An exterior alerting system for a vehicle. The system may include a sensor, a controller, and an alerting device. The sensors maybe configured to detect an object exterior to the vehicle. Additionally, the controller may be configured to receive a position of the object from the sensor, calculate a danger zone based on a trajectory of the vehicle and the position of the object, and generate at least one exterior alerting signal when the vehicle cannot avoid the danger zone.

Electronic sensors can be used by vehicles to prevent collisions. The utilization of automatic methods that generate signals greatly improve the response time, help the driver to avoid collisions, and reduce accident probability. For example, if a proximity sensor outside a vehicle detects that an object is close to a vehicle, a system may alert the driver and, in some situations, may automatically deaccelerate the vehicle to avert a probable impact.
Although conventional methods may be suitable for some applications, they are still less than optimal. For example, conventional methods may have a limited ability to avoid collisions because they may be only capable of modifying the trajectory of the vehicle or alerting the driver. In multiple instances, given the momentum of the vehicle and range of direction change, only alerting the driver or modifying the trajectory of the vehicle may not always prevent a collision with an obstacle or object. Hence, there are certain scenarios in which by the time exterior sensors detect objects in the trajectory of the vehicle, the collision may be unavoidable.
The disclosed exterior alerting system of the present disclosure is directed to mitigating or solving the above described and/or other problems in the art.


An electronic musical instrument having a function of simultaneously generating musical tones of a plural tone color comprises a tone color designating device for designating a plurality of tone colors, and a balance decision device for deciding balance of tone volume between the tones of tone colors designated by the tone color designating device, according to the order specified thereby. After the tone colors are designated, when musical tone generation is specified by a keyboard or the like, the musical tones of the tone colors are generated according to the previously decided balance of tone volume.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which is capable of generating a plural tone color simultaneously.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic musical instruments being capable of simultaneously generating tones of a plural tone color have been used. These multivoice type instruments generally have two generating tone modes , a dual mode and a split mode. The dual mode is a mode in which when a tone pitch is designated, musical tones of a plural tone color are generated at the tone pitch. The split mode is a mode in which a range of a playing portion like a keyboard is divided into two or more portions, and each of the portions is assigned to a different tone color.
In the above-mentioned modes, conventionally, tone volume of the plural tone color is fixed, so that when a plural tone color is designated, the rate of the tone volume is a fixed value. This eliminates any degrees of freedom in musical tones and monotonous tone colors. Although electronic musical instruments in which tone volume is set for each tone color so that tone volume balance of each tone color can be set are proposed, such operation is complicated and doesn't allow a player to easily and speedily change a tone color.

Electronic musical instrument having multivoice function for generating musical tones of plural tone colors


Embodiments of the application provide a monitoring method, server and system and an image acquisition device capable of obtaining a first distance ratio of the horizontal distances from three WiFi detectors to a target person. The application is also capable of obtaining a second distance ratio of the horizontal distances from the three WiFi detectors to a WiFi terminal based on the signal strength of WiFi signals. The application determines the MAC address of the WiFi terminal of the target person by matching the second distance ratios of various WiFi terminals with the first distance ratio, and monitors the target person according to the MAC address. Thus, the application achieves continuous monitoring of the target person.

With the development of science and technology, various high-tech means find widespread applications in the field of monitoring a target person.
The current technology of monitoring a target person is a video monitoring technology, which monitors the target person by placing cameras at places such as main traffic accesses and entrances and exits of buildings. However, cameras are prone to be obstructed by objects such as trees and advertisement boards. Meanwhile, when a target person enters a building (such as a house, an office or a restaurant), the cameras are unable to acquire images of the target person, and therefore the monitoring cannot continue, which easily results in monitoring failure.
Therefore, the current technology of monitoring a target person cannot achieve continuous monitoring.

Method, server, system, and image capturing device for surveillance

HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An applicator for pulverizable substances. The applicator comprises, in co-operation, a resilient container for the pulverizable substance, a permeable membrane through which said substance passes and means for maintaining and releasing said substance.

This invention generally relates to an applicator assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to an applicator assembly for a pulverizable substance which may be released without the use of a propellant.
Applicators for pulverized substances are widely known and find their principal use in various consumer products, especially in the field of cosmetics and personal hygiene. In the cosmetic and personal hygiene area applicators for pulverized substances are used for applying substances such as deodorant, powder, lipstick, hair spray, and the like. The applicators range from aerosol cans to stick applicators to roll-ons.
Recently, applicators for pulverizable substances which employ aerosol propellants have become the subject of criticism as being harmful to the environment. These ecological considerations have created the need for an efficient means to apply pulverizable substances without the use of aerosols. Although roll-on and stick applicators are still effective, certain substances, especially dry powders, are inappropriate for use in these applicators. Thus, there exists the need for an applicator assembly for a pulverizable substance which will allow the contained substance to be released without the use of a propellant.


An end fitting for a water supply pipe of a sprinkler system is in the form of a hollow tubular body having an internal cavity which progressively decreases in cross-sectional area from an end of the body attached to the supply pipe to an opposite end of the body in the manner of a convergent nozzle, in order to enhance the pressure of water available to a sprinkler head attached to the fitting at a position remote from the pipe end.

As previously mentioned, it is known to form a pipeline over-length, and, then to close the end of the pipe by an end cap or end fitting, the end cap either being threaded onto the pipe end and sealed, or, secured thereto by a segmented pipe coupling.
This, however, represents a wastage of materials in that the pipe must terminate axially beyond the last sprinkler head in the assembly.
This problem previously has been addressed, an end fitting being known, as is illustrated FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, which is comprised of radially extending annular cap, the central opening of which communicates with an outlet pipe, that of necessity, must extend arcuately in a 90.degree. angle for the outlet thereof to extend perpendicular to the pipe axis, the pipe terminating in an internally threaded end collar within which the threaded shank of a sprinkler head is secured.
Typically, the pipes of such pipelines have a minimum internal diameter of between 1.5" and 2.5". Also, typically, the outlets of such end fittings must have a bore of at least 0.5" in order to provide adequate water flow to the sprinkler head. Further, the sprinkler must be assembled onto the pipe fitting at a distance sufficient from the pipe to permit the installation of a sprinkler guard on the sprinkler head.
This requires that the radius of curvature of the outlet pipe extending from the end flange of the end fitting must be on a radius of curvature at least equal to the radius of the pipe.
The end fitting, however, is not nearly as robust as the pipe itself. Thus, impact on the end fitting during assembly of the sprinkler system can cause bending or breakage of the outlet pipe of the end fitting. Additionally, the end fitting presents an appearance which is less than attractive.
A major disadvantage with such known end fittings is that while the end flange of such fittings must block off a surface area of 4.9 square inches, the outlet pipe itself only presents an outlet opening of 0.20 square inches. Thus, water progressing along the pipe to the sprinkler head, when the sprinkler head is active, encounters a radial end wall, which extends perpendicular to the axis of the pipe, and, which represents a major source of pressure losses, turbulence and eddy currents, this in turn resulting in a loss in the pressure of fluid exiting the central aperture. Further, as the fluid exiting the central aperture, must itself be changed in direction by 90.degree., further pressure losses are encountered in the outlet pipe to the sprinkler head. Additionally, pressure losses are caused by the contraction loss from the pipe diameter to the central aperture diameter.
These losses in dynamic and static pressure result in the sprinkler head at the end of the pipe being incapable of operating as efficiently as the other sprinklers in the line. Regulatory and insurance requirements require a determined minimum flow from any one of the sprinkler heads, regardless of the location of that sprinkler head in the sprinkler system. This in turn mandates an oversizing of the supply pipe with the additional cost thereon.


Probes are electrically connected to a surface of a tunnel junction film stack comprising a free layer, a tunnel barrier, and a pinned layer. Resistances are determined for a variety of probe spacings and for a number of magnetizations of one of the layers of the stack. The probe spacings are a distance from a length scale, which is related to the Resistance-Area (RA) product of the tunnel junction film stack. Spacings from as small as possible to about 40 times the length scale are used. Beneficially, the smallest spacing between probes used during a resistance measurement is under 100 microns. A measured in-plane MagnetoResistance (MR) curve is determined from the “high” and “low” resistances that occur at the two magnetizations of this layer. The RA product, resistances per square of the free and pinned layers, and perpendicular MR are determined through curve fitting.

Conventional techniques for characterizing tunnel junction film stacks require extensive processing of a semiconductor wafer in order to measure a few characteristics of the tunnel junction film stack. This processing is time consuming, complex, and can ruin devices created via processing. Additionally, even if processing creates suitable devices for test, it is unclear whether measurements have been influenced by the processing. In other words, it is unclear as to whether the measurements are a function of the tunnel junction film stack, the processing that creates additional structures needed to measure characteristics of the tunnel junction film stack, the additional structures, or some combination of these.
Consequently, a need exists for characterizing tunnel junction films without time consuming and expensive processing that is fraught with accompanying flaws.

Techniques for electrically characterizing tunnel junction film stacks with little or no processing

International Business Machines Corporation

Infineon Technologies North America Corp.


A means and a method applied in syndrome generation in the Video/Audio processing system is disclosed. The syndromes thereof are effectively and rapidly generated simply using shift register and an exclusive or adder by a recursive operation. For the code words having a number of bytes, the syndromes can be generated by repeating exclusive or (XOR) operation between a shift bit and the above-mentioned bytes, without the extra step of table-matching, saving large memory capacity, greatly reducing the operation cycle and completing the operation rapidly.

This application incorporates by reference Taiwanese application Serial No. 80105249, Filed Apr. 2, 1999.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a means for syndrome generation in a Video/Audio processing system, and more particularly to a generation means and a method for identifying the receiving code words in the compact disk (CD) decoding process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Syndrome generation is a checking process for identifying the receiving code words. The syndrome is generated by multiplying the receiving code words by the checking vectors. The equation of syndrome generation is given as follows:
S=xcexa3(Rixc3x97xcex1i),
wherein S represents the syndromes, Ri represents the code words, xcex1 represents the checking vector, which is a shift byte and i is the order. xcex1 is the element of a Galois Field, and the value of it is (00000010)b. Taking A, an element of the Galois Field, as an example, the product of A multiplied by xcex1i can be yielded by left shifting A by i bit, if i is not larger than 7. If i is larger than 7, the product of A multiplied by xcex1i can be generated by the following equation derived from the character of the Galois Field:
xcex18=xcex14⊕xcex13⊕xcex12⊕xcex10,
wherein xe2x80x9c⊕xe2x80x9d is an Exclusive OR (XOR) operator.
For any element of the Galois Field, A, as the Most Significant Bit (MSB) is 1, the product of A multiplied by xcex1 is the XOR operation result of (00011101)b and the value of A left-shifting one bit. On the other hand, as the MSB is not 1, the product of A multiplied by is the value of A after left shifting by one bit. This left-shifting and XOR operation are so-called shift operation, and therefore xcex1 is called a shift byte. Conventionally, as the mathematics characteristic of a Galois Field is applied in the multiplication performed by any software and hardware, table-matching or logic circuit including a large number of the gate counts is necessary.
It is sometimes possible that a compact disk (CD) may suffer from physical damage, for example, scratches, during production or use. To prevent logical continuous data from being lost as a result of the physical damage, a data scramble technique is typically employed during the data-write process of CD read-only-memory (CD-ROM) production. In short, each logical continuous data stream is first divided into a plurality of blocks according to a predetermined algorithm. Afterwards, another algorithm is employed to scramble blocks of one logical continuous data stream with blocks of other logical continuous data streams. The resulting scrambled data are then sequentially and continuously written into the physical spaces of the CD. When, unfortunately, a certain portion of the CD is damaged, the portion of damaged data belonging to one logical continuous data stream may be recovered by the associated un-damaged data of the respective logical continuous data stream via the algorithm. Therefore, in addition to the raw data, some extra data, including control code, sync code, and protection code are added to the raw data to form the complete data in the CD.
In order to prevent data damage or loss, when original data are to be stored in disks, the following encoding operations are sequentially performed: C3 encoding, C2 encoding, interleaving, and C1 encoding.
The interleaving operation re-partitions frames of C2 coded data into different frames for C1 coding. After interleaving, if data is damaged, the damaged data is dispersed among different frames of the decoded data, and thus correction probability is enhanced.
Therefore, when data in a disk is read, the following decoding operations are sequentially performed: C1 decoding, deinterleaving, C2 decoding, and C3 decoding. Deinterleaving is a reverse operation of interleaving.
During the process of writing data into the CD, encoding the C3 code, encoding the C2 code, interleaving codes and encoding the C1 code are the essential steps, wherein the C3 code is encoded by sectors, each sector has 98 frames and each frame has 24 bytes. The C2 code is encoded by frame. In the step of encoding the C2 code, each frame has an additional four parity check bytes beyond the 24 bytes output from the C3 code. The original 24 bytes and the additional 4 parity check bytes are yielded by the following equation:
xe2x80x83W3xc3x97G2=V2,
wherein W3 is the 24-byte code word matrix of C2 output from C3, which is a 1xc3x9724 matrix, G2 is a generating matrix, which is a 24xc3x9728 matrix, and V2 is the code word of the C2 code, which is a 1xc3x9728 matrix, and also the code word after the C2 code encoding step.
Similarly, the 28-byte code word of the C2 code is first processed through interleaving codes, then multiplied by a generating matrix G1 of the C1 code to yield a 32-byte code word V1. V1 is the code word after the C1 code encoding. The 32-byte code word V1 includes the above 28 bytes from the C2 code word and the other four bytes of the parity check code. Then, the data after encoding is written in the CD.
While the data is read from the CD, the read source code has to be decoded. The process of decoding includes sequentially the steps of decoding the C1 code, deinterleaving codes, decoding the C2 code, and decoding the C3 code. The steps of decoding the C1 code include multiplying the read 32-byte code word, which is a 1xc3x9732 matrix V1, by a 32xc3x974 checking matrix H1 to yield a 1xc3x974 syndromes matrix S. The equation is given as follows.
S=V1xc3x97H1=[S0S1S2S3],
wherein
S0=V0⊕V1⊕V2⊕31;
S1=V0⊕V1xcex1⊕V2xcex12⊕ . . . V31xcex131;
xe2x80x83S2=V0⊕V1xcex12⊕V2xcex14⊕ . . . V31xcex162; and
S3=V0⊕V1xcex13⊕V2xcex16⊕ . . . V31xcex193.
The yielded data are identified to be correct if the values of S0, S1, S2 and S3 are all equal to zero. If not, there must exist errors.
The processes of decoding the C2 code and the C3 code include also similar syndrome generation steps. It is therefore not further described herein.
The equation for generating the four syndromes can be represented as followed:
Sj=xcexa3R1xc3x97(xcex1i)j,
wherein, Ri represents the receiving code words R0, R1, R2, R3, . . . , and R31, i=0xcx9c31, and Sj represents the syndromes S0, S1, S2, and S3, j=0xcx9c3
Let (Sj)i=R0xc3x97(xcex10)j⊕R1xc3x97(xcex11)j⊕R2xc3x97(xcex12)j⊕ . . . ⊕Rixc3x97(xcex1i)j, wherein the syndrome (Sj)i is the result for generating recursively for i+1 times.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the conventional syndrome generating means. Referring to FIG. 1, the code word R0 is first written in the register 10, which is the syndrome (Sj)0. At the next timing, the code word R1 is multiplied by the checking vector (xcex11)j using a multiplier 12. The product yielded by the above-mentioned multiplication operation and the output value of the register 10 are then processed through an XOR operation by an XOR gate 14 to yield the syndrome (Sj)1, and then the syndrome (Sj)1 is fed back to the register 10. At the next timing, similar operation is performed to yield the syndrome (Sj)2. By such recursive operation, the finally yielded syndrome (Sj)31 is syndrome Sj.
For every multiplication operation, using the conventional syndrome generating means, table matching or complicate logic circuits have to be utilized. For a syndrome generation, a multiplication operation and an XOR operation are both necessary so that not only a large number of table matching steps have to be taken but also a great number of logic gates are used, which needs large memory capacity and extends the processing period.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a means and method for syndrome generation which makes use of a shift register and an XOR gate for decoding and generating the syndrome recursively. The means and method is used in the Video/Audio processing system, which rapidly and effectively accomplishes the syndrome generation. This invention has the advantages of simple structure, reducing significant operation time, and reducing the memory capacity.
It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a means for syndrome generation, which is able to accomplish the syndrome generation for a code word with a number of bytes. The means for syndrome generation includes an XOR gate and a register for receiving a shift byte of the bytes. Then, XOR operation is then performed to yield the syndrome.
It is therefore another object of the invention to propose a method for syndrome generation, which is used for generating the syndrome for a code word with a number of bytes. First, let one of the bytes be a register value. Next, an XOR operation of the register value, a shift byte and another one of the bytes is performed. The result of the XOR operation replaces the register value and the step is repeated until the syndrome generation is accomplished.

Syndrome generator and method for generating syndromes in a video/audio processing system


Aminated polymers capable of reversibly complexing carbon dioxide and other acid gases including CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, NO.sub.x and H.sub.2 S, a method of using such polymers and an operational unit including such polymers are disclosed. The polymers incorporate amine group which reversibly complex acid gases. Such polymers provide a significant advantages over presently used sorbents used to remove acid gas.

A significant portion of the domestic foamed polystyrene industry is threatened by environmental problems associated with production and use of expanded, or foamed polystyrene. Foamed (also known as "expanded" or "cellular") polystyrene is produced via physical blending of blowing agents with the polymer matrix, followed by heat treatment to initiate foaming. Blowing agents can be sub-divided into two general classes: (1) small molecules which thermally decompose to a gas (predominantly nitrogen) which initiates foaming, plus other volatile fragments; and (2) volatile liquids which are absorbed into the polymer, and which subsequently foam the polymer upon heating simply via vaporization. Examples of the first class of blowing agents include azo compounds (nitrogen producing) and calcium carbonate (CO.sub.2 -producing). Examples of the second type of blowing agent include Freons, pentane, air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
The cells formed in the polymer during foaming remain filled with vapor characteristic of the blowing agent used. Given the large volume of foam produced each year, diffusion of vapor into the atmosphere during the foamed product's lifetime can cause significant environmental problems. Further, refoaming of recycled foamed polystyrene entails production and use of additional blowing agent which is both expensive and increasingly environmentally unacceptable.
Conventional foamed thermoplastics are produced via two distinct processes. In the first process, blowing agent is added either just prior to, or during extrusion of the polymer. High pressure within the extruder maintains a homogeneous mixture of blowing agent gas and polymer. Foaming commences with the reduction of pressure upon the polymer exiting the extruder. In the second process, blowing agent is added to polymer beads, which are then stored and shipped to a molder. Upon heating in a mold, the beads expand because of the action of the blowing agent, producing a molded, foamed article such as the drinking cups and trays used in many food-service applications.
Until recently, the preferred blowing agent for use in polystyrene beads was a Freon (chlorofluorocarbon) material or mixture. Freons were preferred because of their low toxicities, low flammabilities, and low boiling points. However, the publicity surrounding the effect of Freons on the atmospheric ozone layer, followed swiftly by the Montreal protocols, prompted the plastic industry to replace Freons in expanded polystyrene by a volatile alkane, usually pentane. Because pentane is not a "natural" material (it is refined from petroleum) and is also a "greenhouse gas", concern has arisen over the climactic effects of significant amounts of pentane released into the atmosphere as a result of foamed polystyrene production. The plastics industry has thus been searching for environmentally acceptable replacements for pentane in foamed polystyrene.
From an environmental perspective, CO.sub.2 is unquestionably an attractive thermoplastic blowing agent in that it can be readily recovered from the atmosphere, it is non-flammable, and it exhibits relatively low toxicity. Indeed, experience has shown that carbon dioxide can produce a cellular morphology when used as a blowing agent for polystyrene. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,606, German Patent No. 3,829,630, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,869, Japanese Patent No. 63,000,330, Zwolinski, L. M., Dwyer, F. J., 42 Plast. Eng. 45 (1986) and French Patent No. 2,563,836 discuss the use of carbon dioxide as a blowing agent in extruded polystyrene foam.
As indicated by Wissinger, R. G. and Paulaitis, M. E., 25 J. Polym. Sci.: Part B: Polym. Phys. 2497 (1987) polystyrene will indeed absorb significant amounts of CO.sub.2 under pressure. Because of the relatively low solubility of CO.sub.2 in polystyrene and its high volatility, however, most of the gas rapidly effuses from the polymer matrix upon reduction of the pressure. This rapid effusion prevents formation of a commercially acceptable foam. Commercial producers of extruded polystyrene foam, therefore, use either Freon, pentane or a mixture of Freon or pentane and CO.sub.2 as a blowing agent.
Moreover, despite the limited success of CO.sub.2 in extruded foam, either alone or in a mixture, the use of CO.sub.2 in foamed polystyrene beads is not presently possible. Quite clearly, unlike pentane and freon, the equilibrium concentration of CO.sub.2 in polystyrene at atmospheric pressure is too low to support subsequent foaming of polystyrene beads or secondary foaming of slabstock during thermoforming.
In an art unrelated to foamable polymers, it is known that low molecular weight primary and secondary amines will react with CO.sub.2 to form carbamic "zwitterions," providing the amines are sufficiently basic in character. These reactions have been discussed by Javier, F. J. B. G., Ing. Quim. 317 (October 1989); Javier, F. J. B. G., Ing. Quim., 215 (November 1989); Danckwerts, P. V., Sharms, M. M., 10 Chem. Eng. 244 (1966); Laddha, S. S., Dankwerts, P. V. 37 Chem. Eng. Sci. 475 (1982); Versteeg, G. F., an Swaaij, W. P. M., 43 Chem. Eng. Sci. 573 (1988) and Danckwerts, P. V., 34 Chem Eng. Sci 443 (1979). It is also known that these zwitterions are stable at ambient conditions but will revert to carbon dioxide and free amine at higher temperatures. U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,227; U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,345; U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,801. CO.sub.2 /amine reactions have previously been used to construct thermally reversible protecting groups for reactive epoxy systems and to selectively remove carbon dioxide and acid gases from gas streams.
General public awareness concerning the protection of the environment has created the need to devise environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technology for the clean-up of industrial gas streams. Weakly acidic gases such as CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, NO.sub.x and H.sub.2 S discharged directly into the atmosphere have been suggested to contribute to the formation of acid rain and so-called greenhouse warming. In addition, acidic gases such as CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 etc. can act as poisons for various catalyst systems and thus must be removed from certain process streams. Traditional methods for acid gas removal include:
1. Aqueous solutions of amines/alkanolamines for scrubbing CO.sub.2 as discussed above. The main disadvantages of these sorbent systems are: Slow reaction rates, energy intensive regeneration step (must heat large volumes of water), side reactions which degrade the amines, and loss of amines by evaporation.
2. Limestone for the removal of SO.sub.2 ; the major environmental drawback associated with this process is the generation of large quantities of sludge.
3. High temperature mineral sorbents for the removal of SO.sub.2 and NO. These materials are however not designed to also remove CO.sub.2 selectively.
It is an object of this invention to provide environmentally safe, foamed polymers and especially to provide a polymeric matrix incorporating pendant amine groups capable of reversibly complexing CO.sub.2, thereby providing an environmentally safe method of producing an expanded or foamed polymer.
It is also an object of this invention to provide polymeric matrices incorporating amine groups useful generally as thermally reversible sorbents for acid gases.

Polymers capable of reversibly complexing acid gases and a method of using the same


A short message service (SMS) message processing method for a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal, where an SMS message Favorites bar is added to an SMS message interaction interface such that when sending or receiving an SMS message, a user can tap the SMS message Favorites bar on a current user SMS message interaction interface. The method includes receiving a first touch operation on a Favorites button, obtaining a Favorite SMS message from storage space of the mobile terminal according to the first touch operation, and displaying the obtained Favorite SMS message on a touchscreen.

With development of science and technologies, various types of mobile terminals, for example, mobile phones, have been basically popular and bring great convenience to daily life of people. A mobile phone is used as an example. A user may make a call and send and receive SMS messages using the mobile phone, or a user may use various application programs of the mobile phone. In other approaches, when a user A sends an SMS message to a user B using a mobile phone, or in a process in which a user A receives, using a mobile phone, an SMS message sent by a user B, the user A may need to view a record of historical SMS messages added to Favorites previously. In this case, the user A needs to switch the mobile phone to an SMS message Favorites interface, open an SMS message Favorites folder, and view content of a Favorite SMS message from the SMS message Favorites folder, and then make the mobile phone return to an SMS message sending interface.
It can be known from the above that, in a method for viewing a Favorite SMS message in a process of sending or receiving an SMS message, switching needs to be repeatedly performed between different user interfaces, and consequently when the Favorite SMS message is viewed, an operation process is complex.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

SMS message processing method for mobile terminal and mobile terminal


The present invention relates to a fluid propulsion system having an outer shell which provides bearing support, ducting and streamlining for a hollow inner propulsion rotor. The rotor includes vanes having a plurality of blade sections which are supported and evenly spaced on an inner surface of the rotor parallel to the rotational axis. Rotation of the rotor with respect to the outer shell draws air/gas into the fluid medium via a venturi effect. The blade sections are designed so as to maintain contact with the fluid molecules passing through the fluid propulsion system and thus is able to provide additional energy to the molecules which are already placed in motion by the blade sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid propulsion system which comprises an outer shell which provides bearing support, ducting and streamlining for a hollow inner propulsion tubular member or rotor. The rotor comprises vane means attached on an interior surface of the rotor which includes blades that extend in a direction toward the rotational axis such that rotation of the tubular member and the vane means attached thereon draws air and fluid into the tubular member to accelerate the fluid flow through the tubular member.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In conventional propulsion systems, the propellers perform the work required to accelerate a large number of molecules to a relatively low velocity and accordingly are unable to operate further on the molecules to follow up on the work that was expended to overcome the initial inertia. This is due to the fact that a fluid molecule at rest tends to remain at rest and thus once placed in motion, a relatively smaller amount of energy is required to further accelerate it. Additionally, the parts in conventional propulsion systems are easily damaged by foreign objects and unprotected screw-type propulsion systems pose a danger to divers and other living systems which pass in the vicinity of the propulsion system.


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging device configured to charge the image bearing member. The charging device includes a magnetic particle carrier and a magnetic particle regulating member configured to regulate magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier. The charging device causes the magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier to contact the image bearing member, and applies a voltage to the magnetic particle carrier to charge the image bearing member. An electrode has a contact area via which the electrode can contact magnetic particles stored in a particle pool defined by the magnetic particle carrier and the magnetic particle regulating member. The contact area is variable according to an amount of the magnetic particles stored in the particle pool. A current detection device detects a value of current flowing from the magnetic particle carrier to the electrode via the magnetic particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a charging device using a magnetic brush charging method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many image forming apparatuses referred to as an electrophotographic type or an electrostatic recording type, which are conventionally proposed. FIG. 1 illustrates a representative configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus. An operation of the image forming apparatus is simply described below with reference to FIG. 1.
The image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a corona charger 3 for a photosensitive drum 1 that has a predetermined potential at the surface thereof when a copy start signal is input. An integral unit 9, including a document illumination lamp, a short focal lens array, and a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, irradiates a document G on a document placing glass plate 10 with light to perform scanning. The light reflected from the document surface (i.e., part of the irradiated scanning light) reaches the CCD sensor via the short focal lens array that forms an image of the document on the CCD sensor.
The CCD sensor includes a light-receiving portion, a transfer portion, and an output portion. The light-receiving portion converts light incident on the CCD sensor into an electric charge signal. The transfer portion successively transfers the electric charge signal from the light-receiving portion to the output portion in synchronism with a clock pulse. The output portion converts each electric charge signal into a voltage signal, and outputs an amplified and impedance-reduced analog signal to an external device. The analog signal thus obtained is subjected to conventional image processing to produce a digital signal and is transferred to a printer unit. The printer unit includes a light emitting diode (LED) exposure unit 2 configured to selectively emit light in response to an image signal and form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a document image on a surface of a photosensitive drum 1.
A development unit 4 accommodating toner particles is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image and obtain a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1. The development unit 4 coats a developer on a development sleeve 41 accommodating magnet rollers in its inner space. The development unit 4 includes a power source (not illustrated) capable of applying a development bias to develop toners on the photosensitive drum 1. A transfer device 7 electrostatically transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 to a transfer member. Then, the transfer member is electrostatically separated and conveyed to a fixing unit 6 configured to output a thermally fixed image.
After the toner image transfer operation is completed, a cleaner 5 removes the toners not transferred and remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaner 5 can also remove any contaminant substances from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. If necessary, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is exposed to light from a pre-exposure lamp 8 serving as a pre-exposure unit configured to remove an image exposure light memory so that the photosensitive drum 1 can be repetitively used for image formation.
The corona charging method is generally used for the above-described image forming process, i.e., for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, enthusiastic study and development are recently performed for the contact charging method that can reduce an amount of ozone products (i.e., discharge products) and can operate at a lower power level. And, there are some contact charging systems already used.
The contact charging method is a charging method for charging a photosensitive member by causing a charging member to contact the photosensitive member and applying a voltage to the charging member. A magnetic brush charging device using a magnetic brush as a contact charging member is a representative charging device using the above-described method. The magnetic brush charging device is advantageous in that charging contact is stabile.
The magnetic brush charging device can magnetically hold conductive magnetic particles directly on a surface of a magnet, or on a surface of a sleeve accommodating a magnet, and can cause the magnetic particles to contact a surface of a photosensitive member and apply a voltage to charge the photosensitive member. When the magnetic brush charging device is used to charge a photosensitive member having a surface layer including diffused conductive fine particles on a conventional organic photosensitive member, or an amorphous silicon photosensitive member, the charging operation can be performed using a charging potential substantially equivalent to a DC component of a bias applied to the magnetic brush. This charging method is hereinafter referred to as a magnetic brush injection charging method.
The magnetic brush injection charging method does not use any discharge phenomenon similar to that used in the corona charging method, in a charging operation for a photosensitive member. Accordingly, an ozoneless and low-power consuming charging operation can be realized. Flow of an image derived from a discharge product does not appear even in a high-humid environment.
Compared to the organic photosensitive member, the amorphous silicon photosensitive member has a higher hardness and a long life. The running cost of a product can be reduced. As understood from the above description, a combination of the magnetic brush injection charging method and the amorphous silicon photosensitive member can realize an image forming system excellent in both durability and stability.
However, according to the magnetic brush injection charging method, conductive magnetic particles stored in a charging container are subjected to abrasion on their surfaces, electric breakdown, and inclusion of foreign particles entering the magnetic brush (e.g., a developer entering via a cleaning blade). Therefore, electric properties and powder properties of the magnetic particles change during a long-term use.
More specifically, the property of a coat on a sleeve gradually deteriorates due to an increase in the resistance and a change in the flowability of the magnetic particles. The above-described deteriorations occurring in the magnetic particles are inevitable. Therefore, a user is required to perform a replacement work for replacing the magnetic particles at appropriate timing during a long-term use of an image forming apparatus.
Similar deteriorations in conductive magnetic particles are recognized in a two-component development method. The two-component development method is a widely used conventional development method applicable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, particularly to an image forming apparatus performing chromatic image forming processing, according to which a mixture of non-magnetic toners and magnetic particles (development carrier) is used as a developer. Similar deterioration is recognized in the developer.
When the agent (e.g., charging magnetic particles or developer) is deteriorated, an agent replacement operation is performed. In the agent replacement operation, it is not so difficult to always equalize a discharge amount of a discharge unit discharging the deteriorated agent with a replenishment amount of a replenishment unit replenishing a new agent. However, the discharge amount and the replenishment amount may not be identical if the discharge amount varies or if replenishment accuracy deteriorates.
In a two-component development device performing discharge and replenishment of the developer, if a discharge amount of the developer is larger than a replenishment amount of a new developer, the developer surface in a development unit gradually lowers. If the developer decreases greatly, no developer can be supplied to a development sleeve.
On the contrary, if the discharge amount of the developer is less than the replenishment amount of a new developer, an excessive amount of developer may be supplied to the development sleeve or part of the developer may leak out of the development unit.
There are some conventional methods capable of solving the above-described problems in the two-component development method. For example, as discussed in Japanese Patent publication No. 2-21591, a development apparatus usable for an electrophotographic copying machine includes a developer discharge unit and a developer replenishment unit, including an agitating unit agitating carriers and toners and a development roller supplying the developer agitated by the agitating unit to a photosensitive member. A carrier replenishment apparatus and a toner replenishment apparatus are provided, separately or integrally, above the agitating unit. A developer overflow portion is provided on a sidewall of the development apparatus. Therefore, while the replenishment apparatus replenishes a new developer by degrees, excessive developer can be discharged from the developer overflow portion. The developer in the development apparatus can maintain constant properties. As a result, printed products can possess constant image quality.
More specifically, the apparatus replenishes the developer while regulating the particle surface level in an agitating region to gradually replace the deteriorated developer with new developer, thereby preventing the agent from deteriorating and stabilizing the properties. The apparatus does not require any work for replacing the developer and can realize an improved maintenance operation.
As discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-330270, there is another method for discharging carriers using a fogging removal potential so as to develop the carriers transferred from a development sleeve to a photosensitive member in a non-image region on the photosensitive member and supplying the developer to the development sleeve in a region other than the region where the carriers are discharged.
The development particle surface level in the agitating region is generally set to a height sufficient to supply the developer in the entire range of the development sleeve in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the developer is supplied to the carrier discharge region on the development sleeve. The carriers adhere to the photosensitive member at a development nip portion, and a carrier discharge operation is performed. However, if the development particle surface level in the agitating region is lower than a predetermined height, the developer is not supplied to the development sleeve only in the carrier discharge region. Therefore, no carriers can be discharged at the development nip portion. Therefore, the lower movement of the development particle surface is stopped. The predetermined height of the development particle surface is a height where the developer cannot be supplied to the development sleeve in any region other than the carrier discharge region.
Namely, the development particle surface can be regulated to a constant level in an area where the magnetic force can act from the development sleeve to a developer agitating region. As described above, the development apparatus using the two-component agent including toners and carriers can regulate the height of the particle surface level using the gravity in the developer agitating region where no magnetic force acts from development sleeve, because the development apparatus includes the agitating unit agitating the toners and the carriers. Furthermore, the development apparatus can hold a constant amount of developer. Accordingly, the development apparatus does not require any work for replacing the developer and can realize an improved maintenance operation. The development apparatus can stably adjust the amount of the developer with a simple configuration.
However, compared to the above-described two-component development device configured to agitate toners and carriers, the magnetic brush charging device is not required to agitate the agent. The magnetic force of the charging sleeve acts on almost all of the magnetic particles. The above-described method for regulating the particle surface by the gravity cannot be used. If a region where no magnetic force acts is necessary, it is required to provide an additional area. Furthermore, an agitating member is required to uniformly set the particle surface in the longitudinal direction.
If the magnetic brush charging device employs a conventional carrier replacement unit widely used for two-component development apparatuses, it is required to provide an agitating mechanism and secure a sufficient space. The cost and the size of the apparatus increase. Moreover, even in a case where the agitating mechanism is provided, accurately controlling the height of the particle surface level is desired.

Image forming apparatus having charging device using magnetic brush charger


A block coding method and system for improving the reliability of Channel Quality Indicators (CQI) and antenna weight indicators (AWI) reporting. A user terminal first generates 8-bit CQI and 2-bit AWI. A codeword generator produces a codeword responsive to these 10 CQI/AWI bits using a codebook or a generator matrix of a (20,10,6) code. The (20,10,6) code has a minimum Hamming distance of 6 The encoded codeword is transmitted to a receiver for decoding utilizing an identical (20,10,6) codebook.

The present invention relates to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present invention is directed to a system and method for improving the reliability for the transmission of Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) channel quality indicators (CQI) and antenna weight indicators (AWI).
With the introduction of Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmission technology to increase spectral efficiency and system throughput of WCDMA systems, more detailed reporting of channel quality indicators (CQI) in support of MIMO transmission is needed. For example, for 2 by 2 MIMO, 2 CQI numbers, each for a data stream, are needed. According to W-CDMA Release 7, each of these CQI numbers is represented by 4 bits, and thus overall 8 bits are used for CQI feedback. In addition, a user terminal (UE) needs to feed back a 2-bit antenna weight indicator (AWI). Thus the total UE feedback is 10 bits.
In Release 6 of WCDMA systems (3GGPP TX 25.212, v.6, "Multiplexing and Channel Coding (FDD) (Release 6)"), 32 different types of CQI messages can be represented by 5 information bits. With a spreading factor of 256, these information bits can be encoded into 20 channel coded bits in 2 slots. Such a channel is built upon the first order Reed-Muller code. The minimum distance of the Release-6 CQI code has minimum Hamming distance 8. In the below discussion, (n,k,d) is used to refer to a class of block codes that encodes k information bits to produce a codeword of n-bits long and has a Hamming distance between any pair of distinct codewords no less than d. Thus, the Release 6 code for CQI is a (20,5,8) code. Sometimes, the notation (n,k) is used to describe the length of the codeword and the input information block.
As mentioned earlier, 10 CQI/AWI feedback bits are needed to support 2 by 2 MIMO operations. Providing channel coding protection for the lengthened feedback message is proposed in "Definition of HS-DPCCH coding for FDD MIMO operation in Rel-7" 3GPP TSG RAN1 Tdoc R1-063422, Meeting #47bis, November 2006; based on a (20,10) code shortening of the 2nd order Reed-Muller. The generator matrix of this code is
                              G                      20            ,            10            ,            4                          =                                            1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                      1                                                          0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      1                                      1                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                      0                                                          (        1        )            For any linear block code, one can calculate its distance spectrum by finding the distance distribution of all the codewords to the all-zero codeword (zero in all the positions). For example, the distance spectrum of the above code is given by                0 1        4 57        6 120        8 262        10 144        12 262        14 120        16 57        20 1.This means that among all the codewords, there is one codeword (the all-zero codeword itself, [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0]) having zero Hamming distance from the all-zero codeword, there are 57 codewords having Hamming distance 4 from the all-zero codeword, there are 120 codewords having Hamming distance 6 from the all-zero code-word, there are 262 codewords having Hamming distance 8 from the all-zero codeword, there are 144 codewords having Hamming distance 10 from the all-zero codeword, there are 262 codewords having Hamming distance 12 from the all-zero codeword, there are 120 codewords having Hamming distance 14 from the all-zero codeword, there are 57 code-words having Hamming distance 16 from the all-zero codeword, and there is 1 codeword having Hamming distance 20 from the all-zero codeword. Thus, the minimum Hamming distance between any distinct codewords in the above code is 4, making this a (20,10,4) code.
In general, there are numerous codebooks of (n,k,d) code having the same distance spectrum. For example, any permutation (shuffling the transmission order) on a (n,k,d) code results in another (n,k,d) code having the same distance spectrum. Also, any common masking m applied to all the codewords of a (n,k,d) code results in another (n,k,d) code having the same distance spectrum. We will use a simple example below to illustrate this. Consider a simple generator matrix
      G    =          [                                    1                                1                                0                                0                                0                                0                                1                                1                              ]        ;The four codewords generated by this generator matrix are
            0              0              0              0                  1              1              0              0                  0              0              1              1                  1              1              1              1.      The distance spectrum of this codeword is                0 1        2 2        4 1.Thus, one codeword at Hamming distance 0 away from the all-zero codeword, two codewords at Hamming distance 2 away from the all-zero codeword, and one codeword at Hamming distance 4 away from the all-zero codeword. Now, changing the order of the 2nd and 3rd encoded bit in the above code, the four new codewords are
            0              0              0              0                  1              0              1              0                  0              1              0              1                  1              1              1              1.      It is easy to see that the distance spectrum remains the same. Now further perform masking on the above code using a common mask of [1 1 1 0], we have                0 0 0 0+1 1 1 0=1 1 1 0        1 0 1 0+1 1 1 0=0 1 0 0        0 1 0 1+1 1 1 0=1 0 1 1        1 1 1 1+1 1 1 0=0 0 0 1.It is easy to see that the new code preserves a distance spectrum of        0 1        2 2        4 1.
The minimum Hamming distance of the above proposed (20,10) code is only 4. This minimum distance implies a significantly weaker protection for CQI information bits compared to the existing code in Release 6 for CQI protection. A comparison of the Rel6 CQI channel code and the above proposed code based on the generator matrix G20,10,4 shown above is provided in the graph shown in FIG. 4 (comparing Rel6 channel code (20,5,8) and a (20,10,4) code for MIMO CQI). It can be seen that, with the above proposed code, one more dB is required to carry each of the CQI information bits. At the same time, the number of information bits to carry has doubled. In summary, significantly more power is needed to transmit the detailed MIMO CQI report reliably.
It would be advantageous to have a system and method for providing CQI and AWI information to a base station that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides such a system and method.

System and method for coding WCDMA MIMO CQI reports


A tuning apparatus and a tuning method are provided, which make it possible to provide higher-accuracy searching tuning, while still reducing work load for the tuning executed every query language used to operate the relational database, and provide optimum indexes considering effect of the performance of commands not being processed for the tuning. Commands issued using query languages such as SQL are aggregated as acquisition patterns each consisting of search condition information and search method information which are for acquiring search results of data from a relational database. Predetermined execution information provided when the issued commands are executed is made to correspond to the acquisition patterns, thereby providing tuning information to each of the acquisition patterns. Based on the tuning information to each of the acquisition patterns, a tuning table is generated for each of objects which compose the relational database, thereby physically reducing the number of targets being analyzed for the tuning.

There have been provided various types of databases, and in such databases, a database called a relational database is currently most common. Performance of this relational database can be upgraded by reducing a response time to cumulatively increasing amounts of data and/or the number of users. The upgraded performance has an influence on quality of its overall performance, thereby being an important subject in business.
To upgrade the performance of a relational database, many tuning apparatuses and methods have been proposed for analyzing and/or improving the performance (hereinafter, in the description, the term "tuning" is defined as a scheme to analyze and/or improve the performance of the relational database). A relatively simple tuning scheme is, for example, to improve hardware resources by mounting sophisticated CPUs and/or increasing a memory capacity or to optimize database objects. However, this tuning scheme cannot provide an effective improvement in cases where a large number of accesses are generated inefficiently and thus a large amount of useless data is present in cache memory due, to that fact that proper indexes are not applied to access to a large-scale table. With this consideration, as a tuning scheme which improves effectively the performance, tuning a query language has become mainstream.
The query language is, here, a language used for operation of the relational database, such as creation or deletion of databases or registration or search of information, and a typical example is SQL (Structured Query Language). In the present specification, the query language will be hereinafter explained, by way of example, by SQL as long as there is no specific definition.
By the way, when databases are smaller in their sizes and the tuning of the databases are carried out for every SQL command, differences of skill levels of administrators do not tend to appear clearly in the tuning achievements. However, if the database is large-scale, the technique of analyzing the database for each SQL command is dependent on individual skills which require considerable experience. In addition, even if the administrator is well experienced, searching a SQL command which has caused a bottleneck is a large amount of load on the administrator, and this search is not efficient.
Moreover, in the tuning performed with each SQL command, it becomes necessary to optimally add an index to a searched SQL command which has caused the bottleneck. This addition of the index is also dependent on the administrator's skills, thus it is difficult to expect consistent improvement in the tuning.
To solve the foregoing problem concerning the analysis performed every SQL command, there is proposed a database tuning apparatus (for example, refer to PTL1). In this apparatus, for instance, statistical information of SQL commands executed on the database is collectively displayed for each transaction so that the utilization status of each SQL command can be analyzed every transaction. The configurations of this apparatus make it possible to remove SQL-overlapped parts, distribute a SQL command whose usage frequency is extremely high, into a group of other SQL commands, interchange the orders of the SQL commands, and execute other processes, resulting in relatively easier tuning operations compared with the analysis technique performed for every SQL command.
Further, another system is provided as an automatic generation and addition system for indexes (refer to PTL2). In this system, operating information of all issued SQL commands is acquired as information showing change history, and based on the stored operating information, a total execution time is obtained by collecting an execution time for each of the same type of SQL commands whose process contents are consistent with each other. A new index is then added to columns which are objects of SQL commands included in an upper half group of the total execution times, and concurrently, these processes are repeated until an accumulated amount of the total execution time for each SQL command becomes a minimum value. According to this configuration, regardless of factors including individual skills of system administrators, optimum indexes can be generated and added automatically such that there is brought a balance between efficiencies of search and update under a designated trial condition, improving a total operating efficiency of the RDB.

Apparatus and method for tuning relational database


A method for assessing the prognosis of a patient undergoing therapy for cancer by measuring the granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio of the patient's blood and comparing the ratio to a normal range of 1.6.+-.0.6. The prognosis is considered improved when the G/L value is within the range as compared to when it is greater than the same.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for the removal of granulocytes from blood and also to an apparatus suitable for use in the practice of the method. In particular, this invention is concerned with method and apparatus for removing granulocytes from blood taken out of a human body and then returning the treated blood to the same human body.
2) Description of the Related Art
The significant technical improvements in the screening and diagnosis of cancers in recent years, especially, the provision of new diagnostic techniques relying upon various images and permitting serum-dependent diagnoses has made a considerable contribution to the field of therapy.
These days, however, there is no satisfactory means or standard for making it possible to correctly grasp the conditions or pathema of a cancer patient per se, namely, a cancer-bearing host. As a method in use, there is nothing closer than the method relying upon the performance status (ECOS-PS) classification which is based on the grasp of usual physiological conditions through changes in hemogram or the like and the subjective symptom of the patient himself.
It has been clinically pointed out in full that even when a similar treatment is applied to cancer patients whose definite diagnosis has been made and who are not different as far as conventional background factors are concerned, their therapeutic results, prognoses and the like may differ significantly. No report has yet been known even on means for seizing differences in the conditions of the hosts, to say nothing of such factors.
Under the above-mentioned circumstances, the present inventor has found that the ratio in number of granulocytes (G) to lymphocytes (L) (hereinafter abbreviated as "G/L ratio") in the blood of a cancer patient serves as a marker which correctly reflects the conditions or pathema of the host. Namely, it has been found that changes in the G/L ratio correctly reflect the therapy sensitivity (refractoriness) and prognosis of a cancer bearing host and a cancer patient with a G/L ratio maintained within a normal range set based on normal subjects is sensitive to therapy, in other words, has good treatment results and the course and prognosis of the cancer are good.
The higher the G/L ratio, the more serious the treatment results, course and prognosis. In the case of a cancer patient immediately before his death, an abrupt increase in the G/L ratio is observed.
Accordingly, the G/L ratio of a cancer patient is the aforementioned desirable host marker and is believed to become an effective means for judging changes in pathema of a cancer bearing patient in the field of clinical therapy of a cancer.

Method for assessing prognosis of a patient undergoing therapy for cancer

Japan Immuno Research Laboratories Co., Ltd.


A mix and a high alumina refractory shape with high resistance to aluminum penetration comprising aluminum oxide and at least about 1% by weight of boron phosphate.

The present invention relates to high alumina refractory shapes and in particular bricks that are utilized primarily for aluminum furnaces.
At the present time, such refractory shapes, and particularly the bricks, show a susceptibility to penetration by the aluminum in the furnace. As a consequence, the refractory undergoes alteration and is ultimately consumed due, in part, to the penetration of the aluminum into the brick. Various efforts have been made to find suitable additives in order to improve the penetration resistance of high alumina bricks but these approaches have had limited success due to the undesired lowering of the hot strength of the refractory shape or brick or on the processing characteristics.
Such efforts have included; as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,502, the use of zinc borosilicate frit as a penetration inhibitor or in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,474 the use of barium sulfate. However, it has been found that addition of zinc borosilicate frit when used in combination with phosphoric acid which is utilized for maximum strength causes a severe degree of sticking to the press used in forming the shape of the brick to the point where it is not possible to get satisfactory brick in order to utilize them in aluminum furnaces. Addition of BaSo.sub.4 lowers the hot strength.


A method of training in the use of law enforcement batons and a mock training baton for use in training exercises. The mock training baton includes a flexible rod covered by a cushioning material which is secured to the rod by a removable cover and may include a protective resilient disk at the ends of the rod and a means for securing the baton to the belt of trainee. The diameter, configuration and material of the handle of the mock training baton is identical to the handle of the actual standard issue baton. The mock baton may include a resilient ring for securing the cover to the baton and a fixed collar for anchoring the resilient disk in place. Alternatively, the mock baton may include a unique assembly for securing the handle to the rod.

1. Field of Invention
The invention is generally related to a method and apparatus for training law enforcement personnel and is specifically directed to a mock baton for use in training exercises for law enforcement personnel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of the most important aspects of training law enforcement personnel is the proper handling and use of intermediate force weapons such as batons and the like. It is particularly important that law enforcement personnel be able to maneuver and handle the baton in a safe, but effective manner. In the past, police training programs have utilized training batons made from bamboo shredded into strips and covered with cloth. Bamboo was utilized to create a flexible baton which would be less likely to injure trainees who might be struck with the baton. More recently, police training programs have used hollow pipes, such as PVC pipes, covered with cushioning insulation or foam either taped or dip molded onto the pipe for training exercises.
While bamboo batons or cushioned pipes may be used during training exercises, prior art training batons have resulted in injuries. For example, a bamboo baton can be easily broken and may result in sharp dangerous splinters. Similarly, a pipe used as a training baton may break during training exercises. The sharp edges of a broken pipe may protrude through the cushioning material and cause severe cuts. Moreover, a rigid pipe when struck with the intensity used in training could cause serious injuries, such as broken bones.
While the use of actual batons in training is another option, the use of actual batons for training exercises is not desirable because such batons may be damaged if hit against another baton and, further, use of actual weapons substantially increases the risk of injury to the trainees. The use of actual batons in training programs can be costly in both equipment loss and personnel lost time due to accidents.
Another disadvantage of the prior art baton training methods is the short life of the available training batons. Often, repeated use will weaken the baton and cause it to break, which is particularly true of the bamboo and PVC batons. Even if the baton does not break, a weakened baton may not be suitable for use. For example, the foam used to cover pipes often deteriorates after repeated use and must be replaced to provide adequate protection during training exercises. However, in order to avoid accidental release, the foam on prior art batons is permanently secured to the pipe. Thus, the foam is not easily replaceable and the entire training baton usually must be replaced. While trainees can be instructed on the use of a baton without a training baton, the use of a baton similar to the actual baton during training exercises is desirable since the trainee becomes familiar with proper baton techniques and familiarity with the particular baton used by law enforcement personnel.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a durable, cost effective training baton for use by law enforcement trainees which includes a replaceable, cushioning envelope over the rod which protects the trainees from injury while allowing them to become familiar with the feel of the particular baton used by law enforcement personnel.

Mock training baton and method of training law enforcement personnel using same


A particle analyzer system that reduces size and cost, wherein particles are introduced into a cell, then the particles are irradiate in the cell with a laser beam, then atomic emission of the particles generated by the irradiation of the laser beam is transmitted, then a spectrum is obtained of the photo emission so transmitted, and the spectrum of the photo emission is detected and the wavelength of the laser beam is, other than the wavelength of the emission of the particles, is used to provide a filter to block the intrusion of the wavelength of the laser beam in a stage proceeding the photo emission.

1 Field of Invention
This invention relates to a particle analyzer system that analyzes elements of fine particles, for example, suspended in a clean room or contained in purified water; and more particularly, to such a system which is of reduced size and cost.
2 Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional particle component analyzer system using a microwave induced plasma, and comprising a dispersion chamber 51 in which a filter 52 is provided. Solid particles (not shown) to be measured adhere to filter 52. An aspirator 53 draws in solid particles which are stuck on filter 52 and supplies them to discharge tube 54. In dispersion chamber 51, after the air is discharged with a suction pump (not shown), helium gas is introduced and maintained at a pressure which is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. A microwave source 55 introduces microwaves into a cavity 56.
A detection window 57 is provided at the other end of the discharge tube 54 and four optical fibers 58 introduce the beam emitted from the detection window 57 into a plurality of spectometers (four Czerny-Turner monochromators in FIG. 1) 59. The outputs of the spectrometers 59 are applied to signal processor (CPU) 60.
When the microwaves of frequency 2.45 GHz are introduced into cavity 56 from source 55, plasma at a temperature of approximately 4000 K is generated in discharge tube 54. Solid particles, which are introduced into discharge tube 54 from the dispersion chamber 51 are atomized and ionized in the plasma. The particles emit light when they fall to the ground state after further excitation. This emission spectrum is taken out from the discharge tube 54 in the axial direction and are then subjected to spectrometric analysis by spectrometers 59. Then, the output signals from the spectrometers 59 are processed by the CPU 60 to measure and display the elements contained in the samples being measured.
In addition, a photoelectric converter (not shown) is provided for each spectrometer 59 to output electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of the light beams of selected wavelengths. Amplifiers (not shown) may be provided to amplify the output signals of the photoelectric converters. The amplifiers may be provided in the latter stages of each photoelectric converter. The sizes of the particles are, for example, classified into three types, by size, such as large, medium and small, corresponding to the values of the output signals from the amplifiers. The filter 52 has a predetermined area and aspirator 53 scans the filter 52 a plurality of times to draw in the same quantity of particles with each scan.
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the emission wavelengths of the elements and the emission intensities and in practice about 50 elements are the object of the measurement. As seen in FIG. 2, for example, manganese (Mn) has an emission wavelength near 2600 Angstrom, and Aluminum (Al), fluorine (F), and oxygen (O) have emission wavelengths near 3950, 6900, and 7800 Angstrom, respectively.
Since photo emission is introduced into a plurality of spectrometers (e.g. four spectrometers) whose measuring wavelengths are fixed, only four components can be captured in one emission. Because the particles may contain a number of various elements, such as described above, the measurement may have to be carried out a plurality of times with the wavelength settings of the spectrometers being changed for each measurement. Thus, measurement with prior art devices takes a long time. Although the problem may be solved with use of a larger number of spectrometers to shorten the measuring time, this requires a very large system, and also increases the cost of such system,since spectrometers are expensive.


An interface scanning circuit includes a current source at the input to a multiplexer. The current source includes a transistor disposed between two resistors, the second one of which limits reverse current. Also provided are an attenuating network including two resistors, and a low pass filter capacitor associated with the attenuating network.

The present specification refers to a patent of invention referring to an Interface Scanning Circuit, the evident purpose of which is to be configured as a hybrid circuit, applicable to the interface scanning, specifically electronic recorders of defaults, identification of calling subscribers, and a detailed tariff of telephone stations, the object of which is to distinguish the voltage state of said interfaces.


A strong interface is formed between an interconnect and an encapsulating layer to prevent the lateral drift of material from the interconnect along the bottom of the encapsulating layer. Diffusion barrier material is deposited on the top surface of the interconnect using a selective deposition process. The diffusion barrier material may be epitaxially grown from the interconnect during the selective deposition of the diffusion barrier material on the top surface of the interconnect to promote adhesion of the diffusion barrier material to the interconnect. An encapsulating layer is deposited on top of the diffusion barrier material. The diffusion barrier material and the encapsulating layer are comprised of a similar chemical element to promote adhesion of the diffusion barrier material to the encapsulating layer. The diffusion barrier material on the top surface of the interconnect prevents lateral drift of material comprising the interconnect along the encapsulating layer. When the layer of encapsulating dielectric is comprised of silicon nitride, a nitrided surface may be formed on top of the diffusion barrier material by exposing the top of the diffusion barrier material to nitrogen plasma before depositing the encapsulating layer of silicon nitride on top of the diffusion barrier material. The present invention may be used to particular advantage when the interconnect is a copper interconnect and when the layer of encapsulating layer is comprised of silicon nitride.

The present invention relates generally to fabrication of integrated circuits, and more particularly, to selective deposition of a diffusion barrier material on the top surface of an interconnect, such as copper interconnect for example, to effectively encapsulate the interconnect for preventing material comprising the interconnect from laterally drifting into surrounding insulating material.
A long-recognized important objective in the constant advancement of monolithic IC (Integrated Circuit) technology is the scaling-down of IC dimensions. Such scaling-down of IC dimensions reduces area capacitance and is critical to obtaining higher speed performance of integrated circuits. Moreover, reducing the area of an IC die leads to higher yield in IC fabrication. Such advantages are a driving force to constantly scale down IC dimensions.
Thus far, aluminum has been prevalently used for metallization within integrated circuits. However, as the width of metal lines are scaled down to smaller submicron and even nanometer dimensions, aluminum metallization shows electromigration failure. Electromigration failure, which may lead to open and shorted metal lines, is now a commonly recognized problem. Moreover, as dimensions of metal lines further decrease, metal line resistance increases substantially, and this increase in line resistance may adversely affect circuit performance.
Given the concerns of electromigration and line resistance with smaller metal lines and vias, copper is considered a more viable metal for smaller metallization dimensions. Copper has lower bulk resistivity and potentially higher electromigration tolerance than aluminum. Both the lower bulk resistivity and the higher electromigration tolerance improve circuit performance.
Referring to FIG. 1, a cross sectional view is shown of a copper interconnect 102 within a trench 104 formed in an insulating layer 106. The copper interconnect 102 within the insulating layer 106 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 108 such as a silicon substrate as part of an integrated circuit. Because copper is not a volatile metal, copper cannot be easily etched away in a deposition and etching process as typically used for aluminum metallization. Thus, the copper interconnect 102 is typically formed by etching the trench 104 as an opening within the insulating layer 106, and the trench 104 is then filled with copper typically by an electroplating process, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art of integrated circuit fabrication.
Unfortunately, copper is a mid-bandgap impurity in silicon and silicon dioxide. Thus, copper may diffuse easily into these common integrated circuit materials. Referring to FIG. 1, the insulating layer 106 is typically comprised of silicon dioxide. Copper may easily diffuse into the insulating layer 106, and this diffusion of copper may degrade the performance of the integrated circuit. Thus, a diffusion barrier material 110 is deposited to surround the copper interconnect 102 within the insulating layer 106 on the sidewalls and the bottom wall of the copper interconnect 102, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art of integrated circuit fabrication. The diffusion barrier material 110 is disposed between the copper interconnect 102 and the insulating layer 106 for preventing diffusion of copper from the copper interconnect 102 to the insulating layer 106 to preserve the integrity of the insulating layer 106.
Further referring to FIG. 1, an encapsulating layer 112 is deposited as a passivation layer to encapsulate the copper interconnect 102, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art of integrated circuit fabrication. The encapsulating layer 112 is typically comprised of a dielectric such as silicon nitride, and copper from the copper interconnect 102 does not easily diffuse into such a dielectric of the encapsulating layer 112.
Referring to FIG. 1, in the prior art, the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride is deposited directly onto an exposed surface of the copper interconnect 102 and the surrounding insulating layer 106 after the exposed surface of the copper interconnect 102 and the surrounding insulating layer 106 are polished to a level surface. Unfortunately, the silicon nitride of the encapsulating layer 112 does not bond well to the copper at the exposed surface of the copper interconnect 102. Thus, although copper does not diffuse easily through the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride, copper from the copper interconnect 102 laterally drifts from the interface between the copper interconnect 102 and the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride along the bottom surface 114 of the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride because of the weak bonding of the copper interconnect 102 and the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride.
The copper that laterally drifts from the interface between the copper interconnect 102 and the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride along the bottom surface 114 of the encapsulating layer 112 eventually diffuses into the insulating layer 106 of silicon dioxide to disadvantageously degrade the insulating property of the insulating layer 106. Nevertheless, use of copper metallization is desirable for further scaling down integrated circuit dimensions because of the lower bulk resistivity and the higher electromigration tolerance. Thus, a strong interface is desired between the copper interconnect 102 and the encapsulating layer 112 of silicon nitride to prevent the lateral drift of copper from the copper interconnect 102 along the bottom 114 of the encapsulating layer 112 into the insulating layer 106.
Accordingly, in a general aspect of the present invention, a strong interface is formed between the top of the interconnect and an encapsulating layer to prevent the lateral drift of material from the interconnect along the bottom of the encapsulating layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a diffusion barrier material is selectively deposited on the top surface of the interconnect. The diffusion barrier material may be epitaxially grown from the interconnect during the selective deposition of the diffusion barrier material on top of the interconnect to promote adhesion of the diffusion barrier material to the interconnect. An encapsulating layer is deposited on top of the diffusion barrier material. The diffusion barrier material and the encapsulating layer are comprised of a similar chemical element to promote adhesion of the diffusion barrier material to the encapsulating layer. The diffusion barrier material on the top surface of the interconnect prevents lateral drift of material comprising the interconnect along the encapsulating layer.
In one aspect of the present invention, when the layer of encapsulating dielectric is comprised of silicon nitride, a nitrided surface is formed on top of the diffusion barrier material by exposing the top of the diffusion barrier material to nitrogen plasma before depositing the encapsulating layer of silicon nitride on top of the diffusion barrier material.
The present invention may be used to particular advantage when the interconnect is a copper interconnect and when the layer of encapsulating layer is comprised of silicon nitride.
The diffusion barrier material on the top surface of the interconnect adheres to the interconnect and to the layer of encapsulating layer with a strong bond to form a strong interface between the interconnect and the encapsulating layer for preventing lateral drift of material from the interconnect along the bottom of the encapsulating layer.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by considering the following detailed description of the invention which is presented with the attached drawings.

Forming a strong interface between interconnect and encapsulation to minimize electromigration


A stylus counterbalancing mechanism for a probe includes a stylus support member suspended on a resilient suspension system and connected to a spring which provides a force to counterbalance the weight of the stylus. The spring is connected to one end of a plate which is capable of sliding up and down a rod but is locked in position due to the clockwise moment produced by the spring force. The plate is unlocked from its position, when required, by movement of an actuating member. The actuating member is slidable up and down the rod and has bearing areas arranged to provide an anti-clockwise moment to the plate to unlock it and to move it along the rod to increase or decrease the spring force as required.. In the probe, the actuating member includes a projection extending through the probe housing to be operable from the outside either manually or by the co-ordinate positioning machine, the machine being programmed to move the probe to engage the projection with a fixed ledge on the machine.

The present invention relates to a stylus counterbalancing mechanism for a probe.
In measuring probes, in particular analogue measuring probes, in which the probe stylus is mounted on a spring suspension system within the probe itself, a problem arises when the probe stylus is changed for one of different weight, in that the change in weight can cause a deflection of the stylus mounting mechanism. The effect is a change in the zero position of the stylus requiring a re-calibration of the probe.
The more sensitive the probe is, the greater can be the effect of different weights of styli, to the extent that a heavy stylus can so deflect the stylus mounting, that all of the travel of the stylus which is required for making measurements can be used up.
A related problem occurs in touch trigger probes which have a mechanical rest position, in that changing the weight of the stylus changes the force required to move it from the rest position, which in turn will vary the pre-travel of the stylus, i.e. the amount of movement of the stylus tip before a signal relating to stylus movement is generated. These problems are well-known and various types of stylus counterbalancing mechanisms are known. These range from manual mechanisms for changing the compression of a spring which forms part of the stylus mounting, to fully automated mechanisms such as are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,948.
In the above-mentioned patent specification there is described a stylus counterbalancing mechanism which comprises a pair of springs connected to a flange on a movable part of the stylus support. The measuring transducers within the probe are set to read zero when the attached stylus is out of contact with a workpiece. If the stylus is removed and a new one of different weight attached, the measuring transducers will read a positive or negative deflection. This change is used to generate a signal, which is used, in turn, to drive a motor in the appropriate sense to move the stylus support to bring the reading of the measuring transducers back to zero.
While the above-described mechanism provides for automatic adjustment of the stylus support for counterbalancing stylus weight, it adds the complication and expense of a motor and its control system within the probe. The motor also generates heat within the probe during its operation which is a disadvantage.

Stylus counterbalancing mechanism for a measuring probe


A method uses a synchronous bus which ensures the transfer of digital data between plural subscribers connected to the bus via respective couplers. This method comprises the attribution to the subscribers of transmission rights in cells of fixed duration distributed over the frames, the synchronizing of all the couplers, the composing by each coupler of a message comprising the data to be transmitted associated with a code identifying the message, the transmission of this message during a cell attributed to the subscriber, the reception by each coupler of the messages contained in the cells not attributed to it and the analysis of the identification codes of these messages, and if this identification code corresponds to that of the message expected, the transmission of the data in the message to the subscriber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data transmission device using a serial bus for the transmission of synchronous data, such as the one defined by the ARINC 659 standard.
It applies notably, though not exclusively, to the transmission of digital data between modules of electronic equipment taken on board aerodynes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a device usually comprises a data transmission bus and couplers which each ensure the connection of an electronic module with the bus and control access to the latter.
The ARINC 659 standard is aimed at specifying an architecture based on a bus, referred to as a "back panel" bus, and bus couplers used in electronic equipment taken on board aerodynes.
According to this standard, the bus comprises four multiplexed and redundant serial data transfer buses enabling transmission errors to be detected and corrected. The couplers have an architecture divided into layers including a layer referred to as "physical" layer, a link layer and a transport layer which ensures the transmission of large volumes of data.
Only the physical and link layers are described by this standard.
Insofar as the physical layer, which groups together the transmission mechanisms and the clock synchronization mechanisms of each coupler, uses the redundancy of the data transmission buses, it has a certain tolerance of faults.
The link layer provides access to the bus and monitors the operations performed by the physical layer. The access principle is essentially based on prior knowledge, on the part of each coupler, of the data exchange traffic on the bus.
To this end, the data is exchanged by means of frames of constant size each comprised of a stream of time windows of variable size during which each coupler takes the initiative of transmitting or receiving a message. This initiative is taken in reference to a table associated with each coupler and defined at the time of designing the device. This table notably mentions the direction of the exchange, the size of the window and the type of data exchanged in this window.
This architecture has the drawback of lacking flexibility since, when one wishes to change the system and in particular the type of data exchanged, the contents of each of the tables associated with the couplers connected to the bus must be revised.
Moreover, at present, a new technique for asynchronous transport of digital data has been implemented to operate telecommunications networks.
This technique, known as ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), is based on the switching of cells of fixed size. According to this transmission mode, the cells are identified by a "virtual channel" number and not by their position in time or rank in a periodical frame, as is the case with synchronous transmission. There is therefore no connection between the data contained in the cells and time.
Each cell thus contains a header containing the virtual channel number and a data field.
These cells are transmitted by time-division multiplexing on the transmission links.
The fundamental advantage of this transmission mode over the synchronous techniques lies in the flexibility of the multiplexing which does not have a rigid, deterministic structure relating to quantified thruputs.

Method and device for the asynchronous transmission of data by means of a synchronous bus