A laser-solid-forming manufacturing device includes a laser emitter, a magnetic field generator, and a forming platform. The laser emitter emits a laser beam which acts on a feedstock to form a molten pool. The magnetic field generator includes a spiral copper coil, a first electrode and a second electrode. The spiral copper coil is formed by spirally winding a copper tube. The first and second electrodes are arranged at respective ends of the copper tube and are used for loading a voltage to generate a magnetic field in the spiral copper coil. At any time, the spiral copper coil sleeves an action point of the laser beam and the feedstock. A corresponding laser-solid-forming manufacturing method is also presented.

Laser solid forming technology is to melt metal powders or wires by utilizing the high-energy laser beam as the heat source and then quickly cool and solidify the molten metal to be formed on the substrate. The computer software firstly layers and slices the three-dimensional model of a component, namely converting the three-dimensional shape information of the component into a series of two-dimensional outline information. Then, the information of each layer is utilized as the path to be scanned by the high-energy laser beam. Finally, a real metal component having the same geometrical size as the designed component is formed by stacking the deposited materials layer by layer.
Recently, this technology is widely applied to the manufacture of metal components in the fields of aerospace, medical equipment, and the like. Especially, it is applied to the manufacturing of high-performance and large-size key components made from titanium alloy, nickel-based superalloy in the aerospace field. The high-energy laser beam acts on the metal powders or wires to form a molten pool. The size of the formed molten pool is approximately equal to the spot size of the laser. Therefore, the forming precision of the metal component can basically meet the design size requirement.
However, in the relatively independent layer-by-layer scanning, stacking and forming process, although the laser solid forming technology can produce real components having any structure theoretically, the surface finish control of the component is always difficult.
In the laser solid forming process, the molten pool has the flow, which is the molten metal flows from center to periphery due to the high-temperature gradient. Thus, the gas-liquid free interface is unstable. Furthermore, under the influence of heat transfer, there are a large amount of incompletely molten metal powders or wires at the boundary of the molten pool. These semi- or un-melted particles attached to the periphery of the molten pool severely influence the surface finish of the metal components.

Laser-solid-forming manufacturing device and method


A placard holder has a clamp member with an enlarged head and an elongated stem. The head defines a narrow slot such that a card containing visually perceptible or machine readable information can be mounted to the head by a friction fit of an edge of the card inserted into the slot. The clamp member attaches to a supporting article such as a display stand by extending the stem through a hole of a thin wall of the support and placing a lock washer over the stem opposite the head. The lock washer is forced along the stem end to compress the wall between it and the head. Compression is maintained by prongs of the lock washer that engage radially protruding teeth disposed along the elongated stem. Paper or plastic placards such as business cards, credit cards, place cards, gift cards can be placed in the placard holder for display.

Various types of holders for placards are in common use for many purposes. Some known examples include albums with fixed or looseleaf pages having compartments with clear plastic windows for storing and displaying business cards, trays for holding a card stack or a single card, and shelf or pegboard racks for displaying gift cards at retail locations such as supermarkets and convenience stores. These card holders advantageously organize and effectively present the placards for inspection by the user-consumer. Many existing holders are primarily utilitarian and lack distinctiveness and visually aesthetic attractiveness. Thus, there is a need for a placard holder that enables distinctive display of a card with visually pleasing aesthetic effect.


Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling UE attached to a mobile network via a mid-band CBSD node to continue transmitting upload data to the mid-band CBSD node even in the event of a loss of Physical Downlink Control Channels (PDCCH) coverage of the CBSD node resulting in a failure of the UE to receive uplink grant schedule updates. Various embodiments contemplate that the UE responsively attaches to a low-band node which, based on physical cell ID (PCI) of the CBSD node, retrieves updated uplink grant schedules from the CBSD node via a backhaul network and provides the uplink grant schedules to the UE.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Operators of mobile systems, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTSs), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and 5th Generation New Radio (5G-NR) described and being developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), are increasingly relying on wireless macrocell radio access networks (RANs) such as traditional cellular base stations, eNodeBs and the like, along with wireless small cell or microcell RANs in order to deploy, for example, indoor voice and data services to enterprises and other customers. For both macrocell RANs and small/micro cell RANs, increasing demands for wireless throughput make access to additional wireless spectrum desirable.
Converged networks contemplate that user equipment (UE) utilizing network services (e.g., voice, streaming media, data upload/download etc.) may access any available/compatible network, such as a WiFi network (e.g., 802.11xx networks), UMTS network, 5G-NR network and so on, preferably in a manner delivering network services to UE in a seamless manner. Converged network operators may deploy networks comprising base stations, eNBs and the like operating in multiple spectral regions, such as high bands (24 GHz-40 GHz for 5G), mid bands (3.5 GHz-6 GHz and/or 1 GHz-2.6 GHz for 4G/LTE/5G), and low bands (1 GHz for 4G/LTE/5G).
Converged networks may configured to use both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, such as unlicensed spectrum associated with citizens broadband radio service (CBRS), a 150 MZ band between 3.55 GHz and 3.70 GHz. Access is granted to Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) such as base stations, eNBs, user devices and the like operating according to a Generic Authorized Access (GAA) from 3.55 GHz to 3.65 GHz, with full access to 3.70 GHz expected in the future. GAA compliance may at times require a reduction in transmit power/range of CBSDs functioning as base stations/eNBs, such as when a GAA-define prioritized user requires this spectrum, which reductions may impact converged network operation in a manner causing non-seamless delivery of network services to UE.

Multilink uplink grant management method


Aspects of a sampling rate converter with no timing drift and with bounded amplitude error are presented. Aspects of the method may include computing an intermediate sum by adding a numerator portion of a fractional conversion ratio to an accumulated time value upon receipt of an input data sample. A time instant for generating an output data sample may be determined by computing a modulus value for the intermediate sum, wherein a base for the modulus value computing may be a denominator portion of the fractional conversion ratio.

Many audio systems support applications for audio format conversion and/or audio mixing. Audio format conversion typically involves receiving input data that utilizes one audio format, for example MP3, which is subsequently converted to another audio format, for example Windows media audio (WMA). Audio mixing typically involves generating output audio data that is a compendium of audio data from a plurality of input sources. In applications, such as audio format conversion and audio mixing, sampling rate conversion is often performed. Sampling rate conversion typically involves receiving input data samples at an input data rate, or source sampling frequency, and generating output data samples at an output data rate, or target sampling frequency, which is different from the input data rate. For example, in an audio mixing application, data from different input sources are often characterized by different sampling rates. The ratio of the source sampling frequency and target sampling frequency is referred to as the "conversion ratio". Exemplary audio systems that support audio format conversion and/or audio mixing applications may include software-define radio systems, multimedia mobile handsets, and digital signal synthesizer systems.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Sampling rate converter with no timing drift and bounded amplitude error


A device may include polling logic configured to store a table of received addresses, sequentially receive sensor data from each address in the table via a serial data bus, store the sensor data in a memory, receive an address from a processor via a high speed data bus, and provide stored sensor data from the memory to the processor via a parallel data bus.

Network devices, such as switches or routers, may contain numerous electronic components and circuit boards. Commonly, a sensor, such as a temperature sensor or a voltage sensor, is included on or with the electronic component and/or circuit boards to monitor temperature and voltage parameters. The numerous sensors are commonly connected to a main processing device via a slow two wire bus. Waiting for large amounts of sensor data to be received sequentially from numerous sensors over slow two wire buses results in substantial processing time being wasted by the main processing device.

Systems and methods for automated sensor polling


A method of authenticating a content provider and assuring content integrity by which the content provider is authenticated and the content integrity is assured upon download, exchange or transfer of a variety of multimedia contents through a wired/wireless communication network. The method of authenticating the content provider and assuring the content integrity, including downloading packaged contents with an electronic signature made thereto into a device of a user through a wired/wireless communication network, finding a URL address from which a certificate for verification of a signature of the content provider is provided, in a header of the contents, acquiring the certificate of the content provider after moving to the URL address, extracting a public key required for the verification of the electronic signature from the acquired certificate, and verifying the electronic signature by using the extracted public key.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0029144 filed on May 7, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of authenticating a content provider and assuring content integrity, and more particularly, to a method of authenticating a content provider and assuring content integrity by which the content provider is authenticated and content integrity is assured upon download, exchange, or transfer of a variety of multimedia contents through a wired/wireless communication network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a variety of contents are distributed through wired/wireless communication networks, and development of a variety of techniques has been actively made to protect the copyrights of digital contents. A typical technique includes Digital Rights Management (DRM), for example, which encompasses DRM and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) DRM v1.0 of Microsoft Corporation.
In a case where a user utilizing a device with the DRM function downloads packaged contents, sends such contents to a device of another user, or freely exchanges and sends them through a bulletin board or by e-mail via a wired/wireless communication network, there is a technique to assure the integrity of the contents sent.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of conventional packaged contents 1. The contents 1 comprises an encrypted content portion 2, a header 3 including a variety of information on the relevant contents, and an electronic signature 4 made through hash coding of the header 3 of the contents 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the content portion 2 is encrypted and the header 3 includes the content provider's (CP's) name, a content ID, meta-information, the license provider's URL and the like. Here, a hash function is generally utilized in the electronic signature 4. The hash function can be described as a computationally effective function that performs mapping of an arbitrary-size binary string to a fixed-size binary string that is called a hash value. Such a hash function can be used to ensure data integrity in addition to its use for the electronic signature 4.
For example, when the contents 1 including the electronic signature 4, made through the beforehand hash coding of the header 3 of the contents 1, are downloaded, a hash function is then applied to the contents 1 and the electronic signature 4 is compared with a public key provided by the content provider so as to verify the electronic signature.
In such a case where a user downloads the packaged contents 1 from a content provider or receives them from another user through a wired/wireless communication network, the encrypted content portion 2 is transmitted together with the header 3 having the electronic signature 4 made through the beforehand hash coding of the header 3. Thus, the integrity of the packaged contents 1 is assured.
However, according to such related art, the electronic signature 4 is made through the hash coding of only the header 3. Thus, there is a problem in that the integrity of mutual connectivity of the encrypted content portion 2 and the header 3 cannot be assured.
Further, there are problems in that it is impossible to authenticate whether the received contents 1 were prepared by a legitimate content provider, and in that there is no way to acquire a public key certificate of a content provider required for verifying the integrity of the packaged contents 1.

Method of authenticating content provider and assuring content integrity


Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and a method for generating an avatar based on a weather condition. The program and method include determining a current location of a user device; retrieving a weather condition at the current location of the user device; automatically generating a weather-based avatar for a person associated with the user device, the weather-based avatar having a visual attribute corresponding to the weather condition; and, in response to a request from a requesting device, causing display on the requesting device of the weather-based avatar.

Weather sites are some of the most popularly, if not the most popularly, visited sites on the Internet. Weather affects our daily lives and it is no surprise that people use the Internet to obtain weather information. Local conditions and forecasts are typically assembled into web pages for each city or location. A consumer visiting a weather site on the Internet, or through an app installed on a mobile device, can then enter a city or a zip code and obtain the local forecast and current conditions for that city. Such weather conditions are typically presented in a generic form indicating the temperature and likelihood of rain/snow.


A fuel distributor for delivering fuel under pressure to cylinders of an engine. The distributor includes a housing, an inlet for delivering fuel under pressure to the housing, a plurality of outlets in the housing and a valve assembly mounted in each outlet. Each valve assembly is for connection to a fuel injector mounted in a cylinder of the engine, and each assembly includes a passage for delivering fuel under pressure from the housing, a plunger positioned in the passage, and a valve spring biasing the plunger to one of a passage open position and a passage closed position. The fuel distributor also includes a cam for moving the plungers against the valve springs, whereby movement of the cam controls fuel flow to the cylinders.

In conventional fuel delivery systems for internal combustion engines, a constant-delivery fuel pump supplies fuel under pressure from a tank to a fuel rail positioned on the engine. A plurality of fuel injectors are mounted between the fuel rail and the engine intake manifold, with the injector nozzles being positioned adjacent to the fuel/air intake ports of the individual engine cylinders. The fuel injectors are individually electromagnetically actuated by an engine control unit as a function of operating conditions and parameters at the engine.
A major cost associated with fuel delivery systems of the described character lies in the individual fuel injectors, and in the complexity of electrical conductors that connect the fuel injectors to the engine control unit. The fuel injectors are subject to wear, and may eventually feed differing quantities of fuel to the cylinders even when actuated for nominally identical time durations, thus resulting in less than optimum engine operation. Furthermore, conventional fuel injectors present additional difficulties when employed in conjunction with so-called alternative fuels. Fuels of this character have lower lubricity than conventional gasoline fuels, increasing wear at the individual injectors. The injector wear parts may be constructed of stainless steel, for example, which reduces wear but greatly increases cost. Moreover, because of lower energy content of alcohol-based alternative fuels, for example, the injectors must have a larger fuel opening and/or remain open longer than would otherwise be desirable in operation with gasoline. Thus, conventional fuel injectors are not well suited for use in association with engines intended for operation with alternative fuels having different potential energy contents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,785 to Meaney discloses a fuel delivery system for internal combustion engines including a fuel-metering distributor. The Meaney system eliminates conventional electromagnetic fuel injectors, thereby achieving reduced cost, reduced complexity, reduced wear and increased operating life. The Meaney system also automatically delivers identical quantities of fuel to all of the engine cylinders, and automatically controls fuel quantity over a wide flow range with multiple fuel types without requiring adjustment by an operator or engine technician. The fuel-metering distributor disclosed in Meaney includes a fuel cavity and apertures in a sidewall of the fuel cavity coupled to associated individual fuel lines. A piston is slidingly disposed in the fuel cavity for opening the individual apertures as a function of position of the piston within the cavity, and a linear electromagnetic actuator is coupled to the piston for controlling the position of the piston within the cavity.
What is desired, however, is a fuel distributor wherein the fuel flow through each aperture, or fuel outlet, can be individually adjusted to optimize performance.


Methods of inducing mucosal immunity in individuals against proteins and peptides are disclosed. The methods comprise the step of administering topically or by lavage into mucosal tissue selected from the group consisting of rectal, vaginal, urethral, sublingual and buccal, a nucleic acid molecule that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein or peptide that comprises an epitope against which mucosal immunity is desired. The methods may be used to immunize and individual against a pathogen infection, hyperproliferative diseases or autoimmune diseases using nucleic acid molecules which encode proteins and peptides that share an epitope with a pathogen antigen or protein associated with cells involved in hyperproliferative diseases or autoimmune diseases, respectively,

The direct introduction of a normal, functional gene into a living animal has been studied as a means for replacing defective genetic information. In some studies, DNA is introduced directly into cells of a living animal without the use of a viral particle or other infectious vector. Nabel, E. G., et al., (1990) Science 249:1285–1288, disclose site-specific gene expression in vivo of a beta-galactosidase gene that was transferred directly into the arterial wall in mice. Wolfe, J. A. et al., (1990) Science 247:1465–1468, disclose expression of various reporter genes that were directly transferred into mouse muscle in vivo. Acsadi G., et al., (1991) Nature 352:815–818, disclose expression of human dystrophin gene in mice after intramuscular injection of DNA constructs. Wolfe, J. A., et al., 1991 BioTechniques 11(4):474–485, which is incorporated herein by reference, refers to conditions affecting direct gene transfer into rodent muscle in vivo. Felgner, P. L. and G. Rhodes, (1991) Nature 349:351–352, disclose direct delivery of purified genes in vivo as drugs without the use of retroviruses.
The use of direct gene transfer as an alternative anti-pathogen vaccination method has been suggested. Use of direct gene transfer by single injection is suggested as a possible vaccination strategy against HIV. A cellular immune response to HIV gp120 resulting from introduction of plasmid DNA encoding the same into cells is reported to have been observed. PCT International Application Number PCT/US90/01515 published Oct. 4, 1990 discloses methods of immunizing an individual against pathogen infection by directly injecting naked polynucleotides into the individual's cells in a single step procedure. The use of transfecting agents other than lipofectins is specifically excluded from the disclosed methods. The stimulation of inoculated cells is neither disclosed nor suggested. An HIV vaccine is disclosed which consists of the introduction of polynucleotides that encode the viral protein gp120. The operability of this vaccine is not evidenced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


System and methods for managing versions of partition maps in a distributed data store are disclosed. A relational database may use partition maps to indicate the location of data in a particular partition, or in a replica thereof. These partition maps may be versioned using a two-stage mechanism in which partition map updates are communicated to all nodes, or to affected nodes only, and in which operation may continue without waiting for acknowledgment of their application to each node. The system may handle minor partition changes differently than major partition changes. For example, if a replica of a partition is promoted to be a primary copy due to hardware or network failures, partition map changes may only be propagated to nodes in the same replica group. For major partition changes (e.g., splits, moves, mergers, added partitions, or size change), a new partition map may be made available to all nodes.

Database systems managing large amounts of data may distribute and/or replicate that data across two or more machines, often in different locations, for any of a number of reasons, including security issues, disaster prevention and recovery issues, data locality and availability issues, etc. These machines may be configured in any number of ways, including as a shared resource pool, such as in a grid computing architecture.
Interaction between client applications and database servers typically includes read operations (read-only queries), write operations (to store data), and update operations that can be conceptualized using a read-modify-write workflow consisting of the following steps:                The client application reads data from the database server (via a query).        The client application applies business logic and derives new or modified data.        The client application writes data back to the database server.
Distributed relational database systems typically divide data into two or more partitions according to a partition key. Partitions may be stored on different nodes in the distributed system, and may be replicated on one or more other nodes. When changes are made to the partitioning, such a system is typically unavailable until the changes are completed and propagated across the system.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.


Provided is a skeletal muscle regeneration promoter for a muscular disorder or myopathy comprising a chondroitinase as an active component, which skeletal muscle regeneration promoter enhances, when administered into a muscular fiber of a mammal with the muscular disorder or myopathy, the regeneration of such a muscular fiber. The above-mentioned chondroitinase degrades chondroitin sulfate that is present at the outer perimeter of the above-mentioned muscular fiber; and thereby inhibition of the regeneration of the muscular fiber by the above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate disappears, which makes it possible to enhance the regeneration and enlargement of such a muscular fiber.

When muscles (muscular substances and muscular tissues) of healthy mammals including human are applied with an excessive burden, part of such muscles are worn out. Yet, such muscles normally have a capacity for regeneration and part of the above-mentioned worn muscles promptly regenerates and enlarges for bearing the above-mentioned burden.
The regeneration and enlargement of the above-mentioned muscle normally take place as follows: that is, when the above-mentioned muscle is given stimulation such as the above-mentioned burden, satellite cells, which are located between the basal membrane of cells of the muscular fiber of such a muscle (myocytes) and sarcolemma membrane are activated to begin proliferation. Here, the above-mentioned satellite cell corresponds to a stem cell that possesses ability to differentiate to multiple lineages of cells (pluripotency) and ability to maintain their pluripotency even after undergoing cell division (self-renewing ability). And, the above-mentioned proliferated satellite cells become myoblast cells, from which cells of the muscular fiber originate, and the resulting myoblast cells fuse with existing muscular fibers; and muscles containing such fused muscular fibers will regenerate and enlarge.
On the other hand, in a patient with the muscular disorder who for some reason has damage (disease) in the muscle, an ability of the above-mentioned muscle to regenerate is extremely decreased, or the above-mentioned muscular fiber is easily degraded (worn out) even if the ability of such a muscle to regenerate is maintained. Due to this, the rate of degradation of the above-mentioned muscle exceeds the rate of regeneration thereof in the above-mentioned patient with the muscular disorder, which often brings about muscular atrophy.
In addition, in a patient with muscular dystrophy among the above-mentioned muscular disorders, which is a typical myopathy, the rate of degradation of the above-mentioned muscular fiber is higher than the rate of regeneration thereof in relative to a healthy subject even though the degradation and regeneration of the above-mentioned muscular fiber repeatedly take place. Due to this, the above-mentioned patient with the myopathy will have a gradually progressing atrophy of his/her own muscles, which results in death early in life.
As a method of treating the muscular disorder or myopathy stated above, a number of methods of enhancing (improving) the rate of regeneration of the above-mentioned muscle have been reported (Non-patent Documents 1 to 3). Yet, as it stands at this point in time, a good method of treatment has not been established.
Meanwhile, in nerve regenerative medicine, examples of methods of regenerating (elongating) damaged axons include a method of degrading chondroitin sulfate (CS) present outside cells in the nervous system.
The above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a major extracellular matrix component in the nervous system and is a component involved in formation of the neural network. Meanwhile, the above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate (CS) serves as a component that inhibits the regeneration of the above-mentioned axon in the cranial nerve system of an adult who has had a traumatic injury such as a spinal cord injury. That is, the above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate (CS) serves both as a necessary component and an inhibitory component in accordance with the situation.
In view of this, when a chondroitinase of bacterial origin including for example chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) is administered to an area of nerve damage affected by the above-mentioned traumatic injury, wherein the chondroitinase degrades chondroitin sulfate (CS) that is expressed in such an area, such a chondroitinase ABC exerts its action on the above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate (CS) to degrade (remove) such a chondroitin sulfate (CS). Then, the component inhibiting the regeneration of axon in the above-mentioned nervous system disappear and therefore the regeneration of such an axon is promoted not only to construct a new neural network but also to achieve the recovery of neural functions. A number of examples like this have been reported (Non-patent Documents 4 to 6).
In addition, examples of diseases associated with nerve compression disorders in the above-mentioned nervous system include intervertebral disc hernia. The above-mentioned intervertebral disc hernia is a disease caused by bulging out of the nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc or the like, in which symptoms including lower back pain or the like develop because the bulged nucleus pulposus irritates the nerves around the nucleus pulposus.
As for a treatment of the above-mentioned intervertebral disc hernia, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.11-147837 (Patent Document 1) discloses a pharmaceutical composition for administration into spinal epidural space that contains a glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzyme and a pharmaceutical carrier. The above-mentioned glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzyme is an enzyme that degrades glycosaminoglycan into unsaturated oligosaccharides and unsaturated disaccharides and corresponds to a chondroitinase which degrades chondroitin sulfate (CS). Here, by administering the pharmaceutical composition containing the above-mentioned chondroitinase into spinal epidural space, the nucleus pulposus in the herniated intervertebral disc that migrates to such a spinal epidural space is efficiently digested and the phagocytosis of the nucleus pulposus by inflammatory cells is promoted. As a result, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that the invention thereof diminishes the nucleus pulposus migrated into the epidural space in an extremely efficient and effective fashion; and, on the top of that, there is an effect that the spinal cord is not affected at all.
In addition, there are examples where the above-mentioned chondroitinase is applied in a treatment of hypertrophic scar or keloid. For instance, WO 2009/072654 (Patent Document 2) discloses a promoter of elastic fiber formation that contains an enzyme degrading chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate B, and chondroitin sulfate C. It is described therein that the administration of the above-mentioned promoter of elastic fiber formation to the area of the above-mentioned hypertrophic scar or keloid enables evaluation of the process of tissue normalization, which leads to reduction in the tissue volume of such a hypertrophic scar or keloid and complete cure of such a keloid or the like.
By way of example of enzymes degrading CS, there are chondroitinases such as ChABC, chondroitinase AC, chondroitinase ACII, chondroitinase ACIII, chondroitinase B, chondroitinase C, chondroitin sulfate ABC exolyase, and the like. In recent years, it has been known that hyaluronic acid-degrading enzymes of mammalian origin including Hyal-1 and PH-20 have an activity of degrading CS as well (Non-patent Documents 7 and 8).


A semiconductor manufacturing line includes an inert environment selected from the group consisting essentially of an inert airtight wafer holder, an inert wafer transport channel, an inert production tool, an inert clean room, and combinations thereof.

Existing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing lines typically include large clean rooms and some manufacturing tools in the clean rooms, while other tools, such as metrologies and wafer transferring/transporting/exchanging paths, are within a relatively open environment. When exposed to the open environment, wafers are vulnerable to the attacks of adverse substances such as moisture, oxygen, and various airborne molecular contaminants (AMC) sources, which include etching byproduct solvents, perfumes, storage materials, chamber residual gases, etc. An example of the AMCs is dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is a chemical commonly used in the semiconductor manufacturing processes.
As the semiconductor processes precede into the nanometer domain, the negative effects of AMCs on IC manufacturing become increasingly more severe. In some critical stages, AMCs have posted serious problems impacting either device performance or metrology accuracy. For example, in the formation of copper features in metallization layers, due to the very small size of copper features, the reaction caused by oxygen, moisture, and the AMC sources causes the increase in RC delay, and even the reduction in production yield. Low-k dielectric materials for forming metallization layers are also vulnerable to the attack of chemicals such as acids.
Existing IC manufacturing lines do not provide effective means for protecting wafers from the above-discussed problems. Some processing and transporting steps are not even protected by clean rooms. Further, even if some process steps are performed in clean rooms, the wafers are still exposed to some detrimental chemicals. For example, DMS molecules are small, and it is difficult to remove them from clean rooms. Furthermore, the clean room must include oxygen for operators to work in, and the operators themselves further introduce moisture. Therefore, methods have been explored to reduce the adverse substances. For example, efforts have been made to reduce the interval (Q time) between process stages. Cassettes or front opening unified pods (FOUP) were also periodically cleaned to remove possible adverse substances. However, these methods do not solve the root cause of the problem, and hence can only relieve, but not eliminate, the problem.
Accordingly, new tools and manufacturing methods are needed to prevent the damages caused by moisture, oxygen and AMC sources.

Preventing contamination in integrated circuit manufacturing lines

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


In a method and system of training, one or more digital assets, such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer-generated objects, are superimposed over a live camera view to generate a simulated training scenario, referred to herein as augmented reality (“AR”) technology. By leveraging AR technology, a live simulation of real-world events, situations, and skills is generated for which an employee, student, customer, or any type of person in need of training, is being trained. A trainee is thus immersed directly into the training material. The physical environment and working conditions are integrated into the sequence of training material, and it does this live, that is, with immediate feedback from a camera's live screen view. This technique may, by way of examples, also be described as an automated guided tour used to facilitate employee on-boarding and training, or as a guided tour through a warehouse store for its customers.

Retailers and manufacturers are two sectors of the economy that rely on acquiring and retaining a substantial number of unskilled employees required to perform various operations. One of the key challenges in bringing on such employees is to provide them with the knowledge and understanding required to perform their new jobs safely and effectively. One of the key strategies used to provide this knowledge is through the use of training tools such as written training material, classroom group-based-training, one-on-one training with a supervisor, and on-line training using text, video, photography, and electronic quizzes. Each of these techniques suffers from limitations of effectiveness, such as (1) high cost (including direct cost and/or time spent away from one's job duties), (2) low relevance (e.g., images or videos that are not specific to a respective industry or environment, or that do not, for example, accurately and/or realistically portray dangerous situations), and (3) low impact (e.g., information is not retained for much time after delivery to an employee). These limitations also apply to other types of trainees such as customers shopping in warehouse stores, students enrolled in technical courses (i.e., welding, electrical), or any person in need of training.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for training people, such as employees, customers, and students, that is cost effective, relevant, and that will have a lasting impact on an employee's performance.


The invention is directed to configuring services in a packet switching network. Embodiments of the invention group existing service policies configured on network routers into policy groups, thereby enabling better management of service policies and policy overrides. This functionality can be useful for identifying redundant policies that may be eliminated by reconfiguring one or more of the network routers to reduce the overall network-wide number of policies, as well as provisioning new services in a manner that efficiently uses existing policies.

Virtual Leased Line (VLL) is a service for providing Ethernet based point to point communication over Internet Protocol (IP) and Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks (IP/MPLS). This technology is also referred to as Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS) or Ethernet over MPLS (EoMPLS). VLL service provides a point-to-point connection between two Customer Edge (CE) routers. It does so by binding two attachment circuits (AC) to a pseudowire that connects two Provider Edge (PE) routers, wherein each PE router is connected to one of the CE routers via one of the attachment circuits. VLL typically uses pseudowire encapsulation for transporting Ethernet traffic over an MPLS tunnel across an IP/MPLS backbone. More information on pseudowires can be found in "Pseudo Wire Emulation Edge-to-Edge (PWE3) Architecture", RFC3985, IETF, March 2005, by S. Bryant and P. Pate.
Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) is an Ethernet service that effectively implements closed user groups via VPLS instantiations. In order to achieve full isolation between the user groups, VPLS dedicates a separate database, usually in the form of a forwarding information base (FIB), on network routers per VPLS instance. Each VPLS instance further requires that a dedicated mesh of pseudowire tunnels is provisioned between PE routers that are part of the VPLS.
Both VLL and VPLS services use Service Access Points (SAP) to bind tunnel endpoints at PE routers ports to their respective service. For example, in the case of VPLS service a SAP would specify physical identifiers (e.g. node, shelf, card, port) of the corresponding port and an identifier (e.g. VLAN5) of the VPLS.
Services such as VPLS and VLL services provide the capability to securely communicate data packets among routers provisioned with the same service. Typically, thousands of such services are provisioned on a network, the data packet traffic that they each carry being kept separate from one another via special treatment provided at each router on which an instantiation of that service has been provisioned.
Each service has physical characteristics that in part define the service. These characteristics, also referred to a quality of service (QoS) parameters, include constant information rate (CIR), peak information rate (PIR), and maximum burst size (MBS) parameters and are often grouped into a policy for convenient provisioning of a service on a given router.
A service access point (SAP) provisioned on a router is used to associate a service instance with a port of the router and a policy. A SAP can also associate an override with a policy, wherein a value of one of the QoS parameters is specified to be used instead of the value for that QoS parameter defined by the associated policy.
Although policies and policy overrides are local to a router, it is desirable to define and use them on a network-wide basis for consistency. However, in a large network with thousands of routers, each having dozens of ports, and the even larger number of unique combinations of QoS parameter values that can be defined and assigned to these ports, limitations on the maximum number of policies that a network management (NM) system managing the network can support are easily exceeded. Using policy overrides to alleviate this problem only exacerbates difficulties in achieving network-wide consistency in the provisioning of services. Furthermore, since policies and policy overrides can be provisioned both locally at a router and centrally via a network management system, keeping the provisioning of services in synchronization at a NM system and network routers is difficult. Therefore, a means of configuring services on a PSN in a manner that ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems is desired.

Configuring communication services using policy groups


The invention relates to topographic construction that combines photographic and structured light information. The dual modality construction acquires structured light information for an object and photographic images from multiple views about the object. Topographic construction then processes the structured light information and photographic data in the multiple images to generate a surface representation of the object in each modality. The photographic and structured light surface representations are then combined to output a dual modality surface topography.

Topographic reconstruction refers to the practice of creating a surface representation of an object.
Numerous applications rely on obtaining an object's topographic representation. For example, in vivo optical imaging involves the capture of light emitted from within an object. A source of the light inside the object indicates a portion of the object where an activity of interest may be taking place. In one imaging application, the object is a small animal such as a mouse and the low intensity light source includes tumor cells that are being tracked and are labeled with a light-emitting reporter, such as firefly luciferase or a fluorescent protein or dye. Diffuse tomography techniques can be used to determine the location and brightness of labeled cells. However, these techniques require accurate measure of the surface topography of the animal subject.
There are difficulties associated with obtaining surface representations for small objects such as mice. Each mouse has a unique size, and its shape changes each time the mouse is anesthetized and imaged. These realities demand that topographic reconstruction occur efficiently and without excessive time (or labor) for each mouse or new object. In addition, mice include surface features that complicate topographic measurement: concave surface features can be tough to detect with an external and distant camera; and fur or folds in the skin increasingly introduce noise for surface measurements as surface resolution increases. Structured light topography, which casts a series of closely spaced lines onto the object and detects deformation in the lines resulting from the shape of the object, often errs when the inter-line spacing nears the resolution of surface features on the object such as mouse fur and high curvature regions.
Currently, there is no topographic reconstruction technology that both a) services complex surfaces and high detail needed for imaging applications such as in vivo optical imaging and b) permits easy and efficient production of a high definition surface representation. In view of the foregoing, new techniques for obtaining topography of a small object are desirable.

Surface construction using combined photographic and structured light information


A logging tool includes a tool body; a simple transmitter comprising a single antenna disposed on the tool body; four simple receivers, each comprising a single antenna, disposed on the tool body and spaced apart from the simple transmitter to form four arrays; and an electronic module for controlling operation of the four arrays, wherein the simple transmitter is configured to generate a magnetic field having a transverse component, wherein each of the four simple receivers is sensitive to the magnetic field generated by the simple transmitter, and at least one of the four simple receivers is sensitive to the transverse component of the magnetic field generated by the simple transmitter, and wherein the four arrays are configured to provide measurements at at least three depths of investigation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of well logging. More particularly, the invention relates to tools and methods for measuring electrical properties of a formation with anisotropy and/or invasion.
2. Background Art
Induction tools have been used for many years to measure the resistivity of earth formations surrounding a borehole in the presence of borehole fluids that may have invaded the formations. Induction logging tools measure the resistivity (or its inverse, conductivity) of the formation by inducing eddy currents in the formations in response to an AC transmitter signal. The eddy currents induce secondary magnetic fields that in turn induce voltages in receiver antennas. Because the magnitudes of the eddy currents depend on formation conductivities, the magnitudes of the received signals thus reflect the formation conductivities.
A typical induction tool includes at least two induction arrays having different spacings between the transmitters and the receivers for different depths of investigation (DOI). An example of such tools is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,383 issued to Tanguy. A minimal configuration of such tools includes two coil arrays for measuring at two different DOI: a deep array (ILD) and a medium array (ILM). The deep array is designed to "see" beyond the mud invaded zone in order to provide true formation resistivity (Rt). However, in order to determine the minimum parameters (the invaded zone resistivity, Rxo, the resistivity of the uninvaded zone, Rt, and the radius of invasion, ri) of a formation invaded by drilling fluids, at least three measurements at different depths of investigation are required. Historically, the third measurement (a shallow measurement) is provided by a focused electrode array. One such tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,889 issued to Tanguy. The shallow electrode measurement together with the medium (ILM) and deep (ILD) measurements provided by the induction arrays provide sufficient data to solve formation resistivities in a formation with a simple invasion profile. Such tools may not provide sufficient data for the determination of formation properties when the invasion profiles is complicated, e.g., more than one zone surrounding the borehole with different resistivities.
Therefore, multi-array tools have been introduced for the determination of formation resistivity in formations with more complex invasion profiles. Examples of multi-array tools include those disclosed in Hunka et al., "A New Resistivity Measurement System for Deep Formation Imaging and High-resolution Formation Evaluation, " Paper SPE 20559, presented at the 65th SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, La., Sep. 23–26, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,605 issued to Chandler et al. The multiple arrays, having different spacings between the transmitter and the receiver, can provide measurements at different depths of investigation (DOI). Therefore, when mud invasion occurs to different extents (radii) in different layers, sufficient data may still be provided by such tools for solving formation electrical properties.
In addition to mud invasion, formation anisotropy can also complicate resistivity logging and interpretation. Formation anisotropy results from the manner in which formation beds were deposited by nature. Formations containing hydrocarbons often exhibit anisotropy in formation resistivity. In such formations, the horizontal conductivity, σh, (or resistivity, Rh) in a direction parallel to the bedding plane differs from the vertical conductivity, σv, (or resistivity, Rv) in a direction perpendicular to the bedding plane. In crossbedded reservoirs, the anisotropic resistivities may be better defined in two directions other than those that are parallel and perpendicular to the formation layers. For clarity of illustration, this description uses "horizontal" and "vertical" in a broad sense to describe the two orthogonal directions of the anisotropic resistivities, regardless of whether these directions are actually parallel or perpendicular to the bedding planes. The actual directions can be resolved by the inversion methods used in log analysis, for example the method to be described in FIG. 9.
Conventional induction logging tools, such as those described above, have their transmitters and receivers arranged in a manner such that their magnetic dipoles are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tools. These longitudinal induction array tools induce eddy currents in loops that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tools. Therefore, these tools are sensitive only to the horizontal conductivity of the formations; they cannot provide a measure of vertical conductivity (or resistivity) or anisotropy.
To measure the vertical conductivity or anisotropy, new EM induction or propagation instruments typically include transmitter and/or receiver antennas that have their magnetic dipoles substantially perpendicular to the axis of the instrument. These tools with transverse induction arrays have good sensitivity to formation resistivity anisotropy. See e.g., Moran and Gianzero, "Effects of Formation Anisotropy on Resistivity Logging Measurements, " Geophysics, 44, 1266–1286 (1979). Transverse induction arrays tools include triaxial array tools, which include three orthogonal transmitter coils and three receivers coils in the same orthogonal orientations. In operation, the tri-axial transmitter is energized in three orthogonal directions. Individual receiver coils aligned in the same three orthogonal directions then measure the voltages induced by eddy currents flowing in the surrounding formations. Examples of triaxial tools, for example, may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,757 issued to Huston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,436 issued to Forgang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,521, issued to Desbrandes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,777, issued to Segesman, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,314 issued to Kriegshäuser, et al. These triaxial array induction tools can determine the formation anisotropic resistivity as long as the formation is uninvaded or the invasion depth is shallow.
Although certain prior art tools are capable of measuring resistivities of formations with complex invasion profiles and others are good for formations with anisotropy, prior knowledge of the formation type is needed in order to choose a proper tool. It is desirable that EM induction or propagation logging tools are available to provide reliable measurements of formation resistivities without prior knowledge of formation anisotropy and/or invasion.

Apparatus and methods for determining isotropic and anisotropic formation resistivity in the presence of invasion


A wire direction changer assembly is disclosed for installation in the wire path system of a wire electrode spark erosion machine with a wire entrance port, a wire discharge port, an essentially tube or tunnel wire guide channel connecting to both ports along a curved path; and a suction nozzle disposed in the region of the wire discharge port for providing a fluid flow through the wire guide channel. These features provide an exceptionally trouble-free fluid-supported wire direction changer of the electrode wire, while at the same time ensuring trouble-free automatic wire threading.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire direction changer assembly of the type described in the preamble of claim 1, i.e. to a wire direction changer assembly for installation in the wire path system of a wire electrode spark erosion machine, the assembly comprising: a wire entrance port; a wire discharge port; a substantially tube-like or tunnel-like wire guide channel connecting both ports along a curved path; and a device for providing fluid flow through the wire guide channel.
Wire direction changer assemblies of this type are known and have proven to be very useful. This holds true especially when the wire electrode breaks during unsupervised erosion operation and has to be automatically rethreaded through the workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
The probably first application for a patent in the field of wire return supported by fluid flow was filed in 1982, resulting in the grant of Japanese Patent 1 416 582 (MAKINO). A general description of the wire direction changer assembly can be found therein. In MAKINO, the wire direction changer assembly is basically constructed as a guide block having the shape of a housing with a wire guide channel curved at a right angle extending therethrough and supporting a guide roller for rotation therein. The wire guide channel initially extends from its wire entrance port vertically downward, subsequently transitions into a channel section curved at a right angle, which in turn runs into a straight horizontal channel section. The latter discharges into a wire discharge port, from where the wire is transported into a guide tube and subsequently conveyed to a pair of pulleys. In the guide block, there is a return pulley supported for rotation in such a way that in the section of the 90.degree. turn its periphery forms the (moving, curved) interior wall of the wire guide channel. In this region, there are two injection channels formed for injecting a pressurized liquid into the horizontal section of the wire guide channel. The injected pressurized liquid urges the wire electrode onto the periphery of the return pulley which is formed as a V-groove, and pushes or presses, as the case may be, and finally guides the wire electrode to the wire discharge port. The stream of pressurized liquid, working in a similar manner as a water jet pump, takes up any fluid remaining in the vertical section of the wire guide channel, which may consist of air or the process fluid used during spark erosion, also called dielectric.
The aforedescribed typical wire direction changer assembly was later modified as, for example, described in the Japanese Patent 1 974 770 (MITSUBISHI DENKI) and the corresponding Patents DE 39 91 621 T1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,691. In contrast to the prior state of the art, the latter wire direction changer assembly moves the location for injecting the pressurized liquid to the region of the wire entrance port, thereby pushing or pressing the electrode wire through the wire guide channel from the beginning to the end.
An improvement of the wire direction changer assembly described last can be found in the Japanese patent 1 951 281 (MITSUBISHI DENKI). Here, injection of the pressurized liquid still remains in the region of the wire entrance port, although in this case aided by a suction nozzle which sucks the wire electrode from the outside into the wire entrance port, but the wire electrode is once more pushed or pressed through the entire wire guide channel.
A corresponding embodiment can also be found in the Japanese patent 2 5525 234 (MITSUBISHI DENKI) and the corresponding patents DE 39 42 957 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,126, 524. A wire direction changer assembly of this design has also bee older German patent application of the Applicant (AGIE) with the reference number 196 07 705.2.
Under unfavorable conditions, in particular with today's very thin wire electrodes frequently in use having, for example, a diameter of 0.1 to 0.3 mm or less, malfunctions may occur in the region of the curved wire guide channel in spite of the significant advantages provided by the aforedescribed fluid-supported wire return. Frequently, the electrode wire which is pushed or pressed by the pressurized liquid, bumps in this region against the outside wall, thereby roughening the wall over time and impairing the flow conditions.
A wire return not supported by fluid is known from JP-A-6 126 537 (FANUC). There the wire direction changer assembly neither includes a substantially tube-like or tunnel-like wire guide channel nor a device for generating a fluid flow; in particular, no device for generating a fluid flow through a non-existing wire guide channel.

Wire direction changer assembly for a wire electrode spark erosion machine


A household lift is provided with a stationary base and rack, wherein the movement of the drive gears and an associated movable portion is supported for linear motion parallel to the rack by at least a pair of extensible slides that are oriented at approximately right angles to one another.

Lifting apparatus for televisions and monitors have been commercially available for more than 20 years. Most vendors of such lifting apparatus have designed lifting systems that were appropriate when large televisions and monitors weighed in the range of 100 pounds or more. The cost of such systems is substantial and as a result, these legacy lift apparatus have been most commonly deployed in custom installations for the wealthy and business enterprises. The expense of these legacy mechanisms is directly related to the cost to manufacture these relatively bulky, heavy and inefficient systems designed to lift weights in excess of 100 pounds.
Manufacturers have failed to revisit their legacy mechanisms' basic structure and design in light of the recent drastic changes in television designs and the reduction in weight of even relatively large screen televisions. This failure is understandable because:
(1) manufacturers continue to enjoy sales and profits from their legacy lift systems;
(2) manufacturers' costs for legacy lift designs are fully amortized, yielding handsome profit margins, and
(3) competitive entrants to the market place for lift systems have been sparse.
The continued existence of high cost lift systems demonstrates the customer need and desirability to be able to hide a television or monitor. This need is also established by the extent and range of expensive armoires available that allow televisions to be hidden behind closed doors.
Prior art motorized lift systems would generally be classified into three distinct categories:
(1) Telescoping steel screw lift columns with multiple attachment brackets to anchor a ridged lift structure to a cabinet or support wall, as exemplified by Moebel TV lift products.
(2) Steel rectangular frames with integral heavy duty slides and complex metal rack and pinion gear or chain drive arrangements. The heavy duty steel frames provide fixed box-like stability after being anchored to a cabinet or support wall, as shown in the Nexus 21 TV Lift System Model L-27.
(3) Large box-like modular platforms driven at both edges by metal rack and pinion or metal screw mechanisms. The box-like structure provides stability as shown in the Auton Motorized Systems Standard Lifts.
These three arrangements described above typically weigh in excess of 40 pounds, have numerous functional components, and are insufficient both in their use of materials and energy. Insufficiencies result both because a part of the heavy structure moves up and down with the monitor and must be driven by the motor, and because it is necessary to use a larger motor for the resulting heavier load.
In summary, lifts available today for televisions, monitors, ergonomic desks, projectors, kitchen appliances, hidden safes, motion furniture, and other devices are either cumbersome, noisy, unstable, erratic, expensive, complex, heavy, inefficient, or a combination of some or all of these. There is a need for an efficient, economical, precision, smooth, quite, compact, light weight, simple, and preferably environmentally sound, lift mechanism which may be conveniently sized to fulfill a range of lifting needs from small to large and from light to heavy.


There is disclosed a power generation assembly (300) for powering a transport refrigeration system (TRS) (52) of a vehicle (10), the power generation assembly (300) comprising: a torque converter (402) having an engine side input (404) and a transmission side output (406); a power take-off device (302) coupled to the engine side input (404) of the torque converter (402), the power take-off device (302) having a rotary output; a permanent magnet generator (304) having a rotor (420) directly coupled to the power take-off device (302) for power generation; wherein the power generation assembly (300) is configured to be housed in an engine bay (210) of a vehicle (10), and is configured to generate at least 8 kW of power when the engine side input (404) has a rotational speed of 500 rpm.

It is known to fit a transport refrigeration system (TRS) and/or a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system to a vehicle in order to transport goods in a temperature controlled environment. A TRS is generally used to control an environment condition (e.g. temperature, humidity, air quality, and the like) within a cargo space of a transport unit (e.g. a truck, a container (such as a container on a flat car, an intermodal container etc.), a box car, a semi-tractor, a bus, or other similar transport unit). The TRS can maintain environmental condition(s) of the cargo space to maintain cargo (e.g. product, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals etc.). In some embodiments, the transport unit can include a HVAC system to control a climate within a passenger space of the vehicle.
It is known to provide power for a TRS or other accessory system on a vehicle using a power take-off device, which takes mechanical power from an engine or a transmission coupled to a prime mover such as an internal combustion engine (e.g. a diesel engine). The mechanical power is coupled to a hydraulic pump within the engine bay of the vehicle which circulates a hydraulic fluid out of the confines of the engine bay to other parts of the vehicle or a connected trailer, where a hydraulic motor and electric generator is installed to a generate electric power for an electric TRS system or other electrically-powered system.
It is also known to transfer mechanical power from the power take-off device out of the engine bay of the vehicle using a long prop-shaft. The other end of the prop-shaft can either be directly coupled to a relatively large diameter generator in order to provide sufficient electrical power for a TRS, or may be indirectly coupled to a relatively small diameter generator via a gearbox or belt and pulley system.
However, such arrangements are complex in that they involve a large number of components in order to transport power from the engine bay to the TRS or other system, for example bearings, flexible joints and couplings and clutches.


A power strip includes a primary distribution unit, a secondary distribution unit, a primary power cord, at least two secondary power cords and at least two third-level power cords. The primary distribution unit has three distribution points, and each of the three distribution points is in electrical communication with a respective line of the three lines (positive line, neutral line and ground line) of the primary power cord. An electrical plug is provided at the free end of the primary power cord, and each of the three lines of each secondary power cord is in electrical communication with a respective distribution point. Also, each secondary power cord is in electrical communication with at least two third-level power cords. Hence, electricity may be fed from the electrical plug to the primary power cord, secondary power cords and third-level power cords and then to the sockets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a power strip. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved power strip which includes at least two secondary power cords and at least two third-level power cords so as to provide electricity to a user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A relevant patent is U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,407 ("power strip with adjustable outlets") which claims a power strip comprising: a first power cord having a proximal end and a distal end, said first power cord adapted to receive an input of electricity; a second power cord having a proximal end and a distal end; a third power cord having a proximal end and a distal end; and a bus system directly connected to said proximal end of said first power cord, said proximal end of said second power cord, and said proximal end of said third power cord; whereby said first power cord is adapted to be in electrical communication with said second power cord and said third power cord.
In the relevant patent, because of "a bus system directly connected to said proximal end of said first power cord, said proximal end of said second power cord, and said proximal end of said third power cord", such power strip is difficult to assemble.
Hence, we can see that such power strip needs to be improved.
To eliminate the disadvantages of the power strip of the relevant patent, the inventor has put in a lot of effort in the subject and has successfully come up with the improved power strip of the present invention.


The invention relates to a process for preparing an alkanone and/or alkanol by oxidizing an alkane with 3-30 C-atoms, using oxygen, to form an alkyl hydroperoxide, followed by a decomposition of the resulting alkyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a metal compound immobilized on a carrier, which carrier carries aliphatic or aromatic amine groups or sulphide groups. The process is preferably applied to cycloalkanes.

According to EP-367326, a cyclohexane hydroperoxide obtained by air oxidation can be converted under a high yield into a corresponding ketone (or ketone, K) and an alcohol (or alkanol, A). In other literature, frequent attention is given to the oxidation of alkanes such as, for instance, cycloalkanes, particularly cyclohexane, to form a corresponding alkanol and/or alkanone. In such methods, two process steps can be distinguished: first of all, the conversion of the alkane into a mixture substantially containing the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxide, followed by a conversion (decomposition) of this alkyl hydroperoxide into a K/A mixture. In addition to the direct conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxide, in this second step the alkyl hydroperoxide frequently also reacts with the substantial amount of remaining alkane, which again results in the formation of K and A. In some cases, this so-called alkane participation plays an essential part in the total conversion of the alkane and the yield of the K/A mixture that goes with it.
The major difference between the oxidation step and the decomposition step is that the latter is performed at lower temperatures. The difference in temperature is at least 20.degree. C., preferably at least 40.degree. C. This may be because in the oxidation step, performed essentially without a catalyst, a relatively high temperature is maintained to keep an acceptable reaction rate; still relatively few products are formed. The decomposition step, in which a substantial amount of catalyst is used, would give rise to many unwanted side products if performed at too high a temperature.
Many catalyst systems have been suggested for use in the above-mentioned process. GB 1212824, for instance, describes a homogeneous catalytic reduction of alkyl hydroperoxides. Homogeneous catalysis for the decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides is still applied for commercial purposes, in spite of the formation of rather substantial catalyst waste streams. In order to avoid these waste streams, it has been suggested, as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,851,496, to absorb the catalyst on a carrier. However, the activity of such a catalyst has been found in course of time to deteriorate. Nor does the system described in EP-A-367326 (a Co-porphyrin complex, which porphyrin complex is linked with a carrier by means of a covalent bond) provide a stable catalyst active for a long time.

Process for preparing an alkanone and/or alkanol


Embodiments of the present invention disclose improved micro-pore catalyst structures containing catalytic material comprised of mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus and using such improved micro-pore catalyst structures for the production of maleic anhydride.

Numerous VPO catalysts (sometimes referred to as mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus), substantially in the form of vanadyl pyrophosphate, optionally containing a promoter component, have been previously disclosed as being useful for the conversion of various hydrocarbon feed stocks to maleic anhydride. In general, such catalysts wherein the valence of the vanadium is less than +5, usually between about +3.8 and about +4.5, are considered particularly well suited for the production of maleic anhydride from hydrocarbons having at least four carbon atoms in a straight chain or cyclic structure. Common organic feed stocks include various hydrocarbons such as n-butane, 1- and 2-butenes, 1,3-butadiene, benzene or mixtures thereof.
VPO catalysts are usually prepared by contacting vanadium-containing compounds, phosphorus-containing compounds, and promoter component-containing compounds (when a promoter element is desired) under certain conditions sufficient to reduce pentavalent vanadium to the tetravalent state and form the desired catalyst precursor comprising vanadyl hydrogen phosphate, optionally containing a promoter component. The catalyst precursor is recovered by separation such as filtration and typically in particulate form having particle size ranging from few microns to hundred microns. Then the precursor is formed into a certain shaped body such as tablet or pellet by compression. Typically, a lubricant such as graphite or boron nitrate is blended into the precursor composition before compression to facilitate the tableting or pelletizing process. Finally the shaped body undergoes a step called activation, which is carried out under certain atmosphere and temperature program, to transfer the catalyst precursor into an active catalytic component.
In its final form, the catalyst comprises a mass of porous tablets or pellets which are charged in bulk to provide the catalyst bed of a fixed bed reactor. Typically, the catalyst is charged to a tubular reactor comprising the tubes of a shell and tube heat exchanger. Hydrocarbon(s) and oxygen are fed to the tubes, and a heat transfer fluid, such as molten salt, is circulated through the shell to remove the exothermic heat of the oxidation reaction.
The porous nature of the catalyst contributes substantially to the active surface area at which the catalytic reaction takes place. For the internal surfaces of the catalyst body (tablets or pellets) to be utilized effectively, the feed gases, hydrocarbon and oxygen, must diffuse through the pores to reach the internal surfaces, and the reaction products must diffuse away from those surfaces and out of the catalyst body.
It is known in the art that resistance to internal diffusion in the catalyst bodies can become a rate limiting factor in the reaction. One method used to overcome resistance to internal is to shorten the diffusion paths by using relatively small catalyst granules. However, small catalyst granules will results in increased pressure drop through the fixed bed, leading to operational difficulties.
Another method used to increase catalytic performance has been to focus on increasing and modifying the catalyst's macro-pore structure. As mentioned above, during the preparation of VPO catalyst, catalyst precursor is compressed into various shapes of tablets or pellets. Inside of the tablets or pellets, pores are formed. There are some micro-pores having pore diameter ranging from 0.01 to, and including, 0.6 microns. These micro-pores are inherently formed among catalyst precursor particles by packing these precursor particles together. Macro-pores, however, are pores with a pore diameter ranging from above 0.6 to about 10 microns that are not inherently formed, rather are formed using pore building agents. Mount et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,269 disclose that a desired fraction of macro-pores having a size of 0.8 to 10 microns are prepared by adding a pore modification agent to the precursor at any stage prior to activation. After precursor with pore modification agent was compressed into a certain shape, the pore modification agent is removed to generate the macro-pores. Typically, to remove the pore modification agent, calcination of the precursor is common method conducted at a temperature between about 300° C. and 600° C. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,699,985; 5,773,382 and 5,275,996 also describe the preparation of a maleic anhydride catalyst using pore building agent to generate macro-pore structure.
Increasing pore volume by adding macro-pores is reported to increase catalytic activity. For example, Zazhigalov, et al, "Effect of the Pore Structure and Granule Shape of V—P—O Catalyst on the Selectivity of Oxidation of n-Butane," Zhurnal Prikladnoi Kimii, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 101-105 (January 1988) report that the activity of VPO catalysts in the oxidation of n-butane increases with an increase in the total pore volume and the introduction of macro-pore having pore diameter bigger than 0.8 microns. However, greater efficiency continues to be desired for these catalysts.

High pore volume VPO catalyst for maleic anhydride production


A Lamb-wave resonator includes: a piezoelectric substrate; an interdigital transducer electrode formed on a main surface of the piezoelectric substrate, the interdigital transducer electrode including a plurality of electrode finger elements being interdigitated, and a bus bar electrode coupling the plurality of electrode finger elements; and a pair of reflectors disposed on opposite sides of the interdigital transducer electrode in a propagation direction of a Lamb wave. A thickness t of the piezoelectric substrate is in a range expressed by 0<t/λ≦3 where a wavelength of the Lamb wave to be excited is represented as λ. If a width of the bus bar electrode is Wb, a distance from the electrode finger elements to the bus bar electrode is Wg, in an orthogonal coordinate with an x axis indicating the distance Wg and a y axis indicating the width Wb, both the distance Wg and the width Wb are in one of a first range and a second range. The first range is surrounded by a circular arc expressed by an equation of a circle (x−10)2+(y+12.7)2=192, and Wg≧1λ and Wb≧1λ, and the second range is surrounded by a straight line connecting coordinates of (1.0, 7.0), (1.0, 20.0), (2.0, 21.0), (4.5, 22.5), (7.5, 25.0), (12.0, 23.0), (15.5, 20.8), (18.0, 14.0), (20.0, 7.0), (16.0, 10.0), (15.0, 9.0), (12.5, 8.0), (10.0, 8.0), (8.0, 9.0), (7.0, 8.0), (5.0, 8.0), (3.5, 10.0), (2.0, 10.0), (1.0, 7.0) in this order if the coordinates are represented as (Wg, Wb).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a Lamb-wave resonator using a Lamb wave and an oscillator including the Lamb-wave resonator.
2. Related Art
A Lamb wave is a plate wave, which is a bulk wave propagating inside a substrate by repeating reflections between upper and lower surfaces of the substrate when a thickness of the substrate is reduced to less than or equal to a few wavelengths of the wave to be propagated. Surface waves such as Rayleigh waves, leaky surface acoustic waves, and pseudo-longitudinal wave type leaky surface acoustic waves have 90% of energy within a depth of one wavelength from a surface of a substrate. However, unlike such surface waves, since the Lamb wave is a bulk wave propagating inside the substrate, its energy is distributed to a whole of the substrate. According to Choonpa Binran (Ultrasound Handbook), edited by Ultrasound Handbook Editorial Committee and issued by Maruzen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1999, pp. 62 to 71, plate waves and Rayleigh waves are scholarly distinguished. Further, in Acoustic wave element technical handbook, edited by the 150th committee of the Nippon Academy Promotion Association Acoustic Wave Element Technique and issued by Ohm-sha in 1991, pp. 148 to 158, a method for analyzing Rayleigh waves and leaky surface acoustic waves is described. Furthermore, Temperature characteristics of the substrate for lamb wave type elastic wave devices by Yasuhiko Nakagawa, Mitsuyoshi Shigeda, Kazumasa Shibata, and Shouji Kakio, IEICE Transactions on Electronics J-89C No. 1, pp. 34 to 39, a method for analyzing Lamb waves is described. As big differences between the waves, selection methods for a solution of an eighth equation are different, and Rayleigh waves and Lamb waves are completely different waves having different properties. Therefore, Lamb waves cannot provide favorable characteristics with same design conditions as those of Rayleigh waves. A design method specified for Lamb waves is thus required.
Further, as a characteristic of Lamb waves, similarly to a dispersion curve shown in JP-A-2003-258596, a mode that can propagate Lamb waves is a mode in which a wave number in a thickness direction of a substrate satisfies resonance conditions. Lamb waves have many modes including a high order. A phase velocity of existing modes of Lamb waves is larger than that of Rayleigh waves. Since many modes of them have a phase velocity that is larger or equal to that of "longitudinal wave", a mode having a larger phase velocity can easily provide a high frequency even when a line width is the same as that of the surface wave described above. Further, an AT cut quartz substrate having a thickness of 5 wavelengths or less is employed, making it possible to use Lamb waves having an excellent temperature characteristic and being suitable for using a high frequency.
Furthermore, a Lamb-wave type high frequency resonator having an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode including a first interdigital electrode and a second interdigital electrode that are interdigitated to each other on a main surface of a piezoelectric substrate and set to satisfy 21λ≦W≦54λ, where a cross width of the first interdigital electrode and the second interdigital electrode is W, and a wavelength of the Lamb wave is λ has been proposed (e.g. JP-A-2008-54163).
According to JP-A-2003-258596 described above, metal having a higher specific gravity is used as an electrode so as to increase a reflection coefficient of Lamb waves, thereby enabling energy trapping with less number of reflectors and achieving size reduction. This means that energy trapping is achieved by suppressing a vibration leakage in a lengthwise direction (a propagation direction of Lamb waves). However, it is hard to say that this electrode design is always optimum because energy trapping in a widthwise direction (a direction perpendicular to the propagation direction of Lamb waves) is not considered. Further, JP-A-2008-54163 does not disclose a specific method to increase energy trapping in the widthwise direction, either.
If a vibration leakage from an outer edge of a bus bar electrode toward a laterally outer edge of a piezoelectric substrate occurs, a spurious is caused by a reflection wave from the outer edge of the piezoelectric substrate.


The matching algorithm of the layout synthesis method and apparatus disclosed locates transistor pattern matches in a design, links a parameterized tile to each identified match, and adjusts certain variable parameters of the linked parameterized tile to meet the physical design requirements of each located match. Each transistor pattern corresponds to a parameterized tile, which is an actual physical representation of the corresponding pattern and includes variable parameters, which may include transistor size. The matching algorithm locates matches in the design for an ordered list of patterns, names each located match, links the proper parameterized tile to each named match, and adjusts the tile's variable parameters as required. Transistors in the design are included in one and only one named located match.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the design of semiconductor devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a transistor pattern matching algorithm to efficiently partition logic on a semiconductor device, wherein each transistor pattern corresponds to a scaleable physical realization of the transistor pattern referred to herein as a parameterized tile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Creating the physical representation of an integrated circuit in an automated fashion is commonly referred to as layout synthesis. The state of the art includes the following methods:
Transistor Synthesis is the method of mapping each transistor in the design into a physical representation of a transistor and placing them into the design. Typically the physical representation has length, width, and possibly folding parameters. The layout synthesis tool takes a cell schematic as input, and outputs a "symbolic layout" for the cell by converting each circuit element, such as a transistor, capacitor, resistor or diode, into predefined geometric shapes or symbols representing a manufacturing plan for the circuit element. The layout synthesis tool also preserves connectivity between the circuit elements represented as symbols in the layout. In a later stage, the symbolic layout of the cell is compacted into a smaller area than it originally occupied, typically based on manufacturing groundrules defined for the desired semiconductor manufacturing technology. The compaction process is designed to increase the density of electronic circuits to the maximum extent permitted by the manufacturing technology. Designing integrated circuits using transistor synthesis methods can be laborious, time-consuming, and error-prone.
Standard Cell Synthesis is the method of mapping the design into a collection of non-parameterized cells. Each cell in the standard cell collection has an associated mapping function. The design is reduced into a collection of these mapping functions. Typically each standard cell has a set pitch so the cells can be placed in row. This method requires extensive libraries of standard cell designs, and layout designers using a standard cell synthesis method often find that predesigned library cells are either not available or not optimal for certain areas of the design. Accordingly, although automated standard cell synthesis methods are generally less labor-intensive than transistor synthesis methods, a substantial amount of human intervention is often required to achieve an optimized design.
Tile Synthesis is the method of mapping the design into a collection of non-parameterized tiles. The tiles are mapped generally by name. Tile synthesis favors a design that instantiates a limited set of cells like a RAM design. Like standard cell synthesis, tile synthesis is a less laborious automatic layout method than transistor synthesis, but tile synthesis methods do not provide for design flexibility, due to limited tile design choices and fixed device sizes.
An ideal layout methodology would combine the advantages of all of these methods while eliminating the disadvantages. While the transistor synthesis method enables substantial design flexibility, particularly in sizing individual devices, it is labor-intensive and can result in inefficient logic partitioning and routing problems. Standard cell synthesis and tile synthesis are much less laborious and enable more efficient partitioning and inter-cell routing, but design flexibility is sacrificed.
The present invention combines the best aspects of these methods by providing an automatic layout methodology that uses a collection of parameterized tiles. Each tile consists of geometric shapes representing the physical design of a pattern. Some of the coordinates of each tile are variable and are said to be parameterized. Thus a single parameterized tile can support a variety of device widths, device lengths, wire widths, etc.
Each tile has a corresponding network of connected devices. This network is referred to as a pattern. The design is mapped to an ordered list of these patterns. When a pattern match is obtained the matching topology is checked for appropriate parameter range for each device. The goal is to partition the design into an optimum number of patterns. Each device in the design must be covered by one and only one device in a pattern.

Physical realization of dynamic logic using parameterized tile partitioning


An exemplary safety device can comprise a guard coupled to a lower end of a support shaft and two arms coupled to the support shaft configured to engage with the inner walls of the meter box. The arms can be adjustable to change the distance they extend from the support shaft, such as by rotating the arms about a central bolt that is fixed relative to the shaft. The arms can have end caps that are configured to contact the inner walls of the meter box to create a frictional resistance holding the device securely within the meter box. The arms can be coupled to the support shaft with an adapter ring that is adjustable along the support shaft to change the vertical position of the arms. The guard can partially surround the angle meter stop and can contain it if it blows off the pipe below it.

Typical water meter assemblies comprise a series of plumbing elements positioned within a meter box. The plumbing includes a water meter coupled to an angle meter stop (sometimes also referred to as an "angle meter valve"). The angle meter stop includes a valve and is typically positioned adjacent to the water meter toward one end of the meter box. The angle meter stop forms a 90° downward bend, with a horizontal portion coupled to the water meter and vertical portion coupled to a downwardly extending vertical conduit that connects with a water main or water source. The vertical portion of the angle meter stop is typically attached to the downwardly extending vertical conduit using a "grip-tite" friction fit.
Periodically, maintenance needs to be performed on the plumbing elements of the water meter assembly. For example, the water meter may need to be replaced every 15 years. To replace the water meter, the valve of the angle meter stop is first closed and the old water meter disconnected from the angle meter stop. A new water meter is then installed. With the valve closed, the water pressure in the vertical portion of the valve can exert a strong upward force on the angle meter stop. Without the water meter connection holding the angle meter stop in place, the only force holding the angle meter stop to the vertical conduit is the "grip-tite" friction fit. If the friction fit is not properly formed, or the friction fit fails for any reason, the water pressure can cause the angle meter stop to violently blow off from the vertical conduit and injure a person performing maintenance.


A proposed backlight is suitable for a large size liquid crystal display. A backlight 2 for illuminating a liquid crystal panel 3 from the rear, is formed by combining a plurality of backlight units 10, 10, . . . By providing a transparent acrylic board 4 between the backlight 2 and the liquid crystal panel 3, it becomes possible to prevent brightness unevenness from occurring at a junction section of the backlight units 10, 10, . . . , even when the backlight is formed by combining the plurality of the backlight units 10, 10, . . . .

In recent years, as for a transmissive type liquid crystal display apparatus using a liquid crystal panel which is widely spread as a display apparatus of a television receiver etc., research and development for enlarging a liquid crystal display apparatus have been performed actively.
As a prior literature for realization of enlarging the liquid crystal display apparatus, a liquid crystal display apparatus is proposed in which a plurality of liquid crystal panels are joined together on the same plane and tiled so as to enlarge a liquid crystal panel, for example (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-096911).
In the transmissive type liquid crystal display apparatus, it is necessary to provide a backlight for irradiating the liquid crystal panel with light from the rear side. For this reason, such liquid crystal display apparatuses can be classified roughly into a bottom backlight system and an edge light (side light) system, according to a structure of the backlight (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-266605).
In a small-sized liquid crystal display apparatus having a size of approximately 15 inches, the edge light system with which thickness of the backlight can be made thin is employed widely. For example, a backlight with a thickness of approximately 5 mm is realized and put into practical use.
However, in a backlight of the edge light system such as mentioned above, light is incident to a side edge (a side surface) of a light guide plate, and uniform light is emitted from an upper surface side of the light guide plate to the liquid crystal panel, so that a usage efficiency of the light is bad.
For this reason, when the backlight of a conventional side edge system illuminates a large-sized liquid crystal display apparatus having a size of 20 inches or more, for example, there is a disadvantage that the whole liquid crystal panel can not be illuminated uniformly with light of high brightness.
In other words, for example, when the backlight of the large-sized liquid crystal display apparatus is constructed by way of the edge light method, it is conceivable to use a light source of much higher brightness than a light source which is used for a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus with a size of approximately 15 inches. However, such a light source of high brightness does not exist at present.
Therefore, in order to attain high brightness of the large-sized liquid crystal display apparatus, there is only a way that a lot of (for example, three or more) fluorescence tubes are arranged at a side edge of the light guide plate, for securing a quantity of light. There is a limit in obtention of the brightness for displaying a television image. Incidentally, there is no description of a structure of the backlight in the Japanese Laid-open Patent No. H10-096911.
Moreover, when a lot of fluorescence tubes are arranged as the light source on the side edge of the light guide plate so that the light of the fluorescence tubes is taken into the light guide plate, an acrylic resin which forms the light guide plate becomes thick. Thus, when the backlight of a large-sized liquid crystal display apparatus is realized by the side edge, there is a disadvantage that its weight becomes very heavy.
Then, the present invention is invented in view of the points as described above, and provides a backlight suitable for the large-sized liquid crystal display apparatus, the backlight drive apparatus for driving such a backlight and the display apparatus arranged to have such a backlight.

Backlight, backlight drive device and display device