A toy gun includes a driven lever, a driven member, a pivot member, a push block, a drive mechanism, a triggering device, and a housing. Thus, the toy gun can shoot the plastic cartridges successively in an automatically controlled manner by the motor and the power switch and can also shoot the plastic cartridges individually in a manual manner by pulling the pull member and pressing the trigger, thereby enhancing the versatility of the toy gun, and thereby increasing the playing amusement of the toy gun.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toy gun and, more particularly, to a toy gun having dual actuating manners.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional toy gun comprises a housing, a piston, a spring, a magazine, and a trigger. The piston is pulled to compress the spring in the housing. When the trigger is pressed, the piston is released to release the spring so as to eject the cartridge contained in the magazine outward by the restoring force of the spring. However, the toy gun manually controlled by the user only shoots the cartridge once at a time, and cannot shoot the cartridge successively, thereby decreasing the amusement effect of the toy gun.
A conventional motorized toy gun comprises a motor which drives a drive mechanism to pull the piston to compress the spring in the housing. Thus, the motorized toy gun can shoot the cartridge successively, thereby increasing the amusement effect of the toy gun. However, the electric power of the motor is supplied by a battery, so that the motorized toy gun is inoperative when the electric power from the battery is exhausted, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.


A method and an arrangement for finish rolling wire and/or round steel on a continuously operating finish rolling block. The finish rolling block includes a plurality of work rolling sets and sizing rolling sets with essentially round sizing rolls, wherein the rolling sets are arranged closely one behind the other and the rolling planes thereof are alternatingly offset relative to each other by 90.degree.. The method includes imparting a twist to the rolled material by asymmetrically spreading the rolled material in the two sets of rolls which precede the last set of rolls, wherein the twist imparted in the two sets of rolls has approximately the same magnitude but is directed in opposite directions, so that the rolled material is stabilized in its position in the last sizing roll pass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of finish rolling wire and/or round steel on a continuously operating finish rolling block. The finish rolling block includes a plurality of work rolling sets and sizing rolling sets with essentially round sizing rolls, wherein the rolling sets are arranged closely one behind the other and the rolling planes thereof are alternatingly offset relative to each other by 90.degree.. The invention also relates to a pass arrangement for carrying out the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roll pass arrangements of the above-described type are described in German Patent 34 45 219 and have the purpose to manufacture wire and/or round steel with good tolerances, wherein the surface of the rolled material is treated carefully.
All pass arrangements have in common that at least the last pass of the rolling train formed by several roll sets is a finishing pass and has a cross-sectional shape for obtaining the desired finished cross-section of the rolled material.
In a solution known from German Patent 10 73 990, the last sizing pass is preceded by a pass having essentially straight circumferential lines forming the cross-section of an irregular hexagon which subsequently enters the circular sizing pass. It has been found that rolling of the sides of the hexagon is not possible in a single sizing pass. Rather, it has been found that the finished product has dimensional deviations due to flattened portions which remain on the product.
In order to improve the finished cross-section, it is proposed in Iron and Steel Engineer, March 1986, p. 115, to use a pass arrangement in which an oval-shaped transition pass is arranged following the last work pass, wherein the transition pass is followed by two sizing passes having essentially circular pass openings. This arrangement has the problem that the rolled material cannot be held in a stable manner in the round sizing passes. The consequence of this problem is that the wire tilts, i.e. the wire rotates about its longitudinal axis following the oval transition pass, wherein the flat areas created in the region of the gap of the oval transition pass rotate in the first and second sizing passes into the areas of the roll gaps and can remain flat. This problem also cannot be solved with greater pass fillings. Rather, greater pass filling merely result in ledge-like projections in the areas of the roll gaps. In summary, the desired improvement in tolerance cannot be obtained in a pass arrangement which uses two round sizing passes because it is not possible to hold the rolled material in the sizing passes without additional measures.
Because of the negative experiences with the above-described pass arrangement, another proposal provides to arrange as the third-to-last pass a regular hexagon, an oval transition pass as the second-to-last pass and as the last pass a circular finishing pass in the known manner. However, this solution also has the disadvantage that the slightly convexly curved circumferential portions of the rolled material leaving the transition pass end up in the subsequent round finishing pass in the areas of the roll gaps and the finished rolled material is not circular but is flat at the mentioned locations and is of insufficient quality.
In order to solve the problem discussed above, DE 34 45 219 C2 proposes an arrangement which has at the end last passes constructed as sizing passes, wherein the second-to-last sizing pass is dimensioned for an at least 8% reduction and the last sizing pass is dimensioned for a maximum 3.8% reduction, and wherein the third-to-last pass also has a pass opening with straight circumferential lines.
In addition to requiring rolling mills composed of roll sets having three rolls, the solution mentioned last has the disadvantage that rolling of the hexagonal primary material also results in problems in the two round sizing passes with respect to the guidance of the rolled material relative to its longitudinal axis. Accordingly, it is not possible to hold the rolled material in the pass in a stable manner in this known rolling mill.
As is clear from the above discussion of the prior art, it has been a problem for a long time to obtain in rolling mill trains of the above-mentioned type a rolled material which is accurate to size, i.e., is rolled with narrow tolerance fields. The prior art developments show that better results are obtained if more than only one circular sizing pass is used for finish rolling of the wire or round steel. However, the disadvantage for guidance of the rolled material remains. A significant improvement of the quality obtainable by means of precision rolls would be possible if finish rolling of the material can be carried out by means of at least three successive sizing passes using essentially circular pass shapes, without producing quality reductions due to turning of the previously created thickened portion of the rolled material into the areas of the subsequent roll passes in which the thickened portions can no longer be rolled down.

Method and arrangement for rolling wire and/or round steel


A device includes a support body with a substantially “C” squared-shape. The support body includes a support member and upright elements arranged on opposite sides of the support member that extend substantially orthogonally from the support member toward a surgical table. The device further includes one or more adjustment mechanisms connected to respective upright elements that adjust the spacing of the support member with respect to the surgical table to accommodate a patient's body positioned on the surgical table.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
In recent years percutaneous interventions have shown an exponential growth in number as well complexity of the performed procedures. The medical devices employed during these procedures are very often about 1 to 3 meters in length but are commonly less than one millimeter in thickness. Therefore, careful manipulation of these devices is required to avoid damaging their fragile structure during positioning maneuvers.
In general, the medical devices are held in place by the operator, such as a physician, with the help of one or more assistants using the patient legs as an uneven support surface. Such an arrangement may prevent the operator to fully focus on the critical aspects of the interventional procedure. Moreover, the lack of a large flat support surface increases the likelihood of twisting or damaging one or more of the devices being employed simultaneously, thus potentially prolonging the procedural time and increasing the likelihood of complications.

Support device for percutaneous intervention


An apparatus and method for detecting and logging video outputs from a central control unit to one or more television receivers in which a remote unit in or in proximity to the or each television receiver detects by means of a tuned circuit the horizontal synchronization signal frequency of the receiver; the detected signal is modulated and fed to the central control unit where it is demodulated to produce a signal corresponding to the phase of the receiver horizontal synchronization signal characteristic of that receiver, the phase of the time synchronization signal of each of a plurality of video players is compared with the phase of the fed receiver signal to obtain a match; and a microprocessor logs the matched signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television signal detection apparatus for determining which of several television programs is being displayed at a television receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a hotel where each hotel room has a television receiver which can be fed with a selection of programs from a centralized bank of video tape players it is a requirement to log the use of the receiver so that the viewer can be charged for the particular program selected. In order to carry out the logging function standard receivers are modified by providing an additional connection between each receiver and a central logging device. Modification of each receiver is clearly expensive. Alternatively a separate switching device is provided at each receiver which also requires additional connections between each receiver and a central logging device.


A system, apparatus and method of displaying information for foveal vision and peripheral vision are provided. The system, apparatus and method generate a composite display image fully viewable with foveal vision and peripheral vision. The system, apparatus and method detect, either through gesture or speech recognition, an area on the composite display image a user is focusing on with foveal vision and display the area in a resolution higher than the resolution in which the rest of the composite display image is displayed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to information display. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system, apparatus and method of displaying information for foveal vision and peripheral vision.
2. Description of Related Art
In live group meetings, background information may be placed on walls of a conference room to allow participants to scan the information as needed. After a participant has scanned a piece of background information, however, the participant's focus is ordinarily returned to information relating to a topic in discussion. When a participant's focus is directed to a particular piece of information, that piece of information may be said to be in the participant's foveal vision. All other pieces of information may then be said to be in the participant's peripheral vision.
Foveal vision is high resolution or acuity vision whereas peripheral vision is wide field of vision. Unlike foveal vision, peripheral vision is not of high resolution but nonetheless provides situation awareness and/or information detection. Put in another way, foveal vision may be likened to a magnifier whereas peripheral vision to data compression. It (peripheral vision) allows a biological computer (e.g., a human being), which includes a foveal system and a peripheral system, to determine where to find relevant information. From this, the biological computer calculates in milliseconds all necessary muscle commands for bringing the foveal system into position. This may happen three to four times per second, each time, the compressed data of the peripheral system is automatically recalculated to compensate for eye movements. Thus, using peripheral vision a participant may quickly determine which of the different pieces of information that are placed on the wall of the conference room to focus on when needed.
In e-meetings, information is displayed on a computer display screen. Participants, therefore, are constrained to only one piece of information at a time. Consequently, to consult a piece of background information that is not being presently displayed, a search may have to be undertaken on the computer system to find and bring forth the information. This may consume time detracting the participant from the topic in discussion.
Hence, what is needed is a system, apparatus and method of displaying information in an e-meeting for foveal vision and peripheral vision.

System, apparatus and method of displaying information for foveal vision and peripheral vision

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed here are methods of analyzing product-related datasets using a computer system including a product data collection; receiving a product-related data submission; identifying system-identified terms in the submission; generating a query dataset comprising search elements, such as lexical vector(s), semantic vector(s), or both; querying the product data collection and identifying datasets that sufficiently match aspect(s) of the query dataset; comparing the content of the submission and matching datasets to provide an output such as a determination of an error or omission in the submission, identifying a relationship between the submission product and a product associated with an identified dataset; or assessing one or more product status characteristics; and optionally performing additional applications, such as generating a regulatory authority submission based on the determination that the submission product is subject a regulatory requirements based on the comparison of the submission with the identified datasets.

Meeting regulatory requirements has been identified as "an increasingly difficult issue for manufacturers." Joachim Ebert, Industry Week (Mar. 10, 2011). Nearly 80% of companies indicate that they struggle with knowledge management, which is critical for regulatory compliance. Id. For example, in automotive manufacturing, regulatory relevant information can be in no less than 30 different systems and locations. The number of applicable regulations and the diffusion of pertinent information makes it "difficult to keep track of" regulatory relevant information. Id. The complexity of regulations, however, has only increased since 2011. See Id. See also Travis Miller, Georgetown Intl. Environmental Law Rev. (2015).
Material goods suppliers, for example, face a massive data-gathering exercise ahead of the near-term launch of a new European Union (EU)-wide database of products containing harmful substances. The "Substances of Concern in Products" ("SCIP") database, established European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), will require companies supplying products into the EU to submit "sufficient information" to the ECHA to allow for the safe use of those products by Jan. 5, 2021. The SCIP database will consist of information about 'articles' supplied in the EU which contain substances in a concentration of above 0.1% w/w (weight for weight) which are on the candidate list of substances of very high concern ("SVHCs") under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals ("REACH") regime. For EU chemicals law, 'articles' covers both individual items and more complex items made up of numerous different individual items. Suppliers, who will be required to submit the information to customers to enable their customers to submit dossiers to ECHA by filings into the SCIP database, include EU producers and assemblers, importers, and distributors. Thus, lack of coordination between such entities in terms of reporting creates compliance risks. The detailed information document published by the ECHA envisages the submission of a variety of mandatory and optional information about each article. The mandatory information includes information that allows the identification of the supplier; the article; the name of the product; the concentration range and location of the potentially harmful SVHCs present in that article; and information to allow for its safe use and proper management once it becomes waste. Industry representatives have indicated that SCIP requirements are "overwhelming, especially in the case of complex objects" and require organizations to perform a "colossal data-gathering exercise." Out-Law News, Oct. 15, 2019, at pinsentmasons.com.
The SCIP/ECHA requirements may, however, represent merely one example of a continuously growing regime of complicated regulatory reporting and compliance requirements impacting business and industrial activities, such as the production and supply of manufactured goods, the analysis of which is simultaneously also becoming more complicated due to the forces of part specialization/ingredient sourcing of organizations and organizational units, globalization of supply chains, rise of business reputation factors, such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, technological advances, and growing worldwide markets, each subject to different/evolving regulatory regimes.
The non-regulated and complicated nature of product information poses a unique challenge for compliance programs focused on product-related laws and regulations, such as SCIP requirements. In most cases, product information in organizations is associated with at least one, typically several, "bill of materials" ("BOMs"). A BOM typically will include one or more of a listing of suppliers, raw materials, sub-assemblies, intermediate assemblies, sub-components, parts, and the quantities of each needed to be made, purchased, or both, to manufacture an end product. BOMs can be confined to a single company, site, or function within a company or site, or can be designed for use in a supply chain. There are numerous types of documents classified as BOMs, each type having different contents and formats. For example, BOMs can define products as they are designed/engineered (usually called engineering bill of materials or EBOMs), as they are ordered (sales bill of materials or SBOMs), as they are built (manufacturing bill of materials or MBOMs), or as they are maintained (service bill of materials). The different types of BOMs depend on the business need and use for which they are intended. Different domains and departments of a company, such as Engineering, Manufacturing, Customer Services, and the like, independently manage different BOMs or parts of BOMs (e.g., Engineering will typically manage or generate EBOMs). These BOMs are typically stored in different, dissimilar databases in various locations of a single company. Across a supply chain, BOMs can be managed/used by several separate groups.
BOMs (or BOM-like documents) are not even consistently referred to as "BOMs" in all organizations or industries. In process industries/functions, for example, a BOM is also or alternatively known as the formula, recipe, or ingredients list. BOMs also are often also referred to as "product structures" or "associated lists." Moreover, variations of BOMs exist, such as "pseudo-BOMs," which are described as more flexible/simplified product-related records than traditional BOMs. However, many BOMs, particularly for complex products, actually are multilevel documents that provide product-related data for both main assemblies and their associated sub-assemblies (i.e., components within components). The complexity of such BOMs can mean that errors (often costly errors) arise in such documents.
Furthermore, BOMs also can be associated with other product-relevant documents such as production orders, assembly instructions, and disassembly instructions, which also can contain product information relevant to regulatory classification of the product. BOM are reference files, such as part specifications, Computer Aided Design (CAD) files, schematics, component datasheets, mechanical drawings, other reference items, such as tooling or agency certifications that are not included in the product itself, but which are required for manufacture.
With the increase in supply chains and product manufacturing complexity, individuals and organizations have proposed computer-based systems for aiding users in managing complex product-relevant information. E.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,249,954 describes a computerized system by which claims of various types (origin, certifications, etc.) can be validated by linking items, including the histories or make-ups of components and associated supply chain information, such that interested parties can determine if a product claim is accurately justified. U.S. Pat. No. 8,032,516 describes an a posteriori approach to harmonizing different types of BOM information in an organization or network to generate a unified bill of materials based on taxonomy and semantic ontology. U.S. Pat. No. 9,489,654 describes an artificial intelligence (AI) system for managing BOM information of different domains within an organization (e.g., EBOMs, SBOMs, and MBOMs) a priori. The AI system of the '654 patent includes a file server having a plurality of databases for storing specific product information relating to associated assemblies and sub-assemblies and a processor coupled to databases and programmed to perform tasks and display product BOM information for different functional domains of an organization via a network. U.S. Pat. No. 10,303,999 describes systems for determining the relationship between organization within a supply chain based on unstructured text corpora using machine learning methods. U.S. Pat. No. 10,067,965 describes systems for interpretation of product-related data, including finding elements of product information and determining hierarchic relationships between elements.
Given the concurrent growth in complexity of regulations, organizations also have proposed various technological approaches to control costs and improve on human management of such information. Many proposed automated or partially automated systems for managing compliance in the art relate at least primarily to financial matter-related regulatory compliance. For example, each of US20190236126, US20180032855, and US20180374047 broadly describe automated and semi-automated systems for facilitating financial matter compliance. Although these disclosures differ somewhat, each describes computer-based systems, including user data, regulatory requirements, and related regulatory submission data; module(s)/means for checking correctness or completeness of data; module(s)/means for reporting issues; preparation of regulatory submissions; and updating of related databases, as do other patent disclosures. For example, US20130198094 describes an electronic regulatory compliance tool, focused on FDA regulation of medical devices, which comprises a regulation database, a database of compliance documents, and a database of experts, which facilitates the expert review of documents, guides the completion of regulatory submissions, and possibly even facilitates regulatory submissions.
US20190079913 (Levine et al, Xerox Corp.) describes electronic systems for coordinating collection of regulatory information and coordinating regulatory information itself, including information about toxic substances, among vendors in a supply chain, and coordinating such information with information relating to a variety of regulatory authority (RA) requirements. The described system determines requirements and assists in populating regulatory forms. Another aspect of the described method includes selectively redacting confidential information from compliance reports relayed to other vendors in the supply chain. US20200143277, which has the same applicant and at least several of the same inventors as the above-referenced '913 publication, discloses methods and systems for automatically predicting the probability of regulatory compliance approval based on data contained in a data structure which includes data collated and collected from one or more regulators and one or more value chain participants providing for a prediction as to the probability that an application for regulatory approval by a value chain participant will be approved by a regulator and for predicting what is missing for a regulatory approval application. Among possibly other limitations, the limitation of the methods of the '277 publication to related value chain participants may limit the overall applicability of the proposed system/method.
US20200111023 generally describes methods of applying artificial intelligence (AI) systems to regulatory materials. The proposed AI system described in this patent application is trained through machine learning processes to extract topics, identify entries, classify portions of regulatory text documents into sections to facilitate execution of downstream processes related to the regulations. US2018330445 describes a method and system to create personalized investor information packages, based on investor information, to be delivered to the investor to satisfy both compliance regulations and investor preferences. US20200143277 describes methods and systems for automatically predicting the probability of regulatory compliance approval based on data contained in a data structure that can include data collated and collected from one or more regulators (e.g., regulatory agencies) and one or more supply/value chain participants. The described approach allegedly predicts the probability that an application for regulatory approval by a value chain participant will be approved.
None of the several above-described systems or other systems described in patent literature or otherwise known in the art provide a solution for efficiently and adequately handling complex product-related datasets (alone or in combination with other factors, such as regulatory requirements), which can factor many real-world aspects of product supply information/relationships including multiple levels of information obtained from various independent sources (typically in different formats), so as to effectively simplify and improve product related data management and product related reporting and compliance in complex regimens, such as SCIP/REACH compliance. Furthermore, most of these references fail to provide any specific disclosure for efficiently processing the large amounts of data associated with a worldwide collection of product-related records associated with numerous different and independent entities. Addressing such problems efficiently, effectively, and quickly, will require new and inventive approaches and technology that are different-in-kind from any disclosure provided in any of the above-cited references.

Multi-dimensional product information analysis, management, and application systems and methods


A cathode active material for a battery includes a material of the formula MgxMn2O4 wherein 0≦x≦1 and the material has a crystal structure having an open channel formed in a single dimension or along a single dimensional axis. The crystal structure may be an analogue to CaFe2O4, CaMn2O4 or CaTi2O4.

Rechargeable batteries such as lithium ion and magnesium ion batteries have numerous commercial applications. Energy density is an important characteristic, and higher energy densities are desirable for a variety of applications.
A magnesium ion in a magnesium or magnesium ion battery carries two electrical charges, in contrast to the single charge of a lithium ion. Improved electrode materials would be useful in order to develop high energy density magnesium batteries.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A frequency synchronization apparatus and method for OFDM systems. The frequency synchronization apparatus is comprised of a digital mixer, a first synchronizer and a second synchronizer. The digital mixer acquires a baseband signal by means of a local frequency and adjusts the local frequency in response to an integer frequency offset and a fractional frequency offset. The first synchronizer takes a sequence of received samples derived from the baseband signal in a time domain to estimate the fractional frequency offset. The fractional frequency offset is fed back to the digital mixer. After that, the second synchronizer takes a sequence of demodulated symbols derived from the baseband signal in a frequency domain. The second synchronizer yields the integer frequency offset through a coarse search stage and a fine search stage. Then, the integer frequency offset is fed back to the digital mixer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to digital terrestrial television broadcasting, and more particularly to a frequency synchronization technique for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital Video Broadcasting—Terrestrial (DVB-T) is the European standard for digital video services and the physical layer is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). With the deployment of DVB-T systems, communication channel impairment, arising from adjacent television channels, multipath, and co-channel interference, for example, may appear. OFDM is well known as a highly spectral efficient transmission scheme capable of dealing with severe channel impairment encountered in a wireless environment. The basic idea of OFDM is to divide the available spectrum into several sub-channels (sub-carriers). By making all sub-channels narrowband, they experience almost flat fading, which makes equalization very simple. To obtain a high spectral efficiency the frequency response of the sub-channels are overlapping and orthogonal. This orthogonality can be completely maintained, even though the signal passes through a time-dispersive channel, by introducing a cyclic prefix. A cyclic prefix is a copy of the last part of the OFDM symbol which is pre-appended to the transmitted symbol. This makes the transmitted signal periodic, which plays a decisive role in avoiding inter-symbol and inter-carrier interference.
OFDM can largely eliminate the effects of inter-symbol interference for high-speed transmission in highly dispersive channels with a relatively low implementation cost by separating a single high speed bit stream into a multiplicity of much lower speed bit streams each modulating a different sub-carrier. However, OFDM is known to be vulnerable to synchronization errors, in particular, to frequency errors, due to the narrow spacing between sub-carriers. Frequency offsets are created by differences in oscillators in transmitter and receiver, Doppler shifts, or phase noise introduced by non-linear channels. There are two destructive effects caused by a carrier frequency offset in OFDM systems. One is the reduction of signal amplitude and the other is the introduction of inter-carrier interference from the other carriers. The latter is caused by the loss of orthogonality between the sub-channels. It is found that a multicarrier system is much more sensitive than a single-carrier system. Thus, estimation and removal of the frequency offset from the received signal is most critical in OFDM receivers. In view of the above, what is needed is a robust frequency synchronization scheme suitable for OFDM systems.

Frequency synchronization apparatus and method for OFDM systems


A method for fast link recovery for an Ethernet link is disclosed. The method includes detecting a drop in link quality and performing a first fast retrain sequence, including determining and exchanging THP coefficients based on the drop in link quality. If the performed fast retrain fails to recover the link, a data rate associated with the link is reduced, and a second fast retrain sequence performed.

Much of today's modern Ethernet infrastructure is based on twisted pair copper cables that meet certain specifications. One common "category" of Ethernet cable is identified as CAT5e, which is rated for data rates up to 1 Gbps. Recently, however, proposals have been made to use existing Ethernet infrastructure in the enterprise environment for data rates above 1 Gbps and up to 5 Gbps and beyond. Using cabling such as CAT5e at higher rates poses challenges such as alien crosstalk.
Alien crosstalk is particularly more challenging when the crosstalkers become active after the victim link is online. An activated cross-talker may affect an already established victim link in any one of several ways. For instance, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a victim link may drop such that data packets are lost continuously and at an excessively higher rate. Additionally, the SNR may drop so much that the victim link may drop, which would cause a few seconds of interruption during the data exchange.

Rapid rate adaptation in NBASE-T ethernet


Methods and apparatus for alignment of TO cans with photodiodes on fiber-optic receptacles. The methods and apparatus make use of direct connections to photodiodes or connections to Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) outputs to align TO cans in fiber-optic receptacles. An optical source, such as a laser diode, can be powered by a low-frequency or DC source. This optical source can direct light into the fiber-optic receptacle. The TO can is manipulated in a barrel of the fiber-optic receptacle. The current through the photodiode or the RSSI output is monitored to determine when light directed into the photodiode is at a maximum or above a predetermined threshold. The TO can is fixed in the barrel when the light directed into the photodiode is at the maximum or predetermined threshold.

1. The Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to aligning optical components. More specifically, the invention relates to aligning a TO can, including a photodiode, in a receptacle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber-optic communication is used to transmit digital signals. The signals are converted to and from light signals which are then transmitted and received along fiber-optic cables. The fiber-optic cables are generally glass and/or plastic waveguides that allow for the propagation of optical signals along the fiber-optic cables.
A light emitting diode (LED) or laser is often used to convert the digital signal to an optical signal. The LED or laser is often included in an optical component known as a transmitting optical subassembly (TOSA). The TOSA modulates the laser according to a digital electronic stream received at the TOSA to produce a modulated optical signal. This modulated optical signal is sent along a fiber-optic cable to a receiver optical subassembly (ROSA).
A ROSA generally includes a photodiode or other light-sensitive device connected to a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). Light from the optical signal impinging the photodiode causes a current to pass through the photodiode where the current corresponds to the amount of light impinging the photodiode. The TIA converts the current running through the photodiode to an electronic signal usable by a digital device such as a computer, network router and the like.
It is desirable to manufacture TOSAs and ROSAs such that they can be implemented quickly and efficiently in an optical network. Thus, the TOSA and ROSA often include fixed receptacles, such as LC, SC and the like, that allow the fiber-optic cables to be plugged into the receptacle such that the fiber-optic cables are properly aligned for receiving and delivering optical signals.
In the example of a ROSA, the photodiode is often encapsulated in a transistor outline (TO) can where the TO can also encapsulates supporting circuitry for the photodiode such as the TIA. The TO can often includes a transparent top surface for receiving optical signals at the photodiode. To couple a receptacle to the TO can, a high frequency optical signal is directed into the receptacle while the TO can is manipulated in the barrel of the receptacle until the highest amount of coupling of the optical signal into the photodiode occurs. The TO can may then be epoxied or otherwise fixed in the barrel of the receptacle such that it is in an optimum position for receiving optical signals.
The ROSA may be designed to receive optical signals that are in the 1 gigabit per second and higher range. Alignment techniques have typically used a 1 gigabit per second or higher signal directed into the photodiode to align the TO can in the barrel for maximum optical coupling. Unfortunately, expensive test equipment must be used to monitor the signal in the ROSA for determining when the maximum optical coupling occurs because of the high frequencies used when aligning.
What would be useful is test equipment that can test ROSA alignment using lower frequency or DC optical signals.

Rosa alignment using DC or low frequency optical source


A method for producing a pearly luster composition containing pearly luster particles (A) containing a fatty acid glycol ester (a1) and a fatty acid glycol ester (a2) having a melting point higher than the melting point of the fatty acid glycol ester (a1), and a surfactant (B), wherein the method includes the steps of (i) solubilizing the fatty acid glycol ester (a2) in the presence of the surfactant (B); (ii) mixing the solubilized solution obtained in the step (i) with a molten fatty acid glycol ester (a1), to emulsify the mixture; and (iii) cooling the emulsified mixture obtained in the step (ii), to precipitate the pearly luster particles (A); a pearly luster composition obtained by the method; and a shampoo containing the pearly luster composition. The pearly luster composition obtained by the present invention is suitably used for shampoos, conditioners, body shampoos, liquid detergents, and the like.

As pearly luster particles which are excellent in high-temperature stability, Patent Publication 1 describes a mildly cold pearly luster concentrate containing a pearly luster coloring agent which consists essentially of a fatty acid base material selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl stearate, polyethylene glycol mono- and di-stearates, ethylene glycol mono- and di-stearates, stearic acid monoethanolamide, and mixtures thereof, wherein at least about 90% by weight of the fatty acids of the above fatty acid base material is composed of octadecanoic acid. However, in order to obtain the pearly luster coloring agent, it is necessary to use a high-purity octadecanoic acid purified from fatty acid raw materials. Therefore, the cost involved in manufacturing increases.
Patent Publication 1: JP2001-514627 A

Method for production of pearlescent composition comprising a fatty acid glycol ester mixture


The present invention is to present a sample measuring apparatus, comprising: a reagent holder for holding plural kinds of reagents; a measurement unit for measuring a measurement sample, prepared from a sample and plural kinds of reagents held by the reagent holder, for a predetermined measurement item; a display; and a display controller for controlling the display so as to display a screen including a predetermined display area showing a measurable number of times indicating how many times the measuring unit is able to perform a measurement for the predetermined measurement item by using the plural kinds of reagents held by the reagent holder.

Conventionally, for example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0063570 discloses a sample analyzer for performing a measurement of a sample on a predetermined measurement item using plural kinds of reagents.
The sample analyzer described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0063570 is configured to perform measurement of a blood sample on a predetermined measurement item using plural kinds of reagents. Plural kinds of reagents are arranged in a reagent arrangement unit in the sample analyzer. The sample analyzer of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0063570 is also configured to display, on a display, a reagent management screen including a reagent arrangement display area indicating an arrangement position of a reagent in the reagent arrangement unit and a detailed information display area for displaying the reagent information of the reagent. The reagent arrangement display area displays a reagent mark corresponding to each reagent in a specifiable manner, and the detailed information display area displays detailed information (e.g., reagent remaining amount, remaining number of tests (remaining number of times the reagent can be used for the measurement of the measurement item using the reagent) and the like) of the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark.
In a sample analyzer for performing an analysis of a sample, it is desired to grasp, before starting a measurement, how many more times a measurement item of a measurement target can be measured using reagents arranged in a reagent arrangement unit so as not to recognize lack of remaining amount of a reagent during the measurement operation by the analyzer.
However, in the sample analyzer described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0063570, the remaining number of tests can only be displayed for every specified reagent. Thus, for example, in order to grasp how many measurements can be performed on the measurement item "Fbg (fibrinogen)", the user needs to specify the kind of a plural of reagents used for the measurement item of the "Fbg", find the reagent mark corresponding to the reagent of the specified kind from a plural of reagent marks displayed on the display screen, specify the reagent mark corresponding to the respective reagent, and display the remaining number of tests of each reagent on the display screen to check the least remaining number of tests. This imposes a burden on the user.

Sample measuring apparatus, reagent information displaying method and computer program product


A dispenser system wherein the dispensed material is supplied to a valved nozzle through flexible hoses. The valved nozzle is located in a dispenser gun usually hand held and a swivel distributor interconnecting the hoses to the dispenser gun structure achieves superior ergonomic characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a dispenser system utilizing a dispensing nozzle supplied through flexible hose wherein movement of the dispenser relative to the hose is facilitated by a swivel connection.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand held dispensers commonly employ a nozzle or gun wherein the material being supplied is conveyed to the dispenser via a flexible hose or hoses. Usually, the hose is rigidly connected to the dispenser and movement of the dispenser is permitted due to the flexibility of the supply hose or hoses. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the degree of effort required to translate, position and direct the dispenser is, to a large part, determined by the weight and flexibility of the supply hose.
In the manufacture of automobile bodies, for instance, hardenable foaming materials are often dispensed into vehicle body parts and sections for soundproofing, rigidity, moisture resistant or sound deadening purposes. In such instances, the operator will be located within the vehicle body, or must reach into the vehicle body through a window or door opening, to properly locate the dispenser for placing the dispensed material as desired. Because of the confinement of the vehicle and the intricacies and configuration of the parts in which the foaming material is to be deposited, extensive manual movement of the dispenser gun and hose is required. Normally, the supplying hoses are rigidly attached to the dispenser gun and the flexibility of gun movement is permitted due to the flexible nature of the supply hoses.
However, as dispensers distributing foaming materials utilize two hoses, one hose supplying a resin compound while the other hose supplying a reactant material, and as the supply hoses are normally sheathed within an electrically heated Jacket, the degree of flexibility permitted by the hose is limited, and the hose assembly flexibility is relatively "stiff". Accordingly, it is necessary for the operator handling the dispenser gun to expend considerable effort in maneuvering the dispenser gun and attached hoses within confined quarters, and the operators commonly experience fatigue, muscle strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other physical maladies.
Further, difficulty in positioning the dispenser exactly as desired may result in improper or incomplete application of the foaming material, and difficulty in properly positioning the dispenser, adversely affects the quality of the work product.


A system and method for an improved pet cabinet that provides an upper play area for a pet, a door panel opening leading to a litter box in a removable drawer, a sensor system to detect the presence of a cat, and a deodorizing system with deodorizing device, a filter, and a fan in communication with the sensor system.

Pets can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve one's cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults. Many pet owners live in smaller houses or apartments, and thus face many challenges with respect to storing various pet items and providing a play area for the pet as well as a litter box. These various pet items also do not complement the decor of most homes. Thus, there exists a need for an improved pet cabinet that overcomes these shortcomings.


The present disclosure generally relates to tin oxide films prepared by physical vapor deposition using a doped tin target. The semiconductor film may include tin and oxygen, and may be formed in a PVD chamber including a silicon doped tin target. Additionally, the semiconductor film may be smooth compared to similarly formed films without a doped target. The semiconductor film may be deposited by applying an electrical bias to a sputtering silicon doped tin target including the silicon in an amount of 0.5 to 5% by atomic weight of the total target. The semiconductor film has a smooth surface morphology compared to similarly formed tin oxide films formed without a doped target.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is one of the most commonly used processes in fabrication of electronic devices. PVD is a plasma process performed in a vacuum chamber where a negatively biased target is exposed to a plasma of an inert gas having relatively heavy atoms (e.g., argon) or a gas mixture comprising such inert gas. Bombardment (or sputtering) of the target by ions of the inert gas results in ejection of atoms of the target material. The ejected atoms accumulate as a deposited film on a substrate placed on a substrate pedestal disposed underneath the target within the chamber.
The inventors have found that deposited film on the substrate, such as a tin oxide film, may have varied surface morphologies resulting in adverse effects in downstream processing such as lithography and etching. For example, during downstream photolithographic processing, a rougher surface of a deposited film may have a negative effect on the roughness of line sidewalls or cause higher line edge roughness (LER) or line width roughness (LWR) resulting in decreased device performance.
Therefore, the inventors have provided improved semiconductor processing methods and chamber components for forming one or more semiconductor layers such as tin oxide or tin rich tin oxide having substantially smooth surface morphologies.

Methods of making and using tin oxide film with smooth surface morphologies from sputtering target including tin and dopant


This invention relates to injection molding machines and, more particularly, to an injection molding machine having an integrated carriage assembly for injection of a material into a mold. The carriage assembly includes an integral injection cylinder and carriage cylinder housing having an outer injection cylindrical wall and a pair of outer carriage cylindrical walls. An injection cylinder assembly is connected to the outer injection cylindrical wall forming a hydraulic chamber, and a motor is mounted on the carriage assembly to form a combined rotary reciprocating hydraulic cylinder. The outer carriage cylindrical walls receive transport rails to form hydraulic carriage cylinders to move the carriage assembly. The mold material density, temperature, pressure, and flow rate are closely controlled by axially controlling the force applied to the injection screw with the combined rotary reciprocating hydraulic cylinder.

Injection molding is a commonly used and versatile process for molding many materials including thermoplastics and thermosets into diverse shapes. Recent injection molding machines utilize a rotary reciprocating screw or auger. As material is introduced into an injection cavity of a barrel by rotation of the screw, pressure builds up inside the injection cavity causing the screw, while rotating, to move away from the mold. When a desired amount of material is in the injection cavity, the rotation of the screw is stopped, and a hydraulic cylinder is activated to push the screw toward the mold; so that the screw functions as a ram forcing material into the mold. In this assembly, a first hydraulic cylinder is used to push the screw forward to inject the material, and a second cylinder is used to hold the barrel in engagement with the mold. Significantly, both of the first and second cylinders are independent of the other components of the injection molding machine and of each other. Further, the cylinders operate indirectly on the components, such as the screw, of the injection molding machine. Therefore, the injection molding machines are undesirably complex having numerous components leading to higher cost, reduced efficiency, reduced reliability, and increased maintenance.
To obtain the highest quality injection molded parts, it is important to control the temperature and density of the material, the pressure in the injection cavity, and the flow rate of the material out of the injection cavity into the mold. Unfortunately, control of these parameters has been limited. Specifically, the indirect relationship between the independent cylinders and the screw precludes high tolerance control of these parameters thereby limiting the quality and consistency of injection molded parts.
Thus, reduction in the complexity of injection molding machines is desirable to reduce the number of parts used in injection molding machines thereby simplifying and reducing the cost of injection molding machines, increasing the reliability and efficiency of injection molding machines, and reducing maintenance on injection molding machines. It is also desirable to more closely control the parameters of mold material temperature, density, pressure, and flow rate to enhance the quality and consistency of injection molded parts. It is further desirable to substantially reduce the time required to change an injection mold and set a machine for a different part size thereby reducing the need for additional injection molding machines and the cost of producing injection molded parts.

Injection molding machine and method with integrated carriage assembly


A thin-film multilayer high-Q inductor having a ferromagnetic core and spanning at least three metal layers is formed by forming a plurality of parallel first metal runners on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of first and second vertical conductive vias are formed in electrical connection with each end of the plurality of metal runners. A plurality of third and fourth conductive vias are formed over the plurality of first and second conductive vias and a plurality of second metal runners are formed interconnecting the plurality of third and fourth conductive vias. The first metal runners and second metal runners are oriented such that one end of a first metal runner is connected to an overlying end of a second metal runner by way of the first and third vertical conductive vias. The other end of the second metal runner is connected to the next metal one runner by way of the second and fourth vertical conductive vias., forming a continuously conductive structure having a generally helical shape. An inductor core is formed by first forming a silicon layer between each one of the plurality of first metal runners. A germanium layer is formed thereover and the structure is annealed, causing formation of quantum dots of germanium. A cobalt layer is then formed over the quantum dots and another anneal process drives the cobalt into the quantum dots, where it is captured to form the ferromagnetic core.

The current revolution in wireless communications and the need for smaller wireless communications devices have spawned significant efforts directed to the optimization and miniaturization of radio communications electronic devices. Passive components (such as inductors, capacitors and transformers), play a necessary role in the device's operation and thus efforts are directed toward reducing the size and improving the performance and fabrication processes for such components.
Discrete inductors, which play an integral role in the performance of these communications devices, are electromagnetic components comprising a plurality of windings typically enclosing a core constructed of either magnetic material or an insulator. The inductance of an inductor is a measure of the inductor's opposition to changes in the existing current. Use of a magnetic core yields higher inductance values than cores comprised of an insulator, such as air. Typical cores are formed of ferromagnetic material (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel). These materials comprise a plurality of magnetic domains, and the application of a magnetic field to the core material causes domain alignment and a resulting increase in the material permeability, which in turn increases the inductance. The inductance is also a function of the number of coil turns (specifically, the inductance is proportional to the square of the number of turns), the core size and the core material. Conventional inductors are formed as a helix (also referred to as a solenoidal shape) or a torroid.
With the continual allocation of operational communications frequencies into higher frequency bands, inductor losses increase due to increased eddy current and skin effect losses. To avoid these losses at relatively low operational frequencies, the inductive effect can be simulated by employing certain active devices. But simulated inductors are more difficult to realize at higher frequencies, have a finite dynamic range and inject additional unwanted noise into the operating circuits.
The Q (or quality factor) is an important inductor figure of merit. The Q is a function of the ratio of inductive reactance to inductive resistance, and indicates the sharpness of the inductor's resonance. High Q inductors present a narrow resonant peak when the inductor current is graphed as a function of the input signal frequency, with the peak representing the inductor resonant frequency. High Q inductors are especially important for use in frequency-dependent circuits operating within narrow signal bandwidths. Because the Q value is an inverse function of inductor resistance, it is especially important to minimize the resistance to increase the Q.
Most personal communications devices incorporate integrated circuits fabricated using semiconductor technologies, such as silicon or gallium-arsenide. In the past, integrated planar inductors (including torroidal or spiral shapes) have been employed to achieve compatibility with the silicon-based integrated circuit fabrication processes. However, these planar inductors tend to suffer from high losses and low Q factors at the operational frequencies of the communications devices. These losses and low Q factors are generally attributable to dielectric losses caused by parasitic capacitances and resistive losses due to the use of thin and relatively high resistivity conductors. Also, the magnetic field lines generated during operation of a planar inductor are perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, along which the active devices are formed. These are closed-loop magnetic field lines that enter the material above, laterally adjacent and below the inductor. Field penetration through dielectric materials of the integrated circuit increases the inductive losses thereby lowering the inductor's Q factor. Also, if the inductor is not sufficiently spaced apart from active circuit elements of the integrated circuit, the magnetic fields can induce currents in and affect operation of the active elements.
As integrated circuit active devices grow smaller and operate at higher speeds, the interconnect system can disadvantageously add processing delays to the device signals. In this regard, as the circuit functions demand a greater number of interconnects and as the interconnect cross-section shrinks, conventional interconnect metallization materials, e.g., aluminum, severely limit circuit speeds. Further, the relatively small contact resistance between the aluminum and silicon can be a significant contributor to the total circuit resistance, especially as the number of circuit components and interconnects increases. Finally, as line widths continue to shrink, it becomes increasingly difficult to deposit aluminum within high aspect ratio vias and plugs.
Given theses disadvantages, copper is becoming the material of choice for metallization. It is a better conductor than aluminum (with a resistance of 1.7 micro-ohm cm compared to 3.1 micro-ohm cm for aluminum), is less susceptible to electromigration, can be deposited at lower temperatures (thereby avoiding deleterious effects on the device dopant profiles) and is suitable for use in high aspect ratio applications. Copper interconnects can be formed by chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, electroplating and electrolytic plating.
The damascene process is one technique for forming copper interconnects for integrated circuits. A trench is formed in a surface dielectric layer and copper material is then deposited in the trench. Usually the trench is overfilled, requiring a subsequent chemical/mechanical polishing step to replanarize the dielectric surface. This process of depositing copper in a trench offers superior dimensional control because it reduces dimensional variations relative to variations that are introduced in a typical subtractive metal etch process.
Dual damascene copper processes integrally form both the vertical conductive via portion and the substantially horizontal metal interconnect portion of an interconnect system. The via opening is formed first, followed by formation of an overlying trench. A subsequent metal deposition step fills both the via opening and the trench, forming a complete metal layer. A chemical/mechanical polishing step planarizes the deposited metal with respect to the adjacent dielectric surface.

Multi-layer inductor formed in a semiconductor substrate and having a core of ferromagnetic material


A search method is disclosed. In the method, a data rewriting system obtains, from a database, one or more search term candidates that are relevant to a present search term. The data rewriting system retrieves properties of the present search term and the one or more search term candidates, where the properties describe respective matching results of the present search term and the one or more search term candidates. Based on the matching results, the data rewriting system determines whether the present search term needs to be rewritten, and rewrites the present search term based on the matching results to provide a rewritten present search term in response to determining that the present search term needs to be rewritten. A search engine performs a search based on the rewritten present search term.

A search engine is in general a system that provides search services to a user after collecting, organizing, and processing information on the Internet based on certain strategies implemented by designated computer programs. From a user's perspective, a search engine provides a web page that includes a search box. After a keyword is inputted in the search box and submitted to the search engine through a browser, the search engine returns a list of information that is relevant to the content inputted by the user. In this sense, the keyword inputted by the user becomes search term. Specifically, the user searches relevant contents of interest using the search term.
In a practical application, contents relevant to user-input search term may be occasionally missed for retrieval. For example, when the search term of a user is "Black Lenovo Thinkpad Laptop X60", the search engine may not find a completely matched search result because the input search keyword is too long. Therefore, the browser returns no search result. When the search term is modified to be "Thinkpad Lenovo Laptop X60", relevant results may then be retrieved from the search because the inputted search keyword is shorter. In view of this, rule-based search methods exist in existing technologies. One conventional method first segments the search term. Subsequently, based on properties of each phrase obtained after word segmentation (e.g., whether it is a noun, an adjective, or a type such as product's type, brand or model number and information of each phrase), the method concludes certain rules according to the needs. For example, one rule may be that if phrases of two product types are close to each other, the latter has a higher weight. For instance, in "mobile phone charger", "charger" may have a higher weight. Using the above method of searching and rewriting based on a set of rules, the original search term may be rewritten into a new search term. A server of the search engine may subsequently perform a search using the new search term.
As illustrated from the above process, when performing a search, the search engine employs a method that rewrites the user-inputted search terms based on certain rules. Because each rewriting operation requires relevant rules that have been set up by a staff in advance and because search terms inputted by users through respective browsers may be of numerous types, the error rate of this simple rule-based method of rewriting search terms tends to be relatively high. Moreover, because of the existence of ambiguity, a result obtained after rewriting a search term may sometimes be inaccurate. Results obtained in a search that is based on an inaccurate rewritten search term may not be what the user wants, thus reducing user experience of the search engine.
In short, an existing technical problem that badly needs to be solved by one of ordinary skill in the art related to how to create a search method that solves the problem of inaccurate search results caused by searching after rule-based rewriting of search terms in existing technologies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Search method, apparatus and system based on rewritten search term


A method of remotely providing an application includes receiving, at an access server, a request for an application from a client. One or more application servers which are capable of providing the requested application are identified base at least in part on a resource of the identified one or more application servers. The client is provided with the identified one or more application servers which are capable of providing the application.

In a server based computing environment, hardware upgrades, application deployment, technical support, and/or data storage can all be routed through and controlled by one or more terminal application servers. As such, businesses which need to support multiple clients can use server based computing to reduce application costs while ensuring that the applications are accessible by any or all of the supported clients. In addition to improved access and lower application costs, server based computing also enables enhanced security and eliminates the need for patch through software upgrades to a plurality of different clients. Traditional server based computing is generally implemented through remote desktop computing or remote application computing.
In remote desktop computing, one or more terminal application servers provide one or more clients with access to a plurality of software applications. To manage data transfer, the terminal application servers dedicate a separate data communication line to each client. Users can access the terminal server through their user devices (or clients) by authenticating into a network with a username and password, with an access card, based on biometric information, or by any other method. Each client serves as a remote desktop display capable of displaying applications which are provided by the terminal application server. The remote desktop is created by and handled within the terminal application server based on applications installed on the terminal application server. The clients also allow users to input data through a mouse, keyboard, etc. such that the users can interact with the application.
Traditional remote desktop computing is limited due to the high likelihood of terminal server overload. The terminal server is required to simultaneously provide access to multiple clients and is therefore required to simultaneously execute multiple applications. In organizations with large numbers of users, inadequate servers, or inadequate bandwidth, this simultaneous execution can overburden the terminal server(s), resulting in decreased production, system outages, and potentially lost data. Once overburdened, the remote desktop computing system is not able to relocate clients to another terminal server, even if one exists. As a result, computing speed and performance is reduced for all users. Traditional remote desktop computing is also limited due to conflicts which arise between applications which are simultaneously executed on clients, the inability of the terminal server to support more than one operating system, and the potential that users will be inadvertently granted access to restricted applications and/or data.
In remote application computing, a plurality of terminal application servers are used, each of which is dedicated to one or more applications. A user can use a remote client to authenticate through a network and access the terminal application server corresponding to a desired application. A single communication line is established between the client and the terminal application server for each application which is provided to the user. Remote application computing has several advantages over remote desktop computing, including a minimized risk of users inadvertently being granted access to restricted applications and a minimized risk of applications conflicting with one another. However, traditional remote application computing is limited because it requires a data communication channel for each provided application, resulting in a need for excessive bandwidth. In addition, clients which utilize remote application computing need expensive hardware capable of simultaneously handling a plurality of distinct communication channels if the client is to execute more than a single application at one time. Also, locally running the desktop on the client-requires an expensive operating system and hardware, can lead to security vulnerability, and increases the costs of infrastructure technology management.
Traditional server based computing is also limited because the way in which application data is provided to a client requires that the client have adequate graphics capabilities built in. This is because commands for forming objects on a client monitor are sent from the terminal application server directly to the client. In order to display data, the client has to process the commands using a graphical display algorithm such as Graphical Device Interface (GDI), QuickDraw, DirectX, Display PDF, OpenGL, X11, etc. Traditional server based computing is further limited by the inability to provide individual users with limited funds and/or limited computing resources with remote access to applications.
Thus, there is a need for a server based computing system in which bandwidth usage is minimized. There is also a need for a server based computing system in which the risk of application server overload is minimized. Further, there is a need for a server based computing system which is accessible by users with limited funds and/or limited computing resources.

Method and system for providing remote access to applications


A high-side circuit, adapted for a switched-mode converter, includes a level shifter, a high-side driver, a high-side transistor, a capacitor, and an active diode. The level shifter receives a first signal to generate a set signal. The high-side driver is supplied by a bootstrap voltage of a bootstrap node and a floating reference voltage of a floating reference node, which controls the high-side transistor to provide an input voltage to the floating reference node according to the set signal. The capacitor is coupled between the bootstrap node and the floating reference node. The active diode provides a supply voltage to the bootstrap node. When the bootstrap voltage exceeds the supply voltage, the active diode isolates the supply voltage from the bootstrap node according to a control voltage. The active diode includes a first-type well coupled to the bootstrap node, where the high-side driver is disposed.

Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to switch-mode converters and the high-side circuits, and more particularly it relates to high-side circuits with a modified diode as the bootstrap diode and the layout placement thereof.
Description of the Related Art
In the application of switch-mode converters, the assistance of a one-way switching device and a capacitor is generally required to make the high-side transistor be fully conducted. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the high-side circuit of a switch-mode converter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the high-side circuit 100 includes the high-side driver 101, the high-side transistor 102, the one-way switching device 104, and the capacitor 103. Since the input voltage VIN exceeds the supply voltage VS and the high-side transistor 102 is an N-type transistor, the one-way switching device 104 and the capacitor 103 are configured to boost the bootstrap voltage VB to the sum of the input voltage VIN and the supply voltage VS for keeping the high-side transistor 102 continuously conducted.
In addition, the one-way switching device 104 is not only configured to provide sufficient forward current from the supply voltage VS to the capacitor 103, but it is also configured to isolate the reverse current from the boosted bootstrap voltage VB to the supply voltage VS. Therefore, we need the one-way switching device 104 to be efficient and able to be integrated into the integrated circuit for improving the efficiency of circuits and reducing the cost of production.

High-side circuits with modified diode and layout placement thereof

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation


A distributor of powdered product, the distributor having a case, a reservoir removably installable in a housing formed in the case, the reservoir having a distribution orifice and being adapted to contain the powdered product and to be installed in the housing by a vertical translation movement, and elements for locking the reservoir in an intended position in the housing, with associated elements for confirming that the reservoir is correctly positioned inside the housing, elements for confirming including a switch that is responsive to the position of the reservoir in the housing and that forms part of an operating control of a machine associated with the distributor.

The present invention relates to a distributor, or dispenser device, for pulverulent, or powdered, products comprising a removable reservoir for storing a product in pulverulent, powder, ground, or granular form, which will be referred to herein as powder form or a powdered product, such as ground coffee, tea, chocolate, etc., for preparation of a brewed, or infused, beverage, the product being adapted to be used with an appliance for preparation and distribution of such beverages.
An appliance for preparation and distribution of hot beverages, for example starting from ground coffee, generally comprises a cold water reservoir, an electric pump, a boiler and a brewing, or infusion, head providing a chamber adapted to receive a certain quantity of ground coffee in order to inject therein a predetermined quantity of hot water coming from the boiler, the resulting beverage being then directed towards a collecting container, such as a cup or carafe. At the end of the brewing cycle, the brewing head must be opened in order to be able to introduce a new ground coffee dose after having evacuated the grounds previously brewed. The ground coffee is conveyed to the brewing chamber from a dispenser, or distributor, of the product in powder form. These appliances require a regular filling of the reservoir of the dispenser, an operation that requires time and considerable care on the part of the user, especially when access to the reservoir is in a small space.
To minimize these disadvantages, a solution is described in the French patent document FR 2 713 906 relating to a grounds dispenser for an automatic coffee machine comprising a grounds reservoir positioned in a removable manner in a corresponding seat formed in the case, or housing, of the machine. The grounds reservoir comprises proportioning, or dosing, blades rotated by an electric motor in the housing, the dispensing orifice being closed by halting of the blades in a given position, the blades having dimensions corresponding to those of the dispensing orifice that the blades border. The reservoir is held in place in a seat inside the case of the machine by a bayonet attachment system. Such an attachment system is not suitable for installation of the reservoir in a deep receiving housing of the case and presents also the disadvantage of requiring a rotational movement of the reservoir, which is not always convenient to accomplish with a well filled reservoir.
Another solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,961, where the distributor includes a ground coffee reservoir removably mounted with respect to a dosing device. The reservoir is held in place within the distributor by an attachment finger having a spring traversing the case of the distributor and coming to bear in a bolt provided on a lateral wall of the reservoir. The user must grasp the end of the finger and pull laterally to compress its spring to allow the installation of the reservoir in its housing, the same manual manipulation being necessary when it is desired to extract the reservoir. This solution is, certainly, simple and is suitable for a simple dosing device, but it presents the disadvantage of not giving any information as to the correct installation, or positioning, of the reservoir inside the distributor, a poor installation of the reservoir being able to cause malfunctions of the distributor. It presents, moreover, the disadvantage of requiring a difficult manipulation by the user who must, with one hand, pull laterally on the finger while, with other hand, he must manipulate the reservoir at the same time, all while trying to find the good orientation of this latter.
The European patent document EP 1 453 018 discloses a machine adapted to distribute beverages from a distributor of a fluid product contained in a removable reservoir. The reservoir is put in place, then locked on a horizontally sliding plate on the distributor, the plate being provided with a window for reception of a receptacle opening. This removable reservoir proves to be not very easily manipulatable, the user having to screw it on thoroughly to make sure of the correct installation of both reservoirs side by side inside the machine.
The European patent document EP 0 516 168 discloses an automatic distributor of beverages prepared with a device for feeding powdered material contained in storage units removably mounted in supports inside the distributor. Each storage unit includes a dosing screw to distribute the powdered product through a distribution orifice, the screw having an end for coupling to a motor located outside its support. For mounting in the support, each storage unit includes in its lower part protuberances cooperating with slits of its support. Switches detect the installation of each unit when it is locked with respect to its support. Nevertheless, the assemblage of such a storage unit in the distributor is difficult to accomplish because, for example, it is necessary to remove a part of the case to gain access to its support. Then, to allow it to be driven by the motor, the coupling of the storage unit must be aligned with the axis of the motor, the storage unit being then slipped horizontally into its support until engagement.
All of the above-cited documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Distributor of powdered product with removable reservoir


In a bitstream transcoder, the computational cost and the memory area are suppressed so that stream transcoding is performed with a reduced number of times of computing and a reduced memory area. The transcoder includes a VLD portion 11 for performing VLD on a bitstream encoded in MPEG-2 to output quantized DCT coefficients; an IQ portion 12 for receiving the coefficients, and outputting inverse-quantized DCT coefficients; a coefficient table 132 for storing a transformation matrix obtained by multiplying transformation matrices for operating band-limiting filter, IDCT, down-sampling and DCT, respectively, together in advance; a DCT scaling portion 13 for performing down-sampling on the DCT coefficients by use of the transformation matrix; a Q portion 15 for outputting quantized DCT coefficients down-sampled horizontally and vertically; and a VLC portion 16 for encoding the quantized DCT coefficients in MPEG-4 to output a bitstream.

The present invention relates to an image information transcoding apparatus, a bitstream transcoder and a method for transcoding and transmitting image information, in which processing such as change of resolution is carried out upon a compressed video signal so as to compress the video signal again, and the compressed video signal is output.
For example, the background art related to the present invention includes a technique disclosed in JP-A-2001-285875. The technique disclosed in this official gazette has an object that is "to reduce computational cost and video memory capacity required for transcoding MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group)-2 (ISO/IEC 13818) image compressed information to MPEG-4 (ISO/IEC 14496) image compressed information". An image information transcoding apparatus according to the invention disclosed in this official gazette "includes an MPEG-2 image information decoding portion 18 which uses only 4×8 components out of 8×8 components of DCT coefficients of a macroblock to decode an interlaced image; a scanning conversion portion 19 which selects one of first and second fields of the interlaced image decoded by the MPEG-2 image information decoding portion 18, and generates an image by sequential scanning; a down sampler 20 which performs horizontal sampling on the image generated by the scanning conversion portion 19; a down sampler 21 which performs vertical down sampling on the image down-sampled by the down-sampler 20; and encoding means 22 which encodes the image down-sampled by the down sampler 21 so as to obtain MPEG-4 image compressed information".


Determining, broadcasting and using reference pressure data in a network of transmitters. Particular embodiments described herein include machines that select atmospheric data from weather stations within a transmitter network, use the selected atmospheric data to determine a reference atmospheric value, and transmit the reference atmospheric value from a transmitter to a mobile device for use in estimating an altitude of the mobile device. The atmospheric data may include any of reference pressures form the weather stations, measured temperatures from the weather stations, or reference temperatures from the weather stations. The reference atmospheric value may include a reference pressure value of a reference altitude, or a reference temperature value.

Determining the exact location of a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone operated by a user) in an environment can be quite challenging, especially when the mobile device is located in an urban environment or is located within a building. Imprecise estimates of the mobile device's altitude, for example, may have life or death consequences for the user of the mobile device since the imprecise altitude estimate can delay emergency personnel response times as they search for the user on multiple floors of a building. In less dire situations, imprecise altitude estimates can lead a user to the wrong area in an environment.
Different approaches exist for estimating an altitude of a mobile device. In a barometric-based positioning system, altitude can be computed using a measurement of pressure from a calibrated pressure sensor of a mobile device along with ambient pressure measurement(s) from a network of calibrated weather stations and a measurement of ambient temperature from the network or other source. An estimate of an altitude of a mobile device (hmobile) can be computed by the mobile device, a server, or another machine that receives needed information as follows:
                            h       mobile            =                     h        sensor              -                                  R                               T           remote                                      g                    M                                          ln                  (                              P           sensor                               P           mobile                            )                               ,                   (           Equation                     1          )          where Pmobile is the estimate of pressure at the location of the mobile device by a pressure sensor of the mobile device, Psensor is an estimate of pressure at the location of a weather station that is accurate to within a tolerated amount of pressure from true pressure (e.g., less than 5 Pa), Tremote is an estimate of temperature (e.g., in Kelvin) at the location of the weather station or a different location of a remote temperature sensor, hsensor is an estimated altitude of the weather station that is estimated to within a desired amount of altitude error (e.g., less than 1.0 meters), g corresponds to the acceleration due to gravity (e.g., −9.8 m/s2), R is a gas constant, and M is molar mass of air (e.g., dry air or other). The minus sign (−) may be substituted with a plus sign (+) in alternative embodiments of Equation 1, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., g=9.8 m/s2). The estimate of pressure at the location of the weather station can be converted to an estimated reference-level pressure that corresponds to the weather station in that it specifies an estimate of pressure at the latitude and longitude of the weather station, but at a reference-level altitude that likely differs from the altitude of the weather station. The reference-level pressure can be determined as follows:
                            P       ref            =                     P        sensor              ×       exp                      (                 -                              gM                      (                                    h             ref                        -                         h             sensor                                  )                               RT           remote                                   )                       ,                   (           Equation                     2          )          where Psensor is the estimate of pressure at the location of the weather station, Pref is the reference-level pressure estimate, and href is the reference-level altitude. The altitude of the mobile device hmobile can be computed using Equation 1, where href is substituted for hsensor and Pref is substituted for Psensor. The reference-level altitude href may be any altitude and is often set at mean sea-level (MSL). When two or more reference-level pressure estimates are available, the reference-level pressure estimates are combined into a single reference-level pressure estimate value (e.g., using an average, weighted average, or other suitable combination of the reference pressures), and the single reference-level pressure estimate value is used for the reference-level pressure estimate Pref.
Reference pressures from one or more weather stations can be combined into a reference pressure value that a cellular transmitter transmits (e.g., broadcasts) to mobile devices for use in computing their estimated altitudes or for other uses (e.g., calibrating pressure sensors of the mobile devices). By way of example, FIG. 1 illustrates a cellular network that includes a set of transmitters 110 configured to transmit signals 113 using known transmission technologies. The signals 113 can be transmitted at different times for acquisition by a mobile device 120 as the mobile device 120 moves through the cellular network. The mobile device 120 may take different forms, including a mobile phone or other wireless communication device, a portable computer, a navigation device, a tracking device, a receiver, or another suitable device that can receive the signals 113. A network backend 130 with a control unit—e.g., a positioning server such as eSMLC/LMF (Evolved-Serving Mobile Location Center/Location Management Function)—is connected to the transmitters 110. The backend 130 includes processors (e.g., servers) for performing different types of processing—e.g., collecting reference pressures from weather stations, generating reference pressure values based on collected reference pressures, and other types of processing. Examples of possible components in the transmitters 110, the mobile device 120, and the backend 130 are shown in FIG. 12 and discussed in the 'Other Aspects' section near the end of this disclosure.
The signals 113 transmitted from the transmitters 110 contain different types of information. One type of information is often referred to as "assistance data". Assistance data can be used by the mobile device 120 (or backend 130) to compute an estimated position of the mobile device 120 in terms of latitude, longitude and/or altitude. As previously described, one approach for computing an estimated altitude uses assistance data that includes reference pressures that are based on measurements of pressure from one or more weather stations, and in some cases uses reference temperatures that are based on measurements of temperature from one or more weather stations. As shown in FIG. 1, different weather stations 115 are positioned at different locations throughout the cellular network. Each of the weather stations 115 can determine a reference pressure for a reference altitude (e.g., sea-level altitude), and may measure temperatures. Reference pressure values to be transmitted by the transmitters 110 can be determined based on reference pressures from the weather stations 115. Similarly, a reference temperature can be transmitted by the transmitters 110, where that reference temperature can be determined based on temperatures measured by the weather stations 115. Ideally, each transmitter transmits a reference pressure value that was generated using recently-generated and highly-accurate reference pressures from weather stations that are near that transmitter. In some embodiments, each transmitter transmits a reference temperature value that was generated using recently-measured and highly-accurate temperatures measured by weather stations that are near that transmitter (e.g., using an average of measured temperatures). Ideal circumstances cannot be expected for all cellular networks. Instead, factors that affect the reliability of available reference pressures and/or temperatures must be addressed, including (i) the proximity of a transmitter to weather stations that provide reference pressures and/or temperatures, (ii) the age of reference pressures and/or temperatures—e.g., the time since measurements of pressure used to determine the reference pressures were made or since the temperatures were measured, and (iii) the quality of the reference pressures and/or temperatures—e.g., how recently the weather station was calibrated, the resolution of data from the weather station, exposure of the weather station to over-heating, or some other known conditions that may affect the reliability of the reference pressure and/or temperature. The relative locations of transmitters and weather stations will often vary in a network of transmitters. For example: a transmitter and a weather station can be co-located (e.g., weather station 115a is located within the footprint of transmitter 110a); two or more weather stations can be near a transmitter (e.g., weather stations 115b and 115c are within a threshold distance of transmitter 110b); or no weather station is near a transmitter (e.g., transmitter 110c). The age and quality of reference pressures and/or temperatures can also vary among weather stations. Given the potential differences in relative locations, ages, and/or qualities associated with reference pressures and/or temperatures from weather stations in different cellular networks, different methods for collecting reference pressures and/or temperatures from weather stations are needed to optimize use of available reference pressures for computing a reference pressure value and/or use of available temperature measurements for computing a reference temperature value under different circumstances impacting different transmitters.
Even after reference pressure values and/or reference temperature values are computed, those values must be transmitted to mobile devices (e.g., UEs) using limited and highly valuable bandwidth. In some wireless networks, the reference values are transmitted to mobile devices via point-to-point protocols, such as LPP (LTE Positioning Protocol) [TS 36.355] or SUPL (Secure User Plane Location) Protocol [OMA SUPL] over the wireless network. However, in use cases where there is a high concentration of mobile devices, such as a high-rise building or stadium, it is more efficient to broadcast the reference values via point-to-multi-point. In order to support accurate computations of altitude at any time, transmitter networks must allocate valuable bandwidth for broadcasting updated reference pressure values and/or reference temperatures on a regular basis. However, regular broadcasts of reference pressure values and/or reference temperatures may unnecessarily occupy bandwidth during periods of time when changes in pressure and/or temperature within the cellular network are so limited that older reference pressure values still reflect actual pressure conditions and/or older temperature measurements still reflect actual temperature conditions in the cellular network. On the other hand, regular broadcasts of reference pressure values may not keep up with changes in pressure within the cellular system such that reference pressure values stored on a mobile device become stale before updated reference pressure values are received. Thus, methods for adaptively modifying when to broadcast reference values can decrease consumption of valuable network resources and also improve accuracy of estimated altitudes over time, which is highly desirable. Alternatively, methods for adaptively modifying when mobile devices search the broadcast channel for reference values when previous reference values are stale can increase power savings, which is highly desirable.
Although adjustments to a broadcast schedule offer advantages in some situations, those adjustments may not provide sufficiently-accurate reference pressure values in other situations, such as when weather stations do not produce new reference pressures at a rate that is equal to or greater than the desired adjusted rate of broadcasts, or when a mobile device enters an area in which no broadcasts of reference pressure values are available. Hence, methods for using information about weather changes that are expected within a transmitter network to adjust reference pressure values offers advantages during situations when adjustments to broadcast scheduling would not necessarily provide sufficiently accurate reference pressure values.

Systems and methods for determining, broadcasting and using reference atmospheric data in a network of transmitters


An open-frame rack which affords self-service sales of evergreen merchandise, thereby avoiding the necessity of an attendant at the display site. The open-frame rack is composed of a frame structure having interlocking stories. Each story is composed of multiple compartments which may be structured for the sale of Christmas trees and/or grave blankets and/or wreathes. Each compartment is provided with a customer access door which has a key retaining key-lock. The customer access door is by the customer to remove the evergreen merchandise contained in the respective compartment after the customer has paid therefor. It is preferred for the compartments containing large evergreen merchandise, such as Christmas trees, to be further provided with a merchant access door which has a conventional key-lock operable only by the merchant, the access door providing for stocking of the compartments so equipped. The open frame rack is structured so as to prevent theft of the evergreen merchandise, allow customers to see the evergreen merchandise when making a selection, and affords the weather full life-sustaining access to the evergreens.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to racks for the display of merchandise, and more particularly to a display rack structured to provide self-service vending of the merchandise. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a rack of the aforesaid class having an open frame structure for suitably allowing for the storage therein of evergreen merchandise, which merchandise requires intimate contact with the outside weather in order to remain merchantable over a reasonable period of time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Christmas trees, grave blankets and wreaths are all of the evergreen family and are conventionally sold via an outside display where the evergreen merchandise is individually and separately arranged over a display area outside. The evergreen merchandise is kept outdoors so that the local weather can reach the evergreens and thereby impart moisture (from due, rain, snow etc.), sun and to the still living components thereof. Because of the aforesaid display arrangement, it is necessary to have at least one attendant at all times in order to handle each sale individually. This is costly and involves a high overhead which must be passed on to the customers.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a way to evergreen merchandise without the necessity of an attendant at the display site.

Open-frame rack for self-service vending of evergreens


A method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system is presented. The method comprises providing a laboratory sample container comprising an assigned ID information to the laboratory sample container handling system, reading the assigned ID information, checking, if the read ID information is unique or not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, and if the read ID information (2) is not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, assigning a new ID information to the laboratory sample container. The new ID information is unique within the laboratory sample container handling system.

The present disclosure generally relates to a method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system, to a laboratory sample container handling system and to a laboratory automation system.
There is a need to provide for a method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system, a laboratory sample container handling system and a laboratory automation system that is highly flexible and performant.

Method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system, a laboratory sample container handling system, and a laboratory automation system