-cast reinforcement material member (sometimes referred to as a 'preform') into a near net-shape casting mold. Matrix material is then cast around the reinforcement member to form the composite. While the amount and/or density of pre-cast reinforcement material can be varied as desired, the constituent material of the reinforcement members does not become integrated (e.g., mixed or infiltrated) with the matrix material, except perhaps in a limited extent at the interfacial boundaries between the reinforcement member and the unreinforced matrix material. Therefore, such in situ methods are hindered by abrupt and problematic differential coefficients of thermal expansion ('CTE') between the matrix material and reinforcement member. Such abrupt transitions in CTE at the matrix-reinforcement interface boundaries can give rise to residual stress during the forming process (e.g., residual stress-concentration), and also manifest in stress fractures during thermal cycling of the reinforced components during service.
Another example of in situ selective reinforcement involves infiltration casting of matrix material into porous preforms positioned in near net-shape casting molds. The structure of the porous preform includes a reinforcement constituent, which may be uniform or non-uniform. One advantage of preform infiltration casting is that the method is relatively fast, thus resulting in a more integrated, infiltrated preform with substantially more contact area between the reinforcement and matrix materials. Even so, the materials still exhibit abrupt transitions in CTE at the interface/boundaries between the preform and the unreinforced matrix material that can create the stress problems noted above. Additionally, there are practical limits to the amount and density of reinforcement material that can be placed within a porous preform, because resistance to infiltration casting substantially increases at high reinforcement levels (e.g., beyond 15% to 20% material in the preform). In addition, the thickness and cross-sectional area of such preforms must be limited to allow complete infiltration prior to cooling of the matrix material.
Centrifugal casting techniques have been used to selectively reinforce composite materials by favorably placing or distributing reinforcement material to form gradient or layered distributions of the reinforcement material within the matrix material. While abrupt transitions in the coefficient of thermal expansion ('CTE') at the matrix-reinforcement interface boundaries can be reduced in centrifugal embodiments where continuous particle gradients are formed within the matrix material, such methods still suffer from differential CTE effects in cost-effective embodiments comprising layered reinforcement particles. Additionally, in centrifugal methods, the attainable variations of particle distributions are limited to bands or layers and/or continuous gradients, and if different reinforcement particle types having differing densities are simultaneously used, it may be impossible to get adequate coordinate (co-localized) particle gradient distributions for the divergent particle types, or to get the different particle types where they are needed, and in the desired pattern.
In further examples, another type of selective reinforcement involves the deposition or spraying (e.g., by low or high velocity spray techniques) of reinforcement particles onto the surface of near net-shape matrix material castings. One drawback of such methods for these applications is that the spray or deposition is superficial, because it is applied to the surface of solid matrix material castings, and does not substantially penetrate beyond the surface. Additionally, such superficial reinforcement coatings must generally be significantly machined prior to placing the reinforced casting into service. Moreover, absent resurfacing with more reinforcement, the effective service life of such castings is over once the superficial reinforcement layer is worn and/or otherwise degraded. Furthermore, in such superficial reinforcement applications, bonding and integration of the sprayed/deposited reinforcement with the matrix material is limited, even with the most optimal spray/deposition methods.
Gelcasting methods are another way to make functional gradient materials having preforms. In gelcasting, gradient reinforced preforms can be formed using gravitational or centrifugal forces to achieve a vertical composition gradient in molded slurries. The preforms may then be subsequently infiltrated. As with centrifugal casting embodiments, the attainable variations of particle distributions for preform gelcasting methods are limited to layers and/or continuous gradients. If different reinforcement particle types having differing densities are simultaneously desired/used, it may be impossible to get adequate coordinate (co-localized) particle gradient distributions for the divergent particle types, or to get the different particle types where they are needed, and in the desired pattern. Additionally, preforms made by such gelcasting methods are problematic because of excessive warpage and anisotropic shrinkage occurring during the sintering stage because of different sintering kinetics for the material components.
Accordingly, methods and processes exist to form composite materials, as well as composite materials having varying material densities such as reinforcement material gradients and other distributions, both non-uniform and uniform. As discussed above, though, limitations with past techniques have led to a continuing search for improved processes for forming composite materials, and corresponding composite materials and articles, exhibiting improved and/or desired structural and/or functional properties.

Variable-density composite articles, preforms and methods


A method of thickening solvents involves reacting (A) an .ident.Si--H containing polysiloxane with (B) an alkene such as an alpha, omega-diene; conducting the reaction in the presence of a platinum catalyst and (C) a solvent; continuing the reaction until a gel is formed by crosslinking and addition of .ident.Si--H across double bonds in the alpha, omega-diene; adding additional solvent and a post cure terminating agent to the gel; and subjecting the solvent, the post cure terminating agent, and the gel to shear force until a paste is formed. The post cure terminating agent is an amino acid ester, preferably a sulfur containing amino acid ester, such as methionine methyl ester, methionine ethyl ester, cysteine methyl ester, cysteine ethyl ester, and cystine dimethyl ester.

This invention is directed to methods for the termination of post cure occurring in the thickening of siloxanes with silicone elastomers.
In the '362 patent, silicone elastomers are used in the thickening of silicone fluids and organic solvents. These elastomers are formed by a hydrosilylation reaction between a multifunctional .ident.SiH siloxane and an .alpha.,.omega.-diene.
According to the '362 patent, one scheme representative of a process that can be used in making a silicone elastomer suitable in thickening a low viscosity fluid is shown below:
Step 1--Gelation PA0 Step 2--Shear & Swell
.alpha.,.omega.-diene+.ident.Si--H Siloxane+Fluid+Pt Catalyst.fwdarw.Gel
Gel+More Fluid.fwdarw.Paste
When a network is formed in such a reaction, we have determined that steric hindrance of the crosslinked structure prevents the reaction from reaching completion. This is believed to be due to the fact that a small amount of residual functionality will remain even after long reaction times, and that unreacted functionalities will tend to meet each other when the gel is sheared and swollen. We have termed the phenomenon post cure. Because residual reactivity causes smooth pasty products to gel once again, post cure should be eliminated in order to maintain a finer appearance and a more flowable rheology of the final paste product.
This can be achieved, according to our invention, by deactivating the platinum (Pt) catalyst with an amino acid ester post cure terminating agent, most preferably a sulfur containing amino acid ester.

Terminating post cure with amino acid esters


A proximity sensor includes a radiation source configured to emit a primary radiation beam and a primary detector configured to pick up a reflected primary radiation beam. The radiation source is further configured to emit stray radiation. The sensor further includes a reference detector arranged to receive the stray radiation. The stray radiation may, for example, be emitted from either a side of the radiation source or a bottom of the radiation source.

The general principle of a sensor of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1. The proximity sensor 100 comprises radiation source 102 and radiation detector 104. The radiation source 102 emits radiation which is reflected from an object 106 and picked up by detector 104. The detector 104 may also be provided with other circuitry provided as part of the detector 104 or associated therewith, which analyzes the output from the detector 104 for a proximity sensing calculation.
The proximity sensor 100 may also be provided with a reference detector 108. This is arranged close to the radiation source 102, such that it does not receive any parasitic (unwanted) light that is reflected from the object 106. In order to switch the radiation sensor to emit radiation, an electrical signal must be applied. This is achieved by the switching of control circuitry connected to the radiation source, connected via bond pads to a substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB). The timing of the control signal is well known and measureable. However, there is a delay between the control signal being applied and the actual output of the radiation from the source 102. This delay can cause error in a time of flight based distance measurement. The reference detector 108 detects radiation generated when the actual output of radiation from the source 102 occurs, so that the offset between the control signal being applied and the actual emission of the radiation can be measured and taken account of in a time of flight calculation.
In order to provide an effective measurement of the time of radiation emission, the reference detector 108 must be positioned in the direct path of the main beam of the radiation detector, or part of the main beam must be reflected back on to the reference detector 108. Either of these options reduces the amount of radiation that is available for transmission and subsequent reflection from an object, thus reducing the accuracy and/or the effective range of the proximity sensor. It is therefore desired to improve the accuracy of the operation of the reference detector.
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the sensor 100 showing the radiator 102, the detector 104 and reference detector 108. As can be seen here, the reference detector 108 and the radiation source 102 both take up space on the die. A typical module size of a proximity sensor package might for example comprise a length of 5-6 mm and a breadth of 3-3.5 mm. The radiation source may take up 1-2 mm of the package length. It is to be appreciated that these exemplary dimensions are mentioned for the purposes of illustration only. Actual dimensions could vary. In any event, the reference detector 108 is also provided as a separate component taking up further space on the die. It is desired to use proximity sensors of this type in various applications that require the sensor to be as small as possible; for example, for incorporation into mobile telephones and other portable electronic devices. It is therefore highly desirable to reduce the package size of a proximity sensor of the type that comprises a radiation source, a detector and a reference array.

Proximity sensor including reference detector for stray radiation detection

STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited


A Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system comprises an electrode assembly with a permeable ECG electrode and a moisture barrier. In some embodiments, the moisture barrier is configured to reduce drying out of the permeable ECG electrode to improve performance of the WCD system. In a further enhancement, some embodiments of the electrode assembly also include a pillow structure positioned on a non-skin-contacting surface of the electrode assembly to comfortably reduce movement artifact or noise in the received ECG signal.

When people suffer from some types of heart arrhythmias, the result may be that blood flow to various parts of the body is reduced. Some arrhythmias may even result in a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA can lead to death very quickly, e.g. within 10 minutes, unless treated in the interim. Some observers have thought that SCA is the same as a heart attack, which it is not.
Some people have an increased risk of SCA. Such people include patients who have had a heart attack, or a prior SCA episode. A frequent recommendation for these people is to receive an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). The ICD is surgically implanted in the chest, and continuously monitors the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG). If certain types of heart arrhythmias are detected, then the ICD delivers an electric shock through the heart.
As a further precaution, people who have been identified to have an increased risk of an SCA are sometimes given a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system, to wear until the time that their ICD is implanted. Early versions of such systems were called wearable cardiac defibrillator systems. A WCD system typically includes a harness, vest, belt, or other garment that the patient is to wear. The WCD system further includes electronic components, such as a defibrillator and electrodes, coupled to the harness, vest, or other garment. When the patient wears the WCD system, the electrodes may make good electrical contact with the patient's skin, and therefore can help sense the patient's ECG. If a shockable heart arrhythmia is detected from the ECG, then the defibrillator delivers an appropriate electric shock through the patient's body, and thus through the heart. This may restart the patient's heart and save the patient's life.

Wearable cardioverter defibrtillator with improved ECG electrodes


The present invention provides a soluble T cell receptor (sTCR), which comprises (i) all or part of a TCR $g(a) chain, except the transmembrane domain thereof, and (ii) all or part of a TCR $g(b) chain, except the transmembrane domain thereof. (i) and (ii) each comprise a functional variable domain and at least a part of the constant domain of the TCR chain, and are linked by a disulphide bond between constant domain residues which is not present in native TCR, characterized in that the sTCR recognizes a CD1-antigen complex, a bacterial superantigen or a peptide-MHC/superantigen complex.

Native TCRs
As is described in, for example, WO 99/60120 TCRs mediate the recognition of specific Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-peptide complexes by T cells and, as such, are essential to the functioning of the cellular arm of the immune system.
Antibodies and TCRs are the only two types of molecules which recognise antigens in a specific manner, and thus the TCR is the only receptor for particular peptide antigens presented in MEC, the alien peptide often being the only sign of an abnormality within a cell. T cell recognition occurs when a T-cell and an antigen presenting cell (APC) are in direct physical contact, and is initiated by ligation of antigen-specific TCRs with pMHC complexes.
The native TCR is a heterodimeric cell surface protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily which is associated with invariant proteins of the CD3 complex involved in mediating signal transduction. TCRs exist in αβ and γδ forms, which are structurally similar but have quite distinct anatomical locations and probably functions. The MHC class I and class II ligands are also immunoglobulin superfamily proteins but are specialised for antigen presentation, with a highly polymorphic peptide binding site which enables them to present a diverse array of short peptide fragments at the APC cell surface.
Two further classes of proteins are known to be capable of functioning as TCR ligands. (1) CD1 antigens are MHC class I-related molecules whose genes are located on a different chromosome from the classical MHC class I and class II antigens. CD1 molecules are capable of presenting peptide and non-peptide (eg lipid, glycolipid) moieties to T cells in a manner analogous to conventional class I and class II-MHC-pep complexes. See, for example (Barclay et al, (1997) The Leucocyte Antigen Factsbook 2nd Edition, Acadmeic Press) and (Bauer (1997) Eur J Immunol 27 (6) 1366-1373)) (2) Bacterial superantigens are soluble toxins which are capable of binding both class II MHC molecules and a subset of TCRs. (Fraser (1989) Nature 339 221-223) Many superantigens exhibit specificity for one or two V beta segments, whereas others exhibit more promiscuous binding. In any event, superantigens are capable of eliciting an enhanced immune response by virtue of their ability to stimulate subsets of T cells in a polyclonal fashion.
The extracellular portion of native heterodimeric αβTCR consists of two polypeptides each of which has a membrane-proximal constant domain, and a membrane-distal variable domain (see FIG. 1). Each of the constant and variable domains includes an intra-chain disulfide bond. The variable domains contain the highly polymorphic loops analogous to the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of antibodies. CDR3 of the TCR interacts with the peptide presented by MHC, and CDRs 1 and 2 interact with the peptide and the MHC. The diversity of TCR sequences is generated via somatic rearrangement of linked variable (V), diversity (D), joining (J), and constant genes. Functional α chain polypeptides are formed by rearranged V-J-C regions, whereas β chains consist of V-D-J-C regions. The extracellular constant domain has a membrane proximal region and an immunoglobulin region. There is a single α chain constant domain, known as TRAC, and two different β constant domains, known as TRBC1 and TRBC2 (IMGT nomenclature). There are four amino acid changes between these β constant domains, three of which are within the domains used to produce the single-chain TCRs of the present invention. These changes are all within exon 1 of TRBC1 and TRBC2: N4K5->K4N5 and F37->Y (IMGT numbering, differences TRBC1->TRBC2), the final amino acid change between the two TCR β chain constant regions being in exon 3 of TRBC1 and TRBC2: V1->E. The extent of each of the TCR extracellular domains is somewhat variable. However, a person skilled in the art can readily determine the position of the domain boundaries using a reference such as The T Cell Receptor Facts Book, Lefranc & Lefranc, Publ. Academic Press 2001.
Soluble TCRs
Soluble TCRs are useful, not only for the purpose of investigating specific TCR-pMHC interactions, but also potentially as a diagnostic tool to detect infection, or to detect autoimmune disease markers. Soluble TCRs also have applications in staining, for example to stain cells for the presence of a particular peptide antigen presented in the context of the MHC. Similarly, soluble TCRs can be used to deliver a therapeutic agent, for example a cytotoxic compound or an immunostimulating compound, to cells presenting a particular antigen. Soluble TCRs may also be used to inhibit T cells, for example, those reacting to an auto-immune peptide antigen.
Proteins which are made up of more than one polypeptide subunit and which have a transmembrane domain can be difficult to produce in soluble form because, in many cases, the protein is stabilised by its transmembrane region. This is the case for the TCR, and is reflected in the scientific literature which describes truncated forms of TCR, containing either only extracellular domains or extracellular and cytoplasmic domains, which can be recognised by TCR-specific antibodies (indicating that the part of the recombinant TCR recognised by the antibody has correctly folded), but which cannot be produced at a good yield, which are not stable at low concentrations and/or which cannot recognise MHC-peptide complexes. This literature is reviewed in WO 99/60120.
A number of papers describe the production of TCR heterodimers which include the native disulphide bridge which connects the respective subunits (Garboczi, et al., (1996), Nature 384(6605): 134-41; Garboczi, et al., (1996), J Immunol 157(12): 5403-10; Chang et al., (1994), PNAS USA 91: 11408-11412; Davodeau et al., (1993), J. Biol. Chem. 268(21): 15455-15460; Golden et al., (1997), J. Imm. Meth. 206: 163-169; U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,840). However, although such TCRs can be recognised by TCR-specific antibodies, none were shown to recognise its native ligand at anything other than relatively high concentrations and/or were not stable.
In WO 99/60120, a soluble TCR is described which is correctly folded so that it is capable of recognising its native ligand, is stable over a period of time, and can be produced in reasonable quantities. This TCR comprises a TCR α or γ chain extracellular domain dimerised to a TCR β or δ chain extracellular domain respectively, by means of a pair of C-terminal dimerisation peptides, such as leucine zippers. This strategy of producing TCRs is generally applicable to all TCRs.
Reiter et al, Immunity, 1995, 2:281-287, details the construction of a soluble molecule comprising disulphide-stabilised TCR α and β variable domains, one of which is linked to a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE38). One of the stated reasons for producing this molecule was to overcome the inherent instability of single-chain TCRs. The position of the novel disulphide bond in the TCR variable domains was identified via homology with the variable domains of antibodies, into which these have previously been introduced (for example see Brinkmann, et al. (1993), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 7538-7542, and Reiter, et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33: 5451-5459). However, as there is no such homology between antibody and TCR constant domains, such a technique could not be employed to identify appropriate sites for new inter-chain disulphide bonds between TCR constant domains.
Given the importance of soluble TCRs, it would be desirable to provide an alternative way of producing such molecules. Specifically it would be desirable to provide alternative soluble TCRs which recognise CD1-antigen complexes, bacterial superantigens and peptide-MHC/superantigen complexes. The TCRs of the present invention provide stable, soluble, polypeptides that can be produced in a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Bacterial expression is particularly preferred for economic reasons.


A coefficient computing section, for computing a characteristic reverse to an input/output characteristic of the power amplifier, is configured by a fixed coefficient storing section and an error coefficient computing section. The fixed coefficient storing section is previously stored with the characteristic reverse to a pre-measured input/output characteristic. The error coefficient computing section computes an error coefficient between a characteristic stored in the fixed coefficient storing section and a current characteristic of the power amplifier. When the determining section determines that the adjacent-channel leak current power ratio is greater than a predetermined value, an operation halt is instructed to the power amplifier.

Conventionally, the distortion compensators of this kind include those as described in JP-A-2000-278190. FIG. 5 shows a conventional distortion compensator described in JP-A-2000-278190.
In FIG. 5, the data from the data generating section 501 is processed with pre-distortion by a control/operation section 502, that is a DSP, then being sent out through a digital-analog converter 503, an quadrature modulator 504 and a power amplifier 505. A part of the transmission wave is inputted to an quadrature demodulator 507 through a directional coupler 506. An quadrature demodulator 507 demodulates the digital signal and inputs it to the control/operation section 502. The control/operation section 502 compares the amplitude and phase of between a digital signal to send out and a feedback signal obtained by demodulating the sending output of the digital signal, and operation-estimates a distortion over the transmission circuit and creates a compensation table, according to an IMS scheme or the like. Thus, the transmission digital signal is processed with pre-distortion.
Meanwhile, there are those described in JP-A-10-150394, as the conventional distortion compensators that compensate for a non-linear distortion caused on a transmission-system amplifier without using a storage table for storing the compensation coefficient to compensate for a non-linear distortion component. FIG. 6 shows a conventional distortion compensator described in JP-A-10-150394.
In FIG. 6, a power computing section 601 determines a signal power from an inputted quadrature base-band signal. Then, a compensation-coefficient computing section 602 computes a distortion compensating coefficient by the use of an approximate equation having that value as a parameter. By using it, a non-linear distortion compensating section 603 compensates for a non-linear distortion. Using an error between an quadrature signal obtained by demodulating an output to which the modulation output is distributed as well as an quadrature base-band signal, a coefficient update section 604 updates the coefficient of the approximate equation.
Furthermore, in order not to send out an abnormal signal from the antenna in the event of a failure of the power amplifier, the conventional distortion compensator is configured to monitor the output power of the power amplifier. When a power value exceeding a pre-defined value is detected, the power amplifier is ceased in operation.
However, in the conventional configuration disclosed in JP-A-2000-278190, there is a need of large sizes of coefficient tables to express a distortion characteristic of the power amplifier. Furthermore, the frequency of coefficient update is still-high, resulting in a problem of time increase before attaining convergence.
Meanwhile, in the conventional structure disclosed in JP-A-10-150394, the quadrature base-band signal to transmit is used as an input to the distortion compensator so that a distortion compensation coefficient is determined by a comparison between this signal and the quadrature base-band signal fed back from the power amplifier output. However, in order to realize the equivalent operation and function where an RF signal is used as an input to a distortion compensator, the RF signal must be down-converted and then subjected to quadrature demodulation, thus involving a problem of complication in configuration.
Furthermore, in the conventional configuration, when abnormality occurs in the distortion amount on the power amplifier in an absent state of abnormality in the output power value, it cannot be coped with by the distortion compensator. Thus, there exists a drawback unable to prevent the interference to the adjacent channel.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A dumbbell having a bar that is set non perpendicularly to the weights of the dumbbell and has added features such as indicias that a user can quickly see in order to know which direction the dumbbell is for appropriate grasping as well as footings which orient the dumbbell so as to make it easy to use. Since the bar reorients the weights so that they do not interfere with the body, a shorter bar can be used which brings each weight closer to the other.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to sports equipment but more particularly to a dumbbell having an angled bar to favor motion by a user.
2. Background of the Invention
Dumbbells have been around for centuries, but with the ever increasing variety of exercise moves being created, some flaws in the design of current dumbbells are beginning to show. Due to body configuration, more particularly in the way hands grab dumbbells, some moves are awkward or have the weights of the dumbbell interfere with body motion because of the way the hand has to grasp the bar between the weights.
Some effort has been made in that direction by having handles incorporated along or as replacement to the bar between the weights such as in U.S. Pat. No. 460,270, U.S. Pat. No. 734,062 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,917,566.
Also, but more specifically for barbells, kinks have been incorporated in the bar such as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,567, U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,419, U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,073. Also, the use of an offset bar is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,073.


According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus selects as an output image a candidate character component, from which a non-character component is removed, in a gradation having the largest number of pixels when there is a significant difference between the number of character pixels in the gradation having the largest number of character pixels and the number of character pixels in a gradation having the second largest number of character pixels, and selects as an output image a candidate character component, from which the non-character component is removed, in a gradation having the smallest number of edge pixels when there is no significant difference between the number of character pixels in the gradation having the largest number of character pixels and the number of character pixels in the gradation having the second largest number of character pixels.

There is conventionally known a technique of extracting a character by removing an outline portion thereof when an outlined character is included in image data. As a specific method, there is a technique of acquiring a character by first converting image data to a binary image, followed by cutting out a character for each gradation, determining whether the cut-out character is a normal character or an outline character, and performing an image correction of converting the character to the normal character when the character is the outline character. There also exists a technique of performing character recognition on the image data by referring to a plurality of character recognition dictionaries, calculating reliability of the result of the character recognition as a character, and selecting the recognition result with high reliability.
However, it has been difficult in some cases to cut out a character by the conventional method of extracting a character by image processing when the character has a thick outline or is in contact with another character. Moreover, when using the character recognition dictionary, the amount of calculation tends to increase since the calculation is performed by combining the plurality of character recognition dictionaries.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method