One type of code that cannot be decoded in a certain apparatus is converted into another type of code that can be decoded in the certain apparatus. More specifically, a first type of code in an image obtained by reading a sheet including the first type of code is decoded to obtain information. The information is encoded to form a second type of two-dimensional code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for replacing a certain code with a code in a different format, a method for controlling the same, a program, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-312447 discloses the QR Code™.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-280469 discloses the Glyph Code™. The Glyph Code includes "/" and "\". "/" indicates information "1" and "\" indicates information "0". Information which can be decoded in a decoding apparatus supporting the Glyph Code is expressed by printing dots to form the shapes of "/" or "\" on paper.
The Glyph Code disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-280469 has a disadvantage in that the Glyph Code is less generally used than the QR Code disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-312447. On the other hand, the Glyph Code has an advantage in that the quantity of information per unit area is large. Herein, the Glyph Code is referred to as a "large-quantity special code", and the QR Code is referred to as a "small-quantity general code".
In a case in which one person provides information represented as a large-quantity special code on a printed matter, it is highly probable that another person who receives the printed matter cannot extract the information from the printed matter.
This occurs because an apparatus for decoding a large-quantity special code is not commonly available.
Thus, it is desirable that one code that cannot be decoded in a certain apparatus be converted to another type of code that can be decoded in the certain apparatus.

Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, program, and storage medium


A laptop computer desk.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a laptop computer when in use.
2. Background
Many computer users prefer to use laptop computers in the office as well as when traveling. Due to the height of the normal office desk, it may not be comfortable to use a laptop computer that sits on the top of a desk because the keyboard is too high. Moreover, there may be several cables extending from the back of the laptop computer, for example, a power cable, a printer cable, and a mouse cable. These cables are in the way when the laptop computer is placed on the desk because the cables overlie portions of the desk interfering with placement and removal of other items on the desk. Furthermore, the under-desk trays that are typically used for the keyboard of a desktop computer, while vertically adjustable, are not convenient for placement of a laptop computer.
In a home environment or hotel it may be desirable to use a laptop computer while sitting in an easy chair. Despite its name, it is not comfortable to use a laptop computer sitting on the user's lap for any prolonged period of time due to the heat that is produced by the electronic components. There is typically no furniture in a hotel room or in one's home that would allow the laptop computer to be conveniently positioned for use while sitting in a chair.
The term "laptop computer" is intended to cover a broad class of computing devices that are small, portable, lightweight, and battery powered compared to what are commonly referred to as a desktop computer. Typically, a laptop computer includes a CPU, memory, monitor, and a keyboard. However, recognizing the usual rapid advances in computer technology, the term laptop computer is intended to include devices with input other than a keyboard and/or mouse such as a voice recognition module or other alphanumeric input device, or devices where the CPU may be a minor component because the internet provides the computing function or a device without permanent memory using on-line memory storage as an alternative. Moreover, some users of laptop computers use the computer as a video presentation device for DVD movies; it is expected that interactive video watching will involve some input mechanism for the user that may be a simple keypad and/or cursor controller rather than a keyboard. Thus, the device may comprise only a monitor and basic input capability. Moreover, size is a relative term and while future laptop computers may be small with respect to non-monitor components the screen may be as large as a current laptop screen to maintain a proper user interface. Current laptop sizes may be 10-14 inches measured rectangularly, but devices such as Viaio or even the Blackberry or Palm Pilot are considered within the scope of the term laptop computer for purposes of this patent application. Thus, the term "laptop computer" includes a wide variety of equipment presently exemplified by a laptop but likely to metamorphose into other devices with similar functionality but of different structural configuration. The emphasis on the type of equipment for which the present invention is intended for use is on size, weight and portability.

Abstract: A laptop computer desk.


The present concepts relate to devices that can employ graspable controllers that can be employed in various scenarios, such as virtual reality scenarios and augmented reality scenarios. One example device can include multiple expansion assemblies having independently adjustable girths. The multiple expansion assemblies can be stacked adjacent to one another along an axis. A controller can be configured to expand or contract the girths of the expansion assemblies to collectively approximate girths of an object.

In real life, humans tend to use their hands to interact with objects. They tend to reach out for such objects, touch, grasp, manipulate, and release them. Many virtual environments enable users to touch and grab objects of different shapes. However, whether the user picks up a sword, a large jug, or a ball, in most systems the user is physically holding the same fixed-shape and fixed-size controller.
Traditionally, there have been two main approaches to solve the issue of mismatch between virtual and physical shapes in virtual reality (VR). One solution is to use an encountered-type haptics paradigm, where different physical props are placed or robotically positioned to align with virtual content. This technique is sometimes combined with haptic retargeting to optimize the number or type of physical props needed.
The second approach aims to achieve more general haptic rendering by redesigning handheld controllers to change shape and apply forces directly to the hand. Hardware prototypes for simulating objects of different shapes and sizes are numerous. Instrumented solid-state controllers have also been able to simulate physical properties of held objects using wideband vibration, but their use is limited by the extent of haptic illusions they produce. Devices with moving parts often allow more versatile haptic rendering. For example, motors or brake mechanisms can allow users to grab objects of different sizes via palm-referenced, finger-actuated grasping. The entire hands and fingers can also be actuated with exoskeletons for whole-hand feedback. Some systems are externally- or body-mounted with mechanical links or tendons providing resistance to the fingers and hand. The present concepts address these and/or other issues.


A toner comprising a binder resin and a wax, wherein the binder resin contains a binder resin A and a binder resin B, the binder resin A has a softening point of at least 120° C. and not more than 150° C., has a polyester unit, and has a terminal of which a first aliphatic compound having a melting point of 60° C. or more and not more than 85° C. has been condensed, and the binder resin B has a softening point of at least 80° C. and not more than 115° C., has a polyester unit, and has a terminal of which a second aliphatic compound having a melting point of 90° C. or more and not more than 120° C. has been condensed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for use in electrophotography, in image-forming methods for developing an electrostatic image, and in toner jets.
2. Description of the Related Art
The demands for higher image quality, higher speeds, and greater energy conservation have become increasingly severe in recent years in the field of image-forming devices such as copiers and printers. In addition, the use environment has also become more diverse, and excellent properties must now be maintained even in high-temperature, high-humidity environments and low-temperature, low-humidity environments. More specifically, there is a demand that high-quality images be obtained even after image formation has been carried out over a large number of prints, i.e., that an excellent endurance stability be exhibited.
On the other hand, reducing the fixation temperature of the toner is known to be effective for achieving energy conservation in, for example, copiers. Various proposals have thus already been made with the goal of improving the low-temperature fixability of toners.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4,898,384 proposes a blend of binder resins with different softening points using polyester/styrene-acrylic hybrid resins as the binder resins.
This makes it possible to achieve a good balance between the low-temperature fixability and the endurance stability by improving the low-temperature fixability using a low softening point component while maintaining the endurance stability using a high softening point component.
However, various problems occur when the attempt is made to satisfy additional demands on the low-temperature fixability using the art of blending binder resins that have different softening points. For example, when the softening point is lowered in order to achieve the low-temperature fixability, the endurance stability may decline in high-temperature, high-humidity environments and the density may then decline with an increasing number of prints. In addition, depending on the binder resins being blended, the dispersibility of the release agent (wax) has declined and as a result fogging has been produced in low-temperature, low-humidity environments. To counter this, the chemical bonding of an aliphatic compound to the binder resin has been proposed with the goal of improving the low-temperature fixability and the wax dispersibility.
For example, in order to improve the wax dispersibility, a method in which stearic acid (70° C.) is condensed with the binder resin is proposed in Japanese Patent No. 4,116,534.
In order to improve the low-temperature fixability, a method in which a C10-24 aliphatic compound is condensed is proposed in Japanese Patent No. 4,402,023.
Aliphatic compounds, because they have a near-wax structure, do provide an improvement in the wax dispersibility when condensed with the binder resin. Moreover, some plasticization of the binder resin is also thought to occur when a low melting point aliphatic compound is condensed with the binder resin, and it is known that the low-temperature fixability is improved by introduction into the binder resin.
However, the density of the obtained image has undergone a decline during extended use in high-temperature, high-humidity environments. High melting point aliphatic compounds, on the other hand, have a low plasticizing effect, and it has thus been quite difficult to obtain the required low-temperature fixability with them.
Thus, additional improvements are essential for achieving the even better low-temperature fixability, endurance stability, and wax dispersibility that are required by electrophotography.


A string adjustment apparatus includes an outer shell, an adjustment stem member, a winding shaft member and a base. The outer shell includes a housing recess and a recess opening. The adjustment stem member includes a stem and a turning peg. The winding shaft member includes a shaft, a worm gear portion and a string hole portion. The base includes a plate corresponding to the recess opening and a first tube extended from the plate towards a direction remote from the outer shell. The worm gear portion and the stem are located in the housing recess and coupled with each other. The shaft runs through the first tube to make the string hole portion to pass through the first tube and also make the plate to cover the recess opening. Thus, a simpler structure is formed to make assembly easier.

Please referring to FIG. 1, a conventional stringed instrument such as a guitar has a string winding means located thereon to adjust the looseness and tightness of strings. Also referring to FIG. 2, the conventional string winding means of a guitar includes a hollow seat 1 and a duct extended longitudinally from the bottom of the seat 1 to couple with a winding shaft 2. The winding shaft 2 has an upper end engaged with a worm gear 3 located in the seat 1 and a string hole at a lower side threaded through by a string for fastening. The seat 1 has a transverse axle duct 4 run through by a worm 5 which is engaged with the worm gear 3 to drive the worm gear 3 to turn. The worm 5 has a coupling portion 5a at one end with two opposite flat surfaces, a turning peg 6 with a hole formed in the center that also has two flat surfaces opposing each other to couple with the coupling portion 5a, a screw 5b fastened from outside to a screw hole formed in the coupling portion 5a to fixed the turning peg 6 on the worm 5. The winding shaft 2 has a screw hole 2a in the center of an upper end thereof fastened by another screw 7 to form secure positioning of the winding shaft 2. The seat 1 further has an opening 8 at the top covered by a sealing lid 9.
By turning the turning peg 6 to drive the worm 5 to turn in a positive direction or a negative direction the worm gear 3 can be turned in the positive direction or the negative direction, and the winding shaft 2 also can be turned in the positive direction or the negative direction, thereby the looseness or tightness of the strings of the guitar can be adjusted as desired.
However, the conventional string adjustment means of guitars consists of a great number of structural elements, and the winding shaft 2 and the worm gear 3 have to be fabricated separately. Moreover, the turning shaft 2 has to be coupled on the seat 1 by fastening the screw 7 at two ends of the duct, and to avoid the screw 7 from exposing that could spoil the appeal the opening 8 has to be covered by the sealing lid 9, all this requires extra elements and results in a higher cost. Moreover, the complicated structure makes assembly through automation equipment impossible, and manual assembly has to be adopted. This further increases the cost. Hence the selling price also is higher that seriously affects competitiveness on the market.


A semiconductor storage device has a simple control circuit that is added to a general one-port RAM. Taking a port-A clock signal as the reference, the control circuit generates a select signal that selects a port A during the period from elapse of a first predetermined time from the reference timing until a second predetermined time has elapsed and selects a port B during other periods. The control circuit generates a port-A delayed clock signal in the period in which the port A is selected. The control circuit generates a port-B delayed clock signal during the period from elapse of the second predetermined time until a third predetermined time has elapsed. The control circuit generates a conflict monitoring signal during the period from the reference timing until the second predetermined time has elapsed. When a clock signal is supplied from the port B while the conflict monitoring signal is being generated, the port-B delayed clock signal is masked while the conflict monitoring signal is being generated. After the conflict monitoring signal is stopped, the B-port delayed clock signal is generated as a port-B clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor storage device that is used as an image display buffer memory and that is accessed asynchronously by a CPU (central processing unit) and a display device, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a driver controller that drives an organic EL (electronic luminescence) device or TFT-LCD (thin-film transistor liquid crystal display) or the like uses a dual port memory as an image processing memory for the reasons outlined below.
(1) The writing of image data to the driver controller and the reading of display data are implemented simultaneously.
(2) The power consumption of portable devices such as cellular phones must be reduced and, hence, access is made to an image processing memory by using asynchronous access or a low-speed clock. That is, a high-speed clock cannot be used.
(3) The CPU-system clock speed is different from image processing-system clock speed. Thus, timing conversion is required.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid Open) No. 2002-108690 discloses a multi-port memory device that intends to secure a large port number and suppress the power consumption by a simple constitution. This multi-port memory device does not have complex arbitration means.
This multi-port memory device fixes the timing of access and the access order to the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) for each system in one cycle of the sequence operation, performs serial-parallel conversion in sync with the write request timing by two serial-parallel conversion circuits, and temporarily stores the converted signals in the write buffers associated with the respective serial-parallel conversion circuits.
Also, data that are read from the DRAM are temporarily stored in two read buffers, converted to serial data by the parallel-serial conversion circuits associated the respective read buffers, and then supplied to outside after being delayed by a delay adjustment circuit to match the read request timing. In addition, the multiport memory device of Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2002-108690 separately supplies an operation clock to each system and stops the supply of the operation clock for a stopped system.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2001-101861 discloses a semiconductor storage device that aims to implement user-friendly multiple port functions with a reduced circuit scale.
This semiconductor storage device has a port expansion circuit that creates a first clock signal that corresponds with a clock signal supplied to a first input port for a single-port RAM (Random Access Memory) and a second clock signal with timing that is delayed with respect to the first clock signal. The port expansion circuit also produces a third clock signal from a clock signal that is supplied from the second input port. This port expansion circuit causes first and second latch circuits to retain address signals and data that are supplied from the address terminal and data input terminal of the second input port in accordance with the third clock signal. An address signal supplied via an address terminal of the first input port upon generation of the first clock signal is sent to the address terminal of the RAM, and a read signal from the selected memory cell is transmitted from the data output terminal. The writing is done when the address signal retained in the first latch circuit and write data held in the second latch circuit are sent to the address terminal of the RAM and the data input terminal in response to the second clock signal.
The multiport memory device of Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2002-108690 requires, for each system, a serial-parallel conversion circuit, a parallel-serial conversion circuit and a delay adjustment circuit. Accordingly, simplification of the circuitry can hardly be attained. In the semiconductor storage device of Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2001-101861, the first port is dedicated to the reading and the second port being is dedicated to the writing. Thus, this semiconductor storage device is not a full dual-port configuration.


Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.

The products of propylene autometathesis are ethylene and n-butenes. Propylene metathesis creates one mole of ethylene (28 g/mol) from two moles of propylene (42 g/mol+42 g/mol). N-butenes (56 g/mol) as the second product is less valuable. On a mass basis, complete conversion of propylene results in only 33.3% of the propylene converting to ethylene, and the rest is n-butenes. Thus, even with a C3 recycle, the conversion of propylene feed to ethylene is necessarily less than 35%, on a mass basis.

Ethylene maximization with propylene metathesis


In the method of the invention, in vitro proton MRS is employed to determine the measurable ethanol concentrations in ethanol-treated erythrocyte samples of occasional and heavy drinkers. An erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratio is determined based upon the MRS measured erythrocyte concentration. Erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratios are significantly greater for heavy drinkers (a subset of alcohol tolerant individuals) as compared to the ratios calculated for occasional drinkers (non-tolerant individuals) when erythrocyte ethanol concentration is determined by MRS. Thus, the method of the present invention discriminates between alcohol tolerant individuals and alcohol non-tolerant individuals based upon the magnitude of the erythrocyte to plasma ethanol concentration ratio obtained according to the methods disclosed herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to clinical in vitro proton (.sup.1 H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). More specifically, the present invention is directed to the application of in vitro .sup.1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a method to detect the past history of an individual's alcohol use (frequency and amount of consumption).
2. Related Art
Acquired alcohol tolerance in humans is proportional to the amount of ethanol consumed and the frequency of drinking (Mendelson & Mello, N. Engl. J. Med. 301:912-821 (1979); Kalant, H., in "Biology of Alcoholism", Kissin & Begleiter, eds., Plenum Press, New York, N.Y. (1971), pp. 1-26). The degree of chronic ethanol tolerance often is correlated with the severity of ethanol dependence, but alcohol tolerance may also develop in occasional drinkers who do not abuse alcohol and are not alcohol dependent.
The specific mechanisms which subserve the development of ethanol tolerance are unknown. A number of interrelated processes, including ethanol-induced changes in plasma membranes and membrane-bound water, probably are involved intolerance (Goldstein, D. B., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 492: 103-111 (1987); Hunt, W. A., "Alcohol and Biological Membranes," Guilford Press, New York N.Y. (1985), p. 3; Hoek & Taraschi, Trends Biochem. Sci. 13:269-274 (1988); Koob & Bloom, Science 242:715-723 (1988)). Binding of ethanol to hydrophilic phosphates of phospholipid head groups located on the surface of cell membranes may also vary as a function of ethanol tolerance as a consequence of the effects of ethanol on membrane phospholipid structures (Chin & Goldstein, Science 196:684-685 (1977); Rottenberg et al., Science 213:583-585 (1981); Taraschi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3669-3673 (1986); Taraschi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:9398-9402 (1986); Waring et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2528-2586 1981); Tsai et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 31:623-630 (1987); Chiou et al., Science 248:583-585 (1990); Chiou et al., Alcohol 8:143-150 (1991)).
Proton MRS has been employed to qualitatively identify organic compounds, including ethanol, in human serum (Boch, J. L., "Analysis of serum by high-yield proton nuclear magnetic resonance," Clin. Chem. 28:1873-1877 (1982)). Boch suggests that proton MRS may also be used quantitatively to determine the concentration of some organic chemicals in human plasma by determining the areas under relevant peaks on the MRS chemical shift versus peak height spectrum.
Proton MRS has also been employed to study the effects of chronic alcohol on the water content of red blood cells. Besson, J. A. O. et al., ".sup.1 H-NMR Relaxation Times and Water Content of Red Blood Cells for Chronic Alcoholic Patients during Withdrawal," Magnetic Resonance Imaging 7:289-291 (1989) discloses that changes in T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 relaxation time occur in red blood cells in patients with chronic alcoholism. The reported results indicated that the T.sub.1 values for red blood cells of chronic alcoholics were significantly increased compared with controls. The T.sub.2 values for red blood cells of chronic alcoholics were also significantly increased compared with controls. The authors hypothesized that altered T.sub.1 reflects some disruption in the free-bound state of water, possibly secondary to membrane changes.
Besson, J. A. O. et al., "The Effects of Progressive Abstinence from Alcohol on Red Blood Cell Proton NMR Relaxation Times and Water Content," Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 15:181-183 (1991) discloses that red blood cell proton relaxation times T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 measured in abstinent chronic alcoholic patients, were elevated in the early stages of abstinence and declined to control values after eight weeks of abstinence. The authors also reported that T.sub.1 levels are increased in brain gray and white matter of chronic alcoholic individuals, with the T.sub.1 level falling toward control levels after 3 months.
Chiu, P. et al., "In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy detection of human alcohol tolerance," Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 32:511-515 (1994) discloses that brain-blood ethanol concentration ratios for heavy drinkers were significantly greater than brain-blood ethanol concentration ratios for occasional drinkers when brain ethanol concentration is measured by MRS. The reference suggests that in vivo brain MRS can be employed to discriminate between individuals who are alcohol tolerant (frequently consume alcohol) and alcohol non-tolerant (occasionally consume alcohol) individuals.
Kaufman, M. J. et al., "In vivo Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Alcohol and Rhesus Monkey Brain," Magnetic Resonance Imaging 12:1245-1253 (1994) describes measurement of brain alcohol levels in Rhesus monkeys by in vivo proton MRS following acute alcohol administration. The reference suggests that MRS-visibility of brain alcohol is related to the history of alcohol exposure and degree of alcohol tolerance of the non-human primate subject.
Harasymiv, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,271 discloses a method for determining the consumption rate of alcohol by a human subject by developing a serum panel that includes at least twelve constituents. Two of the constituents are HDL and magnesium.
A need currently exists in the art for a routine screening method for objectively discriminating between individuals who are alcohol tolerant individuals (frequently consume alcohol) and alcohol non-tolerant (occasional drinkers) individuals. The in vivo brain MRS method suggested by Chiu et al. has the benefit of being non-invasive. However, many hospitals are not equipped with the necessary facilities to perform in vivo brain MRS imaging. The in vivo method also requires administration of ethanol to the subject. It would be preferable to avoid administering ethanol to a subject as part of a medical screening test.

In vitro proton MRS detection of frequency and amount of alcohol self-administration


An electrically insulative frame configured for attachment to a dropped ceiling grid, having a plurality of cells formed by cell members, including an open cell having a cell opening. The frame insulates the cell opening when attached therein. A worker, having a head and torso, may extend his/her head and torso through the frame while being electrically insulated from the cell.

In the present disclosure, where a document, an act and/or an item of knowledge is referred to and/or discussed, whether directly and/or indirectly, then this reference and/or discussion is not an admission that the document, the act and/or the item of knowledge and/or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge and/or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions and/or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned.
Many buildings contain a dropped ceiling system, which includes a grid supported by the structural ceiling of the building. The grid includes a plurality of cells, which each have a large opening extending vertically therethrough, which is normally spanned by a ceiling tile. The region between the cells and the structural ceiling frequently contains wiring and ductwork. When the dropped ceiling is fully installed, tiles, panels, vents, and light fixtures occupy the cells and conceal the wiring and ductwork.
Sometimes, such as for retrofitting and/or repairs, alterations and/or removal of the wiring and/or the ducts, a person, such as an electrician and/or an heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technician, needs to obtain access to the area between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling. The person/worker/user places a ladder below one of the tiles, panels, light fixtures and/or vents, climbs several steps on the ladder to reach the one of the tiles, panels, light fixtures and/or vents and removes it such that the opening of one of the cells is uncovered. To gain a better view and/or the ability to work within the region above the grid, the person then might climb several more steps on the ladder, protruding his or her head and body through the opening, such as to be waist-level with the grid within the one of the openings.
Due to obvious safety concerns, building codes often prohibit exposed high voltage electrical equipment in the area between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling. For example, for safety purposes, many jurisdictions prohibit an unexposed wire over 30 volts to be present in the area between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling. Despite such prohibitions, however, many building operators are not compliant. Further, high voltage wiring can become exposed due to equipment deterioration, due to moisture and component rusting, and animals, such as mice, rats and/or squirrels. Moreover, such equipment can become exposed due to human error, such as when others inadvertently leave such equipment exposed when accessing the area between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling.
Accordingly, while the person is standing on the ladder, such as by being waist-level with the cell and within the one of the openings, the person can come in contact with such equipment, whether directly and/or indirectly. If, during the contact, such equipment is operating, then the person can become a conduit for high voltage electric current, which can lead to the person's injury and/or death. Although some wearable devices have been created to ground persons in such situations, such devices are typically inconvenient to use, bulky to wear, complex to install, limit maneuverability and/or interfere with task performance.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed. The claims may encompass one and/or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.

Safety enclosure devices for use with dropped ceiling grids


A method of forming a Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system (Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.x) superconducting thin film in which two half-unit cells constitute a Perovskite structure layer, characterized in that Sr and Bi layers, which are present between said half-unit cells, are each deposited without oxidation by using an MBE process or an MO-MBE process with an atomic layer level control capability. A critical current density of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system superconducting thin film is not significantly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oxide high-temperature superconductor, and more particularly, to a Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system superconducting thin film and a method of forming the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Attempts have been made to adapt their superconductors to devices or wirings thereby using superconduction properties (e.g., zero electric-conductivity). However, since a critical temperature (Tc) of the superconductors is very low, they can be used only in liquid helium (He). Recently developed oxide superconductors have a relatively high Tc, so that they can be used in liquid nitrogen (N). Furthermore, an oxide high-temperature superconducting film can be formed by depositing the oxide on a substrate under an atomic layer control, and such a film formation has been attempted and studied (cf., Tomoji KAWAI: "Design and Synthesis of High Tc Superconducting Superlattice by Successive Deposition Method", Bulletin of the Japan Institute of Metals, Vol. 29, NO. 9 (1990), pp. 733-739, and J. N. Eckstein et al., "Epitaxial growth of high-temperature superconducting thin films", J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B7 (2), 1989, pp. 319-323).
In contrast to metal superconductors, the oxide high-temperature superconductors have a problem, in that its coherent length (.xi.c) in the C-axis direction is remarkably short. For example, it is presumed that the respective coherent lengths of a Y-Ba-C-O system oxide and a Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system oxide are about 0.3 nm and 0.1-0.2 nm, and thus these coherent lengths are very small compared with coherent lengths of the metal superconductors (e.g., 100 nm of Pb and 40 nm of Nb). Therefore, when a magnetic field is applied to the oxide superconductor in the C-axis direction, the critical temperature Tc is remarkable lowered.
In Bi system oxide superconducting films (e.g., Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.n-1 Cu.sub.n O.sub.x), the partitioning Perovskite structure layer of the BiO layer serves as an electron-shielding (blocking) layer, and electrons of CuO.sub.2 layers which clearly afford the superconductivity function can scarcely pass through the BiO layer, thereby shortening the coherent length (.xi.c) of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system oxide. If the number (m) of CuO.sub.2 layers in a half-unit cell of the Perovskite structure layer is increased, the coherent length can elongate. However, when the number (m) of the CuO.sub.2 layers is 4 or more, the critical temperature falls, and at m=5 it becomes 10.degree. K. or less (namely, such an oxide superconducting film necessitates helium cooling).

MBE or MO-MBE process for forming Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconducting thin films


A vented microcradle comprising a microfabricated enclosure designed to maintain a human embryo or hatching in a controlled care environment, the enclosure forming a cradle support for the human embryo or hatchling and having a ventilation system to provide the human embryo or hatchling with gentle fluidic ventilation via associated microfluidics. In a preferred embodiment, the microfabricated enclosure is a picket fence structure with a vented flooring; the vented flooring, which has a grill-like pattern, forms part of the ventilation system in connection with associated microfluidics.

1. Field of the Invention
My invention relates to a vented microcradle for use in an incubator system specifically designed to maintain a premature infant in a controlled care environment from creation to implantation. The incubator system is thus an engineered environment specifically designed for the care of human embryos and hatchlings. The engineered environment is preferably a micro intensive care unit (μICU). My invention is intended for intimate combination with my teaching in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,175 for a "Method of monitoring the body temperature of human embryos and hatchlings", which historically is the first patent for pre-implantation patient care to be classified under incubators for premature infants (current U.S. class/subclass 600/22).
A human is an embryo only from conception to hatching. Hatching is an event that takes place when an embryo escapes the shell of the egg that he or she was conceived in. A human is a hatchling only from hatching until implantation (nidation).
A number of authorities still persist in using certain terms in an incorrect fashion, due in part to ignorance about the human hatching event. This circumstance requires one to be especially discerning in considering prior art uses of various terms (e.g., embryo).
A human embryo or hatchling is a prenid ("PRE-nid"), which means a prenidial ("pre-NID-e-al") infant; thus, an infant is a prenid up to implantation. The term prenid is especially convenient because it encompasses both human embryos and hatchlings. The word prenid is derived by shortening of pre-nidation, which means pre-implantation, and the word prenidial is the adjectival form. To clarify this etymology, note that the nidus ("NID-us"), Latin for nest, refers to the uterine cavity; hence, prenidal ("pre-NIGH-dal") means before the baby enters the uterine cavity, e.g., via the fallopian tube. In contrast, the nidia (from L. nidus, nest) is the settlement the baby makes at implantation (compare L. colonus, colonia), and so prenidial means before the baby implants, i.e., establishes a settlement in the nest.
Outside the maternal body, prenidial infants are premature infants because it is premature for them to be outside the maternal body on their own. Prenidial gestation refers to a maternal, bodily provision for prenidial development as well as to prenidial developmental needs in general, whereas prenidial incubation refers to an engineered provision for development outside the maternal body in a manner analogous to natural gestation. Thus, sophisticated incubator systems for premature infants prior to implantation are termed prenidial incubators. Prenidial incubators are like neonatal incubators, except their technology pertains to patient care before implantation. Hence, my invention relates to a vented microcradle for a prenidial incubator.
Technically speaking, "in vitro fertilization" refers only to the event or act of fertilization taking place in vitro, and not to subsequent care. In contrast, the whole practice of caring for the baby up to implantation, whether inside or outside the maternal body, is termed prenidial medicine, and care outside the maternal body is termed prenidial incubation. A prenidial incubator is required for care prior to transfer for children created by in vitro fertilization.
But even apart from in vitro fertilization, prenidial incubators find use whenever a baby needs to be taken from the maternal body and transferred to a prenidial incubator. For example, technology is under development that will eventually enable us to readily detect a prenid within the maternal body. U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,324 (Jordan et al.) for a "Method and apparatus for detecting conception in animals" is noted as an example of emerging veterinary and human medical research in this direction. Thus, if the mother dies in a traffic accident for example, then upon detection her baby can be transferred to a prenidial incubator for care while awaiting transfer to an adoptive mother. Similarly, if for example the mother's fallopian tube is blocked and the baby is trapped, or for example if the mother requires treatments that cannot be safely done with the baby present, the baby might need to be temporarily transferred to a prenidial incubator and then either transferred back or transferred to a surrogate mother.
Early neonatal incubators suffered from a lack of fresh air because a patient's need for proper ventilation was not originally understood. As Alan Brown and Ruggles George report in the Archives of Pediatrics in 1917, "Absence of fresh air was a disadvantage in an enclosed incubator that even properly regulated heat did not outweigh." In a practical approach to the problem, Edwin B. Cragin reports in 1914 in the Journal of the American Medical Association on the use of "a small electric fan" in the Sloane Hospital incubator to maintain "a gentle current of filtered air passing through" the incubator. The technology of the vented microcradle is analogous in principle to that of a modern, ventilated neonatal enclosure, except that prenidial infants live in a fluid incubation medium whereas neonatal infants live in the air we breathe. Thus, when speaking of ventilation for a prenidial infant, one means a gentle flowing of the fluid incubation medium over the infant's egg (embryo stage) or body (hatchling stage) so as to refresh needed substances and remove wastes. Accordingly, fluidic ventilation is not to be confused with an air system for an incubator; but note however that in a prenidial incubator the air system may contribute to fluidic ventilation by way of influencing the chemical balance (O2, CO2, etc.) of the fluid incubation medium, e.g., the CO2 content can influence pH.
2. Prior Art
During prenidial gestation infants live in a fluid medium, and then from implantation until birth infants live attached to the maternal body. Because prenidial infants live in a fluid medium and are of microscopic size, caring for them outside the maternal body involves different technologies than caring for premature infants in later development. Notably, prenidial incubation is now a rapidly evolving technology, inspired mainly by advances in integrated microfabrication technology (IMT). To make a comparison to the history of progress in the care of premature infants in neonatal development, early efforts of neonatal incubation faltered for failure to thermoregulate and ventilate the babies in a competent fashion. Sadly, the incubator care of premature infants in prenidial development faltered for the same reasons.
Fortunately, the modern art of prenidial incubation has been introduced by my teaching on the competent manner of thermoregulation in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,175 for a "Method of monitoring the body temperature of human embryos and hatchlings" (incorporated here by way of reference). Prior to my teaching, practitioners of what was called in vitro fertilization failed to grasp the correct principles of thermoregulation, and so their crude, petri dish based incubator systems did not function competently; in a nutshell, they confused the temperature of the fluid incubation medium, in which prenidial infants are kept, with the infant's endogenous actual body temperature. In other words, they confused the temperature of the infant's environment with a measure of the infant's own body temperature. This problem of incompetent thermoregulation led to enormous infant mortality rates, particularly among infants being incubated in the later stages of prenidial development since these stages reflect increased endogenous heat production on the part of the infant. (Californiaa, E. Thermoregulation of human embryos and hatchlings in a prenidial incubator using infrared microthermography. Trends in Reproductive Biology. 2005;1:63–67.)
Of historical interest, pediatric historian Thomas E. Cone, Jr. notes that similar incompetence persisted during the early development of neonatal incubators, and, moreover, that it was an understanding and solution of this problem that prompted the modern age of neonatal care. (Cone, T. E., Jr. History of the Care and Feeding of the Premature Infant. Boston: Little, Brown, 1985. p. 21–22.) But rather than realizing their own incompetence, practitioners of in vitro fertilization simply attributed their shortcomings to "genetic causes" as opposed to environmental causes, even despite it being fairly well known that improper thermoregulation at this stage can induce a wide spectrum of gross chromosomal abnormalities, also known as cytogenetic abnormalities (e.g., aneuploidies).
My method in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,175 solves the problem of incompetent thermoregulation. According to this method, the techniques of infrared microthermography are used to distinguish a baby's temperature from the temperature of the surrounding environment, and a feedback loop is used to maintain optimal temperature for the baby for the sake of proper thermoregulation. (Californiaa, E. Ibid.)
As stated above, in developing modern neonatal incubators, along with the most essential step of thermoregulation, another key step proved to be ventilation. By analogy, the need for similar progress in ventilation technology in the context of prenidial incubation forms the necessity of my present invention. Because neonates live in the air we breathe, neonatal ventilation is gas/vapor phase ventilation. In contrast, because prenids live in the fluid of the uterine tube and uterine cavity, prenidial ventilation is liquid phase ventilation.
Neonatal incubation differs from prenidial incubation in that neonates require ventilation for oxygen and humidity and to expel carbon dioxide whereas prenids also require ventilation for nourishment and other waste removal. In other words, neonates breathe air, are fed internally, and their diapers are changed, whereas prenids transfer all metabolic resources and wastes via the fluid medium in which they live submerged.
Hunter (U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,000—"Artificial fallopian tube") is a clear forerunner in appreciating the need for a human embryo or hatchling to experience fluidic ventilation in a fabricated device. He speaks of using a micropump to infuse a nutrient solution through an artificial (fallopian) tube to ensure that a fertilized "egg is provided with an adequate supply of fresh nutrient solution". (column 5, lines 38–50). The teaching of Thompson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,008 for a "Fallopian tube and method of in vitro fertilization and embryo development" also appreciates the necessity of fluidic ventilation for prenidial development in likeness to the fluidic ventilation provided by the fallopian tube. In effect, Thompson et al. roughly mimic Hunter's approach with an externalized (as opposed to a prosthetic) device. But unlike Hunter's device, theirs is not a microfluidic device. As shown in FIG. 1, Thompson et al. rely on a well-type structure 1 with a microporous floor 2 to keep an embryo P ("P" for prenid) housed at the bottom of an enclosed tank 3. Campbell et al. in published application US 2002/0068358 also teach a well for housing an embryo. The teaching of Beebe et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,647 for a "Microfluidic embryo and/or oocyte handling device and method" somewhat appreciates the necessity of fluidic ventilation, however, their appreciation appears to be compromised by their objective of employing fluid flow to roll the eggs of embryos; consequently, the rate of fluid flow they suggest appears to be much too harsh. For given that (per Thompson et al.) the average velocity of an embryo along the length of the fallopian tube is roughly on the order of 0.2 micrometers per second, with fastest transit rates roughly on the order of 0.35 micrometers per second in portions of the fallopian tube, the fluid flow rates suggested by Beebe et al., with embryos traveling at a velocity of 187 to 250 micrometers per second for a fluid flow rate of 380 micrometers per second, appear to be excessive by several orders of magnitude. As shown in FIG. 2, Beebe et al. teach a channel-type structure for housing an embryo P. Beebe et al. also teach a well-type structure for housing an embryo.
IMT (integrated microfabrication technology) employs diverse arts to make small size systems and devices. IMT technology includes submillimeter, micrometer, and nanometer technologies, and often incorporates these with larger scale technologies. IMT designs offer important benefits such as intimate integration with electronic circuitry and the ability to manufacture arrays of designs on a single substrate. IMT arts especially relevant to this disclosure include micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and microfluidic technology. Note that microfluidic technology relates to fluid flow on a small scale and also includes micropump and microvalve technology.
A microcradle is a cradle engineered for a baby's "micro" size in early life. The micro size of prenidial infants makes them particularly amenable to microfabricated (IMT) systems and devices. Human eggs are spherical in shape. Eggs obtained from stimulated ovarian cycles will need to be matured if they are not quite ready for fertilization. Using unfertilized eggs obtained from stimulated ovarian cycles and matured in vitro under specific conditions before being fertilized, Roux et al. reported the morphometric (body size) parameters of human embryos in earliest development after being created by in vitro fertilization as being 157.4 microns for the outer diameter of the egg, 17.9 microns for the thickness of the shell, and 121.8 microns for the inner diameter of the egg which bounds the cells of the infant's body inside. However, these parameters can vary somewhat based on physical differences, maternal condition (e.g., increased age or smoking exposure has been associated with increased shell thickness), and the way unfertilized eggs arrive at maturity (i.e., naturally versus artificially) before fertilization. Note that at fertilization eggshells 10–20 microns thick with 120–140 micron outer diameters (100 micron inner diameters) are commonly reported. 100 microns is one-tenth of a millimeter. Composed of a protein matrix, not cells, the eggshell is often referred to as the zona pellucida (Latin for "clear zone") because it is translucent under the microscope. The embryo will expand inside the egg near hatching time and the shell will become thinner. The baby uses specialized shell-breaker cells to make a hole in the shell and then squeezes through. The baby leaves an empty shell behind after hatching. By the time a hatchling is ready to implant, the entire body of the infant may measure as much as half a millimeter in total diameter. Hatchlings require special care because they can invade or breach structures and become attached, lodged, or lost; also, their body tissues are directly exposed. Thus, systems and devices engineered for prenidial infants must take into account various morphological, physiological, and behavioral parameters and tolerances.
Cecchi et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,069) teach a picket fence structure comprising posts to keep babies separated from one another in a communal setting while in their eggs. Their particular picket fence structure is characterized with hindsight in view of the present teaching as a type of microcradle in array form. They teach the advantage that communal life provides a mutual contribution of beneficial endogenous substances, and that the picket fence structure keeps the babies separated for track-keeping purposes. See FIGS. 3A–C. But even though their picket fence structure is in effect a type of a microcradle in array form, it is not characterized as a vented microcradle because they do not incorporate a ventilation system with their structure for the purpose of fluidic ventilation.
In discussion with me, Kim et al. have suggested adaptation of their microcage structure to form a microcradle in the context of μICU objectives. The microcage is fabricated using an IMT technology called surface micromachining. Referring to FIGS. 4A B, the microcage has the appearance of a sea anemone and opens and closes under the action of pneumatic pressure applied to a diaphragm under the cage. However, further development is needed to reduce the size of the microcage so that it can cradle a baby at conception.
Sadly, unimaginative reliance on crude petri dish practices has persisted in the field of in vitro fertilization; according to such practices, prenidial infants are left at the bottom of an ordinary petri dish without any type of cradle or support whatsoever, without any fluidic ventilation, and without a proper understanding of thermoregulation; the children are treated like lab specimens rather than as patients. Such practices are incompetent and in my experience those responsible have no wish to change.
In an effort to advance diplomatic regard for the rights of prenids as patients in medicine, my institution, Juridic Embassy, has sponsored new progress in fertility care. As a consequence of my research in this area, I initiated the Micro ICU Project in response to the general lack of care being provided to children created by in vitro fertilization. The synergy of the project was created by the needs of the children in light of impressive new engineering technologies, particularly MEMS. Using IMT technologies such as MEMS, complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology (CMOS), and microfluidics, as well as various large-scale technologies, the goal of the project is to perfect an elaborately engineered patient care environment for children in prenidial incubators. An engineered provision of this sophistication for human embryos and hatchlings is called a micro intensive care unit (micro ICU, μICU, μ-ICU).
One objective of the Micro ICU Project is to provide a means to cradle and ventilate a prenidial infant. This objective provides the subject matter of my present invention.
3. Statement of the Necessity
For a neonatal incubator, the cradle portion of the incubator must allow for easy access to a patient while at the same time affording proper thermoregulation and ventilation at all times. A well-designed prenidial incubator should offer the same advantages.
What is needed is a vented microcradle for a prenidial incubator.

Vented microcradle for prenidial incubator


A server including a cooling fan assembly and an input/output assembly at opposite ends of the server, and a processor assembly located between the cooling fan assembly and input/output assembly. The server also includes a cover plate that covers the processor assembly and cooling fan assembly and that has a power supply on the face of the cover plate facing the processor assembly and is electrically connected to the processor assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer servers. In particular, it relates to a computer server with improved integration of input/output, memory, processors, and power supply in a compact package.
2. Description of Background
A typical server is a computer system that operates continuously on a network and waits for requests for services from other computers on the network. It may include processors, memory, input/output components, cooling fans, and a power supply arranged in a case.
As requirements in features and performance of servers increase, and because overall size should not increase, space in the server is at a premium. What is needed is a server that integrates a greater quantity of features and capabilities: processors, memory, cooling fans, input/output, and power supply with a minimal amount of wasted space in a compact package.

International Business Machines Corporation


A mold molding apparatus can successively mold casting molds having the necessary casting mold strength, and a method for controlling the mold molding apparatus. A molding sensor measures a pressure of molding sand exerted on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze foot, or on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze board; and a control device that controls operation of the mold molding apparatus based on outputs from the molding sensors.

Generally, a casting procedure includes a sand treatment step, a mold molding step, a core installation step, a melt pouring step, a cooling/conveying step, and a post-treatment step. For performing these steps, a sand treatment apparatus, a mold molding apparatus, a core installation apparatus, a melt pouring apparatus, a cooling/conveying apparatus, and a post-treatment apparatus are respectively provided in the order of the steps.
The present invention is directed to a mold molding apparatus provided for the mold molding step.
The mold molding apparatus loads molding sand into a space that is delimited by a pattern plate and a casting frame, and compresses the molding sand to mold a casting mold.
The casting mold that has been molded must be compliant with various specifications, and must, in particular, be provided with a prescribed casting mold strength.
Conventionally, as an apparatus for measuring the strengths of casting molds that have been molded, an apparatus that uses force sensors to measure the strengths of casting molds that are consecutively discharged from a mold molding machine, and that determines whether or not the casting molds are acceptable by computing and comparing the measurement results with set strengths that have been preset is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 2 discloses a mold molding machine that detects the pressure of molding sand exerted on the surface of a pattern plate in a mold molding machine while molding casting molds. With this apparatus, each time a casting mold is molded, the detected pressure of the molding sand is converted to the hardness of the casting mold, which is highly correlated therewith, and displayed.

Mold molding apparatus and method for controlling mold molding apparatus


A pitch-type fiber convertible to an activated carbon fiber is infusiblized with an infusiblizing gas and the infusiblized fiber is activated with an activating gas, such as steam, to produce an activated carbon fiber. The waste gas from the infusiblizing step is utilized in a combusting step. The combustible component of the waste gas from the activating step is separated out of the waste gas from the activating step and combusted in the combusting step along with the waste gas from the infusiblizing step. The resulting heat from the combusting step is utilized to preheat the infusiblizing gas and the activating gas and the preheated gases are utilized in the infusiblizing step and the activating step, respectively. This arrangement allows the infusiblizing temperature and the activating temperature to be accurately controlled. Thus, an activated carbon fiber is manufactured continuously without being negatively affected by waste gases from the infusiblizing and activating steps.

Activated carbon fibers are generally produced by a manufacturing sequence comprising a step of spinning a carbonaceous precursor material, such as pitch, to prepare a fiber aggregate, a step of infusiblizing the fiber aggregate to render it heat-resistant, and a step of activating the thus-infusiblized fiber aggregate to generate therein a multiplicity of micropores adapted to absorb various substances. Regarding the production technology for such activated carbon fibers, Japanese Patent laid open No. 255516/1990 discloses a method in which the spinning of pitch, and the infusiblization and activation of a carbon aggregate are performed in a continuous sequence.
In the above manufacturing technology and equipment for the production of activated carbon fibers, each of the constituent steps or stages is closely associated with the performance of the final activated carbon fiber. Therefore, the degree of treatment in any one stage has a profound influence on the subsequent stages and, hence, on the performance of the product activated carbon fiber. In other words, the conditions of treatment in each stage must be critically controlled.
Meanwhile, in the production of activated carbon fibers, the infusiblization and activation of the fiber aggregate are conducted at comparatively high temperatures and, therefore, may cause various problems. Thus, in order to control the infusiblization and activation temperatures, it is necessary to supply a thermal energy corresponding to the loss of heat due to dissipation and deprivation by the infusiblization and activation waste gases in the infusiblization and activation stages.
Japanese Patent laid open No. 177217/1987 discloses a infusiblizing furnace for infusiblizing continuously carbon fiber aggregate comprising a plurality of multistage gas permeable conveyers disposed in the horizontal direction within a furnace, which adjoining conveyers can be traveled in the traverse direction each other and the terminal ends of the adjoining conveyers are shifted by a predetermined distance in horizontal direction, walls for isolating the multistage conveyers and having a controlling mechanism for controlling a flow rate of ascending current, and a means for controlling a temperature of the multistage compartments independently. This literature also discloses that a preheated air may be supplied to the multistage compartments from the below portion of the furnace.
However, since the amount of such dissipated and deprived heat is fairly large, it is impossible to accurately control the treating temperatures in the infusiblization and activation stages by means of a burner or equivalent means. Moreover, in order to supply the thermal energy corresponding to said dissipated and deprived heat, it is necessary to install some other heat source but this entails a substantial additional capital investment.
Furthermore, when a pitch-type fiber is infusiblized, its tar fraction is vaporized. Pitch, in particular, has a tar fraction generally containing aromatic condensed polycyclic compounds with a broad molecular weight distribution so that it releases large quantities of tar. The tar fraction not only sticks to the internal surface of the infusiblizing unit but tends to plug the infusiblization waste gas pipeline. Moreover, since the tar fraction adversely affects the infusiblization reaction, the concentration of this fraction must be controlled below a certain critical value. In addition, if the infusiblization waste gas containing the tar fraction is exhausted from the system, contamination of the working area and ambient environment is inevitable.
Moreover, in the progress of activation, not only a tar fraction but a combustible mixed gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, etc. is stoichiometrically produced. If the mixed gas is allowed to accumulate in the system, there may occur an explosion or, if it leaks out from the system, cause poisoning and pollution problems. Moreover, since the mixed gas exerts an adverse effect on the activation reaction, the concentration of the byproduct mixed gas must be controlled below a certain value.
Furthermore, in order to remove the tar fraction and combustible mixed gas, it is necessary to provide a collector means for trapping the tar components and an eliminating or treating device for disposal of the combustible mixed gas, with the result that the load on the plant is also increased.

Method of producing activated carbon fiber


Reactive gas is released through a crystal source material or melt to react with impurities and carry the impurities away as gaseous products or as precipitates or in light or heavy form. The gaseous products are removed by vacuum and the heavy products fall to the bottom of the melt. Light products rise to the top of the melt. After purifying, dopants are added to the melt. The melt moves away from the heater and the crystal is formed. Subsequent heating zones re-melt and refine the crystal, and a dopant is added in a final heating zone. The crystal is divided, and divided portions of the crystal are re-heated for heat treating and annealing.

This invention relates to the purifying of crystal material, the doping of the material and the growth of crystals.
Bridgeman, Bridgeman-Stockbarger, Czochralski and variations have been used for crystal growth. Depending on the crystal growth method, the crystal type and the crystal size, one has to overcome sets of problems. This invention relates to the purification of the crystal material and the crystal growth process itself.
Crystal size and the quality of the crystal starting material play important roles in the production of scintillation crystals. The starting material labeled "scintillation grade" is of five 9's purity 99.999%. Often the starting material has poor stoichiometry ratio. Growing crystals in a closed type system that have large diameters and up to over 2000 pounds in weight result in crystals that have poor crystal quality. Crystal purity, dopant distribution, defect density and distribution and built-in stress imposed on the crystal during the crystal growth process and the crucible removal may be at unacceptable levels.
With the exception of small crystal portions grown at the beginning of the crystal growth, crystals may have lower purity than the starting material. Dopant concentration varies dramatically. That in turn creates uneven light output and decreases the energy resolution of scintillation crystals. When handling large size crystals during the hot transfer, the crystals release large portions of iodine and thallium iodine vapors. Exposure to ambient temperature creates various defects and defect densities in the hot crystals.
The current practices where large barrel-shaped crystals are grown for all applications, regardless of the fact that most applications use rectangular shapes, makes the yields rather low. Scaling up crystal plate sizes from 0.5-1 inch thick slabs cut perpendicular to the crystal length of a barrel-shaped crystal requires large financial investments. At the same time increasing slab geometry increases the crystal production cost by decreasing the growth rate and lowers the crystal quality and yield.
Existing purification methods include supplying a gaseous medium to a surface of a melt carried in a crucible. Those methods require extended times for purification, up in the range of 96 hours. Those methods also ineffectively cure the melt, as lower portions of the melt are never purified.
During melt purification, impurities react with the gas molecules and exit the melt in a gaseous phase. Some impurities react and precipitate from the melt as a sludge. Other reacted impurities float to the surface.
Needs exist for purification systems that remove impurities faster and more efficiently.
These problems and many more remain in the present practices. Needs exist for new approaches for crystal material purification and the crystal growth processes.
Purifying of crystals by reactant gas contact in current systems results in delays and adds significant times to the crystal growth process.

Continuous crystal plate growth process and apparatus


The invention provides a set of highly orthogonal six-code universal sequences for use in bDNA singleplex and multiplex nucleic acid hybridization assays. The six-code orthogonal sequences do not cross-hybridize and thus, minimize or eliminate the 3-mer cross-hybridization inherent in the second and third generation bDNA assays. The highly orthogonal universal sequences may be used in singleplex or multiplex bDNA assays quantitatively and qualitatively to determine mRNA levels in a sample; to screen for and genotype targets, such as viruses, that are present in low volumes in a sample; to screen for and genotype SNPs; and to measure changes in the amount of a gene in a sample such as when gene amplifications or deletions occur. The highly orthogonal universal sequences may also be used as universal capture probes to selectively bind assay components in a way that facilitates their further analysis.

The bDNA assay developed by Chiron Diagnostics and now owned by Bayer Diagnostics uses linear, rather than exponential, signal amplification to increase the sensitivity and specificity of quantitative hybridization in diagnostic tests. Collins et al., NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH 25(15):2979-2984 (1997). The bDNA assay is used to quantify RNA and DNA targets from a variety of sources. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay are derived in part through the judicious choice of oligonucleotide probes that constitute the probe set.
In one bDNA assay, capture probes ("CPs") are attached to a solid support and capture extender ("CE") probes attach to the CPs to mediate the capture of DNA or RNA targets to the solid support. The DNA or RNA targets are labeled using a large number (typically>30) target-specific oligonucleotides called label extender ("LE") probes, which mediate the hybridization of bDNA amplifier molecules to the CEs. Hybridization of the targets to the solid support is detected typically by way of alkaline phosphatase probes, which are bound to the branches of the bDNA. The signal amplification is the product of the bound LE probes, the number of branches on the bDNA amplifier molecule, and the number of alkaline phosphatase binding sites on each branch of the bDNA molecules. This type of bDNA assay, referred to as the "first generation" bDNA assay or the "Quantiplex" bDNA assay, quantifies between 10,000 and 10,000,000 molecules/mL and has been used for the detection of HIV, HBV, and HCV. Collins et al., supra at 2979.
In the "second generation" bDNA assay, also called the "Enhanced Sensitivity" or "ES" bDNA assay, the LE probes bind preamplifiers, which in turn bind numerous bDNA amplifier molecules. The result of the second generation bDNA assays is stronger signal amplification and lower detection limits. For example, the second generation bDNA assay was able to quantify 500 molecules/mL of HIV RNA. See, Kern et al., JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY 34(12):3196-3202 (1996).
A negative side effect of the first and second generation bDNA assays is background noise attributed to non-specific hybridization of the amplification sequences to non-target molecules. For example, non-specific hybridization of any of the following may result in an increase in background noise: hybridization of the bDNA to the CE probe (rather than the LE probe) and non-specific hybridization of the CE probe to the LE probe (rather than the CE probe to the target and the target to the LE probe). Non-specific hybridization in the bDNA assay has the effect of reducing the sensitivity of the assay.
To reduce non-specific hybridization in the bDNA assay, the non-natural bases, isoguanosine ("iso-G") and isocytidine ("iso-C"), both of which have no detectable interaction with any of the natural DNA or RNA bases, have been incorporated into the amplification sequences. Iso-G and iso-C form standard Watson and Crick interactions with each other; however, because the hydrogen bonding pattern between the iso-G and iso-C is different from the hydrogen bonding pattern between the natural bases, there is no interaction between iso-G and iso-C and the natural bases. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,702. Sequences having iso-G/iso-C base pairs are −2° C. more stable than their G/C congeners.
The incorporation of iso-G and iso-C bases into the second generation bDNA assay is known as the "third generation" bDNA assay or the "System 8" bDNA assay procedure. See, Collins et al., supra, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,702. In the third generation bDNA assay, preferably every third or fourth nucleotide of the capture, preamplifier, amplifier, and/or label probes are either iso-G or iso-C, both of which base pair with each other, but not with natural bases. With the incorporation of the iso-G and iso-C nucleotides into the bDNA assay, background noise resulting from non-specific hybridization is reduced and signal amplification is increased. Control over non-specific hybridization with iso-G and iso-C allows for the use of larger LE preamplifier probes, larger bDNA amplifier molecules, or more layers of amplification to improve the sensitivity of the bDNA assay, since signal can be augmented without equal amplification of noise. For example, Collins et al. document that detection of 5 attomol of oligonucleotide target with alkaline phosphatase probe has a signal to noise ("S/N") ratio of 5.5 whereas two-layered amplification has an S/N ratio of 19.6 and three-layered amplification has an S/N ratio of 154.3. Using the third generation bDNA assay, Collins et al. was able to quantify 60 molecules/mL of HIV RNA. Collins et al., supra at 1982.
The second and third generation bDNA assays have use in a multiplex format. See, Collins et al., supra at 2983. In multiplex assays, many targets are analyzed simultaneously. Multiplex assays have been used to genotype single nucleotide polymorphisms ("SNPs"), i.e., single point variations in genomic DNA, and to screen for various cytokines in a sample. See, Iannone et al., CYTOMETRY 39:131-140 (2000); Collins et al., supra at 2983; and de Jager et al., CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY IMMUNOLOGY 10(1):133-139 (2003).
SNPs represent the most abundant form of a genetic variation and occur, on average, at every 1-2 kb in the human genome. Over 4 million SNPs have been identified (see, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP), and of these SNPs over 1.2 million have been mapped to the human genome (see, snp.cshl.org). Due to the abundant repetitive sequences in the human genome, all of the SNPs contained in the databases are not necessarily true polymorphisms or they may not be polymorphic in a specific population of interest. The identification of SNPs has uses beyond human diagnostic analyses. For example, the identification of SNPs is useful for genetic mapping, genetic diversity analyses, and marker-assisted breeding in a wide-variety of species including, plants, mammals, and micro-organisms. Accordingly, accurate and efficient genotyping is a prerequisite to the identification of SNPs. See, Lindroos et al., NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH 30(14):1-9 (2002).
Cytokines are soluble proteins that are secreted by cells of the immune system. These proteins can alter the behavior and properties of different cell types. Different cytokines possess biological overlapping functions and therefore, have the ability to regulate the production of other cytokines. Thus, analysis of the function of a complete set of cytokines within a microenvironment, i.e., a site of inflammation, is frequently of more value than analysis of a single isolated cytokine. Cytokines can be quantitated at various levels. Multiplex assays for detection of cytokines at the messenger RNA ("mRNA") and cellular levels have limitations, such as the need for large volumes of sample or detection of a precursor protein rather than a native protein. See, de Jager et al., supra.
In order to use the bDNA assay in a multiplex format, multiple CP and CE sequences must be used in order to attach multiple targets to the solid support. Collins et al., supra. The problem with using the six-base code second and third generation bDNA assays in multiplex format is the potential 3-mer cross-hybridization that may occur between the natural bases of the multiple targets and the capture, preamplifier, amplifier, and label probes. More specifically, as mentioned above, the second and third generation bDNA assays both have a non-natural base in every fourth nucleotide position of the capture, preamplifier, amplifier, and/or label probes; accordingly, under this design, three of four potential natural bases are positioned between two non-natural bases in each of the probes. Since each natural base has only one successful match, hybridization of a natural base with any one of its three mismatched bases will result in a significant decrease in the efficacy of the multiplex bDNA assay. Further, as complicated multiplex assays are developed, unwanted cross-reactivity between analytes will be difficult to trouble-shoot and remove.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to design and generate multiple highly specific sequences for use in bDNA singleplex and multiplex assays that do not cross-hybridize. The present invention addresses this need in the art by designing and generating highly orthogonal six-code universal sequences that minimize or eliminate the 3-mer cross-hybridization inherent in the second and third generation bDNA assays as they are presently known in the art. By developing universal sequences with little or no cross-reactivity, the accuracy of bDNA assays for the detection and screening of viruses, retroviruses, SNPs, cytokines, and gene amplifications and deletions, is dramatically improved.

Highly orthogonal universal sequences for use in nucleic acid assays


A structural beam or bumper, especially for a vehicle, including en elongated profile which upon collision is adapted for absorbing collision energy and forces. The bumper is prepared from a complete and hollow blank and is further provided with different cross sections along its more or less arched extension. Also, for the purpose of providing a structural beam or bumper bar which renders possibilities for rational and structural sturdy attachment to the frame of the vehicle, the bumper (1), has a substantially unchanged basic cross section (2) at each side of the center (V--V), an outwardly pressed cross section (3) at the center (V--V) in relation to the basic cross section (2), as well as a compressed or folded cross section (4) at the areas of each terminal portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structural beam, or bumper, especially for a vehicle, comprising an elongated profile which, upon collision, is adapted for absorbing collision energy and forces. The bumper is prepared from a complete and hollow blank and is further provided with different cross sections along its more or less arched extension.
The invention also relates to a method of fabricating such a structural beam or bumper.
2. Description of the Related Art
EP 0 602 138 B1 (Norsk Hydro/Clausen) discloses a structural beam, especially for use in a vehicle frame. The structural beam is constituted by an integrated unitary extruded forming piece having a closed cross section, which, along its length, defining a hollow space having variable cross sectional surfaces.


A method of masking sounds associated with a vehicle is provided. The method includes performing on processing circuitry, monitoring of vehicle data. A tonal disturbance type and a tone to mask associated with the tonal disturbance type are identified based on the vehicle data. A shaped band of sounds is determined based on the tone to mask. The shaped band of sounds covers a range of frequencies around the tone to mask. The shaped band of sounds is applied to an audio output of the vehicle.

Electric and hybrid vehicles can exhibit different sound profiles while transitioning through various driving conditions. Sounds in electric or hybrid vehicles can be especially apparent due to the low amount or absence of background engine noise. During certain vehicle maneuvers, vehicle operators may have preexisting expectations of vehicle sounds that can differ from actual vehicle sounds. Transitions, such as an electric motor speed change during vehicle deceleration, can cause abrupt changes in sounds emitted from the vehicle. Unexpected abrupt changes in sound can be undesirable to the vehicle operator. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for improving the overall soundscape of a vehicle.


A motor controller (101) according to the invention comprises an inverter circuit (3) for driving a brushless motor (4) and a control unit for controlling the rotational speed of the brushless motor (4) by controlling the phase of the motor current of the brushless motor (4) through the inverter circuit (3).

In recent years, there have been proposed motor controllers which have, at the input side of the inverter circuit, a small-capacity capacitor in place of a large-capacity smoothing capacitor in view of resource saving and cost reduction.
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of such motor controllers. In the motor controller shown in FIG. 13 (hereinafter referred to as the first prior art), since a capacitor 203 is small in capacity, an input voltage to be applied to an inverter circuit 204, which has been obtained by rectifying the output voltage of an a.c. electric power source 201 with a rectifier circuit 202, cannot been satisfactorily smoothed, so that the input voltage has a pulsating waveform. The voltage with such pulsation synchronizes with the output voltage of the a.c. power source 201 and has frequency twice that of the output voltage of the a.c. power source 201. To cope with this, a desired torque command to be input to a brushless motor 205 is made to have a waveform which is synchronous with and analogous to the input voltage for the inverter circuit 204 as shown in FIG. 14(a). Thereby, the brushless motor 205 can be driven even with a pulsating voltage and the input current I from the a.c. electric power source 201 has a sinusoidal waveform as shown in FIG. 14(b), so that the power factor can be prevented from decreasing (e.g., Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 2002-51589 (FIGS. 1 and 9)).
In the case of brushless motors which drive a compressor used for air conditioners, refrigerators, etc., noise and vibration occur especially in a low rotational speed region, owing to great load fluctuation per rotation. Noise and vibration are caused, especially, in rotary-type compressors and reciprocation-type compressors, for the reason that the load torque imposed on the brushless motor largely fluctuates, as shown in FIG. 15, according to the rotational phase (rotor angle) of the motor to be maximum with the timing at which the refrigerant is discharged so that the load torque pulsates while the rotor making one rotation. The pulsation becomes more intense with the average rotational speed decreasing, and the intense pulsation is accompanied with increases in the amplitude of vibration. As an attempt to solve this, there has been proposed a method for controlling motor current so as to reduce vibration taking the load fluctuation into account. In this motor current control method (hereinafter referred to as "the second prior art"), acceleration or a change in speed per rotation is computed from an estimated rotational speed of the motor, and a motor current command (amplitude command) is prepared so as to make the change small. More specifically, the rotational phase of the motor is divided into desired sections and, for every divided section, a torque command correction amount for reducing vibration is prepared from the acceleration or the change in speed to add to the motor current command. In this motor current control method, since the motor current command largely increases or decreases once per rotation of the rotor, the power supply rate of the a.c. power source also largely increases or decreases each time the motor rotates, resulting in a drop in the power factor. To prevent the power factor from dropping, a high-capacity inductor and high-capacity smoothing capacitor are employed (e.g., Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 2001-37281 (FIG. 13)).
However, the first prior art has not proved successful in reducing noise and vibration when applied to a compressor in which a load fluctuation occurs per rotation, because the torque command varies with frequency twice the frequency of the power source and the frequency of the load fluctuation differs from the frequency twice the frequency of the power source. The second prior also has revealed the problem that if the capacity of the inductor or smoothing capacitor is simply reduced with the intention of resource saving or cost reduction, the power factor will drop, giving adverse effects to the power source system.

Motor controlling device, compressor, air conditioner and refrigerator


The present invention is directed toward a device that vertically mounts a patch panel to a server cabinet. The device includes a main bracket, a lower mount bracket and rail mount brackets. The main bracket includes an upper end and a lower end. The lower mount bracket is adjustably secured to the lower end of the main bracket. One of the rail mount brackets is adjustably secured to the upper end of the main bracket and a second rail mount bracket is adjustably secured to a lower end of the lower mount bracket. The rail mount brackets secure the device to the server cabinet.

Patch panels are typically horizontally mounted in server cabinets. The patch panels, however, occupy valuable rack unit space between the cabinet rails. Thus, it is desirable to mount a flat patch panel vertically along the side of standard server cabinets used in data centers. Data centers generally include server cabinets that are 24 inches wide, however, there are no specific cabinet dimension standards that cabinet manufactures must follow. Thus, the distance between the rear mounting rails and the rear doors and between the rear mounting rails and the side panels of the server cabinets may vary from cabinet to cabinet.
As a result, there is a need for an expandable mounting bracket that is capable of vertically mounting a patch panel to various server cabinets.

Universal expandable patch panel bracket


A method and system are provided for entering input into a computing system. The method involves detecting one or multiple input movements using a sensing panel associated with the computing system and classifying each detected input movement as being of a particular type. Each detected input movement is translated to an instruction signal by consulting a knowledge database. The instruction signals are transmitted to the computing system for execution. Translation of a detected input movement to an instruction signal involves a main process and one or more sub-processes, wherein each sub process is invoked by the main process in response to a particular type of detected input movement.

Many prior art methods exist for entering input into a computing system. The most widely accepted methods involve the use of a keyboard to input character data. A mouse is often used in conjunction with a keyboard to manipulate the position of a cursor on the screen by translating movement of the mouse across a substantially flat surface into a corresponding movement of the cursor on screen.
Touch screens have become increasingly popular as input devices, particularly for non technical applications such as public information displays. Touch screens include a touch sensor panel placed over a display screen so that the touch sensitive area of the sensor panel covers the viewable area of the display. Various types of touch sensor systems are available based on resistance, capacitance or ultrasonic methods to detect input by touch. A sensor panel typically includes an electrical current passing over it such that touching the screen causes a change in electrical signal. The change in electrical signal is used to determine the position of the touch on the display screen.
Graphics tablets are a form of computer input device which operates in conjunction with a stylus for drawing and editing images or for performing typical mouse-type functions. Graphics tablets are particularly suited to drafting, sketching and so forth. Other computing system input devices such as rollers, thumbwheels and trackballs are useful for panning and scrolling functions.
However, each prior art input method is typically suited to a specific type of input and becomes awkward and inefficient to use when employed to enter other types of input into a computing system. For instance, whilst a keyboard offers superior efficiency for typing applications, it is not particularly suitable for manipulation of graphic objects and the like. For both technical and non technical computing system operators, the variety of tasks that a single operator may encounter over a single day may call for a number of input devices. This leads to the inconvenience of switching between input devices and the disadvantage of having a number of input devices connected to a computing system. In addition, it is recognised that many existing input devices have not been designed with ergonomics in mind, making them awkward to use and predisposing users to problems including repetitive strain injuries.
Some prior art devices and systems exist which operate via tactile sensing means to provide data input to a computing system. These devices typically use finger positioning on a capacitance, resistance or ultrasonic touch pad in place of other input devices. Changes in conditions caused by a finger touching the touch pad are detected by sensors. By sensing the position of a finger at consecutive intervals, the motion of the finger can be monitored. Such sensing devices may be used to manipulate movement of a cursor on a computer screen. However, such prior art tactile sensing devices have not been widely accepted. Touch sensitive keyboards tend to be harder to use and produce more errors. The limited range of movement and resolution of pointing type devices often leads to slower and less accurate output than individual input devices.
A number of integrated input devices also exist which combine functionalities such as keyboard and mouse into a single device. However, integration of a number of functionalities into a single input device may add an undesirable level of mechanical complexity to the device.
The discussion of the background to the invention included herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the systems referred to were published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the claims.


A picture quality control system can determine a location of a display panel defect. The system can calculate data used to compensate for the display defect and modulate the compensation data on a video signal to compensate for the defect. The defect may be associated with a pixel or with a display panel area. A picture quality system may include a memory and a compensation circuit. The memory may store compensation data that represents a panel defect location and/or a charge characteristic. The compensation circuit may process the compensation data to increase or decrease brightness information and/or component information of a video signal.

1. Priority Claim
This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. P06-0011237 filed on Feb. 6, 2006 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
2. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a flat panel display device that is adaptive for improving picture quality by data modulation.
3. Related Art
Various flat panel display devices may have a reduced weight and size as compared to a display with a cathode ray tube. The flat panel display device may include various display panels such as a liquid crystal display, field emission display, plasma display panel, organic light emitting diode, and the like.
In some display devices, a picture quality defect can be identified when testing the display panel. The picture quality defect may include a panel defect (or mura defect), a bright spot caused by a defective pixel, a bright line caused by a backlight, and/or other visual imperfections.
A panel defect may cause a display spot which is seen to have a different brightness from an ambient screen. The display spot can have a shape of a dot, a belt, a block, a circle, a polygon, and/or other determined or undetermined forms. In some instances, a panel defect can occur because of a process defect and/or a lens number difference of an exposure machine. In some instances of a panel defect, when the same signal is applied to a defective panel area and a non-defective panel area, a picture displayed in the defective panel area is displayed darker or brighter than the picture displayed in the non-defective. In other instances, the color impression in the defective panel area and non-defective panel area can appear to be different. Panel defects may be generated in a fabrication process. Examples of panel defects having such various forms are shown in FIGS. 1A to 1E. A panel defect of a vertical belt is shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and can be generated because of overlapping exposure and/or a difference in the number of lenses. A panel defect of a dot shape and an irregular shape are shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E, and may be generated by impurities. Due to the panel defect, Products may be condemned in accordance with the defect level, the defect of such products drops yield, and this leads to the increase of cost. Further, even when a product is found to have a panel defect but is shipped as a non-defective product, the picture quality can deteriorated due to the panel defect and the reliability of the product can decrease. Various methods have been proposed in order to improve the panel defects. However, these methods mainly address solving problems in the fabrication process.
A defective pixel on a display panel can be generated by a short circuit and/or wire breakage of a signal line, a defect of a thin film transistor ("TFT"), and/or an electrode pattern defect. The picture quality defect caused by a defective pixel can appear as a dark spot or bright spot in the display screen. Because the bright spot has a relatively greater degree of perception felt by the bare eyes as compared to a dark spot, the defective pixel appearing as the bright spot can be made darker so as to overcome the picture quality defect. Although a defective pixel made to be the dark spot, as shown in FIG. 2A, is almost not perceived in the display screen of the black gray level, the display screen of the middle gray level and white gray level, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, there is a problem that the defective sub-pixel 10 made to be the dark spot is clearly perceived as a dark spot in the display picture even though the degree of perception felt by the bare eyes is low in comparison with the bright spot.
The bright line caused by the backlight the picture quality defect which can appear in the liquid crystal display device among various flat panel display devices. The liquid crystal display device, which is not a display device using a self luminous device, irradiates light to a rear surface of the display panel with a backlight, and controls the transmittance of light from the rear surface to the front surface so as to display a picture. The liquid crystal display device has a problem that the bright line appears on the display screen because the light from the backlight is not evenly incident to the whole incidence surface of the display panel. FIG. 3 represents an example of the bright line which mainly appears in the liquid crystal display device using a direct type backlight.


A piece of text is saved for security verification on a computing device. One or more pieces of related text corresponding to the piece of saved text are generated, where each text element of the one or more pieces of related text is generated based on its proximity to the corresponding text element of the piece of saved text on one or more keyboards on the computing device. A piece of input text is received for information verification. A piece of input text is compared with the piece of saved text and the one or more pieces of related text. A determination is made that the piece of input text matches one of the one or more pieces of related text and input guidance for re-entering a piece of text for security authentication is provided.

With the development of information technologies, more types of applications can be executed on computing devices with a corresponding need for more data input (for example, text input) to run the applications. Text input is normally performed by using alphanumerical keyboards or keypads. Mistyping can happen, especially when keys are closely situated (for example, mobile devices are often smaller in size, when compared to a personal computer (PC), to allow for mobility). Their keyboards, physical or virtual, are also relatively small, which can make typing less accurate. A letter "a" can often be mistyped as the letter "s" on mobile devices due to the close proximity of the two letters on a QWERTY-type keyboard.