The present disclosure relates to a power conditioning system that includes an electrical energy source interface for connecting to an electrical energy source and includes a load interface for connecting to a load. Between the electrical energy source interface and the load interface is a plurality of electrical energy storage devices. Also included in the power conditioning system of the present disclosure is a charging switching subsystem that electrically connects a grouping of electrical energy storage devices to the electrical energy source interface for a selected time interval. A grouping includes less than all of the individual electrical energy storage devices.

Electricity is the flow of electrical charge from a higher potential to a lower potential. The energy that results from the flow of electrical charge has been employed in myriad applications, including transportation, heating, lighting, and communications, among others. Because of electricity's extensive utility in the modern world, numerous devices and systems require access to this flow of electrical charges in order to function. Whether it's heating a filament in a light bulb, powering a motor in an electric car, or flowing through complex circuits inside a computer, electricity must be controlled and manipulated to meet the various energy requirements of countless devices.
The "amount of electricity" in a flow of charges is characterized by current and voltage. Generally, current is the volume or quantity of charge flowing in a circuit and voltage is the energy carried per unit charge. If too much electricity, either current or voltage, flows through a given circuit, the components of that circuit may be damaged or destroyed. Conversely, if not enough electricity is supplied to a system, it may not function properly, if it is able to function at all. In other words, it is very difficult for electrical control systems to effectively manipulate the flow of electrical charges so that the supply meets the demand in both quantity and quality.
For example, conventional control systems in automobile engines are designed to manage varying power demands by increasing power output when a driver presses down on the gas pedal (e.g. in order to accelerate the vehicle or to maintain a constant speed while climbing a hill). In another example, a coal power plant is designed to meet the demands of an electrical grid by controlling the quantity of coal entering the boiler, which in turn affects the rate of steam formation and thus affects the power produced in the turbine generators. In other electrical systems, such as in residential wiring or in complex computer circuits, safety mechanisms are used to ensure that excess current and voltage do not damage or destroy components of the system. For example, without fuses and circuit breakers, many household items would be damaged if an event caused a dramatic rise in the voltage flowing through residential wiring. In computer circuits, amplifiers and resistors can be used to increase or decrease the voltage and current that flow to individual components in the circuit.
The problem with these conventional power schemes and electrical systems is their inefficiency in managing varying supplies and/or varying demands. Continuing with the examples above, increasing and decreasing an automobile engine's RPM to meet acceleration demands can cause the engine to operate at other than optimal efficiency. Also, controlling power generation by altering the input flow of coal involves a substantial delay in response time, which can result in either a temporary excess or a shortage of power. Conventional power plant control systems may attempt to mitigate this problem by storing excess energy via pumped hydro-electric storage or by quickly generating more energy by introducing natural gas into the boiler; however, these measures decrease the total efficiency of power generation. In conventional household wiring and computer circuits, electrical control systems attempt to manage varying energy supplies by providing energy sinks or circuit breaks to protect sensitive components.
Thus, regardless of whether a control scheme is employed on the supply side (controlling energy source input flow) to meet a varying demand or on the demand side (providing sacrificial energy sinks or circuit breaks) to meet a varying supply, conventional electrical systems are often inadequate in efficiently managing a the varying supply and demand requirements of loads that draw upon them.


An optical device in which a solution prepared by dissolving a silver halide in a solvent and adding an alkali metal halide such as LiBr as a support salt is disposed between working electrodes and counter electrode, and which is adapted such that silver is deposited or dissolved by driving control for the electrodes. The optical device can be driven at a low power consumption, can control the light transmittance or reflectance in a visible light region, has satisfactory spectral characteristics upon light shielding and can prevent an overvoltage to the electrode, thereby enabling to increase the working life, and an electrolytic solution used therefor is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical device (for example, a display device for conducting display of numerical figures or letters or X-Y matrix display, and a filter capable of controlling light reflectance or light transmittance in a visible light region (wavelength: 400 to 700 nm)), as well as an electrolytic solution used for the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, electrochromic materials (hereinafter sometimes referred to as EC materials) have been used for voltage driving type display devices and adopted, for example, in digital clocks and the like for time display,
The electrochromic display device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as ECD) is a non-light emitting type display device and since it conducts display by reflection light or transmission light, it has an advantageous merit of reducing feeling of fatigue even after long time observation, as well as an advantageous merit such as relatively low driving voltage which reduces power consumption. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 59-24879, a liquid type ECD using, as the EC material, a biologen molecule derivative of an organic molecular type of providing colored and discolored states reversibly.
Along with development of precise optical instruments, light amount controlling devices which are fine in the size and consume less electric low power are required for replacing existent variable ND filters, and it becomes necessary to study if the ECD described above or techniques relevant thereto are adaptable or not.
However, in a case of utilizing the EC material, for example, the viologen molecule derivative to the ECD, there has been a problem in the response speed required actually and the shield performance and it has been difficult to put the material to practical use.
In view of the above, an electrochemical light controlling device using deposition/dissolution of silver has been developed in place of ECD taking notice on a transmitting type or reflection type light controlling device utilizing deposition/dissolution of a metal salt.
However, in the electrochemical light controlling device described above, while aimed values can be obtained for the response speed and the light shielding performance, a transparent electrode as a substrate (that is, a working electrode) tends to suffer from degradation and the working life as a device is short.
Particularly, since an overvoltage is applied to an ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode upon deposition and dissolution of silver, the electrode is liable to be damaged.

Optical device and electrolytic solution


A system for use in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) radiotherapy planning where a biological distribution is calculated using a combination of conversion factors and a previously calculated physical distribution. Conversion factors are presented in a graphical spreadsheet so that a planner can easily view and modify the conversion factors. For radiotherapy in multi-component modalities, such as Fast-Neutron and BNCT, it is necessary to combine each conversion factor component to form an effective dose which is used in radiotherapy planning and evaluation. The Dose Factor Entry and Display System is designed to facilitate planner entry of appropriate conversion factors in a straightforward manner for each component. The effective isodose is then immediately computed and displayed over the appropriate background (e.g. digitized image).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to radiotherapy planning for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for improving the simulation and display of BNCT isodoses superimposed upon the anatomical features of a patient that are to receive BNCT treatment.
2. Background Art
Application of neutrons for radiotherapy of cancer has been a subject of considerable clinical and research interest since the discovery of the neutron by Chadwick in 1932. Fast neutron radiotherapy was first used by Robert Stone in the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in 1938. This technology has evolved over the years to the point where it is now a very viable method for treating inoperable salivary gland tumors. On the basis of recent research data such technology also is emerging as a promising alternative for treatment for prostate cancer, some lung tumors, and certain other malignancies as well.
Neutron capture therapy (NCT), a somewhat different form of neutron-based therapy, was proposed in the mid 1930s and, despite some notable failures in early U.S. trials, has attracted a great deal of renewed research interest lately. This interest is due to significant improvements in radiobiological knowledge.
The basic physical processes involved in fast neutron therapy and neutron capture therapy differ in several respects. In fast neutron therapy, neutrons having relatively high energy (approximately 30-50 MeV) are generated by a suitable neutron source and used directly for irradiation of the treatment volume, just as is done with standard photon (x-ray) therapy. In neutron capture therapy, a neutron capture agent is injected into the patient and is selectively taken into the malignant tissue. The administration of a pharmaceutical containing the neutron capture agent is preferably accomplished by direct administration into the bloodstream of the patient. At an appropriate time after administration of the neutron capture agent, the treatment volume (i.e., the anatomical structure to be treated) is exposed to a field of thermal neutrons produced by application of an external neutron beam. Because boron-10 is commonly used as the capture agent, the technology has come to be known as boron neutron capture therapy, or BNCT.
The thermal neutrons interact with the boron-10, which has a very high capture cross-section in the thermal energy range. Ideally, the boron-10 is present only in the malignant cells so that boron-neutron interactions will occur only in malignant cells. Each boron-neutron interaction produces an alpha particle and a lithium ion. These highly-energetic charged particles deposit their energy within a geometric volume that is comparable to the size of the malignant cell. Thus, boron-neutron interaction provides a high probability of cell inactivation by direct DNA damage.
Because boron is ideally taken up only in the malignant cells, the NCT process offers the possibility of highly selective destruction of malignant tissue while causing minimal damage to the normal tissue disposed adjacent to the tumor. When boron-10 is taken up in the malignant cells only, the separation between normal and malignant tissue occurs on a cellular-level basis--thereby providing considerable accuracy. In addition, the neutron sources used for NCT are, themselves, designed to produce a minimal level of damage to normal tissue which has not received the neutron capture agent.
When BNCT is administered as a primary therapy, an epithermal-neutron beam (neutrons having energies in the range of 1 eV to 10 keV) is used to produce the required thermal neutron flux at depth. This is because these somewhat higher-energy neutrons will penetrate deeper into the irradiation volume before thermalizing. Although the neutrons penetrate deeper, they are still not of sufficient energy to inflict unacceptable damage to intervening normal tissue.
A third form of neutron therapy is also a subject of current research interest. The third form of neutron therapy is basically a hybrid that combines the features of fast neutron therapy and NCT. In this type of radiotherapy, a neutron capture agent is introduced into a patient--preferably into the malignant tissue only. This treatment is prior to the administration of standard fast neutron therapy. Because a small fraction of the neutrons in fast neutron therapy will be thermalized in the irradiation volume, it is possible to obtain a small incremental absorbed dose from the neutron capture interactions that result. Thus, based on current radiobiological research, improved tumor control appears to be likely when using the augmentation concept.
One significant problem with the various neutron therapy systems is that they are usually located only at major research centers because they are physically complex, bulky, expensive to acquire and require high-level operating staffs to maintain. In general these systems are not well suited for wide-spread, practical, clinical deployment.
This disadvantage is compounded by the fact that in BNCT and other neutron therapy systems detailed planning calculations are necessary to optimize the treatment for each individual patient. Careful planning permits the delivery of the highest possible therapeutic radiation dose to the target tissue while maintaining the surrounding healthy tissue at or below tolerance. However, extensive planning can limit the number of patients which can be properly treated using neutron therapy equipment. Thus, in recent years significant efforts have been made to develop modern computational methods and software for use in BNCT treatment planning.
One such treatment planning system for BNCT has been developed by the New England Medical Center Hospitals. This system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,292 (Zamenhof), entitled Monte Carlo Based Treatment Planning for Neutron Capture Therapy. The Zamenhof system displays a patient image superimposed with isodose contour lines. To obtain a patient image superimposed with isodose contour lines, the system must process both a physical distribution and a biological distribution. Processing both the physical and biological distributions each time a planner desires to view isodose contours on a patient image is inefficient and time consuming.
In addition, the Zamenhof system uses an undesirable method to eliminate unwanted isodose contours. Isodose contours appear everywhere that they are computed to appear--even in areas of the display that do not have a patient image. The isodose contours that appear outside the patient image are undesirable. To get rid of these contour lines, the Zamenhof method sets computed isodose values outside the patient image to zero. Zamenhof, Col. 2, lines 2-4. Setting the computed isodose values to zero in the air regions outside the patient image causes the isodose curves to have unrealistic dropouts near the margins of the patient image. These dropouts are sharp and cause a general distortion throughout the isodose curves.
Other treatment planning systems consider the isodose contours to consist of one component and present the contours on top of a medical image or graphical, visual representation of anatomical features. Although these systems increase the speed of treatment planning, they are not as accurate as desired.
Thus, there is a need for a method for treatment planning that provides for isodose contour line displays superimposed over a patient image, while eliminating the contour lines in areas not of concern to the planner. Such a system should be easy to use and enable more efficient treatment planning.

Dose factor entry and display tool for BNCT radiotherapy

Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company


A method, computer program product, and network data processing system for identifying, locating, and deleting viruses is provided. In one embodiment, the network data processing system includes a local server, several client data processing systems, and a bait server. The address of the bait server is not published to the clients. Thus, any attempt to access the bait server would indicate the presence of a virus on the client attempting access. The bait server monitors itself and, responsive to an attempt from a client to access the bait server, broadcasts an indication that a virus attack is underway to all devices within the network. The bait server then ignores all further access requests by the offending client until it receives an indication that the offending client has been disinfected and directs the local server to disconnect the offending client(s) from the network. The bait server also notifies the local server and/or a network administrator of the problem and the identity of the offending client allowing appropriate action to be initiated to disinfect the offending client.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a business service to identify the source of a computer virus on a network using a promiscuous system.
2. Description of Related Art
The detection of computer viruses is a well-understood technology. There are several large companies involved in the business of virus detection and elimination including Symantec, McAffee, Shiva, and Intel. Some of these products, specifically Symantec, offer a corporate version of their software for administration and use on internal corporate networks, or intranets. In this configuration, the virus detection client software is installed on each client computer and the virus checker is run at specified intervals to check for viruses on that client machine. If a virus is detected, the client program informs the user that a virus has been detected and takes automatic action or prompts the user for an action depending on the administrative settings.
When a virus is detected, the user is generally instructed to quarantine the infected file or files, removing them from use on the current system. Once the files have been quarantined, the user can begin to use the system once again. The user may then be instructed to contact the system administrator or IT department to alert them of the virus.
The problem with this strategy is that significant damage to the system may already be done before the virus is detected. Some viruses called worms [Syman1] are capable of destroying hundreds or even thousands of files before they are detected. Worse, by the time the client machine has detected the virus, the virus may have cloned itself on another machine on the network or on a network share. From the network share, the virus can begin deleting files and cloning itself onto other client systems. Finding the source of the virus and removing any trace of it on the network usually requires that the network server be shut down, the network shares removed, and each client machine disinfected while disconnected from the network.
To be sure a virus has been totally eliminated, it is desirable to know where the virus originated so that particular machine can be properly disinfected. This can be difficult to determine, however, especially in large corporate networks where the user may not have anti-virus software installed, or a where they have dialed in, unknowingly deposited a virus, and then logged off. If the network is disinfected, it will become infected again when the offending user reconnects. It is important to identify the offending system to prevent re-infection from occurring.
In most cases, the offending user spreads the virus without realizing it. A class of viruses called "worms" work by erasing files or setting their file length to zero, effectively rendering them useless. Worms are usually not recognized by firewall software or filters, and arrive at the users machine looking like a normal executable image or script file. When the user clicks on the file, it immediately clones itself and looks for a new system on the network to be a willing host for the worm. When it finds a willing host, it installs itself and runs again, looking for yet another willing host. These worms need a willing and promiscuous host to provide them with the privileges necessary to do their nasty deed. They seek out systems on the network that have write access to computers or shares, then use that capability to remove files on other systems.
In most networks, it is normal practice for the systems to access a shared storage of some type, perhaps another computer's hard drive, as a shared medium. This is referred to as a share or network share, and it allows users to easily share information, programs, files, and documents located in a single place. Each system that requires access to the share has that access granted to it by the system administrator or by the policies of the network server. Systems without access to the share cannot read from or write to the share. Read and write access can be granted separately for each system that has access to the share.
In the case of viruses that replicate with other systems, it is likely that the virus had already replicated before the detection. In this case, disinfecting the current system will not help, since the virus will quickly replicate itself back on the current system. In order to effectively disinfect the neighboring machines, each machine must be disconnected from the network, disinfected, and then placed back on the network only after each networked client has been checked and disinfected. The source of the worm must be found and eliminated, otherwise the risk of re-infection is extremely high.
This can be a lengthy procedure, and can be difficult for novice users or administrators to implement. Although most corporations with large networks have policies against downloading potentially harmful content, smaller companies with less experienced staff are more likely to download potentially harmful content.
Therefore, a method, system, and computer program product that allows viruses to be detected, located, and eliminated without requiring great skill on the part of an administrator is desirable.

Method and apparatus for the detection, notification, and elimination of certain computer viruses on a network using a promiscuous system as bait


A platinum group-metal curing liquid silicone rubber compositions having improved physical properties such as tear and heat-aging, especially at durometers below about 35 and above about 65. The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that the addition of diorganohydrogensiloxy end-blocked polydiorganosiloxanes and triorganosiloxy end-blocked polydiorganosiloxanes having a viscosity greater than about 10 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C. to liquid silicone rubber compositions can provide for the described improved properties.

The present invention is platinum group-metal curing liquid silicone rubber compositions having improved physical properties such as tear and heat aging, especially at durometers below about 35 and above about 65. The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that the addition of diorganohydrogensiloxy end-blocked polydiorganosiloxanes and triorganosiloxy end-blocked polydiorganosiloxanes having a viscosity greater than about 10 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C. to liquid silicone rubber compositions can provide for the described improved properties.
Polmanteer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,473, describe a composition which is fluid and consists essentially of a polydiorganosiloxane having two vinyl radicals per molecule and terminated with triorganosiloxy groups, a mixture of silicone compounds containing silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms, a platinum catalyst, and optionally a reinforcing silica. The cured elastomers prepared from the compositions described by Polmanteer et al. can have a low durometer, but typically the tear strength is poor and below about 26 kN/m (150 ppi). In addition, the compositions described by Polmanteer et al. are unsuitable for making high durometer silicone elastomers with good tear strength and heat stability.
Jeram et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,866, discloses curable organosiloxane compositions having improve physical properties which comprises (A) a high viscosity component containing vinyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of from 5 Pa.cndot.s to 1,000 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C., and (B) a low viscosity component containing at least one polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of from 0.05 Pa.cndot.s to 5 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C. The curable compositions also contain an organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker and a platinum hydrosilation catalyst.
Jensen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,978, teaches that the tear strength of platinum curable liquid silicone rubbers as described by Jeram et al., supra, can by improved if the compositions contain a mixture of two liquid diorganovinylsiloxy terminated polydiorganosiloxanes. One of the diorganovinylsiloxy terminated polydiorganosiloxanes comprises 70 to 95 percent by weight of the mixture and contains vinyl or other ethylenically unsaturation hydrocarbon radicals only at the terminal positions and has a viscosity of from 20 Pa.cndot.s to 200 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C. The second polydiorganosiloxane contains both terminal vinyl radicals and from 1 to 5 mole percent of vinyl radicals on non-terminal repeating units and has a viscosity of from 0.1 Pa.cndot.s to 200 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C. Although the compositions taught by Jensen, supra, cure to form elastomers having excellent tear strength at durometers above about 35, the tear strength tends to deteriorate at lower durometers and is typically less than about 26 kN/m (150 ppi). Furthermore, the cured compositions taught by Jensen, supra, at durometers above about 65 have poor heat aging properties, tending to become brittle.
Takamizawa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,596, teach an anti-sticking silicone compositions comprising (a) a polydiorganosiloxane of substantially straight-chain molecular structure having dimethylvinylsiloxy terminal groups at both ends and preferably having a viscosity within a range of 0.05 Pa.cndot.s to 5 Pa.cndot. at 25.degree. C., (b) a polydiorganosiloxane of substantially straight-chain structure having dimethylhydrogensiloxy groups at both chain ends and a preferred viscosity of 0.002 Pa.cndot.s to 0.1 Pa.cndot.s at 25.degree. C., (c) a polymethylvinylsiloxane having at least three vinyl groups bonded to the silicon atoms in one molecule, (d) a polymethylhydrogensiloxane having at least three hydrogen atoms bonded directly to the silicon atoms in one molecule, and (e) an addition reaction catalyst.

Use of high molecular weight organopolysiloxanes to improve physical properties of liquid silicone rubber compositions


An eyepiece assembly for use in a rifle scope may include an eyepiece that is made of a material that is transparent to light. A holographic reticle may be positioned within the eyepiece. The eyepiece assembly may also include a chrome reticle. The chrome reticle may be positioned so that the chrome reticle is aligned with the holographic reticle. A cover portion may be attached to the eyepiece.

Rifles are often equipped with a scope in order to facilitate the user in aiming the weapon. This scope is an optical instrument through which the user may see the target and aim the weapon. Often, the rifle scope will include a reticle, which is sometimes referred to as cross-hairs. The user may aim the rifle by looking through the scope and aligning the rifle so that the reticle is directly positioned over the target. By positioning the reticle in this manner, a skilled marksman can shoot the rifle accurately so as to hit the target.
Under some circumstances, users may want to shoot their rifles at night or at a dark object. This may be true for persons in the military or in law enforcement who are involved in night-time operations. In order to use the reticle in these conditions of limited light, the reticle may be illuminated so that the user can see the reticle and align it with the target. When light is added to the reticle, it is possible that some of the light may bleed out of the rifle scope. This may occur by having the light exit the end of the rifle scope and propagate towards the target. If such light does escape the rifle scope, this can increase the likelihood that the user will be detected by surveillance. Thus, in situations in which the user would like to avoid detection, it may be very difficult and risky to use a lighted reticle.

Transverse light reduction in a lighted reticle


One object is to increase the filling factor of magnetic particles and increase the evenness of distribution of the magnetic particles in a magnetic main body of a coil component. A coil component includes: a magnetic main body containing a resin and magnetic particles; and a coil conductor embedded in the magnetic main body. The magnetic particles include large-sized magnetic particles, middle-sized magnetic particles, and small-sized magnetic particles. The proportion of the volume of the large-sized magnetic particles to the total volume of all the magnetic particles is 70 vol % to 85 vol %, the proportion of the volume of the middle-sized magnetic particles to the total volume is 2 vol % to 28 vol %, and the proportion of the volume of the small-sized magnetic particles to the total volume is 2 vol % to 28 vol %. The particle size distribution of the small-sized magnetic particles overlaps that of the middle-sized magnetic particles.

One such coil component is an inductor. An inductor is a passive element used in an electric circuit. For example, an inductor eliminates noise in a power source line or a signal line.
Typically, a coil component includes a magnetic main body, a coil conductor embedded in the magnetic main body, and external electrodes connected to end portions of the coil conductor. In most cases, the magnetic main body of the coil component is formed of ferrite or a composite resin material.
In this composite resin material, a large number of magnetic particles are bound to each other by a binder resin. Composite resin materials, which can be cast into shapes easily as compared to ferrite, are used widely as materials for magnetic bodies of compact coil components.
The magnetic main body made of the composite resin material is produced by injection molding or transfer molding. More specifically, the magnetic main body is formed by mixing magnetic particles and a binder resin to produce a slurry, casting the slurry into a mold, and curing the slurry in the mold.
The magnetic main body of the coil component is desired to have a high magnetic permeability. To increase the magnetic permeability of the magnetic main body made of the composite resin material, the filling factor of the magnetic particles in the magnetic main body should be increased.
There have been proposals of techniques for increasing the filling factor of the magnetic particles so as to increase the magnetic permeability. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-179621 discloses a composite magnetic material containing first magnetic particles and second magnetic particles. This publication discloses that a molded product having magnetic particles filled therein at a high density can be produced by satisfying the following conditions:
the average particle size of the second magnetic particles is equal to or less than 50% of that of the first magnetic particles, and
0.05≤Y/(X+Y)≤0.30, where X is the content (wt %) of the first magnetic particles, and Y is the content (wt %) of the second magnetic particles.
It is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-026812 that the filling factor of magnetic particles can be increased by satisfying the following conditions:
a magnetic main body contains first magnetic particles and second magnetic particles both made of an amorphous metal containing iron (Fe),
the first magnetic particles are constituted by rough grains 15 μm or larger in long axis, and
the second magnetic particles are constituted by fine grains 5 μm or smaller in long axis.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-208002 discloses that the filling factor of magnetic particles can be increased when a magnetic main body contains magnetic particles having three or more types of particle size distribution.
As described above, the conventional way to increase the filling factor of magnetic particles in a magnetic main body has been to use two or three types of magnetic particles having different sizes in the magnetic main body.
As described above, the magnetic main body is formed by mixing magnetic particles and a binder resin to produce a slurry, casting the slurry into a mold, and curing the slurry in the mold. The viscosity of the slurry is higher when the slurry contains magnetic particles having a small size. Therefore, to produce a magnetic main body containing magnetic particles having a small size, it is necessary to apply a high pressure when placing the slurry into a mold. However, when a high pressure is applied to the slurry being placed into a mold, strains occurring in the magnetic particles may increase the core loss. In contrast, when the applied pressure is insufficient, the magnetic particles are distributed unevenly in the molded magnetic main body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A decoy trolling apparatus includes a frame assembly floatable on a water surface, a plurality of decoys connected to the frame assembly and floatable on the water surface, a trolling assembly rigidly connected to a first location of the frame assembly, and an anchor assembly rotatably connected to a second location of the frame assembly and anchored to a ground surface below the water surface. The second location is opposed to the first location. The trolling assembly drives the frame assembly in a generally circular motion about the anchor assembly.

Over the years, modern advances in hunting equipment have enhanced the sport, providing hunters with increased success. Among these products, hunting decoys have become more realistic in design, easier to use, and typically provide for a more successful hunting outing.
However, most hunting decoys fail in realism due to their lack of movement. While many hunted animals will initially respond to a hunting decoy, their artificial nature becomes very obvious as the hunted game moves closer. In fact, the un-natural nature of decoys causes many hunted animals to become spooked, and run off. Ideally, if the decoy was capable of movement, not only would the hunted animal pay more interest to the decoy, but their attention would be drawn away from other elements in the environment, including the hunter, allowing for a greater chance of an accurate shot.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which hunting decoys can be provided with realistic movement.


A patient-specific surgical guide including at least one guiding element for guiding a surgical instrument to treat a subcutaneous anatomical structure of the patient. A first patient-specific contact element with a first patient-specific contact surface to fit a portion of the subcutaneous anatomical structure is rigidly connected to the at least one guiding element. The patient-specific surgical guide includes at least one second patient-specific contact element having at least one support element for supporting a percutaneous pin or needle whose tip is intended to contact a point of the subcutaneous anatomical structure or an anatomical structure rigidly connected thereto. An elongated junction member rigidly couples the at least one guiding element to the at least one second contact element.

Patient-specific surgical guides become more and more used in orthopedic surgery, for example in view of implanting total knee prosthesis.
A patient-specific guide is generated by an additive manufacturing technique (e.g. stereolithography or selective laser sintering) by including two kinds of elements:                contact elements intended to match an anatomical structure (e.g. a bone) to be treated; and        guiding elements such as drill guides, saw guides, or milling guides, intended to guide a surgical instrument in order to treat the anatomical structure in view of implanting the required prosthesis once the patient-specific guide is positioned onto the anatomical structure of the patient.
The planning of the position of the guiding elements is based on the planning of the prosthesis implantation on medical images of the patients such as Computer Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or 3D models built from X-ray projections.
The prosthesis can be a screw, a wedge, a plate, or any articular implant made of several parts, it can be a conventional implant or a patient specific implant made on the basis of medical images of the patient. The planning is performed using a computer. The planning runs a software that calculates all the steps further described for determining geometric positions of pin guides, contact surfaces, milling guides, etc. in relation with the anatomical structures of the patient, for which a surface or volume model is constructed using software and imaging tools.
The contact elements are chosen so as to provide a unique and stable position of the guide with respect to the anatomical structure.
In view of carrying out minimally invasive surgery, the guide should require minimal incisions into the patient's body, while allowing a precise and robust positioning with respect to the anatomical structure to be worked. This is often contradictory. As a result, it is known that state-of-the-art guides often suffer from instability that can lead to inaccuracy of placement of surgical tools. Making them bigger to obtain a larger contact surface for better stability and accuracy goes against the trends for minimally invasive surgery.


An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body. The vibrations are detected using two or more of the optical vibration sensors. The relative phase(s) of the vibrations are used to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body.

There is a wide variety of electronic user-operated devices that require means for a user to provide input to the device. Examples of such devices include computers, media devices, virtual reality devices, etc. Some common input devices include peripherals such as keyboards, computer mice, track balls, etc. However, some of these peripherals can be difficult to use or to learn to use, take up space, and provide a less convenient or less intuitive means for providing input. More recent input devices include touch-based input devices, such as touch screens or touch pads, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,581. However, such devices typically require a large touch input area to provide the desired input options to the user (e.g., such as providing touch input areas corresponding to letters and numbers in a keyboard layout for typing text and number input). In addition, for devices that rely on the detection of acoustic signals generated by the touch, the device needs to be large so that there is sufficient separation between the sensors that detect the acoustic signals to allow the phase difference and/or amplitude difference between detected signals to be discernible above the noise floor. Consequently, such devices are typically large and therefore not easily portable. Smaller touch-based input devices may not be suitable for some applications, e.g., collaborative work between multiple users.
When viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides a method of receiving an input by determining information regarding a point of contact of an object on a surface of a solid body, the method comprising:                a) placing an input device in contact with the surface of the solid body, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing, each optical vibration sensor comprising:                    a diffractive optical element;            a light source arranged to illuminate said diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and            a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light;                        wherein the optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector;        b) bringing the object into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body;        c) detecting the vibrations using two or more of the optical vibration sensors; and        d) using the relative phase(s) of the vibrations to determine the information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body.
The invention extends to an input device comprising a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing, each optical vibration sensor comprising:                a diffractive optical element;        a light source arranged to illuminate said diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and        a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light;        wherein the optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector;        wherein the input device is adapted to be placed on or attached to the surface of a solid body; and        wherein the input device is configured:                    using two or more of the optical vibration sensors, to detect vibrations caused by an object being brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body; andto use the relative phase(s) of the vibrations to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body.
Thus it will be appreciated that in accordance with the invention, an input device may be placed on or attached to a solid body (e.g., a table top, floor, wall, etc.) so that when an object (e.g., a user's hand or finger, or an input object such as a stylus, pen, etc.) touches the surface of the solid body on which the input device is placed or attached, vibrations originating at the point of contact of the touch propagate through the solid body to the positions of optical vibration sensors in the input device. The vibrations are detected by the optical vibration sensors, and their relative phase(s) are used to determine the information regarding the point of contact by determining the origin of the vibrations. The information regarding the point of contact may comprise, as non-limiting examples, the position of the point of contact, the direction in which the point of contact lies relative to the input device, the duration of contact, and/or the distance between the point of contact and the input device. The point of contact may be a single stationary point (e.g., a tap on the surface) or a moving point (e.g., a swipe across the surface). For a moving point of contact, the information regarding the point of contact may comprise, as non-limiting examples, the direction of movement of the point, a series of positions traced by the point of contact, the start and end locations of a series of positions traced by the point of contact, a shape traced by the point of contact, and/or the duration of contact. Accordingly, by placing the input device, which may be relatively small, on a relatively large solid body surface, any surface that can allow the propagation or vibrations can be used as a touch input surface, even if the solid body is not a part of the electronic device for which input is to be provided. For example, the solid body can be an everyday object such as a table or another surface of a solid object such as a wall. This provides the advantage that the input device, being relatively small, can be easily transported to a location and then set up on a solid body such as a table, wall, etc. that is already available at the location to provide a large input touch surface.
In accordance with the invention, the relative phase(s) of the vibrations are used to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body. In a set of preferred embodiments, use is also made of the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body. This recognises that these amplitudes may provide useful information as to the relative distance of the object to the respective sensors since the amplitude of the signal can be related to its distance of travel by the attenuation which may be calculated theoretically and/or determined empirically.
The input device may be attached to the solid body in use, but this is not essential. Input devices in accordance with the invention are advantageous in that they do not need to be fixedly attached to the solid body in order for vibrations to be detected by the optical vibration sensors. The input device may be placed on the solid body in use without being fixedly attached, e.g., it may rest on the surface, being held in place by gravity and/or friction. To provide improved coupling between the solid body surface and the optical vibration sensors, the input device may be provided with additional mass to increase the force due to gravity holding the input device in place. Such additional weight may conveniently be provided by a large battery, giving the additional advantage of increased battery life.
The Applicant has appreciated that input devices in accordance with the invention are capable of detecting vibrations propagating through the solid body and well as vibrations propagating across the solid body surface. This advantageously allows one or more input devices to be placed in contact with a different part of the solid body surface from the part of the surface where the point of contact is made. Thus, it will be understood that when it is said that the point of contact and the input device(s) are on the surface of the solid body, this is not limited to the point of contact and input device(s) being on the same region or face of the solid body. In some embodiments, the input device(s) is/are placed on a different (e.g., opposing) region or face of the solid body from the region or face where the point of contact is made. For example, the input device(s) may be attached to the underside of a table while the point of contact is made on the top surface of the table. As another example, the input device(s) may be attached to the back of a wall, while the point of contact is made on the front of the wall. This advantageously allows a user to make a touch input point of contact anywhere on a side or face (e.g., a front or top surface) of a solid body without having to avoid a region occupied by the input device(s). Such arrangements may also be aesthetically more attractive.
The information regarding the point of contact with the surface (including but not limited to the position of the point of contact, the location of a swipe, the direction of a swipe, the series of positions traced by a swipe, the duration of a tap or swipe) may be determined from direct vibrations, i.e., from vibrations propagating from the point of contact directly to the input device, or from indirect vibrations, i.e., from vibrations originating at the point of contact that have been reflected from a boundary of the surface (e.g., a table edge) or other discontinuity before reaching the input device.
In a set of embodiments, the information regarding the point of contact with the surface is determined from a detected composite signal comprising direct and indirect vibrations (e.g., the sum of direct and indirect vibrations). In a set of such embodiments, an estimate of the direct signal may be subtracted from the composite signal to give a residual signal, e.g., consisting of one or more indirect signals substantially without the direct signal. The direct signal may be estimated from the detected composite signal—e.g., by determining a maximum energy peak and/or using a time window. The information regarding the point of contact with the surface may be determined from the residual signal. This may be particularly useful for determining information about a swipe, especially a swipe that is (or has a substantial component) perpendicular to an array of optical vibration sensors. This is because the angle of arrival of the direct path signal will not change significantly during such a gesture, whereas the indirect signal derived from a reflection, e.g., from a surface edge, will tend to arrive at an angle which changes throughout the gesture.
In a set of embodiments, the information regarding the point of contact with the surface is determined using one or more estimated partial impulse responses. An estimated partial impulse response is an estimate of part of the composite signal (i.e., including both direct and indirect signals) that is expected to be detected by an array of optical vibration sensors for a corresponding expected touch input. The term "partial" refers to the fact that only part of the expected impulse response may be estimated, for example, there may be portions (e.g., temporal regions) where no expected signal is specified. The actual detected signal may then be matched to an estimated partial impulse response for an expected touch input, e.g., a best match may be identified, or a match that is closer to the actual detected signal than other possible matches by a specified margin. The expected touch input corresponding to the best match partial impulse response may be identified as corresponding to the actual touch input that produced the detected vibrations.
It will be appreciated that using the relative phase(s) and optionally the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations to determine information regarding the point of contact encompasses techniques such as beamforming known per se in the art as well as more simple phase difference calculations and/or amplitude difference calculations.
As the vibrations originate from an impact of an object on a solid surface, it will be understood that the propagating vibrations will comprise a range of frequencies. The input device may use some or all of the frequencies present in the vibrations to determine information about the point of contact. In a set of embodiments, the input device uses a range or subset of frequencies of the vibrations preferentially or exclusively to determine information about the point of contact.
In a set of embodiments, the method comprises determining one or more parameters relating to the solid body. The parameter(s) may comprise one or more selected from the group including the height, width, depth, radius, shape, material and/or density of the solid body. The method may comprise obtaining an overdetermined set of equations relating the position of the point of contact to the parameters of the solid body. The input device may comprise sufficient sensors to obtain said overdetermined set of equations, e.g., there may be at least three, at least four, at least five or at least six sensors. Additionally or alternatively, the method may comprise determining the position of the input device on the solid body (e.g., the relative position with respect to a boundary or other feature of the solid body).
In some embodiments, the reflective surface from which the first portion of light is reflected is the surface of the solid body. In such embodiments, the input device may comprise one or more apertures or transparent windows, wherein the aperture(s) or transparent window(s) is/are positioned to allow the first portion of light to propagate from the respective diffractive optical elements to the reflective surface, and then from the reflective surface to the respective photo detector. A single aperture or window could be provided, or a plurality thereof, e.g., one per sensor. In such embodiments, the solid body may be provided with a reflective covering, for example, a reflective mat or sheet. It will be understood that when it is said that the reflective surface may be the surface of the solid body, this includes the possibility that the solid body comprises a reflective covering, where the reflective covering reflects the first portion of light.
In some embodiments, each optical vibration sensor comprises a membrane. In such embodiments, the membrane preferably comprises the reflective surface from which the first portion is reflected. Each optical vibration sensor may comprise a mechanical coupling between the membrane and the solid body surface. It will be appreciated that as the input device is intended to be placed on or attached to a surface during use and then removed afterwards, the mechanical coupling is preferably not fixedly attached to the surface of the solid body. Instead, the mechanical coupling may be fixedly attached to or integrally formed with the membrane, and positioned so that it is in physical contact with the solid body surface when the input device is in use. The mechanical coupling may comprise a mass attached to the membrane. For example, a ball or weight may be attached to the membrane, (e.g., to the side of the membrane that faces the solid body surface in use), and positioned so that the ball or weight is in physical contact with the surface when the input device is in contact with the solid body surface. Vibrations in the solid body surface can thus propagate to the membrane via the mechanical coupling. The motion of the membrane thus corresponds to the phase and amplitude of the vibrations in the solid body surface. However, it is not essential for the optical vibration sensors to comprise respective membranes. For example, where the reflective surface comprises the solid body surface (as discussed in the preceding paragraph), the amplitude of the vibration in the solid body surface may be determined directly from the solid body surface, rather than via a membrane, because the first portion of light is reflected from the solid body surface.
It will be appreciated that the detection of vibrations is achieved as a result of the variation in distance between the diffractive optical element and the reflective surface. This is because the interference pattern depends on the optical path difference between the first and second portions of light. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the detection of vibrations may be achieved because the membrane or the surface of the solid body is vibrating, i.e., moving, with respect to the diffractive optical element in each optical vibration sensor, which may be substantially stationary on the scale of the vibration amplitude. In such embodiments, the common housing may be shaped so that, in regions of the common housing adjacent to the optical vibration sensors, there is no physical contact between the common housing and the solid body. For example, the common housing may be in contact with the solid body only at the periphery of the common housing.
However, it is not necessary for the optical vibration sensors to be stationary or substantially stationary. For example, the vibrations in the solid body may propagate to the optical vibration sensors via the common housing and/or via the respective membranes and mechanical couplings. In particular, in some embodiments, the common housing is shaped so that there is physical contact between the common housing and the solid body in regions of the common housing adjacent to the optical vibration sensors. As a result, vibrations in the solid body may propagate into the common housing, and thus into the optical vibration sensors. In such embodiments, the optical vibration sensors may each comprise a membrane that is not mechanically coupled to the solid body. The membrane may comprise a mass attached thereto, wherein the mass is not in contact with the solid body during use. In such embodiments, relative motion between the membrane and the diffractive optical element may occur due to the sensor housing vibrating while the membrane remains substantially stationary due to the inertia of the mass on the membrane, i.e., each vibrational sensor may function as an optical accelerometer.
The Applicant has appreciated that the performance of the input device can be improved by providing each optical vibration sensor with a sensor housing, and mounting each sensor housing containing the optical vibration sensor in the common housing (i.e., so that the common housing comprises a main housing and a plurality of sensor housings). This provides the advantage that the sensor housings can be made from a different material from the main housing. In particular, the main housing may be made of a material that suppresses the propagation of vibrations. This provides the advantage that vibrations in one sensor housing are attenuated in their propagation to adjacent sensor housings, thereby reducing or eliminating cross-talk between the sensors.
As used herein, cross-talk refers to the propagation of vibrations from one optical vibration sensor to another, especially between sensor housings and especially between adjacent sensors. In particular, in some embodiments, vibrations are intentionally propagated from the solid body to each sensor housing or to a respective membrane attached to each sensor housing to cause relative movement between the reflective surface and the optical diffractive element. If these vibrations propagate to adjacent sensor housings, this may result in the adjacent optical vibration sensor incorrectly recording the presence of a vibration at its location. This may prevent the input device working correctly.
In some embodiments, the average density of each sensor housing is higher than the average density of the portion of the main housing connecting the sensors. It will be appreciated that materials of lower density propagate vibrations less effectively, and so having a lower density material in the portions between the sensors serves to suppress vibrations propagating between the sensor housings.
This is novel and inventive in its own right, and so when viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides an input device for detecting vibrations in a solid body when the input device is in contact with a surface of said solid body, the device comprising:                a main housing;        a plurality of sensor units mounted in the main housing, each sensor unit comprising a sensor housing and an optical vibration sensor mounted in the sensor housing, wherein each optical vibration sensor comprises:                    a diffractive optical element;            a light source arranged to illuminate said diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and            a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light;                        wherein the optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector;        wherein the average density of each sensor housing is higher than the average density of the portion of the main housing connecting the sensors.
Features of the first aspect may also be features of the second aspect and vice versa.
A significant advantage of both aspects of the present invention is that they provide the possibility of using an array of closely spaced sensors to detect a touch position, allowing the input device itself to be compact, e.g., in the form of an array that can be retrofitted or placed essentially at a single point on the surface where the touch is to be detected.
This is in contrast with input devices of the prior art. In prior art devices, the determination of the phase difference and/or amplitude difference between vibrations detected by two or more sensors requires a large distance between the sensors. This is because there needs to be sufficient spacing between the sensors for there to be any observable phase difference and/or amplitude difference. For example, two sensors placed at exactly the same location would see the same signal and hence the phase difference would be zero. For sensors spaced a small distance apart, although there would be a small phase difference, this would typically be drowned by self-noise of the sensors and thus this approach is not used in the prior art. In practice, one will not just be subtracting two signals, but instead two signals plus the sensor noise. For example, let the signal received at a first sensor be x (which consists of a signal s1 and noise n1) and the signal received at a second sensor be y (which consists of a signal s1 and noise n1). Both x and y are complex numbers, as they are computed based on an fast Fourier transform of the received signal within a time-sample.x=s1+n1  Eq. 1y=s2+n2  Eq. 2w=x−y=[s1−s2]+[n1−n2]  Eq. 3
Note that the closer the sensors are placed, the smaller the magnitude of the first term, i.e., |s1−s2|, will be. The magnitude of the cumulative error, i.e., |n1−n2| will not change as the sensors are moved closer together. The result of moving the sensors closer together is therefore a deterioration of the SNR of the fingerprint or estimator w, i.e.
                              S                    N                    R                =                                                                        s                1                            -                              s                2                                                                                                                n                1                            -                              n                2                                                                                    Eq        .                                          4            gets worse as the sensors are put closer together. Although the above relates to raw narrowband or Fourier coefficients of signal differences, i.e., s1−s2, the same reasoning applies to the phase and magnitude of the signals. Typically, the difference between the signal phases and the difference between the signal magnitudes will both decrease as the distance between the sensors decreases, but this is generally not true for the noise part of the SNR.
However, the Applicant has appreciated that optical vibration sensors as described above in the context of the present invention, e.g., optical MEMS accelerometers, have sufficiently low sensor noise to allow the sensors to be placed much closer together in a compact input device while still yielding a sufficiently good SNR for accurate position location via phase differences, including simple phase difference calculation as well as more sophisticated (e.g., beamforming) methods. In addition, the closer spacing of the sensors allows one to fit many more sensors into an array that is still relatively small. This is advantageous, e.g., because it allows for sophisticated techniques such as beamforming.
The advantages discussed above are achieved to an even greater degree in embodiments configured to reduce cross-talk between the sensors by using relatively low density main housing material, as described above.
The sensor housings may be positioned so that they are in contact with the solid body surface when the input device is in use. In such embodiments, the optical vibration sensors may each comprise a membrane that is not mechanically coupled to the solid body. The membrane may comprise a mass attached thereto, wherein the mass is not in contact with the solid body during use. In such embodiments, relative motion between the membrane and the diffractive optical element may occur due to the sensor housing vibrating while the membrane remains substantially stationary due to the inertia of the mass on the membrane, i.e., each vibrational sensor may function as an optical accelerometer.
In any embodiments comprising a mass and/or mechanical coupling attached to the membrane, a part of the mass and/or mechanical coupling may be on the side of the membrane facing the grating. Accordingly, it will be understood that when it is said that the reflective surface may comprise the membrane, this includes the possibility that the membrane comprises the mass and/or mechanical coupling so that the first portion of light may be reflected by a part of the mass and/or mechanical coupling.
In a set of embodiments, each sensor housing is mounted in the main housing by means of a flexible suspension. For example, the suspension may be an elastic member connecting the sensor housing and the main housing. The suspension may be made from silicone, rubber, foam or any other suitable material. This advantageously helps to reduce the propagation of vibrations from each sensor housing into the main housing, thus further reducing cross talk.
The sensor housings may be made of any suitable material, e.g., metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium. The sensor housings may be made from a material with a density above 2.5 g/cm3, preferably above 5.0 g/cm3, more preferably above 7.5 g/cm3.
The portion of the main housing connecting the sensors may be made from any suitable material, and preferably a material that reduces the propagation of vibrations compared with the material of the sensor housings, e.g., foam or rubber. Preferably the portion of the main housing connecting the sensors is made from a material with a density below 0.5 g/cm3, more preferably below 0.2 g/cm3, most preferably below 0.1 g/cm3. Preferably the portion of the main housing connecting the sensors is made from a material with a density that is less than 20% of the density of the sensor housing material, more preferably less than 10%, most preferably less than 5%.
As noted above, the input device is preferably small enough to be easily portable. Accordingly, in preferred embodiments, the input device has a maximum dimension of less than 0.2 m, more preferably less than 0.1 m, most preferably less than 0.05 m.
As previously explained it may be advantageous in some embodiments for the device to be relatively heavy to give a good coupling with a surface on which it rests. For example in a set of embodiments the device has a mass of more than 0.2 kg, e.g., more than 0.5 kg.
The provision of a main housing material that reduces the propagation of vibrations provides the advantage that the optical vibration sensors can be provided close together without resulting in significant cross talk. In some preferred embodiments, the separation between adjacent sensor housings is less than 1 cm, more preferably less than 0.5 cm. The separation between adjacent optical vibration sensors may be less than 4 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, more preferably less than 1 cm, e.g., less than 0.5 cm or less than 0.25 cm. As used herein, the separation between adjacent optical vibration sensors means the distance between a position on one optical vibration sensor (e.g., a centre point) and the same position on an adjacent optical vibration sensor.
In a set of embodiments, the input device comprises a processor. The processor may be configured to use the relative phase(s) and optionally the relative amplitude(s) of vibrations detected by the optical vibration sensors to determine information regarding a point of contact of an object on the surface of the solid body in accordance with the methods of the invention. Additionally or alternatively, the input device may be configured for communication with a remote processing device. The determination of information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body using the relative phase(s) and optionally the relative amplitude(s) may be carried out partially or fully by the remote processing device.
The plurality of optical vibration sensors in the input device may be arranged in an array, preferably a two-dimensional array. For example, the optical vibration sensors may be arranged in a square lattice arrangement. This may be used for detecting vibrations at positions in a Cartesian coordinate system. The optical vibration sensors may be arranged in a radial arrangement, e.g., concentric circles. This may be used for detecting vibrations at positions in a polar coordinate system.
While it will be appreciated that some useful data may be obtained using as few as two optical vibration sensors in the input device, preferably the input device comprises at least nine optical vibration sensors, more preferably at least 16, e.g., at least 25.
Using the relative phase(s) and (where used) the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations to determine information regarding a point of contact on the surface may comprise using a direction of arrival algorithm. Suitable direction of arrival algorithms are known in the art, for example, MUSIC and ESPRIT.
The method may comprise determining a radius of curvature of a vibration wavefront originating at the point of contact to determine a distance from the input device to the point of contact.
The method may comprise using two input devices in accordance with the invention, where each input device determines a direction of arrival of a vibration wavefront from the point of contact, and determining an intersection of the directions of arrival to determine the position of the point of contact on the surface.
The diffractive optical element is preferably a grating, however it may be any other suitable optical element, e.g., a diffractive lens.
In embodiments comprising a membrane, the membrane may be made from any suitable material. In some preferred embodiments, the membrane is made from silicon, although other materials could be used, e.g., silicon nitride. The membrane may be manufactured by depositing the membrane material on a substrate, and then etching away a portion of the substrate under the membrane material to leave a support connected to the membrane at its periphery. In embodiments comprising a membrane, e.g., a silicon nitride membrane, the membrane may comprise one or more corrugation(s), which may increase the compliance of the membrane compared with a flat membrane. Membranes with increased compliance exhibit a greater displacement in response to a given pressure, and are therefore more sensitive to vibrations. Such membranes may thus improve the performance of the input device by making it more sensitive to vibrations.
In embodiments comprising a membrane, another suitable resilient element may be used in the place of the membrane, e.g., a spring. In such embodiments, the spring may be used to support a mass and/or mechanical coupling, as discussed above, wherein the mass and/or mechanical coupling serves as the reflective surface.
One or more input devices in accordance with the present invention may be used in conjunction with a virtual reality system. This is particularly advantageous as such systems present a challenge in allowing users to provide anything more than a crude input since they are not really compatible with use of a standard keyboard or touchscreen. Input devices in accordance with the present invention may be used to set up a virtual reality space, e.g., by placing input devices at a plurality of locations in a room, e.g., on the walls and floor, or on a desk. The virtual reality system may provide the user with a visual representation of an input system (e.g., buttons, objects or other features) that the user can interact with, where the visual representations corresponds to positions on the solid body (e.g., a wall, a desk) to which the input device is attached.
In accordance with the foregoing aspects of the invention, the relative phase(s) of the vibrations are used to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body, with the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations optionally also being used. However, the Applicant has appreciated that due to, for example, the low self-noise and related advantages of optical vibration sensors, it is also possible to determine information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface using the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations without using the relative phase(s).
Thus when viewed from a third aspect, the invention provides a method of receiving an input by determining information regarding a point of contact of an object on a surface of a solid body, the method comprising:                a) placing an input device in contact with the surface of the solid body, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing, each optical vibration sensor comprising:                    a diffractive optical element;            a light source arranged to illuminate said diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and            a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light;                        wherein the optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector;        b) bringing the object into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body;        c) detecting the vibrations using two or more of the optical vibration sensors; and        d) using the relative amplitude(s) of the vibrations to determine the information regarding the point of contact of the object on the surface of the solid body.
This aspect of the invention extends to an input device arranged to carry out the aforementioned method. Optional or essential features of the first and second aspects of the invention may also be features of the third aspect.


A method and an apparatus to perform static timing analysis and optimization for multi-mode clock circuit networks have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of sensitization conditions associated with one or more clock signals in a circuit network operable in a plurality of modes and automatically eliminating false paths from a plurality of clock paths of the circuit network based on the plurality of sensitization conditions. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Multi-mode clock (MMC) circuit networks refer to circuit networks with multiple clocks for different modes of operation. In general, the modes of operation are mutually exclusive, and thus, all the clocks in a MMC circuit network cannot be active simultaneously. An example of a MMC circuit network is shown in FIG. 1. The circuit network 100 has two modes, namely, functional mode and test mode. In functional mode, the clock signal, func_clk, is active. Likewise, in test mode, the clock signal, test_clk, is active. The sequential elements (e.g., ff1 and ff2) in the circuit network 100 are clocked by a multiplexer (MUX) 110. The MUX 110 selects one of the inputs, func_clk and test_clk, in response to the mode signal, test_enable.
During timing analysis on the circuit network, if the value of the mode signal is not specified, one conventional timing analysis tool analyzes paths from func_clk to test_clk, and vice versa. For example, a setup violation may be reported at the D-input terminal of ff2 (i.e., ff2/D) due to a data signal launched by func_clk and a clock signal captured by test_clk. The corresponding clock path has func_clk going through ff1/CP, ff1/Q, and ff2/D sequentially (i.e., func_clk=>ff1/CP=>ff1/Q=>ff2/D) and the clock signal, test_clk going through ff2/CP (i.e., test_clk=>ff2/CP). Since func_clk and test_clk are mutually exclusive, the above violation is impossible in the corresponding circuit network in practice. Hence, the above clock path is referred to as a false path.
False paths that arise from mutually exclusive clocks are problematic in timing analysis and optimization flows because they may cause invalid alarms or error reports. One conventional approach to timing optimization is to perform multiple timing analysis runs during optimization for all possible modes of operation. A typical optimization tool cannot determine if the worst-case timing has been met unless the analysis has been done for all possible modes. Thus, this approach is unsatisfactory because of the increase in flow complexity.
A second conventional approach performs one timing analysis run during optimization while assuming all possible modes of operation. However, since some clock signals are mutually exclusive, there are one or more false paths when all modes of operation are assumed to be possible. To handle the false paths, circuit designers have to manually identify the false paths. Since this manual identification process is tedious and error-prone, the second approach is also undesirable.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to perform static timing analysis and optimization for multi-mode clock circuit networks


The present invention provides a system and method for combining VoiceXML with an speech application development tool such as SALT. In one aspect of the present invention, a VoiceXML module includes VoiceXML executable instructions. A SALT module includes speech application language tags to execute instructions associated with the VoiceXML module.

The present invention relates to programming of speech enabled applications. More particularly, the present invention relates to combining use of a stepwise voice markup language and object oriented speech application extensions.
Advances in computer user/interfaces have allowed users to interact with a computer through voice commands. Voice portals such as through the use of VoiceXML (Voice Extensible Markup Language) have been advanced to allow internet content to be accessed using voice input. In this architecture, a document server (for example, a web server) processes requests from a client through a VoiceXML interpreter. The web server can produce VoiceXML documents and replies, which are processed by the VoiceXML interpreter and rendered audibly to the user. Using specified voice commands through voice recognition, the user can navigate the web and listen to data audibly rendered.
The VoiceXML development language has been designed in order to allow authors control over dialog between a user and a speech application. VoiceXML follows a stepwise method, where the application controls dialog flow and queries a user in order to fill in a form or make choices from a menu. A VoiceXML application performs a number of steps in order to render data to a user or fill in data in a form. More particularly, VoiceXML follows a form interpretation algorithm that drives interaction between a user and a VoiceXML form or menu. The algorithm continues to loop through the form or menu until values are filled, choices are made or an exception is encountered.
Speech enabled applications may also be developed through the use of a markup language extension such as Speech Application Language Tags (SALT). SALT enables multi-modal and telephony enabled access to information, applications and web services from personal computers, telephones, personal digital assistants and other computing devices. SALT-extends existing markup languages such as HTML, X-HTML and XML. Multi-modal access using SALT enables users to interact with an application in a variety of different ways, for example using a keyboard, speech, mouse and/or stylus or combinations thereof.
In contrast to VoiceXML, SALT is based on an object oriented programming approach, wherein applications are composed of various objects, triggers and events. The object oriented approach enables application authors to customize dialog flows between a user and an application. When an event is encountered in SALT, a SALT based application executes various commands based on the event. In this manner, a user can control dialog flow, which can be a more efficient and/or natural form of computer interaction.
Applications utilizing the stepwise approach of VoiceXML do not currently utilize the flexibility offered by the object oriented programming approach used by speech application tools such as SALT. As a result, VoiceXML applications have difficulty dealing with mixed-initiative situations (wherein the user may request data from several different categories), external messaging and enhanced call control. As a result, a system or method providing the programming flexibility of SALT in VoiceXML would be beneficial.

Combining use of a stepwise markup language and an object oriented development tool


The invention relates to a skating simulating exercise device including a force transmission means, which exponentially increases the amount of force required to spin a flywheel as the user approaches the limits of ovoid shaped boundaries, thereby eliminating abrupt stoppages and to simulate the digging in and pushing off actions in a real skating stride. The skating simulating exercise device also includes resistance to both rearward and lateral motion, which can be linked together to more effectively strengthen all aspects of a skater's motion.

Conventional training devices, which attempt to simulate the skating stride, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,595 issued Sep. 4, 1973 to Hague; U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,460 issued Feb. 8, 1994 to Miller et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,032 issued Feb. 1, 2005 to Chu, require that the user is standing on the ends of rotating arms, which define a set and limited range of motion.
Inertia and wind are the two primary elements of resistance in actual skating. It is not enough to simply replicate the mechanics of skating, a true skating machine must also have the feel of skating, which is only obtained by incorporating inertial resistance. Machines that employ weight stacks, hydraulic pistons or elastic cords for resistance lack this important inertial component. Regardless of how energetic the user's efforts on conventional machines each stroke will feel the same as the last, and there will never be any sense of building momentum, as in real skating.
Alternative systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,373 issued Apr. 10, 1990 to Walker; U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,850 issued Sep. 7, 2004 to Nizamuddin; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,595 issued Mar. 21, 2006 to Bruno, utilized tracks to define the range of motion of the user.
Unfortunately, the user's skating stride, i.e. their stride path geometry, is defined by both rearward and lateral components, and does not always match that of the training device, therefore the user, while still exercising, is not strengthening their own skating stride when utilizing the above-identified training devices.
World Patent Application No. WO2004/108229 published Dec. 16, 2004 in the name of Jadine discloses inline roller skates secured to the ends of cords, which are engaged with a flywheel, thereby enabling the user to practice his own skating stride. Unfortunately, the Janine device is totally free wheeling with no provision for an increasing gradient of resistance at either the end of the stride or at the outer limit of lateral motion so as to contain the user's stride path within a defined area and thereby prevent the user from losing control.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a skating simulating exercise device, which enables the user to strengthen their own skating stride by providing an infinitely variable stride path geometry dictated by the user, which is contained within certain boundaries to ensure balance.