The present invention relates to the accreditation of participants to an event. Participants are invited to register, allowing an accreditation system (300) to collect information (325 and 320) from each of the participants. The accreditation system produces a non-valid pass for each of the participants, and the non-valid passes are issued to the participants. Upon arrival of a participant at, or proximate an event venue, the non-valid pass is validated. The validated pass typically serves as an identification and access control device to be worn by participants. Additionally, for foreign participants and before arrival of those participants, the accreditation system (300) sends a bulk visa request to an Immigration Authority (310), allowing the validated pass to serve as a visa.

The purpose of an accreditation process is to certify entities as meeting a predefined standard. In the case of participants involved in an event, they need to be certified as meeting a predefined standard usually set by an Organising Committee of the event. The "participants" not only include the performers during the event, but also the staff, contractors, officials and press. Hence, every person involved in staging the event may require a level of accreditation. In certain events, even the visitors are required to be accredited for entry to the event, even though the predefined qualification standard is set as very low.
The "event" may be a conference, with the participants including the speakers at the conference, the guests, exhibitors, organisers and contractors preparing the venue. The "event" may also be a political meeting or a sporting event.
The "event" may alternatively be a security area, such as a military or research centre. The participants may include staff and visitors to such centres.
Participants typically present their 'qualifications' to be involved in the event for accreditation. It is then determined whether those qualifications meet the predefined standards.
Each participant whose qualification meets those standards is usually presented with an accreditation pass as proof to others that they have been accredited. The accreditation pass may entitle those participants to certain access rights and privileges during the event.

Method for accrediting event participants


A transaction data processing method includes: receiving a first transaction document from a device of a transaction initiator, the first transaction document being associated with identity labels of a plurality of transaction participants; separately performing identity authentication on the plurality of transaction participants according to the identity labels of the plurality of transaction participants, to obtain an identity authentication result. The method also includes adding the identity authentication result into the first transaction document when the identity authentication results indicates identity authentication of each of the plurality of transaction participants is successful, to generate a second transaction document carrying the identity authentication result; separately transmitting a signature request for the second transaction document to devices of the plurality of transaction participants; and generating a third transaction document according to responses returned by the devices of the plurality of transaction participants in response to the signature request.

With the development of Internet technologies, there are extensive online transaction services such as an electronic draft transaction in fields such as finances. Herein, a plurality of online transaction services relate to a transaction document (for example, an electronic contract) that needs to be signed by a plurality of parties. Currently, there are potential safety hazards in a signing procedure of the transaction document. For example, an intermediary of bank acceptance bill may have biased behavior, causing related risk. Some criminals also use their false identity and official seals to open interbank accounts in large banks. Without checking the authenticity of interbank accounts strictly, frequent violations of the bill market and continuous security incidents may occur. Other problems of the existing technology related to digital signature on electronic contracts include high technical cost, high bit error rate, and slow transmission speed.

Transaction data processing method, computing device, and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


A shutter apparatus is provided wherein openings for defining a secondary aperture are formed in respective shutter blades, such that an amount of light transmitted through the secondary aperture is detected, and the drive force for driving the shutter blades is changed so that the amount of the received amount increases in the opening stroke according to a predetermined function. When the integrated quantity of the received light reaches a threshold value, the movement of the shutter blades is reversed, and the shutter speed is determined based on the integrated light quantity obtained upon completion of shifting to the closing stroke. Thus, variations in the exposure amount that occur upon reversal of the shutter blades are canceled in the closing stroke.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shutter apparatus wherein the size or area of a secondary aperture for exposure control changes with the size or area of a primary aperture for exposure photographing, so that the operation of a shutter mechanism is controlled based on an amount of light received through the secondary aperture, and also relates to a camera apparatus adapted to automatically fire a strobe in association with the operation of the shutter apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior art
An example of shutter apparatus wherein the size of an secondary aperture through which light is incident upon a photoresponsive element changes with the size of a primary aperture that admits light to a photosensitive film for exposure thereof is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-10406.
In this shutter apparatus, the exposure amount through the primary aperture is controlled referring to the amount of light received by the photoresponsive element through the secondary aperture. A drive device comprising an electromagnetic actuator and a return spring is adapted to drive a pair of shutter blades for reciprocative movement of these blades. Each of the shutter blades is formed with a pair of openings one of which defines a primary aperture and the other defines a secondary aperture. With the reciprocative movement of the shutter blades, overlapping portions of the openings for the primary aperture forms an exposure opening, and overlapping portions of the openings for the secondary aperture form a detection opening.
During an opening process of the shutter blades, the amount of light received through the secondary aperture is integrated, and if the obtained integral value reaches a predetermined threshold value, the electromagnetic actuator reverses the moving direction of the shutter blades, so as to provide a short closing process in which the exposure aperture is closed or eliminated at the maximum speed.
Examples of camera apparatus for taking pictures wherein an electronic flash (strobe) is automatically fired in association with the operation of the above type of shutter apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 52-124332 and 52-139419 and Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 60-60046 and 3-608. In these examples, when pictures are taken at night with no ambient light or an insufficient level of the ambient light, or when pictures are taken with back light where the ambient light is at a sufficient level but a main subject is relatively dark compared to its background, the total exposure amount of the film is automatically controlled by adding an amount of exposure of the film to the reflected strobe light to an amount of exposure of the film to the ambient light.
In the camera apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 52-124332 and 52-139419, the strobe is fired at the same time that the shutter is reversed when the integral value of the output of the photoresponsive element reaches the first threshold value in the opening stroke of the shutter apparatus. After the firing of the strobe, if the integral value reaches the second threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value, the strobe light is quenched.
In another camera apparatus disclosed in the above-identified publications, when the integral value reaches the first threshold value, the strobe is fired for a period of time that is proportional to the period from the start of the exposure to the time when the integral value reaches the first threshold value. If the ambient light is at a low level and the integral value does not reach the first threshold value, the shutter is forced to be reversed at a predetermined limit time, and the strobe is fired at the same time to keep emitting strobe light for a predetermined period of time.
In the camera apparatus shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-60046, the strobe is fired the moment that the exposure opening having a size corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance is formed in the opening stroke of the shutter. Then, the output of the photoresponsive element except that generated during the strobe firing period is integrated, and, when the integral value reaches the threshold value, the shutter is reversed and the exposure opening is closed.
In the camera apparatus shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-608, the strobe is fired if the integral value of the output of the photoresponsive element reaches the first threshold value, and the shutter is reversed if the integral value reaches the second threshold value higher than the first threshold value after the strobe is fired. Then, the strobe light is quenched if the integral value reaches the third threshold value higher than the second threshold value.
In the conventional shutter apparatus, after the electromagnetic actuator starts driving the shutter in the closing direction while the shutter is being biased by the return spring and moved in the opening direction, a little delay time arises until the inertia of the shutter in the opening direction is canceled so that the shutter is completely shifted to the closing stroke. If this delay time varies, the exposure amount of the photosensitive film all over the exposure time varies to a large extent. This is because the exposure opening has its maximum size during exposure at around the time when the shutter is reversed, and a large difference in the exposure amount occurs even with a little difference in the delay time.
Also, the shutter is opened at a constant speed irrespective of the level of the ambient light. If the ambient light is at a high level, therefore, the exposure amount of the film is rapidly increased after the start of the exposure, resulting in a considerably reduced exposure time and a large difference in the exposure amount even with a little difference in the exposure time.
Since the shutter blades are biased or driven with the maximum output of the return spring or electromagnetic actuator, a variation in the frictional force in the shutter mechanism in each exposure operation directly leads to an error in the speed of the shutter blades, resulting in an error in the exposure amount in each exposure operation.
In the shutter apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-5726, on the other hand, the shutter is driven by a step motor, such that the area or size of the exposure opening may be changed according to a desired function, from the start to the end of an exposure operation. In this apparatus, the rate of change in the area of the exposure opening is controlled based on the level of the ambient light measured before the start of the exposure operation, so that the exposure time is controlled to a substantially constant value even if the level of the ambient light varies. Where the ambient light is at a high level, therefore, the exposure opening is slowly opened to the smaller maximum aperture value, and then slowly closed, thus reducing an error in the exposure amount that occurs upon reversal of the shutter.
This shutter apparatus, however, requires an expensive shutter drive mechanism including the step motor and an expensive motor control circuit, and also requires an expensive control circuit which includes a memory for storing the same number of drive programs as that of combinations of the level of the ambient light and other parameters, and a circuit for selecting one of the drive programs. Further, since the motor is exclusively driven irrespective of the actual position of the shutter, errors may arise due to the frictional force of the mechanism, and a high-grade support mechanism or lubricating mechanism will be needed to avoid such errors. These expensive components increase the cost of the shutter apparatus, making the resulting product (camera) only available at a high cost.


The invention provides a diagnostic test procedure for detecting the active status of interstitial cystitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the bladder. Determination of chemotactic activity present in fluid that has been exposed to urinary tract tissue is performed by measuring cell migration across a membrane in response to neutrophil chemotactic factors in the fluid.

present invention relates to a diagnostic test procedure for detecting the active status of a noninfectious inflammatory condition such as interstitial cystitis.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic debilitating inflammatory disorder of the bladder. The disease is most common in women ranging in age from about thirty to sixty with onset of the condition typically occurring at about forty years of age. The most prevalent symptoms include severe abdominal pain and urinary urgency two or three times per hour, day and night. The initiating causes are unknown and there is no known cure although alleviation of the symptoms can be obtained from selected treatment such as the use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The condition is categorized as "interstitial cystitis" because it is believed the disease does not affect the surface of the bladder but instead involves the spaces between the cells, namely the interstices, in the lining of the bladder. Studies have indicated interstitial cystitis is not an auto-immune disease and no evidence exists that it is caused by infectious agents such as aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, viruses and the like. Accordingly, diagnosis is very difficult and treatments have met with limited success.
It has been found that even a cystoscopic examination, which is the insertion of a long thin viewing instrument into the bladder, will not lead with certainty to a diagnosis. Diagnosis using biochemical and laboratory test also have not proved to be extremely helpful. A urine culture can be taken to determine if a bacterial infection is present and thereby rule out other diseases. If no infection or disease is found, a hydrodistentive cystoscopic examination can be carried out under anesthesia. In this procedure the bladder is stretched by filling it with irrigating fluid and the bladder wall is carefully examined cystoscopically. This is the only known way of detecting the characteristic mucosal abnormalities associated with interstitial cystitis, namely the tiny hemorrhages and scar tissue on the bladder wall. Since diagnosis can be uncertain even when using this highly invasive hydrodistention technique, other factors such as case history, urine analysis and culture, bladder biopsy and response to therapy all must also be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that noninfectious inflammatory disorders, such as interstitial cystitis, can be diagnosed in a far less invasive manner with a high degree of accuracy through the utilization of the diagnostic procedure of the present invention. More specifically, this diagnostic procedure is capable of detecting the active inflammatory status of the tissue, including that caused by interstitial cystitis and other inflammatory disorders, through the simple detection of an inflammatory marker in fluid exposed to the inflamed tissue. Advantageously, the procedure will provide not only positive results during inflammation but also a negative test result when the condition is in remission, thereby adding to the specificity of the diagnostic procedure. It will, accordingly, be understood that the diagnostic procedure results in an indication of an active inflammatory condition rather than a determination of the presence in its passive state or absence of a particular disorder.
These and related advantages are achieved in accordance with the present invention by assaying fluids that have been in contact with the inflamed tissue, such as urine samples, or where necessary, by assaying urinary bladder biopsy specimens for the presence or absence of inflammatory mediators such as neutrophil chemotactic factors that stimulate the migration of neutrophils into sites of tissue damage.
In accordance with the present invention, it is believed that the inflammatory condition, such as occurs in interstitial cystitis, is accompanied by the release of inflammatory mediators that attract neutrophils. These neutrophil chemoattractants differ in their biochemical characteristics and molecular weight from previously known low molecular weight factors such as immune cell derived interleukin-1 or leukotriene B.sub.4. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that neutrophil chemotactic factors (NCFs) are present in fluids exposed to the inner wall of the urinary bladder, such as urine, and by assaying the urine sample for the presence of neutrophil chemotactic factors it is possible to determine whether an active state of inflammation exists. The presence of the neutrophil chemotactic factors permits the isolation of antibodies specific for those chemotactic factors. Neutrophil chemotactic factors found in a variety of tissues and in various species are tissue specific and capable of signalling the initial inflammatory condition of the tissue to stimulate neutrophil migration to the inflamed area. Thus, the identification of the presence of the neutrophil chemotactic factors in the urine sample or bladder biopsy specimen provides a positive indication of the condition and a non-invasive diagnostic technique for detecting an active interstitial cystitis condition.

Diagnostic test procedure for urinary tract inflammatory condition


The present invention concerns a process for iron ore pellets production comprising at least one iron ore crushing stage in a roller press for the production of iron ore pellets. The crushing stage(s) can be done prior or after grinding, or still defined by successive passages of the material through the foregoing crushing stage.

As it is known, pelletizing is an agglomeration process whereby the fine iron ore particles are converted into spherical bodies with size ranging from 8 to 18 mm. These spherical bodies having an appropriate physical, chemical and metallurgical properties for use in steel mill's reduction reactors.
The quality of the product yielded by the pelletizing process has direct relation with the material size fed to the process, and it is suitable that at least 50% of the raw material charged to the process have a size less than 0.40 mm (325 mesh) and a specific surface of 1200 cm.sup.2 /g. Usually, the ore fines employed in pelleting have a granulometry 100% less than 0.149 mm (100 mesh), however only 30 to 45% being less than 0.044 mm (325 mesh). Therefore, in order to adapt the granulometric characteristics and specific surface of the ore fines to the pelleting process requirements it becomes necessary to submit the ore fines to a crushing stage to reduce the particles size.
In the conventional pelletizing process the reducing of size (crushing and grinding) of the ore fines is achieved by grinding in a tubular mill wherein steel balls or truncated steel cones (cylpebs) are usually employed to help with the grinding operation or as a grinding medium. This grinding operation is a heavy burden on the overall production cost of pellets due to the significant consumption of energy and grinding media.
There are several options available to the grinding operation. It can be performed in or wet or dry, open or closed operations.
In the wet grinding process iron ore and water are mixed together and both are added to the mill in adjusted proportions performing a diluted grounded ore pulp. A large amount of water that is added to the grinding operation is removed by subsequent thickening, homogenizing and filtering stages.
On the other hand, dry grinding operation requires the prior drying of the ore fines, however disregards the water draining step that is necessary when the wet process is employed.
Grinding in an open operation consists in passing the material through the mill only once, while in the closed operation the hydrocyclones employed for wet grinding or the air classifiers used in the dry grinding process perform the granulometric classification at the discharge of the mill.
Finally, in the closed mills a fraction of sufficiently fine material below 0.44 mm (325 mesh) goes on to the next stages of the pelletizing process while the coarser fraction returns to the mill as the circulating load of the grinding process.


An antenna is connected to a first end of a high-frequency transmission line, and a connector is connected to a second end of the high-frequency transmission line. A characteristic impedance of a microstrip line is higher than characteristic impedances of first and second strip lines, and a characteristic impedance of a coplanar line is higher than a characteristic impedance of the second strip line. Thus, at a certain frequency, a standing wave develops in which the position of the microstrip line and the position of the coplanar line are maximum voltage points and three-quarter-wavelength resonance is a fundamental wave mode. Thus, the cutoff frequency of the high-frequency transmission line is high, and an insertion loss of a signal is significantly reduced to be low over a wide band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high-frequency signal lines, and particularly relates to a high-frequency transmission line connected between an antenna end and a connector end.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electronic apparatuses that handle high-frequency signals, such as mobile communication terminals, a high-frequency transmission line for transmitting high-frequency signals is used in a signal processor. For example, in mobile communication terminals, a coaxial cable of 50Ω or 75Ω is used.
A connector may be provided between such a coaxial cable and a high-frequency signal processor, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2003-060425 and No. 2004-064282. FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate an example thereof. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a coaxial cable 100, and FIG. 1B illustrates a state where a connector 40 is attached to one end of the coaxial cable 100.
For example, in a case where an antenna is connected to a first end of a high-frequency transmission line such as a coaxial cable, and a connector is connected to a second end of the high-frequency transmission line, a high-frequency signal received by the antenna is transmitted to a high-frequency signal processor via the coaxial cable and the connector.
In ordinary cases, however, the characteristic impedance of the antenna is lower than the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable (normally 50Ω or 75Ω), whereas the characteristic impedance of the connector is higher than the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable. Accordingly, resonance occurs at a frequency at which a standing wave of a quarter wavelength multiplied by an odd number develops in the coaxial cable.
FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating that state. In FIG. 1C, in a case where an antenna is connected to a first end FP, and a connector is connected to a second end SP, because the impedance is low at the first end FP and the impedance is high at the second end SP, resonance occurs at a frequency at which a standing wave develops in which the first end FP is a minimum voltage point (short-circuit end) and the second end SP is a maximum voltage point (open end).
Here, one wavelength in the coaxial cable 100 is represented by λg, the length of the coaxial cable 100 is represented by Lg, and the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the coaxial cable 100 is represented by ∈r. In this case, a resonance frequency fo of a fundamental wave at which quarter-wavelength resonance occurs is expressed by the following equation (1).fo=1/(4Lg√∈r)×c(c: velocity of light)  (1)
In a case where Lg=9 cm and √∈r=1, resonance in a basic mode occurs at about 830 MHz. Thus, the cutoff frequency of the coaxial cable 100 is lower than about 830 MHz. In this case, for example, in the case of transmitting a signal in a 900 MHz band, an insertion loss in the coaxial cable 100 is a problem.

High-frequency transmission line and antenna device


In a method and apparatus for severing roots of bean sprouts, a severing table has a plurality of ridges formed at predetermined intervals and extending in parallel with a direction in which a cutter blade is moved. Each ridge is formed with a number of severing slits each of which has such a width that a root of a bean sprout falls into each severing slit. The bean sprouts are continuously supplied onto the severing table while a cutter blade is moved along an upper face of the severing table and air is being blown from above the severing table so that roots of the bean sprouts on the severing table flow into the severing slits. The roots of the bean sprouts fallen in the severing slits are severed by the cutter blade. The bean sprouts from which the roots have been severed are conveyed out of the severing table with movement of the cutter blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for severing roots of bean sprouts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roots of bean sprouts harvested are recently cut off for improvement in their appearances and resultant increase in the commodity quality before the bean sprouts are bagged to be shipped. The inventor developed apparatus for severing roots of bean sprouts as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,346,288 and 6,379,732, in order to automate a work for cutting off bean sprouts. In these apparatus, bean sprouts are supplied onto a flat severing table and water is sprinkled onto the severing table so that while a cutter blade is moved along an upper side of the severing table having a number of severing slits each of which has such a width that a root of a bean sprout falls into each severing slit. Alternatively, air is caused to blow from above the severing table so that a flow of air flowing downward through the severing slits is produced to cause the roots of the bean sprouts on the severing table to fall into the severing slits. The roots of the bean sprouts fallen in the severing slits are severed by the cutter blade.
The inventor has found the following problem in the course of a work for severing roots of a number of sprout beans using the above-mentioned severing apparatus. The roots of bean sprouts are generally strong unexpectedly. Accordingly, only distal end side slender portions of the bean sprout roots fall into the severing slits just when water is sprinkled onto or air is caused to blow onto the bean sprouts from above. Thick portions of the bean sprout roots in the vicinity of sprouts are hard to bend and to fall into the severing slits. Furthermore, when the bean sprouts on the severing table are scraped up by the cutter blade to be stacked, the bean sprouts of an upper layer of the pile are hard to fall into the severing slits and accordingly cannot be severed. As a result, since the number of bean sprouts whose distal end slender portions of the roots have been severed is increased, it is difficult to sever overall roots of bean sprouts efficiently and cleanly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for severing root of bean sprout


A pesticide delivery system includes a service box and a plurality of tubular delivery and dispensing lines for carrying a pesticide from the service box to locations in a building structure and dispensing the pesticide in those locations to control and exterminate pests. The service box includes a plate with holes through which elastic end portions of the tubular delivery and dispensing lines pass. Each of the holes has a conical frustum shaped portion and an annular edge portion that has the smallest diameter of the hole and is less in diameter than an outside diameter, in an unstressed or unstretched state, of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line passing through the hole whereby the annular edge portion of the hole grips and locks the tubular delivery and dispensing line in place.

The present invention relates to a pesticide delivery and dispensing system for use in connection with building structures to control and exterminate pests and, in particular, to a pesticide delivery and dispensing system which includes a simplified, inexpensive, easy to install, service box for introducing gaseous or liquid pesticides into a pesticide delivery and dispensing system, such as but not limited to a pesticide delivery and dispensing system for the control and extermination of roaches, ants, termites and other such pests. As used herein the term xe2x80x9cpesticidesxe2x80x9d includes insecticides, termiticides and other such toxic substances used to control or exterminate roaches, ants, termites and other such pests.
Pesticide delivery and dispensing systems are frequently included in building structures to control and exterminate pests, such as but not limited to roaches, ants, and termites. These pesticide delivery and dispensing systems typically include a plurality of flexible pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes which pass from a common location, e.g. a common location on an outside wall of a building, into predetermined zones of a building where the pesticide is dispensed to control and exterminate pests. The portions of the flexible pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes, leading from the one common location to the various zones of a building, have solid tubular walls to convey the pesticide to the various zones of the building structure where pest control and extermination is desired. In the various zones of the building structure, the pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes typically have a plurality of openings strategically located to dispense the gas or liquid pesticide into the areas where pest control and extermination is required. For example, the pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes may lead from a common location to numerous zones throughout a building structure where pests would normally initially enter a building from the outside and to numerous zones within the walls of the building structure where pests would normally breed and live. In these numerous zones, the gas or liquid pesticide is dispensed from the pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes through holes in the pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes to control or prevent roaches, ants, termites and other such pests from entering a building through these zones of potential entry and/or from breeding and living within the building structure.
Boxes housing ends of the pesticide delivery and dispensing tubes have been used with these pest control and exterminating systems to hold ends of the delivery and dispensing tubes together in one or more location to facilitate the introduction of pesticides into these systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,434, issued Jan. 16, 1990, discloses a xe2x80x9ccontrol distribution boxxe2x80x9d which may be mounted to the sidewall of a building. The control distribution box 15 has a plurality of flexible tubes running from the box to numerous zones in a building where the pesticide is to be dispensed. Snap fasteners 31 are used to hold ends of the tubes in place in a panel 28. In another example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,944,110, issued Jul. 31, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,796, issued Aug. 3, 1993, disclose a receptacle for receiving the ends of a plurality of flexible tubes running from the receptacle to numerous zones in a building where a pesticide is to be dispensed. Serrated anchors 28, cable bushings 29 and lengths of drip irrigation tubing 32 are used to secure the ends 27 of the tubes to a plate of the receptacle. While the above discussed systems provide assemblies for introducing pesticides into pesticide control and extermination systems, the present invention provides a new, simplified and improved service box for introducing pesticides into pest control and extermination systems which is inexpensive, quick and easy to install, and quick and easy to repair.
The pesticide delivery and dispensing system of the present invention for controlling and exterminating pests includes a service box and a plurality of flexible, tubular delivery and dispensing lines for carrying a gaseous or liquid pesticide from the service box to locations where the pesticide is dispensed to control and exterminate pests. The service box includes a plate with a plurality of holes for retaining the elastic end portions of the plurality of tubular delivery and dispensing lines (as used herein the term xe2x80x9celasticxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9ccapable of recovering size and shape after deformationxe2x80x9d). Each of the holes has a conical frustum shaped portion and an annular edge portion. The annular edge portion of each of the holes has the smallest diameter of the hole. When the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line passing through a hole of the plate is in an unstressed state, the annular edge portion of the hole is less in diameter than an outside diameter of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line passing through the hole whereby the annular edge of the hole grips the outer surface of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line and retains the tubular delivery and dispensing line in place so that pesticide, to be dispensed by the system, may be introduced into an open end of the tubular delivery and dispensing line.
During the assembly of the service box, the conical frustum shaped portion of each hole both guides and aligns the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line being passed through the hole with the annular edge portion of the hole so that the tip of the end portion of the delivery and dispensing line can be easily and quickly forced or pushed through the hole. Preferably, once the tip of the elastic end portion of a tubular delivery and dispensing line has been passed through a hole in the service box plate, the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line is placed under tension (tensile stress) to stretch or elongate the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line and reduce the diameter of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line to a diameter about equal to and preferably, less than the internal diameter of the annular portion of the hole. This reduction in the diameter of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line enables the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line to be easily drawn further through the hole a desired distance to form a coupling into which a pesticide injection nozzle from a pesticide supply source can be inserted to introduce a gas or liquid pesticide into the tubular delivery and dispensing line. Once the tension or tensile stress on the tubular delivery and dispensing line is released, the elasticity of the end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line causes the end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line to resume its normal outside diameter on both sides of the annular edge portion of the hole, which is greater than the internal diameter of the annular edge portion of the hole, to lock the end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line in place.
Preferably, when a tubular delivery and dispensing line is mounted in the plate, an excess length of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line is retained behind the plate. If the coupling portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line passing through one of the holes becomes damaged, e.g. by improper or repeated insertion of the pesticide injection nozzle, at least part of the excess length of the elastic end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line can be drawn through the hole to replace the damaged coupling by reducing the diameter of the elastic end portion as it passes through the hole through compressive stress exerted on the elastic end portion of the line by the hole and/or through tensile stress exerted on the elastic end portion of the line that both elongates and reduces the diameter of the elastic end portion. Once the desired length of the excess length of the tubular delivery and dispensing line has been drawn through the plate to form a new coupling portion and any tensile stress elongating the elastic end portion has been released, the elasticity of end portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line causes the elastic end portion of the pesticide delivery and dispensing line to resume its original outside diameter on either side of the hole to lock the new coupling portion in place. The damaged coupling portion of the tubular delivery and dispensing line is cut off.
Preferably, the plate, with the end portions of the tubular delivery and dispensing lines, is housed within a service box adapted to be mounted on the exterior wall of a building or some other convenient location for servicing by a technician.


An object is to reduce the manufacturing cost of a semiconductor device. An object is to improve the aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. An object is to make a display portion of a semiconductor device display a higher-definition image. An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can be operated at high speed. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion over one substrate. The driver circuit portion includes: a driver circuit TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using a metal and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a driver circuit wiring formed using a metal. The display portion includes: a pixel TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a display wiring formed using an oxide conductor.

Light-transmitting metal oxides are used in semiconductor devices. For example, conductive metal oxides (hereinafter referred to as oxide conductors) such as indium tin oxide (ITO) are used as transparent electrode materials needed in display devices such as liquid crystal displays.
In addition, light-transmitting metal oxides attract attention as materials having semiconductor properties. For example, In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxides and the like are expected to be used as semiconductor materials needed in display devices such as liquid crystal displays. In particular, they are expected to be used for channel layers of thin film transistors (hereinafter also referred to as TFTs).
TFTs which include metal oxides having semiconductor properties (hereinafter referred to as oxide semiconductors) can be formed by low-temperature processes. Thus, expectations for oxide semiconductors as materials which replace or surpass amorphous silicon used in display devices and the like are increased.
Further, oxide conductors and oxide semiconductors have light-transmitting properties. Thus, by forming TFTs with the use of these materials, light-transmitting TFTs can be formed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
Furthermore, TFTs including oxide semiconductors have high field effect mobility. Thus, driver circuits in display devices or the like can be formed using the TFTs (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2).

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An LED driving apparatus having a temperature compensation function includes a reference voltage generator for generating a first reference voltage and a non-inversion amplification unit for performing non-inversion amplification to a difference voltage between the first reference voltage and a forward voltage with a preset gain. A driving unit adjusts a supply voltage in response to the voltage from the non-inversion amplification unit to supply the adjusted supply voltage to a light source having light emitting diodes. A forward voltage detector detects the forward voltage at an anode of the light emitting diodes of the light source to supply the forward voltage to the non-inversion amplification unit. Luminance variation can be compensated according to temperature changes by using a forward voltage of an LED light source so that the forward voltage of the LED light source can be controlled in association with a target current value of ambient temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving apparatus applicable to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) backlight unit, and more particularly, to an LED driving apparatus having a temperature compensation function, which can compensate luminance variation according to temperature changes by using a forward voltage of an LED light source so that the forward voltage of the LED light source is controlled in association with a target current value of ambient temperature, without having to use an optical sensor or temperature sensor or memory or judging means such as CPU, thereby decreasing an installation space, saving manufacturing costs and promoting design flexibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
According to characteristics of LEDs used in an LCD backlight or lighting instrument, their junction resistance is generally variable according to temperature. Therefore, an LED drive apparatus is required to have temperature compensation means.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional LED driving unit.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional LED driving unit includes a control unit 10 for performing operation control via supply voltage Vcc and feedback voltage Vfd, a driving unit 20 for supplying the supply voltage Vcc in response to the control of the control unit 10, a LED light source 30 including a plurality of LEDs which emit light in response to the supply voltage of the driver 20, an optical sensor 40 for detecting light emitted from the LEDs and a feedback circuit 50 for supplying the feedback voltage Vfd in response to a detection signal by the optical sensor 40 to the control unit 10.
The driving unit 20 is composed of a transistor Q1 that adjusts the supply voltage in response to a supply control signal from the control unit 10.
In the conventional LED driving apparatus, the feedback circuit 50 compares the detection signal by the optical sensor 40 with a reference signal to supply the feedback voltage Vfd, corresponding to an error signal of the comparison result, to the control unit 10. In this case, the control unit 10 varies the supply voltage in response to the feedback voltage Vfd to control the operation of the LEDs.
Such a conventional LED driving apparatus uses an automatic power control process.
For example, when LED light quantity is reduced according to some reasons such as rise in external temperature, monitoring current of PD is also lowered and the comparison result in relation with the reference voltage is fed back proportionally. In this case, the control unit controls the operation in response to the feedback voltage in such a fashion of increasing the collector current of the transistor Q1 of the driving unit so that light quantity can be maintained constantly.
However, the conventional LED driving apparatus uses an expensive photo-sensor or optical sensor for directly monitoring the light quantity of the LEDs. The expensive optical sensor becomes burdensome for a low cost assembly product, which is provided as a set. Furthermore, in case of using RGB LEDs, monitoring necessary for respective wavelengths disadvantageously increases cost burden.

LED driving apparatus with temperature compensation function


Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for initiating an application for participants of a conference are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is provided for concurrently initiating an application for participants of a conference. A conference may be established including a plurality of participant user devices. A request may be received from a participant user device in the conference to assign an application to the conference after the conference has been established. The application may be assigned to the conference. In response to the assigning the application to the conference, initiation of the application for use on each of the plurality of participant user devices in the conference may be concurrently requested. Apparatuses and computer-readable media having instructions for providing the method are also disclosed. These may provide multiple application instances for different participants of the conference, and may result in increased collaboration and/or productivity for participants of a conference.

Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates to conferences, such as audio conferences, video conferences, and/or text chat conferences.
Technical Background
Conference calls allow two or more people to communicate. Typically, to setup a conference call among multiple participants, a meeting organizer schedules a meeting time, and reserves a conference bridge for availability during that time. The meeting organizer distributes the conference bridge phone number for the meeting. At the appropriate time, participants dial the conference bridge phone number to join the conference.
Though conference calls allow a plurality of participants to remotely communicate, participants of such calls may encounter various impediments to productivity. For example, if a conference participant wishes the participants of the conference to start a particular application to facilitate or be used during a call, problems may be encountered. For example, some conference participants may not have the application available on their personal computer. The conference participant may not have conceived of a need to use the application for the conference until participation in the conference began. Thus, there may have been insufficient notice for an information technology (IT) department to have installed the application on personal computers of the conference participants before the conference. Furthermore, the members of the conference may work for different organizations within a company or for different companies altogether. Thus there may be no common information technology (IT) department for providing the application for all the conference participants before the conference. Different conference participants may have different versions of a same application installed on their personal computer. The different application versions may be incompatible. Some members of a conference may not have a valid software license to execute the application.
One approach is for a conference participant to share their desktop with other participants of the conference. In this manner, the conference participant may present one instance of an application to the users of a conference. The conference participant may share her desktop in two ways: read-only, or with full access. If the shared desktop is shared read-only, other participants may not collaboratively manipulate the application. If the shared desktop is shared with full access, conference participants may also view or change other portions of her desktop. All conference participants may not have the same screen sharing application software and/or version on their personal computer. Firewalls may restrict screen sharing applications running on the personal computers of the participants from communicating with one another. Further, screen sharing only provides one instance of an application. Accordingly, screen sharing also does not address instances where greater collaboration or productivity could be achieved with multiple application instances for the participants of the conference.


A helmet assembly includes dedicated features that are configured to matingly engage with a mating structure attached to a distinct accessory unit. The corresponding mating configurations enable the operable securement of one or more of such distinct accessory units to the helmet body.

It is well known that an extremely bright light which may contain a considerable amount of ultraviolet as well as infrared radiation is produced by typical welding operations. Extended exposure to such intense radiant energy may be very harmful to the welder's eye, and may cause radiant burning of the skin. In addition, sparks and heat from the welding process may cause localized conductive burning and discomfort. Thus, it is common practice for welders to make use of a helmet with a protective light filter arranged in front of the eyes, which helmet further offers protection from both radiant energy and localized burning and discomfort from sparks and heat. In addition, the welding operation may create toxic fumes, thus causing potential respiratory dangers. In these situations, the helmet my be attached to an air supply system that offers clean respiratory air, and in some instances conditioned air for added cooling or warming. To be effective, and to gain regulatory approval, the air supply system must incorporate a sealing system to the wearer's face, head, and in some cases neck to prevent contaminated air from entering the respiratory zone. This is not trivial, because the small air pressure within the breathing zone may drop to a negative pressure in certain time segments of the breathing cycle, depending on the size of the wearer, the level of exertion, etc. Thus, the sealing system must seal to a wide range of facial and head sizes comfortably, and also have a good sealing interface to the welding helmet. In addition, the sealing system must not impede the normal pivoting up and down procedure that many welders use to temporarily lift the helmet up for easy inspection of the work or setup, plus normal donning or removal from the head. Furthermore, this seal must be low in cost, preferably disposable, and easy to remove and replace as the sometimes hot, dirty conditions in which such helmets are used necessitates that the seal be changed frequently, sometimes daily, or even after each shift if the helmet has multiple users.
This invention provides a more economical, improved helmet sealing interface, and easier attachment method of the sealing system described above as compared to conventional methods.
In addition to a sealing system, this invention provides synergism by also offering novel helmet accessories which are also configured to operably engage with selected of the attachment means. Such helmet accessories provide increased protection to accommodate the range of physical features of the welders (e.g. long neck, long face, short neck, large head, large chest, etc.) or specific job applications such as, but not limited to, overhead welding, welding adjacent to another welder, welding while lying on back, or other confined situations.
Another example helmet accessory that may be selectively attached to welding helmets through the unique attachment mechanism of the present invention is a compact light device. Traditionally, welding helmets have employed vision windows that employ passive light filters having a sufficiently darkened shade to protect the user against the extremely bright light associated with the welding process. Typically, the shade utilized in such passive light filters is between 9 and 13. Due to the darkness of these passive light filters, the wearer must lift the helmet or remove the filter to clearly view objects in the line of vision. As such, the wearer is required to repeatedly lift and lower the helmet face shield throughout the work day in order to be able to visually inspect set-up, work progress, etc. More recently, auto-darkening filters have been incorporated into welding helmets in order to eliminate the need for the user to repeatedly lift and lower the helmet face shield. However, the "off" or least-tinted state of such auto-darkening filters is not fully transparent, but instead typically has a shade range of nearly 2 or 3, which represents the level of darkening commonly found in recreational sunglasses. In many cases, therefore, additional light is desired to better illuminate the field of vision external to the welding helmet such that the user need not lift and lower the face shield. A light device accessory that is selectively and removably securable to the helmet face shield accordingly provides an appropriate source of light for the wearer to selectively use.
An additional difficulty for wearers of welding helmets is in communicating while the helmet face shield is in the lowered position. To overcome this problem, a speaker system may be selectively secured to the welding helmet via the attachment mechanism of the present invention. Since the envisioned attachment mechanism preferably incorporates a plurality of distinct attachment features, a plurality of distinct helmet accessories may be utilized separately or simultaneously in combination with one another.

Helmet assembly with accessory attachment features


A method is used in calibrating an internal clock generator. An electronic device is instructed to output a high-speed clock signal which is communicated to an external calibration system. The high-speed clock signal is measured using measurement equipment associated with the external calibration system. One or more calibration values based on the measured clock signal value are calculated. The calculated calibration values are communicated to the electronic device. The electronic device is instructed to generate a calibrated clock signal by applying the one or more calibration values to an internally generated clock signal.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to calibrating an internal clock generator.
2. Description of Related Art
Various electronic devices require a more or less exact and reliable clock signal. Such clock signals are typically generated by various types of oscillators, which deliver an alternating current (AC) signal on a fixed or tunable frequency. There are certain applications which require an accurate reference frequency. Electronic paper display (EPD) driver and authentication tokes are but two of many such applications. In the case of EPDs, a typical requirement for an EPD driver is a precise 32.768K Hz clock.
Moreover, an increasing number of devices are designed to be operated by battery. These devices may be required to operate for a relatively long time, in some instances for one or more years. Examples of such devices include authentication tokens employing displays such as an LED or electronic paper display. In order to increase battery life, such devices are designed for reduced power consumption.
It is known in the art that high frequency crystal oscillators are generally much more accurate than resistor capacitor (RC) oscillators or internal clock signals generated by semiconductor devices such as a microprocessor. However, high frequency crystal oscillators are more costly, consume additional physical space, and have higher power consumption. For applications with extreme physical restrictions, it is sometimes impossible to include an external quartz crystal due to stringent space restrictions. RC oscillators available in semiconductor devices often have a high variation such that they don't provide the necessary precision.

Calibrating a high-speed clock signal generated using a processor internal to the electronic authentication device without using a crystal oscillator


The invention relates to a method for providing a fault-tolerant global time via a time server in a distributed real-time computer system, wherein the time server comprises four components which are connected to one another via a bi-directional communication channel. At a priori defined periodic, internal synchronization times, each of the four components transmits an internal synchronization message, which is simultaneously transmitted to the other three components, from which each internal computer of a component determines a correction term for the tick counter contained in its component and corrects the reading of the local tick counter by this correction term.

In many distributed real-time computer systems that are used for the automation of technical processes, the introduction of a global time that is available in all computers of the distributed real-time computer system is required. In safety-critical applications that have a very low probability of failure, this global time must be fault-tolerant.

Fault-tolerant time server for a real-time computer sytem


A system, in certain embodiments, includes a filter holding frame configured to support a plurality of filters for a turbine engine. The filter holding frame has a first filter cell and a first retainer. The first retainer has a first retaining pad coupled to a first shaft, wherein the first retaining pad and the first shaft are movable to secure and release a first filter in the first filter cell.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and devices for retaining a filter within a filter holding frame.
Power generation equipment such as gas turbine engines use a large supply of intake air to support the combustion process. To maintain suitable performance of the turbine, the intake air is filtered to remove unwanted dust, moisture, and other contaminants. The filters that filter the intake air are typically arranged in an array on a large filter frame located within a filter house. The filters are removable to enable cleaning and replacement of the filters. Often, the filters are held in place by the intake air pressure, which may, in some cases, sufficiently press the filter against the filter receptacle to prevent air from flowing around the filter. In some applications however, such as wherein the filter is tilted, the air pressure alone may not be enough to hold the filter in place. However, retainers often have loose parts and protrusive profiles. In context of turbine engines, it is generally undesirable to have loose parts in the flow path. Additionally, the protrusive profiles may obstruct walkways or other areas.


The present invention provides a prediction of an available communication channel quality. According to the present invention, in response to a request for a communication channel, network devices are queried for network parameter status information. Based on the network status parameter information returned, a prediction as to the available quality levels available for the communication is made. An indication of the predicted quality of service for one or a number of requested service levels may be provided to the requesting user, who may then choose to defer initiation of the communication, or to proceed. A user may be notified when predicted quality levels available in connection with a requested communication reach a predetermined level, at which point the user may choose to establish the requested communication channel. Information regarding a rate associated with a requested quality of service level may also be provided.

In a packet data network, the available bandwidth and latency may vary over time. For this reason, the quality of a voice telephony, video conference, or other real time communication may also vary over time. Because variations in communication quality can interfere with or prevent a successful communication, it would be desirable to provide an indication of the available communication quality before a communication session is established.
Internet protocol telephones that provide an indication of call quality while a call is in progress are available. In general, such a telephone analyzes the stream of network packets received as part of an ongoing communication, and displays to the user an indication of the existing call quality. However, such prior art devices only provide an indication of call quality while a call is in progress.
Systems that monitor network voice and video session quality are available. In particular, such systems monitor in-progress communications and provide information to network administrators that allows administrators to identify sources of network quality degradation. However, such systems are incapable of providing a predicted communication channel quality to a user prior to the initiation of a communication session.
In order to obtain a high quality communication link, quality of service (QoS) protocols have been developed. Where available, data packets marked with high quality of service levels may obtain preferential treatment from network resources. However, as can be appreciated, where available resources are insufficient, even communications using data packets marked for preferential treatment can be of poor quality. In addition, network providers may charge premium rates for delivering data packets marked to receive high quality of service levels. Therefore, quality of service protocols do not necessarily provide required communication quality, and the use of high quality of service of levels can result in increased communication costs.

Method and apparatus for predicting the quality of packet data communications


In an exposure method of performing a scan exposure of a substrate, held by a substrate stage, in a first direction for each shot region, a surface position of an exposure area is pre-measured before the exposure area reaches a region, to be irradiated with exposure light, of the substrate, movement of the substrate stage in order to change a shot region to undergo the scan exposure includes first movement in which the substrate stage moves along a curved trajectory, and second movement in which the substrate stage rectilinearly moves in the first direction, and, while the movement of the substrate stage is the first movement, the surface position is pre-measured, and a pre-measure position in a shot region is common among a plurality of shot regions.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure method, an exposure apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a device.
Description of the Related Art
A step-and-scan scanning exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate for each shot region performs step movement of a substrate stage in the non-scanning and scanning directions to the next shot region after exposure in one shot region ends. When the scanning exposure apparatus moves the substrate stage to the position at which exposure in the next shot region starts, it exposes the next shot region while performing scan movement of the substrate stage in the scanning direction. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-3869 discloses a scanning exposure apparatus which pre-measures the focus position of an underlayer at an exposure position before the underlayer reaches the exposure position. The scanning exposure apparatus measures the focus position of an area to be exposed, that is, the surface shape of a substrate before exposure in the area to be exposed to adjust the focus position of the area to be exposed before the area to be exposed reaches the exposure position.
Driving of the substrate stage in the non-scanning direction in step movement need only be completed before the start of exposure in the next shot region. However, conventionally, a driving profile in the Y- (scanning) direction is generated so that pre-measure of the focus position starts after completion of step driving in the X- (non-scanning) direction, as shown in FIG. 2. This means that a driving profile is generated so that pre-measure of the focus position can be done at the central position of the shot region in the X- (non-scanning) direction.
Conventionally, because step movement in the X- (non-scanning) direction is performed during the period from the end of exposure in one shot region until pre-measure of the focus position, the time from the end of exposure in this shot region until pre-measure of the focus position is kept long in a driving profile in the Y- (scanning) direction. For example, the constant velocity interval after the end of exposure in one shot region is set long, or the acceleration (deceleration) velocity in the acceleration/deceleration interval is set low in the driving profile in the Y- (scanning) direction. Further, when an exposure process in one shot region ends, step movement in the X- (non-scanning) direction immediately starts.
In the conventional technique, until step movement in the X- (non-scanning) direction ends, pre-measure of the focus position for the next shot region cannot be done, so a long standby time is required before the start of exposure in the next shot region. It is therefore difficult for the scanning exposure apparatus in the conventional technique to obtain a high throughput.
When the positional relationship between one shot region and the next shot region changes, the position in the X- (non-scanning) direction, at which pre-measure of the focus position is performed, may change. In this case, a table representing the detection error of the focus position, which is prepared in advance, cannot be used. Also, when a plurality of types of tables representing the detection errors are prepared in correspondence with a change in pre-measure position of the focus position, the burdens of table generation and maintenance increase.

Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing device


A cut-off valve consists of a hollow rigid body and a flexible or supple forated plug. The plug defines a flow pate therethrough and is sealed in the rigid body between the rigid body's inlet and outlet to define a free volume in the rigid body between the inlet and the plug. The plug flexes or deforms in response to a differential pressure thereacross to collapse into the flow path when the differential pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold thereby stopping the flow.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to valves, and more. particularly to a valve for cutting off flow when the pressure differential thereacross exceeds a predetermined threshold.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Traditional (high or low-pressure) cut-off valves require mechanical or electrical actuation. However, the complexity and/or cost associated with such cut-off valves can make them impractical for many applications. Further, a particular application may not have the space needed for the installation of the valve's associated actuation mechanism. Finally, since many cut-off valves close and re-open at the same pressure threshold, the valve will tend to chatter if the pressure differential thereacross rapidly fluctuates about the close/re-open pressure threshold.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A first charge pump circuit converts an input voltage (Vin) into a predetermined voltage, to be outputted as a first output voltage (Vout1). A second charge pump circuit converts the first output voltage (Vout1), outputted from the first charge pump circuit, into a predetermined voltage, to be outputted as a second output voltage (Vout2). A control circuit controls charge-discharge states of the first charge pump circuit and the second charge pump circuit. The control circuit synchronously controls a state in which a first output capacitor of the first charge pump circuit is charged, and a state in which a second flying capacitor of the second charge pump circuit is charged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, among small sized information terminals such as mobile telephones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and the like, there are devices in which a voltage is required that is higher than an output voltage of a battery, as in, for example, an LED (LightEmittingDiode) used as a backlight for liquid crystal or the like. For example, in many of these small sized information terminals, Li-ion batteries are used; the output voltage thereof is normally about 3.5 V, and about 4.2 V when fully charged, but the LED requires, as a drive voltage thereof, a voltage higher than the battery voltage. In cases in which a voltage higher than the battery voltage is required, the battery voltage is stepped up using a voltage boost circuit such as a switched capacitor system or the like, and the voltage required to drive a load circuit, such as the LED or the like, is obtained. In addition, there are cases in which a negative power supply is necessary in these types of small sized information terminals; in these cases also, a desired negative voltage is obtained using a voltage inverting circuit of a switched capacitor system (Patent Document 1).
Here, a case is considered in which, for some small sized information terminal, a load circuit in which a voltage is necessary that is higher than the battery voltage, and a load circuit in which a negative voltage is necessary, are driven at the same time. In order to supply a suitable voltage to the load circuits that have to be driven with different voltages in this way, a method may be considered in which a plurality of charge pump circuits are connected in series, and output of each of the charge pump circuits is supplied to the respective loads. For example, in cases in which a charge pump circuit that has a charge-pump ratio of two, and a voltage inverting type charge pump circuit are connected in a two step series, if the battery voltage is written as Vbat, it is possible to supply three different voltages, Vbat, 2×Vbat, and −2×Vbat, to the loads.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-258241
In general, a charge pump circuit is provided with a flying capacitor, an output capacitor, and a plurality of switch elements connecting these two capacitors; by controlling the ON-OFF state of the switch elements, a charge is stored in the flying capacitor and the output capacitor, and input voltage is converted into a desired voltage.
Here, as described above, cases are considered in which a plurality of charge pump circuits are connected in series. In these cases, the input voltage of the charge pump circuit on a second stage is the output voltage of the charge pump circuit on a first stage, and the flying capacitor of the charge pump circuit on the second stage is charged by a charge stored in the output capacitor of the charge pump circuit of the first stage. Accordingly, in each charge pump circuit, if a charge-discharge state of a capacitor, that is, an ON-OFF state of the switch elements, is distinctly and independently controlled, according to the case, a ripple in the output voltage becomes large.

Switching power supply apparatus provided with series-connected charge pump circuits


The present invention relates to a method and system which allows for the transfer of pointer movements and events from small devices with space and data rate constraints to a display device. This will allow a pointer device to be implemented in a small area, but will still enable full pointer movement and event capabilities.

The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the movement of a computer pointer.
The development of low-power, compact, mobile remote control devices has fostered a need for the development of methods of sending pointer and control information to a display device.
The original pointer controller, now referred to as a "mouse", was developed in 1964 and has since become one of the primary input devices for a multitude of different computer systems and the dominant input device for personal desktop computing. The mouse, in its current form, works well for situations where there is sufficient room for the movement of the mouse device (approximately one square foot). However, it does not work well for situations where there is very little room for hand movements, such as on a laptop or handheld computer. The prior art describes a variety of different pointer controllers, some of which have been realized into commercial products and many of which have not. Two notable controllers are designed for compact situations and have been embodied in commercial products. One is a joystick-like device, which is located on the keyboard and works in response to lateral directional pressure placed on it by a user. Click information is provided by a separate button. The other is a touch pad, which works by tracking the pressure, direction and velocity of touch movements (finger or stylus) and relaying this information to the computer. The pointer movement mimicks the movement of the finger or stylus.
However, all of these devices have the disadvantage of requiring special hardware and requiring a constant transmission of data. This is fine for systems having a direct connection to their computing devices; however, they are not well suited to low-power, portable wireless systems which do not have the substantial resources required.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for methods and systems which permit the sending of pointer data from a low-power, compact pointer controller to a display device.


A medical device configured as a blood collection tube holder, the device having a body with two spaced-apart, oppositely facing, coaxially aligned needles including a forwardly facing venipuncture needle and a rearwardly facing fluid discharge needle, the two needles being held by first and second needle holders separated by a compressible fluid seal defining part of a fluid path between the two needles and the two needle holders. The body also includes a discharge needle displacement member that is manually repositioned following removal of the last blood tube holder so that the discharge needle displacement member contacts the second needle holder and displaces the second needle holder and the fluid discharge needle laterally inside the body to initiate retraction of the venipuncture needle into a rearwardly projecting needle retraction chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,775 and RE39,107 disclose Medical devices such as blood collection tube holders having a single double-ended needle that is retractable into the cylindrical body of the tube holder following use. Needle retraction is initiated by closing a hinged cap upon removal of a fluid collection tube, which causes a coaxially aligned inner sleeve to move forwardly and release a rearwardly biased needle.
U.S. D645,962 and U.S. D660,420 disclose a housing for a collection device for bodily fluids that comprises a substantially cylindrical section having a forwardly extending cylindrical nose, an open rear end, a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs disposed on each side of the cylindrical section, and an elongate arm pivotably mounted near the rear of the housing over an upwardly facing slot in the tube holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,927 discloses a fluid flow control device having an actuator that moves translationally relative to the housing but does not have a rearwardly facing needle and is not disclosed for use with a fluid collection tube insertable into the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,600 discloses a non-reusable collection device for bodily fluids such as vascular blood, the device having a housing configured similarly to that of U.S. D645,962, wherein a single, rearwardly biased double-ended needle is constrained prior to needle retraction by a rotatably mounted lug ring. The needle is released during retraction by depressing a pivotably mounted trigger connected to the body of the device to contact and rotate the lug ring, after which the needle holder is driven into a retraction cavity disposed inside the trigger while the trigger is disposed at an angle that intersects the central longitudinal axis through the housing
U.S. Pat. No. 9,247,899 discloses a blood draw device with a single, double-ended retractable needle that is similar in form and function to the device of U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,600 except that a retainer clip retains the rearwardly biased double-ended needle until the front portion of an actuator (similar to the trigger of the '600 patent) is pivoted downwardly to cause the retainer clip to release the needle holder, after which a compressed spring expands and drives the needle holder into a retraction cavity inside the actuator that is disposed at an angle that intersects the central longitudinal axis through the housing.

Blood collection tube holder with discharge needle displacement member


A method and system for regulating the flow of data packets in a data switching network environment is provided. The network comprises at least one virtual local area network (VLAN), at least one provider edge (PE), and a data switching system. The method comprises the steps of configuring flow policy criteria for data packets for each VLAN and regulating the flow of data packets between the VLAN and the data switching system according to the flow policy criteria. The system for regulating the flow of data packets comprises the means for performing the method steps given above. The method can also regulate the flow of data packets, by defining the flow policy criteria for each virtual forwarding instance (VFI) in the network.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to data traffic regulation in networks. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and systems for data traffic regulation in a data switching environment such as virtual private local area network systems.
2. Description of the Background Art
The need to transfer data such as work files, audio files, etc., has increased exponentially today. This has given rise to the concept of connecting customer edges such as computer workstations, data servers, etc., by local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) and Internet, depending on the geographical distribution of the customer edges. Data transfer needs also gave rise to virtual LAN (VLAN), wherein the data transfer takes place in the same manner as customer edges are connected in a LAN, despite the geographical separation between them. VLAN is defined as a group of devices on different physical LAN segments that can communicate with each other as if they were all on the same physical LAN segment. Data transfer between customer edges present in two different VLANs is possible with the help of data switching environments, which enables data transfer at faster rates. Various VLANs are connected to a provider edge (PE) and various provider edges (PEs) are connected to a data switching system. In one of the networking solutions, various VLANs are connected to multiple provider edges (PEs). These PEs are interconnected with the help of a data switching system to create a single distributed VLAN, which appears as a single entity. Two different provider edges are connected to each other virtually by one or more virtual circuits (VCs) through which the data transfer takes place with the help of the data switching system. Data switching system provides the infrastructure to enable the exchange of data between various VLANs, LANS, virtual private networks (VPN), and the like. Exemplary data switching systems include multi protocol label switching system (MPLS) that enables data transfer in a data switching environment, such as virtual private LAN systems (VPLS).
When a user wants to send any data packet to another user in the same VLAN but at a geographically distributed site, the data packet transfer in a data switching environment takes place in the following manner. The user in the VLAN sends the data packet to a provider edge connected to it. At the provider edge, the data packet is transferred to one or all the active VCs connected to the provider edge. Each of these VCs subsequently sends the data packet through the data switching system to another provider edge, to which the recipient customer edge is connected. This provider edge then transfers the data to the recipient customer edge.
However, in this communication, the data packets can get replicated on all the active VCs before sending them to the data switching system. This results in the flooding of the data traffic, which may in turn hampers the smooth transfer of data and results in delays and loss in data transmission. It also disrupts the working of the data switching system.

System and method for regulating data traffic in a network


Systems and methods of conducting a fantasy sport contest are disclosed. According to some embodiments, the fantasy sport contest is provided for participants to join. The fantasy sport contest includes one or more fantasy teams where each fantasy team includes a multiplicity of real-life players. A player adjustment value (PAV) is determined for each of the real-life players. Accumulated statistics of the real-life player during real-life games are converted into a baseline fantasy score according to a baseline scoring system. The baseline fantasy score is adjusted according to the real-life player's PAV to produce an adjusted fantasy score of the real-life player.

Fantasy sports contests are contests in which each participant acts as a fantasy team owner by selecting one or more real-life sports players to comprise their fantasy team.
Each owner's fantasy team generally competes against other participants' fantasy teams based on actual statistics generated by real-life players in real-life games during a fantasy sport contest.
Game rules and a scoring system may typically be established prior to the start of the contest and prior to the selection of real-life players by the participants. A total point scoring system awards a certain amount of fantasy points for each statistic accumulated in various categories for the fantasy contest. The statistics accumulated by the real-life players during the contest are converted into fantasy points according to the scoring system. The fantasy points for each real-life player in a fantasy team's lineup are added together to determine the fantasy team's total fantasy points. The team with the highest total fantasy points is declared a winner.
In conventional fantasy sports contests, every real-life player's accumulated statistics are weighted equally for purposes of converting statistics into fantasy points. Statistics are not adjusted. Fantasy points are not adjusted. Fantasy points are calculated based solely on the player's accumulated statistics during the interval, irrespective of said player's fantasy value or likelihood of accumulating statistics. Giving equal weight to all real-life players regardless of fantasy value results in significant disparities in fantasy value amongst real-life players. Star players having significantly more fantasy value than average players because they are likely to accumulate significantly more statistics and therefore score significantly more fantasy points.
In fantasy sports contests involving a draft, which may be referred to as draft contests, each participant in the fantasy league may take a turn in selecting a real-life player from a pool of real-life players in a certain order based on pre-selected criteria such as a lottery. Draft contests typically take place over several real-life games over the course of a sports league season. Fantasy sports contests that take place over several real-life games may be referred to as seasonal fantasy sports contests, seasonal fantasy contests or seasonal contests.
The scarcity of real-life players with high fantasy value creates unfairness in draft contests because each real-life player can only be owned by one participant in each fantasy league. Real-life players who are projected to accumulate more statistics during the contest and therefore score more fantasy points are more valuable fantasy players, and thus, tend to be drafted earlier. Thus, a participant with an earlier draft position may have a perceptive advantage over participants with later draft positions by being able to select real-life players with higher fantasy value.
The limited number of high fantasy value players also inherently limits the number of participants that can participate in the draft contest. If a draft contest has too many participants, the limited number of players with high fantasy value results in an even more significant advantage to owners assigned higher draft positions.
Some fantasy sport contests, which may be referred to as non-draft contests, allow the same real-life player to be selected by more than one participant in the contest. Thus, the same real-life player can be part of multiple fantasy teams within the same contest. A non-draft contest may include one participant up to an unlimited number of participants. Participants may select their fantasy lineup from the entire pool of real-life players. Real-life players are typically assigned a salary cap number prior to the selection of real-life players. Each participant's lineup selections are typically limited by a total salary cap and not disclosed to other participants until the contest starts.
Non-draft contests typically take place over a single real-life game for each real-life player, which takes place during a certain day, for sports such as baseball and basketball, or a set week of the regular season for games, such as football. Contests that take place over a single game for each real-life player may be referred to as daily fantasy sports contests or daily contests. The daily contest ends after each real-life player has finished playing the single game.
In existing fantasy sports scoring systems, the number of fantasy points a player can accumulate is relatively limited. There is a maximum amount of points that can be scored in any given play. Limits on big scores and swings make dramatic comebacks and swings relatively unlikely. This makes existing fantasy contests less exciting, and results in some participants who fall far behind in the contest losing interest before the contest is over.
Under the conventional approach, there is a limited number of fantasy viable real-life players, and fantasy player rankings and player's fantasy projections are widely publicized. Because of this, there is little skill or knowledge required to choose the optimal players or lineup for a fantasy team.


A method of forming a liquid crystal device, includes: contacting an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant and a receptor molecule with a top surface of a liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is in a holding compartment of a substrate, and the receptor molecule is adsorbed on the top surface of the liquid crystal forming an interface between the liquid crystal and the aqueous solution. The receptor molecule is different than the surfactant. A method of detecting a compound in a flowing stream includes passing an aqueous solution over a top surface of a liquid crystal in a holding compartment of a substrate. The method also includes determining whether a change in the orientation of the liquid crystal occurs as the aqueous solution is passed over the top surface of the liquid crystal. A change in the orientation of the liquid crystal indicates the presence of the compound in the flowing stream.

It is well known that phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes. It is also known that phospholipids form bilayers in cell membranes in which the hydrophilic heads of the phospholipids face outwards towards the exterior walls of the membrane and the hydrophobic tails face inwards. Other components in cell membranes include transmembrane proteins and cholesterol. Detection of interactions between analytes and cell membrane components is an area of continuous development as such interactions are critical to understanding cell signaling and transduction processes. Detection of such interactions may thus be used in screening modulators of signal transduction processes and for use in screening pharmaceutical activity.
Although many conventional assay methods work very well to detect the presence of target species, such methods are generally expensive and often require instrumentation and highly trained individuals, which makes them difficult to use routinely in the field. Furthermore, most commonly available assay methods do not provide information regarding interactions that occur at cell membranes or biomimetic interfaces. Thus, a need exists for assay devices and methods which are easy to use and detect interactions of analytes at interfaces that mimic those that occur at the external surface of cell membranes.
Recently, assay devices that employ liquid crystals have been disclosed. For example, a liquid crystal assay device using mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing octanethiol and biotin supported on an anisotropic gold film obliquely deposited on glass has recently been reported. Gupta, V. K.; Skaife, J. J.; Dubrovsky, T. B., Abbott N. L. Science, 279, (1998), pp. 2077–2079. In addition, PCT publication WO 99/63329 published on Dec. 9, 1999, discloses assay devices using SAMs attached to a substrate and liquid crystal layer that is anchored by the SAM.
Although various methods have been reported for detecting target species in a sample, there are few methods which may be used to investigate interactions at interfacial membranes that mimic cell membranes. Therefore, a need exits for liquid crystal devices and methods which allow interactions of analytes at liquid crystal/aqueous interfaces that mimic cell membranes to be detected and amplified.

Detecting interactions at biomimetic interfaces with liquid crystals


A well treatment composite which allows for the slow release of one or more well treatment agents into a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore penetrating the formation has a nano-sized calcined porous substrate (adsorbent) of high surface area onto which is applied the well treatment agent. The composites are suitable for use in such well treatment operations as hydraulic fracturing and sand control.

Fluids produced from wells typically contain a complex mixture of components including aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatics, hetero-atomic molecules, anionic and cationic salts, acids, sands, silts and clays. The nature of these fluids combined with the severe conditions of heat, pressure, and turbulence to which they are often subjected, are contributory factors to scale formation, salt formation, paraffin deposition, emulsification (both water-in-oil and oil-in-water), gas hydrate formation, corrosion, asphaltene precipitation and paraffin formation in oil and/or gas production wells and surface equipment. Such conditions, in turn, decrease permeability of the subterranean formation and thus reduce well productivity. In addition, such conditions shorten the lifetime of production equipment. In order to clean deposits from wells and equipment it is necessary to stop the production which is both time-consuming and costly.
Well treatment agents are often used in production wells to prevent the deleterious effects caused by such deposits and precipitates. For instance, scaling in the formation (as well as in production lines downhole) is often controlled by the use of scale inhibitors.
Several methods are known in the art for introducing well treatment agents into production wells. For instance, a liquid well treatment agent may be forced into the formation by application of hydraulic pressure from the surface which forces the treatment agent into the targeted zone. In most cases, such treatments are performed at downhole injection pressures below that of the formation fracture pressure. Alternatively, the delivery method may consist of placing a solid well treatment agent into the producing formation in conjunction with a hydraulic fracturing operation. This method is often preferred because it puts the treatment agent in contact with the fluids contained in the formation before such fluids enter the wellbore where deleterious effects are commonly encountered.
A principal disadvantage of such methods is the difficulty in releasing the well treatment agent into the well over a sustained period of time. As a result, treatments must repeatedly be undertaken to ensure that the requisite level of treatment agent is continuously present in the well. Such treatments result in lost production revenue due to down time.
Treatment methods have therefore been sought for introducing well treatment agents into oil and/or gas wells wherein the treatment agent may be released over a sustained period of time and wherein continuous attention of operators over prolonged periods is unnecessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,682 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,955 disclose methods of treating a well by use of a composite containing a well treatment agent adsorbed onto high surface area solid carrier materials. Such composites may be used for the slow release of well treatment agents into the formation and the environs. They have been used in various formations including deepwater, tight gas and coal bed methane formations. U.S. Pat. No. 7,686,081 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0175875 disclose recharging such particles once they are depleted.
Such composites, however, often have an inherent drawback in that they do not exhibit the requisite strength of proppants and thus must usually be mixed at less than 10% by weight of the proppant in the fracture or sand control treatment. Higher loadings result in crushing of the composites translating into a loss of pack conductivity.
There is a need therefore for the development of well treatment composites that exhibit the strength of a proppant and yet are characterized by a high surface area in order that loading of the composite in a proppant pack may be increased.

Composites for controlled release of well treatment agents