An image processing device that executes a job based on instruction operation by a user authenticated as a result of user authentication, comprises a human body communication controller that makes human body communication with a human body communication terminal held by a user through at least one human body communication antenna arranged around a device body, and an authenticating unit that performs user authentication based on user information the human body communication controller acquires from said human body communication terminal. The human body communication controller makes the human body communication terminal shift from a communication mode to a power-saving mode in response to authenticating a user by the authenticating unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing device, an image processing system, and a user authentication method. The present invention more specifically relates to a technique of reducing power consumed by a human body communication terminal during user authentication performed via human body communication with a human body communication terminal held by a user.
2. Description of the Background Art
According to a technique conventionally known, a human body communication unit and a human body device make communication through the body of a person carrying the human body device, and user authentication is performed based on information the human body communication unit receives from the human body device (as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-182203, for example). Such a technique of performing user authentication via human body communication tends to be employed in various fields in recent years, and is used for automatically unlocking a locked door of an office, for example. As an example, a mat-like antenna for human body communication with a human body communication terminal (human body device) is placed in front of a locked door of a security room, and an authentication device to automatically unlock the door is connected to the antenna. According to this authentication system, when a user stands in front of the door for entry into the security room, the human body communication terminal carried by the user and the authentication device start to make human body communication through the mat-like antenna. The authentication device performs user authentication based on information received from the human body communication terminal. If the authentication is completed successfully, the door is unlocked to allow entry into the security room.
The aforementioned authentication system makes human body communication for example as follows: the human body communication terminal applies an electric field to part of the body of a user, and the mat-like antenna detects resultant field change appearing on a surface of the body of the user. However, if the human body communication terminal keeps applying an electric field all the time to the body of the user, a battery built in the human body communication terminal drains rapidly. Hence, the aforementioned authentication system is configured such that a certain electric field is generated in the mat-like antenna, and when a user stands on the mat-like antenna, the human body communication terminal detects resultant field change to shift from a power-saving mode to a communication mode. Specifically, the human body communication terminal does not apply an electric field to the body of a user in the power-saving mode to reduce the consumption of the battery, and starts applying an electric field to the body after shifting to the communication mode. When the human body communication terminal stops detecting field change transmitted from the mat-like antenna, it shifts from the communication mode to the power-saving mode again to reduce the consumption of the battery. As a result, the human body communication terminal is in the communication mode only in a limited period such as several seconds when a user stands in front of the door of the security room, and returns to the power-saving mode after the user enters the security room. The human body communication terminal then keeps the power-saving mode, thereby allowing suppression of drain of the battery.
In terms of security, for example, an image processing device such as an MFP (multifunction peripheral) placed for example in an office authenticates a user using the image processing device, according to the situation. Thus, the user authentication technique via human body communication is also applicable for authentication of a user to use an image processing device. Specifically, the following situation may be assumed: a mat-like antenna for human body communication with a human body communication terminal is placed in front of the image processing device, and user authentication is performed by acquiring user information from the human body communication terminal carried by a user who is standing on the antenna with the intention of using the image processing device.
When using the image processing device, a user generally performs detailed setting operation relating to a job including setting for print output and setting for reading of a document, and then performs operation to instruct execution of the job. After performing the setting operation for the job and the operation to instruct execution of the job, the user may keep waiting until execution of the job is completed in the image processing device. This prolongs time when the user stands on the mat-like antenna placed in front of the image processing device, so that the human body communication terminal carried by the user keeps the communication mode for a long time. Hence, employing user authentication via human body communication as user authentication in the image processing device leads to a problem of shortened battery lifetime of the human body communication terminal.

Image processing device, image processing system, and user authentication method more specifically relates to a technique of reducing power consumed by a human body communication terminal held by a user


An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatic actuator using an electrostatic force for displacing opposing electrode members relative to one another, wherein the electrostatic force is generated by a drive power source which applies a voltage between the opposing electrodes. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an electrostatic actuator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for forming a hydrophobic film on the surface of at least one of the two electrode members of the electrostatic actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Actuators with a microstructure formed using semiconductor microprocessing technologies are widely used in ink jet heads for ink jet printers. These microstructure actuators can be driven in various ways, one of which is electrostatic drive, a method that uses electrostatic force for drive power. Examples of ink jet heads that use electrostatic force to eject ink drops may be found in JP-A-5-50601 (1993), 6-71882 (1994) and EP-A-0 580 283.
This type of ink jet head has, in communication with each nozzle, a respective ink chamber whose bottom is formed as an elastically deformable diaphragm. The diaphragm is disposed opposite a substrate with a certain gap therebetween. Mutually opposing electrodes are also disposed on or by the diaphragm and substrate, respectively, and the space between the electrodes is sealed. In this case, the diaphragm and the substrate form the two opposing electrode members of the electrostatic actuator. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the electrostatic force created in the gap causes the bottom of the ink chamber, i.e., the diaphragm, to vibrate as a result of the electrostatic attraction to and repulsion from the substrate. The change in the internal pressure of the ink chamber resulting from this vibration of the ink chamber bottom causes one or more ink drops to be ejected from the ink nozzle. A so-called "ink-on-demand" drive method whereby ink drops are ejected only when needed for recording can thus be achieved by controlling the voltage applied to the electrodes of the electrostatic actuator.
If moisture gets on the opposing surfaces of the opposing electrodes (i.e., on the bottom surface of the ink chamber and on the opposing surface of the opposing substrate) while the ink jet head is being driven by repeatedly applying a voltage to the electrodes, the charge of polar molecules may cause a drop in electrostatic attraction or repulsion properties. If polar molecules adhering to the opposing surfaces form hydrogen bonds, the bottom of the ink chamber (i.e., the diaphragm) may stick to the substrate and can become inoperable.
One possibility of avoiding these problems is to treat the opposing surfaces so that they are made hydrophobic. One means of achieving this is to coat these surfaces with an oriented monolayer of perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA).
An electrostatic actuator which is used for moving micro mirrors and in which PFDA is used for hydrophobic treatment is proposed, for example, in JP-A-7-13007 (1995) and in corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,454. These documents are directed to a method of preventing the opposing electrode surfaces of the actuator from sticking together when driven by forming an oriented monolayer of PFDA on these surfaces.
Hydrophobic processing using PFDA, however, leaves the following problems to be solved. First, the durability of the PFDA layers formed by simply depositing PFDA on the opposing surfaces of electrode members displaceable relative to one another is insufficient. Consequently, the PFDA layer separates from the surface of the underlying electrode members as a result of the electrostatic field being repeatedly generated between the electrode members to repeatedly displace them relative to each other. These separated layer particles then tend to clump together, creating foreign matter inhibiting relative displacement between the electrode members. When such foreign matter is formed, the danger of the electrostatic actuator becoming inoperable arises.
The gap between opposing electrode members in an electrostatic actuator is preferably as narrow as possible in order to generate a sufficiently high electrostatic force at a relatively low voltage. It is also preferable to minimize this gap as much as possible in order to reduce the size and to achieve a higher density arrangement of electrostatic actuators. PFDA molecules are relatively large, however, and if the gap becomes too narrow, it is not possible to deposit PFDA on the opposing surfaces separated by this narrow gap.
It has also been proposed to use a hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) film to prevent relatively movable members in a microstructure from sticking together. However, such proposal does not provide any suggestion of sealing a gap in an electrostatic actuator using an HMDS film in the manner proposed by the present inventors.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic actuator having a durable hydrophobic film, and to provide a manufacturing method therefor. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic actuator comprising a hydrophobic film that can be deposited on the surfaces of opposing electrode members, which are displaceable relative to each other by an electrostatic force, even when the gap between the opposing electrode members is narrow, and to provide a manufacturing method therefor.

Electrostatic actuator and manufacturing method therefor


Individual elements of a sonar receiver transducer provide output signals in response to the receipt of acoustic energy and signals are processed to form one or more receiver beams for display. Each element output is provided to a preamplifier to which is applied a time varied gain function. The output signal of at least one of the preamplifiers is additionally provided to an adaptive time varied gain circuit which generates an error signal for correction of the time varied gain function applied to the preamplifiers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to the field of sonar signal processing, and more particularly to the time varying processing of the sonar signals.
2. Background Information
In a sonar system, acoustic pulses are transmitted through the water column toward a target area and acoustic returns from the target area are picked up by a receiver transducer and processed for display.
In one type of sonar system which can form one or more receiver beams, the receiver transducer is comprised of a plurality of individual elements each of which generates an output signal in response to the received acoustic returns. The output signals are provided to individual preamplifiers, corresponding output signals of which, are processed, either by analog circuitry or digital circuitry to form one or more beam signals for display.
Return signals may vary due to unknowns such as temperature, salinity and clarity of the water column. Further, if bottom returns are involved, such as in side looking sonar systems, different bottom types such as mud, sand or rock will return different signals. The preamplifiers and other signal processing circuitry therefore must have enough bandwidth to accommodate for the variations.
To accommodate for attenuation through the water column and for expected returns, a time varied gain circuit is generally provided to vary the gain of the preamplifiers as a function of time after an acoustic transmission. The varied gain function is predetermined and fixed. In addition, in order to decrease the dynamic range of a beam signal for display purposes, and to account for unknowns, there is generally provided an adaptive time varied gain circuit which modifies the beam signal based upon a history of the signal level present in previous returns. That is, gain function is not fixed but is adaptive to present conditions.
Although the beam signal dynamic range is decreased for display, the front end circuitry for amplifying and signal processing still requires a wide dynamic range due to potential error in the fixed time varied gain curve.
The present invention provides for an improved time varied gain correction which can accommodate for unknowns in the water column and various bottom types.

Sonar receiver with improved time varied gain correction


A sensing system for physiology measurements comprises a transmission end including a measuring signal generating module having at least one overshoot and undershoot wave generating circuits and a transmitting antenna module having at least one transmitting antenna; a receiving end having a plurality of receiving antennae with each receiving antenna receiving a reflected signal reflected by a target object; and a plurality of signal analyzing modules to generate a plurality of object active state signals by analyzing the reflected signal from each receiving antenna and transmit the plurality of object active state signals to a digital signal processor. Wherein each overshoot and undershoot wave generating circuit generates a measuring signal with overshoot and undershoot waves according to an inputted Pulse Width Modulation signal, and each transmitting antenna emits the measuring signal to the target object.

In current blood pressure measuring devices, auscultation and electron resonance, with a cuff, are widely applied to measure the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of an artery. Therefore, the cuff needs to be inflated and deflated for indirectly measuring non-continuous blood pressure. However, when measuring the continuous blood pressure, the cuff needs to be setup correctly and be inflated and deflated repetitively, which would cause a great inconvenience to the users, and as such, the feasibility and practicality would be significantly less effective.
Sensor systems may be designed for physiology measurement or monitoring or sensing activities of a target such as wrist artery, chest artery, lung activity, and so on.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sensing system and method for physiology measurements

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of determining an inter-chamber delay within a heart of an individual that may include determining a position of a first sensor in a first chamber of the heart, determining a position of a second sensor in a second chamber of the heart, automatically computing a distance between the first and second sensors, and automatically determining the inter-chamber delay based on the automatically computing operation.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods of cardiac resynchronization therapy.
The St. Jude Medical MediGuide™ (MDG) cardiovascular navigation system is a three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic navigation system that provides real-time position and orientation of MDG sensors embedded in electrophysiological tools. The MDG system may be integrated with a fluoroscopic imaging system and tracks the sensors continuously within the imaging volume of the fluoroscopic system, on both live fluoroscopy and pre-recorded backgrounds.

Cardiac resynchronization system and method


A feature is provided that facilitates securely creating and/or replacing cryptographic keys. A first key pair is created comprising first private key and first public key. A second (spare) key pair is created comprising second private key and second public key. The second key pair is associated with the first private key. The second key pair is divided into shares and distributed to at least two shareholders. When the first key pair is to be replace, the second key pair is recreated and authenticated with at least a portion of the distributed shares. A trust level is associated with the second key pair corresponding to a trust level of the first key pair. The first key pair may be invalidated upon authentication of the second key pair. Further configurations provide for the creation of additional spare key pairs.

1. Field
The following description relates generally to data protection and more particularly to replacing keys in a cryptographic system.
2. Background
Persons who intend to maliciously alter and/or use data for their own purposes can intercept information transmitted digitally. As such, digitally transmitted information is often cryptographically authenticated to ensure the information sent arrives at its destination in a substantially similar form as it was sent and also to verify and/or identify the originator.
Public-key cryptography systems are implemented in devices, including portable devices, for data security and provide cryptographic signatures. Public-key or asymmetric cryptography systems typically provide a user with a private key and a public key for authentication purposes. Generally, the public key is shared with others while the private key is kept private or secret to the user. That is, the private key remains in the device and the public key is sent to one or more targeted entries. In this way, the device may be used by the owner to establish relationships with the targeted entities, providing the owner access to secured items, including doors, bank accounts, computer networks, etc.
A device and a private key stored in the device, might be stolen, lost, broken, destroyed, or otherwise in need of replacement. In the case of theft, the owner of the device needs to mitigate an amount of damage the thief can cause by such thief having possession of the device. Generally, when an owner desires to replace the device, the owner authenticates a key of a new token by way of utilizing a key of an old token. This method suffers from the drawback that it requires the owner to have both the old token (old private and public key pair) and the new token (new private and public key pair) at the same time, which is not possible if the device is stolen, or damaged beyond use.

Certify and split system and method for replacing cryptographic keys


A latex particle comprises an interior core and an outer shell. The core comprises an acrylic or vinyl polymer, and the shell comprises a water soluble alkyd polymer and at least one surfactant. Substantially all or all of the alkyd polymer is present in the shell of the latex particle and substantially none or none or the alkyd polymer is present in the core of the latex particle. Also described is a process for making the latex particle wherein the water soluble alkyd polymer is present as a co-surfactant during polymerization.

The use of waterborne polymer dispersions in the coatings industry has increased significantly due to an industry effort to develop coating formulations containing little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). Moving from organic solvent-based compositions to aqueous compositions brings health and safety benefits. However, coating manufacturers and customers desire aqueous coating compositions that achieve the same as or better performance standards than previous solvent-based compositions.
Waterborne polymer dispersions have been prepared from various polymers including vinyl polymers, acrylic polymers, and alkyd polymers. In use, alkyd polymers tend to exhibit excellent film forming ability and adhesion due to their low molecular weight, flexibility, and oxidative self-crosslinking. As a result, a film coating comprising an alkyd resin has very high gloss. However, alkyd polymers have relatively slow cure times, particularly at ambient temperatures. In contrast, vinyl and acrylic polymers have fast cure times but suffer poor gloss and adhesion. For the vinyl and acrylic polymers, attempts to enhance gloss and adhesion by lowering the glass transition temperature of the vinyl and acrylic polymer film often leads to film softness and poor dirt pick-up properties. Therefore, coating manufacturers seek to impart alkyd attributes to vinyl and acrylic polymers.
For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 20110144258 describes waterborne polymer combinations that physically blend acrylic polymers with waterborne alkyds. However, such combinations typically fail to provide the desired performance due to phase incompatibility between alkyd and acrylic polymers, thus leading to a large scale phase separation in the micron range during film formation. Avoiding a large scale phase separation during film formation is desirable. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,378 discloses using a mini-emulsion process to produce hybrid alkyd/acrylic emulsions. The mini-emulsion process requires the use of specialized equipment such as a microfluidizer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,378, the latex particles comprise a core/shell structure wherein the core comprises an acrylic-based polymer and an alkyd polymer and the shell comprises a surfactant. The alkyd polymer is in the core of the particle rather than the shell.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 20110144258 teaches the physical blending of an alkyd polymer with an acrylic-based polymer after the acrylic based polymer has already been formed (i.e., after polymerization).
The present inventors have found that using an alkyd polymer as a co-surfactant during polymerization of an acrylic or vinyl monomer results in improved film formation properties for the latex that is produced.
The inventors further surprisingly found that configuration of the latex particle, and in particular, the placement of the alkyd polymer in the shell of a core-shell particle favorably impacts performance properties of a latex formed with the latex particles.
In the latex particles of the present invention, the acrylic modified alkyd polymer is located in the shell of the core/shell polymer and coats the core of the particle.
In the latex particles of the prior art that are produced using processes wherein post-polymerization addition of an alkyd polymer occurs, the alkyd polymer does not coat the acrylic-based polymer, thereby resulting in a large scale, micron range phase separation, therefore less desirable film formation properties.

Latex comprising water-soluble acrylic modified alkyd dispersion and method of production thereof


Techniques for interconnects structures for a multi-core processor including at least two multi-core integrated circuits include forming at least two multi-core integrated circuits each on a respective substrate into a stack, disposing connections through the stack between a circuit of a first one of the at least two multi-core integrated circuits and a circuit of a second, different one of the at least two multi-core integrated circuits, the integrated circuits arranged in the stack with connections of the first one connected to a receiving pad of the second one.

This invention relates to processors and more particularly to multi-core processors.
Typically computer systems employ processors. One type of processor is a multicore processor. A multicore processor typically includes plural processor cores on a common chip (e.g., integrated circuit or substrate). Systems comprised of multiple integrated circuits (ICs) typically use printed circuit boards or wire bonding to connect the integrated circuits. Connections that employ printed circuit boards or wire bonding are limited in their minimum pitch (center to center spacing between conductors) that constrains the number of input/output (I/O) connections that can be made to an IC of a given size.

Multi-core processor using three dimensional integration


Described are tray table assemblies having a table body (114) and a biasing mechanism (144). The table body can be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The table body in the stowed configuration can be positioned so that at least a portion of the table body can be situated within a cavity (142) defined along a downwardly projecting lip (140). The table body in the deployed configuration can extend transverse to the orientation of the table in the stowed configuration. The biasing mechanism can bias the table body into the cavity in the stowed configuration.

Tray tables are widely used in most aircraft seat assemblies. The tray table sub-assembly is typically pivoted on a pair of arms which allows the tray table to swivel between deployed and stowed positions, for example, relative to the back of the aircraft seat. This can provide a convenient table for a person sitting in a position facing the rear of the seat, such as a passenger situated aft of a forward-facing seat. When deployed, tray tables may be used as a surface for supporting food, drink, or other items, such as for work or entertainment during travel. The pivoting nature of the tray table may be useful in allowing the tray table to be readily deployed when desired by a seated passenger or readily stowed, such as to facilitate egress or ingress relative to the seat.
Different latch assemblies exist for retaining tray table assemblies in an upright stowed position when not in use. Various latch assemblies include either a lever (e.g., which may be rotated around an axis) or a slider (e.g., which may move linearly) that may be moved over a portion of a tray table assembly in the upright stowed position. In such a configuration, the lever or the slider can obstruct the pivoting motion of the tray table assembly. In many cases, the lever or slider can stop the tray table assembly from further movement after the tray table assembly has been pivoted to an upright stowed position against the rear of the seat.
Various issues, however, may arise with such latch assemblies. A lever or slider, for example, may protrude a sufficient amount as to be easily bumped by passengers during ingress or egress from the seat. This incidental contact may trigger inadvertent release and sudden movement of the tray assembly table, which may result in injury to passengers or damage to passengers' belongings or other items. Inadvertent release and corresponding harm may similarly occur due to forces or contact encountered during a crash scenario. Additionally, a lever or slider may be a projecting feature that poses an increased risk of injury for a passenger in a crash scenario. Furthermore, a lever or slider may also add additional weight to an aircraft, which is desirably avoided.


Disclosed is an apparatus with an automatic detecting function for remaining pins in which the state of all of pins previous to the first bowl is photographed by a television camera from the upper front, image data of pins located at their fixed positions are set as reference data for each of the pins, and image data after the first bowl which are obtained by photographing the state of the remaining pins after the first bowl are compared with the reference data, to determine the presence or absence of the pins which are the objects to be measured for automatic scoring. It is the objective of the present invention to improve the accuracy in the measurement of the first pin. In the apparatus, the image data measurement points of the first pin are set at both sides of the head of the first pin, to thereby separate them from measurement points of the backward fifth pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bowling apparatus provided with a system for automatically detecting the number of the remaining pins in the bowling game apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Arts
The conventional prior arts incorporating an electrooptical apparatus for the identification of pins in the bowling game are as follows. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 49-96834, 61-98272, and 48-94541 disclose an apparatus using a photodetector which responds to a light reflected from the upstanding pins, an apparatus utilizing image signals for the neck of each of pins, and an apparatus in which the bowling form of a bowler or the like is photographed by a television camera for displaying it on a monitor television, respectively.
These conventional apparatus, however, involve disadvantages in that a further specific illuminating device is required or the identification of the pins is often unstable due to the insufficiency of data used to determine the presence or absence of the pins. In order to overcome such problems, the applicant of the present invention has invented an apparatus in which the number of the remaining pins can be determined by digitally analyzing image data obtained by photographing the pins from the upper front with a television camera. FIG. 2 shows an image of the pins obtained by photographing them from the upper front.
In this case, as positions of image data for detecting the presence or absence of pins, some conventional examples use three points designated by reference numerals 5, 6 and 7 which are located at the head of a pin as shown in FIG. 3.
Providing that the number of the remaining pins is determined through the digital analysis of the image data obtained by photographing the pins from the upper front, the measurement points 8, 9, and 10 provided on the head of the first pin 1 adversely coincides with the neck of the fifth pin 2 due to the camera angle from the upper front. Accordingly, if the first pin is knocked down whereas the fifth pin remains standing, the measurement points of the first pin which would be otherwise located at the head thereof fall upon the neck of the fifth pin, which may cause an unstable recognition of the first pin, thus leading to an erroneous judgment.
Therefore, presently carried out is a method in which the measurement points signified by reference numerals 11, 12 and 13 in FIG. 5 are provided in the region closer to the bottom of the first pin, and the determination is performed based on the image data thereof. This method is rather effective, which may prevent the erroneous judgment to a certain extent. Nevertheless, if the first pin 1 is knocked down in the vicinity of the measurement positions of the first pin as shown in FIG. 6 when detecting the signals of the image data near the bottom the first pin, an erroneous detection may take place that the first pin remains standing at the predetermined position.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which the image data obtained by photographing the pins from the upper front thereof are subjected to a digital analysis for the determination the number of the remaining pins, characterized in that the measurement positions of the image data are set so as to determine the present or absence of, in particular, the first pin without any fault.

Bowling apparatus with automatic detecting function for remaining pins


This invention relates to an apparatus and method for regulating the delivery rate of bulk tablets to a tablet transportation system.

In the pharmaceutical industry, much effort has been devoted to the continued development and improvement of controlled release formulations for solid dosage forms, e.g., tablets or capsules. Controlled release dosage forms can facilitate patient compliance with a prescribed dosing regimen by allowing the patient to administer dosages fewer times during a given day which can reduce the incidence of missed or delayed dosages.
Many controlled release tablets include a hole or plurality of holes in their outer membrane to allow digestive fluids to penetrate through the membrane and initiate dissolution of the dosage form. One such example of such a dosage form can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,859, incorporated herein by reference, in which the dosage form comprises a core, a membrane, and a "passageway" which, by disclosure, may be a hole drilled by a laser. Typically, the digestive fluid enters the inner portion of the tablet which contains the active drug or other medicament, thereby dissolving or suspending the active drug. The active drug or medicament can subsequently diffuse from the inner part tablet at a controlled rate, through the passageway, and allowing said active drug or medicament to be bioavailable to the patient in a desired manner.
The processing of drilled dosage forms often involves use of a tablet processing systems. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,294,770, 5,399,828, and 5,783,793, incorporated herein by reference, describe various systems for processing drilled tablets. These systems include descriptions, in general, for transporting tablets to a position where they are drilled by a laser. However, none of these systems address the problem of controlling the rate of delivery of bulk tablets from a hopper to the tablet transport system.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0175051 describes a vibratory feeding system in which substrates from a hopper are fed onto two separate inclined trays. The trays each contain a central grove and "shedders" which are used to singulate the exit of the components exiting the hopper. However, singulation is not what is needed or desired in the delivery of pharmaceutical tablets to a tablet transportation system.
A common difficulty encountered in pharmaceutical processing is to provide a continuous rate of delivery of bulk tablets from a hopper to tablet transport system. A delivery rate that is too slow may result in the transport system not running at full capacity. A delivery rate that is too fast, can overload the transport system resulting in system failure. Therefore a system is needed which can address this problem by providing a controlled rate of delivery of the dosage form from a hopper to a transport system. The subject invention provides for regulating the delivery of tablets from a hopper to a tablet transport system and can be advantageous to the pharmaceutical industry.

Apparatus and method for regulating the delivery of bulk tablets to a tablet transport system


A memory access control circuit determines an optimum memory access mode and performs the optimum memory access mode without requiring additional data from the data processing unit. The circuit performs a plurality of memory access operations, the number of which is larger than the number of access modes designated by the data processing unit, and decides automatically which memory access is to be performed, and independently executes the appropriate memory access. The memory access control circuit provides memory access control functions which make it particularly suited for use in a graphics display system.

The present invention relates to a memory access control circuit for performing an access operation to a memory in response to a request from a data processing unit and, more particularly, to such a control circuit for a graphic controller in a graphic display system for displaying characters, figures and so forth by means of a printer and/or a raster scan type cathode ray tube (called hereinafter "CRT").
A memory access control circuit intervenes between a data processing unit and a memory and responds to an access request from the data processing unit to perform a data read/write operation on the memory in accordance with a designated one of various access modes.
Also in a graphics display system, a memory access control circuit intervenes between a drawing control unit, which performs a drawing data processing operation on characters, figures and so forth to be displayed, and a frame buffer memory, which temporarily stores character and figure data being currently displayed. The display of characters and figures on a CRT is performed by the drawing control unit which generates character and figure data to be displayed and writes them into the frame buffer memory through the memory access control circuit. While the access to the frame buffer memory is performed in word units, the actual drawing process is frequently performed only on one or few bits within the accessed word. This is because one pixel (picture element), which represents a unit of processing in the graphics display system, consists of one to four bits in general and thus one word includes a plurality of pixels. For instance, in drawing a line such as a straight line, a circle, an arc or the like, the number of pixels to be processed in one word is usually one (two or more in some cases). Therefore, only the data of a pixel or pixels to be processed within one word read out from the frame buffer memory are modified or updated in accordance with line type data and/or color data to be displayed and the word containing the modified or updated data bits is then written back to the same address of the buffer memory. In this case, three successive steps is required, the first step is reading one word of data from the frame buffer memory, the second step is modifying certain pixel data, and the third step is writing the word including modified data bits back to the memory. An operation for performing these three steps is hereinafter called "read-modify-write (or RMW) access".
On the other hand, such a memory has been developed and put into practical use, which has improved access modes for shortening access time. One of them is a write-per-bit (WPB) access mode. According to this access mode, by supplying the memory with only modifying data together with mask data for designating a bit or bits to be modified within one word, the data of the bit or bits designated by the mask data are automatically modified inside the memory in accordance with the modifying data. If the memory having WPB access is employed, therefore, the operation required of the graphic controller is reduced to only one step of supplying the modifying data and the mask data to the memory. The graphic controller is free from the data read access operation .and the data modifying operation. In other words, WPB access causes the same operation as RMW access with the same access speed as a random write access. WPB access is effective in the process of drawing a line above, in which the original data of the pixel or pixels to be processed are not required.
Another of the high-speed access modes is a page-mode access, in which a memory address is divided into a row address defined as a page address and a column address defined as a word address within a page so that the case of accessing successive words within one page, the row address for the second and later words is not required. The graphics display system also has a bit-block-transfer (BitBlt) function which transfers data stored in a certain area (i.e., a source area) to another area (i.e., a destination area), and thus the page-mode access is effective in this function.
Thus, by selecting the optimum access mode of the memories employed in the graphics display system in accordance with the drawing operation to be performed, the memory access speed and efficiency are greatly improved. The selection of the access mode to be used can be carried out by the drawing algorithms of the drawing control unit in response to the required drawing operations.
However, the kind of memory (and thus the access modes thereof) actually employed in a system depends on the specification of the system to be structured. That is, it is impossible for the drawing control unit to predict the kind of memory, which will be employed in the system, at the time of determining the drawing algorithms thereof. Moreover, in current systems, the memory, which is an object of the drawing operation by the drawing control unit, is not restricted to the frame buffer memory, but is spread over a so-called system memory which is used by CPU operating as the host processor of the system. Since the access frequency to the system memory by the CPU is considerably higher than that by the graphic controller, an ordinary dynamic memory (DRAM) not having WPB access mode is used as the system memory in view of the cost. Further, a system bus coupled with the system memory cannot generally meet the page-mode access requirements. Thus, there is one case where ordinary DRAMs are employed as both the frame buffer memory and the system memory, and another case where a memory having WPB access mode and/or the page-mode access is employed as the frame buffer memory and ordinary DRAM is employed as the system memory.
One approach is to prepare a plurality of drawing algorithms corresponding to the memory access modes for each one of the respective drawing operations. However, the preparation of a plurality of drawing algorithms causes the expansion of firmware for performing the respective algorithms, so that the cost of the drawing control unit is increased. Moreover, the unit is required to detect conditions and circumstances for selecting the optimum drawing algorithm, so that the burden of the application software is increased. Furthermore, if a new memory having a higher access speed mode is provided, the drawing control unit would have to be redesigned.

Memory access control circuit with automatic access mode determination circuitry with read-modify-write and write-per-bit operations


Prophylactic devices are made in an inert atmosphere by cooling mandrels on which the devices are to be deposited, dipping the mandrels into a polymeric material in a solvent/carrier and a mold release agent, rotating the mandrels during and after the dipping, and evaporating the solvent after dipping. The apparatus includes an air lock between a section in which these functions are performed and a section located in an air atmosphere for removing the devices from the mandrels, followed by cleaning the mandrels for use in a subsequent production run for making devices.

Prophylactic devices are used to prevent the transfer of infection, bacteria and viruses from an environment to a body member on which the device is mounted. Prophylactic devices include but are not limited to catheters, valves, gloves, and so forth. For example, condoms are used to protect the user from venereal diseases and for birth control, and surgical gloves are used to protect the user from infection. In order to allow the protected body member to move freely and to respond to external stimulus, the device must be as thin as possible, but this reduces the protection it provides. For many years prophylactic devices have been made of latex rubber, but when a latex condom is sufficiently thin, it reduces overall strength, is subject to breakage, and there is an increased risk that it will have pin holes that are large enough to permit the passage of viruses such as the HIV. Accordingly, latex condoms must be manufactured and tested with great care and consequent expense. Also, some people are allergic to latex.
It has been found that prophylactic devices made of polyurethane, in contrast to latex, can be very thin so as to provide a good sense of feel while at the same time being very strong, and free from pinholes. Also, polyurethane due to its synthetic nature is typically more nonallergenic than latex.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,490 a method for manufacturing condoms is described in which a mandrel having the general shape and dimensions of a condom is dipped into a solvent solution of a polyurethane polymer and heated in air after being withdrawn therefrom so as to dry the polyurethane. The dried polyurethane which now forms a condom is then removed from the mandrel.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing prophylactic devices


Various computerized systems and methods are provided for creating sports statistic triggers, and analyzing sporting statistic feeds and determination, bashed on updates to sporting statistic feeds, whether or not a trigger has been satisfied. Sports statistic triggers for sporting events may be created using a user interface and stored, along with associated parameters, in data storage. Live downloaded sports statistic data feeds can be analyzed by a plurality of processes to determine whether or not one or more sport statistic triggers have been satisfied. Based on satisfaction of one or more sport statistic trigger, a broadcast message may be delivered to subscribers using a variety of delivery methods according to a distribution list.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
A live sport feed (such as a sport feed available through the internet) is a way of disseminating live sporting event statistics. In many fields, computer programs may be written to programmatically display sporting statistics found in live feeds, such as the current number of points scored by a team or player. For example, if "Player X" scored 20 points, a website could report, based on a live feed downloaded from a third party, that the game is ongoing and that Player X currently has 20 points scored.
Likewise, sporting statistics may be used at a sporting event itself to illustrate on a scoreboard a team or sporting statistic for a sporting event. For example, a scoreboard at the event may display that "Player X has scored 20 points".
A person may monitor a sporting event statistic manually using a display in order to deliver a message when a sporting statistic reaches a set level. For example, via looking at a sporting statistic display, a user may then send out message over a microphone and audio system that "Player 20 has now scored 20 points".

Scalable systems for change detection of statistic data feeds across multiple servers using shared memory with configurable messaging triggers


A drum for a clothes drier formed from a cylindrical sleeve into which is inserted a pair of opposed head structures, each provided with a seat snugly received in the adjacent end of the sleeve and terminated by an abutment to limit the penetration of the head into the sleeve. Axially extending projections are provided at each end of the sleeve and these projections are bent around their adjacent seats thereby to hold the heads and sleeve together.

In the manufacture of domestic clothes drier, the drum is normally formed from a pair of opposed heads with a substantially cylindrical sleeve extending there between. Substantially cylindrical seats on the head are snugly received in the sleeve and the sleeve is then welded to each of the heads to form a unitary structure composed of a sleeve and the heads at each end thereof. The welding operation obviously requires heat even though in many cases a simple tack weld is used to secure the two devices together.
Obviously with the above system it is necessary that the head structures if they are to be painted or coated with any heat sensitive coatings be so painted or coated subsequent to the welding operation. Thus in any lines were, for example, the outer face of the head is to be painted it is necessary this painting operation take place after the welding operation. Similarly if the inside surfaces are to be coated with a porcelain enamel or the like, for example, this coating operation can only be performed after the welding has been completed.
In many cases it has been deemed desirable to pre-paint or pre-coat the heads, however because of the manner in which the drum structure was constructed, this could not be done.
If welding is used on stainless steel heads discoloration may occur which require a subsequent operation to remove the discoloration.
Similarly, the fabricating operation where the tack welding is involved is more elaborated than what is necessary with the present invention since not only do the devices have to be assembled but they have to go through a tack welder in order to fix them together. With the present invention the assembly and securing may occur on the same apparatus.


Dust separator for the separation of even fine dust particles from a flowing gaseous media whereby a swirling action is imparted to the gas through which the coarse dust portion is centrifuged and a free-running turbine wheel is rotated so that the fine dust particles are likewise centrifuged in the blade ring of the turbine wheel.

The present invention concerns a dust separator for the separation of even fine dusts from flowing gaseous media.
Dust separators for gaseous media are especially important at places where a destruction of vital components can result, such as, for example, in coal dust-fired gas turbines, coal gasification plants, firings by means of fluidized bed combustion, etc.
For example, it is possible in coal gas-fired gas turbines that poor dust separation can result in the turbine blades of the first stages being destroyed by erosion even after only a few days of continuous operation.
For these reasons and also with respect to achieving as complete a separation as possible of industrial waste gases, which is required evermore urgently today for reasons of environmental protection, it is necessary to produce dust separators by means of which even the finest dust can be removed to a higher degree than in the case of the previous mechanically working separators.
The dust separators well known today have the disadvantage that their degree of separation drops severely as the particle size becomes smaller. Also, the pressure drop caused by the particles is relatively great and a great sweep-gas quantity is required for removal of the dust which involves a considerable energy loss when purifying combustion gases.
These disadvantages are avoided by the dust separator according to the presently claimed invention wherein a main flow conduit conducts the gaseous media. A swirling motion is imparted to the gaseous media within the main conduit. A freely-rotating turbine wheel is arranged at an outlet of the main conduit. The wheel includes blades on the periphery thereof which are acted upon by swirling air from the main conduit to rotate the turbine wheel. An outlet conduit is disposed downstream of said turbine wheel. An annular channel surrounds the turbine wheel. The channel communicates with the main conduit by means of a first gap situated between the outlet of the main conduit and the inlet of the turbine wheel, and communicates with the outlet conduit by means of a second gap situated between the outlet of the turbine wheel and an inlet of the outlet conduit .

Dust separator for separating dust from flowing gaseous media


A sealable drum funnel is attached onto a drum by threading the device into the larger bung opening of the drum. The sealable drum funnel includes a funnel body having an open top end and an outlet opening at a bottom end thereof. A sealing lid is coupled to the open top end of the funnel body. A drum coupling is attached to the bottom end of the funnel body. The drum coupling includes a threaded exterior on the lower portion thereof, a threaded interior on at least an upper portion thereof and a passage extending through the drum coupling from the outlet opening of the funnel body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a drum funnel for a drum or vertical container and, more specifically, for a sealing drum funnel for a drum or vertical container holding hazardous waste.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,869 to Myers discloses a combined funnel and cap member which can be attached to containers for receiving waste fluid. The funnel assembly in the Myers patent allows for venting of the attached container and specifically avoids maintaining a seal between the cap and the funnel body. Additionally, the Myers patent is not adapted for sealing engagement with a drum funnel or similar type container.
As discussed in Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,751, the containment and removal of liquids contained within a drum such as, for example, a 55 gallon drum have proven to be somewhat burdensome and messy. The process becomes more dangerous when dealing with hazardous materials. 40 C.F.R. .sctn.264.173 sets forth the requirements for containers holding hazardous waste stating:
(a) A container holding hazardous waste must always be closed during storage, except when it is necessary to add or remove waste. PA1 (b) A container holding hazardous waste must not be opened, handled, or stored in a manner which may rupture the container or cause it to leak.
The object of the present invention is to provide a funnel for drums or other vertical containers which can be coupled to the drum and sealed while attached to the drum.


Example implementations relate to a switch resource manager for a network switching device. In an example, a network switching device includes a packet switching device and an operating system kernel. The operating system kernel includes a driver for the packet switching device. The network switching device also includes a switch resource manager including a library of commands for the packet switching device. The switch resource manager can send commands to the packet switching device via the driver. The operating system kernel can load a network operating system instance into user space of the network switching device.

A network switching device, such as an Ethernet switch, includes a data plane and a control plane. The data plane is for switching packets while the control plane is for controlling operation of the device as a whole and for configuring the data plane. The data plane can include one or more packet switching devices (e.g., Application Specific Integrated Circuits designed for switching packets), ports, physical layer chips, and the like. The control plane can include a processing resource (e.g., CPU) and memory (e.g., RAM, Flash). The processing resource is connected to the data plane via a physical connection, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus.
The control plane of the network switching device includes a network operating system (NOS) stored in memory and executed by the CPU. The NOS includes an operating system kernel (e.g., Linux kernel) and a protocol stack (e.g., a set of software modules to implement various networking protocols). The NOS can be accessed by a user via a command line interface. The NOS configures the data plane of the network switching device to process and forward packets received via the ports. To enable this, the NOS includes a software development kit (including a library of commands) and driver for the one or more packet switching devices in the data plane.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A battery pack includes a battery, a terminal unit, a first current path, a second current path, and a first voltage sensing path. The battery has first and second battery terminals. The terminal unit includes a first pack terminal, a second pack terminal, and a first sensing terminal. The first current path includes charging and discharging switches and is located between the first battery terminal and the first pack terminal. A charging current and discharging current of the battery flows on the first current path. The second current path is between the second battery terminal and the second pack terminal. The first voltage sensing path includes the first sensing terminal, and voltage between the first sensing terminal and another terminal corresponds to a voltage between the first battery terminal and the first sensing terminal.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to a battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of devices are powered by batteries. Examples include mobile phones, digital cameras, laptop computers, and electric vehicles. The batteries may be incorporated into a battery pack equipped with a protective circuit for controlling charging and discharging operations.
The batteries in a battery pack may be charged by a constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) charging method, in which CC charging is performed and then CV charging is performed. During CC charging, if the charging current and CC charging period are increased, the charging time period may be reduced. However, if charging is performed by charging current that exceeds a safe level, or if the battery is charged when the voltage of any of the batteries in the pack is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage value, the battery pack may degrade at a more rapid rate. Thus, the charging device for the battery pack may determine whether a predetermined voltage value has been reached based on the magnitude of the voltage between the terminals of a battery pack.
However, the voltage between the terminals of the battery pack may be greater than the voltage of one or more of the batteries in the pack. In addition, the charging mode may be switched from the CC charging to the CV charging before the battery voltage reaches the predetermined voltage value. As a result, the charging time period may increase.


An actuation apparatus includes a module movably tethered to a base member. Each of the module and base member include a plurality of magnetic elements aligned in a plurality of paired magnet sets such that in a non-actuated condition a repulsive magnetic force generated by each paired magnet set causes separation of the module and base member. Application of an actuation force to an actuation surface of the module, in opposition to the magnetic repulsive force, causes movement of the module toward the base member such that contact is made between terminals defined by the magnetic elements of at least one of the paired magnet sets, to generate an output signal. In an illustrative example, the base member is a steering wheel armature of a vehicle and the module is a wheel hub assembly including an air bag and a hub cover defining the actuation surface.

In vehicles equipped with a driver air bag assembly, the air bag assembly is typically included in a steering wheel hub module including the air bag assembly and a hub cover designed to open upon deployment of the air bag. Typically, the hub module is suspended on an armature base plate of the steering wheel armature by four telescoping spring-biased corner posts, which incorporate horn actuation switch contacts or terminals. Depressing the air bag module by applying an actuation force against the hub cover compresses one or more of the springs to make contact with one or more switch terminals to actuate the horn. The actuation force required to make contact with at least one of the switch terminals may also be referred to as the horn effort, and is defined by the condition of the spring. The springs of the spring-biased actuation system can be affected by loads imposed on the springs by the gravitational force resulting from the weight of the hub module and the location of the center of gravity of the hub module relative to the spring placement, which may increase the relative load on one or more of the springs. Over time, the spring force, and the corresponding actuation force and horn effort, can change due to wear and/or fatigue caused by the gravitational loads, such that the horn effort required to actuate the horn may vary from location to location on the actuation surface, e.g., on the hub cover, and from one spring post and/or switch terminal to another. Sagging of the hub module relative to the armature base, due to gravitational loads, may decrease the effort required to actuate the horn in some locations on the hub cover, increasing susceptibility to unintentional actuation of the horn caused by incidental input to those locations, or unintended terminal contact due to incidental hub module movement or vibration during vehicle use.


A pool net mounting device is disclosed. The mounting device includes a pool net holding portion having a hollow cylindrical tube adapted to receive and secure a pool net in a plurality of angular orientations. The pool net mounting device also includes a mounting portion adapted to be removably attached to a cylindrical object such as a pool ladder rail. The net holding portion and the mounting portion are removably attached to each other in a variety of angular positions so that a wide range of configurations is achieved for orienting a pool debris net at a desired angular orientation and height. The net holding portion includes a number of apertures and slots therein for receiving a spring loaded pin, a common feature of pool nets. Alternative pool net attachment features are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a device for skimming debris off the surface of a body of water and, more particularly, for skimming debris such as dead leaves, twigs, insects and scum off of the surfaces of pools prior to their sinking and forming a sludge at the bottom of the pool.
Skimming debris from the water surface of pools is done either manually, by hand, using a net attached to a long handle and manipulated by a person, or by positioning a debris skimming net in a location where water currents flowing around the pool urge the floating debris to move along fairly well defined paths created by the moving currents. A generally circular flow of water from pump inlet to outlet creates the current flows in the pool.
A variety of devices are known in the prior art for mounting a pool debris skimming net over a swimming pool. In many instances, the net mounting devices are bulky, lacking in flexibility to orient the net at a desired attitude or angle, difficult to install and some are quite expensive to produce. Ideally, a pool net mounting device is adaptable for use with all pool installations be they in-ground or above-ground pools. In addition the ideal device should include net positioning features that enable a multitude of net positioning options, is small and lightweight, is easily removed for storage purposes, and is inexpensive to produce. What is needed is a pool net mounting device that incorporates all of these desirable features.


Several methods and apparatuses for determining whether a vaccine specimen has previously frozen. One method includes providing a known value correlating to the settling of vaccine known to have previously frozen, and, upon agitation of the specimen, directing light substantially through the specimen as the specimen settles. The amount of light that passes through the specimen correlates to the settling of the specimen and is compared to the known value to determine whether the specimen has previously frozen. Another method includes providing light of a predetermined wavelength and directing the light through the specimen. The intensity of the light transmitted through the specimen is compared to the intensity of light of the predetermined wavelength having passed through an amount of vaccine known to have previously frozen. Based on this comparison, a determination is made whether the specimen has previously frozen.

This invention relates generally to a vaccine testing system and method of determining the extent of temperature-induced damage in liquids, and in particular, liquid vaccines.
Freeze-sensitive vaccine preparations can potentially be damaged by freezing during storage and transport from their point of manufacture to their ultimate destination, this route sometimes being referred to as the pharmaceutical "cold chain."
Vaccines of various kinds employ the use of an adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity. This adjuvant, which could be, for example, micro-particulate aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate, may be coated with a lattice of antigen. When thus attached, the antigen and adjuvant can reduce the dosage necessary to vaccinate, and thus extend vaccine supplies to ensure that more people can be vaccinated. However, if a vial of such a vaccine is frozen, the lattice of antigen may be removed from the adjuvant particles, and the antigen-adjuvant combination may be unable allow vaccinations at low dosages and, therefore, may be unusable.
The previously frozen adjuvant particles often agglomerate into larger clusters. This agglomeration is the basis for two current methods of determining whether an adjuvant-containing vaccine has been frozen previously. The first method is by phase-contrast microscopy, wherein the agglomerated adjuvant is clearly visible and distinguishable from non-agglomerated adjuvant. The second method is called the "shake test". The "shake test" relies on the faster sedimentation rate of the agglomerated adjuvant particles. The test vial and a known, reference frozen vial are shaken and placed side-by-side. The health worker then watches the two vials until he or she can say for certain whether or not the reference frozen vial is clarifying faster than the test vial. For example, ten and twenty dose vials can be tested in this manner in a matter of several minutes, but a one and two dose vial can take significantly longer before a reliable judgment can be made.
Although shown to be effective, these two methods can potentially have shortcomings. Because vaccines may be delivered to people in the poorest and most remote areas of the world, use of phase contrast microscopy may be impractical for wide use because of the cost and maintenance of a microscope.
The "shake test" is free and effective when carried out properly, but may also be prone to human error. If the health worker is impatient, he or she may not wait long enough to make a reliable judgment about whether a vaccine has been previously frozen or not, raising the likelihood of a false positive. The worker may also neglect to completely freeze the control vial, thereby potentially increasing the likelihood of a false negative. Neither the "shake test" nor phase-contrast microscopy is quantitative, capable of producing a number that can be used to compare a numerical value of one vial versus another.
One method attempting to resolve this problem has been to use freeze indicators. These indicators would provide a calibrated external indicator that a freezing event had taken place. Although these remain important components of the pharmaceutical cold chain, they may not be designed nor have the ability to determine the extent to which vaccine has actually been damaged by freezing temperatures.


Techniques for cryptographically secure, cross-domain information sharing are described. A first information domain including a first attribute-based encryption (ABE) authority defines a first universe of ABE attributes. Plaintext is encrypted using ABE encryption, producing ABE ciphertext. The ABE encryption uses an ABE access control expression defined with a set of ABE attributes comprising a first ABE attribute subset from the first universe of ABE attributes and second ABE attribute subset from a second universe of ABE attributes defined by a second ABE authority of a second information domain. The ABE ciphertext and the ABE access control expression are combined to produce an ABE package. The ABE package is encrypted, using predicate-based encryption (PBE), producing a PBE ciphertext. The PBE encryption uses a first set of PBE attributes from a universe of PBE attributes defined by a PBE authority.

Secure and efficient mechanisms for timely sharing of information are critical for many commercial and military applications such as in enterprises, data centers, and emergency response operations. Networks that are immediately available and robust lay the groundwork for sharing critical information, but the other side of that coin is equally important: securely sharing information amongst potentially diverse groups. Without the right security protections and access controls in place, highly useful but sensitive information is difficult to share in a timely manner because of the risk of an information leak to inappropriate parties.

Cryptographically secure cross-domain information sharing


A light emitting module includes a laser element and a first transistor including a first electrode connected to the laser element, a second electrode connected to a power supply, and a control electrode. A second transistor includes a first electrode connected to a second reference potential via a first resistor, a second electrode connected to a first reference potential, and a control electrode. The control electrode of the first transistor is connected to the first electrode of the second transistor and the first resistor. A conversion member is to convert a laser beam emitted by the laser element and includes a sensing wire via which the control electrode of the second transistor is connected to a third reference potential. The control electrode of the second transistor is connected to a fourth reference potential via a second resistor.

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to light emitting modules.
Light emitting modules employing laser diodes (LDs) and used as lighting equipment and automotive headlights have been developed. In such a light emitting module, the laser beam from an LD irradiates a conversion member by which the wavelength is converted, and is externally emitted as light suited for lighting.
In such a light emitting module, if the conversion member is damaged by an external shock or the like, there is a possibility that the laser beam leaks from the light emitting module and enter the human eye. For this reason, there has been a proposal for turning off the LD in the event of a damaged conversion member (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 6091926 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-060159).


Siloxane organic hybrid polymers and a method of making them by condensation polymerization reaction of organoalkoxysilane in the presence of organic film-forming polymers are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,679 to Fujioka et al discloses a coated shaped article of a polycarbonate type resin of improved abrasion resistance comprising a shaped polycarbonate substrate, an undercoat applied and cured on the substrate, and an overcoat applied and cured on the undercoat comprising a hydrolyzate of an epoxy-containing silicon compound, at least one member of the group of hydrolyzates of organic silicon compounds, colloidal silica and organic titania compounds, and a curing catalyst.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,500,669 and 4,571,365 to Ashlock et al disclose transparent, abrasion-resistant coating compositions comprising a colloidal dispersion of a water-insoluble dispersant in a water-alcohol solution of the partial condensate of silanol wherein the dispersant comprises metals, alloys, salts, oxides and hydroxides thereof.
In the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Vol. 63, (1984), Philipp et al disclose in "New Material for Contact Lenses Prepared From Si- and Ti-Alkoxides by the Sol-Gel Process" that it is possible to combine inorganic and organic elements to develop materials with special properties.
U.S. application Ser. No. 07/440,845 filed Nov. 24, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,156 by Lin discloses organic-inorganic hybrid polymers prepared by polymerizing an organic monomer in the presence of an inorganic oxide sol comprising an organoalkoxysilane having an organic functional group capable of reacting with said organic monomer.


An ejection port gun lock includes an elongated body and a slide member which is slidably affixed to the body to move along a slide path (with the slide path being oriented generally parallel to the length of the body) between an engaged position within a gun ejection port and a disengaged position in the ejection port. A locking member is provided on the body adjacent to the slide path, and the locking member is movable between a locked position wherein it extends into the slide path to engage the slide member, and an unlocked position allowing motion of the slide member.

This disclosure concerns an invention relating generally to safety devices for preventing unauthorized and/or accidental discharge of firearms, and more specifically to ejection port locks for shotguns, handguns, and the like.
For safety purposes, it is generally desirable for handguns, shotguns, and other firearms to be stored in a secured area, such as a gun locker or safe, to prevent unauthorized use by children or others. However, since secured areas can sometimes be breached (as when children locate hidden locker keys), and firearms may become accessible to unintended users when they are removed from secured areas for use (e.g., immediately before or after hunting trips and the like), alternative means of preventing unauthorized discharge of firearms have been developed, such as trigger locks. However, trigger locks have limited effectiveness because they often don""t fit particular models of firearms well unless the locks are specifically made for the models in question. Additionally, it is possible for some loaded firearms to accidentally discharge even when a trigger lock is present. Therefore, it would be useful to have available alternative forms of preventing unauthorized discharge of firearms, particularly if such apparata are readily adaptable to fit a wide variety of firearms having different sizes and configurations.
The invention involves a gun lock which engages the ejection port of a firearm to prevent unauthorized use. To give the reader a basic understanding of some of the advantageous features of the invention, following is a brief summary of preferred versions of the ejection port gun lock. As this is merely a summary, it should be understood that more details regarding the preferred versions may be found in the Detailed Description set forth elsewhere in this document. The claims set forth at the end of this document then define the various versions of the invention in which exclusive rights are secured.
The ejection port gun lock includes an elongated body which extends between a front surface and a rear surface, with the length of the body between the front and rear surfaces extending along the length of the gun when the gun lock is in use. A slide member is slidably affixed to the body to move along a slide path between an engaged position and a disengaged position (with the slide path being oriented generally parallel to the length of the body), and the slide member includes an elongated engagement portion which extends generally parallel to the slide path. When the slide member rests within a gun ejection port in the engaged position, the engagement portion engages the gun so that the body cannot be removed therefrom, whereas the gun lock is removable when the slide member is in the disengaged position. A locking member is provided on the body adjacent to the slide path, and the locking member is movable between a locked position wherein it extends into the slide path to penetrate a locking cavity defined in the slide member when the slide member is in its engaged position (thereby preventing motion of the slide member into its disengaged position), and an unlocked position outside of the slide path.
The slide member may be slidably constrained with respect to the body by defining a body slot extending between an interior surface of the body and its exterior surface, and by having a portion of the slide member ride within the body slot. Preferably, the slide member bears a protruding handle which is accessible from the exterior surface of the body, and which may be used to actuate the slide member along the slide path. The handle beneficially provides a visible indication to a user as to whether the slide member is in its engaged or disengaged position.
Ejection port gun locks of the foregoing nature can have their bodies and slide members configured to fit the ejection ports of handguns (as illustrated by the exemplary gun lock 100 shown in FIGS. 1-7 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the body 102 is configured to rest outside the ejection port with the slide member 136 fitting therein), or to fit the ejection ports of shotguns or other firearms (as illustrated by the exemplary gun lock 200 shown in FIGS. 8-11 of the accompanying drawings, wherein both the body 202 and the slide member 240 may fit within the ejection port). Additionally, the slide members may be formed as a single piece (as with the slide member 240 of FIGS. 8-11), or in multiple pieces which may be spring-biased with respect to each other to allow them to fit ejection ports of varying size (as with the slide member engagement portion 138 and slide member supplementary portion 140 of FIGS. 1-7).


A congestion control method in a mobile communication network includes the steps of recognizing by a base station control unit of the mobile communication network that the base station control unit or a base station or a cell under the same becomes in a congestion state (Yes in #11), determining a destination for a mobile terminal under a cell in the congestion state to get rid of the congestion state (#12), and sending a notice of information of the destination together with congestion information that is information of the congestion state, based on control performed by the base station control unit, to the base station control unit or the base station under the same in the congestion state or a mobile terminal that is located in the cell under the base station control unit, so that a user of the mobile terminal can recognize the congestion state (#13 and #14).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a congestion control method, a base station control unit and a mobile terminal in a mobile communication network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, mobile communications using mobile phones (including PHS phones) have become commonplace. A mobile communication network is made up of mobile terminals, wireless base stations, base station control units, exchanges and the like.
As a mobile communication becomes widespread, its traffic increases. If large quantity of calls and receptions are performed with mobile phones or the like in cases where a disaster occurred or an event is held, probability that a specific area will fall into a congestion state may be increased. If a congestion state occurs, calls and receptions as well as e-mail transmission and reception with mobile phones become impossible in the area. In addition, if the congestion state lasts long, the entire system of the mobile communication network will become unstable. In order to avoid such a situation, communications with mobile phones and the like in the area will be restricted if a congestion state occurs, so that the mobile communication network can be stabilized. In this case, with respect to emergency calls and high priority calls, communications or talking can be secured by using emergency wireless resources.
However, an ordinary user who cannot enjoy such a special treatment cannot make communication when a congestion state occurred. There is a case, however, where an ordinary user must make an urgent communication for an important matter. Nonetheless, an ordinary user is in such a state that he or she has just to wait until the congestion state of the mobile communication network will be relieved.
As a congestion control method in a mobile communication network, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 5-292012 discloses a following method. A network side informs a mobile terminal side of a communication channel use ratio of each base station and a threshold of the use ratio. The mobile terminal side receives the information and determines whether or not a congestion state occurred. If it determines that a congestion state occurred, it requests a hand over in the case where a neighboring wireless communication zone has no problem in its communication quality.
In addition, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 11-275646 discloses a following method. When the number of times of completing registration of location from a base station becomes a predetermined number or more, a network side distributes the traffic to a neighboring base station if there is not a problem in electric field level and communication channel use rate of the neighboring base station.
However, the above-mentioned method described in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 5-292012 is a technique dealing with a state after a mobile phone or the like established communication so that the user can communicate with it, and it cannot resolve a trouble in the case where the user cannot communicate due to occurrence of the congestion state.
In addition, the method disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 11-275646 is premised on that the registration of location is requested by the mobile phone. However, if a congestion state occurs, it is unable even to request the registration of location. Therefore, it also cannot resolve a trouble in the case where the user cannot communicate due to occurrence of the congestion state.
In addition, there is provided a technique of restricting communications with mobile phones in the area for relieving the congestion state of the network if the mobile communication network is congested, so as to secure network resources for emergency calls or high priority calls.
However, even if this technique is used, an ordinary user has just to wait until the congestion state will be relieved as described above.
In this way, one of the conventional proposed techniques is for avoiding occurrence of a congestion state and the other is for restricting communication when a congestion state occurred. But, they cannot cancel the congestion state promptly when it occurred.

Congestion control method and device in mobile communication network


There is disclosed a linear polarization to circular polarization converter. An outside surface of an inner conductor may be coaxial with the inside surface of an outer conductor. First and second diametrically opposed fins may extend outward from the outer surface of the inner conductor. Each of the first and second fins may include a conductive fin and a dielectric fin.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to linear polarization to circular polarization converters for use in coaxial waveguides.
2. Description of the Related Art
Satellite broadcasting and communications systems commonly use separate frequency bands for the uplink to and downlink to and from satellites. Additionally, one or both of the uplink and downlink typically transmit orthogonal right-hand and left-hand circularly polarized signals within the respective frequency band.
Typical antennas for transmitting and receiving signals from satellites consist of a parabolic dish reflector and a coaxial feed where the high frequency band signals travel through a central circular waveguide and the low frequency band signals travel through an annular waveguide coaxial with the high-band waveguide. An ortho-mode transducer (OMT) may be used to launch or extract orthogonal TE11 linear polarized modes into the high-and low-band coaxial waveguides. TE (transverse electric) modes have an electric field orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Two orthogonal TE11 modes do not interact or cross-couple, and can therefore be used to communicate different information. A linear polarization to circular polarization converter is commonly disposed within each of the high-and low-band coaxial waveguides to convert the orthogonal TE11 modes into left-and right-hand circular polarized modes for communication with the satellite.
Converting linearly polarized TE11 modes into circularly polarized modes requires splitting each TE11 mode into two orthogonally polarized portions and then shifting the phase of one portion by 90 degrees with respect to the other portion. This may conventionally be done by inserting two or more dielectric vanes, oriented at 45 degrees to the polarization planes of the TE11 modes, into the waveguide as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,742 B1. However, assembling the dielectric vanes at the precise angle within the waveguide can be problematic. Errors in assembling the dielectric vanes can result in imperfect polarization conversion and cross-talk between the two orthogonally polarized TE11 modes.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number where the element was first introduced and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having the same reference designator.

Circular polarizer using interlocked conductive and dielectric fins in an annular waveguide


A filter system for a storm drain having a bottom, side walls, and an outlet formed in the side wall. The filter system includes a main section having an array of openings formed therein for permitting water to flow through the filter. The main section is configured to be mounted adjacent the side wall and aligned with the outlet. In some cases, the bottom of the storm drain includes a depression for feeding water to the outlet. The filter system includes a flexible mesh that extends from the bottom of the main section into the depression for filtering water flowing in the depression. In addition, the filter system includes a mounting structure that enables the main section to be slidably mounted into an operative position and also enables the main section to be removed by slidably moving it from the operative position.

Storm drains provide an important function in directing rain and storm water from residential, commercial and industrial areas. Typically a storm drain includes a compartment or a housing structure that sits below grade and typically includes a bottom, a surrounding side wall, an inlet and an outlet. Typically the inlet of a storm drain is provided along a street or roadway curb. Storm drains are strategically located with respect to the surrounding elevation of land and paved areas such that water resulting from storm or rain showers will gravitate to the storm drain inlet. Of course, rain and storm water will be directed into the inlet but also trash, debris, leaves, limbs and other vegetation tend to be caught up in the flow of water and are also directed into the storm drains. This trash, debris and other unwanted objects and materials can cause serious problems. First, the debris, trash and the like tend to accumulate in the bottom of the storm drain and interfere with the flow of water through the storm drain. Eventually this debris and trash enters the storm drain outlet and is flushed into streams, creeks, rivers and other waterways.
One of the challenges in filtering debris and trash from storm water passing through the storm drain is designing a filter system or assembly that is compatible with the storm drain. An examination of storm drains across the United States reveals that their designs are not consistent. They are not all the same size and the layout and design vary from location to location. Specifically, it is not uncommon to find storm drains where the side walls and the bottom are not uniform. For example, it is common practice to provide a depression in the bottom of the storm drain in the vicinity of the outlet. This depression channels or feeds water into the outlet. This depression, however, will vary from storm drain to storm drain in terms of length, width, and depth. This is problematic because in order to efficiently filter the water flowing to and through the outlet, the filter applied must conform to these irregularities and provide screening for the entire volume of water being directed to the outlet.
Therefore, there has been and continues to be a need for a filtering system or filter assembly for a storm drain that is sufficiently flexible in design such that the filter assembly as a whole is able to conform to irregularities in the structure of the storm drain and efficiently filter the entire flow of water directed to the outlet.


A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

An electronic device, such as a mobile phone (e.g. smartphone), tablet computer, laptop computer, or the like, may incorporate various types of connectors for selective interconnection of the electronic device with other electronic devices and/or peripheral devices. The connectors may be embedded in the housing of the device, e.g. along an edge of the device. Interconnection of devices via such connectors may electrically connect or integrate the devices to provide complementary functions and may physically interconnect the devices.
Some connectors are mechanical and rely upon friction to maintain a connection. For example, a physical Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 connector may conform to one of a number of industry-defined form factors, such as those referred to as Standard-A or Standard-B for example. Two devices, each having female USB 3.0 connectors conforming to either of those standards, may be electrically interconnected using a wire or cable terminated by complementary male connectors. The male connectors are physically inserted into their female counterparts and are held in place by friction.
Other connectors are magnetic. For example, commercially available MagSafe™ and MagSafe2™ connectors use magnetic attraction to maintain an electrical connection. A pair of complementary connectors (i.e. mating connectors) of this type may include a male connector having a short protrusion and a magnetized female connector having a receptacle or seat for receiving the protrusion. The male connector may be at the end of a wire or cable, and the female connector may be embedded in the housing of an electronic device.
Magnetic connectors may also be used to physically interconnect devices without a cord, with or without establishing an electrical interconnection between the devices.
It may be difficult to align connectors for interconnection, e.g. when connectors are visually obscured or when precise alignment is required for establishing a physical or electrical connection. Misalignment may interfere with proper physical or electrical interconnection of devices.

Magnetically connectable device with self-aligning connector