A method and device for effecting automatic centering of an annular workpiece on a rotating surface having a rotational center involves arbitrarily positioning the workpiece on the slowly rotating surface, applying a support for the workpiece by way of spaced apart contact members that individually contact the workpiece and are synchronously movable in a guided reciprocating manner towards and away from the rotational center of the rotating surface. The contact members are gradually retracted away from the rotational center of the rotating surface until the workpiece is unaffected by the contact members during one revolution of the rotating surface so that the workpiece is centered, and the center of the workpiece coincides with the rotational center of the rotating surface. At least one of the contact members is provided with a mechanism for counteracting a friction force acting on the workpiece.

When an annular workpiece is to be machined in a mechanical treatment machine, the workpiece is usually clamped on a disk-shaped rotating, magnetic chuck. The mechanical mechanism used for feeding the workpieces onto the chuck, commonly robots, ordinarily have a rather low precision. Thus, the workpiece is often placed in a position where its center does not coincide with the rotational center of the magnetic chuck.
For obtaining a better coincidence between the center of the chuck and the annular workpiece, when this is positioned thereon, it is of course possible to use high precision robots, with intricate sensing and positioning systems. However, this entails quite expensive equipment.
The annular blanks are furthermore seldom perfectly round, but more or less oval, which also makes it difficult to have the ring members positioned so that they can be readily machined when affixed on the rotating magnetic chuck, even when high precision feeding members are used.
JP 10-043985 discloses a centering method incorporating a rotary magnetic chuck with a circular workpiece positioned thereon, and with driving parts arranged to move towards the center of the chuck. Measuring instruments move simultaneously to a centering measuring reference surface and send a signal when the measured value falls within a prescribed range, whereupon the driving parts are returned to their prescribed position. During this time, the measuring instruments continue measurement and when the numeric value does not change, a grinding process is started. This method is referred to as "automatic", but it thus utilizes measuring instruments for controlling and monitoring the centering.

Method and a device for effecting automatic centering of an annular workpiece on a rotating surface


Some embodiments include a production content server system with a computing device processing operations include causing a content reader server to couple to a content source with content using a wired or wireless link, and downloading at least one content file associated with content retrieved from the content source, where content file includes audio and/or a video. The operations include transcoding at least a portion of the at least one content file with a dynamic range compression to a specified dynamic range, equalization and duration, and processing at least one content audio file from the at least one content file. The operations further include storing the at least one content audio file to a production content database. Some embodiments include processing a production break audio file including blending the at least one production break audio file with at least one other content file.

Digital and internet radio services have globally transformed the delivery of audio content. The widespread use of digital formats such as compressed digital content has provided broadcasters with an almost infinite selection of content. When transitioning from one song (or other content) to another, most services do not strategically select content, and build a content sequence based on genre, or play content based on brand, DJ, and/or listener preferences.
Digital and internet services, and other interactive audio and audio-visual delivery services (e.g., such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, Tidal, YouTube, etc.) generally include a gap between content or, often sub-optimally, overlap or juxtapose a verbal announcement, play a brief commercial, or fade to news, weather, or other information content at any time during a broadcast. Content is disconnected, with audible and visual gaps between the items causing a loss of energy, lack of continuity and disquieting sterility in the primary way in which users consume the content (i.e., through listening and watching). This content experience is undifferentiated, usually offering no way for a consumer to tell one service from another if merely listening. Generally, the listener has no control or influence over the type, content, and frequency of any introduced content element. There is a large potential market for a production engine that creates content to offer a customized playback experience with all or most content individualized for the listener or a target audience. The potential is to improve the experience of consuming the content by focusing on the presentation of the content: improving the flow between elements by adjusting placements; increasing the opportunity for differentiating the experience using personality and branding; dynamically adjusting the amplitudes of adjacent content for a less jarring auditory transition; artfully managing the disparity of energy between content items; and interjecting additional content to create a richer, more engaging overall consumption experience.
Some brands and/or listeners would prefer content playback personalization with broader and more selectable content to define specific moods or energy levels for specified time periods within a broadcast. There is a large potential market for services that offer a fully customized and automated playback experience where the content mood or energy can be customizable to the listener.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Audio content production, audio sequencing, and audio blending system and method


A split core for a composite structure is described. The split core includes a first core layer, a second core layer, and a functional interlayer disposed between the first and second core layers. The first core layer separates the functional interlayer from a functional layer of the composite structure and/or from an outer surface of the composite structure. The thickness of the first core layer is substantially uniform across the composite structure and the distance between the functional interlayer and the functional layer and/or the outer surface of the composite structure is substantially constant across the composite structure.

Existing wind turbine blades are generally manufactured from reinforced composite materials. A typical blade is fabricated in two shells, which are subsequently united to form a single unit. The shells include at particular location sandwich panel regions having a core of lightweight material such as foam or balsa wood.
Different regions of a wind turbine blade are subject to different forces. Consequently, the thickness of the core generally varies across the blade for structural reasons. Typically, the core thickness ranges from 5 mm to 45 mm.
A prior art core 10 is shown schematically in FIG. 1a. Referring to FIG. 1a, the core 10 includes several parallel slits 12, which facilitate draping of the core 10 so that the core 10 may conform to the curvature of the blade shell, as shown schematically in FIG. 1b. Different regions of a blade have different curvatures. Consequently, the core 10 may be required to drape to different extents in different regions of the blade.
It is desirable to introduce radar absorbing material (RAM) into the composite structure of blades. One reason for this is that rotating blades have a radar signature similar to that of aircraft, which can make it difficult for air traffic control and other radar operators to distinguish between aircraft and wind turbines. Incorporating RAM into blades ensures that the resulting blades have a reduced radar signature that can be distinguished easily from aircraft, and which creates less unwanted events (also known as "clutter") on the screen of the radar operator.
FIG. 1b shows a known technique for incorporating RAM into a blade. Referring to FIG. 1b, a blade 14 includes a radar absorbing layer 16 close to its outer surface. The drapable core 10 of FIG. 1a is provided inboard of the radar absorbing layer 16, and a radar reflecting layer 18 is disposed beneath the core 10. The RAM may be a "circuit analogue" (CA) absorber in which the radar absorbing layer 16 comprises a circuit provided on a suitable substrate, for example a glass-fibre cloth, and the radar reflecting layer 18 may suitably comprise a carbon cloth.
The separation between the radar absorbing layer 16 and the radar reflecting layer 18 is a key parameter for absorption performance, and must be carefully controlled to achieve a blade having the desired absorption properties. Such careful control of the separation of layers is made more difficult by varying geometry of the blade, specifically the abovementioned variation in core thickness.


The invention is directed to techniques for providing security in data storage systems that provide access to data by other systems, such as host computer systems. A data access manager generates access tokens that it assigns to storage locations that store data in one or more data storage assemblies in the data storage system. A host that makes a request to access specific storage locations having data must obtain an access token associated with those storage locations from the data access manager, and provide the access token with the request to the data storage system. The data storage system then authenticates the request based on the access token.

Historically, a computer can make a request to access a remote electronic device (e.g., data storage device) over a communications connection, such as a channel, local area network (LAN) or internet protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet. The access request can be to obtain services and/or data by interacting with a software application on the remote device. Alternatively, the access request can be a request only to access data stored on the remote device (e.g., read or write data stored on a disk within a remote data storage device). The remote device can have a security mechanism to prevent access by unauthorized users (e.g., hackers) to the remote device. One conventional approach is for a user of a device to log into the device by providing a user identification (ID) and password. For example, when an individual uses an automatic teller machine (ATM), the individual must insert an ATM card with an electronically encoded version of the individual's account number and manually provide a password. Then the individual can make a transaction (e.g., withdraw money) which in turn results in a change to the individual's data records for their bank account, which typically reside in a data storage device that is remotely located from the ATM.
Alternatively, a software application can seek access to the remote device without the direct involvement of a human user, for example, by providing a password on behalf of the user to the remote device. For example, the user wishes to use a local client (e.g., client application executing on the client's personal computer) to access a remote application (remote software application executing on a remote server). The user can indicate a desire to access the remote software application to the local client, which then sends a password previously entered by the user to the remote application. Thus, the user can then gain access to the remote application without typing in a password every time the user wishes to gain access to it.
One example of such an approach is the Kerberos system, an authentication system developed by the Athena Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this system, a user enters a password into a local computer at the beginning of the day that provides access to one or more remote software applications. The user's computer transmits the password to an authenticating computer that then returns a Kerberos ticket that is valid for a period of time (e.g., 24 hours). Later in the day, if the user wishes to access one of the remote software applications requiring the password, the user indicates a desire to do so to his/her local computer, and the local computer transmits the ticket to the remote software application, which provides access to the remote software application.
In another conventional approach, a dedicated channel connects two electronic devices (e.g., over a cable connecting the two electronic devices). For example, a host computer makes a request to access data in another a data storage device by sending a command over the channel (e.g., to read data). The host computer usually does not use a password, because the channel is typically based on a direct physical connection between the host computer and the data storage device and is secure unless the physical connection is compromised (e.g., a hacker has direct access to the cable to tap or monitor communications over the cable). One known approach for channel communications is SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) based on a high speed interface for transferring device-oriented, block access commands between electronic devices (such as computers and data storage devices).

Methods and apparatus for providing security for a data storage system


An electronic device has a first hand that displays a first time; a second hand that displays a second time; an indicator hand; a detection device that outputs a first time selection signal when it detects a first time selection operation of an input device, and outputs a second time selection signal when it detects a second time selection operation of the input device; a mode setter that sets a first time correction mode to correct the first time when the first time selection signal is received, and sets a second time correction mode to correct the second time when the second time selection signal is received; and a display controller that points the indicator hand to a position other than that of the second hand when the first time correction mode is set, and points the indicator hand to the second hand when the second time correction mode is set.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electronic device, a time correction method, and a time correction program.
2. Related Art
Electronic timepieces that have two sets of hour, minute, and second hands for displaying two different times are known from the literature. See, for example, JP-A-2009-8504.
The electronic timepiece described in JP-A-2009-8504 has first hands including a first minute hand and a first hour hand disposed to a pivot in the center of the dial, and second hands including a second minute hand and a second hour hand disposed to a pivot located at a position offset toward 6:00 from the center pivot of the dial. When the crown is pulled out to the first stop, this electronic timepiece goes to a first hands correction mode for correcting the positions of the first hands, and goes to a second hands correction mode for correcting the positions of the second hands when the crown is pulled out to the second stop.
However, if the user does not remember the relationship between the stop position of the crown and the time correction mode when pulling the crown out to adjust the first hands or the second hands of the electronic timepiece described in JP-A-2009-8504, determining whether the first hands correction mode or the second hands correction mode is set is not easy. Correcting the desired displayed time is therefore difficult.

Electronic device, time correction method, and time correction program


A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning unit provided with cleaning tubs in which cleaning liquid is contained, and a carrying mechanism for carrying matters to be processed into and out of the cleaning unit. The carrying mechanism has holding members for holding the matters thereon. The cleaning apparatus further includes a chamber in which the carrying mechanism is housed, and a cleaning/drying system arranged in an upper portion of the chamber to clean and dry the matters-holding members of the carrying mechanism. The cleaning/drying system has cleaning and drying nozzles through which cleaning liquid and drying air are jetted against the matters-holding members of the carrying mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and, more particularly, it relates to a cleaning apparatus wherein matters such as semiconductor wafers to be processes are carried to cleaning units by carrying robot arms and immersed in and cleaned by cleaning liquids in the cleaning units.
2. Description of the Related Art
The cleaning apparatus is usually used in the semiconductors manufacturing process to remove cleaning liquid and other impurities, which have adhered to surfaces of semiconductor wafers, from the wafers. This cleaning apparatus is intended to make the surfaces of semiconductor wafers clean by successively applying ammonia-treating, water-washing and hydrofluoric acidtreating steps to the wafers.
The conventional cleaning apparatus, therefore, has plural cleaning units in each of which ammonia-treating, water-washing and hydrofluoric acid-treating tubs are housed. Matters such as semiconductor wafers to be processed are held and carried into and out of the cleaning units by carrying systems. Each of the treating tubs is enclosed by a wall in this case so as to prevent atmosphere in each of the cleaning units from leaking outside. The chamber thus formed is provided with openings through which the semiconductor wafers are carried into and out of the chamber.
In the case of this cleaning apparatus, however, the carrying system or robot carries the semiconductor wafers into and out of the cleaning units or chambers whose atmospheres are different from each other. This causes medicines used at previous steps and dust and impurities to sometimes adhere to the carrying system. The semiconductor wafers carried can be, therefore, contaminated by these medicines, dust and impurities and this adds undesired influences to electrical characteristics of semiconductor circuits thus formed.


Embodiments enable a three-dimensional annotation system and method that accepts desired depths for regions of input images and annotates two-dimensional/three-dimensional images with three-dimensional annotations for viewing at the desired depth(s) in any three-dimensional manner. Enables rapid and intuitive specification of desired depth and application of depth to regions in the two-dimensional images, or when editing three-dimensional images, as annotated by the three-dimensional annotations having at least one depth associated with the annotation. Enables rapid and intuitive depth augmentation or editing of an input image.

Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of image analysis and image enhancement and computer graphics processing of two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a three-dimensional annotation system and method. Embodiments accept a desired depth for a region in a two-dimensional image, or three-dimensional image, and annotate the image with three-dimensional annotations at the desired depth for example. This enables rapid and intuitive depth alteration in three-dimensional images and conversion of two-dimensional images to three-dimensional images by enabling stereographers to specify depths for regions of images in an intuitive manner. Embodiments may display an annotated image with a corresponding stereoscopic image or pair of images for left and right eye viewing, or any other three-dimensional viewing enabled image, such as an anaglyph image.
Description of the Related Art
Three-dimensional images include any type of image or images that provide different left and right eye views to encode depth, some types of three-dimensional images require use of special glasses to ensure the left eye viewpoint is shown to the left eye and the right eye viewpoint is shown to the right eye of an observer. Existing systems that are utilized to convert two-dimensional images to three-dimensional images typically require rotoscoping of images to create outlines of regions in the images. The rotoscoped regions are then individually depth adjusted by hand to produce a left and right eye image, or single anaglyph image, or other three-dimensionally viewable image, such as a polarized three-dimensional image viewed with left and right lenses having different polarization angles for example. There is no easy way for stereographers to specify specific depths to apply to regions in a natural way. Thus, ad hoc depths are applied to images, and if the images are not acceptable, for example after client review, then there is no easy manner in which to provide easy feedback. Without a visual language to give creative and technical notes for the placement of objects, feedback can be unclear, causing more creative and technical iteration.
In addition, typical methods for converting movies from 2D to 3D in an industrial setting capable of handling the conversion of hundreds of thousands of frames of a movie with large amounts of labor or computing power, make use of an iterative workflow. The iterative workflow includes rotoscoping or modeling objects in each frame, adding depth and then rendering the frame into left and right viewpoints forming an anaglyph image or a left and right image pair. If there are errors in the edges of the masked objects for example, then the typical workflow involves an "iteration", i.e., sending the frames back to the workgroup responsible for masking the objects, (which can be in a country with cheap unskilled labor half way around the world), after which the masks are sent to the workgroup responsible for rendering the images, (again potentially in another country), wherein rendering is accomplished by either shifting input pixels left and right for cell animation images for example or ray tracing the path of light through each pixel in left and right images to simulate the light effects the path of light interacts with and for example bounces off of or through, which is computationally extremely expensive. After rendering, the rendered image pair is sent back to the quality assurance group. It is not uncommon in this workflow environment for many iterations of a complicated frame to take place. This is known as "throw it over the fence" workflow since different workgroups work independently to minimize their current workload and not as a team with overall efficiency in mind. With hundreds of thousands of frames in a movie, the amount of time that it takes to iterate back through frames containing artifacts can become high, causing delays in the overall project. Even if the re-rendering process takes place locally, the amount of time to re-render or ray-trace all of the images of a scene can cause significant processing and hence delays on the order of at least hours. Each iteration may take a long period of time to complete as the work may be performed by groups in disparate locations having shifted work hours. Elimination of iterations such as this would provide a huge savings in wall-time, or end-to-end time that a conversion project takes, thereby increasing profits and minimizing the workforce needed to implement the workflow.
Hence there is a need for a three-dimensional annotation system and method.

Three-dimensional annotation system and method


A variable track width vehicle axle has an outer axle casing (12) which supports two drive shafts (13) which are driven at their inner ends by drive means (23) and carry wheel attachment means (13a) at their outer ends. Each drive shaft including first and second parts (13a,13b) which are in screw-threaded engagement with each other so that rotation of one part relative to the other changes the effective length of each shaft and thus the track width of the axle. A clutch means (16) is also provided which in a first position connects the two parts (13a, 13b) of each shaft to prevent relative rotation and in a second position disconnects the two parts of each shaft to allow relative rotation therebetween and rotates one of the screw threaded parts relative to the other part (13b) via the drive means (23) to change the effective length of each drive shaft.

Variable track width axles are known for such vehicles to allow track width to be varied from a road width to a wider track width when operating off road and when undertaking various activities such as rough terrain work, front loader work and hard field work. A wider track width can aid stability and improve traction since the rear wheels can be set at a wider track than the front wheels and do not therefore have to work on ground loosened by the front wheels. One additional improvement due to wider track width is improvement to ride comfort when driving on rough terrain. In particular, wider track width decreases the lateral acceleration levels affecting the driver. These known arrangements have involved relatively complex and time consuming procedures to change the operating track width.


The present invention relates to compositions which maintain the structural integrity of the anterior chamber of the eye during ophthalmologic surgery, thereby protecting the tissues that form and line the anterior segment from potential damage and simultaneously providing sustained delivery of pharmaceuticals, including miotic, mydriatic, or anesthetic agents.

Maintaining the integrity of the anatomic components of the eye facilitates the delicate manipulations, performed within small areas, of ophthalmological surgery.
One component which may be controlled is the anterior chamber of the eye. As shown in FIG. 1, the anterior chamber is located between the cornea and the iris. Just posterior to the iris is the lens, which is interposed between the anterior chamber and the larger vitreous chamber, filled with vitreous humor. Maintaining the structural integrity of the anterior chamber minimizes the risk that the endothelium and/or the iris will be damaged during surgery. The introduction of viscoelastic materials, such as sodium hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and methylcellulose, into the anterior chamber prevents the chamber from collapsing during surgery.
Another component that may be controlled is pupil size. During cataract surgery, it is desirable that the pupil is dilated, so that access to the lens is simplified and the insertion of a posterior chamber implant is facilitated. A variety of mydriatic drugs, such as atropine (a cholinergic blocker), phenylephrine (an adrenergic stimulator), and prostaglandin inhibitors have been used in this regard, and have hitherto predominantly been administered via external application.
Conversely, in refractive implants and secondary aphakic implants, a smaller ("miotic") pupil is desirable, in order to reduce iris trauma, avoid anterior synechias, prevent iris tucking, and facilitate appropriate positioning of the implant. Externally applied pilocarpine and carbachol (cholinergic stimulators), and physostigmine, demecarium bromide, echothiophate iodide, and isoflurophate (cholinesterase inhibitors) have been used for this purpose.
During surgery, however, and in the open eye, the efficacy of topical medication is reduced. Dilution and runoff preclude a continued high dose of effective medication. Even the direct introduction of miotic agents such as acetylcholine chloride or carbachol do not provide long term effects and often require frequent repeated administration into the open eye.
Previous attempts to achieve long-term maintenance of effective drug levels have employed sustained drug delivery technology, using systemic or transdermal administration, or the positioning of a bioerodible drug delivery device external to the eye. Such methods have been used primarily to control intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. However, prior to the present invention, no method has been devised which combines sustained mydriatic or miotic drug delivery with maintenance of the structural integrity of the anterior chamber.
Local anesthesia has been the mainstay of ocular surgery. Topical agents have been employed to anesthetize the cornea and conjunctiva, and infiltrative anesthesia has been used to create sensory anesthesia and motor akinesia necessary for eye surgery. When injected into the muscle cone, these agents anesthetize the ciliary ganglion, afferent nerves and the motor innervation to the extra-ocular muscles. However, retrobulbar hemorrhage, caused by muscular or vascular trauma, is a potential complication of this form of anesthesia which may preclude performing the surgical procedure. More rarely, perforation of the globe, optic nerve damage, and even total visual loss can occur. Further, systemic absorption of anesthetic may cause seizures, respiratory problems, and even death.
To avoid these potential complications, infiltration anesthesia has been carried out with subtenons injections, subconjunctival injections and direct infiltration of one or more extra-ocular muscles. This approach, while somewhat more cumbersome, has reduced the potential anesthetic-related complications, but carries its own risks, such as chemosis, subconjunctival or subtenons hemorrhage and incomplete sensory and motor anesthesia, particularly during ciliary body and iris manipulation.
With the advent of extracapsular cataract surgery as a primary approach, a different set of anesthesia requirements has evolved. The need for motor anesthesia has been reduced, as instrumentation utilized during the surgical procedure may be used to fixate the globe. The need for bridle sutures, whose placement can be painful, has been virtually eliminated. What remains is the requirement to prevent pain, particularly that induced by iris manipulation. Intracameral anesthetics directly placed into the anterior chamber have been used in this context.
The use of intracameral anesthetic may be effective, but may require frequent instillation of anesthetic, particularly at times when the surgeon is involved in other steps and may not be able to add additional material with safety. Further, conventional anesthetic solutions typically exit the eye promptly, through the surgical site, through normal outflow channels, and through iris and ciliary body surfaces.
What would be desirable is a sustained release system which maintains anesthetic presence and simultaneously reduces the surge effect of intracameral placement and immediate loss through the aforementioned pathways. What would be further desired is a drug delivery system that achieves duration of anesthetic release, a more uniform release of the anesthetic over time, and control of osmotic pressure associated with the equilibrium formed between the ions of the anesthetic and the existing ions in the eye fluids.

Controlled release of pharmaceuticals in the anterior chamber of the eye


A method of fabricating micro-chips, including: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a first single-crystal layer on a top surface of the substrate; (c) forming a second single-crystal layer on a top surface of the first single-crystal layer; (d) forming integrated circuits in the second single-crystal layer; (e) forming a set of intersecting trenches in the second-single crystal layer to form single-crystal islands, each single-crystal island containing one or more of the integrated circuits, the first single-crystal layer exposed in a bottom of the trench; and (f) removing the first single-crystal layer in order to separate the single-crystal islands from the substrate.

There are two trends in integrated circuits. The first is to smaller device dimensions and denser circuit layouts which drive ever smaller integrated circuit chip footprints. The second, is to specialized integrated chips, that contain relatively few devices (for example, thousands instead of millions) and can be made with very small horizontal chip dimensions. In fact, some applications of these specialized chips require very small footprint integrated circuits.
One problem with fabricating small footprint integrated circuits is the large amounts of space required just to dice the wafer on which the integrated circuits are fabricated on into individual integrated circuit chips. A second problem, is the vertical to horizontal aspect ratio of very small integrated circuits can easily result in the vertical dimension (thickness) of the integrated circuit chip being significantly greater than the horizontal dimensions of the integrated circuit chip, even to the point of limiting the usefulness obtained by shrinking the horizontal dimensions.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of fabricating micro-chip integrated circuits that results in significantly reduced micro-chip thickness and reduced waste of wafer area.

International Business Machines Corporation


A combined bearing for a turbomachine is disclosed. The combined bearing comprises in combination: a radial bearing member, a thrust bearing member and a bearing-fluid impeller of a bearing-fluid boosting pump in fluid communication with the thrust bearing member and the radial bearing member.

Turbomachines, such as in particular centrifugal pumps, are provided with radial and axial bearings. In some configurations, fluid bearings are used. Fluid bearings are such bearings, wherein the load is entirely supported by a thin film of a bearing fluid, either liquid or gaseous, between stationary pads and rotary pads or journals. In some known arrangements, the fluid processed by the turbomachine is unsuitable as bearing fluid, e.g. due to particulate contained therein. A dedicated bearing fluid is then needed, which is forcedly circulated in a closed loop and which is fed to the bearings. Water glycol or lubricating oil is used to feed the bearings for generating the bearing fluid film and for cooling purposes. In some configurations, mechanical seals or other systems are provided in the turbomachine areas, where process fluid is present. They prevent the process fluid from contacting the bearings and leak towards the external environment.
A bearing-fluid boosting system is required to circulate the bearing fluid through the bearings, the mechanical seals and a cooling system, where heat is removed from the bearing fluid.
This results in a complex structure, which negatively affects the reliability of the turbomachine.
A need therefore exists for a simpler structure of these mechanical components.

Combined bearing and turbomachine including said bearing


A hydraulic drive assembly includes a variable displacement pump fluidly connected in a closed loop circuit with a motor for driving an ancillary device, such as a fan. An auxiliary pump can be operatively connected to the pump, the motor and a reservoir for replenishing fluid losses in the closed loop circuit. An auxiliary circuit connected to the pump has a recirculating passage fluidly connected to the closed loop circuit downstream of the motor to reduce the necessary reservoir volume. A method for smoothly and continuously adjusting the output of the pump to drive the ancillary device is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic drive assembly to support ancillary functions associated with engine driven vehicles. More particularly, this invention relates to a hydraulic drive system which provides improved efficiency by utilizing a variable displacement pump whereby the output flow can be varied to match system drive requirements. The invention is well-suited for smoothly and efficiently operating a cooling fan or compressor in an over-the-road vehicle.
A variety of conventional engines, including internal combustion engines, are available for powering vehicles. In the process of powering the vehicle, these engines develop considerable heat. therefore, one common ancillary function that must be performed on such vehicles is the cooling of the engine, typically with a fan system. Such fan systems typically include a fan which, continuously or intermittently on demand, pulls air through a radiator. Other ancillary function can also be accomplished by drawing power from the engine. For instance, a compressor can be driven to provide air conditioning, refrigeration or a brake system.
Typically, two types of drive systems exist for ancillary functions. In one type, direct belt drives are utilized. Electromagnetic or air cycle the drive off and on as required. With the belt drives, the ancillary drive is limited to abrupt full on or full off operation. This discrete and rapid actuation is generally noisy and results in high wear and maintenance on the components. In addition, belt drives are not dynamically adjustable to match actual ancillary system requirements. Consequently, systems that require maximum output at low engine speed have large components that generate inefficient excess output at increased engine speeds.
The second type of ancillary drive system incorporates a fixed displacement hydraulic pump with a bypass or "dump" valve for off/on cycling or modulation. The fixed displacement pump generates flow irrespective of the actual ancillary system requirements, which means that when the pump is sized to provide maximum output requirements at the lowest engine speed, it will generate excess flow at increased engine speeds. All excess flow is diverted inefficiently back to a reservoir. Furthermore, additional control valves are needed where modulation is required. Like the belt drive systems, the fixed displacement pump hydraulic drives fail to efficiently match output flow with ancillary system requirements.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system which matches its output to the ancillary system requirements.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system which utilizes electronic command signals from a computer or microprocessor system to match output flow with the ancillary system requirements.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system to accommodate the utilization of an on-board engine or vehicle computer or microprocessor system to provide electronic command signals.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved hydraulic drive system for an engine cooling fan.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system which allows fans or other ancillary devices to be remotely mounted.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system comprising a closed loop hydraulic circuit that includes a variable displacement pump and a hydraulic motor for driving a fan or other ancillary device.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system wherein oil is recirculated from an auxiliary hydraulic circuit and injected into the closed loop for make-up oil.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive system requiring a smaller hydraulic reservoir volume.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.


Systems and methods for generating a curtain plot that includes two inverted parameters based on the formation boundaries and the formation resistivity, the uncertainties of the formation boundaries, and the uncertainties of the drilled well-path, generating an updated curtain plot that includes two projected inverted parameters based on updated formation boundaries and updated formation resistivity, the projected uncertainties of the updated formation boundaries, and the projected uncertainties of the planned well-path, and avoiding, by the drilling operations, the uncertainties of the formation boundaries of the curtain plot and the updated curtain plot based on the two inverted parameters and the two projected inverted parameters to maintain or adjust the planned well-path within the projected uncertainties of the planned well-path.

Geosteering solutions are very important for optimizing well placement while drilling, especially for landing the reservoir or drilling through the reservoir. Conventional geosteering is usually based on a geological model constructed from seismic imaging and offset well logs. Vertical offset wells are commonly drilled to provide stratigraphic information from mud and well-logging, such as acoustic, resistivity, nuclear magnetic resonance, and fluid sampling tools. This type of geophysical data may be acquired during logging while drilling (LWD) operations, or after with wireline tools.
Current, real-time geosteering techniques can image formation properties by inverting resistivity data for layered earth one-dimension (1D) resistivity models. One such technique uses distance to bed boundary (DTBB) inversion from deep LWD resistivity measurements to produce a "curtain plot," which is a simple visualization of stitched layered earth 1D resistivity models that can be interpreted for geological structure and geosteering decisions. Curtain plots may contain uncertainties, however. Such uncertainties may include, for example: i) a lack of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D model complexity at each measured depth because the earth model is assumed to be locally in only 1D; and ii) non-unique resistivity inversion, implying multiple earth models may satisfy the same resistivity data. A curtain plot captures a possible solution, and reconciling differences between the curtain plot and the geological model (especially in the absence of other LWD data) is a common challenge in geosteering.
In FIG. 1, a conventional curtain plot 100 illustrates two inverted parameters (formation boundaries and formation resistivity) using variable density log data. A formation boundary may represent a surface, a fault or any other geological formation boundary. The curtain plot 100 is shown with measured depth (MD) along the x-axis and true vertical depth (TVD) along the y-axis. The gray-scale represents the inverted formation resistivity of the formation geology surrounding a drilled well-path 102 (dashed line). The gray-scale ends just before the drilled well-path 102, which represents the position of a sensor 104 that acquires the variable density log data. The end of the drilled well-path 102 represents the position of a drill-bit 106 and the beginning of a planned well-path 108. The manner in which uncertainty in both of these parameters (formation boundaries and formation resistivity) is currently displayed is through an adjacent multi-line graph at a given MD. In FIG. 2, the multi-line graph 200 illustrates TVD along the y-axis and inverted formation resistivity (Ω·m) along the x-axis at a given MD 110 in the curtain plot 100. Various results (P5, P50, P95) are also plotted, which represent different probabilities (i.e. levels of uncertainty) with respect to matching an actual formation boundary and matching actual formation resistivity. The multi-line graph 200 illustrates four different formation types (cross-hatched) separated by three separate formation boundaries 202, 204, 206. The vertical portion of each result (P5, P50, P95) represents the probability of matching actual formation resistivity and the horizontal portion of each result represents the probability of matching an actual formation boundary. Thus, the horizontal portion of the P95 result lies substantially along each formation boundary 202, 204, 206. Because the multi-line graph 200 is plotted for a specific MD, the uncertainty across the entire curtain plot 100 (i.e. well-path) cannot be seen.

Avoiding geological formation boundaries during drilling operations


A method and system using the Sequential Probability Ratio Test to enhance the detection of an elevated level of radiation, by determining whether a set of observations are consistent with a specified model within a given bounds of statistical significance. In particular, the SPRT is used in the present invention to maximize the range of detection, by providing processing mechanisms for estimating the dynamic background radiation, adjusting the models to reflect the amount of background knowledge at the current point in time, analyzing the current sample using the models to determine statistical significance, and determining when the sample has returned to the expected background conditions.

The Sequential Probability Ratio Test (SPRT) is a known Bayesian sequential analysis technique for hypothesis testing, i.e. for determining whether a set of observations are consistent with a specified model (i.e. a hypothesis) within a given bounds of statistical significance. In particular, the SPRT makes a binary decision between two statistical models to determine which model best represents the data to a required level of statistical confidence. This binary decision is optimum in the sense that it minimizes the required number of samples to make such a determination. The SPRT mathematical technique was originally developed by A. Wald in 1947 for process control testing in manufacturing. The test enabled quality control personnel to sample a production lot with as few samples as possible in order to make a determination as to whether or not the lot was faulty (with some degree of confidence).
For applications involving radiation detection, the SPRT has been applied to detect a deviation from a background radiation level with as few samples as possible. For example, the SPRT has been used in radiation detection applications to reduce the time that a subject (e.g. a package in a portal monitoring scenario) is screened until it is determined to be safe or unsafe (see for example, "Sequential Probability Ratio Controllers for Safeguards Radiation Monitors" by P. E. Fehlau (1984), using Gaussian statistics). Count samples are produced from a radiation detector, such as for example, a scintillator or NaI detector, at regular intervals. The SPRT operates to find the minimum number of observations (i.e. count samples) in a maximum allowable screening time before the safe/unsafe determination is made, and either an alarm is triggered or the subject is safely released to screen the next subject.
In the case, however, of a moving radiation source over distance, radiation detection can be a difficult problem because the signals of interest are often buried in the natural background noise. This is especially true in the case where the radiation source is not well confined, such as for example over a body of water. In such cases, reliance on a single parameter set becomes impossible, and without the aid of presence detectors, it is difficult to determine "a priori" the length of time window for which data should be acquired. Performing an evaluation based on too large of a detection window can result in increased background noise. On the other hand, too short a detection window can reduce the statistical significance of the measurement. Previous systems have addressed this problem by assuming the motion of the source at the site, and then optimizing the time window to make the determination. As the potential speed of the target to be monitored/detected increases, or the distance to the target decreases, the time windows must be reduced. And another problem is encountered when performing radiation detection in dynamic background conditions such as urban environments, where incorrect trigger events are common due to the shielding of background radiation by large trucks and the subsequent rebound in the radiation level after their departure.
In summary, what is still needed is a radiation detection method utilizing the SPRT process, but particularly tailored for application to moving sources as a means of increasing detection range, as well as increasing detection sensitivity, i.e. decreasing the amount of source material required to trigger.

Radiation detection method and system using the sequential probability ratio test

The Regents of the University of California


Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device that displays images with uniform luminance by compensating degradation of organic light emitting diode, and a method for driving the same. The device comprises a display panel with sub-pixels, each sub-pixel having an organic light emitting diode for emitting light; a memory which stores accumulated data of each sub-pixel; and a panel driver which calculates an individual compensation gain value for each sub-pixel and a global compensation gain value for all the sub-pixels in common based on the accumulated data of sub-pixel, modulates input data for each sub-pixel through the individual compensation gain value and global compensation gain value, converts the modulated data into a data voltage, and accumulates the modulated data on the accumulated data of the corresponding sub-pixel and stores the obtained data in the memory.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device and a method for driving the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device to compensate degradation of an organic light emitting diode, and a method for driving the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Due to recent developments in multimedia, there is an increasing demand for a flat panel display. In order to satisfy this increasing demand, various flat panel displays such as liquid crystal display device, plasma display panel, field emission display device and organic light emitting display device are practically used. Among the various flat panel displays, the organic light emitting display device drawn the attraction as a next-generation flat panel display because of its advantages of rapid response speed and low power consumption. In addition, the light emitting display is self-emitting, whereby the light emitting display does not cause a problem related with a narrow viewing angle.
Generally, the organic light emitting display device may include a display panel having a plurality of pixels, and a panel driver for driving the respective pixels so as to make the respective pixels emit light. In this case, the pixels are respectively formed in pixel regions, wherein the pixel regions are defined by crossing a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines.
Referring to FIG. 1, each pixel may include a switching transistor (Tsw), a driving transistor (Tdr), a capacitor (Cst), and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).
As the switching transistor (Tsw) is switched by a gate signal (GS) supplied to a gate line (GL), a data voltage (Vdata) supplied to a data line (DL) is supplied to the driving transistor (Tdr).
As the driving transistor (Tdr) is switched by the data voltage (Vdata) supplied from the switching transistor (Tsw), it is possible to control a data current (Ioled) flowing to the organic light emitting diode (OLED) by a driving voltage (VDD).
The capacitor (Cst) is connected between gate and source terminals of the driving transistor (Tdr), wherein the capacitor (Cst) stores a voltage corresponding to the data voltage (Vdata) supplied to the gate terminal of the driving transistor (Tdr), and turns-on the driving transistor (Tdr) by the use of stored voltage.
The organic light emitting diode (OLED) is electrically connected between the source terminal of the driving transistor (Tdr) and a cathode electrode applied with a cathode voltage (VSS), wherein the organic light emitting diode (OLED) emits light by the data current (Ioled) supplied from the driving transistor (Tdr).
Each pixel of the organic light emitting display device according to the related art controls an intensity of the data current (Ioled) flowing to the organic light emitting diode (OLED) by the driving voltage (VDD) through the use of switching of the driving transistor (Tdr) according to the data voltage (Vdata), whereby the organic light emitting diode (OLED) emits light, thereby displaying an image.
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating luminance change of the related art organic light emitting display device in accordance with the lapse of time.
As shown in FIG. 2, a degradation speed becomes faster according to the increase of driving time in the organic light emitting diode (OLED), to thereby deteriorate the luminance characteristics. In the organic light emitting display device according to the related art, it is difficult to display images with uniform luminance due to the degradation of the organic light emitting diode (OLED).

Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same


An apparatus for making inflated articles from a film web having two juxtaposed film plies. One version of the apparatus generally includes a first rotary sealing device for producing transverse seals that bond the film plies together, an inflation assembly for directing gas between the film plies, and a second rotary sealing device for producing a longitudinal seal between the film plies. The longitudinal seal intersects the transverse seals so that the gas is enclosed between the longitudinal seal, transverse seals, and film plies to thereby form an inflated article.

The present invention relates to inflated articles and, more particularly, to a simplified and improved apparatus and process for producing gas-inflated cushions for packaging.
Various apparatus and methods for forming inflated cushions, pillows, or other inflated articles are known. Inflated cushions are used to package items, by wrapping the items in the cushions and placing the wrapped items in a shipping carton, or simply placing one or more inflated cushions inside of a shipping carton along with an item to be shipped. The cushions protect the packaged item by absorbing impacts that may otherwise be fully transmitted to the packaged item during transit, and also restrict movement of the packaged item within the carton to further reduce the likelihood of damage to the item.
Conventional machines for forming inflated cushions tend to be rather large, expensive and complex. While smaller, less-expensive inflation machines have been developed more recently, such machines produce cushions at a rate which is slower than would otherwise be desired, and generally require film webs having pre-formed containers. That is, the relative simplicity of such smaller, less-complex inflation machines generally relies on the use of inflatable film webs in which much of the container-producing operation has been performed prior to placement on the machine, so that the inflation machine simply inflates and seals the pre-formed containers. While this approach has been effective, pre-converted film webs can be costly to produce and store. In addition, variations in the process of making pre-formed containers can cause alignment and tracking problems in the inflation/sealing machines, resulting in poorly-inflated and/or poorly-sealed cushions, which may deflate prematurely or otherwise fail to protect the packaged product.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simpler and less expensive apparatus for producing gas-filed packaging cushions, yet one that also produces cushions at a relatively high rate of speed and does not require film webs with pre-formed containers.

Apparatus and method for forming inflated articles


Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, and by removing at the permeate side a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, wherein the membrane is arranged in a spirally wound membrane module.

Such a process has been developed in the past by the applicant of the present invention, and reference is made for example to the International Patent application with publication No. WO 99/27036, International Patent application with publication No. WO 03/035803, and International Patent application No. PCT/EP2004/050507 (not published at the priority date of the present application).
WO 99/27036 discloses a process for preparing lower olefins by means of the well-known steam cracking process from a contaminated feedstock. Prior to feeding the feedstock to the steam cracker furnaces the contaminants are removed from the feedstock by means of a membrane separation. By removing contaminants from the feed in this manner it is possible to use, for example, so-called black condensates as feedstock for preparing lower olefins. The term black condensates is commonly used to refer to contaminated natural gas condensates having an ASTM colour of 3 or more. Direct application of these relatively cheap feedstocks in the above steam cracker process would not be possible because the contaminants and/or colour bodies in the feed would give rise to excessive coke formation in convection sections and associated steam cracker furnaces.
The contaminants and/or colour bodies are typically high molecular polynuclear hydrocarbons, which can be present in quantities of several wt % in the hydrocarbon mixture at high colour indices. In testing the process according to WO 99/27036 in a plate-and-frame membrane separation unit it was found that the flux, expressed in feed permeating through the membrane per square meter per day decreased quickly from a maximum value of around for example 1200 kg/(m2·day) to non-economical lower values, and this is attributed to fouling of the membrane surface at the feed side, due to deposition of colour bodies and/or asphalthenes.
International patent application with publication No. WO 03/035803 describes a process to separate colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture by passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture through a membrane over which membrane a pressure difference is maintained thereby obtaining a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or contaminants, wherein at selected time intervals the pressure difference over the membrane is substantially lowered by stopping the flow of the hydrocarbon mixture to the feed side of the membrane. Stopping the feed flow can for example be achieved by stopping the operation of a feed pump, or by recycling the hydrocarbon mixture from a position between the feed pump and the membrane to a position upstream of the feed pump. When the membrane operation is resumed after stopping the feed flow, a high permeate flux is observed again.
International patent application No. PCT/EP2004/050507 describes a process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, wherein between the feed and permeate sides of the membrane a pressure difference is applied, thereby passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture from the feed side to the permeate side and obtaining at the permeate side of the membrane a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, and by removing the hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane, wherein during selected time intervals the removal of hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane is stopped so that the pressure difference over the membrane is temporarily substantially lowered. When the membrane operation is resumed again, it was found that permeate can be removed at high flux again.
Therefore, stopping the feed flow as in WO 03/035803, or stopping the permeate flow as in PCT/EP2004/050507, both allowed to operate the membrane separation unit over extended periods of time continuously, without having to replace or take the membrane unit off-line for cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,860 discloses another method for removing asphalthenes from heavy oil, wherein the heavy oil is fed through a ceramic membrane, and wherein the initially large pore size of the ceramic membrane is first reduced by deliberate fouling, following which asphalthenes can be removed for some further time, until the pores are completely blocked.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a membrane separation process for removing colour bodies and/or asphalthenes from a hydrocarbon mixture that allows to operate the membrane unit full-continuous over extended periods of time, and without the need for regular stopping of feed or permeate flux at a time scale of hours.


Interference checking device including: a modeling database that stores data for three-dimensional modeling of tools, workpieces, and machine-tool constituting structures; an interference data memory for storing interference data defining inter-component interference relationships among the tool, the workpiece, and the structures; and an interference checking processor that, based on structure movement commands sent from a program analyzer for the machine tool, and on data stored in the modeling database and interference data memory, determines whether the tool, the workpiece, and the structures will interfere with each other. Movement commands in a block at least one block succeeding the block being executed in order to control the drive mechanisms that move the structures are sent from the program analyzer to the interference checking processor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention—in machine tools furnished with a plurality of structures including at least tool-and workpiece-holding structures, and furnished with drive mechanisms for driving structures, among the plurality of structures, that are equipped to be movable, and with a controller for controlling the drive mechanisms based on a machining program—relates to interference-checking devices that check whether movement by the movable structures will cause the moving structures themselves, the other structures apart from the moving structures, or the tools or the workpieces to interfere with each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lathe, which is one type of machine tool, comprises a plurality of structures, namely a bed, headstock, spindle, saddle, tool rest and tailstock, along with feed mechanisms that let the saddle, tool rest and tailstock travel, with the tool held in the tool rest and the workpiece held by the spindle. In addition, a machining center comprises a plurality of structures, namely a bed, column, spindle head, spindle, saddle and table, along with feed mechanisms that let the column, spindle head, saddle and table travel, with the tool held in the spindle and the workpiece held on the table. Moreover, the feed mechanisms are controlled by a controller so that their operation is appropriately controlled according to a machining program.
This machining program is written according to the design for the shape of the workpiece, and after being written, the program is checked for errors before the actual machining. If errors are present, that portion is revised, and if no errors are present, the machining program is used to perform continuous machining. This advance check of the machining program is done in this manner because, if such errors are present, there is a risk of serious accidents involving the tool, workpiece or other structures interfering with each other.
Moreover, this check (interference check) is conventionally performed by operating the machine tool, and running the machining program being checked in a trial operation mode that does not involve machining of the workpiece, and having the operator check the direction of feed of the tool as appropriately displayed on an image display device (see JP H2-59256A).
Specifically, the controller for the machine tool performs a sequential analysis of each block of the machining program, recognizes the travel position and feedrate of the tool, and calculates the direction of travel, amount of travel and method of travel (cutting feed or rapid feed) of the tool based on the travel position and feedrate thus recognized. Thereafter, based on the direction of travel and amount of travel thus calculated, these are displayed as vectors on the image display device, and the method of travel is indicated by means of the display color (white in the case of cutting feed and red in the case of rapid feed). Note that in the analysis of the machining program, a block ahead of (succeeding) the block being executed in order to control the travel of the tool is analyzed, and thus the future direction of travel and method of travel of the tool are displayed sequentially on the image display device.
Then, the operator checks the display screen thus displayed, determines the direction of travel, amount of travel and method of travel of the tool, and checks to see if any of this will interfere with the workpiece (thus checking for errors in the machining program).
However, in the conventional example described above, the direction of travel, amount of travel and method of travel of the tool are displayed with vectors and there is a problem in that this display alone is not sufficient for the operator to accurately predict the positional relationships between the tool and workpiece after travel, and as a result, the operator cannot accurately determine whether interference is present or not.
Moreover, interference may occur in a machine tool not only between the tool and workpiece, but rather, for example, the tool rest may interfere with another structure during its travel, or when the spindle is indexed so that the workpiece rotating about its central axis comes to a predetermined angular position of rotation, the workpiece may interfere with the tool or another structure, so there is a possibility of other types of interference arising between the tool or workpiece and a structure or between structures, and these interfering relationships cannot be checked in the conventional example described above.
In this manner, in the conventional example described above, not all of the interfering relationships that could possibly occur in a machining tool can be checked accurately and efficiently.


An apparatus having a container comprising a volume. The volume is configured to retain a single dose of a medication appropriate for a specific classification of a weight of a patient. A first indicia is disposed on an exterior surface of the container. The first indicia indicates a type of the medication. A second indicia is disposed on the exterior surface. The second indicia indicates the specific classification, wherein the container, pre-packaged with the single dose, is appropriate for a single use dosing of the patient having the specific classification.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. Medication errors and dosing errors in particular are believed to be a large problem in medical settings. Due to the point that the size of pediatric patients can vary greatly depending on the age of the patient, one may expect that these errors may be especially problematic in the pediatric population. For example, without limitation, a 1 week old may be half the size of a 6 month old and a fraction the size of a 5 year old. Therefore, a medication dose for a 5 year old may likely be lethal for a 1 week old. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the rate of medication errors may be made worse depending on the situation in which the medications are being given. For example, without limitation, error rates in pre-hospital patients treated by EMS services or in emergency and resuscitation situations in hospitals may likely be greater than error rates for patients in non-emergency, hospital situations. Moreover, it is contemplated that the risk of negative outcomes as a result of medication errors may increase during an emergency as many of the drugs administered during an emergency are high-alert medications and patients are often in a vulnerable state.
Medication dosage errors in pediatric patients are largely attributable to the need to calculate weight based dosages. If an adult is being resuscitated, most of the first line drugs given emergently are typically in prefilled syringes containing a single dose. For example, without limitation, if a physician requests epinephrine, a nurse is usually able to take an epinephrine syringe from an emergency drawer and inject the entire contents through the patient's IV. This single dose is normally the correct dose for almost all adults. In contrast, most medications for pediatric patients are typically provided in containers or vials that have a large concentrated dose of medication from which the recommended dose is drawn. In an emergency situation, a pediatric patient's weight is estimated using a conventional method such as, but not limited to, basing the weight on the age of the patient or utilizing a measuring tape that uses length, body surface area, limb measurements or a combination to estimate the patient's size. Then, a pediatric medication chart is typically used to determine the appropriate dose of the specific medication for a child of that size. In some cases, the medication dose may need to be converted from the concentration of the vial containing a larger dose of the medicine, drawn up, and finally given to the patient. Additionally, the various different medications that may be requested by the physician, of which there are many, may each have a unique concentration, dose, volume, etc. Often these calculations can be complex. Due to the potential complexity of this process, one may expect that treatment may be delayed or that mistakes may be made. In addition, calculating dosages may cause additional stress for personnel or the patient during an emergency situation. Currently, it is believed that there is no way to avoid performing calculations to administer the correct dose of most pediatric medications, even in a relaxed non-urgent situation. For example, to administer ibuprofen to a pediatric patient, the doctor first determines how many milligrams (mg) per kilogram to give to the patient, and the medication is ordered as a mg dose. The ibuprofen is typically provided in a concentrated dose of say 100 milligrams in 5 milliliters. Therefore, the medical staff must then calculate the volume of the liquid to administer to the patient.
The following are examples of specific aspects in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that current solutions to administering the appropriate dose of many medications to a pediatric patient, particularly in an emergency or resuscitation situation, typically require the medical personnel to perform calculations or to prepare the medication to some degree. For example, one current solution involves a concept to reconstitute all pediatric resuscitation medications into a standardized formulation/concentration so that the dose of all of these medications is the same volume for a given weight range. Using this method the medical personnel estimates the weight of the patient and then calculates the volume of medication that would be an appropriate dose for any of the medications made in this standardized concentration. Another current solution involves using a measuring tape to estimate the weight of the patient based on their length. Then a color associated with a child of that size is assigned to the patient. Once a color for a patient has been determined, this color may be used to formulate all of the dosage calculations for that patient. For example, if a patient is indicated by the measurements to fall into the blue category, a list of the appropriate dosages of multiple medications may be found on the blue page in a medication folder. However, the medication dose typically must still be calculated and drawn up. Furthermore, problems may arise if a member of the medical team is color blind. There may also be problems of continuity if, for example, the ambulance company uses this system and the receiving hospital does not or vice versa.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Apparatus for weight based single doses of medication


Structured-surface light-emitting diode having a light generating layer and a relatively thick, transparent current-spreading layer, vertical structuring of the top surface of the current-spreading layer serves to improve the decoupling of light, while at the same time, a second electrical contact layer with a distributed, lateral structure operates to achieve substantially uniform coupling of electrical current into the current-spreading layer.

The invention concerns a light-emitting diode. In particular, the invention concerns a structured-surface light-emitting diode in which, to improve the uniformity of current supply, an electrical contact layer has a lateral structure by means of which substantially uniform coupling of the electrical current into the light-emitting diode can be achieved.
Light-emitting diodes, such as semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are distinguished in particular by the fact that, depending on the system of materials, the internal conversion efficiency of input electrical energy into radiation energy can be very high, i.e., well above 80%. However, the effective decoupling of light from the semiconductor crystal is impaired by the large jump in refractive index between the semiconductor material (typically n=3.5) and the surrounding resin casting material (typically n=1.5). Owing to the resultant small total angle of reflection, of about 26°, at the interface between the semiconductor and the resin casting material, only a fraction of the light generated can be decoupled. With the simple, cubic LED shape typically used in fabrication, a bundle of rays that is not emitted within the roughly 26°-wide decoupling cone remains trapped in the semiconductor crystal, since its angle with respect to the surface normals is not changed even by multiple reflection. As a result, sooner or later the bundle of rays is lost due to absorption, primarily in the area of the contact or the active region or in the substrate. In the case of InGaAIP LEDs, in particular, the absorbing GaAs substrate is a special problem. In conventional LEDs of this kind, the rays emitted from the active region toward the surface of the LED and lying outside the decoupling cone are very likely to be lost in the substrate due to absorption.
The method most commonly used in practice to alleviate this problem is to deposit a thick layer of semiconductor on the top face of the LED. This makes it possible to obtain partial use of the lateral decoupling cones of the emitted luminous radiation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,718 it is proposed, in an AlGaInP LED, to deposit an electrically conductive GaP layer that is transparent to the emitted luminous radiation on the active, light-emitting layers, primarily to bring about lateral spreading of the current injected through an electrical contact. The advantageous side effect of decreasing total internal reflection and the fact that lateral decoupling of the light beam is made possible by the action of the thick GaP layer have been pointed out elsewhere. In addition, it is proposed to remove the GaAs substrate, which is opaque to the emitted light beam, by etching and to replace at least one transparent layer of the substrate with a suitable material, such as GaP.
The use of one or more thick and transparent layers in a light-emitting diode is also proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,204. Various configurations for the arrangement and number of these transparent layers are described. These include disposing below the active, light-generating layer a layer realized in a funnel shape and tapering in the direction of the substrate (FIG. 10).
The earliest computer simulations revealed that surface structuring of the topmost thick, transparent semiconductor layer resulted in improved light decoupling values. In particular, surface structuring comprising preferably regularly arranged n-sided prisms, pyramids or frusta of pyramids, cylinders, cones, frusta of cones and the like led to a marked improvement in the decoupling of light. This is because the rays, which initially travel steeply upward, are reflected at the structured surfaces but travel at a lower angle upon each reflection, so that they ultimately are decoupled laterally from the side walls of the structured regions of the top surface.
Such structured-surface light-emitting diodes were initially fabricated by growing the light-generating semiconductor layers on a semiconductor substrate, followed by the upper thick, transparent semiconductor layer, and then depositing a central electrical contact surface on the top surface of the thick semiconductor layer. The top surface of the thick semiconductor layer was then structured by means of etching technology in the areas outside the central contact surface, after which the back of the substrate was thinned and provided with a back contact. This approach proved to be disadvantageous, however, since the thick semiconductor layer, the so-called window, is fragmented by the structuring, causing the current spreading to deteriorate. Thus, there is no adequate distribution of electrical-current in the-regions outside the central contact surface, and the improvement in light decoupling brought about by the structuring is therefore offset by the deficient current spread and the increase in overall luminous flux does not turn out as desired.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting diode with high effective decoupling of light. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to simultaneously ensure, in a light-emitting diode, good spatial distribution of the initiated electrical current and good decoupling of the optical light beam.

Surface structured light-emitting diode with improved current coupling


A head-up display apparatus includes: a display unit, which includes a display cell and a first polarizing plate with a retardation layer arranged on an output side of the display cell, the first polarizing plate with a retardation layer including a polarizer and a first retardation layer in the stated order from the display cell side, and which is configured to output projection light; at least one reflector configured to reflect the projection light; a housing, which has an opening portion, and which is configured to store the display unit and the reflector therein; a cover member configured to cover the opening portion; and a second polarizing plate with a retardation layer, which is arranged on a housing inner side of the cover member, and which includes a polarizer and a second retardation layer in the stated order from the cover member side.

The driver of a vehicle performs driving while carefully viewing the front through a windshield, and visually observing meters on an instrument panel. That is, the line of sight of the driver moves toward the front and the meters below. When the driver can view the meters while viewing the front, the movement of the line of sight does not occur, and hence an improvement in drivability (finally safety) can be expected. In view of the finding, ahead-up display apparatus has started to be developed and put into practical use. In the head-up display apparatus, a cover member configured to cover the opening portion of an optical path is arranged for preventing the entry of foreign matter, such as dust, into a housing in which an optical system is stored. Further, a polarizing plate may be bonded to the cover member for preventing an increase in temperature in the housing (specifically for preventing the incidence of sunlight) (e.g., Patent Literature 1). A related-art head-up display apparatus has an insufficient commercial value because its concealability for the inside of its housing is insufficient, and hence the inside is seen. Meanwhile, when an attempt is made to improve the concealability of the head-up display apparatus, its display brightness reduces, and hence its viewability becomes insufficient.


A terminal structure include an internal conductor connection portion, a removal portion and an external conductor connection portion. The internal conductor connection portion is connected to a internal conductor via a conducting portion and an external conductor. The removal portion is provided at a rear side relative to the internal conductor connection portion. The external conductor connection portion is provided at a rear side relative to the removal portion, is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the external conductor, is shut off from the internal conductor connection portion by the removal portion, and is connected to the external conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal structure of a coaxial cable connected to a terminal provided on a circuit board, and a connection structure of a terminal of this coaxial cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, coaxial cables have been used, for example, in information communication devices and medical devices to transmit communication signals. As shown in FIG. 3, a coaxial cable 110 of this type comprises an internal conductor 111, an internal insulating layer 113 which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the internal conductor 111 and which covers the internal conductor 111, an external conductor 115 which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the internal insulating layer 113 and which covers the internal insulating layer 113, and an external insulating layer 117 which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the external conductor 115 and which covers the external conductor 115. The internal conductor 111 is a conductor which transfers communication signals. The internal insulating layer 113 is a dielectric. The external conductor 115 is a conductor which prevents the generation of, for example, electromagnetic noise. The external insulating layer 117 is a dielectric.
A terminal of the coaxial cable 110 is connected to terminals 123 and 125 provided on a circuit board 121. Therefore, in a structure (hereinafter, a terminal structure 131) of the terminal of the coaxial cable 110, the internal insulating layer 113, the external conductor 115, and the external insulating layer 117 are removed so that the internal conductor 111, the internal insulating layer 113, and the external conductor 115 are exposed in order from side of an end face 110b and the terminal is stepped. The internal conductor 111 is connected to one terminal 123 by unshown solder, and the external conductor 115 is connected to the other terminal 125 by unshown solder.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, the outside diameter of the internal conductor 111 is different from the outside diameter of the external conductor 115 covering the internal conductor 111 via the internal insulating layer 113. Thus, the internal conductor 111 and the external conductor 115 are not easily connected to the respective terminals 123 and 125 provided on the flat circuit board 121 because of the difference of their outer shapes. This may lead to unstable connection.
In response to the size reduction of the circuit board 121, a size reduction (space saving) has recently been required for a connection portion between the internal conductor 111 and terminal 123 and a connection portion between the external conductor 115 and terminal 125. Accordingly, the length of the terminal of the coaxial cable 110 including the exposed portions tends to be short. However, if the length of the terminal is short, a sufficient connection area may not be ensured.
Thus, for example, according to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2008-257936, in order to compensate for the difference of outer shape between an internal conductor and an external conductor, a step corresponding to the difference is formed in a circuit board, and a terminal is provided to adapt to the step. This ensures stable connection and a sufficient connection area.
In the circuit board according to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2008-257936 described above, the step is fabricated, and a space for the fabrication is needed. When the circuit board 121 is flat as shown in FIG. 3, the connection between the internal conductor 111 and terminal 123 and the connection between the external conductor 115 and terminal 125 are not stable, which may not ensure a connection area.

Terminal structure of coaxial cable, and connection structure of terminal of this coaxial cable


A cushioning conversion system includes a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into a plurality of cut pads, and a conveyor system positioned to receive pads produced by the cushioning conversion machine and including a conveyor which conveys the pads away from the machine and at least one moveable gate having an open position allowing a pad to pass therethrough and a closed position for stopping progress of a pad along the conveyor when there is insufficient space on the conveyor downstream of the gate to permit a pad to progress substantially through the gate.

In the process of shipping an item from one location to another, a protective packaging material is typically placed in the shipping container to fill any voids and/or to cushion the item during the shipping process. Some commonly used protective packaging materials are plastic foam peanuts and plastic bubble pack. While these conventional plastic materials seem to perform adequately as cushioning products, they are not without disadvantages. Perhaps the most serious drawback of plastic bubble wrap and/or plastic foam peanuts is their effect on our environment. Quite simply, these plastic packaging materials are not biodegradable and thus they cannot avoid further multiplying our planet's already critical waste disposal problems. The non-biodegradability of these packaging materials has become increasingly important in light of many industries adopting more progressive policies in terms of environmental responsibility.
These and other disadvantages of conventional plastic packaging materials have made paper protective packaging material a very popular alternative. Paper is biodegradable, recyclable and renewable; making it an environmentally responsible choice for conscientious companies.
While paper in sheet form could possibly be used as a protective packaging material, it is usually preferable to convert the sheets of paper into a low density cushioning product. This conversion may be accomplished by a cushioning conversion machine, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,026,198; 4,085,662; 4,109,040; 4,237,776; 4,557,716; 4,650,456; 4,717,613; 4,750,896; and 4,968,291. (These patents are all assigned to the assignee of the present invention and their entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference.) Such a cushioning conversion machine converts sheet-like stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into low density cushioning pads or dunnage.
A cushioning conversion machine, such as those disclosed in the above-identified patents, may include a stock supply assembly, a forming assembly, a gear assembly, and a cutting assembly, all of which are mounted on the machine's frame. During operation of such a cushioning conversion machine, the stock supply assembly supplies the stock material to the forming assembly. The forming assembly causes inward rolling of the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material to form a continuous strip having lateral pillow-like portions and a thin central band. The gear assembly, powered by a feed motor, pulls the stock material through the machine and also coins the central band of the continuous strip to form a coined strip. The coined strip travels downstream to the cutting assembly which cuts the coined strip into pads of a desired length.
Typically, the cut pad is transferred downstream to a transitional zone, such as a table, a conveyor, a bin, etc., and is thereafter removed from the transitional zone and inserted within a container for cushioning purposes. In the past, the transitional zone has been positioned beneath the cutting assembly whereby gravity caused the pad to fall towards the transitional zone, or, in other words, away from the cutting assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the approaching coined strip would urge the cut pad in this direction.
The practice of depending upon the force of gravity and/or the urging of the approaching strip for pad-transferring purposes has, for the most part, been very successful. Nevertheless, applicant appreciated that in certain circumstances (such as high/constant volume cushioning situations), pad-transfer problems sometimes, albeit very rarely, occurred. For example, because of the lightweight nature of the pad, one would occasionally fail to travel downstream to the transitional zone. While, in most instances, the approaching pads would eradicate this failure by pushing the "stalled" pad downstream, periodically the approaching pads would instead "shingle" (i.e., the pads would stack one on top of the other in a shingle-like arrangement). Such shingling (although itself uncommon) would usually result in the "jamming" the cushioning conversion machine and this jamming would almost always translate into machine downtime.
Further, problems could arise from the accumulation of a large number of pads in the transitional zone, such as on a conveyor. While the use of a conveyor generally works well in conveying formed pads away from the cushioning conversion machine, if the conveyor were to become filled with pads, the pads would tend to nest or shingle resulting in the difficult removal of the pads from the conveyor and possible damage to the pads.

Cushioning conversion system with accumulator conveyor


A recommendation ranking system that computes trust for entities based on negative expressions of trust. Negative expressions of trust are used to reduce the trust of entities. However, the system may discount entities that in the aggregate are distrusted. The system may be used with a social network to provide accurate, personalized recommendations for members of the social network. The network may be modeled as a voting network, with each member of the social network represented as a node and expressions of trust between members represented as weights on edges between nodes. Values of trust may be computed for nodes in the network and used to generate a recommendation. Opinions expressed on a topic may be weighted by trust in the node expressing the opinion. The system may be applied in other settings that can be modeled as a voting network, including ranking of Internet search results.

The Internet, and the flexibility it provides, has led to new ways of communication. One significant use of the Internet is used for searching for information from websites where information is posted. To aid people in finding information across a vast number of websites, search engines have been developed. In addition to finding web pages that match user-specified search queries, search engines rank search results in a way intended to surface information that is most useful to the user. One approach to ranking web pages is called PageRank.
The PageRank algorithm is premised on the assumption that web pages to which many other web pages link are valuable. In practice, PageRanks for web pages are determined using a "crawler." A crawler is an automated tool that randomly picks a web page and follows links from that web page to other web pages. As the crawler follows links from page to page, it records the frequency with which it visits a web page as an indication of the PageRank for that page.
Though, it has been recognized that a link to a web page may not necessarily signify that the web page to which a link points is valuable. A first web page may link to a second web page to criticize the second web page or otherwise in a negative fashion. Accordingly, some coding techniques for web pages support coding of links to other web pages as negative links. The crawler may ignore these negative links so that they do not influence the PageRank.
In addition to allowing users to find information available from publicly available web pages, the Internet is used to facilitate feedback from a broad base of individuals. One way broad-based feedback is obtained is through the use of collaborative ranking systems. There are many websites that provide recommendations on restaurants, travel sites, computer games, music and a wide array of other topics. Such sites receive and aggregate user input on a topic and then present that information as a recommendation.
A further use of the Internet is to facilitate interactions broadly called "social networking." In a social network, a group of individuals that agree in some way to be linked can communicate, frequently by posting information on a website to which access is restricted to members of the social network. Examples of such social networking applications are FACEBOOK and LINKEDIN. Through such systems, users can make connections and express their likes or dislikes.

Recommendation ranking system with distrust


A coating for wall construction is provided whereby a level 5 finish may be obtained without the need for a finishing coat or final skim coat. The coating may be applied to drywall elements prior to installation and is compatible with jointing materials such that a substantially homogeneous surface may be obtained after the drywall elements are assembled with jointing material and the jointing material is dried. The coating formulation includes a noncellulosic thickener, a binder, a mineral filler and water. A method for the construction of interior walls and a construction assembly for interior walls is further provided.

Interior walls typically are installed by use of flat, prefabricated boards which are assembled with the use of jointing material such as joint compounds, sealing coats, joint coats and/or joint-pointing coats. The prefabricated elements can be gypsum fiberboards, cement fiberboards, gypsum wallboards or plaster boards and the like. The flat, prefabricated boards typically include at least one sheet of lining paper, at least one outer layer of which has a visible outer face ready to be decorated. Generally, in the construction of interior walls, flat prefabricated elements, or drywall elements, are fastened to wall frames by, for example, nails or screws, and the joints taped or plastered with a jointing material. The prefabricated elements are assembled together, optionally with a jointing material and the joints are finished with a sealing coat, joint coat and/or joint-pointing coat, so as to obtain an overall visible outer surface which is relatively uniform or plane, including in the region of the joints.
After the interior assembly work has been completed, the preparation generally involves covering the overall surface obtained, i.e., the lining of the flat prefabricated elements plus the joints, with one or more layers of a paint or priming or finishing coat. The overall visible outer surface of the flat, prefabricated boards typically needs to be prepared, before receiving any surface decoration, such as by application of one or more layers of a film covering of the paint or lacquer type or a wallpaper. This preparation is necessitated especially by the shade or color differences existing between the visible outer surface of the flat prefabricated elements, for example plasterboards, and the visible outer surface of the joints.
The preparation operation represents an appreciable additional cost, for example in a complete process for the construction of a building. And, in some cases, it is still insufficient for obtaining an overall decorated surface of uniform appearance, particularly in view of the physico-mechanical differences prevailing between the joints and the flat prefabricated elements.