The present invention provides a new method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, imaging and treating selected cancers including gynecologic cancers such as breast, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer and lung cancer.

The American Cancer Society has estimated that over 560,000 Americans will die this year from cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. It has been estimated that over one million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 1999 alone.
In women, gynecologic cancers account for more than one-fourth of the malignancies.
Of the gynecologic cancers, breast cancer is the most common. According to the Women's Cancer Network, 1 out of every 8 women in the United States is as risk of developing breast cancer, and 1 out of every 28 women are at risk of dying from breast cancer. Approximately 77% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50. However, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55.
Carcinoma of the ovary is another very common gynecologic cancer. Approximately one in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. An estimated 14,500 deaths in 1995 resulted from ovarian cancer. It causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer often does not cause any noticeable symptoms. Some possible warning signals, however, are an enlarged abdomen due to an accumulation of fluid or vague digestive disturbances (discomfort, gas or distention) in women over 40; rarely there will be abnormal vaginal bleeding. Periodic, complete pelvic examinations are important; a Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer. Annual pelvic exams are recommended for women over 40.
Also common in women is endometrial cancer or carcinoma of the lining of the uterus. According to the Women's Cancer Center endometrial cancer accounts for approximately 13% of all malignancies in women. There are about 34,000 cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed in the United States each year.
Uterine sarcoma is another type of uterine malignancy much more rare as compared to other gynecologic cancers. In uterine sarcoma, malignant cells start growing in the muscles or other supporting tissues of the uterus. Sarcoma of the uterus is different from cancer of the endometrium, a disease in which cancer cells start growing in the lining of the uterus. This uterine cancer usually begins after menopause. Women who have received therapy with high-dose X-rays (external beam radiation therapy) to their pelvis are at a higher risk to develop sarcoma of the uterus. These X-rays are sometimes given to women to stop bleeding from the uterus.
Lung cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer for both men and women in the United States and is the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. Lung cancer can result from a primary tumor originating in the lung or a secondary tumor which has spread from another organ such as the bowel or breast. Primary lung cancer is divided into three main types; small cell lung cancer; non-small cell lung cancer; and mesothelioma. Small cell lung cancer is also called "Oat Cell" lung cancer because the cancer cells are a distinctive oat shape. There are three types of non-small cell lung cancer. These are grouped together because they behave in a similar way and respond to treatment differently to small cell lung cancer. The three types are squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Squamous cell cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. It develops from the cells that line the airways. Adenocarcinoma also develops from the cells that line the airways. However, adenocarcinoma develops from a particular type of cell that produces mucus (phlegm). Large cell lung cancer has been thus named because the cells look large and rounded when they are viewed under a microscope. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer which affects the covering of the lung called the pleura. Mesothelioma is often caused by exposure to asbestos.
Procedures used for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, and prognosticating each of these types of cancer are of critical importance to the outcome of the patient. In all cases, patients diagnosed early in development of the cancer generally have a much greater five-year survival rate as compared to the survival rate for patients diagnosed with a cancer which has metastasized. New diagnostic methods which are more sensitive and specific for early detection of various types of cancer are clearly needed.
In the present invention methods are provided for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, in vivo imaging and treating selected cancers including, but not limited to, gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, breast endometrial and/or uterine cancer, and lung cancer via detection of a Cancer Specific Genes (CSGs). Nine CSGs have been identified and refer, among other things, to native proteins expressed by the genes comprising the polynucleotide sequences of any of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. In the alternative, what is meant by the nine CSGs as used herein, means the native mRNAs encoded by the genes comprising any of the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 or it can refer to the actual genes comprising any of the polynucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. Fragments of the CSGs such as those depicted in SEQ ID NO:10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 can also be detected.
Other objects, features, advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following description. It should be understood, however, that the following description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosed invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following description and from reading the other parts of the present disclosure.

Method of diagnosing, monitoring, staging, imaging and treating various cancers


A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable sleeve socket that is capable of receiving an engagement portion of a compact gage housing having either a contained mechanical or an electronic pressure gauge. This coupling permits direct attachment to the sleeve and permitting fluid interconnection between the interior of the sleeve and the contained pressure gauge without requiring any hoses or tubing therebetween. The electronic pressure gauge is responsive to changes in pressure within the inflatable sleeve. The pressure changes can be processed and output to an integral display or can be wirelessly transmitted.

Pressure measuring devices such as sphygmomanometers, that are used to measure the arterial blood pressure of a patent, typically include a pneumatic bulb which inflates a pressure chamber of an attached sleeve that is fitted over a limb (i.e., an arm or a leg) of the patient. A diaphragm or bellows assembly, responsive to changes in fluid pressure of the pneumatic bulb and the sleeve pressure chamber, is positioned in a gage housing which is fluidly connected to the pressure chamber of the sleeve through flexible tubes or hoses. In a mechanical gage housing, a pointer of a dial indicator is interconnected to the bellows assembly through a movement mechanism that is retained within the gage housing, whereby inflation of the bellows causes corresponding circumferential movement of the pointer, enabling a blood pressure measurement procedure to be carried out by a caregiver.
Typically, the above referred to movement mechanisms are quite intricate and complex, and are akin in terms of their manufacture and precision to Swiss watches. For example, and in one such movement mechanism, a pair of diaphragm springs are attached adjacent opposing ends of a spindle. A bottom end of the spindle is placed in contact with the bellows assembly and a twisted bronze band perpendicularly disposed at the top end of the spindle is connected in parallel by a horizontally disposed spring bent part. As the spindle deflects axially in response to the inflation of the bellows, the bent spring part is also caused to deflect, thereby causing the band to twist. The pointer, attached to the bronze band, therefore is caused to rotate in relation to an adjacent dial face.
Devices, such as the foregoing, include numerous moving and relatively complex components, some or each of having numerous bearing surfaces. Therefore, such known devices must be manufactured with relatively strict tolerance margins and significant associated costs in terms of both precision and failure rate in order to minimize errors.
In addition, any adjustments required after assembly of the above mechanisms, such as to null the pointer or adjust the sensitivity of the device, require substantial tear down or at least some undesired disassembly.
Furthermore, discrete and separate elements are typically required within the instrument housing for independently supporting the movement mechanism and the bellows assembly, respectively, and for defining an expansion chamber for the bellows assembly there between.
A more recent and simplified movement mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,829, incorporated by reference in its entirety. This mechanism includes a vertically disposed axial cartridge having a spirally wrapped ribbon spring with one end mounted to an axially movable elongate shaft and the remaining end of the spring being attached to a fixed tubular sleeve. A bottom portion of the elongate shaft is positioned relative to an expandable diaphragm or bellows, wherein subsequent axial translation of the shaft, caused by movement of the diaphragm, elongates the spirally wound ribbon spring and produces repeatable circumferential movement of a pointer supported at the top end of the shaft. The above movement mechanism is far smaller and more lightweight than those previously known due to its simplified construction.
A further advance, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,566, also incorporated by reference in its entirety, permits the design of a housing retaining the movement mechanism described in the '829 patent to be even more compact.
One feature common to the above pressure measuring devices is the need to fluidly interconnect the gage housing containing the movement mechanism, the dial face and the indicating member with the interior of the inflatable sleeve. This interconnection is typically done using an elongated hose that is connected to a barb or coupling located on the sleeve exterior at one end of the hose and to an inlet port disposed on one end of the gage housing. It is a general object in the field to simplify the manufacture of these devices and to better integrate the design thereof.
More recently, electronic versions of pressure measuring devices have become much more prevalent and conspicuous in their use in the field. These devices such as those manufactured by Omron, Inc. among others can be mounted to the arm or wrist of a patient. These devices have a battery powered electronically based device that converts the output from the sleeve into a pressure reading output to the user. There is still reliance, however, upon inflation and deflation of an inflatable sleeve and more particularly, there is a fluid interconnection between the interior of the sleeve and the interior of the gage housing. In addition and to date, all of these devices have always been part of an integrated assembly, including the sleeve, whereby replacement has required replacement of not only the sleeve, but also the tethered electronic components.


An electronic device and method identify regions that are likely to be text in a natural image or video frame, followed by processing as follows: lines that are nearly vertical are automatically identified in a selected text region, oriented relative to the vertical axis within a predetermined range −max_theta to +max_theta, followed by determination of an angle θ of the identified lines, followed by use of the angle θ to perform perspective correction by warping the selected text region. After perspective correction in this manner, each text region is processed further, to recognize text therein, by performing OCR on each block among a sequence of blocks obtained by slicing the potential text region. Thereafter, the result of text recognition is used to display to the user, either the recognized text or any other information obtained by use of the recognized text.

Identification of text regions in papers that are optically scanned (e.g. by a flatbed scanner of a photocopier) is significantly easier (e.g. due to upright orientation, large size and slow speed) than detecting regions that may contain text in scenes of the real world that may be captured in images (also called "natural images") or in video frames in real time by a handheld device (such as a smartphone) having a built-in digital camera. Specifically, optical character recognition (OCR) methods of the prior art originate in the field of document processing, wherein the document image contains a series of lines of text (e.g. 30 lines of text) of an optically scanned page in a document. Several such methods are described in an article by L. Jagannathan and C. V. Jawahar, in an article "Perspective Correction Methods for Camera-Based Document Analysis", Proceedings of First International Workshop on Camera Based Document Analysis and Recognition, August 2005, Seoul, Korea. pp 148-154 which is incorporated by reference herein as background.
Techniques of the type described above typically generate too many false positives and/or negatives so as to be impractical when used on natural images containing natural features (such as branches of a tree) mixed with text in various fonts e.g. on traffic signs, store fronts, vehicle license plates, due to variations in lighting, color, tilt, focus, font, etc. FIG. 1 illustrates a bill board 100 in a real world scene in India. A user 110 (see FIG. 1) may use a camera-equipped mobile device (such as a cellular phone) 108 to capture an image 107 (also called "natural image" or "real world image") of the bill board 100. Camera captured image 107 may be displayed on a screen 106 of the mobile device 108. Such an image 107 (FIG. 1), if processed directly using prior art image processing techniques of the type described in the previous paragraph may result in failure to recognize one or more words in a text region 103 (FIG. 1).
Specifically, use of prior art techniques cause problems in OCR processing a photograph of a scene wherein the bill board 100 is at a higher elevation than user 110, causing perspective distortion in image 107, unless the perspective distortion is corrected e.g. as described in the above-identified article by L. Jagannathan and C. V. Jawahar.
However, prior art methods of the type described above can be too slow and inaccurate for use on real world images with natural features and text (which may or may not be enclosed within a rectangular boundary). Hence, there is a need to perform perspective correction on a natural image or video frame, as described below.

Method of perspective correction for devanagari text


The invention provides a cochlea stimulator for implantation comprising optical fibers of which are coupled to an irradiation source that is controlled by a modulator to generate irradiation specific for a pre-determined range of sound-frequencies. The cochlea stimulator effects a frequency-specific activation of the organ of Corti needed for speech perception especially in noisy environment and more complex sounds. For imparting excitation signals which are generated by modulated pulsed laser irradiation conducted within an optical fiber in order to elicit nervous signals in residual functional organ of Corti sections, the auditory prosthesis preferably contains optical fibers which are dimensioned to terminate in end sections within the cochlea at different sites or sections of the organ of Corti. e.g. having different lengths for locating their end sections at different internal parts of the cochlea.

The sensory epithelium of the inner ear is composed of one row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells, located within the organ of Corti that resides on the basilar membrane. In the intact ear, sound pressure waves from the environment travel through the external auditory canal, are then transmitted through the ear drum and middle ear ossicles to the fluid within the cochlea. The fluid movement within the cochlea induces the depolarization of the sensory epithelium formed by the hair cells. This depolarisation is transformed into nervous signals which are transmitted from the base of the hair cells to the dendrites of the spiral ganglion, which is the first neuron on the auditory pathway and from the spiral ganglion further to the central auditory system, and finally reaching the auditory cortex to elicit a sound perception. Further, it is known that auditory nerve fibres are frequency tuned so that the ones from the base of the cochlea transmit high frequency sound information and the ones from the apical turn are transmit information of low frequency tones to the brain. The nervous signals transmitted via the spiral ganglion cells to the central auditory system can be recorded as auditory brainstem responses (ABR).


Systems and methods for providing access to data. When an application needs to perform an action that requires access to data, the application acquires a “ticket” in order to access the data. While the application holds the ticket, it is given access to the data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of communications, and in particular to protecting content on mobile wireless communications devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many mobile devices contain data that would be considered "sensitive," such as the contents of e-mail messages, names and e-mail addresses of contacts, the times and locations of meetings, etc. As a result, existing methods may be used to protect the user's sensitive data when the device is in a "locked" state by storing this data in an encrypted form in the user's file system.
If the user's data is completely encrypted when the user's device is locked, applications on the device cannot have access to the data when the device is locked. Otherwise, if there could at any time be data in the user's file system that is not encrypted, the device cannot be truly deemed securely "locked".
This effectively forces all applications on the device to stop what they are doing when the device enters a "locked" state, since they will no longer be able to access their data. For example, if an application is in the process of sorting a list of sensitive data, it will not be able to continue with the sorting operation until the device is unlocked. This could increase the complexity of the application considerably, since it would have to take the "lock state" of the device into consideration when determining when any operation could take place and since a device lock can be initiated at any time (e.g., by a timeout, or manually by the user).

Content protection ticket system and method


A device and a process for the calibration of a semi-conductor component test system

Semi-conductor components, e.g. corresponding integrated (analog and/or digital) computing circuits, semi-conductor memory components such as function storage components (PLAs, PALs, etc.) and table memory-components (e.g. ROMs and RAMs, in particular SRAMs and DRAMs), etc. are subjected—e.g. while in a semi-completed and/or a completed state—to numerous tests at several test stations.
For testing the semi-conductor components, a corresponding semi-conductor component test apparatus may be provided, which generates the test signals for testing the semi-conductor components at the test station in question.
For instance the signals required for testing the semi-conductor components still present on the corresponding wafer, may—at a first test station—for instance be generated by a test apparatus connected to a corresponding semi-conductor component test card ("probe card") and sent to the relevant pads of the semi-conductor components by means of corresponding needle-shaped connections ("contact pins") provided on the test card.
The signals emitted by the semi-conductor components to corresponding pads in response to the input test signals, are scanned by corresponding, needle-shaped connections ("contact pins") on the probe card, and relayed (e.g. via a corresponding signal line connecting the probe card with the test apparatus) to the test apparatus where an evaluation of the corresponding signals may take place.
After the wafer has been sawn up, the components—individually available by now—may be individually loaded into so-called carriers (i.e. into an appropriate container) and transported to a further test station.
At the further test station the carriers are inserted into a corresponding adapter and/or socket—connected to a (further) test apparatus—whereafter the components present in each carrier are then subjected to further test procedures.
In order to test the semi-conductor components present in the carriers the corresponding test signals generated by the test apparatus are relayed via the adapters and the carriers (and/or corresponding connections of the carriers) to the corresponding pads of the relevant semi-conductor components.
The signals emitted by the semi-conductor components at corresponding pads in response to the input test signals are scanned by corresponding carrier connections and relayed via the adapter (and a corresponding signal line connecting the adapter to the test apparatus) to the test apparatus, where an evaluation of corresponding signals may take place.
In correspondingly similar fashion the semi-conductor components may be tested for instance after being finally installed in corresponding component housings (e.g. corresponding plug-in or surface mounted housings) and/or after the housings—provided with corresponding semi-conductor components—have been installed in corresponding electronic modules, etc.
In order to achieve a high degree of accuracy in the above test procedures (in particular a high degree of accuracy in the test signals used and/or measured during the above test procedures), the relevant test apparatus may be subjected—before the start of the actual test procedure—to a calibration and/or set-up process.
For instance, a corresponding calibration signal may be emitted onto a signal line connecting the corresponding test apparatus with the relevant probe card, the relevant adapter etc. (e.g. the relevant carrier or housing adapter) by the relevant test apparatus, and the reflected signal induced by the calibration signal measured and evaluated by the test apparatus.
This process is relatively inaccurate.
Alternatively a so-called point-to-point-calibration and/or point-to-point set-up process may be used.
In this process the calibration signal emitted by the test apparatus onto the above signal line (e.g. by a corresponding calibration device) is measured and evaluated there—or approximately there—where it would have been received in each case by the relevant component during the later, actual test.
In this way it can be ensured that the signals received from the relevant component by the test apparatus—during the later, actual test—correspond with the test signals required for each relevant test (with as close to exactly the voltage levels required in each case and/or close to exactly the time behavior required, etc.).
The testing of semi-conductor components still present on a corresponding wafer with the aid of the above probe cards (and similarly also the calibration of the test apparatus used in each case) may take place in a sub-system (e.g. in a corresponding micro clean room system) isolated from the environment.
In order to perform the above calibration and/or set-up process, the relevant test apparatus is connected—via a corresponding signal line—with a corresponding device (movable within the sub-system) containing several (e.g. three) needle-shaped connections and/or contact pins (e.g. a SPP=short pin plate).
For calibrating the test apparatus, the SPP (short pin plate) is moved towards a calibration device (e.g. an NAC=needle auto-calibration device), in particular its NAC plate (needle auto-calibration plate) in such a way that the connections and/or contact pins of the SPP—as required in each case—make contact with the connections (pads) of the (NAC) calibration device—as required in each case—(and/or the connections of its needle plate (needle auto calibration plate) as required in each case).
A calibration signal emitted by the test apparatus—via the above signal line—may then be measured and evaluated by the calibration device.
In correspondingly inverted fashion, a (further) calibration signal emitted by the calibration device (via a corresponding NAC pad and a corresponding SPP contact pin) may be relayed to the test apparatus to be measured and evaluated there.
After the calibration of the test apparatus, the SPP may then again be removed from the NAC device, in particular from the NAC plate, whereafter e.g. a corresponding probe card calibration and/or set-up process may be performed.
For this, the probe card (correspondingly similar to the above SPP) may be moved towards the above calibration device (NAC device, in particular its NAC plate (needle auto calibration plate)) in such a way that the connections and/or contact pins of the probe card—as required in each case—make contact with the requisite connections (pads) of the calibration device in each case.
A corresponding calibration signal emitted by the calibration device (NAC device) is then relayed via a corresponding NAC pad—and a corresponding probe card contact pin in contact with it—to the probe card.
The signal emitted by the probe card in response to the input calibration signal to a corresponding contact pin, is scanned by a corresponding NAC pad—which is in contact with the contact pin—and then measured and evaluated by the calibration device.
One disadvantage inter alia of the above procedure is that during the calibration of the test apparatus the calibration signals need to be relayed via additional pins (namely the above SPP contact pins), which may lead to inaccuracies.

Device and a process for the calibration of a semiconductor component test system

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for the calibration of a probe card and/or of a semi-conductor component test apparatus including a first connection, at which a corresponding signal, in particular a calibration signal can be applied, and a second connection, connected or connectable with the first connection, at which the signal, in particular the calibration signal, can be emitted, and a third connection, at which a corresponding further signal, in particular a calibration signal, can be applied, and a fourth connection, connected or connectable with the third connection, at which the further signal, in particular the calibration signal, can be emitted.


A pigment dispersion useful for forming coating compositions containing dispersed pigment, a carrier solvent and an aminated macromonomer dispersant (binder) is disclosed. The aminated macromonomer dispersant is preferably prepared by the reaction of terminally unsaturated macromonomers synthesized by cobalt-catalyzed chain transfer free radical polymerizations of methacrylic monomers with monomeric or oligomeric amines.

Dispersible polymers that are used as dispersants for pigments and used to form pigment dispersions useful in formulating both solvent-borne and water-borne coating compositions are known in the art. Such pigment dispersions are used in the preparation of exterior finishes for automobiles and trucks. Government mandated reduction of volatile organic components (VOC) in these finishes drives a quest for ever-improving coating compositions. Dispersion of pigments is a critical feature of the composition formulation
An exterior automotive or truck finish containing a water sensitive component is undesirable since for example, water spotting and acid etching will result and the finish will be subject to degradation by weathering. A low VOC oligomeric dispersant is needed that will adequately disperse pigments and the dispersant should contain a segment readily dissolved in the chosen solvent and a segment that will attach to the surface of the pigment to be dispersed. The inventors have found that when such a oligomeric dispersant made from a particular macromonomer is used in a coating composition, a finish is formed that is free from the undesirable effects of water and weathering.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pigment dispersions containing aminated acrylic macromonomer dispersant


An optical parameter oscillator system is proposed for use in a continuous wave pump laser system having a single-frequency pump source. The system comprises a single-resonance resonator having a nonlinear medium to produce a first and second parametrically generated wave in response to the pump wave from the single-frequency pump source. The system includes means for controlling the cavity length of the resonator, means for controlling the pump frequency of the pump source and means for controlling the temperature of the nonlinear medium. The system provides for a reliable singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator capable of emitting laser light with high spectral purity and frequency stability over a wide spectral range and is resistant to mode hopping.

The invention concerns a compact and reliable singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) capable of emitting laser light of high spectral purity and frequency stability over a wide spectral range.
An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is a nonlinear device which converts incident photons into photon pairs when optically excited at a power per unit area above a certain threshold. The threshold level is a characteristic of the non-linear material, the resonator, and is a function of wavelength. This device is usually embodied in one of two forms: Either a doubly-resonant oscillator (DRO) in which both the generated optical beams are resonated or in a singly-resonant oscillator mode (SRO) in which only one of the generated optical beams is in resonance.
Use of optical parametric oscillators for commercial and scientific applications requires simultaneous achievement of several requirements. In particular, widely tunable laser radiation having high frequency stability and narrow linewidth is usable for a plurality of applications in the field of high-resolution spectroscopy and metrology. Continuous-wave operation of such laser sources is required to achieve linewidths on the order of one Mega Hertz or less. A plurality of continuous-wave lasers are available for different portions of the optical spectrum e.g. laser diodes in the 630-2000 nanometer range, titanium-sapphire lasers in the 710-1100 nanometer range, dye lasers in the 400-800 nm range and color center lasers in the 2-3.5 .mu.m spectral regions. However, these lasers fail to simultaneously satisfy the following criteria:
Large emission range (in excess of 100 nm); PA1 High power (in excess of 50 mW); PA1 Narrow linewidth (less than 1 Mega Hertz); PA1 Good frequency stability (drift less than 200 MHz/h); and compact size.
In principle, nonlinear optical frequency conversion can be used to extend the wavelength range of lasers having the desired properties. In combination with solid-state lasers, such as diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers, pulsed nonlinear frequency conversion has been demonstrated to be capable of generating light in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral regions in compact, powerful, and reliable systems. Research on continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) driven by diode-pumped solid state lasers had been started in 1989 by Kozlovsky et al. (Optics Letters 14, 66 (1989)) using a doubly-resonant OPO (DRO) with both generated waves being resonantly enhanced to reduce the oscillator threshold. Although emission ranges of more than 200 nm in the near infrared region and output powers in the mW range had been demonstrated (Gerstenberger et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 10, 1681 (1993)), the high susceptibility of DROs to mode-hopping and the difficult tuning behavior (Eckardt et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 8, 646 (1991)) have caused continuous-wave OPOs to achieve the reputation of being non-suitable for high-resolution spectroscopy applications. Yang et al. (Optics Letters 18, 971 (1993)) have shown that a singly-resonant OPO (SRO) can achieve mode-hop-free operation over several minutes and a continuous tuning range of 550 MHz has been obtained. These achievements of prior art are still far from the practical demands of high-resolution spectroscopy applications.
In view of these disadvantages of prior art, it is the principal purpose of the present invention to further improve a singly-resonant oscillator of the above mentioned kind in such a fashion that frequency-stable and mode-hop-free operation with continuous frequency tuning is achieved in an efficient, compact, stable and widely tunable nonlinear frequency conversion system.


A control system for fire prevention facilities is provided, particularly for the type of facilities mounted on buildings and warehouses mounting at least one pressure group and/or one equipped fire hydrant and/or one fire extinguisher. The control system comprises at least one pressure group and at least one equipped fire hydrant with a pressure gauge provided with a LED light and communication means, via radio or wiring, as well as at least one fire extinguisher equipped with a pressure gauge provided with a LED light and communication means, via radio or wiring; a control center with, at least one computer and a database.

1. Field of the Invention
The present specification describes a control system for fire prevention facilities, which is applicable for installation in all types of buildings, and thus, applies in public institutions, shopping malls, health and educational centers, and residential buildings, as well as in all types of businesses and industrial warehouses.
2. Description of Related Art
As it is known, with the passage of time security measures in general and, in particular as regards fire prevention, have been improving with the object of minimizing the risk thereof.
Thus, the different components of a fire protection facility such as the pressure group, the equipped fire hydrants and the fire extinguishers are provided with gauges that allow a user to know that the pressure is correct and for this regular reviews are carried out.
Despite this, at any time a pressure leak may occur rendering the corresponding component useless, not being aware of it until an "in situ" inspection is performed, such that if said component had to be used during that interval of time it will not be possible, and this may have fatal consequences.
This problem becomes more serious in those rooms of the facility that are closed having restricted access and that are only tested when the corresponding review of the facility is carried out by the maintenance services, so they may be useless and this is not detected until the review is carried out. Thus, the discharge of automatic fire extinguishers can occur in burners or boilers wherein no one accesses until the review is carried out and therefore said area is unprotected.
Likewise, it may also be the case that the pressure group does not have the correct pressure such that there will not be enough pressure in the event of use of the equipped fire hydrants, with the added inconvenient that by not having the correct pressure the pumps operate without sufficient pressure and they can be damaged and the facility remains unprotected.
Similarly, the fire extinguishers may lose pressure, may be discharged or may be stolen, leaving the area unprotected and so that, typically, there is no record of this until a review is carried out. Exceptionally, there might be the case that, in those components that are within sight, such as fire extinguishers, someone will realize the lack of pressure or even the lack of some fire extinguisher and can give warning, although these are very sporadic situations.
On the other hand, an inadequate maintenance can be provided by the maintenance company of the facility, by neglect or lack of the corresponding item, and therefore not being in working conditions.
In short, the real fact is that although there can be a fire protection facility properly mounted, it may occur that it is not in the appropriate working conditions and therefore, in the case of having to use the same, it does not fulfil its function.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an existing problem is that in the case of theft or loss of a safety pin of the actuating lever of the fire extinguishers there are no means that allow knowing this, so that, in these circumstances, the fire extinguishers can lose pressure and extinguishing agent and, with this, efficiency or rendering them inoperative.

Control system for fire prevention facilities


A marine control arm formed from an elongated arm member having a hollow shell with first, second, third and fourth internal guides. Each of the internal guides extends from an outer surface of the hollow shell to an inner surface of the hollow shell. The first and second internal guides are separated by a first distance, and the third and fourth internal guides are separated by a second distance. The control arm includes an insert having a plurality of knurls for mating with grooves in a throttle assembly. The insert has first and second wings for positioning the insert within the hollow shell. The first wing has a first width corresponding to the first distance, and the second wing has a second width corresponding to the second distance. The insert has an inner surface and an outer surface and is rigidly affixed to the elongated arm member within the hollow shell such that the first wing is positioned between the first and second guides, the second wing is positioned between the third and fourth guides, the inner surface of the hollow shell is positioned against the inner surface of the insert, and the outer surface of insert is positioned flush with the outer surface of the hollow shell.

Marine motors and transmissions are typically controlled by throttles and clutches that are adjusted or moved by a pilot or captain during operation of a boat. Each throttle generally includes a control arm that is connected to a throttle assembly which, in turn, is connected via a cable to a marine engine. Similarly, each clutch typically includes a control arm that is connected to a clutch assembly which, in turn, is connected via a cable to a marine transmission. These control arms generally include a knob at one end which can be grasped by the pilot or captain in order to vary engine speed or direction.
Each control arm typically includes knurls (or ridges) for coupling the control arm to either a throttle or clutch assembly. More particularly, each control arm typically includes a round knurl socket with ridges that mate with corresponding grooves a throttle or clutch assembly when the control arm and the throttle or clutch assembly are interconnected. The knurls or ridges in the knurl socket are usually quite small, and typically have a height which is on the order of a millimeter.
In order for the knurl socket in the control arm to function properly, it is critical that the socket have a roundness that matches the round contour of the throttle or clutch assembly to which the control arm will be connected. In addition, it is critical that the knurls or ridges in the socket be present in a proper dimension.
When certain metals are cast into parts (and, in particular, when stainless steel is cast into parts), the shrinkage of the part within a mold will vary unevenly if the weight of the part is not evenly distributed throughout the mold. Since a knurl socket is typically of a greater mass than the remaining portion of its associated control arm, it is difficult to cast both the knurl socket and the control arm in a single piece without uneven shrinkage occurring during the casting process. Such uneven shrinkage will typically result in a loss of roundness in the knurl socket of the control arm.
In addition, the dimension of each knurl in the socket (typically on the order of a single millimeter in height) is substantially smaller than the handle portion of the control arm which will often be about eight inches in dimension. Given the relatively large size of the handle portion in relation to the knurls, it is difficult to cast both handle portion and the knurls in a single casting. This difficulty arises from the fact that the fluidness of metal decreases during the casting process as the metal begins to cool. Since the knurl socket is located at one end of the control arm, it is likely that some or all of the individual knurls in the socket might not cast if the knurl socket and the control arm are formed in a single casting.
Marine control arms and knobs are typically positioned near the steering wheel of a craft, and are often positioned at locations which expose the control arms and knobs to the outside elements such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun, wind and rain. In order for a pilot or captain to clearly distinguish between the throttle and clutch during operation of a boat, the knob used for controlling the marine throttle is generally labeled with the color red, and the knob used for controlling the marine clutch is generally labeled with the color black. However, as a result of exposure to the outside elements, these control knobs often lose some or all of their initial coloration. Control knobs with deteriorated coloring are unsightly. More importantly, however, when the control knobs have deteriorated coloring, it is more difficult for a pilot or captain to distinguish between the throttle and clutch during operation of a boat.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a marine control arm with a round knurl socket in which all of the knurls in the socket have been properly cast.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide control knobs which are easily distinguishable and which do not lose coloration as a result of exposure to the outside elements.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide control knobs which are distinguishable not only by virtue of their color, but also as a result of their surface feel and texture.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide improved control knobs which can be used in connection with existing control arms as replacements for deteriorated knobs which may be affixed to such control arms.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the description and claims which follow or may be learned by the practice of the invention.

Marine control arm with knurl insert and method for making same


A method for making micromagnets and magnets with a micro-polarization pattern on at least one surface thereof. The method includes the steps of molding a ceramic mold form including a cavity therein having a predetermined shape and a serpentine conduit path therethrough adjacent the cavity, the serpentine conduit path having a nominal diameter ranging down to as small as about 50 microns, sintering the mold form, supporting the mold form on a micro-porous substrate within a chamber, flooding one side of the mold form with a molten electrically conductive material, drawing a vacuum within the chamber on an opposite side of the mold form causing the molten electrically conductive material to flow into and through the serpentine conduit path toward the micro-porous substrate, cooling the molten electrically conductive material to form a serpentine electrical conductor in the mold form, forming a ferromagnetic element within the cavity, and imparting a micro-polarization pattern to the ferromagnetic element by transmitting an electrical current through the serpentine conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the production and polarization of magnets and, more particularly, to the production and polarization of micro-sized, multi-pole magnets and magnets which have a multi-pole, micro-polarization pattern imposed thereon.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Generally speaking, conventional permanent magnets are greater than one cubic centimeter in volume and have two or more magnetic poles on their surface which are greater than one millimeter in width. The fabrication of these magnets involves the formation of raw magnetic materials into a desired shape. The magnetic materials so shaped are then polarized to achieve the desired pole structure on the surface of the magnet. A variety of processes are known in the prior art for forming conventional magnets including injection molding, extrusion molding, cold pressing, and hot pressing, among others. Once the magnetic material is formed in the desired shape, the material is polarized in magnetization fixtures that consist of standard gauge wires imbedded in a support member that surrounds and/or encloses the formed magnet. The wires are threaded through the support member such that they are close to the surface of the enclosed magnet. To polarize the magnet, a high current (often in excess of 10,000 amps) is transmitted through the wires over a short time duration (typically on the order of one millisecond). The current pulse so transmitted through the wires produces an electromagnetic field which cuts across the magnet in such a way so as to impart the desired pole structure to the surface of the magnet.
While conventional technology is adequate for the production of conventional magnets, such technology is inadequate for the production of micro-sized magnets which will be generally referred to herein as "micromagnets". "Micromagnets" are magnets which are less than one cubic millimeter in total volume and which require surface poles as small as about 100 microns in width, or less. Conventional technology is also inadequate for the production of magnets greater than one cubic millimeter in total volume with micro-polarization patterns imposed thereon. Although it is possible using conventional methods to form conductors with cross-sections smaller than standard wire gauges, using such conventional methods in a process for forming micromagnets would be exceedingly expensive. Such conventional methods include electron discharge machining or chemically machining a solid conductor such as copper to obtain the desired conductive structure. Even though conductors such as bonding wire as used in the assembly of integrated circuits are available in diameters down to about 1.25 mils, conventional methods would make it impractical, if not impossible, to precisely thread such conductors through micro-sized molds for the production of magnets with micro-polarization patterns.

Method for the formation and polarization of micromagnets


Apparatus and methods provide for configuring a peripheral device in response to applying defined sets of signals to input/output terminals of the peripheral device, sensing the signals at those input/output terminals after applying the defined sets of signals, and comparing the sensed signals with the defined sets of signals.

The continual penetration of computer systems into additional markets has been fueled by the emphasis on cost effective user-friendly adaptations for the computer system and on minimizing the amount of resources the user expends configuring the computer system rather than productively utilizing the computer system. Concomitant with the explosion in the popularity of computer systems has seen the proliferation of available externally attachable/detachable peripheral devices for use with the computer system to meet the application demands of the user. One such peripheral is the flash memory card.
A flash memory card is a nonvolatile memory device with a compact housing that does not require a power source in order to retain its memory contents. A typical flash memory card stores charge on a floating gate to represent a first logic state of the binary state system, while the lack of stored charge represents a second logic state of the binary state system. Additionally, the typical flash memory card is capable of performing a write operation, a read operation, and an erase operation.
Flash memory cards can provide "plug and play" capability, low power consumption, portability, and high density storage. Flash memory cards are well suited for digital applications such as digital camera storage, digital audio applications, and wherever rewritable, digital data storage in a portable housing is needed.
The input/output terminal of the flash memory card is configured to observe one of the prevailing industry standards. This standard requires the input/output terminal to be a fifty pin connector. The flash memory card with its fifty pin connector is designed to fit within either a fifty pin flash socket or, with the addition of a passive adapter, a sixty-eight pin PCMCIA socket. However, most host computer systems do not have either the fifty pin flash socket or the sixty-eight pin PCMCIA socket. If a user wishes to utilize the flash memory card with the host computer system, the user must purchase an expensive PCMCIA socket to connect with the host computer system.
Another deficiency in the current flash memory card market is the inability of the flash memory card to be conveniently configured for operating in the universal serial bus (USB) mode, the PCMCIA mode, the ATA IDE mode, or any other protocol for coupling peripheral devices to host computer systems and accessing the peripheral devices. There is a need for a flash memory card that automatically detects and configures itself to the operating mode being utilized by the interface apparatus or host computer system's peripheral port to which the flash memory card is coupled.
Applicant previously proposed a flash memory card and interfacing system to address the current unavailability of automatically configurable flash memory cards. That flash memory card and interfacing system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,173, filed Mar. 2, 1998, entitled "Improved Compact Flash Memory Card and Interface," now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,162, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Applicant's previous flash memory card and interfacing system is shown in FIG. 1A. The interfacing system 10 includes a flash memory card interface device 100 and a flash memory card 90 with a fifty pin connector. The flash memory card interface device 100 employs the universal serial bus architecture. The flash memory card interface device 100 includes the following components: a housing 20, a card slot 30, a cable 40, a cable connector 45, and a plug 50. For one embodiment, the cable 40 is a standard universal serial bus cable. The plug 50 is configured to easily couple with a universal serial bus port on a host computer system.
FIG. 1B illustrates a bottom cutaway view of the housing 20 in the flash memory card interface device 100. FIG. 1C illustrates a perspective cutaways view of the flash memory card interface device 100. A card receiver housing 130 is attached to the bottom plate 110. Additionally, a plurality of contact pins 160 are coupled to the card receiver housing 130, e.g., fifty contact pins. The card receiver housing 130 is configured to couple and hold the flash memory card 90 as the flash memory card 90 is inserted through the slot opening 30 in the housing 20 as shown in FIG. 1A. Further, the plurality of contact pins 160 are configured to electrically couple with the corresponding pins (not shown) on the flash memory card 90.
In operation, one end of flash memory card interface device 100 is coupled to a host computer system (not shown) via the plug 50 and the other end of the flash memory card interface device 100 is coupled to the flash memory card 90 via the card receiver housing 130, a fifty pin connection.
Applicant's previous flash memory card 90 detected the operating mode of the interface device 100 to which the previous flash memory card was coupled and configured itself to the appropriate operating mode by using an internal controller and a sensing means coupled to the internal controller. FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart diagram which represents the procedure the internal controller of the previous flash memory card 90 could follow in detecting the operating mode of the interface device 100 to which the previous flash memory card 90 was coupled. The fundamental mechanism utilized by the internal controller for detecting the operating mode consists solely of sensing signals at the fifty pin connector of the previous flash memory card 90. At the fifty pin connector, the internal controller does not alter or add signals, but simply senses the signals.
The operating mode detection sequence begins with the previous flash memory card 90 being coupled to the flash memory card interface device 100, which is coupled to the host computer system, then proceeding to the BLOCK 200 routine of powering up the previous flash memory card 90. After the power up sequence in BLOCK 200, the signal at the HOE_pin terminal of the previous flash memory card 90 is sensed in BLOCK 210. If the signal at the HOE_pin terminal is a logic HIGH, then proceeding to BLOCK 220 the internal controller configures the previous flash memory card 90 into the PCMCIA mode. However, if the signal at the HOE_pin terminal is logic LOW, then proceeding to BLOCK 230 the signal at the HOSTRESET_pin terminal is sensed. If the signal at the HOSTRESET_pin terminal is logic LOW, then the operating mode detection sequence returns to BLOCK 230 and senses the signal at the HOSTRESET_pin terminal again. If the signal at the HOSTRESET_pin terminal remains logic LOW, then the operating mode detection sequence continues to loop back to BLOCK 230 until the HOSTRESET_pin terminal switches to logic HIGH. If the signal at the HOSTRESET_pin terminal is logic HIGH, then proceeding to BLOCK 240 the signals at pin terminals IOW_, IOR_, HCE1.sub.-, and HCE2_ are sensed. If all of these signals are logic LOW, then proceeding to BLOCK 250 the internal controller configures the previous flash memory card 90 into the universal serial bus mode. If any of these signals are logic HIGH, then proceeding to BLOCK 260 the internal controller configures the previous flash memory card 90 into the ATA IDE mode.
Unfortunately, since the previous flash memory card 90 relies solely on sensing particular signals at particular pin terminals, the previous flash memory card 90 is limited as to the number of different operating modes it is capable of detecting. In addition, reliance on sensing a few pin terminals is susceptible to detecting an incorrect operating mode because a single missensed signal could cause the previous flash memory card 90 to be configured to the incorrect operating mode.
What is needed is a flash memory card capable of detecting a large number of different operating modes. What is further needed is a flash memory card capable of accurately and automatically detecting the operating mode of the interface device or host computer system's peripheral port to which the flash memory card is coupled and of configuring itself to the detected operating mode. What is further needed is an interfacing system which simplifies both the attachment to host computer systems and configuration of flash memory cards from the end-user perspective.

Methods and apparatus for identifying operating modes for peripheral devices


An autonomous and decentralized production control system comprising a plurality of production cells for performing the assembly and machining work. Each production cell proceeds with the production procedure by performing jobs in accordance with the works charged thereinto. A first embodiment comprises working cells each including a device for determining the working cell for executing an intended job. A second embodiment comprises a pallet for carrying an object of a job, and a device for determining the order of job priority in order to meet the product delivery time. Each working cell decides on the advisability and time of performing the job on the object, thereby autonomously implementing the production control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production control system, or more in particular to an apparatus, equipment and a control system required for constructing a flexible production system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional production control systems, an operating schedule is formed on the basis of a product specification for each piece of production equipment, equipment control data for implementing a job for each piece of equipment is prepared and stored in the related equipment, and the job is performed according to the operating schedule. These conventional systems require a system shutdown to correct equipment control units and the operating schedule to alter the product specification or the production equipment. A similar system shutdown and repair work is also required when fault of an equipment part occurs.
A solution to these problems has been suggested by "Production Control System of Process-Led Operation Selection Type" disclosed in JP-A-1-321503 and "Information Processing System for Processing Cells of Autonomous and Decentralized Type" in JP-A-2-236604, in which the equipment is not assigned with any job but autonomously selects and proceeds with a job for the work to thereby construct a flexible production control system.
According to the prior art disclosed in JP-A2-236604 primarily intended for a processing job, for example, each working cell making up a production control system conducts the job on its own as required on the basis of the processing information, etc. added to the work charged thereto. Also, a plurality of working cells having substantially the same specification are arranged to provide system flexibility, and makes possible the operation of a replacement cell when a cell malfunctions while at the same time assuring load equalization among different cells.
In the prior art systems described above, the equipment simply receives an incoming work and decides whether or not it is capable of performing the next job on the particular work. More specifically, if a job is capable of being performed, the equipment never fails to implement the next job. This system necessitates information exchange only with a single work in selecting a job, and therefore the algorithm for job selection is simple and causes no interference with the remaining equipment. In view of the fact that the equipment concentrates on a single work for job selection, however, the information regarding the remaining works is not taken into consideration in job selection. As a result, the delivery time of a particular product is disregarded. This not only makes it difficult to predict the completion time of a product, but also no priority is given even to a work of urgent necessity.
Where there are a plurality of works intended for a given job, the job is conventionally performed on first-come-first-served basis but no consideration is given to the order of priority based on delivery time or the like. As a consequence, a work with a short lead time, or especially, a work whose processing is of urgent necessity is unavoidably placed in the hands of the operator. Further, since works are controlled by work type, an urgent work which may occur cannot be processed until completion of a job on all the works of a particular work type in the process of operation.
In conventional systems, the processing operations required for works are similar to each other, and therefore flexibility could be simply obtained by a parallel arrangement of a plurality of cells of the same specification. In such production control systems, the workability including the possibility of a given job in other cells and the time required for the job are known in advance and need not be confirmed.
Nevertheless, in the assembly work which unlike the processing work has a smaller similarity between the jobs performed on different works, a system is difficult to construct only with cells of substantially the same specification. A production control system including the assembly work, therefore, requires an arrangement of cells having different functions. This requirement is not fully met by conventional production control systems which fail to confirm the workability of other cells as described above.

Production control system of autonomous and decentralized type


A safety system for prevention of the escape of noxious media, such as explosive gas mixtures and/or ignitable substances, has at least one interception element (10; 30) which at least partly encloses and seals off a potential escape point (12) for the medium. The medium is precipitated onto the interception element (10; 30). Once the medium has been collected, it may be removed from the interception element (10; 30). In this way, both aggressive media and fuel-laden gases may be effectively controlled by safety engineering measures.

Interaction of structural components, in particular, to conduct fluid constantly results in unintentional development of potential points of leakage of noxious media which escape from the fluid conduct system. The escaping media is often in the form of clouds of gases as aggressive media vapors (acids, lyes, toxic substances, etc.) or explosive gaseous mixtures and/or easily ignitable substances that constitute a safety hazard for the surroundings, including the harmful effect on the environment. Such problematical situations arise in chemical processing technology, in particular, in refining of fuel and its delivery by dispensers, in hydraulic systems, and especially in operation of diesel engines and other internal combustion engines.

Safety system and process for its operation


A blade-shaped armrest pivots along mutually orthogonal axis to provide compact storage adjacent the side of a seat and yet provide a wide support surface when moved to a lowered use position. In one embodiment, the armrest automatically rotates in two planes as it is moved between a stored position and the use position. In another embodiment of the invention, an armrest is pivotally mounted forwardly of a pivoted support member and both members rotated together from a generally vertical position to a horizontal position and the armrest is then rotated with respect to the support member to a horizontal position for use. A releasable latch holds the armrest in a selected position with respect to the support member.

The present invention relates to a vehicle armrest and particularly one which moves in two planes as it is extended from a compact storage position to a use position.
Armrests typically pivot between a raised position to a lowered use position in a vertical plane. The armrest occupies the area immediately adjacent the side of the seat back when in a retracted stored position and rotates in a single axis and in a vertical plane to a lowered use position. In vans and particularly mini-vans, it is desirable to allow room between front seats such that a person can move from the front of the vehicle to the rear area of the vehicle. Conventional armrests severely restrict such access.
Also, with the advent of today's relatively compact vehicles, the space between front seats typically cannot easily accommodate a pair of armrests, with one each for the driver and passenger sides, let alone a pair of armrests which have a width which provides comfortable support of one's forearm. Thus, single armrests are usually provided or the armrests are relatively narrow and therefore uncomfortable.
Further, in many vehicles, a parking brake lever extends between the front seats and an armrest can interfere with its operation when lowered. In order to overcome the latter problem, an armrest is disclosed in Offenlegungsschrift DE 3432084 A1 published on Mar. 13, 1986, which pivots downwardly from a seat back and then rotates outwardly to present a concave edge which faces the seat occupant. A linear edge is spaced from an adjacent armrest of mirror image construction to provide access to a parking brake control lever. Although such a design provides for two plane movement of an armrest between storage and use positions, it does not provide easy control for the user nor does it provide an armrest of a substantially uniform width along its length for providing comfortable support for a persons arm.


A method and a system of generating an image sequence of an object within a scene. According to one embodiment, the method includes capturing an image (images I1-N) of the object with a plurality of camera systems, wherein the camera systems are positioned around the scene. Next, the method includes 2D projective transforming certain of the images (I2-N) such that a point of interest in each of the images is at a same position as a point of interest in a first image (I1) from one of the camera systems. The method further includes outputting the transformed images (I2′-N′) and the first image (I1) in a sequence corresponding to a positioning of the corresponding camera systems around the scene.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image and video processing.
2. Description of the Background
With reference to FIG. 1, the so-called "spin-image" effect may be achieved by using multiple cameras with pan/tilt/zoom control mounted around an area of interest. The cameras are controlled to fixate on points within the area of interest. Playing back sequentially one frame from each camera taken at the same instant in time results in the frozen-time, spin-image effect. This is sometimes referred to as the "3D stop-motion image" effect. However, if control of the cameras is not perfect, they will not all fixate precisely on one three-dimensional (3d) scene point, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The result is a "jumpiness" in the image sequence that detracts from the spin-image effect.

System and method for stabilizing rotational images


Superabsorbent particles have a median size of from about 50 to about 2,000 micrometers and contain a porous network that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers, wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of about 80 seconds or less and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) of 5 darcys or more, of 10 darcys or more, of 20 darcys or more, of 30 darcys or more, of 60 darcys or more, or of 90 darcys or more. A method for forming such superabsorbent particles includes forming a composition that contains a superabsorbent polymer and a solvent system; contacting the composition with a non-solvent system to initiate formation of the porous network through phase inversion; removing non-solvent from the composition; and surface crosslinking the superabsorbent particles.

Superabsorbent materials are employed in a wide variety of applications to help absorb fluids. These materials are generally capable of absorbing a fluid (e.g., water, saline, etc.) in an amount several times their own weight. Still, one problem associated with many conventional superabsorbent materials is that when they initially come into contact with the fluid, the rate of absorption can be relatively slow. As such, a need currently exists for a superabsorbent material that exhibits relatively fast absorption rates, particularly when initially coming into contact with a fluid.


An angular-position magnetic-sensor device includes at least one stator and one rotor. A space between said stator and said rotor, defining over substantially 360°, is a main air gap including at least two movable magnetic poles of alternating polarities. The stator is provided with at least one secondary air gap in which there is placed at least one magnetosensitive element. The stator is composed of two pole shoes having angular widths that are substantially equal to 120° and 240° respectively, and the two magnetic poles each have an angular width substantially equal to 120°.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular-position magnetic-sensor device. It is applicable in particular but not exclusively to motorized butterfly valves (ETC), which require a very stable signal at the beginning of travel and a fairly large travel (larger than 90°) with excellent linearity.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, contactless systems comprise substantially devices made from angular-position magnetic sensors. In all such devices, the measured signal must be as linear as possible according to angular position.
In order to make both the invention and the angular-position magnetic-sensor devices more comprehensible, it is important to understand the "zero gauss" concept.
The position delivering a signal equal to zero gauss corresponds to the point of high stability. In fact, the variation of induction is measured by means of an intelligent and programmable Hall-effect sensor of ASIC type. This sensor is capable of compensating for the effect of temperature (programming of a thermal coefficient) on the magnetic system. Such temperature compensation is not perfect, and therefore the only position for which this error has no influence is a position at which induction is zero.
French Patent Application No. 2670286 and European Patent Application No. 0665416, filed in the name of the Applicant, disclose a device in which the angular-position measurement function is achieved by variation of the magnetic induction, but propose a maximum travel of ±90° around the zero-gauss position. For sensors of the type presented in the aforesaid two patents, this travel is reduced to ±70° around the zero-gauss position in an attempt to obtain excellent linearity (typically ±0.5%). Since ETC applications generally necessitate a total travel of close to 90°, two options are possible:                the use of a symmetric angular range, such as [−45°; +45°], or        the use of the angular range [−20°; +70°], so as to approach zero gauss.
Thus it is not possible in any of the cases to combine the following three characteristics:                a zero-gauss starting point (high-stability point),        a usable angular travel greater than or equal to 90°,        excellent linearity (±0.5%) over the chosen angular range.
In fact, if the interval [−20°; +70°], for example, is used, the starting point (−20°) does not operate at zero gauss but exhibits an offset, which is problematic for applications that necessitate a very stable starting point.
In the prior art there is also known U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,745, which describes a contactless detection device comprising a rotor and a stator. In the stator there is disposed a Hall element in an air gap having the form of a slit, and in the interior wall of the rotor there are disposed two annular magnets having mutually opposed magnetic polarities.
Within the scope of use of the angular sensor over the maximum travel (240°) and/or for applications of the ETC type, however, only two structures function theoretically, those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are composed respectively of an interior stator configuration and an exterior stator configuration. These two devices exhibit the following characteristics: three pieces for the stator and two magnets that are magnetized radially, one (interior radial) over an angular extent of 120° and the other (exterior radial) over an angular extent of 240°.
At present, however, it is not technically feasible to magnetize a magnet correctly over an angular extent of 240°. This degradation of performances leads inevitably to poor linearity and, as it happens, linearity is the primary criterion for sensors of this type.
Finally, there is also known International Patent Application No. WO 0120250, which describes a measuring device for contactless detection of a relative motion, comprising 3 stator poles of approximately 120° by making of a hole in the large stator, with the objective of decreasing the leakage flux when the transition of the magnets is located in the configuration illustrated in particular in FIGS. 22, 23, 24a and 24c of the said application. Thus the device of that patent application does not permit operation in the angular phase [−120°; +120°], because the presence of the said hole induces an "accident" in the measured induction for the zone close to zero.


In an individual authenticating method for portable communication equipment which comprises a fingerprint sensor, an operating portion for inputting a personal identification number and controller for authenticating on the basis of fingerprint information and/or the personal identification number thus achieved whether a person to be authenticated is the identical person, the authentication of the person to be authenticated is performed by using fingerprint authentication when the importance level is lower or by using both of fingerprint authentication and personal identification number authentication when the importance level is higher. For example, plural authentication levels are set for the fingerprint authentication in accordance with the importance level of each of the plural functions provided to the portable communication equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an individual authentication (attestation) method for portable communication equipment such as a cellular phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like, and a program product for implementing the individual authentication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, individual authentication for various applications containing electronic business using cellular phones has increased in importance. The conventional individual authentication using cellular phones has used input of personal identification numbers (passwords) as individual authenticating (attesting) means, and it has been considered to bring the cellular phones with an individual authenticating function based on biometrics as means having high security level. Fingerprint authentication has higher authentication precision among these biometrics authenticating means, and it has been expected as one of means having a good possibility that it is available in cellular phones from the aspect of the price, size, etc. of sensors.
However, the above conventional technique has the following disadvantages.
A first disadvantage resides in that in the conventional individual authentication method based on the personal identification number (PIN) inputting manner, there is a high risk that the personal identification number is stolen by another person, so that this method is insufficient in safety for electronic business, etc. which need high security level.
A second disadvantage resides in that in the conventional individual authentication method based on the personal identification number (PIN) inputting manner, as the digit number of the personal identification number is increased to enhance the security level, it is more unavailable and the probability that a user forgets his/her personal identification number is higher.
A third disadvantage resides in that in the conventional individual authentication method using a relatively cheap fingerprint sensor, it is impossible to achieve a high-quality fingerprint image stably and thus it is needed to input a fingerprint many times until a fingerprint suitable for authentication is achieved in order to enhance the authentication precision, so that this method is unavailable.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-076412 discloses a technique on a card to enhance the precision of identification of a person to be authenticated by using fingerprint authentication in combination with his/her personal identification number to identify the person concerned, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-144748 discloses a technique of generating an enciphering key and a deciphering key on the basis of combination data of living body information such as a fingerprint and a password, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. Sho-59-9775 discloses a technique on a magnetic card that has a secrete number recorded therein and has a fingerprint press portion onto which a fingerprint is impressed, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. Hei-4-352548 discloses a portable telephone which reads in the telephone number of a transactor by authenticating his/her fingerprint.
Particularly, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-076412 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-144748 disclose techniques of keeping high security by using the input of the personal identification number and the fingerprint authentication in combination with each other. There is no description about unavailability of a fingerprint sensor in these publications. Further, when these techniques are used for authentication of a single function such as a credit card or the like, there is no problem in usability even if only one level is provided as the security level. However, in the case of the cellular phone, authentication in different security levels is needed for various situations from such a situation that a user needs permission of change of a simple setting to such a situation that a user needs authentication of electronic commerce. If such situations are supported by using only one security level, the security level must be set to the highest security level, so that these techniques are unavailable particularly when the permission of change of a simple setting is required.
Conventional cellular phones have some functions needing input of personal identification numbers, however, the security levels to be required are not so high. However, since it is expected that functions needing higher security levels such as electronic commerce will be equipped to cellular phones, it is required to bring plural security levels in accordance with the importance level of each function.

Individual authentication method for portable communication equipment and program product therefor


An interploid cross (conventional breeding) of Sugar Belle® (patented as ‘LB8-9’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,356) mandarin hybrid with a somatic hybrid of [‘Nova’ mandarin hybrid+‘Succari’ sweet orange], followed by embryo rescue, led to the recovery of the seedless triploid hybrid known as ‘C4-15-19’. Trees of ‘C4-15-19’ are productive, producing an attractive peelable tangerine fruit with robust sweet flavor, maturing in October/November under Florida conditions. Fruit size is small-to-medium, and quite uniform.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of mandarin tree named 'C4-15-19'. 'C4-15-19' is a triploid hybrid from an interploid cross of diploid monoembryonic 'Sugar Belle'®, patented as 'LB8-9' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,356) tangelo (female parent) crossed with an allotetraploid somatic hybrid of 'Nova' mandarin hybrid (unpatented, Clementine×Orlando)+'Succari' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) (male parent, unpatented), obtained via embryo rescue. Two original trees exist in Lake Alfred, Fla., one of which is grafted to 'Carrizo' (unpatented) citrus rootstock, and the other of which is grafted to a somatic hybrid of sour orange+'Flying Dragon' (unpatented). 'C4-15-19' was first asexually reproduced in Lake Alfred, Fla. Trueness-to-type through asexual propagation was demonstrated by topworking (grafting) onto the somatic hybrid rootstock sour orange+'Carrizo', also located in Lake Alfred, Fla.


An infusion pump is powered either from an ac line, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. The pump automatically differentiates between disposable and rechargeable batteries, and it includes an alarm activated when the pump senses that the battery has been depleted in accordance with the kind of battery in use.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to an infusion device such as a patient controlled analgesic pump and the like with dual power supply, and more particularly to a microprocessor-controlled infusion device which can be powered by an AC supply, by rechargeable batteries, or by disposable batteries, and which device determines its supply automatically and adjusts its operation accordingly.
2. Description of the State of the Art
Infusion devices generally use two kinds of power schemes: disposable batteries, or AC power with rechargeable backup batteries. Disposable batteries are best for devices with low power consumption, which are moved frequently from one location to another, or which are not used on a continuous basis. AC systems with rechargeable batteries are best for continuous use or for applications where patient transport is limited. However, sometimes it is desirable to use the same device for both types of applications.
Frequently infusion devices are equipped with a power monitoring circuit which monitors the voltage level of the device power supply and activates an alarm when it senses a low power condition. However, rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries have different discharge characteristics, and therefore if the monitoring circuit is set to sense a voltage level appropriate for one of the batteries, the indication will not be effective for sensing the reserve power of the other type of battery.


A machine arrangement, including at least one bearing ring, wherein a glass fiber is connected with the machine arrangement. To allow a proper measurement of stresses even at curved surfaces of the machine arrangement as it is typical in the case of bearing rings, the connection between the glass fiber and the machine arrangement is established by a metallic material which metal material is connected by material bonding with the machine arrangement as well as with the glass fiber.

It is known in the art to equip a machine part of this kind with a glass fiber element to allow the measurement of different physical parameters. By doing so, a survey of the parameters becomes possible by using the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) method. By this method temperatures as well as strains of the machine arrangement can be monitored.
For doing so it is necessary to connect a glass fiber with the component. For surveying temperatures it is essential that a thermal coupling between the glass fiber and the machine arrangement is established. For monitoring strains it is necessary to mechanically connect the glass fiber with the component to be monitored.
Specifically in the latter case problems arise because the glass fiber is normally equipped with a plurality of coaxially arranged cover layers. A typical construction employs a cladding arranged around the glass fiber (core) itself; the cladding is coated by a coating layer. Then, strengthening fibers (made e. g. from aramid) are arranged at the outer circumference of the coating. Finally the strengthening fibers are cased by a hollow cylindrical cable jacket.
When a glass fiber element of this type is connected with the component a certain elasticity is inherent between the glass core and the component. Thus, specifically the measurement of strains is problematic due to the elasticity. This is specifically a problem when the component is not even or flat but if it has a spherical shape. This is typical in the case of a part of a bearing, specifically of a roller bearing.
It is an object of the present invention to propose a machine arrangement of the above mentioned kind which is designed in such a manner that a contact is established between the glass fiber core and the component which is as stiff as possible. By doing so it is aimed to monitor physical properties, especially of strains in the component, with a high degree of precision. Thus, specifically a proper measurement of stresses should become possible even at curved surfaces of the machine arrangement as is typical in the case of bearing rings.


This invention relates to a technique for making a high quality natural rubber composition having a dirt content of less than 0.03 percent and a constant Mooney viscosity of 60 by blending up to 60 weight percent cup-lump rubber with natural rubber made by coagulating natural rubber latex This process comprises: (1) removing foreign material from the cup-lump rubber to produce cleaned cup-lump rubber; (2) reducing the particle size of the cleaned cup-lump rubber to an average particle size of less than 35 millimeters; (3) coagulating the natural rubber latex to produce latex rubber coagulum; (4) mixing the cleaned cup-lump rubber with the latex rubber coagulum to produce a blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum, wherein a maximum of 60 percent by weight of the cup-lump rubber is mixed into the blend; (5) reducing the particle size of the blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum to a maximum particle size of 3 millimeters to produce a small particle size rubber blend; (6) conveying the small particle size rubber blend in an air medium through a pneumatic transfer system; (7) mixing about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.2 weight percent of an antioxidant into the small particle size rubber blend as its being conveyed in the air medium through the pneumatic transfer system; (8) transferring the small particle size rubber blend in the air medium into a gas-cyclone; and (9) separating the air from the small particle size rubber blend to produce the high quality natural rubber composition.

Natural rubber is produced by a wide variety of plant species. For instance, Guayule rubber is produced by Parthenium argentatum which is a shrub found in Mexico and the southwestern part of the United States. However, natural rubber is cultivated on a commercial basis almost exclusively from Hevea brasiliensis which is a tree that is indigenous to Brazil. Hevea brasiliensis trees grow only within the tropics and subtropics where frost is never encountered and where heavy annual rainfalls occur. In fact, Hevea brasiliensis trees are typically cultivated only within a latitude of 15xc2x0 of the equator.
Today, most natural rubber comes from rubber plantations where Hevea brasiliensis trees (rubber trees) are cultivated. The rubber is present in latex which is an emulsion or dispersion of rubber in water produced by the trees. The rubber latex occurs in the bark of the rubber trees in tubes or ducts which spiral from left to right as they ascend the trees. The latex is tapped from the rubber trees about every other day. This is done by making a spiral cut downward from left to right at an angle of about 30xc2x0 for half of the circumference of the tree. The cut is made almost, but not completely, through the bark. In any case, the cut is deep enough to pierce the latex tubes or ducts which allows the latex to flow through the cut to a spout that is inserted at the lowest part of the cut. The spout is situated in a manner that directs the flow of latex into a collection cup.
Each tapping yields about a cup of latex that contains approximately 30 percent (about 50 grams) of natural rubber. Each subsequent cut in the tapping process in made immediately below the preceding cut. It is a common practice to rest the rubber trees after periods of heavy tapping.
Some of the latex collected by the tapping process is concentrated to a solids content of about 60 percent and sold as natural rubber latex. Such natural rubber latex is used in manufacturing dipped goods, such as rubber gloves and prophylactics. However, most of the latex collected is coagulated into dry rubber. This is typically done by straining the latex through a sieve to remove particles of bark and dirt and then diluting the latex with clean water to a solids content of about 15 percent. Then, the diluted latex is coagulated by the addition of formic acid or acetic acid. The rubber crumbs generated by the coagulation are then washed, dried and compacted into blocks for shipping. Such natural rubber made by the coagulation of latex is of high quality and is typically classified as SIR3 CV-60 (maximum dirt content of 0.03 percent and constant Mooney viscosity of 60).
In actual practice, about 20 percent of the latex tapped from rubber trees coagulates in the collection cups. This is known as cup-lump rubber because it naturally coagulates and forms a lump in the collection cup. Cup-lump rubber is also sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9ctree lacexe2x80x9d because it can also coagulate into strips which can be removed from the cuts in the tree""s bark. A small amount of preservative, such as sodium sulfite, is frequently added to the collection cup to inhibit coagulation. However, the use of such preservatives does not eliminate the generation of cup-lump rubber. Since cup-lump rubber has an unknown viscosity and inherently contains a high level of impurities, such as bark, leaves, insects, silt, sand, dirt and other contaminates, it is of much lower commercial value. Cup-lump rubber is typically classified as SIR20 VK (maximum dirt content of 0.20 percent and unknown viscosity).
In some cases, cup-lump rubber is blended with high quality SIR3 CV-60 rubber to make a rubber blend of an intermediate grade. For instance, cup-lump rubber is commonly blended with SIR3 CV-60 rubber to make a blend designated as SIR5 CV-60 which has a maximum dirt content of 0.05 percent and a constant viscosity of 60. However, it has heretofore not been possible to make high quality SIR3 CV-60 rubber with blends containing significant quantities of cup-lump rubber.
This invention relates to a technique for making a high quality natural rubber composition having a dirt content of less than 0.03 percent and a constant Mooney viscosity of 60 by blending cup-lump rubber with natural rubber made by coagulating natural rubber latex. The high quality natural rubber composition of this invention can be made with up to 60 percent cup-lump rubber.
This invention more specifically discloses a process for producing a high quality natural rubber composition from a feed stream that is comprised of natural rubber latex and cup-lump rubber which comprises:
(1) removing foreign material from the cup-lump rubber to produce cleaned cup-lump rubber;
(2) reducing the particle size of the cleaned cup-lump rubber to an average particle size of less than 35 millimeters;
(3) coagulating the natural rubber latex to produce latex rubber coagulum;
(4) mixing the cleaned cup-lump rubber with the latex rubber coagulum to produce a blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum, wherein a maximum of 60 percent by weight of the cup-lump rubber is mixed into the blend;
(5) reducing the particle size of the blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum to a maximum particle size of 3 millimeters to produce a small particle size rubber blend;
(6) conveying the small particle size rubber blend in an air medium through a pneumatic transfer system;
(7) mixing about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.2 weight percent of an antioxidant into the small particle size rubber blend as its being conveyed in the air medium through the pneumatic transfer system;
(8) transferring the small particle size rubber blend in the air medium into a gas-cyclone; and
(9) separating the air from the small particle size rubber blend to produce the high quality natural rubber composition.
The cup-lump rubber used in the process of this invention is collected on the plantation in the normal way. After being collected, the cup-lump rubber is then cleaned to remove foreign matter, such as dirt, sand, bark, leaves, insects, silt and other contaminants. This can be accomplished by washing the cup-lump rubber with clean water. For instance, the clean water can be sprayed onto the cup-lump rubber or the cup-lump rubber can be emersed into a vessel containing water. The cup-lump rubber can also be separated from dirt and other impurities by use of a hydrocyclone. After being washed, the cup-lump rubber will normally be dried.
The cleaned cup-lump rubber will then be reduced in particle size to an average particle size of less than 35 millimeters. This can be accomplished by mechanically grinding the cleaned cup-lump rubber. Any equipment that is capable of reducing the particle size of the cleaned cup-lump rubber to an average particle size of less than 35 millimeters can be used.
Natural rubber latex is coagulated into latex rubber coagulum and subsequently used in making the high quality natural rubber compositions of this invention. The natural rubber latex collected from rubber trees typically has a solids content of about 30 percent. The latex is normally filtered through a sieve or screen to remove large contaminants, such as bark, leaves and insects, and is then diluted with clean water to a solids content which is the range of about 10 to about 25 percent. The natural rubber latex is preferably diluted to a solids content which is within the range of about 12 percent to about 18 percent.
After optionally being diluted, the natural rubber latex is coagulated by the addition of formic acid and/or acetic acid. This results in solid natural rubber particles separating from the aqueous phase. The latex rubber coagulum (solid natural rubber particles) can then be recovered from the aqueous phase, optionally, washed in clean water, and then dried.
The cleaned cup-lump rubber is then mixed with the latex rubber coagulum to make a blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum. A maximum of 60 weight percent cup-lump rubber should be included in the blend (based upon the total weight of the cup-lump rubber and the latex rubber coagulum included in the blend). It has been found that, if more than about 60 weight percent cup-lump rubber is included in the blend, the properties of the high quality natural rubber composition being made are sacrificed. Excellent results can be obtained by blending low levels of cup-lump rubber with the latex rubber coagulum. However, in cases where extremely low levels of cup-lump rubber are included in the blend, relatively large quantities of latex rubber coagulum are consumed with only a small amount of cup-lump rubber being used. For practical reasons, at least about 10 weight percent cup-lump rubber will be included in the blend with latex rubber coagulum. In most cases, the blend will contain from about 20 weight percent to about 55 weight percent cup-lump rubber and from about 45 weight percent to about 80 weight percent latex rubber coagulum. It is more typical for the blend to contain from about 30 weight percent to about 50 weight percent cup-lump rubber and from about 50 weight percent to about 70 weight percent latex rubber coagulum. It is normally preferred for the blend to contain from about 35 weight percent to about 45 weight percent cup-lump rubber and from about 55 weight percent to about 65 weight percent latex rubber coagulum.
The particle size of the blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum is then reduced to a maximum average particle size of 3 millimeters. This can be accomplished by mechanically grinding the blend of cup-lump rubber and latex rubber coagulum. Any equipment that is capable of producing a small particle size blend by reducing the particle size of the blend to an average particle size of no more than 3 millimeters can be used.
The small particle size rubber blend is then conveyed through a pneumatic transfer system. The small particle size rubber blend can be introduced into the pneumatic transfer system through a venturi. In such systems having a venturi design, the small particle size rubber blend is fed into a pipeline through a small tube (the venturi) that is inserted into the pipeline. The venturi has flaring ends connected by a constricted middle section and depends for operation on the fact that, as the velocity of air flow in the pipe increases in the constricted part, a suction is produced that pulls the small particle size rubber into the pipe through the venturi. The air flowing through the pipe into which the venturi is inserted will have a small amount of an antioxidant dispersed therein. Thus, an antioxidant is dispersed into the small particle size rubber being conveyed through the pneumatic transfer system.
In any case, from about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.2 weight percent of an antioxidant is mixed into the small particle size rubber as it is being conveyed through the pneumatic transfer system. In most cases, from about 0.12 weight percent to about 0.18 weight percent of the antioxidant is mixed into the small particle size rubber as it is being conveyed through the pneumatic transfer system.
A wide variety of antioxidants can be used. For instance, the antioxidant used can be of the secondary amine, phenolic or phosphite type. More specifically, the antioxidant can be a phenylnaphthylamine, a diphenylamine, a para alkoxy substituted diphenylamine, a para alkenoxy substituted diphenylamine, a para alkylated diphenylamine, a styrenated phenol or an alkylated diphenolic. Some representative examples of antioxidants that can be used include Wingstay(copyright) L hydroxyl amine sulfite, Wingstay(copyright) 100 mixed diaryl-p-phenylenediamine, Agerite Geltrol modified high molecular weight hindered phenol and Agerite White dibetanaphthyl-p-phenylenediamine.
After the antioxidant has been mixed into the small particle size rubber, it is further conveyed through the pneumatic transfer system into a gas cyclone. The small particle size rubber containing the antioxidant is then separated from the air stream from the pneumatic transfer system to produce the high quality natural rubber composition. The high quality natural rubber composition has a dirt content of less than 0.03 percent and a constant Mooney viscosity of about 60 (within the range of about 50 to about 70).
This invention is illustrated by the following example which is merely for the purpose of illustration and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention or the manner in which it can be practiced. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, parts and percentages are given by weight.

Process for producing high quality natural rubber