In a networked computer system that includes multiple interconnected nodes, a commitment control mechanism allows designating certain portions of a record in an in-memory database as mandatory and other portions of the record as secondary, and performs mandatory commitment control once all the mandatory portions are available even if one or more secondary portions are not yet available. The secondary portions may be under separate commitment control that is asynchronous to the commitment control for the mandatory portions, or may be under no commitment control at all. The result is a commitment control mechanism that performs commitment control for portions of a record that are marked mandatory even when one or more of the portions marked secondary are not available.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to database systems, and more specifically relates to ways of speeding up commitment control in an in-memory database in a parallel computer system.
2. Background Art
Database systems have been developed that allow a computer to store a large amount of information in a way that allows a user to search for and retrieve specific information in the database. For example, an insurance company may have a database that includes all of its policy holders and their current account information, including payment history, premium amount, policy number, policy type, exclusions to coverage, etc. A database system allows the insurance company to retrieve the account information for a single policy holder among the thousands and perhaps millions of policy holders in its database.
Some computer systems provide a large number of compute nodes that function in parallel. IBM has developed such parallel computer systems. One is known as BlueGene, another is known as Roadrunner. Parallel computer systems may have a large number of nodes, each with its own processor and memory. This characteristic provides the opportunity to provide an in-memory database, where some portions of the database, or the entire database resides completely in memory. An in-memory database provides an extremely fast response time for searches or queries of the database when all works as expected.
Database tables may be split up and distributed across several nodes in an in-memory database in a parallel computer system. If one of the nodes that contains information that is needed for a transaction stops working or becomes so busy that its latency becomes excessive, the performance of processing transactions on the in-memory database can be severely reduced. In essence, the slowest node that contains needed information becomes the bottleneck that limits the speed of the transaction. Without a way to speed up the performance of commitment control in an in-memory database, prior art parallel computer systems with in-memory databases will continue to be plagued by the bottleneck described above.

Commitment control for less than an entire record in an in-memory database in a parallel computer system

International Business Machines Corporation


A video puzzle cube game includes a plurality of keys controlled to drive a program to show a hexahedron pattern, a menu and a field on a screen display, said hexahedron pattern having six sides, each side being divided into nine equal divisions, each division being divided into nine six blanks respectively filled with or for filling with either of six different unit squares alternatively given by said program through said field, by means of the control of said keys.

The present invention relates to a game played through the operation of a program in an integrated circuit controlled by control keys to change the game content displayed through a liquid crystal display, so as to exercise one's mind over logic decisions on relative three-dimensional positions and simultaneously amuse oneself.
Various devices and games including the ancient tangram, chesses, checkers and mazes, and the modern picture puzzles and a variety of intricate TV and computer games are known and designed for testing ingenuity or exercising one's mind over problems. A computer game is played through a computer by means of the execution of a computer game software. A good computer game software is determined according to the state of intricacy and the level of intelligence test.

F.4, No. 39, Alley 95, Chih Yuan 2nd Rd.


Systems and methods for scheduling job requests in a virtualization system. A method embodiment commences upon initialization of a pair of multi-level queues comprising a high priority job queue and a low priority job queue. A plurality of virtual machines issue job requests. Queue management logic receives incoming job requests from the virtual machines and locates or creates a job request group corresponding to the virtual machine of the incoming job request. The incoming job request is positioned into the job request group and the job request group is positioned into a queue. When a job executor is ready for a next job, then a job for execution can be identified by locating a next job in a next job request group that is at the front of either the high priority queue or at the front of the low priority queue. When a job finishes, the queues are reorganized.

The resource usage efficiencies delivered by modern distributed computing systems has resulted in continually increasing deployments and usage of such systems, especially computing systems that support virtualized entities (VEs) to facilitate even greater efficiencies of resource utilization. The VEs in such virtualization environments abstract portions of the underlying physical computing resources. For example, certain portions of the physical hard disk drives (HDDs) and/or solid-state drives (SSDs) of a computing node or "node" might be abstracted to one or more "virtual disks" (vDisks).
Any of the foregoing VEs can be implemented in virtualization environments to facilitate execution of one or more workloads. Some configurations of distributed virtualization systems might scale to hundreds of nodes or more that support several thousand or more VEs that perform such workloads. For example, a VM might be created to operate as an SQL server, while another VM might be created to support a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The VEs issue requests to access the underlying computing resources of the system so as to perform certain "jobs" (e.g., tasks, operations, processes, etc.) associated with their workloads. The jobs might pertain to storage input or output (I/O or IO) operations, network communications, data processing, and/or other tasks that consume the resources of the system. As the underlying computing resources consumed by the jobs are limited, situations can arise in which contention develops with respect to the priority of execution of the job requests from the VEs. More specifically, one job might continuously demand computing resources while other jobs get starved for resources.
Unfortunately, conventional approaches to managing such contention between the job requests of the VEs are deficient. For example, a first-in first-out (FIFO) job request processing queue might process several job requests issued nearly concurrently by a first VM, while merely one job request later issued by a second VM might need to wait until some or all of the jobs of the first VM are complete before being processed. This situation is exacerbated if the jobs from the first VM have a longer latency (e.g., I/O operations over an HDD) and the job from the second VM has a shorter latency (e.g., I/O operations over an SSD).
Some approaches attempt to address this issue by allocating fixed portions of the computing resources available to the first VM and second VM (e.g., allocate 50% of an IOPS maximum limit to each VM). However, with this approach, although the resources available to each VM are uniformly divided, the approach fails to consider the then-current resource consumption of the VMs. For example, the first VM might begin executing a lighter workload that demands fewer computing resources (e.g., fewer I/O operations) than earlier demanded, whereas the second VM might begin executing a heavier workload that demands more computing resources (e.g., more I/O operations) than earlier demanded. With the foregoing fixed allocations of computing resources, the second VM may now experience a negative impact on performance (e.g., I/O latency). What is needed is a technological solution for scheduling job requests of virtualized entities.


A method is shown for providing a user interface for a 3D environment of 360° images. The method includes displaying a first 360 degree image in a sequence of 360 degree images; receiving user input to interact with one of a plurality of points of interest detected within the first 360 degree image; and processing the interaction. Each point of interest is associated with a 3D coordinate. A system and software are also disclosed.

3D environments created from 3D graphics are well-known in computer games and virtual reality.
However, 3D environments can also be created from a relatively new commodity—360° cameras.
To improve the immersive experience of 3D environments created from 360° cameras, there is a desire to augment the 3D environments with additional content.
Matterport provides a technology which uses a proprietary camera with an optical lens and several sensors (InfraRed signals and gyroscope), to enable capture of a succession of (non 360°) pictures, distances and colour measurements by rotating the hardware around the vertical axis of a pod on a single place of a scene. Repeating this operation every metre apart in the scene, Matterport software builds stitched 360° images for every place and a corresponding 3D mesh for the whole scene. A user can move to different locations within the 3D mesh and the 360° image for that approximate location is displayed to the user. A morphing animation is displayed between the previously displayed and new 360° image.
Text tags can be added to the 3D mesh during configuration. This process can be difficult if the 3D mesh does not map to the 360° image accurately which can occur if the light is too strong or during use outdoors.
A user when viewing a displayed 360° picture, is displaying indicators which enable the user to select text tags for display.
There is a desire for method and system which provides for a more robust and simpler technology to enable user to more effectively interact with 3D environment comprising 360° images.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for providing a user interface for 3D environments which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provides a useful alternative.

Method and system for providing a user interface for a 3D environment


Rolling airframe projectile guidance and stability systems are disclosed. Flight control surfaces, such as canards and/or tail fins are attached to a projectile airframe that is designed to roll during flight. Stepper motors are attached to the flight control surfaces and move the flight control surfaces in discrete increments. A control system generates signals that control the flight control surfaces. The control system may include a neural network that is trained to generate control signals in response to received inputs.

Some existing rolling airframe projectiles, such as mortars, artillery shells, missiles and bombs use canards to guide the projectiles. Canards can be adjusted to create a pitch moment that influences the path of the projectile. Larger canards are often desirable because they allow for more control than relatively smaller canards. However, rolling airframe projectiles can become inherently unstable when large canards are utilized.
Conventional control systems have been used to stabilize inherently unstable rolling airframes. Conventional control systems utilize servo motors and computer devices that calculate desired positions of canards. For example, a conventional control system may process a variety of inputs and calculate exact desired positions for a pair of canards. These types of control systems may be accurate. However, the use of servo motors and controllers that are required to process large amounts of data make such systems expensive.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved rolling airframe projectile stabilization and guidance systems and methods.


A data processing device which can communicate with a computer terminal, comprises: a receiver to receive data transmitted from the computer terminal; a shifter to shift a state of the data processing device to a power saving state, after elapse of a predetermined time; and a releaser to release the power saving state according to specific data transmitted from the computer terminal, wherein, after the power saving state was released by the releaser, when the received data is first kind of data, the shifter shifts the data processing device to the power saving state after elapse of a first predetermined time, and, when the data received by the receiver is second kind of data different from the first kind of data, the shifter shifts the data processing device to the power saving state after elapse of a second predetermined time different from the first predetermined time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing device and a power saving control method.
2. Related Background Art
Some kinds of conventional data processing devices respectively have two modes, that is, a normal mode and a power saving mode. Here, a print device which is representative of the conventional data processing device starts an operation in the normal mode when the power source thereof is turned on. Further, at the same time, the print device comes into an idle state which is equivalent to a print waiting state. Then, if the state that a print command by a computer terminal connected through an LAN or the like is not received continues for a predetermined time, the print device comes into the power saving mode for controlling power consumption (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-142458). Moreover, there is a print device which can externally set and change the time by which the device comes into the power saving mode (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-246117).
Incidentally, as a kind of power saving mode, a deep sleep mode in which a specific information packet such as Magic Packet™ used for Wake On LAN in recent years is used is known.
In the deep sleep mode, even if the main power source of the data processing device is off, electricity (power) is being fed at all hours to the built-in LAN controller. For this reason, the LAN controller judges whether or not the data sequence corresponding to the inherent physical address set to the data processing device is incorporated in the specific information packet received through the LAN, and, when it is judged that the data sequence is incorporated in the received specific information packet, turns on the main power source. Thus, any electricity (power) is not fed to the circuits other than the LAN controller while the power saving mode is being set, whereby it is possible to more effectively control the power consumption.
In addition, there is a print device which judges whether or not to release a power saving mode based on the kind of received input data (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-142458). In the relevant print device, the power saving mode is not released in a case where the input data represents a status response command.
In the deep sleep mode, feed of electricity (power) to the data processing device is made lower as much as possible, whereby the effect of power saving is high.
Meanwhile, in case of enabling a computer terminal newly connected on the LAN to use the data processing device connected on the LAN due to installation of the device driver corresponding to the relevant data processing device, it is first necessary to enable the computer terminal to acknowledge all the data processing devices connected on the LAN so as to confirm what kinds of data processing devices being connected on the LAN. To achieve this, the specific information packet for releasing the deep sleep mode is often transmitted unconditionally to all the data processing devices.
Moreover, to acquire the current status information of the data processing device, the computer terminal often transmits the specific information packet for releasing the deep sleep mode to the relevant data processing device.
For these reasons, there is an occasion when the deep sleep mode of the data processing device is released even though any printing is not executed. Moreover, to cause the data processing device of which the deep sleep mode has been once released to come into the deep sleep mode again, it is necessary to wait for the elapse of a predetermined time previously set to each data processing device. Therefore, electric power is needlessly consumed as compared with the deep sleep mode.

Data processing device and power saving control method


A remotely controllable growing rod device comprises a housing containing on-board electronics and at least one drive assembly operable to move associated extension elements relative to each other. Each extension element terminates in an anchor element configured to be anchored to a part of the spine, such as the pedicle of a vertebral body. The on-board electronics includes a microprocessor, a power supply, such as an inductive power supply, and a receiver/transmitter. The microprocessor is configured to receive remotely transmitted movement data through the receiver and is further configured for feedback controlled actuation of the drive assembly for relative movement the associated extension elements to achieve a desired physiological condition of the patient's spine.

The present invention relates to a "growing rod" device, namely a device that is adapted to be mounted to a long bone or to the spine of a patient and that incorporates the ability to have its overall length extended (distracted) or reduced (compressed) in situ.
Growing rod devices have been developed for implantation in the spine of a child to correct an abnormal curvature of the spine, such as scoliosis. In devices of this type, a rod assembly is progressively lengthened to reduce the abnormal curvature while allowing the child's body to adapt to the revised spinal position. One typical growing rod device includes of a pair of axially aligned rods, each terminating in an anchor element configured for attachment to the spine. Lengthening of one or both rods requires a surgical procedure to advance the effective rod lengths, usually about every six months. This approach requires multiple surgeries, often over a multi-year period, with the result being the correction of the spine curvature caused by the onset of scoliosis.
While growing rod devices have demonstrated their value in correcting serious spinal deformities, the need for multiple surgeries is highly problematic. There is a significant need for a growing rod device that does not require surgical intervention to adjust the length of the device.


A drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer comprising a plurality of elongated flexible filaments which extend downwardly from the spray bar of the sprayer towards the ground in an enclosure fashion so as to enclose the spray nozzles and the spray pattern thereof to prevent spray drift. The elongated flexible filaments not only prevent spray drift but allow obstructions to pass beneath the spray boom uninhindered, a feature not found in other agricultural sprayers.

This invention relates to an agricultural sprayer and more particularly to an enclosure which prevents spray drift.
Agricultural or field sprayers are widely used to spray fields, golf courses, etc. The conventional sprayers normally include an elongated spray boom which extends transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the sprayer which may be mounted on a tractor, truck or wheeled trailer. A plurality of spray nozzles are normally located beneath the spray boom and spray the liquid chemical downwardly onto the ground, crop or turf. During windy conditions, the sprayed chemicals tend to drift which not only decreases the efficiency of the spraying operation but which also creates a serious environmental hazard.
Many attempts have been made to prevent spray drift. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,971 discloses an enclosure which is designed to prevent spray drift. However, the device of the '971 patent is believed to be quite expensive to manufacture and it is believed to be subject to structural damage should the front wall of the enclosure strike an obstruction such as a rock, tree stump, etc.
Thus, it is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer.
A further object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure for an elongated spray boom which is comprised of a plurality of elongated flexible filaments which extend downwardly from the spray bar so as to enclose the spray nozzles and the spray pattern thereof to prevent spray drift.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure for an elongated spray boom which is adjustable to compensate for various sprayers and spray nozzle patterns.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer which has a transparent top to enable the operator to view the spray pattern.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure which includes a plurality of elongated flexible filaments or whiskers which permit obstructions to pass therethrough without causing damage to the enclosure.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer which is impervious to the chemicals being sprayed.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer which is economical of manufacture and durable in use.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Drift control enclosure for an agricultural sprayer


System and method to enable and facilitate purchases through mobile communications on mobile devices, smartphones, feature phones, tablet computers, etc by allowing the user to interact with native interface and/or by eliminating the need of entering the MSISDN identifier by the user. MSISDN value is required to identify mobile subscriber and request a mobile billing transaction through carrier's infrastructure. A system comprises at least one data computing facility, which is connected to mobile carrier billing, short code and networking infrastructure and a plurality of converters to communicate and interface with a plurality of controllers for various mobile device types and platforms.

It is known to perform purchases of goods or services using a mobile device. For example, a user may purchase a song while browsing a mobile website. Or pay for additional content inside mobile game or application. There are various methods and technologies, which allow a user to perform purchases on a mobile device, including but not limited to those provided by mobile operating system manufacturer, handset vendors, mobile carriers and banks.
Every mobile platform and operating system has a distinctive user interface—a unique set of visual elements and guidelines often called native user interface. Applications that follow respective platform's user interface guidelines benefit from being easier and more convenient for the user. The same applies for purchasing methods. On the other hand sellers are interested in minimizing the number of variations in purchasing options and methods thus lowering operational costs.
What is needed is a method and system, that benefits from utilizing native and universal user interface while not being tied to a single mobile platform or operating system, thus enabling a native interface for various platforms via a single integration for the seller.
From the user perspective instead of a single purchase flow for all mobile devices, that includes multiple steps and a lot of user input, a native platform specific user experience and interface is used. As a result, the process of purchase on mobile device feels like an initial and built-in functionality of the handset provided by mobile operator.
From another user perspective the time-consuming step of phone number (MSISDN) input is excluded from the purchase flow. The whole payment process is more smooth and effective without the risk of input errors. As a result, the purchase process is completed in fewer steps

System and method to facilitate purchases on mobile devices


Provided are compounds capable of covalently binding to a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). The compounds comprise Formula A:

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods of specifically labeling proteins. More particularly, the invention describes compositions that specifically bind to protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), and methods for using those compositions for tracking PTP activity and for identifying and isolating PTPs.
(2) Description of the Related Art

Activity-based probes for protein tyrosine phosphatases

Abstract: Also provided are compositions comprising one of the above compounds covalently bound to a member of the PTP superfamily, methods of labeling a PTP using the compounds, methods of isolating a PTP from a mixture of proteins using the compounds, methods of evaluating whether a substance is an inhibitor of a PTP using the compounds, methods of evaluating the specificity of an inhibitor of a PTP using the compounds, methods of identifying a PTP involved in a disease in a mammal using the compounds, and methods of diagnosing a disease in a mammal using the compounds.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University


A disposable absorbent panel assembly including a fibrous absorbent panel and a liquid transfer layer. The fibrous absorbent panel includes front and rear end panel portions, and central panel section extending between the end panel portions. The central panel section has opposite side edge panel portions and a central panel portion positioned between the side edge panel portions. The end panel portions have a relatively lesser basis weight than the side edge central portions. The fibrous absorbent panel contains highly-sorbent superabsorbent material which is substantially confined to the central panel portion. The liquid transfer layer is positioned above the fibrous absorbent panel and extends longitudinally thereof at least along the length of the central panel portion. The liquid transfer layer promotes wicking and distribution of liquid within the absorbent panel assembly.

Disposable absorbent articles usually have an absorbent panel assembly containing superabsorbent material to increase the absorbent capacity of the panel assembly while reducing the bulkiness of the article.
In order for the superabsorbent material to function, the liquid being absorbed must be transported to the superabsorbent material. In other words, the superabsorbent material must be placed in a position to be contacted by liquid discharged onto the absorbent panel assembly. Furthermore, as the superabsorbent material absorbs liquid, it must be allowed to swell. If the superabsorbent material is prevented from swelling, it will cease to absorb liquid. Hence, if the superabsorbent material is to function in absorbent articles wherein the liquid to be absorbed is discharged in a small void area, the configuration of the panel assembly containing the superabsorbent material is of significant importance.
Particular absorbent panel constructions contain a zoned region of superabsorbent material in a selected portion of the panel in an attempt to make efficient use of the superabsorbent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,257, to Cook et al., shows an absorbent panel construction including a 3-dimensional dispersion of superabsorbent material along a central zone of an absorbent panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,463, to Holtman, discloses an absorbent pad which contains a zoned region of superabsorbent material in its front upper or lower portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,346, to Kaiser et al., discloses a method for forming an absorbent panel containing a layer of superabsorbent material in a predetermined portion of thickness of the absorbent panel. One embodiment illustrates the layer of superabsorbent material positioned above a lower portion of the panel which is substantially free of superabsorbent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,915, to Hasse et al., discloses an hourglass shaped absorbent pad having a central portion of relatively high absorbent capacity, with the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 10 showing a pad construction wherein a central portion has a higher basis weight than front and rear end portions, and side end portions. Particulate superabsorbent polymer is deposited only in the central portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,603, to Meyer et al., shows an absorbent assembly including a liquid transport layer positioned atop an absorbent pad of the construction to improve liquid spread and distribution. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, transport layer is illustrated as overlying a central portion of a hourglass shaped absorbent panel, between the leg cutouts thereof.


An uplink data scheduling method and device are provided. The method comprises: a terminal device receiving a first signalling sent by a network device, wherein the first signalling comprises beam information of M beams, and M is a positive integer; the terminal device carrying out carrier sensing on the M beams in sequence according to the first signalling; and the terminal device selecting, according to the sensing result, one beam of the M beams to transmit an uplink channel to the network device.

A 5th-Generation (5G) system supports data transmission on an unlicensed frequency band. After a network device sends scheduling grant information to a terminal device, the terminal device may perform carrier sensing based on the scheduling grant information. If an idle channel is sensed in a certain beam direction, the terminal device uses the beam to send a UL channel. If there is no idle channel in the beam direction, the terminal device delays sending the UL channel. Therefore, how to reduce a transmission delay of a UL channel becomes a problem urgent to be solved.

Method and device for scheduling uplink data based on carrier sensing of at least one beam

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A holder for a container for a recorded medium such as a compact disk, a cassette tape, etc. comprising a holder main body for containing the recorded media container and a locking member for preventing the container from being removed. The holder main body has an open area for receiving and releasing the container and an engagement section formed on one of its peripheral sides. When a plurality of pressable pawls formed on the locking member are inserted into a plurality of through holes formed on the engagement section of the holder main body so as to prevent the locking member from being removed from the holder main body, the locking member covers at least part of the open area and confronts the container. The locking member is removed from the holder main body only by a lock releasing tool that has a plurality of projections which simultaneously press all of the plurality of pawls of the locking member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holder, and more particularly, to a holder for a container for, for instance, a compact disk, a video tape or a cassette tape, on which music, movies, game programs or the like are recorded (called a "recorded medium").
2. Prior Art
Retail shops and rental shops of compact disks, cassette tapes, etc. use special holders for displaying he containers of compact disks, cassette tapes, etc. FIG. 7 shows one of such holders.
This holder is composed of a holder main body 90, a container receiving member 91 provided at the bottom of the holder main body 90, and a lock mechanism 92. The holder main body 90 has an open area 90a at the side thereof for receiving and releasing the container. The container receiving member 91 is movable in and out of the holder main body 90 and then becomes immovable when the lock mechanism 92 engages the container receiving member 91, so that the container cannot be taken out of the holder main body 90. When, as seen from FIG. 8, a magnet 93 having strong attraction power causes a pin 92a of the lock mechanism 92 to move downward in FIG. 8 against the spring force of a spring 92b of the lock mechanism 92, the pin 92a is disengaged from the obtainer receiving member 91, thus allowing the container to be removed from the holder main body 90.
This type of holder customarily has a theft detection tag (not shown) attached on the inner surface of the rear plate of the holder main body 90. When one attempts to steal the container in a holder from a shop, the theft detection tag attached to the holder is detected when passing through the detection gate installed at the exit of the shop.
Therefore, before taking the desired recorded medium contained in the container out of the shop, a shop clerk at the counter before the detection gate must first release the lock mechanism 92 of the holder and take the container out of the holder.
However, the holder described above is disadvantaged in that if a person (other than a shop clerk) has a magnet with strong attraction power, this person can easily release the lock mechanism 92. Thus, thefts cannot be prevented effectively despite the use of the detection gate.

Security case for a recorded media container


The present invention relates to a method for receiving a pulsed signal emitted by an emitter (2,20) in an optoelectronic sensor (1), the sensor including at least an emitter (2,20) for emitting electromagnetic radiation and a receiver (3, 30) for receiving electromagnetic radiation and wherein the electromagnetic radiation received is converted into an electric signal, said method including the steps of: o arranging said emitter to emit a pulsed electromagnetic radiation; o before the emission of a pulse, receiving an electromagnetic radiation received through said receiver (3, 30) by generating a noise signal (sr,S1,S2); o comparing an amplitude of said received noise signal (sr,S1) with a first threshold (Vthreshold); and o emitting said pulse if the amplitude of said received noise signal is below said first threshold, and not emitting said pulse otherwise. The invention also relates to an optoelectronic sensor.

Optoelectronic sensors have been used for a long time in the industrial automation industry, in packaging machines or in the food industry for detecting the presence or a characteristic of an object. There are different types of optoelectronic sensors, each type being specialized in a specific application or for detecting a specific characteristic of an object positioned within a range of operating distances.
Optoelectronic sensors base their operation on the physical capabilities of photosensitive elements used to change their electric characteristics in relation to the light intensity of the light that hits them. The variation in the light intensity of the light source that invests the receiver element, conditioned by the presence or absence of the object to be detected, or its characteristics, causes the receiver to emit an electric signal. The optoelectronic sensor is not in physical contact with the object to be detected, which can be of any nature and distant from a few millimeters up to several meters.
A first type of optoelectronic sensor is defined with different terms, such as based on diffusion, direct reflection, diffuse or proximity sensor. According to this type, the emitter and receiver are in the same container, together with the electronic controls. The operation is based on the light reflected from any object placed in close proximity. The light beam is generated by the emitter and when reflected from an object, returns to the casing by raising the receiver.
A second type is called of the retro-reflection or reflection type. It works on the interruption of the light beam from the object and in this version, the light beam generated by the emitter is reflected by a prismatic reflector (has the characteristic of reflecting the incident light in parallel) towards the receiver. Also in this case the emitter and receiver are in the same container together with the control electronics.
The third type of optoelectronic sensors is called barrier and also works on the principle of interruption of the light beam. In this type, however, the emitter and receiver are separated in different containers, and then the light beam is conveyed from the emitter towards the receiver.
Regardless of the type, in an optoelectronic sensor there is therefore at least an emitter suitable for emitting an electromagnetic radiation and a receiver suitable for receiving the electromagnetic radiation, whether this is diffused, refracted or transmitted due to the emitted radiation. The emitted radiation generally includes a pulse or a pulse train having a relatively short duration compared to the period in which no electromagnetic radiation is transmitted. Receiving the pulse and subsequently processing it determines the detection of the characteristic of interest that is to say, for example, the lack of reception of one or more pulses determines the presence of an object between the emitter and detector.
However optoelectronic sensors are subject to detection errors, generically called hereafter "measurement errors", due to—among others—the fact that the electromagnetic radiation received by the receiver is not only due to the radiation emitted by the emitter, but also to radiation emitted by more electromagnetic radiation sources that are present in the environment in which the sensor is positioned. Lamps, the sun, reflecting mirrors, sources of electromagnetic radiation in general, etc., cause the receiver to reach a composite radiation caused by the sum of many different separate radiations due in part to the emitter, but also caused by the other sources present in the surrounding environment. The behavior of these additional sources, which in this context we shall call "noise," is the most diverse and is not predictable in advance.
A typical example of a further luminous radiation source modifying what has been received by the receiver with respect to the radiation emitted by the only emitter is the fluorescent lamp. These lamps emit a light that can be treated as a signal with a carrier at around 40-100 kHz and a modulation around 50 Hz. The light intensity emitted by these fluorescent lamps can be particularly intense and in the peak instants it may cause the receiver to be in a non-optimal detection range. Still, another popular example of light source that creates noise is the "flash" lamp, which, as the name says, emits, in an unpredictable way in time, intense light emissions that lead to the saturation of the receiver. Such lamps are, for example, the flash located in forklift trucks in industrial plants.
These and other sources of light radiation create a noise radiation that is detected by the receiver. The radiation that reaches the receiver is therefore not always convertible into a "useful" signal, or is not always convertible into a signal that actually represents the detection or not of an object. Radiation that reaches the receiver with a higher intensity than a certain threshold is "unreceivable", that is to say the electronics in this receiver is not able to correctly process the electric signal resulting from it. In case where, while there is such a high noise signal received in the receiver, a pulse is also emitted by the emitter, this pulse does not lead to any possible measurement and the total signal caused by to the sum of radiation due to noise and that due to the emitter must be discarded. However the presence of numerous signals being received and considered as errors lengthens the time needed to make a correct measurement or can lead to a false detection. As the time between two pulses emitted by the emitter is relatively long, and similarly long is the time between two received signals, if many of these are to be discarded, the time needed to get a desired number of useful signals to obtain the desired measurement increases considerably, for example by slowing down the production operations, if the sensor is located in an industrial line. A solution to this problem might be to increase the number of emitted pulses, or to increase their frequency by decreasing the time elapsed between one pulse and the next. However in commercial devices, excessively increasing the frequency of pulses can cause the emitters and the electronics associated with them to overheat. Excessively increasing the number of pulses per unit of time is therefore not a viable solution.

Method to detect a signal and optoelectronic sensor


A latch arrangement for an access opening cover on a bulk material storage structure. The access opening will include a frame defining an opening periphery, with the covers hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position. Each cover will include at least one slide bar extending between sides of the cover. Each slide bar has a length such that the ends of the slide bar are in proximity to the frame. Lock studs extend inwardly from the frame, with one stud associated with each end of each slide bar. Each slide bar is mounted for sliding movement perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in the plane of the cover between latched and unlatched positions, and includes a stud face and a lock face. The stud face includes slits through which the studs may pass at the closed position of the cover, allowing the bar to drop down over the stud. When dropped down over the stud into the latched position, the lock face abuts against the stud, arresting movement of the bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to latching covers or doors for access openings in bulk storage structures such as grain bins. In particular, the present invention relates to a latching cover of this type having increased ease of use.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bulk storage structures such as grain bins are typically large structures formed of overlapping panels of sheet material to form cylinders which are stacked one upon the other, as described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,478 to Grossman. When the material stored within the structure is confined by the structure itself, such as with grain or other granular material, the cylindrical wall supports the material, causing large forces to be transferred through the walls in the form of hoop stresses.
As is recognized in the art, the formation of access openings in the sides of such structures reduces their structural integrity, and efforts have been made to allow covers for such openings to pass the hoop stresses therethrough. One method shown in the above-noted U.S. patent to Grossman and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,271 to Bestwick is to form a door frame having a rectangular periphery connected to the wall of the structure. Several covers are pivoted to one edge of the frame to allow the covers to move from open to closed positions. Each of the covers include a pivoted bar extending across the associated cover, with pivoting being between latched and unlatched positions. Each bar includes at it ends recesses which receive studs extending from the door frame, when the bars are in the latched position.
By this arrangement the bars may be lodged against the studs on the frame, allowing transmission of the hoop stress through the cover and/or latching mechanism. While these arrangements are adequate for transmission of the stresses, they are often difficult to use. For example, the forces exerted by the stored material often cause the bars to become lodged in the latched position, such that it is very difficult to move the bar to the unlatched position. Additionally, the latch arrangements require manual pressure to move to the latched position with the bars engaged. This pressure can sometime be high, increasing the possibility that latching will not be accomplished and the stress transfer arrangement not achieved.

Latching cover for bulk storage structures


A method recognizes a set of traffic signs in a sequence of images acquired of a vehicle environment by a camera mounted in a moving vehicle by detecting in each image, a region of interest (ROI) using a parameter space transform. The ROI is tracked and classified as a particular one of the signs. The classifier only uses a same class and a different class, and a regression function to update the classifier.

Traffic signs are an inherent part of a traffic environment. The signs regulate the flow of the vehicles, give specific information, or warn against unexpected road circumstances. For that reason, perception and fast interpretation of signs is critical for the safety of the drivers of the vehicles. One way to do this is with a computer vision application.
The designs of traffic signs are usually to some national or international standard, e.g., the European Vienna Convention on Road Traffic treaty 1968.
A conventional sign detection methods generally use a heuristic based on available prior knowledge about traffic signs to define how to a segment images acquired of a scene to find regions of interest regions, and to define acceptable geometrical relationships between the color and shape of signs. The major deficiency of those methods is a lack of a solid theoretical foundation, and a high parametrization.
Another method uses a trainable cascade of boosted classifiers to learn the most discriminative local image descriptors for sign detection. Other methods track traffic signs over time. However most of those methods use a relatively simple scheme based on a predefined motion model and some sort of geometrical Kalman filtering.
Typically, a cross-correlation template matching technique is used for sign classification. Other methods involve neural networks, or kernel density estimation.
Other sign detection and recognition methods are described in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,466,841, Method for traffic sign detection, U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,545—Automatic traffic sign recognition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,638,—Device and method for recognizing traffic signs, and U.S Applications 20080137908—Detecting and recognizing traffic signs, 20060034484—Method for traffic sign detection, and 20040010352—Automatic traffic sign recognition, incorporated herein by reference.

Mitsubi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


An apparatus for separating and making available crown corks or similar closure elements. The apparatus has a wheel that rotates about a vertical axis. The wheel is provided with carrier members that project radially beyond a periphery of the wheel and are disposed over a support surface. The carrier members successively move closure elements that rest on the support surface from a transfer position formed at the end of a closure channel to a receiving position, where a respectively available closure element is picked up and carried along by a closing mechanism of a closing machine. The support surface is a surface of the wheel, which rotates about the vertical axis. At least one magnet arrangement is effective at each carrier surface. This magnet arrangement locates the carried-along closure element during movement between the transfer position and the receiving position.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating crown corks or similar closure elements and making them available to a receiving position of a closing machine, where a respective one of the closure elements, which is disposed on a support surface of a transport mechanism, is received and carried along by a closing mechanism that moves past over the support surface and, along with a plurality of similar closing mechanisms, is provided on a rotating rotor of the closing machine.
For closing or capping machines for closing or capping containers, especially bottles, with crown corks or caps, it is known (DE-OS 27 34 599) to provide an apparatus with which the crown corks or closure elements, which are supplied via a closure channel from a storage means (cork magazine), are separated and are successively made available to a receiving position, so that closing mechanisms of the closing machine that move past this position can pick up and carry along the closure elements from the receiving position for closing or capping the containers.
For separating and making these closure elements available, the closure elements are successively moved from the transfer position to the receiving position with the aid of a transport mechanism, and in particular by means of carrier members that rotate about a vertical axis. The carrier or abutment surface of each carrier member moves a respective closure element from the transfer position to the receiving position. In so doing, the respective closure element slides along a horizontal support surface that annularly surrounds the vertical axis and does not move along with the carrier members. The carrier members are provided on the periphery of a wheel that is essentially embodied as a disk and rotates about the vertical axis.
One drawback of the heretofore known apparatus is that it is necessary to provide a housing that surrounds the wheel. This housing also forms the support surface for the closure elements, and is necessary at least for a reliable guidance of the closure elements as they are moved from the transfer position to the receiving position. The need for a housing results in a relatively expensive type of construction. Furthermore, very difficult to access areas in the form of slots or gaps result between the housing and the wheel that is provided with the carrier members. Thus, in order to clean the apparatus, the housing must be removed, which represents a not inconsiderable amount of effort. Alternatively, it is at least necessary to immerse the entire transport mechanism into a bath for cleaning purposes, for which purpose it is necessary to lower the transport mechanism. This also implies additional structural effort and/or extra work. Due to the presence of a housing, there furthermore results a relatively high type of construction for the transfer mechanism, so that taking into consideration the small spacing between the support surface and the underside of the closing mechanisms that move past the receiving position, due to the relatively high type of construction of the transport mechanism, which small spacing must be maintained for a satisfactory operation of the apparatus or capper, it is not possible, in order to clean the closing mechanism, to place rinsing or cleaning bells or caps on the underside of the closing mechanisms and to undertake a cleaning while the closing mechanisms rotate, without first having to lower the transport mechanism.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve an apparatus of the aforementioned general type in such a way that, while avoiding the aforementioned drawback, an improved manner of operation is possible, in particular also a simplified cleaning, yet a simplified construction is also provided.

Apparatus for separating and making available closure elements

Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft


A method of measuring adenylate cyclase (AC) in a sample of physiological material which does not employ radioactive reagents is provided, comprising:. (a) providing a physiological sample of physiological material comprising cAMP produced by endogenous AC, and other endogenous adenine nucleotides selected from the group consisting of ATP, AMP, ADP and mixtures thereof; PA1 (b) combining the sample with effective amounts of apyrase, 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase, so as to enzymatically eliminate the other endogenous adenine nucleotides in the sample; PA1 (c) enzymatically converting the cAMP into AMP; and PA1 (d) measuring the amount of AMP, the amount providing a measure of the amount of cAMP and AC in the sample.

Adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase [cycling], AC, EC 184.108.40.206), the catalytic protein that converts ATP to adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), plays a critical role in the signal transduction cascade of a number of fundamental hormones and neurotransmitters. For example, measurement of adenylate cyclase activity has been employed to study the altered physiology exhibited by transplanted human hearts and in congestire heart failure. See K. G. Lurie et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., 86, 195 (1983); M. R. Bristow et al., New Engl. J. Med., 307, 205 (1982) (Chemical names of abbreviated compounds are given in the "Table of Abbreviations", hereinbelow).
However, a more clear elucidation of the biological role of adenylate cyclase in these and other conditions has been limited by the difficulty in monitoring accurately changes in the tissue levels of the cyclic nucleotide. The analytical difficulties arise because of the extremely low concentrations of 3',5'-cAMP in most mammalian tissues and the similarity of this cyclic nucleotide to other naturally occurring, potentially interfering, nucleotides that are present in several hundred to several hundred thousand times the concentration of 3',5'-cAMP.
Adenylate cyclase activity is conventionally assayed indirectly by measuring the synthesis of radioactively labeled cAMP from the substrate .alpha.-.sup.32 P-labeled ATP as described by Y. Salomon et al., as disclosed in Anal. Blochem., 58, 541 (1974) and Adv. Cyclic Nucleotide Res., 10, 35 (1979). The methods employ sequential affinity chromatography with Dowex exchange resin and aluminum oxide columns to separate newly generated [.sup.32 P]cAMP from [.alpha.-.sup.32 P]ATP. See also, C. L. Johnson et al., Mol. Pharmacol., 16, 417 (1979). Although this method is sensitive, it relies upon costly radioactively labeled compounds.
Previously, Lowry et al. have developed a number of sensitive assays which can measure small amounts of biological compounds based on the fluorescence of reduced pyridine nucleotides. See O. H. Lowry et al., A Flexible System of Enzymatic Analysis, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, NY (1972); F. M. Matschinsky et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem., 16, 29 (1968). These methods employ one or more of a series of enzymatic reactions which ultimately lead to the production of either .beta.-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP.sup.+) or .beta.-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (AND.sup.+) or the reduced forms NADPH and NADH. The reduced purine nucleotides can be precisely measured at O.D. 340 nm in the photometer. One reaction, the measurement of AMP, depends upon the stimulatory effects of AMP on glycogen phosphorylase a, the enzyme that converts glycogen into glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of inorganic phosphate (P.sub.i). See, E. Helmreich et al., Biochemistry, 52, 647 (1964); ibid., 51, 131 (1964); O. H. Lowry et al., J. Biol. Chem., 239, 1947 (1964); M. Trus et al., Diabetes, 29, 1 (1980). Attempts to increase the analytical sensitivity and specificity for AMP or AC have involved the enzymic degradation of interfering nucleotides and/or their removal by chromatography (See N. D. Goldberg et al., Anal. Biochem., 28, 523 (1969); B. McL. Breckenridge, PNAS USA, 52, 1580 (1964)). However, fluorometric assays have not been developed which can either directly or indirectly measure adenylate cyclase activity in physiological samples needed to accurately quantify AC or cAMP in .mu.g samples at pmol or fmol levels.
Given the safety and environmental concerns associated with the use and disposal of radioactive materials used in the current methods to measure AC, a need exists for a highly sensitive nonradioactive assay to measure adenylate cyclase activity.

Enzymatic fluorometric assay for adenylate cyclase


A hydraulic control system for a work machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system has a fluid actuator, a supply of pressurized fluid, and a control valve movable to selectively pass pressurized fluid to the fluid actuator. The hydraulic control system also has a sensor configured to sense the pressure of the pressurized fluid passed to the fluid actuator and a controller in communication with the control valve and the sensor. The controller is configured to receive an input indicative of a desired velocity of the fluid actuator and to determine a fluid flow rate corresponding to the desired velocity. The controller is also configured to determine a ratio of the sensed pressure to a stall pressure of the supply and to scale down the determined flow rate an amount based on the determined ratio. The controller is further configured to move the control valve an amount corresponding to the scaled down flow rate.

Work machines such as, for example, excavators, loaders, dozers, motor graders, and other types of heavy machinery use multiple actuators supplied with hydraulic fluid from a common pump on the work machine to accomplish a variety of tasks. These actuators are typically velocity controlled based on an actuation position of one or more operator interface devices. For example, an operator interface device such as a joystick, a pedal, or any other suitable operator interface device may be movable to generate a signal indicative of a desired velocity of an associated hydraulic actuator. When an operator moves the interface device, the operator expects the hydraulic actuator to move at a corresponding predetermined velocity. However, when the movement of one of the actuators is restricted by an external load, the pressure of the fluid moving the actuator may rise abruptly. Similarly, when movement of an actuator associated with a heavy work implement is initiated, the pressure of the fluid moving the actuator may also rise abruptly due to inertia of the heavy work implement. These abrupt rises in pressure may reduce fine controllability of the actuators and produce actuator velocities that are unexpected and/or undesired. In addition, because the pressure of the fluid supplied to all of the actuators is controlled by the single highest pressure of any one actuator, during these situations of abrupt pressure rises, the fluid supply to and the velocity of all of the actuators will be reduced.
One method of improving controllability and predictability of actuator movement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,023 (the '023 patent) issued to Yoshino on Jul. 3, 1990. The '023 patent describes a fluid pressure control system for a hydraulic excavator. The fluid pressure control system has a first selector valve for controlling the movement of a first actuator, and a second selector valve for controlling the movement of a second actuator. The first and second selector valves are pilot operated. A variable relief valve is fluidly connected between the first actuator, the first selector valve, and a tank to relieve and thereby vary the pressure of the fluid supplied to the first actuator in response to the pilot pressure supplied to the first selector valve. For example, if the pilot pressure supplied to the first selector valve is low, the pressure relief setting associated with the first actuator is low. Likewise, if the pilot pressure supplied to the first selector valve is high, the pressure relief setting associated with the first actuator is high. This variable relief setting functions to relate the magnitude of actuator pressure to pilot pressure directly controlled by the operator, thereby giving the operator more control over movement of the first actuator and associated heavy or movement-restricted work tool.
In addition, the fluid pressure control system of the '023 patent may include a third selector valve operated by the same pilot fluid that operates the second selector valve. The third selector valve may function to block feedback from the first (high inertia) actuator to a common supply pump when the second actuator is operated. In this manner, an abrupt rise in pressure associated with the first actuator will not reduce the flow of pressurized fluid to the second actuator and the resulting velocity of the second actuator.
Although the fluid pressure control system of the '023 patent may improve controllability and predictability of fluid actuator velocity, it may be inefficient and limited. In particular, because the fluid pressure control system of the '023 patent improves controllability by relieving pressurized fluid to a tank, the work associated with pressurizing the relieved fluid may be lost, thereby reducing the efficiency of the hydraulic excavator. Further, because any operation of the second actuator, regardless of magnitude, blocks feedback from the first actuator to the common pump, the pump of the '023 patent may be inefficiently operated during minor operations of the second actuator. In addition, because the fluid pressure control system of the '023 patent is purely hydro-mechanical, tunability of the system may be limited.
The disclosed control system is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Multi-actuator pressure-based flow control system


Disclosed is a detachable device for repeatedly measuring textural characteristics of food. To this end, the present invention includes: a fixing unit having a probe guide member having, at a center thereof, a predetermined guide hole, having therein a predetermined space, and extending downward; a cylindrical probe configured to move upward and downward while surrounding the probe guide member and having multiple holes formed in a lower surface thereof so that a part of food is extracted in accordance with a degree of compression at the time of compressing the food; a food sample cup positioned below the cylindrical probe and having therein a space in which the food is placed; and multiple position fixing guides positioned between the fixing unit and the food sample cup.

There are various types of food such as a solid type, a liquid type, a semisolid type, a paste type, a type in which particles are dispersed into a liquid, an intermediate type, or a type made of particles.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a device for measuring textural characteristics of food in the related art applies a predetermined force to solid food having a certain shape and ascertains, by means of a force value, a degree of deformation inside the food.
However, the device in the related art cannot measure paste food or food that does not maintain a certain shape thereof because this food has a high degree of deformation.
That is, the mastication needs to be performed to repeatedly measure textural characteristics of food having the same volume. Because the food illustrated in FIG. 1 has a high degree of deformation even though the mastication is performed once, the volume or the degree of deformation of the food, which is maintained when the previous mastication is performed, is not maintained when the same mastication is performed once again, and as a result, it is difficult to accurately measure textural characteristics of food.
In addition, because a liquid having particles cannot be measured even by a viscometer, it is difficult to measure textural characteristics and physical characteristics of a certain group of food.
In consideration of this situation, the present applicant has filed an application related to a structure in which food (cooked rice) is surrounded by a guide unit 230, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The guide unit 230 may prevent the food from being withdrawn to the outside during the process of reproducing the mastication.
In addition, a pair of plates 240 capable of applying tension to the food is connected with elastic units 250, and the food is consistently collected inward by the elastic units 250 and the plates 240 during the process of reproducing the mastication, such that a process most similar to the process in which a human actually masticates is implemented.
However, the above-mentioned process is related to the device for reproducing a process most similar to the actual human mastication, but the process is not enough to evaluate inherent physical properties of the food itself instead of the reproduction of the human mastication.

Detachable device for repeatedly measuring textural characteristics of food and system for repeatedly measuring textural characteristics of food


A memory control unit controls the transfer of image data from a video buffer to a frame buffer, and from the frame buffer to a display, to be performed block by block. Image data is written from a video buffer to the frame buffer one block at a time. When image data for the entire block has been written to the frame buffer, the data for that block can be refreshed on the display. Image data for the next frame can only be written to the frame buffer once the data in that block has been refreshed on the display. In this way, image tearing can be eliminated. Images can also be successfully rendered when the direction of writing data to the frame buffer is perpendicular to the direction of copying data from the frame buffer and refreshing the display. Thus, landscape images can be rendered on a portrait display, without the need for double buffering.

FIG. 1 shows a known method for generating animations. The image data 2 for each frame is generated by program running on a computer (not shown). To generate animations, the computer writes one frame of the animation to a frame buffer 4 at a time. The frame buffer 4 has sufficient memory to store only one image frame. The contents of the frame buffer 4 are transferred to a display 6 in horizontal lines 8 from the top of the image to the bottom of the image. In parallel, the computer writes the image data 2 corresponding to the next frame to the frame buffer 4 in horizontal lines 10 from the top of the image to the bottom of the image. It is necessary that the computer writes only to the portion of the frame buffer 4 from which has already been copied to the display 6.
Image tearing is a well-known problem in displaying computer-generated animations. An example of image tearing is shown in FIG. 2. Image tearing can occur when the writing of image data 2 to the frame buffer 4 overtakes the transfer from the frame buffer 4 to the display 6 or vice versa. Here, the computer therefore writes to a part of the image that has not yet been refreshed on the display 6. The display 6 then contains image data from one frame 10 at the top of the display 12, and the image data from the next frame 14 on the bottom of the display 16. When the content of the two frames 10, 14 are different, the result is a torn image, which can appear as flickering to a user.
A further problem can occur when the image stored on the frame buffer 4 is in landscape format. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. The computer writes the image data 2 corresponding to the landscape frame in horizontal lines 10 from top to bottom. However, the image frame is rotated to display it on a portrait-oriented display 6, and therefore the contents of the frame are transferred to the display 6 in vertical lines 8 from left to right. It is therefore impossible to update the frame correctly using the technique described above, as there always is overlap between two consecutive frames.
The simplest way to avoid this problem is to write a complete frame of image data 2 to the frame buffer 4, and then pause the writing of image data 2 to the frame buffer 4 while the display 6 is refreshed. This is unsatisfactory since it can slow down the frame rate considerably.
One technique used to minimise image tearing is known as 'double buffering'. In this technique, two buffers are used, where one frame is known as the front buffer and the other frame is known as the back buffer. The back buffer is used to render a frame out of sight i.e. without it being displayed. A previously rendered, complete frame is stored in the front buffer. The contents of the front buffer are transferred to the display to be viewed by a user. When the frame on the back buffer is complete i.e. the frame is filled with image data, the front and back buffers are swapped. The next frame is then written to the new back buffer whilst data from the front buffer is transferred to the display. Only fully rendered images are presented to the user, so image tearing is eliminated. Ideally, the exchange of front and back buffers occurs instantaneously. However, in practise there is a small delay while the buffers swap. This can slow down the frame rate. The double buffering technique also requires double the amount of memory of the conventional system, and such systems can be costly to build.
Double buffering allows flexible display orientation since data is never rendered to the same frame buffer that is used to transfer data to the display, so the different reading and writing directions are unimportant.
The inventor appreciates that it would be advantageous to provide an improved method for image display while avoiding the risk of image tearing whilst not requiring parallel frame buffers.

Displaying an image using memory control unit


A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are independently N or CH;. B is a covalent bond or C.dbd. O; PA0 R.sup.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; PA0 R.sup.2 is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, trifluoromethyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio; PA0 R.sup.3 is ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4 is phenyl optionally substituted; PA0 X is oxygen or sulphur; PA0 Y is hydrogen; or Y forms an indole group with the carbon on the ortho position of the phenyl in R.sup.4 ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable base salt thereof when R is hydrogen;. with the proviso that when B is a covalent bond, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are each CH, and use for the inhibition of aldose reductase activity.

This invention relates to novel substituted oxophthalazinyl acetic acids having aldose reductase inhibitory activity useful in the treatment of chronic complications arising from diabetes mellitus, such as diabetic cataracts, retinopathy and neuropathy, to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and to a method of using such compounds.
The use of aldose reductase inhibitors in the treatment of complications of diabetes is known from European Patent Publication No. 222,576,published May 20, 1987, disclosing heterocyclic oxophthalazinyl acetic acids.

Substituted oxoophthalazinyl acetic acids and analogs thereof


Method and a system method and system for a dynamic adjustment of a data request channel in a communication system are disclosed. A value of at least one variable affecting the data request channel margin is determined in accordance with conditions in the communication system. The at least one variable is then set to the determined value. The value of the at least one variable is then conveyed to a subscriber station in an adjustment message. The subscriber station determines whether the adjustment message was transmitted by a serving sector or a non-serving sector; and adjusts at least one attribute of the communication channel in accordance with the determination, thus adjusting the DRC channel margin.

1. Field
The present invention relates to communications in a wireline or a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for a dynamic adjustment of a data request channel in such a communication system.
2. Background
Communication systems have been developed to allow transmission of information signals from an origination station to a physically distinct destination station. In transmitting an information signal from the origination station over a communication channel, the information signal is first converted into a form suitable for efficient transmission over the communication channel. Conversion, or modulation, of the information signal involves varying a parameter of a carrier wave in accordance with the information signal in such a way that the spectrum of the resulting modulated carrier wave is confined within the communication channel bandwidth. At the destination station, the original information signal is reconstructed from the modulated carrier wave received over the communication channel. In general, such a reconstruction is achieved by using an inverse of the modulation process employed by the origination station.
Modulation also facilitates multiple-access, i.e., simultaneous transmission and/or reception, of several signals over a common communication channel. Multiple-access communication systems often include a plurality of remote subscriber units requiring intermittent access of relatively short duration rather than continuous access to the common communication channel. Several multiple-access techniques are known in the art, such as time division multiple-access (TDMA), and frequency division multiple-access (FDMA). Another type of a multiple-access technique is a code-division multiple-access (CDMA) spread spectrum system that conforms to the "TIA/EIA/IS-95 Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wide-Band Spread Spectrum Cellular System," hereinafter referred to as the IS-95 standard. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple-access communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, entitled "SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE-ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING WAVEFORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM," both assigned to the present assignee.
A multiple-access communication system may be wireless or wireline and may carry voice traffic and/or data traffic. An example of a communication system carrying both voice and data traffic is a system in accordance with the IS-95 standard, which specifies transmitting voice and data traffic over a communication channel. A method for transmitting data in code channel frames of fixed size is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,773, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE FORMATTING OF DATA FOR TRANSMISSION," assigned to the present assignee. In accordance with the IS-95 standard, the data traffic or voice traffic is partitioned into code channel frames that are 20 milliseconds wide with data rates as high as 14.4 Kbps. Additional examples of communication systems carrying both voice and data traffic comprise communication systems conforming to the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), embodied in a set of documents including Document Nos. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214 (the W-CDMA standard), or "TR-45.5 Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems" (the IS-2000 standard).
The term base station is an access network entity, with which subscriber stations communicate. With reference to the IS-856 standard, the base station is also referred to as an access point. Cell refers to the base station or a geographic coverage area served by a base station, depending on the context in which the term is used. A sector is a partition of a base station, serving a partition of a geographic area served by the base station.
The term "subscriber station" is the entity with which an access network communicates. With reference to the IS-856 standard, the base station is also referred to as an access terminal. A subscriber station may be mobile or stationary. A subscriber station may be any data device that communicates through a wireless channel or through a wired channel, for example fiber optic or coaxial cables. A subscriber station may further be any of a number of types of devices including but not limited to PC card, compact flash, external or internal modem, or wireless or wireline phone. A subscriber station that is in the process of establishing an active traffic channel connection with a base station is said to be in a connection setup state. A subscriber station that has established an active traffic channel connection with a base station is called an active subscriber station, and is said to be in a traffic state.
The term access network is a collection of at least one base station (BS) and one or more base stations' controllers. The access network transports information signals between multiple subscriber stations. The access network may be further connected to additional networks outside the access network, such as a corporate intranet or the Internet, and may transport information signals between each base station and such outside networks.
In the above-described multiple-access wireless communication system, communications between users are conducted through one or more base stations. The term user refers to both animate and inanimate entities. A first user on one wireless subscriber station communicates to a second user on a second wireless subscriber station by conveying information signal on a reverse link to a base station. The base station receives the information signal and conveys the information signal on a forward link to the second subscriber station. If the second subscriber station is not in the area served by the base station, the base station routes the data to another base station, in whose service area the second subscriber station is located. The second base station then conveys the information signal on a forward link to the second subscriber station. The forward link refers to transmissions from a base station to a wireless subscriber station and the reverse link refers to transmissions from a wireless subscriber station to a base station. Likewise, the communication can be conducted between a first user on a wireless subscriber station and a second user on a landline station. A base station receives the data from the first user on the wireless subscriber station on a reverse link, and routes the data through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the second user on a landline station. In many communication systems, e.g., IS-95, W-CDMA, and IS-2000, the forward link and the reverse link are allocated separate frequencies.
Study of voice traffic only services and data traffic only services revealed some substantial differences between the two types of services, e.g., requirements on delay in delivery of the information content, grade of service (GOS), a reliability of a communication link, and other known differences.
The above-mentioned differences lead to a development of a data traffic only communication system, e.g., a communication system known as the High Data Rate (HDR) communication system. Such a communication system is disclosed in detail in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/963,386, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH RATE PACKET DATA TRANSMISSION," filed Nov. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,211, issued Jun. 3, 2003, assigned to the present assignee. The HDR communication system was standardized as a TIA/EIA/IS-856 industry standard hereinafter referred to as the IS-856 standard.
The IS-856 standard defines a set of data rates, ranging from 38.4 kbps to 2.4 Mbps, at which an access point (AP) may send data to a subscriber station (access terminal). Because the access point is analogous to a base station, the terminology with respect to cells and sectors is the same as with respect to voice systems. In accordance with the IS-856 standard, the data to be transmitted over the forward link are partitioned into data packets, with each data packet being transmitted over one or more intervals (time-slots), into which the forward link is divided. The term packet is a group of bits, including data (payload) and control elements, arranged into a specific format. The control elements comprise, e.g., a preamble, a quality metric, and others known to one skilled in the art. Quality metric comprises, e.g., a cyclical redundancy check (CRC), a parity bit, and other quality metrics known to one skilled in the art. At each time-slot, data transmission occurs from an access point to one and only one access terminal, located within the coverage area of the access point, at the maximum data rate that can be supported by the forward link and the communication system. The access terminal is selected in accordance with forward link conditions between the access point and an access terminal. The forward link conditions depend on interference and path loss between an access point and an access terminal, both of which are time-variant. The path loss and the variation of the path loss are exploited by scheduling the access point's transmissions at time intervals, during which the access terminal's forward link conditions to a particular access point satisfy determined criteria that allow for transmissions with less power or higher rate of data than transmissions to the remaining access terminals, thus improving spectral efficiency of forward link transmissions. Even if a transmission from an access point to an access terminal fails, because of relaxed transmission delay requirement, as compared to a voice services, the transmit power and resources used to support soft handoff on the forward link can be used for transmission of additional data, thus, increasing average throughput rate by increasing efficiency.
In contrast, according to the IS-856 standard, data transmissions on the reverse link occur from multiple access terminals located within a coverage area of an access point. Furthermore, because the access terminals' antenna patterns are omni-directional, any access terminal within the coverage area of the access point may receive these data transmissions. Consequently, the reverse link transmissions are subjected to several sources of interference: code-division multiplexed overhead channels of other access terminals, data transmissions from access terminals located in the coverage area of the access point (same-cell access terminals), and data transmissions from access terminals located in the coverage area of other access points (other-cell access terminals). Because re-transmission of packets from a subscriber station requires additional power from a power limited source (a battery), it may be efficient to support soft handoff on the reverse link by allocating resources at several base stations to receive and process the data packets transmitted from the subscriber station. Such a utilization of soft handoff increases both coverage and reverse link capacity as discussed in a paper by Andrew J. Viterbi and Klein S. Gilhousen: "Soft Handoff Increases CDMA coverage and Increases Reverse Link Capacity," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Vol. 12, No. 8, October 1994. The term soft handoff is a communication between a subscriber station and two or more sectors, wherein each sector belongs to a different cell. In the context of the IS-856 standard, data transmission on the forward link is non-simultaneously carried out between one of the two or more sectors and the access terminal.
Additionally, a softer handoff may be used for this purpose. The term softer handoff is a communication between a subscriber station and two or more sectors, wherein each sector belongs to the same cell. In the context of the IS-856 standard, data transmission on the forward link is non-simultaneously carried out between one of the two or more sectors and the access terminal.
In a communication system in accordance with the IS-856 standard, an Access Terminal indicates an estimate of the highest data rate on a forward link between an Access Point and the Access Terminal to the Access Network via a data request (DRC) channel transmitted over a reverse link. An access point that is selected for data communication the access terminal or an access point that is communicating data to the particular access terminal is serving access point. To maximize forward link utilization, an access terminal attempts to select an access point having a best quality metric of the forward link as determined at the access terminal. The DRC channel has a margin, designed to assure correct reception of the DRC channel for varying conditions on the reverse link. However, the margin cannot be infinite, consequently, if the reverse link conditions worsen beyond the condition under which the DRC channel can be sustained given the margin, correct reception of the DRC channel cannot be assured. Consequently, the access terminal may select an access point with lower quality metric forward link—an event referred to as imbalance. Even in situations unaffected by imbalance, a high erasure rate of the DRC channel may result in underutilization of the forward link. The term erasure is a failure to recognize a message.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a method and an apparatus to minimize the occurrence of imbalance and underutilization of forward link.
The above and further features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims and together with advantages thereof will become clearer form considerations of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method and system for a dynamic adjustment of a data request channel in a communication system


An apparatus and method for treating the walls of apertures passing through a planar substrate with a fluid treatment solution. The method comprises placement of a pressurized fluid wedge beneath, above, or both beneath and above a planar substrate as it passes through a treatment chamber. The apparatus that forms the fluid wedge is a roller assembly comprising a roller within a shroud which carries fluid as it rotates through a gap between the roller and the shroud. The roller provides the dual function of forming the fluid wedge and conveying the planar substrate through the treatment chamber.

1. Introduction
This invention relates to a device for contacting surfaces with fluids especially adapted for forcing fluids through apertures passing through a planar substrate. More particularly, this invention relates to a fluid treatment device that is especially useful for the fabrication of printed circuit boards where substantial and complete fluid contact with the walls of through-holes within the printed circuit board substrate is critical for void free metallization and hole wall adhesion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printed circuit boards have solid metallic circuits formed from a conductive material positioned on one or both surfaces of an insulating dielectric material. Where the printed circuit board has two conductive surfaces positioned on opposite sides of a single dielectric layer, the resulting circuit board is known as a "double-sided circuit board". To provide electrical connections between circuits on opposite sides of a double-sided circuit board, a hole is typically drilled or punched through the double-sided circuit board substrate, i.e., through two metallic layers and a dielectric layer. These holes are known in the art as "through-holes" or, following metallization, "plated through-holes". To accommodate multiple circuits in a single printed circuit board, multiple copper layers are sandwiched between layers of dielectric material to produce a board known as a "multilayer circuit board". Analogous to the double-sided circuit board, the multi-layer circuit board also uses metallized through-holes or "vias" or blind vias to provide electrical conductivity between circuit layers.
Various processes have evolved over the years for forming conductive pathways between circuit layers separated by a dielectric layer, i.e.--for metallizing the walls of the through-holes passing through the circuit board. Initially, when the double sided circuit board was first produced, mechanical means such as rivets or eyelet's were inserted into the through-hole to act as a conductive pathway. However, the use of rivets or eyelet's was labor intensive and the metallic pathways so formed proved to be unreliable during use.
Current methods for forming metallic pathways in printed circuit board manufacture involve chemical metallization of the walls of through-holes. The predominant method for metallizing through-holes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,920 incorporated herein by reference. The principal steps involved in the practice of this method involve contact of the printed circuit board substrate inclusive of the through-holes with an aqueous electroless plating catalyst composition comprising a reduced palladium-tin colloid followed by contact with an accelerator and then with an electroless plating solution, typically a copper plating solution. Contact of the palladium-tin colloid with the walls of the through-hole results in adsorption of the palladium-tin colloid on the through-hole walls. Subsequent contact with the accelerator removes protective colloids and contact with the electroless copper plating solution results in metal deposition onto the adsorbed colloidal palladium particles.
The electroless metal deposition process described above involves multiple fluid treatment steps in addition to the principal steps of contact with a palladium-tin colloid and an electroless copper plating solution. The walls of the through-holes have to be pre-treated to enhance adsorption of the colloid onto the walls. Pretreatment may include the steps of contact with an organic solution to soften the walls of the through-holes, an oxidant to etch back or desmear the hole walls, a neutralizer to remove residues resulting from the step of oxidation, a conditioner to enhance adsorption of the colloid onto the walls, etc. As discussed above, following treatment with the palladium-tin colloid, the through-hole walls are often treated with an accelerator solution to dissolve protective colloid from the adsorbed palladium-tin colloid and thereby activate dormant catalytic sites. Following electroless metal plating, the deposit is often enhanced (thickened) by electrolytic metal deposition. Water rinses are used between each of the fluid treatment steps.
In each of the fluid treatment steps described above, complete fluid contact with all surfaces of the through-hole wall is essential to avoid voids or disruptions in the metal deposit over the walls of the through-hole. Voids are formed as a consequence of incomplete metallization of the hole walls often due to incomplete or inadequate fluid treatment in any of the above described pretreatment steps, especially in the treatment of high aspect ratio holes (large length to diameter ratio) now more frequently required for increased board densification. Voids can result in rejection of a printed circuit board or failure of an electronic device in which the circuit is used.
Recently, several methods for direct electroplating walls of through-holes have been developed. These methods do not rely upon an intermediate step of electroless metal deposition. In accordance with one such method, the palladium-tin colloid catalyst used for electroless metal plating is found to be sufficiently conductive for electrolytic plating when adsorbed onto the walls of the through-hole in sufficient concentration. This method is disclosed in U.K. Patent No. 2,123,036 incorporated herein by reference. An alternative to this method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,017,742 and 5,207,888, also incorporated herein by reference. With respect to this latter method, the same palladium-tin colloid used for electroless plating is treated to convert the same to a sulfide to thereby enhance its conductivity.
A more recently utilized direct plate process for metallizing the walls of hole-walls employs dispersions of carbon black or graphite for the formation of a conductive coating. The use of graphite to form conductive coatings on through-hole walls is known and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,409 incorporated herein by reference. Current processes are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,741 and 5,389,270, each incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with the procedures set forth in these patents, a dispersion of carbon black or graphite is passed through the through-holes to form a coating of the dispersion on the hole-walls. The coating is dried to yield an adhesively bonded conductive layer of the carbon black or graphite which is sufficiently conductive for electroplating in a conventional manner.
As in electroless metal plating, all of the direct plate methods for metallization of through-holes require multiple fluid treatment steps and all require full contact of a treatment fluid with the hole walls for total coverage of the hole wall with metal during the plating step. This is especially the case using carbon black or graphite dispersions where defect free dried coatings are essential for void free metal deposits and hole wall adhesion.
Prior art methods for treatment of through-holes with treatment fluids have involved the use of sequential dip tanks. In accordance with these prior art methods, circuit board substrates are racked on a suitable rack and the racks are then lowered into a first dip tank containing treatment fluid, held in that dip tank for a suitable period of time, raised and immersed in the next dip tank for further treatment. This process is continued through a sequence of tanks to a final metal plating tank. The process is labor intensive because the boards have to be racked and then unracked and the immersion time in each tank may be lengthy. In addition, the process uses large volumes of chemicals resulting in the need for excessive waste treatment procedures. A recent alternative to the use of dip tanks involves the use of conveyors to convey the printed circuit board substrates through a series of fluid treatment chambers. The substrates may be conveyed on a vertical or horizontal track using opposing rollers to pass the substrates along a predetermined path. Horizontal processing is currently preferred. In each treatment chamber, the fluid is applied to the circuit board substrate and into the through-holes typically using spray flood or jet nozzles.
In conveyerized processing of printed circuit board substrates, difficulties are encountered with spray nozzles for a variety of reasons. For example, the spray nozzle atomizes the fluid treatment solution causing it to become aerated, which can result in oxidation of oxygen sensitive components in the treatment solution. Moreover, due to the high energy of the fluid as it emerges from the spray nozzle and its turbulent flow, the treatment fluid fails to contact all surfaces of the through-hole as is necessary for complete metal coverage. In addition, following spraying of the treatment solution into the through-hole, some treatment fluid remains entrained within the interior of the through-hole. The entrained fluid is not readily removed by water rinsing and can block the through-hole preventing contact of the entire hole-wall with subsequent fluid treatment solutions. Moreover, spraying and atomizing of the treatment fluid lowers its temperature below the recommended treatment temperature for the fluid. Temperature control is known to be of importance in the metallizing of through-holes in printed circuit board manufacture.
Fluid jets are potentially more advantageous than spray nozzles because they are directional. However, it has been found that fluid jets fail to overcome the problem of entrainment of fluids within the interior of a through-hole and temperature drop. Attempts have been made to overcome the problems described above by use of specific arrays of fluid jets such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,639 incorporated herein by reference, but these methods have to a large extent been unsuccessful and substantially increase the cost of printed wiring board production and equipment.
The problems described above have been exacerbated by the industry movement to e printed wiring boards with higher aspect ratios. The aspect ratio of a through-hole is the ratio of the thickness of a board to the diameter of the through-hole. As the aspect ratio increases, the ratio of the length of the hole to its diameter increases. The longer the hole and the smaller its diameter, the more difficult it will be for a treatment fluid to penetrate the entire length of the hole and the more readily the hole will entrain treatment fluid within its interior as it passes through the full sequence of treatment stations.
An alternative to spray nozzles and jet nozzles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,405, incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with the procedures set forth in this patent, a printed circuit board substrate is passed over a surge line which is formed by a nozzle arrangement under a transporting path normal to the transporting direction of the board. A fluid treatment solution is applied to the lower surface of the circuit board substrate from a nozzle in the form of a standing wave. The nozzle can be formed as a plain perforation member provided with slots or holes arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically. The standing wave of the treatment fluid is said to have the capability of penetrating small diameter through-holes but in practice has not solved the problems described above. Moreover, the nozzle design needed to form the standing wave requires a nozzle having a large surface area parallel to the planar substrate. The combination of a nozzle of this design and the means required to convey the substrates over the nozzle consumes considerable space. A desire within the industry is to reduce the space required for a plating line.

Method for fluid transport for the surface treatment of planar substrates


An engine wherein a progressive throttle body includes two side by side throttle bores with throttle blades of equal size. A primary throttle opens from closed to an idle position with slowly increasing flow providing excellent idle and low engine speed air control. A secondary throttle opens slightly after the idle airflow position of the primary throttle and then opens more quickly, equaling the primary throttle opening near half throttle. Thereafter, the throttles open together, raising the airflow to maximum when both throttles are fully open. Both throttles are driven by a single electronically controlled motor or other actuator through two gearboxes that provide the varying flow curves. Throttle position sensors on both throttle shafts feed back throttle positions to an electronic controller to provide needed data for electronic throttle control in response to throttle commands. Additional features are disclosed.

It is known in the art relating to engine air intake control that it is difficult to obtain maximum intake airflow for high power engine operation and close control of idle and low speed engine airflow with a throttle body having a single throttle blade controlling the full airflow range. Various solutions have been proposed which have provided varying degrees of success. An improved wide flow range throttle body was desired.

Engine with progressive dual bore electronic throttle body