A system allows data transfer in which the most appropriate packet processing is executed according to the performance of a terminal. A data transmission side stores scalable-encoded data in a packet as a payload, assigns priority-level information corresponding to a layer level of the encoded data stored in the packet to a packet header, and transmits the packet. A data receiving side performs processing by referring to the priority-level information. A level of priority dependent on an application is specified in an RTP payload header according to the degree of importance of scalable-encoded data, and a level of priority is further specified in an IP header. The most appropriate packet processing based on the performance of a terminal is allowed. Re-transmission control based on the layer level of encoded data is also allowed.

The present invention relates to data communication systems, data transmission apparatuses, data receiving apparatuses, data communication methods, data transmission methods, received-data processing methods, and computer programs and, more particularly, to a data communication system, a data transmission apparatus, a data receiving apparatus, a data communication method, a data transmission method, a received-data processing method, and a computer program which assign a degree of priority to encoded image information and transmit and receive the encoded image information.
Various types of data transfer have been performed through various communication media, such as the Internet. Recently, image data, especially moving-image data, has been increasingly transferred through networks. In general, image data, especially moving-image data, is encoded (compressed) at a transmission side to reduce the amount of data, is sent to a network, and the received encoded signal is decoded (decompressed) at a receiving side.
One of the most known image compression methods is the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) compression technology. These days, technical developments have been actively performed which relate to a system in which an MPEG stream is stored in IP packets conforming to the Internet Protocol (IP), transmitted on the Internet, and received by communication terminals, such as PCs, PDAs, and portable telephones, or to an image-data transfer method in such a system.
It is necessary to assume that data transfer is performed with receiving terminals having different performance, in video on demand, in streaming distribution of live images, and in real-time communications in video conferences and video phones. For example, data transmitted from one information transmission source is received by a receiving terminal having a low-resolution display and a low-performance CPU, such as a portable telephone, and displayed on the display, and is also received by a receiving terminal having a high-resolution monitor and a high-performance CPU, such as a desk-top personal computer, and displayed. Data transmission is performed in this way to various receiving terminals having difference processing performance. As a method for allowing such various receiving terminals to execute receiving processing and display processing according to their processing performance, a method for hierarchically encoding transfer data has been examined, which leads to a communication system using scalable encoding.
In scalable-encoded data distribution, for example, encoded data to be processed only by a receiving terminal having a high-resolution display and encoded data to be processed in common by both of a receiving terminal having a high-resolution display and a receiving terminal having a low-resolution display are packetized in a distinguishable manner and distributed, and the receiving terminals select corresponding data and process it.
As compression and decompression methods which allow scalable encoding, MPEG-4 and JPEG-2000 can be, for example, taken. MPEG-4 will include a fine granuality scalability technology and it is said that distribution is hierarchically possible at a low bit rate to a high bit rate with this scalable encoding technology. JPEG-2000 is based on the wavelet transform, and makes the best use of the features of the wavelet transform to be able to perform packetization based on spatial resolutions or to be able to perform hierarchical packetization based on image quality. Motion JPEG-2000 (part 3) can handle moving images as well as still images, and can save scalable data in a file format.
In conventional data distribution systems, it is necessary for a transmission side to generate data having different formats corresponding to the performance of data receiving terminals or to prepare different data at the transmission rates of the data receiving terminals. When the above-described scalable encoding is applied, data distribution is made possible at the same time from one file to terminals having different performance.
When data to be distributed is image data, for example, since real-time response is required, the user datagram protocol (UDP) is used in many cases for communication on the Internet. In addition, the real-time transport protocol (RTP) is used in the layer above the layer where UDP is used, and a format defined for each application, that is, each encoding method, is used. When UDP is used, since a packet is not regenerated, unlike transmission control protocol (TCP)/IP, a packet loss may occur due to network congestion.
A discrete-cosine-transform-(DCT)-based technology has been proposed for a specific data distribution case to which scalable encoding is applied. In this technology, DCT processing is applied to distribution information, such as image data, to generate layers with a high-frequency signal and a low-frequency signal being distinguished, packets are generated in a high-frequency layer and a low-frequency layer, and data distribution is executed.
When the proposed data distribution in which DCT is used for the high-frequency and low-frequency layer process is executed, however, receiving terminals can execute packet processing according to levels of priority for a high-frequency signal and a low-frequency signal, determined, for example, by the performance of the terminals. There are only two levels of priority, one for a high-frequency signal and the other for a low-frequency signal. In contrast, the bandwidths of network fluctuate in various ways. Therefore, it is difficult to say that only the processing based on two levels of priority is sufficient for handling various types of fluctuations of the bandwidths of networks. In addition, the DCT-based scalable technology is not sufficient for allowing terminals having different resolutions, for example, receiving terminals having a large resolution difference such as a portable telephone and a personal computer, to execute the most appropriate image display processing according to the performance of the terminals.
Further, since encoding is executed by using-inter-frame difference information in MPEG, when a packet loss occurs on the Internet, for example, block noise unique to MPEG occurs across a number of frames. The RTP format is defined for Motion JPEG in the IETF document, RFC 2435. The RTP format is not defined for JPEG-2000 video streams. Although it is better to apply a different process for an error and a packet loss to each layer with a packet loss being taken into account, there was no such packetizing method.

Data communication system, data transmission and encoding apparatus, data receiving apparatus, data communication method, data transmission method, received-data processing method, and computer program using priority information


A stator having a stator core and coils is disclosed. The stator core includes split core pieces each having a tooth portion. The split core pieces are arranged annularly such that the distal ends of the tooth portions face radially inward. A lead wire is continuously wound about an adjacent pair of the tooth portions such that coils of different phases are formed in the circumferentially adjacent tooth portions, so that a plurality of connecting wires are provided, each connecting wire connecting coils of different phases. The connecting wires are connected to one another while being connected to one another, such that a neutral point is created.

Conventionally, the stator of an inner rotor type motor has an annular stator core and coils. The stator core has tooth portions extending radially on the radially inner side of the stator, and the coils are would about the tooth portions. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-18345 discloses a stator having a split core that is divided into pieces each corresponding to one tooth portion. A stator having a split core is spread flat when coils are wound about the tooth portions. Then, the split core pieces are annularly arranged such that the tooth portions are oriented radially inward, so that the stator is formed. In a stator having a split core, coils are wound about tooth portions with the stator being spread flat. This increases the space factor of the coils.
In the stator disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-18345, a single lead wire is wound about each tooth portion. However, in the stator of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-18345, both ends of every coil (lead wire) need to be connected to a predetermined conductive member, which complicates the wire connecting procedure.
As a technique for remedying the above drawback, the stator disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-176753 has a configuration in which a plurality of coils of the same phase are formed by a single lead wire, and a connecting wire extends between the coils. Each lead wire that constitutes the coils of one phase is connected at one end to a common neutral point, and receives at the other end the supply of alternating current of a 120 degree phase difference. Since this structure allows the number of the lead wires forming the coils to be less than the number of the tooth portions, the number of manufacturing steps for the lead wire connecting procedure of the ends of the wires is reduced.
However, in the stator of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-176753, coils of the same phase are arranged in the circumferential direction with a coil of another phase in between. This makes the connecting wire between the coils of the same phase relatively long. Therefore, in a circularization process of the stator and a connecting process that is performed after the circularization process to connect connecting wires, the connecting wires are likely to get entangled, making these processes troublesome. Also, in a stator having a split core, the stator is made annular from a spread flat state after coils are wound about the tooth portions. The length of each connecting wire therefore needs to have a sufficient margin. In other words, the length of the connecting wires need to be set relatively long.

Motor, stator, and method for manufacturing stator


A lockable leveling structure has a vertical stand with a base at one end. The stand has legs pivotally attached and can be locked in a stable manner by a slide collar and thumb screw. The slide collar is movable about the vertical stand and makes a solid contact against the end of the legs causing the outer end of the legs to move up or down respective to one another to compensate for an unlevel support surface. This provides a solid motionless structure that can carry a load bearing fixture in desired degree of levelness in a safe, stable, novel manner without the use of shims, or altering the surface while on unlevel surfaces. The slide collar is unlocked and raised up the stand member allowing the bottom of the legs to rotate up toward the vertical stand member causing the structure to be in a compact package for storage or transport.

Heretofore lockable leveling structures had to be shimmed to make a solid, stable structure, and no known structure exists that holds the load perpendicular to the base when placed on uneven surfaces. Those skilled in the art can appreciate the unique difference, safety, and versatility of this invention, when viewing Henson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,332; Shapiro, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,502; Ina, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,103 and Hoffman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,118. In Henson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,332, the toggle assembly is similar, but offers no positive way of leveling on uneven surfaces. In Shapiro, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,502, the load is not transmitted in a stable fashion and will cause the horse to fall over. In Ina, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,103, the difference is that the leveling is limited to only two directions and it would not survive heavy loads. In Hoffman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,118, the entire mechanism is too time consuming, and the load is not perpendicular to the main base when on uneven surfaces.
The present invention differs from the known prior art, by the provision of a base that can be easily folded into a compact package and upon unfolding can provide a stable angle for a load bearing fixture, while being on an uneven support surface, such as the ground. This invention therefore relates to a novel way of leveling a load carrying fixture.


An integrated circuit device having a plurality of lines is described in which the widths of the lines, and the spacing between adjacent lines, vary within a small range which is independent of variations due to photolithographic processes, or other patterning processes, involved in manufacturing the device. A sequential sidewall spacer formation process is described for forming an etch mask for the lines, which results in first and second sets of sidewall spacers arranged in an alternating fashion. As a result of this sequential sidewall spacer process, the variation in the widths of the lines across the plurality of lines, and the spacing between adjacent lines, depends on the variations in the dimensions of the sidewall spacers. These variations are independent of, and can be controlled over a distribution much less than, the variation in the size of the intermediate mask element caused by the patterning process.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to methods of fabricating high-density integrated circuit devices.
Description of Related Art
Photolithographic processes can be used to form various types of integrated circuit structures on a semiconductor wafer. In photolithography, features of these structures are typically created by exposing a mask pattern (or reticle) to project an image onto a wafer that is coated with light sensitive material such as photo resist. After exposure, the pattern formed in the photo resist may then be transferred to an underlying layer (e.g. metal, polysilicon, etc.) through etching to create the desired features.
One problem associated with manufacturing devices having very small features arises because of the line width variation (or Critical Dimension, CD) introduced by the photolithographic processes. Specifically, resist material properties, process conditions and other factors can cause random variations in the width and spacings of a patterned line of resist over its length. The variation along just one edge is called line edge roughness (LER).
In a typical lithographic patterning process, a series of parallel lines of resist are used as an etch mask to create a corresponding series of parallel lines of material in the underlying layer. In such a case, random variations in the patterned parallel lines of resist will be transferred to the critical dimensions of the parallel lines in the underlying layer. As process technologies continue to shrink, this random variation becomes a greater percentage of the critical dimension of the parallel lines of material, which can result in significant performance variability in devices such as transistors implemented utilizing these lines of material.
In addition, such a process will result in random, uneven variations in the spacing between the adjacent parallel lines of resist, which in turn is transferred to the spacing between the adjacent lines of material. This uneven spacing introduces variations in the thermal stress induced on either side of a given line of material during manufacturing, which can result in reliability issues and reduce yield. For example, a typical fabrication technique includes forming shallow trench isolation (STI) structures of insulator material between lines of silicon. During the manufacturing process, these structures undergo thermal cycling which introduces thermo-mechanical stresses between the silicon and the adjacent STIs. The difference in spacing on either side of a given line of material results in variations in the induced thermal stresses on either side, which can significantly deform and possibly cause the silicon to fall over during manufacturing.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide high-density integrated circuit devices which overcome or alleviate issues caused by critical dimension variations introduced by photolithographic processes, thereby improving performance and manufacturing yield of such devices.

Methods for fabricating high-density integrated circuit devices


Manners of scheduling downloads for a user equipment (UE). The UE is configured to establish a connection to a network and receive an indication of a user-initiated download, determining whether the download is to be performed now or at a subsequent time, when the download is to be performed at the subsequent time, determine a time window during which the download is to be initiated and initiate the download during the time window.

A user equipment (UE) may establish a connection to at least one of a plurality of different networks or types of networks. When connected, the UE may download data from a remote endpoint. For example, the UE may download a video file from a server via the network connection. During periods of network congestion, for any of a variety of different reasons, the download may stall and take longer than the user may anticipate. Accordingly, network congestion may negatively impact the user experience associated with the UE.

Deferred download based on network congestion


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a network element, and a system for determining a target RAT. The method includes: receiving, by an access network element, access control information of a UE that is sent by a mobility management network element, where the access control information includes an identity of a PLMN and a radio access technology RAT allowed and/or a RAT not allowed by the PLMN; and determining, by the access network element, a target RAT for the UE according to the access control information.

Currently, most network operators achieve a purpose of saving operating expenses by using a shared network architecture, such as a gateway core network (GWCN), or a multi-operator core network (MOCN). Alternatively, the operating expenses are saved by means of roaming. For example, an operator only deploys an LTE network, and a subscriber of the LTE network accesses a 2G/3G network of other operators by means of roaming.
In an environment in which multi-operator networks coexist, generally when determining a target for a UE and migrating the UE, on the basis of information such as a currently used public land mobile network (PLMN), an access network element determines a target network operator or RAT for serving the user equipment (UE), and migrates the UE to a target cell. For example, when the target cell in which the UE is located supports a currently used network operator, the target network operator selected by the access network element is the same as the currently used network operator.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, operator B deploys an enhanced data rate for global system for mobile communications evolution radio access network (GERAN) and a universal mobile telecommunications system territorial radio access network (UTRAN), and shares a long term evolution network (LTE) with operator A in an MOCN or GWCN manner. Operator A only deploys an LTE network, and generally a UE that belongs to operator A can access the UTRAN or GERAN network of operator B by means of roaming. When the UE is handed over from the UTRAN or GERAN network to the LTE network, a current network operator used by the UE is operator B. Because operator B is supported by an LTE network cell, an access network element always selects operator B as an operator of the LTE network.
During implementation of embodiments of the present invention, it is found that at least the following problem exists in the prior art.
A UE is a subscriber that belongs to operator A but is connected to the LTE network through operator B by means of roaming, which causes a problem that operator A has a low network attachment rate, this is unfavorable for brand building of operator A, and roaming charges of the UE is relatively high.
In another scenario, a same problem exists. For example, operators A, B, and C reach a roaming agreement. However, a UE of operator B is not allowed to access operator A through an RAT such as GERAN, but can access operator C. If the UE of operator B accesses UTRAN of operator A at the beginning, when there are GERAN cells of operator A and operator C, an RNC of operator A migrates the UE to GERAN of operator A during migration decision-making according to the prior art. However, GERAN of operator A does not allow the UE to access GERAN, thereby which causes that the UE fails to access GERAN of operator A, a delay of accessing a network for acquiring a service increases, and user experience is compromised.

Method for determining target, network element, and system for determining target


An apparatus is operable to cause a print unit to generate first printed matter based on a first setting designated by a first designator. The apparatus includes an identifier adapted to identify a second setting that can be utilized in substitution for the first setting, a notifier adapted to notify an operator of information about the second setting identified by the identifier, and a producer adapted to cause the print unit to generate second printed matter based on the second setting designated by a second designator, after notifying the operator of the information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus (e.g., multifunction peripheral device), a system and a program product, used to cause a printing system (e.g., print engine unit contained within the multifunction peripheral device) to produce printed matter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A network printing system that is connected to a personal computer (hereunder referred to as "PC") and a printing device is widely used. At the network printing system, the printing device decodes print data produced by an application of the PC, and bit map data is produced and output. In such a printing system, when printing from the PC, an operation error or a printing setting error at a printer driver may not allow a desired printed result (printed matter) to be obtained.
In this case, upon visually confirming the printed output result, the printing setting is changed at the printer driver of the PC, after which re-printing is performed. Here, it is necessary for a user to obtain the printed output result by returning to the PC from the printing device once and, then, by going back to the printing device from the PC again. This makes it troublesome for the user each time re-printing needs to be performed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-015930 proposes a printing device which can individually perform printing operations on a desired page, included in input data, by an operation of a panel of the printing device, in accordance with a predetermined printing condition that is different from a printing condition up to that time.
However, the related art only allows the printing setting to be changed, and does not propose what printing setting changes can be made.


The control circuit includes: a series circuit of a first triac and a reactor; and a second triac in parallel with this series circuit so as to perform control of activation of a fixing heater. Since the fixing heater has a low resistance when the power switch is first turned on, the first triac is operated to perform phase angle control of current flow, and when the phase angle has become approximately equal to 180.degree., the first triac is stopped, at the same time the second triac starts to be operated. The switching from the first triac to the second triac is made quickly so that it is possible to reduce the power consumption from the reactor.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heater control device that controls a heater in which an intensive rush current arises, and more particularly relates to a heater control device which is suitable for an image forming apparatus such as a copier, laser beam printer, facsimile machine etc., in which a halogen lamp is used for the fixing heater.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional example will be explained.
In conventional image forming apparatuses such as copiers, laser beam printers, facsimile machines, etc., a fixing heater 1 using a halogen lamp etc. which generates intensive rush current is most commonly adapted to be activated at the zero-cross point, in order to reduce the noise flowing out from the a.c. cable to the power supply line as much as possible.
Even with the above countermeasure, fixing heater 1 in a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 1 has very low resistivity value when the filament of the fixing heater remains cold, so that a very large rush current occurs at the moment fixing heater 1 is activated. In order to suppress the rush current this configuration needs a triac TD, which is rather expensive and also suffers from a problem that large variation of the power source voltage occurs.
To take countermeasures against the aforementioned variations of the power source voltage, there is a method by which fixing heater 1 is activated by gradually making the phase angle of current flow greater, using a reactor L in series between fixing heater and triac TD as shown in FIG. 2. This method, however, includes the problem of occurrence of a large higher-harmonic current because a large amount of current flows through fixing heater 1 during the control of the phase angle of the current through fixing heater 1.
The variation of the power source voltage causes fluctuation, and the higher-harmonic current affects the operations of other appliances by way of the power system. Therefore, in Europe, for example, the international standard (IEC1000-3-2, IEC1000-3-3) concerning EMC has been laid down by force by the IEC since Jan. 1, 1996. Under this rule, new regulations concerning fluctuation and higher harmonics will be started from 1998.
Now, reference will be made to the EC's regulations against higher harmonics and flicker of fluctuation.
First, the regulation for higher harmonics is to regulate higher-harmonic components of the input current to the appliances connected to the power supply, in order to prevent disorders as follows. More specifically, when an electronic appliance is connected to the power system, higher-harmonic current occurs in the power source due to the components whose input power source is not of a sinusoidal current, such as the power source rectifier circuit, phase control circuit, components having non-linear load characteristics and the like, thus causing voltage distortion. This voltage distortion, in turn, affects power system equipment as well as the operations of the appliances connected to the power system, thus causing overheating, burnout and/or generation of noise in the capacitors, inductors and transformers, malfunctions of the control devices, operation failures and shortening of the lifetime of the connected appliances, and other defects.
Secondly, the regulation against flicker is the one which prevents flickering of illumination due to variations of the power supply voltage occurring with the changes in the consumed current of appliances being connected to the power source, and regulates the magnitude of the voltage drop, its duration and frequency of changes per min. when an appliance is operated under the power source impedance as the reference. In this point of view, in the case where an appliance such as a copier employing a halogen lamp of high power as the fixing heater is used, the rush current when the fixing heater is activated, is of major influence, therefore, this rush current needs to be reduced.
As a countermeasure against this, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Hei 3 No. 266,008, for example, that the outstanding large rush current which will occur when the fixing heater is activated is prevented by providing a temperature detecting means in the fixing heater, and turning on the thyristor at a zero-cross point in the a.c. input voltage waveform when the detected temperature is low while, if the detecting temperature is high, activating the thyristor at a phase after and around the peak of the a.c. input voltage waveform.
However, the fixing heater using a halogen lamp etc., will cause a rush current every time the heater is activated, this needs use of a control device such as triac etc., having a rated current greater than that required for the control, resulting in increase in cost. Further, there is a concern that this large rush current might cause fluctuation such as flicker of fluorescent lamps connected to the same power system as the copier.
To solve this problem, there is a method of performing a soft start of the activation of the fixing heater by performing phase angle control. This method, however, is accompanied with a large higher-harmonic current, needing a reactor which must be connected in series with the fixing heater. The size of the reactor is determined by its inductance value and average current (the amount of heat generation). Therefore, if it is used with a halogen lamp etc. which has a high current load, the reactor needed becomes larger and heavier and more expensive, hindering the reduction in size and cost of the copier.

Heater control device using phase angle control


A rolling support device excellent in both of the characteristics of durability and corrosion resistance is provided. The inner ring (1) and the outer ring (2) comprises an austenitic stainless steel and has, on a raceway surface, a carburizing hardened layer containing no substantial carbides at a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 650 or more. The carburizing hardened layer is formed by applying fluoriding and then applying carburizing at a temperature of 540° C. or lower. The rolling element (3) is made of Si3N4.

Heretofore, as the material for raceway member (fixed member and moving member having a rolling raceway surface) for a rolling support device, SUJ2 has been used for bearing steel and steel materials corresponding to SCR420 and SCM420 have been used for case hardening steels. Since the rolling support device is used generally under repetitive shearing stress at a high surface pressure, for ensuring rolling contact fatigue life endurable to the shearing stress, hardness is adjusted to HRC 58 to 64 by applying quenching and tempering for case the bearing steel and applying quenching and tempering after carburizing or carbonitriding for case hardening steels.
However, the working circumstances for the rolling support devices are versatile. For example, in a case of a rolling support device for machineries used under a corrosive circumstance such as liquid crystal or semiconductor production facilities or foodstuff machines, when a bearing steel is used as the material, it may sometimes suffer from rust in an early stage to reach the bearing life. Thus, stainless steels are often used as the material when such corrosion resistance is required.
Stainless steels are generally classified into austenitic series, ferritic series, austenite-ferrite two phase series, martensitic series and precipitation hardened series. In the rolling bearing, since the contact portion between a rolling element and an outer ring or an inner ring undergoes wear and large shearing stress, martensitic stainless steels having high hardness and excellent in wear resistance are used mainly. Among them, SUS 440C having the highest hardness has been used most frequently. However, the martensitic stainless steel represented by SUS 440C is poor in the corrosion resistance compared with other stainless steels and is not always satisfactory.
On the other hand, those stainless steels other than the martensitic steels such as austenitic or ferritic steels are excellent in the corrosion resistance but have no sufficient hardness corresponding to the requirement in the rolling support device, so that no sufficient wear resistance and rolling life can be obtained. Particularly, in a case of requiring the corrosion resistance, those applied with hard Cr plating or coating layer comprising a fluorine-containing material to the carburized or carbonitrided case hardening steel or those applied with various kinds of other corrosion resistant layers than described above have been used. However, the deposited layer not in contiguous with the matrix phase involves a problem that it lacks in the layer strength, tending to cause peeling and no sufficient durability can be obtained for the rolling support device.
The present invention has been developed in order to solve the various problems that conflict to each other in the prior art and it is a first subject thereof to provide a rolling support device excellent in both of the characteristics of the corrosion resistance and the durability.
On the other hand, in the apparatus where magnetic fields cause a problem such as in production facilities for liquid crystal or semiconductor devices, medical inspection apparatus or linear motor cars, when a driving section is formed of a magnetic material, surrounding magnetic fields are disturbed upon driving to sometimes deteriorate the performance of the apparatus. Accordingly, in constituent components for the rolling support device used in such apparatus, those made of non-magnetic materials have to be used. Heretofore, constituent components made of beryllium-copper alloys or ceramics have been used.
However, the beryllium-copper alloys tend to suffer from oxidation and since the oxides are toxic substance, use of the beryllium-copper alloys as the material for the constituent components in the rolling support device is not preferred with a view point of environmental problems. Further, those made of beryllium-copper alloys have a low hardness of about 40 as Rockwell C hardness (HRC), so that they have a problem also in view of durability. Further, when ceramics are used as the material for constituent components in the rolling support device, they result in problems of increasing the cost and providing difficulty in enlarging the size and reducing the thickness.
Accordingly, precipitation hardening type austenitic non-magnetic steels such as Mn—Cr—V series or Mn—Cr—Ni—V series have been used in recent years. However, although such steels are somewhat excellent in the corrosion resistance over the martensitic stainless steels but still not yet sufficient. In addition, since the hardness is about 45 (HRC), such steels can not solve the problem of the durability when used as they are.
The method of improving the surface hardness of the steels described above can include, at first, a method of forming a hard ceramic coating on the surface by a PVD method or CVD method. In this method, since the ceramic layer is formed not in contiguous with the base metal, the layer may possibly be peeled from the base metal upon undergoing high contact stress. Accordingly, this method can not provide a sufficient durability as the constituent components for the rolling support device.
There can be mentioned a second method of work hardening the surface by cold working. This method involves a problem of giving magnetic property since fabrication induced transformation is caused to make the austenite into martensite.
There can be mentioned, as a third method, a heat treatment such as carburizing or carbonitriding. However, the austenitic non-magnetic steels are less carburized, different from general bearing steels. In addition, since increase of the hardness utilizing the martensitic transformation can not be expected in the steels, it is necessary to harden the surface layer, for example, by precipitating a great amount of carbides or carbonitrides. In this case, since Cr having high affinity with carbon is precipitated predominantly as carbides to possibly lower the non-magnetic property or the corrosion resistance.
As described above, no constituent components for the rolling support device comprising a non-magnetic material and having sufficient durability and corrosion resistance have yet been obtained by the prior art method. A second subject of the present invention is to provide a rolling support device comprising constituent components which are non-magnetic and excellent in the durability and the corrosion resistance.

Rolling support device and method for manufacturing the same


Condensate of superoxide anion radical (SAR) abolisher exhibiting strong and stable SAR abolishing activity is provided. Hydrogen adsorbent is introduced into a solution obtained by dissolving electrolyte into purified water. The solution containing hydrogen adsorbent is introduced into both cathode and anode chambers separated by a diaphragm. With a cathode immersed in the cathode chamber and with an anode immersed in the anode chamber, electricity is applied between the cathode and the anode to electrolyze the solution. Electrolytic reduced water produced in the cathode chamber is derived, and water included in the electrolytic reduced water is evaporated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to condensate of superoxide anion radical (SAR) abolisher, and more particularly, to condensate of SAR abolisher that has potency to abolish SAR that causes diseases such as cerebral stroke, cardiac infarction, arteriosclerosis, cancer and the like. The present invention also relates to a method of producing such condensate of SAR abolisher. The present invention further relates to SAR abolisher powder having potency to abolish SAR.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, mortality from cancer has been rising all over the world. A major factor of the death by cancer is remote metastasis to other organs, which in many cases has already occurred when a person is given a diagnosis of cancer.
In the current cancer treatment, however, cure is often difficult once the cancer has metastasized. Solving this problem will be a key to overcome the cancer. The cancer is considered to occur due to damage to DNA that is caused by SAR. The applicant has already proposed high concentration hydrogen dissolved water obtained by electrolysis, which has potency to prevent or repair such damage to the DNA caused by SAR (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-118653).
To evaluate SAR abolishing capability of reduced water obtained by electrolysis (hereinafter, referred to as xe2x80x9celectrolytic reduced waterxe2x80x9d), a solution of super purified water with 0.01% NaCl added therein was first electrolyzed by an electrolysis apparatus (xe2x80x9cTI-8000xe2x80x9d). The SAR abolishing capability of the electrolytic reduced water thus obtained was evaluated by a chemiluminescence analyzer using luminol luminescent reagent as reactant. The result showed that the reaction was weak, and the SAR abolishing activity was small.
Based on the above, a main object of the present invention is to provide condensate of SAR abolisher improved to exhibit strong and stable SAR abolishing activity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing such condensate of SAR abolisher.
A further object of the present invention is to provide SAR abolisher powder exhibiting strong SAR abolishing activity.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a first aspect of the present invention, hydrogen adsorbent is first introduced into a solution obtained by dissolving electrolyte into purified water. The solution containing the hydrogen adsorbent is then introduced into both a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated from each other by a diaphragm. With a cathode immersed in the cathode chamber and an anode immersed in the anode chamber, electricity is applied between the cathode and the anode to electrolyze the solution. Electrolytic reduced water is obtained in the cathode chamber, which is derived therefrom. Water contained in the electrolytic reduced water is then evaporated.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a second aspect, the hydrogen adsorbent to be used may be selected from carbon (C), platinum (Pt), platinum salt (H2PtCl6), gold (Au), vanadium (V) and palladium (Pd), which are substances capable of adsorbing hydrogen (H., H2).
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a third aspect, the electrolyte includes NaCl or NaOH.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a fourth aspect, the step of introducing the hydrogen adsorbent into a solution obtained by dissolving electrolyte into purified water includes the step of causing the solution containing the electrolyte to pass through a cartridge including the hydrogen adsorbent.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a fifth aspect, a solution obtained by dissolving electrolyte into purified water is first introduced into both a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated from each other by a diaphragm. A first cathode for electrolysis is immersed in the cathode chamber, and a first anode for the electrolysis is immersed in the anode chamber. A second cathode is also immersed in the cathode chamber, and a second anode, formed of hydrogen adsorbent, is immersed in the anode chamber for application of electricity between itself and the second cathode. Electricity is applied between the first cathode and the first anode to electrolyze the solution. Electricity is also applied between the second cathode and the second anode to dissolve the hydrogen adsorbent into the solution. Electrolytic reduced water produced in the cathode chamber is derived. Water within the electrolytic reduced water is then evaporated.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a sixth aspect, carbon, platinum, platinum salt, gold, vanadium, or palladium is used as the hydrogen adsorbent cited in the fifth aspect.
In the method of producing condensate of SAR abolisher according to a seventh aspect, NaCl or NaOH is used as the electrolyte cited in the fifth aspect.
The condensate of SAR abolisher according to an eighth aspect is produced by reducing a solution containing electrolyte and hydrogen adsorbent by electrolysis, and by condensing the obtained electrolytic reduced water.
The powder of SAR abolisher according to a ninth aspect is produced by reducing, by electrolysis, a solution of purified water with electrolyte and hydrogen adsorbent dissolved therein, and by evaporating the obtained electrolytic reduced water to dryness.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Condensate of SAR abolisher, producing method thereof, and SAR abolisher powder


At least part of an image boundary is specified as a target boundary portion to be processed and is then subjected to fractal processing. This procedure gives a corrected image boundary. When one cycle of the fractal processing magnifies the target boundary portion by M times, the target boundary portion is contracted to 1/M.sup.N (wherein N is an integer of not less than 1) prior to the fractal processing. The fractal processing is recursively executed by N times on the contracted target boundary portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of correcting a boundary between images utilizing a computer system, and also to a fractal processing applicable to the boundary correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of methods have been proposed for correcting a boundary between images. For example, a method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,675 superimposes a noise upon image data in the vicinity of a boundary for the correction. Another method disclosed in JAPANESE PATENT PUBLICATION GAZETTE No. 7-113964 combines two image data with each other in the vicinity of their boundary while varying the composite ratio according to a distance from the boundary.

Image boundary correction by fractal processing


A portable tool case is disclosed that may be displayed in numerous orientations using a cover member of the tool case as a support. The cover member that may be rotated into a support position to support the tool case on a surface. The cover member may comprise a pair of covers that are manipulated into an easel, display or table orientation.

Portable tool cases have long been used to store tools, enabling convenient transportation and retrieval of tools from the case. Tool cases may also be used to merchandise sets of tools. A desirable attribute of such tool cases is that they are capable of displaying the tool set, so that a prospective customer can see the tools held by the case. Tool cases typically comprise a storage area with a cover. The storage area may have a number of recesses where the tools are stored. These recesses usually have an overall shape that conforms to the shape of the tool to be stored therein. An individual tool is placed within its designated recess, fitting snugly therein so that it will not be dislodged unless manually pulled from the recess. To access the tools, the tool case should be below eye level so that the user can look into the interior of the case. Often times, however, the tool case is above the eye level of the user, for example, when the user is working under a car, and the tool case is lying on a floor. To access the tools, the user must move his or her body out from underneath the car, sit up, look into the tool case to find a desired tool, and then crawl back under the car, where the tool is then used. Thus, it would be advantageous if a tool case had a mechanism with which it could be orientated into a desired position, such as a position allowing a user to view the storage area from a prone position. Moreover, it would be advantageous if this mechanism were a component part of the tool case. It would also be advantageous if the tool case could also be used to display the tool set on a counter top or other location in a manner that allows a prospective customer to see the tools within the case.


Managing database indexes includes creating a main index and creating at least one service index that is configured for recording a change to a node to be updated in the main index. Managing database indexes also includes detecting whether an operation that involves the main index and is performed on the database appears in the database, and maintaining the main index using at least one service index in response to the operation that involves the main index and is performed on the database, appearing in the database. The maintaining is performed based on changes to a node to be updated in the main index that are recorded in the at least one service node.

Developments in database technology have yielded increased capabilities with respect to data organization, data management, and data storage for various computer applications. In recent years, database storage capacity has gradually increased, and various operations performed by users on a database have also become more and more complex and frequent. Thus, ensuring that the database quickly returns a result desired by a user within an expected response time has become a hot study topic in the database field.
In existing database management systems (DBMSs), database indexing technology has been widely applied. A database index is a structure that sorts values in one or more columns of a database table. With an index, particular information in the database table may be quickly accessed. A database index may greatly accelerate the response speed of a query operation. However, it may also cause some negative impacts despite the above-mentioned improvements in query performance.
Further, when performing a data manipulation operation (i.e., data manipulation language (DML) operations, such as insert, delete, and modify) on the database table, it might be necessary to update the index. In this event, the database management system has to modify the data in various tables of the database, as well as update the index impacted by the DML operation. In other words, this DML operation can be deemed as complete only after both the table in the database and the impacted index have been successfully updated. If only the table in the database has been successfully updated while the impacted index has not been updated yet, the index cannot accurately reflect the actual state of the database. Thus, if a query is performed on an index that has not been completely updated, the returned result might be inconsistent with the latest data stored in the database. For a large database, its index may have a quite complex data structure; thus, the time spent on updating the index may have an adverse impact on the response time of the database.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a method for obtaining an accurate detected value of a similarity, such as an hitting sound. The method includes the steps of: creating original standard/input pattern vectors each having a feature quantity of an hitting sound; creating a skewness-weighting vector and a kurtosis-weighting vector based on a reference pattern vector of a reference shape; calculating a skewness-weighted standard pattern vector and a kurtosis-weighted standard pattern vector by product-sum operation using component values of the skewness-weighting vector and the kurtosis-weighting vector and a component value of the original standard pattern vector; creating a dual and weighted standard pattern vector based on these vectors and similarly creating a dual and weighted input pattern vector; creating dual and selected standard/input pattern vectors based on the dual and weighted standard/input pattern vectors; and setting an angle between the dual and selected standard and input pattern vectors as a geometric distance value between the original standard and input pattern vectors.

In a concrete structure, damage such as a cavity occurs inside a concrete structure owing to wind, rain and temperature variation over many years. Such a structure, for detecting abnormality with the structure such as a cavity, is equipped with means for detecting an abnormal sound with regard to a sound or an oscillation generated by hitting a concrete structure using a hammer, and for monitoring whether there is abnormality with the structure based on the detected value of the abnormal sound.                As a technology of detecting a similarity between a standard sound and an input sound as a geometric distance, the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3426905 (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9(1997)-61007, Title of the Invention: Method for detecting an abnormal sound and method for judging abnormality in machine by use of detected value thereof, and method for detecting similarity between oscillation waves and method for recognizing voice by use of detected value thereof) is known.        As an improved technology of detecting a similarity between standard information and input information as a geometric distance, the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3342864 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-277749, Title of the Invention: Method for detecting similarity between voices and method for recognizing voice by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between oscillation waves and method for judging abnormality in machine by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between images and method for recognizing image by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between solids and method for recognizing solid by use of detected value thereof, and method for detecting similarity between moving images and method for recognizing moving image by use of detected value thereof) is known.        As a further improved technology of detecting a similarity between standard information and input information as a geometric distance, the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3422787 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-68231, Title of the Invention: Method for detecting similarity between images and method for recognizing image by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between voices and method for recognizing voice by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between oscillation waves and method for judging abnormality in machine by use of detected value thereof, method for detecting similarity between moving images and method for recognizing moving image by use of detected value thereof, and method for detecting similarity between solids and method for recognizing solid by use of detected value thereof) is known.
The method for detecting a similarity between standard information and input information in the above three prior arts includes the steps of: registering in advance a standard pattern vector having, as a component, a feature quantity such as a power spectrum of a standard sound; creating an input pattern vector having a feature quantity of an input sound as a component; and calculating the degree of similarity between the standard pattern vector and the input pattern vector as a geometric distance. Moreover, the method for detecting an abnormal sound in the above three prior arts includes the step of: comparing a calculated value of the geometric distance with an arbitrarily set allowed value.
Incidentally, in statistical analysis, a normal distribution is usually used as a model of a phenomenon. Then, a "kurtosis" and a "skewness" are used to verify whether the phenomenon obeys the normal distribution or not. Here, the kurtosis and the skewness are statistics. If a probability distribution of the phenomenon follows the normal distribution, then a value of the kurtosis is equal to 3. If it has peakedness relative to the normal distribution, then a value of the kurtosis is greater than 3. Conversely, if it has flatness relative to the normal distribution, then a value of the kurtosis is less than 3. Also, if a probability distribution of the phenomenon is symmetrical about the center axis, then a value of the skewness is equal to 0. If the tail on the right side of the probability distribution is longer than the left side, then a value of the skewness is greater than 0. Conversely, if the tail on the left side of the probability distribution is longer than the right side, then a value of the skewness is less than 0.
In the prior arts, the degree of similarity between the standard pattern vector and the input pattern vector is calculated as a geometric distance by using only a "kurtosis". In the present invention, the degree of similarity between the standard pattern vector and the input pattern vector is calculated as a new geometric distance by using both "kurtosis" and "skewness". Therefore, in order to distinguish "kurtosis" from "skewness" and describe them clearly, we change names from a "weighting vector" and a "weighting curve" in the prior art (the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3422787) into a "kurtosis-weighting vector" and a "kurtosis-weighting curve" in the present invention, respectively. Also, we change names from an "original and weighted standard pattern vector" and an "original and weighted input pattern vector" in the prior art (the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3422787) into a "kurtosis-weighted standard pattern vector" and a "kurtosis-weighted input pattern vector" in the present invention, respectively. Further, we change a name from a "geometric distance" in the prior arts (the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3426905, No. 3342864 and No. 3422787) into a "kurtosis geometric distance" in the present invention.
In the method of calculating the kurtosis geometric distance of the prior arts, a difference in shapes between standard and input patterns is replaced by a shape change in a reference shape (a reference pattern) such as a normal distribution, and the magnitude of this shape change is numerically evaluated as a variable of the kurtosis. Then, the variable of the kurtosis is calculated while moving the center axis of the reference pattern to a position of each component of the standard and input patterns, and the kurtosis geometric distance is calculated by using these variables of the kurtosis. Note that, in the prior art (the gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3422787), the approximate value of the variable of the kurtosis is calculated, instead of calculating the variable of the kurtosis directly.
In general, an equation for calculating the kurtosis of a vector cannot be defined if the component value of the vector is negative. Therefore, in the prior arts, positive and negative reference pattern vectors that have a normal distribution as their initial shapes are created, and a difference in shapes between standard and input patterns is replaced by the shape changes of the positive and negative reference pattern vectors so that the component value of the vector may not become negative. However, in the case where the difference in shapes between standard and input patterns is small, the component value of the vector does not become negative even if we use a method where the difference in shapes between standard and input patterns is replaced by the shape change in a single reference pattern vector. If we explain a principle of the prior arts by using the latter method instead of the former method, it is easier to understand. Therefore, in the following, we explain the principle of the prior arts by using a single reference pattern vector (a single shape of reference pattern). Namely, we explain the prior arts by using the method where the component value of a single reference pattern changes by a difference obtained by subtracting the component value of the standard pattern from the component value of the input pattern, and the magnitude of this shape change is numerically evaluated as a variable of the kurtosis.
The upper and middle diagrams of FIGS. 53(a) to 53(e) show a typical example of the shapes of the standard and input pattern vectors, respectively. FIGS. 53(a) to 53(d) each show the standard and input patterns having a single peak. FIG. 53(e) typically shows the standard pattern having a flat shape and the input pattern where a "wobble" occurs in the flat shape. Also, the bottom diagrams of FIGS. 53(a) to 53(e) show an example where a difference in shapes between the standard and input patterns is replaced by the shape change in the reference pattern having the normal distribution as its initial shape. Note that the peaks of the standard and input patterns shown in FIGS. 53(a) to 53(d) are assumed to have the same height, and the area of each standard pattern and each input pattern shown in FIGS. 53(a) to 53(e) is equal to 1.                FIG. 53(a) gives an example of the case where standard pattern and input pattern have the same shape. Since the reference pattern does not change in its shape from the normal distribution during this time, the kurtosis becomes A=3.        FIGS. 53(b), 53(c) and 53(d) each show an example exhibiting a small, medium, and large "difference" of peaks between the standard and input patterns. During this time, the component value of the reference pattern decreases by the absolute value of the difference between the component value of the standard pattern and the component value of the input pattern at peak position of each standard pattern. At the same time, the component value of the reference pattern increases by the absolute value of the difference between the component value of the standard pattern and the component value of the input pattern at peak position of each input pattern.        In FIG. 53(b), the position of the decreased component value of the reference pattern and that of the increased component value of the reference pattern are close. Since the effect of a decrease and an increase is cancelled out, the kurtosis becomes A≈3.        In FIG. 53(d), since the shape of the reference pattern has flatness relative to the normal distribution, the kurtosis becomes A<<3.        In FIG. 53(c), since the shape of the reference pattern is an intermediate state between FIG. 53(b) and FIG. 53(d), the kurtosis becomes A<3.
Therefore, from FIGS. 53(a) to 53(d), we can understand that the value of the kurtosis decreases monotonically as the "difference" increases between peaks of the standard and input patterns.                In FIG. 53(e), the reference pattern has a small shape change from the normal distribution, because the shape of the reference pattern increases and decreases alternately by the absolute value of the difference between the component value of the standard pattern and the component value of the input pattern. The kurtosis becomes A≈3. Also, if the shape of the reference pattern increases and decreases randomly, the kurtosis becomes A≈3.
In the method for calculating the kurtosis geometric distance of the prior arts, the variable of the kurtosis is obtained by subtracting 3 from the value of the kurtosis. Then, the variable of the kurtosis is calculated while moving the center axis of the reference pattern to a position of each component of the standard and input patterns, and the kurtosis geometric distance is obtained by calculating a square root of a sum of each variable of kurtosis squared. Thus, when a "difference" occurs between peaks of the standard and input patterns with "wobble" due to noise or the like, the "wobble" is absorbed and the kurtosis geometric distance increases monotonically as the "difference" increases.

Method for detecting abnormal sound and method for judging abnormality in structure by use of detected value thereof, and method for detecting similarity between oscillation waves and method for recognizing voice by use of detected value thereof

WEST NIPPON EXPRESSWAY ENGINEERING SHIKOKU COMPANY LIMITED


This invention applies dynamic weighting between a point-to-plane and point-to-edge metric on a per-edge basis in an acquired image using a vision system. This allows an applied ICP technique to be significantly more robust to a variety of object geometries and/or occlusions. A system and method herein provides an energy function that is minimized to generate candidate 3D poses for use in alignment of runtime 3D image data of an object with model 3D image data. Since normals are much more accurate than edges, the use of normal is desirable when possible. However, in some use cases, such as a plane, edges provide information in relative directions the normals do not. Hence the system and method defines a “normal information matrix”, which represents the directions in which sufficient information is present. Performing (e.g.) a principal component analysis (PCA) on this matrix provides a basis for the available information.

Machine vision systems, also termed "vision systems" herein, are used to perform a variety of tasks in a manufacturing environment. In general, a vision system consists of one or more camera assemblies with an image sensor (or "imager") that acquires grayscale or color images of a scene that contains an object under manufacture. Images of the object can be analyzed to provide data/information to users and associated manufacturing processes. The data produced by the camera is typically analyzed and processed by the vision system in one or more vision system processors that can be purpose-built, or part of one or more software application(s) instantiated within a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone).
Common vision system tasks include alignment and inspection. In an alignment task, vision system tools, such as the well-known PatMax® system commercially available from Cognex Corporation of Natick, Mass., compare features in a two-dimensional (2D) image of a scene to a trained (using an actual or synthetic model) 2D pattern, and determine the presence/absence and pose of the 2D pattern in the 2D imaged scene. This information can be used in subsequent inspection (or other) operations to search for defects and/or perform other operations, such as part rejection.
A particular task employing vision systems is the alignment of a three-dimensional (3D) target shape during runtime based upon a trained 3D model shape. 3D cameras can be based on a variety of technologies—for example, a laser displacement sensor (profiler), a stereoscopic camera, a sonar, laser or LIDAR range-finding camera, time-of-flight camera, and a variety of other passive or active range-sensing technologies. Such cameras produce a range image wherein an array of image pixels (typically characterized as positions along orthogonal x and y axes) is produced that also contain a third (height) dimension for each pixel (typically characterized along a z axis perpendicular to the x-y plane). Alternatively, such cameras can generate a point cloud representation of an imaged object. A point cloud is a collection of 3D points in space where each point i can be represented as (Xi, Yi, Zi). A point cloud can represent a complete 3D object including the object's back and sides, top and bottom. 3D points (Xi, Yi, Zi) represent locations in space where the object is visible to the camera. In this representation, empty space is represented by the absence of points.
By way of comparison, a 3D range image representation Z(x, y) is analogous to a 2D image representation I(x, y) where the depth or height Z replaces what would be the brightness/intensity I at a location x, y in an image. A range image exclusively represents the front face of an object that is directly facing a camera, because only a single depth is associated with any point location x, y. The range image typically cannot represent an object's back or sides, top or bottom. A range image typically has data at every location (x, y) even if the camera is free of information at such locations. It is possible to convert a range image to a 3D point cloud in a manner clear to those of skill.
In aligning a target image, either acquired or generated by a synthetic (e.g. CAD) process, to a model image (also either acquired or synthetic), one approach involves the matching/comparison of the target 3D point cloud to the model in an effort to find the best matching pose. The comparison can involve a scoring of the coverage of the target with respect to the model. A score above a certain threshold is considered an acceptable match/pose-estimation, and this information is used to generate an alignment result. It is nevertheless challenging to accurately and efficiently generate an alignment result based upon 3D images.
Aligning 3D objects in 3D range images or 3D point cloud images is best accomplished with one or more, respective, 3D alignment (registration) algorithm(s) that is/are appropriate for the 3D shape of those objects. If an inappropriate 3D alignment algorithm is used, the 3D alignment procedure may fail or perform poorly either by finding an incorrect result pose or finding no result at all. More particularly, a technique termed Iterative Closest Point (ICP) is a classic approach for refining pose estimates for point cloud alignment/registration. It uses a set of features such as point positions or point normals, to iteratively refine a coarse pose into a final pose. One choice that must be made is the metric that the ICP routine will minimize. Standard choices are point-to-line, where the ICP process minimizes the sum of the distances from source points to their nearest edge, and point-to-plane, where the ICP process minimizes the sum of the distances from the source points to planes through their nearest target point, represented by the normal at the target point. However, it is recognized that neither metric is particularly satisfactory, for various reasons. For example, in the use case of aligning a plane to a plane, if the point-to-plane metric is employed, then the system can determine offset and rotation about the normal, but provides no information about the rotation around the normal. The point-to-line metric also exhibits other drawbacks that should be clear to those of skill.

System and method for simultaneous consideration of edges and normals in image features by a vision system


A method of analyzing an ultrasound image of a target volume having therein at least two types of substances is disclosed. The method comprises: dividing a region-of-interest of the image to a set of mini-segments. The method further comprises, for each mini-segment, calculating at least two representative intensity values, respectively representing the at least two types of substances. The method further comprises applying attenuation corrections to each representative intensity value of at least a subset of the set of mini-segments, so as to map the region-of-interest according to the at least two types of substances.

The present invention relates to image analysis and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for analyzing and improving the quality of images obtained, e.g., during contrast echocardiography.
Imaging is recognized as the most commonly used tool in medical diagnostics. Due to its non-invasive nature, imaging is the preferred procedure prior to any invasive treatment or analysis. Medical imaging techniques include Magnetic Resonance Imaging, X-ray imaging, gamma imaging, ultrasound imaging and the like.
In Magnetic Resonance Imaging, magnetic fields interact with the spins of the atoms in a tissue and the interaction results are monitored and analyzed to provide an image of the tissue. In X-ray imaging, X-ray radiation is applied to the body and different absorption and transmission characteristic of different tissues generate an image thereof. In gamma imaging, also known as radiological imaging, a radioactive isotope is injected to, inhaled by or ingested by a patient. The isotope is chosen based on bio-kinetic properties that cause preferential uptake by different tissues. Radiation emitted by the radioactive isotope is detected by radiation detectors outside the body, giving its spatial uptake distribution within the body. The obtained images can be two-dimensional images, in which case the camera is fixed in position, or three-dimensional images, in which case the body is scanned by the camera. Studies which produce two-dimensional images are called planar imaging studies, and studies which produce three-dimensional images are known as single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET).
In ultrasound imaging, high frequency pulsed and continuous sound waves are applied to the body and the reflected sound waves are used to develop images of internal organs and the vascular system. The sound waves are generated and recorded by transducers or probes that are either passed over or inserted into the body. The resulting images can be viewed immediately on a video display or can be recorded for later evaluation in a single image or a cine-loop format.
Diagnostic ultrasound imaging is presently a preferred imaging modality in many medical fields, such as radiology, cardiology and gynecology. Cardiologists and other medical practitioners use cardiac ultrasound imaging, also termed echocardiography, to evaluate the condition of the heart. Echocardiography has the advantage of being a non-invasive, quick, inexpensive, convenient and safe diagnostic procedure, and is therefore practiced in many hospitals as well as private clinics.
The primary drawback of echocardiography is the difficulty of acquiring good quality images in patients with poor acoustic windows. Moreover, clutter and poor resolution can compromise the clinical utility of images of any patient produced by even the most sophisticated ultrasound scanners. With echocardiography, the difficulty of acquiring acceptable images is further compounded by the fact that the region of interest, the heart, has complex motion patterns. The advantages of echocardiography procedure on the one hand, and the unsatisfactory image quality on the other hand, have led researches to apply image processing techniques so as to at least partially improve the echocardiograph image.
One image processing technique is "thresholding," in which one or more parameters (typically intensity thresholds), are used to generate an output image. For example, in one implementation of the thresholding procedure, the intensity of each pixel in the original image is compared with a single intensity threshold. The original image is mapped onto a binary image in which each pixel has one of two polarities (say "0" and "1") depending whether the intensity of the corresponding pixel in the original image is higher or lower than the intensity threshold.
Image processing oftentimes involves mathematical operations performed on histograms characterizing the images. In image processing context, a histogram typically refers to a graph showing the number of pixels in an image at each different intensity value found in that image. For example, for an 8-bit grey-scale image, there are 28=256 different possible intensity values, and the histogram graphically displays 256 numbers showing the distribution of pixels amongst those intensity values.
A well-known mathematical operation is "histogram equalization" (see, e.g., Eltoft et al. "Real-Time Image Enhancement in Two-Dimensional Echocardiography", Computers in Cardiology 1984:481). This technique is based on the assumption that images embodying the maximal possible intensity range display optimal contrasts. In conventional histogram equalization, an intensity transformation, also known as a Brightness Transfer Function (BTF), is used to increase the spread of the intensity histogram characterizing the image. Histogram equalization can also be combined with thresholding and/or intensity transformation [Gonzalez R. C. and Woods R. W., "Digital Image Processing," Addison-Wesley, pp. 166–171, 1992]. However, the results obtained using the above techniques are far from being satisfactory. In particular, echocardiograph images processed using prior art techniques suffer from poor resolution and a substantial amount of noise.
The major artifact in ultrasound images is clutter, which includes irrelevant information that appears in the imaging plane, obstructing the data of interest. There are several causes for the appearance of clutter in an ultrasonic image. A first cause is effective imaging of off-axis objects, primarily due to highly reflective objects in the transducer's sidelobes (e.g., the ribcage and the lungs). A second cause is known as multi-path or reverberations. Due to the geometry of the scanned tissue with respect to the transducer, and the local reflective characteristics of the tissue, a substantial amount of the transmitted energy is bounced back and forth in the tissue before reaching the transducer. As a result, the signal measured at a specific range-gate includes contributions from incorrect ranges, in addition to the relevant range swath.
A known method for reducing clutter is harmonic imaging [Spencer et al., "Use of Harmonic Imaging without Echocardiographic Contrast to Improve Two-Dimensional Image Quality," American Journal of Cardiology, 82:794, 1998]. In harmonic imaging, the ultrasound waves are transmitted at one frequency and received at twice the transmitted frequency. This technique, however, provide less than optimal results. Additionally, being based on adapting the data acquisition process, this technique cannot be applied to all types of echocardiograph images.
Several clutter rejection algorithms have been specifically developed for color-Doppler flow images in which effects of slow-moving objects are suppressed assuming that the blood flow velocity is much higher than the motion velocity of the surrounding tissue (to this end see, e.g., Herment et al., "Improved Estimation of Low Velocities in Color Doppler Imaging by Adapting the Mean Frequency Estimator to the Clutter Rejection Filter," IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 43:919, 1996; Bjaerum et al., "Clutter filters adapted to tissue motion in ultrasound color flow imaging," IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics & Frequency Control, 49, 6:693, 2002; Cloutier et al., "A new clutter rejection algorithm for Doppler ultrasound," IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, 22, 4:530, 2003; and Yoo et al, "Adaptive Clutter Filtering for Ultrasound Color Flow Imaging," Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 29, 9:1311, 2003).
Another known method for handling clutter, in particular in ultrasound images of patients with low echogenicity, is "contrast echocardiography" [Krishna et al., "Subharmonic Generation from Ultrasonic Contrast Agents," Physics in Medicine and Biology, 44:681, 1999]. In contrast echocardiography, contrast agent is used to enhance the backscatter from blood thereby to improve its delineation from the surrounding tissue. The contrast agent is designed to backscatter ultrasound energy, and is administered to a patient during or prior to the ultrasound imaging. Typical contrast agents comprise tiny "bubbles", also referred to as microbubbles, filled with a fluid (liquid or gas) having desired sound reflective properties. Ultrasound contrast agents can also include liquid emulsions, solids, encapsulated fluids, encapsulated biocompatible gases and/or combinations thereof. A contrast agent may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, intraarterially or intracardially.
Contrast agents typically perfuse in surrounding tissue at different rates depending on the health and nature of the tissue (generally, healthy tissue has more capillaries than damaged tissue, and thus the contrast agents perfuse more readily through healthy tissue). Backscattered ultrasound energy from the different levels of contrast agent in tissue results in a differentiated image. By analyzing one or more ultrasound images, a skilled technologist can determine a diagnosis.
One protocol of contrast echocardiography, known as Left Ventricular Opacification (LVO), includes the injection of a bolus of contrast agent into the vein so as to fill the Left Ventricular (LV) cavity. Being highly reflective to the ultrasound waves, the contrast agent facilitates the delineation of the inner boundary (Endocardial boundary) of the cardiac muscle as a function of time.
LVO is typically performed using a relatively high mechanical index (high ultrasound transmission power). When increasing the transmission power, the power of the ultrasonic echo from the tissue increases almost linearly with the input power, while the power of the reflections from contrast agent increases non-linearly. Thus, the use of high mechanical indices provides a better contrast between the LV cavity and the cardiac muscle. However, high intensity pulses destroy the microbubbles of the contrast agent, and the LVO procedure requires continuous infusion of the contrast agent.
Even with contrast agents, ultrasound images are particularly difficult to interpret because of uneven attenuation. "Attenuation" is a measure of the scattering, reflection and absorption of ultrasonic energy by a particular substance whereby less of the energy passes entirely through that substance and beyond. Such variations in attenuation in different materials are the basis for echocardiography. However, if the ultrasound energy is significantly attenuated during transmission through a substance, true visualization of the contrast agent which appears in the tissue/organs beyond the attenuating areas is prevented, leading to a false diagnosis.
Contrast echocardiography is a potentially effective modality for assessing myocardial perfusion. In one method, the contrast agent's mean transit time within the myocardium is measured based on its concentration as a function of time [Mor-Avi et al., "Digital path-dependent recompensation of contrast-enhanced echocardiographic images", Ultrasound Med Biol 1992, 18:831–842; "Myocardial transit time of the echocardiographic contrast media", Ultrasound Med Biol 1993, 19:635–648; "Myocardial regional blood flow: Quantitative measurement by computer analysis of contrast enhanced echocardiographic images", Ultrasound Med Biol 1993, 19:619–633; "Contrast echocardiographic quantification of regional myocardial perfusion: Validation with an isolated rabbit heart model", J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1996; 9:156–165].
In another method, the myocardial perfusion is assessed using the contrast-agent's concentration replenishment curve, following a "flash", which is a series of high mechanical-index impulses which destroy the microbubbles within the Myocardium [Desco et al., "Myocardial perfusion assessment with contrast echocardiography", SPIE Proc 2001, 4325:514–522; Lafitte et al., "Contrast echocardiography can assess risk area and infarct size during coronary occlusion and reperfusion: Experimental validation", J Am Coll Cardiol, 2002, 39:1546–1554; Masugata et al., "Quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion during graded coronary stenosis by real-time myocardial contrast echo refilling curves", J Am Coll Cardiol 2001, 37:262–269; Routh H F and Skyba D M., "Functional imaging with ultrasound", Medica Mundi, 2001, 46:59–64; Wei et al., "Quantification of myocardial blood flow with ultrasound-induced destruction of microbubbles administered as a constant venous infusion", Circulation, 1998, 97:473–483].
Both the above methods are based on the assumption that the contrast-agent's concentration is linearly correlated with the gray-level within the echocardiography image. Such procedures require using low mechanical index pulses (with the exception of transmitting a "flash"), in order to support the buildup of contrast agent within the Myocardium. In low mechanical index scenarios, the power of the returned signal is, of course, much lower than that in high mechanical index cases, and the difference between the power of the echoes from the contrast agent and from the tissue is significantly lower. Consequently, the acquired images are characterized by reduced Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs).
Various techniques have been developed in order to improve the SNR in myocardial perfusion assessment. One such method is coherent contrast imaging (CCI). In CCI, two pulses with opposite phase are transmitted in each direction and the imaging is based on the coherent sum of the reflections from both pulses. Since the tissue's response to ultrasound energy is linear, most of the echoes from the tissue are rejected, while echoes from the contrast agent, which has a non-linear response to ultrasound, are enhanced.
Albeit the advantages of ultrasound imaging from standpoints of cost, availability and safety, many medical institutions prefer to perform myocardial perfusion tests using SPECT rather than contrast echocardiography. One of the reasons is the cumbersomeness of the currently available contrast echocardiography procedure, whereby a single plane is imaged for relatively long periods of time so as to support the build-up or decay of the contrast agent. As a result, even small vibrations of the transducer during the data acquisition may significantly reduce the accuracy of prior art methods.
It is recognized that the effectiveness in diagnostic imaging depends on the ability to accurately recognize the imaged organs. For example, in echocardiography, the determination of the location of the cardiac muscle within the scanned plane, and specifically of the Left Ventricle (LV), is of great importance. Information about the LV outlines as a function of time enables automatic extraction of rich local quantitative functional information.
However, with the present signal-to-noise ratio and substantial amount of clutter in echocardiograph images, visual as well as automatic determination of the LV outlines is rather difficult. An inherent problem with automatic determination of the LV outlines is the complex motion of the Mitral Valve and the Papillary Muscles, which further increase the computational load. An additional problem is the significant variations between different patients and different measurements of the same patient. Several attempts have been made to develop algorithms for automatic detection of the LV outlines [U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,754 and 6,346,124; and Jacobs et al., "Evaluating a Robust Contour Tracker on Echocardiographic Sequences," Medical Image Analysis, 3:63, 1999]. These attempts, however, had only limited success in border detection. For example, prior art fail to accurately detected contours outlining the outer boundaries of the LV.
It will be appreciated that there is a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have methods and apparatus for analyzing and improving the quality of images, devoid of the above limitations.

Methods and apparatus for analyzing ultrasound images


A network device receives data packets and derives a key from headers in the packets. A search engine in the device searches, or performs a table lookup, for information based on the key and multiple programmable masks. The search engine includes a hash based search engine that comprises multiple mask modules each to mask an input key with a respective programmable mask, to produce multiple masked keys. The search engine also includes an array of hash modules each corresponding to a respective one of the masked keys and including a hash table. Each of the hash modules searches its hash table for a data value based on a hash of the corresponding masked key, and outputs a found data value, if any, resulting from the search. A selector selects among the found data values and output the selected data value.

High-performance computing (HPC) uses supercomputers and/or computer clusters to solve complex science, engineering and business projects using applications that require high bandwidth, low latency networking, and very high compute capabilities for packet transfer within a network. Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model layers are typically utilized for processing packets within a network, such as for determining a route for packets to travel within the network from a source node to a destination node. Those model layers include OSI Layer 2 (Data Link), Layer 3 (Network) and Layer 4 (Transport).
A conventional networking device, such as a packet switch, includes L2 and L3 interface derivation logic to derive information from packet headers and use that information to perform memory search/data look-up operations in support of switch operations. Conventional derivation logic may use Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) to perform match-based memory searches. A TCAM tends to increase decision latency, may be difficult to scale up and down as necessary, and uses a relatively large circuit area.


The present invention provides for improved polyolefin stretch wrap films having superior cling force, load retention, tear resistance and puncture resistance properties and for the methods of using those stretch wrap films. The stretch wrap films generally have a thickness of from about 0.4 to about 3 mils, a cling force onto itself of at least 140 g/inch, an F-50 dart drop strength of at least about 150 g/mil. The stretch wrap films are constructed in a multilayer fashion having at least one outside cling polyethylene copolymer layer containing a polyethylene resin preferably produced through metallocene catalyst technology.

The use of thermoplastic stretch wrap films for the overwrap packaging of goods, and in particular, the unitizing of palleted loads is a commercially significant application of polymer film, including generically, polyethylene. Overwrapping a plurality of articles to provide a unitized load can be achieved by a variety of techniques. In one procedure, the load to be wrapped is positioned upon a platform, or turntable, which is made to rotate and in so doing, to take up stretch wrap film supplied from a continuous roll. Braking tension is applied to the film roll so that the film is continuously subjected to a stretching, or tensioning, force as it wraps around the rotating load in overlapping layers. Generally, the stretch wrap film is supplied from a vertically arranged roll positioned adjacent to the rotating pallet load. Rotational speeds of from about 5 to 50 revolutions per minute are common. At the completion of the overwrap operation, the turntable is completely stopped and the film is cut and attached to an underlying layer of film employing tack sealing, adhesive tape, spray adhesives, etc. Depending upon the width of the stretch wrap roll, the load being overwrapped can be shrouded in the film while the vertically arranged film roll remains in a fixed position. Alternatively, the film roll, for example, in the case of relatively narrow film widths and relatively wide pallet loads, can be made to move in a vertical direction as the load is being overwrapped whereby a spiral wrapping effect is achieved on the packaged goods.
Another wrapping method finding acceptance in industry today is that of hand wrapping. In this method, the film is again arranged on a roll, however, it is hand held by the operator who walks around the goods to be wrapped, applying the film to the goods. The roll of film so used may be installed on a hand-held wrapping tool for ease of use by the operator.
Some of the properties desired of a good stretch wrap film are as follows: good cling or cohesion properties, high puncture resistance, high tear resistance in the transverse direction, good machine direction tear resistance, good transparency, low haze, low stress relaxation with time, high resistance to transverse tear when under machine direction tension, producible in thin gauges, low specific gravity and thus high yield in area per pound, good tensile toughness, high machine direction ultimate tensile strength, high machine direction ultimate elongation, and low modulus of elasticity.
Physical properties which are particularly significant for the successful use of thermoplastic films in stretch wrap applications include their puncture resistance, their elongation characteristics, their toughness and their resistance to tearing while under tension. In general, tensile toughness is measured as an area under a stress-strain curve developed for a thermoplastic film and it may be considered as the tensile energy absorbed, expressed in units of ft. lbs./cu.in. to elongate a film to break under tensile load. In turn, this toughness characteristic is a function of the capacity of such films to elongate. The process of stretching the film decreases that capacity. Accordingly, the stretch wrap process will decrease the toughness of the film while it is in its stretched condition as an overwrap as compared to its unstretched form. Generally this loss of toughness is proportional to the amount of stretch imparted to the film as it is overwrapping a load of goods.
Currently, different grades of stretch wrap films are commonly marketed for different end uses according to overall film properties. For example, certain stretch wrap films having superior properties for load retention are characterized by requiring a higher force to stretch the film. However, such load retention films generally have only fair or poor puncture characteristics at such stretch conditions. On the other hand, certain stretch wrap films having superior puncture resistance properties have low load retention properties, thus limiting their use.
A need exists to develop superior stretch wrap films characterized by having both superior load retention characteristics and puncture resistance characteristics. Such films could be used in a wider variety of end applications and thus not unduly limit users of stretch wrap films to selectively choosing a film based on its properties prior to initiating a stretch wrap application.


A phase lock loop (PLL) includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for providing a VCO output signal. A first phase/frequency detector (PFD) for providing a first voltage tuning signal is included for controlling a frequency of the VCO output signal by comparing a first reference signal to the VCO output signal. A second phase/frequency detector (PFD) for providing a second voltage tuning signal is included for controlling the frequency of the VCO output signal by comparing a second reference signal to the VCO output signal. The first and second voltage tuning signals provide, respectively, first and second gains of frequency per volt for controlling the frequency of the VCO output signal. The first voltage tuning signal has a higher gain than the second voltage tuning signal. The first voltage tuning signal provides coarse frequency control of the VCO output signal and the second voltage tuning signal provides fine frequency control of the VCO output signal.

A phase locked loop (PLL) is a frequency feedback circuit that is used to lock a locally generated clock signal to an external reference signal. A PLL is useful in telecommunications equipment and audio/visual equipment that receive a reference signal and require a local clock signal, whose frequency and phase are related (locked) to the received signal, in order to properly decode incoming signals.
In general, a PLL includes a reference frequency generator, a phase and frequency detector (PFD), a charge pump and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The PFD detects the frequency and phase difference between the VCO output frequency (as a feedback signal) and the reference frequency. The PFD outputs a control signal to the charge pump to produce a voltage that is proportional to the frequency and phase difference.
Conventional PLL systems are notoriously noisy during their acquisition and tracking cycles because of the desire to adjust and correct quickly the frequency of the VCO output signal. Hence, there is a need for an improved PLL system that quickly adjusts its frequency output but produces little noise in the process. Additionally, there is a need to accurately determine when the PLL frequency is within a small error range that may be expressed in minute quantities of parts per million (PPM). The present invention addresses such a PLL system.

Low noise phase locked loop with a high precision lock detector