An image processing apparatus and method for processing an image using a multi-view image and pixel information are provided. The image processing method includes determining a view image that corresponds to a predetermined display direction of a display pixel of a display, determining at least one view image pixel corresponding to the display pixel in the determined view image based on a position of the display pixel in the display and pixel position information of the determined view image, and determining a pixel value of the display pixel based on a pixel value of the determined at least one view image pixel.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the following description relate to a display image processing method and apparatus for light field displaying using a multi-view image.
2. Description of the Related Art
To effectively realize a 3-dimensional (3D) image providing a 3D feel or effect, images of different views may to be presented to an observer. For example, a stereoscopic display may present respectively different images to a left eye and a right eye of a person. The stereoscopic display may depend on a filtering process, where filtering glasses are worn, so one image is filtered to a left eye and another image is filtered to the right eye. To realize the 3D image without using such a filter process, the 3D feel or effect may be achieved by presenting different spatially divided views of a scene to the observer, as an example of an autostereoscopic display. Such an autostereoscopic display may use an optical unit to realize an image by spatially dividing the image. Representatively, a lenticular lens or a parallax barrier may be used as the optical unit. The lenticular lens expresses each pixel image only in a particular direction whereas the parallax barrier shows only particular pixels from a particular direction through a slit.
The autostereoscopic display may be considered a light field display when using a principle of a light field. The light field refers to a field indicating intensities of light at all points on a 3D space in all directions. Therefore, the light field is appropriate for expressing an actual object in a space. The light field display may realize a 3D image similar to an actual object by realizing a light field in an actual space.
Such light field display methods also include an integral imaging method that realizes a general light field. According to the integral imaging method, from spots present in a predetermined space, light emitted in plural directions may be realized, using a principle that an actual object generates or reflects light in plural directions from one spot.
When the light field is used, light emitted from a plurality of spots in a plurality of directions may be expressed. However, when a multi-view image is input, display pixels and view image pixels may not usually correspond one to one because positions of pixels for realizing an image of a particular view and directions of light emitted from the pixels are not specifically defined.

Image processing method and image processing apparatus


A system for preparing compressible food stuff such as ground meat to include a central cavity in the meat product which can receive one or more condiments prior to cooking with the pressing and shaping devices to cover the condiment filled cavity with an additional layer of the compressible food product for a final shape and compressed product. The molding system includes a mold body that is cylindrically shaped, a first press plate that includes a central smaller in diameter protrusion for forming a cavity in a compressible food product, a second press plate having a flat disc shaped for compressing the top layer of meat over the cavity and an adapter ring used to raise the side wall of the mold body for adding a second layer of meat to be compressed with the second press plate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for shaping ground meat products such as hamburger patties and specifically to a method and apparatus that can provide forming a central cavity in a ground meat product such as a hamburger for receiving condiments prior to cooking and covering the condiment filled cavity with an additional layer of the meat product.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of presses and shaping devices with ground meat for forming patties is well known in the prior art. One of the purposes is to achieve uniformity in the end product in size and shape and content. Another purpose is that a more substantially formed ground meat product can be obtained using a press or shaping device than shaping manually.
It is often desirable when cooking and serving ground meat products to include other foodstuffs and condiments that are served with the ground meat patty.
A device for forming a compressible food item is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,854 issued May 14, 2002. This device is primarily for making ravioli. An apparatus for making a hollow hamburger is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,881 issued Oct. 7, 1975. A tinfoil type pocket is inserted into a hamburger patty from the side. Condiments are added after the hamburger is cooked.
The present invention provides a noncomplex, inexpensive apparatus for compressible foods such as hamburgers which includes a shaping device for creating an accessible cavity in the center of the hamburger patty for receiving condiments that will be cooked with the patty and then the filled condiment cavity is covered over and pressed by additional hamburger meat for cooking.

Apparatus for forming condiment receiving cavity in ground meat


A free flooded section of an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) contains a rotating cylindrical drum, which serves as a spool for a towed line array cable. At the end of the cable is a reverse thruster with the ability to propel itself away from the UUV when the UUV is submerged. The thruster moves away from the UUV, pulling the cable and unspooling it as it does so in order to deploy the array. To recover the array, the cylindrical drum rotates to reel in the cable. The cable is guided through a series of winding guides that allow the cable to be wound evenly on the drum.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to towed array devices, and more specifically to an apparatus that deploys and recovers a towed acoustic sensor line array from an unmanned undersea vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Towed acoustic sensor line arrays are used in military and civilian applications to detect acoustic signals in the water. For instance undersea vehicles use such arrays to establish or supplement their sonar capabilities. Traditional towed acoustic sensor arrays take the form of linear arrays of hydrophones mounted inside a flexible hose, the array being connected to a towing vessel by a tow cable.
Unmanned undersea vehicles, (UUVs) are subject to certain constraints in their use of towed arrays particularly where the towed array is of significant length (ranging from 100 to 300 feet). Where a UUV is launched from or recovered by a larger undersea vehicle such as a submarine, the array cannot be already deployed without the risk of tangling or damaging the cable or creating additional drag on the UUV. Under these circumstances, what is needed is an apparatus for deploying a towed array from a UUV after the UUV is launched and then recovering the towed array before the UUV itself is recovered.

Apparatus for deploying and recovering a towed acoustic line array from an unmanned undersea vehicle

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An angle adjustable connecting module comprises a casing and a connecting assembly. The casing has an opening. The connecting assembly includes a connecting portion, a shaft and at least an elastic member. The connecting portion is connected with the shaft, an end of the elastic member is connected with the shaft and the other end of the elastic member is connected with the casing, and the shaft is rotatably disposed at the casing for allowing a part of the connecting portion to be movably exposed to the opening. Thus, the wear problem generated as connecting with the game controller can be reduced for ensuring that the functions are normally operated to extend the lifetime of the game controller.

1. Field of Invention
This disclosure relates to a connecting module and, more particularly, to an angle adjustable connecting module.
2. Related Art
To date, conventional charge methods of a game controller are mainly wired and wireless. However, the wired charge method is limited by the length of the wire and the space. Moreover, it is not easy to satisfy the need of playing and charging at the same time due to the abovementioned linear limitation of the wire. There is another barrier of the conventional charge method, that is, it is necessary to plug and unplug the connector before and after charging so that the connector is easily worn after repeating the above operation. More particularly, the game controller generally has an arc modeling for fitting in with human-factor concerns, thus plugging and unplugging the connector will be not as easy as the flat design. After using in a long term, it will increase the damage of the connector itself, decrease the lifetime of the game controller and further affect the quality of charging. For these reason, the wireless charge method is becoming the main charge method in order to decrease the times of plugging and unplugging during charging.
In the wireless charge method, the conventional method is performed by using a wireless charge module together with a connector of universal serial bus to connect with the game controller to charge. Although the charging will not be interrupted during the game due to wireless and is capable of decreasing the times of plugging and unplugging the wireless charge module, the wear problem of the connector still cannot be avoided as same as the wired charge method because it still needs to disconnect with the connector every time or it needs to be stored. Thus, the port of the game controller will become loose due to the wear and the quality and efficiencies of the charging will be further affected thus to dramatically decrease the life of the game controller for long term.


A sensor part of a blood flowmeter for measuring a value on blood flow in tissue of a living body is provided, in which the sensor part includes: a light emitter for emitting light to tissue of a living body; and a light detector for receiving scattered light from the tissue; a first shading block for preventing light emitted from the light emitter from directly entering the light detector; a second shading block having a predetermined gap in front of the light detector, wherein the light emitter, the light detector and the shading blocks are integrated on a semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blood flowmeter for measuring an amount of blood flow, a blood amount, a blood flow speed and a pulse of a living body by using scattered light reflected from the living body.
2. Description of the Related Art
In our aging society, there has been a growing interest to a blood flowmeter which can measure circulation of blood which closely relates to adult diseases. Especially, a laser blood flowmeter receives attention in the sense that it can measure the blood flow in capillaries of peripheral tissue without invasion since the laser blood flowmeter has much higher resolution than that of a ultrasound blood flowmeter, wherein measuring the blood flow in capillaries of peripheral tissue was difficult by the ultrasound blood flowmeter. For example, Dennis Watkins and G. Allen Holloway, Jr., An Instrument to measure cutaneous blood flow using the Doppler shift of laser light, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Vol. BME-25, No. 1, Jan. 28–33 (1978) discloses a conventional blood flowmeter.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the conventional blood flowmeter in the above-mentioned document. As shown in FIG. 1, a lens 2 is provided near a helium-neon laser 1 which is a light source, one end of an optical fiber 3 for floodlighting is provided near the lens 2, the other end of the optical fiber 3 is held by a holder 4, the holder 4 holds one end of the optical fiber 5 for receiving light, a photodiode 6 is provided near the other end of the optical fiber 5, a preamplifier 7 (40 Hz–40 kHz) is connected to the photodiode 6, and a signal is output via an amplifier 8. The photodiode 6 and the preamplifier 7 are a part of a measuring part for obtaining blood flow speed in tissue of a living body by receiving scattered light reflected from the tissue of the living body.
The blood flow speed is measured by the blood flowmeter shown in FIG. 1 by detecting (heterodyne detection) interference light between scattered light reflected from still tissue of the living body and scattered light reflected from red blood cells (scattered particles) which move in the capillaries in the tissue of the living body, that is, by detecting (heterodyne detection) interference light between scattered light reflected by still tissue of the living body and scattered light whose frequency is shifted due to the Doppler effect related to blood flow speed.
However, according to such a conventional blood flowmeter, since it uses optical fibers 3 and 5, it becomes large, and, since it is necessary to handle the optical fibers 3 and 5, it is difficult to attach the blood flowmeter to a living body for a long time and it is difficult to move with the blood flowmeter on. In addition, since the optical fibers 3 and 5 are provided between the helium-neon laser 1 and a subject part to be measured, the blood flowmeter is susceptible to environmental change. For example, when the optical fiber vibrates even slightly, a measurement result is affected. In addition, since the blood flowmeter is manufactured by assembling the individual optical parts such as the helium-neon laser 1, the optical fibers 3 and 5, and the photodiode 6 three-dimensionally, tuning the optical axis is necessary and manufacturing cost is high.
In addition, as conventional technologies, there are technologies disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent application No. 1-160531 "blood flow speed detector" (Hitachi), and Japanese laid-open patent application No. 10-94527 (Patent No. 3150911) "blood flow amount meter" (Biomedical Science). However, according to the technologies disclosed in these documents, there is a problem in that the degree of downsizing and the accuracy of measurement are not enough.

Blood flowmeter and sensor part of the blood flowmeter

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


Methods and devices are disclosed for transmitting medical and health-related data from self-monitoring diagnostic devices via an intermediate device to a central server or data repository where the intermediate device is adaptable to numerous medical and health meters. A method of transmitting metric data from a medical data collecting device to a server computer is described. A cable type is first determined once a self-monitoring diagnostic device is connected to an intermediate data trafficking device, connected to a telephone line or a PC with Internet access. A value representing the cable type is then transmitted from the intermediate device to a server computer. The intermediate device receives diagnostic device configuration information or intelligence from the server computer. Using this intelligence, components internal to the intermediate device are then configured to enable communication between the self-monitoring device and the data repository or central server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable medical devices for collecting and storing medical data from self-diagnostic medical devices. More specifically, it relates to a device capable of collecting data from a variety of medical data gathering devices having various, non-standard interfaces and transmitting the data to a central repository via a public network.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Diagnostic markers or data, whether from home devices or from medical labs, often determine what actions are to be taken with regard to a particular health care consumer. Transmitting data from home devices to a central repository is an important component in improving health conditions and for preventive care.
Health care consumers with medical conditions should be able to communicate, from remote locations, timely information about their conditions to a doctor or to a health information service provide that maintains a central repository of data which can analyze the data and send alert messages as needed. This communication should be done accurately and should be convenient for the consumer so that it is done consistently. Specifically, individuals with chronic medical conditions must regularly collect, record, process and share information about their chronic conditions in order to develop and manage a preventative health action plan. Presently, many health care consumers manually record data from their diagnostic medical devices into a notebook or log book, for example. Such devices include blood glucose meters, digital blood pressure cuffs, spirometers, digital scales, PSA blood level testing meters, and insulin pumps among others.
Individuals who use self-monitoring diagnostic medical devices are not always near a computer and are unable to communicate their medical data to a central repository which contains a personal user health profile. Such web-based personal health records have several benefits for individuals with chronic conditions and their health care providers. One benefit is near real-time diagnostic metric data analysis in either "manual" (viewing records online) or automated formats (rule engine alerts and reminders).
Some of the barriers to providing regular diagnostic metric uploads for use on the Internet to a health information service provider that maintains a central data repository relate to connectivity and interfaces. Another barrier is the lack of an interface standard for self-monitoring devices. Manufactures of such devices have developed proprietary software protocols and physical layer connections. Some have also provided a proprietary interface cable for connecting their device to a personal computer. Thus, since no standard exists, each device uses a different cable schema and many of the manufacturers do not meet the electrical standards for RS232.
Thus, no interface standard exists for self-monitoring devices and manufacturers of such devices have developed proprietary software protocols and physical layer connections. As a result, the most common method of connecting a device to a personal computer is through a proprietary interface cable. However, since no standard exists with respect to cable design, each device model uses different cable schemas. In some cases, a single manufacturer will have numerous cables for different models of its devices. As mentioned, most of these devices do not interface with RS232-C electrical connections required by most PCs. To solve this problem, manufacturers have developed custom cables that include active components in the cable, such as Lifescan of Milpitas, Calif. or a separate interface box, such as Roche Diagnostics of Indianapolis, Ind.
Another drawback for consumers is that acquiring cables for a device is difficult, expensive and time consuming. The self-diagnosing medical device companies do not view accessories for interfacing as part of their core business. Moreover, some patients use two or three different devices, for example from those listed above, and therefore need to obtain different cables for each device. In addition, some existing devices, such as from Life Chart of Mountain View, Calif. save all metric data and protocol data on the device. However, when a new meter is added, the intelligence in the device needs to be changed thereby making the device fairly inadaptable to new metrics.
What is needed is a multi-interface appliance or component that reduces the complexities associated with cable interfaces by having a common cabling schema, such as an RS232 cable interface. The appliance should allow an individual to connect to a central repository through the web without having to use a PC or any type of internet appliance. This box should be battery powered and have one common cable connection to a PC. More significantly, such an appliance should allow the consumer to dial in via a standard telephone connection to a health information service provider without having to go through a PC to access the Internet. The appliance should also be 'multi-talented' in that it should be able to interface with various types of medical self-diagnostic devices rather than simply one type, such as blood glucose monitors. The appliance should also be adaptable in that new meters can be measured without having to adjust the internal components or intelligence in the appliance.

Method and apparatus for communicating data between a medical device and a central data repository


A process for producing oxidized organic chemical products such as propylene oxide from various organic chemical feedstocks utilizing as oxidant directly produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) intermediate oxidizing agent. The hydrogen peroxide intermediate is directly produced from hydrogen and oxygen feeds plus a suitable solvent in a first catalytic reaction step utilizing an active supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst at reaction conditions of 0-100xc2x0 C. temperature and 300-3,000 psig pressure. An organic chemical feedstock such as propylene together with the hydrogen peroxide intermediate and solvent solution are fed into a second catalytic reactor maintained at 0-150xc2x0 C. temperature and 15-1,500 psig pressure and oxidized to produce a desired crude oxidized organic product such as propylene oxide, which is purified by distillation steps and recovered from the solvent solution.

This invention pertains to a process for producing oxidized organic chemical products by selective catalytic oxidation of organic chemical feedstocks with hydrogen peroxide intermediate. It pertains particularly to such a selective oxidation process in which the hydrogen peroxide intermediate is provided by direct reaction of hydrogen and oxygen using a supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst having high reactivity and selectivity.
Selective oxidation reactions are a major class of chemical transformations which account for the production of a wide variety of important chemical products, including alcohols, carbonyl compounds, epoxides, hydroxylates, acids, glycols and glycol ethers, lactones, oximes, and oxygenated sulfur and nitrogen compounds such as sulfoxides, sulfones, nitrones, azo compounds, and other N-oxides. Performing these chemical transformations efficiently, economically, and safely requires a suitable oxidizing agent which can be purchased or produced to react with the desired organic chemical feedstock, which is then converted to the oxidized organic chemical product.
Several significant problems face conventional catalytic oxidation processes. In some cases, selective oxidation reactions are performed utilizing oxygen as the oxidizing agent. However, producing purified oxygen is expensive, requiring large capital investment and operating costs. Also, processes using purified oxygen combined with organic chemical feedstocks may accidentally achieve gas compositions in the explosive range, thereby posing a serious safety hazard. In other cases, selective oxidation processes utilize air as the oxidizing agent. But a major economic problem associated with such processes utilizing air is handling the accompanying undesired large flow of nitrogen, which substantially increases process costs. Such oxidation processes can also be prone to forming explosive gas mixtures. Oxidative processes using oxygen or air also tend to suffer from product selectivity problems related to overoxidation of the organic chemical feedstock, normally producing undesired carbon oxides (CO, CO2).
For such selective oxidation reactions, an attractive alternative to using oxygen or air as the oxidation agent is the use of peroxidic compounds to provide the reactive oxygen needed for oxidative transformations. One common version is the use of organic hydroperoxides as oxidizing agents. These hydroperoxide compounds, typically generated by air- or O2-oxidation of suitable intermediates, are reacted with chemical feedstocks to form oxygenated products and organic by-products. However, these organic by-products represent a significant disadvantage for processes of this type, because a large amount of organic material must be recovered, either for recycle or for sale as a secondary product. In some cases, the amount of this secondary product is greater than the amount of the primary oxygenated product, and is typically a less desirable product. For example, conventional production of propylene oxide also results in production of large amounts of styrene or tert-butyl alcohol co-products, which typically must be marketed in economically unpredictable markets. Furthermore, processes involving organic hydroperoxide intermediates pose significant safety hazards. Generating hydroperoxides requires reactions of air with organic chemicals which may form explosive mixtures, and organic peroxides can themselves be explosive, particularly if they are accidentally concentrated above a certain critical concentration level.
Instead of using organic peroxides, hydrogen peroxide is a known desirable oxidizing agent. The byproduct of oxidation reactions using hydrogen peroxide is typically water, a safe compound that can be easily recovered and reused or disposed. The amount of water on a weight basis is much less than the amount of organic by-product when organic hydroperoxides are used, and thereby represents significant savings in process costs. However, past attempts to develop selective chemical oxidation processes based on hydrogen peroxide have encountered significant difficulties. Conventional hydrogen peroxide production utilizes the anthraquinone process, wherein the anthraquinone is first hydrogenated to hydroanthraquinone and then autoxidized to release hydrogen peroxide and the anthraquinone for recycle. Hydrogen peroxide is generated at low concentrations in the solution, and very large flows of anthraquinone and anthrahydroquinone must be handled in order to produce the desired hydrogen peroxide product. Accordingly, such conventionally produced hydrogen peroxide is generally too expensive for commercial use as an oxidizing agent for selective chemical oxidation processes.
An important alternative is generating hydrogen peroxide directly by the catalytic reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, which avoids the difficulty of accompanying large flows of a working solution and can reduce the cost of hydrogen peroxide. The prior art includes a number of catalytic technologies which directly convert hydrogen and oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, but generally utilize a hydrogen/oxygen feed wherein the hydrogen concentration is greater than about 10 mol %, which is well above the flammability limit of xcx9c5 mol % for such mixtures and creates a serious process hazard. At hydrogen feed concentrations below 5 mol %, the prior art catalysts are not sufficiently active and selective to generate hydrogen peroxide product at a reasonable rate. However, an improved process for direct catalytic production of hydrogen peroxide utilizing an active supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst is now available as disclosed by our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/140,265.
Various oxidation processes for organic chemical feedstocks utilizing hydrogen peroxide are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,428 discloses hydroxylation of aromatic compounds and epoxidation of olefins such as propylene using a titanium silicalite catalyst. Also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,824,976; 4,937,216; 5,166,372; 5,214,168; and 5,912,367 all disclose epoxidation of various olefins including propylene using titanium silicalite catalyst. European Patent No. 978 316 A1 to Enichem describes a process for making propylene oxide, including a first step for direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide using a Pd catalyst, and a second step for epoxidation of propylene to form propylene oxide using titanium silicalite (TS-1) catalyst. However, the best hydrogen peroxide product selectivity reported is only 86%, based on the amount of hydrogen converted. In the process second step, the best selectivity of propylene oxide formation is 97%, based on hydrogen peroxide conversion. Therefore, the best overall yield of propylene oxide, based on hydrogen feed, that can be achieved is 83%. However, higher yields of oxidized organic products are much desired, particularly when considering the relatively high cost of the hydrogen feedstock which is required for the direct catalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.
This invention provides a catalytic process which includes two basic chemical transformation reactions or steps for selective oxidation of organic chemical feedstocks with hydrogen peroxide intermediate to produce desired oxidized organic chemical products. In the first reaction step, hydrogen and oxygen are directly catalytically reacted with a suitable solvent such as alcohol/water solutions to form the hydrogen peroxide intermediate by advantageously utilizing a new supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst which has high reactivity and selectivity. For the catalyst, the noble metal constituent is present as nano-size particles with controlled phase exposition, thereby ensuring that only the most active and selective noble metal sites are available for reaction. In the second reaction step, the hydrogen peroxide intermediate and suitable solvent such as water and/or an alcohol reacts oxidatively with the selected organic chemical feedstock for producing the desired oxidized organic chemical product, with water typically being the main by-product. This second reaction step may be non-catalytic, but will typically utilize a suitable selective oxidation catalyst of either homogeneous or heterogeneous type. The two successive reaction steps are performed in separate catalytic reactors, with intermediate recovery steps being provided as desired for the overall selective oxidative process.
A variety of organic chemical feedstocks can be used in this overall process to produce the desired oxidized organic chemical products. Major classes of organic chemical feedstocks include aromatics, alkanes, ketones and olefins, as well as compounds containing mixed functionality and heteroatoms such as sulfur or nitrogen, with the olefin feedstocks usually being preferred. The major groups of oxidized organic chemical products are alcohols, epoxides, carboxylic acids, hydroxylated aromatics, aldehydes/ketones, glycols, oximes, and N-oxides.
A significant advantage of the present two-step catalytic selection oxidation process utilizing hydrogen peroxide intermediate is that it provides increased yields of the desired oxidized products with respect to hydrogen feed. Because of the high cost of hydrogen, it is critical to minimize the hydrogen demand as much as possible. The present process is able to achieve essentially 100% selectivity of the hydrogen peroxide intermediate based on hydrogen usage. Therefore, the integrated two-step process, consisting of a first step in which hydrogen peroxide intermediate is catalytically synthesized by direct reaction of hydrogen and oxygen (at 100% selectivity), and a second step in which the hydrogen peroxide is catalytically reacted with an organic chemical feedstock such as propylene over titanium silicalite (TS-1) catalyst or the like to make propylene oxide (at  greater than 95% selectivity with respect to H2O2), provides a net overall yield of propylene oxide product with respect to hydrogen of over 95%. This is a significant improvement in hydrogen utilization compared to prior art processes, for which the best reported overall selectivity to propylene oxide product is only about 83%.

Process for selective oxidation of organic feedstocks with hydrogen peroxide


A method for developing a product is provided, wherein the method includes developing a three-dimensional product design, translating the three-dimensional product design into a two-dimensional product design, wherein the two-dimensional product design includes at least one product structure having at least two structure sections, obtaining a rigidly malleable material to create the at least one product structure, wherein the rigidly malleable material is obtained based on the two-dimensional product design, generating the at least one product structure by shaping the rigidly malleable material based on the two-dimensional product design such that the at least one product structure includes the at least two structure sections separated by at least one forming groove and at least one forming tab, the at least one forming tab having a forming tab height and a forming tab width and hand forming the product structure based on the at least one forming groove.

The creation of a product having a complicated geometrical configuration typically incorporates a plurality of pieces which are created individually and assembled together at a later time to create the finished product. This is because the tools needed to create these products, such as LASER cut machines, need to be reprogrammed each time a new product is produced and in some cases, the programming of these tools may be a time and labor intensive task. Thus, in order to reduce the cost of producing this type of product, each part is typically created in bulk and stored separately in stack inventory. As the product is needed, each of the pieces that are needed to produce the desired end product are removed from stack inventory and assembled together at a remote location.
Unfortunately however, this design and manufacturing approach has several disadvantages associated with it. One disadvantage involves the storage of the stack inventory, which may require a large amount of storage space. As discussed briefly hereinabove, stack inventory is typically required because the tool(s) needed to create the product component, such as a LASER cut machine, need to be set up, programmed and broken down for each type of product component produced. Thus, for a product having five (5) different types of product components, the machining tool must be set up, programmed and broken down five different times and depending upon the geometry of the product component, this process could require a substantial amount of time and labor. As such, it is more cost effective to manufacture each individual component in large quantities and store these components in stack inventory until they are needed for final product assembly. Unfortunately however, storage space is expensive and depending upon the number of components produced and the length of time the components are to be stored, the storage and inventory control costs could be substantial. For example, if a product requires five (5) pieces to complete its assembly and a thousand products are to be stored, then storage space large enough to accommodate five thousand pieces would be required. Moreover, if more than one type of multi-piece product is to be stored at the same time, then additional storage space would be required.
Another disadvantage involves the secondary operations or the assembly of the products having multiple pieces. Even though individual product pieces may be manufactured with a high degree of accuracy, the product must still be individually assembled and due to layout welding and/or snagging, these secondary operations can be labor intensive. Not only can this be a time consuming and labor intensive task, but it is possible for the finished product to be assembled together incorrectly. Thus, if such an error was not found immediately, the products that were assembled incorrectly would have to be disassembled and re-assembled correctly, effectively doubling the initial assembly time and cost.
Anther disadvantage involves the inventory control of pieces in stack inventory. With a large number of product pieces, it is inevitable that some pieces may be lost and/or damaged. Each of the damaged and undamaged components needs to be tracked and located via an inventory control system and the damaged and lost pieces need to be replaced. As above, in order to replace these pieces, the tool(s) needed to create the product component would have to be set up and re-programmed to replace the damaged and/or lost product, adding still more to the total cost.
Still another disadvantage involves the need for a large bending press to form or bend the material(s) into the desired end product shape. This is because the materials that are typically used require a large amount of tonnage in order to effectuate a bend in the material. This is undesirable because large bending presses are expensive to purchase and require a large amount of space to operate.


This system for measuring an electromagnetic field radiated by an electrical component of an electronic circuit, the electrical component being fixed to a dielectric substrate of the electronic circuit, is wherein a transducer (90 to 95) is etched on the substrate of the electronic circuit.

Prior art systems for measuring an electromagnetic field radiated by an electrical component of an electronic circuit comprise:                a unit for measuring electrical energy independent of the electronic circuit, and        a transducer connected to the measuring unit and adapted to convert the electromagnetic field radiated by the electrical component into electrical energy measured by the measuring unit.
In prior art systems, the transducer is independent of the electronic circuit and must be placed manually in the vicinity of the place on the electronic circuit where the electromagnetic radiation is to be measured. However, the spatial resolution of measurements made using prior art systems is less than perfect, among other things because of inaccurate positioning of the transducer relative to the electronic circuit.

System for measuring an electromagnetic field, a control system using the measuring system, and an electronic circuit designed for the measuring system


An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system; an advancing/retracting movement guide member which guides the optical element holding member in an optical axis direction of the photographing system to be movable in the optical axis direction; and a biasing device including an arm, the arm being swingable about a swing axis which is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and being engaged with the optical element holding member. The biasing device simultaneously exerts via the arm both a biasing force in a direction of movement of the optical element holding member that is guided by the advancing/retracting movement guide member and a biasing force in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the optical element holding member on the optical element holding member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for controlling the position of an optical element which is moved in an optical axis direction in an optical apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In optical apparatuses such as cameras, a mechanism in which a guide shaft is inserted into a guide hole to be freely slidable relative to the guide hole with the lengthwise direction of the guide shaft being parallel to an optical axis, and another mechanism wherein a guide projection is engaged in a guide groove to be freely slidable relative to the guide groove with the lengthwise direction of the guide groove being parallel to an optical axis, are known in the art as an advancing/retracting movement guide mechanism for moving an optical element holding member which supports an optical element such as a lens group in an optical axis direction. The former type of guide mechanism which includes the guide shaft and the guide hole is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2000-206391.
In aforementioned type of guide mechanisms, at each of the slidable portions between the guide hole and the guide shaft and between the guide groove and the guide projection, a predetermined clearance is created to make relative sliding movement possible. Furthermore, measures are taken to eliminate backlash to prevent rattle and noise which may be caused by the clearance and to make stable position-control possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mechanism for controlling position of optical element


An apparatus for rolling and forming a food dough includes: a rolling roller configured to roll out a block of food dough placed on a table; and a frame unit having an inner circumferential surface configured to face the rolling roller. The rolling roller is configured to revolve around a revolving axis, and rotate around a rotation axis of the rolling roller. The rolling roller includes a first portion having a substantially conical or frustum shape extending in a rotation axial direction. The frame unit is provided outside of a revolving locus of the first portion of the rolling roller. The inner circumferential surface of the frame unit includes an upper side portion and a lower side portion that is farther from the revolving axis than the upper side portion with respect to the revolving radial direction.

Generally, when rolling out appropriate food dough such as pie dough, pizza dough and bread dough into a flattened shape, a block of food dough having an appropriate shape is prepared so that a shape exhibited when food dough of a substantially spherical or thick disk shape is rolled out into a flattened shape becomes a generally thin disk shape or a thick disk shape (generally, referred to as a framed disk shape) in which a central portion is made thin and a circumferential edge portion is made thicker than the central portion, and the block of food dough is rolled out into a flattened shape (see, for example, JP-B-3811790 and JP-A-2007-6866).
In addition, a pizza dough and pizza producing method has been proposed in which notches (recessed portions) are formed in a circumferential edge portion of pizza dough (pizza crust), and radial grooves are formed on an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the pizza dough to thereby make it easy for the pizza dough to be cut to be separated into pieces (see, for example, JP-B-3609628 and JP-B-3635437).

Apparatus for rolling and forming food dough


A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet placing portion, a guide member, a signal obtaining portion, and a notification portion. On the sheet placing portion, a sheet to be conveyed is placed. The guide member is disposed on the sheet placing portion so as to move in a width direction vertical to a sheet conveyance direction, and restricts, in the width direction, a position of the sheet on the sheet placing portion. The signal obtaining portion obtains an electric signal with a value corresponding to a position of the guide member. The notification portion, when a difference between the value and any of thresholds that are set in advance based on each sheet size in the width direction for determination of the size of the sheet, is equal to or smaller than a predetermined reference value, notifies that the sheet is separated from the guide member.

The present disclosure relates to a sheet conveyance device, an image processing apparatus, and a sheet conveyance method.
In an image processing apparatus such as a scanner, the size of a document sheet may be determined before an image is read from the document sheet. For example, there is known an image processing apparatus that, in a configuration where a sheet conveyance device such as an auto document feeder (ADF) conveys a sheet placed on a sheet placing portion to a reading position, can determine the size of the document sheet placed on the sheet placing portion.
The sheet placing portion provided in this type of image processing apparatus may include a guide member that is provided so as to be movable in the width direction that is perpendicular to the document sheet conveyance direction and can restrict the position, in the width direction, of the document sheet placed on the sheet placing portion. In addition, it is possible to determine the size of the document sheet placed on the sheet placing portion by obtaining an electric signal with a value that corresponds to the position of the guide member.

Sheet conveyance device, image processing apparatus, sheet conveyance method


A soft programming pre-charge voltage provides boosting control during soft programming operations for non-volatile memory devices. A pre-charge voltage can be applied to the word lines of a block of memory cells to enable pre-charging of the channel region of a NAND string to be inhibited from soft programming. The level of boosting in the channel region of the inhibited NAND string is governed by the pre-charge voltage and the soft programming voltage. By controlling the pre-charge voltage, more reliable and consistent channel boosting can be achieved. In one embodiment, the pre-charge voltage is increased between applications of the soft programming voltage to reduce or eliminate a rise in the channel's boosted potential. In one embodiment, the soft programming pre-charge voltage level(s) is determined during testing that is performed as part of a manufacturing process.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to non-volatile memory technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices have become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), including flash EEPROM, and Electronically Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories.
One example of a flash memory system uses the NAND structure, which includes arranging multiple transistors in series between two select gates. The transistors in series and the select gates are referred to as a NAND string. FIG. 1 is a top view showing one NAND string 30. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit thereof. The NAND string depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes four transistors 10, 12, 14 and 16 in series between a first select gate 12 and a second select gate 22. Select gate 12 connects the NAND string to bit line 26. Select gate 22 connects the NAND string to source line 28. Select gate 12 is controlled by applying appropriate voltages to control gate 20CG via selection line SGD. Select gate 22 is controlled by applying the appropriate voltages to control gate 22CG via selection line SGS. Each of the transistors 10, 12, 14 and 16 includes a control gate and a floating gate, forming the gate elements of a memory cell. For example, transistor 10 includes control gate 10CG and floating gate 10FG. Transistor 12 includes control gate 12CG and a floating gate 12FG. Transistor 14 includes control gate 14CG and floating gate 14FG. Transistor 16 includes a control gate 16CG and a floating gate 16FG. Control gate 10CG is connected to word line WL3, control gate 12CG is connected to word line WL2, control gate 14CG is connected to word line WL1, and control gate 16CG is connected to word line WL0. Another type of memory cell useful in flash EEPROM systems utilizes a non-conductive dielectric material in place of a conductive floating gate to store charge in a non-volatile manner.
Note that although FIGS. 1 and 2 show four memory cells in the NAND string, the use of four transistors is only provided as an example. A NAND string can have less than four memory cells or more than four memory cells. For example, some NAND strings will include eight memory cells, 16 memory cells, 32 memory cells, etc. The discussion herein is not limited to any particular number of memory cells in a NAND string. Relevant examples of NAND-type flash memories and their operation are provided in the following U.S. patents/patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,315; U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,397; U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,935; U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,422; U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,528; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/893,277 (Publication No. US2003/0002348). Other types of non-volatile memory in addition to NAND flash memory can also be used in accordance with embodiments.
A typical architecture for a flash memory system using a NAND structure will include several NAND strings. For example, FIG. 3 shows three NAND strings 40, 42 and 44 of a memory array having many more NAND strings. Each of the NAND strings of FIG. 3 includes two select transistors or gates and four memory cells. For example, NAND string 40 includes select transistors 50 and 60, and memory cells 52, 54, 56 and 58. NAND string 42 includes select transistors 70 and 80, and memory cells 72, 74, 76 and 78. Each string is connected to the source line by a select gate 60, 80, etc. A selection line SGS is used to control the source side select gates. The various NAND strings are connected to respective bit lines by select gates 50, 70, etc., which are controlled by select line SGD. In other embodiments, the select lines do not necessarily need to be in common. Word line WL3 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 52 and memory cell 72. Word line WL2 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 54 and memory cell 74. Word line WL1 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 56 and memory cell 76. Word line WL0 is connected to the control gates for memory cell 58 and memory cell 78. As can be seen, a bit line and respective NAND string comprise a column of the array of memory cells. The word lines comprise the rows of the array. Each word line connects the control gates of each memory cell in the row. For example, word line WL2 is connected to the control gates for memory cells 54, 74 and 94. In many implementations, the word lines form the control gate of each memory cell in the row.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary array 100 of NAND strings, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-3. Along each column, a bit line 26 is coupled to a drain terminal of the bit line select gate for the NAND string. Along each row of NAND strings, a source line 28 may connect all the source terminals of the source line select gates of the NAND strings.
The array 100 of memory cells is divided into a large number of blocks of memory cells. As is common for flash EEPROM systems, the block is the unit of erase and may be referred to as an erase block or physical block. Each block can contain the minimum number of memory cells that are erased together, although multiple blocks may be erased simultaneously. Smaller units of cells may be erased together in some implementations. In FIG. 4, a block includes the cells connected to a common set of word lines WL0-WL3. For example, block 90 includes NAND strings 40 and 42 and each other string 30 connected to word lines WL0-WL3.
When programming an EEPROM or flash memory device, typically a program voltage is applied to the control gate and the bit line is grounded. Electrons from the channel are injected into the floating gate. When electrons accumulate in the floating gate, the floating gate becomes negatively charged and the threshold voltage of the memory cell is raised so that the memory cell is in a programmed state. The floating gate charge and threshold voltage of the cell can be indicative of a particular state corresponding to stored data (analog or digital). More information about programming can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/379,608, titled "Self Boosting Technique," filed on Mar. 5, 2003; and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/629,068, titled "Detecting Over Programmed Memory," filed on Jul. 29, 2003, both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In order to erase memory cells of a NAND type flash memory, electrons are transferred from the floating gate of each memory cell to the well region and substrate. Typically, one or more high voltage erase pulses are applied to the well region to attract electrons away from the floating gate of each memory cell to the well region. The word lines of each memory cell are grounded or supplied with 0V to create a high potential across the tunnel oxide region to attract the electrons. If each memory cell of a NAND string is not erased after application of an erase voltage pulse, the size of the pulse can be increased and reapplied to the NAND string until each memory cell is erased.
It is common for individual memory cells to erase at different rates and to different threshold voltage levels during erase operations. Slight variations in device dimensions, spacing and/or material compositions for instance, will influence the behavior of individual memory cells within a block or string of memory cells. Consequently, some memory cells will undergo a larger or smaller shift in threshold voltage when subjected to an erase voltage as compared to other memory cells. Moreover, groupings of memory cells such as a NAND string are often verified for an erased state or condition simultaneously. If any memory cell of the string is not erased as detected by a verify operation, the entire NAND string is enabled for erasing during application of an additional erase voltage pulse. This can result in faster erasing cells being placed into a deeper erased state than desired. The range or distribution of threshold voltages for a group of erased cells is increased by such factors.
A technique generally referred to as soft programming has been used to adjust the threshold voltages of one or more memory cells during erase operations. Soft programming can tighten or narrow the distribution of threshold voltages for a group of memory cells after being erased. Soft programming typically attempts to shift the threshold voltage of one or more memory cells closer to the verify level used during erasing. Soft programming includes applying a relatively low program voltage—lower than that used for actual programming—to one or more memory cells. Typically a program voltage is applied as a series of pulses that are increased between each application. Like erase operations, soft programming is often carried out at the block level by applying the soft programming voltage pulses to every word line of a block of memory cells. For example, soft programming voltage pulses may be applied to word lines WL0, WL1, WL2, and WL3 of block 90 to soft program each cell of block 90. Individual NAND strings are verified for a soft programmed condition after application of one or more soft programming pulses. If a NAND string is determined to be soft programmed, it is necessary to inhibit it from soft programming during subsequent applications of the soft programming voltage to continue soft programming other NAND strings sharing the common set of word lines. For example, it may be necessary to inhibit memory cells 72, 74, 76, and 78 of NAND string 42 from being soft programmed, while continuing to apply soft programming pulses to soft program memory cells 52, 54, 56, and 58 of NAND string 40.
Traditionally, soft programming is inhibited in a particular NAND string by raising the bit line voltage for the string. After raising the bit line voltage, the NAND string is electrically disconnected from the bit line by turning off the drain select gate. Because the NAND string is electrically disconnected from the bit line, the soft programming voltage applied to the word lines will cause the channel region of the inhibited NAND string to be boosted to a positive voltage level due to capacitive charge coupling. The positive voltage level of the NAND string eliminates the large voltage potential necessary to inject electrons into the floating gate regions of the memory cells, and thus, inhibits soft programming.
If the boosting is not sufficient in a NAND string to be inhibited from soft programming, the memory cells of the string may inadvertently be soft programmed. For example, when applying the soft programming voltage to word lines WL0, WL1, WL2, and WL3 to soft program NAND string 40 while inhibiting NAND string 42, one of the memory cells 72, 74, 76, or 80 of NAND string 42 may inadvertently be soft programmed. This type of inadvertent soft programming is often referred to as soft programming disturb.

Systems for controlled boosting in non-volatile memory soft programming


Heterocyclic organoaluminum and organoboron coordination complexes that are photoluminescent and electroluminescent, emitting intense blue light. Methods of synthesizing such compounds, methods of producing photoluminescence and electroluminescence, methods of applying the compounds in thin films, and uses of the compounds of the invention in luminescent probes, electroluminescent displays and the like.

The invention relates to compounds having luminescent properties, and to methods of synthesizing and using such compounds. The invention more particularly relates to compounds having photoluminescent and/or electroluminescent properties, and to synthesis and uses of same.
A variety of luminescent compounds are known in the art. Green and red luminescent compounds are not uncommon, but blue luminescent metal ions and molecules are rare and generally expensive.
Two types of blue luminescent inorganic coordination compounds are known in which a heterocyclic chromophore includes a metal center coordinated by nitrogen and oxygen atoms of organic ligands. One type is based on 8-hydroxyquinoline and derivatives thereof, and the other is based on azomethine and derivatives thereof. Both the 8-hydroxyquinoline- and azomethine-based systems usually require several steps of synthesis and modification in order to achieve blue luminescence. The usefulness of these two systems in practical electroluminescence applications is limited, and blue luminescent materials with improved properties are desirable.
Production of devices based on electroluminescent display, and in particular on flat panel display, is a rapidly growing, billion dollar industry. Blue luminescent materials, as one of the key color components for electroluminescence display devices, are among the most sought-after materials by industry around the world.
It is an object of the present invention to provide blue luminescent compounds with improved properties. Another object of the invention is to provide improved luminescent products including such a compound. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ccompoundxe2x80x9d includes coordination complexes, sometimes referred to simply as xe2x80x9ccomplexesxe2x80x9d. The term xe2x80x9caliphaticxe2x80x9d includes alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl, and straight and branched chain.
The invention provides compounds having the following formulas:
(i) [AlR2(azain)]n,
(ii) [AlR2(dpa)]n,
(iii) [Al4R6O2(dpa)2],
(iv) Al(PFPA)3, and
(v) derivatives of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv),
where R is aliphatic, aryl or alkoxyl, azain is deprotonated 7-azaindole, dpa is deprotonated di-2-pyridyl amine, and PFPA is deprotonated pentafluorophenyl-2-pyridylamine. The compounds are photoluminescent and, in at least some embodiments of the invention, they are electroluminescent; they produce intense blue light.
The invention also provides compounds having the following formulas:
(i) Al2R2(azain)4,
(ii) Al2(R)(azain)2(ORxe2x80x2)3,
(iii) Al3(R)(azain)4(ORxe2x80x2)2(O),
(iv) Al3R3(azain)4(O), and
(v) derivatives of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
where R and Rxe2x80x2 are aliphatic, aryl or alkoxyl groups, azain is deprotonated 7-azaindole, and dpa is deprotonated di-2-pyridyl amine. The compounds are photoluminescent and, in at least some embodiments of the invention, they are electroluminescent; they produce intense blue light.
The invention further provides corresponding compounds wherein aluminum is replaced by boron. Such corresponding compounds include compounds having the following formulas:
(i) B(dpa)X2,
(ii) [BR2(azain)]n
(iii) B2R2(azain)2(O),
(iv) BR3(azainH), and
(v) derivatives of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv),
where azain is deprotonated 7-azaindole, dpa is deprotonated di-2-pyridyl amine, X is halide or alkoxyl, and R is aliphatic, aryl or alkoxyl.
Such corresponding compounds also include compounds having the following formulas:
(i) [BR(dpa)2]n
(ii) [BR2(dpa)]n, and
(iii) derivatives of (i) and (ii)
where dpa is deprotonated di-2-pyridyl amine, and R and Rxe2x80x2 are aliphatic, aryl or alkoxy groups.
The boron compounds of the invention are photoluminescent and, in at least some embodiments of the invention, they are electroluminescent; they produce intense blue light.
The term xe2x80x9cderivativesxe2x80x9d includes compounds where derivatives of 7-azaindole (e.g., phenyl-7-azaindole, methyl-7-azaindole, disubstituted compounds, and the like) and derivatives of di-2-pyridyl amine are subsituents of the compounds, as discussed below. In certain embodiments of the invention, these may provide advantageous physical or chemical properties.
The invention provides a method of synthesizing a compound of the invention including the step:
n AlR3+n dpa (or azainH)xe2x86x92[AlR2(dpa)]nor [AlR2(azain)]n+n RH,
where (n=1 or 2).
The invention further provides a method of synthesizing a compound of the invention including the step:
2n AlR3+n H2O+n dpa(or azainH)xe2x86x92[Al2R3(O)(dpa)]n or [Al2R3(O)(azain)]n+3n RH, and
AlR3+3PFPA-Hxe2x86x92Al(PFPA)3+3RH.
The invention also provides a method of synthesizing a compound of the invention including a step selected from the following group:
2 AlR3+4 azainHxe2x86x92Al2R2(azain)4+4RH,
2 AlR3+2 azainH+3Rxe2x80x2OHxe2x86x92Al2(R)(azain)2(ORxe2x80x2)3+5 RH,
3 AlR3+4 azainH+H2O+2 Rxe2x80x2OHxe2x86x92Al3(R)(azain)4(ORxe2x80x2)2(O)+8 RH, and
3AlR3 +4 azainH+H2Oxe2x86x92Al3(R)3(azain)4(O)+6RH,
where R and Rxe2x80x2 are aliphatic, aryl or alkoxy groups.
The invention further provides a method of synthesizing a compound of the invention including a step selected from the following group:
n BR3+n azainHxe2x86x92[BR2(azain)]n+n RH (n=1, 2),
2 BR3+2 azainH+H2Oxe2x86x92B2R2(azain)2(O)+4 RH, and
BR3+azainHxe2x86x92BR3(azainH)
where R and Rxe2x80x2 are aliphatic, aryl or alkoxy groups.
The invention also provides a method of synthesizing a compound of the invention including a step selected from the following group:
n BR3+2n dpaxe2x86x92[BR(dpa)2]n+2n RH and
n BR3+n dpaxe2x86x92[BR2(dpa)]n+n RH,
where R and Rxe2x80x2 are aliphatic, aryl or alkoxy groups.
The invention provides a method of producing photoluminescence comprising the steps of: providing a photoluminescent compound of the invention having a formula as set out above (or a derivative thereof); and irradiating said photoluminescent compound with radiation of a wavelength suitable for exciting the compound to photoluminesce.
The invention provides a method of producing electroluminescence comprising the steps of: providing an electroluminescent compound of the invention having a formula as set out above (or a derivative thereof); and applying a voltage across said electroluminescent compound.
The invention further provides use of a compound of the invention as a component of a photoluminescent product or an electroluminescent product. For example, a luminescent compound could be used as a luminescent probe, or as a thin film in an electroluminescent display, such as a flat panel display device.
The invention still further provides an electroluminescent device for use with an applied voltage, comprising: a first electrode, an emitter (i.e., phosphor) which is an electroluminescent compound of the invention, and a second, transparent electrode, wherein a voltage is applied between the two electrodes to produce an electric field across the emitter. The emitter consequently electroluminesces. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes one or more dielectric layers interposed between the emitter and one or more of the electrodes. For example, spacing of a preferred embodiment of the device is: first electrode, first dielectric layer, emitter, second dielectric layer, and second, transparent electrode.
In addition, the invention provides methods of applying compounds of the invention to a surface. These include chemical vapor deposition, spin coating and dip coating. The compounds may be applied alone or with a carrier. In some embodiments of the invention, they are applied in a composition including an organic polymer. Such compositions are also encompassed by the invention.

Luminescent compounds and methods of making and using same


A mount having a post and a push nut. The post includes a longitudinal axis. The push nut is connected to the post. The push nut includes an opening for receiving the post along the longitudinal axis and at least one locking wedge rotatably connected to the push nut and extending into the opening. The at least one locking wedge allows the push nut to slide along the longitudinal axis of the post in a first direction and prevents the push nut from sliding along the longitudinal axis of the post in a second direction opposite the first direction.

It is desirable to route one or more elongate objects, such as cables or hoses, along a support member, such as a frame rail for a truck. The elongate objects are formed into a bundle using a fastener, such as a cable tie or a hose clamp. The fastener is secured to a mount, which in turn, is secured to the support member. For example, one or more cables are formed into a bundle using a cable tie, and the cable tie is secured to a cable tie mount, which in turn, is secured to the frame rail. Existing mounts include, for example, plastic-dipped metal "L" brackets fastened to the frame rail with Huck bolts. While providing a point of attachment, as well as support for the cable tie, and therefore, the bundle of cables, existing cable tie mounts are both difficult and time consuming to install. Additionally, existing cable tie mounts are limited to a specific application.
Therefore, there is a need for a mount that is easy to install. Additionally, there is a need for a mount that is versatile, and thus, easily adapted to a variety of applications.


A self-correcting inductive fuze setter is used to detect and correct any errors that might occur during transmission and reception of a velocity corrected time data word so that a projectile will be detonated at the proper time. The self-correcting inductive fuze setter uses an error detection/correction algorithm to create an encoded data word from the velocity corrected time data word. Next, the encoded data word is used to digitally modulate a carrier signal, which is then transmitted from the muzzle of the weapon to the projectile. The received carrier signal is then demodulated by a demodulator/filter and decoded by a decoder located on the projectile producing the original velocity corrected time data word. In addition, the self-correcting inductive fuze setter will measure the error in both the high-speed fuze oscillator and the low-speed fuze oscillator located on the projectile and adjust the transmitted data word to account for these errors. Lastly, enhanced noise interference rejection is obtained by encasing the muzzle extension in a magnetic metal.

The present invention relates to a new and improved means and method for accurately transferring fuze timing data from a muzzle extension to a fast moving projectile which contains a programmable projectile fuze. The programmable projectile fuze comprises a fuze and a programmable counter, which is set to trigger the fuze, thereby exploding the projectile at the appropriate time. There is also provided an apparatus attached to the muzzle extension for measuring the muzzle velocity of the projectile in order to set or adjust the counter for triggering the fuze as a function of the muzzle velocity. A transmitter coil secured to the muzzle of the weapon inductively sets the counter.
In order to be able to set the programmable fuze with the requisite accuracy, 20 bits must be transmitted from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil. Assuming a projectile velocity of 900 fps or 0.0108 in/microseconds, there is a very short amount of time to transmit the muzzle velocity from the transmitter mounted in the muzzle of the weapon to the receiver on the projectile. Therefore, high frequencies are used to transmit the data.
In the prior art, two methods have generally been used to convey fuze set time. Previous inductive fuze transfer methods have used an analog voltage to convey fuze set time or a series of comma free base band pulses. Using an analog voltage has not been accurate enough or robust enough for most real applications. Similarly, transmitting comma free base band pulses requires a relatively large minimum inductance to insure that the data pulse is transferred. Furthermore, a substantial dead time between bits is needed to ensure that inductive storage from a previous bit dies down sufficiently before the next bit starts. Therefore, no previously known prior art involving inductive fuze transfer provides for carrier modulated pulses, error detection/correction and/or automatic projectile timing oscillator correction like the present invention does.


A method of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a mined material comprises forming a colloidal dispersion comprising solid particles and a carrier fluid. The colloidal dispersion is mixed with a mined, hydrocarbon-containing material to form an emulsion stabilized by the solid particles. At least one property of the emulsion is modified to destabilize the emulsion. Additional methods of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a mined material, and a stabilized emulsion are also described.

Naturally occurring bitumen-containing materials such as tar sands, oil sands, bituminous sands, black shales, coal formations, and weathered hydrocarbon formations contained in sandstones and carbonates have become an attractive source of hydrocarbon recovery. Bitumen is a heavy type of crude oil that can be processed (e.g., cracked) to yield lighter hydrocarbons and other commercially useful products. Naturally occurring bitumen-containing materials typically include bitumen, water, and various mineral solids (e.g., organic solids such as coal, and/or inorganic solids such as sand, rock, silt, and clay). Accordingly, an initial step in obtaining lighter hydrocarbons and other commercially useful products from bitumen includes removing (e.g., extracting, separating, etc.) the bitumen from a naturally occurring bitumen-containing material.
An example of a conventional process for obtaining bitumen from a bitumen-containing material includes mining the bitumen-containing material, mixing the mined material with hot water and caustic to produce a slurry, screening the slurry to remove larger solid materials, diluting the screened slurry with additional hot water, and temporarily retaining the diluted slurry in a primary separation vessel ("PSV"). In the PSV, bitumen globules contact and coat air bubbles that are introduced into and/or are already entrained within the diluted slurry. The buoyant bitumen-bubble aggregates rise through the diluted slurry, along with some mineral-bubble aggregates, and form a primary bitumen froth in a top section of the PSV. Middlings comprising water and neutrally buoyant bitumen-mineral-bubble aggregates collect in a middle section of the PSV. Mineral solids not suspended within the primary bitumen froth or the middlings settle in a bottom section of the PSV. The middlings are withdrawn and treated in a series of sub-aerated, impeller-agitated floatation cells to produce a secondary bitumen froth. The primary and secondary bitumen froths are treated with solvents (e.g., naptha) and subjected to additional separation processes (e.g., centrifuging) to remove the bitumen from remaining water and mineral solids. The removed bitumen is then subjected to additional refining to produce lighter hydrocarbons and other commercially useful products. Tailings including the water and mineral solids separated during the extraction process, together with some bitumen, are sent to at least one tailings pond for long-term storage and treatment.
Unfortunately, conventional processes for obtaining bitumen from a bitumen-containing material can suffer from a variety of problems. For example, conventional processes may result in a high concentration of suspended mineral solid particles in the primary bitumen froth, middlings, and secondary bitumen froth, which can require complex, inefficient, and cost-prohibitive methods and systems to be substantially removed. In addition, the tailings produced by conventional methods may include significant amounts of bitumen, representing lost bitumen yield. Furthermore, the tailings may exhibit a sludge-like consistency that can essentially last indefinitely, and may also include hazardous materials (e.g., extraction solvents), necessitating the use of specialized and costly tailings ponds for long-term storage and treatment.
Thus, there remains a need for new, simple, and cost-efficient methods of obtaining bitumen from bitumen-containing materials that overcome one or more of the above problems.

Methods of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a mined material, and related stabilized emulsions


This disclosure is directed, inter alia, a method of making a dispensing device for dispensing a substance comprising a step of providing a mold having a mold space for receiving a solidifyable material. The method further comprises steps of providing a valve member having a first portion formed between first and second areas of an outer surface of the valve member; placing the valve member into the mold space such that at the first area is isolated from the mold space and at least part of the second area is within the mold space; displacing the first portion at least partially relative to another portion of the valve member; and solidifying the material in the mold space and thereby fixing the displaced first portion in place. In one embodiment, the method helps minimizing manufacturing costs and maximizing shelf life of a device filled with substance.

Dental substances are often provided in dispensing devices which allow for storing of the substances over a time, but also enable the substances to be dispensed directly from such devices. Such dispensing devices are often designed for single use and thus typically disposed after. Therefore there are devices which are entirely pouched for storing of the dental substances. Such devices are typically only removed from the pouch directly before use. Other devices are designed for multiuse, and accordingly may contain a sufficient amount of substance for two or more uses. Some of such multiuse devices have an openable closure which enables to reclose the device between two uses.
For example WO 2010/123800 discloses a dispensing device for a dental substance which has an outlet for the dental substance, and a valve for opening and closing the outlet. The device is switchable between a storage mode and an operative mode. In the storage mode a cannula is locked in the device and the valve opens the outlet, and in the storage mode the cannula can be released from the device and the valve closes the outlet.
Although there is a variety of dispensing devices for dental substances there is still a desire for a device which is reusable, but which also provides a maximized shelf life for the substance contained therein after initial use. Further such a device is desirably inexpensive and easy to use.

Dispensing device for a dental substance and method of making such a device


A method of providing a simulated bull ride includes guiding a rider to sit on an artificial bull in a bull chute, translating the artificial bull out of the chute along a slidably-coupled track and pivoting the artificial bull about a plurality of pivot points on an internal frame to simulate a bucking bull.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ride simulation systems and more particularly to artificial animal riding systems that translate a rider along a track.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mechanical bulls have been part of American culture for decades, providing a patron of an amusement park, themed bar, or other entertainment venue with an opportunity to experience the thrill of riding a rodeo bull. Typically stationed in a fixed location, a user of a typical mechanical bull mounts a platform having a handle to hold on with, but lacking realistic movement and anatomically correct bull features such as anatomically correct head, neck, front and rear legs. After a moment's preparation, the rider of a traditional mechanical bull will hang on tightly as the riding platform spins and pitches.
Various attempts have been made to impart a greater sense of realism to such rides but have failed due, in part, to the many disciplines necessarily involved to accomplish a realistic simulation for this rare experience. For example, a display showing a virtual space may be added by hardware and software engineers in front of riding systems to provide further virtual realism. Other solutions may make use of artists to provide a portion of the riding animal within the line of sight of a user in combination with the above-mentioned display in an attempt to display the surrounding environment to impart a greater sense of realism. The ride platforms, themselves, do not replicate an authentic bull-riding experience.
Because the level of skill in the art necessary to create a bull ride, for example, is quite complex, with the number of variables available to implement such an emotional experience actually quite large, a need continues to exists to provide a realistic riding system for the enjoyment of enthusiast consumers.


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to protecting the privacy of a user of a dispatching service for driverless vehicles. For example, a request for a vehicle identifying user information is received. A client computing device may be identified based on the user information. In response to the request, a driverless vehicle may be dispatched to the location of the client device. Signaling information may be generated based on a set of rules including a first rule that the signaling information does not identify, indirectly or directly, the user as well as a second rule that the signaling information does not identify, indirectly or directly, the user information. The location of the client computing device and the signaling information may be sent to the driverless vehicle for display. In addition, the signaling information may also be sent to the client computing device for display.

Autonomous vehicles, such as vehicles which do not require a human driver, can be used to aid in the transport of passengers or items from one location to another. With a typical taxi or car service, a human driver can interact with a passenger to identify himself to that passenger. However, when an autonomous vehicle attempts to pick up a passenger or drop off a delivery, it can be difficult for the user being picked up or retrieving the item to know which autonomous vehicle is assigned to them. This can be exacerbated if there are numerous vehicles being sent to the same location to pick up multiple passengers or items. A passenger may not know how to confirm which vehicle belongs to, or was dispatched to, him or her. As an example, this can also lead to passengers interacting with vehicles which were not assigned to them.

Unique signaling for vehicles to preserve user privacy


A method for processing a computer software process including a task file is provided. The method includes designating a group of available processing resources to execute the task file that includes task groups with each task group including a plurality of tasks. The method also includes scheduling the task groups in the task file for execution with a plurality of remaining processing resources, each running a client controller component code. Further included is obtaining access to a set of free remaining processing resources of the plurality of remaining processing resources, each having a set of criteria matching a set of requirements of each task in a particular task group. The method also includes executing tasks in the particular task group when access to all the free remaining resources in the set of the free remaining processing resources have been granted. Also included is generating an execution result report.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to software processing, and more particularly, to methods and systems for intelligently and automatically selecting and utilizing networked computer resources to collectively execute process-flow-based computing operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In today's fast paced computing world, more and more businesses use the World Wide Web (Web) to provide web services to consumers all over the world. In a simple scenario, a web service provider advertises the service provider's web services by registering the service provider's data with a web registry. In turn, a consumer of the web services (i.e., a client), communicates with the web registry, requesting the web registry to provide the client with information about a service provider satisfying a specific criteria transmitted by the client. The web registry then processes the request so as to locate the service provider that satisfies the particular criteria requested by the client. The registry then provides the client with the Uniform Resource Locater (URL) of the located service provider. Thereafter, if the client finds web services provided by the service provider satisfaction, the client communicates with the selected service provider. This simple scenario, however, rarely occurs.
In reality, web services are offered over the web by multiple service providers registered with several web registries for use by numerous clients. To make matters more complicated, each service provider may be implemented using different technologies (e.g., a net compatible server), each web registry may be implemented using different types of web registry documents (e.g., web service description language (WSDL), and each client can be based on different types of technologies (e.g., Java™ application based client). Further complicating the problems is that each of the service providers, web registries, and clients, may be implemented on different platforms. Accordingly, interactions between each combination of web registry, service provider, and client are rather complex as it may involve communications being based on different technologies and operating systems.
Additionally, communication between the web registries, service providers, and clients are synchronized. For instance, a service provider must ensure that the registry is up and running prior to service provider publishing the service provider's services on the web registry. In a like manner, a client must ensure that the registry is up and running prior to communicating a request for a web service. A client must further be sure that the service provider is running prior to communicating a request to the service provider. Thus far, however, such synchronization requirements have not been addressed, causing premature termination of communications between service providers, registries, and clients. In such scenarios, interactions must be restarted and the web services be re-dispatched. Additionally, the failed service provider, registry, or client must be restarted manually, requiring human intervention.
As the web services are being widespreadly used, to avoid such scenarios, the interactions between different service providers, registries, and clients are tested. Particularly, each combination of interaction between the web registries, service providers, and clients are tested to ensure the reliability of the web services as well as the web registries, service providers, and clients. This is important, as different service providers, registries, and clients can be implemented on diverse platforms using different technologies. Additionally, properly testing the interactions between the web registries, service providers, and clients must further ensure synchronization problems associated with the prior art.
Thus far, interactions between the web registries, service providers, and clients are typically performed by stand-alone computers or a network of computer resources. When using a stand-alone computer system, separate stand-alone computers are manually programmed to run tests selected by a user. Comparatively, if a network of computer resources is used, the user allocates a number of computer resources to test a particular interaction. Predominantly, the user manually selects a group of selected computer resources or adds and deletes computer resources to the network, programs the master computer system and the server, initiates the running of the user-selected test, and runs the test on the group of dedicated computer systems coupled to the server.
In either scenario, a heavy user interface is required to test the interactions, schedule the running of specific tests on the system resources, add and delete the system resources, keep track of the system resources and their respective hardware and software configurations, and maintain the system resources. Additionally, in either case, interactions are tested by dedicated system resources, designed to solely be used for testing the interactions between the registries, service providers, and clients.
By way of example, to test interactions scheduled to be performed synchronously, a test developer is required to manually initiate the testing process on a plurality of system resources following a particular menu. The menu provides the user the order in which specific tests are required to be run (e.g., synchronously, in parallel, or sequentially). Thus, testing a certain interaction requires the presence of a test developer at all times so that different tests can be initiated in accordance to the schedule set in the menu.
Furthermore, if an exception occurs during testing of an interaction between the registries, service providers, and clients, the testing process is halted. For instance, if an exception is occurred during testing an interaction between the registry and the client, the interaction is terminated, requiring that the client and the registry to be restarted. If restarting of the client and the web registry does not resolve the exception, the test developer on duty must communicate with the software programmer in charge of developing the test source code so as to resolve the exception.
Additionally, currently, if a system resource crashes or a response has not been received from a system resource during testing a particular interaction, testing the particular interaction continues indefinitely. In certain situations, to avoid such problems, testing the interaction is interrupted manually by the test developer present.
One significant limitation of the current state of testing the web services and interactions between the registries, service providers, and clients is the extent of human intervention and significant role of humans. Requiring the presence of test developers to manually initiate, schedule, and interrupt the testing is very costly, is a of waste of resources, not to mention, very time consuming. At times, human error further exacerbates this limitation. Another limitation involves wasting of computer resources, as the computer resources are solely dedicated to testing the web services and the interactions between the web registries, service providers, and clients.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a flexible methodology and system capable of selecting and utilizing dynamic, cross-platform computer resources to process multiple process-flow-based computer software processes using diverse technologies and platforms with minimal human intervention.


A method and system of data backup for a computer system is disclosed. Full and incremental backups of data stored to a first storage device coupled to the computer system are stored to a backup storage device coupled to the computer system. The backup storage device may be remotely located and coupled via a network. Data representative of the relationship of each incremental backup to its respective parent backup is stored in a dependency data structure, preferably a tree-like structure. Different types of incremental backups may be performed to provide different data granularity. When two or more storage media are used in a rotational manner, each medium always contains a complete backup. The backup storage device is automatically managed by paring at least one of a full and incremental backup at the backup storage device automatically in accordance with a plan. The plan is preferably configured to manage an amount of available storage space at the backup storage device. When restoring data from a backup, data to be restored that is stored in a parent backup is automatically located and restored. Stored backups may be encrypted and decrypted when restored.

An integral part of modern data processing systems is data storage by means of data storage devices and storage media. Such devices and media particularly include devices with high-capacity random read-write capabilities such as hard disk drives and their disks. Hard disks can fail at any time, and indeed all will fail eventually as their components wear out. Power surges and other environmental factors can destroy storage devices. Moreover, users can destroy data: they can accidentally delete important files or knock servers over, destroying the hardware within. Sometimes, the data is recoverable. Often, some, most, or all of the damage is irreparable.
Preventative measures such as better power regulation or improved hardware product quality can reduce the risk of catastrophic failures. But such measures cannot eliminate the risk of data loss.
It is a well known technique to further lessen the risk of loss of data by adopting a redundancy policy, periodically backing up data stored on a primary data storage device to another storage device for safe-keeping. If the data is regularly copied to another storage device, a recent copy can be restored in the event that the data is lost from the primary storage device.
Modern systems, especially those that contain the data of many users, almost always have backup systems. But these systems can often be tedious: they can be slow and complex, requiring significant user intervention. The backed up data is sometimes less than complete. Often, as a result, users fail to diligently backup the data storage devices.
Determining which files to restore from a collection of backup data can be particularly difficult as well. The backup files of a single user may be spread over many backup media necessitating the location and loading of each media and the restoration of the desired files.
To further support data recovery in the event that the data processing system from which the data is backed up or the facility housing the data processing system becomes unusable, backed up data stored to removable or otherwise transportable media is often stored off-site, preferably in a secure remote facility. Transporting and storing the media off-site and logging the media to support later identification adds significant time and effort to a backup procedure. While such measures add robustness to backup operations, there is a cost disincentive to performing a proper and complete procedure.
What is therefore desired is a solution that addresses some or all of the above noted deficiencies.

International Business Machines Corporation


A camera platform for installing a camera in the inside of an automobile is designed in such a manner that even when a camera is rotated to capture rearward images, the camera does not interfere with a room mirror. Since the shaft of a rotation portion is divided into a rotation shaft and a ball shaft, an arm part of the camera platform is rotated without the necessity of rotating the camera main body in the vicinity of the room mirror, so that it becomes possible to carry out rearward image capturing operations. Moreover, since the rotation shaft of the arm part is designed to be offset from the camera attaching center line by 20 mm, it becomes possible to prevent a cable extending from above the camera from contacting with an arm attachment part of a mount, even when the camera is rotated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera platform for attaching a camera to a vehicle and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera platform includes a mount base on which a camera platform is attached, which is located at an upper end of a tripod or the like, and a rotatable shaft to which a camera is rotatably attached (for example, see JP10-288811 B).
FIG. 5 is a sectional view that shows a configuration of a conventional camera platform. A ball shaft 21 is attached to a lower end of a camera base 20 on which a camera is mounted. This ball shaft 21 and a mount base 22 to which a tripod or the like is attached are placed in association with each other, and the ball shaft 21 and the mount base 22 are sandwiched by a cylindrical case main body 23 that can be divided into two portions, so that the divided portions of the case main body 23 are tightened and secured with each other in the horizontal direction by a tightening mechanism 24. Although the ball shaft 21 is sandwiched in the case main body 23, the spherical portion thereof is allowed to slide so that the camera base 20 attached to the ball shaft 21 can be rotated at a predetermined angle.
In the case where a camera is attached to an automobile by using a conventional camera platform, as shown in FIG. 6, the camera platform shown in FIG. 5 is held upside down, and a video camera 25 is attached to the camera base 20, with a platform securing member 26 having a plate shape being attached to the mount base 22, so that the rear end of the platform securing member 26 is attached to a ceiling portion, a room mirror or the like.
In the aforementioned conventional configuration, however, when the video camera 25 is rotated centered on the center axis of the mount base 22 or the ball shaft 21, an obstacle such as a room mirror is sometimes located on the rotation orbit of the video camera 25, with the result that it is difficult to carry out an operation such as directing the video camera 25 facing the front side to face the rear side by rotating it by 180 degrees. In such a case, a video camera that has such a small size that it does not come into contact with the obstacle even upon rotation needs to be used, or the video camera 25 can not be directed to face the rear side unless the obstacle is shifted.
Moreover, in the case where a video camera of a type that a cable (not shown) is extended from above the case main body 23 of the video camera 25 is attached, a problem arises in which upon rotation of the video camera 25, the cable comes into contact with the platform securing member 26.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to compositions and methods for using a minibody. Minibodies described herein comprise a secretion signal, a variable heavy chain fragment, a variable light chain fragment, a constant chain fragment, and a hinge domain between the variable light chain fragment and the constant chain fragment. One aspect includes a nucleic acid encoding a minibody. Other aspects include compositions comprising a minibody and a modified T cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a minibody. Also included are methods and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the modified T cells for adoptive therapy and treating a condition, such as cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies are used as therapeutics for the treatment of several major diseases, including autoimmune, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, cancer and inflammation. Clinical trials and research using antibodies have generated a wealth of useful information regarding clinical responses. While antibodies are highly specific and have the ability to bind a wide variety of molecules, some functional limitations of therapeutic antibodies have come to light, such as inadequate pharmacokinetics, failure to engage the cellular immune system, lack of retention or tissue penetration in target tissues, and off-site tissue toxicity.
Therefore a need exists for developing a tissue specific and optimized antibody therapeutic.

Cell secreted minibodies and uses thereof

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania