A door system includes a header having a guide rail that has a central portion having a notch. A panel hanger is slidably coupled to the header. A door panel has a handle end portion releasably coupled to the panel hanger and a pivot end portion pivotably coupled to the panel hanger. The panel hanger and the door panel slide in unison between a closed position and a fully open position along a longitudinal plane. An interlock plate is positioned to extend upwardly from the door panel, and has a downwardly extending guide slot that slidably receives the guide rail of the header. When the door panel is in the fully open position, the interlock plate is aligned with the notch of the guide rail of the header in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal plane to facilitate a pivoting of the door panel away from the longitudinal plane.

Entry doors for hospital ICU/CCU rooms are typically equipped with doors which have the ability to both slide closed, and under emergency circumstances or for convenience, swing open to provide greater access to the ICU/CCU room. Previously, the ICU/CCU rooms were equipped with manual sliding doors that provided for full access into or out of the room through the breakaway provision of the sliding door with the sliding door in any position.
What is needed is a door system that may be used in a health care or ICU/CCU environment, which enables the door panel to slide, and can allow the door panel to swing in limited circumstances.

Door system having a swing interlock system


An approach for simulating a circuit design partitions the circuit design into pipeline regions that include one or more pipeline levels. A path length is computed for each combinational region within a pipeline region to compute an achievable timing goal for each pipeline region. A target retiming goal is determined for the set of pipeline regions based on the computed achievable timing goals of the pipeline regions. A pipeline region is identified from the set of pipeline regions that does not satisfy the target timing goal. A measure of slack is computed for each pipeline level in the identified pipeline region. Using the computed slack, path lengths of combinational regions in the pipeline levels of the identified pipeline region are iteratively retimed. The resulting circuit design is simulated using the retimed path lengths if the retimed critical path of the pipeline region satisfies the target timing goal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to retiming regions of an electronic circuit design to improve the efficiency of parallel simulation of the electronic circuit design.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Logic simulation of multi-core computing systems continues to become more complex and more important in the overall design process. Parallel logic simulation techniques claim to increase the performance of simulation task by taking advantage of concurrent read-write access of VLSI systems. Simulation of logic designs at gate, register transfer, and behavioral level of physical abstraction can employ different techniques, such as event driven and oblivious
Parallel logic simulation techniques, like parallel event driven simulation, employ multiple time-ordered queues and partitions, and assign sections of a design into a time-ordered queue running on a processor. Generally, event driven simulation maintains a time ordered queue. Components with value changes are inserted into the queue which limits the computation to parts of the design that have to be updated. To operate properly, the time ordered queues need to be synchronized. Parallel event driven simulation, however, does not scale well beyond four or eight processors in practice. Synchronization cost between hundreds of processors can be very high and at each time step and each level of the logic under test. Moreover, the simulation work assignment may not be distributed evenly among the processors performing the simulation.
Other parallel logic simulation techniques, like oblivious simulation, evaluate all components of the logic design under test. That is, a component of the logic design is evaluated whether or not it has a value change or not. And in turn, the computation of a component is simpler compared to parallel event driven simulation because a value change of a component is not checked, and queue insertion is not performed. In further contrast to parallel event driven simulation, parallel oblivious simulation does not suffer work starvation in processors. Synchronization can be simpler since a single synchronization per level of the model is sufficient. Parallel oblivious simulation, however, may be less efficient for certain simulation task because parallel oblivious simulation performs redundant computation. For example, in cases where the number of value changes per design clock is low, parallel oblivious simulation is slower than serial event driven simulation.

Retiming a design for efficient parallel simulation


Computer systems and associated methods are disclosed to implement a decision model auditing system that allows clients of a machine learning decision system to audit the decision-making process the decision system. In embodiments, the decision system is instrumented with reporting code to collect internal decision data of the decision system and send the data to a decision auditing service. In embodiments, the auditing service provides the client with an obfuscated token, which may be used to anonymize the client requests to the decision system. As client requests are handled by the decision system, the reporting code generates audit messages to the auditing service. The auditing service stores the audit information, which may later be provided to the client or used generate an audit report. In embodiments, the audit report may indicate whether the decision system contains any undesired bias.

Computerized decision-making systems have become increasingly important in recent times. For example, such systems are increasingly being used to make machine-learned decisions in applications such as online marketing and content selection, system optimization, medical research, and other types of adaptive machine learning systems. For example, in a content selection system, the decision system may use a machine learned model to recommend content based on user requests, aiming to maximize the relevance of the selections. In some cases, such decision systems may continue to evolve based on user feedback, in order to learn the preferences of the user.
In traditional coded applications, when business logic was embedded in code, the code can be readily inspected by a third party during an audit process. For example, a third party can inspect the application code to verify that the code is correct with respect to a set of test conditions, or to determine whether the code contains any undesirable bias. This is because in coded applications, an articulation of the functioning of the application is specified in a rules-based system that encodes business logic in a human readable form. However, machine learning systems obfuscate this business logic in machine-learned models, making it largely opaque to human inspection. For example, it is difficult to inspect each model to get a clear understanding of how the model reacts to all inputs. Moreover, it is often beneficial to have independent third parties perform audits for various reasons. There is a general need in the field for more practical solutions to audit machine learning systems and to safeguard the auditing process against problems such as tampering.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

Auditing system for machine learning decision system


A method and apparatus are provided for eliminating image noise to remove spatial-temporal noise and improve visibility. The method includes extracting a spatial-temporal noise level of neighbor pixels around a current pixel, filtering noise of the current pixel by applying a weight to spatial-temporal pixels around the current pixel based on the extracted spatial-temporal noise level, and applying a weight to the noise-filtered pixel and a boosted-up pixel based on an edge intensity and summing the weight-applied pixels. The spatial-temporal noise level is extracted based on spatial-temporal information of neighbor pixels around a current pixel in a current frame and spatial-temporal information of neighbor pixels around a current pixel in a previous frame.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to image processing, and more particularly, to eliminating image noise to remove spatial-temporal noise and improve visibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, noise is inevitably added to a television (TV) image signal captured by a camera and transmitted over a channel during the capturing and the transmission. The noise degrades the quality of an image provided to a viewer and affects adversely image signal processing aiming to provide a high-quality image.
A method for eliminating such noise can be classified into a spatial noise elimination algorithm and a temporal noise elimination algorithm.
Because of using the stationary model of an image, the spatial noise elimination algorithm cannot preserve contours in a noise-eliminated image. A contour region spatially has high-frequency components. As a result, when the spatial noise elimination algorithm performs filtering to eliminate high-frequency noise, contours may be damaged during the elimination of the high-frequency noise, blurring details.
The temporal noise elimination algorithm temporally recognizes the characteristics of noise using image signals of a plurality of frames or separates noise from image signals using a change in the shape of an object or a temporal change in the image signals. In spite of its superiority in performance over the spatial noise elimination algorithm, the temporal noise elimination algorithm requires a large amount of computation in hardware and software implementation.

Method of and apparatus for eliminating image noise


A method for separating and purifying polymers of a reclaimed product (rP) is disclosed. The rP is contacted at an elevated temperature and pressure, with an extraction solvent to produce an extracted rP (erP). A solvent, at conditions sufficient to solubilize the first polymer, contacts the erP to produce a solution, which is purified at an elevated temperature and pressure by filtering it and contacting it with a solid medium to produce a purified solution of the first polymer. The purified polymer is then separated from the purified solution, and the method steps are repeated until all polymers are separated and purified.

Polymers, especially synthetic plastics, are ubiquitous in daily life due to their relatively low production costs and good balance of material properties. Synthetic plastics are used in a wide variety of applications, such as packaging, automotive components, medical devices, and consumer goods. To meet the high demand of these applications, tens of billions of pounds of synthetic plastics are produced globally on an annual basis. The overwhelming majority of synthetic plastics are produced from increasingly scarce fossil sources, such as petroleum and natural gas. Additionally, the manufacturing of synthetic plastics from fossil sources produces CO2 as a by-product.
The ubiquitous use of synthetic plastics has consequently resulted in millions of tons of plastic waste being generated every year. While the majority of plastic waste is landfilled via municipal solid waste programs, a significant portion of plastic waste is found in the environment as litter, which is unsightly and potentially harmful to ecosystems. Plastic waste is often washed into river systems and ultimately out to sea.
Plastics recycling has emerged as one solution to mitigate the issues associated with the wide-spread usage of plastics. Recovering and re-using plastics diverts waste from landfills and reduces the demand for virgin plastics made from fossil-based resources, which consequently reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In developed regions, such as the United States and the European Union, rates of plastics recycling are increasing due to greater awareness by consumers, businesses, and industrial manufacturing operations. The majority of recycled materials, including plastics, are mixed into a single stream which is collected and processed by a material recovery facility (MRF). At the MRF, materials are sorted, washed, and packaged for resale. Plastics can be sorted into individual materials, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), or mixed streams of other common plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamides (PA). The single or mixed streams can then be further sorted, washed, and reprocessed into a pellet that is suitable for re-use in plastics processing, for example blow and injection molding.
Though recycled plastics are sorted into predominately uniform streams and are washed with aqueous and/or caustic solutions, the final reprocessed pellet often remains highly contaminated with unwanted waste impurities, such as spoiled food residue and residual perfume components. In addition, recycled plastic pellets, except for those from recycled beverage containers, are darkly colored due to the mixture of dyes and pigments commonly used to colorize plastic articles. While there are some applications that are insensitive to color and contamination (for example black plastic paint containers and concealed automotive components), the majority of applications require non-colored pellets. The need for high quality, "virgin-like" recycled resin is especially important for food and drug contact applications, such as food packaging. In addition to being contaminated with impurities and mixed colorants, many recycled resin products are often heterogeneous in chemical composition and may contain a significant amount of polymeric contamination, such as polyethylene (PE) contamination in recycled PP and vice versa.
Mechanical recycling, also known as secondary recycling, is the process of converting recycled plastic waste into a re-usable form for subsequent manufacturing. A more detailed review of mechanical recycling and other plastics recovery processes are described in S. M. Al-Salem, P. Lettieri, J. Baeyens, "Recycling and recovery routes of plastic solid waste (PSW): A review", Waste Management, Volume 29, Issue 10, October 2009, Pages 2625-2643, ISSN 0956-053X. While advances in mechanical recycling technology have improved the quality of recycled polymers to some degree, there are fundamental limitations of mechanical decontamination approaches, such as the physical entrapment of pigments within a polymer matrix. Thus, even with the improvements in mechanical recycling technology, the dark color and high levels of chemical contamination in currently available recycled plastic waste prevents broader usage of recycled resins by the plastics industry.
To overcome the fundamental limitations of mechanical recycling, there have been many methods developed to purify contaminated polymers via chemical approaches, or chemical recycling. Most of these methods use solvents to decontaminate and purify polymers. The use of solvents enables the extraction of impurities and the dissolution of polymers, which further enables alternative separation technologies.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,935,736 describes a method for recycling polyester from polyester-containing waste using a solvent to dissolve the polyester prior to cleaning. The '736 patent also describes the need to use a precipitant to recover the polyester from the solvent.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,588 describes a method to produce a polypropylene blend from a plastic mixture comprised of other polymers. The '588 patent describes the extraction of contaminants from a polymer at a temperature below the dissolution temperature of the polymer in the selected solvent, such as hexane, for a specified residence period. The '588 patent further describes increasing the temperature of the solvent (or a second solvent) to dissolve the polymer prior to filtration. The '588 patent yet further describes the use of shearing or flow to precipitate polypropylene from solution. The polypropylene blend described in the '588 patent contained polyethylene contamination up to 5.6 wt %.
In another example, European Patent Application No. 849,312 (translated from German to English) describes a process to obtain purified polyolefins from a polyolefin-containing plastic mixture or a polyolefin-containing waste. The '312 patent application describes the extraction of polyolefin mixtures or wastes with a hydrocarbon fraction of gasoline or diesel fuel with a boiling point above 90° C. at temperatures between 90° C. and the boiling point of the hydrocarbon solvent. The '312 patent application further describes contacting a hot polyolefin solution with bleaching clay and/or activated carbon to remove foreign components from the solution. The '312 patent yet further describes cooling the solution to temperatures below 70° C. to crystallize the polyolefin and then removing adhering solvent by heating the polyolefin above the melting point of the polyolefin, or evaporating the adhering solvent in a vacuum or passing a gas stream through the polyolefin precipitate, and/or extraction of the solvent with an alcohol or ketone that boils below the melting point of the polyolefin.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,471 describes a method for separating polymers from a physically commingled solid mixture (for example waste plastics) containing a plurality of polymers using a solvent at a first lower temperature to form a first single phase solution and a remaining solid component. The '471 patent further describes heating the solvent to higher temperatures to dissolve additional polymers that were not solubilized at the first lower temperature. The '471 patent describes filtration of insoluble polymer components.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,021 describes a method of extracting pure polymeric components from a multi-component structure (for example waste carpeting) by dissolving each component at an appropriate temperature and pressure in a supercritical fluid and then varying the temperature and/or pressure to extract particular components in sequence. However, similar to the '471 patent, the '021 patent only describes filtration of undissolved components.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,270 describes a method and apparatus for continuously separating a polymer component of a plastic from contaminants and other components of the plastic using a co-solvent and a working fluid. The co-solvent at least partially dissolves the polymer and the second fluid (that is in a liquid, critical, or supercritical state) solubilizes components from the polymer and precipitates some of the dissolved polymer from the co-solvent. The '270 patent further describes the step of filtering the thermoplastic-co-solvent (with or without the working fluid) to remove particulate contaminants, such as glass particles.
The known solvent-based methods to purify contaminated polymers, as described above, do not produce "virgin-like" polymer. In the previous methods, co-dissolution and thus cross contamination of other polymers often occurs. If adsorbent is used, a filtration and/or centrifugation step is often employed to remove the used adsorbent from solution. In addition, isolation processes to remove solvent, such as heating, vacuum evaporation, and/or precipitation using a precipitating chemical are used to produce a polymer free of residual solvent.
Furthermore, absorbent hygiene products (AHP), such as baby diapers, feminine protection pads, and adult incontinence pads, and product and packaging films (F) are typically disposed in landfills and not recycled. However, these products contain various polymers, such as in the case of AHP, adhesives (ADH), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), cellulose, and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), that can be recycled as individual streams.
Accordingly, a need still exists for an improved solvent-based method to purify contaminated polymers that uses a solvent that is readily and economically removed from the polymer, is relatively simple in terms of the number of unit operations, produces a polymer without a significant amount of polymeric cross contamination, produces a polymer that is essentially colorless, and produces a polymer that is essentially odorless. Also, there is a need to separate and purify the various polymers that constitute reclaimed AHP and F (also called reclaimed absorbent hygiene products (rAHP) and reclaimed films (rF), respectively), so that these separated and purified polymers can be used again in the manufacture of AHP and F or other applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for separating and purifying polymers from reclaimed product


An estimation system includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and an estimation unit. The first acquisition unit acquires model information. The model information is information about a human model rendered in a virtual space. The human model is generated based on model data of a human. The second acquisition unit acquires environmental information. The environmental information is information about an environment corresponding to the virtual space and potentially having a particular effect on the human model. The estimation unit estimates a condition of the human model based on the model information and the environmental information.

Patent Literature 1 discloses an article design support system for doing, in a virtual space, simulations of a digital human's movements when the digital human that is a human model rendered in the virtual space uses a virtual article model.
According to Patent Literature 1, with a type of the movement of the human model who is using the virtual article model specified, a load placed on a region of interest of the human model when the human model makes the specified type of movement is calculated. The load thus calculated is displayed on a monitor device.

Estimation system, space design support system, estimation method, and program

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The present invention pertains to novel durable, tough, transparent, luminescent overlay compositions, useful for highlighting and/or illuminating and preserving surfaces and markings thereupon, such as roadways/highways, pedestrian passageways, airport runways, traffic control surface markings on travelways such as those listed above, traffic control devices/signs, structures, and articles. The clear compositions contain a moisture sensitive luminescent substance (for example, a phosphorescent substance having increased brightness and longer lasting afterglow) and an epoxy resin which imparts moisture stability to the luminescent substance, and durability and longer life to the underlying markings, surface area, structure or article. The clear transparent compositions can be applied as an overlay to existing surface area markings, or to unmarked surface areas themselves, or to structures or articles without obscuring the original appearance or color of the marking/surface/structure/article, to cover and/or protect the marking/surface/structure/article for an extended period of time, while providing indoor and outdoor luminescence on the marking/surface/structure/article in dark conditions for increased safety. The overlay compositions provide these benefits in an environmentally friendly manner because the compositions do not contaminate the surrounding environment with any organic hydrocarbon products via vaporization or runoffs, and in addition, may decrease the necessity to illuminate surface markings by energy-consuming overhead electrical fixtures.

It is presently desirable to produce a resilient, transparent epoxy overlay to existing surface area markings, or to surface areas, structures, or articles, that will provide indoor and outdoor luminescent marking materials, and whose compositions do not require organic solvents with vapors that are undesirable when released into the atmosphere and contaminate the surrounding air, land, or water near roadway surfaces via runoffs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,063 discloses an abrasion resistant reflective marking composition containing cement, a fluorescent pigment, silica, glass fibers and a filming bonding acrylic polymer agent. The composition of U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,063 cannot, however, be applied as a clear overlay to protect existing surface markings or unmarked areas, nor does it exhibit a sustained lasting afterglow or extended durability or weatherability, nor is it environmentally friendly.
The terms "luminescence" and "luminescent" as used in this specification and in the appended claims is meant to be that property of a material which causes visible light to be continued to be emitted after an exciting light source has been removed as well as that property of a material to glow under a source of light of low visibility and suitable wavelength. U.S. Pat. Nos. 223,050; 274,415; 1,407,534; and 1,637,963 disclose the use of luminous (phosphorescent) compositions in paint, enamels, and as a coloring in paper. These luminous or phosphorescent materials exhibit reduced or degraded light resistance over time. A paint mixture with an acrylic vehicle but having an alkaline earth phosphor other than zinc sulfide, which could be modified by replacing its alkaline earth phosphor with zinc sulfide to obtain a preferred phosphorescent paint is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,182.
As is well-known, fluorescent materials, when excited by a source of light, produce an emission of light. Such materials can be selected to provide a daytime coloration which will demarcate and emphasize areas to be marked, such as: edges of steps, corners of walls, highway edges/lanes/directional markings, median traffic divider stripes, airport runway markings, or buildings outlines. The light emission from these fluorescent materials, however, ceases immediately when the light source is removed.
Phosphorescent materials on the other hand, once they have been excited, remain luminous with a soft, slowly decaying emission or radiation. Such phosphorescent materials can generate a useful level of luminous flux for up to 10 to 12 hours after being activated when exposed to sunlight or artificial light (such as from headlights of automobiles). After an initial exposure to a light source, luminescence can be renewed by once again exposing the materials to either a natural or an artificial light. Thus, highway paints have incorporated fluorescent or phosphorescent substances to demarcate the edges of highways and the median line of the highway to differentiate the different directions of the highway vehicles. Previously, phosphorescent containing highway materials tended to lose their luminescence through chemical attack by the atmosphere (ultraviolet radiation and/or presence of moisture) on the phosphor. In such outdoor uses, the luminescent compositions lost most of their phosphorescence capacity in a matter of days.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,006 disclosures phosphorescent phosphors which can be utilized both indoors and outdoors as a nighttime display and show extremely long afterglow characteristics. However, these phosphorescent phosphors must be incorporated into chemical hydrocarbon solvent based systems as they are adversely affected by moisture or aqueous systems. This reference is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,793, "Phosphorescent Highway Paint Composition" provides a long duration of afterglow for indoor and outdoor luminescent marking materials whose compositions do not require organic solvents. The compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,793, however, are designed to be used as the marking materials themselves. Further, the compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,793 experience a decreased luminosity within the compound due to the paint particles partially blocking the luminous elements. Also, the composition comprises a greater number of components to be mixed than does the epoxy overlay compositions, making mixing more complicated. The present invention, therefore, provides both a protective overlay coating for surfaces, markings on surfaces, structures, or articles, and adds a luminescent element that will illuminate the markings/surfaces/structures/articles under dark conditions or non-daylight hours.
All of the above-cited references are incorporated herein by reference.


The invention provides novel compounds and compositions and methods for making and using the compounds and compositions.

Macrocyclic lactones, and in particular, the "macrolides" are naturally derived and semi-synthetic compounds with a range of biological activities. Amongst the best known of these activities is antibiotic activity through binding to the bacterial ribosome. Certain of these compounds do, however, have other activities including anti-inflammatory activity (see European patent publication 0283055). In recent years, macrocycles may have been used as drug carriers in which an active substance is reversibly bonded to the macrocycle via an ester bond (see, e.g., PCT Publication 03/070174). However, remaining antibiotic activity of the macrocycle has the attendant danger of promoting bacterial resistance to this drug class amongst the patient population.
Various observations have linked bacterial resistance to macrocycles to either mutation of the ribosome subunits, or up-regulation of efflux processes (see Douthwaite et al., J. Antimicrob. Chemother. (2001) 48 (suppl 2): 1-8, for review, and Bonnefoy, et al., J. Antimicrob. Chemother. (1997) 40 (1): 85-90). The efflux systems in a range of bacteria are considered to recognize in part the so-called "cladinose" sugar found in the erythromycin derived macrocycles. Removal of this sugar therefore means the potential of reducing the capacity for a macrocyclic compound to stimulate non-specific antibiotic resistance.
Although cladinose is part of the efflux recognition motif, there are a number of anti-bacterial molecules, the so-called ketolides, that have either no cladinose group, or a modification at the cladinose position. Thus, decladinosyl species are not intrinsically non-antibacterial and decladinosyl azithromycin is ca. 5-fold less effective than the cladinosylated molecule. However, it would desirable to provide a compound having anti-inflammatory activity and at the same time, complete or at least partial elimination of antibiotic activity, e.g., at least one hundred-fold or more less effective as antibiotics, in order to avoid imposing selection pressure for resistance.
Various workers have attempted to design such molecules. The most common approach is based on the idea of sterically blocking the site that interacts with the target bacterial ribosome. For example, the hydroxyl and amine groups on the desosamine ring are the main interactors with the ribosome and reaction at these sites with bulky groups reduces antibacterial activity. However, addition of bulky groups to this position, while facile, leads to larger molecules which are intrinsically less suitable as pharmaceuticals because their large size make them more likely to interact with non-target receptors.
A large number of researchers have reported derivatives of macrocycles (see, e.g., Elliot et al., 1998, J. Med. Chem. 41, 1651-1659); however, these derivatives have typically been limited to substitutions on the macrolactone ring or modifications of the sugar residues (cladinose to carbonyl for example in the case of the ketolides). Working on methylated macrolides, Kobrehel et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,035) reported intermediates following oxidation with ketolide-like properties as antimicrobial compounds.


A prosthetic implant for resurfacing a damaged base portion of the proximal phalanx in a human great toe comprises a base fabricated from a titanium, ceramic or other durable and rigid biocompatible material. The base is generally elliptical and includes an anatomically-shaped proximal articular surface having an enlarged build-up on the lateral end thereof. The base also includes a generally planar distal seating surface disposed for engaging the sectioned portion of the proximal phalanx. An elongated stem extends distally from the seating surface of the base and includes an array of fins together having a cruciate-shaped cross section. The fins each include a plurality of serrations along their sloping edges for anchoring the stem within the cancellous portion of the proximal phalanx.

Many people suffer from discomfort caused by damaged articular surfaces between the proximal phalanx and the first metatarsal caused by either rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or trauma to that portion of the foot. Such discomfort is often aggravated and sometimes precipitated, by frequently wearing pointed-toe ladies' dress shoes or cowboy boots. These pointed-toe shoes apply medial-lateral forces to the big, or great, toe, degrading the lateral head of the first metatarsal.
The prior art has taught prosthetically resurfacing the proximal phalanx using a medical implant having a button-like base and a square or rectangular stem extending downwardly therefrom. Examples of such prior art implants include the Swanson SILASTIC.TM. great toe implant and the Swanson Titanium great toe implant, both manufactured by Dow Corning Wright, 5677 Airline Road, Arlington, Tenn. 38002. The base includes either a flat or simple concave proximal articular surface for articulating with the head of the first metatarsal. A generally planar distal seating surface is provided, opposite the articular surface of the base, for seating against the sectioned portion of the proximal phalanx. A square or rectangular hole is formed in the proximal phalanx during surgery to receive the mating stem of the implant.
The primary deficiency of the prior art proximal phalanx implant is that the proximal articular surface is not shaped to approximate the anatomical convex surface curvature of the head of the first metatarsal, thereby resulting in uneven, tangential contact and increased wear between the implant and the head of the first metatarsal. This increased wear generates particulate debris which contributes to premature failure of the implant. Additionally, use of the square or rectangular stem is less conservative of bone, i.e., requiring significant cancellous portions of the proximal phalanx to be removed, thereby considerably disturbing endosteal blood supply in the proximal phalanx.
The subject invention is directed toward an implant which more naturally articulates with the head of the first metatarsal, provides an extended useful life, causes minimal disturbance to the cancellous portion of the first metatarsal, and is easily implanted during surgery.


A trellis decoder decodes a stream of encoded symbols, including symbols of a first type (e.g. symbols encoded with a first trellis code) and symbols of a second type (e.g. encoded with a second, more robust, trellis code), without storing path indicators along a trellis for symbols of the first type. In this way, limited memory may be used to store path indicators along the trellis for symbols of the second type. This allows for more accurate decoding of the symbols of the second type. For transitions from symbols of the second type to symbols of the first type, states of the trellis decoder may be stored. In this way, paths may be traced back along the trellis for trellis decoding, without the path indicators for the symbols of the first type.

The high definition television (HDTV) standard for U.S. terrestrial television broadcasts, known as 8 vestigial sideband (8-VSB) modulation was adopted in 1995 by the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC). The standard (known as the "8-VSB ATSC standard") specifies single carrier modulation designed for broadcast of high quality video, audio and ancillary data, which supports a payload up to 19.39 Mbps data over a 6 MHz bandwidth channel. Encoded compressed video and AC-3 audio sub-streams are multiplexed with data and service information in packets in an MPEG2 packet stream. The packets are multiplexed and broadcast into the UHF/VHF television spectrum band with an 8-VSB modulator.
In the 8-VSB ATSC standard forward error correcting (FEC) coding techniques are employed to protect the transmitted data against noise. Transmitted data is first coded using a Reed Solomon (R/S) coder and then further coded using a trellis coder Details are given in A53-Annex C. The R/S encoder uses a R/S block code that codes 187 byte blocks into 207 byte blocks, allowing up to 10 bytes of error correction. Each byte of data is segmented into four groups of 2-bit nibbles (x1, x2) prior to being coded with the trellis coder. More precisely, each 2-bit nibble is mapped (coded) using a ⅔ trellis code into a three bit symbol which is associated to points in the signal set {−7, −5, −3, −1, +1, +3, +5, +7}. Each trellis coded symbol is modulated using an 8-level VSB signal.
As a result, a receiver detects modulated signals using a conventional trellis decoding algorithm (such as, for example, the Viterbi algorithm), reducing the likelihood of errors. Additional remaining errors in the decoded stream may be corrected using the R/S codes in stream.
More recently, an enhanced 8-VSB coding technique (EVSB) has been proposed to add flexibility to the 8-VSB standard. Aspects of the EVSB technique are described in U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0028076, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Notably, EVSB allows for greater immunity to noise than the 8-VSB ATSC standard by including additional coding. Coded symbols within EVSB that are more resistant to noise are referred to as "robust symbols". Roughly, EVSB robust symbols divide the signal to noise threshold of visibility by two at the cost of reducing the data rate by about the same factor. At the same time, EVSB is backward compatible with the existing 8-VSB ATSC standard. Additionally, 8-VSB ATSC compliant, legacy receivers that are not able to demodulate EVSB robust symbols, seamlessly discard these symbols without jeopardizing normal symbols reception
Bytes encoded using a robust trellis (hereinafter "robust bytes") and bytes encoded using conventional VSB coding (hereinafter "normal bytes") may be interleaved. The interleaving of robust bytes and normal bytes results in interleaved robust/normal symbols formed using two different convolutional codes. As a consequence, an EVSB capable receiver should be able to decode a stream of symbols formed from two different trellis codes. Convolutional and trellis codes are for example detailed in Lin, Shu & d. Costello, Error Control Coding, Prentice-Hall, 1983, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
To this end, the robust convolutional code leading to the generation of the robust symbols (via a trellis code) is chosen so that normal symbols in a normal/robust stream can be decoded by a conventional 8-VSB trellis decoder. At the same time, a conventional trellis decoder similar to the one used for 8-VSB encoding but adapted to the EVSB trellis coder can decode both normal and robust symbols in the stream.
As will be appreciated, trellis codes are convolutional codes that encode sequences of symbols, rather than individual symbols. As such, the performance of a trellis decoder typically depends on the number of symbols used to produce each individual decoded symbol. The number of symbols used is also often referred to as the "window" of received symbols. A minimum length window is required to achieve acceptable performance. Practically, the length of the window is fixed and limited by hardware cost. In an EVSB stream, the number of robust symbols and normal symbols received vary in dependence on the mix of normal and robust symbols sent by the transmitter, as controlled by the broadcaster. Because normal symbols are less immune to noise than robust symbols, the ability to estimate the robust symbols depends on how many robust symbols are in the window. This will typically be affected by the number of normal symbols within the window. In particular, to achieve adequate estimations of robust symbols at a low robust to normal symbol ratio, the length of window needs to be large, and is often impractical.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved receiver that allows for optimum performance for the estimate of robust symbols with a fixed window length used to decode streams including robust and normal symbols.

Trellis decoder for decoding data stream including symbols coded with multiple convolutional codes


A circuit for selectively invoking a particular interrupt service routine to handle a particular interrupt request. The present invention includes a programmable register with one or more bits per interrupt request input. The present invention also includes interrupt selection logic which outputs a particular interrupt in response to an interrupt request input and data stored in the programmable register. The interrupt then invokes the associated interrupt service routine to handle the interrupt request. The present invention is used to choose the interrupt service routine to handle a particular interrupt request from any source within the computer system in any computer system operating mode.

One of the keys to effective communication between different computer system components and sharing of computer resources is the use and handling of interrupt requests. Interrupt requests indicate that the requester, often a computer system component, requires some sort of attention or service. Interrupt requests as discussed herein include primarily hardware interrupt requests. Hardware interrupt requests occur as a result of an external event such as a request for service from an input/output (I/O) device.
The computer system responds to an interrupt request by invoking an interrupt service routine. The computer system must also use some sort of prioritization scheme if multiple interrupt requests are generated concurrently. Interrupt requests are generated for many different reasons from many different sources and require a variety of responses from the computer system. The computer system may have several interrupt service routines available, each having different capabilities. One interrupt service routine may always have complete system information so that the system can reliably be returned to the same state as before the interrupt request. Another interrupt service routine may not have complete system information, but it is able to service an interrupt very quickly. Thus, individual service routines may be better suited to handle certain types of interrupt requests.
Some computer systems also employ a variety of different modes in which the computer system may operate. A particular system mode may require its own software and have its own method of handling interrupts. An example of an alternative system mode with these characteristics is System Management Mode or SMM. SMM was developed by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif., the corporate assignee of the present invention.
In many cases, where a computer system makes use of a system mode that has its own interrupt service routine associated with it, the system designer or OEM must choose one interrupt service routine to service all interrupt requests from a particular source. The "source" in this case may be a particular bus in the computer system such that all interrupt requests passed on that bus must be serviced by the chosen interrupt service routine. The designer must choose the interrupt service routine that will service all of the interrupt requests from that source regardless of whether some interrupt request events might be better serviced with an alternate interrupt service routine.
In prior art systems using SMM, for example, system designers or OEMs choose one type of interrupt service routine to service all power management interrupt requests. Thus, even though a variety of different types of interrupt requests are generated, one interrupt service routine must be selected to handle all power management interrupt requests. Servicing all power management interrupt requests with one interrupt service routine has a number of drawbacks, all of which can lead to degradation of overall computer system performance.
A computer system employing SMM, for example, may service all power management interrupt requests with the system management interrupt (SMI) service routine. The SMI service routine has the advantages of being transparent to other applications running in the computer system and allowing for input/output (I/O) restarts, but switching into and out of SMM requires many computer cycles. Thus, if the SMI service routine is used to service all power management interrupt requests and the computer system must shift into and out of SMM frequently, the impact on computer system performance is significant. Additionally, the SMI service routine may not have all of the system information necessary to restore the system to its original state after servicing the interrupt.
Alternatively, if an operating system interrupt service routine, for example NMI (non-maskable interrupt) or INTR (maskable interrupt), is chosen to service all power management interrupt requests, the interrupts may interfere with other application events and cause applications to fail. Also, NMI and INTR do not provide for I/O (input/output device) restarts which are essential for effective power management.
Although a computer system using SMM and power management has been provided as an example, other prior art computer systems have similar issues with respect to handling interrupt requests. Prior art computer systems do not provide the system designer or OEM with the flexibility to select the interrupt service routine best able to service a particular interrupt request in all computer system modes.
The present invention provides for the selection of the interrupt service routine best able to handle a particular interrupt request. The present invention provides for the selection of the interrupt service routine for a particular interrupt request from any source, independent of the mode in which the computer system is operating.

Method and apparatus for selectively invoking a particular interrupt service routine for a particular interrupt request


To provide a temperature sensor circuit capable of obtaining a highly precise output voltage as a desired output voltage. The temperature sensor circuit includes: at least a constant current source; and a base-to-emitter voltage multiplication circuit constructed by a bipolar transistor and resistors, in which a base current error compensation circuit is provided so as to eliminate an error of the base current of the bipolar transistor caused to flow through the resistor. Further, the temperature sensor circuit of the present invention has such a structure that a resistance value of the resistor that determines an output voltage may be controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature sensor circuit configured with a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional temperature sensor circuit configured with a semiconductor integrated circuit is shown in FIG. 6. In general, in a temperature sensor circuit, a collector and a base of a bipolar transistor 12 are set at the same electric potential, and an emitter thereof is connected to a constant current source 11. That is to say, the bipolar transistor 12 is diode-connected, thereby outputting a base to emitter voltage (hereinafter referred to as "a VBE" for short) of the bipolar transistor 12 to an output terminal 10. In this case, it is generally known that the VBE is independent of a current value of the constant current source 11, and hence has a certain constant voltage value. Thus, when there is made a request to output an arbitrary voltage to the output terminal 10, it is difficult to respond to this request.
Next, a temperature sensor circuit configured with a base-to-emitter voltage multiplication circuit (hereinafter referred to as "a VBE multiplication circuit" for short) 18 is shown in FIG. 7. With respect to a configuration of the VBE multiplication circuit 18, an emitter of a bipolar transistor 12 is connected to a constant current source 11 and one terminal of a first resistor 13, and the first resistor 13 and a second resistor 14 are connected in series with each other through their adjacent terminals. In addition, the grounding terminal of the second resistor 14 and a collector of the bipolar transistor 12 are set at the same electric potential, i.e., at the grounding electric potential, and a base of the bipolar transistor 12 is connected to a node between the first and second resistors 13 and 14. In this case, when an output voltage at an output terminal 10 is assumed to be expressed by VOUT, a resistance of the first resistor 13 is assumed to be expressed by R1, and a resistance of the second resistor 14 is assumed to be expressed by R2, and currents caused to flow through the first and second resistors 13 and 14 are assumed to be equal to each other, the output voltage VOUT is expressed by Equation (1):VOUT=VBE×(R1+R2)/R2  (1)From the foregoing, it is known that when the temperature sensor circuit is configured as shown in FIG. 7, the output voltage VOUT can be set to an arbitrary voltage depending on ratios of the resistance value of the first resistor 13 to the resistance value of the second resistor 14 (refer to a literature of "Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits", by P. R. Gray and R. G. Meyer, (pp. 268 to 270 and FIG. 4.27(a)).
However, a base current IB of the bipolar transistor 12 is also caused to flow through the second resistor 14. At this time, when a current caused to flow through the first resistor 13 is assumed to be expressed by I1, and a current caused to flow through the second resistor 14 is assumed to be expressed by I2, Equation (2) is obtained:I2=I1+IB  (2)Thus, an error occurs in the currents caused to flow through the first and second resistors 13 and 14 due to the base current IB of the bipolar transistor 12. Consequently, it is difficult to set the output voltage VOUT as aimed using Equation (2). Moreover, it is difficult to set the output voltage VOUT as aimed owing to the dispersion in the characteristics of the bipolar transistor 12 and the characteristics of the two resistors 13 and 14.


A semiconductor storage apparatus includes a cell array including memory cells and reference cells, normal column selection transistors connected to columns of the memory cells, a normal data line array including normal data lines connected to columns of the memory cells, first dummy data lines formed of a same wiring layer of which the normal data lines are formed, a normal data line charging circuit, reference column selection transistors connected to reference columns of the reference cells, a reference data line array including reference data lines formed of a same wiring layer of which the normal data lines are formed, second dummy data lines formed of a same wiring layer of which the reference data lines are formed, a reference data line charging circuit, a first dummy data line charging circuit, a second dummy data line charging circuit, and a sense amplifier which senses data stored in the memory cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor storage apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a data line array and a data line charging circuit in a semiconductor memory which is applied to, for example, a NOR type flash memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage apparatuses capable of electrically programmable data include a flash memory capable of electrically erasing data on a number of memory cells. In the flash memory, a charge quantity of a floating gate of a memory cell transistor is changed by an erasing/writing operation, thereby changing a threshold voltage thereof and storing data. For example, "0" data is stored by discharging electrons of the floating gate to set a threshold voltage to be negative, and "1" data is stored by injecting electrons into the floating gate to set the threshold voltage to be positive. The discharge/injection of electrons is carried out between the floating gate and a semiconductor substrate via a tunnel oxide film.
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram depicting an example of a portion of a cell array, a data line array, a column selector, and a sense amplifier array of a conventional NOR type flash memory.
A sub-cell array (a region provided by dividing a cell array) is formed on a P-type well region which is physically divided in minimum units of erasure. In a memory space of this array, for example, 128K memory cells (cell transistors) MC are allocated in a matrix.
Drains of the cell transistors MC in the same row are connected to bit lines BL, for example, 128 bit lines BL, correspondingly. Drains of the cell transistors MC in the same column are connected to the same bit line BL. Sources of the cell transistors MC in two rows that are adjacent to each other and form one set of row lines in the column direction are connected to the same source line SL.
Word lines WL, for example, 1024 word lines WL, extend in the row direction, and each of the word lines is connected to gates of memory cells MC, for example, 128 memory cells MC, in the corresponding row. Data writing is carried out at the same time and data readout is also carried out at the same time to 128 memory cells MC in the same row, which corresponds to a selected word line.
One end of each of bit lines BL is connected to a sense amplifier S/A via a column select switch CS and a data line DL. A plurality of data lines DL are arranged to form a data line array DLA, and a load circuit (charging circuit) is connected between one end of each of the data lines DL and a power supply (VDD) node. The column select switch CS is formed of an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOSFET), and a column decode signal CD is inputted from a column decoder to a gate of the transistor so that a column corresponding to the transistor is selected.
In order to reduce interference between data line arrays DLA, a dummy data line DDL is generally provided between the adjacent data line arrays, as shown in FIG. 10. In such a case, in general, the dummy data line DDL is connected to ground. In FIG. 10, VSS denotes a ground potential; Cside denotes a coupling capacitance which exists between the adjacent data lines DL in the data line array; Cside′ denotes a coupling capacitance which exists between the data line DL at the outermost side of the data line array and the dummy data line DDL; and Cdown denotes a capacitance which exists between each of the data line DL and the ground.
However, the coupling capacitance Cside′ which exists between the data line DL at the outermost side of the data line array and the dummy data line DDL and the coupling capacitance Cside which exists between the adjacent data lines DL in the data line array differs from each other, and thus a capacitance difference exists therebetween. That is, since a potential of the dummy data line DDL adjacent to the data line DL at the outermost side of the data line array is VSS, a coupling capacitance when viewed from the sense amplifier S/A toward the data line side is greater in the case where the data line DL at the outermost side of the data line array is selected in the data read mode than in the case where a data line DL other than that at the outermost side of the data line array is selected in the data read mode. In addition, if the width and thickness of each of the data lines DL in the data line array are different from another one, the coupling capacitance Cside is different according to a combination of the adjacent data lines DL, thus a capacitance difference exists.
When a capacitance difference exists in a coupling capacitance in this way, charge characteristics are different from each other on the basis of the selected data line DL, and a potential rise speed of the data line DL is different from another one. Thus, it has been unavoidable that time is needed until the potential of the data line DL in the data read mode rises close to an equivalent state, after which data determination is made.
On the other hand, when data is read out from a memory cell targeted for readout, a data line DL corresponding to the memory cell and a reference data line (not shown) are selected. However, in order to ensure high speed readout, there is a demand for employing a scheme of sensing data by comparing potentials of the selected data line and reference data line by the sense amplifier S/A in a course of charging the selected data line and reference data line. In this case, as described previously, if charge characteristics are different from each other on a data line basis, there occurs a need for delaying a readout timing according to an electric potential rise of a data line having a large coupling capacitance Cside (data line having a low charge speed), and thus, readout speed is reduced.
As described above, in the conventional NOR type flash memory, there has been a disadvantage that the speed for charging a data line is different from another one depending on a case in which a data line at the outermost side of the data line array is selected in the data read mode and a case where an internal data line of the data line array is selected, and a data readout speed is reduced. In addition, in the case where the width and thickness of each of the data lines in the data line array are not uniform, there has been a disadvantage that a coupling capacitance is different according to a combination of the adjacent data lines in the data line array; a capacitance difference exists; and a data readout speed is reduced. Moreover, discussion relating to a reference data line which is appropriate to read out data contained in the selected data line in the data read mode at a high speed has not been sufficiently made.
A semiconductor integrated circuit described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-256789 comprises a memory cell, a plurality of data lines, a sense amplifier, and a dummy data line. The data lines are arranged adjacent to each other and transmit the data read out from the memory cell. The dummy data line is provided along the outside of a data bus line, and a voltage change similar to that of the data line occurs on the dummy data line during a readout operation of the data stored in the memory cell. In the above-described document, there is disclosed that, during the readout operation, due to the similar change of voltage of the dummy data line, an accumulation quantity of a charge for a parasitic capacitance formed between the data line and the dummy data line becomes minimal, and variants in rise time of the plurality of data lines is reduced, so that a readout time (access time) is shortened. However, there is no disclosure relating to a relationship between a data line and a reference data line.


A wireless access point selects a Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) geofence for a wireless user device based on its device location. The wireless access point transfers MU-MIMO signals to the wireless user device based on the selected MU-MIMO geofence. The wireless access point determines MU-MIMO information for the device location like MU-MIMO gain, user device type, or some other metric. A MIMO control system processes the MU-MIMO information for the device location and responsively modifies the MU-MIMO geofence. The wireless access point selects the modified MU-MIMO geofence for another wireless user device based on its device location. The wireless access point transfers other MU-MIMO signals to the other wireless user device based on the modified MU-MIMO geofence.

Wireless communication networks serve wireless user devices with mobile data services like voice calling, internet access, media streaming, and software downloading. The wireless data networks have wireless access points that exchange data over the air with the wireless user devices. To extend the range of the mobile data services, the wireless communication networks deploy wireless relays between the wireless user devices and the wireless access points. The wireless user devices, wireless access points, and wireless relays use resource blocks of frequency spectrum and time period for their wireless communications.
The wireless user devices, wireless access points, and wireless relays also use Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) to communicate over the wireless resource blocks. MIMO utilizes multiple antennas at the transmitter and/or receiver to transmit wireless resource blocks over parallel wireless signals. MIMO may beamform parallel wireless signals for reliable multipath transmission of a wireless resource block. MIMO may bond parallel wireless signals that transport different data to increase the data rate of the wireless resource block.
With Single-User (SU) MIMO, one wireless access point and one wireless user device exchange dedicated wireless resource blocks that are not shared with other wireless user devices. With Multiple-User (MU) MIMO, the wireless access point and two wireless user device exchange shared wireless resource blocks that are used by both of the wireless user devices. MU-MIMO uses beamforming to maintain data separation for the wireless user devices in the wireless resource blocks. MU-MIMO has better spectral efficiency than SU-MIMO.
Unfortunately, many wireless user devices do not adequately support MU-MIMO. For a given wireless user device, some types of the device may not properly support MU-MIMO while other types of that same device adequately support MU-MIMO. Wireless communication networks are not configured to efficiently and effectively support MU-MIMO given the myriad of wireless user devices and device types.

Control over multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) by device type and location


An auto-play apparatus for an electronic musical instrument having a plurality of auto-play phrase data stored in memory and accessible through corresponding keys. Note data corresponding to the auto-play phrase data being stored in a separate memory. The apparatus includes an editing function for collectively shifting the pitch of note data constituting a auto-play phrase up or down an octave for easy editing. A shift limit feature prevents the pitch shift function when the result would exceed a preset upper or lower limit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auto-play apparatus for an electronic musical instrument for performing an ad-lib phrase play or a fixed phrase play of, e.g., an introduction phrase, a fill-in phrase, an ending phrase, and the like using programmed auto-play note data.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic keyboard (e.g., an electronic piano) normally has auto-accompaniment functions including a rhythm auto-accompaniment function, a chord or bass auto-accompaniment function, and the like. Rhythm accompaniment patterns include repetitive patterns (about two bars) such as a waltz pattern or a tango pattern, and single-phrase patterns such as an introduction phrase, a fill-in phrase or an ending phrase, which are properly inserted at desired points of a play. Another electronic musical instrument has a function (a so-called one-finger ad-lib play function) in which different phrases for about one bar are assigned to a plurality of keys, and are selectively read out in response to one-finger key operations so as to obtain an ad-lib play effect by coupling a series of phrases.
These phrase patterns are written in a ROM in advance, and can also be formed and edited by a user himself or herself.
When a user wants to edit an auto-play phrase pattern, he or she repetitively edits the pattern little by little while listening to playback tones of the editing phrase, and then determines a final pattern. The user often forms a user pattern based on phrase data written in the ROM.
When the pitches of notes constituting a phrase are shifted by about one octave during an edit operation of a user pattern, it is convenient to develop the phrase and to obtain good balance between adjacent phrases. In this case, a user must rewrite all the notes to attain the octave shift operation. Therefore, the user must determine the pitches of the notes constituting the phrase, and must have knowledge about music. When the shifted notes are restored to have original pitches, the user must rewrite all the notes again, resulting in a cumbersome edit operation.

Auto-play musical instrument with an octave shifter for editing phrase tones


A system [100] includes a target set of communication devices [105] for a group call. An originator communication device [102] transmits a group call initiation for the group call. A communication and processing device [125] sequentially invites the target set of communication devices in response to detecting at least one predetermined characteristic of the group call. The sequentially inviting the communication devices comprises (a) initially inviting a first subset [130] of the target set of communication devices that comprising required communication devices, (b) subsequently invites a second subset [135] of the target set of communication devices in response to determining that the group call will be initiated, and (c) joins targets of the second subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message to a communication session involving first targets of the first subset of the target set of communication devices accepting the call initiation message.

Group call is a widely used feature in current communication technologies, such as Push To Talk ("PTT") and Push To Experience ("PTX"), that enables an originator to establish a communication session with multiple participants. Certain group calls may require that a set of preconditions be met in order for the group call to proceed, such as a minimum quorum of overall participants, a minimum number of certain types of participants, or specific participants that are required. For example, there may be a situation where at least 90% of group members must participate in a group call for it to proceed. Alternatively, in a business setting there may be a situation requiring that at least one company lawyer, marketer, and accountant participate in the group call in order for the group call to proceed. In another example, there may be a requirement that the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") participate in the group call in order for it to go forward. Therefore, in the event that the CEO is unable to participate in the group call, the group call cannot take place. Thus, the CEO is said to be a "required" participant in the group call.
The overall group call proceeds only if the set of preconditions are met. In current systems, all of the target devices alert the target users (e.g., by beeping, vibrating, or displaying an icon) immediately when a group call initiation or invite is received. This, however, can be very annoying for the target users because there is no guarantee at the time of the alert that the group call will be able to go forward. For example, a required participant may reject the group call initiation while others accept, and those who accept are left waiting for a call that fails to proceed, leading to a poor end user experience.
In a number of different scenarios, the targets for a group call, according to current systems, will alert users despite a high likelihood of the group call not proceeding. For example, there is a high likelihood of this happening if there is a minimum quorum of participants necessary or specific participants that are required.
Lack of assurance that a group call will proceed is especially problematic for users of cell phones or other electronic communication devices that are powered by batteries. More specifically, sending an initiation for a group call to participants using battery-powered mobile stations, for example, can result in a waste of battery power while the mobile station waits for the call to proceed even though there is no guarantee that the group call will proceed. Moreover, some of the wireless system's capacity is utilized even before it is known whether the group call will be able to proceed.
This can be annoying for users of target mobile stations that are waiting for other targets to answer, especially while waiting for manual answer targets or targets whose presence is set to "unavailable," as they can sometimes take a long time to accept a group call initiation, if at all. This is also distracting for users of target mobile stations who reacted to a beep, chirp, or even an initial talk burst audio, only to discover that the group call will not occur either because a quorum cannot be established or one or more required targets do not accept the group call initiations.
The problem is further amplified when the targets include a mixture of automatic and manual answer mode targets, or in the event that some manual answer mode targets take a longer time to answer than other manual answer mode targets. System operators are typically sensitive to capacity and/or targets are sensitive to battery life or having their user's time wasted waiting for a group call that is either delayed or does not occur.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for using sequential group call initiations to avoid wasting resources and battery life within a group call


A heated wiper assembly includes a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped. The heated wiper assembly also includes at least one elongated beam acting to support the wiping element. The heated wiper assembly further includes a pair of end caps operatively mounted to ends of the beam and an airfoil operatively mounted to the beam and extending between the end caps. The heated wiper assembly includes a plurality of heating elements extending longitudinally along lateral sides of the airfoil adjacent the wiping element to heat the wiping element to resist snow and ice build-up on the wiper assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wiper assemblies for vehicles and, more specifically, to a heated wiper assembly for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional wiper assemblies for vehicles known in the related art include some type of wiper assembly mounted to a wiper arm which, in turn, is mounted adjacent a surface to be wiped such as a windshield of the vehicle and pivotally driven to impart reciprocal motion to the wiper assembly across the windshield. The wiper assembly typically includes a rubber wiping element that contacts the windshield across the surface to be wiped. The wiper assembly often incorporates one or more metal strips that act to reinforce the wiping element and facilitate wiping contact by the wiping element across what is typically a curved glass surface. In this context, the wiper arm delivers a downward force to the wiper assembly that is distributed thereacross pressing the wiper assembly into contact with the windshield. The wiper assembly may also include an airfoil and a pair of end caps located at the distal ends of the wiper assembly.
Currently, for winter driving conditions, snow and ice typically accumulate on the wiper assembly, which is undesired. In freezing conditions where water is present in liquid form either from the environment such as sleet, rain or road slush, or introduced by melting ice and snow on the windshield, the wiping element has a tendency to ice up. When the wiping element is iced up, in particular around a hinge and wipe lip of the wiping element, the effectiveness to clear the glass surface is severely impaired. In some cases, the wiping element can freeze to the glass surface and cause damage to the wiper system when subjected to loading from the wiper arm when the wiper system is turned on or activated. Severe impairment or damage to the wiper assembly could result in a loss of clear vision by the driver and potentially dangerous operating conditions.
Current state of the art of heated wiper blades utilize the following methods for applying heat to the blades: 1) heater wire inside the rubber wiping element; 2) heated film paper laid on top of the metal strips; and 3) heated wires adhered directly to the top of the metal strips. In the case of heater wire inside the rubber wiping element, this posses an issue with wipe quality because the rubber wiping element stiffness is affected due to the internal wire adding ridged or near ridged support inside the cross-section of the wiping element. This can also pose issues with non-reversal at either end of blade travel or non-conformance to curvature variation in windshield profile. In the case of heated film paper laid on top of the metal strips, this can pose issues with heat transfer due to misplacement of heated carrier. It also adds additional labor and can increase cost associated with adding such parts and does not necessarily allow for proper heat transfer to the very end of the rubber wiping element. In the case of heated wires adhered directly to the top of the metal strips, this can be very costly to process. It also does not allow for a connection around the end of the rubber wiping element and thus may allow for an ice build up around the tip of the rubber wiping element. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide for an effective heating of the wiping element to preclude snow and ice buildup on the wiper assembly during winter driving conditions.


A pet monitoring and feeding system including having a dispenser, the dispenser having: a main body; a bowl provided about a base portion of the main body; a cavity configured to selectively receive the bowl; one or more dispenser sensors being configured to provide proximity data regarding environmental or pet parameters about the dispenser; and one or more food receptacles. The system further including a wireless transponder that could worn as a pendant or incorporated into a collar having one or more collar sensors that is configured to interact with the one or more sensors of the dispenser and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry being configured to receive sensor data from both the dispenser sensors and the collar sensors, the processing circuitry being configured to determine an appropriate portion size of a particular food being contained in the one or more food receptacles and activate the dispenser so as to dispense a selectively measured portion of the particular food.

As of yet pet food dispensers have been limited with regard to the various functions they can provide. In particular, pet food dispensers have pre-defined quantities that they dispense, and must either be activated through training, i.e. having the pet press on a lever or actuator, or the pet owner must somehow set the actuation either manually or through the use of a timer. Present food dispensers also have limitations in multi-pet households wherein a dominant animal can force other animals away when food is dispensed and as such it can be difficult to control portion sizes between various pets. In addition, pets which live sedentary lifestyles can require less food than pets which live active lifestyles.

Methods and systems for monitoring and feeding a pet


A control system and method for operating a well completion system utilizing at least one computer programmed in one embodiment to automatically operate the movement of pipe from a pipe tub to the mast and into the well and/or for movement of the pipe out of the well and/or back into the pipe tub. In one embodiment, the computer is programmed and/or configured to coordinate operation of a top drive, and/or a pipe tong, and/or a pipe moving member for moving pipe into and out of a mast, and/or a pipe transfer system for moving pipe to the pipe moving member. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the at least one computer is mounted within a control van which may be positioned so that an operator within the control van can oversee operation of the well completion system.

In petroleum production, completion is the process of making a well ready for production or injection. This principally involves preparing the bottom of the hole to the required specifications, running the production tubing and associated down hole tools, as well as perforating and/or stimulating the well as required. Sometimes, the process of running and cementing the casing is also included.
Lower completion refers to the portion of the well across the production or injection zone, beneath the production tubing. A well designer has many tools and options available to design the lower completion according to the conditions of the reservoir. Typically, the lower completion is set across the production zone using a liner hanger system, which anchors the lower completion equipment to the production casing string.
Upper completion refers to all components positioned above the bottom of the production tubing. Proper design of this "completion string" is essential to ensure the well can flow properly given the reservoir conditions and to permit any operations deemed necessary for enhancing production and safety.
In cased hole completions, which are performed in the majority of wells, once the completion string is in place, the final stage includes making a flow path or connection between the wellbore and the formation. The flow path or connection is created by running perforation guns into the casing or liner and actuating the perforation guns to create holes through the casing or liner to access the formation. Modern perforations can be made using shaped explosive charges.
Sometimes, further stimulation is necessary to achieve viable productivity after a well is fully completed. There are a number of stimulation techniques which can be employed at such a time.
Fracturing is a common stimulation technique that includes creating and extending fractures from the perforation tunnels deeper into the formation, thereby increasing the surface area available for formation fluids to flow into the well and avoiding damage near the wellbore. This may be done by injecting fluids at high pressure (hydraulic fracturing), injecting fluids laced with round granular material (proppant fracturing), or using explosives to generate a high pressure and high speed gas flow (TNT or PETN, and propellant stimulation).
Hydraulic fracturing, often called fracking, fracing or hydrofracking, is the process of initiating and subsequently propagating a fracture in a rock layer, by means of a pressurized fluid, in order to release petroleum, natural gas, coal steam gas or other substances for extraction. The fracturing, known colloquially as a frack job or frac job, is performed from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations. The energy from the injection of a highly pressurized fluid, such as water, creates new channels in the rock that can increase the extraction rates and recovery of fossil fuels.
The technique of fracturing is used to increase or restore the rate at which fluids, such as oil or water, or natural gas can be produced from subterranean natural reservoirs, including unconventional reservoirs such as shale rock or coal beds. Fracturing enables the production of natural gas and oil from rock formations deep below the earth's surface, generally 5,000-20,000 feet or 1,500-6,100 meters. At such depths, there may not be sufficient porosity and permeability to allow natural gas and oil to flow from the rock into the wellbore at economic rates. Thus, creating conductive fractures in the rock is essential to extract gas from shale reservoirs due to the extremely low natural permeability of shale. Fractures provide a conductive path connecting a larger area of the reservoir to the well, thereby increasing the area from which natural gas and liquids can be recovered from the targeted formation.
Pumping the fracturing fluid into the wellbore, at a rate sufficient to increase pressure downhole, until the pressure exceeds the fracture gradient of the rock and forms a fracture. As the rock cracks, the fracture fluid continues to flow farther into the rock, extending the crack farther. To prevent the fracture(s) from closing after the injection process has stopped, a solid proppant, such as a sieved round sand, can be added to the fluid. The propped fracture remains sufficiently permeable to allow the flow of formation fluids to the well.
The location of fracturing along the length of the borehole can be controlled by inserting composite plugs, also known as bridge plugs, above and below the region to be fractured. This allows a borehole to be progressively fractured along the length of the bore while preventing leakage of fluid through previously fractured regions. Fluid and proppant are introduced to the working region through piping in the upper plug. This method is commonly referred to as "plug and perf."
Typically, hydraulic fracturing is performed in cased wellbores, and the zones to be fractured are accessed by perforating the casing at those locations.
While hydraulic fracturing can be performed in vertical wells, today it is more often performed in horizontal wells. Horizontal drilling involves wellbores where the terminal borehole is completed as a "lateral" that extends parallel with the rock layer containing the substance to be extracted. For example, laterals extend 1,500 to 5,000 feet in the Barnett Shale basin. In contrast, a vertical well only accesses the thickness of the rock layer, typically 50-300 feet. Horizontal drilling also reduces surface disruptions, as fewer wells are required. Drilling a wellbore produces rock chips and fine rock particles that may enter cracks and pore space at the wellbore wall, reducing the porosity and/or permeability at and near the wellbore. The production of rock chips, fine rock particles and the like reduces flow into the borehole from the surrounding rock formation, and partially seals off the borehole from the surrounding rock. Hydraulic fracturing can be used to restore porosity and/or permeability.
Conventional lateral wells are completed by inserting coiled tubing or a similar, generally flexible conduit therein, until the flexible nature of the tubing prevents further insertion. While coil tubing does not require making up and/or breaking out each pipe joint, coiled tubing cannot be rotated, which increases the likelihood of sticking and significantly reduces the ability to extend the pipe laterally. Once a certain depth is reached in a highly angled and/or horizontal well, the pipe essentially acts like soft spaghetti and can no longer be pushed into the hole. Coiled tubing is also more limited in terms of pipe wall thickness to provide flexibility thereby limiting the weight of the string.
Conventional completion rigs include a mast, which extends upward and slightly outward typically at approximately a 3 degree angle from a carrier or similar base structure. The angled mast provides that cables and/or other features that support a top drive and/or other equipment can hang downward from the mast, directly over a wellbore, without contacting the mast. For example, most top drives and/or power swivels require a "torque arm" to be attached thereto, the torque arm including a cable that is secured to the ground or another fixed structure to counteract excess torque and/or rotation applied to the top drive/power swivel. Additionally, a blowout preventer stack, having sufficient components and a height that complies with required regulations, must be positioned directly above the wellbore. A mast having a slight angle accommodates for these and other features common to completion rigs. As a result, a rig must often be positioned at least four feet, or more, away from the wellbore depending on the height of the mast. A need exists for systems and methods having a reduced footprint, especially in lucrative regions where closer spacing of wells can significantly affect production and economic gain, and in marginal regions, where closer spacing of wells would be necessary to enable economically viable production.
Prior to common use of coiled tubing, completion operations often involved the use of workover/production rigs for insertion of successive joints of pipe, which must be threaded together and torqued, often by hand, creating a significant potential for injury or death of laborers involved in the completion operation, and requiring significant time to engage (e.g., "make up") each pipe joint Drilling rigs could also be utilized to run production tubing but are more expensive although the individual joints of pipes result in the same types of problems.
A significant problem with prior art production/workover rigs or drilling rigs as opposed to coiled tubing units is that individual production tubing pipe connections are often considerably more difficult to make up and/or break out than the drilling pipe connections. Drilling pipe connections are enlarged and are designed for quick make up and break out many times with very little concern about exact alignment of the connectors. Drill pipe is designed to be frequently and quickly made up and broken out without being damaged even if the alignment is not particularly precise. On the other hand, production tubing is normally intended for long term use in the well and requires much more accurate alignment of the connectors to avoid damaging the threads. Production tubing does not typically utilize the expensive enlarged connectors like drill pipe and, in some completions, enlarged connectors simply are not feasible due to clearance problems within the wellbore. Thus, especially for production tubing, prior art workover/production rigs are much slower for inserting and/or removing production tubing pipe into or out of the well than coiled tubing units and are more likely to result in operator injuries and errors during pipe connection make up and break out than coiled tubing. There are also problems with human error in aligning the individual production tubing connectors whereby cross-threading could result in a damaged or leaking connection.
Prior art insertion techniques of completion tubing into a lateral well therefore suffers from significant limitations including but not limited to: 1) the longer time required to run tubing into a well; 2) operator safety; and 3) the maximum horizontal distance across which the tubing can be inserted is limited by the nature of the tubing used and/or the force able to be applied from the surface. Generally, once the frictional forces between the lateral portion of the well and the length of tubing therein exceed the downward force applied by the weight of the tubing in the vertical portion of the well, further insertion becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, thus limiting the maximum length of a lateral.
Due to the significant day rates and rental costs when performing oilfield operations, a need exists for systems and methods capable of faster, yet safer insertion of pipe and/or tubing into a well. Additionally, due to the costs associated with the drilling, completion, and production of a well, a need exists for systems and methods capable of extending the maximum length of a lateral, thereby increasing the productivity of the well.
Hydraulic fracturing is commonly applied to wells drilled in low permeability reservoir rock. An estimated 90 percent of the natural gas wells in the United States use hydraulic fracturing to produce gas at economic rates.
The fluid injected into the rock is typically a slurry of water, proppants, and chemical additives. Additionally, gels, foams, and/or compressed gases, including nitrogen, carbon dioxide and air can be injected. Various types of proppant include silica sand, resin-coated sand, and man-made ceramics. The type of proppant used may vary depending on the type of permeability or grain strength needed. Sand containing naturally radioactive minerals is sometimes used so that the fracture trace along the wellbore can be measured. Chemical additives can be applied to tailor the injected material to the specific geological situation, protect the well, and improve its operation, though the injected fluid is approximately 99 percent water and 1 percent proppant, this composition varying slightly based on the type of well. The composition of injected fluid can be changed during the operation of a well over time. Typically, acid is initially used to increase permeability, then proppants are used with a gradual increase in size and/or density, and finally, the well is flushed with water under pressure. At least a portion of the injected fluid can be recovered and stored in pits or containers; the fluid can be toxic due to the chemical additives and material washed out from the ground. The recovered fluid is sometimes processed so that at least a portion thereof can be reused in fracking operations, released into the environment after treatment, and/or left in the geologic formation.
Advances in completion technology have led to the emergence of open hole multi-stage fracturing systems. These systems effectively place fractures in specific places in the wellbore, thus increasing the cumulative production in a shorter time frame.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate the present system which addresses the above and other problems.
The above general description and the following detailed description are merely illustrative of the generic invention, and additional modes, advantages, and particulars of this invention will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Control system and method for a well completion system

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES—NORTH AMERICA SERVICES, INC.


A data formatting system for formatting an unformatted data stream, and communicating the formatted data stream and a format to a printer output device. The data formatting system includes a format generator which enables user design and creation of formats for downloading to the printer interface apparatus. Newly designed formats can then be utilized with subsequent unformatted data streams to create output images on an output device.

Bar code labels are being increasingly utilized, at least in part because of their ability to transfer data from one data processing system to another quickly and reliably. In industries which use many different types of data processing systems, generating a bar code label from one type of data processing system that can be read by another type of data processing system can be problematic. For example, in the health care industry, hospitals frequently have a variety of different laboratory information systems. These laboratory information systems contain data which can be printed onto a bar code label for use with bar code-capable hospital equipment, such as hematology and chemistry analyzers. Unfortunately, laboratory information systems are often proprietary systems, whose manufacturers either do not offer bar code generating software or printer drivers, or who may no longer even support the equipment. Many of these proprietary laboratory information systems do not have the capability to communicate with a bar code printer. Development of custom software to run on the laboratory information system can be expensive, if available at all, and necessary on-going support will be accordingly expensive.
In response to this problem, printers have been developed which can accept a stream of data from a predetermined host computer, such as a laboratory information system, and can format the steam of data for use with the printer. Such printers typically contain one or more formats for use with the data to generate one or more predetermined labels. While such printers eliminate the need to develop custom software for a proprietary host computer, any changes necessary to the instructions for formatting the stream of data, brought about for example because of a change in the host computer environment, requires installation of new circuitry. Of course, the printer is unavailable during the installation of such new circuitry. Similarly, if a new label format is desired, it is necessary to design, debug and install in the printer new circuitry containing the new format. This can require a significant amount of time and coordination between the printer user and the printer manufacturer. Finally, each printer is designed for use with a particular host computer, requiring separate printers for each host computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,528 discloses a printer capable of printing characters in various fonts and formats onto a web of records. The printer disclosed in the '528 patent contains a read-only memory in which software routines defining optional features or operations of the printer are stored. An alterable memory contains a table with information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled. A processor in the printer can interface with an input device, such as keyboard or a computer, by which the table can be altered and, thus, the optional software routines enabled or disabled. The software instructions themselves cannot be altered without removing the read-only memory and installing a new read-only memory.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,742 discloses a printer control apparatus which includes a modem for receiving text data in an EBCDIC format, and a converter for converting the text data into an ASCII format. The conversion instructions are stored in an EEPROM memory and can be remotely programmed via the modem.


A substrate for a display device has a reduced size and weight. Connecting lines are formed on peripheral region adjacent to display region of a display device, and scan driving signal is applied to scan lines through the connecting lines. The connecting lines includes first connecting lines and second connecting lines. The first connecting lines are formed in a same layer as the scan lines, and the second connecting lines are formed in a same layer as the data lines. The total area of the wirings formed in the peripheral region is reduced, and the size and weight of the liquid crystal display device may be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a substrate used for a display device, a liquid crystal display device, and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display (LCD) device, more particularly to a substrate used for a display device, a liquid crystal display device, and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device that has a reduced size and weight.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image, and the liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrate.
A driver printed circuit board used for driving the liquid crystal display panel is electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel through a tape carrier package (TCP).
The driver printed circuit board includes a data printed circuit board and a gate printed circuit board. The data printed circuit board drives a plurality of data lines formed on the liquid crystal display panel, and the gate printed circuit board drives a plurality of scan lines (or gate lines) formed on the liquid crystal display panel.
The data printed circuit board is electrically connected with the data lines through a data side TCP, and the gate printed circuit board is electrically connected with the scan lines through a gate side TCP. A data driver chip is disposed in the data side TCP, and a scan driver chip (or a gate driver chip) is disposed in the gate side TCP.
Recently, a scan driver circuit (or gate driver circuit) is formed on the liquid crystal display panel so that the number of steps for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device may be reduced. The scan driver circuit provides the scan lines with a scan driving signal.
Particularly, the first substrate or the second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel includes a display region and a peripheral region.
The scan driver circuit is formed on the peripheral region adjacent to first ends of the scan lines.
However, since the scan driver circuit is formed at first ends of the scan lines, the liquid crystal display panel does not have symmetric structure. When another space is provided at second ends of the scan lines so as to provide symmetric structure, the size of the liquid crystal display device may increase.

Substrate for a display device, liquid crystal display device comprising overlapping connecting lines of the scan lines and method of manufacturing the same