A network-based computing system that automates, simplifies, and optimizes the compilation, deployment, and execution of an application by any type of a client machine connected to a server via any type of a network connection. The system includes a client runtime environment, a server runtime environment and an object-oriented markup-business logic binding mechanism. The client runtime environment manages client side code and screen definitions. The server runtime environment dynamical compiles code to ensure client platform compatibility. The system delivers network applications on demand, by separating them into lightweight modules and delivering these modules.

A typical computing system includes hardware and software components. Hardware components include computing devices such as personal computers (PC), mainframe computers, and computing circuits, among others. The basic architecture of a computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU), which executes instructions, and a memory unit, which stores instructions and data. Instructions and data are transmitted from the memory unit to the CPU and the results of the CPU operations are sent back to the memory unit. Software components are application programs, which contain the set of instructions that are executed by the CPU unit. Application programs include among others, system programming software, drawing software, word processing software, spreadsheet evaluation software, enterprise resource management software, customer relationship management software, data analysis software, customer self-help software, network and storage management software, mathematical and scientific software. A computer programmer develops an application program by first coding a set of instructions in a source file using the grammar rules of a programming language. In the example of FIG. 1, a programmer writes a source file using the grammar and syntax of the Java™ programming language 82. Next, the Java™ source file passes through a Java™ compiler 84 where it gets analyzed and parsed. The parsed file is then used to generate a Java™ bytecode 86, i.e., a code that is understood by a Java Virtual Machine™ (JVM). The compiled Java™ bytecode file 86 is then stored in the memory of the computing device. When a user wants to run the particular application program the computing device retrieves the compiled Java™ bytecode file 86 from the memory, the Java Virtual Machine™ 88 executes it, and the computing results are displayed 89. The compiled Java™ bytecode file 86 may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium such as a compact disk (CD) or a magnetic floppy disk or tape. These computer readable storage media may also be used to distribute and install the application program, i.e., the compiled Java™ bytecode files, in other computing devices. This computing system is sufficient for independent computing devices.
A network-based computing system includes a central server and a plurality of computing devices, i.e., client machines, that are connected with each and to the server via a network. Application programs are stored in the central server and can be deployed to the client machines via the network. Alternatively, application programs can be installed in the client machines via a manual distribution of computer readable media such as CD or floppy disks containing the compiled application code. Network-based computing is used for large enterprises that have multiple computing devices in multiple locations that interact with each other and with the server via a network connection. An application program in the network-based computing system includes a server program that is stored in the server and a client program that is stored in the memory of a client machine. The server program runs on the server and the client program runs on one of the client machines. Large enterprises utilize network-based computing to run enterprise application such as SAP's Enterprise Resource Planning software and custom internal applications. For example, a financial services company may utilize an internal Investment Portfolio Management application to perform stock analysis. When a portfolio manager wants to do a specific stock analysis, he starts the client program for the Investment Portfolio Management application in the client machine. The client machine loads the multi-megabyte client program, and then receives and processes the portfolio manager's requests. The client machine may also send further requests to the server program via the network to gather any necessary data. Next, the client program receives the necessary data, analyzes the data and presents the result in an appropriate format to the portfolio manager.
Processes associated with network-based computing include application development, application deployment, and application execution, among others. Application development refers to the coding, compiling, and debugging of the server and client programs that can be run by the server and the various configurations and operating systems of the client machines, respectively. Application deployment refers to the distribution and installation of the various client programs in the various client machines. Application execution refers to the execution of the compiled server and client programs by the server and the various client machines of the network, respectively.
The main issues with the application development for a network-based computing system involve around client platform and device configuration incompatibilities. Client platform incompatibilities include different operating systems and different hardware. The operating systems may be various versions of Windows, Mainframe, Macintosh, Unix, Linux, and Palm™. The different hardware may be Pocket PCs, desktops, laptops, workstation, phone systems, personal digital assistants (PDA) and smart television sets. Device configuration includes the specific settings that a given application may require, such as the Dynamic Link Library (DLL) version and registry for typical Windows applications. For companies with thousands of users and client machines, client platform and device configuration incompatibilities result in a significant amount of complexity and increased costs for the development of network applications.
The main issues with the application deployment in a network-based system involve around the distribution of the client program to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of client machines and the confirmation that each client machine always contains the most appropriate version of the application. The following approaches are the most commonly used today for handling code distribution and configuration:
a) CD/Floppy disk distribution and manual installation and configuration: Information System (IS) personnel install the compiled client program from a CD or floppy disks directly onto the client computer and manually configure the application for each client computer. This manual process is repeated every time the code is upgraded. Considering that an enterprise can have thousands of desktop computers distributed in many different offices, this approach is very inefficient, time consuming and costly.
b) Manual network download, installation and configuration: This approach enables an end user to download and install the client program into his computer over a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN) or the Internet. However, considering that the client program can be easily tens of mega bytes, downloading such a big file and configuring the application can take each user up to several hours to achieve. Considering an enterprise that has thousands of users, the amount of productivity loss due to this manual downloading process can be significant. Furthermore, in cases where the network connection is slow and has limited bandwidth (i.e., dialup or wireless connection), this is simply not a viable option.
The issue with the client program execution is that the current program execution model requires loading almost the entire program into memory before the user is able to run the application. As was mentioned above, client programs are typically multi-megabyte files and loading such big files into memory creates lengthy delays for users. Further, this execution model creates increasing demands on hardware because it requires faster CPU, bigger memory, more storage, and a faster network, all of which translate into costs and performance issues.
Alternative approaches to this static network-based computing system include the Java™ Applet approach and the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) web page approach. In the Java™ Applet approach the client component of a network application is written as a Java™ Applet, and the end users can access this application without the need to install it in advance. However, Java™ Applets have severe technical limitations that restrict its practical use to simple application only. For complex enterprise applications, the Java™ Applet not only performs poorly but also can easily have a footprint in excess of IMB, which requires lengthy downloading which in turn effectively prevents users from using it over the Internet or WAN. In addition, Java™ Applets require a Java Virtual Machine™ (JVM) on the client machine. The JVM™ incompatibilities and lack of JVM™ on some machines both add to the failure of wide adoption of Java™ Applets for enterprise applications.
In the HTML web page approach companies use HTML for publishing simple application screens. In this approach, the entire application is running on the server. Each screen is formatted into an HTML web page and displayed in a web browser. Some simple client-side logic can be added to the HTML page using technologies, such as JavaScript™. However, this approach is limited to applications that require minimal user interactivity and functionality. Network applications using this approach sacrifice many of the features and functionality associated with client-side computing, such as offline computing, drag&drop, multiple windows, spreadsheet behavior, among others. The "click and refresh" user interaction model associated with web browsing is not suitable for network applications because this model not only consumes significant bandwidth by sending and re-sending redundant information, but it also significantly lowers user productivity by keeping users waiting with every mouse click. In this scenario, the client-side business logic is also limited because a scripting language, such as JavaScript™, does not scale well to a large team of developers, unlike the more robust Object-oriented programming (OOP) languages like Java™ and C++. As a result, HTML is used only for simple application. Important applications are still being written as traditional Client/Server applications using OOP languages.
In summary, the current approaches for network-based computing are costly, inefficient and complicated for developers. In order to use an application, users have to go through a lengthy downloading, configuration and loading process. Whenever a new version of the application is available, users have to go through the same process again. Platform incompatibilities often prevent many users from being able to run the application at all. Companies often have to maintain a significant technical support team to manage and deal with application configuration and management. Desktops need to be constantly upgraded to keep up demands from bigger and bigger client programs. For users that are distributed over a wide area network (WAN) or even the general public Internet, where bandwidth is very limited, the current approaches are simply not viable options. Though there are alternative approaches, like HTML, which can significantly lower the client footprint and reduce the client incompatibility problem, such approaches are not able to deliver the functionality and performance required for most business applications.
Accordingly, there is a need for a network-based computing system that automates, simplifies, and optimizes the compilation, deployment, and execution of an application by any type of a client machine connected to a server via any type of a network connection.

System and method for network-based computing


An atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus allows a transmitter to transmit an acoustic wave for measurement of the atmospheric pressure. Air propagates the acoustic wave. A receiver receives the acoustic wave. Since the intensity of the acoustic wave changes to follow the variation of the atmospheric pressure, the atmospheric pressure can be measured based on the intensity of the acoustic wave received at the receiver. The atmospheric pressure is in this manner measured with such a simplified structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus and a method of measuring an atmospheric pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus includes a closed cavity with a deformable wall for detection of the absolute pressure. A sensor is placed in contact with the wall of the closed cavity. The closed cavity contains a predetermined amount of gas to hold a reference pressure therein. A variation in the atmospheric pressure around the closed cavity induces a variation in the volume of the closed cavity. The sensor is thus designed to detect the variation in the volume by sensing either the deformation or stress or strain on the wall of the closed cavity. The atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus enables detection of the atmospheric pressure based on a variation in the volume of the closed cavity.
The pressure inside the closed cavity is kept constant level so as to ensure the accuracy of detection of the atmospheric pressure in the atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus of this type. Pressure is always applied to the sensor. Accordingly, the sensor may suffer from generation of so-called creep. This results in deterioration of the accuracy of detection. A conventional atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus has another drawback. The wall of the closed cavity is required to have a reduced thickness so that the wall of the closed cavity deforms in response to the application of pressure. This makes the atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus fragile. Moreover, it is quite necessary to completely seal the closed cavity so as to keep the pressure constant. A high processing technique is required to produce the closed cavity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Atmospheric pressure measuring apparatus and method of measuring atmospheric pressure


A condensed water discharging apparatus for a fuel cell system is disclosed. The condensed water discharging apparatus includes: a drain tank installed around a hydrogen discharging line comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion formed on both distal ends of the drain tank, and a intermediate portion having at least a drain hole installed wherein the intermediate portion is disposed inside the drain tank so that condensed water is separated from hydrogen flowing in through the intermediate portion by gravity and is drained downwardly; and a drain pump connected to the drain tank to discharge condensed water drained through the drain holes of the intermediate portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a condensed water discharging apparatus for a fuel cell system, and more particularly, to condensed water discharging apparatus for a fuel cell system which serves to separate the water generated at an anode and drain it so as to prevent the condensed water from being recirculated with unused hydrogen during hydrogen recirculating process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a fuel cell system generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen in the air, and this fuel cell system may be used as a power source of a vehicle.
A fuel cell system comprises a separator, an anode, an electrolyte membrane, a cathode, a hydrogen/air/cooling water distributing structure, an anode flow field, a cathode flow field, and a cooling flow field.
When a fuel cell system is driven, hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to an anode flow field of a fuel cell system through a hydrogen supplying solenoid valve and a pipe.
In order to increase efficiency of hydrogen as a fuel, non-reacted hydrogen is recirculated. This procedure is performed such that a hydrogen recirculation blower is operated in a state that a purge valve is closed, non-reacted hydrogen in a fuel cell system moves along a pipe and goes into an anode flow field of a fuel cell system through a hydrogen recirculation blower and a hydrogen recirculation blocking valve.
A hydrogen purge value is configured to be opened at a periodically predetermined time to discharge nitrogen and water which come through an electrolyte membrane.
Air is supplied from the atmosphere to an air blower through a pipe, and an air blower controls an air flow rate according to a driving condition so that air is supplied to a cathode flow field of a fuel cell system through a pipe.
Hydrogen (H2) at an anode flow field dissociates into positive hydrogen ions and negatively charged electrons, in which the hydrogen ions are conducted through an electrolyte membrane to the cathode. O2 at a cathode flow field dissociates to O— ions by catalyst, and the positive hydrogen ions and O— ions react to form H2O.
Meanwhile, in a conventional fuel cell system vehicle, condensation of vapor occurs in a cathode as well as in an anode according to a driving condition, and condensed water needs to be removed to improve durability, lifespan and performance of a fuel cell system.
Water generated in an anode is discharged from a fuel cell system stack system to be transferred to a hydrogen recirculation blower and is then mixed with pure hydrogen which comes out of a hydrogen tank before going into an anode flow field of a fuel cell system stack again.
By the above described method, waste of hydrogen can be avoided, resolving a security problem occurred when hydrogen is discharged to the air.
However, hydrogen discharged from a fuel cell system stack contains water inevitably generated in a fuel cell system. A vapor form does not cause any problem, but condensed water inevitably generated according to a driving condition causes many problems.
If condensed water generated in a hydrogen side (i.e., anode) goes to a recirculation blower, a recirculation blower causes overload, so that flooding occur at an entrance of a fuel cell system stack system, thereby fatally degrades durability of a fuel cell system stack and a recirculation blower.
Also, if hydrogen is discharged to the air together with condensate water, there occurs a dangerous safety problem in a vehicle, and thus hydrogen should not be discharged into the ambient air.
In order to resolve the above problem, a conventional fuel cell system vehicle employs a water discharging apparatus for removing condensed water using gravity.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional water discharging apparatus. The conventional water discharging apparatus is arranged in an engine room together with a fuel cell system. The conventional water discharging apparatus of FIG. 1 comprises a housing 3, a solenoid valve 4 installed in the outlet portion 2 to adjust a flow rate, and water level sensors 5 and 6 for sensing a water level of condensed water in the housing 3. The housing 3 has an inlet portion 1, arranged in its upper portion, through which condensed water flows in and an outlet portion 2, arranged in its lower portion, through which condensed water is discharged.
The housing has the total length of 185 mm and the total volume of 680 ml, and as the water level sensors, a high water level sensor 5 installed in an upper portion of the housing 3 and a low water level sensor 6 installed in a lower portion of the housing 3 are provided.
When condensed water flowing in through the inlet portion 1 of the housing 3 reaches a level of the high water level sensor 5, the solenoid valve 4 is opened to discharge condensate water, and when condensed water is lowered to a level of the low water level sensor 6, the solenoid valve 4 is closed not to discharge condensed water any more, whereby it is possible to remove condensed water contained in recirculated hydrogen and to prevent hydrogen from being discharged to the air.
If a fuel cell system is employed in a vehicle such as a sedan later, a fuel cell system should be arranged on a floor of a vehicle. However, in this instance, it is difficult to apply the existing water discharging apparatus which removes condensed water by using gravity "as is".
The reason why the existing water discharging apparatus can not be applied in case where a fuel cell system is arranged on a floor of a vehicle is described below in detail.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a ground clearance when a fuel cell system stack 8 is mounted on a central floor 7 of a sedan type vehicle. In case of a sedan type vehicle, a ground clearance of FIG. 2 could be improved later, but the improvement range is limited. A reference numeral 9 denotes a hydrogen tank.
In this instance, a ground clearance is merely 170 mm, i.e., the distance from the lowest surface of the fuel cell system stack 8, and so it is difficult to use the existing water discharging apparatus having the total length of 185 mm. Since the existing water discharging apparatus uses gravity to discharge water, water can be discharged from the fuel cell system stack by gravity only when it is arranged below the lowest surface of the fuel cell system stack 8. In order to remove condensed water by using gravity in a sedan type vehicle of FIG. 2, a ground clearance should be lowered to less than 150 mm, but the existing water discharging apparatus can secure merely the height of about 20 mm.
Even though the existing water discharging apparatus is modified, it is almost impossible to secure an enough ground clearance because of the length of 185 mm.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art.

Condensed water discharged apparatus for fuel cell system


Systems and methods used for bilinear texture filtering may also be used to perform font filtering. Font data stored as a texture is read from memory in blocks that are coarsely aligned. Font alignment units may be used to provide a finely aligned region of the font data within a font filter footprint. The finely aligned region is then filtered using bilinear filtering to produce font coverage information representing a grayscale value for a pixel. Using existing bilinear filtering engines in conjunction with font alignment and sample units reduces the need for having a specific engine to perform each of the font filtering operations, possibly saving die area in a graphics system.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to performing font filtering and, more specifically, to using bilinear texture filtering to produce antialiased fonts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional systems for performing bilinear texture filtering are configured to read texture data and produce filtered texture data. Font characters are stored as 1 bit per texel glyphs. Antialiased fonts may be produced by filtering the glyphs to produce grayscale values representing the per pixel coverage of the filtered glyphs.
Accordingly, it is desirable to reuse texture filtering engines to perform font filtering operations in order to conserve die area.

Font filter using bilinear interpolation


A method of deleting log records may include identifying a plurality of log records generated during a time period, for each identified log record, determining whether a delete request associated with the log record has been made, and, in response to determining that a delete request has not been received, identifying a unique identifier associated with the log record, searching a user activity table for an entry having a key table index associated with the unique identifier, where the entry is associated with a timestamp, using the key table index and the timestamp to identify a key associated with the unique identifier and the timestamp from a key table, encrypting at least a portion of the log record with the identified key to generate an encrypted value, and storing the encrypted value as an entry in the log record database that is associated with the identified log record.

The increased use of social media, mobile devices and personal-assistant type services has made preserving user anonymity in logged data more complex. As logs are accumulated, a deletion pipeline is presented with an ever-expanding corpus of data. Data may need to be processed and/or deleted within a certain time period pursuant to a user-requested deletion or other policy which further complicates the deletion process.

Methods and systems for deleting requested information


Methods and systems may provide for generating text based on speech input and recognizing one or more hand gestures. Additionally, an adaptation of the text may be conducted based on the hand gestures. In one example, the hand gestures are associated with operations such as punctuation insertion operations, cursor movement operations, text selection operations, capitalization operations, pause of speech recognition operations, resume of speech recognition operations, application-specific actions, and so forth, wherein the adaptation of the text includes the associated operation.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments generally relate to automatic speech recognition systems. More particularly, embodiments relate to gesture-augmented speech recognition systems.
2. Discussion
Conventional dictation solutions may use automatic speech recognition (ASR) to identify words, spoken punctuation and commands in speech input received from a microphone, wherein text is generated from the recognition/identification results. In such a case, the user might use a keyboard and/or mouse to correct the textual ASR output. While such an approach may be suitable under certain circumstances, there remains considerable room for improvement. For example, speaking punctuation and commands can be awkward from the perspective of the user, particularly in a dictation setting. Moreover, the manipulation of a keyboard/mouse to correct the ASR output may conflict with the user's desire to replace those devices with ASR functionality.


In an embodiment, a composition including a chiral solvating agent to resolve nuclear magnetic resonance signals of an enantiomer of at least one analyte, where the chiral solvating agent facilitates in the at least one analyte binding to a C2 face or a C3 face of the chiral solvating agent, and where the chiral solvating agent causes an upfield shift or a downfield shift in at least one nuclear magnetic resonance signals corresponding to a 1H, 19F{1H}, or 31P{1H} signal, and where the chiral solvating agent includes a cobalt cation. In another embodiment, a method that includes mixing a chiral solvating agent, including a cobalt cation, with at least one analyte to form a solution, obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the solution, and identifying an enantiomer of the at least one analyte. In some embodiments, the method further includes determining enantiomeric purities of the at least one analyte.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Ever since the recognition of molecular chirality, chemists have sought to quantify enantiomer ratios in non-racemic samples. For more than a century, the dominant method was polarimetry, despite many intrinsic limitations. Today, nearly every analytical technique is being brought to bear on the problem, often in a quest for high throughput screening. Two broad classes of assays see the most use, "chiral" chromatography and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
NMR methods can be divided into three principal categories: chiral derivatizing agents (CDAs), paramagnetic chiral lanthanide shift reagents (CLSRs), and chiral solvating agents (CSAs). Over the past few years, the last approach has attracted increasing attention. Many, but not all, of the CSAs are hydrogen bond donors, often with two-four NH or OH groups. Some of these have been tailored to recognize a specific functional group, while others have wider applicability.


A hand-held controller and a positional reference device for determining the position and orientation of the hand-held controller within a three-dimensional volume relative to the location of the positional reference device. An input/output subsystem in conjunction with processing and memory subsystems can receive a reference image data captured by a beacon sensing device combined with inertial measurement information from inertial measurement units within the hand-held controller. The position and orientation of the hand-held controller can be computed based on the linear distance between a pair of beacons on the positional reference device and the reference image data and the inertial measurement information.

Many modern software applications include three-dimensional elements, particularly in industries such as engineering, graphic design, gaming, and medical. Nevertheless, conventional human interface devices may limit the user's control to two dimensions, despite the three-dimensional input or output capabilities of modern software. Accordingly, a device, method, and system for providing a user with three-dimensional control of software may be useful in assisting the user to operate software with better precision and accuracy.

Three-dimensional object position tracking system


A device for electronically and optically counting objects, such as fish, animals, vegetation or other materials, as they are placed into a container. The device surrounds a defined opening on a container. As objects are placed into the container, they fall through the frame of the opening. A light source, such as a laser or LED, is directed toward a light detector in such a way as to be disrupted as the animal falls into the container. A light detector detects said disruption of the light and signals the electronic circuit to add to the number previously counted. Various methods of communicating the count are provided. The preferred method of communicating the count is via an integrated visual display. The preferred method of powering the device is by the use of one or more electric battery. Various methods of electrically powering the device are provided.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to counters for fishing, hunting or camping.
2. Discussion of Relevant Prior Art
As any experienced outdoorsman knows, keeping track of the number of animals one has caught while fishing, hunting or otherwise collecting materials can be important. Aside from a general desire to know how many animals one has caught, often, there are legal limits on the number of animals a person may harvest. It can be difficult over a long period of time to accurately recall the number of animals caught and retained, especially when some are released and not retained. As more animals are caught and retained, manually counting becomes increasing difficult, as the animals, if alive, are moving.
While there are existing devices for counting fish, these devices are deficient in many ways. For instance, there are fish counters designed to count fish in a large-scale commercial setting like fish farming or bait stores. These counters are not designed to be portable and typically require that the fish be a fairly uniformed size since these systems often require the fish to swim or be moved past a detector in a tube or channel. These fish counting systems are relatively complex and are not designed to provide portable counting.
There are some portable fish counters that rely upon a mechanical trigger for the counting system. However, counting systems that demand that a fish be forced to trigger the counter by physical contact with a flap or paddle do not address the variety of sizes one may encounter while fishing and the slippery and agitated state of a fish when caught. A fish that is thrashing and trying to return to the water may take advantage of this physical contact to push itself and resist retention. An optical counter allows the fish to be dropped into the container without touching anything that could impede its downward movement.
There are fish counters designed to be placed on a cooler. However, these counters are not automatic and require that a button be pressed to account for each fish placed in the container. This system is inconvenient for the fisherman and open to inaccuracies if he or she forgets whether the button has been pushed.

Portable container mounted counter for fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities


The present disclosure relates to a method and system configured to monitor devices that are physically connected over a data network, said system comprising at least one scanner configured to monitor said data network and to determine devices that are physically connected over said data network, said at least one scanner being connected to at least one panel over said data network, wherein at least one terminal of each panel is connected to an electronic circuitry, which comprises one or more electronic components, for enabling said at least one scanner to determine changes in one of voltage or current level over at least one of said one or more electronic components, said changes occurring due to connecting or disconnecting devices over said data network, thereby enabling said at least one scanner to monitor devices that are physically connected over said data network.

In the last decade, computer/telecommunication networks have dramatically expanded and often include hundreds of interconnections between various network units (devices), wherein the interconnections, in turn, usually include cabling that enables connecting the network devices together. However, man aging and monitoring such cabling has become significantly complicated due to the large volume of cables (e.g., patch cords) that interconnect the plurality of network devices.
As a result, there is a need in the art to provide a cable management system over a local data network (such as a LAN), wherein connections between various network devices can be efficiently managed and monitored by means of this cable management system to allow significantly easier control of a plurality of network cables. A problem has been recognized in the prior art, and various systems have been developed to provide a solution. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,675 enables monitoring the connection pattern of data ports, which are connected by multi-conductor cables, without requiring special patch cables or patch panels. An adapter jacket having an external contact is placed over a standardized cable such as an RJ45 cable which connects the data ports. An adapter board having a plurality of socket contacts is placed adjacent to a plurality of data ports. Output and input modules are coupled to the socket contacts. A micro-processor, which is coupled to the output and input modules, scans the socket contacts to determine the connection pattern of the data ports.
U.S. Patent No. 2008/0045075 presents a method and apparatus for monitoring and reporting cable connectivity, such as patch panel port-level connectivity on a real-time basis. For patch panel systems, this system is based upon a distributed architecture that may be modularly scalable and may reduce, if not eliminate, the need for a centralized signal processor and complex cabling between patch panels and the centralized signal processor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,467 discloses a local area network, including cabling interconnecting a plurality of workstations, having a plurality of data ports and conductors for selectable and removable interconnection between selected ones of the data ports, and apparatus for automatically providing an indication of the connection pattern of the data ports.
There is a need in the art to provide a cable management method and system, which enables monitoring and managing physically connected units or devices on the physical layer (OSI Layer 1) over a local data network, such as a LAN, and the like. In addition, there is a need in the art to enable monitoring active (e.g., switched ON) and passive (e.g., switched OFF) network devices, which are connected to a local data network by means of network outlets over a conventional cabling infrastructure (e.g., RJ45 (Registered Jack 45), RJ11 cabling) without the need to use dedicated cables, plugs, sockets or connectors. Further, there is a need to provide a cabling method and system, which is user friendly and enables relatively simple and efficient monitoring and management of the local data network.

Cabling system and method for monitoring and managing physically connected devices over a data network

HCS KABLOLAMA SISTEMLERI SANAYI VE TICARET A.S.


The invention relates to a biochip comprising a substrate presenting a reflecting main surface and wherein the main surface presents localized sites that are made sensitive to fluorescence detection by a transparent layer having optical thickness (2k+1)λ/4 where k is a positive or zero integer and where λ designates a wavelength lying between a wavelength λ0 at which fluorescence is excited and a wavelength λ1 at which fluorescence is emitted. The biochip can be manufactured by depositing a transparent layer of thickness mλ′/2 on a substrate and by making studs or wells of thickness (2k+1)λ/4 in said layer to form said sensitive sites.

Biochips are very high performance analysis tools in fields relating to molecular biology. The technology for preparing them is in the process of becoming established. Their use will enable research to be accelerated and will lead, in particular, to new diagnostic techniques.
A biochip is a set of systems of biological recognition substances such as biological molecules, all operating in parallel. Amongst biochips, those which have been developed to the greatest extent so far are DNA chips and there are great hopes that they will enable recognition efforts to be greatly increase in the field of molecular genetics.
Physically, biochips are structures constituted by a solid support having distinct zones distributed thereon, in general of microscopic dimensions, and supporting identical biological recognition probe substances, each zone or site having a single type of substance which may be of biological or biochemical origin. Recognition is performed by a specific affinity interaction between the probe substance fixed on the support and the target substance contained in the solution to be analyzed. The biochip is read by marking the target substance using a marker, generally a fluorescent marker. During recognition, the target substance brings its marker to the zone that supports the probe substance. Knowing the nature of the probe makes it possible to know the target substance with which the affinity reaction has taken place.

Biochip and the production method thereof

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


A data playback apparatus for reproduction of data from a recording medium in which digital data are serially and successively recorded. The data playback apparatus is equipped with a control unit which controls a reproduction unit for reproducing data from the recording medium. The control unit determines a predetermined condition such as presence or absence of requirement of a real-time data reproduction on the basis of control information which is recorded together with the data in the recording medium. In accordance with the predetermined condition, the control unit controls the reproduction unit so as to change the reproduction speed of the data from the recording medium, thereby realizing a high transfer rate in reproduction.

The present invention relates to data playback apparatus for recording or playing back information from a recording medium such as a compact disk, a digital audio tape and an optical video disk (which will hereinafter be referred to as CD, DAT and LD, respectively) on which recorded are general digital data such as still picture, computer program and character data concurrently with time-dependent data such as speech and motion picture.
Recently, as represented by a compact disk read-only memory (which will hereinafter be referred to as a CD-ROM) there are are established ways to record general data such as character data and computer program on a recording medium, and the corresponding playback apparatus are being used widely. One example of the data playback apparatus will be described hereinbelow.
A CD is for recording a two-channel audio which is converted into digital data under the conditions that the sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz and the number of the quantization bits is 16, and the transfer rate of audio data in reproduction is 176.4 kbyte/sec. On the other hand, a CD-ROM is for recording general data such as character data, image data and computer program instead of the audio data. The CD-ROM substantially has the same structure as the CD except recording contents. In the CD-ROM the audio data storing region is block-structured so as to record such data, thereby obtaining 150 kbyte/sec of transfer rate, as exemplified by "Electronics" 1985 February P73-80.
There is a problem which arises with such an arrangement, however, in that a playback apparatus for the CD is directly applied for the CD-ROM to thereby obtain only 150 kbyte/sec of transfer rate. For instance, in the case of the transfer of image data, an image comprising 640.times.480 dots and having a data amount of 8 bits per pixel results in the data amount of 300 kbyte/sec per picture. That is, the read-out of the data corresponding to one picture requires 2 seconds.
A technique to improve the transfer rate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,818 where the reduction of the transfer rate due to mixedly recording the audio data and the video data is minimized by increasing the reproduction linear velocity. That is, when mixedly recording both the audio data and video data on a CD, the transfer rate of the audio data is lowered so as to deteriorate the audio quality. In order to prevent the lowering of the transfer rate, the disk is rotated at a speed higher than the normal speed with respect to the region in which the audio data and video data are mixedly recorded. For the realization thereof, the reproduction linear velocity is recorded as control data in the disk and read out in reproduction of the data so as to perform the reproduction of the disk at a designated speed.
However, in the case of recording data in the CD-ROM in accordance with such a technique, difficulty is encountered to reproduce the data by means of a general CD-ROM drive unit. That is, because the real-time reproduction of the speech for this disk can be ensured only under the condition of increasing the linear velocity, it is difficult to perform the reproduction by means of a general CD-ROM drive unit which can realize only the transfer rate of 150 kbyte/sec.
In addition, since this unit is for directly processing and outputting the reproduced data on the basis of the real time and the reproduction velocity is determined in accordance with each of the data, difficulty is encountered to change the reproduction velocity in accordance with the destination of the data.

Data playback apparatus for realizing high transfer rate

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Method and system for implementing an inter-domain constraint-based shortest path first (“IrD-CSPF”) technique for supporting hierarchical routing in interconnected multi-domain OTNs are described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method for calculating a network path in an interconnected multi-domain network. The method comprises receiving a path setup request message for a new traffic flow in the network identifying a source node in one domain of the network and a destination node in a second domain of the network; determining a common ancestor hierarchical routing domain that includes ancestor nodes of both the source and destination nodes; calculating an inter-domain path from one ancestor node to the other ancestor node that determines, for each lower-level domain, border nodes in the domain from the source node to the destination node; and for each bottom-level domain, calculating an intra-domain path between the border nodes that were determined for the domain.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to interconnected multi-domain optical transport networks ("OTNs"). More particularly, and not by way of any limitation, the present invention is directed to an inter-domain constraint-based shortest path first ("IrD-CSPF") technique for supporting hierarchical routing in such networks.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional IP-centric inter-domain routing protocols use different technologies to optimize routes from a source address to a destination address. For example, Routing Information Protocol ("RIP") uses the Bellman-Ford algorithm to calculate the minimum number of hops from source to destination. Open Shortest Path First ("OSPF") and Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System ("IS-IS") protocols use Dijkstra's Shortest Path First ("SPF") algorithm to achieve a path with minimum cost, the measure of which is set by the network administrator. In Border Gateway Protocol ("BGP"), path selection is mainly influenced by policy attributes and local preference, while Interior Gateway Protocol ("IGP") metrics are not directly used.
Constraint-based routing in Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching ("GMPLS") control planes in OTNs is one of the main processes required for on-demand service provisioning (or bandwidth-on-demand) and for dynamic service restoration. In constraint-based routing, routing protocols calculate a path from a source to destination transport network element ("TNE") that is optimal and does not violate a given set of constraints. Route setup between the given source and destination TNEs takes place at the source TNE, whereas in conventional IP routing, a path or route is computed in a distributed fashion by every router in a network. In addition to resource utilization optimization, the focus of constraint-based routing is on optimization of performance and ease of administration.
Under the current heterogeneous multi-carrier and multi-vendor networking environment, an interconnected OTN may be partitioned into multiple domains. Typically, a domain is defined as a portion of the network that has a clear demarcation boundary based on technology, business, service, technical administration, or architectural function. Given an interconnected multi-domain OTN, a hierarchical routing structure can be created using a feeding-up procedure described in Chapter 3 of "Private Network-Network Interface Specification Version 1.1", ATM Forum af-pnni-0055.002, April 2002 (hereinafter "PNNI Version 1.1"). It is worth noting that, for multi-node domain with border node representation, a link aggregation technique is a key in constructing the next higher hierarchical level from the current hierarchical level.
A primary objective of routing over an interconnected multi-domain OTN is to map a source-to-destination traffic demand into the optimal sequence of sub-paths within each transit domain. Conventional routing protocols cannot perform the functionality of constraint based hierarchical routing in interconnected multi-domain OTNs. The autonomous systems in BGP and the areas in OSPF are required to be controlled by the same administrative entity of a single carrier. Moreover, routing in the aforementioned conventional inter-domain IP routing protocols is not based on the traffic engineering performance criteria and/or does not support the bandwidth-on-demand service requirement. Although traffic engineering ("TE") and GMPLS extensions existing for some of the conventional IP routing protocols (e.g., GMPLS OSPF-TE and GMPLS IS-IS TE), they are still not fit for hierarchical routing in interconnected multi-domain OTNs.
For example, GMPLS OSPF-TE (equipped with both an intra-domain ("IaD") CSPF procedure such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/320,286 entitled A CONSTRAINT-BASED SHORTEST PATH FIRST METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY SWITCHED OPTICAL TRANSPORT (hereinafter "IaD-CSPF Patent Document", which has been incorporated by reference in its entirety, and a domain/link aggregation technique) has a limitation of two hierarchy levels, routing areas, and backbone areas. This solution is deficient, therefore, in cases in which a carrier requests to have more hierarchy levels according to the operation structures, technology, business, service, technical administration and/or architectural functions of its network(s).
All of the existing algorithms described above are aimed at the calculation of the optimal route or path for best-effort traffic demands. These algorithms do not support bandwidth-guaranteed services. Moreover, the IaD-CSPF technique described in the IaD-CSPF Patent Document is designed for path calculation for Soft Permanent Connection ("SPC") connection requests of intra-domain constraint-based routing in GMPLS OTNs.

Inter-domain constraint-based shortest path first technique for supporting hierarchical routing in interconnected multi-domain optical transport networks


Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a control panel mount having one or more strain relief features. The mount has a base and a tether. The tether has a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is rotatably connected to the base. The second end of the tether is adapted to receive a cable tie.

The present invention relates to a cable mount for a control panel or other dynamic structures, such as robots. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control panel mount having one or more strain relief features.
Control panel mounts are well known in the art. Typically, a control panel mount includes a base. The base is connected to the control panel, for example, using adhesive. One or more cables in the control panel are bundled using a cable tie, and the cable tie is connected to the base of the control panel mount.
Control panel mounts support the weight of the cables, as well as the reaction load created by movement of the cables, which puts additional strain on the control panel mount. However, existing control panel mounts are not designed to relieve this additional strain. As described above, existing control panel mounts are rigid, so the entire load, including the reaction load created by movement of the cables, is concentrated at the base of the mount. To compensate for this deficiency, existing control panel mounts are limited as to the number of cables that they can handle, or more mounts are required over the same distance, both of which increases the time and expense of installation. If too many cables are attached to the control panel mount or an insufficient number of control panel mounts are utilized, the adhesive will fail, causing the base of the control panel mount to detach from the control panel.
Therefore, there is a need for a control panel mount having one or more strain relief features.

Control panel mount having one or more strain relief features


A projection exposure apparatus which has a projection optical system and projects a pattern onto a substrate through the projection optical system. The apparatus includes a sensor unit which includes a light-receiving element for detecting light incident through the projection optical system, a vessel in which the light receiving element is arranged, a sealing window which transmits the incident light and seals the vessel, and a driving mechanism which aligns the substrate. A space between the sealing window and the light-receiving element is filled with a liquid having a refractive index which is greater than one, and the liquid also serves as a coolant for cooling the driving mechanism.

Along with micropatterning of a semiconductor element, an exposure light source shifts from a high-pressure mercury lamp of a g-line to a light source of an i-line having a shorter wavelength, and further shifts to KrF and ArF excimer lasers having shorter wavelengths. Also, in order to increase resolution, the NA (numerical aperture) of a projection lens must be increased. Hence, the depth of focus tends to be reduced. As is known well, these relationships are expressed by:(resolution)=k·(λ/NA); and(depth of focus)=±k2·λ/NA2,where λ represents the wavelength of light used for exposure, NA represents the NA (numerical aperture) of the projection lens, and k1 and k2 represent coefficients for a process.
Recently, KrF and ArF excimer lasers with short wavelengths have been used. Also, an F2 excimer laser, an EUV light source, and an X-ray source are examined for use. Alternatively, the technique for increasing the resolution and the depth of focus by a phase-shift mask, modified illumination, or the like, is practically used. However, the cost of the apparatus increases when using the F2 excimer laser, EUV light source, and X-ray source.
An immersion technique has been attempted to be applied to the projection exposure apparatus, which uses the existing ArF excimer laser. Note that in this immersion method, the space between the projection lens and the wafer is filled with a liquid with a high refractive index to increase the resolution and the depth of focus. For example, the immersion-type projection exposure apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-124873.
More specifically, in the immersion technique, as shown in FIG. 13, the space between a wafer 2 and an optical element 7, which is the last stage of the projection lens, is filled with a liquid 26. Assume that the wavelength of the exposure light in the air is λ0, the refractive index of the liquid 25 used for immersion with respect to the air is n, the convergent half-angle of a light ray is α, and NA0=sin α. The resolution and the depth of focus obtained by using the immersion technique is expressed by:(resolution)=k1·(λ0/n)/NA0; and(depth of focus)=±k2˜(λ0/n)/(NA0)2.That is, the immersion effect is equivalent to setting an exposure wavelength to 1/n. In other words, when designing projection optical systems with the same NA, the depth of focus can be n times by the immersion technique. This immersion technique can be applied to all pattern shapes, and used in combination with the phase-shift mask technique, the modified illumination technique, or the like.
In order to utilize this effect, the purity, uniformity, temperature, and the like, of the liquid must be accurately managed. In the exposure apparatus which sequentially exposes the wafer in a step-and-repeat operation, it is important to minimize the flow and oscillation of the liquid during the operation, and to eliminate air bubbles left on the wafer surface when loading the wafer in the liquid.
In a general projection exposure apparatus, which does not use the immersion technique, an illuminance unevenness sensor, which measures the illuminance and the illuminance unevenness of the exposure light irradiating the wafer, is generally disposed near the wafer. Also, a sensor, which measures the magnification and the focal position variation of the projection lens for calibration, is generally arranged near the wafer.
As a sensor unit for calibration, a light-receiving element is sometimes arranged under silica glass on which a reference mark pattern is formed by chromium, and the like, as shown in FIG. 4. Such a sensor unit is used, as will be described below. That is, a pattern similar to the reference mark in FIG. 4 is formed on a reticle. This pattern is projected on a reference mark, and the light-receiving element measures a light amount transmitted through the reference mark. When an in-focus state is set, the projection image of the pattern formed on the reticle matches the pattern of the reference mark. The light amount detected by the light-receiving element becomes maximum. In an out-of-focus state, the pattern formed on the reticle is blurred, and the blurred pattern is projected on the mark pattern. The light amount detected by the light-receiving element is reduced. Therefore, the focus varies while detecting the light amount by using the light-receiving element. The focus calibration can be performed by detecting the in-focus position where the light amount becomes maximum.
When the reference mark is displaced in the X and Y directions with respect to the pattern projection image on the reticle, the detected light amount changes accordingly. Therefore, the shifts in the X and Y directions can also be detected. That is, this sensor unit can be used as an alignment sensor unit. In addition to this, for example, a line sensor, which includes many pixels for measuring exposure unevenness in a shot and measuring an effective light source, and a two-dimensional CCD for measuring the aberration of the projection lens, may be disposed on a wafer stage.
In consideration of measurement precision, and the like, this sensor unit is preferably used in a state (immersion state) wherein the space under the projection lens is filled with the liquid as in the wafer, in the immersion-type projection exposure apparatus.
However, when using the above-described sensor unit in the immersion state, the following problems will occur.
FIG. 12 shows a conventional illuminance unevenness sensor unit. In the illuminance unevenness sensor unit, a light-receiving element 23 is arranged in a sensor vessel 22 sealed by a sealing window 21. A light-shielding member 28, which has a pinhole, is arranged on the sealing window 21. The light-receiving element 23 is arranged on the sealed space to prevent the characteristics of the light-receiving element 23 from degrading due to humidity, and the like. When the light is applied to the sensor unit having this structure, as is known by Snell's law, the light is refracted at an interface between the air and the sealing window 21, and an interface between the sealing window 21 and the internal space of the sensor unit.
Assume that the refractive index of the outer space of the sensor unit is nil, the refractive index of the sealing window 21 is n2, the refractive index of the internal space of the sensor unit is n3, the incident angle and refractive angle of the light at the interface between the outer space of the sensor unit and the sealing window 21 are θi1 and θr1, respectively, and the incident angle and the refractive angle of the light at the surface between the sealing window 21 and the internal space of the sensor unit are θi2 and θr2, respectively. The following equation is established by Snell's law:n2·sin(θi2)=n3·sin(θr2).Therefore,sin(θr2)=(n2/n3)·sin(θi2).When n2>n3, the light which is applied at an incident angle of θi2′ (critical angle) or more defined by sin(θi2′)=n3/n2 is not refracted, but totally reflected.
The NA of the projection lens is given by:NA=n1·sin(θi1).
In a general projection exposure apparatus which does not use the immersion technique, since the outer space of the sensor unit is filled with air, the refractive index n1=1. When the refractive index is 1, the NA is less than 1.0, or at most around 0.9. When the NA=0.83, the incident angle θi1=56.44°. When the material of the sealing window 21 is silica glass, the refractive index n2=1.56. By Snell's law, the refractive angle θr1 at the interface between the outer space of the sensor unit and the sealing window 21 is 32.29°. Since θr1=θi2, the incident angle θi2 of the light at the interface between the sealing window 21 and the internal space of the sensor unit is also 32.29°. The critical angle θi2′ at the interface between the sealing window and the internal space of the sensor unit is given by:sin θi2′=n3/n2=1/1.56=0.64.Therefore, since θi2′=39.9° and θi2′>θi2, the light is not totally reflected, but can reach the surface of the light-receiving element.
Alternatively, in the immersion-type projection exposure apparatus, the outer space of the sensor unit is filled with the liquid. Assume that the liquid is pure water. The refractive index of the pure water is 1.44. When the refractive index n1=1.44 in the above example, the incident angle θi1=56.44°, and the refractive index n2=1.56. Hence, by Snell's law, the refractive angle θr1 at the interface between the outer space of the sensor unit and the sealing window 21 is 50.28°. Since θr1=θi2, the incident angle θi2 of the light at the interface between the sealing window 21 and the internal space of the sensor unit is also 50.28°. As described above, the critical angle θi2′ at the interface between the sealing window 21 and the internal space of the sensor unit is given by:sin θi2′=n3/n2=1/1.56=0.64.Therefore, since θi2′=39.9° and θi2′<θi2, the light is totally reflected. The light, which is applied at an incident angle of 39.9° to 50.28°, is totally reflected at the interface, and cannot reach the surface of the light-receiving element. Hence, the light amount cannot be accurately measured by using a total light beam, thus posing a problem. This problem affects not only the illuminance unevenness sensor unit, but also the above-described calibration sensor unit, or the like.
The discussion above is related to the problem in the immersion-type projection exposure apparatus. Alternatively, the projection exposure apparatus having a high NA has a factor which degrades the measurement precision of the conventional sensor unit which does not use the immersion technique. Generally, a photo-sensor has a characteristic to change the sensitivity in accordance with the incident angle of the light at the light-receiving surface. Hence, in the conventional projection exposure apparatus, the total light beam reaches the light-receiving element without total reflection. However, since light having a large incident angle at the light-receiving surface of the sensor is present, the light amount cannot be accurately measured upon reception of the influence of the angle characteristic of the sensitivity, thus posing a problem.
A complex optical system arranged on the sensor can cope with these problems. However, in consideration of the sensor unit disposed on the stage which moves at a high speed while holding the wafer, it is very difficult to implement the complex optical system in terms of weight and space.

Projection exposure apparatus, device manufacturing method, and sensor unit


A system and method for enabling a telephone number to be called in an anonymous manner by associating an identifier with the telephone number and providing for calling the number via the identifier. In one embodiment, the telephone call, including communication of the telephone number is performed using encryption. The identifier may be an email address or user identifier. Other users may call the telephone number via a website that operates as a virtual payphone, using software downloaded to a computer or other communication device, or by calling a voice portal, for example.

Online communities have become more prevalent in recent years. Some online communities have developed into personal websites to enable individuals to present their lives and communicate with others. Myspace.com is one example of an online community website. Other online community website examples include web-logs or "blogs," chat rooms, dating websites, message boards, and other online environments on which users may partake in posting, writing, communicating, or interacting with other online users. While the problems described are directed to online environments, similar problems exist for non-online situations.
A problem that exists for online users is anonymity when online users seek to have verbal communications apart from an online forum. While online forums can provide adequate anonymity between users to avoid problematic or dangerous situations (e.g., stalking or physical harm), a sensitive situation occurs at the time that two users decide to take an online relationship into a real world relationship. For example, in the case of an online dating site enabling two users to meet online, if those users decide to take a next step to have a telephone conversation, one of the users inevitably must provide the other user with his or her telephone number. Providing a telephone number, especially a home telephone number, can be problematic, if not dangerous, since a telephone number can be used to locate a physical address associated with that phone number using a reverse lookup telephone directory or other public or non-public method. As such, online users are generally hesitant in providing their telephone number to other online users even if a significant online relationship exists to avoid stalking and other difficult situations. As understood, a caller can protect his or her anonymity by pressing "*67" prior to placing the call to block his or her caller ID, but the callee does not have an option to block his or her phone number.
One system that has been developed to enable online users to communicate via the Internet using Internet Protocol (IP) "telephones" is provided by a company called SKYPE. This system allows users to download software to their computer and be listed in an online directory that other SKYPE subscribers can access. The online directory enables subscribers to first a user name that only other SKYPE subscribers can call. An IP address or telephone number is assigned to the SKYPE subscribers so that the subscribers can call one another by selecting the user via the directory or call using a phone list stored on his or her computer. He using an Internet Protocol system can provide some anonymity to users since an IP address is not listed in a public directory associating the IP address with a physical address, such a system provides little more than anonymity provided by online community systems and simply provides a telephone-like interface to users. Further, such an Internet Protocol system limits a user to interfacing via his or her computer, which is additionally problematic in the event of a power failure or computer problem.
Because of concerns of providing telephone numbers to other people for safety and security reasons, there is a need to enable online and non-online users to be able to have others contact them without providing a telephone number.

System and method for anonymizing a telephone number


An ultra precise polishing method includes controlling an irradiation time of a surface position of an object to be processed irradiated by a gas cluster ion beam. A profile is created and polished on the surface of the object to be processed by controlling irradiation of the gas cluster ion beam. An ultra precise polishing apparatus includes an irradiating device for irradiating a surface of an object to be processed by a gas cluster ion beam. A positioning device is provided for changing a surface position of the object to be processed, which is irradiated by the gas cluster ion beam by moving the irradiating device and the object to be processed relative to each other. A control device is provided for controlling the irradiation time of a surface position of the object to be processed irradiated by the gas cluster ion beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultra precise polishing method and an ultra precise polishing apparatus used for polishing a workpiece surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In optical glass components such as a lens, there are a spherical lens and an aspheric lens, which are rotationally axisymmetric, and a free formed lens, which is rotationally nonaxisymmetric, etc., and press molding using a molding die serves as a leading processing means for mass-production of these lenses. In this case, if the forms of the lenses press-molded by a molding die are not precise, a function as an optical instrument deteriorates for aberration is produced in optical instruments such as a camera in which the lens is incorporated. When the surface roughness of the molding die is rough, the surface roughness of the molded lens also becomes rough surface, generating a flare in the optical instrument. Thus, although processing precision of a lens is important in press molding of the lens, what influences the processing precision of the lens is form precision of the surface of the molding die imprinted on the lens.
Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. H8-120470 describes a method for ultra precise polishing of a surface of a workpiece such as a molding die by irradiation with a gas cluster ion beam. When the gas cluster of the ion beam is split by the collision with the workpiece caused by irradiation of the workpiece, multi-body collision occurs between cluster component atoms or molecules and workpiece component atoms or molecules, and motion in a horizontal direction with respect to the workpiece surface is intensified. As a result, the convexity of the workpiece surface is largely smoothened, and ultra precise polishing producing evenness on an atomic scale can be achieved.

Ultra precise polishing method and ultra precise polishing apparatus


A method of maintaining state information within a voice browser can include establishing a voice browser session with a client. The voice browser can be in communication with an application, wherein the voice browser and the application are remotely located from the client. State information, which corresponds to the voice browser session and application, can be received from the application. The state information can be stored as non-persistent data within the voice browser. The non-persistent data can be provided to the application to continue a transaction managed by the application.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of voice browsers and, more particularly, to the interaction of voice browsers with applications and/or portlets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Web-based applications often must maintain state information in order to function properly or complete online transactions. One common example of this situation is where a user visits an online retail Web site and initiates a transaction. Prior to completing the transaction, the user can visit one or more other Web sites and then return to the online retail Web site. When the user returns to the online retail Web site, the revisited application can be restored to the same operating state as when the user temporarily exited the transaction and application to visit other Web sites. The user then can complete the transaction.
To function in this manner, the application executing within the online retail Web site must maintain state information specifying the details of the transaction. These details can include particular items being purchased, a user or client identifier, a location within a logical structure governing the transaction processing, the last interaction or selection of the user, for example the particular Web page that was displayed to the user and any information presented upon that Web page, as well as the time and/or date of the transaction.
One way in which state information can be maintained is to store the information as a persistent file, called a cookie, within the client machine. The traditional concept of storing cookies on a client computer system, that is the user-specific computing device which includes a browser, does provide a mechanism for storing state information for use by various applications. The cookie paradigm, however, does not address cases in which the user accesses an application through a non-user specific computing device which cannot store persistent cookies or has no persistent storage.
Another approach to maintaining state information is to store the information within a session identifier on the application server. As demand for bandwidth increases, server farms or server clusters have emerged as one way in which content can be provided to an ever increasing population of users. Server farms or clusters provide a mechanism through which an application can be replicated across each of the servers so that increased bandwidth can be achieved through server and application redundancy.
The storage of persistent state information within a particular server is problematic in cases where multiple servers are used to host the same application. In such cases, there is a high probability that a user, when revisiting an application during a subsequent portal session, returns to a different instance of the application executing on a different server than was accessed during the prior portal session. In this case, the state information is not accessible and is of no use.
The aforementioned problems relating to the maintenance of state information with respect to portals are further complicated when considering voice portals. A voice portal typically includes one or more voice servers, each including one or more voice browser instances. If a user is to be able to navigate the voice portal from one application to the next, state information for the applications must be maintained else previous states of the applications cannot be restored when the user revisits those applications, especially in mid-transaction.
Further complicating matters, voice browsers typically are distributed across computing networks, in contrast to conventional visual browsers, which are disposed in a personal computing device and are accessed by a single and same user. As such, conventional voice browsers are accessed by many users. Conventional voice portals which rely upon voice browser technology are designed to connect a user with an available voice browser which can be returned to a pool of available voice browsers after completion of the voice browser session, or to instantiate a new instance of a voice browser for each session. Thus, when the user accesses a conventional voice portal, the user is connected to a single instance of a voice browser. Accordingly, there is a high probability that a user will be connected to a different instance of the voice browser and/or different voice server for each call or voice portal and/or browser session. Because voice systems are designed in this manner, conventional voice browsers do not include persistent storage.

Portal data passing through non-persistent browser cookies

International Business Machines Corporation


A device for detecting chemical species in liquids having one or more sensor elements is described. Each sensor element includes a test electrode coated with a perfluorinated ion-exchange polymer film incorporating a redox mediator; an immobilized enzyme layer and, over this, a semipermeable membrane. The invention discloses the method whereby the test electrode is normally kept at a zero potential and then poised at a positive potential for a few milliseconds during which time the test signal is evaluated. The invention formulates a method for calibrating each measurement sample and reference solution wells. These are symetrically arranged with respect to the sensor element so that the center of the sample solution well and the center of the reference solution well are equidistant to the sensor element. Thus the diffusion of chemical species from the sample and reference solutions occurs equally and can be correlated. The invention additionally discloses a method for selectively detecting a number of species in a single sample drop through the provision of multi-sensor elements. The technique proposed in the invention is particularly suitable for the determination of glucose and cholesterol in biological fluids.

This invention relates to a method for the analysis of chemicals in liquids. This is accomplished by means of a dry chemistry test device made up of one or more selective amperometric sensor elements coated with specific chemical reagent layers and an electronic apparatus that provides a pulse measurement voltage to the sensors.
The analysis of chemical species in liquids can be carried out by wet chemistry or by dry chemistry systems. Wet chemistry analyses employ reagents in liquid solution and are widely used in both manual and automated analytical methods. In dry chemistry systems, a complete chemistry for a particular analysis is miniaturized into a single test probe or device. No prior reconstitution of reagents is required. The dry chemistry methods are often simpler in design, require less reagent manipulation, give quicker results and are more stable. These advantages coupled to the feasibility of using small instrumentation favours more decentralized clinical testing.
In a U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,335 issues to Clement on Aug. 16, 1977, a multilayered test device for the analysis of liquids is described. The device includes a reaction layer including a composition that is interactive in the presence of a predetermined analyte to provide a diffusable detectable species, and a registration layer that is permeable to the detectable species and within which the species can be detected by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The element can include other layers which provide for radiation blocking and for uniform spreading of the test sample.
Dry chemistry systems can be defined as disposable, single-use devices or multi-use devices, depending on whether the analytical reaction occurring in the reaction layer is reversible.
Dry chemistry tests based on enzyme-catalysed reactions have become widely used. By way of example are dry chemistry test devices for the measurement of glucose in blood developed by Boehringer Mannheim Corporation. The device is a flat strip that employs a reaction layer consisting of glucose oxidase-peroxidase enzymes coupled to a redox mediator dye. The reaction layer is supported in a inert film carrier matrix. The blood sample is analysed by placing about 50 ul of whole blood on the surface of the dry chemistry strip. The plasma containing the glucose is separated from the red blood cells by the carrier matrix. After about 1-3 minutes, the red blood cells are removed by washing or wiping and the colour developed is measured by reflectance spectroscopy. In a similar device developed by Ames Division, Miles Laboratories Inc., a separate film membrane is placed over the carrier matrix to separate the red blood cells.
Electrochemical dry chemistry enzyme test devices have been developed as an alternative to spectrophotometric devices. These include amperometric and potentiometric devices. Electrochemical systems have the advantage that they can be used as disposable, single-use devices as well as multiple -use devices in continuous-flow and automated systems.
Amperometric dry chemistry enzyme test devices include a sensing element comprising a measuring or working electrode and reference electrode. The electrodes are coated with an enzyme and optional mediator and, over this, a membrane to prevent interfering species from reacting at the measuring electrode. When an appropriate test potential is applied, the measuring electrode provides a faradaic current proportional to the concentration of the chemical species being determined.
As an example of prior art in this field, U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,455 issued to Clark in Nov. 1970 discloses an amperometric dry chemistry device based on glucose oxidase suitable for the determination of glucose.
The role of the redox mediator is to serve as an electron shuttle between the active center of the enzyme and the electrode. Various redox mediators have been used in enzyme electrodes. For example, an article published in Clinica Chimica Acta in 1974 describes a range of mediators which include ferricyanide, quinones and organic dyes. European patent application EP 0,136,362,A1 published on 04 Oct. 1985 describes an amperometric test device for monitoring blood-glucose levels comprising a measuring electrode and reference electrode coated with a porous support carrying glucose oxidase and a redox mediator, and over this, a membrane to prevent interfering molecules from reacting at the measuring electrode.
Higgins et. al. have described the use of ferrocenes as a mediator for glucose oxidase-based enzyme sensor for glucose in European patent application EP 0,127,958,A2 published on Dec. 12, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,382 dated Oct. 8, 1985; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,245 dated Dec. 8, 1987. Another mediator system employs organic metal coatings based on salts of tetracyanoqunidimethane as first described by Cenas and Kulys, Bioelectrochem Bionerg. 8(1981)103 Albery has filed an application based on this work in European patent application EP 0,184,909,A2. Albery et. al. have also shown that tetrathiafulvalene can act as a mediator for glucose oxidase in the determination of glucose ( W.J. Albery, P.N. Bartlett and D.H. Craston, J. Electroanalytical Chemistry, 194(1985)223).
Although spectrophotometric and amperometric dry chemistry test devices are gaining increasing usage, present systems suffer from a number of practical limitations.
First, in the case of disposable single-use dry chemistry test devices, it is not possible to calibrate every measurement. Presently the practice is only to calibrate every batch by means of a two point calibration using test devices representative of the batch. It is then assumed that the calibration holds for the remaining devices in the batch. The difficulty that arises is that there is no way of knowing if any of the remaining devices are defective for whatever reason.
A further consideration is that, because the measurement of chemical species in blood is sensitive to the blood matrix, it is necessary to use reference calibrators that mimic the average human blood matrix as close as possible. The need for calibration is even greater for amperometric devices where changes in the electrode response characteristics can occur for a number of reasons.
Further, single use test devices, especially for blood-glucose monitoring are often intended for home care applications where the user is generally not highly skilled or trained. Consequently, poor analytical results may be obtained where the user technique is incorrect or where the test devices have been badly handled or stored in adverse conditions.
Second, present disposable, single-use test devices normally can determine only one chemical species. Thus, if several different analyte in a particular sample have to be determined, multiple samples have to be obtained and a different sensor must be used used for each analyte. This is time consuming, requires extra manipulation and is expensive.
Third, in present systems because of the requirement that all devices in a batch must be identical, the manufacturing and quality control process must be quite stringent increasing the cost of production. Again this is more difficult to achieve for dry chemistry devices based on amperometric sensing.
Fourth, redox mediators that are commonly used in amperometric glucose-oxidase based sensors have increased solubility in the active, oxidised form. Thus, when the sensor is continuously poised at a positive operating potential in multiple-use applications, loss of mediator in the oxidised form occurs readily from the electrode surface. This leads to a loss of sensitivity and a limitation in the linear range with time.
Fifth, even though the use of a redox mediator enables the operating potential to be reduced by several hundred millivolts, significant interference from electroactive species such as ascorbic acid is still found. For some cases the mediator can actually enhance the signal due to the interfering species. This leads to erroneous results that can have serious clinical consequences.
Because of these problems, previous approaches to enhancing the performance of amperometric dry chemistry enzyme test devices have not been entirely successful.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a general amperometric dry chemistry enzyme test device for measuring chemical species such as glucose and cholesterol in liquids.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring glucose concentrations in liquids using the enzyme glucose oxidase.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring chemical species such as glucose and cholesterol in liquids by providing a means for calibrating the test device for each measurement.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for measuring chemical species such as glucose and cholesterol in liquids using a test device having multiple sensors to simultaneously measure more than one chemical species.
Still, a further object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring chemical species such as glucose and cholesterol in liquids using a selective sensor element comprising an electrode system coated with an perfluorinated cation exchange polymer film incorporating a redox mediator.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring chemical species such as glucose and cholesterol in liquids using a pulse detection mode to minimise loss of the mediator and enable reactivation of the sensor electrode.
Still other objects of the invention will in part be obvious, and will, in part, be apparent from the following description.

Amperometric sensor for single and multicomponent analysis


A system and method for determining the atomization characteristics of fluids being emitted by a nozzle is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid is emitted through a nozzle while simultaneously sensing vibrations occurring within the nozzle. The vibrations provide information about the atomization characteristics of the fluid. By comparing the sensed vibrations to vibration patterns produced by known fluids through the same or a similar nozzle, the atomization characteristics of the fluid being tested can be predicted. In one embodiment, for instance, the atomization characteristics of a fluid may be determined as a function of velocity or flow rate through the nozzle.

The performance of spraying systems, as measured by the droplet size spectra and distribution pattern of the spray is highly dependent on the fluid properties of the liquid being sprayed. The classic fluid properties such as density, equilibrium surface tension, dynamic surface tension, shear viscosity, extensional viscosity, void fraction of incorporated gasses, etc., all affect the behavior of the liquid as it passes through an atomizer, and subsequently, the characteristics of the resulting spray. When sprays are produced for coating, drying and other processes, the spray characteristics are critical factors in the performance of the process and using the spray and the resulting quality of the product.
To achieve desired spray characteristics, the proper nozzle or atomizer must be selected and the optimal operating conditions of the atomizer and fluid handling system must be determined for the fluid to be atomized. Selection of the nozzle and determination of the operating conditions can be an extensive, iterative, experimental process due to the complexity of the fluid-atomizer interaction. Especially for complex fluids that are heterogeneous, non-Newtonian or otherwise difficult to characterize, a priori predictions of sprayer performance can be difficult and inaccurate. Subsequent changes in the fluid composition, wear in the atomizer or other departures from the original test conditions can require repeat experiments.
Laboratory measurements of fluid properties can be tedious, expensive and time consuming. Additionally, the measurements are often made using standardized techniques that do not closely approximate the conditions in the actual spraying process. These conditions can include turbulence in the flow system, shear rates during flow and atomization, spatial and temporal gradient in temperature, reactions in the fluid, etc.
Likewise, the measurement of spray characteristics such as droplet size spectra, spatial distributions and patterns and droplet velocities requires specialized, expensive equipment and technical expertise in proper sampling in data interpretation. With limited feedback on atomizer performance, especially in processes where the sprays or products are not visible to system operators, generation of poor quality sprays with undesirable characteristics is often undetected until adverse consequences have occurred.
While these challenges are present for any spraying applications, a particular problem exists for agricultural spraying where the spray fluids can be mixtures of pesticides, fertilizers, surfactants, shear-inhibitors, buffers, adhesives and other supplemental agents known as spray adjuvants. These mixtures are highly variable and often created for specific fields to be treated; the physical properties of these mixtures are very complex and it is difficult to predict how the fluid mixtures will behave in a given spray system.
Spray drift, or the inadvertent movement of small spray droplets from the target site to a non-target area, is a significant issue presently facing agricultural applicators throughout the United States. The strongly related issues of spray quality, that is, coverage of the target and efficacy of the product against the target pests are also of great concern. Agricultural applicators desire to use the best drift management methods and equipment to provide the safest and most efficient applications of pest control materials to the targeted pest. They are responsible for making good decisions in the field on a daily basis. Spray droplets that drift off-site or are not correctly applied to the target crop or pest represent wasted time, resources and result in environmental pollution. This results in increased costs for the crop grower and, subsequently, to the consumer. In addition, materials such as herbicides and defoliants that drift off-site can result in a serious financial liability if surrounding crops are damaged.
The minimization of off-site movement of agricultural sprays is to the benefit of all concerned—applicators, farmers, regulators, the public and the environment. Applicators need additional methods and equipment to balance or optimize spray tank adjuvant performance and economics to achieve drift mitigation goals for a given application. In particular, a need currently exists for an apparatus and method for assisting applicators in determining the best possible application parameters to help meet product instructional label criteria and mitigate spray drift. It has long been understood that spray droplet size is the most important variable in spray coverage, performance and spray drift control or mitigation. For an agricultural spray dispensed from an aircraft, spray nozzle selection is the first factor considered when attempting to influence the spray droplet spectrum. Second are the operational factors that influence atomization. These include nozzle angle or deflection to the airstream, aircraft speed, and spray liquid pressure. Spray tank additives or adjuvants play an auxiliary role in spray droplet spectra. There are currently over 416 adjuvants marketed in California alone according to Crop Data Management Systems (Marysville, Calif.). Adjuvants are classified as surfactants, spreaders, stickers, deposition aids, activators, humectants, antifoamers, wetting agent, and drift reduction agents. These agents are added to the spray tank mix that may include a number of active ingredients in the pesticide formulations. Adjuvants can aid in the product making better contact with the pest by spreading it over the leaf surface or the body of the insect pest. Adjuvants can also reduce the likelihood of the product dripping off the leaf onto the ground. Similarly, excessive or incorrect adjuvant use can cause the product to drip or run off the leaf. Adjuvants also can be very useful in helping the product "stick" to the leaf or crop, preventing runoff during rain or irrigation. Finally, adjuvants are often marketed as drift reduction agents. The addition of an appropriate adjuvant can tend to increase droplet size, which generally reduces driftable fines. Unfortunately for applicators, sometimes recommended mixtures are found to be "poor combinations", even if applied under "ideal climatic conditions", when damage to crops, crop losses and drift problems are experienced.
Droplet size is determined by the physical properties of the components of the droplet fluid—in this case, the tank mix, usually composed of water, pesticide active ingredient formulations and adjuvant(s). The key properties of the tank mix that have a significant effect on droplet size and the resulting atomization profile are: dynamic and equilibrium surface tension, extensional viscosity, and shear viscosity. Each time the applicator adds something to the tank mix, the physical properties of that tank mix change and that changes the atomization profile. Because of the continued development and advancements in adjuvants, a need also exists for a system and method for assisting applicators in making sound decisions about the addition of these products and the subsequent impact their addition will have on the actual application, both for spray quality and for drift potential.
What is needed by all applicators, not just aerial but also for field crop boom applicators and orchard and vineyard air carrier applicators, is a field method to estimate the atomization characteristics of particular spray mixes that they are about to apply, especially if the mix is used only occasionally. By knowing the atomization characteristics of the mix, one can then choose the proper nozzle and spray conditions to avoid drift and optimize deposit and efficacy. One may even, upon getting the information, decide to delay an application until better environmental conditions exist.
In a broader sense beyond pesticide spraying, optimizing any spraying system requires that the atomizing properties of the fluid be known. The complexity of fluid properties and the complexity of the fluid-nozzle interaction make the prediction of the atomizing properties from laboratory measurements of individually-measured fluid properties (e.g., dynamic and equilibrium surface tension, shear viscosity, extensional viscosity, density, etc.) difficult and inaccurate. The difficulty of selecting and conducting the most appropriate laboratory tests of the fluid properties, combined with the uncertainty of prediction models of droplet size spectra from the resulting measurements, lead to the need for a more direct and simple method for the end user to determine atomization characteristics of a fluid before undertaking a spray operation.

System and method for determining atomization characteristics of spray liquids


A robot system includes a plurality of robots, a control device, a common work table, and a calibration device. The control device is configured to control the plurality of robots. On the common work table, the plurality of robots are configured to work. Based on a position of a first robot having a calibrated coordinate relative to a position of a second robot among the plurality of robots, the calibration device is configured to calibrate a coordinate of the second robot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a robot system, a calibration method, and a method for producing a to-be-processed material.
2. Discussion of the Background
Japanese Patent No. 3632278 discloses a robot system in which two adjacent robots cooperate to work in an attempt to improve production efficiency. The robot system according to Japanese Patent No. 3632278 calculates a coordinate transformation matrix between the plurality of robots using a reference point.

Robot system, calibration method, and method for producing to-be-processed material