A tool assembly primarily for illuminating a work space having a plurality of tools each of which having both a proximal and distal end for providing rotational movement of each of the tools for extension to at least one functional position and a distal end for use of the tool in the work space, and a stored position when not in use; in which one of said tools means is a flashlight means for illuminating at least the work space and at least one other said tools at the proximal end. The assembly further has a gripping, extension and containment portion within the assembly for engaging the tool and for providing pivotal positioning of the tools from the functional position through to the stored position; at least two non-vertically coplanar hinge pins for pivotal engagement of each of the tools from the stored position through the functional position; such that when the tools are pivoted to at least one aligned functional position the tools are substantially parallel and vertically coplanar and when the tools are pivoted to a stored position the tools are substantially contained within the assembly in a parallel, co-vertically planar arrangement by way of recesses in the said gripping, extension and containment portion; the gripping, extension and containment portion further has an arcuately sloped surface means for ergonomic and useful functioning, for wresting the flashlight or a thumb when in use.

The instant invention relates to an ergonomically and functionally designed foldable hand tool for a plurality of uses. Hand tools are an extension of one's hands, thereby allowing the power of the hand and leverage of the forearm for increased efficacy. Human beings have used hand tools for ages, dating back to prehistoric times. Hand tools are regularly used in most occupations and are routinely used in many households and for both "do-it-yourself" and recreational use.
Typically tools are independent of one another, and thus the user must select from amongst tools in a tool box the specific tool for the specific application, requiring that the plurality of tools and tool box be carried from job to job. In order to meet this demand, a multiplicity of combined tool structures have been offered but do not carry the advantages or design of that set forth herein below.
Heretofore, foldable hand tools comprise essentially one or more tool implements arranged between a housing wherein the tool implements may be pivoted out of the stored position within the housing into an opened position outside the housing. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,833 to Felicano, U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,409 to Ackeret et. al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,049 to McLoudrey.
It has been heretofore recognized that it is preferable to have foldable hand tool which has a means for illumination as this would eliminate the need for a separate tool. Having an illumination means included in a foldable hand tool further eliminates the need for an additional hand to hold said illumination means, therefore allowing use of the free hand for other purposes. As such, also known in the art are foldable hand tools which provide a means for illumination, such as a flashlight. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,741 to Elsener, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,952 to Zirk. The subject matter disclosed in Elsener and Zirk however, fails to disclose a device in which the illumination is virtually in axis parallel with the tool and thus actually illuminating the tool, the object of work, and the work space involved.
Moreover, the above-referenced devices fail to provide a foldable hand tool which is ergonomically and functionally designed to conform with the hand of the user. Ergonomic hand tool designs are used to improve the physical fit between people and the hand tools they use. Ergonomic tools reduce the risk of immediate, direct injuries, such as cuts and bruises. Ergonomic tools are less stressful on the hands and arms, thus minimizing the cumulative wear and tear on skin that leads to abrasions, blisters and calluses. In addition to providing for comfort during use, ergonomic hand tools also decrease the potential for injury—a consideration any prudent designer or user of hand tools must consider. Indeed, studies have revealed that hand tools were responsible for 5% to 10% of all compensable injuries. (Ayoub, M., Purswell, J., & Hicks, J. (1977). Data collection for hand tool injury: An approach. In V. Pezoldtz (Ed.), Rare event/accident research methodology (pp. 71-103). Washington, D.C.: National Bureau of Standards). Furthermore, 70% to 80% of hand tool related injuries were a result of use of non-power tools. Id.
Among the injuries known to be associated with hand tools are musculoskeletal disorders, both of the tendon and nerves. Musculoskeletal disorders are disorders arising from repeated exertions and excessive movements of the body. Therefore, users of hand tools, who are oft required to twist their arms, hands, and wrists repeatedly or forcefully are susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are often painful and are usually involve debilitating swelling. Among the known musculoskeletal disorders associated with use of hand tools are carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, tendinitis, ganglionic cyst, epicondylitis, and De Quervain's disease. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (1990), the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders is quickly rising. Indeed, more than 60% of the workplace illnesses reported each calendar year are associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Other symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders are tingling, swelling in the joints, decreased ability to move, decreased grip strength, continual muscle fatigue, sore muscles, numbness, and pain in movement. Often one can associate the condition with the design (i.e., the device is awkward in holding and implementation) and with the inability to illuminate the working environment (often a flashlight is held in the mouth of the user to provide light to the working environment).
It is thus an object of the instant invention to overcome these aforementioned limitations in a single operational design.
Ergonomically and functionally designed hand tools have also been shown to decrease the amount of force needed for work. Hand tools that require muscular force should be designed so that the largest muscle groups available exert the required force. Utilization of the largest muscle groups will enable users of hand tools to apply much greater torque than can be accomplished with a non-ergonomically designed hand tool, without risk of injury. The greater the force exerted by use of a hand tool, the greater the strain on the user's hand and arm. Ergonomic hand tools enable users to apply two to three times the torque available from conventional hand tools.
It is thus another object of the instant invention to provide a functional, ergonomically constructed tool array that reduces the risk of injury while still permitting use of the user's musculature in operation.
Accordingly, it has been recognized that use of ergonomically constructed and functional hand tools will reduce health claims. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) companies that implement ergonomic means with function can reduce the number of repetitive motion and back injury claims by more than 250,000 annually. Functional and ergonomic hand tools improve the user's overall productivity by reducing the risk of both direct and long-term injury.
This and other objects of the instant invention will become evident by careful reading and analysis of the within application and review of the annexed figures.

Utility device with multiple, pivotal non-coplanar tools


The present relates to a suction foundation in which is penetrated into the seabed by a vacuum pressure of a suction pump, thereby providing a desired foundation support force. The suction foundation includes a hollow caisson having an opening at a lower end thereof, where the suction pump is connected to the hollow caisson and the suction pump allows the hollow caisson to penetrate into the seabed while discharging a fluid in the hollow caisson to an outside thereof by using the vacuum pressure of the suction pump, a lower skirt provided along a circumference of the opening of the hollow caisson and formed into a wave shape having a series of teeth, and having wedge-shaped cross-sections, and a stiffener increasing rigidity of the lower skirt by increasing thickness of a predetermined portion of the lower skirt.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a suction foundation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a suction foundation having an enhanced self-weight penetration, whereby when the suction foundation is landed on a seabed by its own weight, the suction foundation is penetrated into the seabed by a vacuum pressure of a suction pump, thereby providing a desired foundation support force.
Background
Generally, a suction foundation is a foundation for providing a foundation support force to install a structure in the sea.
Normally, penetration of a foundation has been performed by vibrating, striking, or water jetting, but in recent years, a suction foundation has been widely used, whereby the suction foundation penetrates into a seabed by difference of hydraulic pressures generated between an inside and an outside of the suction foundation by a suction pump.
To be specific, a hollow caisson of the suction foundation penetrates into the seabed while a water pump forcefully discharges a fluid in the hollow caisson to an outside thereof after the hollow caisson having an opening at a lower end thereof and having a tub shape is penetrated into the seabed by its own weight.
That is, the suction foundation requires being penetrated into the seabed by its own weight before the water pump forcefully discharges fluid in the hollow caisson to the outside thereof.
A penetration caused by the self-weight of the suction foundation is required to be performed at an initial stage for installing the suction foundation, which is very important, since whether the suction foundation can be penetrated into a seabed by suction of the water pump depends on an amount of initial self-weight penetration of the suction foundation when the suction foundation is landed on the seabed by its own weight. When the amount of the initial self-weight penetration is small, suction pressure of the water pump may leak, thereby making the penetration of the suction foundation impossible.
To solve the above-mentioned problem, technologies have been developed to increase an amount of initial self-weight penetration of the suction foundation.
As a related art of the present invention, there is a suction pile presented in "Piling Apparatus of Suction Pile" disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1175206 (patent document 1).
According to the related art, as shown in FIG. 8, the piling apparatus of suction pile includes: a suction pile 1 penetrating into the seabed; the suction pump 2 provided on an outer surface of the suction pile 1, the suction pump 2 discharging water in the suction pile 1 to an outside thereof; and a rotating part 3 rotating the suction pile 1.
Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the suction pile 1 of the related art is provided with a series of teeth 1a formed along a circumference of a lower end of the suction pile 1. Due to the sharp ends of the teeth 1a, the suction pile 1 can stably land on the seabed, thereby increasing the amount of initial self-weight penetration of the suction pile 1.
However, when the suction pile 1 of the related art lands on a hard seabed, the series of teeth 1a may be deformed or damaged by the hard seabed, so the suction pile 1 may fail to perform efficient penetration.
Meanwhile, although the piling apparatus of suction pile according to the related art is configured to rotate the suction pile 1 by the rotating part 3 so as to efficiently penetrate the suction pile 1 into the seabed, the suction pile 1 can be forcefully rotated only by the rotating part 3, but it is impossible to induce the suction pile 1 to rotate on its own.
In addition, referring to a suction pile disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1199348 (patent document 2) as another related art, the suction pile is provided with an end shoe formed into the shape of a saw blade at a lower end of the suction pile, thereby increasing the amount of initial self-weight penetration of the suction pile, but there is no element capable of preventing the end shoe from being damaged. Thus, the suction pile may fail to perform efficient penetration, and further, this technology cannot induce a rotation of the penetrating suction pile.
The information disclosed in the Background of the Invention section is only for the enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or as any form of suggestion that this information forms a prior art that would already be known to a person skilled in the art.

Suction foundation having enhanced self-weight penetration and construction method thereof

KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY


The invention relates to a device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbomachine where the supply of air is improved. The invention relates more particularly to a new type of sliding bushing.

The invention applies to the field of turbomachines and relates to a device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbomachine.
It relates more precisely to a novel type of sliding bushing in which the supply of air for the air/fuel mixture is improved.
In the remainder of the description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" will be used to denote the positions of the structural elements in relation to one another in the axial direction, taking the gas flow direction as reference point. Likewise, the terms "internal" or "radially internal" and "external" or "radially external" will be used to denote the positions of the structural elements in relation to one another in the radial direction, taking the axis of rotation of the turbomachine as reference point.
A turbomachine comprises one or more compressors which deliver pressurized air to a combustion chamber where the air is mixed with fuel and ignited so as to generate hot combustion gases. These gases flow downstream of the chamber toward one or more turbines which convert the energy thus received in order to rotate the compressor or compressors and provide the work required, for example, to power an aircraft.

Device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel, combustion chamber and turbomachine both equipped with such a device


A method for the control of a magnetic resonance system is provided. In a test phase before a magnetic resonance measurement, a test high-frequency pulse with several parallel individual high-frequency pulses is transmitted with a transmitter antenna arrangement over various different high-frequency transmitter channels. At lower transmitter power, the test high-frequency pulse generates essentially the same field distribution as an excitation high-frequency pulse to be transmitted during a subsequent magnetic resonance measurement. A high-frequency field generated by this test high-frequency pulse is measured in at least one area of a local pulse arrangement, and on the basis of the high-frequency field measured, a high-frequency field value that is to be anticipated at the local coil arrangement during the subsequent magnetic resonance measurement is determined. The control of the magnetic resonance system during a later magnetic resonance measurement includes taking the high-frequency field value into account.

The present embodiments relate to a method for the control of a magnetic resonance system.
Magnetic resonance tomography is a method that has become widespread for obtaining images of the interior of a body. With this method, the body that is to be examined is subjected to a relatively high basic magnetic field. A high-frequency excitation signal (e.g., the B1 field) is transmitted by a transmitter antenna arrangement, as a result of which the nuclear spins of specific atoms that are resonantly excited by the high-frequency field are tipped through a specific flip angle in relation to the magnetic field lines of the basic magnetic field. The high-frequency signal (e.g., the "magnetic resonance signal"), which is radiated at the relaxation of the nuclear spins, is received by suitable receiver antenna arrangements. The raw data acquired in this way is used to reconstruct the image data. For the purpose of location coding, defined magnetic field gradients are superimposed in each case on the basic magnetic field during the transmitting and reading-out and receiving, respectively, of the high-frequency signals.
For the transmitting of the B1 field, a "whole body coil" (e.g., a "whole body antenna" or "body coil") is permanently integrated in the scanner. The magnetic resonance measurement space is located in the whole body coil. The magnetic resonance measurement space may take the form of a patient tunnel. The antenna arrangements that are used to transmit the B1 field may also be used to receive the magnetic resonance signals.
In order to obtain images with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the magnetic resonance signals may be recorded with local coils or local coil arrangements including one or more local coils. The local coils or local coil arrangements are antenna systems that are located in the immediate vicinity on or beneath the patient. The signals received by the individual magnetic resonance antenna elements of the local coils, in the form of an induced voltage, are amplified by a low-noise preamplifier, and forwarded by cable to a receiver device of the magnetic resonance system. The signal-to-noise ratio is determined to a decisive degree by the precise structure of the antenna elements of the local coils and, for example, by the losses in the antenna elements. With very small antenna elements, a relatively good SNR may be attained close to the local coil. For this reason, and because of the possibility of accelerated measurement using k-space sub-scanning in parallel imaging processes (e.g., SENSE or GRAPPA), very dense receiver antenna arrangements with a large number of individual channels may be used. The individual antenna elements may have entirely different orientations relative to the transmitted B1 field. In addition to this, for example, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, even with high-resolution images, high-field systems with 1.5 Tesla to 12 Tesla and more are used.
One problem that arises is that, even during the excitation of the nuclear spins, currents are induced by the high-frequency transmitter power in the antenna elements of the local coils. This may lead to an undesirable heating of the local coils. Accordingly, in order to reduce, when transmitting, the current in the antenna elements, which when receiving, are matched in resonance precisely to the magnetic resonance frequency and consequently also to the frequency (e.g., the Larmor frequency) of the transmitted excitation pulses, the resonance circuit of the antenna elements is opened by a likewise resonant detuning circuit. This is represented diagrammatically in an example in FIG. 1, which shows a magnetic resonance antenna element in a local coil. The antenna element 50 includes a conductor loop 51 that is interrupted at several points by shortening capacitors 52. The induced voltage is tapped using one of the shortening capacitors 52. To do this, the shortening capacitor 52 is bridged in parallel by a high-frequency switch 55 (e.g., in the form of a PIN diode 55) connected in series with an inductor 54. If the high-frequency switch 55 is opened, then the detuning circuit 53 is formed by the shortening capacitor 52 and the inductor 54. The entire magnetic resonance antenna element 50 is detuned in relation to the Larmor frequency. By way of the high-frequency switch 55, via two filter inductors 56 and a filter capacitor 57 connected parallel to the high-frequency switch 55, a tap is effected to a coil plug 58. Using the plug 58, the signal is forwarded to the receiver device of the magnetic resonance system. In the coil plug 58, for example, a pre-processing of the magnetic resonance signal is already integrated (e.g., a suitable preamplifier). If the local coil includes several such antenna elements 50, the antenna elements 50 may be compiled, for example, in the coil plug 58, in which the individual signals are then pre-amplified and corresponding individual follow-on spins in the coil plug may be conveyed away via a suitable cable. Using such a connection cable, by the imposition of a direct current, the PIN diode 55 may be switched open in order to detune the antenna element 50. The filter capacitor 57 serves to block off the high-frequency signals from the direct current.
Even with a technically optimum layout of the detuning circuit 53, the high-frequency currents incurred in the detuning circuit, when transmitting the excitation signals through the transmitter antenna system, lead to the heating of the circuit. This heat, by conduction or convection, may also lead to the heating of the surface of the local coil (e.g., the local coil housing). Specified IEC Standards allow for a maximum surface temperature of components that come in contact with the patient of 41° C. This specification is relatively demanding, since both the DC losses of the electronics (e.g., the preamplifier integrated in the coil plug, the frequency mixer, and the analog/digital converter) may contribute to the waste heat, as well as to the high-frequency-induced losses in the detuning circuit. In order to be able to meet this specification, therefore, when transmitting the high-frequency signals for the excitation of the nuclear spins, attention is to be paid not only to the maximum high-frequency load on the patient (e.g., the specific absorption rate (SAR)), but also to providing that the local coils are not overheated. In this respect, appropriate limit values are specified for the transmission of high-frequency pulses, such that these conditions are fulfilled. When local coils are being newly designed, a check is carried out to provide that the temperatures may not be reached when emitting the conventional approved high-frequency pulse sequences.
All-body antennae have been operated in a "homogeneous mode" (e.g., in a "CP mode"), in which the transmitting field is circular polarized and is present in as homogeneous manner as possible inside the patient tunnel. The field structure in this situation is largely determined by the transmitter antenna and the feed from a transmitter, in that a single high-frequency signal is produced with a defined fixed phase and amplitude relationship to all the components of the transmitter antenna. In newer systems, in order, for example, to avoid shadowing effects in the abdomen, two different polarization states may be set (e.g., a circular polarization and an elliptical polarization). The high-frequency distributions are largely homogeneous. In these cases, it is relatively easy to test the local coils and provide that the permissible maximum temperature of 41° C. is not exceeded on the surface of the local coil for the maximum possible mean transmitting fields. The decisive parameter of the transmitting field in this situation is, in addition to the spatial field structure, the "mean (B12)" (e.g., the mean square amplitude of the B1 high-frequency field over time). This value is a reference for the power that may be introduced into the local coils by the B1 transmitting field.
Magnetic resonance systems may include the transmitter antenna arrangements with a plurality of independent high-frequency transmitter channels. The individual transmitter channels may be occupied independently of one another by individual HF signals. A high-frequency pulse for the excitation includes several individual high-frequency pulses that are emitted in parallel over the different independent high-frequency transmitter channels and are then superimposed to form one common field. Such a "multi-channel pulse", which, due to the parallel transmission of the individual pulses, is also designated as a "pTX pulse," may be used, for example, as an excitation, refocusing, and/or inversion pulse. An antenna system with several independently controllable antenna components or transmitter channels may also be referred to as a "transmit array," regardless of whether this involves a whole-body antenna or an antenna arrangement close to the body.
With such systems, therefore, the structure or the spatial distribution of the high-frequency field are not specified by the hardware but may be adjusted at will, or at least over broad ranges, by software. Accordingly, the systematic preliminary test of local coils for approval in such magnetic resonance systems may no longer be carried out. A test for all possible transmitting field states may be unattainable. The limit values, with which high-frequency fields are emitted, are thus to be restricted with regard to the temperatures at the local coils to such conservative limit values that, under any circumstances, the possibility of the permissible maximum temperatures being exceeded is excluded. Under certain circumstances, therefore, local coils used previously may no longer be used in newer systems, or are to undergo expensive retro-development and retro-fitting.

Method for the control of a magnetic resonance system


A collapsible container for protecting and transporting an animal head is provided. The collapsible container comprises at least one strap for carrying the collapsible container and a base component comprising a bottom, four sides, a lid. The lid comprises four triangular flaps and an opening centrally located in the lid. The four triangular flaps open to allow a hunter to place the animal head within the base component, while the opening permits passage of the animal head's antlers through the lid. The four triangular flaps are then zipped together further securing the animal head.

Hunters often hunt for sport in addition to the desire to harvest meat from wild game. Once an animal desirable as a trophy head such as a deer or elk is killed, it is difficult to preserve the head and antlers intact without damage long enough to transport the carcass to a taxidermist for preservation. If the head is left on the animal, it may easily become damaged in transit or begin to spoil due to exposure to the elements. Traditional devices for properly packaging freshly harvested animals can be bulky and complicated to utilize. They often require packaging of the entire animal which takes up significant transportation space.
Consequently, there exists a need for a device designed to provide for the safe transportation of a hunting trophy that prevents spoilage of the skin before the trophy may be preserved. The proposed invention provides a protective container that can safely transport the head and antlers or horns of freshly harvested wild game from the woods to a taxidermist without taking up excessive space during removal from the field and during transport. The invention is collapsible for easy transportation to the sight of the harvesting, fits in most vehicles, and protects the skin of the animal from the wind, rain, sun, and other natural elements so that the trophy may be properly prepared at a later time.


Blends of (1) a crystalline polyamide derived from 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and a dicarboxylic acid and (2) a segmented polyesteramide derived from (a) MDI, (b) a carboxylic acid-terminated polyester prepolymer, a carboxylic acid-terminated polyether prepolymer or a carboxylic acid-terminated polycarbonate prepolymer and (c) from 0 to 10 moles of a dicarboxylic acid per mole of prepolymer, exhibit increased tensile ductility and are useful in the manufacture of headlamp reflectors, electrical connectors, molded circuit boards and the like.

This invention relates to semi-crystalline polyamides and, more particularly, to modified semi-crystalline polyamides.
Semi-crystalline or crystalline polyamides (CPA) are known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,501,844 and 4,806,589. In the '589 patent, CPA is added to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to increase the crystallization rate of PET. The terms "crystalline" and "semi-crystalline" are used herein interchangeably, although "semi-crystalline" is a more appropriate term to describe crystallinity in polymers than "crystalline" because most "crystalline" polymers have an appreciable amount of amorphous, uncrystallizable material even after their level of crystallinity has been maximized. Semi-crystalline polyamides are known to be useful in applications that require good load bearing, good solvent resistance and good heat resistance, such as automotive under the hood applications or electronic parts.
To achieve maximum heat resistance, semi-crystalline polyamides (CPA) need high degree of crystallization. Insufficiently crystallized CPA parts can distort severely when heated above their T.sub.g (about 125.degree. C.), whereas CPA parts with sufficient degree of crystallization do not distort significantly until temperatures approach the melting point (T.sub.m) which is about 285.degree. C. However, highly crystallized crystalline polyamides are brittle and, therefore, have limited utility. To minimize the effects of brittleness in highly crystallized CPAs, fillers and fibrous reinforcements are usually used. Using fillers and reinforcements, however, do not provide a satisfactory solution to the problem because they cannot be used in applications which require unfilled compositions. One such application is for lamp reflectors which require a smoother surface than can be achieved with filled compositions.
Typically, the mold temperature range required to achieve sufficient crystallization with CPA during injection-molding cycle of less than about 1 minute is between about 150.degree. C. and about 175.degree. C. If the mold temperature is below about 150.degree. C., parts with an amorphous skin and a crystalline core are formed. The amorphous skin can be detected visually because amorphous CPA is transparent and crystallized CPA is relatively opaque. CPA with sufficient degree of crystallization will be referred to hereinafter as "fully crystallized CPA" and that with insufficient degree of crystallization will be referred to hereinafter as "partially crystallized CPA."
It would be desirable to provide fully crystallized crystalline polyamides which do not contain reinforcements or fillers, yet have good toughness and good thermal properties.

Blends of semi-crystalline polyamides and polyesteramides


The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and computer-readable recording medium for refocusing a photographed image using a depth map. According an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a refocusing method including a) outputting a photographed image on a display unit; b) determining whether a region to be refocused is specified in the output image; c) computing a depth map of the output image if the region to be refocused is specified; d) acquiring a refocused image by increasing resolution of the specified region to be refocused and decreasing resolution of regions other than the specified region to be refocused, based on the computed depth map; and e) outputting the refocused image on the display unit. According to the present disclosure, when an image photographed using a camera is not focused exactly or it is intended to focus on another region of the photographed image, a refocused image can be generated by specifying a region to be refocused in the photographed image.

As portable terminals are miniaturized and made light-weight, portable terminals become more convenient to carry, and demands on the portable terminals gradually increase. Accordingly, additional functions installed in the portable terminals are diversified.
Particularly, as a function of a digital camera provided as an additional function are recognized as an indispensable component by users recently, such a function tends to be provided in most of portable terminals. Although the focus of a digital camera employed in a portable terminal basically is set on the center of a screen, the focus may be adjusted to set on another position. That is, it is possible to take a picture by diversely adjusting the focus when photographing an object using the digital camera. For example, this function is provided in products such as iPhones or iPads.
However, the digital camera employed in a portable terminal cannot obtain a desired image by focusing on another region of a previously photographed image when the photographed image is not focused exactly.
Demands of consumers on the portable terminals are diversified. Accordingly, there is a need of techniques to be developed for obtaining a desired image by refocusing on a region selected from a photographed image.
A conventional refocusing technique is disclosed in a website at http://www.cs.columbia.edu/CAVE/projects/active_refocus/, which is a technique proposed by Francesc Moreno-Noguer et al., entitled "Active Refocusing of Images and Videos." In this technique, a projector placed in combination with a camera using a half-mirror is used to obtain a dot pattern, and depths and color segmentations corresponding to projected dots are used to compute a depth map. The depth map is used to refocus an acquired image after the dots are removed.
However, this refocusing technique has a problem in that a projector should be used in order to obtain a dot pattern needed to compute a depth map.

Method, apparatus and computer-readable recording medium for refocusing photographed image


This disclosure describes techniques that may prevent cryptographic devices, including both encryption devices and decryption devices, from producing a power signature that can be used by attackers to deconstruct a cryptographic algorithm and extract a cryptographic key. The techniques may include an external power supply charging an internal, dedicated power storage element; temporarily gating off the encryption device from the external power supply; configuring a cryptographic logic unit to perform a cryptographic algorithm from power stored in the power storage element while the external power source is gated off; and then recharging the power storage element upon the cryptographic logic unit completing an iteration of the cryptographic algorithm.

The field of cryptography is generally dedicated to mathematical routines and processes for transforming unencrypted information referred to as "plain text" into encrypted information referred to as "cipher text." Plain text information is generally in a form, such as plain text English, that is intelligible. Cipher text information, in contrast, is generally in a form that is not intelligible. For example, an encrypting algorithm might transform the plain text of "Clearwater, Fla." into cipher text that reads "h4k0f2145n:0}1we9?b[6g." A decrypting algorithm reverses the encryption operation by taking unintelligible data and making it intelligible again. Both encryption and decryption operations rely on the use of what is commonly referred to as a "cryptographic key." The cryptographic key is a value that is unique to authorized users and is accepted as input to the cryptographic algorithm for the purpose of making the transformation unique. In general, the intent is that cipher text cannot be recovered without the appropriate cryptographic key. For example the cryptographic algorithm can transform the cipher text of "h4k0f2145n:0}1we9?b[6g" back into the plain text of "Clearwater, Fla.," only if the cryptographic key used to encrypt the message is available to decrypt the message. As the cryptographic key grants access to the secured plain text when it is in encrypted form, the cryptographic key must itself be kept secret.
In a typical cryptographic system, a trusted user with an encrypting device and a key might encrypt confidential information and transmit the encrypted confidential information to another trusted user who possesses a device with a key. In many applications, an objective of cryptography is to make secret and/or confidential information unintelligible to unauthorized users. For example, even should an unauthorized user gain access to the cipher text of "h4k0f2145n:0}1we9?b[6g," without the key, this encrypted information would be unintelligible and unusable to the unauthorized user.
Oftentimes unauthorized users will attempt to analyze cipher text in an attempt to extract the cryptographic key. Such unauthorized users are sometimes referred to as "attackers," and such attempts to extract cryptographic keys are sometimes referred to as "attacks." One technique for extracting the key is commonly referred to as the "brute force" technique, which involves an attempt to match every possible combination of plain text to the cipher text until a match is found. In modern 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, a pure brute force attack is highly impractical, even with the processing power of modern computers.
Differential power analysis (DPA) is a powerful cryptanalytic technique that can be used by attackers to extract cryptographic keys from cryptographic hardware by statistically correlating power consumption measurements recorded during processing of a cryptographic algorithm to specific operations of the cryptographic algorithm. By isolating the specific intermediate operations that comprise the cryptographic algorithm, attackers can gain an understanding of how a cryptographic algorithm is operating, and based on this understanding, the attackers can deconstruct the cryptographic algorithm incrementally until a key can be successfully extracted. In some instances, even 128-bit and 256-bit keys are vulnerable to deconstruction via DPA.

Cryptographic logic circuit with resistance to differential power analysis


A system, method, and computer-implemented method for circulating a file associated with the manufacture of a semiconductor product. The computer-implemented method may include choosing at least one input file, choosing an output file format, choosing a mode for circulation, extracting file information to the output file, and circulating the output file to at least one recipient.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of semiconductor manufacturing and, more particularly, to a system and method to report business capital data.
The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing have been needed. For example, an IC is formed by creating one or more devices (e.g., circuit components) on a substrate using a fabrication process. As the geometry of such devices is reduced to the submicron or deep submicron level, the IC's active device density (i.e., the number of devices per IC area) and functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per IC area) has become limited by the fabrication process. Certain processes, such as a copper damascene process, may be selected to achieve the desired device density.
Furthermore, as the IC industry has matured, the various operations needed to produce an IC may be performed at different locations by a single company or by different companies that specialize in a particular area. This further increases the complexity of producing ICs, as companies and their customers may be separated not only geographically, but also by time zones, making effective communication more difficult. For example, a first company (e.g., an IC design house) may design a new IC, a second company (e.g., an IC foundry) may provide the processing facilities used to fabricate the design, and a third company may assemble and test the fabricated IC. A fourth company may handle the overall manufacturing of the IC, including coordination of the design, processing, assembly, and testing operations.
In managing the business of IC manufacturing, many kinds of files needs to be distributed among users. These may be business report files, may be of different file types, in different file formats, and associated with different application software. For example, some files may not be easily extracted to form an email attachment. All users, including outside users such as customers and shareholders, and inside users such as the management and marketing teams, may require report files through different media, such as emails, faxes, and/or wireless devices. There is not currently available an integrated system and method to circulate files on a variety of media. It is expected that such a system could reduce the cost on management effort and processing time, improve processing efficiency, security, report or analysis thoroughness, and/or provide enhanced report distribution.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method to implement an integrated file server to automatically process a variety of files, combine information, and/or transfer the files to recipients through different media and formats according to applications and needs.

Method for circulating a report in a semiconductor manufacturing environment

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A measuring system that embodies a method and a calibration frame for use in measuring pupillary distances is provided. The calibration frame provides true measurements as well as known measurements over a vertical plane co-planar between at least two identified points. The method includes a photographed image of the calibration frame worn by the individual so that using the true and/or known measurements of the calibration frame to compare to their corresponding “apparent” distance measured of the photographed image, the pupillary distances can be determined for providing a prescription lens for a frame desired by the individual. Thereby the measuring of pupillary distances that can take into account relevant position of the person's nose-bridge through a universal calibration frame that can be worn by individuals, and so facilitates online purchases as well as in-store dispensing of prescription frames.

The present invention relates to pupillary measurements and, more particularly, to a system, method and device for measuring pupillary distance that can take into consideration relevant position of the individual's nose-bridge through a calibration frame, and so facilitating online purchases as well as in-store dispensing of prescription frames.
Traditionally, measuring pupillary distance required an individual to utilize the services of an optician using a ruler or specialized equipment, usually by visiting an optical store, to obtain such measurements. Such measurements include pupillary distances, wherein the pupillary distances are the horizontal distance between each eye-pupil and the center of the frame nose-bridge (always necessary to make eyeglasses).
In-store measurements were the norm because even a small pupillary distance error can make prescription eyeglasses exhibit prismatic behavior, causing squinting, headaches, and dizziness. The importance of aligning an optical lens with the individual's eye pupil is one of the key factors for making prescription eyeglasses successfully.
Recently, methods of measuring pupillary distance have been developed so the individual need not employ the services of an optician—i.e., remote methods. One popular method consists on taking a picture of the individual while placing the back-side of a credit card, a CD/DVD or an object of a commonly known length on his/her chin in order to be able to obtain the scale of the picture and calculate the inter-pupillary distance from the picture. However, this method is not suitable for an individual with an asymmetrical face, as the actual pupillary distances from the nose to their corresponding right and left eyes may differ from the value obtained from a single inter-pupillary measurement.
Another popular remote method consists on having the individual taking his/her own measurements in front of a mirror using a ruler; either with or without the assistance of another person. Since even experienced opticians have difficulty taking their own measurement in a mirror, this method is prone to pupillary measurement error(s) and its associated effects mentioned above.
Yet, another remote method consists on taking a picture of the individual's face; then analyzing the image with the assumption that all human iris have the same diameter-size in order to establish a picture scale and an inter-pupillary distance from the picture; since the size of the human iris varies from person to person with a range of 10.2 to 13 mm, this method is prone to pupillary measurement errors and neither suitable for an individual with an asymmetrical face.
As can be seen, there is a need for a system for measuring pupillary distances that can take into account the actual position of the individual's nose-bridge through employing a calibration frame that can be mass produced for universal application, and so facilitating online purchases as well as in-store dispensing of prescription frames.

System, method and device for measuring pupillary distances


A method for measuring a proportion of sA1c (%), which includes, when a peak derived from abnormal hemoglobin D, abnormal hemoglobin S or abnormal hemoglobin C is identified, calculation of the peak area, and measurement of the proportion of sA1c (%) corrected by using the calculation results. Results of measurement are obtained, by cation exchange chromatography, of sA1c (%) with a subject who provided a blood sample containing abnormal hemoglobin D, abnormal hemoglobin S or abnormal hemoglobin C by eliminating influences by such abnormal hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin comprises hemoglobin A having an α2β2 structure consisting of two α chains and two β chains, constituting about 97% of total hemoglobin, and hemoglobin F having an α2γ2 structure consisting of two α chains and two γ chains, constituting less than 1% of total hemoglobin, and hemoglobin A2 having an α2δ2 structure consisting of two α chains and two δ chains, constituting less than 1% of total hemoglobin, as well.
Hemoglobin forms glycated hemoglobin by non-enzymatic glycation with sugar (plasma glucose) or its metabolite present in blood. Hemoglobin A1 formed by glycation of hemoglobin A constituting the most part of total hemoglobin, does not strictly constitute the entire glycated hemoglobin, but is clinically considered synonymously with glycated hemoglobin in many cases. Hemoglobin A1 is further separated into A1a, A1b and A1c. The proportion of so-called stable hemoglobin A1c (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "sA1c"), the concentration of which changes reflecting a change of the blood glucose level in the past two to three months, not being influenced by a temporary increase of the blood glucose level e.g. by a diet, to total hemoglobin (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as A1c %) is widely employed as an index of diabetes diagnosis or follow-up of diabetes patients.
Measurement of glycated hemoglobin has been conducted by means of liquid chromatography. Measurement of glycated hemoglobin by liquid chromatography is roughly classified into measurement by cation exchange chromatography by which hemoglobin is separated into various hemoglobin components utilizing a difference in charge of them using a packing material to which an ion exchange substance is fixed, and measurement by affinity chromatography using a packing material to which aminophenylboronic acid groups having high affinity for sugar are fixed. By affinity chromatography, which utilizes affinity for the sugar chain moiety, various glycated hemoglobin components including sA1c are to be measured (Non-Patent Document 2), and in this case also, the proportion of glycated hemoglobin to total hemoglobin is utilized. On the other hand, by cation exchange chromatography, various hemoglobin components are separated, and only sA1c is measured, whereupon the proportion A1c % to total hemoglobin is calculated.
Hemoglobin also includes various abnormal hemoglobin components such as hemoglobin E, hemoglobin D, hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C caused by hemoglobin gene mutations. And in recent years, reports have been published that in rare cases, if a blood sample to be subjected to glycated hemoglobin measurement contains various abnormal hemoglobin components caused by such gene mutations, by measurement by affinity chromatography, measurement results reflecting symptoms of a subject who provided the blood sample can be obtained, whereas by measurement by cation chromatography, the sA1c % measurement value is low and in some cases, hardly reflects symptoms of a subject who provided the blood sample (Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Method for measuring glycated hemoglobin and device for measuring glycated hemoglobin


Apparatus for removing and/or returning a disk shaped object having a central hole to and from a disk holder, includes a pick-off head having movable pick-off elements adapted to grasp the disk-shaped object through its central hole, characterized in that the pick-off head includes a rotatable shaft coupled to the movable pick-off elements and provided in the central axis of the pick-off head and arranged so that when the shaft rotates the pick-off elements are reciprocated radially with respect to the central axis so that when the pick-off elements are positioned with respect to the central hole of the disk rests on at least two of the pick-off elements.

Apparatus of the generic type are known which serve for information carriers, such as compact disks or diskettes for example, to be removed from/deposited in disk holders and are part of players/recorders or archiving equipment.
Such an apparatus for a compact disk (CD) to be removed from and/or returned to a disk holder of a player/recorder is shown in WO-94/27293 and has a pick-off head with three L-shaped pick-off elements. The pick-off elements are arranged with the ends of their long limb portions in a suspended, swivelling condition and in circular-arc spacing of 120 degrees at the lower end of a connecting rod mounted in the vertical central axis of the pick-off head. The ends of the short limb portions of the L-shaped pick-off elements point radially away from the central axis of the pick-off head and, when the connecting rod is in the lower end position, form a diameter smaller than that of the central hole of the CD. To remove a CD from a disk holder having a through opening, the pick-off head is inserted with its pick-off elements into the central hole by means of a pneumatically acting, first lifting cylinder. In an upward movement of the connecting rod, by means of a pneumatically acting, second lifting cylinder forming part of an actuating device and provided at the upper end of the connecting rod, the pick-off elements are swivelled with their lower ends radially outwardly away from the central axis and are also drawn axially upwards. As a result, the CD is lifted out of the disk holder by means of the short L-shaped limb portions, is centered on the long limb portions and is urged against stop means provided above the CD on the pick-off head.
An apparatus for a compact disk (CD) to be removed from and/or returned to a disk holder of a player/recorder is shown in DE-A-43 34 866. This apparatus has a pick-off head in the form of a clamping device with two pick-off elements, each in the form of a semicircular clamping segment arranged at the lower end and around the central axis of the pick-off head. The first clamping segment is stationary and the second one is movable radially with respect to the central axis of the pick-off head and both segments have a diameter smaller than that of the central hole of the CD. To remove a CD from the disk holder having a through opening, the movable segment is drawn towards the stationary segment by means of a motor-driven spring-lever system of an actuating device in such a way that the CD is force-lockingly clamped at the inner wall of its central hole by the segments. The pick-off head carrying the CD is lifted by a separate motor-driven lifting device.
Drawbacks encountered with the described apparatus are in one respect their elaborate design, presenting a large overall height and large unit volume and separate drive assemblies for the device lifting the pick-off head and device actuating the pick-off elements. In another respect, the force-locking engagement of the disk-shaped objects, particularly the information carriers, leads to distortion, warping and hence to damage of the information carriers.

Apparatus for removing and/or returning a disk shaped object to and from a disk holder


An electrical connector comprises a plurality of conductive terminals, a housing and a holder. The housing has a plurality of terminal receiving grooves which extend forwardly from a rear end face of the housing and receive the terminals respectively and a locking structure which is formed to a top surface of the housing. The holder is provided to the housing, the holder has a transverse frame portion which extends in a transverse direction, a plurality of positioning arms which obliquely extend downwardly and forwardly from the frame portion and are respectively inserted into the grooves, and a lock plate portion which extends forwardly from a top of the frame portion to above a top surface of the housing and has elasticity, the arms respectively position the terminals along slopes inside the grooves, the lock plate portion has a lock structure which is locked with a locking structure of the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,511 (hereinafter referred to as a first prior art) discloses a terminal retaining portion formed onto a metal terminal, the terminal retainer protrudes upwardly and is provided to a rear side of a contacting portion. An engagement hole into which an engagement projection is may be inserted formed to a lower surface of the contacting portion. A front end of a retaining piece of the retainer abuts a rear edge of an upper portion of terminal retaining portion. Engagement pieces are respectively formed to opposite ends of a body of the retainer, and project in the same direction as the direction of projection of the retaining pieces and guide pieces. Two engagement holes for contacting with a projection on the side surface of the housing are formed in the engagement pieces, in which one engagement hole makes the retainer held in a provisionally-locked position, and the other engagement hole makes the retainer held in a completely-locked position.
Chinese invention patent application issuance publication No. CN104638417B (hereinafter referred to as a second prior art) discloses a rear locking portion (which is a protruding portion integrally formed to extend upwardly) formed to an upper plate of a contacting cylinder portion and positioned behind a front locking portion. When a holder is mounted to a second housing, a front end portion of a locking arm of the holder locks the rear locking portion, so as to prevent a second terminal mounted to the second housing from being pulled out from the rear. When the holder is mounted to the second housing, an upper guiding rib and a lower guiding rib guide upper and lower edges of a sliding plate portion of the holder. A lock protruding portion locks a lock recessed portion which is formed to the sliding plate portion.
However, the first prior art (using the engagement pieces) and the second prior art (using the sliding plate portion) both use an manner of moving in a straight line and performing engagement, such a manner is adapted to a case that an enough gap exists between a conductive wire and the plastic housing, if the gap is not large enough, a retainer (or a holder) is not easy to be inserted. Because a diameter of the conductive wire used in the first prior art and the second prior art is relatively small, there exists an enough gap between the conductive wire and the plastic housing for the retainer (or the holder) to be inserted, however, when the diameter of the conductive wire increases (for example, the diameter is 16 AWG), the gap between the conductive wire and the plastic housing is easy to be not large enough, leading to the retainer (or the holder) being not easily to be inserted. Moreover, the engagement piece of the first prior art and the sliding plate portion of the second prior art increase the size of the transverse width of the connector, which is beneficial for miniaturization. And when it is applied to a case that the number of the conductive terminals is large, the holding force of the conductive terminal positioned in the middle will be relatively small.


A display apparatus is provided having an LCD panel and a backlight unit to illuminate the LCD panel, and further including a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the backlight unit, an inverter to drive the backlight unit, a power supply to supply power to the inverter, and a controller to control the power supply to supply an initial voltage that is higher than a normal voltage when the power is initially supplied, and gradually lower the voltage applied to the inverter to return to a substantially normal voltage in the case where the temperature of the backlight unit is higher than a predetermined normal temperature or when a time period has passed. Thus, the display apparatus and control method thereof reduce the time taken to stabilize brightness when initially driving a display apparatus, and display a stable and high-quality picture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a control method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display apparatus and a control method thereof, which reduces the time taken to stabilize the brightness when initially driving a display apparatus and which displays a stable and high-quality picture.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a display apparatus with a liquid crystal (LCD) panel comprises a backlight unit to illuminate the LCD panel, an inverter to drive the backlight unit, and a power supply to supply power to the inverter. In the conventional display apparatus, the brightness of the LCD panel is varied as the backlight unit is driven when the power is initially supplied, a phenomena which is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 1A.
While initially supplying the power, the power supply supplies a normal voltage to the inverter so as to drive the backlight unit. Thus, the inverter receives the normal voltage and drives the backlight unit such that the brightness of the LCD panel gradually increases and approximately reaches normal brightness (about 90%) after a lapse of a time t1.
However, the conventional display apparatus has a disadvantage in that the time t1 taken to reach normal brightness is relatively long.
A conventional display apparatus for overcoming this disadvantage is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 11B. In this conventional display apparatus, the power supply supplies an overvoltage to the inverter when the power is initially supplied such that the brightness of the LCD panel reaches normal brightness after a lapse of a shorter time t2. Then, when the temperature of the backlight unit reaches a predetermined temperature at a time t2′, the power supply supplies the normal voltage to the inverter. However, in this case the brightness of the LCD panel rapidly increases until the time t2′ and then suddenly returns to the normal brightness due to voltage variation (that is, the variation from the overvoltage returning to the normal voltage).
Thus, in the foregoing display apparatus, when the power is initially supplied to drive the backlight unit, the brightness of the LCD panel is suddenly changed after the lapse of the time t2′ such that the LCD panel blinks and provides a user with a low quality picture.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for reducing the time taken to stabilize the brightness and display a high-quality picture in a display apparatus.

Display apparatus and control method thereof


The invention relates to a thrombin inhibitor of the formula: EQU R.sup.1 NH--CHR.sup.2 --C(O)--A--B--X (I). wherein R.sup.1 is -(1-6C)alkylene-COOH or -(1-6C)alkylene-CONH.sub.2 ;. R.sup.2 is a side chain of a hydrophobic D-amino acid; PA1 A is an amino acid selected from proline, optionally containing a second heteroatom selected from N, O, or S, and optionally substituted with (1-6C)alkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy or halogen, 2-azetidine carboxylic acid, pipecolinic acid, octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid or valine; PA1 B is lysine, 3- or 4-aminocyclohexylglycine or .omega.-(1-6C)alkyl-lysine; and PA1 X is a heterocycle selected from 2-thiazole, 2-thiazoline, 2-benzothiazole, 2-oxazole, 2-oxazoline, 2-benzoxazole, 2-imidazole and 2-benzimidazole, which heterocycles are optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from (1-6C)alkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, phenyl, --C(O)O--(1-6C)alkyl and amido; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the invention have anticoagulant activity and can be used in treating or preventing thrombin-related diseases.

Thrombin is a member of the class of the serine proteases. Serine proteases are enzymes which, amongst other things, play an important role in the blood coagulation cascade. Other members of this class of proteases are for example trypsin, factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, XIIa, and protein C.
Thrombin is the serine protease which regulates the last step in the coagulation cascade. The prime function of thrombin is the cleavage of fibrinogen to generate fibrin monomers, which form an insoluble gel by cross-linking. In addition, thrombin regulates its own production by activating factors V and VIII earlier in the cascade. It also has important actions at the cellular level, where it acts on specific receptors to cause platelet aggregation, endothelial cell activation and fibroblast proliferation. Thus throinbin has a central regulatory role in haemostasis and thrombus formation. Since inhibitors of thrombin may have a wide range of therapeutical applications, extensive research has been performed in this area.
In the development of synthetic inhibitors of sernie proteases, and more specifically of thrombin, the interest in small synthetic peptides that are recognized by proteolytic enzymes in a manner similar to that of natural substrates, has increased. As a result, new peptide-like inhibitors have been prepared, such as the transition state inhibitors of thrombin.
The search for more effective and more selective thrombin inhibitors continues unabated in order to obtain thrombin inhibitors which can be administered in lower dosages and which have fewer and less severe side effects.
Furthermore, special attention is paid to oral bioavailability. Potent intravenous thrombin inhibitors are clinically effective in acute care settings requiring the treatment of thrombin-related diseases. However, particularly the prevention of thrombin-related diseases such as myocardial infarct, thrombosis and stroke require long-term therapy, preferably by orally dosing of an anticoagulant.
Many of the peptide-like thrombin inhibitors disclosed in prior publications are based on the sequence -D-Phe-Pro-Arg-, see for example compounds as disclosed by Brady et al. Bioorganic & Medical Chemistry, 3 (1995), 1063-78!. Thrombin inhibitors may also contain lysine side chains instead of arginine, Such as other inhibitors disclosed by Brady et al., and further by Jones et al. J. Enzyme Inhibition, 9 (1995), 43-60! and Lewis et al. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 74(4) (1995), 1107-12!. Also thrombin inhibitors having an aminocyclohexyl moiety instead of 2 lysine or arginine side chain are known WO 94/25051!. From these and other references e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,308! further a number of variations at the C-terminus of these peptide-like thrombin inhibitors is known. The developments in this field have already improved the understanding of how to modulate the biological properties of this type of thrombin inhibitor. However, although great effort is being spent on finding selective thrombin inhibitors having good oral bioavailability, there are still few transition state thrombin inhibitors known in the art which fulfill these requirements.


An air gill bag of a debris collection and disposal system (or lawn care leaf and debris collection system) for receiving a leaves, yard debris and other types of suitable debris for containment for subsequent disposal. The air gill bag comprises an elongated bag body which includes an open top, a closed bottom, a plurality of air gill cut strips, and a plurality of strength strips. In the preferred embodiment, the air gill cut strips and the strength strips form columns of perforated and non-perforated surface material. Such a configuration allows the propelled air directed into the bag to be ventilated through the bag and debris directed into the bag to be trapped, with the bag still retaining much of its durability and tear resistance despite presence of extensive perforations. The air gill bag is typically attached to the vacuum bag outlet of a machine blower using a dual attachment strap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a debris collection and disposal system and, more particularly, to a disposable bag employing an air gill cut strip and strength strip system that allows propelled air to pass through while debris carried by the passing air is collected.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional methods of removing fallen leaves and other yard debris from an area typically include manually picking up such debris and placing it in a container for disposal, using a machine to direct debris to a desired location using propelled air, or using a machine which employs a vacuum to suck up debris into a reusable bag which must be periodically emptied. As such, a problem which still exists is that existing debris collection systems typically require extensive and recurring manual labor, whether it be repeatedly picking up piles of debris or repeatedly emptying a reusable bag into a disposal container. Thus, there remains a need for a debris collection and disposal system implemented through an air gill bag that allows debris to be sucked up by a machine employing a vacuum directly into a disposable container. It would be helpful if such an air gill bag based debris collection and disposal system enabled the sufficient ventilation during the collection of debris to avoid the buildup of excessive pressure. It would be additionally desirable for such an air gill bag based debris collection and disposal system to be structured to retain sufficient strength to be moved even when full.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a debris collection and disposal system which incorporates an air gill bag defined as a semi-permeable container suitable to collect leaves and other yard debris. The primary component in Applicant's debris collection and disposal system is a disposable container employing air gill technology, embodied as air gill cut strips in grid arrangement and interspersed between a plurality of strength strips. When in operation, the air gill bag enables the simultaneous collection of debris in and the passage of air through a disposable container. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

Lawn care leaf and debris collection system


The compositions described herein are hard surface cleaning compositions which are viscous but at the same time easy to rinse. Such compositions are formulated by using (a) a linear C6-C16 alcohol and/or linear alkoxylated C6-C16 alcohol, (b) a hydrotropic solvent and (c) an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of linear and branched alkyl sulfate, linear and branched alkyl sulfonate and mixtures thereof.

It is well-known in the art that it is a desirable feature of a liquid hard surface cleaning composition that it should have a certain viscosity. Indeed, viscosity allows a controlled handling, more specifically dispensing of the composition during use, as compared to a thinner composition. Also, viscosity allows a better action of the composition on non-horizontal surfaces, such as toilets, bath tubs and the like. That is because viscosity prevents the composition from running down said surfaces, like thinner liquid compositions would.
Preferably, viscosity will be built up by a so-called "self-thickening system" as opposed to using a thickener for that specific purpose. Indeed, thickeners, such as gums or polymers have at least one drawback that they affect the formula cost, while providing only one benefit, which is thickening. They do not participate to the actual cleaning of the surface and therefore represent "inert" materials. Also, some thickeners are detrimental to the physical stability of the liquid compositions they are formulated in. It is known in the art to formulate self-thickened liquid compositions where the thickening is achieved without the use of polymeric thickeners, see for instance WO 95/03383.
WO 95/03302 discloses an aqueous viscous composition (pH=0.5-7) comprising an amine oxide or amine and a secondary or primary monobranched alkyl sulfate or sulfonate, a hydrotrope and an organic acid.
However, there is still a need to provide self-thickened aqueous compositions with better performance in several respects including cleaning performance like grease cleaning performance and viscosity properties.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an aqueous hard-surface cleaning composition which is viscous by means of a self-thickening system and which delivers improved cleaning performance.
Also, there are some drawbacks associated with viscosity. And a main drawback is that viscous compositions are typically difficult to rinse away, specifically because viscous compositions have a good cling onto surfaces and current self-thickening systems lead to the formation of stable foams. Thus, viscosity and ease of rinsing are somewhat conflicting requirements, but both are desirable in a single-composition for cleaning hard surfaces.
It is thus another object of the present invention to provide an aqueous hard-surface cleaning composition which is viscous by means of a self-thickening system, and which is nevertheless easy to rinse away.
It has now been found that the above objects can be met by combining (1) a linear C6-C16 alcohol and/or a linear alkoxylated C6-C16 alcohol, (2) hydrotropic solvent and (3) an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a linear and branched alkyl sulfate, a linear and branched alkyl sulfonate and mixtures thereof. Indeed, it has been found that the compositions of the present invention comprising a linear C6-C16 alcohol and/or a linear alkoxylated C6-C16 alcohol, said hydrotropic solvent and said anionic surfactant deliver excellent viscosity properties and improved cleaning performance as compared to the same compositions containing amine oxide surfactants instead of said linear C6-C16 alcohol and/or linear alkoxylated C6-C16 alcohol. More particularly, excellent viscosity properties are achieved even at lower total level of self-thickening ingredients.
An advantage of the viscous compositions according to the present invention that deliver improved cleaning performance is that they may be used in a wide range of applications in bathrooms, kitchens, floors and especially on any vertical surface like walls, toilet bowls and the like.
An additional benefit derived from said compositions is that they are low foaming, both in the sense of the amount of foam initially generated during use, as well as in terms of foam stability. This benefit adds to the ease of rinsing benefit already obtained with the "mechanistic" benefit derived from the viscosity profile of the composition.
Yet another advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that they are physically stable upon long storage periods.
Actually, the present invention provides a cost effective hard surface cleaning composition that meets consumer needs concerning viscosity, rinse ease, cleaning performance and stability upon long storage periods.


A plasma cutting method for use in a plasma cutting apparatus having a nozzle with an orifice in which a plasma arc is pinched and thereby narrowed and densified and a flushing secondary gas for surrounding a forward end portion of the nozzle. Also, a non-oxidizing gas is caused to flow as a plasma gas to start the arc and a non-oxidizing gas is caused to flow as the secondary gas to start the arc so that a non-oxidizing gaseous atmosphere may prevail in the vicinity of an outlet of the above mentioned nozzle.

A plasma torch which has previously been used in a plasma cutting machine is so constructed as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings attached hereto, and is provided in its central portion with an electrode 1, inside of which there is formed a cooling chamber 8. Also, outside of the electrode 1 there is formed a plasma gas passage 2, and a nozzle 3 is disposed so as to surround the electrode 1 via the plasma gas passage 2. Also, outside of a forward end of the nozzle 3 there are formed a cooling chamber 9 and a secondary gas passage 4 along with a shield cap 5 surrounding the cooling chamber 9 and the secondary gas passage 4.
A cutting process with a plasma torch of such a construction is carried out by generating a plasma arc 7 that constitutes a main arc between the electrode 1 and a workpiece 6 while causing a plasma gas 20 to flow through the plasma gas passage 2. The plasma arc 7 is pinched and thereby narrowed and densified with an orifice 3a of the nozzle 3 and is elevated in temperature and accelerated therethrough so as to be flushed towards the workpiece 6 and so as to melt and remove a portion thereof for cutting it.
Then, a water coolant is circulated through the cooling chambers 8 and 9 which are provided in the interior of the electrode 1 and the exterior of the nozzle 3, respectively, so that they may both be cooled. Also, a secondary gas 21 is then flushed through the secondary gas passage 4 provided inside of the shield cap 5 so that the above mentioned plasma arc 7 may be surrounded by the secondary gas 21.
The procedure of generating a plasma arc 7 as mentioned above is set forth below. First, a high frequency voltage is applied across the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3 to cause a spark discharge between them, resulting in the occurrence of a pilot arc. Floating on a flow of the plasma gas 20, the discharge spot of the pilot arc on the side of the electrode 1 is moved to the center of the forward end thereof while the discharge spot on the side of the nozzle 3 passing through the orifice 3a thereof is moved to a region of the outlet thereof, eventually reaching the surface of the workpiece 6, and thus establishing a plasma arc 7.
At the same time, the electric power between the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3 ceases being supplied. The plasma arc 7 is then pinched and thereby narrowed and densified with the orifice 3a of the nozzle 3 to result in a high temperature and high velocity flushing jet stream, which acts to form a cut groove of a small width in the workpiece 6 and to allow cutting thereof to proceed.
Then, while both the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3 are exposed to an elevated temperature by the plasma arc 7, they are, as mentioned above, cooled by the water coolant or air. Also, the electrode 1 which will be elevated by a temperature of several thousand degrees due to the thermo electron emission, in order for its wear to be lowered, is composed of a high melting point material. Such a material, if the plasma gas 20 contains oxygen, may be hafnium and, if it is a non-oxidizing gas not containing oxygen, may be tungsten.
Also, in a prior art plasma cutting process, the kind of plasma gas 20 that has been employed is related to the material of the workpiece 6. Thus, if a mild steel material is to be cut, the plasma gas 20 makes use of oxygen. If a stainless material or an aluminum material is to be cut, the plasma gas 20 makes use of a non-oxidizing gas not containing oxygen. The non-oxidizing gas may be composed of a single component gas such as argon or hydrogen or a mixture thereof.
By the way, as mentioned earlier, it should be noted that in plasma cutting, a plasma arc 7 at a high temperature and with a high velocity is flushed out of the nozzle 3, thereby locally melting a workpiece 6 and a portion of the molten metal thereof is blown off to form a cut groove therein, whereby the workpiece 6 continues to be cut.
Accordingly, it can be seen that the cutting quality of plasma cutting significantly depends on the configuration of the nozzle 3 through which the plasma arc 7 is pinched and thereby narrowed and densified for flushing out thereof. If the nozzle 3 wears so as to be deformed in configuration and the orifice 3a thereof is enlarged in diameter, the cutting quality should deteriorate.
Since the outlet of the orifice 3a of the nozzle 3 in particular largely affects the direction and the expansion of the plasma arc 7 flushed out therethrough, it should be noted that if the outlet of the orifice 3a wears even a little, the cut surface of the workpiece 6 will incline, the molten metal will become unable to be blown off completely and there will be left what is called a dross--a residue of the molten metal in a cut groove, and all of these deleteriously affects the cutting quality largely.
Also, as mentioned earlier, it should be noted that a plasma cutting machine in the prior art is designed to generate a pilot arc between the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3 before a main arc is initiated and, if an electrical conduction is established between the electrode 1 and a workpiece 6 with the pilot arc as a pilot flame, to form a plasma arc 7 constituting the main arc, and then, if this occurs, the supply of the electric power to the nozzle 3 is ceased so as to terminate the pilot arc. Thereafter, cutting will proceed with the main arc.
Therefore, with the plasma cutting machine, if a cutting operation is performed with such a main arc generated, such a pilot arc comes to be generated each time the arc is initiated.
Since the pilot arc is generated between the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the spot (arcing spot) P sustaining the pilot arc 17 is exposed to the arc of a high temperature. Also, an air entraining flow 18 is produced in the vicinity of the forward end of the nozzle 3 such that air may be drawn so as to flow into the orifice 3a of the nozzle 3. For this reason, if the plasma gas is composed of a non-oxidizing gas, damage 19 may develop due to oxidation in the orifice 3a of the nozzle 3. Consequently, each time a cutting operation is carried out, the wear of the nozzle 3 unavoidably proceeds due to a pilot arc 17 which is generated when the arc is initiated.
The pilot arc 17 is generated from a spark discharge that is caused when, initially at the start of an arc, a high frequency high voltage is applied across the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3. The pilot arc 17 is generated across the shortest distance between the electrode 1 and the nozzle 3. Subsequently, floating on a flow of the plasma gas 20, the arcing spot on the side of the electrode 1 is moved to the center of the forward end thereof whereas the arcing spot P on the side of the nozzle 3 passing through the orifice 3a thereof is moved to a region of the outlet of the nozzle orifice 3a, and then stays in the vicinity of the outlet thereof until a main arc is generated.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it follows that the wear of the nozzle 3 when the pilot arc is generated is concentrated and proceeds at a portion of the outlet of the orifice 3a.
Thus, in the conventional plasma cutting machine, since a pilot arc is started each time a cutting process is carried out, the outlet portion of the orifice 3a of the nozzle 3, which largely affects the cutting quality, predominantly and continually wears off, it is unavoidable that the cutting quality will deteriorate. In order to maintain an acceptable level of cutting quality, therefore, it has been necessary to frequently exchange the nozzle 3.
Also, in cutting a mild steel material, it should be noted that the use of oxygen or a gas containing oxygen as the plasma gas 20 is customary but, as compared with a non-oxidizing gas, wear of the nozzle 3 due to a pilot arc is made further acute and requires the nozzle 3 to be replaced after only cutting operation time of several hours to several tens of hours. Thus, the need to enhance the durability of the nozzle 3 has been a big problem.
Thus, the requirement to replace the nozzle so often not only raises costs and the machine's running cost but also deteriorates the cutting efficiency arising from the time required to replace it, resulting in lowered machine productivity. Also, these are not all the deficiencies. Not only is personnel required who constantly monitors a reduction in the cutting quality due to a deterioration of the nozzle 3, but also an acute wear of the nozzle 3 constitutes a severe obstruction to the construction of an unmanned plasma cutting machine.
The present invention has been made with the foregoing problems taken into account and has as its object to provide a plasma cutting method which is capable of markedly enhancing the durability of the nozzle, maintaining an acceptable cutting quality over a prolonged time period, reducing the machine's running cost, and realizing an enhancement of the machine's productivity.


A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for spatial sparsity induced temporal prediction. In one embodiment, the method comprises: performing motion compensation to generate a first motion compensated prediction using a first block from a previously coded frame; generating a second motion compensated prediction for a second block to be coded from the first motion compensated prediction using a plurality of predictions in the spatial domain, including generating each of the plurality of predictions by generating block transform coefficients for the first block using a transform, generating predicted transform coefficients of the second block to be coded using the block transform coefficients, and performing an inverse transform on the predicted transform coefficients to create the second motion compensated prediction in the pixel domain; subtracting the second motion compensated prediction from a block in a current frame to produce a residual frame; and coding the residual frame.

Hybrid video compression consists of encoding an anchor video frame and then predictively encoding a set of predicted frames. Predictive encoding uses motion compensated prediction with respect to previously decoded frames in order to obtain a prediction error frame followed by the encoding of this prediction error frame. Anchor frames and prediction errors are encoded using transform coders.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video encoder. Referring to FIG. 1, a motion compensated (MC) prediction module generates a motion compensated prediction from a previously decoded frame. A first adder subtracts the motion compensated prediction from a current frame to obtain a residual frame. A transform coder converts a residual frame to a coded differential, for example by using a combination of a transform, a quantizer, and an entropy encoder. During decoding, a transform decoder converts the coded differential to a reconstructed residual frame, for example by using a combination of an entropy decoder, an inverse quantizer, and an inverse transform. A second adder adds the reconstructed residual frame to the motion compensated prediction to obtain a reconstructed frame. A delay element "Z−1" stores the reconstructed frame for future reference by the MC prediction module.
There are a number of drawbacks of related art solutions. For example, some prior solutions are limited to taking advantage of very specific types of temporal dependencies among video frames. That is, the generic motion compensated prediction operation is limited to forming predictors for the current frame by using blocks from previously decoded frames directly, or by using low-pass filter based interpolations of these blocks. Once motion estimation is done and candidate blocks in the previously decoded frame(s) are found, it is assumed that these blocks or their various low-pass filtered forms are the best predictors for the blocks in the predicted frame. Many temporal variations, such as temporally independent variations on otherwise temporally correlated, frequency rich blocks, are not accounted for by related art solutions. For example, low pass filtered versions of blocks undergoing such variations can remove relevant high frequency signal components from the prediction and actually hurt performance. These unaccounted variations cause serious performance penalties as they produce motion compensated differentials that are very difficult to code with the transform coders employed in hybrid video coders. Some specific problematic temporal variations such as specific types of brightness variations have been considered by researchers. However, these solutions are not valid beyond the specific problems for which they are designed. Hence, they do not provide general and robust solutions. Also, some researchers have also devised frame adaptive motion interpolation filters but these too are limited to very specific temporal evolution models. Furthermore, because one can only have a limited number of filtering possibilities, the effectiveness of such designs is very limited over video sequences that show scenes rich with spatial frequencies.
Related art typically proceeds with a piecewise smooth frame model under uniform translational motion assumptions and runs into problems whenever actual coded frames deviate from these assumptions.

Spatial sparsity induced temporal prediction for video compression


A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source. The separating unit includes a restrain blowing device arranged for directing a restrain air flow onto the process side of the sheet in a restrain area for urging the sheet towards the transport belt proximate to the deflection element. The separating unit further includes a lifting blowing device arranged for directing a lifting air flow onto the contact side of the sheet in a lifting area for lifting the sheet from the transport belt. The lifting area is arranged extending only over a middle portion of a width of the sheet, the width being a dimension of the sheet in a lateral direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

A known sheet transport assembly is applied in an inkjet printing apparatus, wherein a printing station is arranged as a process unit to apply ink on a receiving substrate, such as a sheet. The sheet transport assembly comprises a conveying unit and the printing station comprises an inkjet print head assembly. The conveying unit comprises a transport belt, such as an endless metallic belt, and several rollers arranged for transporting the endless transport belt. A sheet is arranged on the transport belt and is advanced on the transport belt in a transport direction along the printing station wherein an inkjet image is applied onto a process side of the sheet.
The inkjet image is formed by applying dots of an ink, such as an aqueous ink or a non-aqueous ink, on the sheet. In the case of aqueous ink the printed sheet becomes wet on the process side due to the aqueous ink dots. The moisture is absorbed into the sheet and enlarges the fibers of the sheet at the process side of the sheet depending on the sheet properties. As a result an internal tension grows in the sheet, and a portion of the sheet may curl downwards towards the transport belt in case the sheet is not attracted to the transport belt. This may be prevented by attracting the sheet to the transport belt. This attraction may be supplied by an electrostatic force or suction pressure provided at a contact side of the sheet on the transport belt.
The printed sheet is separated from the transport belt by applying a separation air flow to a leading edge of the sheet proximate to a deflection element, such as a roller, which deflection element deflects the transport belt. It is generally known that deflection elements having smaller radius along its deflection surface for deflecting the transport belts provide better separation than deflection elements having a bigger radius along its deflection surface. Said separation air flow is directed along the transport belt adjacent to the deflection element for lifting the leading edge of the sheet from the transport belt at the position of the deflection element. During the separation step the leading edge of the sheet is moved in flight to a next transport element, such as another transport belt. However a curled portion of the sheet being curled towards the transport belt makes it more difficult to separate the leading edge of the sheet from the transport belt. It has been found that the leading edge of the sheet may be pushed backwards at the deflection element by the separation air flow in a direction opposite to the transport direction, thereby further bending the curled portion of the sheet towards the transport belt. As a result, the sheet is not reliably separated from the transport belt, and in the case it is separated, it is not reliably moved over to a next transport element.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to increase the reliability of separating a sheet from the transport belt, particularly if the sheet has a portion which curls towards the transport belt due to internal tension.


In an antenna that has high sensitivity to frequencies of narrow bands and over a wide band and that can be small-sized, and in a wireless module, wireless unit and wireless apparatus using this antenna, the antenna is comprised of a transmission line, and variable capacitance means connected to this transmission line, and the variable capacitance means controls the resonant frequency.

The present invention relates to an antenna for use in wireless apparatus such as cellphone, personal computer and PDA and in a wireless module for that apparatus, and to a wireless module, wireless unit and wireless apparatus using the antenna.
The mobile television receiver has so far used the monopole antenna. However, according to a patent document of JP-A-2001-251131, the length of the monopole antenna is suppressed to about 60 cm in consideration of the usability of the mobile television receiver. In addition, the monopole antenna for the television receiver built in a portable terminal is further suppressed to a shorter length of about 20 cm.

Antenna, and wireless module, wireless unit and wireless apparatus having the antenna


An elliptical exercise device includes a main frame having a rotary shaft defining an axis, left and right link rods having rear ends connected to the rotary shaft for rotation about the axis, left and right arms connected respectively to front ends of the link rods for reciprocal movement, and left and right foot plates connected pivotally and respectively to the link rods and movable along elliptical paths when the rear ends of the link rods rotate. A guide mechanism is connected to the foot plates and the main frame to restrict movement of the foot plates. Each foot plate is substantially horizontal when moving upward or downward from the lowest or highest point of the corresponding elliptical path.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to exercise equipment, more particularly to an elliptical exercise device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional stationary exercise device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,829. The conventional stationary exercise device includes a frame 11, two foot links 12, two coupling members 13, and two guide members, in the form of tracks 14. The frame 11 has a pivot axis defined by a shaft 16 which is supported by the frame 11, and a flywheel 15 supported by the shaft 16 for rotation about the pivot axis. Each coupling member 13 has one end connected pivotally to the shaft 16, and an opposite end connected pivotally to a first end of the corresponding foot link 12. A second end of each foot link 12 is provided with a roller unit 17 operable to slide along a respective one of the tracks 14. When the flywheel 15 is rotated, the coupling members 13 bring the first end of each foot link 12 to travel in a circular path about the pivot axis, while the tracks 14 direct the second end of each foot link 12 in a reciprocal path as the first ends of the foot links 12 travel about the pivot axis.
With reference to FIG. 2, in combination with FIG. 1, when the user places his/her foot on a foot retaining pad 121 of the respective foot link 12 and starts to exercise with his/her foot moving forwardly and consecutively at locations IV, III, II and I, the heel portion of the user's foot rises at a faster rate than the toe portion.
With reference to FIG. 3, when the user's foot moves rearwardly and consecutively at locations I, VI, V and IV, the heel portion of the user's foot lowers at a faster rate than the toe portion.


A system for advertisement space recommendation and a checkout process is provided. The system includes an advertisement space recommendation module determines an expected network traffic for each product. The advertisement space recommendation module determines expected profits corresponding to merchants based on expected network traffic and generates a recommendation corresponding to a set of advertisement space to the merchants for selling the products. The system includes an auction module enables the merchants to bid for the set of advertisement space to exhibit the corresponding products. The system includes a checkout URL generator module creates a distinctive URL for the set of advertisement space and enables one-click checkout process for the products displayed on the set of advertisement space on an advertisement platform based on URL for each product across merchants.

A vast amount of data and information is available via the Internet and content may be provided from a correspondingly vast number of sources. Some of the forms with such content may include web pages, websites, search results, emails and the like. Content sources, including publishers, may wish to include web-based, on-line or other forms of electronic advertisement slots ("ads") in association with the access to or provisioning of the content. The form, substance, and other characteristics or parameters of such advertising may be many and varied and may be considered to create an inventory of advertisement slots for example advertisement products. In the advertisement platform, there is contract advertisement system composed of commodity, advertisement auction person and advertiser. The advertisement auction person obtains on-line exposure in effective time period by buying advertisement position of different commodity, so as to obtain on-line passenger source, and then guides the passenger source to make deal.
In currently available systems, whether the advertisement space is obtained or not is determined by the bid price of the advertisement auction player, and the profits of the advertiser and the advertisement auction player cannot be effectively improved. In one scenario, once the advertisement slot is allotted auction player, the consumers may or may not complete the e-commerce transaction using a checkout procedure when they see the advertisement online on any platform especially when the checkout process is complicated or too many steps involved in the checkout experience. Many consumers tend to not complete the checkout if the checkout experience forces the consumer to create an account during checkout. More frictions in the checkout process leads to poor return on investment for the advertisers.
Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method for advertisement space recommendation and a checkout process for an e-commerce platform to address the aforementioned issue(s).

System and method for advertisement space recommendation and a checkout process for an e-commerce platform