A machine which contains a housing (14) having a placement surface for the beverage container (13), wherein a removable brewing container (8) having a drain stub (19) and having a drain valve (10) that can be electrically or electromagnetically opened and closed is arranged in the housing (14). The actual brewing process is automatically controlled by a control unit (11). The water is pumped by a vibrating armature pump (16) through a heating system (15) and through a water outlet in the cover (4) having an integrated temperature sensor (24) through the cover (5) into the brewing container (8). A pressure sensor (12) ensures that the water is not heated above the pressure-dependent current boiling point. The control unit (11) can be programmed by means of a control panel (7) on the housing, for at least the brewing temperature, the brewing duration, and the start of a brewing cycle. Furthermore, a radio interface and an associated antenna (9) are present, for the communication of the control unit (11) with a smartphone by means of an established communication standard such as WIFI or Bluetooth, or with a computer or laptop via the internet, such that the machine can be remotely operated.

In general, a tea bag or tea powder placed in a sieve container is immersed in hot water or hot water is poured over the tea bag or tea powder for the preparation of a cup of tea and after a certain brewing time the tea as a beverage is ready for serving and drinking. During this preparation an unnecessary amount of electrical energy is consumed, as often more water than the required amount for a cup of tea is heated and the preparation of tea is often associated with sophisticated handling operation: firstly, water has to be poured into a container in which it is heated, thereafter the heated water has to be added to the tea which is contained in a tea bag, which is contained in a cooking vessel and subsequently, after the tea preparation is completed, the tea bag has to be removed from the cooking vessel. Only then, the tea can be consumed as a beverage.
Machines for brewing tea also exist. These heat the water until the boiling point in a container and the generated vapor passes into a steeping vessel, in which the tea is contained in a permeable capsule. This mode of tea preparation differs from the classical mode of preparation because the brewing time of the tea is limited and the tea is discharged directly into a beverage container.
This automatic preparation often doesn't correspond to the "classical mode of tea preparation" as the tea is left only a limited amount of time for brewing or steeping. Thereby a loss of taste results. Too much electrical energy is consumed unnecessarily due to the fact that all machines which contain a heater or are disposed to heat a predetermined amount of water in the shortest possible time contain a heating element which is continuously maintained at an elevated temperature to minimize the temperature difference between the initial temperature and the required final temperature of the water. The permanent tempering of the heating element results in the consumption of an unnecessarily high standby current. The known tea brewing devices are configured such that the user has to be physically present to operate the device directly.


A method and apparatus are provided for providing network access to a connecting apparatus. A method may include determining, at a terminal apparatus, a selection of a network access credential for a network from a plurality of available network access credentials installed on the terminal apparatus. The method may further include responsive to the selection, activating the selected network access credential. The method may additionally include using the activated network access credential to cause a connecting apparatus to be provided with access to the network via a local connection between the terminal apparatus and the connecting apparatus. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Wireless and mobile networking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, while providing more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer. Concurrent with the expansion of networking technologies, an expansion in computing power has resulted in development of affordable computing devices capable of taking advantage of services made possible by modern networking technologies. This expansion in computing power has led to a reduction in the size of computing devices and given rise to a new generation of mobile devices that are capable of performing functionality that only a few years ago required processing power that could be provided only by the most advanced desktop computers. Consequently, mobile computing devices having a small form factor have become ubiquitous and are used to access network applications and services by consumers of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Generally, an operator of a network requires a mobile computing device to be provisioned with network access credentials, such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) as a condition for granting access or usage privileges for the network to the mobile computing device. In this regard, a network operator generally charges an access or other usage fee to a user of a mobile computing device on the basis of the network access credentials implemented on the user's mobile computing device.

Method and apparatus for providing network access to a connecting apparatus


Aluminum-magnesium alloys useful as welding wire and mechanical support are disclosed. The aluminum-magnesium alloys exhibit improved cold wire drawing performance. Grain refiners and methods of forming the aluminum-magnesium alloys are further disclosed.

Certain metal alloys are useful for welding and mechanical support due to the properties exhibited by such alloys. For example, metal alloys suitable for welding can exhibit high strength, wetting, and ductility. Generally, welding alloys have the same base metal as the material to be welded but can have different formulations to enhance use as a welding alloy. To facilitate use of welding and other mechanical support metal alloys, it is common to use cold metal processing techniques such as cold metal wire drawing. However, known aluminum alloys for welding and mechanical support suffer from poor cold metal processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,771 describes an aluminum alloy conductor wire having an electrical conductivity of at least 60.0% IACS which involves processing an alloy containing from 0.04 to 1.0% by weight iron, from 0.02 to 0.2% by weight silicon, from 0.1 to 1.0% by weight copper, from 0.001 to 0.2% by weight boron, balance essentially aluminum and processing said alloy without a final redraw step into wire.
U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2008/0193792 describes an aluminum-based welding filler wire which is made with an aluminum alloy that contains between 0.1 and 6 wt. % titanium, including one portion in the form of TiB2 particles, TiC particles, or a combination thereof, and another portion in the form of free titanium.
U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2015/0030496 describes a non-heat-treatable, wrought aluminum alloy useful for vehicle parts including wire and wire assemblies. The aluminum alloy used to manufacture the parts is formed predominantly from aluminum (Al) metal, which is alloyed primarily with magnesium (Mg), and which also includes silicon (Si), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), titanium (Ti), beryllium (Be) and other elements.
U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2015/0132181 describes a composition for producing aluminum casting, wrought, and welding filler metal alloys having a chemistry comprising Si varying from approximately 0.1 and 0.9 wt %, Mn varying from approximately 0.05 to 1.2 wt %, Mg varying from approximately 2.0 to 7.0 wt %, Cr varying from approximately 0.05 to 0.30 wt %, Zr varying from approximately 0.05 to 0.30 wt %, Ti varying from approximately 0.003 to 0.20 wt %, and B varying from approximately 0.0010 to 0.030 wt %, and a remainder of aluminum and various trace elements.

Welding wires formed from improved aluminum-magnesium alloys


Composites of ceramic and metal exhibiting high fracture strength and toughness are formed from layers of the ceramic that have unequal concentrations and unequal porosity. The composites are made by a process that involves arranging layers of the ceramic in a predetermined pattern to provide a body that can be fully infiltrated by the metal.

Ceramics, such as boron carbide, are a hard materials which are also lightweight, extremely stiff and more economical to use than diamonds and cubic boron nitrite, the only other materials known to be harder than boron carbide. Because of low weight and hardness, ceramics are particularly attractive for use as protective armor. However, due to their brittleness, ceramics are relatively easily fractured when stressed. To alleviate this problem, metals such as aluminum have been combined with ceramics to provide ceramic/metal composites that are generally stronger than steel by weight, somewhat less dense than the metal, and several times more resistant to fracture than the ceramic. Other proposed uses for such ceramic/metal composites include low inertia, dimensionally stable, and low vibration rotating components for computer hard disk drives; long-life bearings and races; premium performance sporting goods; high-efficiency, electron emission devices; cutting tools for hard to machine silicon aluminum alloys; and nuclear shielding.
Methods of making such ceramic/metal composite, also known as "cermets," are known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,440 and 4,702,770 disclose boron carbide and aluminum composites with tailorable microstructures. These patents describe forming the composites by infiltrating a monolith of boron carbide with aluminum.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,941 describes boron carbide-, boron-, boride-, and reactive metal composites that are made by infiltrating aluminum into a boron carbide sponge having gradient microstructures. The gradient boron carbide microstructures are described as being provided by controlled colloidal consolidation of boron carbide starting constituents or other techniques such as cold pressing, warm pressing, plasma jet coating, combustion synthesis, hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing, etc.
Despite the existence of these composites, there is still a need for ceramic/metal composites having improved fracture strength and toughness, and for fabrication methods which produce composites having such improved physical characteristics.

Method of making ceramic/metal composites with layers of high and low metal content


A bait hook for constructing a stinger rig includes a hook proximal end including a primary leader engaging first ring eye; a hook shank including a shank connecting segment extending distally from the first ring eye and a shank hook segment arching laterally from the shank connecting segment, and a hook distal end; and a second ring eye extending from the hook shank for engaging a trailer leader for connecting the bait hook to a trailer bait hook.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of fishing equipment. More specifically the present invention relates to a bait hook having a hook proximal end including a first ring eye for engaging a primary leader, a hook shank including a shank connecting segment extending distally from the first ring eye and a shank hook segment arching laterally from the shank connecting segment and including a barb, the bait hook terminating in a hook distal end, and a second ring eye extending from the hook shank and spaced distally from the first ring eye for engaging a trailer leader connecting the present bait hook to a trailer bait hook. The opening of the second ring eye preferably is aligned with the shank connecting segment longitudinal axis so that tensile force is transmitted axially through the shank connecting segment to the trailer leader to keep the hook balanced. The hook shank optionally includes a plurality of shank hook segments extending radially from a common shank connecting segment or from corresponding multiple shank connecting segments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have long been bait hooks and leaders interconnected to form what have been referred to as stinger rigs including a primary leader interconnecting a fishing line and a primary bait hook and a trailer leader interconnecting the primary leader and a trailer bait hook which trails the primary bait hook. The primary bait hook is intended to engage the mouth of the fish while the trailer hook engages the middle body of the fish. A problem with these stinger rigs has been that the trailer leader sometimes swings across the open arch of the primary bait hook and obstructs engagement of a fish. Another problem has been that the trailer leader can bind, break or twist on the fish being caught.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a primary bait hook which includes means for engaging a trailer leader so that the trailer leader does not have to be connected to a primary leader, and which also can be used in series in a single stinger rig to additionally function as a first or as subsequent trailer bait hooks trailing a second or subsequent trailer bait hooks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a bait hook in which the means for engaging a secondary leader is located at or near the distal end of the hook so that the trailer leader does not cross the shank segment and does not bind, break or twist on a fish being caught.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a bait hook which can include only one, or which can include multiple shank hook segments.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a bait hook which has substantially the same manufacturing cost as a conventional bait hook and is sturdy and reliable.

Stinger rig with second ring eye bait hook


A door locking device for a door cooperating with a door frame includes a cylinder lock, at least one elongated bolt, and an emergency unlocking mechanism. The elongated bolt is adapted to move linearly to engage to and disengage from the door frame. A transmission including an operating wheel translates circular motion of a rotor of the cylinder lock to a linear motion of the elongated bolt. The emergency unlocking mechanism includes a gear arm connected to a handle and adapted to turn the operating wheel when the handle is turned, disengaging the elongated bolt from the door frame.

In general, a door is held shut by means of a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is spring-loaded so that it automatically catches on to a recess in the door jamb when the door is closed. The latch mechanism is released by means of a handle or knob. When the handle is turned, the latch retracts from the recess in the door jamb and allows the door to be opened.
When closed, the door may be described as separating an inner enclosed area from an outer area. When closed, the door is be partially or fully surrounded by straight or curved structural elements making up the various sections of a door frame. The inner side of the door faces the inside area when the door is closed, while the outer side faces the outer area when the door is closed. Perpendicular to both the inner and outer sides of the door are edge surfaces. One edge surface abuts a door jamb when the door is closed. Other edge surfaces of the door may abut other section of a door frame. In general, door handles are provided on both sides of the door so that the door may be opened from either side. The handle on the inner side of the door may be provided with a handle locking mechanism that locks the latch inside the recess in the door jamb. In this case when the handle locking mechanism is locked, the handle on the outer side of the door cannot be used to open the door. However, simply turning the inside handle overrides the locking mechanism and permits quick exit in case of an emergency.
Where additional security against intruders is required, a door will often be provided with a bolt mechanism. In the case of a relatively simple bolt mechanism, the bolts are inserted into recesses in the door jamb or into structures attached to the door jamb. In the case of a higher security bolt mechanism, additional bolts may be inserted into structures in other parts of the doorframe. Generally, a bolt mechanism does not engage automatically upon closing the door. Rather, in order to engage the bolts, a key is inserted into a keyway and turned, or a knob or handle that is separate from the door handle is turned. In order to disengage the bolts, the key or handle is turned in the opposite direction.
An example of such a bolt mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,595 (Bahry et al.). Bahry et al. describe a preferred embodiment in which a key-operated cylinder lock turns a wheel that extends four bolts by means of curved links. The bolts extend from various edge surfaces of a door.
In an emergency situation, such as a fire inside a building, it is often necessary to exit quickly. Any delay in opening and exiting through the door could result in serious injury or loss of life. Although a latch mechanism is released simply by turning the door handle, disengaging the bolt mechanism is more time consuming and requires closer attention. Should the bolt release mechanism require a key and the key has been removed form the keyway, time may be wasted in locating the key and inserting it into the keyway. Even if the key is already in the keyway, or a handle is provided for opening the bolt, a panicked individual may waste time in finding the correct direction in which to turn the key or handle. In addition, finding the key or handle on the door may be difficult should the room be dark or filled with smoke.
In WO 2006/003661 (Segev et al.) an intelligent lock was described comprising a mechanical element operative to provide two lock position upon a proper actuation, and an electromechanical (EM) trigger separate from and coupled to the mechanical element and operative to control the actuation. When included in an intelligent locking system, the lock is remotely controllable through a monitoring and control unit, operative to relay commands to the EM trigger.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock with a bolt mechanism that may be easily and quickly disengaged in the event of an emergency.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock with a bolt mechanism and a safety trigger with an emergency override mechanism.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the present specification and reviewing the accompanying drawings.


A cushion includes a three-dimensional net, a plurality of metallic fastening members attached to the three-dimensional net on opposite sides thereof, and two resinous frames attached to the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, respectively. The metallic fastening members are sandwiched between the resinous frames and the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, and the resinous frames together with the metallic fastening members are joined to the three-dimensional net by vibration welding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air-permeable cushion having a three-dimensional net and suited for use in seats, beds or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional seats or beds generally include a pad material placed on a frame and covered with a skin, and some of them also include spring members for enhancing the cushioning characteristics. Such seats or beds still involve room for improvement in air permeability or in heat-radiating properties, and they are mostly thick, heavy and costly.
Recently, a relatively light net-shaped cushion structure having a superior air permeability has been proposed.
Such a net-shaped cushion structure can be used for a cushioning member such, for example, as a floor cushion only by treating side edges thereof. It can be also used for a seat cushion by fitting anchoring members thereto after the side edge treatment and by engaging the anchoring members with a frame of a seat.
However, where the net-shaped cushion structure is used for the seat cushion, relatively large molded articles made by an injection method are generally used for the anchoring members. Accordingly, a relatively large molding machine is needed, resulting in an increase in initial cost.
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantages.
It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide an inexpensive cushion having a three-dimensional net that has a superior durability and can be readily and positively mounted to a seat frame or the like.
In accomplishing the above and other objectives, the cushion according to the present invention includes a three-dimensional net, a plurality of metallic fastening members attached to the three-dimensional net on opposite sides thereof, and two resinous frames attached to the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, respectively. The plurality of metallic fastening members are sandwiched between the two resinous frames and the opposite sides of the three-dimensional net, and the two resinous frames together with the plurality of metallic fastening members are joined to the three-dimensional net by vibration welding.
This construction enables the three-dimensional net to be positively secured to, for example, a seat frame with the use of the fastening members, resulting in an increase in durability. Both the fastening members and the resinous frames are relatively inexpensive, and the fastening members can be readily attached to the seat frame. Furthermore, the metallic fastening members, which cannot be solely welded to the three-dimensional net, can be secured to the side portions of the three-dimensional net by making use of the resinous frames, making it possible to provide an inexpensive cushion.
Advantageously, each of the plurality of metallic fastening members has a recess formed at a welded portion on each side thereof. This recess acts to increase the joining strength obtained by the vibration welding, resulting in an increase in durability.
Again advantageously, each of the plurality of metallic fastening members has a plurality of projections formed therewith along the recess, and at least one of them is bent at right angles so as to bite into the resinous frame, thereby facilitating the positioning of the fastening members and increasing the joining strength.
Conveniently, the cushion further includes at least one belt attached to the three-dimensional net. Not only the weight of a cushion occupant but a load inputted to the cushion from outside can be supported by both the three-dimensional net and the belt, thus further increasing the durability.


In an image coding device and method for coding an image signal employing sub-band transforms, an inputted image signal is hierarchically divided into a plurality of frequency bands using sub-band transforms and a plurality of frequency band signals are generated, with each frequency band signal comprising sub-band transform coefficients. The sub-band transform coefficients of each frequency band signal are then coded using zero tree coding and run length coding in a more efficient manner than with related devices and methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image signal coding method and device thereof, an image signal decoding method and device thereof, and a recording medium being recorded with a recording signal capable of being decoded by an image decoding device, and more particularly relates to an image signal coding method and device thereof, an image signal decoding method and device thereof, and a recording medium capable of being widely applied to the recording of digitized moving image sequences or digitized still images onto a recording medium such as, for example, video tape, video disc or semiconductor memory etc. or capable of being widely applied to television broadcasts, television conferencing systems or communication networks.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a great deal of progress has been made in research into efficient transmission and recording of digital audio, digital images and video sequences. This technology can be applied to, for example, digital video recording, videophones, interactive television and interactive games, etc. However, data compression is necessary in order to reduce the amount of data transmitted because a large amount of data is included in the image signal. Of this kind of technological research, the widely known Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) technology has become standard in cooperation with the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechincal Commission (IEC). Here, an MPEG method exists that is a hybrid method that is a combination of motion compensation estimation coding and discrete cosine transforms (DCT).
Further, other coding methods such as sub-band transform coding and wavelet transform coding etc. are generally well known. These transform coding methods are generally used to compress images because image energy compression is good, as is texture region performance.
That relating to sub-band transforms is described in, for example, the reference, "J. Wood, Sub-band image coding, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston Mass. 1991".
Further, that relating to wavelet transforms is described in, for example, the reference, "I. Daubechies, Orthonormal bases of compactly supported wavelets, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. vol. 41. pp. 961 to 966, 1988".
In particular, with wavelet transforms it is possible to focus most of the energy of the image into a small portion of the sample while maintaining all of the energy. The uneven distribution of the energy of the transformed image is then utilized in the compression algorithm. The basic way of considering these sub-band wavelet transforms is that, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the signal band is divided into a plurality of sub-bands and a large portion of the total energy of the image is concentrated into one frequency band (lower most frequency component band). For example, FIGS. 3A and 3B show a transform coefficient obtained from a three-layer sub-band/wavelet transform for a typical image. Layer #0 (lower most layer), layer #1, and layer #2 (upper most layer) correspond to frequency groups and as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the coefficients of each group are gathered together in accordance with their spatial position. These sub-band/wavelet transform coefficients that are gathered together are first quantized. The quantized coefficients are then compressed using coding methods of a high compression efficiency such as Hoffman Coding, Variable Length Coding (VLC) or Arithmetic Coding, as are described in the following reference paper.
For example, that related to Huffman Coding such as that in, for example, "D. Huffman, A method for construction of minimum redundancy codes. Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, pp. 1098 to 1101, September 1952".
Further, that related to Arithmetic Coding technology such as that in, for example, "G. Langdon and J. Rissanen. A simple general binary source code, IEEET, Transactions on Information Theory, vol. IT-28(5), pp. 800 to 803, September 1982".
It is extremely important to gather together quantization coefficients in order to compress efficiently with little loss. A technology for an efficient data structure for gathering together quantization coefficients in order to code with little loss is one where coefficients are gathered together in different layers using a tree structure, with this tree structure being referred to here as a coefficient tree structure.
The relating to tree structures is described in, for example, the reference, "J. Shapiro. Embedded image coding using zero trees of wavelet coefficients. IEER transactions on Signal Processing. vol. 41. no. 12, pp. 3445 to 4361, December 1993", and
"A. Lewis and G. Knowles. Image compression using the 2-D wavelet transform, IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. vol. 1, no. 2. pp. 244 to 250, April 1992".
With a sub-band coded hierarchical structure, coefficients belonging to the uppermost layer are removed and each coefficient of a certain layer has a relationship with the coefficient existing one layer down in the same direction and spatial position. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a coefficient tree data structure comprising different layers of coefficients. In the method of J. Shapiro, the same wavebands of different wavelet transforms i.e. all of the coefficients at spatially the same positions within different layers that are the sub-trees present in the un-valued coefficients are referred to as zero sub-trees. The expressing and coding of coefficient trees (i.e. zero trees) where all of the coefficients are un-valued coefficients can be achieved with only one symbol. In other words, a zero tree can be sufficiently coded with few bits. However, when valued coefficients are distributed between different layers of coefficient trees, zero tree coding is not efficient. Zero tree coding is therefore not effective when coding valued coefficients. In this case, all of the symbols including zero have to be coded in zero tree coding.
Further, with zero tree coding, only one sub-tree can be coded at a time even in cases where all of the coefficients of neighboring coefficient trees have a high correlation.
On the other hand, a run length coding method can also be considered as a further method for coding coefficient trees. The is a typical effective method for coding consecutive symbol strings that are the same. However, it is no longer necessary to code these symbols one at a time as un-valued coefficients of quantized sub-band/wavelet transform coefficients are considered to be the same consecutive symbol. Therefore, in low bit rate coding where the likelihood of a quantization coefficient being an un-valued coefficient is very high in particular it is possible to have efficient coding. Further, when there is a high degree of correlation between neighboring trees, a plurality of trees can be encoded at one time by scanning across the trees. However, when run length coding is carried out so as to include the lowermost frequency band, the number of kinds of run length increases and the overhead due to the run length coding can increase even after changing.
As it is the object of the present invention to resolve the situation encountered in the aforementioned related image signal coding method and device thereof, it is the object of the present invention to provide an image signal coding method and device thereof, an image signal decoding method and device thereof, and a recording medium capable of coding, for example, wavelet transform coefficients occurring in sub-band coding in a more efficient manner than related methods and devices.

Image signal coding method and device thereof, image signal decoding method and device thereof, and recording medium


In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable multifunction device with a rectangular touch screen display that includes a portrait view and a landscape view. The method includes detecting the device in a first orientation, and while the device is in the first orientation, displaying an application in a first mode on the touch screen display in a first view. The method also includes detecting the device in a second orientation, and in response to detecting the device in the second orientation, displaying the application in a second mode on the touch screen display in a second view. The first mode of the application differs from the second mode of the application by more than a change in display orientation.

As portable electronic devices become more compact, and the number of functions performed by a given device increase, it has become a significant challenge to design a user interface that allows users to easily interact with a multifunction device. This challenge is particular significant for handheld portable devices, which have much smaller screens than desktop or laptop computers. This situation is unfortunate because the user interface is the gateway through which users receive not only content but also responses to user actions or behaviors, including user attempts to access a device's features, tools, and functions. Some portable communication devices (e.g., mobile telephones, sometimes called mobile phones, cell phones, cellular telephones, and the like) have resorted to adding more pushbuttons, increasing the density of push buttons, overloading the functions of pushbuttons, or using complex menu systems to allow a user to access, store and manipulate data. These conventional user interfaces often result in complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must be memorized by the user.
Many conventional user interfaces, such as those that include physical pushbuttons, are also inflexible. This is unfortunate because it may prevent a user interface from being configured and/or adapted by either an application running on the portable device or by users. When coupled with the time consuming requirement to memorize multiple key sequences and menu hierarchies, and the difficulty in activating a desired pushbutton, such inflexibility is frustrating to most users.
Some portable electronic devices include one or more accelerometers, which are used to determine the display orientation of the information on the screen. In these devices, information is presented on the display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. In other words, to change the orientation of the information displayed on the screen, a user may change the orientation of the device. This type of display change does not change the information being displayed or the functions that can be performed, i.e., this type of display change does not change the mode of the application. Rather, this type of display change merely changes the orientation of the information being displayed.
If a user is using a certain application on a portable electronic device and wants to transition to another mode within that application, the user typically must go through a series of steps and navigate through one or more display screens before reaching the desired mode. Such navigation may be cumbersome for the user because it is time consuming and the user may forget the proper navigation steps.
Accordingly, there is a need for portable multifunction devices with more transparent and intuitive user interfaces for transitioning from one mode to another within a particular application. Such interfaces increase the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction with portable multifunction devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modal change based on orientation of a portable multifunction device


A method and system for determining the color characteristic of a tooth, particularly in a mouth in which restorative dentistry is contemplated, employs the photographic imaging of the tooth of the patient, and the photographing of visually selected color standards, to achieve the final selection of the closest color match. The resulting photographic images, which may be on a single photograph, are subjected to calorimetric or spectrophotometric analysis to achieve the final selection of the closest match. The system avoids the need to rely upon the visual color acuity of the practitioner in order to achieve a close color match for a prosthetic device. Additionally, the method and system of the invention avoid the problems associated with color shifts associated with photography, when such is used alone as the indicator of tooth color.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to dentistry, and more particularly, to a system of matching dental color for facilitating and improving restorative dental procedures.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art provides essentially three methods for determining the colors of teeth in dentistry. These include, visual matching against shade guide color standards, colorimetry, and photography. Visual matching systems that employ shade guide color standards constitute the predominant color matching system. With this known system, a practitioner visually matches the color of the patient's tooth that will be restored against a series of color standards. It is a significant problem with this known method that its success depends upon the color vision of the practitioner. In the practice of the known method, the practitioner first selects, by visual inspection, standard colors that exhibit, to his or her eye, a general match to the subject's tooth. Then, a final match is performed that requires excellent color matching ability on the part of the practitioner.
As intimated, this known method is flawed, as the quality of the resulting restoration is largely related to the skill of the particular practitioner, and his or her ability to detect small color differences in the final matching from among the closest color standards. In a study by Kuehi & Marcus (Color Res. Appl 4: 83-91, 1979), large differences in the ability to discriminate color was shown among plural subjects, such ability ranging from 0.5 to 6 CIE .DELTA.E units. These measurements are determined using the known CIE L*a*b* system described, for example, in Bilmeyer, F. W., Principles of Color Technology, 2nd ed., John Wiley, 1981.
The prior art has sought to overcome some of the problems associated with visual color matching systems by applying colorimetry technology to the measurement of tooth colors in the clinic. However, this effort has not achieved success. A colorimeter was marketed in the 1970's (Chromoscan from Stemdent, N.Y.), but the unit failed to achieve adequate color discrimination (O'Brien & Nelsen, J. Prosthet. Dent. 49: 63-66, 1989). A more recent effort to overcome the stated problems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,794 ("O'Brien"), and employs a spectrophotometer. However, the prototype results were disappointing.
There are two major technical obstacles to successful clinical implementation of calorimeters to the measurement of tooth colors. First, the measurement of the color of translucent objects, specifically including teeth, suffers from inaccuracies that result from so-called "edge effects." As light from the calorimeter enters the tooth for measurement, it is scattered sideways away from the edges of the light beam. This results in significant diminution in the magnitude of light signal that is returned to the sensor. The second problem relates to the application of the calorimeter probe to the surface of the teeth, since teeth are irregular in shape. Colorimeters are designed to achieve accuracy of color measurement on flat, opaque objects.
Finally, photography has been used to show the color of teeth in lectures and textbooks, but it is known to be extremely inaccurate in reproducing color. During the several stages of the photographic process, uncorrectable color shifts take place which render accurate and reliable color reproduction not to be feasible. Nevertheless, practitioners regularly send photographs of patients' teeth to dental laboratories to show the approximate color.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a system for accurately determining the color of the teeth of a dental patient, without complete color discrimination reliance on the practitioner.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method producing a reliable record of color difference between the teeth of a dental patient and a color standard.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a method of selecting from a plurality of color standards, a color standard corresponding to the closest color match to the tooth of a dental patient;
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of selecting from a plurality of color standards, each having a respectively associated color parameter, a one of the color standards corresponding to the closest color parameter match to the tooth of a dental patient;
It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a method of selecting from a plurality of color standards, each having a respectively associated color characteristic, a one of the color standards corresponding to the closest color parameter match to the corresponding color characteristic of a test subject.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a system for determining the color composition of a tooth whereby a restoration material can be formulated in response thereto.
It is also another object of this invention to provide a method of estimating the color parameters of a tooth of a dental patient.


The invention represents a differential pneumopercussive self-propelled reversible soil penetrating machine (100) having essentially higher efficiency, reliability, durability, and controllability compared to conventional machines. All of these achievements are associated in part with the development of an innovative differential air-distributing mechanism (106) which inherently allows for relatively long strokes of the striker (104) resulting in relatively high impact energy of the striker. The operation of this mechanism is based on the difference between the pressures in the two separate nominal (high) and reduced (low) pressure air lines which deliver compressed air to the machine. In order to switch over the machine (100) from the forward to the reverse mode operation or vice versa it is just necessary to adjust properly the pressure in the reduced (low) pressure air line by a conventional air pressure regulator associated with the source of compressed air. Since the differential air-distributing mechanism does not need a mode control device and a separate exhaust channel for the reverse mode operation, the machine (100) is considerably simplified. The invention also provides a directional sensor (165) informing the operator about the deviation of the machine (100) from the desired trajectory and a rear anvil assembly (105) which is rigidly connected with the housing (101) and eliminates impact loading from the body parts of the differential air-distributing mechanism and the tail nut (152). This makes it possible to manufacture these body parts of soft and plastic materials.

Pneumopercussive cyclic action reversible self-propelled soil penetrating machines are known. In general, these machines comprise a hollow cylindrical body, having a pointed front part, a striker reciprocating inside the body, and an air distributing mechanism. A machine operation cycle includes a forward and backward stroke of the striker. In the forward mode of operation, the striker at the end of its forward stroke imparts an impact to the front end of the body resulting in an incremental body soil penetrating. During the backward stroke, the striker is braked by an air buffer in order to prevent or minimize an impact to the internal rear end of the body. In the reverse mode operation the striker is braked during its forward stroke to eliminate an impact. However, it accelerates during the backward stroke and imparts an impact to the internal rear end of the body so that the body moves backward a certain increment of displacement.
A pneumatic reversible machine of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,874 issued to Sudnishnikov et al. in March, 1972. The machine operation is based on a valveless air distributing mechanism causing relatively short strokes of the striker. The machine has inherent disadvantages which are discussed in numerous subsequent patents. The most significant disadvantages consist of insufficient impact energy resulting in high energy consumption at low productivity of the machine, non-reliable reverse mechanism, and low durability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,023 issued to Nazarov et al. in January, 1973, and also U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,200 issued to Schmidt in February, 1975, relate to the impact energy problem. However, the solutions offered in these patents appear unsuccessful. Therefore, the impact energy problem associated with high energy consumption and low productivity remains unsolved.
U.S. Pat Nos. 3,727,701 (April 1973); 3,744,576 (July 1973); 3,756,328 (September 1973); 4,078,619 (March 1978); 4,214,638 (July 1980); issued to Sudnishnikov et al. illustrate the problems of the reverse mechanism suggesting some improvements. A series of U.S. Patents also dealing with the reverse mechanism has been issued to different authors during the past 15 years. However, the basic problems of the reverse mechanism associated with the control and extremely low impact energy of this mechanism remain unsolved. A detailed analysis of these patents is presented in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,706 issued to Spektor (the author of the present invention) in July, 1991. This patent also illustrates numerous additional disadvantages of the existing machines which are based on the U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,328.
Analysis of energy consumption and productivity of the working process of the existing machines (based on the research investigations, published by the present inventor), shows that the mentioned working process is characterized by relatively high energy consumption at relatively low productivity (average velocity). The theory of minimization of energy consumption of soil working cyclic processes, developed and published by the present inventor, indicates that the process of vibratory soil penetration can be optimized with respect to minimum energy consumption. (See: Minimization of Energy Consumption of Soil Deformation, Journal of Terramechanics, 1980, Volume 17, No. 2, pages 63 to 77; Principles of Soil-Tool Interaction, Journal of Terramechanics, 1981, Volume 18, No. 1, pages 51 to 65; Motion of Soil-Working Tool Under Impact Loading, Journal of Terramechanics, 1981, Volume 18, No. 3, pages 133 to 136; Working Processes of Cyclic-Action Machinery for Soil Deformation-Part I, Journal of Terramechanics, 1983, Volume 20, No. 1, pages 13 to 41; Minimum Energy Consumption of Soil Working Cyclic Processes, Journal of Terramechanics, 1987, Volume 24, No. 1, pages 95 to 107). Applying the mentioned theory to the existing machines in order to optimize the parameters shows that the impact energy of the striker should be significantly increased. This could be achieved by an appropriate increase of the stroke of the striker (without increasing the nominal pressure of the compressor). However, the valveless air-distributing mechanism of the existing hole making machines makes it almost impossible to increase the stroke of the striker to a considerable extent. A detailed discussion of this problem is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,706 offering a reversible soil penetrating machine provided by an air-distributing mechanism that should allow for a relatively long stroke of the striker. The housing of the mentioned machine has three longitudinal slots machined on its external lateral surface. These slots are hermetically covered and are used as air passages. According to an alternative embodiment, the housing consists of an outer and inner tube. The inner tube, having tree longitudinal slots on its external surface, is pressed into the outer tube creating three separate longitudinal channels. One of these channels alternatively delivers compressed air to the backward stroke chamber during the backward stroke of the striker or connects the backward stroke chamber with the atmosphere during the forward stroke of the striker. The second channel is used for exhaust of the compressed air from the forward stroke chamber at the end of the forward stroke of the striker in the forward mode operation of the machine. The third channel is intended for exhaust of compressed air from the forward stroke chamber at the forward stroke of the striker in the reverse mode of operation.
The front anvil of this machine comprises a moveable chisel. The striker is reciprocating inside of inner tube. The rear anvil represents a part of the air-distributing mechanism. This mechanism has a spring loaded stroke control valve that cyclicly reciprocates opening and overlapping appropriate ports, directing the compressed air to the forward or backward stroke chambers, and also connecting the backward stroke chamber with the atmosphere. The air-distributing mechanism comprises three separate air hoses. One hose delivers compressed air at the nominal pressure which is used for the forward stroke of the striker and also for governing the stroke control valve. The second hose delivers compressed air at a reduced pressure which is only used for the backward stroke of the striker (the lowered air pressure does not take part in governing the stroke control valve). The third hose delivers compressed air at the nominal pressure to a spring loaded mode control valve and switches over the machine from forward to reverse mode operation.
Several prototypes of this machine have been built and tested. These prototypes demonstrated very low efficiency at the forward mode operation due to insufficient impact energy of the striker. The testing procedures made it possible to understand and to explain the reasons why the striker was not gaining the precalculated energy during its forward stroke. The explanations are as follows. It was assumed that during the forward stroke of the striker the pressure in the forward stroke chamber should have been equal or close to the nominal pressure. At this condition, the air pressure on the left and right ends of the stroke control valve would have been equal and the valve would have been held in its extreme left position being pushed by the spring. This would have allowed the striker to be accelerated all the way along the length of the forward stroke chamber. However in reality, this assumption is incorrect. The tests show that during the forward stroke of the striker the pressure in the forward stroke chamber starts to drop shortly after the striker begins to move forward. The left end of the striker is at all times under the nominal pressure of the system. As soon as the pressure inside the forward stroke chamber, which is connected with the right end of the valve, drops to a level where the nominal pressure force applied to the left side of the valve exceeds the spring compression force, the valve moves to its extreme right position. This stops the air supply to the forward stroke chamber and opens the ports for compressed air delivery to the backward stroke chamber. The striker, still being far away from the end of its forward stroke, is now braked by the compressed air in the backward stroke chamber. All this causes a low impact energy of the striker. It is obvious that the striker would have more impact energy if its stroke would be longer. However, the prototype built according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,706 actually also has a short stroke mechanism which, as it is shown above, does not provide sufficient impact energy required for optimization of the working process of the underground hole making machines.
The attempt to apply a stronger spring to the stroke control valve was also unsuccessful. The stronger spring caused an early switch over from the backward stroke to the forward stroke of the striker, which resulted in a shortening of the forward stroke, and consequently, reduced the efficiency of the working process.
Thus, the energy problem associated with the minimization of the energy consumption at an increase of the productivity of the working process of the underground hole making machines remains unsolved.
Another disadvantage of the considered machine is associated with the control of forward and reverse mode operation. The need of the third air hose, the mode control valve, and the separate exhaust channel for the reverse mode operation complicates the machine, increasing the cost of its manufacturing and maintenance. In addition to this, it should be noted that the tests have shown that the available cross-sectional area of the exhaust channel for the forward mode operation is insufficient. An essential air pressure remains inside the forward stroke chamber after the exhaust. This causes an early switch over from the backward stroke to the forward stroke, decreasing the stroke of the striker.
A further disadvantage of the considered machine is the need of special equipment for pressing in the inner tube into the outer tube. These tubes are relatively long and require unconventional and costly equipment to press one tube into another.
Another disadvantage of the considered machine is associated with the annular resilient gasket which is intended to prevent penetration of soil between moveable components of the chisel assembly. This gasket is located on a cylindrical surface and is compressed in the axial direction by two components which are in relative cyclic reciprocation during the machine operation. Thus this gasket is subjected to cyclic loading and is often pushed out from its original location, and sometimes it cracks and moves away.
Another disadvantage of the considered machine is associated with the need of a complicated solenoid type frequency sensor.
Still another inherent disadvantage of known reversible underground hole making machines is that in the reverse mode operation the striker imparts impacts to the rear anvil which represents a part of the air-distributing mechanism. These impacts are transferred to the tail nut of the machine through the body parts of the air-distributing mechanism. This often causes loosening of the nut with a subsequent failure of the air-distributing mechanism. Besides this, the mentioned body parts should be made of strong materials with high toughness.
One more inherent disadvantage of conventional underground penetrating machines is the lack of means to signal about the deviation from the initial trajectory.
The present invention offers solutions to eliminate these disadvantages. These solutions are based on the testing of full scale real prototypes in laboratory and field conditions. The results of testing convincingly confirm the reliability and efficiency of the incorporated engineering solutions.
Implementation of the present invention will significantly increase the efficiency of the working process of the underground pneumatically operated self-propelled soil penetrating machines.

Differential pneumopercussive reversible self-propelled soil penetrating machine


Colored wastewater from industries, agriculture and the like is discolored by adjusting pH of the wastewater and filtering the wastewater through a mixture of acid-treated sawdust produced from sawdust which has been disposed of after being used for fungi production and charcoal thereby to remove a color component fraction from the wastewater and through a filter material, for example acid-treated rice husk charcoal, in which autochthonous microorganisms are embedded thereby to absorb color components remaining in the wastewater.

The present invention relates to a colored wastewater discoloration method, which can discolor and make colored wastewater and the like being generated from various production sites, human daily activities and so on and such as dye and pigment wastewater from textile industry and the like, pottery manufacturing industry wastewater containing glaze and the like, plating wastewater from metal-processing industry and the like, livestock industry wastewater, agroforestry wastewater, food industry wastewater, chemical and oil industry wastewater, electrical and electronics industry wastewater, iron and machine industry wastewater, restaurant industry wastewater and the like, into clear and colorless water, as well as reducing BOD, COD, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and so on.
Conventional methods to discolor high-concentration or low-concentration colored wastewater, generated from various production activities, vary in treatment techniques according to generation and quality of the wastewater. However, none of such methods uses a single technique. They use a combination of two or three techniques, yet not achieving satisfactory treatment. Especially discoloration has hardly been achieved ever.
In case the wastewater volume to be treated is small, such treatment methods are available as disposal treatment by an outsourced industrial waste collector, electrolytic cleaning treatment by electrolysis, agglomeration-separation cleaning treatment using coagulant such as anion and cation, activated sludge treatment by biodegradation treatment, and so on. However, all of these treatment methods are facing ever increasing production costs including for treatment facilities and various running costs, including for treatment of byproducts generated therefrom.
Thus, in reality it has been practiced, in case the colored wastewater to be treated is large in volume and contains no harmful substances, that it is mixed with substantial amount of industrial water and/or sea water and so on and then discharged into nature.


In one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is mountable on and demountable from a docking station, and has an input device, an acquisition unit to acquire information indicating an operator for user authentication, and a processor. When the apparatus is mounted on the docking station, the processor permits acceptance of the operation input by the input device, without starting up the acquisition unit. When the apparatus is demounted from the docking station, the processor starts up the acquisition unit, and performs user authentication based on the information indicating the operator which has been acquired by the started up acquisition unit. When the operator is approved as a specific operator of the information processing apparatus, as a result of the user authentication, the processor permits acceptance of the operation input by the input device.

Recently, a commodity sales data processing apparatus has become widespread in which a portable information processing apparatus mounting a touch panel, such as a tablet terminal (called also a tablet PC) is detachably combined with a stationary docking station.
In the commodity sales data processing apparatus of this kind, the information processing apparatus has a registration function of commodity sales data, and a settlement function by a credit card, for example.
Accordingly, a sales clerk in charge of customer service carries the information processing apparatus, and thereby can complete the registration and settlement of a commodity which a customer has purchased in a sales room.
Usually, an information processing apparatus which has been mounted on a docking station can be demounted by a simple operation. For the reason, a person who is not in charge of customer service might demount an information processing apparatus from a docking station to bring out it, and might perform various illegal operations.

Information processing apparatus and security control method


Methods and systems are disclosed to enhance surveying techniques. In one embodiment, a virtual response is estimated that corresponds to energy propagated within a subsurface region between a virtual source and a virtual source estimation receiver, wherein the subsurface region corresponds to a survey zone including: a plurality of receivers deployed within the survey zone, a first subzone having at least one actual source, a second subzone within the first subzone; the virtual source is a first receiver disposed in the second subzone; and the virtual source estimation receiver is a second receiver.

A land or transition zone survey, such as a seismic survey, sometimes has to cover certain areas where access for sources is undesirable, impossible or not permitted. For example, a vibrator may not be able to cope with the topography or ground conditions (e.g., hills, dunes, wadis, sabkha, swamp), or access may be restricted for safety/security reasons (e.g., near industrial or military installations, on farms, in urban areas). In some of these cases it may still be possible or acceptable to deploy receivers in such areas. While advantageous, this still leaves a gap in the coverage at short to mid source-to-receiver offset ranges.
In some circumstances, such an "exclusion zone" or obstacle can be "undershot" from the outside. The exclusion zone could be populated with receivers, while sources can be deployed adjacent to the exclusion zone. Interferometry can then be used to construct virtual sources and/or virtual receivers, for which "virtual shot records" can be created for locations within the exclusion zone. This fills in part of the missing data, though with (virtual) sources only at the positions of the receivers (or, in some cases virtual receivers at positions of sources).
By deploying receivers at inaccessible source locations within the exclusion zone, it is possible to construct a partially virtual data set employing a source/receiver geometry as if no exclusion zone had existed.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems that can employ faster, more efficient, and more accurate methods for surveys that include zones where sources and/or receivers cannot be deployed during the survey. Such methods and systems may complement or replace conventional methods and systems for surveying.

Methods and computing systems for survey data enhancement


The present invention relates to a preventive/remedy for obesity, which has a hydroxypropylated starch as its active ingredient.

In recent years, lifestyle related diseases including obesity and diabetes are increasing owing to the world-wide tendency to excessive energy intake (increase in the intake of fats or sucrose) and insufficient exercise. Considering such a social background, a measure for preventing or ameliorating obesity or diabetes is very important.
One of the methods proposed commonly by nutritionists in order to prevent or ameliorate obesity or diabetes is intake of a low calorie diet or low fat diet. It has recently been reported that water insoluble food fiber such as wheat bran, water soluble food fiber such as indigestible dextrin, and digestion resistant starch such as high amylose starch have a lipid excretion accelerating action (Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 31 (10 Suppl), S21-S29(1978)), a sugar absorption inhibitory action (Endocrine Journal, 68(6), 623-35(1992)), and a blood neutral fat level lowering action (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49(2), 337-44(1989)), or a glucose tolerance improving action (Acta Paediatr Hung 1985 26(1):75-7, J Endocrinol 1995 144(3):533-8, Am J Clin Nutr 1989 49(2):337-44), respectively. It is suggested that they are therefore effective for the prevention/amelioration of obesity, or prevention/amelioration of diabetes.
A drastic rise in the after-meal blood lipid level is presumed to accelerate accumulation of fats, so that suppression of after-meal hyperlipidemia (a rise in blood triglyceride level) is also a very important approach for the prevention/amelioration of obesity. In recent years, xanthan gum and propylene glycol alginate (JP-A-1993-186356), and chitosan (JP-A-1991-29017) have been reported as a safe and effective lipid absorption inhibitor.
The above-described low calorie diet or low fat diet temporarily brings about an effect on weight decrease, but after intake of it for a prolonged time, it comes to be refused because of a monotonous taste of the food constituting such a diet. It is therefore difficult to continue consuming such a diet. The above-described conventional food materials such as water insoluble food fiber, water soluble food fiber and digestion resistant starch do not exhibit the above-described physiological actions until they are administered for a long period of time at a high dosage. Even if they exhibit these physiological actions, their effect for inhibiting obesity has not yet been confirmed. Moreover, when food or beverage is prepared using them, the original texture of the food or beverage such as appearance, taste, touch or smoothness tends to be damaged and it is therefore difficult to incorporate a sufficient amount of them in food. This leads to problems such as limited application range and difficulty in intake of such food or beverage for a long period of time.
A hydroxypropylated starch is known to have high transparency, excellent film forming property, and high low-temperature storage stability and lyophilization/thawing stability. And use of it for food is approved by FDA in USA (Journal of Home Economics of Japan, 49(9), 985-992(1998)).
It is however unknown that hydroxypropylated starches have an effect of preventing/lessening the onset of lifestyle related diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Abstract: Provided are materials for foods, drugs, etc. which can exhibit an effect of preventing/lessening the onset of various lifestyle related diseases, for example, an effect of preventing/ameliorating obesity, or preventing/ameliorating hyperlipidemia; have a high safety and a wide application range; and rarely damage their texture.


The present disclosure relates to a delay device for checking a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, measuring a distance of a target and a relative velocity using microwaves and millimeter waves of a frequency modulated continuous waveform, and may include an input/output unit that is configured to input or output a control setting value, a controller that is configured to output a control signal corresponding to the control setting value input by an operator through the input/output unit, and a transceiver that is configured to delay an FMCW radar signal, for output, by a time delay corresponding to a distance of a target through a programmable single chip delay line according to the control signal of the controller, and configured to shift a frequency of the time-delayed FMCW radar signal by a Doppler frequency, and attenuate the frequency-shifted FMCW radar signal for output.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This specification relates to a delay device for checking a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, measuring a distance of a target and a relative velocity using microwaves and millimeter waves of a frequency modulated continuous waveform.
2. Background of the Disclosure
In general, a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar is used for a radio altimeter, a proximity sensor, a sensor for preventing collision of vehicle and aircraft, an autonomous intelligent cruise control (AICC), an industrial level gauge, imaging, an indoor presence detection, and the like, to measure a distance and velocity of a target to be monitored.
The FMCW radar serves to change a frequency on a time basis using a frequency modulation. The FMCW radar may compute a distance and a relative velocity of a target by extracting an intermediate frequency fif (Hz), which is a difference frequency |ft−fr| between a transmission signal ft transmitted to the target and a return signal fr.
In order to check the FMCW radar, a virtual reception signal with time delayed as long as a specific distance from the target, has to be generated and applied to the FMCW radar.
FIG. 1 is a configuration view of a transceiver of a delay device for checking an FMCW radar using an RF frequency cable according to the related art.
In the related art, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) cables have been used to generate a time delay corresponding to a distance of a target. For example, referring to FIG. 1, when 6 RF cables 130 to 135 are combined with 12 RF switches 110 to 121, totally 6 bits (26), namely, 64 types of time delays may be generated.
However, when the RF cable extends, a cable loss may be increased. To compensate for the cable loss, there may be a need for a loss compensator including amplifiers 141 and 143 and a variable attenuator 142. Since different losses result from the 64 types of time delays, the variable attenuator 142 and the amplifiers 141 and 143 should be controlled separately.
Also, the RF cable has a property that the cable loss is drastically increased when volume and frequency thereof are increased. Hence, the RF cable may be inefficient when generating a time delay for a relatively remote target.
FIG. 2 is a configuration view of a transceiver of a delay device for checking an FMCW radar using an optical cable according to the related art.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, for a remote target, optical cables with a less loss and a small volume are used. As one example, when a delay device for checking an FMCW radar is configured by a combination of 6 optical cables 240 to 245 and 12 optical switches 220 to 231, the device has a cable loss less than the delay device illustrated in FIG. 1 but needs an E/O-O/E converter 210, 250 and a loss compensator 260 including an amplifier 261 and a variable attenuator 262. Specifically, the converter and the optical switches require for high costs.
As described above, the related art delay device needs a large number of delay cables, switches, amplifiers and converters to generate the time delay. Accordingly, the implementation of the device may be complicated and a fabricating cost thereof may thus increase.

Delay device for checking frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar


A hybrid electro-optical data center system includes multiple tiers. A bottom tier has one or more bottom tier instances, with each bottom tier instance including one or more racks, an electro-optical switch corresponding to each rack, and a first bottom tier optical loop providing optical connectivity between the electro-optical switches of the respective bottom tier instance. At least one server within each rack is electrically connected to the respective electro-optical switch and at least one super-server within each rack is electrically and optically connected to the respective electro-optical switch. A top tier includes electro-optical switches, each electrically connected to an electro-optical switch in a respective bottom tier instance, a first top tier optical loop providing optical connectivity between the electro-optical switches of the top tier, and one or more optical add/drop modules providing optical connectivity between the first bottom tier optical loop and the first top tier optical loop.

Due to emerging explosive growth of cloud-centric applications, the next generation data centers needs to achieve low latency, high throughput, and high resource efficiency. Furthermore, to offer such cloud services economically, operational costs such as power consumption and management complexity as well as the capital cost of these data centers should be reduced.
To address the forthcoming heavy demands of cloud resources, the computing industry has continually investigates high-end servers with high numbers of processing cores integrated onto a single chip. In addition, to support the heavy traffic generated from servers, servers are equipped with high-speed network interface cards equipped with optical pluggable transceiver modules in addition to standard electrical ethernet interfaces. Distributed cloud services over such servers generate heavy volumes of network traffic, so the next generation data centers should support high speed and low latency intra-data center and inter-data center connectivity.
Conventional data center architectures use multiple racks hosting servers. These racks are interconnected through commodity switches using, e.g., a fat-tree 2-Tier or 3-Tier architecture. The servers are aggregated into racks and these racks are interconnected through Top of Rack (TOR) switches. The TOR switches are further interconnected through aggregate switches. In 3-Tier topologies, the aggregate switches are further interconnected through core switches using high speed connections.
Conventionally, inter-connections of servers are provisioned through electric switch fabrics. Electric switch fabrics offer high-speed switching of packets, statistical multiplexing of traffic, and low latency in connection setup while effectively handling bursty traffic. However, such technology consumes high power and offers limited bandwidth capacity. Thus, due to the high communications requirements in data centers, an application of electrical switch fabrics leads to considerable power consumptions, introduces packet transmission latency, and increases operational cost. On the other hand, optical technology offers high capacity, low cost, and low power communications. However, optical switches suffer from high latency in a connection setup due to its low-speed switching. Optical switch fabrics do not offer statistical multiplexing, may not be suitable to handle bursty traffic due to the limited buffering capacity. Currently, optical technology is just used to interconnect different data centers using point-to-point optical channels. Furthermore, the conventional architecture is of warehouse scale, which generates tremendous requirements of power supply, space, and cooling.
Some solutions use hybrid data center architectures by interconnecting TOR switches with micro-electromechanical switches (MEMS) in addition to electrical switch fabrics. These architectures use MEMS with a large number of ports and, thus, are not scalable. Additionally, if the MEMS fails, the architecture loses all optical connectivity, creating a single point of failure. The architecture cannot support an aggregation of traffic from multiple TOR switches onto a single optical channel. Thus, traffic cannot be statistically multiplexed onto a single optical channel and optical bandwidth cannot be shared among connections that connect different switches.

Hybrid electro-optical distributed software-defined data center architecture


A thermally processable imaging element is disclosed having a protective coat overlying at least one thermographic or photothermographic imaging layer containing an organic silver salt and a thermally activated reducing agent for silver ion. The protective coat includes a film-forming binder comprised of a water dispersible polymer containing hydroxy pendant groups and, to reduce low density spots visible after thermal processing, a combination of anionic, non-ionic and fluorocarbon moiety containing surfactants satisfying formula defined selection criteria.

Thermally processable imaging elements, including films and papers, for producing images by thermal processing are well known. These elements include photothermographic elements in which an image is formed by imagewise exposure of the element to light followed by development by uniformly heating the element. These elements also include thermographic elements in which an image is formed by imagewise heating the element. By far the most common imaging compositions included in thermally processable elements are those that contain an organic silver salt to provide a source of silver ion relied upon for image formation and a thermally activated reducing agent for the silver ion. The silver ion can form a metallic silver image when reduced (as is usually practiced in forming black-and-white images) and/or the thermally activated reducing agent when oxidized in the oxidation-reduction reaction can form a dye image (as is usually practiced in forming color images). A summary of these common types of photothermographic element constructions is provided by Research Disclosure, Vol. 170, June 1978, Item No. 17029. Research Disclosure is published by Kenneth Mason Publications, Ltd., Dudley House, 12 North St., Emsworth, Hampshire P010 7DQ, England. Many of these photothermographic element constructions are also useful as thermographic elements. Most photothermographic elements that rely on photosensitive silver halide to catalyze an image-forming oxidation-reduction reaction can be used as thermographic elements. When use exclusively as a thermographic element is contemplated, a common modification is to omit the photosensitive silver halide and to rely on the imagewise application of heat to drive the image-forming oxidation-reduction reaction, as illustrated by Grant U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,254.
It is common practice to include a protective coating overlying the imaging layer(s) in the construction of a thermally processable element. In addition to the variety of functions that protective coatings are recognized to perform in imaging elements generally, such as adhesion to the underlying portion (i.e., layer or support) of the element, optical transparency as required (including resistance to fingerprints and scratches), low transport friction, low self-adhesion (necessary for use of spool wound or stacked sheet elements), and sensitometric compatibility with the imaging layers, the protective coatings of thermally processed elements are also commonly relied upon to resist deformation during thermal processing and to reduce or prevent loss of volatile components during thermal processing. Also, unlike imaging elements that rely on penetration by aqueous processing solutions, the protective coatings of thermally processable elements need not be water permeable and often serve their purpose better when relatively impermeable. In thermally processable elements imaging layer protective overcoats are often referred to as barrier layers. As a result of differing functional requirements, most conventional selections of protective coatings for thermally processable elements have taken specialized forms unsuited for imaging elements generally.
Research Disclosure, Item No. 17029, cited above, XI. Overcoat Layers, catalogues known overcoat components of photothermographic elements. Surfactants are specifically addressed in section X. Coating Aids. The term "surfactant", a condensation of the phrase "surface active agent", designates a compound that contains a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety. Surfactant 10G.TM., available from Olin Co., a non-ionic surfactant, is specifically identified in Item 17029. Przezdziecki U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,992, assigned to Eastman Kodak Co., discloses the use of Surfactant 10G.TM. in the overcoat of a thermally processable element.
Surfactants containing a fluorocarbon hydrophobic moiety have been used in the overcoat of thermally processable elements. For example, Mack et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,406, assigned at issue to Polaroid Corp., discloses the overcoat incorporation of Zonyl FSN.TM., available from DuPont.
Hirai et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,293, assigned at issue to Fuji Photo Film Co., discloses photothermographic elements having a protective coat containing the following surfactants: ##STR1## This surfactant combination appears in numerous protective coat formulations disclosed in patents assigned at issue to Fuji Photo Film Co.
Yonkoski et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,644, Simpson et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,507, and Murray (et al) U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,635,339, 5,654,130 and 5,686,228, assigned at issue to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. (a.k.a. 3M) or Imation Corp. (a company formed by 3M to continue this line of business), disclose varied protective coats for thermally processable elements. Only Yonkoski et al identifies any protective coat component, a linear polymer with a pendant fluorocarbon moiety, as being a surfactant. Yonkoski et al includes the surfactant to control surface anomalies--specifically mottle. The term "mottle", not defined by Yonkoski et al, is generally employed in the imaging arts to designate image noise significantly in excess of that attributable to granularity. Simpson et al and Murray (et al) demonstrate that surfactants are not essential surface coating components and are, in fact, often omitted entirely where other components permit.
An extensive listing of surfactants for use in photographic elements is contained in Research Disclosure, Vol. 389, September 1996, Item 38957, IX. Coating physical property modifying addenda, A. Coating aids.

Organic silver salt containing thermally processable elements with spot reducing surfactant combinations


An X-ray tube device capable of reducing an amount of work required in the operation of its replacement, and of eliminating a wasteful replacement of a still operational part of the device. The device includes an X-ray tube; at least one heat exchanger for cooling the X-ray tube by using a circulation of insulating oil; a plurality of oil hoses for transmitting the insulating oil between the X-ray tube and the heat exchanger; and at least one coupler for connecting the X-ray tube and the heat exchanger through the oil hoses by being in a coupled state, and for disconnecting the X-ray tube and the heat exchanger through the oil hoses by being in a decoupled state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray tube device including an X-ray tube and a heat exchanger for cooling the X-ray tube.
2. Description of the Background Art
A medical apparatus using X-ray such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus and an X-ray computed tomography apparatus has an X-ray tube device as shown in FIG. 1, where an X-ray tube 101 is equipped with a heat exchanger 102 which is connected with the X-ray tube 101 through oil hoses 103, so as to cool down the X-ray tube 101 by forcefully circulating the insulating oil through the X-ray tube 101, oil hoses 103 and the heat exchanger 102.
Conventionally, these X-ray tube 101 and the heat exchanger 102 have been manufactured as a unified element, undetachably from each other, and the weight of this unified element tended to become heavier as the need of the X-ray tube 101 of a larger capacity increases. For example, the weight of the X-ray tube 101 is typically about 50 Kg, while the weight of the heat exchanger 102 is also typically about 50 Kg.
Now, there is a need for replacing the X-ray tube 101 regularly, because of a limit life time of the X-ray tube 101. In a case of replacing the old X-ray tube by the new one, because the X-ray tube 101 is manufactured to be undetachable from the heat exchanger 102, the entire X-ray tube device as a whole has to be replaced, even when the heat exchanger 102 is still operational. In a case of the example described above, this implies that the entire element weighing almost 100 Kg has to be replaced, which in turn requires several workers in this operation of replacement.
Thus, the conventional X-ray tube device has been associated with the problems that the operation of replacement requires a large number of workers because of its heavy weight, and that the entire X-ray tube device has to be replaced even when either the heat exchanger or the X-ray tube alone is needed to be replaced, so that it has been not quite economical.

X-ray tube device with detachable heat exchanger


A complementary division method able to suppress a pattern deformation by wet washing, having the steps of determining a definite division length able to suppress the pattern deformation when wet washing to a width and distance of a pattern that is assumed the pattern deformation over an elasticity limit is easiest given by wet washing in advance, dividing the entire line-and-space patterns at the determined division length in the longitudinal direction to divide suitably the line-and-space pattern by a simple algorithm, and further providing a method of producing a mask and program.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a complementary division method, a method of producing a mask, and a program, in particular a complementary division method utilized to a pattern formation of a stencil mask used for a lithography process of a semiconductor device, a method of producing a mask, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a next generation exposure technology instead of photolithography, a projection exposure technology using electron beam has been developed. The projection exposure technology has an electron projection lithography (EPL) technology using accumulated electron beam of around 100 kV to form a mask pattern enlarged with a device pattern at the constant times on a mask similarly to photolithography and use, and a low energy beam proximity projection lithography (LEEPL) technology using low energy electron beam of around 2 kV to form a mask pattern having same time as a device pattern on a mask and use.
H. C. Pfeiffer, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 34, 6658 (1995) discloses masks used in the above exposure technology that mask differs from a photomask, is formed on it with a thin film region (membrane) of around 0.1 to 10 μm, and formed on that with a mask pattern as apertures. And these membrane materials have been proposed with silicon, silicon carbonate, and silicon nitride.
In the stencil mask, a pattern having unaperture portions in the middle portion like the doughnut shaped pattern will come out and cannot be formed. Therefore, the pattern has to be divided into a plurality of complementary patterns, formed with the respective pattern at the other portion on the mask or at the another mask, and exposed at several times so as to connect the respective complementary patterns at a wafer.
However, as shown in FIG. 1A, when a thin film 3a is formed with apertures 5a of line-and-space (L/S) patterns and then wet washed, the thin film (struts) between the apertures 5a is loaded such that the struts contact the adjoining struts (beams) when washing. As a result, it suffers from the disadvantage in that the respective adjusting struts deform and do not return to their original formations, as shown in FIG. 1B.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No.2001-274072 discloses a technology considering a pattern deformation by washing that the pattern is divided into grid portions having defined dimension. However, it has been a disadvantage that a complimentary division algorithm is complicated. And Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-274072 discloses an example of the line-and-space pattern, however a division rules thereof is not disclosed.

Complementary division mask, method of producing mask, and program


In order to achieve a container which is convenient for carrying, delivery, transportation and storage of a viscous liquid, which can be disposed by being crushed to a small volume size when it has become empty, and which prevents twisting or rising up of the lower half of the container during a mixing of a viscous liquid, a container A holding liquid is used, wherein a ring-shaped rim frame 2 is provided on the upper end of a flexible tubular main body 1, a bottom plate 3 is fitted onto an opening at the lower end thereof, and at least one ring-shaped trunk section frame 4 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of said tubular main body 1.

Japanese Patent No. 3289192 discloses: (1) a sealant container which can be inserted into an external container for mixing and transportation of a sealant that is attachable to and detachable from the agitating platform of a mixing device, the sealant container being formed, furthermore, with a rotation preventing engagement section in a required portion thereof in order to prevent it from rotating with respect to the external container for mixing and transportation; (2) an external container as described above for mixing and transportation of a sealant, into which the aforementioned sealant container can be inserted, and which is formed, furthermore, with a rotation preventing engagement section in a required portion thereof, in order to prevent it from rotating with respect the sealant container; and (3) a combination comprising the aforementioned sealant container and the aforementioned external container for mixing and transportation of a sealant.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H11-227766 discloses a flexible container made of plastic for holding various liquid materials, comprising a large-diameter ring-shaped section consisting of a molded plastic section provided about the upper end of a tubular main body made of a plastic laminate film, and a small-diameter ring-shaped section consisting of a molded plastic section provided similarly about the lower end of same, having a characteristic in that when the liquid material held in the container has been used and the container has become empty, it can be disposed of in a small volume size, by reducing the volume size of the empty container by crushing the large-diameter section and the small-diameter ring-shaped sections towards each other in such a manner they are brought close together or become joined together.

Holding container, external container for kneading and transportation, and kneading device


A flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp include front and rear plates separated by spacers. A phosphor layer is formed on each upper side of a spacer in contact with a phosphor layer of the front plate, and an auxiliary electrode is provided lengthwise on each lower side of the spacer, thereby realizing uniformly luminous pictures.

The present invention relates to a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp which improves luminance in the vicinity of a spacer.
Generally, a flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp is used as a backlight generator for a large liquid crystal display.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in a conventional flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp, phosphor layers 1a and 2a are formed on the opposing inner surfaces of parallel front and rear plates 1 and 2, respectively. A side plate 3 is provided on the periphery between front and rear plates 1 and 2 to form a closed discharge space where discharge gas is filled. A pair of electrodes 4 are provided adjacent to side plate 3 in the closed discharge space. A plurality of spacers 5' for supporting front and rear plates 1 and 2 are also provided in the closed discharge space. A phosphor layer 5a' connected to phosphor layer la on front plate 1 is formed on the side of spacer 5'.
In the conventional flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp, to enhance the luminance around spacer 5' supporting front and rear plates 1 and 2, phosphor layer 5a' is formed on spacer 5' to be connected to phosphor layer la formed on front plate 1. During the discharge of electrode 4, phosphor layer 5a' formed on spacer 5' emits light which makes the part of phosphor layer 1a around spacer 5' luminous, thereby preventing the luminance around the spacers from lowering. In a large-sized flat cold fluorescent lamp, however, since the amount of light transmitted from phosphor layer 5a' formed on the side of spacer 5' to phosphor layer 1a around the spacers is small, the luminance in the vicinity of the spacers is degraded to cause the picture to smear.

Flat cold cathode fluorescent lamp with improved luminance


A loudness control circuit emphasizes low frequency components in audio signals. A secondary low-pass filter select low frequency components of the audio signals, inverting a phase of the audio signals. The phase-inverted signals and audio signals are respectively inputted to an inverting input terminal and non-inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier to obtain audio signals whose low frequency components are emphasized. These signals have the same phase as the phase of the inputted audio signals. The output of the low-pass filter is amplified to obtain a signal having low frequency components whose phase is inverted. Both the audio signal whose low frequency components have been amplified and the low frequency components whose phase has been inverted are applied to a speaker to reproduce sounds with their low frequency components dynamically emphasized.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a loudness control circuit for amplifying audio signals by emphasizing their low frequency components.
2. Description of the Related Art:
There are currently known a number of audio signal reproducing systems such as tape recorders, CD players and radio receivers. With these reproducing systems, amplification factors are sometimes adjusted for every frequency band, thereby changing the tone qualities to the listener's taste.
Portable reproducing systems are very popular. However, such portable reproducing system output sounds via a small headphone, and often suffer from insufficient low frequency tones because the system is very compact. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,435, the present inventor(s) has proposed a loudness control circuit which can emphasize low frequency components in such small portable reproducing system. With this system, only low frequency components are selected by low-pass filters, amplified, and reconstituted with audio signals from the entire frequency bands to emphasize the low frequency components.
Since it is usually operated by batteries and includes integrated circuits, the portable reproducing system cannot receive a large power supply voltage. Therefore, it is very difficult for a conventional loudness control circuit to amplify the low frequency components over a sufficient dynamic range.