An optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus having an objective lens adjusting mechanism suitable for a compact optical pickup device. The apparatus has a carriage for holding an objective lens, and a guide. The carriage is movable along the guide. The apparatus has an objective lens adjusting device for adjusting an inclination of the optical axis of the objective lens in rotational directions about two axes perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens and to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording information on an optical recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk or a compact disk and/or reproducing information recorded on such a medium, and more particularly to an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus having an objective lens adjusting mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus, light emitted from a laser beam source is focused on a signal recording surface of an optical recording medium by an objective lens to record and/or reproduce an information signal. If the optical axis of the objective lens is inclined with respect to the signal recording surface, coma is caused so that the signal cannot be recorded and/or reproduced well. Therefore, there have been used various mechanisms for adjusting the two-directional inclination of the optical axis of the objective lens with respect to the signal recording surface.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show an example of a conventional optical pickup device having an adjusting mechanism disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication Hei 5-303749.
As shown in FIG. 11, this optical pickup device has a supporting substrate 203 movable in a radial direction of an optical disk D rotated by a motor 201. The supporting substrate 203 has a bobbin supporting member 216, to which a lens bobbin 206 having an objective lens R is secured via a flexible member 206b such as a wire.
As shown in FIG. 12, the supporting substrate 203 is movably supported on one side A thereof by a slide guide shaft 204 arranged on a subchassis 202 and on the other side B thereof by an inner edge 205 of the subchassis 202. Each of the one side A and the other side B of the supporting substrate 203 is provided with a height adjusting mechanism. These two sets of height adjusting mechanisms cause the one side A to move in the direction of arrow a or arrow b about the slide guide shaft 204 and the other side B to move in the direction of arrow c or arrow d about the inner edge 205, thereby adjusting the inclination of the objective lens R in a direction parallel to the paper without changing the height of the objective lens R.

Optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus having objective lens adjusting mechanism


Photo-crosslinkable antifouling compositions, in particular antibacterial, antifungal and anti-algae ones, which include the combination of at least one telechelic oligoisoprene of a particular formula with an agent for crosslinking the oligoisoprene. The antifouling film is obtained by applying a thin layer of such a liquid composition on a substrate and is crosslinked at room temperature by exposure to visible and/or UV radiations. The film can be used for preventing the occurrence of a biofilm on any surface in a humid or aqueous environment, and can be used as an additive for preparing materials with a view to imparting bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal properties thereto.

The phenomenon of fouling corresponds to spontaneous colonization and accumulation of microorganisms, algae and animals on surfaces immersed for a variable period of time in a freshwater environment or in a seawater environment. Fouling is a significant nuisance, in particular for watercraft, because by deteriorating the surface of the hulls, it leads to an increase in maintenance costs and presents resistance to the forward movement of the watercraft, resulting in overconsumption of fuel and a reduction in speed.
To overcome this phenomenon, paints incorporating tributyltin, a very effective biocide, have been used for a number of years. Unfortunately, this molecule and its degradation products, released in the seawater environment, seriously affect ecosystems, which has resulted in their total prohibition since 2008. In addition, these residues, including tin, remain in the sediments of ports and immersion sites of dredged slurry.
By replacing tributyltin, a certain number of products that are in principle less toxic have been used: these are for the most part biocidal molecules of low molecular weight such as halogenated molecules, for example chlorinated derivatives (sold under the names: Seanine 211, Kathon 5287, Dichlofluanid, Daconil, Thiodan, Duron, etc.), metal-based derivatives such as zinc or copper (Zinc pyrithione, Ziram, Dithane, etc.) or nitrogenated heterocyclic derivatives (Irgarol 1051), which are incorporated in the matrix of the coating.
These molecules are, however, slowly released into the aquatic environment, thus producing, by accumulation, a certain toxicity in the environment. The European program REACH encourages abandonment of the addition of any organic product (of the herbicide or pesticide type, such as the derivatives described above) in the antifouling paint formulations. In addition, silicone-based paints have been developed, and admittedly demonstrate efficacy in the antifouling field, but have limited applicability, in particular due to their high production costs.

Photo-crosslinkable antifouling compositions, films obtained from said compositions, and corresponding uses

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)


The present invention proposes a new method and apparatus for the improvement of digital filterbanks, by a complex extension of cosine modulated digital filterbanks. The invention employs complex-exponential modulation of a low-pass prototype filter and a new method for optimizing the characteristics of this filter. The invention substantially reduces artifacts due to aliasing emerging from independent modifications of subband signals, for example when using a filterbank as an spectral equalizer. The invention is preferably implemented in software, running on a standard PC or a digital signal processor (DSP), but can also be hardcoded on a custom chip. The invention offers essential improvements for various types of digital equalizers, adaptive filters, multiband companders and spectral envelope adjusting filterbanks used in high frequency reconstruction (HFR) systems.

A digital filter bank is a collection of two or more parallel digital filters. The analysis filter bank splits the incoming signal into a number of separate signals named subband signals (or spectral coefficients). The filter bank is critically sampled (or maximally decimated) when the total number of subband samples per unit time is the same as that for the input signal. The synthesis filter bank combines these subband signals into an output signal. A popular type of critically sampled filterbanks is the cosine modulated filterbank. The filters in the cosine modulated system are obtained by cosine modulation of a low-pass filter, a so-called prototype filter. The cosine modulated banks offer very effective implementations and are often used in natural audio codecs ["Introduction to Perceptual Coding" K. Brandenburg, AES, Collected Papers on Digital Audio Bitrate Reduction, 1996]. However, any attempt to alter the subband samples or spectral coefficients, e.g. by applying an equalizing gain curve or quantizing the samples, renders severe aliasing artifacts in the output signal.

Aliasing reduction using complex-exponential modulated filterbanks


Embodiments of the transmission latency leveling apparatuses, methods and systems provide an electronic bidding order management infrastructure, such as a “point-of-presence,” which receives and routes electronic trading orders from different trading entities at a server via a transmission medium to create a certain amount of transmission latency before the trading orders could arrive at and be executed at electronic exchanges to reduce latency arbitrage and/or order book arbitrage that may be experienced by high frequency trading participants. A similar transmission latency may be applied to the egress transmission of market data updates issued by an electronic exchange. Other techniques for facilitating electronic trading are also disclosed.

Consumers use an auction based system to bid and offer for goods of value. Such auction or exchange based system can include an auction based online shopping site, an online ticket booking system, electronic market, or any trading exchange.
Individual investors and traders buy or sell securities (such as stocks and bonds), foreign exchange, and other financial derivative products over an electronic trading platform. The electronic trading platforms such as NASDAQ, NYSE Arca, Globex, London Stock Exchange, BATS, Chi-X Europe, TradeWeb, ICAP, and Chicago's Board of Trade, provide virtual marketplaces comprising an information technology infrastructure for buyers and sellers to bid over financial instruments. A trader submits a bid to the electronic trading platform via an electronic terminal such as a personal computer user interface; and the electronic trading platform transmits real-time asking and bidding information that reflects pricing information of a financial instrument via a communication network to computer terminals of different trading entities.
The leading number of each reference number within the drawings indicates the figure in which that reference number is introduced and/or detailed. As such, a detailed discussion of reference number 101 would be found and/or introduced in FIG. 1. Reference number 201 is introduced in FIG. 2, etc.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission latency leveling apparatuses, methods and systems


An electric toothbrush of the present invention includes: a case having first and second drive shafts exposed therefrom, the first and second drive shafts being rotated in opposite directions and moved forward and backward respectively by a drive unit which is driven by a motor; first and second toothbrush bodies coupled to the first and second drive shafts by first and second coupling units respectively, so as to transmit the rotational force and forward and backward motions of the first and second drive shafts; a brush installed at the ends of the first and second toothbrush bodies so as to clean teeth by the rotational force and forward and backward motions transmitted to the first and second toothbrush bodies; and a third toothbrush body having an auxiliary brush, which is coupled to a third drive shaft of the drive unit installed in the case.

Generally, a toothbrush is a teeth cleaning tool used to remove a foreign material attached to teeth or protect teeth from harmful bacteria, and a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush which clean teeth by moving a brush part in a predetermined direction are used.
A method for using a toothbrush includes a scraping method in which a toothbrush is reciprocated on the teeth, a bass method in which bristles vibrate forward and backward between the teeth at an inclination of about 45°, and a method of vertically and circularly moving the toothbrush on the teeth and gums.
The bass method of the above-described methods of using a toothbrush has an advantage of less damage to the gums and a relatively good cleaning force, but it is not easy to use the toothbrush in the above-described manner due to a musculoskeletal structure of a hand and an arm and is also difficult for a user who is familiar with an inappropriate brushing habit to learn an appropriate brushing method.
Given this, an electric toothbrush has been developed and used in consideration of efficiency of teeth cleaning and limitation of the acquisition of brushing patterns by a hand and arm of a user.
An electric toothbrush is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0745842 (Jul. 27, 2007). The disclosed electric toothbrush includes a case equipped with a motor, first and second toothbrush bodies which are rotatably installed in the case, have an elastic force, and include brushes provided at end parts thereof, a power transfer part installed in the case and installed between the motor and the first and second toothbrush bodies to rotate each of the first and second toothbrush bodies, and a vibration generating part for vibrating the first and second toothbrush bodies.
A bidirectional electric toothbrush is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0529409 (Nov. 10, 2005), and an electric toothbrush using two brushes is disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/KR02/01334.
The conventional electric toothbrush configured as described above can simultaneously clean inner surfaces and outer surfaces of teeth, but it is difficult to change a brush for cleaning teeth. Particularly, in the case of the electric toothbrush, the replacement period is relatively short due to severe wear of the brush. Further, when the brush or the toothbrush body supporting the brush is changed, there is a problem in that it is difficult to couple or separate the brush to or from the toothbrush body.


An electronic stylus device includes one or more mechanisms that deform to protected an electronic force sensor. After the mechanism deforms to relieve force applied to a tip of the stylus, a hard stop may engage to arrest further movement of a shaft transferring force from the tip to the force sensor. The intermediate range of forces that may be relieved by the mechanism, in addition to providing the electronic force sensor, enables less stringent manufacturing tolerances to be used with the hard stop.

With the advancement of technology, the use and popularity of electronic devices, such as mobile devices, has increased considerably. Mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers, typically have touch screens that enable a user to operate the devices by touching the screen with a finger or stylus type device. Stylus devices can mimic the use of familiar writing tools, such as pens and pencils.
The features in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless expressly stated otherwise.

Protecting stylus force sensor from excess force


A system on chip (SoC) includes a plurality of intellectual property (IP) blocks and a clock management unit (CMU) configured to perform clock gating on at least one of the IP blocks. The IP blocks and the CMU interface with one another using a full handshake method. The full handshake method may include at least one of the IP blocks sending a request signal to the CMU to begin providing a clock signal or to stop providing the clock signal, and the CMU sending an acknowledgement signal to the corresponding IP block in response to receipt of the request signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
With the gradual convergence of computers, communication and broadcasting, the demand for an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and an application specific standard product (ASSP) is changing due to the demand for a system-on-chip (SoC). In addition, the trend toward lighter, thinner, more compact and higher-performance information technology (IT) devices is one of the factors that drive the development of SoCs.
An SoC is a single chip onto which functional blocks (e.g., intellectual property (IP) blocks) having various functions are integrated with the help of the development of semiconductor processing technology.
As the integration density, size and operation speed of SoCs increase, power consumption becomes more of a design factor. The temperature of the SoC may increase when it consumes a large amount of power. If the temperature increases too greatly, the SoC may malfunction or become damaged.
Thus, there is a need for an SoC and methods of driving the SoC that can prevent the SoC from consuming too much power.

Semiconductor device including clock management unit for outputing clock and acknowledgement signals to an intellectual property block


A method for producing allyl alcohol is disclosed. The method includes steps of feeding allyl acetate and water into a reactive distillation column; performing a reaction in a reaction zone and separating a product containing allyl alcohol, acetic acid and water from the reactive distillation column. Accordingly, the method effectively enhances a conversion rate of hydrolysis for allyl acetate, simplifies the process and reduces energy consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for producing alcohol, and more particularly, to a method for producing allyl alcohol by hydrolysis.
2. Description of Related Art
Allyl alcohol is an important chemical intermediate for producing glycerol, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, pesticides and the like. The allyl alcohol can also be used for producing chemical products such as epichlorohydrin, 1,4-butanediol, n-propyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol and the like.
In the process for producing allyl alcohol via the hydrolysis of allyl acetate, since allyl acetate, allyl alcohol and water will generate azeotrope, water and esters will form two immiscible liquid phases. If a general distillation system is adopted, a plurality of separating columns including distillation, extraction and the like are required to remove allyl acetate from allyl alcohol. In such reaction system, a normal boiling point for each component and each azeotropic composition are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1AzeotropicBoiling pointComponentcomposition wt %(° C.)Allyl acetate/Allyl alcohol/Water(75/9/16) Heterogeneous83.9Allyl acetate/Water(84/16) Heterogeneous84.0Allyl alcohol/Water(73/27) Homogeneous88.9Allyl acetate/Allyl alcohol(37/63) Homogeneous94.8Allyl alcohol—96.8Water—100.0Allyl acetate—104.3Acetic acid—118.1
In 1985, Showa Denka (a Japanese company) has developed a technique for producing allyl alcohol by the hydrolysis of allyl acetate. However, a conversion rate of allyl acetate is restricted due to the reaction equilibrium and a conventional fixed bed reactor fails to convert allyl acetate completely. Japanese Patent No. 60-237032 has disclosed a technique for recovering allyl acetate by an azeotropic distillation column and the allyl acetate after recovery can be reused by a hydrolysis reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,903 has disclosed a modification of the above technique, whereas the process still needs at least one hydrolysis reactor, an azeotropic distillation column and a subsequent separating column. Accordingly, the process proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,903 is very complicated and energy consuming. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,199, Sulzer Chemtech has disclosed a method for hydrolyzing carboxylates. The method comprises steps of feeding carboxylates in a pre-reactor for hydrolysis and then feeding the mixture from the pre-reactor into a reactive distillation column. In the method, at least one pre-reactor and a reactive distillation column are needed for enhancing the conversion rate for hydrolyzing carboxylates.
However, in view of the process for producing allyl alcohol by using hydrolysis of allyl esters, there still needs to provide a simplified process and an improved conversion rate of allyl esters.


Methods and apparatus for identifying the location of the load on a structure. Various embodiments include calculating a plurality of potential loading sites, assessing the statistical order of each of those predictions, and selecting regions of the structure where the load most likely occurred based on the orderliness (or randomness) of the assessments.

The increasing prevalence of laminated composite materials in aircraft construction has spawned a need for a method that can be implemented in real-time and is not prohibitively time consuming. Impacts to composite structures may cause subsurface damages, not visible to the naked eye, in the form of ply delamination, core crushing and matrix debonding. Current methods of inspection include labor intensive x-ray examinations and subjective coin tap tests, neither of which can be performed while in flight.
Identification methods have been proposed and demonstrated to detect impact magnitudes and locations. However, these methods are restrictive in that they use an accurate first principles-based model of the structure being monitored, large sensor arrays, carefully controlled boundary conditions or a combination of the above.
The heterogeneous nature of the helicopter introduces difficulties with applying the frequency domain location identification methods developed on relatively homogeneous composite specimens. The exterior of the helicopter used as a test specimen has surfaces including retrofitted carbon fiber-reinforced composite honeycomb panels, plastic windows, doors, aluminum skin with rib stiffening, and repaired sections. This wide range of outer panel stiffnesses means impacts' pulse widths, and therefore frequency bandwidths, may vary between impacts at different locations. The widely varying frequency excitation bandwidth of impacts to this heterogeneous structure makes defining a small frequency range of interest to use for comparison difficult.
Various embodiments of the present invention provide novel and nonobvious ways of detecting impact magnitudes and locations.
A critical challenge in fielding composite aerospace structures is the need to locate impact damage that often offers little to no visual indication. The inspection of large composite aircraft using existing methodologies is labor-intensive and costly, but by identifying the severity of impacts through position and force identification of these impacts, inspections could be more focused and potentially more frequent, allowing for a reduction of inspection cost and an increase in safety. To this end, impact identification methods attempt to determine impact force locations and magnitudes. Strategies for using a sparse sensor array allows such a system to be implemented with little hardware, in order to minimize the cost and space requirements of such a system. New entropy-based and randomness-based methods of impact identification are presented, and the effects of several sources of error are addressed. By simulating some of the limitations and challenges of the field environment, the relevant sources of error can be identified and compensated for. Strategies for addressing these issues are presented with two case studies: a composite filament-wound rocket motor casing and a heavy lift helicopter. The randomness-based impact identification method was shown to locate more than 96% of impacts to a helicopter fuselage to either the correct impact point or an adjacent point. Methods for identifying multiple impacts were developed, and impacts acting in rapid succession were located within two grid points of the actual location in 87.6% of cases, with similar average force estimation error to when only one impact acts.

Entropy-based impact load identification


Disclosure relates to an accumulator heat exchanger. The accumulator heat exchanger is capable of guiding only a gas-phase refrigerant to a compressor by allowing a high pressure refrigerant passing through a condenser to pass through an accumulator and to be heat exchanged with a low pressure refrigerant, thereby promoting evaporation of a liquid-phase refrigerant.

In a supercritical vapor compression cooling cycle using carbon dioxide or the like as a refrigerant, in order to increase a cooling capacity or prevent liquid compression by a compressor, use of an auxiliary heat exchanger for heat exchanging a high pressure refrigerant passing through a condenser with a low pressure refrigerant introduced into a compressor has been provided.
If such an auxiliary heat exchanger is further installed to a cooling system, problems, such as difficulty in an assembling work due to complexity of tubing of the cooling system, enlargement of the cooling system, and poor loadability, occur.
In order to solve the problems, an accumulator heat exchanger (AHX), in which an auxiliary heat exchanger is installed inside an accumulator, has been proposed.
Most of accumulator heat exchangers conventionally proposed have the configuration that a tube in which a low pressure refrigerant flows and a tube in which a high pressure refrigerant flows are in contact with each other and a plurality of plate-shaped fins are attached to an outer surface of each tube to increase a heat exchange area.
However, the accumulator heat exchanger having this configuration has low heat exchange efficiency since the heat exchange occurs only through the contact area between the refrigerant tubes.

Inje University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation


A system, method and apparatus for providing a two dimensional image that will be perceived by the human visual perception system as a three dimensional image is disclosed. The system and apparatus preferably employ a transparent rear projection screen onto which an image of the at least one object to be displayed is projected. The at least one object moves at perceptual speed and preferably has highlights, comprising specular highlights, ambient lighting, shadows and reflections, consistent with its display location so that the human visual perception system perceives the displayed image as a three dimensional one. The method preferably comprises surveying the display site to identify important light sources and objects and to gather a reflection map which are both used to create the final displayed image.

Many attempts have been made in the past to provide two dimensional displays which appear to be three dimensional. In Victorian times, stereophotographs were very popular. These images were produced with a binocular camera that made two images of the object being photographed, each image's perspective being spaced from the other. When viewed with a stereopticon, which is a device that shows each of the viewers' eyes the appropriate one of the two images, a three dimensional image is perceived by the viewer.
In addition to stereophotographs, three dimensional motion pictures have been created wherein the members of the audience wear glasses, with right and left lenses either of two different color filters or with polarizing lenses having two different polarizing angles, and two motion pictures with slightly different perspectives are simultaneously projected onto the screen through filters complementary to the lenses in the glasses. This results in one eye of each audience member seeing one of the projected films and the second eye seeing another of the projected films, and the different perspectives of the films result in a perception by the audience members of a three dimensional display.
Both stereophotographs and three dimensional motion pictures suffer from disadvantages in that they require their viewers to use special hardware, the stereopticon or filter glasses, to view the image.
Another method of making a viewer perceive a three dimensional image from a two dimensional display is to employ the Pulfrich Effect, invented by Carl Pulfrich and published in Die Naturwissenschaften, in the June through September 1922 issues. The Pulfrich Effect makes use of an inherent effect of the human visual perception system. Specifically, a very dark filter is placed over one eye of the viewer who then observes a displayed object moving back and forth horizontally across a two dimensional display. Due to latency in how the human brain processes low light images relative to normally lit images, the viewer perceives the displayed object as moving into and out of the two dimensional display. While interesting, the Puifrich Effect has limited practical applications and still requires special observer hardware, in this case one dark filter.
Another technique for providing a three dimensional image from a two dimensional display is the hologram. In holography, an image is captured as an interference pattern at the film. Coherent light from a laser is reflected from an object to be imaged and is combined at the film with light from a reference beam. Holograms enable the viewer to view a true three-dimensional image which exhibits parallax.
Unfortunately, holograms also suffer from disadvantages in that they are difficult to create and display and are unsuited for video, motion pictures or the like. Also, holograms have constrained angles over which they can be viewed. Further, while they do produce accurate three dimensional images of objects, the color and appearance of the resulting image is not lifelike.
A method, system and apparatus which permits the relatively easy creation and display of video images which are perceived by viewers as three dimensional displays, without requiring the viewers to use any special hardware, is desired.

Three dimensional display method, system and apparatus


A semiconductor device includes a CPU, a memory, a memory BIST circuit, a first selector that selects and outputs an address and control signal from the memory BIST circuit, when performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, and selects and outputs an address and control signal of the CPU when not performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, a second selector that selects and outputs write data from the memory BIST circuit when performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, and selects and outputs write data of the CPU when not performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, a first flip-flop that samples an output of the first selector (11) and a second flip-flop that samples an output of the second selector. An address and control signal and write data output from the first and second flip-flops are supplied to an address and control terminal and a write data terminal of the memory.

When a plurality of memories provided on one chip of a semiconductor device are tested (self-tested) by a memory BIST (Built-In Self-Test) circuit provided on the same chip as the memories, there is some memories located far apart from the memory BIST circuit with regard to layout. The memory BIST circuit performs testing by generating and forcing a test vector comprising an address signal, control signals, and a write data to the memories under test and comparing read data from the memories under test with the write data.
When the memory located far apart from the memory BIST circuit is tested in the same way as a memory located close to the memory BIST circuit, timing margin in testing of the distant memory becomes tight due to wiring delay.
In Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2006-155682A), when testing a plurality of memories provided in an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) using a memory BIST control circuit (referred to as a "memory BIST circuit"), a configuration shown in FIG. 3 is disclosed as an LSI test circuit for avoiding the above mentioned timing problems and carrying out an at-speed test, without depending on layout location relationships between the memory control BIST circuit and each of the memories. According to respective placement positions of memories 102 and 105, pipeline flip-flops 107 and 108 that when carrying out a memory BIST, delay a signal are inserted in a path connecting the memories to the memory BIST control circuit 106. For the memory 105 disposed at a location separated from the memory BIST control circuit 106 according to the configuration of the LSI circuit, signals between the memory and the memory BIST control circuit 106 are pipelined by the pipeline flip-flops 107 and 108, and a comparison is made of a test result at a timing that gives consideration to the number of pipeline stages in the memory control BIST circuit 106.
[Patent Document 1]
    JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2006-155682A (FIG. 1)


A method of encoding data, involves the steps of comparing an input image from a video camera with an image being built up, and stored in store. The images are processed by an analyser in accordance with a plurality of different algorithms stored in a store to produce a plurality of different data packets each representative of a partial change which can be effected to the image to be built up to bring it closer to the input image. The analyser compares the effects of the different data packets if implemented on the data image to be built up and provides each one with a score in accordance with a predetermined criteria. A comparator selects the packet with the best score under the predetermined criteria and uses it to alter the image in the store accordingly. The cycle is repeated to cause the image to be built up, to progressively converge on the input image.

Transmission of data, such as television signal data representative of an image scanned, usually requires a substantial amount of data to be transmitted before a sufficiently useful reproduction of the image can be produced from a receiver receiving the data. Various systems have been proposed in which data derived from scanning an image is compressed before transmission, expanded upon reception and reproduced. The viewer at the receiver still has to wait for much of the received data to be received and reproduced before he can view a useful image.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved encoding method and apparatus.


The properties of cement matrices are improved by one or more of the three processes which can be performed individually, sequentially, or in any desired combination. In each instance a supercritical fluid including at least one substance other than CO.sub.2 is flowed through the matrix and the matrix is contacted by the substance to change, e.g. react, constituents of the two with each other. Alternatively, the supercritical fluid can be used as a solvent, itself or by combining it with a solvent which itself may or may not be supercritical, and the fluid is infused into the matrix to carry into the matrix and there deposit the dissolved material. This step can be repeated with another supercritical fluid which has a reactant for the material dissolved so that, upon the infusion of the second supercritical fluid, the initially deposited material and the reactant react to provide the matrix with desired characteristics. In a third alternative the supercritical material includes a solvent which itself may or may not be supercritical and which, upon infusion into the matrix passages, dissolves a selected material which can then be flowed out of the matrix.

Hydraulic cement that has set and completely hardened, as well as hardened or fired pottery or ceramic matrices, are porous, brittle and relatively weak. They crack easily and are difficult to permanently repair. In fact, replacement is generally the best and most frequent alternative.
Two different techniques have in the past been attempted to improve their physical properties. The first is to modify the wet paste prior to hardening or firing by incorporating liquid "modifiers", particulate admixtures or fibrous reinforcement. The second alternative uses chemicals (generally liquids) to surface-coat or to migrate into the hardened matrix material. Similarly, after crack development or breaking, adhesives and fillers which may or may not slightly penetrate into the matrix may be employed for repair, to form bridges between the edges of cracks or to inhibit further crack propagation. Another method, where there is surface spalling, pothole development or the formation of large cracks, fills the damaged areas (either with or without the removal of loose debris) with specialized concrete, cements or mortars. These solutions have not been particularly successful in creating or repairing cementitious materials in ways that either restore them or leave them suitable for high-performance applications where tensile strength, resistance to new or further cracking or breakage, flexibility or ductility are desirable properties.
For purposes of this application, the word "cement", used alone or in combination with other words, refers to any type of cementitious material made with water and one or more inorganic ingredients to form a paste which, through reactive processes, creates hydrogels to bind it together. The definition includes, but is not limited to, ceramics, pottery, clay, mud, earthenware, portland, natural and fly-ash pozzolan, lime, gypsum, cementitious materials and the like.
Problems are also encountered with the sand and/or coarse aggregates (typically of an average size between 3/8" and 31/2") in cement matrices to form concrete or mortar. Many sands and coarse aggregates exhibit properties and behaviors similar to those of hardened cement, pottery or unfired or fired ceramic matrices. In addition, certain coarse concrete aggregates, particularly zeolites and dolomites, may react with the hydraulic cement that binds them together in concrete and mortar. Aggregates having high levels of porosity and low strength also cause problems. Thus, many commonly occurring aggregates are banned from use in concrete because of such problems.
Chemistry, morphology, geometry and micro-morphology of hardened man-made matrices and natural aggregate determine how aggressively decomposition reactions proceed, often as a consequence of alkali/silica reactions (ASR). To ameliorate some of these problems, aggregates have been soaked in water, salts, acids or even strong alkalis, but the results have been inconsistent and often disappointing. Thus, when a local aggregate is unacceptable for use in concrete, suitable aggregate must either be imported or man-made, often at considerable expense.
The present invention seeks to alleviate problems of this kind by treating natural or man-made cement and/or aggregates with supercritical fluids to alter their surface, surface layer, and in some cases their entire body chemistry and/or microstructure.
As is well known from the literature, every pure substance has a certain, temperature/pressure threshold, above which, when simultaneously exceeded, all the properties of the substance continuously change without exhibiting any gas/liquid phase discontinuity. These are known as the "critical pressure" and "critical temperature" (T.sub.c and P.sub.c) of a pure substance. The combined critical pressure and critical temperature threshold is called the "critical point" of a pure substance. A substance or mixture that has been elevated above the critical point is "supercritical". The term "supercritical fluid" refers to substances, mixtures and solutions which are in this state. Supercritical pure substances, mixtures and solutions exhibit varying degrees of solvent behavior and reactivity with other elements and compounds.
As is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,540, issued May 21, 1996 (the "'540 patent"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, when a hardened, porous cement or ceramic matrix is exposed to supercritical carbon dioxide ("scCO.sub.2 "), alone, the scCO.sub.2 infuses into the matrix and causes chemical and microstructural changes that can produce desirable properties and behavior in the matrix.

Hardened hydraulic cement, ceramic or coarse concrete aggregate treated with high pressure fluids


An elongate ball-retrieving device adapted for being connected in an end-to-end relationship with the handle end of a golf club, such that the golf club, when moved into a substantially aligned relationship with the elongate device, can advantageously serve to increase the effective length of the ball-retrieving device. One end of the elongate device is equipped with a cup usable for retrieving a golf ball lodged in a relatively inaccessible location, with the end of the elongate device opposite the cup having an upwardly-opening handle-receiving chamber bounded by a closely spaced pair of inwardly biased, handle-contacting fingers. These fingers are of resilient construction, with the spacing between the pair of fingers being less than the width of the handle to be received therebetween. Therefore, upon the end of the club handle being inserted into the upwardly-opening chamber and between the fingers, the fingers are forced apart, with the fingers thereafter reclosing around the handle and serving to tightly hold the club handle in aligned relationship with the elongate device.

In the past a number of patents have been issued upon devices concerned with the retrieval of a golf ball from a relatively inaccessible location.
The McEvoy U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,875 entitled "Golf Ball Retriever" makes clear that it is well known in the art to have a golf ball retriever that is removably attached to the handle of a golf club. However, the McEvoy device is quite short, and would not be of a length sufficient to enable a golfer to retrieve a golf ball relatively far out into the water of a pond or the like. Also, the McEvoy device is of elaborate construction, so it would necessarily be quite expensive to construct and to purchase.
The Mastroni U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,837 entitled "Golf Club Coupling Assembly" reveals a mechanical assembly enabling the handles of two golf clubs to be joined together, so that one club can be held in the hand, and the other club used for retrieving a golf ball. Obviously the use of the second club for retrieving a golf ball is greatly inferior to a ball retriever enabling a golf ball to actually be picked up, and this coupling device, like the McEvoy patent, would necessarily be expensive to make and would obviously be costly for a golfer to purchase.
With regard to the Sedan U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,402 entitled "Golf Ball Retriever", you will note that this patent shows an elongate structure having one loop for fitting over the handle of a golf club and a second loop for fitting over the club head, with a golf ball grasping structure 14 at the remote end for engaging the ball to be retrieved.
One significant disadvantage of the Sedan arrangement is the considerable amount of overlap involving the end of the retriever device opposite the cup 14, and the part of the golf club involving the face of the club. The overlap would appear to be on the order of at least one foot, meaning that a total of two feet has been lost insofar as involves the effective length of the Sedan Golf Ball Retriever interacting with the golf club.
The Lee U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,681 entitled "Combination Device of Umbrella and Golf Ball Retriever" is a bit different than the others in that instead of using a golf club, this patentee utilizes the handle end of an umbrella for supporting an elongate tube C, at the end of which is a golf ball engaging device E. However, a golfer will not necessarily have an umbrella of suitable length in his or her golf bag, and such an arrangement is far more inconvenient to use than is a golf club for extending the effective length of a ball retriever device. Furthermore, an inspection of FIGS. 3 through 6 of the Lee patent reveals that his device involves the use of complex and therefore expensive components.
The Forey U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,409 entitled "Golf Ball Retriever" shows a slotted sleeve 16 for engaging the handle of a golf club, so that the effective length of the retriever device will be increased. However, the Forey device is necessarily is of expensive construction in that each of the interfitting components of a telescoping nature must be manufactured to a high degree of tolerance if the interfitting parts are to operate together in a correct manner.
In addition, there is a significant amount of lost effective length inasmuch as the sleeve 16 will likely engage the handle of the golf club a number of inches away from the end of the handle, rather than engaging the very end of the handle, as is the case with the present invention.
It was to overcome the significant disadvantages of the prior art devices that the present invention was evolved.

Ball retrieval device mountable upon end of grip of golf club


Embodiments described herein provide a system, method, and apparatus to accelerate reduce operations in a graphics processor. One embodiment provides an apparatus including one or more processors, the one or more processors including a first logic unit to perform a merged write, barrier, and read operation in response to a barrier synchronization request from a set of threads in a work group, synchronize the set of threads, and report a result of an operation specified in association with the barrier synchronization request.

Map and Reduce is a programming model and an associated implementation for processing and generating large data sets with a parallel, distributed algorithm. Map/Reduce jobs typically include a map function that operates on a set of input data to produce intermediate data and a reduce function which combines the intermediate data into a collection using an associated multiple-in-one-output operation. The reduce function is widely used in many algorithms to compute error metrics and termination conditions for iterative algorithms, such as LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoding and linear solver.
Map/Reduce can be implemented in a GPGPU or heterogeneous programming model. For example, using OpenCL, a compute kernel can be can be executed on multiple processors. Each thread of the kernel is a workitem, where multiple workitems are organized into a workgroup. For Map/Reduce, each work item performs a map computation, while the reduction is performed within a work group.

System and method to accelerate reduce operations in graphics processor


A method of identifying defective pixels included in a digital image. The method includes the steps of designating a pixel adjacent the defective pixels in the digital image, setting an evaluation area, setting a defective pixel candidate, computing, as a line average, an average pixel value of each of lines above, below, leftward and rightward of the defective pixel candidate, diminishing the evaluation area by selecting an upper line, a lower line, a left line and a right line, computing a threshold pixel value for determining the defective pixels, from an average pixel value of each line, and comparing values of all pixels with the threshold pixel value to determine the defective pixels.

(1). Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method, apparatus and recording medium for use in identifying pixels in a digital image which are not properly converted owing to dirt or dust (hereinafter called defective pixels) when an original image such as a reversal film or print is converted into the digital image by a reading device such as a scanner. In particular, the invention relates to a technique of identifying defective pixels in a digital image with little effort.
This invention also relates to a method, apparatus and recording medium for use in correcting defective pixels identified in a digital image, and particularly to a technique of preventing loss of the texture of an original image due to the correction of defective pixels.
(2). Description of the Related Art
When an original image such as a reversal film or color print is converted into a digital image by a reading device such as a scanner, dirt or dust may be adhering to the original image or to the reading device. Then, the portion of the original image carrying or corresponding to the dirt or dust is not properly converted into a digital image but becomes unwanted defective pixels. That is, the digital image converted in such a condition includes unwanted defective pixels as well as normal pixels properly converted from the original image. The digital image including such unwanted defective pixels, as it is, has poor quality. Usually, the defective pixels are removed for improved quality.
Such defective pixels, ideally, are removed fully automatically without requiring a manual operation, but such technical level has not been attained to date. Thus, an operation requiring little effort of the operator and a digital image giving no visual incongruity after removal of defective pixels are the two technical points at issue today.
The operation to remove defective pixels includes a plurality of steps, e.g. identifying defective pixels, and correcting the defective pixels identified. Among these steps, what burdens the operator is the step of identifying defective pixels present in a digital image. Varied methods of identifying defective pixels have been in practical use, which are set out hereunder in the order of weight of burden. The following operations are carried out by the operator using a mouse while observing a digital image appearing on a display, for example:
(1) Designate one defective pixel after another.
(2) Mark a free curve around the defective pixels.
(3) Designate two points to form a rectangular or circular area including the defective pixels.
The following method has been proposed as one alleviating the operator's burden, but has not been in practical use yet:
(4) Designate a defective pixel or a position adjacent thereto.
Obviously, among the above methods, the method (4) requires only a single designating operation and therefore imposes the least burden on the operator. The following obstacles exist in implementation of this proposed method.
Assume that, as shown in FIG. 1, a fixed evaluation area ER is set around one defective pixel DP1 designated, and all the pixels in the evaluation area ER are identified as defective pixels. Then, a defective pixel DP2 (not designated) in this area may automatically be identified as a defective pixel, but normal pixels NP in the evaluation area ER also are identified as defective pixels. When the values of the defective pixels (including normal pixels NP and defective pixels DP1 and DP2) identified are corrected such as by interpolation from the values of normal pixels present outside the evaluation area ER, the normal pixels NP requiring no correction are corrected also. The resulting digital image tends to lose the texture of the original image.
It is conceivable to identify the defective pixels in the evaluation area ER based on a certain threshold value, instead of identifying all the pixels in the evaluation area ER as defective pixels as noted above. As shown in FIG. 1, the evaluation area ER may include dark normal pixels NP' representing a shadow or black wall. If defective pixels are discriminated based on a threshold value simply determined, these normal pixels NP' will also be identified as defective pixels. Here again, the texture of the original image tends to be lost.
These drawbacks are obstructive to implementation of the proposed method (4).
As noted hereinbefore, it is an important technical consideration also to realize, after removal of defective pixels, a digital image including no unnatural level difference around the defective pixels, and thus giving no visual incongruity. That is, the texture of an original image should be maintained as much as possible.
The methods of identifying defective pixels include those described above. The following may be cited as typical methods of correcting the defective pixels identified:
(a) Pixel Copying Method: PA1 (b) Method of Correcting Defective Pixel Based on Pixel Values of Surrounding Normal Pixels: PA1 (a) designating a pixel adjacent the defective pixels in the digital image; PA1 (b) setting, as an evaluation area, a group of pixels included in a predetermined area size centering on the pixel designated; PA1 (c) setting, as a defective pixel candidate, a pixel having the darkest value among pixels in a central portion of the evaluation area; PA1 (d) computing line averages of pixels around the defective pixel candidate, among pixels in the evaluation area, the line averages being average pixel values, respectively, of upper lines of pixels arranged horizontally above the defective pixel candidate, lower lines of pixels arranged horizontally below the defective pixel candidate, left lines of pixels arranged vertically and leftward of the defective pixel candidate, and right lines of pixels arranged vertically and rightward of the defective pixel candidate; PA1 (e) diminishing the evaluation area by selecting a line having the lightest line average from each group of the upper lines, the lower lines, the left lines and the right lines; PA1 (f computing a threshold pixel value for determining the defective pixels, from an average pixel value of a rectangular frame defined by the lines selected one each for upper, lower, left and right sides of the rectangular frame; and PA1 (g) comparing values of all pixels in the rectangular frame with the threshold pixel value, and determining pixels having values darker than the threshold value to be the defective pixels. PA1 a storage device for storing the digital image; PA1 a display device for displaying the digital image; PA1 a designating device for designating a pixel adjacent the defective pixels in the digital image displayed on the display device; PA1 an evaluation area setting device for setting, as an evaluation area, a group of pixels included in a predetermined area size centering on the pixel designated; PA1 a defective pixel candidate setting device for setting, as a defective pixel candidate, a pixel having the darkest value among pixels in a central portion of the evaluation area; PA1 an average computing device for computing line averages of pixels around the defective pixel candidate, among pixels in the evaluation area, the line averages being average pixel values, respectively, of upper lines of pixels arranged horizontally above the defective pixel candidate, lower lines of pixels arranged horizontally below the defective pixel candidate, left lines of pixels arranged vertically and leftward of the defective pixel candidate, and right lines of pixels arranged vertically and rightward of the defective pixel candidate; PA1 an area limiting device for diminishing the evaluation area by selecting a line having the lightest line average from each group of the upper lines, the lower lines, the left lines and the right lines; PA1 a threshold computing device for computing a threshold pixel value for determining the defective pixels, from an average pixel value of a rectangular frame defined by the lines selected one each for upper, lower, left and right sides of the rectangular frame; and PA1 a defective pixel discriminating device for comparing values of all pixels in the rectangular frame with the threshold pixel value, and determining pixels having values darker than the threshold value to be the defective pixels. PA1 (a) designating a pixel adjacent the defective pixels in the digital image; PA1 (b) setting, as an evaluation area, a group of pixels included in a predetermined area size centering on the pixel designated; PA1 (c) setting, as a defective pixel candidate, a pixel having the darkest value among pixels in a central portion of the evaluation area; PA1 (d) computing line averages of pixels around the defective pixel candidate, among pixels in the evaluation area, the line averages being average pixel values, respectively, of upper lines of pixels arranged horizontally above the defective pixel candidate, lower lines of pixels arranged horizontally below the defective pixel candidate, left lines of pixels arranged vertically and leftward of the defective pixel candidate, and right lines of pixels arranged vertically and rightward of the defective pixel candidate; PA1 (e) diminishing the evaluation area by selecting a line having the lightest line average from each group of the upper lines, the lower lines, the left lines and the right lines; PA1 (f) computing a threshold pixel value for determining the defective pixels, from an average pixel value of a rectangular frame defined by the lines selected one each for upper, lower, left and right sides of the rectangular frame; and PA1 (g) comparing values of all pixels in the rectangular frame with the threshold pixel value, and determining pixels having values darker than the threshold value to be the defective pixels. PA1 (a) identifying the defective pixels in the digital image; PA1 (b) computing, for each of the defective pixels, the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across rows as a consecution number in the direction across rows, and the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across columns as a consecution number in the direction across columns; PA1 (c) determining a minimum consecution number among the consecution numbers in the direction across rows and the consecution numbers in the direction across columns, and determining a defective pixel having the minimum consecution number to be a minimum defective pixel; PA1 (d) computing a corrected value for the minimum defective pixel from values of normal pixels opposed to each other across the minimum defective pixel in a direction of the minimum consecution number; PA1 (e) substituting the corrected value for a value of the minimum defective pixel; PA1 (f) regarding the minimum defective pixel as a normal pixel; and PA1 (g) repeating steps (b) through (f) until all of the defective pixels become normal pixels. PA1 a storage device for storing the digital image; PA1 a display device for displaying the digital image; PA1 a defective pixel identifying device for identifying the defective pixels in the digital image displayed on the display device; PA1 a consecution number computing device for computing, for each of the defective pixels, the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across rows as a consecution number in the direction across rows, and the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across columns as a consecution number in the direction across columns; PA1 a minimum defective pixel computing device for determining a minimum consecution number among the consecution numbers in the direction across rows and the consecution numbers in the direction across column, and determining a defective pixel having the minimum consecution number to be a minimum defective pixel; PA1 a corrected pixel value computing device for computing a corrected value for the minimum defective pixel from values of normal pixels opposed to each other across the minimum defective pixel in a direction of the minimum consecution number; PA1 a pixel correcting device for substituting the corrected value for a value of the minimum defective pixel, the minimum defective pixel being now regarded as a normal pixel; and PA1 a control device for repeatedly controlling the consecution number computing device, the minimum defective pixel computing device, the corrected pixel value computing device and the pixel correcting device until all of the defective pixels become normal pixels. PA1 (a) identifying the defective pixels in the digital image; PA1 (b) computing, for each of the defective pixels, the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across rows as a consecution number in the direction across rows, and the number of defective pixels consecutive in a direction across columns as a consecution number in the direction across columns; PA1 (c) determining a minimum consecution number among the consecution numbers in the direction across rows and the consecution numbers in the direction across column, and determining a defective pixel having the minimum consecution number to be a minimum defective pixel; PA1 (d) computing a corrected value for the minimum defective pixel from values of normal pixels opposed to each other across the minimum defective pixel in a direction of the minimum consecution number; PA1 (e) substituting the corrected value for a value of the minimum defective pixel; PA1 (f) regarding the minimum defective pixel as a normal pixel; and PA1 (g) repeating steps (b) through (f) until all of the defective pixels become normal pixels.
For example, the operator visually identifies one defective pixel after another, and copies the value of a normal pixel adjacent each defective pixel for use as the value of the defective pixel.
This method has probably been used most extensively since electronic image processing began to be practiced. However, this method requires a perfect agreement between the values of normal pixels adjacent a defective pixel identified and the tone of the normal pixel copied. Without such agreement, a level difference in tone will occur with the corrected defective pixel, thereby impairing texture. A defective pixel correcting operation based on this method, therefore, imposes a heavy burden on the operator, and requires a high level of skill. This poses a problem that the operator's capabilities are manifestly reflected in image quality. Naturally, a large number of defective pixels will require a long working time.
This method has advantages over the above pixel copying method in that the burden on the operator is alleviated, the operator's skill is immaterial, and a large number of defective pixels may be processed in a short time.
With this method, defective pixels are identified by one of the above methods (1)-(4), a corrected value is derived from the values of normal pixels surrounding the defective pixels, and is substituted for the values of the defective pixels. This method will particularly be described with reference to FIG. 2. A digital image F includes defective pixels DP (marked with "X" signs) as well as normal pixels NP. An average value of those normal pixels (marked with circles) surrounding the defective pixels DP is computed and substituted for the pixel values of all of the defective pixels DP.
The method (b) above has the advantage of not relying on the operator's skill, but has the following drawback also.
In the event of only one defective pixel DP, this method is perfectly capable of correcting it without impairing texture. However, there are usually two or more, if any, defective pixels DP as shown in FIG. 2. The same pixel value substituted for the values of all of the defective pixels DP would result in a texture deterioration.
The defective pixels DP may exist in an area (called vignette) where the pixel values (tone) change smoothly. In such a case in particular, the same pixel value substituted for the values of all of the defective pixels DP would even create a large level difference to bring about a serious texture deterioration.

Method of identifying defective pixels in digital images, and method of correcting the defective pixels, and apparatus and recording media therefor


A curable composition and use thereof are provided. The composition can be useful in exhibiting excellent processability and workability, and providing a cured product which exhibits superior light extraction efficiency, crack resistance, hardness, thermal shock resistance, and adhesive properties, has superior reliability under severe conditions for a long period of time and prevents opacity and stickiness onto a surface thereof when cured. Also, the curable composition capable of preventing precipitation of an additive such as a fluorescent material or a photoconversion material and being formed into a cured product having excellent transparency even when the additive is added to the curable composition can be provided.

Photonic elements include a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit light upon application of an electric current, and a photoelectric conversion element configured to generate an electromotive force upon application of light. Such a photonic element is typically encapsulated by an encapsulant.
An epoxy resin having high adhesive properties and excellent dynamic durability has been widely used as an LED encapsulant (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). However, the epoxy resin has problems in that it has low transmittance with respect to light ranging from blue to ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges, and also shows lower light resistance.
Also, an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material has often been used as an encapsulant configured to encapsulate the photoelectric conversion element. However, the EVA material has a problem in that it has lower adhesive properties to other parts in a module, and thus interlayer peeling may be easily induced when the module is used for a long period of time, which results in degraded efficiency or corrosion caused by moisture penetration. In addition, since the EVA material has lower resistance to UV radiation, it may be easily changed in color or discolored, which also results in degraded efficiency of the module. Further, the EVA material has a problem in that stress generated during a curing process causes damage of elements.
Meanwhile, a fluorescent material may be typically mixed with the encapsulant for LEDs to realize white light in backlight units (BLUs) using the LED or in lightings using the LED, and a photoconversion material may be mixed with an encapsulant of the photoelectric conversion element. However, the fluorescent material or the photoconversion material may precipitate during a curing process of the encapsulant before the encapsulant is sufficiently cured. To solve the above-mentioned problems, a predetermined amount of inorganic particles, for example, silica, may often be added to the encapsulant. Addition of the inorganic particles may result in improved physical properties of the encapsulant such as heat resistance, crack resistance and thermal shock resistance.


The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters with a vinyllic or acetylenic substituent proceeds with extremely high enantioselectivity using a Rhodium-chiral bisphosphine catalyst. This is at variance with the hydrogenation of enol esters bearing a saturated substituent, which are hydrogenated with only marginal enantioselectivity under the same conditions.

Chiral alcohols are among the most versatile of chiral materials due to the ready transformation of the hydroxyl substituent into a myriad of other functional groups. These materials find numerous industrial uses due to their ready incorporation into chiral pharmaceutical and agrochemical agents.
Allylic alcohols are an especially important subset of chiral alcohols, since the olefin allows remote functionalization and transformation into various other groups while retaining the chiral information inherent in the alcohol educt. Efficient and inexpensive methods to prepare these types of chiral species in high optical purity are lacking, especially since pharmaceutical/agrochemical use require optical purities of at least 95% enantiomeric excess, (% enantiomer A-% enantiomer B or ee). Catalytic asymmetric reactions are among the most efficient methods available to generate asymmetry. Unfortunately, most asymmetric synthetic methods for the preparation of chiral alcohols are best suited for the preparation of compounds with an aromatic substituent immediately adjacent to the chiral center, and the technologies usually afford products of low enantiomeric excess without this type of structural feature. Indeed, there are no general methods to prepare chiral allylic alcohols or derivatives in high optical purity and in high yield through catalytic means. One approach would be through hydrogenation of enol esters.

Process for the production of chiral unsaturated alcohols in high optical purity


The invention relates to a full arc admission steam turbine, which includes a plurality of nozzle boxes for inducing steam, and a plurality of nozzle plates for bearing nozzles, one nozzle plate corresponding to each nozzle box. The steam turbine 100 further includes a plurality of spacer plates corresponding to the plurality of nozzle boxes, wherein the spacer plate is disposed between the nozzle plate and the nozzle box, by which a flow path is formed between the plurality of nozzle boxes and the plurality of the nozzle plates through the plurality of spacer plates to achieve a full arc admission. With the solution according to embodiments of the present invention, existing partial arc steam turbine may be easily converted to be a full arc admission steam turbine. This will reduce cost of equipment upgrading. Outage due to onsite conversion may be significantly reduced.

Generally, control of steam turbines comprises partial arc admission and full arc admission depending on whether all nozzles are active during operation. They have different advantages in respective application, which is known per se to those skilled in the art. Quite often, a partial arc admission steam turbine is required to be converted to be a full arc admission steam turbine, such as retrofitting exiting partial arc admission steam turbine and adapt to applications where full arc admission is desired.
Conventionally, a partial arc admission steam turbine comprises a plurality of nozzle boxes, at least two, which are assembled to be a complete circle, and which are communicated correspondingly with a plurality of nozzle plates, generally one nozzle box for each nozzle plate. To achieve full arc admission, the nozzle boxes could be removed. However, on some machines where the nozzle boxes are welded to the turbine casing, the removing requires significant site work and a long outage for this turbine. This approach also increases the duty of the existing outer casing of the turbine which makes it necessary to re-qualify the design hence imposing difficulty for implementation.
As another approach, the whole outer casing of the turbine may be replaced with new full arc admission casing. However, this solution is extremely expensive and requires site pipework welding and hence long outage.
As another approach, the pipework between the control valves and the casing can be joined to create the effect of full arc admission. However, this requires requalification of the pipework, which may involve complete upgrade of the system.
In view of this, there exists the need of a solution that may be used to convert existing partial arc steam turbine into full arc admission in a cost effective, operable, and reliable manner.


An exemplary power conversion system includes a power converter and a protection circuit coupled with the power converter. The power converter is configured to convert an input power into an output power. The power converter includes an isolator magnetically coupling a primary side and a secondary side and at least one primary switch coupled in series with the primary side. The at least one primary switch is configured to turn on or turn off current to the isolator on the primary side. The protection circuit is coupled to the at least one primary switch. The protection circuit includes a detecting device for detecting switch state of a secondary switch on the secondary side. The detecting device is configured to drive the at least one primary switch according to the detected switch state. A method for operating the power conversion system is also described.

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for information communication between electrically isolated circuits.
Power conversion systems are widely used in various fields, for example, a synchronous rectified (SR) flyback converter is widely used in power supply. The SR flyback converter usually has a primary side and a secondary side that are in electrical or galvanic isolation from each other. Due to this isolation, information about the SR flyback converter may be difficult to transfer between the primary side and the secondary side. For example, when a fault occurs in the primary side or the secondary side, it may be difficult for the other side to respond so as to avoid this fault.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to address at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

System and method for information communication between electrically isolated circuits


The present invention discloses a droplet generating method for metal three-dimensional printing, and in a process of accumulating a liquid metal or softened flowable metal in a building process through metal three-dimensional printing, a metal flow is fragmentized to form metal droplets; wherein in the process of accumulating the liquid metal or softened flowable metal, a current is applied between the metal flow and a printed metal (7), through a manner of resistance heating, part of the metal flow is heated and gasified to fuse the metal flow, and the metal droplets are formed on the printed metal (7). In the present invention, in a building process through metal three-dimensional printing, metal droplets of a tiny volume can be generated rapidly, the control method is simple and the response speed is high; the common “dragging” problem of a molten raw material in an FDM three-dimensional printing technology is solved; a “metallurgical fusion” is realized between the generated metal droplets and the printed metal (7), and the connection strength is extremely high; and “metallurgical electrical field-based regulation” can be integrated into a building process through metal three-dimensional printing.

Three-dimensional printing technology originated in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century, and was perfected and commercialized in Japan and the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. The mainstream three-dimensional printing technologies commonly seen now, such as Stereo Lithography Apparatus (SLA), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selecting Laser Sintering (SLS) and Three Dimensional Printing and Gluing (3DP), were commercialized in the U.S. in the 1980s and the 1990s. In the technology in which three-dimensional printing is realized through melting raw materials in a stacking manner, such as the commonly seen FDM plastic printing and other metal printing with similar principles, one of the important core components is a furnace/extrusion head/generation apparatus which generates molten raw materials. At present, many patent applications on a generation apparatus for generating molten metal raw materials are available, such as a Chinese patent application with an application number of 201410513433.7 and entitled "3D Printing Head for Metal Melt Extrusion Building", and a Chinese patent application with an application number of 201520533246.5 and entitled "Apparatus for Semi-solid Metal Extrusion Deposition Building". In these patent applications, droplets cannot be generated, and continuous metal flows are generated. Some publically known techniques through which metal droplets can be generated are also applied to the building process through metal three-dimensional printing, such as an apparatus and a method recorded in the literature entitled "Experiments on remelting and solidification of molten metal droplets deposited in vertical columns" (source: title of the journal: Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering-Transactions of the Asme, Pages 311-318, No. 2, Vol. 129, 2007). The major principle is as follows: a gas is adopted to push a liquid metal in a miniature furnace/crucible to be ejected out of a nozzle to form a metal flow. If a pulse air flow is used to generate a pulsed pressure vibration inside the miniature furnace/crucible, then metal droplets can be formed at an outlet of a nozzle, however, since the gas is in a compressible physical form, pressure conduction is delayed, and the generation speed of metal droplets is low. A Chinese patent application with an application number of 201520561484.7 and entitled "Liquid Metal Printing Cartridge" just used the technique recorded in the above literature. However, a structure proposed in the patent application is not applicable to high melting point materials (such as ceramics, titanium alloys, etc.), and solid raw materials cannot be added continuously in an operating process. For another example, in a Chinese patent application with an application number of 201310721955.1 and entitled "Method for Improving Density of Components Built through On-demand Printing Deposition of Metal Droplets", the liquid metal is also ejected out of a furnace/crucible to form metal droplets. In these methods for generating metal droplets, metal droplets are all generated through applying a pressure and utilizing properties of a fluid. Since surface tension and viscous force of the liquid metal are relatively high, metal droplets with a tiny volume are not easily generated, and the generation speed of metal droplets is low.

Droplet generating method for metal three-dimensional printing

NANJING TAITAO INTELLIGENT SYSTEM CO., LTD.


A fully automatic simulation system for an input device permits storage in advance of executable applications and associated simulation setting flies into a database, and then combination of the detection, automatic data searching and matching, transmission and conversion, enabling rapid and convenient operation by the users, whenever they operate various applications or whether they adopt a keyboard, mouse or joystick as the simulation controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fully automatic simulation system, and more particularly to an innovative one which enables users to operate more easily the input device (e.g., keyboard, mouse, joystick, touch screen, body-operated controller).
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
With the development of ever-changing network technologies in recent years, the users could easily download all kinds of games or applications (e.g. APP) to their own computers or mobile phones via PCs, notebook computers, tablet PCs or smart phones remotely (e.g., website servers and APP on-line shops). Yet, preset input devices for the users are mainly limited to keyboards and mouse, and only a few support commercially available joysticks. In addition, some special joysticks could be purchased to operate specific games or applications.
For the purpose of convenient operation, a universal joystick or operating device matching various games or applications can be designed to improve substantially the ease of operation.
Currently, a keyboard and mouse simulation software has been developed by program designers, allowing the joysticks to simulate keyboards and mouse functionally. When the games or applications support only the keyboards and mouse other than common joysticks, the common joysticks could functionally correspond to the keyboards and mouse required by the games or applications via the help of so-called "keyboard & mouse simulation software". For example: if the right key of a joystick corresponds to key A of the keyboard, when the user presses the right key of the joystick, this means key A of the keyboard is pressed. Yet, this method is unavailable if the games or applications do not support the keyboard and mouse simulation software. As for patents, technologies pertaining to keyboards and mouse simulators, such as "a joystick structure capable of defining the computer keyboard" (TW M253847), and "a computer keyboard and mouse simulator" (TW M344517), have been disclosed in relevant patents. However, the aforementioned patent technologies require the users to set the keyboards and mouse simulators according to the operating modes specified for various games or applications. Hence, it is learnt that main problems against existing keyboard and mouse simulator technologies include:
First, for the purpose of setting of keyboards and mouse simulators, the users have to firstly understand the operating modes of keyboards and mouse specified for various games or applications.
Second, the users must keep abreast of the setting methods of keyboards and mouse simulation software.
Third, when different keyboards and mouse simulators are used for the same games or applications, the users must spend time on resetting of the keyboards and mouse simulators, leading to waste of time and inconvenience for the game players.
Fourth, for a certain game or application, the setting document for the keyboards and mouse simulation software cannot be shared by other users for repetitive use.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would bean advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
Therefore, the inventors have provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Fully automatic simulation system of an input device


A circuit has a multiple port memory and a plurality of processor elements having write and/or read addresses connected to addresses of the multiple port memory. A register, a delay circuit and/or a buffer memory may be formed among the processor elements in dependence on the connections of the write and read addresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image signal processing circuit and, more particularly, to an image signal processing circuit with a multiple port memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An image processor typically includes a large number of processor elements (hereinafter named PE's) which, for example, may include digital computation circuits and which are arranged in a parallel formation. Several types of architectures have been proposed for use with the image processors, such as the systolic array method shown in FIG. 1 and the crossbar switch method shown in FIG. 2.
In the systolic array method, a large number of PE's are disposed as shown in FIG. 1, in which adjacent PE's are connected so as to enable communication therebetween. Such prior art has been disclosed in the publication of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. SHO 56-123069.
In the crossbar switch method shown in FIG. 2, on the other hand, inputs IN1 to IN4 and the outputs OUT1 to OUT4 of PE81 to PE84, respectively, intersect the inputs of PE81 to PE84 and each intersection is used as a switch. By changing the connections of PE81 to PEB4 the internal structure of the image processor is varied.
In the image processor using the aforementioned crossbar switch method, to compensate for a delay between processors or between processor inputs, a memory should be disposed in each of PE81 to PE84. Further, a memory for storing a coefficient and a constant is required in each of PE81 to PE84.
Since, in a parallel processing arrangement, each of PE81 to PE84 does not directly access the contents of the memories in other PE's, the memories of PE81 to PE84 may redundantly store the same data.
Further, PE81 to PE84 normally have in the same structure. As a result, when a memory having a relatively large storage capacity is required for any of PE81 to PE84, this large size memory is used for each of PE81 to PE84. Thus, in memories of the processor elements may not be fully utilized, so that unused storage areas in several of the memories are typically present.
Thus, although the structure of the prior art processor can be varied so as to provide flexibility, memory areas are unused and a relatively high amount of circuit redundancy is present. Therefore, the prior art has failed to provide an image processor having adequate flexibility and a minimal amount of circuit redundancy.

Image signal processing circuit having a multiple port memory


A medication administering device includes a housing introducible into a body cavity and of a material insoluble in the body cavity fluids, but formed with an opening covered by a material which is soluble in body cavity fluids. A diaphragm divides the interior of the housing into a medication chamber including the opening, and a control chamber. An electrolytic cell in the control chamber generates a gas when electrical current is passed therethrough to deliver medication from the medication chamber through the opening into the body cavity at a rate controlled by the electrical current.

The present invention relates to a medication administering device. The invention is particularly useful when embodied in the form of a pill or capsule to be taken orally, and is therefore described below with respect to this application, but it will be appreciated that the invention could be embodied in other types of medication administering devices, such as suppositories to be taken other than orally, or devices to be introduced into a body cavity surgically.
A number of different types of medication administering devices have been developed for administering medication in a controlled manner and/or at a predetermined location, in order to maximize the efficacy of the medication. One type, called a "smart" pill, as briefly described in Popular Science, May 1992, Page 25, includes a capsule which is adapted to be swallowed. The capsule contains a tiny radio transmitter that transmits a continuous signal as it passes through the body to thereby permit its location in the body to be detected. When it reaches a predetermined location, a computer signals the pill to release its payload, by actuating a piston within the capsule to force out medication contained within a chamber in the capsule.


A data transmission method, device and system to improve reliability of a data link. When the sender side detects erroneous data, the erroneous data is discarded and a data retransmission request is sent to the sender side to ensure correctness of received data and improve reliability of the data link; and, when the sender side detects the erroneous data and a bit error rate is greater than a preset bit error rate threshold, the data link gets into auto recovery, and data transmission is resumed after the recovery succeeds, thereby avoiding an excessively high bit error rate, preventing an excessively high probability of omitted checks (the higher the bit error rate is, the higher probability of omitted checks is), and further improving reliability of the data link.

In an electronic system, data transmission is often performed between two chips under control of an upper layer control system over a data link (a chip that sends data is a sender side, and a chip that receives the data is a receiver side). A higher data transmission speed has higher requirements on reliability of the data link. How to improve reliability of the data link becomes a target of research.

Data transmission method, device and system


Provided herein are compositions and methods related to targeted delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a subject utilizing an engineered receptor-ligand system, such as an engineered dockerin-cohesin system. As described herein, previously-developed targeted delivery systems for delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents to a tissue of interest have drawbacks that have not been addressed to date. For example, with respect to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), both of which hamper delivery of agents to the brain, others have relied on the use of endogenously expressed receptors, like the transferrin receptor, to assist the agent across the barriers.

Targeted delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents has largely relied on associating the agent with a targeting molecule that binds to an endogenously expressed molecule, such as an endogenous receptor. This targeted delivery scheme has been used most frequently for delivery of agents to the blood-brain barrier or other hard-to-target tissues.

Engineered receptor/ligand system for delivery of therapeutic agents

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated


A dual sided aircraft light assembly includes a mount structure, a plurality of first light emitters, a plurality of first optics, a plurality of second light emitters, and a plurality of second optics. The first light emitters are disposed such that, upon being energized, each emits light in a first direction that is at an acute angle relative to a reference line that extends in a reference direction. The first optics are configured to focus the light emitted from the first light emitters into a first light beam directed in the first direction. The second light emitters are disposed such that, upon being energized, each emits light in a second direction that is at an obtuse angle relative to the reference line and reference direction. The second optics focus the light emitted from the second light emitters into a second light beam directed in the second direction.

In the aviation industry, the pushback operation is a procedure in which an aircraft is pushed backwards away from its parking position, such as an airport gate, by external power, such as a tractor. To implement the operation, the tractor must be connected to the aircraft and communications must be established between the aircraft and the tractor operator throughout the pushback. Thus, a pushback can take several minutes, which can lead to reduced operational efficiency.
More modern aircraft are being designed with electrical, auto reversible propulsion. These aircraft will thus have onboard capability to pushback, without the need for any external power source. During a nighttime pushback with such onboard capability, proper illumination will be needed so that the aircraft pilot and ground crew can see the entire pushback area. Unfortunately, presently known exterior lights are not capable of illuminating the rear side of the aircraft with a single light when mounted on the landing gear.
Hence, there is a need for an aircraft light assembly that can be mounted on the landing gear of an aircraft and provide illumination both forward and rearward of the aircraft. The present invention addresses at least this need.


To make a terahertz wave generation system capable of easily illuminating terahertz wave on an arbitrary position and to easily realize the system for practical use by effectively using existing systems and devices, the terahertz wave generation system has: a two-wavelength oscillation laser device capable of simultaneously oscillating laser light having two wavelengths and varying the wavelengths; an optical fiber that transmits laser light having two wavelengths, which has been output from the two-wavelength oscillation laser device; and wavelength conversion means for generating terahertz wave by difference frequency generation using the laser light having two wavelengths, which has been transmitted by the above-described optical fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terahertz wave generation system, particularly to a terahertz wave generation system that generates terahertz wave by difference frequency generation being nonlinear optical effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various kinds of research have been conducted regarding a method of performing spectroscopic analysis, imaging measurement or the like by using terahertz wave that is generated by difference frequency generation being nonlinear optical effect.
Meanwhile, it is necessary to illuminate terahertz wave on a subject of spectroscopic analysis or a subject of imaging measurement in order to use terahertz wave in spectroscopic analysis or imaging measurement. Generally, terahertz wave are transmitted to the above-described subjects by special propagation.
However, since such special propagation is poor in operability and transmission efficiency, the use of optical fibers having excellent operability and transmission efficiency is expected as means for transmitting terahertz wave to a subject to be illuminated, but existing optical fibers are made of a material having high absorption rate of terahertz frequency region, so that they cannot be used in transmitting terahertz wave.
With such a background, although the use of new photonic crystal fibers were attempted in recent years, they are still on a development stage and have not been practically used yet.


An exemplary subterranean hub for an outdoor system for distributing electrical power to a plurality of fixtures is provided, the hub having a body, a plurality of electrical connectors disposed on the body and adapted to accept mating connectors from a corresponding fixtures, means for electrically coupling an external power source to the electrical connectors, and a depth reference marker, connected to the body and adapted to provide a visual verification that the hub is buried at a sufficient depth during installation of the hub.

It is known in the art to use outdoor electrical lighting systems using low-voltage lighting fixtures powered by a common transformer. In many outdoor electrical applications, such as outdoor lighting used in residential or commercial landscaping, it is common and perhaps required by various codes to bury the electrical wiring underground.
The installation and maintenance of underground wiring systems can present difficulties. For example, various codes mandate that underground wiring in underground electrical systems be buried at a specific depth. For underground wiring for low-voltage (15-volt) residential landscape lighting installations, recognized safety listing agencies (e.g., National Electric Code) or local codes may require that underground wiring be buried at a specific depth, for example, at least six inches below the surface of the ground. Additionally, underground electrical connections may become difficult to locate and perform maintenance on once they are buried, as indicia of their underground location may degrade over time or become covered, damaged or removed. Known underground systems for connecting transformers to low-voltage lighting fixtures do not adequately address these difficulties.


Compounds of Formula I are disclosed: wherein L, A, R1, R2, R3A, R3B, R4A, R4B, R5, R6 and R7 are defined herein. The compounds encompassed by Formula I include compounds which are HIV protease inhibitors and other compounds which can be metabolized in vivo to HIV protease inhibitors. The compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of infection by HIV and the prophylaxis, treatment, or delay in the onset of AIDS. The compounds and their salts can be employed as ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions, optionally in combination with other antivirals, immunomodulators, antibiotics or vaccines.

A retrovirus designated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly the strains known as HIV type-1 (HIV-1) virus and type-2 (HIV-2) virus, is the etiological agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease characterized by the destruction of the immune system, particularly of CD4 T-cells, with attendant susceptibility to opportunistic infections, and its precursor AIDS-related complex ("ARC"), a syndrome characterized by symptoms such as persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss. This virus was previously known as LAV, HTLV-III, or ARV. A common feature of retrovirus replication is the extensive post-translational processing of precursor polyproteins by a virally encoded protease to generate mature viral proteins required for virus assembly and function. Inhibition of this processing prevents the production of normally infectious virus. For example, Kohl et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 1988, 85: 4686, demonstrated that genetic inactivation of the HIV encoded protease resulted in the production of immature, non-infectious virus particles. These results indicated that inhibition of the HIV protease represents a viable method for the treatment of AIDS and the prevention or treatment of infection by HIV.
Nucleotide sequencing of HIV shows the presence of a pol gene in one open reading frame Ratner et al., Nature 1985, 313: 277. Amino acid sequence homology provides evidence that the pol sequence encodes reverse transcriptase, an endonuclease, HIV protease and gag, which encodes the core proteins of the virion (Toh et al., EMBO J. 1985, 4: 1267; Power et al., Science 1986, 231: 1567; Pearl et al., Nature 1987, 329: 351. Wensing A. M., van Maarseveen N. M., Nijhuis M. "Fifteen years of HIV Protease Inhibitors: raising the bather to resistance". Antiviral Res. 2010, 85, 59-74.
Ramos J. "Boosted protease inhibitors as a therapeutic option in the treatment of HIV-infected children". HIV Med. 2009, 10(9):536-47.
Several HIV protease inhibitors are presently approved for clinical use in the treatment of AIDS and HIV infection, including indinavir (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,999), amprenavir (U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,397), saquinavir (U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,438), ritonavir (U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,801) and nelfinavir (U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,926). Each of these protease inhibitors is a peptide-derived peptidomimetic, competitive inhibitor of the viral protease which prevents cleavage of the HIV gag-pol polyprotein precursor. Tipranavir (U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,195) is a non-peptide peptidomimetic protease inhibitor also approved for use in treating HIV infection. The protease inhibitors are administered in combination with at least one and typically at least two other HIV antiviral agents, particularly nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as zidovudine (AZT) and lamivudine (3TC) and/or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as efavirenz and nevirapine. Indinavir, for example, has been found to be highly effective in reducing HIV viral loads and increasing CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected patients, when used in combination with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. See, for example, Hammer et al., New England J. Med. 1997, 337: 725-733 and Gulick et al., New England J. Med. 1997, 337: 734-739.
The established therapies employing a protease inhibitor are not suitable for use in all HIV-infected subjects. Some subjects, for example, cannot tolerate these therapies due to adverse effects. Many HIV-infected subjects often develop resistance to particular protease inhibitors. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for new compounds which are capable of inhibiting HIV protease and suitable for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of infection by HIV and/or for the treatment or prophylaxis or delay in the onset or progression of AIDS.
References disclosing amino acid derivatives with HIV aspartyl protease inhibiting properties, processes for preparing the derivatives, and/or therapeutic uses of the derivatives include: WO 01/68593, WO 02/064551 A1, WO 03/074467 A2, WO 2004/056764 A1, WO 2006/012725 A1, WO 2006/114001 A1, WO 2007/062526 A1, WO 2008/023273 A2, WO 2008/078200 A2, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,388,008 B2.