A method and an apparatus are provided for enhancing lock acquisition in a multiprocessor system. A lock-load instruction is sent from a first processor to a cache. In response, a reservation flag for the first processor is set, and lock data is sent to the first processor. The lock data is placed in target and shadow registers of the first processor. Upon a determination that the lock is taken, the lock-load instruction is resent from the first processor to the cache. Upon a determination that the reservation flag is still set for the first processor, a status-quo signal is sent to the first processor without resending the lock data to the first processor. In response, the lock data is copied from the shadow register to the target register.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to memory management in a multiprocessor system and, more particularly, to enhancing a lock acquisition mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a large symmetrical multi-processor system, lock acquisition is frequently used to synchronize access to data structures. Systems that run with producer-consumer types of applications have to make sure that the produced data is globally visible before signalling to the consumers so that they can access the produced data structure. Usually, the producer tries to acquire a lock using a lock-load instruction and verify on a lock-word value. Once the producer application has acquired the lock, the producer application is the owner of the data structure until it releases the lock. The consumer will have to wait for the lock to be released before accessing the data structure.
When attempting to acquire a lock, software "spins" or loops on an atomic update sequence that executes the lock load instruction and compares the data with a software specific definition indicating "lock_free." If the value is "not free," a branch back to lock load instruction is taken to restart the sequence. If the value does indicate free, the loop is exited and a conditional lock_store instruction is used to update the lock word to "lock taken." The lock store fails if the processor attempting to acquire the lock no longer holds the reservation made at lock load time. If this lock store fails, software again restarts the loop beginning with the lock load instruction. This spin loop of continually reading and re-reading the lock word when the lock is taken causes the same data to be retrieved out of cache over and over while the lock is taken by another processing element. Accessing the cache array to get the same data and send it again and again, while the lock is taken by another processor, is power consuming, is wasteful of cache access cycles (in cases of shared caches) and could create system live-lock in a large configuration system.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for saving power and preventing a potential live-lock situation.

Shadow register to enhance lock acquisition

International Business Machines Corporation


A polypeptide having a mismatch endonuclease activity of recognizing a mismatch and cleaving the mismatch; a mismatch-specific cleavage reaction using the polypeptide; a method for removing an error in a nucleic acid amplification reaction utilizing the polypeptide; a method for inhibiting the amplification of a nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence during a nucleic acid amplification reaction; and a method for detecting a nucleic acid having a single-nucleotide polymorphism mutation utilizing the inhibition method.

In recent years, mutation analysis methods have been remarkably developed. The mutation analysis methods have been used for genetic diagnoses of human beings as well as improvement of agricultural crops and isolation or creation of useful microorganisms, and thus have greatly contributed to general living.
Many mutation analysis methods comprise direct analyses of genomic sequences. However, there are some mutation analysis methods comprising use of enzymes that recognize mismatched base pairs. A mutation analysis method comprises detection with a factor capable of binding specifically to a mismatched base pair formed from mutant-type DNA and a wild-type DNA. A representative example of the mutation analysis method comprises detection of mutation sites by use of MutS, MutT, and MutL complexes from Escherichia coli (Patent Literature 1).
A mutation analysis method comprising use of a mismatch endonuclease which specifically cleaves mismatch sites is also known. In such a method, a mismatch endonuclease is used to cleave a DNA in the vicinity of a mismatched base pair, and the DNA fragments thus obtained are analyzed to detect the presence or absence and the position of mutations.
As a representative example, a method comprising use of a Cell gene product from celery is known (Patent Literature 2), and the method is actually used for analyses of base mutations. However, the enzyme is not heat-resistant, and therefore cannot be used in techniques involving a high-temperature reaction process, such as PCR. Thus, in order to detect base mutations, the method requires four steps of amplification, formation of mismatches, cleavage of mismatches, and detection.
In recent years, heat-resistant mismatch endonucleases have been developed, and their uses have been expected. The mismatch endonucleases are characterized by recognizing G-G, G-T, T-G, and T-T mismatch sites and cleaving both chains of DNA in the vicinity of the mismatches (Patent Literature 3).
In addition to mutation analysis, examples of biotechnological techniques that have a lot of influence include nucleic acid amplification techniques.
A representative example of the nucleic acid amplification techniques is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is a technique for easily amplifying a desired fragment of a nucleic acid in vitro. PCR is an experimental technique, which is essential in broad fields including the fields of biology, medicine, and agriculture, as well as research regarding genes. PCR is also applied to detection of mutated genes and analysis of methylation of DNA.
Isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods such as a LAMP method and an ICAN method do not require special equipment, and therefore, they are used as cheaper methods for detection of nucleic acids.
For structural analyses of the whole genome, which have been performed in recent years, a whole-genome amplification method is an important technique, in particular, for analysis of scarce samples.
In these nucleic acid amplification methods, incorporation of incorrect bases occurs with a constant probability. The probability has been reduced through improvement of DNA polymerases or the like. However, the incorporation of incorrect bases still disturbs precise analysis.
In constructing genomic libraries or cDNA libraries, the nucleic acid amplification methods preferentially amplify a DNA molecule with a higher content, which may disturb analysis or screening of various kinds of DNAs.
To solve the above problem, the proportion of a DNA with a higher content is reduced by normalization utilizing self-hybridization (Non-patent Literature 1). SSH-PCR in which PCP and self-hybridization are combined is also used (Non-patent Literature 2). Using these methods, however, DNAs homologous to the DNA with a higher content may be also removed.
In detection of a DNA by a nucleic acid amplification method, a target DNA and a non-target DNA may compete for amplification. In other words, when a non-target DNA is amplified simultaneously with amplification of a target DNA, it is difficult to detect the target DNA. The above problem may be solved by use of real-time PCR in which probes such as cycling probes or TaqMan probes are used to detect only a target DNA. In the case where a non-target DNA exists in an excessively large amount relative to a target DNA, however, it is difficult to precisely detect the target DNA because of false-positive reaction with many similar DNAs.
Such a problem may occur in detection of a small number of mutant alleles in the presence of normal alleles (for example, detection of circulating tumor DNA), detection of a small number of methylated or non-methylated alleles by epigenetic assay, detection of a small amount of fetal DNA sequences circulating in the mother's blood, and the like.
To solve the above problem, a method termed restriction endonuclease-mediated selective polymerase chain reaction (REMS PCR) has been developed (Non-patent Literature 3). This method involves use of a heat-resistant restriction enzyme. In this method, a DNA having a mutant nucleotide sequence is selectively detected using primers which, for example, are designed so that cleavage by the restriction enzyme occurs only when a template has a normal nucleotide sequence. Depending on a target DNA to be detected, however, there may be no heat-resistant restriction enzyme having a recognition sequence suitable to selective detection by REMS PCR. Thus REMS PCR lacks versatility.
As described above, regard to the mutation detection method involving nucleic acid amplification, there is a need for a method of avoiding false-positive reaction with many similar DNAs even when a non-target DNA exists in an excessively large amount relative to a target DNA.

Methods of utilizing thermostable mismatch endonuclease

KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION

EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION KANSAI BUNRI SOUGOUGAKUEN


A method for compensating NCO jitter by changing a step value used to increment an accumulator in the NCO to make up for inaccuracies, or jitters. In one approach, a remainder in the accumulator may be monitored and a compensated clock close to the current edge of an ideal clock may be generated. In another approach, a compensated clock close to the next edge of the ideal clock may be generated after the current edge of the ideal clock is missed. The step value may be stored in a memory, which may be a register. A jitter compensator may include a comparator for monitoring the remainder in the accumulator or a detector for detecting whether an ideal clock has been missed. The jitter compensator may also change the step value to a step value for a faster clock to compensate jitter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO), and more particularly to jitter compensation in a NCO.
2. Description of Related Art
An NCO may be used to generate a desired clock from a known clock when the ratio between the two clocks is not an exact integer, e.g., when a clock of 3.2 KHz needs to be generated from a clock of 32.768 KHz. FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art NCO. As shown, the NCO 100 may have a register 101 and an accumulator 102. The accumulator may have, e.g., 24 bits. The accumulator 102 may receive an input clock and may be incremented during each pulse of the input clock. The generated clock is the most significant bit (MSB) of the accumulator 102. A step used to increment the accumulator 102 may be stored in the register 101, and may be calculated by the following formula:Step=0x100—0000*output_frequency/input_frequency  (1)
When the value from 0x0 to 0x80—0000 of the accumulator 102 is the same, and the value from 0x80—0000 to 0x100—0000 of the accumulator 102 is the same, the NCO 100 may create a close-to 50% duty cycle clock that toggles high when the accumulator 102 is in the value ranging from 0x80—0000 to 0x100—0000, and toggles low when the accumulator 102 reaches its maximum value and wraps around. The value 0x100—0000 is used because two same edge toggles make up one clock period, hence 0x100—0000=0x80—0000*2.
When the frequency of an input clock is 11.38 KHz, the expected output frequency is 3.2 KHz, and a 5 bit accumulator is used, the step may be calculated as follows according to Equation (1):Step=32*3.2/11.38≈9
For each cycle of the input clock, the accumulator 102 may be incremented by the step from the register 101. The clock at the output of the accumulator 102 may become high when the accumulator value reaches 16, which is the 0x80—0000 value and a MSB threshold, and may become low when the accumulator value exceeds 31, which is the 0x100—0000 value or the maximum value of the accumulator 102.
FIG. 1B illustrates a signal timing reference chart of a prior art NCO. As shown, at time 0, the register 101 has the step value 9, and the accumulator 102 has a value of binary 0. At time 1, or the first input clock pulse, the accumulator 102 may be incremented by the step value 9, and the accumulator value may become 9. Since it is lower than the MSB threshold 16, the MSB value of the accumulator 102 is still binary zero. At time 2, the accumulator 102 may be incremented by the step value 9 again, and its output may become 18. Since it exceeds the MSB threshold 16, the MSB value of the accumulator 102 may change to binary one. This binary one may continue until just before time 5. At time 5, the output of the accumulator 102 may change to 36 and exceed the maximum 31 of the accumulator 102. As a result, the MSB value of the accumulator 102 may drop to binary 0, with a remainder 5 left in the accumulator 102. Thus, at time 6, the beginning of the second cycle, the accumulator 102 may start from the value 5, instead of the value 0 at time 0. The remainder may cause offsets between a reference MSB and the actual MSB, or jitters, as shown in FIG. 1B. From cycle to cycle, the NCO edges may jitter up to 1 full period of the input clock, e.g., 11.38 kHz in the example shown in FIG. 1B.
Thus, the NCO does not create a perfect clock, but a clock that has the correct frequency on average. It may be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for reducing NCO jitter.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Jitter compensated numerically controlled oscillator


A method of welding together cable insulations of cables having cores insulated by sheaths of polymeric insulation material capable of at least softening when heated, the method including electrically connecting the cores of the cables to be joined; heating the cable insulations by passing a current through the cores of the electrically connected cables effective to provide Joule heating sufficient to cause the cable insulations to at least soften; and pressing the heated cable insulations together with a pressure sufficient to cause the heated cable insulations to weld together.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a method of welding together cable insulation of electrical cables, conduits, leads, and the like insulated by sheaths of polymeric insulation material. After the metal cores of the cable ends have been electrically connected by pressure contacting, welding, soldering, and the like, the insulations are heated and pressed together so that the cable insulations melt into one another.
2. Background of the Art
In the past, it has been the custom to heat cables whose insulations were to be welded, i.e., joined, together and then to press them together so that the polymeric sheaths would weld together at the points of contact. The cable sheaths were heated, for example, by means of a known butt welding method.
Due to the separate heating of the individual cables, however, positioning of the cables after heating is not reliably reproducible during the subsequent pressing process. The insulating may very easily be damaged. Moreover, the time available to press the cables together is limited so that the danger exists that so much time is used for positioning that the cable sheaths cool to such an extent that reliable welding is no longer ensured.

Method of welding together cable insulation


A method and apparatus for synchronizing streaming media devices within a PLC network. Output synchronization errors exceeding ˜30 ms become noticeable when multiple streaming media devices are outputting an audio stream. The present invention provides a system and method for isochronously sending periodic reference clocks from a master device to client devices coupled to the PLC network. The client devices set their clocks based on the reference clock. In addition the clients adjust their system clock time base in response to the average divergence of the system clock with the reference clock, or a count of the number of clocks between beacon frames. In this way the client clock is adjusted to closely track the server clock so that synchronization is maintained between each of the devices. Streaming audio shared between servers and client devices is thus output across the network with high fidelity due to the accurate synchronization.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to power line communication networks, and more particularly to an apparatus and method of establishing synchronization of streaming media devices communicating over a PLC network.
2. Description of Related Art
Power Line Communication (PLC) systems are being rapidly deployed in a number of consumer and business market segments in response to the convenience provided by this form of networking and aided by an increased availability of low-cost off-the-shelf PLC circuitry. PLC is a network technology in which consumer electronic devices are networked over conventional AC power connections. Recent enhancements in the available bandwidth has widened applications for PLC into streaming media (i.e. audio and video) networking arenas.
The first generation of these products were developed for Ethernet infrastructure replacement (i.e., local area networks, LANS). More recently, however, some vendors began to sell second-generation products, such as audio-streaming devices which allow conveyance of audio signals over the power lines from a source to a destination. Using the PLC network to share the audio signals is a convenient means of interfacing a plurality of streaming devices. In one example, separate audio devices can be distributed about a home or office environment wherein one device acts as the source of the audio information (e.g., CD player, MP3 player, and so forth) while the remaining devices are configured in a reception mode to receive the signal and output the audio.
However, one of the drawbacks with distributing audio over a localized area using this technique is that there is no synchronization between the audio output by a first device and by a second device. The lack of synchronization is primarily from two sources. First of all a delay is encountered as the digital signals are routed through the power lines. Secondly, each device exhibits a characteristic delay (i.e., fixed or variable) between the time the signal is received and the time an audio output is produced. In addition, the frequency of the clocks within each device can differ substantially as the clocks run independently. This lack of simultaneous output from the audio devices is termed herein as a lack synchronization between the devices.
It should be appreciated that even small synchronization differences between devices outputting audio (e.g., between a server which outputs audio and a client which outputs audio, between two clients which each output audio, or another combination of audio output devices) can begin to impact the fidelity of the resulting audio, depending on system layout, overlap, and so forth. The human hear can readily detect synchronization differences, referred to as the Haas effect, which exceed about thirty milliseconds (30 ms). The audio effect produced by the lack of synchronization, Haas effect, produces an "echo" wherein the audio sounds as if it were being played at the end of a tunnel, which can dramatically impair the overall audio experience. It should be appreciated that the synchronization problem arises for any audio outputs which are out of synchronization, such as the audio being output from nearby television sets, or from a television set and a separate audio system, which are subject to outputting the same audio stream. It should also be recognized that the problem is further exacerbated for audio being generated by surround sound systems and the like.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method of synchronizing the audio being communicated over a power line communication (PLC) network while overcoming the problems with device and communication path delays. These needs and others are met within the present invention, which overcomes the deficiencies of previously developed methods of assuring audio integrity.

System and method for synchronizing audio-visual devices on a power line communications (PLC) network


Via are described for radio frequency antenna connections related to a package. In one example, a package has a package substrate, a die attached to the package substrate, and a conductive via from the package substrate to an external surface of the package to make a radio frequency connection between the antenna and the package substrate.

Semiconductor dies are typically formed using a silicon substrate. The substrate may form a carrier or the carrier may be the surface upon which the circuitry is built. Channels are drilled, bored, or etched through the silicon to allow metal contacts at one level in the silicon to be connected to another level in the silicon. The channels are referred to as TSVs (Through-Silicon Vias). In order to make an electrical connection, the vias are lined or filled with a conductive material such as copper or aluminum. The vias are used in a variety of different ways. One way is to connect the circuitry formed on one side of the silicon substrate to external connections on the other side of the silicon substrate. These connections may be for power or for data. In some cases, the circuitry is formed in multiple layers on top of one another within the silicon substrate and vias are used to connect circuits on different layers.
Vias are also used in electronic and micromechanical packaging. Many types of packages have a substrate to which one or more dies are attached. The package substrate has an array of electrical connections to the die on one side. The electrical connections are usually using solder balls or wiring pads. The package substrate also has electrical connections on the other side to make an external contact to a socket, a circuit board, or some other surface. In between the connection arrays, there are one or more routing layers to allow points on the die to connect to the external points. TSVs are also used to connect the different routing layers to each other. TMVs (Through-Mold Vias) are used in a similar way within a package to connect components within the package together that are separated by a molding compound.
Through silicon vias (TSVs) are normally filled with a simple metal (e.g. copper (Cu), tungsten (W), aluminum (Al) etc.). The layer stack within the opening of a typical TSV is first a dielectric, such as silicon oxide (SiO2), to electrically isolate the Si sidewall from the metal fill. A metal diffusion barrier and adhesion layer (e.g. Ti, TiN, Ta, TaN, Ru, WN, etc.) is then used over the dielectric in a TSV or TMV to prevent diffusion of metal ions from the metal fill into the Si substrate and to improve the adhesion of the metal fill in the TSV. Finally, a pure metal fill is deposited by appropriate deposition processes (e.g. electroplating, e-less plating, CVD, sputtering, PVD, etc. or a combination of these techniques)

Package vias for radio frequency antenna connections


In a radar apparatus for automobiles for transmitting a radio wave, receiving a radio wave reflected from an object and measuring a rate of the object, a digital signal processor has at least two operation modes, a normal operation mode and a low energy consumption mode, and has a function of switching between the operation modes of the digital signal processor in accordance with a signal supplied from a counter (judgement unit) for judging whether a received signal satisfies predetermined conditions. The radar apparatus can reduce consumption power when necessary.

The present invention relates to a radar apparatus for measuring a range, rate and azimuth angle of an object by transmitting an electromagnetic wave and receiving the wave reflected from the object.
A conventional radar system for automobiles transmits an electromagnetic wave such as light and a radio wave and receives the signal reflected from an object such as an automobile and an obstacle. A transmission time required for an electromagnetic wave to reach an object and return to the radar system, an intensity of the reflected signal, a Doppler shift frequency and the like are detected from the reflected signal to measure a range (distance), rate (relative speed) and azimuth angle of the object. The application field of a radar system is broad. A radar apparatus for automobiles has been developed recently which is mounted on an automobile to measure a range to a front vehicle. A radar apparatus is also applied to the field of home security systems as one kind of electromagnetic sensing means.
A radar apparatus utilizing a laser beam generally adopts a pulse method by which measures the range of an object from a travelling time required for a pulsed laser beam to reach the object and return to the apparatus. There are several methods for a radar apparatus utilizing a radio wave to measure a range and rate of an object. Known methods include: a two-frequency continuous wave (CW) method which switches two frequencies in a time duplex manner; a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method which performs triangular modulation of a transmission frequency; a pulse modulation method which measures the range of an object from a travelling time required for a pulsed wave to reach the object and return to the apparatus; and other methods. With the two-frequency CW method and FMCW method, a received signal is subjected to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) process and the range and rate of an object are measured from the frequency, phase and amplitude information of a peak signal in a frequency spectrum obtained by FFT.
An electric power for driving such a radar apparatus for automobiles is required to be generated in each vehicle. As described, for example, in JP-A-08-136646, power consumption is reduced by operating, at different timings, high frequency electronic equipment such as an oscillator and a modulator of a radar apparatus utilizing a radio wave.
With such a conventional method, however, although the consumption power can be reduced, the area to be covered by a radar apparatus is searched in a time division manner so that there is a possibility that some objects may not be detected.


Methods and tools for assembling an article are provided. The method includes providing a mold having a cavity configured as a desired shape, positioning a base within the mold so that a surface of the base material is exposed, applying a coating material, e.g., urethane or polyurethane, to substantially cover both the exposed surface of the base and an inner surface of the cavity, depositing a cushion material into the cavity and sealing the cavity with the exposed surface of the base so that the coating material forms a skin around the cushion material and adheres the cushion material to the base.

Recreational vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and motorcycles are generally provided with seats having a cushion material attached to a seat base. The cushion material is generally surrounded by a protective coating, e.g., a waterproof coating. Vehicle seats are often made by assembling separately produced components such as the seat base, cushion material, protective cover and one or more fastening components. A piece of cushion material is often separately manufactured and then covered with a piece of protective material such as vinyl or leather. A portion of the protective cover is then stapled, stitched, screwed, glued or attached using any other fastening component to a seat base. If an emblem is desired, it is often stitched onto the protective cover.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling an article is provided that comprises the steps of: providing a mold having a cavity configured as a desired shape; positioning a base within the mold so that a surface of the base material is exposed, applying coating material to substantially cover both the exposed surface of the base and an inner surface of the cavity; and depositing a cushion material into the cavity and sealing the cavity so that the coating material forms a skin around the cushion material and adheres the cushion material to the base.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling an article is provided that comprises the steps of: applying coating material into a cavity of a mold that defines a desired profile; depositing expandable cushion material into the cavity of the mold; closing a lid of the mold and allowing the expandable cushion material to expand to a volume defined by the mold and the lid; opening the lid; and adhering a base to the expandable cushion material by applying a coating material between the base and the expandable cushion material.
The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are to scale so that the components are proportional to one another.


A catheter includes a pull wire which extends through two different lumen and attaches to the distal end of the catheter at an off-axis location. By tensioning the pull wire, the catheter can assume various complex curves, depending on the respective lumen through which the pull wire passes.

Catheters are used for an ever-growing number of procedures. For example, catheters are used for diagnostic, therapeutic, and ablative procedures, to name just a few examples. Typically, the catheter is manipulated through the patient's vasculature and to the intended site, for example, a site within the patient's heart. The catheter typically carries one or more electrodes, which may be used for ablation, diagnosis, or the like.
In order to manipulate the catheter through a patient's vasculature, the catheter must be flexible. In addition, such catheters are preferably steerable, so that the clinician may impart a desired curve to the catheter from a remote location in order to pass through curved areas within a patient. A conventional steerable catheter includes a pull wire which extends through the catheter shaft, and connects to the catheter adjacent the distal end of the catheter at an off-axis location. The pull wire connects to a control knob, slide actuator, or other suitable manipulating member that is mounted in a control handle. A form of such a catheter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,852 to Stevens-Wright and assigned to the assignee of the rights in the present invention.
While such catheters have gain widespread acceptance in the industry, they nevertheless suffer from certain shortcomings. One shortcoming is that to achieve relatively complex curves, those catheters require multiple pull wires which extend through different lumen and which connect to the catheter at different anchoring points. In addition, the pull wires each require a separate manipulating member to tension the respective pull wires. Thus, in a conventional steerable catheter, a relatively large amount of space is occupied by the steering subsystem, which limits the amount of space available for other components.
In addition, ablation catheters typically must assume various curves so that the ablation electrodes carried on the catheter will come into contact with a patient's tissue at selected locations. Thus, for that additional reason, catheters should be able to assume complex curves.
Accordingly, it will be apparent that there continues to be a need for a steerable catheter which can achieve relatively complex curves to facilitate manipulation of the catheter through a patient's vasculature and to an intended site. Moreover, the needs exists for such a catheter with a steering subsystem that occupies a relatively small amount of space within the catheter. The instant invention addresses these needs.


A video sequence is processed to extract one or more objects. The extracted objects are used to create a new video sequence. In particular, a user is able to select a background and/or an audio recording. Alternatively, the object extraction system automatically selects a background and/or audio recording. The extracted objects are integrated into the selected background and/or the audio recording is added to form a new video sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally related to digital image processing, and, in particular, is related to extracting objects from a first sequence of frames and using the extracted objects to create a new sequence of frames.
2. Description of Related Art
Video cameras are becoming more popular today, as they become more widely available, at lower prices. A video camera records sequential images within "frames." A frame is a representation of an image at an instant of time. Typically, each frame represents the image at a different instant in time. When several frames are recorded, at sequential instances in time, and are shown to the human eye in quick succession, the human eye is able to see motion in the video sequence (e.g., a sequence of frames). For example, video (i.e., moving pictures) normally consists of motion, including object motion, such as a bird flying, and camera motion, such as camera panning, zooming, and tilting.
Video object segmentation refers to identifying objects, which may be moving, through frames of a video sequence. Efficient video object segmentation is an important topic for video processing. General video object segmentation is considered to be an ill-posed problem. An ill-posed problem is one that, theoretically, cannot be solved. For example, a two-dimensional photograph does not contain three-dimensional information (i.e., the three-dimensional information is lost when a two-dimensional photograph is taken of a three-dimensional scene). Therefore, converting a two-dimensional photograph to a three-dimensional image is considered to be an ill-posed problem. Likewise, segmenting objects in frames of a video sequence is considered to be an ill-posed problem. In particular, the object of interest may be different for the same scene depending on the user or the application. Automatic segmentation is therefore a problem without a general solution.
Real-time automatic segmentation techniques for specific applications, however, have been attempted. These techniques are directed to applications such as video surveillance, traffic monitoring, and video-conferencing. Video sequences in these applications are typically taken from fixed cameras in poor environments and are in need of robust object segmentation techniques.
For more information on video surveillance applications, see Ismail Haritaoglu, David Harwood, and Larry S. Davis, "W4: Who? When? Where? What'? A Real Time System for Detecting and Tracking People," presented at Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Automatic Face and Gesture Recognition (FG'98), pp. 1–6, April 1998, and, Paul L. Rosin, "Thresholding for Change Detection," presented at Proceedings of International Conference on Computer Vision, pp. 1–6, 1998, each of which is entirely incorporated by reference herein.
For more information on video surveillance applications, see Nir Friedman and Stuart Russell, "Image Segmentation in Video Sequences: A Probabilistic Approach," presented at Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence, Morgan Kaufmann, pp. 1–13, 1997, which is entirely incorporated by reference herein.
A typical approach to extracting objects from a static background scene subtracts the background scene and labeling what remains as objects. The main idea of background subtraction is comparing a current frame with a reference background scene according to certain criteria. The background scene may be obtained, for example, by capturing a static scene with a video camera. Elements different from the background scene are designated as foreground objects.
A number of systems performing video object segmentation use background subtraction techniques. However, many background subtraction techniques are sensitive to shadows or illumination changes, and so they are unable to accurately extract objects. Shadows occur when a light source on a scene is obstructed. Illumination refers to the amount of source light on a scene. Both shadow and illumination may change frame to frame due to, for example, movement of objects. Thus, these background subtraction techniques may incorrectly classify a pixel that is in the background in a first frame, but in shadow in a second frame, as a foreground pixel.
For more information on background subtraction see, N. Friedman, and S. Russell, "Image Segmentation in Video Sequences: A Probabilistic Approach," Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence, Morgan Kaufmann, 1997; Thanarat Horprasert, David Harwood. and Larry S. Davis, "A Statistical Approach for Real-time Robust Background Subtraction and Shadow Detection," presented at Proc. IEEE ICCV'99 FRAME-RATE Workshop, Kerkyra, Greece, pp. 1–19, September 1999 (hereinafter referred to as "Horprasert"); Alexandre R. J. Francois and Gerard G. Medioni, "Adaptive Color Background Modeling for Real-Time Segmentation of Video Streams," presented at Proc. of International on Imaging Science, System, and Technology, pp. 1–6, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as "Francois"); and, Ahmed Elgammal, David Harwood, Larry Davis, "Non-parametric Model for Background Subtraction," presented at FRAME-RATE: Framerate Applications, Methods and Experiences with Regularly Available Technology and Equipment, Corfu, Greece, pp. 1–17, Sep. 21, 1999; each of which is entirely incorporated by reference herein.
In some cases, objects are segmented in color spaces other than the RGB color space. For example, Wren detects changes in a YUV color space. For further information, see Christopher Wren, Ali Azarbayejani, Trevor Darrell, and Alex Pentland, "PFinder: Real-Time Tracking of the Human Body," presented at IEEE Transaction on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, pp. 1–7, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as "Wren") which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. The YUV color space is defined by the Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE), which is an international committee for color standards. The YUV color space may be used, for example, in Phase Alternation Line (PAL) television (an analog television display standard), where the luminance (i.e., a measure of the amount of energy an observer perceives from a light source) and the chrominance (i.e., hue and saturation together) are treated as separate components. In YUV systems, a luminance signal is represented with "Y", while chrominance signals are represented by "U" and "V."
Horprasert uses a color model consisting of brightness distortion and chromaticity distortion to present a color image. Both Wren and Horprasert overcome this problem to some extent but are not as robust as expected (i.e., they fail to segment objects under some conditions). Francois proposes to perform segmentation in an HSV color space, but because of improper use of hue and saturation components, Francois also runs unsteadily (i.e., sometimes classifies pixels incorrectly). The HSV color space refers to hue, saturation, and value. Hue refers to a pure color as perceived by the human eye (e.g., red, green, or blue). Hue identifies the color and indicates where along the color spectrum the color lies. This value wraps around so that the extreme high value (white) and the extreme low value (black) translate into the same value on the color scale. Saturation refers to the amount of white light mixed in with hue. That is, saturation may be thought of as how pure a color is. Greater values (i.e., more white) in the saturation channel make the color appear stronger, while lower values (i.e., less white, tending to black) make the color appear very washed out. Value refers to how bright the color is. White values have the maximum brightness, while black values have little or no brightness at all.


Methods and apparatuses for measuring a target formed on a substrate. The target includes an alignment structure and a metrology structure. In one method, a first measurement process is performed that includes illuminating the target with first radiation and detecting radiation resulting from scattering of the first radiation from the target. A second measurement process includes illuminating the target with second radiation and detecting radiation resulting from scattering of the second radiation from the target. The first measurement process detects a position of the alignment structure. The second measurement process uses the position of the alignment structure detected by the first measurement process to align a radiation spot of the second radiation onto a desired location within the metrology structure.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
It is desirable frequently to make measurements of the structures created by a lithographic process, e.g., for process control and verification. Various tools for making such measurements are known, including scanning electron microscopes, which are often used to measure critical dimension (CD), and specialized tools to measure overlay, a measure of the accuracy of alignment of two layers in a device. Overlay may be described in terms of the degree of misalignment between the two layers, for example reference to a measured overlay of 1 nm may describe a situation where two layers are misaligned by 1 nm.
Various forms of metrology apparatuses have been developed for use in the lithographic field. These apparatuses direct a beam of radiation onto a target and measure one or more properties of the scattered radiation—e.g., intensity at a single angle of reflection, or over a range of angles of reflection, as a function of wavelength; intensity at one or more wavelengths as a function of reflected angle; or polarization as a function of reflected angle—to obtain a "spectrum" from which a property of interest of the target can be determined. Determination of the property of interest may be performed by various techniques: e.g., reconstruction of the target by iterative approaches implemented using rigorous coupled wave analysis or finite element methods; library searches; and principal component analysis. An example of such an apparatus is a scatterometer.
Targets may be measured using, e.g., dark field scatterometry in which the zeroth order of diffraction (corresponding to a specular reflection) is blocked, and only higher orders processed. Examples of metrology can be found in PCT patent application publication nos. WO 2009/078708 and WO 2009/106279, which documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In the context of measuring overlay (undesired misalignment of two patterns in separate layers or in a same layer), intensity asymmetry between different diffraction orders (e.g. between −1st and the +1st diffraction orders) for a given overlay target provides a measurement of target asymmetry; that is, asymmetry in the target. This asymmetry in the overlay target can be used as an indicator of overlay.

Method of measuring a target, metrology apparatus, lithographic cell, and target


The invention is a bulk container having at least one lifting strap for lifting and transporting the container, a lifting strap for use with a bulk container and a method for producing a lifting strap. The lifting strap is generally planar, defines a strap plane and is comprised of a material. The lifting strap has first and second ends, a length extending therebetween, first and second edges and a width extending therebetween. Further, the lifting strap is comprised of at least one longitudinal rib extending along a portion of the length of the lifting strap such that the rib urges the lifting strap to raise to an upstanding position for acceptance of a lifting member therein, wherein the rib is comprised of a fixed discontinuity in the material such that the rib extends outside the strap plane.

Bulk containers, often referred to as "flexible intermediate bulk containers" or "FIBCs", are used in the lifting, transportation and storage of bulk materials in powder, granular, flake or other particulate forms. Typically, these bulk containers hold large quantities of these materials, of up to one tonne or more, and are in the form of large bags or sacks made of a flexible woven fabric, such as woven polypropylene or other suitable synthetic materials.
In order to be able to lift and transport the bulk container, lifting loops or lifting straps are associated with the bulk container, typically at an upper edge thereof, so that the bulk container may be transported in an upright position to inhibit spillage of the bulk material from the container. These lifting straps are designed to cooperate with the forks of a forklift, a hook or other lifting device or member such that the forks of the forklift may be accepted or received therein. Broadly speaking, these lifting straps are either integrally formed out of the side wall of the bulk container from the material comprising the bulk container or affixed or fastened in some manner to the side wall of the bulk container. Most commonly, these lifting straps are stitched to the side wall of the bulk container adjacent the upper edge thereof. Further, these lifting straps are typically formed of high strength or high density webbing which is closely woven or braided.
Previously, these lifting straps were required to be manually lifted and placed on the lifting member, i.e. the forks of the forklift. However, more recently, various rigid, semi-rigid and flexible lifting straps have been designed which remain in an upstanding position such that the lifting member may be more readily accepted in the loop formed by the lifting straps in one operation without manual assistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,853 issued Nov. 10, 1992 to Polett and U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,599 issued Feb. 12, 1985 to Polett et al describe the use of a relatively rigid "tubular member", constructed from rubber, synthetic plastic or like materials. The tubular member encloses or encases the lifting strap to provide support and to maintain the strap in an upstanding position. The tubular member is a separate or distinct element or component apart from the lifting strap and must be assembled onto the strap during the manufacture of the bulk container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,608 issued Nov. 17, 1981 to Cuthbertson describes lifting straps which include "resilient means" such as "an elongated resilient insert" which is incorporated into the lifting strap for forcing the loop formed by the strap into an upstanding position. This elongated resilient insert may take a variety of forms, such as a strip of a resilient plastic or a metallic material inserted into the strap, a plastic or wire material woven into the strap or impregnation of the strap with a plastic material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,179 issued Apr. 18, 1989 to Nattrass describes a lifting strap which is made to be stiffer than a conventional lifting strap by forming it of at least three superimposed layers of material folded and sewn together. This multi-ply construction provides a degree of stiffness to the lifting strap. Further, the multi-ply lifting strap may be twisted 180.degree. to provide added rigidity to the loop formed by the lifting strap.
Each of these upstanding lifting straps requires either the use of additional materials in the form of plastic, metal or rubber tubing, inserts or impregnation or the use of an excessively large amount of the lifting strap material to urge the strap to an upstanding position. In either event, the requirement for these materials, and the associated labor expenses for the assembly or manufacture of these lifting straps, tends to increase the overall costs associated with their production.
There is therefore a need in the industry for an upstanding lifting strap, for use in association with a bulk container, which is relatively inexpensive and which is relatively cost effective to produce as compared to known upstanding lifting straps. Further, there is a need for a bulk container having such a lifting strap and a method for producing it.

Upstanding lifting strap for a bulk container


A flow control packer (FCP) includes a packer mandrel, and an inflatable element fixedly attached at each end to the mandrel. The inflatable element includes circumferential grooves and flow control grooves formed on an outside surface thereof configured to press against the inside diameter of a conduit to provide a flow resistant surface for controlling the flow rate of a fluid through the conduit. A system can include one or more flow control packers (FCP) configured to control fluid flow through different sections of the conduit.

A packer is an expandable plug configured to isolate sections of a conduit, such as a well casing, a borehole or a pipe. Packers can be used for performing various operations in the isolated sections of the conduit. For example, in a well casing or a bore hole, packers can be used to isolate different sections (i.e., zones) for hydrofracturing, grouting, sampling and monitoring. Packers can also be used to isolate different sections of a well casing or borehole for pumping fluids out of, or injecting fluids into the isolated sections.
One type of packer is known as an inflatable packer. Inflatable packers have been used in the oil and gas industry since the 1940's. Until recently, however, their use was restricted by prohibitive cost and limited availability. Now, several disciplines (e.g., ground water development, contamination studies, dewatering, geothermal, mining, coal bed methane, and geotechnical studies) use a wide selection of reasonably priced inflatable packers. The inflatable packer has significant advantages compared to other packer designs. These include a high expansion ratio, a minimal outside diameter combined with a large interior diameter opening, a long sealing section, which conforms to uneven sides in a conduit, and a high pressure rating.
The inflatable packer includes a mandrel made of tubing or pipe, having an inflatable element attached at one or both ends to an outside diameter thereof. Typically, the mandrel has threaded connections (e.g., NPT, API casing threads) at both ends. An inflation port allows gas, water or a solidifying liquid to be injected between the mandrel and the inflatable element. This expands the inflatable element against the inside diameter of the well or borehole to prevent fluids from flowing along the outside of the packer. However, since the mandrel also has an inside diameter, fluid can pass through the mandrel. Similarly, tubes, wire or other elements can be passed through the mandrel.
Recently, inflatable packers have been used to control fluid flow and pressure in a well or borehole. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,081 to Baski et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,195 to Hauck et al. disclose inflatable packers configured as flow and pressure control valves for wells.
One application for this type of inflatable packer is in aquifer and storage recovery (ASR). With aquifer and storage recovery (ASR) large volumes of treated water are injected and stored in aquifers during periods of the year when water and treatment facility capacity are available (e.g., winter). During periods of the year when water is in high demand (e.g., summer), water is pumped out of the aquifers. Both injection of water into an aquifer, and pumping of water out of the aquifer require flow and pressure regulation over a wide range of flow rates. In addition, it is advantageous for a flow control packer to provide flow control during both injection of water into the aquifer, and during pumping of water out of the aquifer.
Various embodiments of the flow control packer (FCP) to be further described can be used to control the flow and pressure of a fluid in either direction in a conduit, such as a well casing, a borehole, or a pipe. In addition, the flow control packer (FCP) can be used over a wide range of flow rates, pressures, and conduit sizes. Further, the flow control packer (FCP) can be used to construct various systems including aquifer and storage recovery (ASR) systems, and can be constructed to control flow rates for either injection into an aquifer or for pumping out of the aquifer.
However, the foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith, are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Flow control packer (FCP) and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system


Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method, device, and system. A terminal device determines whether a data volume of uplink data to be sent is less than a preset data volume threshold. If the data volume of the uplink data to be sent is less than the preset data volume threshold, the terminal device establishes an RRC connection to a base station and sends an RRC connection completion message that carries the uplink data to the base station, so that the base station sends the uplink data to an MME by using a signaling message between the base station and the MME. The MME further sends the uplink data to a corresponding application server by using a signaling message between the MME and a P-CSCF.

Machine type communication (MTC) refers to network communication between one or more network elements or devices without requiring human interaction, or may be referred to as machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. The MTC and some other MTC-like communications have features such as light interaction traffic and interaction burst. Therefore, data transmission in processes of the MTC and other MTC-like communication is generally referred to as small data transmission or low data usage transmission. Correspondingly, compared with a human-to-human (H2H) terminal, an MTC terminal and a terminal similar to the MTC terminal are generally referred to as small data transmission terminals or low data usage terminals.
At present, various types of small data transmission are implemented by combining a small data transmission architecture and a mobile communications network. Small data transmission in MTC is used as an example. An MTC architecture mainly includes an MTC-Interworking Function (MTC-IWF) network element and a service capability server (SCS). The MTC-IWF mainly implements functions such as SCS authentication, external identifier mapping, and make inquiry of a home subscriber server (HSS) in a mobile communications network to obtain service node information. The SCS provides a capability of MTC application, for example, a service capability such as M2M terminal triggering. However, the MTC application is provided by an application server (AS) outside the MTC architecture. To ensure small data transmission, in an existing solution, a network element, such as a packet data network gateway (PGW), in a mobile communications network needs to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address to each small data transmission terminal, create a radio access bearer (RAB) corresponding to data transmission, and reserve a resource required for data transmission, which causes waste of a resource in the mobile communications network.

Data transmission method, device, and system


A device for measuring toner concentration of developer housed in a developing system, which developer comprising toner and carrier. The device has a transparent detection window facing the interior of the developing system, which transparent detection window comprising a first transparent plate member and a second transparent plate member being in contact with the first transparent plate member. The first transparent plate member is made of a material which becomes charged, through its contact with the second transparent plate member, with the opposite polarity from the charge polarity of the toner and the second transparent plate member is made of a material which becomes charged, through its contact with the carrier, with the same polarity from the charge polarity of the toner, so that the second transparent plate member strongly repels the toner having the same polarity charge and adherence of the toner to the second transparent plate member is reliably prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a toner concentration measuring device that illuminates developer comprising toner and carrier and detects the toner concentration in the developer based on the reflected light from the developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a developing system that is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and that uses two-component developer comprising toner and carrier, in order to ensure a certain image density, the percentage of the toner in the developer (hereinafter the `toner concentration`) must be measured and the toner must be added to the developer in accordance with the result of said measurement.
For this purpose, an optical toner concentration measuring device has been known that illuminates the developer inside the developing system via a transparent plate and detects the toner concentration based on the reflected light from the developer.
As an improved version of this optical toner concentration measuring device, a device has been proposed in which the transparent plate is made of a material that becomes charged, through its contact with the developer (the carrier contained in the developer, in particular), with the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner, such that the toner will be electrically repelled and prevented from adhering to the transparent plate.
When the developer, particularly the carrier, is still new, the transparent plate becomes sufficiently charged through its contact with the carrier to prevent toner adherence. However, when the carrier becomes old, its charging capacity with respect to the toner and the transparent plate (its charge-providing capability) decreases, and it can no longer effectively prevent the toner from adhering to the transparent plate. Consequently, the problem arises that the toner concentration cannot be accurately measured, which leads to a loss of the control necessary to maintain appropriate image density.

Device for measuring toner concentration in developer comprising toner and carrier


In one embodiment, multiple keys are generated in user equipment of a communication system based at least in part on a designated key expansion multiplier. A key identifier is received in the user equipment from a base station of the communication system. The user equipment selects a particular one of the keys as a function of the received key identifier, and utilizes the selected one of the keys to secure data sent from the user equipment to the base station. For example, the keys may comprise respective portions of a key stream generated by the user equipment responsive to a message received from the base station, with the keys being shared by the user equipment and the base station through independent generation of the key stream in the base station. The base station may illustratively comprise an evolved Node B (eNB) of an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN).

This section introduces aspects that may be helpful to facilitating a better understanding of the inventions. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
Communication system standards in the wireless cellular context include, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards promulgated by an organization known as the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP). The LTE standards developed by 3GPP define an LTE system that includes an Internet protocol (IP) based packet core referred to as an Evolved Packet Core (EPC).
In an example LTE system, user equipment such as a mobile device communicates over an air interface with a base station referred to as an evolved Node B (eNB). The eNB is illustratively part of an access network of the LTE system, such as an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN).
Under current practice, security for the air interface between the user equipment and the eNB is provided using techniques described in, for example, 3GPP TS 33.401 V12.12.0 (2014-09), Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects, 3GPP System Architecture Evolution (SAE), Security Architecture (Release 12), which is incorporated by reference herein.

Generation of multiple shared keys by user equipment and base station using key expansion multiplier


A method for supporting a sorting process of workpieces arranged on a sorting table that have been produced on a machine tool by a processing plan, comprising providing of a processing image data set of the processing plan based on the arrangement of at least one workpiece. The method further relates to an imaging-based capturing of the sorting table having a plurality of adjacent workpieces to each other and generating a first sorting image data set, and repeated image-based capturing of the sorting table and generating of a second sorting image data set once at least one workpiece has been removed from the sorting table. The method comprises comparing of the sorting image data sets, incorporating the processing image data set, wherein a sorting signal is generated which contains information that comprises the type, the position and/or the shape of the at least one removed workpiece.

When sorting parts at machine tools, in particular laser cut material or punched workpieces, in particular sheet metal parts, an operator usually visually compares each individual cut part with a drawing of an order of the respective part. Such a mostly paper-based sorting requires an individual search for a special finished part and its assignment to the correct order, so that a corresponding further processing can be initiated. After the processing process, cut or stamped sheet metal parts are often made available to the respective downstream production step in a group. If, in particular, many different part forms are cut, the visual comparison becomes time-consuming and prone to errors. For example, a large variety of parts can cause problems during part recognition and subsequent sorting to, for example, order-specific workpiece collecting point units. If parts are placed incorrectly, a subsequent process can be adversely affected.
EP 1 524 063 A1 discloses a process for marking workpieces in which a sheet is cut or punched. A projector projects different optical markings onto the cut or punched workpieces. This procedure is intended to simplify the sorting of the workpieces for the operator by displaying the workpieces and to provide a process control procedure for the further processing or further use of such cut or punched workpieces. When workpieces are very small, as it is often the case in sheet metal processing, the markings may become difficult to recognize, so that operators also fall back to paper-based sorting.
In the field of logistics, various procedures support workers. For example, WO 2014/028959 A1 discloses a camera-assisted procedure to assist a worker at installations for manipulating goods, EP 1 487 616 B1 discloses a procedure for automatic process control with detecting a work environment, and EP 2 161 219 B1 and DE 10 2014 211353 A1 disclose procedures for visual supporting manual picking operations. Pick-by-Light implementations are also examples of a digitally supported picking process.

Sorting support method and flatbed machine tool


A touch module is provided, including a hollow frame, a positioning member, and a touch unit. The positioning member includes a main body, an extending portion, and a U-shape structure. The extending portion is connected to the main body and fixed to the frame. The U-shape structure includes a contact portion and a pair of flexible arms. The flexible arms are connected to the main body, wherein the U-shape structure and the main body form a gap therebetween. The contact portion and the extending portion are disposed on opposite sides of the main body, wherein the contact portion is disposed between the two flexible arms. The touch unit is connected to the main body and forms a protrusion, wherein when a force is applied to the touch unit, the protrusion contacts the contact portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch module, and in particular to a touch module with a positioning member for assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional notebook computers usually have touch panels, but the touch panels do not have any buttons for clicking. Therefore, how to design a touch panel with a click function that simulates the action of the button on a mouse becomes an important issue.


A lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp having a DC voltage booster circuit for boosting an input voltage from a DC voltage input terminal, comprises a current detector, a voltage detector, an abnormality judging circuit, and a power cutoff relay circuit. The current detector acquires a detection signal concerning an output current of the DC voltage booster circuit. The voltage detector acquires a detection signal concerning an output voltage of the DC voltage booster circuit. The abnormality judging circuit compares the levels of the detection signals from the current detector and the voltage detector with each other to determine whether or not the lighting circuit is in an abnormal status. The power cutoff circuit inhibits power supply to the discharge lamp upon reception of a signal from the abnormality judging circuit representing an abnormality in the lighting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a novel lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel lighting circuit for a vehicular discharge lamp, which can detect an abnormal status of the circuit for protection against possible damage and can prevent a user from receiving an electric shock when replacing the lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a lighting circuit for an incandescent lamp, a widely-used light source for vehicular headlamps, a relay coil is connected via a lighting switch between the terminals of a battery, and the incandescent lamp is connected via a relay contact between the battery terminals.
When an abnormality occurs in the operational status of such a lighting circuit for an incandescent lamp due to expiration of the service life of the lamp or the like, the worst possible consequence would be disconnection of the filament. No particular protection circuit is typically provided.
Metal halide lamps have recently been receiving greater attention as a new light source replacing the incandescent lamp. To use this metal halide lamp as a vehicular headlamp, it is necessary to instantaneously light or relight the lamp. The activation voltage for this event is very high (about 10 to 20 kV).
When setting the lighting switch on does not light the lamp because of occurrence of some abnormality in the lamp originating from the expired service life of the lamp or the like, a high voltage keeps appearing between the output terminals of the lighting circuit. As a result, a dielectric breakdown may occur in contact terminals provided in the socket where the lamp is installed, thus causing fire. There is also a possibility that a user will receive an electric shock, replacing the bad lamp without knowing a high voltage applied to the lamp.
Further, when the output current or output voltage of a DC voltage booster circuit, one component of the light circuit, the circuit elements may be damaged or the lighting circuit may malfunction due to the damage, thus generating a high voltage (which will cause troubles brought about by electromagnetic interference) and damaging the lamp.

Lighting circuit for vehicular discharge lamp


An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a driving unit, a nonlinear component extracting unit, a first image data generating unit, a second image data generating unit and a control unit. The driving unit drives an ultrasonic transducer to transmit an ultrasonic wave to a subject. The nonlinear component extracting unit extracts a nonlinear component corresponding to the ultrasonic wave from a reception signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. The first image data generating unit generates a first image data based on the nonlinear component. The second image data generating unit generates a second image data based on the reception signal. The control unit arbitrarily distributes a sound output for transmission in a definite period of time to a first ultrasonic transmission for generating the first image data and a second ultrasonic transmission for generating the second image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an image data generating method, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an image data generating method which obtain ultrasonic image data with high resolution by detecting harmonic component of an ultrasonic reflected wave from a subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus serves so as to emit an ultrasonic wave generated by an ultrasonic transducer built in an ultrasonic probe into a subject, receive a reflective wave generated due to a difference in sound impedances of subject tissues by the ultrasonic transducer and display it on a monitor.
An ultrasonic diagnosis is widely used for a function test of a heart or the like, or a morphological diagnosis of a variety of organs since a two-dimensional image can be easily observed in real time by simply contacting an ultrasonic probe to the body surface. Also, since the ultrasonic diagnosis is free from radiation exposure occurring in a diagnosis with the aid of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus or an X-ray CT scanner, it has a large number of advantages, for example, not only diagnosis of a heart, an abdomen, a mammary gland, and a urinary organ but also repetitive diagnosis of a fetus in the obstetrical field, in addition to usability at bed side thanks to its small size.
In the ultrasonic diagnosis, an image data is generated by emitting an ultrasonic pulse, having its center frequency at a predetermined frequency selected depending on a diagnostic portion, into a subject and receiving an ultrasonic reflected wave having substantially the same frequency as the ultrasonic pulse.
In contrast to this, in recent years, a new imaging technology called a Tissue-Harmonic-Imaging method (hereinafter, referred to as a THI) has been developed and begins to come into wide spread use in a clinical field. With this imaging method, an ultrasonic non-linear phenomenon generated in tissue of a subject is effectively used. For example, when an ultrasonic pulse having its center frequency f0 is emitted into the subject, a second harmonic component 2f0 newly generated due to the non-linear phenomenon of the tissues of the subject is selectively received and converted into an image.
The harmonic component is newly generated with respect to the ultrasonic pulse having a fundamental frequency (hereinafter, referred to as the fundamental component) emitted into the subject and its generation depends on the property of the subject tissue, a transmission distance to a reflective portion, and the ultrasonic intensity at the reflective portion. Hence, receiving sensitivities of a multiple reflection wave and a side lobe generated between the ultrasonic probe and an organ border and serving as the major factor of artifact in a conventional ultrasonic image can be reduced relative to that of the fundamental component. Accordingly, the THI using the harmonic component allows clear image data including little artifact to be obtained (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application (Laid-Open) No. 10-179589).
In the THI, a harmonic component is generally extracted from an ultrasonic reflected wave serving as a mixture of the fundamental and harmonic components with the filtering method. However, in the case where the fundamental and harmonic components have broadband spectra, since respective parts of the components overlap with each other, accurately extracting only the harmonic component with the filtering method is difficult.
As a method for extracting the harmonic component from such a broadband ultrasonic reflected wave, a pulse inversion method has been developed. With this method, in the case where an ultrasonic wave is transmitted/received in a predetermined direction, only the harmonic component is extracted by alternately transmitting two kinds of ultrasonic pulses having mutually different polarities so as to cancel their fundamental components by adding receiving signals obtained on this occasion to the ultrasonic pulses. The pulse inversion method is established by focusing attention on the fact that the waveform of the harmonic component is formed in proportion to the square of the amplitude of the waveform of the fundamental component and is based on the property of the ultrasonic wave that inverse of the polarity of the ultrasonic pulse causes its fundamental component to be likewise inversed but its harmonic component not to be inversed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application (Laid-Open) No. 9-164138).
In the meantime, the harmonic component generated upon reflection of a transmission ultrasonic wave having a predetermined frequency on the tissue of the subject is significantly smaller than the fundamental component. For example, it is confirmed that the sensitivity of the second harmonic component is generally lower than that of the fundamental component by at least 20 dB although depending on the intensity of the transmission ultrasonic wave.
In addition, in the course of receiving the harmonic component reflected at the tissue of the subject by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic attenuation due to absorption in the tissue depends on an ultrasonic wave frequency. For example, it is known that the ultrasonic attenuation of the foregoing second harmonic component is about two-fold in decibel unit when compared to that of the fundamental component.
With such a reason, THI image data generated on the basis of the harmonic component has a poorer S/N ratio than that of an image data generated mainly from the conventional fundamental component (i.e., an image data generated from the fundamental and harmonic components), and in particular, it is difficult to obtain a high-resolution image data of a deeply existing organ remote from the ultrasonic probe.
While two methods for improving the S/N ratio of the receiving harmonic component are provided: one for reducing noises (N) in a receiving circuit and the other for improving the receiving intensity of a signal component (S), since the former one has already reached the limit for the duty, the S/N ratio cannot be improved without the help of the latter one.
While the receiving sensitivity of the harmonic component could be improved by increasing a transmission sound output of the apparatus, when the transmission sound output is increased with a method similar to the conventional one, it is difficult to comply with the heat generation and sound output regulations of the ultrasonic probe set while taking into account the safety of the subject.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and image data generating method


A measuring system (15) includes a measuring arm receiving unit (18) mounted on the housing (49) or on an axial pin (30) connected to the housing (49) for conjoint rotation so as to be rotatable or pivotable about the axis of rotation (D). A measuring arm (16) can be arranged on the measuring arm receiving unit (18). A motor unit (24) generates a motor torque about the axis of rotation (D) on the measuring arm receiving unit (18). The measuring arm unit (18) is mounted by a ball bearing guide unit (39) to be rotatable about the axis of rotation (D) in the peripheral direction and displaceably along the axis of rotation (D) in the axial direction A. An axial position of the measuring arm unit (18) in the axial direction is defined with the aid of a magnetic axial bearing device (46) and is maintained during operation.

A measuring system can comprise a measuring arm which is mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation and which has two arms protruding away from the axis of rotation in opposite directions, which arms thus form a rocker. A measuring element or probe element, for example a probe tip, a probe skid, or a probe ball, is arranged on a front arm of the rocker, whereas the other, rear end is assigned a sensor and a force-generating device. The deflection of the rear arm can be detected by means of the sensor, and on this basis a measurement value can be determined. The force-generating device is used to press the probe element with a defined force against the surface of an object or workpiece that is to be measured. A probe system of this kind is known for example from DE 40 13 742 A1, DE 31 52 731 A1, DE 196 17 022 C1, DE 10 2007 019 833 A1 or DE 10 2015 004 525 A1. Probe systems of this kind can be used for example when measuring the roughness of a surface of an object.
In a probe system of this kind the measuring force with which the probe element rests on the surface of the object can be adjusted. A measuring force adjustment is known for example from DE 40 13 742 A1 or DE 10 2009 020 294 A1.
With use of measuring or probe systems of this kind, for example in coordinate measuring instruments, the measuring system as a whole can be positioned or oriented in space by means of an appropriate device. Corresponding devices are described for example in DE 10 2009 019 129 A1 or DE 10 2014 110 801 A1.
Proceeding from the prior art, the object of the present invention can be considered that of creating a measuring system that makes it possible to take precise measurements with a large rotary angle range of the measuring arm.

Measuring system with a ball bearing guide unit for a measuring instrument


The invention relates to a panoramic attachment optical system and a panoramic optical system for taking an image having a full 360°-direction angle of view or projecting an image at a full 360°-direction angle of view. These optical systems are reduced in size and flare light and improved in resolving power. A panoramic attachment optical system 10 attached to the entrance side of an image-formation lens 20 to form a full 360°-direction image on an image plane 30 comprises a transparent medium that is rotationally symmetric about a center axis 1 and includes at least two internal reflecting surfaces 12, 13 and at least two refracting surfaces 11, 14. A light beam enters the transparent medium via the refracting surface 11, and reflects at the internal reflecting surfaces 12 and 13 in this order to leave the transparent medium via the refracting surface 14, forming an image at a position of the image plane 30 off the center axis 1 via an image-formation lens 20. The internal reflecting surfaces and the refracting surfaces are each of shape rotationally symmetric about the center axis 1, and a light beam 2 coming from far way forms an image at least one time.

So far, optical systems designed to obtain full 360°-direction (full-panoramic) images by imaging optical systems combined with convex mirrors, rotating elliptic mirrors and rotating parabolic mirrors have been put forward in the following patent publications 1 to 7, etc. What is known as "Chameleon Eye®", Sony Corp., has also been available.
Among prior optical systems using a reflection optical system to obtain full 360°-direction (full-panoramic) images, there is one made up of a front unit comprising a transparent medium that is rotationally symmetric about a center axis and includes two internal reflecting surfaces and two transmitting surfaces and a rear unit that is rotationally symmetric about the center axis and has positive power, as set forth in patent publications 8 and 9.
Patent Publication 1
JP(A) 11-331654
Patent Publication 2
JP(A) 2002-162567
Patent Publication 3
JP(A) 2002-196438
Patent Publication 4
JP(A) 2003-167195
Patent Publication 5
Japanese Patent No. 2925573
Patent Publication 6
JP(A) 11-183637
Patent Publication 7
JP(A) 2002-233494
Patent Publication 8
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,763
Patent Publication 9
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,474
A problem with any of the prior optical systems proposed in patent publications 1 to 7, etc. is that the reflecting optical system becomes bulky.
A problem with "Chameleon Eye" is that when full-panoramic images are picked up with the optical system directing to the zenith, much harmful flare light coming from the zenithal direction causes image quality to go worse. Another problem is that because positive power and negative power are given to the reflecting surfaces in order from the object side, the optical system is unavoidably of the telephoto type where the focal length is generally long with respect to the total length; the reflecting optical system becomes bulky as a result of the inability to reduce the total length.
A problem with either of patent publications 8 and 9 is that when full-panoramic images are picked up with the optical system directing to the zenith, much harmful flare light coming from the zenithal direction causes image quality to become worse, because the effective diameter of the first transmitting surface becomes large as a consequence of the entrance pupil in a section including the center axis being apart from the first transmitting (entrance) surface.
Such being the case, the primary object of the invention is to provide a panoramic attachment optical system and a panoramic optical system for taking an image having a full 360°-direction (full-panoramic) angle of view or projecting an image at a full 360°-direction (full-panoramic) angle of view, which have decreased size, minimized flare light and improved resolving power.

Panoramic attachment optical system, and panoramic optical system


A bottle or a can as a small container intended for consumers for the aseptic cold filling with beverages in a filling and sealing machine comprises a manual seal to be operated by the consumer and is characterized by an additional mechanical seal for filling and machine sealing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in a first aspect to a bottle or can as a small container intended for consumers for the aseptic cold filling with beverages in a filling and scaling machine, comprising a manual seal to be operated by the consumer. In a second aspect the invention relates to a sealing cap for the manual seal of a bottle intended for the consumer for the aseptic cold filling with beverages in a filling and sealing machine. In a third aspect the invention relates to a process for the aseptic cold filling of a container by means of a filling and sealing machine, in which the container sealed with the manual seal is ready for dispatch. In a fourth aspect the invention relates to a process for the aseptic cold filling of a container in which the container is conveyed to a sealing device for the application and sealing of a manual seal and to a filling and sealing machine for the aseptic cold filling of a container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When filling small containers, such as bottles or cans intended for the consumer, with beverages, a considerable problem that arises is conveying the beverage with a minimum amount of genus until the container is sealed for dispatch. The term germs comprises all microorganisms, in put bacteria, which have a damaging effect on beverages. In the case of beverages such as beer or soft drinks tat contain alcohol and/or CO.sub.2, the problem is reduced due to the bactericidal effect of these additives. However, this problem is especially serious when filling non-alcoholic beverages and beverages with a low CO.sub.2 content and/or no CO.sub.2 content such as fruit juices, beverages containing fruit juice, milk, ice tea, and beer and wine with a reduced alcohol hot content. In most cases, these beverages are particularly endangered by germs due to their high percentage of nutrients, e.g. of sugar. In addition to this, beverages in small containers intended for consumers are only marketable with longer expiration dates. That is to say that, in this case, only an aseptic, i.e. completely germ-free, filling is useful.
So far, aseptic filling has only been generally adopted for the hot-filling of containers of the type mentioned above, The beverage is filled at germ-killing temperatures so that problems of sterility during the filling process arc not critical. The disadvantages of this are thermal taste influences and considerable heating and cooling expense. Also, the necessity of observing fixed thermalizing times, e.g. for taste reasons, is very difficult to adhere to, for instance in the case of system breakdowns.
A cold-aseptic filling, i.e. a filling under germ-free conditions with pre-sterilized cold beverages, would be preferable. This would enable the sterilization, which, for instance, is carried out thermally, to be optimized in special devices. Operational failures during filling are not detrimental to the beverage.
For cold aseptic filling, it is necessary to fill the sterile beverage into a sterile container under sterile conditions and to seal it under sterile conditions. So far, this has proved to be unachievable in the prior art for containers of the type mentioned above, and has only succeeded in the case of cardboard box containers for filling milk and fruit juices.
Feasible methods are known for sterilizing containers of the type mentioned above prior to their reaching the filling machine or at their processing station immediately prior to their being filled, i.e. either thermally, e.g. with superheated or hot steam, or with a bactericidal gas that is non-hazardous for food and beverage processing such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2. Filling under sterile conditions can also be achieved according to the prior art. However, the sub sequent closing or sealing of the container always requires conveying the container from the filling machine to a downstream sealing machine which screws a sealing cap onto bottles or presses a crown cork, i.e. bottle cap, onto them or closes cans by means of flanging or crimping a lid. flaring the course of this conveying, sterile conditions can either not be maintained at ah or can only be attained at unacceptable expense, as in the case of sterile encapsulation of the machines.
Filling and seating machines are known from the prior art in which the container is filled and subsequently sealed at one and the same processing station. The technical problems existing thereby, e.g. with the sterile introduction of sealing caps and the technically difficult screwing on of sealing caps or pressing on of bottle caps, i.e., crown corks, have practically never been solved.

Container, a container sealing cap, a process and a machine for cold-aseptic filling with beverages


Nonuniformities in the efficiency of detection of individual fluorescing reaction mixtures in a well plate with a two-dimensional array well array are corrected. The nonuniformities arise both from the stimulation pattern and the detection pattern, and are corrected by adding additional segments to a pair of segmented mirrors. The additional segments are oriented to direct light to the outermost reaches (i.e., the four corners) of the array and thereby produce a stimulation pattern that has a greater intensity in the outermost regions. This compensates for a radial decline in the efficiency of the detector in detecting the emissions from the well plate, the radial decline being an artifact of systems that utilize CCDs or similar components as detectors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the generation and detection of electromagnetic emissions in a multitude of samples retained in individual wells of multi-well plates or two-dimensional sample arrays in general. This invention is of particular interest in the performance of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with real-time detection, i.e., PCR processes in which the amounts of nucleic acid in individual reaction wells are quantitated as the PCR reaction is progressing. The invention has general applicability however to any system that simultaneously detects emission signals from a multitude of wells, receptacles, or sample spots in a two-dimensional rectangular array.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Real-time PCR is one of many examples of chemical processes that employ area imaging to monitor the progress of a multitude of reactions that are being performed simultaneously. Area imaging is the formation of an image of the emissions from a two-dimensional array of reaction wells such as the arrays used in PCR systems. The emissions are fluorescence emissions generated by fluorescent molecular groups covalently attached to the nucleic acid segments in the wells. The imaging method involves the illumination of the entire array of reaction wells to stimulate the fluorescent groups, and the detection of the radiations that the fluorescent groups emit as a result of the stimulation. The emissions are detected in the form of a two-dimensional image corresponding to the well array. The most common array is one that contains 96 wells in a single plate, the wells arranged in 12 rows of 8 wells each, but other arrays and numbers of wells are used as well. From the magnitudes of the emissions, the system determines the amount of binding, the tag concentration, and the characteristics of the fluorescent molecule in each well. This information is processed to indicate the progress of the reaction in each well. The illumination band can be narrow such as that obtained with a laser, or broad such as that obtained with a whitelight source.
Whitelight sources are an inexpensive means of providing a wide range of stimulation wavelengths. A commonly used whitelight source is a halogen bulb with a reflector. The typical halogen bulb produces light in a cone angle that ranges from 5° to 5°. The angle is controlled in part by the shape of the reflector. An example of this type of bulb is the EXN 50 MR16/40 bulb from General Electric. This bulb has a multi-faceted elliptical reflector that removes very high spatial frequencies of light (i.e., bright spots) and re-directs the dominant beam. The far-field projected light pattern resulting from a multifaceted reflector has fewer bright spots (or "hot spots") than the far-field projected light pattern resulting from a smooth-surface elliptical reflector of the same major diameter and focal points. There is a fundamental trade-off between product size, detection efficiency filter performance and illumination cone angle.
Despite the inclusion of facets in the bulb reflector, the light from the bulb must be redirected to a certain degree in order to uniformly illuminate a two-dimensional planar array of wells. Redirection is achieved by a series of mirror surfaces positioned in the path between the bulb and the well plate. An example of an illumination system 11 of the prior art that includes redirecting mirrors is shown in FIG. 1. In this system, the well plate 12 is shown at the bottom and the whitelight source bulb 13 is positioned above and to one side of the well plate 12. Between the bulb 13 and the well plate 12 are two sets of mirrors 14, 15, the first mirror 14 having two segments 16, 17 in a wide V-shaped profile, and the second mirror 15 having three segments 18, 19, 20, the outer segments 18, 20 of which are angled slightly inward toward the inner segment 19. In both mirror sets 14, 15, the angles between the planes of adjacent segments are very small, typically less than 10°. Light reflected from both mirror sets is received by a third mirror 21 (of which only the rear surface is visible) which is a planar mirror directing the light downward toward the well plate 12. Since the light rays from the bulb 13 and hence those reflected by the mirrors are generally divergent, the light reflected by the third mirror 21 is passed through a lens 22 to render the rays parallel, or at least approximately so, before they strike the well plate. The mirror 14 with the two segments in the V-shaped profile directs reflected light to one side of the well array, specifically the side on the right in the view shown in FIG. 1, with the two segments directing the light to the upper and lower halves, respectively, of the right side of the array. The three-segment mirror 15 directs reflected light to the other side of the well array, i.e., the side on the left in the view shown in FIG. 1, with the three segments directing light to the center region of that side. Collectively, the five mirror segments are intended to distribute the light uniformly, or approximately so, across the entire rectangular well array.
Although uniform light distribution across the well array is the goal, this goal is not fully achieved because the line at the angle between adjacent segments on each mirror produces a bright line in the reflected light, i.e., a line that is brighter than regions above and below it. Accordingly, isolated rows in the well plate are illuminated and hence stimulated at a greater intensity than adjacent rows. In the prior art, this undesired difference in brightness is eliminated by masking the line, for example by applying black ink, such as from a felt-tip pen, along the line. This wastes light energy by reducing the amount of stimulation light that reaches the well plate, and is a crude method of correcting nonuniformities.
As for the detection components, various methodologies can be used, but a detection component that is typically used is a charge-coupled device (CCD) in conjunction with an appropriate lens or lens system. A series of filters is included to control both the stimulation light and the emission light to narrow bands of frequencies. One artifact of the detection system is an intensity roll-off with the angle from the center line of the optical path, i.e., a gradient along the radial direction in the detected intensities of the emissions. As a result, emissions from wells located successively further from the center are read at successively lower intensities, even if the emissions themselves are uniform across the array. This gradient is demonstrated in FIG. 2, which is a representation of an image from a 12×8 well array. The concentric circles 31, 32, 33, 34 whose centers are coincident with the center 35 of the well array represent lines of constant emission detection intensity, each circle having a detection intensity that is less than the intensity of the adjacent circle of smaller radius. The intensity thus decreases gradually as the circle radius increases.

Incident light redistribution to compensate for radial gradient in detector


Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed for specifying an Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) process. For example, systems and methods are provided for specifying the ETL process through ETL diagrams, and allowing ETL diagrams with different components to be easily traversed. Behaviors of underlying engine technology of the ETL process may be encapsulated so that users may build a job or data flow of the ETL process without knowing specific details of the underlying engine technology.

An Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) process (e.g., a data management process) is used for data warehousing that consolidates data from multiple data sources. The first step in the ETL process is extracting data from various external sources. Each of the sources may store its data in completely different format from the rest. Almost any data storage can be used as a source for the ETL process. Once the data has been extracted and converted in an expected format, the next step in the ETL process is transforming the data according to a set of business rules/functions. The data transformation may include various operations including filtering, sorting, aggregating, joining data, cleaning data, generating calculated data based on existing values, and validating data. The final step of the ETL process involves loading the transformed data into a destination target, which may be a database or a data warehouse.
Examples of the source data for the ETL process can include data from different departments and/or divisions of a company that needs to be integrated. For example, a company's management team may need complete, accurate information of customers, suppliers and transactions of the company to make sound business decisions. This information is often not maintained at a single place, but rather at different locations/sources throughout the company across multiple departments, divisions and applications. The ETL process can extract data from different data sources within the company, transform the data, and populate the data into a data warehouse, so that the management team can do reporting, query, analysis, performance management and take effective business decisions.
The ETL process has many applications, including but not limited to data migration and application integration for multiple dispersed data sources. For example, in data migration, various data sources may be involved, and data may be generated and consumed by software applications which in turn support business processes. The ETL process can assist data flows among the data sources in multiple directions.

Computer-implemented systems and methods for extract, transform, and load user interface processing