An elevatable wheelchair having a hydraulic system for elevating and lowering the wheelchair and a drive gear arrangement for motivating the wheelchair while the wheelchair is in an elevated position. The hydraulic system comprises four hydraulic legs, each corresponding to and coupled to one of a pair of front wheels or to one of a pair of auxiliary rear wheels. When hydraulic fluid is introduced to the four hydraulic legs, the hydraulic legs begin to extend, thereby elevating the wheelchair. The hydraulic system also comprises a pair of flow equalizers to ensure a uniform flow of hydraulic fluid to each hydraulic leg, thereby enabling each hydraulic leg to extend at the same rate. The elevatable wheelchair also comprises a drive gear arrangement which coacts with the main wheels of the wheelchair in order to transfer motion to the auxiliary rear wheels, thereby enabling the wheelchair user to motivate the wheelchair while in the elevated position by engaging the hand rails on the main wheels. The elevatable wheelchair provides an individual confined to the wheelchair with the ability not only to elevate the wheelchair to a desired height for reaching shelves, countertops and similar higher surfaces but also to maneuver the wheelchair while in this elevated position.

The wheelchair is a valuable device for assisting disabled individuals in transporting themselves from one location to another. The most common type of wheelchair in use today is that fashioned from two substantially rigid side frames each including a large main wheel and a smaller front wheel, and joined together by a collapsible brace, a canvas seat and backrest. This wheelchair type can be easily folded for storage, such as in the trunk of an automobile. The conventional wheelchair is designed with a low center of gravity so as to enhance the stability and safety of the wheelchair. As a result, such a wheelchair is provided with a relatively low level seat position, generally lower than that of a typical chair. While such a design enables disabled individuals to more efficiently access and exit the wheelchair, move about their living and working space, sit at a table or desk and the like, this design has inherent disadvantages.
One significant drawback associated with the standard wheelchair described above is that the reach of the individual user of the wheelchair is severely limited. Countertops, stovetops, sinks and washbasins, cupboards, workbenches, grocery shelves and other high surfaces generally are either inaccessible to one confined in a wheelchair or are only partially accessible. For instance, a disabled individual using a wheelchair may be able to cook on a stove, but the top of the stove is at the eye level of that individual. The inability of the wheelchair user to attain a sufficient height also poses other problems. For example, in conversation, the wheelchair user is placed in the uncomfortable position of always having to look up to persons who are standing, rather than being able to engage standing persons at eye level.
Numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to elevate or raise the person sitting in the wheelchair. For example, wheelchairs with means to elevate the seat portion, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,219,834, 2,578,382, 2,982,336 and 3,215,469 have been proposed. However, with such designs, the ability to collapse and fold the wheelchair for easy storage has been abandoned.
British Patent 922,175 shows a collapsible wheelchair having a seat portion which is elevated by a hydraulic ram. However, the seat frame work and hydraulic ram must be removed prior to folding the wheelchair.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,389 to Bonfield discloses another elevating means for raising an entire wheelchair, said means comprising a pair of extendable frameworks which are secured to the sideframes of a wheelchair and a hydraulically actuated lifting means. In operation, the hydraulic lifting means causes the pair of frameworks to extend downwardly and engage the ground while elevating the entire wheelchair. As the frameworks are secured to the sideframes, the modified wheelchair remains collapsible and foldable for storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,288 to Dysarz provides a wheelchair which can be elevated on four legs that extend from beneath the wheelchair to a position outside of the wheel base of the wheelchair. The elevating means is accomplished by the use of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure reacting on the cylinders that form the four legs.
While much progress has been made in developing wheelchairs which can be elevated by a person confined to a wheelchair, such wheelchairs still do not satisfy the varied and special needs of the wheelchair user. For example, although such devices assist the wheelchair user in reaching certain items, the wheelchair must be lowered to its pre-elevated state when it is desired to move to a different location. Raising and lowering the wheelchair can be especially cumbersome on the user while performing certain everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, moving about a kitchen in order to prepare a meal, and the like. For example, the wheelchair user who is grocery shopping must elevate the wheelchair to reach an item on a high shelf, lower the wheelchair to its normal position, move down the grocery aisle and once again elevate the wheelchair to reach an item on a high shelf. This continuous raising and lowering of the wheelchair in order to complete such an elementary chore, is not only time-consuming, but also is discouraging to the wheelchair user attempting to achieve a level of independence.
To date, there have not been any great strides in developing a wheelchair which can be elevated and which can be safely and efficiently motivated by the user while in its elevated position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,147 to Fischer provides a cantilevered lifting and transporting device which may be automatically or manually converted from a chair to a stretcher or vice versa. Although the device is raised and lowered by a hand-cranked screw and nut combination, it is more akin to a hospital or nursing home transport vehicle than a conventional wheelchair which has elevating means. Indeed, the Fischer device is not collapsible and, as shown, cannot be motivated by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,117 to Higgs offers a wheelchair having means to elevate the seat and back portion relative to the main frames of the wheelchair. Higgs provides a specially constructed side frame having an elevating device, such as a "Saginaw" jacked screw, such that each side frame is elevated relative to the main frames which carry the wheels of the wheelchair. In this manner, the side frames and the seat and back portions raise together as a unit, along with the cross struts to maintain the stability of the wheelchair. However, the arm rests and foot rest are not elevated and have to be manually adjusted once the wheelchair is elevated. As the wheels remain at ground level, it appears possible that the wheelchair could be motivated while elevated, although the stability of the elevated wheelchair may be an impediment to free mobility. Further, it is unclear and doubtful whether the individual confined to the wheelchair could easily motivate a manual wheelchair given the fact that in Higgs, it is the individual who has been elevated up and away from the main driving wheel. Moreover, while Higgs describes the wheelchair as being foldable, he acknowledges that with electrically driven elevating devices, the battery may have to be removed prior to collapsing the wheelchair.
Despite the teachings of the prior art, a need still exists for a wheelchair which can be elevated by the individual confined in the wheelchair to a desired height and which can be mobilized by the wheelchair user while in a raised position user in a manner which is safe and practical.


An image processing system includes an identification unit, a region division unit and a pixel value change unit. The identification unit identifies a second pixel among an image including a first pixel and the second pixel. A pixel value of the first pixel is not to be changed. A pixel value of the second pixel is to be changed. The region division unit divides the image into regions. The pixel value change unit changes the value of the second pixel to a predetermined value through a filtering process when the second pixel identified by the identification unit is included within the regions obtained by the region division unit.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to an image processing system, an image compression system, an image editing system, a computer readable medium, a computer data signal, and an image processing apparatus.
2. Related Art
There is an image compression method, such as a mixed raster content (MRC) method specified in ITU-T recommendations T. 44.
This is a method for solving a problem that distortion of text or line drawing part increases when an image including the text or line drawing part is compressed by means of transform coding, such as JPEG.
In the MRC method, text or line drawing part is extracted from an input image. Moreover, color data of the extracted text or line drawing part is extracted. In addition, the text or line drawing part is removed from the input image. The text or line drawing part is coded as binary data by using a binary data compression method, such as MH, MMR, or JBIG. The color data is coded by using a multi-level image compression method, such as JPEG. In addition, a background image that remains after removing the text or line drawing part from the input image is coded by the multi-level image compression method, such as JPEG.
By performing the multi-plane compression described above, it becomes possible to keep the image quality of the text or line drawing part high even in the case of a high compression rate. FIG. 63 is a view cited from ITU-T recommendations T. 44. Foreground 631 indicates color data. Mask 632 indicates information of text and line drawing part, and Background 633 indicates a background image that remains after removing the text or light-emitting portion from an input image.
Alternatively, it is possible to set the text or line drawing part as binary data that is different for each color, without using the MRC format described above.
For example, a black text or line drawing part is extracted from an input image so as to create binary data. Further, a red-colored text or line drawing part is extracted from the input image so as to create binary data. Furthermore, multilevel image data in which the black or red-colored text or line drawing part is removed is created from the input image. Binary data created by extracting the black text or line drawing part is compressed in a binary data compression method. Moreover, information indicating black is additionally granted to a color of the image. In the same manner, binary data created by extracting the red-colored text or line drawing part is compressed in the binary data compression method. In addition, information indicating a red color is additionally granted to a color of the image. In addition, a background image that remains after removing the text or line drawing part from the input image is coded by the multi-level image compression method, such as JPEG.
As shown in FIG. 64, in the case when an input image 641 including a text ('ABC'; red-colored text 6411) that is drawn by a red color, a text ('DEF'; black text 6412) that is drawn by black, and a non-text line drawing part (image part where a house is drawn; house image 6413) exists, the input image 641 is divided into a binary image 642 obtained by extracting only 'ABC', a binary image 643 obtained by extracting only 'DEF', and a multilevel image 644 that is the rest parts and the binary image 642, the binary image 643, and the multilevel image 644 are independently coded. In addition, information, which indicates that a color of the binary image 642 obtained by extracting 'ABC' is a red color and a color of the binary image 643 obtained by extracting 'DEF' is black, is additionally granted.
In the case when the background image is created as described above, high-frequency components are generated if the text or line drawing part is simply removed. As a result, the created image becomes not suitable for the transform coding, such as JPEG. By compensating for the extracted text or line drawing part, the compression efficiency may be improved. A compensated pixel value is arbitrary because the compensated pixel value is overwritten in the text and line drawing part at the time of decoding. Accordingly, various kinds of compensation methods have been proposed.

Image processing system, image compression system, image editing system, computer readable medium, computer data signal and image processing apparatus


A smart belt system includes a belt having a plurality of holders for holding a plurality of devices including a firearm, a baton, and an electroshock weapon, a GPS component disposed within the belt configured to track the location and movement of the belt, a microprocessor disposed within the belt, logic instructions executing by the microprocessor configured to monitor and regulate the activities of the plurality of devices and location and movement data generated by the GPS component, a wireless data communications system wirelessly communicating with an external data communications system, a data storage component accessible by the microprocessor for storing activity data of the plurality of the devices and the location and movement data of the belt generated by the GPS component.

As public technology advances and additional hardware and software applications become available to public safety employees, the amount of space available on the "traditional" public safety utility belt to carry these devices has become limited. Another challenge is the ability to maintain power to these devices on a long term basis, throughout the shift of the public safety employee. In addition, many of these devices and applications generate data, which must be captured and stored. For many applications this data must also be transferred or uploaded either immediately or at a later time.


A method is provided for calculating a performance of a photovoltaic module comprising at least a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell. The method comprises calculating a heat flow between the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell using a first thermal equivalent circuit of the first photovoltaic cell and a second thermal equivalent circuit of the second photovoltaic cell, wherein at least one node of the first thermal equivalent circuit is connected to a corresponding node of the second thermal equivalent circuit by a thermal coupling resistance. The method may be used for calculating the influence of spatial and temporal variations in the operation conditions on the performance, such as the energy yield, of a photovoltaic module or a photovoltaic system.

The performance of a photovoltaic module is significantly affected by the ambient conditions it is subjected to. For example, the electrical performance and the energy conversion efficiency of a module are directly affected by the module temperature. The temperature of a photovoltaic module changes with changing ambient conditions such as ambient temperature, irradiance, wind speed and wind direction, and the module temperature also depends on the thermal history of the module. Furthermore, non-uniform conditions, such as non-uniform illumination of a photovoltaic module, e.g. due to shadowing effects, strongly affect the electrical performance of a photovoltaic module.
In order to simulate and/or predict the energy production, e.g. the energy yield, of a photovoltaic module or system, a need exists for suitable simulation models that allow the calculation of energy losses within a module while taking optical, thermal and electrical aspects into account, as well as taking changing ambient conditions, e.g. non-steady-state ambient conditions, and non-uniform conditions into account.
Several mathematical and empirical thermal-electrical photovoltaic module models have been developed. These models mostly cover steady-state losses, and often the losses due to non-steady-state conditions and/or non-uniform illumination cannot be addressed by such methods, e.g. due to a limited time granularity and due to particular assumptions made, such as for example a uniform module temperature.
Field measurements and indoor wind tunnel experiments on photovoltaic systems show that there may exist significant inter-module and intra-module temperature differences, e.g. under typical operating conditions. Such temperature differences may for example be caused by spatial variations in forced convection and/or differences in illumination intensity, and may also be influenced by the module mounting method and location, and the electrical operation point of the cells or modules. In non-ideal site locations the module efficiency may be reduced by partial shading losses. Dynamic conditions caused by time-dependent effects, such as the effect of clouds or wind cooling effects, may also have an impact on the energy yield. Furthermore, local variations in illumination and/or temperature, e.g. comprising temporal and/or spatial variations, can cause mismatches between cells connected in series, which may be particularly detrimental for achieving a high yield efficiency.
In "Optical-Thermal-Electrical model for a single cell PV module in non-steady-state and non-uniform conditions build in SPICE", Proceedings of the 28th EU PVSEC, 2013, page 3291, H. Goverde et al describe an optical-thermal-electrical model for a photovoltaic module that incorporates optical, thermal and electrical aspects and that is suitable for simulating non-steady-state conditions. The disclosed model relates to the simulation of a single cell module, i.e. for a module comprising a single photovoltaic cell. This model is built in SPICE, and is constructed by coupling two equivalent circuits, one circuit describing the electrical behaviour of the single cell module and the other circuit describing the thermal behaviour of the single cell module. Model parameters for the optical, thermal and electrical behaviour are determined from experimental data. However, as the model relates to a single cell module, intra-module differences and intra-module losses are not taken into account.

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU LEUVEN R&D


A method for determining an image point in an object image composed of the steps of detecting an image signal made up of a series of image signal components representing respective picture elements in a radiation image, which includes an object image and which has been recorded on a recording medium. The center of gravity of the object on the recording medium is found from the image signal by weighting the respective picture elements with corresponding absolute values of differentiated values resulting from the carrying out of differentiation processing on the image signal values corresponding to the respective picture elements. A position, at which the center of gravity is located, is determined as the image point in the object image.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for determining an image point in an object image on the basis of an image signal comprising image signal components representing image information at respective picture elements on a recording medium on which a radiation image including the object image has been recorded.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Techniques for reading out a recorded radiation image in order to obtain an image signal, carrying out appropriate image processing on the image signal, and then reproducing a visible image by use of the processed image signal have heretofore been known in various fields. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61(1986)-5193, an X-ray image is recorded on an X-ray film having a small gamma value chosen according to the type of image processing to be carried out, the X-ray image is read out from the X-ray film and converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal (image signal) is processed and then used for reproducing the X-ray image as a visible image on a copy photograph or the like. In this manner, a visible image having good image quality with high contrast, high sharpness, high graininess, or the like can be reproduced.
Also, when certain kinds of phosphors are exposed to radiation such as X-rays, .alpha.-rays, .beta.-rays, .gamma.-rays, cathode rays or ultraviolet rays, they store part of the energy of the radiation. Then, when the phosphor which has been exposed to the radiation is exposed to stimulating rays such as visible light, light is emitted by the phosphor in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation. A phosphor exhibiting such properties is referred to as a stimulable phosphor. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,264, 4,276,473, 4,315,318, 4,387,428, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56(1981)-11395, it has been proposed to use stimulable phosphors in radiation image recording and reproducing systems. Specifically, a sheet provided with a layer of the stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as a stimulable phosphor sheet) is first exposed to radiation which has passed through an object such as the human body in order to store a radiation image of the object thereon, and is then scanned with stimulating rays, such as a laser beam, which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored during exposure to the radiation. The light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet, upon stimulation thereof, is photoelectrically detected and converted into an electric image signal. The image signal is then used to reproduce the radiation image of the object as a visible image on a recording material such as photographic film, on a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), or the like.
Radiation image recording and reproducing systems which use stimulable phosphor sheets are advantageous over conventional radiography using silver halide photographic materials, in that images can be recorded even when the energy intensity of the radiation to which the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed varies over a wide range. More specifically, since the amount of light which the stimulable phosphor sheet emits when being stimulated varies over a wide range and is proportional to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, it is possible to obtain an image having a desirable density regardless of the energy intensity of the radiation to which the stimulable phosphor sheet was exposed. In order to obtain the desired image density, an appropriate read-out gain is set when the emitted light is being detected and converted into an electric signal to be used in the reproduction of a visible image on a recording material, such as photographic film, or on a display device, such as a CRT.
In order for an image signal to be detected accurately, certain factors which affect the image signal must be set in accordance with the dose of radiation delivered to the stimulable phosphor sheet and the like. Novel radiation image recording and reproducing systems which accurately detect an image signal have been proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,060. The proposed radiation image recording and reproducing systems are constituted such that a preliminary read-out operation (hereinafter simply referred to as the "preliminary readout") is carried out in order approximately to ascertain the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In the preliminary readout, the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with a light beam having a comparatively low energy level, and a preliminary read-out image signal obtained during the preliminary readout is analyzed. Thereafter, a final read-out operation (hereinafter simply referred to as the "final readout") is carried out to obtain the image signal, which is to be used during the reproduction of a visible image. In the final readout, the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with a light beam having an energy level higher than the energy level of the light beam used in the preliminary readout, and the radiation image is read out with the factors affecting the image signal adjusted to appropriate values on the basis of the results of an analysis of the preliminary read-out image signal.
The term "read-out conditions" as used hereinafter means a group of various factors, which are adjustable and which affect the relationship between the amount of light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet during image readout and the output of a read out means. For example, the term "read out conditions" may refer to a read-out gain and a scale factor which define the relationship between the input to the read-out means and the output therefrom, or to the power of the stimulating rays used when the radiation image is read out.
The term "energy level of a light beam" as used herein means the level of energy of the light beam to which the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed per unit area. In cases where the energy of the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet depends on the wavelength of the irradiated light beam, i.e. the sensitivity of the stimulable phosphor sheet to the irradiated light beam depends upon the wavelength of the irradiated light beam, the term "energy level of a light beam" means the weighted energy level which is calculated by weighting the energy level of the light beam, to which the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed per unit area, with the sensitivity of the stimulable phosphor sheet to the wavelength. In order to change the energy level of a light beam, light beams of different wavelengths may be used, the intensity of the light beam produced by a laser beam source or the like may be changed, or the intensity of the light beam may be changed by moving an ND filter or the like into and out of the optical path of the light beam. Alternatively, the diameter of the light beam may be changed in order to alter the scanning density, or the speed a which the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with the light beam ma be changed.
Regardless of whether the preliminary readout is or is not carried out, it has also been proposed to analyze the image signal (including the preliminary read-out image signal) obtained and to adjust the image processing conditions, which are to be used when the image signal is processed, on the basis of the results of an analysis of the image signal. The proposed method is applicable to cases where an image signal is obtained from a radiation image recorded on a recording medium such as conventional X-ray film, as well as to systems using stimulable phosphor sheets.
Various methods have been proposed for calculating how the read-out conditions for the final readout and/or the image processing conditions should be adjusted on the basis of an analysis of the image signal (including the preliminary read-out image signal). As one of such methods, it has been proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,028 to create a histogram of the image signal. When a histogram of an image signal is created, the characteristics of the corresponding radiation image recorded on a recording medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or X-ray film can be ascertained based on, for example, the maximum value of the image signal, the minimum value of the image signal, or the value of the image signal at which the histogram is maximum, i.e. the value which occurs most frequently. Therefore, if the read-out conditions for the final readout, such as the read-out gain or the scale factor, and/or the image processing conditions are based on an analysis of the histogram of the image signal, it becomes possible to reproduce a visible radiation image which has good image quality and can serve as an effective tool in, particularly, the efficient and accurate diagnosis of an illness.
Also, in the course of recording a radiation image, it is often desirable for portions of the object not related to a diagnosis or the like to be prevented from being exposed to radiation. Further, when the object portions not related to a diagnosis or the like are exposed to radiation, the radiation is scattered by such portions to the portion that is related to a diagnosis or the like, and the image quality is adversely affected by the scattered radiation. Therefore, when a radiation image is recorded on the recording medium an irradiation field stop is often used to limit the irradiation field to an area smaller than the overall recording region of the recording medium so that radiation is irradiated only to that portion of the object, which is to be viewed, and part of the recording medium.
However, in cases where the read-out conditions for the final readout and/or the image processing conditions are calculated on the basis of the results of an analysis of the image signal in the manner described above and the image signal is detected from a recording medium, on which the irradiation field was limited during the recording of the radiation image, the radiation image cannot be ascertained accurately if the image signal is analyzed without the shape and location of the irradiation field being taken into consideration. As a result, incorrect read-out conditions and/or an incorrect image processing conditions are set, and it becomes impossible to reproduce a visible radiation image which has good image quality and can serve as an effective tool in, particularly, the efficient and accurate diagnosis of an illness.
In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, it is necessary to determine the shape and location of an irradiation field and then to calculate the read-out conditions for the final readout and/or the image processing conditions on the basis of only the image signal representing image information stored in the region inside of the irradiation field.
Accordingly, the applicant has proposed in, for example, U.S. patent application No. 182,685 a novel method for accurately determining the shape and location of an irradiation field even when the irradiation field has an irregular shape. The proposed method comprises the steps of detecting a contour point, which is considered to be present on the contour of the irradiation field, on each of a plurality of radial lines each of which connects a predetermined point located in the region inside of the irradiation field with an edge of a recording medium, and determining that the region surrounded by lines connecting the thus detected contour points is the irradiation field.
In the proposed method for determining the shape and location of an irradiation field, the aforesaid predetermined point should be located in the region inside of the irradiation field, and should preferably be located in an object image, which is formed in the region inside of the irradiation field. In cases where the recording of a radiation image is carried out with an irradiation field stop, since the irradiation field stop is used to limit the irradiation field so that an image of only that portion of the object which is to be viewed is recorded, the image points in the region inside of the irradiation field (particularly, the image points at positions neighboring the center point of the irradiation field) are generally located in the region inside of the object image.
In cases where the shape and location of the irradiation field are first determined and then the image signal representing the image information recorded in the region inside of the detected irradiation field is analyzed in the manner as that described above, appropriate read-out conditions for the final readout and/or appropriate image processing conditions can be determined.
However, in order to determine the shape and location of an irradiation field with the method proposed in U.S. patent application No. 182,685, it is necessary to find an image point located in the region inside of the irradiation field (preferably, an image point located in the region inside of the object image).
One approach is to determine the center point of the recording medium as the image point located in the region inside of the irradiation field (an image point located in the region inside of the object image). For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, in cases where an irradiation field 2 is present at the center portion of a recording medium 1, the center point C of the recording medium 1 is one of the image points located in the region inside of the irradiation field 2. In most cases, the center point C of the recording medium 1 is one of the image points located in the region inside of an object image 3.
However, as shown in FIG. 5B, in cases where the irradiation field is deviated from the center point C of the recording medium 1, an image point in the region inside of the irradiation field 2 cannot be found with the aforesaid method. Also, as shown in FIG. 5C, in cases where the image recording was carried out without the irradiation field stop being used, all positions on the recording medium 1 including the center point C of the recording medium 1 are the image points located in the region inside of the irradiation field 2. However, in this case, no irradiation field stop was used, and the probability of the object image 3 being deviated from approximately the center point of the irradiation field 2 (which center point coincides with the center point C of the recording medium 1 in this example) is higher than when the image recording was carried out with the irradiation field being limited as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Therefore, the center point C of the recording medium does not necessarily constitute one of the image points located in the region inside of the object image.
The image point located in the region inside of the object image should be determined when the shape and location of the irradiation field are to be recognized as described above, and when which position on a radiation image is to be employed as the center point of a visible image is determined in cases where, for example, part of the radiation image is enlarged and reproduced into the visible image.

Method for determining image points in object images


A crossbar routing arrangement is disclosed for use in a digital system having three or more buses. An associated method is also disclosed. The routing arrangement is configured for transferring a set of data received from any particular one of the buses to any other selected one of the buses and includes a control arrangement associated with each bus for dividing the set of data into at least first and second subsets of data and for adding self-routing signals to each data subset which signals identify the selected bus. A switching arrangement is configured for directing the first and second data subsets in a predetermined way responsive to the self-routing signals. The control arrangement cooperates with the switching arrangement to transfer the data subsets over physically distinct data transfer paths defined between the switching arrangement and the control arrangements. In accordance with one feature, the configuration of the routing arrangement provides for linear expansion whereby to service buses having increased width and/or to service an increased number of buses in a cost effective manner while, in either instance, maintaining high data throughput.

The present invention relates generally to crossbar switching configurations and more particularly to a linearly expandable self-routing crossbar switch and associated method. The invention is applicable in any multi-source/multi-destination digital switching application including the fields of computer networking and digital telecommunications switching.
A number of different applications present the need for a switching arrangement which may be configured for routing a flow of data from a particular port to any one of a number of other ports which are connected with the switching arrangement. In the prior art, such switching arrangements are generally referred to as crossbar switches. FIG. 1 illustrates a four-port prior art crossbar switch, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, which is capable providing a data flow path between two selected ones of any of four ports A, B, C or D. While the arrangement of FIG. 1 has proven to be effective for its intended use, it should also be appreciated that its capability for expansion is extremely limited.
FIG. 2 illustrates an overall crossbar switching arrangement, which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 20, that is made up of four of the crossbar switching arrangements 10a-d originally shown in FIG. 1. Arrangement 20 is configured for providing a data flow path between two selected ones of any of eight data ports A through H. While arrangement 20 serves its intended purpose, it should be appreciated that in order to double the number of ports served using the prior art four-port crossbar switch 10 of FIG. 1, the number of four-port crossbar switches 10 is multiplied by a factor of four.
As another example which is not illustrated, if sixteen ports (again doubling the number of ports) are to be served the number of prior art four-port crossbar switches would increase to sixteen. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art should recognize that increasing the number of ports served results in a geometric increase in the required number of individual four-port cross-bar switches. This geometric expansion is particularly disadvantageous in terms of the hardware costs associated with expansion. Of course, a geometric expansion in terms of hardware results in a corresponding decrease in reliability of the overall switching arrangement. Another disadvantage stems from the fact that each additional layer of switches added to the overall arrangement adds latency (i.e., decreased data throughput based on time delays) in data routing operations.
The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing a highly advantageous cross-bar switching arrangement which is expandable in a linear manner. An associated method is also provided.

Linearly expandable self-routing crossbar switch


This invention relates to an Apparatus for milking animals, such as cows, and comprising a milking machine with teat cups and sensors which govern the milking process, examine the milk obtained and the physical condition of the animal being milked. The apparatus also includes a processing unit such as a computer for processing signals received from the sensors. The signals from the sensors are wirelessly transmitted via a transmitter to the processing unit. The sensors may be incorporated in each teat cup or only one teat cup. Energy for the sensors is generated by movements of magnets in coils, which are incorporated in each teat cup or in at least one of the feed cups, the movements of the magnets being provided by vacuum pulsations on each teat cup or one of the teat cups, or from another energy sources such as solar cells.

The invention relates to an apparatus for milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking machine with teat cups and at least one sensor for governing the milking process, examining the milk obtained, or examining the physical condition of the animal, or any combination thereof. The apparatus is also provided with a processing unit for processing the signal supplied by the sensor, said signal being transmitted via a wireless connection to a receiver which is connected to the processing unit.
An apparatus of the type described above is known from the Dutch Patent 1,007,266.
In such apparatus, the sensor is disposed in the milk line. This has the disadvantage that the sensor does not come into contact with the animal, and moreover, there is a delay before the sensor comes into contact with the milk and is capable of making the desired measurements.
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the above-mentioned drawbacks do not occur or are at least minimized.
In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that the sensor is disposed in or on the teat cup or both. By so disposing the sensor it is possible to collect data regarding the milking process or the quality of the milk or the physical condition of the animal after the teat cup has been connected to the teat, or immediately after the milk flow has started or any combination thereof.
The sensor or the teat cup or both may also be provided with a processing unit. In such a case the processing unit, which is connected to the receiver, will comprise a printer or a display or both.
According to again another inventive feature, the processing unit is connected to a transmitter with the aid of which a signal is transmitted to the sensor in a wireless manner.
In accordance with an inventive feature, the wireless connection comprises a transmitter which is disposed on or in the milking machine or in both locations. According to another aspect of the invention, the transmitter is disposed near the lower side of the teat cup. According to again another inventive feature, the transmitter is constituted by an infrared transmitter or an ultrasonic or a radiographic or an optical transmitter. For the purpose of supplying the transmitter with energy, the transmitter is connected to an energy source which, according to an inventive feature, is also charged by a wireless connection. This connection has the same advantages as the wireless connection of the sensor. According to an inventive feature, more in particular, the wireless connection is achieved by means of an electromagnetic field. In an embodiment of the invention, the wireless connection is constituted by two coils. According to a further aspect of the invention, the coils constitute a transmitter or a receiver for the wireless connection. It is farther possible to charge the energy source with the aid of solar cells.
According to another inventive feature, the transmitter is connected, directly or indirectly, via an energy source, to a device for generating electrical energy, whereby, as a result of changes in air pressure or gas pressure, a body, such as a magnet, is caused to move, and, using said motion, electrical energy is generated in an electromagnetic manner.
According to a further inventive feature, the body is disposed in the pulsation chamber or milk chamber or both of the teat cup.
According to another inventive feature, the body is connected directly or indirectly to a liner of the teat cup.
According to a further inventive feature, the lower part of the teat cup is tapering, and the apparatus also comprises a carrier having a recess which corresponds to the tapering lower side of the teat cup. In the inoperative position, the teat cup is retained on the carrier with the aid of a withdrawal member that comprises a cord which has one end connected to the lower side of the teat cup and the other end to a control piston and cylinder component.
For the purpose of facilitating the reading of signals received by the sensor, according to an inventive feature, the receiver of the wireless connection is disposed in the vicinity of the transmitter. According to another inventive feature, the receiver is disposed in or on the carrier of the teat cup.
In accordance with an inventive feature, the sensor makes the following measurements as well as others the temperature of the milk, the conductivity of the milk, the cell count or the germ count of the milk, the presence or absence of the teat in the teat cup or the vacuum level in the teat cup, the blood pressure of the animal, the heart beat of the animal, the internal pressure in the teat or movements of the teat cups liner.
According to an inventive feature, a mass inertia sensor is disposed in or on the teat cup or at both locations.
In accordance with an inventive feature, the signal supplied by the mass inertia sensor is transmitted to a processing unit in a wireless manner or via a fixed connection, such as, for example, an electric wire or optical fiber, or via contact surfaces.
According to a further inventive feature, if the mass inertia sensor signals that a teat cup has fallen from a teat, the processing unit emits a further signal that causes the vacuum in the teat cup to be removed.
According to again another inventive feature, if the mass inertia sensor signals that a teat cup has fallen from a teat, the processing unit emits a further signal which causes the relevant teat cup to be automatically reconnected to the teat.
According to a further inventive feature, the apparatus comprises a milking robot having a robot arm with the aid of which the teat cups are automatically connected to the teats of the animal to be milked. According to again another aspect of the invention, the processing unit comprises a computer.

Implement for milking animals, such as cows


An information recording method of recording information, in which laser light is applied to a recording medium while depending on predetermined information said laser light is modulated and the intensity of said light is controlled to form recording mark areas at which reflectivity of said recording medium changes, depending on the intensity of said applied light, wherein

With the widespread use of multimedia in recent years, a write-once optical disk, i.e., CD-R, and a rewritable optical disk, i.e., CD-RW, have come into widespread use quickly, and optical disks having larger capacities, such as a write-once optical disk, i.e., DVD-R, and rewritable optical disks, i.e., DVD-RW and DVD-RAM, are put to practical use and beginning to be used widely. In order to record information, each of these optical disks is used with an information recording/reproducing apparatus including an optical pickup system having a semiconductor laser as a light source. Various technological developments have been carried out to enhance and stabilize the recording and reproduction performance of these information recording/reproducing apparatuses. A semiconductor laser power control technology is one of the technologies, and numerous systems have been proposed. In particular, in the case of the write-once optical disk, since no data can be rewritten, it becomes important how a stable recording state can be maintained. The laser power control systems includes, for example, a system referred to as APC (Auto Power Control) wherein part of the amount of outgoing laser light is detected and laser power is controlled so that outgoing power is maintained constant, and a system referred to as R-OPC (Running-Optimum Power Control) wherein the amount of reflection light from a recording medium is detected during recording, and laser power is controlled so that the amount of reflection light from the recording mark areas of the recording medium becomes a predetermined amount of light.
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-295734, a system is proposed wherein laser power is controlled in combination with APC and R-OPC by using the recording waveform of a multi-pulse train with pulses having different widths for mark areas.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a prior art information recording apparatus of carrying out laser power control in combination with APC and R-OPC, and FIG. 8 shows the detection signal waveforms for APC and the detection signal waveforms for R-OPC in the prior art information recording apparatus that uses the recording waveform of a multi-pulse train with pulses having different widths for mark areas.
Numeral 101 designates an optical disk capable of recording and reproducing information. Numeral 102 designates a spindle motor of rotating the optical disk 101.
Numeral 103 designates a laser diode capable of emitting light by using a multi-pulse train with pulses having different widths for mark areas during recording on the optical disk 101. Numeral 104 designates a beam splitter of separating the outgoing light of the laser diode 103 and the return light from the optical disk 101. Numeral 105 designates an objective lens of gathering laser light in recordable or reproducible areas of the optical disk 101.
Numeral 106 designates a light amount monitoring photodetector of detecting part of the outgoing light emitted from the laser diode 103. Numeral 107 designates an I/V conversion circuit of converting the current output of the light amount monitoring photodetector 106 into a voltage.
Numeral 108 designates a low-pass filter (LPF) of attenuating the frequency band of the output of the I/V conversion circuit 107. Numeral 109 designates a voltage amplifier (AMP) of amplifying the current output of the light amount monitoring photodetector 106. Numeral 110 designates a sample-and-hold circuit (S/H) of sampling and holding the output of the LPF 108 at predetermined timing. Numeral 111 designates a sample-and-hold circuit (S/H) of sampling and holding the output of the AMP 109 at predetermined timing.
Numeral 112 designates an mp detector of detecting the output of the S/H 110 as the average power of recording light emission for a multi-pulse train.
Numeral 113 designates an sp detector of detecting the output of the S/H 111 as the bias power of recording light emission for a multi-pulse train.
Numeral 114 designates a peak power control circuit of controlling the peak power of the recording light emission for a multi-pulse train.
Numeral 115 designates a bias power control circuit of controlling the bias power of the recording light emission for a multi-pulse train. Numeral 116 designates an LD drive circuit of driving the laser diode 103 to emit light by using power and a multi-pulse train with pulses having different widths controlled by the peak power control circuit 114 and the bias power control circuit 115.
Numeral 117 designates a plurality of return light detecting photodetectors of detecting return light from the optical disk 101. Numeral 118 designates a plurality of I/V conversion circuits of converting each of the current outputs of the plurality of return light detecting photodetectors 117 into a voltage.
Numeral 119 designates an RF adder of adding the outputs of the plurality of I/V conversion circuits 118. Numeral 120 designates a low-pass filter (LPF) of attenuating the frequency band of the output of the RF adder 119. Numeral 121 designates a voltage amplifier (AMP) of amplifying the output of the LPF 120. Numeral 122 designates a sample-and-hold circuit (S/H) of sampling and holding the output of the LPF 120 at predetermined timing. Numeral 123 designates a sample-and-hold circuit (S/H) of sampling and holding the output of the AMP 121 at predetermined timing.
Numeral 124 designates an MP detector of detecting the output of the S/H 122 as the average amount of return light from the mark areas of the optical disk 101 during recording.
Numeral 125 designates an SP detector of detecting the output of the S/H 123 as the amount of return light from the space (non-mark) areas of the optical disk 101 during recording.
Numeral 126 designates a B/A calculation circuit of calculating a B/A value used as a parameter required for the R-OPC operation from the output of the MP detector 124 and the output of the SP detector 125. Numeral 127 designates a CPU of calculating the correction amount of the peak power on the basis of the output of the B/A calculation circuit 126 and of issuing a target peak power command to the peak power control circuit 114.
In accordance with the configuration described above, the operation of carrying out laser power control in combination with ARC and R-OPC will be described below by using the detection signal waveforms for APC and the detection signal waveforms for R-OPC shown in FIG. 8.
In the case when the record data shown in FIG. 8(a) is converted into a multi-pulse train with pulses having different widths shown in FIG. 8(b) and when the laser diode 103 is controlled by predetermined peak power and predetermined bias power, first, as the APC operation, the light emission waveform shown in FIG. 8(c) is detected by the light amount monitoring photodetector 106, the output of the trailing end of the multi-pulse train becomes the mp level shown in FIG. 8(d) by the LPF 108, and mp is sampled and held by the S/H 110 and detected by the mp detector 112 as average power formed of the pulse width ratio of the multi-pulse train and converted from the pulse width ratio of the multi-pulse train, whereby the peak power is detected.
Furthermore, the sp level shown in FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d) is amplified by the AMP 109 and then sampled and held by the S/H 111 and detected by the sp detector 113 as bias power. The peak power control circuit 114 and the bias power control circuit 115 control the laser power so that the peak power and the bias power obtained from mp and sp become predetermined values.
Next, the R-OPC operation will be described. Although the control is carried out on the basis of the predetermined power values by the APC operation, an optimum recording power value differs depending on recording areas and recording states owing to variations in recording sensitivity because of differences in recording areas on the recording face of the optical disk 101. Hence, in addition to the APC operation, another power control operation is required to be carried out so that the optimum recording power is obtained in the states wherein recording is performed.
This power control operation is R-OPC, and the correction amount of the power is calculated while the return light during recording is detected. FIG. 8(e) shows the waveform of return light during recording, generated from the return light detecting photodetectors 117, the I/V conversion circuits 118 and the RF adder 119.
"A" in FIG. 8(e) designates the maximum level of the return light in a state wherein no mark is formed in the mark areas of the recording face of the optical disk 101 during light emission at the peak power, and "B" designates the maximum level of the return light in a mark forming state during light emission at the peak power. "A" is substantially proportional to the reflectivity of the non-recording areas of the optical disk 101 and the peak power, and "B" is based on the relationship between the reflectivity being different depending on the forming state of the recording marks of the optical disk 101 and the peak power. The value (B/A) obtained by dividing B by A is detected, and the peak power is controlled so that a predetermined B/A value is obtained.
However, as the pulse width of the multi-pulse train becomes shorter, it is difficult to directly detect the A and B values; just like the APC operation, as shown in FIG. 8(f), the output of the trailing end of the multi-pulse train becomes an MP level by the LPF 120, and MP is sampled and held by the S/H 122 and detected by the MP detector 124 as an average return light amount formed of the pulse width ratio of the multi-pulse train and converted from the pulse width ratio of the multi-pulse train, whereby the B value shown in FIG. 8(e) is detected.
Furthermore, the SP level shown in FIGS. 8(e) and 8(f) is amplified by the AMP 121 and then sampled and held by the S/H 123 and detected by the SP detector 125 as the amount of return light at the bias power, and the A value is detected from the ratio between the peak power and the bias power. After the B/A value is calculated, it is compared with the predetermined B/A value at the optimum recording power supplied to the optical disk 101, a peak power correction amount of obtaining the above-mentioned predetermined B/A value is obtained by the CPU 127, and the correction of the peak power is commanded to the peak power control circuit 114, whereby proper power control is carried out. FIG. 8(g) shows examples of recording marks recorded by the laser power controlled by the above-mentioned APC and R-OPC operations.
As a result, even when the recording sensitivity varies depending on the difference in the recording areas of the recording face of the optical disk 101, the mark forming state during recording can always be judged by using the return light and the B/A value, whereby it is possible to control the laser power so that an optimum recording state can be attained.
However, when stresses, such as defocusing, off-tracking and tilting, are changed during recording, not only the optimum recording power is changed, but also the detection of the return light amount is affected, and the B/A value used as the control target value of R-OPC is changed with respect to the optimum recording power supplied to the optical disk.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the relationship of the change of the optimum B/A value depending on the change of stress. This relationship is discovered by the inventors. FIG. 9 shows the dependence of the B/A value for the recording power on radial tilting indicating tilting in the radial direction of the disk, and shows that the B/A value for the optimum recording power increases as radial tilting increases.
The recording peak power control operation by R-OPC will be described by using FIG. 14 showing the dependence of the R-OPC detection signal on power. {circle around (1)} in FIG. 14 designates a point that indicates the optimum recording power Po and the R-OPC detection signal B/Ai at Po in a characteristic curve A indicating the relationship between the power and B/A immediately before or after recording, and B/Ai is a control target value of R-OPC during recording. {circle around (2)} designates a point that indicates the optimum recording power Po at the time of the characteristic curve A and the R-OPC detection signal B/An1 on a characteristic curve B in the case when the change of the stress is not caused but only the variation of the disk sensitivity is caused. {circle around (2)}′ designates a point that indicates the true optimum recording power P1 and the R-OPC detection signal B/Ai at P1 in the characteristic curve B, and the B/Ai is the same B/A value as that of {circle around (1)} of the characteristic curve A. {circle around (3)} designates a point that indicates the optimum recording power Po at the time of the characteristic curve A and the R-OPC detection signal B/An2 in a characteristic curve C in the case when tilting, one of the stresses, is caused significantly. {circle around (3)}′ designates a point that indicates the true optimum recording power P2′ and the R-OPC detection signal B/Ai′ at P2′ in the characteristic curve C. {circle around (3)}″ designates a point that indicates recording peak power P2 for B/Ai at {circle around (1)} and {circle around (2)}′ in the characteristic curve C. In the R-OPC operation in the characteristic curve B wherein the change of stress is not caused, since the R-OPC detection signal B/An1 at the power Po during recording is deviated from the control target value B/Ai, recording is continued while the power is changed to the power P1 obtained by adding a correction amount Pc1 to Po so that convergence is performed to the control target value. Since P1 is the optimum recording power value, the quality of recording is maintained.
Next, in the R-OPC operation in the characteristic curve C wherein tilting, one of the stresses, is caused significantly, since the R-OPC detection signal B/An2 at the power Po during recording is deviated from the control target value B/Ai, recording is continued while the power is changed to the power P2 obtained by adding a correction amount Pc2 to Po so that convergence is performed to the control target value. Since P2 is larger than the optimum recording power value P2′, the quality of recording is not maintained.
In other words, when power control is carried out with the B/A value used as the R-OPC control target value fixed at a constant value, control is carried out by using power excessively larger than the optimum recording power.
As a result, stable recording becomes difficult, and data reproduction after recording is affected significantly.

Information recording method and information recording apparatus

Abstract: before starting data recording, said light is applied to said recording medium at predetermined light intensity, reflection light from said recording mark areas of said recording medium is received, the amount of said reflection light is detected, and a light intensity controlling reference value is calculated on the basis of the amount of said detected light, and

Abstract: during data recording, reflection light from said recording mark areas of said recording medium is received, the amount of said reflection light is detected, and a light intensity controlling detection value is calculated on the basis of the amount of said detected light, corrected light intensity is obtained from the difference between said light controlling intensity reference value and said light intensity controlling detection value, said light intensity controlling reference value is corrected depending on said corrected light intensity, and the intensity of said laser light is controlled so that said corrected light intensity controlling reference value substantially coincides with said light intensity controlling detection value.


Provided is an optical modulator having high resolution and being capable of controlling a wavelength range of reflected/transmitted light. The optical modulator may include a plurality of nanostructures capable of changing refractive index and a first insulation layer surrounding the plurality of nanostructures. The refractive index of each of the nanostructures may be greater than that of the first insulation layer. The nanostructures may modulate light depending on a change in the refractive index thereof. A change in a resonance wavelength, intensity, phase, polarization, etc. of reflected/transmitted light may be generated.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally provides optoelectronic devices incorporating layered structured materials and semiconductor thin films, and more particularly to control of the optical properties of such materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reducing energy consumption has become one of the primary goals for the world due to the onset of global warming and the potential for reducing costs for device operation. It is therefore favorable to find low power device alternatives to current technology, or devices that can indirectly reduce power consumption. This is especially true in many optical applications that require electrical control of optical properties. Altering the transmission of materials in the visible spectrum remains a formidable challenge, due to the difficulties of tuning the Fermi Level and charge-carrier density over a wide range.
Smart windows are a particular example of this kind of optical application. For example, buildings can account for up to 40% of a developed country's total energy usage. This is primarily caused by high heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs. One of the most promising ways of reducing these costs is by reducing the amount of energy lost due to windows, mostly through inefficient insulation. Smart windows, windows that change their opacity under certain conditions, are a common solution to this problem. The most popular smart windows are electrically controlled, which allows them to be automated or controlled manually. This makes it very easy to change the windows properties to be the most efficient at any particular time of the day. However, it is difficult to create durable, low power windows that can induce large, reversible changes using an applied voltage. The best performing windows are also quite costly.

Optoelectronic device and smart window comprising the same

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


A first self-timing signal bi-phase-mark coded and having a data portion and a synchronization portion is to be sequenced by a second signal also having a data and a synchronization portion. The signals derived by differentiating only the level change at the end of each bit cell phase-lock an oscillator whose output provides the basic timing for a modulator stage. In the modulator stage, a flip-flop first changes state under control of the first signal. At the start of the synchronization portion of the first signal, a comparator furnishes a signal which switches control of the flip-flop to signals derived from differentiation of the second signal. When the second signal is binary coded, a NAND gate modulates the pulses from the second signal by pulses resulting from differentiating negative going edges of the signal derived from the phase-locked oscillator to create a signal for controlling the flip-flop so that it changes state in accordance with a bi-phase-mark code.

A system is described in the publication "Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers" June 1973, Volume 82, pages 482-491 in which a binary coded signal indicative of each position of a video tape is recorded in a longitudinal track of the tape. The signal consists of a pulse sequence of 80 bit data words and contains time data in the form of hour, minute, second, and frame number as well as synchronization information. The time data takes up the first 64 bits while the synchronization portion requires the remaining 16 bits. The signal is coded in a bi-phase-mark code which is a self-timing code in worldwide use and which has been elevated to a standard by the European Broadcast Union in E.B.U. Technical Document 3097. In this code a logic "0" is indicated by a level change at the end of the bit, while a logic "1" is represented by an additional level change in the middle of the bit cell. Depending on the information content, such an 80 bit word may have different instantaneous levels in any one specified place, for example in the middle or at the end of the word. When sequencing two signals to be recorded onto the longitudinal track of the video tape, it is necessary that the data portions are recorded continuously and without error. For this purpose a code reader must be provided which reads the data portion at the end of the previous recording, recognizes this portion and phase synchronizes the timing code generator required for generating the data signals. Under these circumstances the transition from the readout to the recorded signal can take place anywhere within the 80 bit word.
In tight sequencing of two phase-shifted signal trains, either too many or too few bits may appear in the sequenced signal or undesired amplitude changes can result during the sequencing which decrease or totally prevent the possibility of a true evaluation of the sequenced signals.
An error recognition system is described in DE-PS 25 03 296 in which advantage is taken of the fact that within the 64 bit data portion of each word certain bits are always unoccupied and therefore will have the same value within each 80 bit word. The system contains an AND gate which receives a first signal when the synchronization portions of the two signals are in coincidence and a second signal upon coincidence of the unoccupied data bits. Only signals which have been tested for coincidence twice in this manner are used for evaluation. However, this error recognition system depends upon the presence of unoccupied data bits. This is undesirable in that these bits may be required for use at some other time.

Method and apparatus for sequencing two digital signals


Device and method for the finishing machining of an internal face of a workpiece, such as the track of a ball screw, including a workpiece holder and a finishing tool held on a finishing tool holder. A rotary drive is provided, by which the workpiece holder and the finishing tool is rotationally driven relative to one another about a rotational axis. A linear drive is provided, by which the finishing tool held on the finishing tool holder and the workpiece holder is driven in a translatory manner relative to one another along the rotational axis. An oscillating drive is provided, by which the finishing tool held on the finishing tool holder and the workpiece holder is driven in an oscillating manner relative to one another in the direction parallel to the rotational axis and wherein the finishing tool is pivotably held on the finishing tool holder about a pivot axis.

Prior art devices and methods regarding the above are known from DE 10 2010 020 814 A1 and DE 40 35 374 A1. In the known devices, the finishing tool is held on a U-shaped tool holder, which can be driven in an oscillating manner about an axis of oscillation. The drawback in the known devices is that a thread length measured along the rotational axis of the workpiece, along which an internal face can be machined in a finishing manner, is limited and predetermined by the length of the U-shaped tool holder. It is furthermore disadvantageous that, depending on an insertion depth of the finishing tool measured along the rotational axis of the workpiece, the maximum possible angles of oscillation of the workpiece holder are limited.
Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the above-mentioned drawbacks are avoided.


A system and method for method for generating a security rule classification model comprises receiving at least one security rule from at least one attack database of a first security product of a plurality of different security products; normalizing each of the at least one security rule; generating a vector for each of the least one normalized security rule; classifying each generated vector to a security engine within a security service using a classification sub-model to generate a preliminary classification model, wherein the classification sub-model is provided from previous classification of security rules for a security product of the plurality of different security products that is different than the first security product; determining a score for the preliminary classification model; and validating the preliminary classification model as the security rule classification model, when the score is over a predefined threshold.

The Internet provides access to various pieces of information, applications, services, and vehicles for publishing information. Today, the Internet has significantly changed the way we access and use information and services (e.g., banking, e-commerce, e-trading, and the like). In order to access such services, users often share personal information with service providers. Similarly, confidential information of companies is stored on systems that are connected to the Internet.
Recently, the frequency and complexity level of cyber-attacks has increased with respect to attacks performed against all organizations including, but not limited to, cloud providers, enterprises, organizations, and network carriers. Some complex cyber-attacks, known as advanced persistent attack campaigns, utilize different types of attack techniques and target network, application, and end-point resources in order to achieve the attack's goals, thereby compromising the entire security framework of the network. The intention of an advanced persistent attack campaign is usually to steal data rather than to cause direct damage to the network or organization. These attacks typically target organizations in sectors with high-value information such as the national defense, manufacturing, retail, and financial industries.
To secure their systems, infrastructure, and services, enterprises utilize many different security products provided by different vendors. Typically, such products are utilized to detect and/or mitigate different vulnerabilities or threats. As an example, an enterprise network can implement one security product for an intrusion detection system (IDS) and another product for detecting malware download. Particularly, a typical enterprise network will be protected by firewalls, anti-virus software, malware detection software, authentication and authorization systems, intrusion detection, anti-phishing systems, network and end point behavior analysis, data leak prevention systems, web application firewalls (WAFs), and so on.
The security products are typically deployed in different segments of the enterprise network, e.g., at different servers, end-points (client computers), at networks, and so on. Further, different products, provided by different vendors, for protecting against the same type of threat can be typically utilized in combination to enhance the security. For example, IDS software provided by both Cisco® and McAfee® can be installed to protect end-points and servers in the enterprise network.
Security products typically utilize network behavior rules, attack signatures, malware and virus patterns and the like (collectively referred to as "security rules") to detect and/or mitigate a threat. Examples for such security rules include, e.g., IDS network attack signatures rules, anti-virus and malware patterns, reputation threat records, WAF rules, network behavior analysis rules, and so on. Each such rule is typically specific to a vendor providing the solution.
One of the challenges security architects and managers face is the multiplicity of security products and vendors. Each such product has a unique interface and implements a different type of technology, configurations, debug methods, and different security rules. The myriad of different security solutions and, specifically, their security rules pose a great challenge to protecting an enterprise network from cyber-attacks. Other than the complexity in configuring and monitoring the different solution, there is a real challenge to understand the effectiveness of each security rule and, consequently, each solution. That is, it cannot be easily determined which solution, for example, is better over the other to detect a specific type of threat.
Consequently, integrating new solutions is complex and time consuming, and requires a large security team with extensive expertise to master product complexity. Obviously, the administrative and maintenance labor comes at the expense of the design security defenses.
As a result, trying to enforce an overall effective security policy for the enterprise network is a very difficult task given the different nature of security rules. For example, assuming two IDS products are deployed in the network, and one detects a threat while the other does not. As such, there is an ambiguity as to whether the threat is real. Therefore, current solutions are inefficient when utilized to enforce an overall security policy.
In addition, the reliance on a specific security product typically discourages administrators to replace one product with another. Because, typically in the chain of enforcing an overall security policy, an input of one product is an output security rule of another product. Therefore, replacing one such product in the chain would require replacing or at least reconfiguring of other products.
Another challenge posed by the myriad of security products is that their security rules are frequently updated. Thus, such rules can be classified a-priori (e.g., mapped into different threat groups, representing different threats types each group if rule was meant to address), which at best, can be accurate until the next update. Further, a single security product can contain thousands of and more security rules. Thus, manual classification of all rules across all products is a tedious and time-consuming task.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.


A process for destructively scrubbing methyl chloride gas comprising contacting the gas with a scrubbing solution comprising ethanolamine is described.

Methyl chloride is a toxic gas known to be injurious to humans, attacking the liver, kidneys and CNS. Methyl chloride can be formed as a byproduct during certain chemical reactions. For example methyl chloride is formed during the conversion of a methylamino moiety in a tertiary amine to a urethane using ethylchloroformate. To avoid the hazards associated with a release to the environment when such reactions are run on a commercial scale, it is necessary to employ a scrubbing system to trap the methyl chloride off-gas produced.
One method known for removing methyl chloride as an off-gas involves venting the gas to a reactor containing methanolic KOH. The methyl chloride is converted to methanol or dimethyl ether and KCl by reaction with the KOH. However, this method is inefficient, as the reaction stops after converting only a small portion of the methyl chloride, resulting in release to the environment of the unreacted gas upon disposal of the scrubbing solution.
Another known method for scrubbing methyl chloride involves solubilizing the gas in a continuous stream of methanol. While this method is capable of removing the methyl chloride off-gas, it too is unsatisfactory, requiring the use of large volumes of methanol. In addition, the methanolic solution of methyl chloride thus obtained must be disposed of in a manner that avoids release of the dissolved gas into the environment. Given the relatively low boiling point of methyl chloride (-24.degree. C.), significant amounts of the dissolved gas are likely to escape from solution before it can all be treated.
The scrubbing of methyl chloride, is also described in Canadian Patent No. 1,282,317, via a method which involves contacting the off-gas with a scrubbing liquid comprising a vegetable or marine oil. However, this method is effective only for removal of small amounts of methyl chloride and is unsuitable for scrubbing the quantities of methyl chloride produced by commercial scale reactions.
Methods of destructively scrubbing methyl bromide are also known. In particular, Japanese Kokai JP 49127862 discloses a method involving contacting a solution of methyl bromide in isopropanol with a 20% solution of ethanolamine in water. However, application of methyl bromide technology to the control of methyl chloride emissions is in part impeded by the substantial difference in their boiling points (methyl chloride, -24.degree. C., as compared to methyl bromide, 4.degree. C.). More importantly, the significantly higher chemical reactivity of methyl bromide as compared to methyl chloride precludes direct extension of this technology to the scrubbing of methyl chloride. This is further evident from the absence of any teaching or suggestion in the prior art that such technology can be applied to methyl chloride.

Method for the destructive scrubbing of methyl chloride gas


Snapshots that are consistent across a group of data objects are generated. The snapshots are initiated by a coordinator, which transmits a sequence of commands to each storage node hosting a data object within a group of data objects. The first command prepares a data object for a snapshot. After a data object has been successfully prepared, an acknowledgment is sent to the coordinator. Once all appropriate acknowledgments are received, the coordinator sends a command to confirm that a snapshot has been created for each data object in the respective group. After receiving this confirmation, the coordinator takes action to confirm or record the successful completion of the group-consistent snapshot.

Storage systems provide means for storing and retrieving nonvolatile data via read and write operations. The nonvolatile data may be organized into data objects, such as physical or logical volumes, file systems, files, or any other technically appropriate organization. Many storage systems implement snapshot capabilities for data objects to enable data backup, data replication, disaster recovery, point-in-time travel for debugging, and continuous data protection. A snapshot of a data object is an immutable instance of the data object, reflecting the state of the data object at a certain point in time.
An important property of snapshots is that they always reflect a consistent state of the data object. In other words, a snapshot should reflect a plausible state of the data object at some point in time. A snapshot of a data object should reflect a write operation W2 only if all write operations to the same object that are potential causal predecessors of W2 are reflected in the same snapshot. A write operation W1 is a potential causal predecessor of W2 if and only if W2 is issued by the storage client application after the completion of W1.
Certain storage client applications may operate on multiple data objects and generate causal write sequences that span multiple data objects. In such cases, generating crash-consistent snapshots for individual data objects does not ensure that the set of snapshots of the multiple data objects reflects a consistent application state. This may occur, for example, when a storage client application operating on multiple data objects generates a causal chain of write requests where a first write request is carried out on a first data object and after it completes a second write request is carried out on a second data object, and the snapshots for the first data object and the second data object are carried out independently. In such a case, the second write might be reflected in the snapshots but its predecessor write, the first write, might not be, and as a result the snapshots would not have the property referred to herein as "group crash consistency." For a group of data object snapshots to be crash consistent (i.e., group crash-consistent), a write operation W should be reflected on a snapshot in the group only if all write operations, to any object with a snapshot in the group, that are potential causal predecessors of W are reflected in a snapshot of the same group.

Method and system for generating consistent snapshots for a group of data objects


A device for lifting one or more flexible, flat parts such as stacked pap pasteboard, cardboard, plastic is disclosed. The device relies on the propensity of a bundle of such parts to flex up around its edge when compressed at a point away from that edge. In one embodiment, a compression device presses down on one bundle in a stack of several bundles of parts to be lifted and a second compression device presses down the underlying stack, thus opening up a gap between the upper bundle and lower stack. A lifting arm is driven into this gap, and a clamp presses down on the bundle above the lifting arm, grasping the bundle. Two retainers are extended down onto the lower stack to prevent the stack from moving as the bundle is lifted. Once contact between the lifted bundle and the remaining stack is broken, the retainers are withdrawn and the lifting device is maneuvered to a delivery position.

Several devices for depalletting flexible items are known in the prior art. German DE-OS 38 35 032, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,292 discloses a device for destacking blanks of paper, pasteboard, cardboard, plastic, etc. stacked in blocks. The individual blank blocks are lifted from their respective bases by means of a plunging tool, with the plunging tool being supported on a base for exact positioning immediately prior to being inserted into the blank block. When one blank block has been lifted and carried away, the device either travels to a next blank block or the latter is positioned at the point where the one that has just been transported away was located. The plunging tool is formed by a flexible tongue which, during a destacking process, is initially supported on a solid support and must be pivoted relative to its perpendicular direction of motion. In order for the tongue to penetrate more simply between the parts or beneath the blank block, compressed air is blown between the individual parts, forming an engagement gap for the tongue.
In other known devices for depalletting flexible parts, a gripper unit is in the form of a suction gripper. German DE-AS 25 49 264 shows a device for separating stacked bags, with the bags being picked up by a sucker. German DE-OS 37 42 637 describes another device for removing individual empty bags from a pallet. The gripper unit in this device also is made in the form of a sucker. According to German DE-PS 32 42 181, the device is designed so that a plastic bag is lifted in one corner area by suction, then pivoted through approximately 90.degree., and then lifted off the bag stack beneath. The presence of a suction gripper for picking up a single item is common to all of these devices. However, these devices suffer from an inability to pick up a stack or pick several flexible parts at once.
Devices are also known, for example from German DE-OS 38 05 974 that permit stacks or individual flexible parts to be picked up. This is accomplished by fork tines of a fork lift either underrunning the pallet on which the flexible parts are located or underrunning the flexible parts themselves, and lifting them off the stack located beneath. This solution is especially disadvantageous if the parts are stacked in different stack patterns or if the parts are so shaped that they can snag beneath one another, as for example with valve bags. Picking up open stacks of parts not bound together is not possible since the parts simply slide off the fork tines.
The goal of the present invention is to design a device according to the species in such fashion that with a design advantageous for use, picking up flexible flat parts both individually and in open stacks is possible in a safe and accurate fashion.
This goal is achieved by the invention recited in the main claim. The subclaims show advantageous improvements.

Device for picking up bendable flat parts

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung e.v.


Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which recognize mutant epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) have been produced. The EGFR gene is amplified in 40% of malignant gliomas and frequently the amplified genes are rearranged. Internal deletions in four glioma cell lines created an epitope which was not present in normal EGFR. These mutant were characterized as expressing mutant type 1I EGFR and were found in a small percent of gliomas. Antibodies against these epitopes are useful for diagnosis of specific gliomas which express mutant type 1I EGFR.

Tumor specific molecules to aid in better diagnosis and treatment of human and animal cancer have been sought since the last century. Hard evidence of tumor-specific substances, based on molecular structural data, has been difficult to provide in most types of human cancer except those based on virally-induced cancer and involving molecular structures specified by the virus genome. There have been extremely few examples of tumor-specific molecules based on novel molecular structures. In the case of malignant human gliomas and other tumors potentially associated with amplification or changes in the epidermal growth factor receptor molecule, such as carcinoma of the breast and other human carcinomas, there have been no unequivocal demonstrations of structurally altered molecules with unique sequences.
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the 170 kilodalton membrane glycoprotein product of the proto-oncogene c-erb B. The sequence of the EGFR gene is known (Ullrich et al., 1984). The EGFR gene is the cellular homolog of the erb B oncogene originally identified in avian erythroblastasis viruses (Downward et al., 1984; Ullrich, et al. 1984). Activation of this oncogene by gene amplification has been observed in a variety of human tumors (Haley et al., 1987a), and in particular, those of glial origin (Libermann et al., 1985; Wong et al., 1987; Yamazaki et al., 1988; Malden et al., 1988).
One major difference between v-erb B oncogenes and the normal EGFR gene is that the viral oncogenes are amino-truncated versions of the normal receptor; they lack most of the extracytoplasmic domain but retain the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains (Fung et al., 1984; Yamamoto et al., 1983, Nilsen et al., 1985; Gammett et al., 1986). This results in a protein that is unable to bind epidermal growth factor (EGF) but can still phosphorylate other substrates (Gilmore et al., 1985; Kris et al., 1985), and has led to speculation that the v-erb B proteins are oncogenic because the kinase domain is unregulated and constitutively active (Downward et al., 1984).
A variety of genetic alterations can occur in viral erb B oncogenes, e.g. amino acid substitutions and deletions in the carboxy terminus of the gene. Available evidence, however, argues that the amino truncation is critical to carcinogenesis. Amino truncations are a feature of all v-erb B oncogenes, including those that arise by promoter insertion or retroviral tranduction (Nilsen et al., 1985; Gammett et al., 1986).
In contrast, carboxy-terminal deletions appear to be associated only with tumors that arise through retroviral transduction and seem to determine host range and tumor type specificity (Gammett et al., 1986; Raines et al., 1985). Transfection experiments with amino-truncated avian c-erb B genes or chimeric viral oncogene-human EGF receptors demonstrates that this deletion is sufficient alone to create a transforming protein (Pelley et al., 1988; Wells et al., 1988).
Amplification of the EGFR gene occurs in 40% of malignant human gliomas (Libermann et al., 1985; Wong et al., 1987). Rearrangement of the receptor gene is evident in many of the tumors with gene amplification. The structural alterations seem to preferentially affect the amino terminal half of the gene (Yamazaki et al., 1988; Malden et al., 1988), but the nature of the rearrangements has not been precisely characterized in any tumor.
Size variant EGFR genes and amplification have been reported in several human cancers. (Humphrey et al., 1988; Bigner et al., 1988; Wong et al., 1987; and Humphrey et al., 1989) There has been no determination, however, of the molecular basis for the altered EGFR molecules in cells. A determination of the genetic changes responsible for these tumors would present a significant step forward in the treatment and diagnosis of human carcinoma.
It would be desirable to have unique gene and peptide sequences for glioma EGFR. It would also be desirable to have a synthetic peptide against which monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies could be produced which demonstrate specificity against mutant EGFR.

Antibodies specific for type II mutant EGTR


A printer includes an exposing section for exposing a recording medium, a first feed device for feeding the recording medium while contacting both side edges of the recording medium, a developing section for development of the recording medium, a recording media feed path arranged between the exposing section and the developing section, a second feed device arranged in the recording media feed path for feeding the recording medium to the developing section while contacting the both side edges of the recording medium, and a cutting device for cutting four edges of the recording medium, a third feed device arranged between the developing section and the cutting device for feeding the recording medium to the cutting device while contacting the both side edges of the recording medium. An apparatus housing retains the exposing section, the developing section, the cutting device, and the first, second, and third feed devices therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer with a device for cutting recording media, such as photosensitive recording paper and the like having an image and the like printed. More specifically, it relates to a printer with a cutting device for cutting recording media accurately and securely for continuously cutting a plurality of the recording media accurately and securely.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior printer makes exposure on a photosensitive recording sheet before pressing it to develop, thereby forming an image on a surface of the photosensitive recording sheet. As an example, Japanese Patent Application Publication 2000-147678(A) discloses a recording apparatus as a printer such that: a photosensitive recording sheet called the Cycolor media is used that is formed of lamination of microcapsules filled with either one of coloring materials of cyan, magenta, and yellow each; the photosensitive recording sheet has a light of desired wavelength irradiated to a surface thereof to expose a color image; in other words, the surface is made to react to a light of specific wavelength to cure a sensitive material filled in the microcapsule together with the coloring material; the curing makes coloring reaction of the coloring material inactive; after that, a high pressure is applied to the active microcapsule without reacting to the light of specific wavelength to destroy for development (coloring), thereby forming the color image.
The prior printer mentioned above has an advantage that a running cost for printing can be kept low as consumable materials such as toner and ink or ink ribbon are not needed except for the above-mentioned Cycolor medium only for forming, or printing, the color image. The above-mentioned Cycolor mediun is on the market in the form of a blank cut sheet, such as a rectangular form, before the printing processes (exposing and pressure-developing processes). In the cutting process to the blank form, the Cycolor medium has an undesired force applied to four edges thereof. The four edges result in destruction of the microcapsules of non-unactiviated (active) state having the coloring materials filled therein. It is disadvantageous that the four edges cannot be developed to desired colors, but become black or undesirable results.
To overcome the problem, Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei 10-62871(A) discloses a technique that prior to the above-mentioned cutting step, the four edges of the Cycolor medium are pre-exposed to white and, the microcapsules existing on the edges are made inactive as a white frame to prevent the white edges from becoming black even if after that, a pressure is applied to the edges at the cutting step for a standard form.
However, the above-mentioned processing made on the recording mediu, results in increased cost of the medium as consumable item, or unavoidably increased running cost in the printing process with use of the medium.
On the other hand, the printer having such a medium used is useful as a photo-printer. The photosensitive recording paper having a color image formed, like the photograph having usual negative film used, has been needed to have the image formed on the entire surface without four edges in finish.
Various prior art methods for cutting the recording media have been disclosed and put to practical use. Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei 11-202418(A), as an example, discloses a structure having a cutter unit made up of a horizontal cutter and a vertical cutter, the horizontal cutter being for cutting photosensitive material having a plurality of images printed (exposed) to specific lengths depending on lengths of individual prints formed on the photosensitive material and, the vertical cutter being for cutting the photosensitive material having the plurality of wide images printed to specific widths depending on widths of the individual prints, thereby horizontally and vertically cutting the photosensitive material for the plurality of prints. However, the structure unlike the present invention cannot be used to cut the four edges out of the recording medium, but also is not elaborated for accurate and secure cutting the photosensitive material in any way as to posture and holding state of the photosensitive material in cutting the photosensitive material.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a dutting device for cutting recording medium capable of cutting four edges of the recording medium having an image or the like printed accurately and securely.


An in vitro method can diagnose membranous nephropathy patient. The method includes detecting in a biological sample obtained from the patient one or more autoantibodies recognizing a Thrombospondin, Type I. Domain Containing 7A (THSD7A) protein.

Membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome. About 15% of membranous nephropathy cases are secondary membranous nephropathy, caused by drugs, infections, tumors, immune diseases . . . The remaining 85% of membranous nephropathy cases are idiopathic, also called autoimmune primary membranous nephropathy. Its origin remains unknown. About one half of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who did not receive treatments will develop end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or renal transplantation. Among the kidney transplants, about 40% of them will relapse.
PLA2R1 has been described as a major autoantigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy and can be used for the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy both before and after kidney graft. Possible therapeutic strategies based on this autoantigen have also been reported.
However, only about 70% of patients suffering from idiopathic membranous nephropathy have anti-PLA2R1 autoantibodies, suggesting that other autoantigens and corresponding autoantibodies may be involved in the remaining 30% cases. Thus, there is a corresponding need for diagnosis, prognosis and theragnosis for the 30% of patients who cannot be followed based on the PLA2RT autoantigen.

Methods and kits for monitoring membranous nephropathy

EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG