Methods and apparatuses for a User Equipment (UE) to receive signaling of UE-common Downlink Control Information (DCI) in a set of Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) over a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) are provided. The UE demodulates UE-common DCI using a Reference Signal (RS) that is scrambled by a UE-common scrambling sequence. The UE may assume that RS having a same precoding is transmitted in the set of PRBs over different TTIs. The UE may determine the scrambling sequence implicitly from an identity of a point transmitting the UE-common DCI or explicitly by higher layer signaling. The UE may determine the PRBs of UE-common DCI transmission by broadcast signaling or by higher layer signaling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to the transmission of physical downlink control channels.
2. Description of the Art
A communication system includes a DownLink (DL) that conveys transmission signals from transmission points, such as Base Stations (BS or NodeBs) to User Equipments (UEs), and an UpLink (UL) that conveys transmission signals from UEs to reception points, such as NodeBs. A UE, also commonly referred to as a terminal or a mobile station, may be fixed or mobile and may be a cellular phone, a personal computer device, etc. A NodeB is generally a fixed station and may also be referred to as an access point or some other equivalent terminology.
DL signals consist of data signals conveying information content, control signals conveying DL Control Information (DCI), and Reference Signals (RS), which are also known as pilot signals. A NodeB transmits data information or DCI to UEs through respective Physical DL Shared CHannels (PDSCHs) or DL Control CHannels (CCHs). UL signals also consist of data signals, control signals and RS. A UE transmits data information or UL Control Information (UCI) to a NodeB through a respective Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) or a Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH). It is possible for a UE having transmission of data information to also convey control information through the PUSCH.
A PDSCH transmission to a UE or a PUSCH transmission from a UE may be in response to dynamic scheduling or to Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS). With dynamic scheduling, a NodeB conveys to a UE a DCI format through a respective Physical DL Control CHannel (PDCCH). With SPS, a PDSCH or a PUSCH transmission is configured to a UE by a NodeB through higher layer signaling, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, in which case it occurs at predetermined time instances and with predetermined parameters as informed by the higher layer signaling. A SPS PDSCH or a PUSCH transmission can be activated or deactivated by a PDCCH.
A NodeB may also transmit multiple types of RS including a UE-Common RS (CRS), a Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS), and a DeModulation RS (DMRS). The CRS is transmitted over substantially the entire DL system BandWidth (BW) and can be used by all UEs to demodulate data or control signals or to perform measurements. To reduce the overhead associated with the CRS, a NodeB may transmit a CSI-RS with a smaller density in the time and/or frequency domain than the CRS for UEs to perform measurements and transmit a DMRS only in the BW of a respective PDSCH and a UE can use the DMRS to demodulate the information in the PDSCH.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional transmission structure for a DL Transmission Time Interval (TTI).
Referring to FIG. 1, a DL TTI consists of one subframe 110 which includes two slots 120 and a total of NsymbDL symbols for transmitting data information, DCI, or RS. The first MsymbDL subframe symbols are used to transmit PDCCHs and other control channels 130 (not shown) including a Physical Control Format Indicator CHannel (PCFICH) transmitted in the first subframe symbol and indicating the number MsymbDL and Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator CHannels (PHICHs) informing UEs whether respective PUSCHs were correctly or incorrectly received. The remaining NsymbDL-MsymbDL subframe symbols are primarily used to transmit PDSCHs 140. The transmission BW consists of frequency resource units referred to as Resource Blocks (RBs). Each RB consists of NscRB sub-carriers, or Resource Elements (REs), and a UE is allocated MPDSCH RBs for a total MscPDSCH=MPDSCH·NscRB REs for the PDSCH transmission BW. A time-frequency resource of one DL TTI and one RB is referred to as a Physical Resource Block (PRB). Some REs in some symbols contain CRS 150, CSI-RS or DMRS.
DCI can serve several purposes. A DCI format conveyed by a PDCCH may schedule a PDSCH or a PUSCH transmission. Another DCI format in a respective PDCCH may schedule a PDSCH providing System Information (SI) to UEs for network configuration parameters, or a response to a Random Access (RA) by UEs, or paging information, and so on. Another DCI format may provide to a group of UEs Transmission Power Control (TPC) commands for adjusting a respective transmission power for a PUSCH or a PUCCH.
A DCI format includes Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits in order for a UE to confirm a correct detection. The DCI format type is identified by a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) that scrambles the CRC bits. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH or a PUSCH to a single UE, the RNTI is a Cell RNTI (C-RNTI). Also, a DCI format with a SPS-RNTI can activate or deactivate a SPS PDSCH or PUSCH transmission. A DCI format with a CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI or a SPS-RNTI will be referred to as providing UE-specific control information. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH conveying SI to a group of UEs, the RNTI is a SI-RNTI. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH providing a response to a RA from one or more UEs, the RNTI is a RA-RNTI. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH for Paging a group of UEs, the RNTI is a P-RNTI. For a DCI format providing TPC commands to a group of UEs, the RNTI is a TPC-RNTI. DCI formats with a SI-RNTI, or a RA-RNTI, or a P-RNTI, or a TPC-RNTI will be referred to as providing UE-common control information. Each RNTI type is configured to a UE through higher layer signaling (and the C-RNTI is unique for each UE).
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional encoding process for a DCI format.
Referring to FIG. 2, a RNTI of a DCI format masks a CRC of a codeword in order to enable a UE to identify a DCI format type. The CRC 220 of the (non-coded) DCI format bits 210 is computed and it is subsequently masked 240 using the exclusive OR (XOR) operation between CRC and RNTI bits 220. This corresponds to XOR(0,0)=0, XOR(0,1)=1, XOR(1,0)=1, XOR(1,1)=0. The masked CRC bits are then appended to the DCI format bits 250, channel coding is performed 260, for example using a convolutional code, followed by rate matching 270 to allocated resources, and finally by interleaving and modulation 280, and transmission of a control signal 290. For example, both the CRC and the RNTI consist of 16 bits.
FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional decoding process for a DCI format.
Referring to FIG. 3, a received control signal 310 is demodulated and the resulting bits are de-interleaved 320, the rate matching applied at a NodeB transmitter is restored 330, and an output is subsequently decoded 340. After decoding, DCI format bits 360 are obtained after extracting CRC bits 350 which are then de-masked 370 by applying the XOR operation with a RNTI 380. Finally, a UE receiver performs a CRC test 390. If the CRC test passes, the DCI format is considered valid and a UE determines the respective parameters for a signal reception or a signal transmission. If the CRC test does not pass, a UE disregards the presumed DCI format.
A NodeB separately codes and transmits a DCI format in a respective PDCCH. To avoid a PDCCH transmission to a UE blocking a PDCCH transmission to another UE, the location of a PDCCH transmission in the time-frequency domain of a DL control region is not unique. As a consequence, a UE needs to perform multiple decoding operations to determine whether there is a PDCCH intended for the UE. The REs of a PDCCH are grouped into Control Channel Elements (CCEs) in the logical domain and include all REs of a DL control region except for REs used to transmit CRS, PCFICH, or PHICH. For a given number of DCI format bits, a number of CCEs for a respective PDCCH depends on the channel coding rate (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) is assumed as the modulation scheme). A NodeB may use a lower channel coding rate (more CCEs) for PDCCH transmissions to UEs experiencing low DL Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) than to UEs experiencing a high DL SINR. The CCE aggregation levels can consist, for example, of 1, 2, 4, and 8 CCEs.
FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional transmission process of DCI formats in respective PDCCHs.
Referring to FIG. 4, encoded DCI format bits are mapped to PDCCH CCEs. The first 4 CCEs (L=4), CCE1 401, CCE2 402, CCE3 403, and CCE4 404 are used to transmit a PDCCH to UE1. The next 2 CCEs (L=2), CCE5 411 and CCE6 212, are used to transmit a PDCCH to UE2. The next 2 CCEs (L=2), CCE7 421 and CCE8 422, are used to transmit a PDCCH to UE3. Finally, the last CCE (L=1), CCE9 431, is used to transmit a PDCCH to UE4. The DCI format bits may be scrambled 440 by a NodeB-specific binary scrambling code and are subsequently modulated 450. Each CCE is further divided into Resource Element Groups (REGs). For example, a CCE consisting of 36 REs may be divided into 9 REGs each consisting of 4 REs. Interleaving 460 is applied among REGs (blocks of 4 QPSK symbols). For example, a block interleaver may be used to accomplish the interleaving 460. The resulting series of QPSK symbols may be shifted by J symbols 470 and each QPSK symbol is finally mapped to an RE 480. Therefore, in addition to the CRS, 491, 492, and 493, PCFICH and PHICH (not shown), a DL control region includes PDCCHs providing DCI formats to UE1 494, UE2 495, UE3 496, and UE4 497.
For the PDCCH decoding process, a UE may determine a search space for candidate PDCCH transmissions after it restores the CCEs in the logical domain according to a UE-common set of CCEs (Common Search Space or CSS) and according to a UE-dedicated set of CCEs (UE-Dedicated Search Space or UE-DSS). The CSS may consist of the first CCEs in the logical domain and is primarily used for transmitting PDCCHs for DCI formats providing UE-common control information, but it may also be used for transmitting PDCCHs for DCI formats providing UE-specific control information. The UE-DSS consists of all CCEs and is entirely used for transmitting PDCCHs for DCI formats providing UE-specific control information. The CCEs of a UE-DSS may be determined according to a pseudo-random function having, as inputs, UE-common parameters, such as the subframe number or the total number of CCEs in a subframe, and UE-specific parameters such as a C-RNTI. For example, for CCE aggregation level Lε{1,2,4,8} CCEs, the CCEs corresponding to PDCCH candidate m are given by Equation (1).CCEs for PDCCH candidate m=L·{(Yk+m)mod └NCCE,k/L┘}+i  (1)
In Equation (1), NCCE,k is the total number of CCEs in subframe k, i=0, . . . , L−1, m=0, . . . , MC(L)−1, and MC(L) is the number of PDCCH candidates to monitor in the UE-DSS. Exemplary values of MC(L) for Lε{1,2,4,8} are, respectively, {6, 6, 2, 2}. For the UE-DSS, Yk=(A·Yk-1)mod D where Y−1=C−RNTI≠0, A=39827 and D=65537. For the CSS, Yk=0.
The DL control region in FIG. 1 is assumed to occupy a maximum of MsymbDL=3 subframe symbols and a PDCCH is transmitted substantially over an entire DL BW. This limits a PDCCH capacity of a DL control region and cannot support interference coordination in the frequency domain among PDCCH transmissions from different NodeBs or, in general, from different Transmission Points (TPs). Expanded PDCCH capacity or PDCCH interference coordination in the frequency domain is needed in several cases. One such case is a use of Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) in a network where a UE can receive DL signals either from a macro-NodeB or from an RRH. If the RRHs and the macro-NodeB share a same cell identity, cell splitting gains do not exist and expanded PDCCH capacity is needed to accommodate PDCCH transmissions from the macro-NodeB and the RRHs. Another case is for heterogeneous networks where DL signals from a pico-NodeB experience strong interference from DL signals from a macro-NodeB and interference coordination in the frequency domain among NodeBs is then needed.
Extending a conventional DL control region size to more than MsymbDL=3 subframe symbols is not possible at least because of a requirement to support conventional UEs which cannot be aware or support such extension. An alternative is to support DL control signaling in a conventional PDSCH region by using individual PRBs to transmit control channels. These control channels will be referred to as enhanced Control CHannels (eCCHs) and may include an enhanced PDCCH (ePDCCH), an enhanced PHICH (ePHICH), or an enhanced PCFICH (ePCFICH).
FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional allocation of resources for transmitting eCCHs in a DL TTI.
Referring to FIG. 5, although eCCH transmissions start immediately after the conventional CCHs 510 and are over all remaining subframe symbols, they may instead always start at a predetermined location, such as the fourth subframe symbol. The eCCHs are transmitted in four PRBs per subframe, 520, 530, 540, and 550 while the remaining PRBs per subframe are used for PDSCH transmissions 560, 562, 564, 566, 568.
A UE can be configured by higher layer signaling the PRBs that may convey eCCHs. The transmission of an eCCH to a UE may be in a single PRB, if a TP has accurate CSI for the UE and can perform Frequency Domain Scheduling (FDS) or beam-forming for the eCCH transmission, or it may be in multiple PRBs, if accurate CSI for a UE is not available or if an eCCH is intended for multiple UEs. An eCCH transmission over a single PRB will be referred to as localized or non-interleaved while an eCCH transmission over multiple RBs will be referred to as distributed or interleaved. Interleaved eCCHs may include ePDCCH, ePCFICH, or ePHICH while non-interleaved eCCHs may be only ePDCCHs.
The design of enhanced search spaces in a set of assigned PRBs is not material to the present invention and may follow, for example, conventional techniques. Then, an ePDCCH may consist of respective eCCEs and a number of ePDCCH candidates may exist for each eCCE aggregation level. An eCCE may or may not have the same size as a conventional CCE and an eCCE for non-interleaved ePDCCHs may or may not have the same size as an eCCE for interleaved ePDCCHs. Similar to CCEs, the eCCEs are distributed over a virtual BW formed by the set of assigned PRBs in the respective symbols of a DL TTI.
FIG. 6 illustrates conventional REs of a PRB for transmitting eCCHs.
Referring to FIG. 6, REs of a PRB 610 are allocated to transmission of eCCHs 620 and may also be allocated to transmissions of CCHs 630, CSI-RS 640, and CRS 650. A PRB assigned to transmissions of eCCHs also includes REs allocated to DMRS from different Antenna Ports (APs). In case of four DMRS APs, REs are assigned for DMRS transmission from a first AP 660, DMRS transmission from a second AP 670, DMRS transmission from a third AP 680, and DMRS transmission from a fourth AP 690.
A UE performs coherent demodulation of eCCHs using a channel estimate obtained by DMRS in same PRBs as the associated eCCHs. As DMRS transmitted in a same PRB in different subframes cannot be assumed to be the same, for example an associated precoding may not be the same or the PRB may not be assumed as being always used to transmit eCCHs, and as PRBs assigned to eCCHs are typically dispersed in frequency, a channel estimate for demodulating eCCHs may only be based on a DMRS in each PRB per subframe. Absence of interpolation in a time or frequency domain may significantly degrade the accuracy of DMRS-based channel estimates and the reception reliability of eCCHs compared to that of CCHs. This is because for a CCH demodulation, a UE may obtain a channel estimate from a CRS that is substantially transmitted over all subframes and over the entire operating BW thereby enabling time and frequency interpolation, respectively.
A same or different DMRS may be transmitted from each AP. A DMRS may also be scrambled by a sequence which can be TP-specific or UE-specific. An eCCH may also be scrambled by a sequence than can be TP-specific or UE-specific in order to enable TP-agnostic transmission of eCCHs and multiple TPs to transmit a same eCCH. However, the latter operation is only possible after a UE has established access to a network and it can then be configured by higher layer signaling, either explicitly or implicitly, a DMRS scrambling sequence or an eCCH scrambling sequence. Prior to establishing access to a network, a UE-specific DMRS or eCCHs scrambling sequence is not possible and a respective UE-common scrambling sequence is instead needed. Moreover, a UE needs to know PRBs and respective subframes where a TP transmits UE-common DCI.
Therefore, there is a need to enhance the accuracy of a channel estimate obtained from a DMRS for coherent demodulation of enhanced control channels.
There is another need to support DMRS scrambling with a UE-specific sequence and with a UE-common sequence associated, respectively, with enhanced control providing UE-dedicated control information and UE-common control information.
Finally, there is another need to define resources for transmitting enhanced control channels providing UE-common control information.

Reference signals and common search space for enhanced control channels


A machine is provided for customizing a cosmetic product at point of sale to a customer. The dispensing machine of the invention includes a mechanism for receiving operating instructions about a customer's optimal formula; a series of dispensers each containing a different cosmetic composition; a mechanism for activating dosing to a common dosing chamber of certain of the cosmetic compositions and at certain concentrations as determined by the operating instructions; and a mechanism for delivering the dosed formula into a container to the customer as a cosmetic product. Other advantageous features include a temperature regulation system, dual pumps of different capacity for obtaining highly accurate dosing, a bar code labeling system, and a telemodem for remote reporting of machine failure, empty dispensers and customer information.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a machine for customizing a cosmetic product at the point of sale to a customer.
2. The Related Art
Selection of the optimal color shade is often a customer's chief concern in purchasing a cosmetic facial product. A number of companies in the industry have sought to render easier the selection process. Clinique and Clarion have installed computers at sales counters for use by the customer. Information on color shade, oiliness and other properties of a customer's skin are punched into the computer which then determines the company's most closely matching product.
Another point of sale technique has been that of custom blending. Two major companies, Prescriptives (division of Estee Lauder) and Visage (division of Revlon) begin a sale by manually evaluating a subject's skin color. The salesperson then adjusts existing finished foundations so as to match the evaluated skin color. Unfortunately, there are many disadvantages in manual blending. The most obvious of these is that too much time is required for a match, sometimes 30-45 minutes. On many occasions there is a poor skin match, reproducibility is poor and extensive training is required of the salesperson.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can custom blend ingredients for delivery of a cosmetic product in a reduced period of time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to obtain a cosmetic product that matches skin properties with a particular optimum reproducible formula.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to form a cosmetic product wherein the machine is suitable for placement in a department store and can readily be operated by a salesperson.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a custom blending machine for ingredients to obtain a cosmetic product that is highly accurate in dispensing each of the ingredients.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent through consideration of the following summary, drawing and detailed description which follow.

Method and apparatus for customizing cosmetic products


An image sensor and manufacturing process thereof are provided. An image sensor according to an embodiment comprises a first wafer formed with a photodiode cell without a microlens and a second wafer formed with a circuit part including transistor and a capacitor. The first wafer is stacked on the second wafer such that a connecting electrode can be used to electrically connect the photodiode cell of the first wafer to the circuit part of the second wafer.

In general, an image sensor, which is a semiconductor device converting an optical image into an electrical signal, is typically classified as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) image sensor (CIS).
The CIS device according to the related art includes a photodiode region for receiving a light signal and converting it into an electrical signal, and a transistor region for processing the electrical signal.
Also, the CIS device typically needs one or more capacitors per pixel array.
However, according to the related art, the photodiode region, the transistor region, and the capacitor region are implemented on one wafer during the same fabrication process.
In this case, because the distance from a lens to the photodiode becomes large due to a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metal line formed on the transistor region and the capacitor, there is a great loss of the light signal entered into the photodiode region.
Also, according to the related art, because a process is simultaneously performed on the relatively large sized photodiode region and the very small transistor region, a difficulty in a lithography process occurs, which results in many defects occurring, and the photodiode region is attacked in a subsequent process forming a transistor, so that the CIS characteristics would be deteriorated.
Also, according to the related art, as the device becomes smaller using technologies below 90 nm and 65 nm, the size of the capacitor reduces and thus, it becomes more difficult to manufacture the capacitor with a desired capacitance.
Also, according to the related art, since a multi-layer metal line and a capacitor are manufactured together, the distance from a microlens to a photodiode is long, which can result in many problems in manufacturing the microlens.
Also, according to the related art, the transistor region and the capacitor coexist in one CIS device, which results in a region where all of the light incident cannot be absorbed but, rather, is lost.

Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying, quantifying, and reducing wasted resources in software testing. In use, a first duration of time over which at least one software testing environment was not available for at least one first software testing project is determined. At least one wasted resource amount associated with the first software testing project is calculated, the wasted resource amount resulting from the software testing environment not being available during the first duration of time. A potential saving in software testing effort associated with this project and/or at least one second software testing project is automatically calculated, based, at least partially, on the cause of the unavailability of the testing environment, on the determined first duration of time and the calculated wasted resource amount, the potential saving being achievable by making the software testing environment available for the second software testing project.

Testing of software is a critical step in the software development lifecycle. The objective of the testing is to verify and validate the integration of the software, the hardware and the configuration thereof, and to prevent malfunction of the software when in use.
Software testing is typically performed after the development of the software is completed. Therefore, the software testing period is on the critical path of the software development project. However, the software testing process may suffer from various inefficiencies, which may cause the testing period to extend beyond what was planned, and may cause an increase in the work effort needed to complete the software development project and delay the introduction of the functionality to the users.
One of the major causes of software testing inefficiency and delays is the unavailability of testing environments. For example, a group of software testers may plan to start the testing of a software component on a specific date and plan to complete the testing by a planned date, based on the capacity and the skills of the testing teams assigned to the project.
However, the execution of the test plan may be slowed repeatedly due to unavailability of suitable software testing environments. In many organizations, such delays in software testing are perceived as a given. In other words, down time of environments is a known issue. Currently, the typical software testing process includes waiting until there is a problem, fixing the problem, and continuing the testing until the next problem occurs. There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Identifying, quantifying, and eliminating wasted resources in software testing due to unavailability of a testing environment


An airbag module with an airbag and a fastening system for fastening the airbag to the interior structure of a motor vehicle. The fastening system includes at least one connecting element comprising of at least one fastening section for fastening the airbag module and at least one locking section (25b) for locking the connection element into an aperture in the interior structure. To prevent assembly errors, the fastening system furthermore includes a retention element (30), which has an assembly position and a retention position and is arranged to move on the connecting element, wherein the connecting element can be locked to the interior structure only when the retention element is in its assembly position, and wherein the connecting element is fixed to the interior structure when the retention element is in its retention position.

Airbags are known that are fastened to the interior structure of a motor vehicle, for example side curtain airbags are arranged in the vicinity of the roof pillar in the vehicle. In addition to a gas generator and the actual airbag, such an airbag module includes at least one fastening fastener for fastening the airbag module to the vehicle interior structure. In the case of a side curtain airbag, fastening typically occurs along an upper edge of the airbag. Since such curtain airbags are usually relatively long and extend along the sides of the interior, a plurality of fasteners, three for example, are often provided.
The fastening systems mentioned above connect the airbag module to the vehicle interior structure. Accordingly, one such fastening system includes a connecting element comprising of at least a fastening section for fastening the airbag and an assembly section for fastening to the vehicle interior structure. It is known from WO 02/28690 A1 to configure the assembly section as a locking section so that the connecting element can be locked into one or more apertures in the vehicle interior side structure. A screw, which is tightened after the connecting element has locked the locking section into the interior structure, is provided as an additional fastening means. In that design, the locking section primarily serves as an assembly aid and the screw performs the actual fastening. The manufacture and assembly of such an airbag module can be summarized to include the following steps. The manufacturer of the airbag module arranges the connecting elements on the airbag and the folded-up or rolled-up airbag is typically enclosed with a covering. The airbag module is delivered to the vehicle manufacturer in this state and assembled there. Typically, the assembly process is performed by a single assembler, who locks the locking section to the vehicle interior structure and, if provided, tightens the fastening screws. The interior trim panel, in the form of a roofliner for example, is then installed.
The disadvantage in the above described approach is that after the assembly of the interior trim panel, it is no longer possible to conveniently determine whether the airbag module was fastened into the vehicle correctly. An incorrect fastening can arise by forgetting a screw or by an incomplete locking of the locking section. Such a defect could remain unnoticed after assembly of the interior trim panel and can cause the airbag module to improperly operate in the event of an accident.


Functionalized metallic feedstock and three-dimensional articles formed therefrom via an additive manufacturing process are provided. The functionalized metallic feedstock includes a plurality of discrete metallic substrates including a first metallic substrate having a first surface area, in which at least a portion of the first surface area comprises a functionalizing agent selected to render the first metallic substrate resistant to corrosion.

Similar to metals and metal alloys that are fabricated through conventional processes such as melting, casting and forging, those that are fabricated through additive manufacturing (AM) processes also degrade due to corrosion. In some AM alloys, the rates of corrosion are known to be orders-of-magnitude higher than in their respective cast and forged alloys. In conventional alloys, corrosion mitigation is frequently made through surface conversion coatings or corrosion inhibitor additives. Conversion coating is a surface modification technique that generates a corrosion-resistant or passive layer on the surface of the metal. The most famous example of conversion coating is anodized aluminum. A conversion coating is effective against corrosion only if it remains undamaged, not modified further through mechanical aberration or chemical oxidation. Another approach to mitigate corrosion has been the use of corrosion inhibitors. Corrosion inhibitors are typically added to the environment or the medium surrounding the alloy's surface, and they lose their effectiveness when the environment or surrounding medium changes. Once the conversion-coated surface layer or the corrosion inhibitor is removed, even locally, the alloy will corrode in that location. The localized corrosion may then propagate three-dimensionally into the bulk of the object. Such a propagation of corrosion into the bulk frequently manifests as pitting corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, etc., conditions that have been identified as major reasons why objects fabricated using conventional alloys undergo catastrophic failure.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art for functionalized metallic feedstock materials that may be used in AM processes to provide three-dimensional (3D) metallic articles having corrosion resistant/inhibiting properties throughout the bulk (e.g., the 3D volume of the article) of the metallic article. In this regard, there also remains a need in the art for 3D metallic articles that is resistant to corrosion throughout its three-dimensional volume to exhibit improved resistance to pitting and stress corrosion cracking.

Empowering additive manufacturing metals and alloys against localized three-dimensional corrosion


A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfuspeafro’, characterized by its single type light orange-colored flowers, variegated green and white-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Balfuspeafro'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cartago, Costa Rica during November 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens hybrid cultivars with numerous flowers, unique flower coloration and flower shape, excellent basal branching, and an upright, compact to moderate growth habit.
The new Impatiens cultivar is a naturally occurring sport of Fusion™ Radiance 'Balfusradn', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,196, characterized by its single type light orange-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a side shoot and selected on August 2005 in a controlled environment at Cartago, Costa Rica.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2005 at Cartago, Costa Rica, Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


A method is described for adapting 3D image datasets so that they can be registered and combined with 2D images of the same subject, wherein deformation or movement of parts of the subject has occurred between obtaining the 3D image and the 2D image. 2D-3D registrations of the images with respect to multiple features visible in both images are used to provide point correspondences between the images in order to provide an interpolation function that can be used to determine the position of a feature visible in the first image but not the second image and thus mark the location of the feature on the second image. Also described is apparatus for carrying out this method.

Minimally invasive surgical procedures guided by X-ray fluoroscopy such as cardiac ablation, neuroembolization, coronary artery angioplasty, and stent placement are widely used as they are advantageous compared to invasive surgical procedures, particularly for patients not suitable for open surgery.
Such procedures allow substantial reduction of infection risk and shorter recovery times because interventional fluoroscopy requires, comparatively, only a very small incision.
During fluoroscopy-guided endovascular interventions, low-dose X-ray (known as fluoroscopy screening) is used to provide guidance after inserting catheters, guide wires, or other interventional instruments into the patient's blood vessel by monitoring their movement in real-time on a set of display screens in the intervention room. However, only interventional devices and dense tissues such as bone are adequately visualized using fluoroscopy screening. Soft tissue anatomy such as the vasculature is not adequately visualized.
Prior to many types of operation a patient is typically subjected to a CT scan of the body area where the surgery will take place. This results in a three-dimensional image of the scanned body area. During surgery real time 2D fluoroscopy images are obtained of the same area, using for example a C-arm type fluoroscopy machine. These 2D fluoroscopy images may, however, be insufficient to allow a surgeon to determine the precise position within the body of surgical instruments or surgical implants, particularly during catheter based MIS procedures. For example, during stent-graft repair of aortic aneurysms, precise stent placement is essential.
In order to address the drawbacks of the 2D images, it is known to augment the 2D real time image with the 3D pre-obtained image, obtained, for example from a CT scan. The problem then arises of ensuring accurate registration of the 3D image with the 2D image i.e. ensuring that the 2D image is aligned with the correct parts of the 3D image. As is known already in the art, CT position and orientation is usually defined by six rigid body parameters, being three translations X, Y, and Z, and three rotations θx, θy, and θz. These can be divided into parameters which define movements parallel to the plane of the fluoroscopy image (in plane parameters θx, Y, and Z), and parameters which define movements a component of which is normal to the fluoroscopy plane (out-of-plane parameters θy, and θz, and X).
Furthermore, the pose and positioning of a subject will change between obtaining the 3D image data set and the 2D image. Necessarily, the position of tissues, and particularly soft tissues, will be moved or deformed because of the change in pose and/or positioning of the subject. Accordingly, a precise, rigid spatial transformation is inadequate to align the features visible in the 3-D image data set with the features of the 2-D image
The registration problem is then one of how to manipulate these parameters such that the 3D image becomes aligned with the 2D image and then to adapt the aligned 3D image so that is accurately reflects the position of features that are partially visible or invisible in the 2D image. That is, the surgeon viewing the combined 2D and 3D images can have some confidence in the registration achieved and the features shown as coinciding.
Various registration techniques are known in the art. Specifically, in Penney et al "An Image-Guided Surgery System to Aid Endovascular Treatment of Complex Aortic Aneurysms: Description and Initial Clinical Experience", IPCAI 2011, LNCS 6689, pp. 13-24 the present inventors describe an intensity based registration technique which requires a starting position to be chosen by relying on visual inspection and identification of a vertebra in the fluoroscopy image. The present inventors also describe a method and apparatus for 2D-3D registration of a 3D image dataset (a CT scan) with an X-ray fluoroscopy image in International patent application no. WO 2013/132235.


A card connector includes an electrically insulative frame base, which defines a card insertion space and a sliding slot at one side of the card insertion space, a metal shielding cover, which covers the card insertion space and has an elongated guide hole corresponding to the sliding slot, a slide slidably mounted in the sliding slot, an elastic member connected between the slide and the rear side of the electrically insulative frame base, a guide rod fastened to the rear side of the electrically insulative frame base to guide movement of the slide along the sliding slot, and a limiter member fastened to the slide and movable along the elongated guide hole of the metal shielding cover for guiding an electronic card into the card insertion space and holding the inserted electronic card in positive contact with respective metal terminals in the electrically insulative frame base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to card connectors and more specifically, to a card connector, which has a card insertion guide for guiding an electronic card in and out of the card insertion space smoothly and preventing sudden jumping of the inserted electronic card out of the card connector upon ejection of the inserted electronic card.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following rapid development of modern technology, electronic products, such as computer, cellular phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), digital camera, digital video camera, digital sound recorder and etc. are modularized to provide multiple functions. Further, an electronic product may be provided with a card connector for the insertion of an electronic card (memory card) for storing data. Commercially available memory cards include MMC (MultiMedia Card), SD (SecureDigital Memory Card), SM (Smart Media Card), CF (CompactFlash Card), SMC (SmartMedia Card), MS (Memory Stick) and etc. Following the market trend toward light, thin, short and small characteristics, advanced memory cards and card connectors are made relatively smaller. To facilitate insertion and ejection of a memory card, a card connector usually provides a card ejector, i.e., PUSH-PUSH function (two push actions complete one cycle). When ejecting the inserted memory card, the card ejector is forced by a spring member to push the inserted memory card out of the card connector. However, if the user presses the card ejector suddenly with an excessively high pressure, the spring force may force the inserted memory card to jump out of the card connector, causing damage.
FIG. 8 illustrates a card connector according to the prior art. According to this design, a metal shielding cover A of the card connector has a guide slot A1 for guiding movement of a card retaining member B1 of a card ejector B. The guide slot A1 has a narrow elongated guide portion A12, and a wide front portion A11 at the front side of the narrow elongated guide portion A12. The card retaining member B1 has a mounting portion B11 at one end, a spring arm B12 at the other end, and a guide portion B13 upwardly extending from the top side and inserted into the guide slot A1 to guide movement of the card retaining member B1 along the guide slot A1. During card ejection, the guide portion B13 is moved along the narrow elongated guide portion A12 into the wide front portion A11, and the spring arm B12 is kept in engagement with the memory card before the guide portion B13 reaches the wide front portion A11. When the guide portion B13 reached the wide front portion A11, the spring arm B12 is released from the memory card.
The aforesaid prior art card connector is still not satisfactory in function because of the following drawbacks:    1. During movement of the memory card into or out of the card connector, the narrow elongated guide portion A12 does not allow the card retaining member B1 to displace subject to the curving of the sliding track of the card ejector B, and a stress is concentrated at the guide portion B13 of the card retaining member B1. This concentration of stress may cause the guide portion B13 to deform permanently or to break.    2. The guide portion B13 is suspending in the wide front portion A11 without any support before movement of the card ejector B by a memory card. When a memory card is inserted into the card connector to move the card retaining member B1, the guide portion B13 may displace in the wide front portion A11, causing vibration or unstable positioning of the memory card.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a card connector that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

Card connector with a card insertion guide


A video signal processing apparatus in which an input video signal is written in a frame memory on a line sequential scanning frame unit base in synchronism with a first vertical synchronizing signal and which the line sequential scanning video signal written in the frame memory is read out in synchronism with a second vertical synchronizing signal. The second vertical synchronizing signal having a frequency different from a frequency of a first vertical synchronizing signal is generated in synchronism with the first vertical synchronizing signal of a starting frame of five frames forming a pattern after the conversion in the 2-3 pulldown conversion system when it is judged that the input video signal is based on a telecine-converted video signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus that processes an input video signal to display at high quality on a display device, the input video signal being a telecine-converted video signal generated by the 2-3 pulldown conversion system, from a movie film.
2. Description of the Related Background Art
Video signals of a standard television format, such as the NTSC format, often include video signals based on films. A movie film has 24 film frames per second. A video signal of the standard television format has 30 frames per second, and is an interlaced scan video signal having two fields for each frame. Since the number of frames per second differs between a video signal and a movie film, each frame of the movie film is usually telecine-converted by the 2-3 pulldown conversion system to obtain a video signal of the standard television format.
In the 2-3 pulldown conversion system, the first and the second field of the first frame of a video signal are produced from the first film frame, the first and the second field of a second frame and a first field of a third frame of the video signal are produced from the second film frame, and the second field of the third frame and the first field of a fourth frame of the video signal are produced from the third film frame. The following frames are converted similarly, so that two fields, three fields, two fields, three fields, etc. of the video signal are respectively produced from each consecutive film frame.
Thus, two film frames correspond to five frames of a standard television format video signal, and each film frame is alternately converted into a video signal of two fields and a video signal of three fields.
However, when a video based on the interlaced scan video signal which is telecine-converted is displayed on a display device, such as a PDP, then, for example, the third frame of the consecutive frames of the video signal is combined from images of the second and the third frames of the movie film. Therefore, there was a problem that the image quality is poorer than that of an original movie film.
In order to overcome the above problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-346131 discloses that a telecine-converted interlaced scanning video signal is converted by an interfiled interpolation process into a line sequential scanning video signal, which is thinned out and written in a memory on a field unit base, and that the line sequential scanning video signal written in a memory is repeatedly read out n times from the memory at a rate of n times (n denotes an integral number not lower than 2 as such 2) as high as 24 Hz.
As described above, two film frames of a film source correspond to five frames of a line sequential scanning video signal when the interlaced scanning video signal having 60 fields per second, which is telecine-converted by the 2-3 pulldown conversion system from the film source having 24 film frames per second, is further converted into the line sequential scanning video signal. In the line sequential scanning video signal, two-frame video signals per film frame and three-frame video signals per film frame are thus alternately repeated.
When the frame rate is changed from five frames (a 2-3 pattern) to six frames (a 3-3 pattern) of such video signal in conversion of two film frames of a film source, conversion into a 2-4 pattern occurs regardless of a changing point of a film frame of the film source, which causes a problem that the display quality deteriorates.


According to the present invention, a continuous layer liquid used as a continuous layer of a diffusion phenomenon is injected into the first reservoir, and passed through the channels to the second reservoirs to fill the plurality of radially formed channels with the continuous layer liquid. Then, a predetermined amount of diffusion experiment reagent, for example, a coloring liquid used as a diffusion substance of the diffusion phenomenon is injected into the first reservoir. This causes the diffusion experiment reagent to be diffused from the first reservoir to the second reservoirs only by the diffusion phenomenon. At this time, the radially formed channels have the different sectional areas, and thus the diffusion experiment reagent is diffused through the channels at different velocities. This allows the diffusion phenomena that occur in the micro channels or the diffusion velocities to be observed or measured with ease using an inexpensive device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scientific phenomena evaluation device, a diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a scientific phenomena evaluation device, a diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, and a manufacturing method thereof that are inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and appropriate for enjoying high technology with ease.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of scientific phenomena evaluation devices such as scientific experiment education materials have been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-242162).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-242162 discloses a science education material that allows observation of natural phenomena by temperature changes of water by cooling or freezing water vapor in the air or water or water vapor in a container, is small in size and simple in structure, and is capable of faithfully reproducing various kinds of natural phenomena by temperature changes of water.
As scientific experimental devices for education, experimental kits such as "Science and Learning: Experimental Kit Series" and "Scientific Global Environment Analysis Kit for Adults" are available from Gakken Co., Ltd. Such experimental kits, which provide dream to children or enjoyment of experiments to users, are available at relatively low prices of about a few hundred yen to three thousand yen and well received.

Scientific phenomena evaluation device, diffusion velocity measurement experimental device, and manufacturing method of the device


A probe tip section of an electrical test probe has a laminated structure consisting of a first deposition portion and a second deposition portion covering the first deposition portion, and by the laminated structure, a maximum cross-sectional area portion at which the cross-sectional area of the probe tip section is increased to a base portion is provided between a tip end of the probe tip section and the base portion in the probe tip section. At the maximum cross-sectional area portion, a dimension in the X direction as seen on a flat surface perpendicular to a protruding direction of the probe tip section is increased in a one-dimensional way, and in addition, a dimension in the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction is increased from the tip end toward the base portion, as a result of which the cross-sectional area of the probe tip section can be increased in a two-dimensional way. Thus, the cross-sectional area at the maximum cross-sectional area portion reaching the base portion of the probe tip section can be made to be larger than in the conventional case, and along with the increase of the cross-sectional area, the stress acting on the base portion can be lowered.

The present invention relates to an electrical test probe suitable for use in an electrical test of a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits formed on a semiconductor wafer and a method for manufacturing the same.
A plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits formed on a semiconductor wafer generally undergo an electrical test before being separated into respective chips to determine whether or not they are manufactured in accordance with the specification. In this electrical test, a probe assembly comprising electrical test probes to be connected to electrodes of devices under test that are the respective semiconductor integrated circuits is used. The devices under test are connected to a tester via this probe assembly.
One of the conventional probes used for this probe assembly is one comprising a plate-shaped probe main body section and a probe tip section provided on the probe main body section and that is to abut on an electrode of a device under test (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The probe main body section has an attachment portion to a probe board, a pair of arm portions extending from the attachment portion to the lower side of the probe board laterally along the probe board with a space from the probe board, and a pedestal portion formed integrally with the arm portions so as to combine the ends of the both arm portions, and the aforementioned probe tip section is provided on the pedestal portion. In Patent Document 1, it is proposed that the probe main body section should be made of a highly tough conductive material, and the probe tip section provided at the lower end of the pedestal portion of the probe main body section should be made of a metal material with excellent hardness.
By forming the probe main body section by the highly tough metal material, the probe tip section can be made to slide on the electrode along with elastic deformation of the arm portions of the probe main body section when the probe tip section of the probe is thrust to the electrode of the device under test. This slide of the probe tip enables oxide films on the electrode to be scraped away. Thus, by letting an overdriving force that causes the aforementioned elastic deformation act on the arm portions of the probe, the oxide films of the electrode are removed by the probe tip of the aforementioned probe tip section, and reliable electrical contact between them is obtained. Also, by forming this probe tip section by the highly hard material, abrasion of the probe tip caused by the slide is suppressed.
Meanwhile, such a probe is microscopic. Thus, in manufacturing the probe, a photolithographic technique adopted in the semiconductor manufacturing technique is utilized. Specifically, a resist pattern having openings corresponding to the probe tip section and the probe main body section is formed on a base table with a photosensitive photoresist, and respective metal materials are selectively deposited in the respective openings for the probe tip section and the probe main body section, thus to form a probe. Also, the probe tip section is formed with its base portion buried in the probe main body section. When the probe tip of the probe or the tip end of the probe tip section is thrust to the device under test, an acting force such as bending or shearing concentrates on the base portion of the probe tip section in a lateral direction parallel to the sliding direction as a result of the aforementioned slide of the probe tip. When the stress on the base portion increases by the concentration of the acting force on the base portion, deterioration of the probe tip section at its base portion will be accelerated.
In an attempt to decrease the stress on the base portion of the probe tip section, the flat surface shape of the opening of the resist pattern for formation of the probe tip section is formed in a tapered shape so as to be broadened toward the end surface of the base portion, and thus the cross-sectional shape of the probe tip section at its base portion is broadened toward the end surface of the base portion coupled with the probe main body section.
However, in the conventional case, the thickness in the Y direction, which is a direction of depositing the metal material for the probe tip section as seen on a flat surface perpendicular to the protruding direction of the probe tip section, is uniform, as described above. Increase of the cross-sectional area of the base portion is attempted only by increase of the width dimension along the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction as seen on the aforementioned flat surface. Such increase of the dimension is restricted along with miniaturization of ICs.
Accordingly, it has been desired to attempt to improve durability of the probe by further improvement of durability of the probe tip section and further decrease of stress.
[Patent Document 1] International Publication WO2006/075408 Pamphlet

Method for manufacturing an electrical test probe


The present invention is directed to a pressure control unit for a brake system that includes a master cylinder connected to brake circuits for a plurality of drive and follower wheels, each brake circuit being connected to a wheel cylinder through a main brake line. The pressure control unit for each of the drive wheels incorporates a selector valve, fitted in the main brake line on a master cylinder side of a connection between the main brake line and the delivery line, the selector valve being formed to switch to a closed state only during traction control operation; a reflux line which connects a master cylinder reservoir and the suction line; a switching valve installed in the reflux line, the switching valve being formed to switch to a free passage state between a master cylinder reservoir and the suction line during traction control operation; a relief valve, fitted across both the main brake line and the reflux line, wherein when the pressure from the delivery line reaches or exceeds a threshold level, the relief valve opens to exhaust excess hydraulic pressure of the delivery line to the reflux line, and at all other times the relief valve remains closed; and a check valve connected to the suction line on a working fluid reservoir side of a connection with the reflux line.

Vehicles equipped with an antilock braking system (antilock control function or ABS) and a traction control system (TCS) employ a pressure control unit. Such a device has been disclosed in the Publication of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Number 57-22948.
That device uses an ABS hydraulic circuit as the basic circuit, wherein a control valve, which operates as a function of the operation of the master cylinder, is installed in the return pathway of the basic circuit, and a pump piston for the traction control system is added to the ABS hydraulic pump. When the master cylinder is activated, this control valve enables passage between a switching valve, switchable between supply or exhaust positions, and the hydraulic fluid reservoir, and when the master cylinder is not operating, then the control valve blocks this passage between the said switching valve and the reservoir, and at the same time links the said supply or exhaust switching valve and the delivery line of the hydraulic pump. As well, hydraulic fluid for both ABS and TCS operation is derived in common from the hydraulic pump; when the TCS is in operation, hydraulic pressure is supplied from the hydraulic pump through the return line of the ABS hydraulic circuit to the appropriate wheel cylinder via the supply-exhaust switching valve.
The pressure control unit as disclosed in that patent has the following problematic points.
(1) The hydraulic pump requires pump pistons for both the ABS and the TCS functions, moreover a 2-position-3-way selector valve is required which means that the device is very complex and therefore expensive.
(2) During operation of the TCS, both the supply of hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump to the wheel cylinder and the exhausting of the pressure from the wheel cylinder to the reservoir must proceed through at least two valves including the control valve and the supply-exhaust valve; this mechanism is complex and the overall response of the system is poor.
(3) When pressure is being reduced during operation of the TCS, the hydraulic fluid in the wheel cylinder circulates back to the master cylinder reservoir via the master cylinder channel and the master cylinder. This passage of the hydraulic fluid inside the master cylinder can easily damage the cylinder cup.


A method is provided for improving print quality for a 2-D bar code. The method includes determining printer type, including print resolution, for printer that will print 2-D bar code and entering paper type for the envelope. A suggested 2-D bar code module size is calculated based on the paper and the printer type. A test sample 2-D bar code is printed at the suggested 2-D bar code module size. The printed test sample is scanned and then evaluated for print quality and readability. The method can also suggest a 2-D bar code module size to the user.

The Information-Based Indicia Program (IBIP) is a distributed trusted system proposed by the United States Postal Service (USPS). The IBIP is expected to support new methods of applying postage in addition to, and eventually in lieu of, the current approach, which typically relies on a postage meter to mechanically print indicia on mailpieces. The IBIP requires printing large, high density, two dimensional (2-D) bar codes, such as PDF417 bar codes, on mailpieces. The requirements for printing a PDF417 2-D bar code are set forth in The Uniform Symbology Specification. The Postal Service expects the IBIP to provide cost-effective assurance of postage payment for each mailpiece processed.
The USPS has published draft specifications for the IBIP. The INFORMATION BASED INDICIA PROGRAM (IBIP) INDICIUM SPECIFICATION, dated Jun. 13, 1996, defines the proposed requirements for a new indicium that will be applied to mail being processed using the IBIP. The INFORMATION BASED INDICIA PROGRAM POSTAL SECURITY DEVICE SPECIFICATION, dated Jun. 13, 1996, defines the proposed requirements for a Postal Security Device (PSD) that will provide security services to support the creation of a new "information based" postage postmark or indicium that will be applied to mail being processed using the IBIP. The INFORMATION BASED INDICIA PROGRAM HOST SYSTEM SPECIFICATION, dated Oct. 9, 1996, defines the proposed requirements for a host system element of the IBIP. The specifications are collectively referred to herein as the "IBIP Specifications". The IBIP includes interfacing user (customer), postal and vendor infrastructures which are the system elements of the program.
The user infrastructure, which resides at the user's site, comprises a postage security device (PSD) coupled to a host system. The PSD is a secure processor-based accounting device that dispenses and accounts for postal value stored therein. The host system (Host) may be a personal computer (PC) or a meter-based host processor.
The proposed IBIP Indicium Specification requires a minimum bar code read rate of 99.9%. The Specification places the responsibility on each IBIP vendor to meet such requirement. One of the issues raised concerning the proposed IBIP is the readability of 2-D bar codes printed on envelopes. Different printing technologies work well with different types of paper. One particularly bad combination is ink jet printing on porous paper, such as recycled paper. The ink spots tend to feather reducing the resolution and quality of the print. Thus, there is concern over of 2-D bar codes printed by ink-jet printers. Because the 2-D bar code comprises a lot of information, the quality of the print has a direct effect on the readability of the bar code. Furthermore, the print quality is affected by various printer characteristics which may be specific to each individual printer. In particular, since PC meter printers are not dedicated to printing postage indicia, such printers are not expected to meet any USPS requirements, such as the minimum read rate set forth in the IBIP Indicium Specification. A number of other factors, such as environmental conditions, type of ink and printer wear, can affect print quality. Thus, the readability of the 2-D bar code will be affected by the various conditions outside the control of an IBIP vendor.

Method for customer selectable module size for an information based indicia


The invention relates to an assembly for producing a web of corrugated cardboard. The assembly has a corrugating device for producing a corrugated web, a glue application device for applying glue to the corrugated web and a pressure belt device which has an endless pressure belt guided around a deflection roller and a belt course regulating roller for pressing a cover layer against the corrugated web provided with glue. The pressure belt device has at least one pressure belt detection device associated to the pressure belt, the pressure belt detection device comprising a first pressure belt detection means for detecting the position of a first outer endless side edge of the pressure belt in the transverse direction thereof, a pressure belt regulating device in signal communication with the pressure belt detection device and an actuating device connected to the belt course regulating roller displacement device for displacing the belt course regulating roller depending on the regulating signals received from the pressure belt regulating device.

Assemblies of the generic type are already known from prior art, the assemblies comprising pressure belts for pressing a cover web to a corrugated web provided with glue. The belt course of the pressure belt is generally settable in advance. A drawback of these assemblies is that the pressure belts are subjected to extremely high wear during operation which greatly reduces the service life thereof. Furthermore, complications relating to the pressure belts occur frequently in the production of the webs of corrugated cardboard which affects the performance of the entire installation.

Assembly for producing an endless single-face laminated web of corrugated cardboard

BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH


A system, method and apparatus which permits the use of a wireless cell phone or other communications device as a connection, communications and control device able to connect a full-sized desktop monitor or other digital display device, keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer and other external devices to a wireless cell phone device using any combination of wireline or wireless connections from the desktop devices to the wireless cell phone device. The wireless cell phone device is used to create an Internet or other network connection capable of accessing any browser-based web site or browser-based software application, e.g., via an Internet connection. Once the connections between the components are established with the wireless cell phone device and the Internet connection is established components. Access to Internet software, services and media includes all forms of browser-based desktop software, as well as digital movies, music, and streaming video.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for using a wireless cell phone or other communications device in combination with a desktop computer monitor, keyboard and mouse to create a desktop computing environment. In particular, the invention relates to a system, method and apparatus in which the user of a wireless cell phone device establishes a direct connection with a desktop computer monitor, keyboard, mouse or other component using any combination of wireline connections and wireless connections. The present invention also relates to techniques for leveraging the use of a handheld communication device to other devices.
Description of the Related Art
Changes in the use and technological capabilities of wireless cell phone and other communications devices, e.g., Blackberry and Palm devices, have led to the rapid adoption of handheld cell phone devices as personal communications tools capable of supporting voice mail, email, calendars, contact lists and related applications. Handheld wireless devices are also commonly used to store and access music, videos and other forms of electronic entertainment and media. The increasing availability of Internet services and applications, particularly those that store a user's data in a computer server, data center or other location on the network independently of the user's handheld or desktop computer, and make that data available to other Internet or network-hosted services and applications, have given end-users the ability to access and store their important data, documents and applications on the Internet, e.g., using a browser in combination with their desktop computer hardware and software. With further technological advances, the traditional personal computer will be eclipsed by this on-going "off-shelving" process of moving data to more remote resources dedicated for this purpose.
Software applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets and database applications, generally require the use of a traditional desktop computer having a CPU, large amounts of random access memory, and one or more disk drives. Software applications and services available over the Internet, however, no longer require a high-performance CPU, large amounts of random access memory, a desktop computer disk drive or a traditional desktop computer operating system for their operation. What these Internet software applications and services do require to operate effectively is a sufficiently high bandwidth Internet or other network connection, a sufficiently capable browser, and standard desktop input and output devices, such as a digital display screen, keyboard and mouse, printer, and a speaker or a speaker system.
Although a number of companies, including Texas Instruments and Siemens, currently offer rudimentary products that allow a cell phone to project images, presentations and movies onto a wall or other nearby surface, Applicant is unaware of any product that allows a cell phone to transmit browser-based content to a nearby full-size digital display device, such as a computer monitor, or otherwise leverage the capabilities of the cell phone or other communications device in this matter.
In all cases where wireless cell phone devices are used to send and receive data, the user is confined to the use of the cell phone itself as a handheld computing device. None of the current methodologies for using a wireless cell phone device as a computer take into account the need or desire to have a full-size computer monitor or other full-size digital display device as a visual output device, as well as a full-size keyboard and full-size mouse device as user-operated input devices for manipulating data or issuing commands remotely through the handheld communications device. Specifically, the prior art fails to demonstrate any system, method or apparatus that disengages wireless cell phone and other communications device users from the ergonomic constraints of the small, low-resolution displays presently associated with handheld computing devices, and the small, portable keypad and control key input devices presently associated with handheld computing devices.
Furthermore, the prior art also fails to demonstrate any system, method or apparatus, whereby a wireless cell phone device may be used in place of a traditional computer, i.e., treat a wireless cell phone or other communications device as a thin client. In this instance, the thin client has only a TCP/IP software interface, browser software capable of supporting a high-resolution desktop monitor, the software device drivers necessary to allow desktop computer-based Internet software applications and services to communicate directly with the desktop monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and printer devices, and the peripheral communications hardware and software necessary to establish physical communications with the desktop monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and printer devices. In other words, this paradigm removes any requirements for the disk drives and other high-capacity storage mechanisms normally associated with desktop computers.
Furthermore, the prior art fails to demonstrate any system, method or apparatus that allows wireless cell phone users to access forms of digital media, including movies, music, and streaming video over the Internet or other network, and to display and otherwise transmit that media through the cell phone to full-size audio and video devices, such as desktop computer monitors, digital display screens and speaker systems directly or indirectly attached to the wireless cell phone device.
There is, therefore, a present need to provide an improved paradigm for using a wireless cell phone or other such communications device as a central component of a desktop or other such computing environment. For example, in the desktop environment this includes a desktop computer monitor or other full-size digital display device used as a visual output device, and a full-size desktop keyboard and mouse as a user input device, thereby allowing the wireless device user to overcome the aforementioned ergonomic and other constraints of existing handheld wireless devices, and better exploit the enhancements of the new wireless and other technologies offered, particularly as Web 3.0 concepts are enabled.
There is a further need to provide an improved paradigm for using a wireless cell phone or other communications device as a central component of a desktop or other such computing environment that includes, in addition to a desktop computer monitor and a desktop keyboard and mouse, the use of desktop speakers and a desktop printer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System, method and apparatus for using a wireless device to control other devices


A computer-executable method for financial retirement planning that provides a comparative evaluation of a plurality of health care funding alternatives. The comparative evaluation enables individuals to select one or more funding alternatives appropriate to their particular set of circumstances. The method commences by calculating overall cash flow for an individual, a couple, and/or a family during retirement. Based upon this cash flow, an amount representing an affordable heath care insurance premium is determined. Next, a comparison of projected retirement finances is provided. This comparison provides (a) financial projections assuming that long-term health care will not be required, (b) financial projections if long-term health care is required, but the individual is not covered by insurance, and (c) financial projections if long-term health care is required, and the individual is covered by insurance. The financial projections include a level of attainable retirement spending per week, month, and/or year. Optionally, the projections include a low-cost estimate, an average cost estimate, and a high-cost estimate for the expenses of long-term health care and/or health care insurance.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, there is a 43% chance that a person who lives beyond the age of 65 will require long-term health care. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that 8.8 million people over the age of 65 are receiving long-term care at the present time. Of this 8.8 million, 1.3 million are nursing home residents and 7.5 million receive some type of at-home care. The financial implications of long-term health care are significant. Seventy percent of single people who enter a nursing home are impoverished within one year. Fifty percent of all couples are impoverished within one year after a spouse enters a nursing home.
Perhaps the greatest threat of all to retirement security is the high cost of long-term health care. These costs are staggering. For example, a skilled nursing visit in 1990 averaged about $79 per visit, resulting in an annual cost of $12,324 for three skilled nursing visits a week. The average cost of one year at a nursing home is $47,000, but this figure increases dramatically for nursing homes located in major metropolitan areas. Average one-year nursing home costs in the New York City-Long Island Metropolitan Area run close to $78,000.
Nursing home and other long-term health care costs are not covered by Medicare. Medicare will only pay for hospitalization and doctor bills with a deductible that can be covered via any of a number of Medigap insurance policies. When a catastrophic illness or infirmity strikes, and the need for some type of long-term care is inevitable, there are only three funding options: cash, Medicaid, and long-term health care insurance. There is no one "best" funding option for everyone—it really depends upon financial circumstances that are specific to the individual requiring long-term health care.
For individuals who are wealthy and well-to-do, the best option may be to pay for long-term costs with cash, on an as-needed basis. After all, not everyone requires long-term care, and, in this ideal scenario, financial resources would be applied to insurance that is never used. On the other hand, if illness does strike, there are no problems with meeting expenses out-of-pocket. However, if such individuals wish to leave a "nest egg" to one or more heirs, the purchase of a long-term health care insurance policy may prove desirable. In the event of a serious illness, the insurance policy would serve to protect such a "nest egg" from erosion. Medicaid is not a viable funding option for wealthy clients, inasmuch as financial resources must be exhausted as a condition for eligibility.
Medicaid is a federal and state-administered health insurance program for the "poor". At present, Medicaid pays for the care of two-thirds of all nursing home residents. This is not because a disproportionate number of elderly people are poor. After all, the median income of an elderly couple is $2270 a month—two and a half times the poverty level for a family of two. Rather, it is attributable to the fact that an extended stay in a nursing home impoverishes even those who lived fairly comfortably prior to illness or injury. The cost of an average nursing home is $3333 per month. For the nonpoor elderly, the need for nursing home care often spells the end of financial as well as physical independence.
A person is not eligible to receive assistance from Medicaid unless their assets have been almost completely depleted. The extent to which assets must be "spent down" varies from state to state. All states permit an individual to keep a house, a car, a burial plot, burial funds, and a small amount of cash. However, states differ in terms of the maximum amount of cash savings and income that are allowed. In many states, cash savings are limited to two or three thousand dollars, and a personal monthly needs allowance of $30 or $40 is permitted. Once an individual depletes their assets to the point that they become eligible for Medicaid, they must still spend nearly all of their income—from Social Security benefits, pensions, interest, and dividends—on nursing home care before they can take advantage of the Medicaid program.
Existing financial planning tools provide insufficient information so as to enable one to select an appropriate course of action from the available health care funding alternatives. Instead, these tools merely generate a monthly or annual projection of overall cash flow during retirement. Individuals are then called upon to apply this information to a bewildering array of confusing alternatives. Due to the complexities of managing retirement health care expenses, it is easy for retirees and their families to become confused or overwhelmed at the available options As a result, many individuals do not follow a course of action that is appropriate or financially advantageous for their particular set of circumstances. The present situation is exacerbated in that unexpected health care expenses can lead to financial ruin.

Techniques for illustrating and analyzing long term health care expenses


Techniques for designing a unified messaging platform that functionally integrates an unlimited number of apps by different developers into a single messaging context, allowing users to seamlessly take advantage of external apps' features from within a messaging session. In an aspect, an assistant interface translates between the custom protocol used by a local messaging app and a universal semantic information interchange language (SIIL). The assistant interface communicates using SIIL with an assistant server, which includes a plurality of plugins each dedicated to an external app or “service module” that can interact with the messaging app. In an aspect, the assistant server may include a command inference block incorporating adaptive learning techniques to infer user intent from the messaging session. Further aspects include flexible and robust techniques to enable users to share authority to use external apps with other users, and to revoke such authority, during a messaging session.

Start-of-the-art mobile devices support an increasingly wide array of software applications (or "apps"), including messaging apps, Internet search engines, social networking platforms, online entertainment and shopping tools, etc. Individual apps are typically designed and serviced by different vendors or developers, and limited techniques exist for allowing independent apps to functionally cooperate with each other in a seamless fashion.
For example, when a user engaged in a messaging session desires to retrieve online information relevant to a topic under discussion, the user must typically disengage from the messaging session and open another app to service the query. The same applies when the user desires to perform any other external "non-messaging" tasks from within the context of the messaging session, such as making purchases or retrieving information from a social network.
One way to meet this challenge would be to design messaging apps with ever increasing feature sets, so that more functions (e.g., query, shopping, games, etc.) may be performed from within the messaging session. However, it would greatly exceed the resources of a single entity, e.g., a single software development organization, to design into the messaging app the high level of detail and complexity that is separately found in many of today's software applications.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide techniques for designing a unified messaging platform that functionally integrates an unlimited number of independent applications, allowing users to seamlessly take advantage of non-messaging apps' features without needing to disengage from the messaging session. It would further be desirable to provide flexible and robust techniques to enable users to share authority with others to use external services during a messaging session.


In a method of operating an internal combustion engine having at least two combustion chambers, each combustion chamber contributes torque to the total torque of the internal combustion engine, and the internal combustion engine is designed in such a way that a quantity of exhaust gas can be recycled into combustion chambers. The method has the steps: (a) detecting the torque contributions of at least two combustion chambers, then (b) changing the quantity of exhaust gas recycled into the combustion chambers, the torque contribution of which has been detected in step (a), then (c) detecting the torque contributions of at least two combustion chambers, the torque contribution of which has been detected in step (a), then (d) determining the change in the torque contributions as a result of the change in the quantity of recycled exhaust gas, and then (e) outputting a signal as a function of the change in the torque contributions.

For diesel engines in idle, controlling the injection quantity of diesel fuel individually by combustion chamber, i.e., individually by cylinder for a diesel engine, in such a way that all combustion chambers provide an essentially equal torque contribution to a total torque of the diesel engine, is known.
For pollutant reduction, in diesel engines of this type, a part of the exhaust gas is regularly recirculated into the combustion chambers. It has been shown that with increasing service life of the diesel engine, the pollutant emission, in particular the nitrogen oxide emission, rises. If an increase of the pollutant emission is established, an extensive technical diagnosis is necessary to find out the causes, to thus be able to maintain legal pollutant emission limiting values. In addition, an increased pollutant emission of diesel engines results in an increased environmental stress.
It has also been shown that the pollutant emissions differ for various diesel engines of the same manufacture. Maintaining pollutant emission limiting values is an important quality criterion. To be able to ensure the maintenance of the pollutant emission limiting values for all diesel engines from a manufacturing plant, strict manufacturing tolerances are to be maintained, which requires technically complex quality control.

Internal combustion engine and associated operating method


This invention relates to an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief and hydration system, designed to increase sanitation and comfort for users that require disposal of urine and hydration in the absence of sanitary facilities or potable fluids. This invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use. A dual chambered back pack stores urine and potable fluid and/or liquid food. This invention incorporates disposable batteries integrated into a disposable urine storage bag. The disposable urine storage bag has a cleaning fluid chamber with a directional valve and pump system that automatically rinses and sanitizes the pump, hoses, collection means and the user with cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber. The disposable urine storage bag also contains absorbent polymer crystals capable of absorbing the urine as it is deposited in the bag during use.

The use of human urinary collection and disposal systems is known in the prior art. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,508 (Washington, 1989) discloses a ladies' external catheter assembly, however this device does not use a vacuum pump for drainage or utilize a moisture sensor. Also U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,675 (Triunfol, 1986) teaches a device for collecting fluid discharged from female organs that is designed solely for incontinent women, not female aircrew members and the design includes a pad, vacuum pump and liquid sensor, however, the pad is more invasive because it is formed of plastic and has ridges to move the labia to an open position for free flow of liquid. The vacuum pump of the Triunfol patent is powered by an electrical outlet and does teach battery operation of these devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,631 (Marx, Sep. 2, 1997) a male external catheter assembly with vacuum retention is disclosed wherein a male external catheter attachment incorporates a vacuum or a means to produce reduced pressure to aid in installing and keeping the device in place. U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,977 (Marx, Mar. 19, 1996) teaches another form of male external catheter with vacuum assist utilizing a rubber bulb that functions as a vacuum. As such, the basic concept of bladder discharge collection systems and their use are disclosed.
There are no acceptable bladder relief systems for incontinent adults. Urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million Americans in community and institutional settings. Thirty-eight percent of non-institutionalized patients older than 60 years of age experienced urinary incontinence, and almost 50 percent of institutionalized patients. The annual costs of bladder control problems in the United States for people older than 65 years of age was estimated at $26.3 billion in 1995, or $3,565 per affected person. Many incontinent males use commercially available diapers, which cannot contain urine from multiple urinations, and become heavy and uncomfortable when wet.
Additionally in both military and enviro-hazard situations, personnel are forced to work in so-called Chem-suits which completely protect the user from exposure to environmental and chemical hazard exposure. The problem with these Chem-suits (also called Hazmat suits) is that a user has no means of urine disposal of hydration without exposing a portion of their body to potentially dangerous biological and chemical agents. In most situations that military and environmental hazard workers find themselves, they are often unable to escape the hazard for extended periods of time creating a significant health risk from dehydration and bladder strain if the user fails to urinate, or irritation and discomfort if the user urinates in the Chem-suit without a containment means. It has been observed that users of Chem-suits while in training will routinely expose parts of their body to urinate or hydrate, which if in a real life hazard situation could cost them their life.
In high heat environments the users of Chem-suits experience rapid dehydration. Some attempts have been made to utilize canteens that are externally mounted to the suit, however, these applications are quite limited in the capacity of water that can be practically carried. Furthermore the hip mounted aspect of these canteen configurations are cumbersome and often get in the way of a user trying to work in a Chem-suit that is already cumbersome without a further protrusion from the hip.
While each of these prior art patents disclose bladder relief systems which fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, and are most likely quite functional for their intended purposes, it will be noticed that none of the prior art cited disclose an apparatus and/or method that allow a user the comfort of automatic operation without the necessity of exposing parts of their body to hazardous materials, while also allowing the user to hydrate as well. As such, there apparently still exists the need for new and improved bladder relief system to maximize the benefits to the user and minimize the risks of injury from its use.
There is also no acceptable bladder relief system for male aircrew members flying extended flight operations in single or dual-seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft that do not have toilet facilities. Male aircrew members use two types of bladder relief devices, "piddle pack" bag systems and uncomfortable external catheters with tubing. The entire procedure for using the piddle pack takes several minutes. During this procedure the pilot is significantly distracted from flying the aircraft, which can place both himself and his aircraft in danger. The current piddle pack bag system can also be dangerous to use if the pilot needs to eject from the aircraft while urinating. The optimum bladder relief system would allow the pilot to eject from the aircraft even while urinating, which would require it to be hands-free and at least semi-automatic. In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially fulfills this need.
None of the prior art teaches a device that self cleans the urine pumping unit. The high concentration of urea and ammonia in decomposing urine is very destructive to pumps that are utilized to transport urine as well as the tubing and collection means utilized by these devices. Also, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that also rinses and sanitizes the exposed skin of the user after urination. Prolonged exposure to urine can cause irritation and possible infection. In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially fulfills these needs as well.
A significant problem with the prior art devices that have self contained powering systems, such as rechargeable batteries, is that users often neglect to recharge the unit and when the unit is needed it fails to work because the batteries have not been recharged. Therefore there is a significant need in the art for a device that has a reliable power source that minimizes if not eliminates a failure of the unit because of user error or neglect to properly maintain the power system in a charged state. In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially fulfills this need.
There are many applications where people work in environments where urination and hydration are just not available because of the circumstances of the work they are doing. From Pilots to Hazmat workers, these men and women will often be unable to urinate or hydrate for several hours at a time. Without the ability to urinate or hydrate a person is at significant risk of injuring themselves. Very often these individuals are making life and death decisions which may very easily be compromised by virtue of the simple biological limitations that all humans possess. Therefore there is also a significant need for an automatic bladder relief system that utilizes a hydration means as well.
In the case of Pilots, an automated or semi-automated bladder relief device is important not just for the aircrew member's comfort, health and safety, but also for the safety of the aircraft and squadron. The current invention will significantly reduce the pilot's distraction or downtime during bladder relief and hydration, which will improve pilot and aircraft safety.
Similarly, there is also no acceptable bladder relief system for female aircrew members flying extended flight operations in aircraft that do not have toilet or hydration facilities. Male aircrew members use two types of bladder relief devices, piddle pack bag systems and external catheters with tubing. Female aircrew members cannot use the catheter/tubing assemblies designed for males. Instead, most use commercially available adult diapers. These diapers have the following drawbacks:                1 Neither the Disposable Absorption Containment Device (DACD) developed by NASA nor commercially available diapers have the capacity to hold the 1000 cc of urine produced during some long duration flights.        2 High g maneuvers force the female aircrew member downward into the seat, displacing urine from the diaper and leaving the female to sit in a wet flight suit and seat for the duration of the flight.        3 Prolonged exposure to urine can cause skin irritation and may develop into more serious conditions such as ulcers.
In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially corrects these problems and fulfills the need for such a device.
Lastly the present invention may also be effectively used by passengers in aircraft without toilet or hydration facilities, glider pilots, non-ambulatory patients, incontinent adults, astronauts, rescue workers in hazmat suits, and long-distance truckers and race car drivers.

Automatic self cleaning bladder relief and hydration system


A heatsink for a power device comprises an upper conductive plate providing a first surface; a lower conductive plate providing a second surface; a middle conductive plate provided between the upper and lower plates, the middle plate having a hollow portion and a solid portion, the hollow portion defining an area to receive coolant, wherein the power device is provided on the first or second surface, so that heat generated by the power device can be transferred to the coolant. The heatsink further comprises an input port coupled to the hollow portion of the middle plate to provide the coolant into the hollow portion; and an output port coupled to the hollow portion of the middle plate to remove the coolant from the hollow portion.

The present invention relates to power devices and related components thereof.
Electronic semiconductor device technology continues to rapidly advance, producing devices that achieve heretofore unattainable operating speeds, packing density, and high temperature compatibility. This last characteristic, high-temperature compatibility, is one of more important features. High-temperature environments as well as high-power and high frequency applications are becoming increasingly important. The ability of electronics to withstand high-temperature environments of gas-turbines, automotive engine compartments materials handling and fabrication equipment, aircraft subsystems and the like, makes possible many historically impractical electronic applications for these environments.
Many such high-power, high-temperature electronics applications inherently limit the ability to dissipate heat and power generated by the electronics. Thermal and power management as well as environmental protection of the electronics are therefore handled entirely by the electronics packaging. As a result, typical high-performance packaging criteria include mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity, close matching of device and package thermal expansion coefficients, low dielectric constant for accommodation of high frequency devices, and environmental protection (e.g., hermetic sealing).
In designing such packages, thermal management is important—especially at high power generation levels which increase the amount of heat created. Heat decreases the performance and operating life of the transistor. Moreover, heat generated at the collector base junction in bipolar devices can create a temperature buildup which may eventually cause the device to short-circuit. MOSFET switching losses and channel conduction losses cause the device to overheat and may result in failure.
Accordingly, the power device is generally mounted on a thermally conductive pad which acts as a heatsink and dissipates the heat generated by the power device. A copper plate is commonly used as a heatsink due to its good heat conductivity.