Power controllers and related primary-side control methods are disclosed. A disclosed power controller has a comparator and an ON-triggering controller. The comparator compares a feedback voltage with an over-shot reference voltage. Based on an inductance-coupling effect, the feedback voltage represents a secondary-side voltage of a secondary winding. Coupled to the comparator, the ON-triggering controller operates a power switch at about a first switching frequency when the feedback voltage is lower than the over-shot reference voltage. The ON-triggering controller operates the power switch at about a second switching frequency when the feedback voltage exceeds the over-shot reference voltage. The second switching frequency is less than the first switching frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a primary side control (PSC) switching-mode power supply (SMPS), and particularly to a PSC SMPS that has reduced output voltage jitter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Power supplies are a necessary electronic device in most electronic products, and are used for converting battery or grid power to power required by the electronic product and having specific characteristics. In most power supplies, switching-mode power supplies have superior electrical energy conversion efficiency and smaller product dimensions, making them popular in the power supply market.
Two different control schemes are used in current switching-mode power supplies: primary side control (PSC) and secondary side control (SSC). SSC directly couples a detection circuit to an output node of a secondary winding of a power supply, then through a photo coupler, transmits a detection result to a power supply controller located on the primary side to control energy of the power supply that is to be stored and converted on the primary winding. Compared to SSC, PSC indirectly detects voltage outputted by the secondary winding through directly detecting reflected voltage on an auxiliary winding, and indirectly completes detection of output voltage on an output node of the power supply. PSC completes detection and energy conversion control on the primary side. Compared to SSC, PSC is able to lower cost, as PSC does not require the photo coupler having both greater size and cost. PSC may also have higher conversion efficiency, because PSC does not require the detection circuit on the secondary side that constantly drains energy.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a switching-mode power supply that uses PSC. Bridge rectifier 20 rectifies alternating current from grid node AC to establish direct current input power at input node IN. Voltage VIN of output power may have an M-shaped waveform, but may also be filtered into a fixed level that roughly does not vary over time. Transformer has three windings: primary winding PRM, secondary winding SEC, and auxiliary winding AUX. Power supply controller 26 periodically controls power switch 34 through gate node GATE. When power switch 34 is ON, primary winding PRM performs energy storage. When power switch 34 is OFF, secondary winding SEC and auxiliary winding AUX discharge to establish output voltage VOUT on output node OUT for supply to load 24, and control voltage VCC for supply to power supply controller 26.
Voltage divider resistors 28, 30 detect voltage VAUX of auxiliary winding AUX to provide feedback voltage VFB to feedback node FB of power supply controller 26. According to feedback voltage VFB, power supply controller 26 establishes compensation voltage VCOM on compensation capacitor 32, and controls power switch 34 according thereto.
FIG. 2 shows the power supply controller 26 of FIG. 1 and some external components. Power supply controller 26 comprises sampler 12, pulse generator 14, transconductor 15, and pulse width controller 16. During discharging of secondary winding SEC and auxiliary winding AUX, pulse generator 14 provides a short pulse to sampler 12, so that sampler 12 samples feedback voltage VFB to generate feedback voltage VIFB at intermediate node IFB. Through feedback node FB, voltage divider resistors 28 and 30, and auxiliary winding AUX, feedback voltage VIFB equivalently represents voltage level of secondary winding voltage VSEC of secondary winding SEC during discharging, and roughly represents output voltage VOUT. Transconductor 15 controls compensation voltage VCOM on compensation node COMP according to a comparison result of feedback voltage VIFB and target voltage VREF. Pulse width controller 16 controls power switch 34 according to compensation voltage VCOM. Overall, power supply controller 26 provides a feedback mechanism that roughly stabilizes feedback voltage VIFB to target voltage VREF, and is thus able to stabilize output voltage VOUT.

Methods and power controllers for primary side control


A defined peak region residing between about 3.2 and 3.4 ppm of a proton NMR spectrum of an in vitro biosample is electronically evaluated to determine a level of trimethylamine-N-oxide (“TMAO”). The biosamples may be any suitable biosamples including human serum with a normal biologic range of between about 1-50 μM or urine with a normal biologic range of between about 0-1000 μM.

Researchers have described the use of trimethylamine containing compounds, and in particular trimethylamine-N-oxide ("TMAO" or "TMANO"), as risk predictors for cardiovascular disease. See, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0285517 and Wang et al, Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease, Nature, Vol. 472, pp. 57-63 (April, 2011), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are switched-mode DC-DC power converter modules, SMPC controllers, and distributed-control multiphase SMPC systems. The controller comprises: a reference clock; a synchronisation input configured to receive a first synchronisation signal; a synchronisation output configured to transmit a second synchronisation signal; a control unit configured to control the operation of the SMPC module with a phase determined by the reference clock signal or the first synchronisation signal; a delay line configured to generate the second synchronisation signal by adding a delay to the selected one of the first synchronisation signal and the reference clock signal; a fault detection terminal; a memory configured to store a datum corresponding to a number N of SMPCs in the system; and a delay calculation module configured to calculate the delay in dependence on the datum and the signal at the fault-detection terminal. Associated methods are also disclosed.

Switched-mode DC-DC power converters are required in many applications. Some applications, such as critical automotive applications, require a level of fault tolerance which may not be available with a single converter. For such applications, multiphase power converters can be useful solution. Multiphase power converters are typically implemented having a plurality of individual switched-mode DC-DC power converter modules or devices in parallel each operating in continuous conduction mode at the same frequency, with the devices being arranged such that the phases of their switching are interleaved. This typically requires a centralised controller which determines the relative phases of the devices to achieve optimum interleaving where input and output voltage ripple are minimized. A central controller may, however, present the possibility of a so-called "single-point failure". Distributed control may be desirable, but a problem remains as to how to control the phases of the modules in a simple way. This problem becomes particularly acute in the situation that one of the modules fails or becomes faulty.

Distributed control of a multiphase power converter


Disclosed herein are para-phenylenediamine compounds of formula (I), and their salts and solvates:

It is known practice to dye keratin fibers, for example, human hair, with dye compositions comprising oxidation dye precursors, for instance, ortho- and para-phenylenediamines, ortho- or para-aminophenols, and heterocyclic compounds such as diaminopyrazole derivatives, generally called oxidation bases. Oxidation dye precursors, or oxidation bases, are colorless or weakly colored compounds which, when combined with oxidizing products, can give rise, by means of an oxidative condensation process, to colored and coloring compounds.
It is also known that the shade obtained with these oxidation bases can be varied by combining them with couplers or coloration modifiers, the latter being chosen, for example, from aromatic meta-diamines, meta-aminophenols, meta-diphenols, and certain heterocyclic compounds.
The variety of molecules available as oxidation bases and couplers makes it possible to obtain a rich palette of colors.
"Permanent" dyeing obtained by virtue of these oxidation dyes ideally satisfies at least one of certain characteristics. For example, the dye ideally has no drawbacks in terms of toxicology, makes it possible to obtain shades with the desired intensity, exhibits good resistance to outside agents (for instance, light, bad weather, washing, permanent-waving, perspiration, and/or rubbing), makes it possible to cover white hairs, is as unselective as possible, i.e., makes it possible to obtain the smallest possible differences in coloration along the same keratin fiber, which may be differently sensitized (i.e., damaged) from its tip to its root, and exhibits good chemical stability in the formulations and a good toxicological profile.
Furthermore, for certain applications, it is desirable to have dyes that give chromatic shades on the hair.

2,3-disubstituted primary para-phenylenediamines and process for oxidation dyeing of keratin fibers

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, a 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring, wherein the ring comprises carbon atoms and, optionally, one or two atoms chosen from oxygen and nitrogen, the ring being optionally substituted, with the proviso that when the ring comprises two atoms chosen from oxygen and nitrogen, these two atoms are non-adjacent. Compositions comprising these compounds and processes of making them, as well as processes and kits for dyeing keratin fibers are also disclosed.


Polymer materials are described that undergo a two-level three-dimensional crosslinking process. During this process, hydrophilic polymers are crosslinked at two levels, the first results in a low level of crosslinking which leads to a toughening of the layer preventing dissolution by the fountain solution but with the layer remaining hydrophilic. The second level of crosslinking is higher and is the result of exposure to a laser diode thermal imaging device. The crosslinking at this second level results in a loss of hydrophilicity and provides instead an oleophilic image capable of accepting and transferring oil-based ink. The polymer materials are particularly useful in lithographic printing systems where they may used in articles such as a printing plate comprising a substrate having coated thereon a layer that becomes less hydrophilic upon exposure to thermal energy (e.g., heat applied by a laser, other collimated light, or thermal printhead) that effects crosslinking (initial crosslinking or increased crosslinking) in the layer, the layer comprising a mixture of a crosslinked polymer and a thermally active crosslinking metal compound. The invention also provides an overcoat layer eluable in aqueous media for a printing plate precursor comprising on a substrate a layer comprising a mixture of a crosslinked polymer and a thermally active crosslinking metal compound. The overcoat layer protects the heat-sensitive crosslinked polymer layer from discoloration, contamination and scratching and reduces odor and particulate emissions.

The art of lithographic printing is based on the immiscibility of oil and water, wherein water or fountain solution is preferentially retained by either the imaged area or the non-imaged area, and the oily substance or ink does not adhere to the water, but instead only to those areas where no water or fountain solution is present. Commonly the ink is transferred to an intermediate material called a blanket, which in turn transfers the ink to the surface of the material upon which the image is to be reproduced.
A widely used type of lithographic printing plate has a light (UV) sensitive coating applied to an aluminum base support. The coating may respond to the light by having the portion that is exposed becoming soluble and removed by a subsequent development process. Such a plate is said to be a positive working plate. Conversely, when the area that is exposed becomes hardened or polymerized the plate is referred to as a negative working plate. In both instances the image areas are ink-receptive or oleophilic. The background or hydrophilic area is typically aluminum, which has been grained and anodized to provide a hydrophilic surface.
Direct digital imaging of offset printing plates (computer to plate CTP) is a technology that has assumed importance to the printing industry. In the use of this plate material, graphic information made by computer typesetting and desktop publishing is directly printed onto a plate by using a laser without an intermediate transfer material (film). The CTP process enables the rationalization and shortening of the platemaking process as well as a reduction in material costs. Advances in solid-state laser technology have made high powered diode lasers emitting energy at about 830 nm attractive light sources for carrying out this direct process. At least two printing technologies have been introduced that can be imaged with laser. Plates that can be imaged in this way are commercially sold by all of the major printing plate manufacturers. These materials require a development step to produce the final image.
A further printing technology is described for example in EP-A-0 573 091, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,705 and 5,379,698. This technology does not require a development step, but instead relies on ablation to physically remove the imaged areas from the plate. Ablation requires high laser energy and power, resulting in low throughput and problems with debris after imaging.
Direct digital imaging without the use of a development step has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,573 as a thermosensitive lithographic printing original plate comprising a substrate, a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic binder polymer, and a microcapsuled oleophilic material which forms an image area by heating; the hydrophilic binder polymer having a three-dimensional cross-link and a functional group which chemically combines with the oleophilic material in the microcapsule when the microcapsule is decomposed, and the microcapsuled oleophilic material having a functional group which chemically combines with the hydrophilic binder polymer when the microcapsule is decomposed. Development is not required in the platemaking process so that there are no problems with waste treatment and the like.
Sulfamides have found utility in photosensitive media primarily as peripheral addenda, rather than as active ingredients in the photosensitive process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,700 teaches the use of sulfamides as antifungal agents in silver halide solutions. This patent asserts that for the improved liquid preservability, it is preferable to add an antifungal agent to the stabilizing solution which is used instead of water washing. The antifungal agents which can be preferably used are salicylic acid, sorbic acid, dehydroacetic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid compounds, alkylphenol compounds, thiazole compounds, pyridine compounds, guanidine compounds, carbamate compounds, morpholine compounds, quaternary phosphonium compounds, ammonium compounds, urea compounds, isoxazole compounds, propanolamine compounds, sulfamide derivatives and amino acid compounds. Some of the preferred thiazole compounds include 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-one. The sulfamide derivatives include fluorinated sulfamide, 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzenesulfamide, sulfanylamide, acetosulfamine, sulfapyridine, sulfaguanidine, sulfathiazole, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfaisoxazole, homosulfamine, sulfisomidine, sulfaguanidine, sulfamethizole, sulfapyradine, phthalisosulfathiazole and succinylsulfathiazole.
Silver sulfadiazine has been used in a wide array of applications in the pharmaceutical environment, mostly for its antimicrobial properties. It is stable, insoluble in water, alcohol and ether and does not appear to stain or darken like other silver salts, such as silver nitrate. The applicants are, however, unaware of the use of silver salts of sulfadiazine and sulfamerazine for purposes other than direct or indirect antimicrobial activity or other medical purposes.
Polymers and metal salts or metal compounds have been combined for many various reasons, usually with the metal salts or metal compounds as fillers or compositing agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,599 describes a method of forming an image in a printing plate comprising the steps: (a) providing a radiation sensitive printing plate comprising a substrate coated with: (i) a coating comprising (1) a disperse water-insoluble heat-softenable phase A, and (2) a continuous binder phase B that is soluble or swellable in an aqueous medium; at least one of disperse phase A or continuous phase B having a reactive grouping, or precursor therefore, such that insolubilization of said coating occurs at elevated temperature and/or on exposure to actinic radiation, and (ii) a substance capable of strongly absorbing radiation and transferring the energy thus obtained as heat to the disperse phase so that at least partial coalescence of the coating occurs;
(b) image-wise exposing the radiation sensitive plate to a beam of high intensity radiation, by directing the radiation at sequential areas of the coating and modulating the radiation so that the particles in the coating are selectively at least partially coalesced; developing the image-wise exposed plate with aqueous medium to selectively remove the areas containing the non-coalesced particles and leave an image on the substrate resulting from the at least partially coalesced particles; and
(c) heating the developed plate and/or subjecting it to actinic radiation to effect rapid reaction of said reactive grouping and insolubilization of said image.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,469 discloses a thermographic element comprising a support having coated thereon a thermographic emulsion comprising: (a) a light insensitive silver salt (for example, silver salt of a carboxylic acid having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, silver benzoates, silver salts of compounds having mercapto or thione groups such as silver 3-mercapto-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolate, silver salts of thioglycolic acid and dicarboxylic acids, silver salts of benzotriazoles or imadazoles, and the like); a gallic acid reducing agent; and an infrared absorbing compound. Polymeric binders are also useful in forming the layer (as shown in column 5, lines 2–16). The system provides a change in optical density because of the thermally induced reduction of silver ion to form silver metal when the system is exposed to infrared radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,819 describes high contrast thermographic and photothermographic materials comprising a barrier layer to prevent migration of diffusible by-products resulting from high temperature development. The barrier layer comprises a film-forming polymer(s) that reacts with or acts as a physical barrier to diffusible by-products resulting from development.
Lithographic printing plates based on free-radical initiated polymerization/curing mechanisms are known to be susceptible to quenching by oxygen. A method useful for preventing oxygen quenching of radiation-generated free radicals is to overcoat the photosensitive coating of a printing plate with a water-soluble polymeric resin. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,127, U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,681, U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,594, U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,862, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,737, U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,366, EP 1,000,387 and EP 0 917 544.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,108, U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,110 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,993 disclose an on-press developable lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a lithographic hydrophilic printing plate substrate, a photohardenable photoresist, and a layer of polymeric protective overcoat. The overcoat functions as an oxygen barrier, as well as imparting the plate with a non-tacky surface and an enhanced resistance to the adverse influence of ambient humidity. The overcoat contains a polyphosphate salt and may further contain a fountain soluble or dispersible crystalline compound to facilitate on-press removability.
Heat-sensitive lithographic printing plates not requiring a wet development step after exposure have been desired by the industry for a long time. One approach to no-process lithographic printing plates relies on ablation to physically remove the imaging layer from the printing plate precursor. Unfortunately, ablative printing plates can only be exposed on imaging devices that are fitted with a vacuum device to collect the by-products of the ablative imaging step (particulate and gaseous debris). Recently the use of a laser transparent, water-soluble top coating over an ablatable imaging layer such that when ablatively removed with a laser, the ablative debris is contained by the top coating, has been proposed. See for example WO99/41077 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,717.
A water-soluble overcoat may also be provided to protect the hydrophilic layer during storage and handling and to improve lithographic latitude. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,993, U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,748, U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,717, U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,684 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,433.

Polymer system with switchable physical properties and its use in direct exposure printing plates


There is provided an image correction device including a flash band detection unit configured to detect a flash band, the flash band being a step occurred between levels for respective lines in a frame by a flash of light, the step being occurred by a difference in exposure time between the lines of a video signal output for each frame from pixels included in a rolling shutter image sensor, a shutter operation determination unit configured to determine whether or not shutter operation has been performed in an imaging device including the image sensor, and a flash band correction unit configured to, when the shutter operation determination unit determines that shutter operation has been performed and the flash band detection unit has detected the flash band, output a video signal of a previous frame output from the image sensor earlier than a frame containing the detected flash band.

The present technology relates to image correction devices, image correction methods, and imaging devices. More particularly, the present technology relates to an image correction device, image correction method, and imaging device which are capable of removing a flash band which occurs in the case of shutter operation.
In the related art, some image sensors for use in a camera employ rolling shutter, which is a technique of successively starting exposure on a horizontal line-by-horizontal line basis, and successively reading out a video signal on a horizontal line-by-horizontal line basis, to generate a frame. In the rolling shutter image sensor, the lines have different exposure times.
Therefore, if a flash, etc., is fired during a period of time which is short compared to a frame rate at which the image sensor reads out a video signal, an abrupt change or step may occur in the luminance level of a video which is displayed based on a read video signal in a frame, which causes a band-like pattern (hereinafter referred to as "flash band"). Note that, in the description that follows, the term "flash band" may be abbreviated to "FB."
JP 2010-135921A discloses a technique of reducing or preventing a degradation in image quality which is caused by a flash of light emitted by cameras possessed by others when a through-the-lens image or moving image is captured using the rolling shutter technique. The present applicant has previously proposed a flash band detection circuit for detecting a flash band which occurs in a video which is captured by illuminating a subject using a flash (see, for example, JP 2012-156634A).

Image correction device, image correction method, and imaging device


Described herein are systems and methods that improve personalized service in a casino or other gaming establishment. The systems and methods provide a portable personal service device to a person; the device permits the gaming establishment to communicate with the person—regardless of their location in the gaming establishment. Messages sent to the person may be personalized and customized. The portable personal service device may also be used to track the location of the person in the gaming establishment. The person may also use the portable personal service device to send messages, for example, to call casino personnel to them or make other personal service requests.

Years ago, most casinos had one main entrance and a relatively small and simple layout. When a 'high roller' or other valued customer entered a casino at the predictable entrance, a casino manager would greet the person and attend to their desires individually.
Today, modern casinos are much larger and more complicated buildings. Newer casinos may include multiple entrances, dozens of wings, numerous gaming pits and gambling spots such as card rooms and designated high-roller rooms, internal roller coasters and other theme-park-like amusements, hundreds and sometimes thousands of hotel rooms, enough stores and restaurants to qualify as a shopping mall, platoons of gaming machines, countless paths to go from those multiple entrances to the all these various and myriad destinations, and dozens (or sometimes hundreds) of high value customers on the premises—twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Meeting each high value customer to provide personal service is nearly impossible in a modern casino. Personal service has suffered.


Insect pests can be transported around the world in wooden shipping containers. To prevent the spread of wood-borne insect pests, it is necessary to kill insects within the wood. The wood is placed in a vacuum container having a flexible wall. The flexible wall presses against the wood and enables the wood to be heated by conduction. The wood and flexible wall can to be heated by contact with ambient or heated air, for example. Desiccant or dry air can be used to increase the rate of dehydration. Insects in the wood are typically killed after losing 25-50% of their body weight by dehydration. This technique will kill beetle larvae, nematodes and other invasive and destructive insects that live inside solid wood, and is particularly applicable for rendering wood acceptable for use in pallets and other containers shipped internationally.

Wooden pallets, boxes and containers are commonly used for shipping products and material. One problem with using wooden shipping containers is that the wood can contain and thereby facilitate the spread of insect pests such as wood boring beetles. This is particularly a problem for international shipping because infested wood containers can introduce invasive and destructive species to new areas. Destructive species can cause billions of dollars of damage to forests and wood products industries and create long-lasting pest control problems. There is therefore an urgent need for methods to reliably kill pests within wood materials used for shipping containers.
To prevent the spread of destructive insect pests in wood and other materials, the United States and its trading partners have adopted regulations known as the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM). Presently, these regulations require heat treatment of wood shipping materials at least 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, or fumigation in methyl bromide. Though effective for killing pests, these methods for wood treatment are problematic. Heat treatment is energy intensive and therefore expensive. Methyl bromide is toxic, is damaging to the Earth's ozone layer and can affect the appearance and properties of the wood. Methyl bromide can also render the wood unsuitable for certain uses.
Another problem with both heat treatment and fumigation is that the wood must be "stickered" (separated with spacers to provide air gaps) before treatment so that heat and chemicals can penetrate the lumber stack. Stickering a pile of lumber is time consuming and labor intensive because the entire stack must be manipulated and interleaved with air spacers. Eliminating the stickering step would significantly reduce the time and cost of wood treatment.
Due to the importance of eliminating invasive insect pests, and the problems inherent in conventional methods for wood pest control, there is an urgent need for new methods for controlling wood pests. It would be particularly beneficial to provide a method for controlling wood insect pests that is environmentally benign, inexpensive and energy efficient. Additionally, a method that does not require stickering would provide significant cost advantages.

Killing insect pests inside wood by vacuum dehydration

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A method for installation of a raised access floor panel with a raised access floor is provides which includes providing a pedestal support system having a plurality of vertically extending pedestal supports each having an upper end connected to a pedestal support head and a lower end connected to a pedestal support base. The pedestal support heads are each connected in a matrix orientation with a plurality of horizontal stringers. A floor panel plate is provided having four corner portions, four lateral edge portions, an upper load bearing surface, a lower plenum surface, and a clear hole positioned adjacent to each of the corner portions. A threaded collar is vertically connected to the lower plenum surface and positioned in axial alignment with the clear hole. A single handed set screw has an upper tool receiving end and a lower foot end. The set screw engages the threaded collar so that the tool receiving end extends through the clear hole. The upper load bearing surface adjusts to a predetermined level in relation to the pedestal head by rotating the set screw.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to raised floor access panels. In particular it relates to a method for retrofitting a raised access floor system with a universal interchangeable floor panel having leveling, lifting or locking devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Raised floors are commonly used to create a space between a sub-floor and the normal working environment of a room. The sub-floor is the surface that would serve as the floor of a data center prior to installation of a raised access floor. The space between the sub-floor and the raised access floor is used to contain electrical wiring and fiber optic cables, to contain an air plenum chase, and more generally to contain anything that must be in a room but is more safely or conveniently enclosed in an area apart from the main area of the data center room.
Although the primary purpose of a panel is to structurally support an applied load, they must also be easily and safely removed and re-inserted. This is required for the relocation of work cubicles, equipment, wiring, cabling and air flow disbursement to appropriate heat load designs.
When operating, data centers generate a great deal of revenue. Thus, it is very costly to shut down an entire facility, for months, in order to replace an entire floor system, with an entirely new system, having matching panels, pedestals and stringers due to the variance in specifications of different manufacturers. In dealing with this ever-growing-problem, what is needed is an adjustable raised floor panel which would be compatible with previously installed pedestal and stringer systems so that floor panel replacement can be performed on a panel-by-panel basis rather than to completely re-build the entire facility from the subfloor up. This concept would thereby save the industry an enormous amount of cost and time.
Thus, what is needed is a universal retro-fit raised access floor panel having an integral leveling mechanism so that it is capable of horizontal alignment with an existing raised access floor without changes to the existing pedestal support system and stringer matrix. It follows that the leveling mechanism should be operable through an opening in the panel top in order to level the floor vertically, up or down, in order to thereby eliminate the need to adjust each of the pedestal support members, or, more likely, the entire access floor. Moreover, because replacement floor systems are increasingly using perforated floor panels, in order to address heat build-up, it is desirable to provide an integrated lifting device for the safe removal and re-insertion of panels if so desired. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Raised floor access panel retrofit method


The invention is directed to a superconducting microwave resonator, to holding devices for those resonators, and to their methods of manufacture. The superconducting microwave resonator employs at least two superconducting films on substrates positioned on a dielectric. The holding devices include a variety of configurations, such as, a spring loaded device. The superconducting microwave resonators have Q values of as high as microwave resonators formed of Nb, but operate at much higher temperature.

Microwave resonators are known for use in time and frequency standards, frequency stable elements, as well as building blocks for passive devices such as filters and the like. The performance of the microwave resonator is gauged by its Q-value, expressed as EQU Q=2.pi. f.sub.0 * (Storage energy/Loss power), (1)
where f.sub.0 is the resonant frequency of the microwave resonator. (See Hayt, J. R., "Engineering Electromagnetics", 1981, p. 472). As shown in Equation (1), the Q-value of the microwave resonator can be increased by reducing the loss power associated with factors such as conductor loss, dielectric loss, and radiation loss.
Low temperature (T.sub.c), such as 4K, superconducting microwave resonators which employ a superconducting cavity made of Nb are known to have Q-values from about 10.sup.6 to 10.sup.9. (See V. B. Bragrinskii, et al: "The Properties of Superconducting Resonators on Sapphire", IEEE Trans. on Magn. Vol. 17, No. 1, P955, 1981, as a reference.) Although low T.sub.c Nb microwave resonators have high Q-values, they must operate at very low temperatures (below 9K). These microwave resonators require use of curved cavity walls. Curved cavity walls of materials which have a high T.sub.c, of for example 77K, however, are difficult to produce. On the other hand, high Q-value microwave resonators formed merely from a dielectric without an associated conducting medium also have high Q-values (see D. G. Blair, et al: "High Q Microwave Properties of a Sapphire Ring Resonator", J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 15, P1651, 1982.) However, the problems associated with the far reaching evanescent fields make them very bulky and vulnerable to microphonic effect, which limits the applications.
The need therefore exists for microwave resonator made of high T.sub.c, such as 77K, superconductor that have Q-values comparable to low T.sub.c superconducting microwave resonators made of Nb.

High temperature superconductor support structures for dielectric resonator


An apparatus including a memory for storing information associating a fingerprint input with a function of the apparatus; a user input device including a device for detecting a multi-fingerprint input, the multi-fingerprint input including a plurality of fingerprints where each fingerprint is associated with a different function of the apparatus; and a processor configured to identify the plurality of fingerprints within the multi-fingerprint input and, in response to the identification of the plurality of fingerprints, determine a function associated with the multi-fingerprint input and enable access to that function, wherein the function associated with the multi-fingerprint input is a combination of the functions associated with the plurality of fingerprints within the multi-fingerprint input.

Many electronic apparatus have a large number of functions and are capable of storing many different types of information. For example a mobile cellular phone typically has several different communications functions including making a telephone call, SMS messages, MMS messages, Bluetooth messaging and internet access, as well as other functions such as camera functions, a music player and calendar functions. The phone is also able to store information relating to each of these functions for example, contact information, received and sent messages, digital images captured by the camera and audio files.
Typically a user can access the various functions of the apparatus via a menu or a list of options. However as the number of functions of the apparatus increases and more information is stored on the device the number of options stored in the menu also increases which makes the menu more complicated and laborious to navigate.
Also if a user wishes to access more than one function or piece of information to complete a task they may need to navigate through more than one menu. for example if a user wishes to send an SMS message to a number stored in their contact information they may first have to navigate through a menu to access the SMS message function and then navigate through a list of contact information to access the required contact details or vice versa, they may first have to access the contact details and then navigate through a menu to the SMS message function.
Many apparatus provide shortcuts to certain functions which enable a user to access to certain functions more quickly. However the number of shortcuts which can be provided is limited by the user input device of the apparatus.
It would be beneficial to provide an apparatus which enables a user to quickly access a large range of functions of the apparatus.

Apparatus, method, computer program and user interface for enabling access to functions


The present invention may include an illumination source, a detector, a selectably adjustable optical system including a dynamically adjustable illumination pupil of the illumination arm, a dynamically adjustable collection pupil of the collection arm, a dynamically adjustable illumination field stop of the illumination arm, a dynamically adjustable collection field stop of the collection arm, a sensor configured to measure one or more optical characteristics of one or more components of the optical system, and a control system configured to selectably dynamically adjust at least one of the illumination pupil, the collection pupil, the illumination field stop, the collection field stop, and a spectral radiance of the illumination source.

As demand for ever-shrinking semiconductor devices continues to increase, so too will the demand for improved semiconductor wafer metrology systems. The fabrication of semiconductor devices, such as logic and memory devices, typically includes processing a semiconductor wafer using a large number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Metrology processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to monitor and control one or more semiconductor layer processes. For example, metrology processes are used to measure one or more characteristics of a wafer such as dimension (e.g., line width, pitch, feature shape. thickness, etc.) of features formed on the wafer during a process step, wherein the quality of the process step can be determined by measuring the one or more characteristic parameters deemed to be critical. In this scenario, a given semiconductor sample may include a set of metrology targets, with film stacks or two-dimensional and three-dimensional patterned structures surrounded by one or more materials of various geometries and properties.
In a diffraction limited system, the spatial resolution of the given metrology tool is provided by the Rayleigh criterion, namely:
                    d        =                              1.22                                                                          λ                    NA                                    Eq        .                                          1
where λ represents the wavelength of the illumination used by the optical system of the metrology tool and NA is the numerical aperture of the optical system of the metrology tool. In the case of ellipsometry-, polarized and unpolarized reflectometry-, and scatterometry-based metrology measurements, quantitative results (e.g., film thickness, critical dimension (CD), and the detailed feature shape) are generally impacted significantly by diffraction. As such, it would be advantageous to provide a metrology system that aids in mitigating the fidelity loss on the measurements as a result of diffraction effects.

Dynamically adjustable semiconductor metrology system


Improved techniques for providing supplementary media for media items are disclosed. The media items are typically fixed media items. The supplementary media is one or more of audio, video, image, or text that is provided by a user to supplement (e.g., personalize, customize, annotate, etc.) the fixed media items. In one embodiment, the supplementary media can be provided by user interaction with an on-line media store where media items can be browsed, searched, purchased and/or acquired via a computer network. In another embodiment, the supplementary media can be generated on a playback device.

Today, portable media devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) or hand-held music players, are battery powered and include various user interface components. Conventionally, portable media devices use buttons, dials or touchpads together with graphical user interfaces to control the media devices, including navigating through media items resident on (or accessible to) the media devices, selecting media items to be played, and/or setting user preferences for use by the media devices. These portable media devices continue to get smaller and more portable. At the same time, the functionality supported by portable media devices is increasing. Consequently, as portable media devices get smaller while supporting robust functionality, there are increasing difficulties in providing adequate user interfaces for the portable media devices.
In order to achieve portability, many portable music players use minimalist displays that allow user access to the music via simple graphical user interfaces. The displays are not always well-lit, and may not be navigable in the dark, and furthermore illuminating the displays is a drain on battery power. Also, the user may be in certain situations (e.g., driving a car) where it is not convenient or appropriate to look at the display, or may have a physical disability that makes visual navigation impossible. Additionally, many people may simply find the displays too small and inconvenient to use on a regular basis. Recently, portable music players have been made highly portable and may not even include a display for presenting a graphical user interface. Hence, it has become important for portable music players to provide user-friendly interfaces that enable user interaction without reliance on graphical user interfaces.
In addition, while it is common to download media items, such as audio files (e.g., music), to personal media players, the media items being downloaded are fixed. Unlike radio stations, personal media players do not operate to allow mixing of additional audio while playing audio from the audio files.
Accordingly, there are continuing efforts to further improve the user experience with respect to media players.

Media presentation with supplementary media


A gaming system, terminal and method where a bonus is derived from multiple sources including system based and local sources and is delivered to a gaming machine by providing one or more additional game(s), altered games or altered features at the gaming machine instead of a direct award of the prize. The gaming system, terminal and method also provides for selection between various game features with different expected values for delivery of the bonus.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for issuing bonuses to players of gaming terminals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modernly gaming terminals include not only a base or primary game but one or more bonus games and/or special features. These features may be triggered randomly or may be triggered by the player obtaining one or more outcomes from the base game. For example a player may receive a special symbol(s) triggering a feature of free games, a bonus game or some other feature. These bonus features are designed into the game and the award structure for the bonus or feature is accounted for when determining the theoretical payback percentage for the game, i.e. the theoretical payback to the player for each unit wagered. For example the base game may have a theoretical payback of 80% with the bonus feature having a theoretical payback (equivalent value based upon payback and bonus feature hit frequency) contributing another 15% yielding a game having an overall payback percentage of 95%. Bonus features such as sets of free games, or a "pick a prize" bonus or a spinning wheel game have equivalent values which contribute to the payback percentage for the game. Depending upon the base game payback, the hit frequency for the feature game, i.e. the probability that during any spin of the base game the feature game will be triggered, and the feature game payback the overall payback percentage for the game can be crafted as desired or required.
Players tend to gravitate toward their favorite games. Perhaps a player likes the game theme or has had past success with the game or enjoys the various feature games. The player becomes familiar with the game features and understands the play characteristics of their favorite games.
In regards to casino play, and in the future it is anticipated Internet or mobile telephone or personal data assistant (PDA) wagering, operators drive player loyalty in one respect through system-provided bonusing. The casino (or gaming network) includes a communication network by which an operator can monitor player activity such as wagers, jackpots, games played and the like. Players are identified typically thought the player's use of a loyalty card having a machine readable stripe. For a brick and mortar casino an example of such a system is the Bally CMS® system sold by Bally Technologies, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev. These systems interface with card readers at gaming terminals and table game input devices to provide the aforesaid tracking functions. Based upon the data collected the casino can provide benefits and incentives to retain a player's loyalty by, for example, awarding "comps" in the form of cash back, discounts for goods and services and gifts. The tracking can be restricted to a single venue or can be on a national basis such as described in Boushy, U.S. Pat. No. 7,419,427 issued Sep. 2, 2008 and titled "NATIONAL CUSTOMER RECOGNITION SYSTEM AND METHOD", the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The level of "comps" available to the player is related to the player's rating which quantifies the value of the player to the casino. A higher rated player is one who spends and gambles more than a lower rated player. A higher rated player is entitled to more valuable or additional comps.
Using the network system-provided bonusing can be crafted using the network to assemble funds by allocation of a percentage of player wagers at gaming terminals connected to the network to a pool. When the pool reaches a trigger amount, for example, all or a portion of the pool is awarded awarding to the player whose contribution caused the trigger value to be met or exceeded. These types of bonuses are often referred to a "Mystery jackpots" since they are awarded typically as a result of a system configuration and the basis for the award is a mystery to the player since it has nothing to do with the outcome received on the player's gaming terminal.
The system-provided bonuses have heretofore been delivered by directly awarding cash or credits to the player at the gaming terminal or to the player's electronic account from which the player may download credits for play. Thus the bonus is delivered as cash or its equivalent. It would be advantageous if the system-provided, bonus could be delivered through a feature, enhanced feature or additional feature of the game being played by the player. This would increase the entertainment value of the bonus as well as enhance the player's loyalty to the game they are playing. It would also be advantageous if different funds could be sourced for the system-provided bonus such as comps or points earned from food and beverage, lodging, gift shop, spa or golf purchases as well as funds donated from other sources. In this regard it would be advantageous if the casino or a third party could brand the bonus to provide an additional form of advertising. It would further be advantageous if a player, who is entitled to a bonus of a certain value, could elect to receive the bonus as an additional or enhanced feature of the game they are playing.

System and method for providing a system generated in-game bonus in a gaming environment


A dynamic line guiding system for high speeds and/or long displacement paths, with an energy chain arranged as lying on the side, which chain, in the configuration of a first strand, a second strand, as well as a deflection curve, is displaceable back and forth. The energy chain is guided in a guide trough with two laterally-opposite side walls and a trough floor therebetween, wherein each strand is respectively displaceable with a lateral surface on a respective bearing surface on the trough floor, and is held, relative to the outside, by means of one of the two side walls. It is provided that the trough floor comprises at least one bearing surface with a step or a ramp, which counteracts a deviation of the first strand out of its intended target location on the respective bearing surface.

Typically, an energy guide, in the configuration of a first strand, a second strand as well as a deflection curve which connects both strands, is displaceable back and forth. The term energy guide means, for the present invention, in the broad sense, any active line guiding unit, not only an energy chain as actual member chain of individual members, but rather e.g. also strap guides, in which members or strap segments are connected to one another via a pliable strap, or other units, bendable in at least one plane, for receiving and guiding lines between two connection points, of which at least one is relatively moveable to the other.
Due to reasons made apparent below, in the generic energy guide, at least one part of the members should each comprise at least one stable, link-like side part, with an inner main side and an outer main side, which side part is configured as flatly as possible.
In consumers, which move at great displacement speeds and accordingly, high accelerations or decelerations, such as e.g. in portal robots or other automation systems, difficulties arise in always providing the desired course along the intended track during operation. In addition, in the case of disruptions, e.g. through foreign bodies, a breaking-out of the lines out of the guide trough can occur.
E.g. DE 10 2007 009 329 A1 shows an arrangement prevalent today, namely with energy chains in conventional guide troughs, at linear portal units in overhead arrangement above automated processing units, without closer description of the line guiding system, however. Such arrangements are comparatively space-saving, they occupy only a small additional height above the linear axis, and are inherently suited for high speeds.
In the field of dynamic line guides, so-called arrangements of energy guides lying on the side are known, in which the strands extend horizontally next to one another. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. In DE 10 2012 111 545 A1, a complex and maintenance-intensive mechanism with pivotable movement limits is proposed for the lying arrangement, which mechanism is meant to prevent uncontrolled movements of the driven strand, such as e.g. a breaking-out.
A further lying arrangement of an energy guide is described in FR 2 841 312 A1. In this case, the moved strand is mounted on rolls in the guide trough, in order to reduce friction. Additionally, the rolls have a conical or frusto-conical rolling surface, in order to additionally counteract a breaking-out.
Furthermore, in DE 100 33 856 A1, an arrangement lying on the side of an energy guide was suggested, with two lateral slide rails, which form guiding edges, and a higher arranged middle slide rail, on which the energy guide rests only punctiformly or linearly. Through the higher arranged middle slide rail, the deflection curve is raised, and the strands remain, through slight tilting, held in the guiding edges of the rails. Typical guide troughs shall, according to DE 100 33 856 A1, be avoided to reduce friction.
Arrangements lying on the side offer, even in high accelerations, a comparatively secure operation. The aforementioned solutions to avoid uncontrolled movements in lying energy guides are, however, technically relatively complicated in terms of production and are maintenance-intensive.

Line guiding system and guide trough, in particular for high displacement speeds


A compressor having a torque load reducing unit to move a center of weight to which a gas force is applied is provided. As the torque load reducing unit is formed at an oval-shaped roller, a distance between a rotation center of the roller and an operation point to which a gas force is applied is shortened. This may reduce a torque load to the roller, and may enhance a compression efficiency.

Generally, a compressor may be classified into a rotary type compressor and a reciprocating type compressor according to a refrigerant compression method. In the rotary type compressor, a volume of a compression space is varied as a piston performs a rotary motion or an orbiting motion in a cylinder. On the other hand, in the reciprocating type compressor, a volume of a compression space is varied as a piston performs a reciprocating motion in a cylinder. As the rotary compressor, a rotary compressor for compressing a refrigerant as a piston is rotated by using a rotational force of a motor part is well-known.
The rotary compressor is configured to compress a refrigerant using a rolling piston which executes an eccentric rotary motion at a compression space of a cylinder, and a vane for dividing the compression space of the cylinder into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber by contacting an outer circumferential surface of the rolling piston.
Such a rotary compressor may be classified into a single rotary compressor and a double rotary compressor according to the number of compression spaces. The double rotary compressor may include a type for forming a plurality of compression spaces by laminating cylinders each having a single compression space on each other, and a type for forming a plurality of compression spaces at a single cylinder. In the former case, a plurality of eccentric portions are formed at a rotational shaft with height differences, and are configured to alternately compress a refrigerant at two compression spaces and to discharge the compressed refrigerant, while the eccentric portions perform an eccentric rotary motion at the compression space of each cylinder. On the contrary, in the latter case, as shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerant is simultaneously compressed at two compression spaces V1 and V2 and then is discharged, while a roller performs a concentric rotary motion at a single cylinder 3 provided with an oval-shaped roller 2 at a rotational shaft 1. In the latter case, since the refrigerant is sucked, compressed and discharged in the two compression spaces V1 and V2 with the same phase, gas forces transmitted to a central region of the rotational shaft 1 are attenuated. As a result, a repulsive force in a radial direction may almost disappear, and vibration noise of the compressor may be reduced.


A method of storing system data, and a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus using the same are provided. The method includes determining whether the unused storage space of a system physical erase unit is enough for storing updated system data. The method further includes, if the unused storage space of the system physical erase unit is not enough for storing the updated system data, selecting an empty physical erase unit, writing the updated system data into at least one first physical program unit of the selected physical erase unit and writing dummy data into a second physical program unit of the selected physical erase unit.

1. Technology Field
The present invention is directed to a method of storing system data and a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the widespread of digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 in recently years, the consumers' demand for storage media has increased drastically. Since a rewritable non-volatile memory has the characteristics of non-volatility of data, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure, and fast reading and writing speed, the rewritable non-volatile memory is the most adaptable memory applied in a portable electronic product, e.g., a notebook computer. A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage apparatus which utilizes a flash memory as its storage medium. Therefore, the flash memory industry has become a very popular part of the electronic industry in recent years.
The flash memory has a plurality of physical blocks, and each of the physical blocks has a plurality of physical pages, wherein data has to be written to the physical block according to a sequence of the physical pages. Moreover, the physical pages where data has been written have to be erased first for again writing data thereto. Particularly, the physical block is the smallest unit that can be erased, and the physical page is the smallest unit that can be programmed. Therefore, typically, the physical blocks of the flash memory are mapped in alternation to logical addresses accessed by the host system so as to store data to be written by the host system. In order to effectively manage the physical blocks storing data in alternation, the memory controller establishes related management information (e.g. a mapping table) according to the standards of the flash memory when the flash memory storage apparatus is initialized and updates and maintains the same when the memory storage apparatus is in operation. For instance, the memory controller records the management information in one or more physical blocks (also referred to as system physical blocks). When no storage space is available for the system physical block, the memory controller configures another empty physical block as a new system physical block to write new management information and performs the erasing operation on the old system physical block.
However, during the operation of the memory storage apparatus, a power failure may occur, which results in a data write failure and the physical block incompletely storing data. Specifically, if the newly stored management information contains too many error bits due to the power failure and the old management information has been erased, the memory controller can not load any management information so that the memory storage apparatus is unable to operate normally. Accordingly, how to securely store the management information for the flash memory is one of the major concerns of artisans in the technical field.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Method of storing system data, and memory controller and memory storage apparatus using the same


A process for optimizing compiler intermediate representation (IR) code, and data structures for implementing the process; the process is preferably embodied in a compiler computer program operating on an electronic computer or data processor with access to a memory storage means such as a random access memory and access to a program mass storage means such as an electronic magnetic disk storage device. The compiler program reads an input source program stored in the program mass storage means and creates a dynamic single assignment intermediate representation of the source program in the memory using pseudo-machine instructions. To create the dynamic single assignment intermediate representation, during compilation, the compiler creates a plurality of virtual registers in the memory for storage of variables defined in the source program. Means are provided to ensure that the same virtual register is never assigned to more than once on any dynamic execution path. An expanded virtual register (EVR) data structure is provided comprising an infinite, linearly ordered set of virtual register elements with a remap() function defined upon the EVR. Calling the remap() function with an EVR parameter causes an EVR element which was accessible as [n] prior to the remap operation to be accessible as [n+1] after the remap operation. A subscripted reference map comprising a dynamic plurality of map tuples is used. Each map tuple associates the real memory location accessible under a textual name with an EVR element. A compiler can use the map tuple to substitute EVR elements for textual names, eliminating unnecessary load operations from the output intermediate representation.

The first computers used so-called von Neumann processor architectures, which provide a single instruction stream and a single data stream to a processor. The processor sequentially executes each instruction, acting on data in a single storage area. Such classical processors are known as single instruction single data (SISD) processors. As processor clock speeds have increased, SISD architecture has presented an obstacle to achieving high processing throughput. Many computer programs include groups or blocks of instructions which can be executed in parallel rather than singly. Therefore, computer scientists have developed other architectures, including a family of parallel processing models.

Analysis and optimization of array variables in compiler for instruction level parallel processor


A hand-guided power jigsaw (10) with a jigsaw blade (33) which can be detachably clamped between the free ends of two essentially parallel arms (122, 222) preferably comprised of a U-shaped frame (22), in particular comprised of a tube, and which can be driven, in particular in a reciprocating manner, by a motor (11) integrated into the jigsaw (10), wherein a laterally protruding handle (13) with a switch button (15) of an on/off switch is disposed at the free end of one of the arms (221, 222), can be manufactured as lightweight, compact, and inexpensive because the lower arm (122) carries the motor (11) and transmission mechanism (114, 115, 116, 119, 67) for moving the saw blade (33) back and forth, particularly in a base housing (12), wherein a motor shaft (1103) with a crankshaft (116) is coupled parallel to the arm (221) and is coupled by means of a connecting rod (67) to an elastic support (51, 57) in order to clamp the jigsaw blade (33) in place.

The current invention is based on a hand-guided power jigsaw.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,518 has disclosed a power jigsaw of this generic type, which is similar to a hand-actuated jigsaw. The typically U-shaped frame has a handle protruding laterally downward and a motor housing, wherein the back of the handle has a switch button for controlling the energy supply of the motor.
A jigsaw blade is clamped between the parallel arms embodied by the frame and can be driven to oscillate by means of a battery operated motor disposed on the lower arm. In comparison to manual jigsaws, the known machine has the advantage that it is no longer necessary to execute the sawing motion by hand, but the placement of the motor lateral to the arm axis makes the power jigsaw unwieldy and blocks visibility in the vicinity of the tool contact. In addition, the transmission and guide mechanisms disposed between the jigsaw blade and the motor are relatively costly.


An easily recognized spatial relationship between an object and a section thereof is displayed (together with a real time image of the section) to permit quick, accurate, easy and accurate selection of a desired three-dimensional position for the section. The coordinate system of an imaging system may also be concurrently displayed. In addition to sequentially pasted real time section images, a reference image acquired at an arbitrary time may also be pasted on a portion of the display. Thus a reference image and a real-time image of the scanned section can be displayed to facilitate a better spatial understanding of the position of the section being scanned and imaged.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional locating and displaying system that can suitably be incorporated into such modalities as MR imaging (MRI) systems, and in particular, a three-dimensional locating and displaying system that is capable of setting sections directed to any direction in the three-dimensional image space.
2. Description of Prior Art
In general, in medical modalities such as MR imaging systems, it is frequently required that sections (or volume regions) be placed with desired angles at desired positions in a three-dimensional space, as can be seen in locating sections to be imaged, for example.
Conventional setting of such sections is performed by the following ways. One way is that a reference section is imaged and displayed into a two-dimensional image as a reference image. The reference image is then used to set a section of a region of interest containing an orthogonal vector thereto. For instance, a sagittal plane of an object is first imaged and displayed into a sagittal image as a reference image, then an oblique plane to this image, which is inclined from an axial plane, is set, before the oblique image is imaged.
Another setting way is that a section to be imaged is set, like the foregoing first setting manner, with a two-dimensional reference image being rotated and/or moved by operation to change the reference sections themselves or with an orthogonal section being set to the reference image, using MR continuous scanning (MR fluoroscopy).
A third setting way is a technique that displays a three-dimensional model in the three-dimensional space by the projection method (projection technique), and displays a sectional position existing within the model. Under this condition, using the above-described first or second setting way allows the section to move, thus helping to grasp its spatial position.
However, the above conventional first to third section-setting ways provide poor three-dimensional visibility. Thus it is frequent that positions in the screen are considerably difficult to readily grasp. In this situation, an operator may be unable to quickly understand at which position he has placed or is placing a section, resulting in an inability to select setting of desired sections for imaging in an accurate and quick fashion.
Particularly, in cases where a plane directed to an oblique direction, not perpendicular to a reference image, is set based on the first way of setting, a portion through which the plane intersects with the reference image is displayed as a segment and the remaining portion is displayed by a projected (projected) image. But his method has difficulties in spatial understanding and provides no accuracy in positioning. Even if positions in the three-dimensional space are shown by the third way of setting, an operator must consider the correspondence to a two-dimensional image displayed separately. From a viewpoint that sections should be set at desired positions, this third way of setting is unfortunately not always easy and excellent in maneuverability.
The present invention has been directed towards reducing some of the drawbacks that the foregoing conventional section setting ways possess. One object of the present invention is to provide a section setting technique capable of setting a section at desired three-dimensional positions in a speedy, accurate and easy fashion with the spatial-position relationship between an object and its region to be scanned recognized accurately.
Another object of the present invention is, with a section set according to the above manner, to display a real-time image at the region to be scanned and provide it for observation.
To achieve the above objects, a basic feature of the present invention is that a three-dimensional locating and displaying system comprises region display means for displaying at least one region placed in a three-dimensional space set within an object; image display means for displaying at the region an image at a portion of the object corresponding to the region; and change means for arbitrarily changing at least one of a direction and a position of the region in the three-dimensional space. For example, the region is a volume-like region or a sectional region. Preferably, the region display means display both the sectional region and three-dimensional absolute coordinate axes set in the three-dimensional space. Thus an operator is able to easily locate the region as observing the region residing in the three-dimensional absolute coordinate.
Particularly, one preferred example is that, the region to be scanned is a sectional region, and the system comprise scanning means for obtaining a two-dimensional image by continuously scanning (fluoroscopy) the sectional region and pasting means for pasting the two-dimensional image on the sectional region displayed in the region display means successively in real time. Thus an operator is able to set the position of a section to be scanned as understanding a spatial relationship between the operator and the section to be scanned.
According to another preferred example, there may be provided reference image display means for pasting, as a reference image, the two-dimensional image scanned at any time on another sectional region placed in the coordinate system. By referring to this reference image, an operator can grasp more easily a spatial relationship between the object and the section to be scanned, locating the section more accurately.
According to still another preferred example, there are provided specifying means for specifying a position in the three-dimensional space; and marker display means for displaying a marker in the three-dimensional space, the marker corresponding to the specified position. For example, the marker display means displays the marker in a different hue from the two-dimensional image. This makes it possible to effectively use techniques, such that a section to be scanned is moved to the position of the marker, thereby assisting the location of the section.
According to still another preferred example, the position change means are constituted by means for specifying the sectional region into a desired three-dimensional position by a moving operation, a rotary operation and a moving operation. Thus a series of images can be scanned with sections that undergo offsets continuously rotated.
Still preferably, means capable of not merely time-sequentially recording three-dimensional positions of the region in the three-dimensional space but also calling the recorded three-dimensional positions are provided. Means for time-sequentially replaying the two-dimensional image corresponding to the called three-dimensional position may also be provided.
Still, a preferable embodiment is that the position change means changes a position of the sectional region for the continuos scanning in a predetermined stylized operation. For example, the stylized operation uses, as a technique for specifying a move amount of the sectional region, a macro description with a function of time. In addition, by way of example, the position change means automatically sets, by image processing, a vector concerning a move direction of a position of the sectional region in the continuous scanning, thereby determining the position automatically. This provides an easy-to-operate-locating manner.
Further, in a preferred example, there are provided two-dimensional display means for two-dimensionally displaying the two-dimensional image; and landmark display means for displaying in the three-dimensional space a landmark indicating a direction along which the two-dimensional image is observed. This upgrades the assistance capability for locating the section.
Preferably, there are specifying means for specifying a slice direction in which the object is scanned; continuous scanning means for producing a plurality of two-dimensional images by continuously scanning an entity to be scanned containing the region of the object along the slice direction; and locating image producing means for producing from the plurality of two-dimensional images a locating reference image of the entity, the locating reference image being outlined into a three-dimensional image. For example, the locating image producing means extracts contours of the entity from a plurality of images and produces the reference image from data of the contours.
Further, preferably, there is provided a construction which includes: signal detecting means for detecting a signal expressing physiological information about the object; scanning means for scanning an entity to be scanned containing the region of the object in association with the signal of which time elapses; and signal displaying means for displaying, together with the signal, a marker indicating that an image scanned by the scanning means corresponds to which timing in the signal, wherein the image display means displays the image scanned by the scanning means synchronously with the signal displayed by the signal display means. For instance, the signal expressing physiological information about the object is an ECG signal. Additionally, a construction that both the signal display means and the image display means operates during scanning by the scanning means or at replay after the scanning by the scanning means may be provided.
Still one preferred example is to provide scanning means for continuously scanning a plurality of portions containing the region of the object; and locator providing means for providing a plurality of locators using real-time images scanned by the scanning means. By way of example, with the region being a section, the locator providing means provides each locator including one section on which the real-time image scanned by the scanning means is displayed by giving the real-time image for the image display means and the other section, intersected with the one section, on which a reference image is pasted.
Further, the three-dimensional locating and display image can be, as one example, incorporated into an MRI system.

Real-time interactive three-dimensional locating and displaying system


A streamlined towable diving board is provided for use on top of or beneath the surface of water. The board is equipped with ergonomically contoured handles featuring pistol grips and an approximate five degree radius of curvature equipped with a soft, pliable covering. The board is designed to be floatable and to automatically return to the surface upon being released by the user underwater.

This invention relates to the field of handheld swimming and/or diving boards or wings used to assist a swimmer or diver to control his ascent and descent as he propels himself through the water. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved means of controlling one's descent and ascent in a safe and efficient manner while being towed behind a surface marine vessel.
Wing-like shaped swimming and/or diving boards have been disclosed in the prior art for use by swimmers, surfers, and divers, etc. A partial listing of these might include surf boards, skiing boards and skis themselves. Normally, the user of such boards grasps or holds them by their edge or the boards may be equipped with shoe-like clamps for attachment to the user's feet. Such boards have been made in a variety of shapes and sizes.
An apparatus similar to the present invention has been described in the prior art. Applicant, in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 239,727, described a Surf Diver Foil for use by a swimmer to assist in controlling the swimmer's ascent and descent as the swimmer propelled himself through the water. However, no means were provided on the board for allowing it to be towed by a marine vessel which would thereby save energy and reduce the fatigue on the user of the board. Furthermore, certain safety features and other improvements of the present invention were not found on the Surf Diver Foil as previously described by the applicant or other prior art. These deficiencies in the prior art have been remedied by the present invention.


The present invention is directed to an excited apparatus for coating food product with a coating. The apparatus includes an elongate pan having proximal and distal portions; a screen located in the distal portion and adapted to screen coating; an elongate frame; a motorized vibrator adapted to impart energy to the elongate frame at an angle β below horizontal; a plurality of springs mounting the elongate pan to the elongate frame, the springs being mounted at an angle θ above horizontal; another elongate frame; a plurality of dampeners mounting the two elongate frames; another elongate pan having proximal and distal portions, the elongate pan mounted to the other elongate pan and adapted to feed coating to the other elongate pan; a soft roller rotationally actuated by a ratchet assembly, the ratchet assembly engaged by the elongate pan; and, a recycle assembly for transferring screened coating to the elongate pans, wherein the elongate pan's vibrations have longitudinal and vertical vector components at a predetermined amplitude and frequency. The excited apparatus further includes a waterfall distributor member mounted to the elongate pan, the waterfall distributor including one or more transverse rows of a plurality of angular slots.

Prepared food products come in a wide variety of styles. Many prepared food products, whether ready-to-eat or those needing further cooking, are prepared with a coating that makes the food product more appealing. Such prepared food products include entrees, appetizers, deserts (such as donuts), etc., and includes both meats and vegetables. The types of coatings used on these food products include dry coatings such as flour, bread crumbs, corn meal and the like. While the automation of the food coating process is economically desirable, another goal of the food coating process is to make the coating appear to be "home-made." However, most automatic food coating processes fail to make "home-style" appearing foods.
In the commercial production of prepared foods, a large variety of food products are machine-coated with breading, flour or the like before being fried (or otherwise cooked) and packaged. In the food preparation industry, food coatings are generally classified by appearance as flour breading, free flowing (such as cracker meal or bread crumbs), and Japanese-style crumbs which tend to be elongate and crispy. Food coatings may also include seasonings, spices, shortening, etc., as needed to add flavor and texture to the food product. Other coatings such as ground cereal, dried vegetables or the like may also be employed.
Each coating mixture has inherent characteristics that presents challenges to machinery used to automatically and mechanically coat food products. For example, flour mixtures, which consist of finely ground dust-like particles, have a tendency to pack under pressure thereby decreasing the free-flow properties of the coating mixture around the food product, which can decrease coating uniformity. Similarly, coating mixtures recognized as free-flowing include reasonably hard and roughly spherical particles ranging in size from dust to larger particles, such as cornmeal, cracker meal or the like. Free-flowing mixtures in automated coating processes can often flow or leak out of the machinery.
Japanese-style crumbs have no uniform shape, are very delicate, and are crystalline-like in nature and appearance. So, the coating machine should be able to properly handle this type of breading material to avoid degradation of the quality and particle sizes thereof. Japanese-style crumbs consist of modified wheat flour with small percentages of yeast, salt, sugar, vegetable oil and other additives. The Japanese style crumbs appear to be dried shredded white bread having particles ranging in size from as large as ½ inch to as small as flour size particles.
Generally, the food industry prefers to use an automated and continuous food coating process wherever possible while still achieving a "home-style" look. Continuous processes include: tumble drums and mesh belt processes. The tumble drum operation has a hollow drum or tumbling device that is fed with a coating mixture and food products, and it is rotated so that the food product is tumbled in the coating in a manner which causes the coating material to contact and adhere to the outer surfaces of the food. After a sufficient contacting time (generally determined by the size, speed of rotation and internal drum structure) the food items are discharged for further processing.
The drum coating also has its drawbacks. Principally, mechanical handling of the food items may be quite rigorous limiting its use to robust products. More delicate food items (such as fish) may not be suitable for drum processing.
Other types of food coating devices employ endless mesh belts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,235 discloses a continuous coating and breading apparatus which includes a conveyor belt made of stainless steel mesh. The conveyor has various stations along its length. Food items are deposited on the belt at an infeed area and are coated with the coating mixture on the bottom surface. The conveyor belt carries the food items under a "waterfall" of food coating that covers the top surface of the food items. The conveyor passes under one or more pressure rolls that pat the coating mixture onto the food pieces. The coated food product is deposited at a discharge area. In commercial practice, such systems may employ as many as six conveying belts to spread the coating mixture and achieve acceptable consistent operation and performance.
Endless belt conveyors also require a number of rollers, guides and motors for multiple belt apparatus. Steel wires (from which the belts are fabricated) are subject to breakage presenting the risk of contaminating the product. Belt breakage can cause steel fines to be present in the coating mix and the final product. Breakage also causes down-time to repair or replace belts. In addition, other moving parts of the conveyor (including the rollers, guides and motors) are also subject to maintenance and repair, necessitating further down-time.
A breading machine was available from A. K. Robins and Company, Baltimore, Md. The machine was marketed as the Robins Vibro Batter and Breading Machine. As shown in FIGS. 1546-5 of the product literature, the vibrator was mounted directly to the coating pan. The coating pan was mounted to a frame using springs. The frame was mounted to the floor and was operated at a very high amplitude and low frequency.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior machines by providing an excited frame and pan assembly capable of dramatically improved coating of a wide range of food items at relatively high frequency and low amplitude.

Vibrational excited frame food coating apparatus and methods of use thereof


A method comprises: generating a first partial hash of the user identity information, transmitting a first query to a server computer, in response to transmitting the first query, receiving query metrics that indicate a set of counts of expected results, determining whether a count of expected results of the first partial hash satisfies a threshold count of expected results, in response to determining that the count of expected results of the first partial hash satisfies the threshold: generating and transmitting a second query, and in response, receiving and storing a set of user identity records that match at least the first partial hash, querying the set of user identity records using the user identity information and in response, receiving a result set of user identity records, the result set of user identity records comprising one or more user identity records that match the user identity information.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
As a result of cyber-attacks and data breaches, hacked, dumped, lost, leaked and otherwise compromised identity information is proliferated throughout the world wide web. "Dark web" sites host files that contain thousands to millions of usernames, passwords, and identifying information associated with user accounts. To keep track of compromised identity information, various techniques such as auto-crawling, scraping, and manual monitoring can be used to retrieve and store an amalgamation of compromised data from a variety of sources. For example, hackers often publish data to various sources that contains thousands of compromised usernames, passwords and associated identifying information. Such data can be retrieved, normalized, and stored in a searchable database along with other user identity information that may or may not be compromised.
Keeping an updated database of compromised and uncompromised identity information can be useful to entities or individuals for a variety of applications. For example, an entity may identify that their servers are being attacked from a specific geolocation in Europe. By querying the specific geolocation against the database of identity information, any identity information that is associated with the geolocation is returned, such as any usernames, email addresses, or other data that is associated with the geolocation. Such information can be used to further investigate the attacks and bring malicious actors to justice.
However, given that such a database is of large scale and is typically managed by one or more controlling entities, a query issued by a third party to the database for identity information may reveal information about who or what the third party is searching for and may require the third party to comply with various data privacy regulations. Additionally, from the perspective of the database, any sharing of such identity information, such as in response to a query, may further expose identity information to malicious actors and also require a party that manages the database to comply with various data privacy regulations.
Thus, computer-implemented techniques are desired to facilitate the obfuscation of queries and responses to queries.

Obfuscation of queries and responses in a security data search system


A winding former with a winding support between a first plate and a second plate for a saddle coil winding made up from a thin layer HTSC, which is destined for a cylindrical armature of an electrical machine, and which has two longitudinal legs parallel to the armature axis between two winding ends, wherein the winding support for each winding end has a bearing surface, which enables the thin layer HTSC to be wound to form a saddle coil without damaging the HTSC thin layer.

Up to the present time saddle coils for the armature or rotor of an electrical machine have been wound from a wire-shaped conductor with a circular cross-section. For manufacturing technology reasons, however, high temperature superconductors are preferably band-shaped, i.e. they have a pronounced rectangular cross-section. As a rule such band-shaped HTSCs consist of a metallic substrate band, onto which is applied a ceramic HTSC thin layer of e.g. YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO). These HTSCs are also designated as thin layer HTSCs. In contrast to the band-shaped substrate, the ceramic HTSC layer possesses low elasticity; consequently, bending of band-shaped thin layer HTSCs must be minimized, for which reason it is difficult to wind a saddle coil made up from a band-shaped thin layer HTSC onto an armature.
It is generally known art to wind a metallic superconducting racetrack coil into a mould from a winding former between two plane-parallel plates. After the winding process the racetrack coil is firstly cast in the mold and, after hardening, is removed from the mold. This procedure cannot, however, be transferred across to the manufacture of a saddle coil made up from a thin layer HTSC because, during the winding of the winding former, the HTSC layer would be overstretched, i.e., the superconducting thin layer would tear, at least in the upper region of the band, and would at least partially be ruptured.

Winding former for a saddle coil winding


Improved liquid-gas contact or demister panels for gas treating equipment, wherein each panel is designed with inlet and outlet sections and is fitted with a shaped flange on one end. A high strength assembly or array of panels is provided by interlocking alignment and fastening apparatus, which includes the shaped flange, along with tabs and slots formed in each panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to liquid gas contact or demister panels or baffles and an assembly or array of these panels for separating liquid droplets or mist from a gas stream using multiple, shaped impingement panel surfaces. The panels interlock by means of a tab and slot system, along with stabilizing and aligning end flanges, to define an array which can be configured to the processing apparatus in which the array is mounted. An incoming liquid-entrained gas stream impinges on the surfaces of the panel array, wherein entrained liquid contacts and clings to the panel or baffle surface, allowing the liquid to run or drain from the surface, clear of the gas stream.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mist separators or eliminators of the impingement or baffle type are used in numerous applications in industry. Typical applications are scrubbers associated with the burning of hydrocarbon or carbon-based fuels, which scrubbers are used to remove sulfur gases, carbon monoxide and/or particulate material from flue gases. One such process using a demister is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,077, to Gleason. Another typical demister application is in processing or refining liquid-gas hydrocarbon systems and a typical process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,553,973, to Ballou. Other gas liquid systems are described in literature such as Mass-Transfer Operations by Treybal, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company in 1955. Still other gas liquid systems and demister baffles, panels or elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 621,998, to Farley, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 1,567,313 to Wilson, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 2,221,989 to Mount; U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,204 to PerOskar Persson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,121 to Phelps; U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,496 to Sokolowski; U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,241 to Braun; U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,215 to Regehr; U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,025 to Grodare; and my U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,328.
This invention includes an improvement in gas treating and gas-liquid contact and separation apparatus and in a structural array of such apparatus. In a preferred embodiment a preferred configuration and combination of panel or baffle elements is assembled using stabilizing and aligning end flanges, tabs and tab slots for assembling a panel array and controlling gas stream impingement on the generally V-shaped panels, whereby liquid droplets in the gas stream are attached to the panel surfaces, merged into or coalescing with a liquid film on the surface and drainage elements are provided in the panels to remove the coalesed liquid from the baffle surface in a manner designed to reduce or prevent reentrainment of the liquid in the gas stream. A preferred embodiment includes a panel or baffle array or configuration which is structurally strong and oriented for efficiently removing liquid from the gas stream with very low pressure drop in the gas stream. The flanged assembly or array provides a high strength contact surface that can be easily assembled in a staggered array from multiple, shaped gas-contact panels with a minimum amount of labor and skill required. These panels and the assembly or array are capable of withstanding rough handling and abuse during transport, assembly, placement and operation. Generally, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes an array constructed of multiple liquid gas contact panels or baffles for separating liquid droplets from a gas stream. The array includes at least two panels arranged in a stacked, staggered configuration, forming sinusoidal channels between the panels with each panel having a flange on one end, a first curved surface defining the sinusoidal gas path and multiple, spaced ribs which are perpendicular to the curved surface. Accordingly, when multiple panels are arranged adjacent to each other in an array, each flange supports a linear adjacent panel and the inner curved surface of one panel forms with the outer curved surface of the parallel, staggered adjacent panel, a channel having a generally rectangular cross-section which determines or controls the path of the gas stream.
In another preferred embodiment, each demister panel is formed having at least one male tab and at least one female slot designed and located to fit together and interlock with a corresponding slot and tab, respectively, on a parallel adjacent baffle or panel, so that parallel adjacent panels can be positioned in a staggered array, aligned in linear assembly using the end flanges and fastened into the integral array using the tabs and slots. Furthermore, the flange provided on the end of each panel for strengthening the assembled panel array is preferably formed or shaped integrally with each panel. The tabs and slots are shaped along with the flanges to physically align and interlock the panels, and can be secured in interlocking, arrayed relationship by thermal, solvent or chemical reaction welding, in non-exclusive particular.


A system includes one or more optical sensors for the measuring and monitoring of physiological information of a motorized system operator. The system is configured to determine an incapacitation state of the motorized system operator based upon the measured physiological information. When the measured physiological information indicates an incapacitation state (intoxication level, stress level, and so forth), the system is configured to provide a response thereto including, but not limited to: lock out operation of the motorized system, provide a warning on a display, transmit a message from the motorized system, assume automatic control of the motorized system, and so forth. The system includes a plurality of light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs)), one or more photodetectors, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of light sources and/or photodetectors to non-invasively measure physiological information (e.g., blood alcohol concentration, stress levels, and so forth).

Electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, digital media players, and so forth, increasingly employ light sensors to control the manipulation of a variety of functions provided by the device. For example, light sensors are commonly used by electronic devices to detect ambient lighting conditions in order to control the brightness of the device's display screen. Light sensors often employ photodetectors such as photodiodes, phototransistors, or the like, which convert received light into an electrical signal (e.g., a current or voltage). Electronic devices can also include light sensors for communicating information. For example, devices can employ pulse oximeters, which use light to detect a person's pulse and blood oxygen levels, in order to display the person's physiological information on the display screen of the device.

System including integrated optical sensors for determination of impairment of motorized system operators