Method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the speed of mathematical operations in a processor core. The invention increases the speed of mathematical operations by delivering a first instruction indicating the total number of clock cycles a sequence of operations will occupy. On a first subsequent cycle, a different instruction is provided including operand addresses. Other instructions containing operand addresses may be provided on subsequent cycles. Alternatively, an internal pointer may be dynamically changed each cycle to provide new operand addresses. The operands are then retrieved and operated on while other operands are generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer architecture and methods for increasing the speed at which mathematical operations are performed in a processor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dedicated computer architecture and related method for dynamically updating operand addresses during execution of mathematical operations to improve the speed of executing mathematical operations in a processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advent of the electronic computer in the United States came in response to the U.S. Army's needs in World War II. The Army needed to quickly compute range tables for its heavy artillery and so it began researching ways to speed its computations. This led to the construction of the ENIAC computer in 1946, too late to be of help to the Allies in World War II, but ushering in the infancy of computers in the United States. Since then, many breakthroughs in computer speed and power have been achieved, permitting the amount and complexity of information processed by computers to greatly increase. Despite these great advances, presently there is an acute need to process even greater quantities of data at still higher speeds.
For example, one modem application that is particularly data intensive is computer graphics. The processing of still images or video consumes prodigious amounts of storage space within the computer. Lossy image compression techniques often are used in an attempt to reduce the amount of storage required by eliminating unnecessary features or portions of the image. Part of the lossy image compression technique involves selecting the portions of the image that can be eliminated without causing a perceptible difference in image quality. Determining the portions to eliminate typically is accomplished by transforming the image into its mathematical equivalent. Once the image is transformed in this fashion, high frequency components are deleted based upon the concept that deletion of high frequency coefficients affect the appearance of an image significantly less than the deletion of low frequency coefficients.
Modern-day image compression relies on a transform function known as the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to eliminate portions of the image. The DCT compression is used in techniques such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) to eliminate unnecessary aspects of images. The DCT compression also is used in picture phone transmission and has been proposed in high definition television standards. However, the main drawback of using the DCT for image compression instead of techniques such as the DFT (Discrete Fourier Transform) is the amount of required arithmetic. Although fewer DCT coefficients are required than are required in a corresponding DFT implementation, the DCT technique requires far more mathematical operations to execute than does the DFT technique. Thus, the additional mathematical operations required by the technique effectively slow compression and decompression of an image from its spatial representation to its mathematical equivalent and vice versa. Image compression is just one critical example of a mathematically intensive graphics operation. Mathematically intensive operations are present in other signal processing techniques as well as in other fields.
Mathematical operations typically require a relatively large amount of system resources to process. For instance, the multiplication of two matrices to yield a single, final matrix involves multiplying each element of row 1 of the first matrix times each element of column 1 of the second matrix. The addition of these multiplied numbers yields a single number corresponding to row 1, column 1 of the final matrix. In an eight-by-eight matrix, this sequence must be repeated sixty-four times.
Further, each multiplication executed by a computer involves multiple steps. First, two multiplicands must be retrieved from memory. If each multiplicand were located at the address supplied by a program or register, this would occupy one cycle per multiplicand. This storage scheme is commonly referred to as direct addressing. If, instead, indirect addressing were utilized, one or more additional steps per operand would be required. In indirect or multilevel addressing, the address supplied by a program or register is that of a storage location containing a second address, with the second address identifying the ultimate location of the desired data. Alternately, the second address may be the first field of a chained list of address files, the last of which identifies the ultimate location of the desired multiplicand.
Thus, in indirect addressing the memory location corresponding to the address provided by a computer program would merely contain another address, often referred to as the effective address. The effective address is the address identifying an address where the desired operand is contained. When indirect addressing is implemented, retrieving each operand takes at least two steps which corresponds to two or more clock cycles of computer time. Despite the overhead associated with indirect addressing, it is prevalent today, especially in RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architectures because it provides a degree of flexibility not available with direct addressing. For instance, indirect addressing facilitates sharing of data between several users or several programs where the user does not know the exact address of the shared information during program assembly.
In any case, once the multiplicands have been retrieved, they must be multiplied and stored in an accumulator. The result may be immediately written to a destination address for final storage, in which case one more address needs to be supplied for the accumulator address. In the case of a matrix multiply, this multiplication and storage process is repeated until the matrix multiplication process is complete. Matrix multiplication, therefore, obviously requires a large number of clock cycles for the various operations to be performed. Thus, applications such as computer graphics data compression using the DCT compression technique are slow and unwieldy. Further, while the processor is retrieving, multiplying, and storing, it is precluded from other activities, thereby limiting system performance.
The above matrix multiplication example is not the only mathematical operation that affects computer performance. Even simpler operations such as multiple adds can take prodigious amounts of computer time, if enough additions are involved. Each addition operation involves retrieving two operands from memory and sending them to an adder. Subsequently, the sum must be stored in a register or memory. At one cycle per instruction, the processor time dedicated to adding operands becomes substantial.
The computer industry recognized that mathematical operations are a drag on system performance and has had some success in increasing the speed of mathematical operations executed by a processor. As is well known, the broad idea of pipelining information has been explored. Pipelining is the term used when hardware is built from several functional units placed in a sequential order. Doing work in parallel is also known to speed the execution of mathematical operations when the work can be divided. Executing operations in parallel refers to dividing work into several independent or near-independent units and executing or solving them simultaneously, usually with different processors. Even though these techniques are known and have been used, mathematical operations still are executed relatively slowly.
Therefore, a need exists for a technique to speed the execution of mathematical operations in a computer. Preferably, such a method would not depend on whether direct or indirect addressing was employed in the processor, but would serve to provide a performance boost in either situation. The ideal method or device also would be flexible in that it would not be limited to one type of mathematical function, but also could quickly execute other functions or operands, at approximately the same speed.

Method for speeding mathematical operations in a processor core


A polyamine-containing poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic ester having the formula: ##STR1## or a fuel-soluble salt thereof; where R.sub.1 is a polyamine moiety having about 2 to about 12 amine nitrogen atoms and about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms, wherein the polyamine moiety is connected to the aromatic ring through one of its amine nitrogen atoms, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl and each R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is independently selected in each --O--CHR.sub.2 --CHR.sub.3 -unit; R.sub.4 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to about 100 carbon atoms, phenyl, aralkyl having about 7 to about 100 carbon atoms or alkaryl having about 7 to about 100 carbon atoms, or an acyl group of the formula: ##STR2## where R.sub.5 is alkyl having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, phenyl, aralkyl having about 7 to about 36 carbon atoms or alkaryl having about 7 to about 36 carbon atoms; and y is an integer from about 5 to about 100. The polyamine-containing poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic esters of the present invention are useful as fuel additives for the prevention and control of engine deposits.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to polyamines of poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic esters and to fuel compositions containing polyamines of poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic esters. More particularly, this invention relates to poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic esters having a polyamine moiety on the aromatic ring and to the use of such compounds in fuel compositions to prevent and control engine deposits.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that automobile engines tend to form deposits on the surface of engine components, such as carburetor ports, throttle bodies, fuel injectors, intake ports and intake valves, due to the oxidation and polymerization of hydrocarbon fuel. These deposits, even when present in relatively minor amounts, often cause noticeable driveability problems, such as stalling and poor acceleration. Moreover, engine deposits can significantly increase an automobile's fuel consumption and production of exhaust pollutants. Therefore, the development of effective fuel detergents or "deposit control" additives to prevent or control such deposits is of considerable importance and numerous such materials are known in the art.
For example, amino phenols are known to function as detergents/dispersants, antioxidants and anti-corrosion agents when used in fuel compositions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,021, issued Mar. 16, 1982 to R. M. Lange, for example, discloses amino phenols having at least one substantially saturated hydrocarbon-based substituent of at least 30 carbon atoms. The amino phenols of this patent are taught to impart useful and desirable properties to oil-based lubricants and normally liquid fuels. Similar amino phenols are disclosed in related U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,020, issued Mar. 16, 1982 to R. M. Lange.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,933, issued Sep. 22, 1964 to K. Ley et al., discloses hydrocarbon-substituted amino phenols as stabilizers for liquid fuels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,939, issued Jun. 7, 1983 to R. M. Lange, discloses nitrogen-containing compositions prepared by reacting an amino phenol with at least one 3- or 4-membered ring heterocyclic compound in which the hetero atom is a single oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atom, such as ethylene oxide. The nitrogen-containing compositions of this patent are taught to be useful as additives for lubricants and fuels.
More recently, certain poly(oxyalkylene) esters have been shown to reduce engine deposits when used in fuel compositions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,721, issued May 18, 1993 to R. L. Sung et al., for example, discloses an oil soluble polyether additive comprising the reaction product of a polyether polyol with an acid represented by the Formula RCOOH in which R is a hydrocarbyl radical having 6 to 27 carbon atoms. The poly(oxyalkylene) ester compounds of this patent are taught to be useful for inhibiting carbonaceous deposit formation, motor fuel hazing, and as ORI inhibitors when employed as soluble additives in motor fuel compositions.
Poly(oxyalkylene) esters of amino- and nitrobenzoic acids are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,607, issued Aug. 2, 1955 to M. Matter, discloses polyethoxy esters of aminobenzoic acids, nitrobenzoic acids and other isocyclic acids. These polyethoxy esters are taught to have excellent pharmacological properties and to be useful as anesthetics, spasmolytics, analeptics and bacteriostatics. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,714,608; 2,714,609; and 2,714,610, all issued to M. Matter, disclose similar polyethoxy esters.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,914, issued Feb. 25, 1992 to D. T. Reardan et al., discloses poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic compounds having an amino or hydrazinocarbonyl substituent on the aromatic moiety and an ester, amide, carbamate, urea or ether linking group between the aromatic moiety and the poly(oxyalkylene) moiety. These compounds are taught to be useful for modifying macromolecular species such as proteins and enzymes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,081,295; 5,103,039; and 5,157,099; all issued to D. T. Reardan et al., disclose similar poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,322, issued Sep. 22, 1980 to R. C. Baron, discloses amino- and nitrobenzoate esters of oligomeric polyols, such as poly(ethylene) glycol. These materials are used in the production of synthetic polymers by reaction with a polyisocyanate. Similar materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,981, issued May 7, 1985 to K. Otani et al., and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,039,775 and 5,086,153, both issued to Y. Oyaizu.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,452, issued Apr. 18, 1995 to R. E. Cherpeck, discloses poly(oxyalkylene)aromatic esters containing a nitro, amino, N-alkylamino, or N,N-dialkylamino moiety on the aromatic ring. Compounds described were useful as fuel additives for the prevention and control of engine deposits.
It has now been discovered that poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic esters having a polyamine moiety on the aromatic ring are surprisingly useful for reducing engine deposits, especially intake valve deposits, when employed as fuel additives in fuel compositions.

Fuel compositions containing polyamines of poly(oxyalkylene) aromatic


The present invention uses a laser apparatus capable of selecting a wavelength of light to be outputted from a plurality of wavelengths, including: a branching unit which is formed of a polarizer and is configured to branch an optical path formed in a resonator including a reflecting unit having a plurality of fixed reflecting planes and an output mirror, into a plurality of optical paths, thereby forming a common optical path having an end defined by the output mirror and a plurality of optical path branches each having an end defined by any one of the reflecting planes; a laser medium disposed in the common optical path; and a selecting unit configured to select, from the plurality of optical path branches, an optical path branch which corresponds to a wavelength of light to be outputted.

Development of a medical photoacoustic tomography apparatus (PAT apparatus) using tunable laser is proceeding (NPL 1). Such a PAT apparatus is expected to be capable of determining whether or not a tumor exists by observing blood vessels gathered around the tumor in a living body and analyzing the function of a tissue by making use of a difference in spectrum between oxidized hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin.
The PAT apparatus is a measuring apparatus configured to acquire an image by irradiating a measurement site by a nanosecond pulse laser, receiving a photoacoustic wave generated therefrom and then analyzing received signals. Because the intensity of laser light applied to a living body attenuates due to diffusion inside the living body, laser light having a high energy output per pulse is needed particularly when a photoacoustic wave has to be obtained from a part located relatively deep inside the living body such as a breast.
A titanium sapphire laser and an alexandrite laser are solid-state lasers each rendered tunable by using a laser medium having a wide gain band. Wavelength selecting systems for allowing a tunable laser to generate laser oscillation of a desired wavelength include one based on an approach such as to provide a prism, a diffraction grating or a birefringent plate in a laser resonator, and one based on an approach such as to utilize an acoustooptic tunable filter (AOTF) (PTL 1).
In cases where the prism is used, a light beam is allowed to resonate in a resonator correspondingly with an angular displacement of optical path which is estimated from the refractive index of the prism. When the prism is used as a reflecting mirror of the resonator, the prism is mechanically rotated in the plane of a substrate forming part of the resonator. When a reflecting mirror is used separately from the prism, wavelength selection is also possible by fixing the prism and mechanically rotating the reflecting mirror located correspondingly with an angular displacement of optical path on a wavelength-by-wavelength basis. In cases where the diffraction grating is used as in the case of the prism, wavelength selection is made by mechanically rotating a reflecting mirror in accordance with an oscillation wavelength.
In cases where the birefringent plate is used, wavelength selection is made by mechanically rotating the birefringent plate in such a manner as to maintain the optical axis of a resonating light beam at the angles of its incidence on and outgoing from the birefringent plate.
In cases where the AOTF is used, wavelength selection is made by means of RF signals applied to the AOTF device without using any mechanically rotating system.

Laser apparatus and control method therefor


In certain aspects, the present disclosure relates to the insight that a polypeptide comprising a truncated, ligand-binding portion of the extracellular domain of endoglin (ENG) polypeptide may be used to treat fibrotic disorders.

Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue. Fibrosis may occur in response to physical or chemical injury as part of a reparative or reactive process, also referred to as scarring. Fibrosis may also arise from a pathological aberration in a cell or tissue without external injury. Fibrosis results in the deposition of connective tissue, which can support tissue homeostasis and healing after trauma. Excessive fibrosis, however, can obliterate the architecture and impede the function of the underlying organ or tissue, leading to fibrotic disorders, such as, for example, liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis. Fibrotic tissue can typically not carry out the specialized functions of the respective organ, and cannot be repaired. Treatment options for fibrotic disorders are, thus, limited to tissue replacement approaches, such as organ transplantation, and palliative care.
It is desirable that effective compositions and methods for inhibiting and treating fibrosis be developed. These include methods and compositions which can inhibit and/or reverse excessive fibrosis associated with fibrotic disorders.

Endoglin peptides to treat fibrotic diseases


A building management system includes a building system interface (24) configured to access a building system (20); an event service module (26) configured to access event data in the building system through the building system interface (24); a knowledge base (12) providing a model of the building system, the model including semantic descriptions of the event data, the semantic descriptions of the event data being arranged in an ontology; a semantic service module (30) in communication with the knowledge base (12); and a user interface (14) in communication with the semantic service module (30) and the event service module (26), the user interface (14) generating a user request to create an event filter having a filter criterion and report event data matching the filter criterion.

A building management system may be used to detect the occurrence of events at a building system by processing building system data. For example, in an HVAC application, a building management system may be used to monitor existing chiller water temperatures and to issue an event in the form of an alarm if the chiller water temperature exceeds a limit. In current building installations, each system (HVAC, security, safety, and building transportation) provides a huge number of events. Event data provided by devices belonging to different systems can only be accessed and controlled through heterogeneous, often proprietary protocols, and/or managed by isolated building management systems. As a result, accessing event data can be burdensome, given the multitude of protocols and isolated nature of the diverse building systems.

Building management system having event reporting


A support locator includes at least one body portion and at least one support portion, wherein the support portion is configured for engaging and retaining at least one strut member which holds a banner taught, and wherein the body portion is releasably connectable to a corner forming portion of a sheet of material forming the banner on the non-printed side of the banner, wherein the support portion projects substantially orthogonally out from a substantially planar body portion and wherein the plane of the body portion is parallel to that of the sheet material.

The present invention has a broad variety of applications for supporting sheet material. For ease of reference however the present invention will now be described in relation to banner support systems.
At present a number of different systems exist for supporting banners.
However most systems utilise a heavy aluminium base which has a retraction system for rolling up the banner for storage and transport purposes and a pole for holding the banner erect when in use.
These systems are expensive to transport because of their weight and can be cumbersome to carry for long periods.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.
Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


A frame (20), for illuminating a depiction on a transparency (50) with full illumination or with highlighting, shadowing and dramatic illumination, includes a front panel (36), a back panel (38), a bottom lens panel (40), a top panel (42) and pair of side panels (44). Each panel includes its own light guiding groove arrangement of a SCOTCH.TM. optical lighting film (SOLF) (50, 70, 88, 108, 126, 146, 160) and whole portions or segments of a light extractor film (84, 98, 104, 136, 156, 158) for either directing the light from a fluorescent bulb (48) along the SOLF light guides or into patterns of light onto and through transparency (50). The SOLF grooves transmit the light in the direction of double headed arrows (78) in bottom lens panel (40) toward side panels (44), which direct the light as shown by double headed arrows (96). The grooves in top panel (42), as portrayed by double headed arrow lines (116) guide the light in a wrapped arround manner between front and back panels (36, 38). Grooves (132, 152, 64) in respective back panels (38a, , 38b) and in front panel (36) extend between top panel (42) and bottom lens panel (40). Grooves (76) in bottom lens panel (40) direct light parrallel to the axis of the flourescent bulb (46) while all other grooves, including light wrap-around grooves (114) in top panel (42), direct light perpendicular to the bulb axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frame for illuminating a transparency, which may include translucent matter, such as for back-lighting of photographic or other depictions and, more particularly, to such an illuminated frame which is in the nature of a picture frame and which is both compact in size and efficient in applying light for full illumination or for highlighting, shadowing and other dramatic illumination of the transparency.
2. Description of Related Art and Other Considerations
In the following description, the materials used in the present invention comprise optical lighting and light extractor films, which are obtainable from several sources. However, the preferred materials are those manufactured by 3M Company under its trade name "SOLF" (an acronym for its SCOTCH.TM. Optical Lighting Film) and its extractor film. These and related materials are described, at least in part, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,260,220, 4,542,449, 4,615,579, 4,750,798, 4,787,708 and 4,791,450, whose disclosures are incorporated herein as if set forth in haec verba. However, it is to be understood that any like materials, which are obtainable from other sources and can perform equivalently, may be used in the present invention. Nevertheless, because the preferred materials comprise those obtainable from 3M, the following presentation emphasizes their employ, although it is not intended that the present invention be limited thereto.
Existing illuminators or light boxes and their constituent materials, such as are manufactured by or with materials originating from 3M Company, are described in several of its publications emanating from its Special Enterprises Department, 3M Traffic Control Materials Division, numbers 75-0299-6017-8 and 75-0299-6016-0, both dated November 1988, and respectively entitled "3M SCOTCH.TM. OPTICAL LIGHTING FILM APPLICATION BULLETIN THIN LIGHT BOX" and "3M SCOTCH.TM. OPTICAL LIGHTING FILM ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS THIN LIGHT BOX INSERTS."
Such a thin light box and its materials are also described in other 3M publications entitled "SCOTCHLAMP FILM .TM.", number 78-6970-2773-4, "3M SCOTCH.TM. OPTICAL LIGHTING FILM GENERAL THEORY," number 75-0299-6018-6, dated November 1988, "3M SCOTCH.TM. OPTICAL LIGHTING FILM SPECIFICATION SHEET," number 75-0299-5727-3, dated November 1988, "Product Bulletin V-5115" entitled "Scotch.TM. Light Extractor Film V-5115," number 75-5100-0145-8, dated July 1989, and a brochure entitled "Product Information" entitled "Scotch.TM. 467MP and 468MP Laminating Adhesives," number 70-0701-2468-3.
Aspects of such a 3M thin light box are described in two papers entitled "Progress in the development of prism light guides" by Steven G. Saxe, Lorne A. Whitehead and Sanford Cobb, Jr., Proceedings of the Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), volume 692, pages 235-240 (1986), and in above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,260,220 and 4,615,579 by Lorne A. Whitehead. Two other 3M publications are both entitled "3M BRAND SCOTCH LAMP FILM.TM.." Mention is also made to the other above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,542,449, 4,750,798, 4,787,708 and 4,791,450.
Two important materials utilized in the 3M thin light box include SOLF (an acronym for 3M SCOTCH.TM. Optical Lighting Film and sometimes referred to by 3M as "SCOTCHLAMP FILM.TM.") and a light extractor film, both of which are described in one or more of the above publications.
As described, for example, in above-identified 3M publication number 78-6970-2773-4 entitled "SCOTCHLAMP FILM.TM.", the SOLF is defined as a clear 0.022" thick acrylic or 0.020" thick polycarbonate film which is manufactured using a 3M microreprocation process to provide very precise prism grooves on one side and a mirror-like plano finish on the other. According to above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,220, these grooves form a light guide which is capable of effectively guiding light by total internal reflection in which its planar inner and outer surfaces are defined as being in "octature."
The light extractor film comprises a diffuse, reflecting material, is utilized when it is desirable to have the light escape from the SOLF, and functions to change the direction of the light rays, causing them to scatter and penetrate the film in the desired areas. Particular reference is also made to 3M SOLF Application Bulletin, number 75-0299-6017-8 which contains information necessary for the design and construction of a thin, back-lit display box using SOLF. The extractor film typically is fabricated with a self-adhering adhesive on one surface.
Thin light boxes constructed according to the above publications are limited to relatively large sizes and wattage. Light is directed into the interior of the box from all sides, and a mirrored surface, for example, of silvered Mylar film, is used at the box end, which is opposite from the light bulb end, to redirect the light back into the interior. The SOLF is arranged so that its mirror-like side always faces the light source. To provide the desired light output from such boxes, a minimum 40 watt fluorescent bulb is required. Such a relatively large fluorescent bulb increases the thickness of the box, having a typical small size of 4' by 6', with a 6" to 12" depth, although some depths may have been reduced to a minimum of 21/2". Furthermore, 3M personnel emphasize that the SOLF surfaces must not be damaged so that the light carrying or light reflective qualities of the box materials will not be diminished. Accordingly, it is not practicable to utilize such a light box for other than large outdoor or other industrial displays. Such boxes are not adaptable or at least easily amenable to home or office use, or as an archival light box such as might be employed in a museum, or as a picture-like frame. It is conventional opinion that smaller sizes are not possible or practicable.

Compact, light efficient, illuminated transparency frame


A tri-band antenna including an center conducting an inner pipe surrounding the center conductor, an outer pipe surrounding the inner pipe and Teflon provided between the inner and outer pipes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cellular mobile antennas for vehicles.
2. Prior Art
For AM/FM B.C. and cellular mobile telephone (MT) in vehicles, more than two antennas are usually necessary. However, an AM-FM-MT tri-band antenna is desired and one with coils is used presently.
The tri-band antenna, as shown in FIG. 1 is usually connected to an AM/FM receiver and a mobile telephone receiver/transmitter via a branching filter. Transmission loss in the branching filter and the coaxial transmission line is about 1.5-2.0 dB in all. Therefore, it is desired that the tri-band antenna has a directive gain high enough to compensate for it's loss. In addition, the tri-band antenna is required to have a directivity broad enough to keep a sensitivity in the mobile telephone band even when the antenna inclines. The tri-band antenna referred to in this application is for U.S.A. (Transmitting frequency range of MT:825-845 MHz Receiving frequency range of MT:870-890 MHz, etc.).

AM-FM-cellular mobile telephone tri-band antenna with double sleeves


Apparatus and methods are described for allowing users to access channels of a receiving device using custom channel identifiers rather than content provider assigned channel identifiers. A receiving device receives a first set of channel identifiers assigned by a content provider for a plurality of channels. The receiving device further receives a second set of custom channel identifiers identifying the plurality of channels. At least a portion of the first set of channel identifiers maps to the second set of channel identifiers. The user provides user input specifying one of the second identifiers to access and the receiving device correlates the user input to a corresponding first identifier to determine the selected channel the user desires to access.

Content distribution systems, such as cable and television distribution systems, arrange audio/video content in a static listing of numerical channel identifiers that are configured by the content provider. When a subscriber switches service from one content provider to another, while the content is still the same, the channel identifiers are different. For example, a sports channel may be accessible on channel 110 of a first content provider and channel 127 of a second content provider. Due to the large quantity of channels carried on both services, the amount of time required for a subscriber to acclimate to the new content provider is large. Thus, it would be desirable for the subscriber to reorder the content into an order that they find useful and comfortable to utilize. Additionally, it would be desirable for the content provider to offer mappings of competing services to make new subscriber transition easier and more enjoyable.

Apparatus and methods for accessing content using alternative identifiers


A distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named xe2x80x98Seikilremxe2x80x99, characterized by its uniformly mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; and bright yellow-colored ray florets and dark purple-tipped disc florets.

Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Seikilrem.
The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Seikilremxe2x80x99.
The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gunma-den, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Osteospermum cultivars with interesting floret colors.
The new Osteospermum was discovered as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Seidacre, U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently, Ser. No. 09/996,362.
The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in April, 1993, as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent cultivar in a controlled environment in Gunma-den, Japan.
Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum by terminal vegetative cuttings was first conducted in Gunma-den, Japan on Jun. 1, 1993. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
The cultivar Seikilrem has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Seikilremxe2x80x99. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Seikilremxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct Osteospermum:
1. Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.
2. Freely branching growth habit.
3. Freely flowering habit.
4. Bright yellow-colored ray florets and dark purple-tipped disc florets.
Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the parent, the cultivar Seidacre, in ray floret coloration.
Plants of the new Osteospermum are similar in ray floret coloration to plants of the cultivar Cape Daisy Zulu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,389. However, plants of the new Osteospermum are more outwardly spreading and more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Cape Daisy Zulu.


Drill bit reinforcing members or blanks of this invention are formed from high-strength steels having a carbon content less than about 0.3 percent by weight, a yield strength of at least 55,000 psi, a tensile strength of at least 80,000 psi, a toughness of at least 40 CVN-L, Ft-lb, and a rate of expansion percentage change less than about 0.0025%/° F. during austenitic to ferritic phase transformation. In one embodiment, such steel comprises in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight carbon, 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight manganese, up to about 0.8 percent by weight chromium, 0.05 to 4 percent by weight nickel, and 0.02 to 0.8 percent by weight molybdenum. In another example, such steel comprises in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight carbon, 0.9 to 1.5 percent by weight manganese, 0.1 to 0.5 percent by weight silicon, and one or more microalloying element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum and mixtures thereof.

Earth-boring drill bits comprising one or more polycrystalline diamond compact ("PDC") cutters are known in the art, and are referred to in the industry as PDC bits. Typically, PDC bits include an integral bit body that can be made of steel or fabricated of a hard matrix material such as tungsten carbide (WC). Tungsten carbide or other hard metal matrix body bits have the advantage of higher wear and erosion resistance when compared to steel body bits. Such matrix bits are generally formed by packing a graphite mold with tungsten carbide powder, and then infiltrating the powder with a molten copper-based alloy binder.
A plurality of diamond cutter devices, e.g., PDC cutters, are mounted along the exterior face of the bit body. Each diamond cutter has a stud portion which typically is brazed in a recess or pocket in the exterior face of the bit body. The PDC cutters are positioned along the leading edges of the bit body so that, as the bit body is rotated in its intended direction of use, the PDC cutters engage and drill the earth formation.
Such PDC bits are formed having a reinforcing/connecting member beneath the bit body that is bonded thereto. The reinforcing member is referred in the industry as a blank, and is provided during the process of making the bit for the purpose of connecting the bit body to a hardened steel upper section of the bit that connects the bit to the drill string. The blank is also used to provide structural strength and toughness to the bit body when the body is formed from a relatively brittle matrix material such as tungsten carbide, thereby helping to minimize undesirable fracture of the body during service.
Conventionally, such drill bit blanks have been formed from plain-carbon steels such as AISI 1018 or AISI 1020 steels because these steels remain relatively tough after infiltration of the bit body material therein (during sintering of the bit). Also, the use of such plain-carbon steels is desirable because they are easily weldable without the need for special welding provisions such as preheating and postheating, for purposes of connecting the bit upper steel section thereto. Additionally, tungsten carbide matrix bits made from plain-carbon steels are less vulnerable to transformation induced cracking that occurs when the drill bit is cooled from the infiltration temperature to ambient temperature. The reason for this is that the plain-carbon steel has a coefficient of thermal expansion that does not produce a drastic volume change during the phase transformation range as compared to the other alloyed steels.
A problem, however, that is known when using such plain-carbon steels for forming the drill bit blanks is that such materials lack a degree of strength necessary for application with today's high performance drill bits. Such high performance bits generate a high amount of torque during use due to their aggressive cutting structures, which torque requires a higher level of drill bit blank strength to provide a meaningful drill bit service life. The low degree of strength exhibited by such conventional steel blanks is caused both by the absence of alloying elements, and by excessive softening that occurs during thermal processes that must be performed during the bit manufacturing process.
It is, therefore, desirable that a drill bit blank be developed having improved strength when compared to conventional plain-carbon steel drill bit blanks. It is desired that such drill bit blanks also provide a degree of weldability that is the same as conventional plain steel drill bit blanks. It is also desired that such drill bit blank undergoes minimal volume change during thermal changes so as to induce minimal stresses in the tungsten carbide matrix material during manufacturing. It is further desired that such drill bit blanks be capable of being formed by conventional machining methods using materials that are readily available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High-strength/high toughness alloy steel drill bit blank


A data driven clock recovery system comprising a viterbi detector for detecting data and tentatively deciding the closest approximation, and a circuit for retrieving the tentative decision in stages. Preferably, the clock recovery system further comprises a combination series-parallel comparison circuit for selecting one value of a set of values for input to the viterbi and for applying said one value to the viterbi.

This invention generally relates to data communications or processing systems, and more specifically, such systems in which the output of a decoder, such as a viterbi decoder, is used for clock or timing recovery. Even more specifically, the invention relates to procedures for indexing a decoder whose output is used for clock or timing recovery purposes.

Method and system for indexing a decoder

International Business Machines Corporation


A fuser for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording material includes: an endless belt body heated by a heat source; a pressing body moved to be connected to and disconnected from an inner peripheral surface of the belt body; a pressure roller member making pressure-contact with the pressing body through the belt body; a tension body moved to be connected to and disconnected from the inner peripheral surface of the belt body, contrary to the connection and disconnection movement of the pressing body; and a rotation transmitting unit configured to transmit a rotational force of the pressure roller member to the belt body using the tension body, while the pressing body is separated from and the tension body makes contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuser configured to fix an unfixed toner image on a recording material, and an image forming apparatus including the fuser. The image forming apparatus variously includes a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction printer having integrated their functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is expected to reduce a warm-up time (a time required for copying or printing from turning on power) or reduce power consumption, from a viewpoint of energy saving. To satisfy such a requirement, a fusing belt or fusing roller to be heated has been configured to have a small heat capacity, or to have small heat loss as much as possible.
For example, JP 2009-109673 A discloses a fuser configure to completely separate the fusing belt from the pressure roller during warming up, in order to prevent excessive heat loss of the fusing belt by a pressure roller. In the fuser of JP 2009-109673 A, a pressure roller is rotated by power from a driving source. A fusing belt-driving roller receiving transmission of a rotational force of the pressure roller is brought into pressure-contact with an outer peripheral surface of a sheet non-passage area on each longitudinal end side of the fusing belt.
during warming up where the fusing belt and the pressure roller is separated from each other, the rotational force of the pressure roller is transmitted to the fusing belt-driving roller, and the fusing belt is driven to be rotated by frictional resistance with the fusing belt-driving roller. During passage of sheet, the fusing belt and the pressure roller are brought into pressure-contact with each other to form a fusing nip, so that the fusing belt is driven to be rotated by frictional resistance between the pressure roller (including a recording material passing through the fusing nip) and the fusing belt-driving roller to the fusing belt. That is, the fusing belt is driven to be rotated, and is heated along the circumferential direction (rotational direction) from a heat source. It is noted that the fusing belt has an inner peripheral surface disposed with a pressing pad making pressure-contact with the pressure roller through the fusing belt.
A fusing belt or a fusing roller needs to be heated uniformly along the circumferential direction (rotational direction), from a viewpoint of fusibility. However, in the fuser of JP 2009-109673 A, even while the fusing belt and the pressure roller are separated from each other, the pressing pad always makes pressure-contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fusing belt in the sheet passage area, and the fusing belt-driving roller always makes pressure-contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fusing belt in the sheet non-passage area, so that heat of the fusing belt is partially lost by the pressing pad and the fusing belt-driving roller.
When the fuser is configured as described above, heat loss by the pressure roller is inhibited, but efficient temperature rise may be deteriorated as much as heat loss by the pressing pad and the fusing belt-driving roller, the warm-up time or the first copy output time (FCOT) maybe increased, and power consumption may be increased.
Further, as described above, the pressing pad always makes pressure-contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fusing belt in the sheet passage area, and the fusing belt-driving roller always makes pressure-contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fusing belt in the sheet non-passage area, thereby the fusing belt wears easily, and the fusing belt is expected to be improved also in durability.


Apparatus and associated methods relate to a flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag having an RFID integrated packaged in an SOT package attached with a high temperature solder to a flex circuit defining an RFID antenna. In an illustrative embodiment, the flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag may be encapsulated in a flexible material. For example, the SOT packaged RFID integrated circuit may be encapsulated in rubber. In some embodiments the entire assembled RFID tag may be encapsulated in rubber or another flexible compound. In some embodiments, such flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tags may be advantageously used in high-temperature applications. In an exemplary embodiment, flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tags may be attached to products that may be flexible and/or deformable. In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible high-temperature-tolerant RFID tag may be molded into a rubber that will be used in a flexible application.

RFID tags are wireless non-contact devices that transmit an identifying signal to a receiver. Such tags are used in many industries. RFID tags may be attached to devices for inventory purposes. These tags may be used for protection against theft. A receiver located at a store entrance may receive signals from RFID devices as they are being transported out of the store, for example. Maintenance status can be monitored using RFID tags. For example, a user can query a device having an RFID tag. The received identifying signal can be used to look up the maintenance status of the queried device, for example. Manufacturing lines may use RFID tags to track parts being assembled into production units. For example, an assembly machine may query the product as to what revision of boards it may contain. In response to the board identification, the assembly machine may select a part that corresponds to the revision of the device being manufactured. RFID tags have been inserted into access control cards. Such cards permit or deny access to individuals according to predetermined rules of permission.


A conductive fastening mechanism including a nut connected to an energy load module and electrically connected to a power supply through a power switch S0; an anti-rotating seat located above the nut; a conducting element arranged in the anti-rotating seat and electrically connected to a load; a connecting piece penetrating the anti-rotating seat and the conducting element and selectively connected to the nut, used for on-off between the load and the power supply; a handle rotatably arranged on the connecting piece, where the handle is configured to be selectively clamped in the anti-rotating seat to limit the connecting piece. The handle is rotatably arranged on the connecting piece and can be selectively clamped on the anti-rotating seat, such that the handle plays a role in preventing the connecting piece from rotating, so as to achieve the purpose of anti-vibration and anti-loosening, prevent damage and other safety accidents, and improve safety.

Fasteners are inseparable in connection and assembly of various machines and components. The fasteners bring convenience to the machinery industry, but they have an inevitable disadvantage, that is, they will loosen by themselves in severe vibration, causing damage, disassembly, or even major accidents to components or a complete device. At present, the anti-loosening fastening structure on the market is complicated in assembly and high in production cost, and cannot be repeatedly disassembled and assembled, which affects production efficiency.

SHANDONG DINGFENG AVIATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A tab terminal, capable of being mounted in a parts mounting space on a printed circuit board which is small in height, includes a terminal body, an extension portion formed integrally with the terminal body so as to extend from one end edge of the terminal body in the longitudinal direction thereof, side wall portions formed integrally with the terminal body so as to extend from side edges of the terminal body in the height direction of the tab terminal, respectively, and contact portions formed integrally with the side wall portions so as to extend from distal end edges of the side wall portions in substantially parallel to the terminal body, respectively. The extension portion is adapted to be connected with an electrical connecting part, and the tab terminal is fixedly connected at the contact portions to the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tab terminal mounted on a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electrical equipment, a printed circuit board is widely used, which is formed with a conductor pattern and to which various electrical circuit component parts are mounted. Also mounted to the printed circuit board is a tab terminal that is used to connect the conductor pattern with an external electrical circuit. Typically, the tab terminal comprises contact portions soldered to the conductor pattern, and a fitting portion to which a receptacle terminal is fitted. The receptacle terminal is connected through an electric wire to an external electrical circuit (refer to JP-A-2002-324606).
The aforementioned conventional tab terminal is designed to be mounted on a printed circuit board in such a manner that it extends vertically from a surface of the printed circuit board, thus making the height dimension of a parts mounting space on the printed circuit board large. In addition, as mentioned above, the receptacle terminal is fitted to the fitting portion of the tab terminal and the wire is connected to the tab terminal, and therefore, the parts mounting space on the printed circuit board is required to have a height dimension larger than at least a total length of the tab terminal and receptacle terminal. In the case of equipment where printed circuit boards are disposed in a multi-stage fashion, the distance between the printed circuit boards must be increased, if the printed circuit board require a parts mounting space which is large in height dimension. For these reasons, equipment comprised of one or more printed circuit boards mounted with the conventional tab terminal becomes large sized. In addition, the conventional tab terminal is arranged to be mounted on the printed circuit board, with its lower leg portions inserted into holes formed in the printed circuit board. Thus, a mounting operation of the tab terminal to the printed circuit board is cumbersome, and automatic mounting using a mounter requires complicated procedures.


Methods for producing protein C in transgenic non-human mammals are disclosed. The protein C is modified at the two-chain cleavage site between the light and heavy chains of protein C from Lys-Arg to R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -R.sub.4 where R.sub.1 through R.sub.4 are individually Arg or Lys. DNA segments encoding modified protein C are introduced into the germ line of a non-human mammals, and the mammal or its female progeny produces milk containing protein C expressed from the introduced DNA segments. The protein C expressed from the introduced DNA segments has anticoagulant activity when activated. Non-human mammalian embryos and transgenic non-human mammals carrying DNA segments encoding heterologous protein C are also disclosed.

Protein C in its activated form plays an important role in regulating blood coagulation. The activated protein C, a serine protease, inactivates coagulation Factors Va and VIIIa by limited proteolysis. The coagulation cascade initiated by tissue injury, for example, is prevented from proceeding in an unimpeded chain-reaction beyond the area of injury by activated protein C.
Protein C is synthesized in the liver as a single chain precursor polypeptide which is subsequently processed to a light chain of about 155 amino acids (M.sub.r =21,000) and a heavy chain of 262 amino acids (M.sub.r =40,000). The heavy and light chains circulate in the blood as a two-chain inactive protein, or zymogen, held together by a disulfide bond. When a 12 amino acid residue peptide is cleaved from the amino terminus of the heavy chain portion of the zymogen in a reaction mediated by thrombin, the protein becomes activated. The N-terminal portion of the light chain contains nine .gamma.-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues that are required for the calcium-dependent membrane binding and activation of the molecule. Another blood protein, referred to as "protein S", is believed to accelerate the protein C-catalyzed proteolysis of Factor Va.
Protein C has also been implicated in the action of tissue-type plasminogen activator (Kisiel et al., Behring Inst. Mitt. 73:29-42, 1983). Infusion of bovine activated protein C (APC) into dogs results in increased plasminogen activator activity (Comp et al., J. Clin. Invest. 68:1221-1228, 1981). Other studies (Sakata et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:1121-1125, 1985) have shown that addition of APC to cultured endothelial cells leads to a rapid, dose-dependent increase in fibrinolytic activity in the conditioned media, reflecting increases in the activity of both urokinase-related and tissue-type plasminogen activators. APC treatment also results in a dose-dependent decrease in anti-activator activity. In addition, studies with monoclonal antibodies against endogenous APC (Snow et al., FASEB Abstracts, 1988) implicate APC in maintaining patency of arteries during fibrinolysis and limiting the extent of tissue infarct.
Experimental evidence indicates that protein C may be clinically useful in the treatment of thrombosis. Several studies with baboon models of thrombosis have indicated that activated protein C in low doses will be effective in prevention of fibrin deposition, platelet deposition and loss of circulation (Gruber et al., Hemostasis and Thrombosis 374a: abstract 1512, 1988; Widrow et al., Fibrinolysis 2 suppl. 1: abstract 7, 1988; Griffin et al., Thromb. Haemostasis 62: abstract 1512, 1989).
In addition, exogenous activated protein C has been shown to prevent the coagulopathic and lethal effects of gram negative septicemia (Taylor et al., J. Clin. Invest. 19:918-925, 1987). Data obtained from studies with baboons suggest that activated protein C plays a natural role in protecting against septicemia.
Until recently, protein C was purified from clotting factor concentrates (Marlar et al., Blood 59:1067-1072, 1982) or from plasma (Kisiel, J. Clin. Invest. 64:761-769, 1979) and activated in vitro. However, the possibility that the resulting product could be contaminated with such infectious agents as hepatitis virus, cytomegalovirus, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) make the process unfavorable.
While expression of protein C through recombinant means has been theoretically possible as the genes for both human and bovine protein C are known (Foster et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:4673-4677, 1985; Foster et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 81:4766-4770, 1984 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,624), it has been met with limited success. Expression of some vitamin K-dependent proteins, such as protein C in cultured cells, has not produced protein C that has been at both commercially valuable levels and biologically functional when activated (i.e. had anticoagulant activity (Grinnell et al., in Bruley and Drohn, eds., Protein C and Related Anticoagulants:29-63, Gulf Publishing, Houston, Tex. and Grinnell et al., Bio/Technol. 5:1189-1192, 1987)). Transgenic expression of protein C has yielded somewhat higher levels of expression, but the recombinant protein's anticoagulant activity has still remained low, with less than 50% of the material having biological activity (Velander et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:12003-12007, 1992). Therefore, there remains a need for producing protein C that is both expressed at high levels and has therapeutic value.

Protein C production in non-human transgenic mammals


Devices dispenser air treatment chemicals in response to heat generated by a candle. Heat transfer elements carry flame heat to an impregnated substrate that is positioned mostly or entirely below the candle. The air treatment chemical vapors are kept away from prolonged direct exposure to flame heat, thereby reducing heat degradation of the active. The candle automatically adjusts heat transfer rates to correct for decreasing amounts of active on the substrate as the substrate sears being used up.

The present invention relates to devices that dispense air treatment chemicals from a substrate using the heat of a candle to drive the dispensing. More particularly, the invention relates to such devices that have been configured to protect the air treatment chemical from heat degradation (a/k/a "pyrolysis") during such dispensing.
A variety of devices are known for dispensing volatilizable air treatment chemicals such as pest control materials (e.g., insecticides, insect repellents, or insect growth control regulators), air scents or deodorizers (e.g. masks), allergen control ingredients, disinfectants, sanitizers or other materials. In some of these devices the air treatment chemical is mixed with candle wax and is dispensed during a candle burning process (where the chemical is released primarily from the heated wax surrounding the wick). While this is a common technique for dispensing a variety of fragrances, typically it has been less successful when dispensing certain particularly desirable pest control materials.
Attempts have been made to use the heat from a candle (or other similar heat source) to distribute air treatment chemicals from an adjacent impregnated pad surface or the like. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,742,342, 4,781,895, 6,482,365, 6,503,459, and 7,138,130. However, these devices typically placed the pad directly over the candle flame, leading to heat spikes directly ever the flame, as wed as sometimes too little heat adjacent the periphery of the pad.
Another approach was to position a chimney directly over the candle flame, with the impregnated substrate positioned around the chimney. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,837. While this made the pad able to more efficiently dispense some additional types of air treatment chemicals, it did not completely address pyrolysis and/or uneven healing problems.
Still another approach was disclosed in U.S. patent application publication 2009/0004067. There, an air treatment chemical was coated on a radially outer periphery of a candle cap. The heat of the candle heated the walls of the candle cup, and that heat was used to drive the air treatment chemical off. However, this type of heat transfer was relatively inefficient, and (in any event) placing the active at a typical gripping position for the candle could cause some consumers to have concerns about the possibility of touching and/or interfering with the active.
Thus, a need continues to exist for improved candle dispensers where the heat of a candle drives an air treatment chemical off of a carrier substrate, albeit with reduced pyrolysis concerns.


A two-ply or even-ply veneer laminate panel created by the steps of: pre-flexing a substrate veneer ply sufficiently to substantially break the grains of the substrate ply, and bonding the substrate ply to a face veneer ply. Preferably, the substrate ply is pre-flexed in a direction parallel to the direction that the grains of the substrate ply run. And preferably, the grains of the face ply are oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction to the grains of the substrate ply.

The present invention relates to veneer panels and, more particularly, to even-ply or two-ply wood veneer laminate panels and their methods of manufacture.
Wood veneer is commonly applied to the outer surfaces of furniture, doors or other architectural woodwork and to provide aesthetically pleasing wood grain appearance to such products. Because the veneer sheets used are thin, they are susceptible to breaking, warping or other damage, and therefore are bonded to one or a plurality of substrate layers to provide stability and strength. Typical substrate materials include other veneer sheets, paper, cloth, particle board, fiber board, reconstituted wood or fiber based board, and the like. Such multi-layer panels are referred to as laminate panels, and the composite structure of a laminate panel constructed of a veneer face bonded to one or a plurality of veneer substrates will be hereinafter referred to as a "veneer laminate panel."
A significant problem occurring with veneer laminate panel products is warping caused by unbalanced panel construction. After different types and thicknesses of veneer laminate sheets are rigidly bonded together, moisture content changes often occur to one or all of the sheets. In response to such changes in moisture content, the dimensions of the particular sheets will start to change which causes stresses to accumulate in the sheets, resulting in warping of the laminate panels when the stresses become excessive and are no longer balanced between the various layers.
A method of compensating for such a tendency is to construct the veneer laminate panels to be symmetrical from the centerline of the panel (with respect to the panel's thickness). Veneer laminate panels are typically constructed of an odd number of layers or plies and are arranged and selected in a combinations of species, thicknesses, and moisture contents to produce a symmetric and balanced panel. All inner plies, except the innermost (central) ply, occur in pairs and have the same thickness and grain direction; and each ply of each pair is placed on opposites sides of the inner-most (central) ply. Further, the grain of each ply is oriented at right angles to the grain of each adjacent ply. The use of an even number of plies (such as a two-ply laminate) is not prohibited. But the even ply laminate must contain identical layers of adjacent veneers with parallel grain orientation.
Accordingly, a need exists for an even-ply or two-ply veneer laminate that permits the use of a substantially unlimited range of combinations of face veneer plies and substrate veneer plies, that does not require the adjacent plies to be absolutely balanced and symmetrical, and that does not require the adjacent plies to have grains running in parallel directions.

Veneer laminate and method of manufacture


A concentration measuring device with which the concentration measurement of a test substance can be facilitated as compared to a conventional technique is provided. The concentration measuring device includes: first to third pipes together forming a circulation path through which a gas can circulate; a pump for flowing the gas in a circulating direction in the circulation path; a sample disposed in the circulation path; and a concentration measuring mechanism for measuring a concentration of a target substance from the sample in the circulation path. The concentration measuring mechanism includes, for example, a sample heater, a catalyst, a catalyst heater, a detection chamber, a concentration sensor, and a control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a concentration measuring device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a concentration measuring device that measures a concentration of a test substance in a gas. For example, a device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 measures an amount of a petroleum-based hydrocarbon contained in soil by detecting the concentration of carbon dioxide generated by the combustion of the hydrocarbon. The concentration measuring device includes: a heater for heating a mixed gas containing oxygen and nitrogen; a soil case for holding soil; a catalyst case for holding a catalyst; and a concentration sensor for measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide.
When the soil is exposed to the heated mixed gas in the device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the hydrocarbon component contained in the soil is vaporized. Furthermore, when the vaporized hydrocarbon component comes into contact with the catalyst, predetermined amounts of water and carbon dioxide are generated due to a reaction of the hydrocarbon component with the oxygen in the mixed gas. Since the reaction using the catalyst is known, the concentration of the hydrocarbon component contained in the initial soil can be calculated from the concentration of carbon dioxide detected by the concentration sensor. Finally, the gas having passed through a concentration detection chamber housing the concentration sensor is discharged directly into outside air.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No 2011-232333 is introduced as the Prior Art Document.
In a case where the device described in Patent Literature 1 is used for a gas having a test substance in a low concentration, however, the concentration of carbon dioxide generated by a reaction with a catalyst may fall below a concentration range detectable by the concentration sensor. If a volume flow of the gas is increased in the vicinity of the concentration sensor, for example, the concentration detected by the concentration sensor is decreased. Thus, it is impossible to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide if it falls below the concentration range measurable by the concentration sensor. Therefore, in the device of Patent Literature 1, a level of accuracy required in gas flow control becomes high. Such a problem can be solved tentatively by employing a highly-sensitive concentration sensor. However, such a highly-sensitive concentration sensor has disadvantages such that it is expensive and handling thereof such as calibration is not easy.


An embodiment of the current invention includes a non-invasive imaging system, comprising: an imaging scanner suitable to generate an image representing a tissue region of a subject under observation, the tissue region having at least one substructure and the image comprising a plurality of image voxels; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive the imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit is configured to store: an atlas comprising spatial information of the at least one substructure in the tissue region, and a database comprising a plurality of pre-stored medical images representing the tissue region, and wherein the signal processing system is adapted to: identify, based on the atlas and for each of the at least one substructure, a corresponding portion of image voxels in the image; provide a computed quantification of the corresponding portion of image voxels for each of the at least one substructure of the tissue region by performing spatial filtering on the image; and search the database to provide at least one selected medical image from the plurality of pre-stored medical images, the at least one selected medical image having a corresponding quantification that is substantially similar to the computed quantification.

1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates to non-invasive imaging systems and methods, and more particularly to imaging systems and methods that provide computer assisted diagnosis of tissue abnormalities in human and animal subjects.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Google does word searches through the internet, but it can't search if provided with a picture and asked to find a similar picture. The absence of this search capability hinders the utilization of modern medical images that are stored in a clinical database. In particular, although the clinical database may be extremely rich, it has been rarely used to enrich current diagnosis. This discrepancy is largely due to the lack of a search engine that can extract past similar cases. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an image search engine.


A feed device for fastening elements with low length-to-diameter ratio has a hollow clamp into which individual fastening elements are inserted through a feed channel. The clamp has an internal pocket for pre-positioning a fastening element. A piston moves through the feed channel to engage the fastening element and to open the clamp to release the fastening element for further movement by the piston.

The invention concerns a feed device for a fastening element comprising a positioning piston for positioning a fastening element, a catching clamp for pre-positioning the fastening element for the positioning piston and a housing for holding the positioning piston and the catching clamp, the housing having a feed channel for feeding the fastening element to the catching clamp and the positioning piston being adjustable for positioning the fastening element relative to the housing. Moreover the invention concerns a method for feeding a fastening element.
The reliable feeding of the fastening element to the positioning piston is essential for the automated positioning of a fastening element on a workpiece. Reliable feeding requires accurate pre-positioning of the fastening element. Accurate pre-positioning is particularly difficult if the fastening elements to be positioned are difficult to grasp and might tilt or tip easily.
For example, this is the case if a fastening element such as a rivet or an earthing stud is to be placed on a workpiece, the fastening element being short and thick and having a markedly varying diameter along its length.
Accurate spatial feeding of the fastening element has a role to play during the positioning process e.g. during a welding or soldering process, and influences the type of connection attained. Inaccurate feeding may lead, on the one hand, to faults in positioning the fastening element, which means increased wear on the positioning tool. On the other hand inaccurate feeding may lead to inaccurate positioning and therefore to inaccurate seating of the fastening element, which may require the repeating of the positioning of the fastening element and may be associated with expenditure and costs, particularly if a production method is interrupted.
Therefore the accurate feeding of the fastening element is important for a smooth positioning process and for the quality of the fastening to be attained.
The Gebrauchsmuster DE 296 17 208 U1 describes a stud holder for a stud welding device, where resilient holding fingers of various lengths extend in the longitudinal direction of a stud through-channel and grasp the stud. Because of the spring effect this stud holder is only suitable in the first instance for long narrow studs.
DE 32 18 886 discloses a stud placing machine where a stud is fed via a feed channel to the stud welding device, the stud being held by a stud stop for pre-positioning and the stud being grasped by a stud collet chuck. The stud collet chuck moves the stud in the direction of the workpiece at the same time pushing the stud stop to one side with the stud. There is a risk here that the stud might be moved and tilted spatially by the forces of the stud stop working on it so that, in particular where the positioning piston applies only moderate holding forces, the position of the stud and its axial location are only inaccurately determined.

Feeder device for a fixing element and method for the operation thereof


A semiconductor production system has storage devices for storage of all kinds of information including, but not limited to, the information concerning semiconductor design and information as to semiconductor manufacture along with information relating to semiconductor inspection processes, while representing as a class an instance added with meta data indicative of the role of the information in accordance with a logical expressive form. The system has a network for the storage device use, called the storage area network or “SAN”. The SAN is for interconnection between respective ones of the storage devices, semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses and a semiconductor inspection apparatus. The storage devices are seamlessly accessible from any one of the semiconductor manufacture apparatuses and the semiconductor inspection apparatus and also from a semiconductor design environment associated therewith.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor production systems and, more particularly, to a semiconductor production system capable of improving the accuracy of design, manufacture and inspection processes and also improving throughputs thereof.
In cases where a certain tool outputs a processing result to a file with its format compliant with the currently established standard format, when the input format of another tool fails to comply with the standard format, a need is felt to perform extra works for converting the standard format-compliant output file into the different input format.
A technique for obtaining a processing result in a desired format is disclosed, for example, in FIG. 10-1 on page 180 of "Reuse Methodology Manual," (ISBN 0-7923-8175-0). In the technique as taught thereby, the desirably formatted processing result is obtainable by repeating a process including the steps of inputting, when a certain tool outputs its processing result into a file with its format compliant with a standard format, this output to another tool, and then outputting this into a file with its own format compatible with another format which is different from the standard format.
Another technique is disclosed in JP-A-2002-296753, which changes the format of a file being input to a device or apparatus in a way conformity with the characteristics of the individual apparatus and then applies required processing, such as sorting or the like, to the contents of such file. For example, it is suggested therein to process the content of a file with a computer aided design (CAD) format which becomes an input of a mask fabrication apparatus. The resultant file is then input to the mask fabrication apparatus, thereby enabling the mask inspection procedure to increase in efficiency.
In addition, in JP-A-2002-299211, a technique is disclosed for reading the standard format-compliant file and for performing the processing which converts it into a "unique" format used inside the apparatus per se. An example shown therein is that in an electron beam drawing apparatus which is one of the currently available mask fabrication apparatuses, when inputting a file with the CAD format, more than one graphic form contained in this file is disassembled into an ensemble of elementary graphical components with prespecified shapes, such as for example rectangles or trapezoids. The input file is then converted into an image draw format unique to the apparatus.
Additionally in U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,328, it is taught that a common database is provided for logic design in order to avoid the format conversion problems stated above.
In the prior art approaches stated supra, the operation linkup capability between tools and also the cooperating capability between apparatuses are realized by sending and receiving—namely, interchanging—those files with their formats compatible with the standard format. Due to this, complicated and time-consuming works are required, such as file format conversion and others. Additionally, either a decrease in accuracy or dropout of information must take place during the conversion process. In particular, the missing of information is significantly appreciable in the case of CAD-formatted mask fabrication data.
For the mask fabrication data, it is a typical approach to utilize a specific CAD format, called the graphic design system II (GDSII). Unfortunately, the information representable by this CAD format is limited to graphical information only. That is, any information concerning semiconductors is not included therein. Accordingly, it is hardly possible to identify the individual graphic information as discrete parts or components, such as semiconductor circuit elements, wiring lines, dummy patterns or equivalents thereto. For this reason, it is impossible to apply the optimum processing to every graphic form—i.e., on a per-component basis.
As shown in the above-cited JP-A-2002-299211, it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated works such as format conversion and the like, by commonly using or "commonizing" the CAD format for both the mask fabrication apparatus and the mask inspection apparatus. However, this approach is deficient in increase of inspection/testing throughputs of the mask inspection apparatus. In other words, providing the common database makes it possible to lighten the complexity of format conversion. However, this common database is realized while letting it be limited in use to the data handled in the field of logic circuit design only. Obviously, when using it for post-processes of the mask fabrication apparatus and/or mask inspection apparatus to be done after the logic circuit design stage, what can be achieved is only the processing that is merely equivalent in level to the currently established ones.


A center-electrode assembly (13) has a configuration in which center electrodes (21) to (23) are arranged, in an electrically insulated state, at the upper surface of a circular-plate microwave ferrite (20). The center electrode (21) is constituted by a first line conductor (21a) and a second line conductor (21b) which are arranged parallel to each other. The hot ends of the first line conductor (21a) and the second line conductor (21b) have connection portions (27) and (26), respectively, and the cold ends are connected to a ground electrode (25). The first and second line conductors (21a) and (21b) are arranged such that the hot end of the first line conductor (21a) and the cold end of the second line conductor (21b) oppose each other and the cold end of the first line conductor (21a) and the hot end of the second line conductor (21b) oppose each other to cause electromagnetic coupling.

Conventionally, a balun, hybrid, or power combiner is provided at the output side of a balanced output circuit, particularly, a push-pull amplifier (having a pair of amplifiers that operate at a phase difference of 180°). The balun or the like converts a balanced signal into a single-ended signal.
In generally, baluns are used in the microwave band and lower (the HF band, VHF band, UHF band, and lower). On the other hand, hybrids or power combiners are used in the microwave band and higher (the UHF band and higher). Wideband ferrite cores are often used for the baluns, in which case, the available frequency upper limit is the UHF band. Typically, hybrids or power combiners are configured with distributed-constant circuits. Thus, the sizes do not cause a significant problem in practice, for the UHF band or higher.
Meanwhile, in a communication apparatus, particularly, in a transmission circuit section for QPSK or the like involving amplitude modulation components or in a transmission circuit section that requires high reliability, a transmission signal converted into a single-ended signal is sent through an isolator and then through an antenna switching device (or antenna duplexer) and the resulting signal is sent to an antenna. Unless the signal is sent through the isolator, reflections from the antenna and the antenna switching device return to a balanced output circuit (especially, amplifiers), thereby varying load impedance viewed from the balanced output circuit. When the load impedance varies, some problems arise. For example, the waveform distortion of the transmission signal becomes severe and the operation of the amplifiers becomes unstable for oscillation.
However, when a balun (or a hybrid or a power combiner) and an isolator are combined as in the conventional manner, the size and cost of the transmission circuit section increase, thereby making it impossible to meet recent demands for miniaturization and cost reduction of mobile communication apparatuses. Also, since a transmission signal passes through both the balun and the isolator, the insertion loss is increased. Further, since the transmission circuit section handles a large amount of power, when the number of connection portions increases as a result of an increase in the number of components, there are problems in that unwanted radiation is easily produced and the possibility of mutual interference in the communication apparatus increases. In addition, since the operating bandwidths of the balun and the isolator reduce the operating bandwidth of the transmission circuit section, there is a problem in that the available frequency band is reduced.
Accordingly, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-299915, the present inventor proposed a nonreciprocal circuit device that can be connected to a balanced output circuit without a balun, hybrid, or the like interposed therebetween and also proposed a communication apparatus. In the nonreciprocal circuit device, two opposite ends of a center electrode for one port are configured as hot ends, and balanced input and unbalanced output are employed. The nonreciprocal circuit device can be used to combine outputs from a push-pull amplifier. However, with the circuit device, in the case of a low operating point (an operating point at which the amount of bias current, i.e., idling current, is small), reverse-phase excitation current does not effectively flow through a reverse-phase-side input terminal. Thus, a problem has been found in that the ferrite excitation efficiency is insufficient.

Three-port nonreciprocal circuit device, composite electronic component, and communication apparatus


A semiconductor memory device 200 includes: a memory cell array 101 including a plurality of pairs of bit lines (BL, XBL), a plurality of word lines WL and a plurality of memory cells 100; a decoder 104 for decoding address information to activate one of the plurality of word lines WL in accordance with the address information; precharge circuits 105 for setting each of the plurality of pair of bit lines (BL, XBL) to a predetermined precharge potential; sense amplifiers 110; and potential difference transmission circuits 109 provided between the memory cell array 101 and the sense amplifiers 110. The potential difference transmission circuits 109 hold a potential difference V.sub.d0 between respective pair of bit lines among the plurality of pairs of bit lines (BL, XBL) and transmit the held potential difference V.sub.d0 between the pair of bit lines to a respective sense amplifier 110. The sense amplifier 110 amplifies the potential difference V.sub.d0 between the pair of bit lines transmitted by the potential difference transmission circuit 109 so as to output the data stored in a corresponding memory cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a potential difference transmission device and a semiconductor memory device such as a static random access memory (SRAM) using such a potential difference transmission device. In particular, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device to which a pipeline technique is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pipeline technique is widely employed in the logic LSI of microprocessors and the like so as to increase the operation speed. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-35794 describes that the pipeline technique is applied to a memory so as to realize memory capable of operating at high speeds. This patent publication describes a random access memory which employs pipelining, in which a latch circuit temporarily storing 1 bit of information is provided between an address decoder and a memory cell array.
In the configuration as described above, all signal amplitudes in the memory are set to be equal to a full amplitude of the CMOS. As a result, the operation time of the latch circuit is prolonged. Consequently, the latch circuit significantly obstructs reduction of the cycle time. Moreover, in the case where the pipeline operation is realized by using a latch or a register during a time period from the input of an address decoder to the output of a sense amplifier, the processing performed in a memory cell array, that is, the processing from activation of a word line to validation of an output of the sense amplifier cannot be divided into a plurality of steps. The memory cycle time in the memory system employing the pipelining is dependent on the processing time of the stage requiring the longest processing time. The necessary time periods of the respective pipelined stages are compared with each other. As a result, it is found that the aforementioned undividable processing stage in the memory cell array requires the longest time period among all stages and thus determines the total cycle time. Therefore, if the stage in the memory cell array cannot be carried out at increased speed, a pipeline RAM having reduced cycle time cannot be realized by pipelining the processing.
An ideal pipelined processor decodes one instruction during each machine cycle. In order to maintain this speed, it is necessary to supply instructions and data via the pipeline at least at the rate of decoding by the processor. The stages of the pipeline are synchronized normally by using a clock. In order to assure data transmission throughout the pipeline processing, the clock is required to have a speed suitable for the latest transmission path. In the system including the pipeline memory, the access stage of the memory is one of the longest delay paths. Therefore, the speed at which the data is supplied from the pipeline memory determines the total speed of the pipeline processor system. Accordingly, in order to improve the system performance, it is essential to improve the speed of the pipeline memory.

Potential difference transmission device and semiconductor memory device using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A planarization method includes providing a Group VIII metal-containing surface (preferably, a platinum-containing surface) and positioning it for contact with a fixed abrasive article in the presence of a planarization composition, wherein the fixed abrasive article comprises a plurality of abrasive particles having a hardness of no greater than about 6.5 Mohs dispersed within a binder adhered to at least one surface of a backing material.

During fabrication of semiconductor devices, various surfaces are formed. Many of such surfaces do not have uniform height, and therefore, the wafer thickness is also non-uniform. Further, surfaces may have defects such as crystal lattice damage, scratches, roughness, or embedded particles of dirt or dust. For various fabrication processes to be performed, such as lithography and etching, height non-uniformities and defects at the surface of the wafer must be reduced or eliminated. Various planarization techniques are available to provide such reduction and/or elimination. One such planarization technique includes mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical polishing (abbreviated herein as "CMP").
The process of planarization is used to remove material, and preferably achieve a planar surface, over the entire chip and wafer, sometimes referred to as "global planarity." Conventionally, the process of planarization, and particularly CMP, involves the use of a wafer carrier that holds a wafer, a polishing pad, and an abrasive slurry that includes a dispersion of a plurality of abrasive particles in a liquid. The abrasive slurry is applied so that it contacts the interface of the wafer and the polishing pad. A table or platen has a polishing pad thereon. The polishing pad is applied to the wafer at a certain pressure to perform the planarization. At least one of the wafer and a polishing pad are set in motion relative to the other. In some planarization processes, the wafer carrier may or may not rotate, the table or platen may or may not rotate and/or the platen may be moved in a linear motion as opposed to rotating. There are numerous types of planarization units available which perform the process in different manners.
The use of abrasive slurries in wafer fabrication has proven problematic for several reasons. First, abrasive slurries that contain a plurality of abrasive particles in a dispersion tend to be unstable. In particular, not only do the abrasive particles settle, the abrasive particles also tend to agglomerate, both phenomenon resulting in a nonuniform slurry composition. This, in turn, creates wide variability in the polishing results. Second, it is known within the art that the composition of the slurry tends to be very specific with the desired planarization process, i.e., one slurry may not be suitable for a variety of processes.
Also, conventional polishing pads pose planarization difficulties. Such pads may glaze, or become embedded with debris, during planarizing. This requires the pads to be conditioned such that the pads can be reused. Conditioning typically involves removal of the debris from the polishing pad using mechanical means with or without application of a solution. Conditioned pads typically lead to subsequent unpredictable planarization results because of the unpredictability in removal of debris from the pad itself during conditioning.
Fixed abrasive articles used in place of conventional polishing pads are also known and used in planarization processes. Such fixed abrasive articles include a plurality of abrasive particles dispersed within a binder adhered to at least one surface of a backing material. For certain situations, fixed abrasive articles are advantageous; however, conventional abrasive slurries are typically incompatible with fixed abrasive articles for many planarization processes.
The planarization of a surface that includes platinum and other Group VIII metals typically involves more mechanical than chemical action during a polishing process because they are relatively chemically inert and/or have relatively few volatile produces. Such mechanical polishing uses alumina and silica particles. Unfortunately, mechanical polishing tends to cause the formation of defects (e.g., scratches and particles), both of which can be detected optically, rather than the clean removal of the platinum.
Thus, there is still a need for methods for planarizing an exposed surface of a substrate that includes platinum and other Group VIII metals, particularly in the fabrication of semiconductor devices.

Methods for planarization of group VIII metal-containing surfaces using a fixed abrasive article


An orthopedic casting material is disclosed comprising a water-curable, isocyanate-functional prepolymer. The prepolymer comprises the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol having an HLB number per hydroxy group less than zero.

Many different orthopedic casting materials have been developed for use in the immobilization of broken or otherwise injured body limbs. Some of the first casting materials developed for this purpose involved the use of plaster of Paris bandages consisting of a mesh fabric (e.g., cotton gauze) with plaster incorporated into the openings and onto the surface of the mesh fabric. Subsequently, improved casting materials were developed consisting of a knit fabric made from a high modulus fiber (e.g., fiberglass) impregnated with a polyisocyanate prepolymer. The prepolymer typically was the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a hydrophilic polyol such as a polyether- or polyester-based polyol. One problem with such materials, however, was that their strength decreased significantly once they got wet.

Orthopedic casting material having improved wet strength

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company