A method, system, and apparatus for configuring a signal processing device for use with a display device having a display size is disclosed. The signal processing device is configured by determining the display size of the display device and configuring the signal processing device for use with the display device based on the determined display size.

Television systems are presently available having standard display devices (e.g., monitors) sized to display 4×3 aspect ratio video images (referred to hereinafter as "standard" images) and widescreen display devices sized to display video images that are wider then the standard 4×3 aspect ratio (referred to herein as "widescreen" images). Presently, both standard images and widescreen images are publicly available. For example, the television industry commonly broadcasts television signals having a standard aspect ratio and the motion picture industry commonly distributes motion pictures having an aspect ratio of 16×9 or greater.
A signal processing device processes the video images for display by the display devices. Frequently, the signal processing device and the display device are separate components. In this type of system, to optimally display video images on the video display, the signal processing device must receive the aspect ratio of the video display. Presently, an operator manually supplies the aspect ratio to the signal processing device during a conventional set-up routine. If the supplied aspect ratio is incorrect, the signal processing device will be unable to tailor the video image to the particular video display on which it will be displayed. Thus, image quality may be degraded.
Several different formats are available for displaying a video image on a display device having a different aspect ratio than the video image. These formats include a letter/pillar box format and a full/zoom format. In a letter/pillar box format, inactive areas (e.g., black bars) surround the active video image. When displaying a widescreen image on a standard display, the black bars are present above and below the widescreen image (i.e., letterbox format). When displaying a standard image on a widescreen display, black bars are present on the left and right of the standard image (i.e., pillar box format).
In a full format, the active video image is stretched to fill the entire display device. Stretching the active video image causes distortion, e.g., circles appear as ovals. In a zoom format the active video image is enlarged to fill the entire display device. The enlarged active video image is then cropped to fit the display device.
Depending on the display size of the display device, different formats are needed to optimally view a video image having a different aspect ratio than the display device. For example, the letter/pillar box may be optimal for larger display devices, e.g., a display device having a diagonal size of 32 inches, since these display devices can produce an active image that is viewable comfortably without distortion or loss of any portion of the active image. On the other hand, the full/zoom format may be optimal on smaller display devices, e.g., a display device having a diagonal size of 13 inches, since an active image produced in letter/pillar box format may be too small for comfortable viewing. Presently, the viewer is required to select the display format. This is burdensome to the viewer and may result in the selection of a non-optimal format.
Accordingly, methods, systems, and apparatus are needed to optimally configure a signal processing device for use with a display device. The present invention fulfils this need among others.

Method, system, and apparatus for configuring a signal processing device for use with a display device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A fan device includes a bottom shell, a cover, and an impeller. The cover includes a main body, a support, and a spoiler. The main body has a through opening. A connection position between the support and the main body has a first folding line. The support is bended along the first folding line to form a portion of the through opening. The support is perpendicular to the main body, and is abutted against the bottom shell. A connection position between the spoiler and the main body has a second folding line. The spoiler is bended along the second folding line to locate in the through opening. An acute angle is formed between the spoiler and the surface of the main body facing away from the bottom shell. The impeller is located in an accommodating space between the cover and the bottom shell.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a fan device.
Description of Related Art
A conventional fan device used in a laptop computer includes a housing and blades. The blades are disposed in the housing. When a motor drives the blades, heat can be dissipated from the interior of the laptop computer.
The size of the fan device is limited by the inner space of the laptop computer, so that the thickness of the housing is usually thin and influences the anti-pressure strength of the housing. For example, the housing includes a cover and a base. When the cover is pressed by an external force, the cover with insufficient strength can be interfered with the blades. In order to solve the interference between the cover and the blades, the manufactures of the fan device often adopt the following methods:
First of all, the thickness of the cover is increased. However, increasing the thickness of the cover increases the volume of the fan device, and thus the fan device cannot be installed in a limited space if required. Again, the thickness of the cover can be increased by decreasing the height of the blades. In this method, although the volume of the fan device is the same, the blowing rate (working area) of the fan device is reduced.
Secondly, an additional concave-convex structure is disposed on the cover. When the concave-convex structure is disposed on the cover, the concave-convex structure increases the air resistance of the fan device and decreases the blowing rate of the fan device, and thus the heat dissipation rate of the fan device is reduced.
Furthermore, a support pillar is disposed between the cover and the base. The support pillar between the cover and the base is formed on a metal base by plastic injection molding. The support pillar has a certain volume, and the airflow is likely to be blocked by the support pillar, thus decreasing the blowing rate of the fan device. As a result, the heat dissipation efficiency of the fan device is reduced.


A method for providing Web services can include the step of registering a Web service with a service provider. The Web service can be installed within a service environment. A request for the Web service can be sent by a service user to an application server disposed within an application environment. The network space of the application environment can be different from the network space of the service environment. The application server can access the requested Web service using a gateway, such as a Parlay gateway. Once the Web service is accessed by the application server, service data for the Web service can be transported between the application server and the service user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer science and, more particularly, to providing web services from an application server.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the Internet becomes increasingly pervasive in our daily lives, the use of software services, called Web services, within Internet-connected computing devices has increased in corresponding fashion. Web services, which are sometimes called application services, are services that are made available from a business's Web server for Web users or other Web-connected programs. Users can access web services directly from a central server or through a peer-to-peer arrangement. Some Web services can communicate with other services, thereby exchanging procedures and data with one another often with aid of a class of software known as middleware.
Web services used within a household can integrate the functions of communication devices such as a television, stereo system, telephony system, and computer in a user-friendly and user specific manner. It should be noted that Internet related services are not restricted to services that enhance browsing and file transfer using a computer, but can include any Web based service utilized by any device or service provider. For example, a Web service installed within a telecommunication switch can enable a variety of telephony features such as conversation transcription, language translation, voice messaging, voice Internet browsing, audible email retrieval, and the like. In another example, a Web service used in conjunction with Internet radio can permit a user's receiving device to time delay streamed radio content or to customize the stations, programs, and advertisements presented upon the receiving device in a user-specific manner.
One challenge that Web service providers currently have involves network security issues. Web servers can function across a multitude of open, trusted, and secure networks. The different users of a Web service can have vastly different security requirements. It can be highly inefficient to implement security requirements at the Web services level as such security can potentially limit the environments in which the Web services can be installed. Further, the development time and resulting cost can be significantly greater when security overhead is handled at the level of individual Web services.
One method used by service providers to bridge different networks involves the use of a gateway, such as a Parlay gateway. The Parlay gateway can be utilized by service providers as a "secure bridge" between untrusted networks, trusted networks, and secure networks. Conventional technologies, however, do not permit Web services to be provided in an open Internet environment when a Parlay gateway is involved.

Providing web services from a service environment with a gateway

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of and system for preventing viewing by bystanders of information displayed on a display screen displays simultaneously an active image and a second image. The display screen has a first viewing angle and a second viewing angle. The first image is visible from the first viewing angle and invisible from said second viewing angle. The obfuscating image is invisible from the first viewing and visible from the second viewing angle. The system simultaneously manipulates the first and obfuscating images in response to input by a user.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of displaying and manipulating of information on a computer display screen, and more particularly to a method of and system for preventing the viewing by bystanders of information displayed and manipulated on a computer display screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile or portable computing devices, such as laptop and notebook computers, have enabled people to do work on their computers away from their offices. People can do work in private places, such is their homes and hotel rooms. People can also do work in public places, such as coffee shops, libraries, airports, and on airplanes. People often display and/or create private, confidential, sensitive, or other non-public information on their mobile computers. In public places, bystanders may be able to view the information displayed on a portable computer.
Limited viewing angle display screens have been developed for portable computers. Such display screens make it difficult for a bystander to see what is displayed on the screen. However, the inability to see what is displayed makes some bystanders curious as to what is so secret. Those bystanders may be inclined to move or reposition themselves so that they can get a better view of the display screen.

Preventing viewing by bystanders of information on a display screen


Systems and methods described relate to a user to providing input to a computing device using eye tracking from a mobile position. A scene camera is mounted to the user so that the system collects image information related to where the user is looking. An indication is provided on a monitor of the computing device, or other field of view, to signify the presence and location of an identifying region of the monitor or field of view. An eye camera mounted to the user collects image information of the user's eye relating to a direction of gaze of the eye. When the direction of gaze of the user's tracked eye intersects the identifying region of the monitor or field of view, suitable eye tracking methods for controlling a computing device may be used to send instructions to the computing device.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to systems and methods of eye tracking that enable a user to provide input to a computing device from a mobile position.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Eye tracking involves the measurement of the location of a point that falls within a direction of a gaze of an eye, i.e., where an eye is looking. For a number of eye tracking systems, a camera is mounted in an arrangement where the lens of the camera captures information regarding the position of a pupil of an eye. Images captured by the camera are analyzed and calibrations are made so as to provide a correlation between the image of the pupil of the eye and the direction of a gaze. In this respect, once the eye tracking system is calibrated, particular images of the pupil as captured by the camera will map to points in space at a location spaced from the person's eye.
When capturing images of the pupil, some eye tracking systems record images in the visible spectrum of light. However, when visible light is used in recording images of the eye, the occurrence of specular reflection may reduce accuracy. Therefore, eye tracking systems more frequently implement infrared imaging when recording images of the pupil so as to create a sharper contrast in the image between the pupil and the sclera portions of the eye.
Eye tracking can be useful for a number of applications. For example, people who are physically limited and unable to control a computer through usual movement (e.g., typing or moving a mouse with the hands) can use eye tracking systems to control a computer. An eye tracking system may involve a camera that is mounted adjacent to a monitor of a computer where a lens of the camera is directed toward an eye of the user who is positioned at a distance from the monitor. The camera uses infrared light to capture images of a pupil of an eye of the user. The head of the user must remain in a fixed position for the camera to capture video information of the user's eye. The location of the pupil of the eye captured from the camera is calibrated to a point on a screen of the monitor of the computer. When the system determines that the direction of the gaze of the eye falls on a screen of the monitor of the computer, the user is able to provide input to the computer by using certain actions of the eye. A typical control action may include moving a pointer displayed on the screen of the monitor by moving the direction of gaze of the eye around the screen. Another control action may be to blink the eye a particular number of times to select a particular object displayed on the screen. Looking at an object on the screen of the monitor for a predetermined period of time may also signify to the computer that the object at which one is looking is selected or highlighted. However, if the user physically moves to a different non-calibrated position relative to the screen, images of the eye recorded by the eye camera might no longer correspond accurately to points on the screen where the user is looking. Some systems attempt to deal with this problem by tracking the position of the face along with the eye, and correcting for the new position. In such systems that incorporate facial tracking along with eye tracking, the device captures a broad image of the user (i.e., the face and the eye), and as a result, the accuracy of such devices suffers, since the resolution of the captured images of the eye is reduced when the image captures a broader scene. The accuracy decreases even more as the position of the user's head moves farther away from the calibrated position.
Conventional eye tracking systems that involve methods for a user to control a computing device through movement of the eye are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0315827 entitled "Generation Of Graphical Feedback In A Computer System"; U.S. Patent Publication No. 200800284980 entitled "Eye Tracker Having An Extended Span Of Operating Distances"; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0125849 entitled "Eye Tracker With Visual Feedback"; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0109242 entitled "User Interface For Impaired Users"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,000 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Tracking Eye Movement"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,572,008 entitled "Method and Installation for Detecting and Following an eye and the Gaze Direction Thereof"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,883 entitled "Gaze Tracking System and Method"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,932 entitled "Apparatus And Method For Visual Field Testing"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,828 entitled "Integrated Gaze/Manual Cursor Positioning System"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,971 entitled "Apparatus And Method For Eye Tracking Interface"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,069 entitled "Eye Movement Detector With Improved Calibration And Speed" all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.


The image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body; a first liquid application device which applies a first liquid containing an aggregating agent on the intermediate transfer body; a second liquid application device which applies a second liquid containing a solvent-insoluble material on the intermediate transfer body, the solvent-insoluble material being induced to form an aggregate by the aggregating agent to form an image on the intermediate transfer body; and a transfer device which transfers the image formed on the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium, wherein conditions of γt>γ2>γ1 and γg>γ2>γ1 are satisfied, where γt is a surface energy of the intermediate transfer body, γ1 is a surface energy of the first liquid, γ2 is a surface energy of the second liquid, and γg is a surface energy of the aggregate of the solvent-insoluble material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and image forming method, and more particularly, to an inkjet recording apparatus in which solvent removal and image transfer can be performed without causing image disturbance, by provisionally fixing a solvent-insoluble material, such as coloring material, on an intermediate transfer body prior to the solvent removal and image transfer.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet recording apparatus is provided with an inkjet head (which is hereinafter simply referred to as a "head") having an ink ejection part including nozzles manufactured by using a high-precision processing technique, still it is difficult to print images on a large number of sheets at high speed by means of a direct recording method known in the related art, under the ejection conditions that have become extremely. Therefore, an inkjet method of intermediate transfer type has been proposed in order to improve reliability.
In the inkjet method of intermediate transfer type, an image is formed on a recording medium by forming a print image on the intermediate transfer body and then transferring the print image to the recording medium. In order to prevent disturbance of the image on the recording medium, process from the forming step of the print image on the intermediate transfer body to the transferring step of the image to the recording medium is important. In view of these circumstances, there is the following related art, for example.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-040023 discloses that liquid composed of an oil-based solvent and colored charged particles dispersed therein is deposited on the intermediate transfer body connected to earth, whereupon ions having the same polarity as the colored charged particles are applied. Thereby, the colored charged particles receive electrostatic force and move toward the surface of the intermediate transfer body, thus becoming provisionally fixed. However, this essentially utilizes the electrophoresis, then no solvent can be used other than the oil-based solvent having high insulating properties.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-347747 discloses that a material which increases the viscosity when coming into contact with an ink liquid is deposited on the intermediate transfer body. The viscosity of the ink liquid is thereby adjusted so that the ink liquid sufficiently has both transferability from the intermediate transfer body to the recording medium and adhesiveness to the recording medium. This reference concentrates on the transfer conditions; however, it makes no mention of the provisional fixing of the coloring material contained in the ink liquid onto the intermediate transfer body, prior to the image transfer.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-266658 discloses that a recording medium is laminated from a fixing layer and a permeable layer, a sublimating ink is deposited onto the permeable layer to form an image, the recording medium is then heated to transfer the image formed on the permeable layer to the fixing layer, whereupon the film of the permeable layer is peeled and removed from the recording medium. The recording medium is not reusable since the film of the permeable layer used for carrying out the image transfer is ultimately removed. Moreover, since the recording medium must have the permeable layer, there is no versatility in terms of the recording medium.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-114675 discloses that a first material for improving the wetting properties is applied on the intermediate transfer body, a second material for reducing the fluidity of the ink is applied over the first material, then an image is formed on the intermediate transfer body by depositing the ink with an inkjet head, whereupon the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body to the recording medium. Here, the coloring material is not fixed on the intermediate transfer body even provisionally, and hence there is a possibility that the coloring material is displaced and the image disturbance occurs, when transferring the coloring material to the recording medium.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-191599 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus of intermediate transfer type constituted of an aggregate formation zone, an excess solvent removal zone, and an image transfer zone. In this inkjet recording apparatus, the coloring material is aggregated before removing the solvent, but not fixed on the intermediate transfer body even provisionally, and the image disturbance may occur when the solvent is removed.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


An information reproducing apparatus and a method using a semiconductor probe are provided. The information reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor probe including a semiconductor tip including a channel varying with an electric field generated by an information recording medium; a modulator applying a high frequency modulation signal to the semiconductor probe to form a modulation electric field so as to modulate an information signal induced by the electric field; a signal detector detecting a signal generated by the semiconductor probe; and a demodulator extracting the information signal modulated by the modulation electric field from the signal detected by the signal detector.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to reproducing information using a semiconductor probe, and more particularly, to a method for separating an information signal generated by a variation in an electric field of a medium from a noise signal generated by thermal instability and a device using the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Demand for highly integrated, nonvolatile miniature recording media has increased in response to the demands for compact products such as portable communication devices, electronic notebooks, or the like. It is not easy for existing hard discs to be made compact, and it is difficult to highly integrate flash memories. Thus, information storing apparatuses and methods using scanning probes have been studied.
Probes are used for several scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques. For example, probes are used in a scanning transmission microscope (STM), which reproduces information obtained by detecting a current with respect to differences in a voltage applied between a probe and a sample, an atomic force microscope (AFM) using an atomic force between a probe and a sample, a magnetic force microscope (MFM) using a magnetic force between a magnetic field of a sample and a magnetized probe, a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) improving a limit of resolution caused by a wavelength of visible rays, an electrostatic force microscope (EFM) using an electrostatic force between a sample and a probe, and the like,
Lim, Geunbae et al. have suggested an electric field effect probe detecting surface charges of a medium using an electric field (Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,921). The suggested electric field effect probe has an electric field effect transistor type semiconductor tip forming a carrier channel using an electric field effect. Here, an electric field applied to the semiconductor tip is formed by charges or dipole moments trapped on the surface of a medium. If charges trapped on a disc form an electric field having an intensity larger than or equal to a threshold electric field intensity in correspondence with recorded information, a channel is formed, and thus the resistance of the electric field effect probe becomes low. As a result, recorded information can be reproduced according to variations in resistance corresponding to the recorded information.
Park, Hong-sik et al. have suggested a resistive semiconductor probe having a semiconductor tip with a slightly doped channel area (Refer to U.S. Publication No. 2005/0231225A1). The semiconductor tip of the resistive semiconductor probe is slightly doped with a dopant so that a weak current flows when an electric field is not formed, and thus the resistive semiconductor probe can detect a weak electric field. In other words, in the suggested resistive semiconductor probe, the semiconductor tip has low mobility so that carriers move in a channel when an electric field is not formed. Thus, a high sensitivity can be achieved with respect to a weak electric field.
However, such a resistive semiconductor tip is sensitive to heat and thus has a resistance that greatly varies with variations in temperature. A variation in resistance caused by thermal instability is a disadvantage of the resistive semiconductor probe. In other words, an instable temperature variation of the resistive semiconductor probe causes an instable current variation, i.e., a noise current, in the resistive semiconductor tip. Such a noise current is generated by a variation in temperature and occurs regardless of an electric field. The instable temperature variation of the resistive semiconductor probe is caused by an instable variation in a gap or a contact area between a medium and the resistive semiconductor probe or a non-uniform, discontinuous discharge of heat generated by the semiconductor probe or a cantilever supporting the semiconductor probe.
The gap between the resistive semiconductor probe and the medium is required to be uniformly maintained to inhibit the instable variation in the temperature of the resistive semiconductor probe. To uniformly maintain the gap, a surface of the medium facing the resistive semiconductor probe is made very smooth. Although the degree of smoothness of the surface of the medium is maximized, sufficient, effective thermal stability cannot be secured due to the limit of the degree of smoothness. Although the gap between the medium and the resistive semiconductor probe varies within a range of several nm, a noise current is generated due to variations in temperature. Also, although the surface of the medium is smooth like a mirror, the degree of smoothness of the surface of the medium cannot be adjusted within the range of several nm. As another method, the gap between the resistive semiconductor probe and the medium may be made sufficiently large. However, since a resistive semiconductor probe having a high aspect ratio is difficult to manufacture, the possibility of the gap being large is low. Thus, a noise current may be generated by thermal instability in the resistive semiconductor probe suggested by Lim, Geunbae et al.
Accordingly, in order to effectively read information recorded by charges from a medium using a semiconductor probe in which a flow of current is controlled by an electric field effect, a method of effectively reproducing a signal by improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or the like in spite of a noise current generated by thermal instability of the semiconductor probe is required.

Method of reproducing information using semiconductor probe and device adopting the semiconductor probe


A method of soil improvement work drills the ground with a drilling head arranged at a lower end of a rotary shaft and sends the rotary shaft into the ground. The method mixes pressurized water with compressed air on the ground, to prepare a fluid mixture, feeds the fluid mixture through a feed path arranged along the rotary shaft into an ejector arranged on the drilling head, and ejects the fluid mixture from the ejector toward the ground to drill. An envelope defined by a front end of the drilling head has a conical shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drilling head attached to a leading end of a rotary shaft, capable of reducing drilling resistance and easily drilling the ground to put the rotary shaft into the ground. The present invention also relates to a method of and an apparatus for soil improvement work with the use of the drilling head.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of soil improvement work generally includes feeding a fluid from a fluid source on the ground to a leading end of a rotary shaft to be penetrated into the ground and ejecting the fluid from an ejection mouth toward the ground to be drilled, the ejection mouth being arranged on a mixing blade or a drilling head attached to the leading end of the rotary shaft.
Related arts are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2002-13131 and No. 2002-74049. According to the related arts, supply sources installed on the ground feed compressed air and a liquid through separate paths formed inside a rotary shaft to a leading end of the rotary shaft and eject the liquid with the compressed air from a mixing ejector arranged on a mixing blade toward drilled soil.
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for soil improvement work disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-13131. In FIG. 1, a rotary shaft 501 is penetrated into the ground. The rotary shaft 501 incorporates an air path 502 for passing compressed air and a liquid path 503 for passing a liquid material. The air path 502 has a top inlet 502a that is connected to piping 504a extending from an air source 504 for supplying compressed air. The liquid path 503 has a top inlet 503a that is connected to piping 505a extending from a liquid source 505 for supplying the liquid material.
The air path 502 has a bottom outlet 502b, and the liquid path 503 has a bottom outlet 503b. The outlets 502b and 503b are connected to a mixing ejector 507 arranged on a mixing blade 506 attached to a lower end of the rotary shaft 501. The mixing ejector 507 mixes the compressed air supplied through the air path 502 with the liquid material supplied through the liquid path 503 and ejects the mixture.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a drilling head according to a related art used for an apparatus for soil improvement work. This drilling head is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-133367. In FIG. 2, the drilling head 520 is attached to a leading end of a rotary shaft 501. The drilling head 520 has a convex shape with a downward apex being on an axis of rotation. Along each ridge slope of the drilling head 520, drill bits 522 are arranged.
FIG. 3 shows another example of a drilling head disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-37708. In FIG. 3, the drilling head 620 is attached to a leading end of a rotary shaft 501. The drilling head 620 has two spiral blades 621. Bottom edges of the spiral blades 621 are in the same virtual plane and each of the bottom edges is provided with drill bits 622 whose tips are substantially at the same level.

Drilling head, method of soil improvement work and apparatus thereof


Aspects of the invention relate to the engineering of biological nanostructures and materials.

Synthetic biology and nanotechnology are emerging fields that are revolutionizing the materials, energy, devices, and organisms used in all facets of life. Synthetic biology is an engineering discipline for programming biological systems to achieve new functionalities. Nanotechnology takes advantage of the emergent properties of materials as their characteristic dimensions approach the nanometer scale.
Many of the systems designed for interfacing biological and non-biological materials have used filamentous-phage-displayed peptides which bind to inorganic materials. These methods have found important applications, including ordering quantum dots, creating magnetic and semiconducting nanowires, and building electrodes for lithium ion batteries. However, there are several major limitations with the phage-display approach. Filamentous phages can only accommodate short peptides for surface expression, which can significantly limit the extent to which they can be functionalized. Anisotropic patterning along the length of a phage is difficult to achieve since phage coat subunits to which peptides are fused are randomly incorporated into the phage coat structure. Phage-based nanowires are restricted by the inherent dimensions of the phage itself and cannot be easily extended, shortened, widened, or polymerized. Moreover, since phages are not autonomous living organisms, they are incapable of interfacing inorganic materials with synthetic gene circuits within living cells. DNA has also been used as a template for assembling inorganic materials but DNA is unstable at high temperatures and pH levels which may be necessary for metallization processes (Scheibel et al., (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:4527). In addition, DNA is not readily exported or displayed extracellularly and so, its ability to link living cells with non-living materials is greatly limited.

Cell-directed synthesis of multifunctional nanopatterns and nanomaterials


The invention is directed to attenuated canine parvovirus (CPV) strains which may be used as a veterinary vaccine against CPV disease. The invention is further directed to a virus stock generated from a genomic DNA clone of the attenuated CPV strain which is used as a veterinary vaccine and is able to confer protective immunity to dogs against challenge with virulent CPV. Methods are given for the production of an attenuated CPV virus from a cloned CPV genome which may be used as a veterinary vaccine.

During 1978 and 1979, outbreaks of previously unrecognized disease were observed in dogs in a number of countries. Identification of the causative agent, canine parvovirus (CPV), was made when comparisons between the disease seen in dogs and those caused in cats by feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) or in minks by mink enteritis virus (MEV), both parvoviruses, were noted. CPV has become endemic in domestic and wild dog populations around the world. Rapid global spread of the virus was most likely due to the high viral titers found in feces of infected dogs (Parrish, C. R., Adv. Virus Res. 38:403-450, 1990).
Two clinical conditions are recognized--enteric disease in pups older than 4 to 5 weeks, and myocardial disease in pups 3 to 16 weeks old. CPV is responsible for serious illness and mortality in dogs, and pups less than 6 months old are particularly susceptible (Carmichael et al., Cornell Vet. 73:13-29, 1983).
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an autonomous parvovirus with a DNA genome of about 5,000 bases of single-stranded DNA. Two structural genes are characterized (VP-1 and VP-2), as well as one or two non-structural (NS) genes (Parrish et al. J. Virol, 65:6544-6552, 1991).
The original strain of CPV (CPV-2), first identified in 1978, was almost completely replaced between 1979 and 1982 by an antigenic and genetic variant, CPV-2a. A later antigenic variant, CPV-2b, emerged around 1984 and became the predominant virus type by 1988. It has largely replaced the previous strains in the United States, such that over 90% of infected dogs now carry this strain. DNA sequence analysis shows that sequence variation in the VP1/VP2 genes gave rise to successive antigenic virus types, such that the CPV-2a strain differed in only 5 or 6 amino acids from CPV-2, while CPV-2b differs in only 2 amino acids from CPV-2a (Parrish et al. J. Virol 65:6544-6552, 1991).
Vaccines designed to elicit protection against previous strains of CPV have been developed, including live (U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,645 dated Dec. 1, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,494 dated Mar. 7, 1989) inactivated (U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,991 dated Mar. 18, 1980), heterotypic (U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,990 dated Mar. 18, 1980) as well as recombinant subunit vaccines (U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,793 dated Nov. 20, 1990; Lopez de Turiso et al., J. Virol. 66:2748-2753, 1992). Baculovirus expression of the CPV capsid genes generated empty parvoviral capsids which could be used to immunize dogs against challenge with CPV-2b (Mazzara et al., Vaccines' 87, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1987, p. 419-424; Saliki et al., J. Gen. Virol. 73:369-374, 1992).
The advantage of a vaccine derived from an attenuated virus over a heterotypic, inactivated, or recombinant vaccine is that the virus is able to reproduce in the host system such that an immune response is maintained over time.
Until the invention described herein, no attenuated vaccines have been developed which are derived from the most recent CPV-2b strain that is the most prevalent form of the virus found in infected dogs.
Citation or identification of any of the references in Section 2 of this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.


A salicide process is provided. A metal layer selected from a group consisting of titanium, cobalt, platinum, palladium and an alloy thereof is formed over a silicon layer. A first thermal process is performed. Next, a second thermal process is performed, wherein the second thermal process includes a first step performed at 600˜700 degrees centigrade for 10˜60 seconds and a second step performed at 750˜850 degrees centigrade for 10˜60 seconds. If the metal layer is selected from a group consisting of nickel and an alloy thereof is formed on a silicon layer, the first step of the second thermal process is performed at 300˜400 degrees centigrade for 10˜60 seconds and the second step of the second thermal process is performed at 450˜550 degrees centigrade for 10˜60 seconds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor process. More particularly, the present invention relates to a salicide process.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor device improvements have been largely accomplished by reducing device feature size while predictions for future device sizes do not foresee an end to the trend of ever smaller and denser devices. Reduction in MOS transistor device feature size brings with it reduction in film thickness while the depth of diffusion regions is also reduced. For the salicide process that is used to establish electrical contacts with the active regions, a metal layer is formed over these active regions (the source/drain region and the gate electrode) and subjected to a thermal process.
For several salicide processes, such as titanium and cobalt salicide processes, two thermal processes for annealing are conducted because these metal suicides have two-phase transition temperatures. The two thermal processes cause a first phase transfer during the first thermal process and then the first phase of the metal silicide is changed into a second phase by the second thermal process.
Usually, the first thermal process and the second thermal process are one-step thermal process respectively which are performed from a room temperature to a predetermined temperature. However, the metal suicide formed by the conventional two thermal processes causes rough and non-uniform grains because the metal silicide grains grow so rapidly that junction leakage is easily occurred and metal silicide sheet resistance is deteriorated.


The present invention relates to a device for covering a plant growing medium. The device includes a sheet that defines an aperture. One or more protrusions extends from the sheet to engage a top surface of the plant growing medium. A wall is integrally attached to each edge of the sheet. Each wall has a series of ridges.

There are a number of situations in which it may be desirable to cultivate plants without having to use soil. For example, during the colder months of the year, some gardeners begin growing seedlings indoors in anticipation of spring. This process is more simple and sanitary when soil is not used.
Growing mediums other than soil may be used to germinate seeds. One popular growing medium is rockwool. Rockwool is used extensively for hydroponic growing systems. Rockwool is made by melting a combination of rock and sand and spinning the mixture. This results in fibres that may be formed into different shapes and sizes.
Rockwool absorbs and maintains water. Further, rockwool is porous and thus retains oxygen. As a result, plants that grow in rockwool have healthy root systems. Finally, rockwool can be formed into a number of shapes and sizes. Frequently, rockwool fibres are compressed into cubes.
Before using a rockwool cube, the cube must be treated by soaking it in a nutrient solution to adjust its pH level. Further, once seeds or seedlings are placed in rockwool, the rockwool is periodically watered. Therefore, rockwool is moist when in use.
The moisture of rockwool cubes creates some difficulties for gardeners. Specifically, when rockwool is exposed to the light that is normally used for indoor germination and cultivation of plants, algae forms on the surface of the moist rockwool cubes. Such algae attracts insects such as fungus gnats and shoreflies. Further, when algae decays and dies, it can become detrimental to plants since it may invite bacteria and viruses. Algae can even compete with the plants being grown for oxygen, which is necessary for nutrient uptake.
To prevent the growth of algae on rockwool, it is necessary to deprive the algae of light. Algae flourishes in wet, well lit locations and depriving it of light prevents photosynthesis.
Various solutions have been proposed for covering rockwool cubes to prevent the growth of algae. However, previously disclosed rockwool cube covers suffer from a number of disadvantages. First, such covers limit the circulation of oxygen, thus creating an anaerobic environment. This inhibits nutrient uptake by the plant. Further, some previously disclosed cube covers are simply sheets of plastic that are placed above the cube and frequently engage the surface of the cube, thus further inhibiting the circulation of oxygen. Finally, previously disclosed cube covers are not durable.


Disclosed are cDNAs and genomic DNAs encoding protease-activated receptor 3 (PAR3) from mouse and human, and the recombinant polypeptides expressed from such cDNAs. The recombinant receptor polypeptides, receptor fragments and analogs expressed on the surface of cells are used in methods of screening candidate compounds for their ability to act as agonists or antagonists to the effects of interaction between thrombin and PAR3. Agonists are used as therapeutics to treat wounds, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, inflammation, and other thrombin-activated disorders. Antagonists are used as therapeutics to control blood coagulation and thereby treating heart attack and stroke. Antagonists mediate inflammatory and proliferative responses to injury as occur in normal wound healing and variety of diseases including atherosclerosis, restenosis, pulmonary inflammation (ARDS) and glomerulosclerosis. Antibodies specific for a protease-activated receptor 3 (or receptor fragment or analog) and their use as a therapeutic are also disclosed.

Thrombin, a coagulation protease generated at sites of vascular injury, activates platelets, leukocytes, and mesenchymal cells (Vu, T.-K. H. et al. (1991) Cell 64:1057-1068). Activation of platelets by thrombin is thought to be critical for hemostasis and thrombosis. In animal models, thrombin inhibitors block platelet-dependent thrombosis, which is the cause of most heart attacks and strokes in humans. Available data in humans suggests that thrombosis in arteries can be blocked by inhibitors of platelet function and by thrombin inhibitors. Thus it is likely that thrombin's actions on platelets contribute to the formation of clots that cause heart attack and stroke. Thrombin's other actions on vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts may mediate inflammatory and proliferative responses to injury, as occur in normal wound healing and a variety of diseases (atherosclerosis, restenosis, pulmonary inflammation (ARDS), glomerulosclerosis, etc.). A thorough understanding of how thrombin activates cells is an important goal.
A receptor that mediates thrombin signaling has been previously identified (Vu, T.-K. H. et al. (1991) Cell 64:1057-1068, U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,766). This receptor revealed a novel proteolytic mechanism of activation and is referred to as PAR1 (protease-activated receptor 1). PAR1 is activated by the binding of thrombin to and cleavage of PAR1's amino terminal exodomain at a specific site. Receptor cleavage unmasks a new amino terminus, which then functions as a tethered peptide ligand by binding intramolecularly to the body of the receptor to effect transmembrane signaling (Vu, T.-K. H. et al. (1991) Cell 64:1057-1068). Synthetic peptides that mimic this tethered ligand domain function as PAR1 agonists and activate it independent of thrombin and receptor cleavage (Vu, T.-K. H. et al. (1991) Cell 64:1057-1068).
To identify which of thrombin's known cellular actions are mediated by PAR1, a PAR1 knockout mouse was recently generated (Connolly, A. et al. (1996) Nature 381:516-519). Analysis of mice in which both alleles of the PAR1 gene were disrupted provided definitive evidence for a second platelet thrombin receptor and for tissue specific roles of distinct thrombin receptors. Specifically, in mice, PAR1 is not important for platelet responses but is critical for fibroblast responses.
A second protease-activated receptor (PAR2) was cloned during a search for relatives of the Substance K receptor (Nystedt, S., et al. (1994) PNAS USA, 91:9208-9212). The physiological activator of PAR2 remains unknown; it is not activated by thrombin.

DNA encoding a protease-activated receptor 3

The Regents of the University of California


Given the rise in popularity of communicating personal, private, sensitive, or vital peer-to-peer or peer-to-group information over potentially insecure text messaging infrastructure, it would be desirable to provide a solution that enables the exchange of this type of information securely over at least one path via data and/or voice networks. Furthermore, it would be highly desirable to enable access to the secure exchange of information over the at least one path by a given entity, as well as other computer applications that the given entity may use.

Today, a significant amount of information is communicated via the Short Message Service (SMS) infrastructure that is provided by mobile phone carriers worldwide. Other message oriented communications paths also exist, such as Twitter, and Google Groups. This type of communications has become widely popular over traditional voice conversations because it offers the participants some semblance of privacy in a room. No longer can an individual just eavesdrop on at least part of a conversation. In this simple case, an interloper needs to be close enough to be able to read the screen of the communicating device.
While a naive user may believe that text conversations are private, in fact some nefarious party can easily purchase technology over the Internet or elsewhere that allows him to monitor the communications exchange. Thus, no real security exists in the vast majority of modern text messaging. An attacker can easily intercept and read the texts you send to your friends, your family, your business colleagues and others.
Even with the inherent security risks, many entities who ought to be concerned about security and secrecy have embraced the technology due to the immediacy of the communications. Doctors and nurses may use the technology to exchange patient information, even though this type of information is required by law to be secured. Financial institutions often send updates to their customers about their account balances, transactions, trades, etc., that could easily be intercepted by malicious parties. Other use cases abound.
Some shy away from using these communications paths due to the insecurity, but these vital and resilient communication channels have proven useful during times when other paths such as traditional voice and data networks are either overloaded or inaccessible, especially during natural or unanticipated disasters. During these occurrences, it has been well documented, even by the US government that:                "because wireless networks may be congested during an emergency, sending a text message may work better than placing a voice call." (http://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-communications)
Consider government officials who need to exchange secure but potentially unclassified information. Other critical infrastructure such as a country's energy grid, sensors, or other machine to machine (M2M) communications provide for command and control of the equipment. Individuals with mal-intent could easily create havoc during the exchange of information in these scenarios.
Thus, with the proliferation of mobile, portable, or other remote computing devices being utilized in day-to-day communications, retaining secure access with these devices is of paramount importance. Prior art is filed with examples of how to provide for secure communications with these devices over traditional data interconnects such as IP based networks, virtual private networks, transport layer security, etc.
However, many of these mediums are bandwidth constrained. Trying to layer traditional methods of securing communications onto these environments may prove fruitless as well as potentially exacerbate an already difficult situation. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to provide a lightweight solution that enables secure access to and communications with these computing devices over message oriented channels as an alternative.
Furthermore, many systems today are unable to participate in any correspondence via this technology, or are saddled with additional overhead when communicating information to peer systems through some existing gateway infrastructure.
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein addresses these needs in a multitude of ways. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein thus provides methods and systems provided by a server based computing system utilized by an organization or entity to communicate securely with mobile, portable, or other embedded systems via message oriented communications facilities.
An example non-limiting Protected Mobility Enterprise Console (PMEC) allows an organization or entity to utilize these alternate communications paths through a provided console interface and/or via exposed web services that other applications can use to send and receive potentially private information. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein provides, among other things, security of communications between the PMEC and collaborating devices.
To enable secure exchange of message oriented communications and maintain access to cooperating devices, services such as those provided by a protected mobility enterprise console (PMEC) can be utilized. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting arrangement, the PMEC is an application that can be installed by a given organization on a generic computer based platform, or provided as a hosted/managed service for a given entity. Its illustrative non-limiting core functionality allows individuals, operators, or other applications to securely exchange sometimes critical information with other devices that are within its domain. The exchange of information can be accomplished over Internet related protocols such as HTTP, alternatively through messaging services that provide gateway services to wireless network short messaging services, or directly through interconnects with communication carriers.
Enabling more than one communications path to potentially critical infrastructure or personnel via the cooperating computing devices provides for resiliency of information flow and in some cases helps maintain business continuity. First responders, governments, military, may also find these services useful.

Systems and methods for enabling secure messaging, command, and control of remote devices, communicated via a short message service or other message oriented communications mediums


A base station apparatus including: a processor configured to extract an specified packet flow among packet flows which are to be transmitted by using a link aggregation of a first radio link and a second radio link, to generate encapsulated packets by adding a link aggregation information to reception packets which are included in the specified packet flow, the link aggregation information indicating that the specified packet flow are to be transmitted by using the link aggregation, and to control the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface such that the encapsulated packets are transmitted by the link aggregation, based on a distribution of the encapsulated packets between the first radio link and the second radio link being determined based on radio qualities, and such that the reception packets which are not included in the specified packet flow are transmitted via the first radio link.

Recently, it becomes possible to use various wireless communication access systems due to an advancement in a wireless communication technology. A cellular communication system, such as W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) or LTE (Long Term Evolution), used as a mobile wireless communication system, WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) based on the IEEE802.16 technology, and a wireless LAN in conformity with the IEEE802.11 technology, may be included as the principal wireless communication systems.
Wireless terminals equipped with a communication interface for communicating with a plurality of wireless communication access systems have been widely distributed in order to meet the demand for mobile communication or due to the advancement in implementation technology of a terminal. A representative wireless terminal includes a smart phone and a tablet PC each includes a dual terminal generally having both wireless communication interfaces for the cellular communication system and the wireless LAN. The dual terminal generally selects and uses any one of the wireless access channels of the cellular communication system and the wireless LAN according to the quality of radiowave in the respective wireless access channels. In the meantime, a technology has been emerged that enables a higher speed communication through the concurrent use of a plurality of different wireless access channels. See, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-142602, No. 2009-246875, and No. 2011-61253.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of a conventional wireless communication system. In FIG. 1, an interface 11 at core network side of a base station apparatus 10 is coupled with a core network to transmit/receive communication data to/from the core network. A virtual MAC processing unit 12 performs a processing for establishing a link using a virtual MAC address and establishes a link with a virtual MAC processing unit 22 using the virtual MAC address. Further, the virtual MAC processing unit 12 generates a frame to be transferred using the link. A switching unit 13 distributes link frames sent from the virtual MAC processing unit 12 to each wireless module 14a, 14b, 14c, and outputs the link frames supplied from each wireless module 14a, 14b, 14c to the virtual MAC processing unit 12.
The macrocell wireless module 14a performs a wireless communication with a macrocell wireless module 24a of a mobile station device 20 through the 3G (3rd Generation) or LTE. The macrocell wireless module 14b performs a wireless communication with a macrocell wireless module 24b through the WiMAX. The picocell wireless module 14c performs a wireless communication with a picocell wireless module 24c through the wireless LAN. A wireless environment recognition unit 15 recognizes the wireless environment and indicates a destination to which a link frame, which is input from the virtual MAC processing unit 12, is to be distributed, to a switching unit 13 based on the recognition result.
The mobile station device 20 serving as a wireless terminal apparatus employs substantially the same configuration as the base station apparatus 10. An interface 21 at a user network side of the mobile station device 20 performs a processing for a network layer. Further, the mobile station device 20 includes, but is not limited to, a virtual MAC processing unit 22. The mobile station device 20 controls the switching unit 23 to select an optimum wireless module from the wireless modules 24a, 24b, 24c based on information such as the communication quality acquired by a wireless environment recognition unit 25.
FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration in which a plurality of wireless access systems are coupled with each other to form a network. In FIG. 2, a WiFi access network 33 is coupled to a cellular network constituted with a macro wireless access network 31 and an operator core network 32. In FIG. 2, a wireless terminal apparatus 34 accesses the macro wireless access network 31 as well as the WiFi access network 33 through the wireless access channel of, for example, the W-CDMA. Also, the wireless terminal apparatus 34 may set two connections using a mobile IP technology, that is, one connection to the macro wireless access network 31 via a path from an HA (Home Agent) 35, which belongs to the operator core network 32, and the other connection to the WiFi access network 33 via another path from the HA 35, thereby making traffic flows that are different from each other to pass through.
Further, in addition to a macro base station installed at a building rooftop or a steel tower to cover an area with the radius of several kilometers, a femtocell base station which is installed in an indoor of, for example, a house to cover an area with the radius of about 10 meters is being distributed in the cellular communication system. A product in which a wireless LAN interface is equipped in the femtocell base station makes an appearance as well.

Base station apparatus and wireless terminal apparatus


Methods and systems consistent with the present invention enroll a candidate phrase uttered by a user in a dictionary having at least one previously enrolled phrase. The system receives utterances of the candidate phrase and determines whether the first utterance is confusingly similar to a previously enrolled phrase and whether they are consistent with each other. The system then enrolls the candidate phrase in the dictionary according to these determinations.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for recognizing speech, and, more particularly, to voice recognition methods and systems for evaluating candidate utterances before enrolling them in a recognition dictionary.
B. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, voice recognition systems have become both more popular and more sophisticated. Voice Activated Dialing (VAD) systems, for example, use voice recognition systems to speed dial or access a party based upon a single voice command. In a VAD system, the voice command is typically the name of the party the user wishes to call, such as the phrase "Bob Johnson." The VAD system then accesses a pre-programmed dictionary containing telephone numbers associated with each pre-programmed party. Once the VAD system locates the entry for "Bob Johnson," it will then call the corresponding telephone number.
One problem with VAD systems is that users will sometimes enter the same phrase or a confusingly similar phrase into the dictionary. For instance, if a user enters the phrase "Bob Johnson" when another party by that name already exists in the dictionary, the wrong telephone number may be called depending upon which "Bob Johnson" the user intends to reach. An error may also occur if the user adds a confusingly similar name, such as "Bob Johnston." Thus, when the user tries to call "Bob Johnston," the VAD system may erroneously dial the number for "Bob Johnson" instead.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,397 discloses a VAD system which accounts for the storage of phrases that are the same or confusingly similar to previously enrolled phrases. According to this method, the user must utter a candidate phrase two times to store that phrase in the dictionary. The system stores the first utterance of the candidate phrase in the dictionary and assigns that phrase, and each previously existing phrase in the dictionary, a probability representing the likelihood that each respective phrase will be the same as the second utterance of the candidate phrase said by the user. The '397 patent discloses that the candidate phrase is assigned a lower probability (e.g. 0.8) than that assigned to the other phrases already enrolled in the dictionary (e.g. 1.0). This augments or skews the dictionary toward the likelihood that the second utterance of the candidate phrase will be recognized as one of the previously enrolled phrases rather than the first utterance of the candidate phrase. The VAD system then receives the second utterance of the candidate phrase and compares it to each of the phrases enrolled in the augmented dictionary to determine whether the candidate phrase should be enrolled.
One problem with the method and system disclosed in the '397 patent is that by assigning a lower probability to the first utterance of the candidate phrase, the dictionary is biased towards determining that the candidate phrase will be confusing. This, in turn, increases the probability of false rejections of phrases sought to be enrolled in the VAD system. Another problem with the '397 patent is that when a phrase is found to be confusing, the user is required to repeat the entire entry process over again in order to try to store the candidate phrase. The approach disclosed in the '397 patent also fails to ensure that the first and second utterances of the candidate phrase are consistent with one another. Thus, an error may occur when the two utterances are said differently by the user. There is a need, therefore, for a voice recognition system which can accurately determine the confusability or inconsistency of a candidate phrase in a user-friendly environment.

Recognition system for determining whether speech is confusing or inconsistent


This invention is a lead (10) for modifying the activity of a tissue, particularly the heart. Electrodes are provided for performing sensing (15p) (15d), and/or signal delivery (16p) (16d) functions. A control unit controls the parameters of the electric field provided by signal delivery electrodes to prevent the generation of a propagation action potential in the tissue.

It is known in the art to apply cardiac leads employing electrodes that transmit electrical signals for three major purposes: mapping, pacing and defibrillating. Each lead type was designed to meet the electrical and mechanical requirements imposed by its intended use and location of operation.
In the beating heart, the intrinsic electrical activity propagates along the HIS-Purkinje intrinsic conductance pathways and between neighboring muscular regions. Changes in localized electrical activity in the form of cellular depolarization cause local contraction of that muscular region. The depolarization wave arrives to different cardiac locations at different delays from the intrinsic or artificial pacemaker. In order to synchronize the delivery of contractility modulating electrical signal to each of the localized cardiac regions, the precise timing of localized depolarization at that same location is needed. An example for such contractility-enhancing signal is the non-excitatory signal described in WO 97/25098, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The catheter known in the art to be used for electro-physiological (EP) mapping of the cardiac muscle generally senses the localized cardiac electrical activity at the point of contact between the electrode and the muscle to detect regions of abnormal activity. Generally, a small surface area characterizes the electrodes of said catheter to achieve reliable sensing. Among the different catheters, some are used for mapping the endocardial walls of the cardiac chambers; they are large in diameter, generally 2.5-3.0 mm, and have only a few electrodes at the tip of the catheter, whose position can be controlled by external means. Different parts of the cardiac chamber (atrium or ventricle) wall can be accessed sequentially, and their localized electrical activity mapped. Other mapping catheters, which are used to access the epicardial wall, via the coronary venous system, are very thin, generally less than 1 mm in diameter, and therefore enables access to the small branches of the vasculature and employ small, multiple electrodes distributed along the length of the catheter. Generally, the vessel's diameter decreases toward the branches, from the ostium of the coronary sinus, via the great cardiac vein to less than 30 μm at the venules.
The art deals, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,298, with the high resolution mapping of localized cardiac electrical activity through the coronary vasculature, and employs catheters with a plurality of sensing electrodes distributed along it, or guidewire stem with inter-electrode distance of less than 2 mm. The shaft of the catheter is formed of a plurality of insulated conductors, braided or wound into an elongated tubular shape with a central lumen and an external sleeve covering the entire shaft. The diameter of the shaft is preferably less than 0.75 mm. These electrodes are small, designed for sensing of electrical activity and they are not designed for the delivery of electrical energy to the tissue. Similarly, the shaft of the catheter is not designed for long term implant and high fatigue life.
Prior art methods for the delivery of electrical energy into the cardiac muscle include pacing leads and defibrillator leads. Both types of leads do not provide means for efficient energy delivery at multiple locations nor provide non-excitatory electric fields at localized locations in the cardiac chamber. The unipolar pacing lead has a small signal delivery tip (1-10 mm2) through which the electrical energy is sensed from, and delivered into, a single localized region of the tissue generating a propagating action potential. The bipolar pacing lead has an additional ring electrode that enables localized sensing and signal delivery. However, similar to the unipolar lead, these electrodes and leads are designed for energy delivery and sensing from a single and small localized region of the cardiac muscle. The position of the lead is normally in one of the cardiac chambers, although some pacing leads can be used for cardiac stimulation through the coronary sinus or cardiac veins. There are also other forms of pacing leads, for example epicardial pacing leads that are attached to the epicardial wall of the heart, capable of performing similar functions. A typical pacing pulse is a sharp, narrow electrical pulse with a 0.1 to 1.5 msec duration, a total discharge of 0.1-50 μC and an energy of about 100 μJ. It does not require that the electric capacitance of the electrode be high, because of the short duration of the signal, and a value of less than 100 μF, which is the value used in the art, is sufficient. It is also required that the electrode will have a short recovery time to enable it to act as a sensor within a few milliseconds after delivering the signal. The electric field applied, through high impedance, is local and generally low. U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,352 discloses a method and device for cardiac pacing and sensing which uses a plurality of electrodes carried by a lead.
The defibrillator lead and electrodes are designed for the delivery of a small consecutive number of high energy pulses to the cardiac muscle upon demand. This energy delivery is to the whole mass of the chamber, and thus it is not localized. The defibrillator electrode is not used for the sensing of the localized electrical activity, and separate sensing electrodes are needed. The additional sensing electrode(s) are situated on the same defibrillator lead, or on a pacing lead that is positioned elsewhere in the heart. Both methods of electrical signal sensing are not adequate for signal detection at the vicinity of a defibrillator electrode. U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,205 discloses a unitary intravascular defibrillating lead which is part of an apparatus which includes a cardioversion circuit, and carries a distal and proximal spring electrode, displaced at such distance from one another that defibrillating shock is affected through a field including the interventricular septum and left ventricular free wall.
The use of a multi-chamber lead or catheter through the GCV for pacing, whether combined or not combined with non-excitatory signal delivery, has not been described in the art.
What has been needed is a method and system for the precise delivery of multiple electrical signals to a plurality of locations on the cardiac muscle, each of which is synchronized, to the locally sensed intrinsic electrical activity.
The timing and characteristics of an electrical field that modifies the contractility of the heart and the sensing required for controlling the delivery of the signal required, are entirely different from any signal applied to the heart for pacing or defibrillating. Subsequently, there is no lead known in the field that fulfills the combination of requirements of a lead employing electrodes that deliver a non-excitatory signal in the appropriate timing and location. Such a lead and such electrodes are the objects of this invention.
This invention has the purpose of providing a device, in particular a multi-electrode lead, to deliver a non-excitatory signal.
It is another purpose of this invention to provide a device to deliver such a signal synchronized with the local intrinsic excitatory signal of the heart.
It is another purpose of this invention to provide a device that is sufficiently thin as to be inserted transvenously into the distal veins of the Venous system of the heart to deliver such a signal to specific locations of the cardiac muscle.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a lead adapted for being implanted onto the epicardial surface of the heart using any suitable method of implantation.
It is a further purpose of this invention to provide a lead employing electrodes that are small in surface area to provide reliable local signal delivery and sensing, and at the same time, large enough to be able to deliver, through low impedance, electrical pulses whose energy is higher than that of the pacing pulses.
It is a further purpose of this invention to provide a lead employing electrodes that are small in surface area to provide reliable signal delivery and sensing at multiple locations.
It is a further purpose of this invention to provide a lead employing electrodes which have low impedance, deliver higher energy than pacing energy, but are still biostable for long term implantation.
It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide a lead employing electrodes that deliver a signal of duration determined by the duration of the refractory period.
It is yet another purpose of this invention to provide a lead, primarily intended for such non-excitatory stimulation though capable of performing pacing and defibrillating functions.
It is yet another purpose of this invention to provide a lead, primarily intended for such non-excitatory stimulation though capable of performing pacing and defibrillating functions separately or in combination.
It is still a further object of tie invention to provide a method for applying non-excitatory stimuli to an organ or body cavity.
Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.


A vehicle body superstructure includes a roof side rail having a rail flange upon which a roof panel is mounted, a vertical rail wall that hangs down from the outer end of the rail flange in the vehicle width direction, a bottom rail wall that extends from the lower end of the vertical rail wall to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a bulging section formed by allowing the bottom rail wall and the vertical rail wall to bulge toward the center in the vehicle width direction, in order to accommodate a slide rail for a sliding door. The outer end of a roof arch in the vehicle width direction is joined to the bulging section. First arch flanges are joined on the lower surface side of the rail flange. Second arch flanges are joined to the lower surface side of the of the bottom rail wall.

Vehicle body superstructures of the type concerned are known as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, which include a roof side rail disposed in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body on and along an upper part of a vehicle body side section, a roof panel disposed on the roof side rail, a stepped portion formed on the roof side rail for mounting a slide rail, and a roof arch joined to a center pillar and the roof side rail. The center pillar and the roof arch are joined to the roof side rail at a position adjacent to a vertical wall forming a front end of the stepped portion.
According to the vehicle body superstructure, the pillar and the roof arch can be firmly joined to the roof side rail.


A method is provided for recording a list of facilities available to a program executing on an information processing system. In such method a storage location and a length of data are defined for recording the list of facilities by a program being executed on the information processing system. An instruction is issued by the program for determining the available facilities and recording the list of available facilities in accordance with the defined storage location and data length. A processor executes the instruction to determine the available facilities and record the list of facilities in accordance with the defined storage location and defined data length. The recorded list of facilities can then be read by the first program.

The present invention relates to an information processing system, e.g., a programmable digital computer, as well as an information processing method and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for performing such method.
Information processing systems include not only general purpose computers which can be programmed to perform tasks of virtually unlimited variety, but also more specialized equipment which typically is employed to perform certain specialized tasks such as information storage and retrieval, media recording and reproduction, etc.
Information processing systems, both general purpose and special purpose systems, typically are enabled to perform specialized tasks by programs. Application programs include those which are adapted especially for a particular end use of an information processing system. Application programs tend to use the resources of an information processing system in ways that can vary greatly from one application program to another. Sometimes, an application program utilizes particular facilities of an information processing system that are infrequently used by other application programs. By way of example, particular facilities used by an application program can include the ability to execute certain instructions that address the needs of the particular application program.
Since particular facilities used by one application program may be infrequently used by other application programs, the facilities need not be included in or be available as part of every information processing system on which other application programs are executed. In some cases, a particular facility is only available when the information processing system is an upgraded version in relation to another less equipped version of the information processing system, e.g., a base model. Alternatively, the particular facility may only be present when the information processing system is specifically configured to incorporate such facility.
Since the facilities available on any given information processing system can vary, it is useful for programs which are executed thereon to be able to determine quickly which facilities of the information processing system are available. Programs can then be executed in a way that takes advantage of the available facilities.
In a prior art information processing system according to the z/Architecture Principles of Operation (Publication Number SA22-7832-04, available from IBM Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), an instruction known as STORE FACILITY LIST ("STFL") returns a result which indicates whether or not certain facilities are available and installed on the information processing system. The results are returned in form of a fixed length and fixed definition data record in which each bit thereof identifies whether or not a particular facility is installed. The STFL instruction is also limited in how it can be issued and how the result can be accessed.
One limitation is that STFL is a control instruction. The STFL instruction can only be issued by a program that is being executed in the "supervisor state". Such program is referred to as a system-control program, or operating system. The STFL instruction cannot be executed by an application program, i.e., a program that is currently being executed in the "problem state," as opposed to the supervisor state. If the STFL instruction is issued by an application program, a privileged-operation program exception condition is recognized, which prevents the instruction from being executed.
In an embodiment, a computer system includes a Program Status Word. The current program-status word (PSW) in the CPU contains information required for the execution of the currently active program. The PSW is 128 bits in length and includes the instruction address, condition code, and other control fields. In general, the PSW is used to control instruction sequencing and to hold and indicate much of the status of the CPU in relation to the program currently being executed. Additional control and status information is contained in control registers and permanently assigned storage locations.
The status of the CPU can be changed by loading a new PSW or part of a PSW. Control is switched during an interruption of the CPU by storing the current PSW, so as to preserve the status of the CPU, and then loading a new PSW.
The current program-status word (PSW) in the CPU contains information required for the execution of the currently active program. The PSW is 128 bits in length and includes the instruction address, condition code, and other control fields. In general, the PSW is used to control instruction sequencing and to hold and indicate much of the status of the CPU in relation to the program currently being executed. Additional control and status information is contained in control registers and permanently assigned storage locations. The status of the CPU can be changed by loading a new PSW or part of a PSW. Control is switched during an interruption of the CPU by storing the current PSW, so as to preserve the status of the CPU, and then loading a new PSW.
Problem State (P): When p bit of the PSW (bit 15) is one, the CPU is in the problem state. When bit 15 is zero, the CPU is in the supervisor state. In the supervisor state, all instructions are valid. In the problem state, only those instructions are valid that provide meaningful information to the problem program and that cannot affect system integrity; such instructions are called unprivileged instructions. The instructions that are never valid in the problem state are called privileged instructions. When a CPU in the problem state attempts to execute a privileged instruction, a privileged-operation exception is recognized. Another group of instructions, called semi-privileged instructions, are executed by a CPU in the problem state only if specific authority tests are met; otherwise, a privileged-operation exception or a special-operation exception is recognized.
Another limitation relates to the location at which the results returned by the STFL instruction are stored. In accordance with prior art z/Architecture, results returned by the STFL instruction are always mapped to the same real address of 200 (C8 hexadecimal) in memory. Using the z/OS operating system, this real address is mapped to a real page-frame address of zero in the address space of each application program. In this way, each application program on a system which uses the ZOS operating system can directly access the result returned by a STFL instruction issued by the operating system. However, when a different operating system is provided such as Linux, real address 200 is not mapped to a location within the address space of an application program. In that case, an application program cannot view the facilities information returned by the STFL instruction without the support of the operating system (for example, the operating system may provide a system call which will return this information to the application program).
Other limitations of the STFL instruction are the short, fixed length of 32 bits of the result it returns and the fixed definition given to each of the 32 bits included in the result. In certain cases, a particular application program needs to obtain information about the capabilities of the information processing system which does not fit within the traditional bit definitions of the result of the STFL instruction. The number of bits returned by executing the STFL instruction and the definition given to each bit can fall short of the information needed by a particular application program.

Enhanced un-privileged computer instruction to store a facility list


A wire connection terminal holding structure includes an insulation outer case and a conductive holding frame disposed in the outer case. The outer case is formed with a wire socket and a perforation. The holding frame includes an electrical connection member and elastic members respectively disposed on two sides of the electrical connection member. Each of the elastic members extends to form a holding section. The holding sections extend toward each other to define therebetween a holding mouth corresponding to the wire socket and a wire insertion space positioned between the holding sections in communication with the holding mouth. A split is formed between top edges of the holding sections. A pushbutton is disposed in the perforation for pushing and opening/closing the holding mouth. A stop section is disposed on at least one of the holding sections of the elastic members for blocking the split.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a wire connection terminal holding structure for electrically connecting with a wire contact of an electronic component, and more particularly to a wire connection terminal holding structure, which can prevent the wire from extending out of the wire connection terminal. The wire connection terminal holding structure also serves to guide the wire to successfully insert into the wire connection terminal to be held therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wire connection terminal is also referred to as a connector. The wire connection terminal is mainly used to connect the electrical wires between electronic components or connect the wire contacts of the electronic components onto a circuit board. The electronic components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, LED, transformers, liquid crystal panels, touch panels, etc. Accordingly, the wire connection terminal serves to transmit power or electronic signals to facilitate layout and service of the internal circuit boards and electronic components of the electronic products and apparatuses.
Currently, there are various wire connection terminals on the market. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional wire connection terminal generally has a plastic-made insulation outer case 1a and a metal-made conductive holding frame 2a enclosed in the outer case 1a. The front end of the outer case 1a is formed with wire sockets 11a for external wires to insert in. In addition, the top section of the outer case 1a is formed with perforations 12a. The holding frame 2a includes an electrical connection member 20a exposed to the bottom side of the outer case 1a and two elastic members 21a, 22a respectively disposed on two sides of the electrical connection member 20a. The electrical connection member 20a can be soldered on a circuit board to electrically connect the wire connection terminal with the circuit board. Each of the elastic members 21a, 22a has a plate-shaped holding sections 211a, 221a. The holding sections 211a, 221a extend toward each other to define therebetween a holding mouth 24a corresponding to the wire socket 11a. The bottom of the space between the holding sections 211a, 221a is blocked by the electrical connection member 20a. However, the top of the space between the holding sections 211a, 221a is not shielded by any structure and a split 25a is formed between the holding sections 211a, 221a and the holding mouth 24a. In addition, an end mouth 241a is formed between the top section of the holding mouth 24a and the split 25a. A pushbutton 3a is movably disposed in the perforation 12a corresponding to the respective holding sections 211a, 221a.
The external wire can be inserted through the wire socket 11a of the front end of the outer case 1a into the holding mouth 24a. By means of the elastic force of the holding sections 211a, 221a, the wire can be securely held in the holding mouth 24a. Under such circumstance, the wire can be securely held by the holding frame 2a of the wire connection terminal to conduct current and is prevented from being unexpectedly extracted out of the holding frame 2a. When pressing the pushbutton 3a, the pushbutton 3a is moved downward to push and open the holding mouth 24a so as to release the wire from the holding of the holding mouth 24a.
However, when the wire is inserted into the wire socket 11a, in case the front insertion end of the wire fails to keep straight, the wire is quite apt to deflect and extend in a direction to a region outside the holding mouth 24a. As aforesaid, the bottom of the space between the holding sections 211a, 221a is blocked by the electrical connection member 20a to prevent the wire from deflecting and extending out of the holding mouth 24a. However, the split 25a between the tops of the holding sections 211a, 221a, the end mouth 241a and a region below the pushbutton 3a are all free from any structure or mechanism for preventing the wire from deflecting and extending out of the holding frame 2a. As a result, at the insertion stage, in case the wire is not properly forced or the front end of the wire is not straight, the wire is especially apt to deflect and extend through the split 25a, the end mouth 241a or the region below the pushbutton 3a out of the holding frame 2a. Accordingly, it is impossible to truly hold the wire in the holding mouth 24a. As a result, the wire connection terminal will deteriorate or lose its wire-holding and electrical conduction function and anti-extraction ability. This leads to increase of uncertainty in operation.
Moreover, in case a wire with a large diameter is inserted into the wire connection terminal, the holding mouth 24a must be opened to a gap sufficient for the large-diameter wire to insert in and extract out. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a greater press force to the pushbutton 3a to press down the pushbutton 3a by a deeper height or it is necessary to use a sharp slender tool to help in opening the holding mouth 24a. The operation is quite inconvenient. Furthermore, the respective elastic members 21a, 22a are not interconnected with each other. Accordingly, in the condition that the holding sections 211a, 221a are long-term pushed by the wire and repeatedly pressed by the pushbutton 3a to open the holding mouth 24a, the respective elastic members 21a, 22a and the holding sections 211a, 221a are apt to outward expand or deform. As a result, the holding mouth 24a will lose its original elastic wire-holding function, especially to a slenderer wire.
Moreover, in the conventional wire connection terminal, the holding sections 211a, 221a extending from the elastic members 21a, 22a to the holding mouth 24a are all formed with a once inward folded configuration. In this case, in order to fully adapt the wire connection terminal to various wires with different diameters ranging from a large scale to a small scale, the inward folding angle must be enlarged so as to securely hold the slenderer wire. However, on the other hand, this will greatly increase the resistance of the holding sections 211a, 221a or the holding mouth 24a against the insertion of the wire. As a result, it will become uneasy to insert the wire into the holding frame. This is not what we expect.
It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide a wire connection terminal holding structure to improve the shortcomings existing in the conventional wire connection terminal.

Wire connection terminal holding structure


Sulfur-containing ester derivatives of arylamines and hindered phenols have been found to be effective antioxidant and antiwear additives for lubricants.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with sulfur-containing arylamine and hindered phenol-derived antioxidant and antiwear additives for liquid hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants.
2. Description of Related Art
Arylamines and hindered phenols have been generally regarded as primary oxidation inhibitors and sulfur-containing compounds as secondary oxidation inhibitors for lubricants.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,733 (Farng et al.) discloses the use of copper salts of hindered phenolic carboxylates and mixtures thereof with phenolic and arylamines, including hindered phenols and sulfur-containing phenols as effective antioxidants.

Sulfur-containing ester derivatives of arylamines and hindered phenols as multifunctional antiwear and antioxidant additives for lubricants


A bi-level image coder for providing reduced bit rate arithmetic codes is disclosed, wherein each page of image to be coded is divided into a plurality of areas such as line groups, or blocks, and an arithmetic coder codes each of input pixels (the pixel S.sub.i) by using a predicted value of MPS (most probable symbol) and a predicted probability of LPS (least probable symbol) occurrence which are generated with a template and a LPS predicted probability table. The pixel attribute of the pixel S.sub.i is determined to one of a character image attribute, a dither/dot image attribute and a halftoned image attribute based on statistical properties of the area of the pixel S.sub.i. One of predetermined LPS predicted probability tables and one of predetermined templates are selected for each of the areas in operation. The coder may be so arranged as to following the JBIG standard. In one embodiment, a specific pixel of the template used for context data generation is moved to a position highly correlated with the pixel to be coded.

The present invention relates to an image coder for arithmetically coding image data and, more specifically, to an image coder for arithmetic image coding which involves compression of binary image data for an image including text letters, diagrams, dot images, etc.
There is proposed a JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Coding Experts Group) as an international standard coding scheme for compressing bi-level still image data which is applicable to image coders. The coding scheme makes standard, as an arithmetic code-based entropy code, the QM code which has been developed on the basis of Q code and Me 1 code.
A coder according to the JBIG usually uses a symbol occurrence probability table for the sake of simplicity of arrangement. In such a coder, the coding efficiency is enhanced, that is, the bit rate of codes becomes lower as an error between a predicted symbol occurrence probability obtained from the table and an actual occurrence probability becomes smaller. In light of this fact, Japanese Patent unexamined publication No. Hei.5-183,759 discloses a coder and a decoder having a plurality of such tables for selectively using one of them according to the kind of the image constituting each page of a document in coding and decoding.
Recently, however, it is not unusual for a document page to include dot images and/or diagrams as well as text letters. Further, a single page may include photographs which have been expressed in a pseudo gradation by means of dithering, error diffusing, etc. and are accordingly different in some characteristics such as statistical properties. Also, in a single image included in a document page, areas with homogeneous dot density will have different characteristics than areas where the dot density drastically changes at a contour. Thus, there is a problem in the prior art that areas of different characteristics in a page are coded and decoded with a same symbol occurrence probability table. Therefore, all the areas of a page are not necessarily coded or decoded optimally.

Image coding method and system for providing reduced bit rate arithmetic codes