A test device for a heat dissipating fan, which is suitable for testing if the fan wheel is secured to the housing firmly, includes a support post, a transverse slide unit, which is disposed at the top of the support post and provides a transverse slide seat, a vertical slide unit, which is disposed at the transverse slide seat and provides a vertical slide seat. Further, the test device provides a clamping unit, a suction unit and a sensing element, which are moved with the vertical slide seat. The clamping unit clamps the housing and the suction unit absorbs the fan wheel. The heat dissipating fan is admitted in case of the sensing unit sensing the fan wheel being incapable of moving upward under the suction force and is carried away by the transverse slide unit in case of the sensing unit sensing the fan wheel being capable of moving upward under the suction force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a test device and particularly to a test device for a heat dissipating fan for testing if the fan wheel is joined to the housing of the fan firmly.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional heat dissipating fan 1 includes a housing 11 with a support pipe 111, a fan wheel 12, a retaining ring 13, which is disposed in the support pipe 111. The fan wheel 12 has a hub 121 and a shaft 122 mounted to the hub 121, the shaft 122 has an engaging groove 123 at an end thereof. Process for assembling the fan 1 is performed based on the following steps. First, the retaining ring 13 is placed in the support pipe 111. Then, the shaft 122 is inserted into the support pipe 111 through the retaining ring 13. Next, the fan wheel 12 is applied a force to urge the retaining ring 13 for the retaining ring 13 being able to engage with the engaging groove 123 finally.
Too large the preceding force being applied is easy to result in damaging other components beside the retaining ring 13 and too little the preceding force being applied is easy to result in the shaft 122 being incapable of engaging with the retaining ring 13 firmly. Further, some other types heat dissipating fans 1 have another end of the support pipe 111 being a blind end and it makes test with sight impossible. Hence, in order to make sure the fan wheel 12 being secured to the housing 11 firmly, several inspectors have to be assigned to pull the fan wheel 12 beside the assembling line. When the fan wheels 12 move with the pull force exerted by the inspectors, it hints that the engaging groove 123 does not engage with the retaining ring 13 completely.
As the foregoing, for securing quality of assembled heat dissipating fans 1, inspectors have to be hired to check every fan 1 and it not only incurs more production cost but also is unable to promote production efficiency. In addition, manual check often occurs careless mistakes because the pull forces applied by the inspectors are hard to keep in a constant direction.


Provided is a vehicle cruise control device 10 that performs trajectory control for causing a vehicle to travel along a traveling road by steering vehicle wheels. The vehicle cruise control device includes: a roll control device (active stabilizers 56 and 58, etc.) configured to control a lateral-direction inclination angle of a vehicle body; and an inclination angle estimation device (a roll rate sensor 72, a stroke sensor 74i, etc.) configured to determine a lateral-direction inclination of a traveling road. When the trajectory control is executed in a situation in which the vehicle travels on a laterally inclined traveling road (S150, S250, S300, S500), the lateral-direction inclination angle of the vehicle body is controlled by the roll control device so that the lateral-direction inclination angle of the vehicle body is greater than 0 and smaller than the lateral-direction inclination angle of the traveling road (S450).

As a cruise control device for a vehicle such as an automobile, a cruise control device is already known that performs trajectory control by calculating a target rudder angle of steerable wheels for causing a vehicle to travel along a traveling road, and controlling the rudder angle of the steerable wheels so that the rudder angle coincides with the target rudder angle by using a rudder angle varying device. An exemplary cruise control device of this type is disclosed in WO2010/073400. In the cruise control device of this type, the rudder angle of steerable wheels is controlled by a rudder angle control device so that the rudder angle coincides with a target rudder angle, independently from a steering operation by a driver.


The present invention provides a novel system, method and apparatus for allocating power between at least two communication services that share a common power output limit. Two communication services particularly suited for the present invention are voice services and data services transmitted on the downlink of a wireless network. An embodiment of the method includes determining the actual consumption of power on the voice channels of the wireless network during a given time period, and allocating substantially the same amount of power to the voice channels for the next time period, thus allowing for the allocation of the remaining amount of power to the data services, and thereby allowing, for example, increased modulation of the data services and thereby improve overall rates of data transfer and/or reliability of data transmission.

Various forms of modern wireless communications systems are well known. For example, cellular wireless voice services are now widely deployed in industrialized nations, and technology improvements are expected to enhance and expand cellular wireless services and lead to further deployment.
Accompanying the increased deployment of wireless voice services is an increased demand for wireless data services, such as web-browsing, email and the like. The demand for both types of services reflects the well-identified trend towards the convergence of traditional voice and data services. In particular, wireless local loop (WLL) systems are expected to become a viable alternative to the wired local loop telephone services offered by the existing local telephone companies throughout North America. However, in order to effectively compete with the existing local telephone companies, it is expected that WLL systems will need to provide both toil-quality voice services and high-speed data services.
Both mobile and WLL wireless services will have to provide any voice and data services within prescribed power budgets, as known to those of skill in the art. For example, power-control features are usually incorporated into wireless base stations to ensure that services are offered within government prescribed power budgets.
Various power management techniques are known. In IS-95, for example, it is known to rely on certain characteristics of voice telephone calls to assist in managing power output. Specifically, it is known that during a typical two-way voice telephone call over a wireless voice channel, each party will only speak, on average, for about one-half of the time that the channel is open ("Fifty-percent duty cycle"). This fifty-percent duty cycle can be used on the downlink (i.e. from the base station to the subscriber station), to reduce the amount of power allocated to the voice channels, and thus help keep the power output from the base station within the government-prescribed power budget. However, since the fifty-percent duty cycle is merely an average level of power consumption, over any given time-period the actual power consumed on a voice channel can exceed fifty-percent, thus requiring the allocation of additional power to voice channels in order to accommodate peak power usages.
Keeping the power output within the government-prescribed power budget in a combined voice and data system presents different challenges. In such systems, it is known to allocate a fixed level of power to the voice channels in substantially the same manner as described in the previous paragraph, i.e. the allocation to the voice services is based, at least in part, on the fifty-percent duty cycle. The remainder of the power budget is then allocated to the data channels. On the whole, these power allocations remain fixed for a given base station. However, this method leads to the disadvantage that, when the actual amount of voice traffic over a given time period requires less than the level of allocated power, then the remaining power is wasted.


To reduce thermal pole-tip protrusion and recession, a magnetic head includes a multi-material basecoat. The magnetic head has an air bearing surface and a back surface opposite the air bearing surface. The magnetic head includes a substrate and the basecoat positioned upon the substrate. The basecoat has a first portion and a second portion wherein a Young's modulus of the first portion is less than a Young's modulus of the second portion. A data transducer is positioned upon the basecoat adjacent the air bearing surface.

The present invention relates generally to the field of magnetic data storage and retrieval systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a thin film transducing head having improved performance due to reduced thermal pole tip protrusion and recession.
In a magnetic data storage and retrieval system, a thin-film transducing head typically includes a transducer, a substrate upon which the transducer is built, and an overcoat deposited over the transducer. The transducing head often times includes a basecoat, which forms an interface layer between the substrate and the transducer and is generally formed of an insulating material. The transducer, which typically includes a writer portion for recording and storing magnetically-encoded information on a magnetic media and a reader portion for retrieving that magnetically-encoded information from the magnetic media, is formed of multiple patterned layers successively stacked upon the basecoat. The volume of the transducer is typically much smaller than both the volume of the substrate and the volume of the overcoat.
The layers of the transducer, which include both metallic and insulating layers, all have differing mechanical and chemical properties than the substrate. These differences in properties affect several aspects of the transducer. First, the layers of the transducing head will be lapped at different rates. Thus, when an air bearing surface (ABS) of the transducing head is lapped during its fabrication, differing amounts of the layers will be removed, resulting in the transducing head having an uneven ABS. Commonly, a greater amount of the metallic layers of the transducer will be removed during the lapping process than will be removed from the substrate. Thus, the lapping process results in a pole tip recession (PTR) of the metallic layers of the transducer with respect to the substrate. The PTR of a particular layer is defined as the distance between the air bearing surface of the substrate and the air bearing surface of that layer.
The differing mechanical and chemical properties of the substrate and transducer layers affect the air bearing surface during operation of the transducing head. As the magnetic data storage and retrieval system is operated, the transducing head is subjected to increased temperatures within the magnetic data storage and retrieval system. In addition, a temperature of the transducing head itself, or a part thereof, may be significantly higher than the temperature within the magnetic data storage and retrieval system due to heat dissipation caused by electrical currents in the transducer.
The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of materials used in forming the substrate is typically much smaller than the CTE of materials used in forming the metallic layers of the transducer. Due to the large CTE of the transducer's metallic layers, those layers tend to expand a greater amount in response to high temperatures than will the substrate. Thus, when the transducing head is subjected to high operating temperatures, the metallic layers tend to protrude closer to the magnetic disc than the substrate; thereby affecting the PTR of the transducer. This change in PTR caused by temperature is referred to as the thermal protrusion.
During operation of the magnetic data storage and retrieval system, the transducing head is positioned in close proximity to the magnetic media. The distance between the transducer and the media is preferably small enough to allow for writing to and reading from the magnetic media with a large areal density, and great enough to prevent contact between the magnetic media and the transducing head. Performance of the transducer depends primarily on this distance between the media and the transducing head. To keep the distance between the transducing head and the magnetic media constant, PTR should not change significantly with temperature. If thermal protrusion is large, then the spacing between the transducer and the media will change significantly with temperature, thereby requiring the low-temperature fly height be enough to accommodate the higher operating temperatures. On the other hand, if thermal protrusion is close to zero, the low-temperature fly height can be reduced.
As areal density of the magnetic media increases, the requirements for transducing head fly height become such that thermal protrusion takes up a significant portion of the head disc spacing. The mismatched CTE between the materials of the transducing head, in particular the transducer, and the material of the substrate give rise to thermal protrusion. One method to reduce thermal protrusion is to introduce materials forming the transducer and/or materials near the transducer that have low coefficients of thermal expansion (GTE) to reduce or constrain the expansion of the transducer metals. However, constraining layers increases the stresses on the transducer structure and may also increase waviness of the ABS. Another method to reduce the thermal protrusion effect includes changing the reference surface for the air bearing surface to a material that expands and contracts with the transducer materials. However, changing reference surfaces is complex and may have negative impacts on other aspects of the disc drive system.
The present invention is a transducing head structure that reduces thermal protrusion when the transducing head is operated at high temperatures, but does not increase waviness of the ABS, have a negative impact on other aspects of the disc drive system, or over constrain the materials of the transducing head.

Patterned multi-material basecoat to reduce thermal protrusion


Provided is a drive apparatus including an address decoder circuit provided in each pixel row of a pixel array inside a solid state image sensor, the address decoder circuit being configured to generate at least a control signal to cause, based on a V address signal to identify the pixel row in the pixel array, pixels of the pixel row corresponding to the V address signal to perform a read operation that reads accumulated charges from the relevant pixels or an electronic shutter operation that sweeps away the accumulated charges from the relevant pixels. The V address signals of at least two mutually different systems are supplied to the address decoder circuit, and at least the two mutually different address decoder circuits generate the control signal for at least the two mutually different pixel rows within one horizontal scanning period.

The present disclosure relates to a drive apparatus, a drive method, and an electronic device.
In a solid state image sensor such as a CMOS image sensor, the address of pixels arranged two-dimensionally is specified for each pixel row and a signal is input into pixels in the specified pixel row to drive the pixels. Driving pixels means various operations such an accumulation operation of charges in accordance with incident light, a reset (that is, sweeping away of accumulated charges) operation of pixels, and a read operation of accumulated charges being performed by pixels by driving various transistors constituting pixels. A captured image is formed by various kinds of signal processing being performed on a signal (pixel signal) corresponding to accumulated charges read from each pixel.
In an imaging apparatus, for example, a digital still camera or the like, on the other hand, a total-pixel read mode in which a captured image is generated from pixel signals read from all pixels in the solid state image sensor and a thinning-out read mode in which a captured image is generated from pixel signals read from a row in every several rows may be switchable. By applying the thinning-out read mode, the total time to read pixel signals from a pixel array, that is, the photographing time to obtain a captured image for one frame can be reduced.
In thinning-out read mode, however, a problem of deterioration in quality of a captured image by blooming may be posed. Blooming is a phenomenon in which charges overflow from a photodiode of a pixel in a state in which charges are accumulated up to a saturation state into neighboring pixels after light is further incident thereon. The inflow of charges into neighboring pixels could cause quality deterioration such as color mixing. In thinning-out read mode, thinned-out pixels are maintained in a state in which charges are accumulated without being read during exposure time and are likely to cause blooming.
Various measures are taken against deterioration in quality caused by blooming. According to the technology described in JP 2008-288904A, for example, a sweeping operation of extra charges from pixels to be thinned out (hereinafter, referred to as an electronic shutter operation) and a read operation of pixel signals from other pixels (hereinafter, referred to simply as a read operation) are both performed within a horizontal scanning period (1H period) as a time necessary to scan pixels of one row when a photograph is taken in thinned-out read mode to prevent the occurrence of blooming JP 2008-288904A discloses a technology that prevents the occurrence of blooming caused by thinned-out pixels and also reduces the blanking period in which no pixel signal can be read out by providing an address selection circuit combining an address decoder and a 2-bit memory in each row of a pixel array and making a selection of the address of the pixel row in which the electronic shutter operation is performed and a selection of the pixel row in which the read operation is performed by the address selection circuit. JP 2008-288903A discloses a concrete control method of the address selection circuit described in JP 2008-288904A.

Drive apparatus, drive method, and electronic device


A function for processing electronic money is installed in a mobile phone 7 provided with a contactless IC chip. At this time, an electronic money member number is written to the contactless IC chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information processing devices, information providing devices, information processing methods and information providing methods, which, for example, redeem points issued as a bonus by business entities for electronic money.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen active distribution of electronic money through IC cards. Specifically, a currency value called VALUE is memorized in an IC card, and the VALUE is increased/decreased to transfer the currency value.
The IC card is provided with an IC chip having incorporated therein a program for carrying out an electronic money function, a memory function for memorizing VALUE and an arithmetic function, and by inputting an addition command, a subtraction command or the like through an electronic money terminal or the like, it is possible to add or subtract VALUE equivalent to a certain amount of money in the IC card.
Accordingly, for example, by receiving cash from the user and adding VALUE equivalent to the amount of cash to the IC card, it is possible to accumulate the VALUE into the IC card, so that when the user makes a purchase, VALUE equivalent to the amount of payment is subtracted from the IC card, thereby making a payment.
By introducing such a prepaid electronic money system, it is possible to use VALUE as a substitute for currency.
There are contact- and contactless-type IC cards, and the contactless-type is widely used.
The contactless-type IC card includes an antenna connected to a contactless IC chip, and through this antenna, the IC card is able to carry out short-distance wireless communication with an electronic money terminal. Also, the power for driving the IC card is wirelessly transmitted from the electronic money terminal.
Recently, attempts have been made to embed mobile phones with a contactless IC chip for the contactless-type IC card in order to confer the function of the contactless-type IC card to the cell phones.
By embedding the mobile phones with the contactless IC chip, it is possible to manage VALUE by the cell phones.
As a result, by placing a mobile phone close to the electronic money terminal so as to allow the contactless IC chip to communicate with the electronic money terminal, it is possible to add and subtract VALUE.
Further, in the case where the cell phone has the function of connecting with the Internet, it is possible to connect the cell phone to the Internet, and add/subtract VALUE to/from the contactless IC chip by way of the Internet.
Such electronic money payment systems using a cell phone include the following.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-352173
On the other hand, business entities running a certain business generally carry out issuing points to customers as part of their customer services.
For example, mass retailers of electronic appliances issue points based on the customers' purchase price, and the customers can make a payment to the mass retailers with accumulated points.
A point card having a point member number memorized thereon is issued to users, and point addition and subtraction are carried out on the server using the point member number.
By providing such a point service to the customers, it is possible for the customers to obtain products inexpensively, whereas the business entities can keep the customers.
Further, recently, it has become common to use IC cards each having embedded therein the function of processing electronic money and the function of a point card (for memorizing a point member number, which is read by terminals at stores).
An electronic money business entity and a business entity which issues points (hereinafter, the point business entity) cooperate with each other, such that accumulated points are redeemed for VALUE, or points are issued based on the amount of used VALUE.
In this case, an electronic money member number and a point member number are previously embedded in the IC card during the production of the IC card, in order to link (associate) the electronic money number with the point member number and enable interchanging of VALUE and points based on the association between the electronic money member number and the point member number.

Information processing device, information providing device, information processing method and information providing method

Abstract: The user accesses a point site on a point server 10 through a user terminal, and logs in thereto. The user enters the electronic money member number in the point site. The point server 10 transmits a combination of the electronic money member number and the user's point member number to an electronic money server 2. The electronic money server 2 receives the electronic money member number and the point member number from the point server 10, and memorizes them after establishing a linkage therebetween.


A band for cover or decoration has a body and a securing mechanism and the securing mechanism secures the band to a lamp shade. The securing mechanism can be a clip and a looped end on opposite ends of the body, wherein the clip and the looped end engage to secure the band to the lamp shade. A method of using the band for cover has the user selecting a band, placing the band over the seam of the lamp shade, engaging the securing mechanism to secure the band to the lamp shade, and disengaging the securing mechanism for removal. A method of using the band for decoration has the user selecting one or more bands, placing the one or more bands on the lamp shade, engaging the securing mechanism to secure each band to the lamp shade, and disengaging the securing mechanism for removal.

Lamps are common items in houses, businesses, and anywhere light is desired. Lamps provide a utilitarian function of providing additional light. Lamps also provide a decorative function in their color, style, design, or other aesthetic features. The shade of the lamp is both functional and decorative. The lamp shade is functional because it reduces the harsh light of the light bulb and diffuses the light emitting from the light bulb. It is decorative due to shape, color, pattern, or other aesthetic features. However, the lamp shade has a seam where the opposite ends of the material forming the lamp shade join together. This seam can be unsightly and diminish the aesthetic value of the lamp shade. A band that hides the seam in an aesthetic and appealing way will be a useful invention.
Also, lamp shades may be aesthetically appealing, but they may not provide as much decoration as the user wants. Or, the lamp shade may need some additional decoration to enhance its aesthetic value or to coordinate with other decorative elements of a room. Or, the lamp shade may need different aesthetic appeal to decorate for different times of the year or different holidays or for other user preference. A band that can add additional or different aesthetic appeal to a lamp shade will be a useful invention.
There may be times when a user wants to add additional decoration to the lamp shade and other times when they do not. Or, the user may want to add the decoration for a certain time of year or holiday and change the decoration for the next time of year or holiday. Or, the user may want to change the decoration as the décor of the room changes. A band for cover or decoration that can be secured to and removed and exchanged for other bands will be a useful invention.


A system and method of producing an image using a plurality of independent pixel devices, each of which includes one or more light emitting or polarizing elements. The pixel devices are fixed (e.g. on the side of a building) or are moving (e.g. on water or falling in air) within an image space in which an image is to be formed. A controller determines, based upon the locations of the pixel devices within the image space, what portion of the image each pixel device is to reproduce, and then commands the pixel devices to use the emitting devices to reproduce the corresponding portion of the image. As the pixel devices move, the new locations of the pixel devices are mapped onto the image, and the control of the pixel devices is modified accordingly so that the image produced by the pixel devices is not distorted by their movement.

Present day devices and systems for image and motion picture reproduction include many different types: projectors and projection screens, cathode ray tubes (CRT), liquid crystal displays (LCD), and light emitting diode (LED) grid arrays in the form of active billboards.
All of these devices and systems require a predetermined surface to be secured where the images and motion pictures will appear. This surface, which is usually called a screen, is in most cases a continuous, solid object. Because of that, its size is often dictated by the available space and technical realization issues. For many applications, it is desirable that the screen surface area be as large as possible. The capability of a billboard, for example, to capture one's attention is directly proportional to its size.
Furthermore, the brightness of the display will dictate the operational duty cycle on any given day. It is for this reason that conventional outdoor projection systems have a low operational duty cycle (i.e. they are usable only in low light conditions such as during the night time). LED grid arrays are much more effective in being visible even when the sunlight level is at its maximum. Both projection and LED based systems have their drawbacks relating to outdoor screen mounting issues. A projection system could use a building facade as its screen. However, in many cases, it is impossible to project an image onto a building that is occupied. In downtown areas which are crowded with hotels, such as Las Vegas, a majority of the high rising buildings are occupied. Thus, the occupants would be bothered by intense light directed at the building and, at best, the show would have to be limited in both length and how late at night the show could last. Also, a building facade that is mostly covered with windows doesn't make for an optimal projection screen because of the irregularities in its surface and the not so favorable light reflection coefficient of the glass windows. The solution for the surface smoothness would be to cover the building facade with an actual projection screen. This is not desirable because it would completely block the view for the occupants of that building.
Large dynamic LED grid screens face the same problem. They are enclosed in a large, panel shaped, solid object which could weigh thousands of pounds. The mounting requirements for such a device are very stringent which makes them unsuitable for the temporary applications. Permanent mounting of a large panel LED display onto a hotel facade would mean a permanent obstruction of view for the guests.

Picture reproduction system and method utilizing independent picture elements


Disclosed are a system and method, also referred to herein as an architecture, for efficiently communicating a high volume of data from a server over an electronic communications network to geographically disperse recipients, where one or more of those recipients may receive a customized version of that data, e.g., content, timing and/or form. As the data is generated, timing information and/or changes to information regarding customizations is incorporated forming a data stream which is communicated to local data publishers (“LDP's”). Upon receipt, the LDP's extract the data, customization, or timing information and act accordingly when transmitting the received data to the recipients. Customization is applied to update local control databases which specify the customizations for subsequently received data before transmission. By acting on the messages in real time, e.g., as they are received, the LDP's, even if they don't receive the messages at the same time, then perform the same functions in the same relative order relative to the data stream.

An electronic communications network interconnects one or more computers so that they may communicate, e.g., by sending electronic messages, data packets, etc., with one another, whether they are in the same room, building or geographic region (such as a Local Area Network or LAN) or in different geographic regions, e.g., across the country or around the globe from each other (such as a Wide Area Network or WAN). Generally, a network is series of points or nodes interconnected by communications paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and can contain sub-networks. A node is a connection point, either a redistribution point or an end point, for data transmissions generated between the computers which are connected to the network. In general, a node acting as a redistribution point has a programmed or engineered capability to recognize and process or forward transmissions to other nodes. The nodes can be computer workstations, servers, bridges or other devices but typically, these nodes are routers and/or switches. A router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that interconnects at least two networks or sub-networks and determines the next network node to which a piece of data (also referred to as a "packet" in the Internet context) should be forwarded toward its destination. User devices, such as computer devices, servers, etc., connect to the end points of the network, also referred to as points of presence, so as to be able to transmit or receive communications therebetween via the network.
The various communications paths of a network, such as the Internet, can be implemented using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, telephone cable, leased telephone lines such as T1 lines, satellite links, microwave links or other wired or wireless electronic communications media/technology as is known in the art. The hardware and software which allows the network to function is known as the network "infrastructure." A network can also be characterized by the type of data it carries (voice, data, or both) or by the network protocol used to facilitate communications over the network's physical infrastructure, e.g., Ethernet, TCP/IP, etc.
The Internet, in particular, is a publicly accessible worldwide wide area network which primarily uses the Transport Control Protocol and Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP") to permit the exchange of information. At a higher level, the Internet supports several applications protocols including the Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP") for facilitating the exchange of HTML/World Wide Web ("WWW") content, File Transfer Protocol ("FTP") for the exchange of data files, electronic mail exchange protocols, Telnet for remote computer access and Usenet for the collaborative sharing and distribution of information. Another application protocol used by the disclosed embodiments is the Financial Information eXchange ("FIX") protocol. Private entities may operate their own wide area networks, entirely separate from or incorporating, at least in part, the Internet.
Logically, a wide area network which services a large geographic area, such as the Internet, can be thought of as a web of intermediate network nodes and communications paths interconnecting those network nodes which provide multiple data transmission routes from any given point to any other given point on the network (i.e. between any two computers connected to the network). Physically, a wide area network can also be thought of as a collection of interconnected sub-networks wherein each sub-network contains a portion of the intermediate network nodes and communications paths.
The division of a wide area network, such as the Internet, into sub-networks is typically geographically based, but can also be based on other factors such as resource limitations and resource demands. For example, a particular city may be serviced by one or more sub-networks provided and maintained by one or more providers, such as competing Internet Service Providers ("ISP's"), to support the service and bandwidth demands of the users, e.g. their client and server devices, physically located in that region. The subnetworks of the wide area network may themselves be interconnected using high speed/high bandwidth "backbone" connections which are typically provided and maintained by large telecommunications operators but may also be operated by private entities.
Generally, within each subnetwork, a multitude of lower performance, e.g., lower bandwidth and/or lower transmission speed (higher latency), and therefore likely lower cost, interconnections are used to interconnect the nodes of the subnetwork as well as to connect customer/client devices therewith via the end points/points of presence. In contrast, the higher performance, e.g., higher bandwidth and/or higher transmission speed (lower latency) backbone, and therefore likely higher cost, interconnections are typically used to interconnect one subnetwork with another. That is, as with all economies of scale, high performance, e.g., high bandwidth and/or high speed, interconnections may be more difficult to implement and therefore rarer and more expensive than low performance, e.g., low bandwidth and/or low speed connections, and are therefore typically only implemented where they provide the sufficient return on investment. It will be appreciated, that even as technology progresses, newer and higher bandwidth/speed (lower latency) technologies will remain more costly than relatively lower bandwidth/speed (higher latency) technologies. Accordingly, it will be further appreciated that while these "costs" may be relative, i.e., regardless of the actual bandwidth or speed capabilities, a connection having a particular bandwidth and/or transmission speed capability will typically be more expensive than a connection having a relatively lower bandwidth and/or lower transmission speed capability, and communication between devices on the same sub-network can be expected to be less expensive relative to the cost of communications between devices connected to different sub-networks, particularly between those serving different geographic regions.
For low volume communications, these costs may be negligible and generally incorporated into the fees that customers generally pay for access to the entire wide area network, albeit typically subject to limitations such as bandwidth or speed caps. However, those users which need to send a high volume of data and/or low latency data over the wide area network may incur additional costs, particularly when sending a large volume of low latency data from one sub-network to another, e.g., from one geographic region to another. For example, such users may need to pay surcharges for excessive bandwidth consumption of low latency connections, e.g., to avoid data caps or bandwidth/speed throttling, or purchase, lease or otherwise procure access to exclusive, or substantially exclusive, network interconnections.
Accordingly, for those high volume customers, it is desirable to communicate data as efficiently as possible so as to minimize the cost thereof.


In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a user identifier circuit, a button pressure signature specifying a sequence of button pressure values sampled while a corresponding identified button of a user input device is pressed by a user; the user identifier circuit identifying the user of the user input device based on the button pressure signature; and the user identifier circuit outputting a message identifying the identified button and the identified user.

User input devices utilize keyboard switches to detect a user pressing a corresponding key, where the keyboard switches are implemented according to a prescribed keyboard switch technology (e.g., mechanical switch, membrane switch, capacitive switch). Such keyboard switches have been implemented in user input devices such as remote control devices, or keyboards of computers, cellphones, BlackBerry devices, etc. Various biometric and behaviometric techniques have been attempted to identify users of such user input devices employing keyboard switches, possibly avoiding the necessity of a user performing a "logon" (e.g, user identification and password) prior to a given user session. Biometric identification techniques identify individuals based on unique physical attributes, for example fingerprints, hand shape, face recognition, iris or retina pattern, voice pattern, etc., which can be extended to include personal tags such as active badges (e.g., RFID badges). Example behaviometric techniques that identify individuals based on their behavior include written signature analysis, computer mouse gestures, and keystroke behavior analysis. Keystroke behavior analysis is based on detecting distinct typing patterns on a computer keyboard: typing patterns are determined from assigning parameters to the typing acts, such as typing speed (e.g., keys pressed per a unit time interval), dwell time (i.e, how long a key is pressed), and flight time (time between one key press and the next key press).
Keystroke behavior analysis also can be applied to a remote control devices for a television or set-top box, where user of the remote control device at least can be classified into a certain user category based on viewer surfing (i.e., channel selection) patterns.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Identifying user by measuring pressure of button presses on user input device


A method of detecting a ground fault condition between a direct current power system and the chassis ground of an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle is provided. The method includes sequentially opening and closing a first switch connected between a positive node of the direct current power system and the chassis ground of the vehicle and a second switch connected between a negative node of direct current power system and the chassis ground. The sequential opening and closing of the first and second switches charges and discharges an inherent capacitance present between the metal components of the direct current power system and the chassis. First and second currents are created as the inherent capacitance is charged and discharged. Measurements of the created first and second currents are then used to determine whether a ground fault condition exists between the direct current power system and the vehicle chassis ground.

A number of factors including ever-increasing energy costs, environmental concerns and the development of new battery technology has fueled interest in electrically powered automobiles. "Plug-in" type electric vehicles rely solely on a battery powered electric motor to propel the vehicle. "Hybrid" vehicles use a combination of an electric drive motor in combination with a gasoline or diesel fueled engine to achieve higher mileage.
Plug-in and hybrid vehicles typically use a high voltage DC drive powered with large batteries or battery packs. Voltages present in these systems may range from 100 to 1000 or greater. Consequently, the use of such systems can present a danger if the high voltage system is not effectively isolated from the vehicle chassis. The threshold voltage where DC becomes dangerous can be as low as 55 to 60 volts and contact with a high voltage DC source can cause serious injuries. Contact with direct current tends to cause continuous muscular contractions that make the victim hold on to a live conductor, increasing the risk of burns and other injuries. Current leakage from the high voltage system to the chassis (a fault) may result from frayed wires contacting chassis components and component failure. Corrosion and/or infiltration of salt, dirt and other debris may provide a current path. Consequently it is important to identify potentially dangerous faults.
One presently proposed fault detectors utilizes a capacitively coupled signal injected into an isolated ground. However, large amounts of parasitic and inherent capacitance in electrically powered vehicles tend to make such devices too "noisy" for reliable use of a capacitively coupled signal for fault detection. Another proposed approach is the use of a wheatstone bridge. However, a short across the detection nodes of a wheatstone bridge may be undetectable. Thus, there exists a need for a more reliable fault detection system for use with high voltage DC systems such as those used in electric vehicles and other applications.

Fault detection method for detecting leakage paths between power sources and chassis


Embodiments of the present invention relates to the incorporation and use of a regulated genetic suicide mechanism for use in the improved purification of biologics, including adjunct use in various eubacterial minicell production and purification methodologies. Described herein are high-yield eubacterial minicell-producing strains with genetic modifications that comprise a regulated genetic suicide mechanism that irreparably destroys the parent cell chromosome such that live parental cells in a culture can be functionally eliminated at any time during the course of a minicell production and purification run. Embodiments of the present invention also describe methods useful in the elimination of live parental cells during the production of other cell-based biologics.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to compositions and methods for the production, purification, formulation, and use of eubacterial minicells as targeted delivery vehicles for in vivo and in vitro nucleic acid, protein, and small molecule drug delivery as well as a targeted in vivo imaging and diagnostic technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description is provided to aid in understanding the present disclosure, but is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the present disclosure. The contents of the articles, patents, and patent applications, and all other documents and electronically available information mentioned or cited in this application, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this application any and all materials and information from any such articles, patents, patent applications, or other documents.
Minicells are achromosomal, membrane-encapsulated biological nano-particles (≦400 nm) that are formed by bacteria following a disruption in the normal division apparatus of bacterial cells. In essence, minicells are small, metabolically active replicas of normal bacterial cells with the exception that they contain no chromosomal DNA and as such, are non-dividing and non-viable. Although minicells do not contain chromosomal DNA, plasmid DNA molecules, RNA molecules, native and/or recombinantly expressed proteins, and other metabolites have all been shown to segregate into minicells.
Throughout the last century, minicells have been exploited as tools for research scientists studying cell division, plasmid replication, plasmid segregation, RNA production, protein production, plasmid isolation, plasmid characterization, and plasmid-borne virulence factor production in prokaryotes.
As a result of advances in the fields of microbiology, microbial genetics, and molecular biology, any given minicell, regardless of the parental cell species from which it was derived, can now be engineered and subsequently used as in vivo or in vitro targeted delivery or imaging vehicles.
Minicells are uniquely suited as in vivo delivery and imaging vehicles because they combine many of the singular advantages of other delivery technologies into a single, versatile delivery vehicle. Minicells can be "engineered" to preferentially encapsulate, be coupled to, or absorb biologically active molecules, including various nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecule drugs for subsequent delivery in both therapeutic and prophylactic medicinal applications. As described in much more detail below, minicells have the added advantage in that they can be targeted to specific cell, tissue, and organ types, through the use of several different antibody or affinity-based approaches.

Regulated genetic suicide mechanism compositions and methods


An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle part (16) with a structural portion (44) and a trim portion (50) covering the structural portion (44). An air bag module (30) is located within a deployment opening (56) in the trim portion (50) of the vehicle part (16). A deployment structure (70) closes the deployment opening (56). The deployment structure (70) consists of a single, continuous body of molded plastic material, and includes a deployment door (78 or 80) partially bounded by a stress riser (82) in the plastic material. The module (30) is mounted on the structural portion (44) of the vehicle part (16). The deployment structure (70) is fully supported on the vehicle part (16) by the trim portion (50) separately from the module (30) and the structural portion (44).

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is inflated when a vehicle experiences a crash. Inflation fluid is then directed to flow from an inflator into the air bag to inflate the air bag. When the air bag is inflated, it extends into the vehicle occupant compartment to protect an occupant of the vehicle from a forceful impact with parts of the vehicle as a result of the crash.
In certain vehicle installations, an air bag is inflated when a vehicle experiences a side impact crash, such as a crash in which an impact is directed against a door at the side of the vehicle. A side impact crash can cause the door to intrude toward the middle of the vehicle. The air bag is inflated into the vehicle occupant compartment between the door and an occupant of a seat adjacent to the door. The inflated air bag can then protect the occupant from a forceful impact with the door.
An air bag and an inflator are typically installed in a vehicle as parts of an air bag module. The module is an assembly of parts that are interconnected separately from the vehicle. For a side impact installation, the module may be mounted on the frame of the seat or on a structural panel in the adjacent door. If the module is mounted on the frame of the seat, the inflating air bag emerges from the seat and moves into the vehicle occupant compartment by breaking through a seat cushion that covers the frame. If the module is mounted on a structural panel in the door, the inflating air bag emerges from the door and moves into the vehicle occupant compartment by breaking through a trim panel that covers the structural panel. A door-mounted module may alternatively include a rupturable cover which extends across an opening in the trim panel. The module cover closes the opening in the trim panel effectively as a rupturable portion of the trim panel.


In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes comparison logic to compare received data values to an expected data value, producing a first result. The apparatus also includes combinatorial logic coupled to the comparison logic. The combinatorial logic is to use the first result to encode in a second result which path of a set of paths the received data should traverse. The apparatus also includes transfer logic coupled to the combinatorial logic. The transfer logic is to transfer the received data values to each of three paths using the second result.

In general, networks and computers operate in different manners. Networks operate by transferring data in streams and/or packets. Streams may be bit-sized, byte-sized, or otherwise broken down. Packets may be of relatively large size, such as 64, 512, or more bytes each. Computers operate by processing data, typically in well-defined small sizes, such as bytes (8 bits), words (16 bits), double words (32 bits) and so on. At the interface between a computer and a network, a translation or reorganization of data may be necessary. This may include reorganizing data from a series of packets into a format useful to a processor. In particular, this may include taking data bits of a series of bytes and reorganizing them into a form including only data bits. A similar problem may occur at a byte-level, wherein some bytes of a group of bytes are data bytes, and other bytes are effectively control bytes which need to be parsed out of data. Moreover, some control data may be provided in very small packets (as few as 3 bytes), whereas many systems are predicated on a minimum packet length on the order of 8-10 bytes.
In some embodiments, it is common to handle small packets in a physical link layer, by stuffing those packets with extra bytes to create a minimum-length packet. For example, a minimum length may be set to 9 or 10 bytes, and any packets detected with a shorter length may be padded with extra bytes to achieve this minimum length. Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a conventional method of handling a small packet in flow diagram form is illustrated. At block 110, the small packet is detected in the physical link layer. At block 120, the small packet is stuffed with extra bytes to achieve a minimum length of the packet for purposes of future processing. At block 130, the small packet as stuffed is then transferred to the associated framer component for further processing.
This adds complexity to the physical link layer, and requires processing to discard the extra bytes of padding later in the process of utilizing these packets. Effectively, this is creating extra work and extra complexity for the purpose of simplifying some of the associated circuitry. Whether the extra bytes are stripped in the framer or in a later stage of the processing circuitry, they will not be used by the end system and carry no useful information.

Method and apparatus for handling small packets


A backwasher is provided and consists of three essential elements. A back element for retaining a resilient nonabsorbent pillow-like member in conjunction with a front engaging member which attaches to the rear member by means of frictionally engaging a cloth-like material extended over the surface of the resilient member whereby the resilient member covered by the cloth-like material when mounted vertically on a wall functions as a backwasher or backscrubber when a person moves their back over the protruding surface of the pillow-like member. The device is adapted so that a person may use a personal wash cloth for backscrubbing and then remove same for continued bathing and such that the device may be easily disinfected for use by different persons in a hotel environment.

The instant invention relates generally to bathing implements and more specifically relates to a backwasher.
Numerous bathing instruments have been provided in the prior art which are adapted to aid people when washing in the shower or bathtub such as for example brushes, scrubbers or the like. While these prior art units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address they are not as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described.

Disinfectable three piece wall mounted back scrubber using detachable cloth surface


A transgenic mammal, specifically a mouse, containing in its genome a humanized mutant of green fluorescent protein operably linked to the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter is provided. The mouse can be used to assay the effects of systemic or topical administration of neurotoxins and also to assay the effects of physical damage to neural tissue.

The present invention is related to a transgenic mouse expressing green fluorescent protein under the control of a human glial fibrillary protein promoter and to a method of determining the neurotoxicity of substances in vivo.
Neural tissue consists of neurons and supporting or glial cells. Glial cells outnumber neurons by about ten to one in the mammalian brain. Glial cells may be divided into four classes: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells and microligal cells. Astrocytes descend from a primitive neuroepithelial stem cell line within the ependymal zone. The exact function of astrocytes is unknown. Astrocytes probably provide support for the delicate neurons, contribute to the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters, control the ionic environment of the neurons and provide spacing between neurons.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is expressed primarily in astrocytes of the central nervous system (including Mueller cells of the retina and non-myelinating Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system). GFAP is a 50 kD intracytoplasmic protein that is the primary intermediate filament in the cytoskeleton of astrocytes. Mouse and human GFAP genomic genes have been cloned and sequenced as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,047, incorporated herein by reference. The GFAP gene contains a basal promoter consisting of a TATA box and a CAAT box. Several enhancer and silencer sequences have also been identified. The enhancers for GFAP expression are found between xe2x88x92250 and xe2x88x9280 bp and between xe2x88x921980 and xe2x88x921500 bp. These positive control regions contain consensus sequences for many transcription factors including a cAMP response element and binding sites for the Sp-1, NF-1, AP-1 and AP-2 transcription factors. Tissue specificity is conferred by a human GFAP consensus sequence (hgcs) located in the xe2x88x921980 to xe2x88x921500 bp region. The transactivating protein which binds to this site has not been identified.
Reactive gliosis (also known as astrogliosis) occurs in response to almost any insult, physical or chemical, to the central nervous system (CNS). Reactive gliosis is characterized by hypertrophy of the astrocyte cell body and its processes, accompanied by an increase in expression of GFAP. One of the major problems in neurotoxicity screening is the diversity of insults that are to be tested and the highly specific nature of their targets, particularly for the pharmacological agents that may affect very discrete populations of neurons. Reactive gliosis in glial cells, in which up-regulation of GFAP is an invariant part, represents a robust change in the central nervous system following injuries to all of the relevant cell types in the central nervous system (neurons, oligodendrocytes, vascular elements, and astrocytes themselves). In the peripheral nervous system, a similar increase in GFAP occurs following both traumatic and toxic injuries tp peripheral nerve [(Mancardi et al., J.Neurosci. 102, 177 (1991); Toews et al., J.Neurosci. 12, 3676 (1992); Quattrini et al., Glia 17, 294 (1996)]. In frogs, peri-synaptic Schwann cells at the neuromuscular junction also respond to degeneration of the nerve terminals by forming sprouts and increasing expression of GFAP.
The correlation between the upregulation of GFAP expression and neural injury has been recognized as providing a possible biochemical indicator of neurotoxic or physical damage to the CNS. (See Mucke, The New Biologist, Vol. 3, No. 5, 465 (May 1991); O""Callaghan, Neurotoxicology and Teratology, Vol. 13, 275 (1991); O""Callaghan, Psychopharmacology Bulletin 30, 549 (1994); Verderber et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci. 36, 1137 (1995); and Wu et al., J.Neurosci. Res. 51, 675 (1998).) Mice transgenic for a GFAP-lacZ transgene exhibit increased production of the fusion protein in astrocytes of physically damaged brain and retina neural tissue. Likewise, exposure of mice to chemical neurotoxins results in increased wild-type GFAP expression as measured by immunohistochemistry and ELISA assays. Reactive gliosis in response to neurotoxin challenge is dose-, time-, and region-dependent. ELISA assays indicate that gliosis occurs at toxicant levels below those that cause light microscopic evidence of cell loss or damage.
The green fluorescent protein (GFP), a single peptide of 238 amino acids derived from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, absorbs blue light and emits green light without a requirement for any cofactor or substrate. After the formation of its fluorophore by endogenous posttranslational cyclization, GFP is quite stable and remains fluorescent even after the harsh treatments found in many biochemical assays, such as 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 4% formaldehyde, and incubation at 65xc2x0 C. Since the first report of its use in Escherichia coli and Caenorhabditis elegans by Chalfie et al., Science 263, 802 (1994), GFP has found many applications as a reporter gene in a number of higher organisms including Drosophila [Wang et al., Nature 369, 400 (1994)] and zebrafish [Amsterdam et al., Dev. Biol. 171, 123 (1995); Peters et al., Dev. Biol. 171, 252 (1995)].
The versatility of the GFP is enhanced by its ability to remain fluorescent as a fusion protein allowing studies of the subcellular distribution and dynamics of various proteins, including NMDA receptors [Marshall et al., Neuron 14, 211 (1995); Niswender et al., J. Microsc. 180, 109 (1995); Aoki et al., FEBS Lett. 384, 193 (1996)]. Recently, a xe2x80x9chumanizedxe2x80x9d version of GFP has become available in which silent mutations were introduced to alter the codons to those more commonly used in mammals. The xe2x80x9chumanizedxe2x80x9d GFP is generally expressed at higher levels in mammalian systems than wild-type GFP. Mutant forms of GFP have become available which emit light of greater intensity or which exhibit wavelength shifts. (See Clontech Catalogue, 1998).
These genetically altered proteins offer increased sensitivity in assays for measuring neural insult. They offer an opportunity to assess the toxicity of substances at much lower levels than heretofore possible with conventional approaches. For example, WO94/17208 discloses a method of assessing toxicity by independent measurement of the expression of four different types of stress promoters. Detection of increased levels of stress gene expression is effected either by nucleic acid hybridization or a reporter gene such as the genes encoding glutathione transferase, luciferase, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase, or galactose kinase.
Another conventional approach is the use of cell cultures in studying gliosis, as reviewed recently by Wu, et al., supra. Astrocytes were cultured or co-cultured with other cell types under a variety of conditions to establish a baseline under one or more biochemical or morphological parameters, and then the baselines compared to cells subjected to various damaging sources of stress. Glial markers include GFAP, vimentin and trophic factor.
Over the past several years considerable effort has gone into the development of non-invasive imaging techniques for studies of tissue structure, metabolism, and most recently, gene expression. Non-invasive imaging in neurotoxicity screening would offer particular benefits in that testing would not require sacrifice of the animal, thereby reducing costs and improving animal welfare. Scientifically, a major advantage would be the possibility of repeat measurements on the same animal over time, to assess longer term effects of potentially toxic substances.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an assay system free of the artifacts of tissue culture. It is also an object of the present invention to provide assays for physical and neurotoxic challenges to the nervous system, more sensitive to low dose toxicants than conventional methods. It is a still further object to provide a non-invasive assay of neurologic toxicity capable of monitoring toxic effects over a period of time on more than one occasion in the same animal.
The present invention provides a rodent, preferably a mouse, which expresses a transgene encoding a humanized fluorescent green protein gene operably linked to a glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter. In this mouse the fluorescent green protein is upregulated specifically in glial cells such as astrocytes, Schwann cells, and Mueller cells in response to neural insult of a chemical or physical nature in which neural degeneration is manifest. The usefulness of the mouse lies in the ability to assay upregulation of the fluorescent green gene by visualizing fluorescence with a confocal microscope directly from the retina or cornea. The retinal site is a non-invasive locus for study of systemic toxicity. The cornea is particularly well suited to assessing toxicity of substances applied directly to an organ containing glial cells without invading the body.
The mouse is engineered by insertion of a genetic construct into the pronucleus (preferably the male pronucleus) of a mammalian zygote, and allowing stable genomic integration to occur naturally. The zygote is then transferred to a receptive uterus, and allowed to develop to term. While the mouse is a preferred species, rats and rabbits are also potential candidates for pronuclear insertion. The genetic construct which renders the zygote transgenic comprises a full length glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter to provide glial cell specific expression. The promoter is located 5xe2x80x2 of and operably linked to a mutant gene encoding fluorescent green protein, and a segment of DNA located 3xe2x80x2 of the mutant fluorescent green protein encoding gene containing signal sequences for proper RNA splicing and polyadenylation.
More specifically, the genetic construct contains DNA sequences in 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 order as follows: a glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter having at its 3xe2x80x2 end a sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1, a fluorescent reporter gene operably linked 3xe2x80x2 thereto, and polyadenylation signal sequence linked 3xe2x80x2 of the reporter gene. The fluorescent reporter gene is preferably hGFP-S65T green fluorescent protein gene, EGFP-1 green fluorescent gene, or EYFP-1 green fluorescent protein gene, or any variant thereof having mammalian compatible or humanized sequences (e.g. codon modification which renders the construct more compatible with mammalian ribosome translation) and a mutation increasing its light emission coefficient.
In preferred embodiments, the genetic construct of the present invention has at the 3xe2x80x2 end of the hGFP-S65T gene a joining sequence (joining the green gene and the polyadenylation signal containing sequence) corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2 and has at its 5xe2x80x2 end a sequence (joining the promoter to the reporter gene) a bridging sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 3.
The genetic construct is further characterized in having junctions between the 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 array of genetic elements, comprising a first junctional nucleic acid sequence at the 3xe2x80x2 end of the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter linked to a second junctional sequence at the 5xe2x80x2 end of the humanized fluorescent reporter gene, together with a third junctional sequence at the 3xe2x80x2 end of the humanized fluorescent reporter gene intersecting and linked to a fourth junctional sequence at the 5xe2x80x2 end of a polyadenylation sequence, wherein the first junctional sequence is contiguous with the second junction sequence, and the third and fourth junctional sequences are thereby contiguous to each other.
In the method of the present invention, a mouse is provided which expresses the constructs disclosed hereinabove, exposing the mouse to a substance suspected of neurotoxicity and visualizing the presence of green fluorescence signal in glial cells such as astrocytes, Mueller cells, or Schwann cells to confirm upregulation of the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter responsive to cellular degeneration associated with chemical or physical insult. In a quantitative assay of great sensitivity, the fluorescence signal in a predetermined area of exposure and visualization is calculated as the average pixel intensity for the area, and then the fluorescence signal is compared to a control fluorescence signal obtained from a control transgenic mouse not exposed to the target or test substance.
Confocal microscopy of the retinal Mueller cells of a live mouse or the Schwann cells of the cornea can be monitored by training the laser beam onto the desired region, and detecting the level of green fluorescence emitted. In this way the above objects of the invention may be realized in obtained sensitive toxicological data of either systemically or topically administered substances without invasive procedures. The assay can be performed sequentially many times on the same animal.

Transgentic mouse expressing green fluorescent protein in glial cells


A longitudinally divided fitted sheet and top sheet combination. The fitted sheet is longitudinally conjoined to the top sheet along a conjoining seam, wherein the conjoining seam demarcates a pair of separate and adjoining sleeping regions for a mattress to which the fitted sheet is fitted, wherein the top sheet is in overlaying relation to the fitted sheet.

Customarily, a bed mattress is covered by a fitted sheet which spans the top and sides of the mattress, wherein an elastic gather is used to pull taught the fitted sheet at the sides or overlapping the bottom of the mattress. Upon the fitted sheet is placed a top (or cover) sheet, and upon that is placed a blanket or two, and a bed spread is usually placed thereover, as desired. This bedding arrangement is conventional and is ubiquitous in bedding applications.
However, occasions arise from time to time in which a bed must be shared by two persons who would prefer the comfort of sleeping in separate beds if they had the choice.
Accordingly, it would be extremely beneficial if somehow bedding could be arranged such that a single bed could provide two well demarcated, separated sleeping regions of the single bed to the satisfaction of those preferring to sleep in separate beds if such choice could otherwise be accommodated.

Longitudinally divided fitted sheet an top sheet combination


The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multilayer structure on a first substrate made of a material having a first Young's modulus. The method includes: providing a second substrate covered with the multilayer structure, the multilayer structure having a planar surface opposite the second substrate, the second substrate being made of a material having a second Young's modulus; applying first deformations to said surface; molecularly boding the first substrate to said surface, the molecular bonding resulting in the appearance of second deformation in said surface in the absence of the first deformations, the first deformations being opposite the second deformations; and removing the second substrate, the resulting deformations in said surface being less than 5 ppm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a multilayer structure, for example corresponding to an integrated circuit wafer, on a support by molecular bonding.
2. Description of the Related Art
For certain applications, it is desirable to form an integrated circuit wafer on a support. In particular, for applications in optics, the support should be insulating and transparent. It for example is glass. An example of application relates to the manufacturing of a transmissive display screen.
FIGS. 1A to 1C show simplified cross-section views of structures obtained at successive steps of a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit wafer on a support by molecular bonding.
FIG. 1A schematically shows an element 10 having an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) structure.
Element 10 comprises an initial support 12, for example, a single-crystal silicon substrate. Thickness es of initial support 12 is for example several hundred micrometers and is, for example, equal to approximately 700 μm. Initial support 12 may correspond to a cylinder having a diameter greater than some hundred millimeters, and is equal, for example, to approximately 200 mm or 300 mm. Initial support 12 comprises a planar surface 13 covered with an insulating layer 14, for example, made of silicon dioxide. Thickness e2 of insulating layer 14 is for example in the order of 1 μm. Insulating layer 14 is covered with an integrated circuit wafer 16. Integrated circuit wafer 16 comprises a stack of layers having active and/or passive electronic components and conductive tracks connecting these components. As an example, integrated circuit wafer 16 comprises a layer 18 of a semiconductor material, for example, single-crystal silicon, covering insulating layer 14 and having the active and/or passive electronic components, for example, transistors 20, formed inside and on top of it. Integrated circuit wafer 16 further comprises a stack of insulating layers 22, for example, made of silicon dioxide, covering silicon layer 18 and having tracks 24 and vias 26 of a conductive material, capable of coming into contact with the electronic components, formed therein. As an example, thickness e3 of wafer 16 is in the order of a few micrometers. The last insulating layer of stack 22 of insulating layers forms a planar upper surface 28 opposite to support 12.
FIG. 1B shows the structure obtained after the performing of a molecular bonding between surface 28 of element 10 and a final support 30. Final support 30 is made of a material different from silicon, for example, made of glass. Thickness ev of final support 30 is greater than several hundred micrometers, and is, for example, equal to approximately 700 μm. Final support 30 comprises a surface 32 applied against surface 28. Molecular bonding comprises creating a bond between surfaces 28 and 32 with no addition of external material (such as glue or an adhesive material). To achieve this, surfaces 28 and 32, properly cleaned, are placed in contact with each other at ambient temperature. A pressure may be locally exerted on support 30 to initiate the bonding. The propagating front of the bonded area then spreads from the initiation region over all the opposite surfaces.
FIG. 1C shows the structure obtained after the removal of initial support 12. The removal of initial support 12 may comprise a step of chem.-mech. polishing to remove most of initial support 12, followed by a step of selective chemical etching to remove the rest of initial support 12. Insulating layer 14 may be used as a stop layer on removal of initial support 12.
The method then generally carries on with the forming of conductive vias through insulating layer 14 and silicon layer 18 and connected to metal tracks 24 of integrated circuit wafer 16. The forming of these vias comprises photolithography steps, including steps where a resist layer covering insulating layer 14 is exposed to a radiation through a mask to reproduce the mask pattern on the resin layer. To achieve this, the exposure device, which particularly comprises the optical systems for forming the pattern in the resist layer, should be accurately placed with respect to integrated circuit wafer 16.
In an industrial scale manufacturing process, the photolithography steps should be carried out as fast as possible. To achieve this, the exposure device is previously adjusted so that the pattern to be transferred forms properly with no additional adjustment in the resin layer for an integrated circuit wafer which would have the expected dimensions.
However, deformations can be observed in integrated circuit wafer 16 after the bonding step. In particular, a narrowing is observed, that is, two marks formed on bonding surface 28 before the bonding step have come closer to each other after the bonding step.
Further, the relative deformations observed in integrated circuit wafer 16 in a plane parallel to surface 28 generally vary according to the considered direction. Thereby, the observed relative narrowing may vary between approximately 16 ppm and 24 ppm along the considered direction, parallel to surface 28.
An average deformation of 20 ppm can generally be compensated for by the exposure device. However, in certain cases, the average deformation may be too large to be compensated for by the exposure device. Further, it is not possible to correct, with the exposure device, relative deformation differences which vary along the considered direction. Thereby, there may be misalignments between the exposure device and the integrated circuit wafer during the photolithography steps carried out after the bonding.
A method of manufacturing by molecular bonding a multilayer structure, for example, corresponding to an integrated circuit wafer, on a support where deformations in the integrated circuit wafer which result from the bonding operation are decreased, or even suppressed, is thus needed.

Method for manufacturing a multilayer structure on a substrate

COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A bouncing ball scanner is described which is a ball driven in a reciprocal motion for reflecting image-bearing light onto a photosensitive medium. The image-bearing light can be dictated by a computer, in which case the photosensitive medium may be film for a printed output, or the image-bearing light may be reflected from a subject having an image imprinted thereon, and the photosensitive medium may be a charge coupled device where the image is being read into a computer. The bouncing ball scanner comprises a ball being driven in a reciprocal motion by electromagnetic forces acting thereon. The motion of the bouncing ball is substantially linear in each direction so as to allow ease of calculation of ball position thereby ease of knowledge of pixel position on the photosensitive medium.

The present invention relates generally to optical scanning devices and, more particularly, the invention relates to a scanning device using a bouncing ball to deflect image-bearing light across a photosensitive medium.
In a conventional optical scanner, a polygon mirror is rotated by an electric motor. In such an optical scanner, the polygon mirror is large and, thus, to achieve sufficient speed the supporting mechanical design is complex. Further, more mechanics must be used so that vibrations, due to the electric motor for example, don't affect the polygon mirror. Consequently, the optical scanner becomes complicated and the total volume and weight thereof becomes greater. Therefore, the conventional optical scanner is not suitable for various portable apparatuses which need to have a small volume and utilize minimal electric power.
To solve these problems, various prior art inventions have disclosed using light deflecting apparatuses using a biomorph-type piezo electric element or a multi-layer type piezo electric element. These apparatuses still use mirrors that are heavy, though. As elements of the printer or scanner wears the movement of the mirror becomes unpredictable and non-uniform making accurately printing or scanning virtually impossible.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved optical scanning reflector.
It is another object of this invention to provide an optical scanner that is compact in size and uses minimal energy such that it can be utilized in compact portable devices.
It is a still another object of this invention to reduce the complexity of the scanning element thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an optical scanner with a minimum of movable mechanical parts that might deteriorate from use and wear or otherwise degrade the scanning performance thereby achieving uniform predictable deflection.
These and other objects of the invention will be obvious and will appear hereinafter.


A waterproofed and breathable sole (10) for shoes, characterized in that it comprises a tread (11) made of leather or similar breathable and water-permeable material, which is coverad at least partially in an upward region by a membrane (12) made of a material that is breathable and waterproof and is joined perimetrically to the tread (11) by means of a screen-printed sealing ring (14).

It is known that the main problem observed in using shoes with an ordinary sole made of natural material such as leather or equivalents is constituted by wet walking areas.
When rain and bad weather make streets wet and slippery, it is in fact not advisable to use shoes with leather soles, since leather, just because it is breathable and healthy for the foot, is not waterproof but in fact absorbs water.
The thinner the leather, the higher the rate at which it becomes impregnated with water or moisture, ultimately wetting the user's foot.
Accordingly, the use of soles with a leather tread is constrained by weather conditions, and for this reason shoes made of this type of material are mainly provided by manufacturers in the summer collections in countries where the dry season is more substantial.
A sole (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,644 and EP 0 619 959) has been devised which comprises a tread made of leather or similar material that is at least partially covered in an upward region by a membrane made of a material that is vapor-permeable and waterproof.
The waterproof and breathable membrane is fixed to the sole by means of adhesive arranged in spots, and a perimetric sealing ring made of polymeric material, for example polyurethane, is injected in a mold to assemble all the parts.
Although this sole is a considerable technical step forward, in that it renders the leather tread waterproof, it has in any case shown some limitations.
A first limitation arises from the very nature of leather, which as mentioned is a breathable material, but its breathability is not so high as to dissipate in a short time all the heat and vapor that form inside the shoe during use.
A second limitation is due to the fact that as mentioned the seal is produced by injection-molding a ring of plastic material.
This process requires the provision of thick seals and accordingly increases the rigidity of the sole, so that some types of shoe in which high flexibility is required, such as women's shoes, are difficult to manufacture.
The high cost of this technology (provision of an aluminum mold for each shoe model and size to be produced) is not inconsequential.
An attempt has been made to obviate the problem of thicknesses by using, for the perimetric seal, films made of thermoplastic polyurethane material with a thickness of 200 microns.
Although this method allows to obtain qualitatively acceptable products, it is extremely expensive, since it is almost entirely manual.

Waterproofed and breathable sole for shoes and manufacturing method thereof


Provided are a turbo generator and a fuel cell system having the same. The turbo generator includes a housing; an air inlet formed on the same axis as the axis of the housing on a first side of the housing; a rotor, a stator winding unit, impeller, and a turbine wheel mounted in the housing; and a tie-shaft installed to pass through the impeller and the turbine wheel and rotatably and integrally support the rotor.

Generally, a turbo generator includes a compressor, a gas turbine, and a motor generator coupled on the same axis. The compressor and the motor-generator are powered by the gas turbine via combustion gases obtained by burning a fuel with compressed air. More specifically, combustion occurs when the compressed air is supplied to a combustor at the same time when the fuel is sprayed into the combustor, and a turbine is rotated according to the high temperature and high pressure gases generated by the combustion. Then, compressed air and electricity are obtained by the rotation of the compressor and the motor-generator mounted on the same axis of the gas turbine. This kind of turbo generator can be applied to a small generator or to a fuel cell system coupled with a fuel cell.
Conventional turbo generators have several drawbacks in relation with the cooling structure of the motor-generator. The motor-generator requires a cooling structure since the motor-generator is heated by heat generated when: an air current is conducted to the motor-generator through the stator winding unit; the bearings rotate; and from the gas turbine and the compressor adjacent to the motor-generator. In a conventional turbo generator, a desired level of cooling can be achieved since external air can cool a surface of the motor-generator by disposing the air inlet close to the motor-generator and by forming an additional flow channel through which a coolant can flow. These cooling systems, however, not only complicate the overall structure of the device, they also result in low cooling efficiency.

Turbo generator and fuel cell system having the same


A medication storage and serving tray device comprising a geometrically shaped chamber having a lid member and a bottom housing member wherein the lid member has integrated therewith at least one of a napkin holder and a condiment holder. The bottom housing member is preferably compartmentalized into a plurality of storage chambers for storing therein daily doses of medication. The medication storage and serving tray camouflages the medication storage and minimizes the clutter on a table top or a counter top.

Typically, medications are stored in a plurality of vials and placed on a counter top or table top for easy access thereto since some of such medications should be taken with a meal. Nevertheless, such medications generate clutter on the counter top or table top which is undecorative and bothersome. While there exist compartmentalized pill boxes for daily doses, such pill boxes are not usually stored on the table but in the patients purse, brief case or the like.
Additionally, napkin and condiment holders are known and are typically found on counter tops and table tops in order to reduce the space taken up by napkins and condiment containers, such as a salt shaker and a pepper shaker. Some such napkin and condiment holders are described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,393, by Koppelman, and U.S. Pat. Nos. Des 171,893, Des 323,956 and Des 324,155.
It can be readily seen that there exists the continuing need for a medication storage and serving tray device which integrates daily medication storage and napkin and condiment storage for minimizing the clutter on a table top or a counter top.

Medication storage and serving tray device


Disclosed are an active scanning method and an active scanning device. The active scanning method in a wireless LAN comprises the steps of: a second station (STA) receiving a first probe request frame which has been broadcast by a first STA; and the second STA broadcasting a second probe request frame. The second probe request frame may include a probe request frame detection field, and the probe request frame detection field may indicate that the second STA has received the first probe request frame. Accordingly, a probe response frame is broadcast to a plurality of STAs, thus simplifying a scanning procedure.

Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a scanning method and apparatus by an STA (station), and more specifically, to a method of performing active scanning by an STA and a method thereof.
Related Art
Recent wireless LAN techniques are evolving typically in three directions. In line with the existing wireless LAN evolution, an effort to further increase transmission speed includes IEEE (institute of electrical and electronic engineers) 802.11 ac and IEEE 802.11 ad. IEEE 802.11ad is a wireless LAN technique that adopts a 60 GH band. Further, as allowing for broader coverage of transmission than the existing wireless LAN, broadband wireless LAN utilizing a frequency band of 1 GHz or less nowadays gains popularity, which includes IEEE 802.11af utilizing the TVWS (TV white space) band and IEEE 802.11ah utilizing a 900 MHz band. These are primarily targeted for expansion of extended range Wi-Fi services as well as smart grid or broad area sensor networks. Further, the existing WLAN MAC (medium access control) techniques suffer from the problem that the initial link setup time is increased in some cases. To address such problem to allow an STA to quickly access an AP, there are rigorous activities for IEEE 802.11 ai standardization.
IEEE 802.11ai is an MAC technique that treats a swift authentication procedure to significantly save WLAN initial setup and association times and its standardization by a normal task group dates back January, 2011. For the purpose of a quick access procedure, IEEE 802.11ai is in discussion for process simplification in light of AP discovery, network discovery, TSF (time synchronization function) synchronization, authentication & association, process merge with higher layers, etc. Among them, ideas such as process merge utilizing piggyback of DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol), optimization of the full EAP (extensible authentication protocol) using concurrent IP, and efficient selective AP (access point) scanning are being actively discussed.


One embodiment is directed to providing access between external systems and embedded vehicle electronic systems. That is, an interface module may receive information from a system external to the vehicle, determine an embedded system of the vehicle to which to provide the information, and provide the information to the embedded system. Similarly, the interface module may receive information a embedded electronic systems of a vehicle, determine a system external the vehicle to which to provide the information, and provide the information to the external system.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to providing access between external systems and vehicle electronic systems.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The Global Information Grid (GIG) is a system to provide processing, storage, management, and transport of information to support military and defense operations. The GIG supports the new network-centric warfare doctrine of the military, which is to facilitate the sharing of information among geographically dispersed forces.
The ultimate goal of the GIG is to link all operating locations, including bases, posts, camps, stations, facilities, mobile platforms, and deployed sites. This is expected to increase information sharing, collaboration, and shared situational awareness, which allows for a greater degree of synchronization and mission effectiveness.

Methods and apparatus for providing access to vehicle electronic systems


The present invention provides an optical isolation amplifier which generates a low-noise analog output signal linearly related to an analog input signal and which conveniently fits within a conventional 8-pin dual in-line package. The optical isolation amplifier package includes an input chip having a sigma-delta analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting an analog input signal to a digital signal. The sigma-delta converter is used to modulate an off-chip LED which optically transmits the signal to a photodetector on a separate output chip having an accurate optical recovery section for reproducing the transmitted signal. Also contained on the output chip is a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter for converting the digital signal to an analog output signal linearly related to the analog input signal.

Sensors are commonly used to measure current or voltage at a particular point in a system and to provide output signals indicative of the sensed current or voltage. In one typical application, a current sensor is used as part of a feedback control circuit for accurately controlling motors in precision equipment, such as automated assembly robots or numerical control machines. The current sensor detects the current flowing through the windings of the motor and delivers a proportional signal to the control circuit. The torque output of the motor is directly related to the current flowing through its windings. Thus, based on the signal from the sensor, the input to the motor can be altered or maintained by the control circuit to precisely control the torque of the motor.
In such applications, the control circuit requires extremely accurate sensing to precisely vary the input to the motor. The output signal from the sensor should ideally be linearly related to the sensed signal and have a well-specified gain to drive downstream circuitry in the feedback loop. Due to large voltages that are present on the motor windings, the sensor output should also ideally be completely isolated from the input to protect from voltage transients or surge currents which could detrimentally affect the control system. Moreover, the sensor should require limited power consumption, be small in volume, and have minimal requirements for cooling. Each of these features must be consistent over varying temperature. Since space is often a constraint, the sensor should also occupy as little space and volume as possible.
In light of these constraints, various sensors have been developed for accurately sensing motor current. Each has advantages and disadvantages. One widely-used type of sensor for precision motors is the Hall effect sensor. This device utilizes the Hall effect to generate a voltage linearly related to the changing current in the motor. The device is comprised of a semiconductor wafer having a DC power source connected to opposite ends of the wafer. The wafer produces voltage proportional to the intensity of the applied magnetic field, which itself is proportional to the motor current. Although this type of sensor provides accurate readings without large power consumption on the input side, power dissipation on the output side can be very large. Moreover, the output of the sensor varies drastically with changing temperature due to the inherent properties of the semiconductor material. Furthermore, due to the relatively large size of the magnetic core, the Hall effect sensor cannot be easily implemented in a small volume.
To lessen the amount of volume required for sensing, certain isolation amplifiers have been developed which do not rely on the Hall effect for sensing and thus do not require a magnetic core. These amplifiers sense a voltage developed across a current-sensing resistor at the input section of the amplifier and transmit the signal non-galvanically to a receiver section of the amplifier, thereby minimizing the interaction of the circuit that follows the amplifier with the circuit that precedes it. These circuits have the advantage of accurate signal sensing capability at constant temperature. However, some of these amplifiers deliver an output and have a gain which varies due to temperature and process variations. Moreover, these circuits, being largely electrical, may require a supply of power which impinges on system requirements, especially if bipolar integrated circuitry is used. Larger power supplies can be constructed to produce sufficient power, but such supplies would add cost and volume to the system. As an alternate, CMOS configurations may be used which require less power, but these circuits produce undesirable substrate currents if the input signal swings below ground. DC biasing or rectification techniques may be used to boost the signal above ground, but such techniques may add errors to the amplifier output which detrimentally affect signal-sensing accuracy.
In addition to preventing the disadvantages discussed, an ideal amplifier should also provide an isolation barrier sufficient to prevent ripple in the output of the amplifier caused by voltage transients and surge currents. In more extreme cases, if the isolation barrier is insufficient, such transients or surges may damage the output circuit of the amplifier or the circuits that follow.
Several solutions have been proposed to establish a sufficient isolation barrier within an amplifier which does not rely on magnetic effects, but each has caused disadvantages in overall sensor performance. In one proposed solution, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,339 issued to Burt et al , capacitors are used to realize the isolation section of the amplifier. Such capacitor isolation, however, suffers from the inability of a capacitor to block rapidly changing voltage inputs (high dV/dt), such as high-frequency voltage transients. This inability limits amplifiers with capacitor isolation from being used for noisy applications.
Optocouplers, also known as optoisolators or optical isolators, have also been proposed for isolation. Optocouplers convert an electrical input signal to an optical signal, transmit the optical signal, and restore the transmitted signal to an electrical output signal similar to the electrical input signal. Although optical isolation is strong and provides superior transient rejection as compared to capacitor isolation, the LED used to realize the transmitter section of the optocoupler causes disadvantages. Due to nonlinearities of the LED, errors are introduced into the analog signals at the detector end of the coupler. If digital transmission is used, errors due to nonlinearities can be reduced, but the LED will have to be turned on and off, resulting in large power supply fluctuation which can cause undesirable system effects.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an isolation amplifier for accurately sensing voltage or current, which provides a linear output, has complete isolation, and a well-specified gain, each of which does not vary with changing temperature or fabrication processing.
It is also desirable to construct the amplifier out of CMOS devices without having to rectify or bias the input signal.
It is further desirable to provide such an amplifier with strong optical isolation which does not require a large amount of power or power supply fluctuation.
It is still further desirable that the isolation amplifier be relatively inexpensive and that the complete isolation amplifier fit into a conventional 8-pin dual in-line package (DIP) which occupies a minimum amount of space and volume.

Optical isolation amplifier with sigma-delta modulation