A flapping-wing aerial robot formation control method includes: determining a trailing vortex generation mechanism, an energy saving principle and a trailing vortex attenuation mechanism of the formation flight of a group of wild geese in accordance with the pattern of the formation flight of the group of wild geese; determining the formation flight of a group of flapping-wing aerial robots and a formation switching solution in accordance with the trailing vortex generation mechanism, energy saving principle and trailing vortex attenuation mechanism of the formation flight of the group of wild geese in conjunction with the flapping characteristic of a flapping-wing aerial robot from the perspective of energy consumption equalization and energy saving; and carrying out formation keeping control and formation reconfiguration control in accordance with the formation flight of the group of flapping-wing aerial robots and the formation switching solution by controlling positions of the group of flapping-wing aerial robots.

With their rapid development, bionic robots have drawn much interest and attention of domestic and foreign researchers in various fields. Among them, the bird-like flapping-wing aerial robot as a new branch of the bionic robots is a comprehensive cutting-edge interdiscipline integrated mechanics, mechanical science, materials science, signaling theory, control theory, etc, which has the advantages of light weight, high agility, high energy utilization rate, good stealthiness, etc. and is capable of flying at low altitude for a long time, so it has a broad application prospect in the fields of military reconnaissance and civilian monitoring.
On the other hand, with the increasing complexity of flight missions, higher standards and requirements have been put forward for the performance (such as maneuverability, rapidness, etc.) of flapping-wing aerial robots in performing tasks in large areas, and it is often difficult for a single flapping-wing aerial robot to perform a specified task. As a group of flapping-wing aerial robots perform a task (such as a reconnaissance or rescue task, particularly a long-time reconnaissance task or a long-distance rescue task), the group of flapping-wing aerial robots may usually encounter the problems of insufficient endurance, excessively low efficiency in performing the task, etc. Therefore, when a complex group task is performed, how to make full use of the overall advantage of a group of flapping-wing aerial robots, decrease the requirement on the performance of each flapping-wing aerial robot, increase energy utilization efficiency in the whole process of flight and increase the overall endurance of the group by reasonably forming a formation of the group of flapping-wing aerial robots under the premise of the endurances of the individual flapping-wing aerial robots reaching the limit need to be taken into consideration from the perspective of efficient energy utilization, so as to ensure reliability in performing the task.
At present, there are few researches on the control of the formation of a group of flapping-wing aerial robots, particularly those on an energy-saving mechanism of a bionic group formation inspired by creatures.

Flapping-wing aerial robot formation control method

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING


A sandal comprising an EVA midsole, an outsole and an elastic strap, wherein the elastic strap has strap ends bonded to the bottom of the EVA midsole. The strap ends may be reinforced to the EVA midsole through various means, including stitching and gluing to a fabric. The EVA midsole may have a carved out section to accommodate the thickness of the elastic strap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly, to a sandal with elastic straps.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sandals have improved through the years with enhancements in comfort, performance, and safety. To enhance comfort, various cushioning materials are used for the insole of the sandals. One popular material is EVA as it is a very good shock absorber and very lightweight. The outsole of the sandal is generally made of a durable material, such as polyurethane. Some sandals, and most shoes will have an outsole, midsole, and insole. The outsole comes in contact with the ground, and the insole is in contact with the wearer's feet. The midsole may be a shock absorbing material, such as EVA, with the insole possibly being a woven fabric. The insole, if not present, will mean that the wearer's foot will come directly into contact with the midsole. It's also possible for some sandals to have a single sole, which may be referred to as the outsole. In this case, the outsole comes in contact with both the ground and with the wearer's feet. An example of a sandal with just an outsole is a clog that is made of a wooden outsole. The outsole, midsole, and insole are each generally comprised of a single layer and material, but it's possible for each of these to have multiple layers in themselves, and comprised of multiple materials.
For sandals with EVA insoles, the straps are usually made of leather, cloth, or plastic straps. With the typical thong sandal, the straps generally go through pre-punched openings in the EVA sole and are held in place via plugs. A plug at the end of the strap is basically larger than the opening of the pre-punched hole, preventing the end of the strap from going through the pre-punched hole. The typical thong sandal has straps that enter the sole through three pre-punched openings, one at the front, and two near the rear. The use of pre-punched holes can result in a less reliable hold of the straps to the sole. With some sandals, rather than using pre-punched holes, the straps may be held in place by folding the ends of the straps under the insole and gluing it.
Plastic straps may be too stiff and uncomfortable for some wearers. In addition, based on the positioning of the plastic straps, they may provide discomfort to the wearer's feet. With plastic, leather or cloth straps, the opening provided by the straps are fixed, and can result in being too tight or loose for the wearer.
During running and walking, pronation and supination normally occur in the foot. Many shoes and sandals can improve a person's gait, and it is normally desirable for the shoes or sandals to not adversely alter a person's gait. It is therefore important for the sole of the sandals to be positioned properly with each step. The fixed opening of a plastic and leather strap may cause it to be too loose for the wearer, and possibly cause the wearer's feet to improperly land on the sandal's sole.
It is desirable to have an open sandal that is comfortable and safe. For comfort, it is desirable to have a good shock absorbing material in the sole, and for safety, it is desirable that the sandals properly hold the feet in place relative to the sole.


Compositions and methods of using conjugated linoleic acid preparations enriched for the t10,c12 and c9,t11 isomers are disclosed. It is found that preparations of conjugated linoleic acid containing a ratio of t10,c12 to c9,t11 of about greater than 1.2:1 are desirable for a wide variety of nutritional, therapeutic and pharmacologic uses.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has become the focus of numerous research programs which seek to capitalize on its nutritional, therapeutic, and pharmacologic properties.
The rearrangement of the double bonds of linoleic acid to conjugated positions has been shown to occur during treatment with catalysts such as nickel or alkali at high temperatures, and during auto oxidation. Theoretically, eight possible geometric isomers of 9,11 and 10,12 octadecadienoic acid (c9,c11; c9,t11; t9,c11; t9,t11; c10,c12; c10,t12; t10,c12 and t10,t12) would form from the isomerization of c9,c12-octadecadienoic acid. A general mechanism for the isomerization of linoleic acid was described by J. C. Cowan in JAOCS 72:492–99 (1950). It is believed that the double bond is polarized by the result of a collision with an activating catalyst. The polarized carbon atom and its adjoining carbon are then free to rotate and the forces are such as to make the deficient carbon atom essentially planar. When the system then moves to relieve these forces set up as a result of the collision, both cis and trans isomers are formed. The formation of certain isomers of CLA is thermodynamically favored. This is due to the co-planar characteristics of the five carbon atoms around the conjugated double bond and a spatial conflict of the resonance radical. The relatively higher distribution of 9,11 and 10,12 isomers apparently results from the further stabilization of the c9,t11 or t10,c12 geometric isomers.
Advances in gas chromatography have enabled researchers to precisely determine the isomer composition of samples of CLA. In Christie et al., JAOCS 74 (11):1231 (1997), it was reported that the isomer distribution of a commercial sample of CLA was as follows: 8,10 (14%); 9,11 (30%); 10,12 (31%), and 11,13 (24%). In another study published by Christie et al. appearing in Lipids 33(2):217–21 (1998), the following CLA isomer composition of a commercial CLA preparation was reported: t11,t13 (0.74%); t10,t12 (1.23%); t9,t11 (1.18%); t8,t10 (0.46%); c11,t13 and t11,c13 (21.7%) c10,t12 and t10,c12 (29.0%); c9,t11 and t9,c11 (29.5%); c8,t10 and t8,c10 (12.3%); c11,c13 (0.96%); c10,c12 (0.88%); c9,c11 (0.88%); and c8,c10 (0.20%). As can be seen from these studies, even though the formation of certain isomers are favored, other isomers of CLA can contribute greatly to the composition of alkali isomerized CLA preparations.
In 1978, researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered the identity of a substance contained in cooked beef that appeared to inhibit mutagenesis. This substance was found to be CLA. Fatty acids with conjugated unsaturation are not normally constituents of the cow's diet. However, c9,t11 octadecadienoic acid is formed in the rumen as a first intermediate in the biohydrogenation of linoleic acid by linoleic acid isomerase from the anaerobic bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens as reported by Kepler et al., J. Biol. Chem. 241:1350–54 (1966).
The biological activity of individual isomers of CLA has been the subject of some speculation. The literature generally suggests that the biologically active isomer is the c9,t11 isomer produced by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens (for reviews adopting this position, see P. W. Parodi, J. Nutr. 127(6):1055–60 (1997), M. A. Belury, Nutrition Reviews 53(4):83–9 (1995)). Further data supporting this assumption appears in Ha et al., Cancer Res., 50:1097 (1991). There, the researchers conducted labeled uptake studies which indicate that the 9,11 isomer appears to be somewhat preferentially taken up and incorporated into the phospholipid fraction of animal tissues, and to a lesser extent the 10,12 isomer.
The biological activity associated with CLA is diverse and complex. At present, very little is known about the mechanisms of action of CLA, although several preclinical and clinical studies in progress are likely to shed new light on the physiological and biochemical modes of action. The anticarcinogenic properties of CLA have been well-documented. Administration of CLA inhibits rat mammary tumorigenesis, as demonstrated by Ha et al., Cancer Res., 52:2035-s (1992). Ha et al., Cancer Res., 50:1097 (1990), reported similar results in a mouse forestomach neoplasia model. CLA has also been identified as a strong cytotoxic agent against target human melanoma, colorectal and breast cancer cells in vitro. A recent major review article confirms the conclusions drawn from individual studies. (Ip, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 66(6):1523s (1997)).
Although the mechanisms of CLA action are still obscure, there is evidence that some component(s) of the immune system may be involved, at least in vivo. U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,400 (Cook, et al.) discloses a method for attenuating allergic reactions in animals mediated by type I or TgE hypersensitivity by administering a diet containing CLA. CLA in concentrations of about 0.1 to 1.0 percent was also shown to be an effective adjuvant in preserving white blood cells. U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,901 (Cook, et al.) disclosed that oral or parenteral administration of CLA in either free acid or salt form resulted in elevation in CD-4 and CD-8 lymphocyte subpopulations associated with cell-mediated immunity. Adverse effects arising from pretreatment with exogenous tumor necrosis factor could be alleviated indirectly by elevation or maintenance of levels of CD-4 and CD-8 cells in animals to which CLA was administered. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,066 describes the effect of CLA in preventing weight loss and anorexia by immune stimulation.
Apart from potential therapeutic and pharmacologic applications of CLA as set forth above, there has been much excitement regarding the use of CLA nutritively as a dietary supplement. CLA has been found to exert a profound generalized effect on body composition, in particular redirecting the partitioning of fat and lean tissue mass. U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,646 (Cook, et al.) discloses a method utilizing CLA as a dietary supplement in which pigs, mice, and humans were fed diets containing 0.5 percent CLA. In each species a significant drop in fat content was observed with a concomitant increase in protein mass. It is interesting that in these animals, increasing the fatty acid content of the diet by addition of CLA resulted in no increase in body weight, but was associated with a redistribution of fat and lean within the body. Another dietary phenomenon of interest is the effect of CLA supplementation on feed conversion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,072 (Cook, et al.) provided data showing that incorporation of CLA into animal feed (birds and mammals) increased the efficiency of feed conversion leading to greater weight gain in the CLA supplemented animals.
The potential beneficial effects of CLA supplementation for food animal growers is apparent. What is needed is a determination of what the actual biologically active isomers are and the appropriate ratios in which these isomers should be utilized.

Methods of using isomer enriched conjugated linoleic acid compositions


A method for calibrating a digital stylus comprising imaging a portion of a calibration pattern area of a data encoding pattern using an imaging module of the stylus in order to generate calibration data representing an error in alignment for the stylus, and using the calibration data to adjust subsequent measurements from the stylus in order to compensate for the error.

A digital stylus, or a digital pen, can be used with specialized paper which encodes position and page information on its surface using a pattern of dots which can be visible and/or invisible to the human eye (in the latter case the encoding can be performed using dots visible only in the infra-red portion of the electromagnetic spectrum). The paper (or similar) surface can be used to record data, in which case the stylus or pen can be used to write on the surface, and the position of the pen can be determined and used to digitize the writing. Alternatively, the stylus or pen can be used in order to select items, such as from a pre-printed form for example. In active systems, such as digital tablets for example, a stylus or pen can be used to control a computing apparatus by virtue of inductive, capacitive or resistive elements in the tablet's surface which are invoked by the stylus thereby causing some action to be performed (such as cursor movement or menu item selection for example).
Digital stylus apparatus can also be used for position determination with a display such as a monitor for example. Accordingly, a display can comprise a data encoding layer which can be used by a stylus to determine position on the monitor thereby enabling a user to control a graphical user interface of a computing apparatus for example.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for analyzing product delivery to customers. The method includes generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for the first level product classification. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the first level product classification. The first level product classification is divided into at least two, second level product classifications. Each second level product classification corresponds to a subset of the first level product classification. Delivery data is determined for each of the second level product classifications. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the second level product classifications. Other embodiments of the invention include a system and storage medium for implementing the method.

The invention relates to product delivery and in particular to a method, system and storage medium for analyzing product delivery and determining the source of product delivery delay. In today""s business world, customer satisfaction is crucial to the success of any enterprise. A key source of customer dissatisfaction is errors in delivering products to the customer. Often a customer requires a product delivered on a requested date and often at a requested time. The ability to meet this requested delivery date is important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Products arriving at the customer prior to the requested delivery date can result in storage problems for the customer who lacks space to store the product. Products arriving at the customer after the requested delivery date can cause delays in the customer""s business. Accordingly, meeting the requested delivery date is crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction.
Sales over the Internet have also forced product providers to meet increasingly higher demands from consumers. Such high volume purchasing can overwhelm product suppliers. For example, in December 1999, Toys R Us notified shoppers of toysrus.com that holiday gifts would not be delivered to the customer until after Dec. 25, 1999. With on-line shopping services becoming increasingly available, customers can easily direct their business to competitors when requested delivery dates are not met. These demands on product providers to deliver products to customers on the requested delivery date have caused product suppliers to focus on improving product delivery.
One difficulty in improving product delivery is determining which products over a range of products are creating delivery errors. Reducing delivery errors, however, requires time and resources of the product supplier. Spending such resources across an entire product line may product little or no improvement. Thus, there is a need for a system of determining the source and magnitude of delivery errors so that resources can be directed to the products having the highest delivery error.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for analyzing product delivery to customers. The method includes generating a first level product classification corresponding to a number of products and determining delivery data for the first level product classification. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the first level product classification. The first level product classification is divided into at least two, second level product classifications. Each second level product classification corresponds to a subset of the first level product classification. Delivery data is determined for each of the second level product classifications. The delivery data includes a span value indicative of delivery error for products in the second level product classifications. Other embodiments of the invention include a system and storage medium for implementing the method.

Method, system and storage medium for analyzing product delivery


The invention relates to a method for identifying T cell populations involved in autoimmune diseases. This involves determining levels of a V.beta. element in a body fluid sample of a patient and comparing this to normal levels. Variation from normal levels is indicative of an autoimmune disease. The invention also involves assaying T cell subpopulations in a sample to determine clonality of .beta. chains. Clonality can also be used to diagnose autoimmune disorders.

In recent years, the mechanism by which mammalian immune systems, such as human and murine systems react to infections, foreign antigens, and to so-called "self antigens" in connection with autoimmune diseases has begun to be established. See, in this regard, Grey et al., Scientific American 261(5): 56-64 (1989); Male et al., Advanced Immunology (J. P. Lippincott Company, 1987), especially chapters 6 through 10.
Well known, both to the skilled artisan and to the general public is the role of antibodies, sometimes referred to as "immunoglobulin" or the less correct and older "gammaglobulin" in response to infection. Antibodies are protein molecules which are produced by B cells in response to infection. It is well known that these antibodies act to "disable" or to inactivate infectious agents in the course of combating the infection.
In order for antibodies to be produced, however, preceding events must occur which lead to stimulation of the B cells which produce the antibodies. One of the key events involved in the processes leading to antibody production is that of antigen recognition. This aspect of the immune response requires the participation of so-called "T-cells", and is less well known than the antibody response commented on supra.
Briefly, and in outline form, antigen recognition requires interaction of an "antigen presentation cell", a "processed antigen", and a T-cell. See Grey and Male, supra. The "processed antigen", in an infection, is a molecule characteristic of the pathogen which has been treated, i.e., "processed", by other cells which are a part of the immune system. The processed antigen interacts with a receptor on the surface of an antigen presented in a manner not unlike a lock fitting into a key hole or, perhaps more aptly, two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
The configuration of the complex processed antigen and receptor on antigen presentation cell allows the participation of T-cells. T-cells do not join the complex unless and until the processed antigen has fit into the receptor on the antigen presentation cell. This receptor will hereafter be referred to by its scientific name, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Generally, MHC is used to refer to murine systems, and HLA to humans.
These receptors fall into two classes. MHC-II molecules are involved in most responses to pathogens. In contrast, MHC-I molecules are involved when the pathogen is a virus, or a malignant cell is involved. When MHC-I participation is involved, there is no antibody stimulation; rather, the interaction of MHC-I, processed antigen and T-cell leads to lysis of cells infected with the pathogen.
The foregoing discussion has focused on the events involved in responding to "infection", i.e., the presence of pathogenic foreign material in the organism. Similar mechanisms are involved in autoimmune diseases as well. In these conditions, the organism treats its own molecules as foreign, or as "self-antigens". The same type of complexing occurs as described supra, with an antibody response being mounted against the organism itself. Among the diseases in which this is a factor are rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, systemic lupus erythrematosis, and others.
The ability of the T-cell to complex with the processed antigen and MHC/HLA complex is dependent on what is referred to as the T-cell antigen receptor, referred to as "TCR" hereafter. The TCR is recognized as a heterodimer, made up of alpha (.alpha.) and beta (.beta.) chains. Five variable elements, coded for by germline DNA and known as "V.alpha., J.alpha., V.beta., and J.beta..sub.3, and D.beta. " as well as non-germline encoded amino acids contribute to the TCR. See, in this regard, Marrack et al., Immunol. Today 9: 308-315 (1988); Toyonaga et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 5: 585-620 (1987); Davis, Ann. Rev. Immunol. 4: 529-59 (1985); Hendrick et al., Cell 30: 141-152 (1982). With respect to the binding of TCR with processed antigen and MHC, see Babbitt et al., Nature 317: 359-361 (1985); Buus et al., Science 235: 1353-1358 (1987); Townsend et al., Cell 44: 959-968 (1986); Bjorkman et al., Nature 329: 506-512 (1987).
Generally, both the alpha and beta subunits are involved in recognition of the ligand formed by processed antigen and MHC/HLA molecule. This is not always the case, however, and it has been found that so-called "superantigens" stimulate T-cells with a particular V.beta. element, regardless of any other element. See Kappler et al., Cell 49: 273-280 (1987); Kappler et al., Cell 49: 263-271 (2987); MacDonald et al., Nature 332: 40-45 (1988); pullen et al., Nature 335: 796-801 (1988); Kappler et al., Nature 332: 35-40 (1988); Abe et al., J. Immunol. 140: 4132-4138 (1988); White et al , Cell 56: 27-35 (1989); Janeway et al., Immunol. Rev. 107: 61-88 (1989); Berkoff et al., J. Immunol. 139: 3189-3194 (1988), and Kappler et al., Science 244: 811-813 (1989).
The "superantigens" mentioned supra, while generally stimulating T-cells as long as they possess a V.beta. element, are somewhat specific in terms of the particular form of the V.beta. moiety which is present on the stimulated T cell.
Rheumatoid arthritis ("RA") is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple joints. Mononuclear cell infiltration of the synovial membrane can lead eventually to the destruction of articular cartilage and surrounding structures. Because of its high frequency and potentially severe nature, this disease is a major cause of chronic disability in adults. Although the pathogenesis of RA and other similar autoimmune diseases remains unknown, both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. Several lines of evidence suggest that T cells specific for self-antigens may play a critical role in the initiation of these diseases. In the case of RA, the linkage of the disease to the DR4 and DRI alleles of the Class II genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the finding of sometimes oligoclonal, activated CD4.sup.+ T cells in synovial fluid and tissue of affected joints (Stastny et al., New Engl. J. Med. 298: 869 (1976); Gibofsky et al., J. Exp. Med. 148: 1728 (1978); McMichael et al., Arth. Rheum. 20: 1037 (1977); Schiff et al., Ann. Rheum. Dis. 41: 403 (1982 ); Duquesnoy et al., Hum. Immunol. 10: 165 (1984); Legrand et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 36: 690 (1984); Gregerse et al., Arth. Rheum. 30: 1205 (1987); Nepon et. al., Arth. Rheum 32: 15 (1989); Burmester et al., Arth. Rheum. 24: 1370 (1981); Fox et al., J. Immunol. 128: 351 (1982); Hemler et al., J. Clin. Invest. 78: 696 (1986); Stamenkoic et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85: 1179 (1988) suggest the involvement of CD4.sup.+, .alpha..beta.TCR-bearing, Class II-restricted T cells in the disease. This view is supported by the finding that partial elimination or inhibition of T cells by a variety of techniques can lead to an amelioration of disease in certain patients (Paulus et al., Arth. Rheum. 20: 1249 (1977); Karsh et al., Arth. Rheum. 22: 1055 (1979); Kotzin et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 30: 969 (1989); Trentham et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 305: 976 (1989); Herzog et al., Lancet ii: 1461 (1987); Yocum et al., Ann. Int. Med. 109: 863 (1989).
Usually, potentially autoreactive T cells are deleted or inactivated by encounter with self-antigen during their development, before they can damage the individual (Kappler et. all, Cell 49: 273 (1987); Marrack et al., Nature 332: 840 (1988); Kappler et al., Nature 32: 35 (1988); MacDonald et al., Nature 332: 40 (1988); Pullen et al., Nature 35: 796 (1988); Bill et al., J. Exp. Med. 169: 1405 (1989); Kisielow et al., Nature 333: 742 (1988); Ramsdell et al. Science 246: 1038 (1989). In order to understand autoimmunity one must understand how self-reactive T cells escape these processes to become part of the mature T cell pool and what factors control whether these cells will remain quiescent or become activated to induce autoimmune disease. One suggested scenario has been that a self-antigen which is sequestered, at very low levels or presented on inappropriate cells may fail both to remove specific T cells during development and to activate these cells once they mature. Occasionally, however, microbial antigens cross-reactive with the self-antigens may lead to activation of these specific T cells. Once activated these cells may now recognize and chronically respond to the previously ignored self-antigen, leading to autoimmune disease. One difficulty with this suggestion is the low probability of a cross-reaction between two infrequently recognized antigens. However, recently a set of unusual microbial antigens, i.e., the superantigens have been identified (Kappler et al., supra; Marrack et al., supra; Kappler et al., Science 244: 811 (1989); Marrack et al., Science 248: 705 (1990); White et al., Cell 56: 27 (1989); Tomai et al., J. Exp. Med. 172: 359 (1990); Choi et al., J. Exp. Med. 172: 981 (190); Marrack et al., Nature 349: 524 (1991); Frankel et al., Nature 349: 526 (1991); Woodland et al., Nature 349: 529 (191); Dyson et al., Nature 349: 531 (1991). Because superantigens engage virtually all T cells whose TCR bears a particular V.beta. they can effect a much larger number of T cells than conventional antigenic peptides, which require target T cells to bear the correct versions of all the TCR variable elements (V.alpha., J.alpha., V.beta., D.beta., J.beta.). Superantigens are, therefore, statistically more likely than conventional microbial antigens to crossreact with self-antigens and it has been suggested that they may play a role in induction of autoimmunity (Marrack et al., Science 248: 705 (1990).
It has now been found that T cells carrying specific V.beta. elements are associated with different pathological conditions. In Ser. No. 437,370, it was shown that infection by a superantigen presenting organism could be detected and diagnosed by assaying for particular V.beta. elements in a T cell containing sample. In U.S. Pat. No. 488,353, this phenomenon was shown to be true for toxic shock related disorders as well.
It has also been found that specific V.beta. elements can be associated with autoimmune disease, including rheumatoid arthritis. It has been found, quite surprisingly, that T cell populations and subpopulations are implicated and/or involved in autoimmune disorders, and it is possible to identify these and to correlate their presence to particular autoimmune diseases. This, in part, is the subject of the invention.
It has also been found that, within T cell containing samples, evident of "clonality", a term which is explained infra, is also evident of an autoimmune disorder. The invention, in general, thus relates to a method for assaying for V.beta. elements in T cell containing body fluid samples. The levels obtained are compared to levels in normal individuals, and variation from the normal is an indication of an autoimmune condition.

Method for identifying T cells disease involved in autoimmune disease

National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine


A gaming terminal and method of playing a wagering game. The terminal including a wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The wagering game provides the player with an option to accept an invitation immediately redeemable for playing the wagering game or an invitation to a wagering game opportunity redeemable at a subsequent gaming session.

Gaming machines or gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines, and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines.
Consequently, shrewd operators strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator. In the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is that of a "bonus" game which may be played in conjunction with a "basic" game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, and is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome of the basic game. Such a bonus game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the basic game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the basic game.
In current basic games and bonus games the player is provided with little incentive to return the game at a later time. Once the player chooses to stop playing the game in that round, the player is immediately awarded any credits that are remaining and also loses assets that have been accumulated, but not yet awarded. For example, in some games, the bonus game consists of the player collecting assets and when a certain number or combination of assets is accumulated, the player wins an award. However, should the player choose to leave the game prior to winning the award, the player loses all of the assets accumulated. This can cause player frustration and does not provide the player with any incentive to return to the game.
Such a system also encourages "vulturing," in which the "vulturing" player waits for a person who is close to winning an award to leave the gaming machine prior to the winning of the award. The "vulturing" player then begins to play the machine, and may quickly win the award without investing much time into the game. This is also frustrating for other players.
Thus, there is a need to allow a player to accumulate assets on gaming terminals and to have those assets restored to him or her should the player return to the game at a later time. This way, should a player choose to leave a game, anything the player has accumulated during the game goes with them and is restored at a later time when the player returns to the game. This alleviates the player frustration at losing assets that they have accumulated and also provides the player an incentive to return to the game at a later date.

Wagering game with invitation for playing a wagering game at a subsequent gaming session


A hot/cold water tube connection structure for plastic faucets comprises a hot/cold water connector tube made up of a valve seat and a coupling tube wherein the valve seat has a screw tube extending downwards at the bottom of a stop ring, and a sealing ring mounted at an appropriate position of the screw tube thereon to form engaging rings at both sides thereof. The coupling tube has an oblique face indented at one end edge against which a water-sealing hoop mounted at a screw joint of a water inlet tube is securely abutted, and a coupling joint with an internal screw thread section disposed at the inner wall of the other end thereof. Therefore, the connector tube assembled can avoid the problem of gaps found in the conventional tube connection structure, and facilitate an easer replacement thereof due to its separate type of design for economical and eco-protection purposes.

The present invention is related to a hot/cold water tube connection structure for plastic faucets, comprising a hot/cold water connector tube made up of a valve seat and a coupling tube wherein the valve seat has a screw tube with engaging rings that can be securely locked to a coupling joint with an internal screw thread section of the coupling tube to provide a separate type of design thereof which can not only achieve securer connection structure to avoid the problem of gaps found in the conventional tube connection structure, but also facilitate an easier replacement thereof for economical efficiency and eco-protection purpose.
Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 2 inclusive. A conventional plastic faucet 10 includes a hot/cold water connector tube 11, 12 made up of a valve seat 13 (referring to FIG. 2) that is injection-molded to integrally combine with a metallic outer tube 111, 121 having a screw thread section defining thereon and form a plastic-and-metallic bound inner tube 112, 122 at the inner wall thereof. Due to the principle of hot-expansion and cold-contraction thereof, the processed inner tube 112, 122 after cooling off tends to get shrunken inwards and fail to keep an even surface with the end edge of the outer tube 111, 121 thereof. As a result, when a screw joint 21 of a water inlet tube 20 is coupled with the outer tube 111, 121, a water-sealing hoop 22 mounted at the screw joint 21 can simply abut against the end surface of the outer tube 111, 121, which, relatively reducing the sealing off area thereof, can hinder the connection structure to positively resist the water pressure and may lead to the problem of water leakage thereby. In addition, the deformed inner tube 112, 121 shrunken after the cooling off process thereof can also affect its combination with the outer tube 111, 121 with a gap A revealed there-between and result in a poor connection structure thereby. And, the hot/cold water connector tube 11, 12 is injection-molded of the inner and outer tubes 112, 122, 111, 121 and integrally combined with the valve seat 13 into one unit. In case the valve seat 13 is worn out of use, the hot/cold water connector tube 11, 12 must also be replaced along with the valve seat 13, which is not only uneconomical, but may increase the burden to the environment.

Hot/cold water tube connection structure for plastic faucets


One or more embodiments are directed to semiconductor packages that are assembled using a sacrificial material, that when removed, separates the assembled packages into individual packages. The sacrificial material may be removed by a blanket technique such that a mask, pattern, or alignment step is not needed. In one embodiment the sacrificial material is formed on the lead frame on a connecting bar of a lead frame between adjacent leads. After the molding step, the connecting bar is etched away exposing a surface of the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed, thereby separating the assembled packages into individual packages.

Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to semiconductor packages and methods of forming same.
Description of the Related Art
A lead frame semiconductor package is often assembled and molded as a group of semiconductor packages in a lead frame strip. As is well known in the art, the lead frame strip includes a plurality of die pads and leads that are connected together by connecting bars. The die pads of the lead frame strip may be arranged in a single line or matrix.
After assembling the packages, the individual packages are separated from each other by a singulation process. The singulation process also removes the connecting bars, thereby electrically isolating the leads and the die pads with each assembled package. The singulation process, which typically involves sawing, laser cutting, or punching can cause problems. For instance, stresses may be induced into the packages during one or more of these singulation processes. The induced stresses may cause cracks in the molding material of the packages and can cause leads to detach from the molding material, thereby affecting the reliability of the package.
Additionally, saw blades, particularly worn saw blades, may cause leads to smear along the molding material. Adjacent leads that smear together can result in an unwanted electrical coupling of adjacent leads.
Another problem encountered during the singulation process is due to warpage of the molded lead frame strip. That is, the lead frame strip may have warpage induced during the molding process. The warpage may make it difficult for the lead strip to maintain a vacuum on a holding device for the singulation process.
Finally, sawing, laser cutting, and punching, in general, utilize patterned processing steps for separating the packages. For instance, the each of these processes utilize a grid pattern for aligning the lead frame strip, such as dicing streets, with a laser, saw blade, or punching mechanism. In that regard, mapping software or visual tooling is typically required in an automated singulation tool. This can make the singulation process expensive and time consuming.

Semiconductor packages separated using a sacrificial material


A photochromic/vitroceramic window assembly that restores some of the natural illumination and warm blue-green colors normally excluded from the interior of an enclosed space after blocking at least a portion of infrared and/or UV light, comprising:    a) A transparent window pane;    b) a first self-adhesive material adhered to the exterior of the window pane, of a transparent plastic film containing a UV-activated photochromic dye; and    c) a second self-adhesive material adhered to the interior of the window pane, of a transparent plastic film containing i) a rare earth doped vitroceramic that up-converts any infrared not blocked by the first self-adhesive film to a warm visible blue or green color, and ii) a diarylethene that converts any UV not blocked by the first self-adhesive film to a visible yellow-white color.

The use of transition windows or panes in automobiles to prevent ultraviolet and infra-red solar energy penetration for purposes of enhancing user comfort and reducing power requirements for air-conditioning is known—however, the darkened interior resulting from the transition panes or windows tend to make the interior of the automobile appear dull and creates the appearance of an unnatural illumination in departure from daylight. Further, due to the desire to obtain a transmission range for photochromic windows, a sacrifice to the interior of the "warm" colors of natural light such as blue and green are surrendered upon darkening of the transition windows in the automobile. Moreover, the outside illumination to a passenger interior to the automobile gives the daylight a darker appearance that suggest a point later in time in the day than is actually the case.


A 3D shutter glasses device, coupled via a wireless link to a 3D video display device, maintains a slave clock synchronized with a master clock in the display device. The clocks may comprise Bluetooth clocks. The shutter glasses receive 3D frame display information and time information referenced to the master clock that corresponds to when frames are displayed. The shutter glasses control opening and closing of left and right shutters utilizing slave clock time and the received information. The received display information comprises left, right and/or blank frame pattern information, a frame pattern time interval, a frame refresh rate and a time offset for delaying opening and/or closing of shutters. The time information indicates master clock time when frames are displayed. The shutter glasses and the display maintain synchronization when display and/or time information updates are skipped. The shutter glasses may transmit information to the display device.

Video content may be recorded in two-dimensional (2D) format or in three-dimensional (3D) format. In various applications such as, for example, DVD movies and TV, a 3D video is often desirable because it is often more realistic to viewers than the 2D counterpart. A 3D video comprises left view frames and right view frames. 3D glasses may be utilized for viewing 3D video content. Exemplary 3D glasses may utilize polarizing technology or shutter techniques, for example.
In order to produce images which can be viewed by consumers with a 3-dimensional (3D) effect, videos are often filmed and rendered stereoscopically. For example, to produce video, a stream of images may be produced for viewing with the right eye and another stream of images may be produced for viewing with the left eye. The images are typically taken such that one of the image streams is taken from a perspective which is slightly offset from the other, in the same way that the perspective seen by the right eye is slightly offset from that seen by the left eye.
Various display systems for 3D video, such as televisions and film or video projectors, display a stream of images in sequence at a rate known as the refresh rate. One popular system for reproducing these 3D videos involves displaying images at twice the normal refresh rate of non-3D video, alternating images for the left and right eyes. A viewer may wear glasses which contain LC shutters, for example, that are electronically controlled such that the left eye shutter is open when an image for the left eye is being displayed, and the right eye shutter is open when an image for the right eye is being displayed.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for synchronizing 3D shutter glasses to a television refresh rate


A scanner unit includes a housing having an opening on its upper surface, a platen glass provided so as to be exposed from the opening on the upper surface of the housing, a carriage provided in the housing so as to be movable parallel with the platen glass, a linear CIS mounted on the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction to read the image of a document placed on the platen glass, roller units provided in the vicinity of both ends and central part with respect to the vicinity of the both ends of the CIS in the longitudinal direction so as to abut on the platen glass, and a coil spring provided in the carriage so as to force the CIS toward the platen glass.

The present invention relates to an image reading device in which an image sensor mounted on a carriage is moved parallel to and immediately below a transparent board to read the image on a document placed on the transparent board.
Conventionally, an image reading device that performs an image reading for a still document has been well known. The image reading for the still document is performed by moving an image sensor reciprocally along a platen glass on which the document is placed. Such an image reading is known as an image reading device called a flatbed type.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the inner constitution of a conventional image reading device. As shown in FIG. 1, a platen glass 91 is provided so as to be exposed on the upper surface of a housing 90. On the platen glass 91, a document to be read is placed. An image reading unit 92 is provided in the housing 90. The image reading unit 92 has an image sensor 93. The image sensor 93 is a contact image sensor (referred to as the "CIS" hereinafter), The image sensor 93 is mounted on a carriage 94. The carriage 94 is supported by a guide shaft 95 so as to be slid in the axial direction of the guide shaft 95. The carriage 94 is connected to a timing belt of a belt driving mechanism, for example. When the driving force is transmitted from the belt driving mechanism, the carriage 94 is slid in the predetermined direction (the above axial direction). In addition, the belt driving mechanism is omitted in FIG. 1.
Rollers 96 are provided at both ends of the image sensor 93 so as to be projected from the upper surface of the image sensor 93. In addition, a coil spring 97 is provided between the image sensor 93 and the carriage 94. The image sensor 93 is elastically forced toward the platen glass 91 by the coil spring 97 and the rollers 96 are pressed against the platen glass 91. When the carriage 94 is slid, the image sensor 93 mounted on the carriage 94 is also moved. The rollers 96 pressed against the platen glass 91 roll while the image sensor 93 is moved. The image sensor 93 applies light to the document placed on the platen glass 91 while being slid and outputs an electric signal according to its reflected light intensity. The image reading of the document is performed based on the electric signal.
The CIS used as the image sensor 93 has a small focal depth as compared with a reduced optical image reading unit using a CCD(Charge Coupled Device), for example. When the document is positioned out of the focal depth of the image sensor 93, the image sensor 93 cannot focus on the document. As a result the quality of the read image is inferior. Therefore, the distance between the upper surface of the image sensor 93 and the upper surface of the platen glass 91 on which a document is placed is desirably kept within a predetermined range based on the focal distance. According to the above image reading device, the distance from the upper surface of the image sensor 93 to the back surface of the platen glass 91 is set by the rollers 96 projected from the upper surface of the image sensor 93 and pressed against the platen glass 91, so that a desired and constant focal distance is maintained.
The platen glass 91 could be bent by external force. For example, when a book document is pressed against the platen glass 91 at the time of image reading, the weight of the book document and pressing force by a user are applied to the platen glass 91. Although the platen glass 91 is prevented from being bent by increasing its thickness, a demand for reduction in weight and cost cannot be implemented.
For example, when the center of the platen glass 91 is bent downward, the distance from the vicinity of the center to the upper surface of the image sensor 93 is shortened, so that it could deviate from the focal depth of the image sensor 93. As described above, according to the constitution in which the distance between the platen glass 91 and the image sensor 93 is kept constant by the rollers 96 provided at both ends of the image sensor 93, when the platen glass 91 is excessively bent downward, the platen glass 91 could be in contact with the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the image sensor 93. Especially, when it comes in contact with the platen glass 91 while the image sensor 93 is moved, the image sensor 93 and the platen glass 91 could be damaged. In order to solve the above problem, it is proposed that a roller is further provided in the vicinity of the center of the image sensor 93 with a predetermined space from the platen glass 91. Thus, the bent platen glass 91 comes in contact with the roller at the center and it is prevented from being bent excessively (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-228266 (1996)).


The present invention provides an improved SRAM memory cell based on a DICE structure, which comprises following structures: four inverter structures formed through arranging PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors in series, wherein the part between the drains of a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor serves as a storage node; each storage node controls the gate voltage of an NMOS transistor of the other inverter structure and of a PMOS transistor of another inverter structure; a transmission structure consisting of four NMOS transistors, whose source, gate and drain are respectively connected with a bit line/bit bar line, a word line and a storage node. The use of an improved SRAM memory cell based on a DICE structure not only avoids such defects as small static noise margin and being prone to transmission error facing the traditional cell structures consisting of 6 transistors, but also resolves the problem that the current SRAM storage cells based on a DICE structure can easily be affected by the electrical level of storage nodes. This effectively improves reliability of storage cells.

Integrated circuits are currently the electronic products that are innovated at the fastest speed in the world, whilst a memory device is always the typical product that represents the development level of integrated circuit technology. Advancement of design and manufacturing process of integrated circuits makes it possible to continuously improve storage capacity and performance of SRAM. SRAM becomes the maximum amount of volatile memory device used as computer cache for its fast reading and writing speed. Additionally, SRAM also has been widely applied in electronic products of aviation, telecommunication and consumer electronic goods.
Along with rapid development in the areas of aerospace industry and semiconductor technology, various electronic devices have been applied in space of very harsh conditions, in which various radioactive particles disperse. Radioactive effect would lead to confusion of data inversion in memory cells of semiconductor memory devices and also lead to data transmission error of an entire logic circuit. Accordingly, SRAM designers now are faced with such an unavoidable issue as how to improve radiation resistance of SRAM.
Most of the conventional SRAMs make use of six-transistor units, whose structure is shown in FIG. 1, and are composed of two clamp inverters (M1 and M5 constituting an inverter, whilst M2 and M6 constituting a second inverter) and another two transmission transistors (M3 and M4). A world line WL controls M3 and M4; M3 and M4 are turned on upon operations of reading and writing. At the time of reading, two bit lines BLB and BL are both pre-charged to a high electric level. When 1 is written in, BL=1, BLB=0; when 0 is written in, BL=0, BLB=1.
For the current SRAM memory cells, BL and BLB are pre-charged to Vdd/2 at the time of reading operations. The voltage of the node storing 0 rises because of voltage-split principles in transistors, which consequently reduces the static noise margin. As shown in FIG. 1, two bit lines BL and BLB are individually charged to Vdd/2 at the time of reading operations. If the memory value of a memory node Q on the left is 1, the memory value of the memory node QB on the right is 0, then WL=1, M5 is turned on at the time of reading; since Q stores 1, the gate voltage of the M2 transistor is in an ON state all the time; when BLB reads 0 stored in QB, it is charged to a high electric level; therefore, M2 and M4 form a discharge path, and the voltage of QB rises from 0. If the voltage of QB rises to a certain level, it may turn M1 on, and the potential of the node Q is driven down, which consequently causes data stored in the entire SRAM flip and thence leads to data transmission errors.
Therefore, at the time of reading, the voltage of a node storing 0 rises to a certain level between 0 and Vdd/2, the exact figure of which depends on the conducting resistance between M2 and M4. In this case, if this node is further interfered by a noise voltage, flip is more likely to happen; consequently, the static noise margin is reduced. Likewise, the issue of voltage change also happens to storage nodes at the time of reading "1". As shown in FIG. 1, BL and BLB are pre-charged to Vdd/2 before the stored data is read; if Q=1, QB=0, then M3 and M5 are turned on, and the potential of Q point is at a level between Vdd/2 and Vdd, the exact figure of which depends on the conducting resistances of M3 and M5.
FIG. 2 illustrates an SRAM cell designed on the basis of a dual interlocked storage cell (DICE) structure in the prior art, in which four inverters constitute four storage nodes A, B, C, D. According to the design scheme, the potentials of A and C should be the same, while the potentials of B and D should be the same. Discussion about different situations is to be given below on the basis of different initial values of A, B, C, D.
□ Assume initial conditions are that A=1, B=0, C=1, D=0. It can be seen that A controls the turning on of N8 and drives D node down to 0; and at the meantime, D controls the turning on of P1 and drives Node A up to a high electric level; therefore, A and D control each other when they are respectively 1 and 0. Likewise, B and C also control each other. {circle around (2)} If A=0, B=1, C=0, D=1, then A=0 enables P2 to drive B up to 1, while B turns N1 on and drives A down to 0; Likewise, C and D also control each other in this case.
In situation □, if B flips to 1, it cannot be restored except by a feedback from C to B. If B flips to 0, it may turn P3 on because of a fairly large instant current, and C is driven up to 1. In this case, the entire BC feedback becomes ineffective. Because A and D are a pair of controlling nodes, while B and C are a pair of controlling nodes. A and D are incapable of restoring flip of B. The similar problem would also happen in situation {circle around (2)}.
Accordingly, it is desirable to propose an SRAM cell structure that has a relatively large static noise margin and is resistant of influence from initial electric level of nodes.

SRAM storage unit based on DICE structure

INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided with a detecting section (108) for detecting a value of a parameter that causes fluctuations in a back transition occurrence condition; a calculating section (106) for determining, in accordance with the detection value of the detecting section, at least one of a ratio of an time period of applying a high voltage with respect to one frame period, the high voltage being applied to the liquid crystal panel in order to prevent back transition, a magnitude of the high voltage, and an applied voltage corresponding to white display; and a controller (104) for alternately outputting a video signal and a non-image signal for applying the high voltage and driving the liquid crystal panel on a condition in accordance with the determination result of the calculating section. With this, it is possible to always display video irrespectively of fluctuation in the back transition occurrence condition.

Currently, liquid crystal display apparatuses that have been widely available utilize a liquid crystal panel in TN (Twisted Nematic) mode. In recent years, for the purpose of overcoming drawbacks in TN mode of a narrow viewing angle and low response capabilities, liquid crystal display apparatuses using a liquid crystal panel in OCB mode have been developed and reported (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-84254,—Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-96790, etc.)
In the liquid crystal panel in OCB mode, as disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-96790, special processing is required for causing a transition from a spray configuration to a bend configuration (such a transition from the spray configuration to the bend configuration is hereinafter referred to as "transition") prior to a start of video display. This processing, however, is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore is not further described herein.
Now, in the liquid crystal panel in OCB mode, as illustrated in FIG. 14, even if the above processing causes the state of OCB cells to make a transition to the bend configuration, the state returns back to the spray configuration if a voltage applied to the OCB cells continues to be lower than a constant voltage Vc (such a transition from the bend configuration back to the spray configuration is hereinafter referred to as "back transition"). Therefore, as represented by a characteristic a illustrated in FIG. 14, most liquid crystal display apparatuses using a liquid crystal panel in OCB mode limit the amplitude of a video signal so that a voltage (larger than Vc) within a range enabling the bend configuration to be kept is always applied to the OCB cells (note that this is a case of normally white). However, if the amplitude of the video signal is limited as such, the maximum transmittance of the liquid crystal panel is small (Ta in FIG. 14). Consequently, the maximum luminance (luminance in white display (bright display)) of the liquid panel is decreased, there by causing inconveniences, such as that a desired luminance cannot be obtained.
However, with a high voltage being periodically applied to the OCB cells, back transition does not occur even if the voltage applied to the OCB cells temporarily becomes lower than Vc, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-109921 and Japanese Liquid Crystal Society Journal, Apr. 25, 1999 (Vol. 3, No. 2) P.99 (17) through P.106 (24). With this being used for displaying an image of one frame, one frame period is divided into a period for displaying the image and a period for applying a high voltage. Therefore, as represented by a characteristic b illustrated in FIG. 14, the range of the voltage applicable to the OCB cells as a video signal was able to be expanded to Vw, which is lower tan Vc, Such a driving scheme is hereinafter referred to as "anti-back-transition driving". Also, the high voltage regularly applied to the OCB cells for the purpose of preventing back transition is hereinafter referred to as "anti-back-transition voltage". According to the anti-back-transition driving, the maximum transmittance of the liquid crystal panel can be increased (Tb illustrated in FIG. 14). As a result, the maximum luminance of the liquid crystal display apparatus can be increased. Note that the inventors have confirmed that preventive effects against back transition are increased as the anti-back-transition voltage is increased and also as a ratio of a time period with respect to one frame period (a ratio of a time period during which the voltage is maintained with respect to one frame period) is increased. Note that the preventive effects against back transition represent herein how hard back transition occurs when parameters (the ratio of the time period of applying the anti-back-transition voltage with respect to one frame period and a liquid crystal temperature), which cause fluctuations in a back transition occurrence condition, are fluctuated.
However, when the above-described anti-back-transition driving is performed, it was found that the magnitude of the anti-back-transition voltage required for preventing anti-back-transition and the ratio of the time period with respect to one frame period are fluctuated by various factors, such as the temperature of the liquid crystal panel (more precisely, liquid crystal).
Therefore, the inventors have investigated, by way of example, a relation between the ratio of the time period of applying the anti-back-transition voltage with respect to one frame period and the temperature of the liquid crystal panel. Consequently, in a case of an OCB liquid crystal material used by the inventors, as denoted by a long and short dashed line in FIG. 15, it is found that as the liquid crystal temperature is increased, the ratio of the time period of applying the anti-back-transition voltage with respect to one frame period is increased. Therefore, for example, if the ratio of the time period of applying the anti-back-transition voltage with respect to one frame period is at the minimum as required at room temperature, back transition occurs when the liquid crystal temperature is high, making it impossible to perform video display. Therefore, in order to make it possible to perform video display even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is increased, one measure can be thought to apply the anti-back-transition voltage at a sufficiently large ratio so as not to cause back transition even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is 80° C., for example. However, as the ratio of the time period of applying the anti-back-transition voltage (voltage corresponding to black display) with respect to one frame period is increased, the maximum luminance is disadvantageously decreased. Note that the luminance referred to herein is a brightness felt by people, and is none other than a time integral of the transmittance within one frame period. That is why the maximum luminance is decreased as the ratio of the applying time (black display) with respect to one frame period is increased.
Furthermore, the inventors also confirmed that the preventive effects against back transition can be increased by increasing the magnitude of the anti-back-transition voltage. Therefore, one measure can be thought such as that, in order to make it possible to perform video display even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is increased, a sufficiently large voltage is applied as the anti-back-transition voltage so as not to cause back transition even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is 80° C., for example. However, if a voltage larger than an applied voltage corresponding to black display (dark display) (Vb in FIG. 14) is applied to an OCB liquid crystal, the transmittance of the OCB liquid crystal is increased as illustrated in FIG. 14. Therefore, the maximum luminance (luminance at black display) is disadvantageously increased (that is, contrast is impaired).
Still further, the inventors also confirmed that the preventive effects against back transition can be also enhanced by increasing the applied voltage (Vw in FIG. 14) corresponding to white display. Therefore, one measure can be thought such as that, in order to make it possible to perform video display even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is increased, a sufficiently large voltage is applied so as not to cause back transition even when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is 80° C., for example. However, as the applied voltage corresponding to white display is increased, the transmittance of the liquid crystal at the time of white display is decreased, thereby causing a decrease in maximum luminance.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of always optimally displaying video irrespectively of fluctuations in a back transition occurrence condition.

Liquid crystal display apparatus and drive method thereof


Improved battery charge state determination. The estimated charge state of a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells is updated using Coulomb counting during battery operation, for example, while operating an electric vehicle motor. The estimated charge state may be coupled to a fuel gauge. When the battery is in a no load state, a no load voltage measurement is made. During testing, a set of relationships between battery no load voltages and associated known good charge states have been determined. The measured no load voltage is compared to the set of no load voltages associated with known good charge states. A known good charge state associated with the measured no load voltage is used to update the estimated charge state, thereby providing a more accurate indication of the actual battery charge state, thus providing a more robust and accurate fuel gauge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to rechargeable battery systems for electric vehicles, and more particularly, to fuel gauges for electric vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicle operators and passengers alike are familiar with fuel gauges, giving a visual indication of fuel remaining.
With the move to electric vehicles, such fuel gauges have moved as well. In an electric vehicle, the fuel gauge displays an estimate of energy remaining in the vehicle's rechargeable battery.
One way in which this is done is by displaying on the fuel gauge an estimated charge state of the rechargeable battery system in the vehicle. The battery charge state is typically estimated using a known technique such as Coulomb counting. Coulomb counting counts the amount of energy going into and out of the battery, thereby maintaining an estimated charge state for the battery.
However, Coulomb counting has a problem with accumulated error which results in reduced accuracy over time. As understood in the art, Coulomb counting using discrete measurements is an approximation of an ideal process of integrating current flow continuously over time. Practical approaches use current measurements taken at discrete intervals of time to represent current flow over the interval. Such measurements taken during each interval represent an approximation, in which small errors accumulate over time. These small errors accumulate in the determined charge state over time. As the charge state maintained by Coulomb counting diverges from the actual charge state of the battery, so the reading on the fuel gauge becomes increasingly inaccurate over time. This creates a problem if the operator cannot rely on the fuel gauge to accurately indicate the battery charge state.
What is needed is a way to improve the accuracy of fuel gauges as may be used in battery operated devices, including electric vehicles.

System and method for improved battery charge state determination


In an image forming method of receiving encrypted data generated by an information processing apparatus, decrypting the encrypted data into data to be printed, and causing an image forming apparatus to execute printing processing, print data is acquired by decrypting the received encrypted data, and the acquired print data is converted into image data for which the printing processing can be performed. The image data is encrypted with first key information.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming technique and information processing technique which can speed up the processing from the decryption of print data at the start of printing to the execution of printing while ensuring confidentiality on a network and the confidentiality of print data in an image forming apparatus which processes the data by encrypting the print data.
2. Background Art
Recently, printing systems in which printing apparatuses are shared through networks or the like have increased in number. When a plurality of users use a printing apparatus through a network or the like, the users who have input print jobs are distant from the printing apparatus at the start of printing in many cases. The printed output data may be exposed to a third party. That is, confidentiality cannot be maintained.
As a printing apparatus for which measures are taken to prevent printed output data from being exposed to a third party, an apparatus has been proposed, in which a client computer generates a print job with a personal identification number or password in accordance with, for example, an operation performed by the user who has input the print job, and a printing apparatus executes the print job. Upon receiving the print job with the personal identification number or password from the client computer, the printing apparatus temporarily stores the print job in a storage medium such as a memory or hard disk in the apparatus. When the user who has input the print job walks to the printing apparatus afterward and inputs a personal identification number or password through the operation panel of the printing apparatus, the input personal identification number or password is collated with that of the print job. If the printing apparatus determines in accordance with the collation result that the correct password or the like has been input, the printing apparatus starts executing the stored print job. In this case, since printing is started after the user who has input the print job walks to the printing apparatus, there is no chance that the printed output data of the user will be exposed to a third party (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-212744).
In addition, in order to start printing in front of the printing apparatus, the user must specify a target print job. In general, a print job list is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel of the printing apparatus to let the user select a target print job, and the user inputs a password or the like to make the printing apparatus start printing. Instead of using this method, i.e., letting the user select a print job and input a password or the like, a method using an ID card to improve the convenience of the user has been proposed. In this method, ID information registered in an ID card is used as a personal identification number or password. When this ID card is inserted into the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus reads out the ID information, and finds out a print job with a personal identification number or the like of the print job, stored in the printing apparatus, which coincides with the readout ID information, thereby performing printing operation (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-150559).
There is a risk that print data exchanged through a network will be monitored on the network and duplicated by a third party, and the third party will duplicate and obtain the contents of the print job without permission by transmitting the duplicated print data to another printing apparatus. There is also a risk that a third party will duplicate the data of a print job itself stored in the printing apparatus, and transmit the data to another printing apparatus, thus duplicating and obtaining the contents of the print job without permission.
In order to cope with such a problem, there has been proposed a system which encrypts print data exchanged through a network and print data stored in a printing apparatus (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-134264).
In addition, recently, IC cards have increasingly become popular, and studies have been made on the use of an IC card instead of the above ID card which is used to simplify the operation of inputting a personal identification number or password. An improvement in the performance of IC cards allows the IC cards to perform the above encryption by themselves. This makes it basically impossible to perform decryption without an IC card which has been used for encryption. Therefore, stricter methods of protecting print data have been studied.
In a printing operation in which the confidentiality of print data is protected by using IC cards, in general, decryption can be performed only by an IC card which has been used for encryption, and hence printing processing cannot be started until the IC card is inserted into a printing apparatus in which encrypted print data is stored. Print data is written by a page description language and the like, and the printing apparatus prints after converting the print data expressed by the page description language and the like into image data. That is, the print data cannot be converted into image data until the user inserts an IC card into the printing apparatus. Therefore, it takes much time to convert print data written by a complex page description language into image data. That is, it takes much time to deliver printed matter after the user inserts an IC card.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problem, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus, image forming method, and the like which can speed up the processing from the decryption of data at the start of printing to the execution of printing while ensuring confidentiality on a network and the confidentiality of print, data in the image printing apparatus which processes the print data by encrypting the print data.

Image forming apparatus, image forming method, information processing apparatus and information processing method


Apparatus for optical communications (10, 20, 30, 60 90) includes an optically switched resonant tunneling device (12, 22, 42, 62, 92) being exposed to an input light. The optically switched resonant tunneling device (12, 22, 42, 62, 92) generates a first and second voltage levels in response to the intensity level of the input light. A lasing device (16, 28, 46, 68, 74, 100) is coupled to the optically switched resonant tunneling device (12, 22, 42, 62, 92). The lasing device (16, 28, 46, 68, 74, 100) generates and modulates an output light in response to the first and second voltage levels.

Conventional optical repeater circuits require a complex series of both analog and digital signal processing components. For example, an input optical signal is first converted to a photocurrent signal using either p-i-n diodes, m-s-m diodes or avalanche photodetectors. The photocurrent signal is then converted into a small analog voltage by a high speed transimpedance amplifier. The small analog voltage is then amplified by an amplifier and digitized by an analog-to-digital converter to restore the original electronic digital signal. The digital signal is then used to drive a modulator and laser to generate an output optical signal. Therefore, the conventional repeater circuit requires at least six circuit elements to accomplish the task of detecting the intensity of an input light and retransmitting a light of similar intensity as an output light.
In most high speed optical fiber links, data transmission along the fiber is uni-directional and the optical transmitter and receiver, positioned at opposite ends of the fiber, can be independently optimized for high speed operation. However in duplex communication applications, because both a transmitter and receiver are needed at each end of the fiber, the system is substantially more complex. One conventional optical transceiver that perform both the transmission and reception functions uses a transmitting laser as a receiver. Such transceivers cannot operate bi-directionally simultaneously; in other words, such transceivers cannot transmit and receive simultaneously. Other conventional transceiver systems require the use of waveguide splitters to provide separate paths for the transmitted and received optical signals.
It is recently discovered that certain resonant tunneling diodes exhibit opto-electronic characteristics. For example, as discussed in "Optically Switched Resonant Tunneling Diodes," by Moise et al., Applied Physics Letter, Feb. 27, 1995, resonant tunneling diodes can switch between a high conductance and a low conductance electrical state depending on the level of illumination thereon. The switching characteristics are reversible and, in the absence of light, the detector returns to its original high conductance operating state.

Apparatus and method for optical communication


A system and method for removing asbestos and other hazardous solids from a slurry collected during removal of insulation from pipelines, equipment and other structures. The slurry is collected in a collection pan that is attached to a shroud of a hydrocleaning machine. Solid particles are separated from the slurry by passing the slurry through various stages of filters. Pumps are used to transfer the slurry from the collection pan through the filter stages. A first flocculent is injected into the slurry to coagulate the solid particles into individual masses. A second flocculent is injected into the slurry, downstream from the injection point of the first flocculent, in order to coagulate a majority of the remaining solid particles. The coagulated masses of solid particles are removed by passing the slurry through a screen shaker. The slurry discharged from the screen shaker is then passed through further filters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for removing asbestos and other contaminated or hazardous solids from a slurry which is collected during removal of insulation from pipelines, equipment and other similar structures.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,052,423 and 5,074,323 disclose an apparatus for hydrocleaning the exterior surface of a pipeline or the like. A plurality of liquid jet nozzles are mounted with respect to a frame so as to surround, during use, the pipeline in circumferentially spaced apart relationship to one another. High-pressure liquid is supplied to the liquid jet nozzles. The frame travels longitudinally relative to the pipeline to effect cleaning of the pipeline exterior surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,391 teaches an apparatus for removing contaminant material from a building. The apparatus is a box-shaped device for removing asbestos from horizontally and vertically arranged pipes. A plurality of glove apertures are formed in two opposing sidewalls of a box-shaped device. A glove is connected to the sidewall at each aperture and the glove extends into the enclosure. The enclosure operates at a negative pressure. A filter is used at each suction aperture to trap airborne asbestos material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,969 discloses an apparatus and process for removing asbestos and other hazardous material. A vacuum loader is used to remove, collect, seal and dispose asbestos and other hazardous material. The vacuum loader includes a bulk separator compartment, a filtering compartment downstream of the bulk separator, and a collector compartment having a dust settlement chamber.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,718,925 and 4,749,391 teach a material collection receiver having a bag assembly with a porous or perforated inner bag positioned within the interior of a solid imperforate bag. A perforated inner shell is used to accommodate expansion of the bags. A shroud prevents hazardous material from contaminating the outside of the outer bag. A vacuum tank surrounds the shroud.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,121 discloses a process for removing asbestos-filled linings or coatings applied on a surface of a building. U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,004 teaches a method for packaging asbestos fibers into consolidated blocks.
Other conventional methods for removing and disposing of asbestos and other hazardous material include: wet-bag methods that conform to Environmental Protection Agency standards; hand-scraping; hand-held high-pressure waterlances; line travel knife and brush equipment; rotating abrasive wheels; machine blasting with sand or other particles; and line travel high-pressure water jetting equipment. According to the wet-bag methods, asbestos materials are dampened. The dampened pieces of asbestos and other hazardous material are then removed by hand and placed into special storage bags.
It is apparent that there exists a need for an automated system and method for collecting and separating asbestos and other hazardous materials and disposing of such materials within guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or by other governing standards.

System and method for removing asbestos particles from a slurry


A method and apparatus for transmitting a Forward Error Correction (FEC) packet block including a plurality of FEC packets in a multimedia system are provided. The method includes generating a plurality of first FEC packet blocks by performing a first FEC encoding on a plurality of source symbols, each of the plurality of first FEC packet blocks including at least one source packet and at least one repair packet for repair of each of the at least one source packet, generating a second FEC packet block by performing a second FEC encoding on the plurality of first FEC packet blocks, the second FEC packet block including at least one repair packet for the plurality of first FEC packet blocks, and transmitting the second FEC packet block that includes, in header information of each of the at least one source packet and the at least one repair packet.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for generating forward error correction packets in a multimedia system and a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving forward error correction packets.
Description of the Related Art
Due to increasing types of content and increases in the number of high-volume or high-data content such as High Definition (HD) content and Ultra High Definition (UHD) content, data congestion is increasingly worse in communication networks.
FIG. 1 schematically shows general Internet Protocol (IP)-based network topology and data flow.
Referring to FIG. 1, due to the data congestion, content sent by a sender 110, which may be a host A, may not be fully delivered to a receiver 130, which may be host B, and some of the content may be lost in its route from the sender 110 to the receiver 130. In a typical IP network, data is transmitted on a packet basis, and thus, it may be lost on a transmission packet basis. Accordingly, the receiver 130 may not receive the transmission packet lost in the network, and thus may not find out data in the lost transmission packet, causing a variety of user inconveniences, including audio quality degradation, video quality degradation, screen cracks, missing subtitle information, and file loss.
Therefore, there is a need for a method for repairing or recovering data lost in the network. Accordingly, the sender 110 may generate Forward Error Correction (FEC) frames by FEC-encoding source data and adding repair data thereto, and may transmit the FEC frames through a series of processes. In an application layer of a protocol stack, unlike in a physical layer where transmission data is received in the transmission order, transmission data may not be received in the transmission order in the application layer as it passes through a plurality of routers 150 in the network. Thus, there is a need for an ordering method for allowing a receiver to determine the order of each of symbols in FEC frames and a packet generation and transmission method for allowing the receiver to get boundary information between FEC frames.
An IP packet 170, as shown in FIG. 1, may be transported to the receiver 130, passing through the plurality of routers 150. However, the IP packet 170 may be transported to the receiver 130 in a different order than the order that the sender 110 transmitted the packet 170. Accordingly, there is a need to indicate a transmission order of packets in Audio/Video (AV) content streaming. To this end, it is preferable that, in an application stage, data 171 in FIG. 1 may be regarded as RTP packet data that is generated by packetizing data compressed in an AV codec stage, using a Real Time Protocol (RTP), or may be regarded as Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Media Transport (MMT) packet data.

Method for generating forward error correction packet in multimedia system and method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving forward error correction packet


A car-used lock with alerting function comprises a lock installed with a sensor, a buzzer and a transmitter; a receiving control device for receiving signals from the transmitter; the receiving control device being installed with a receiver, a decoder, a microprocessor, an indicator, leaning keys, a dialing control wire and a power source; a car-used handset connected to the receiving control device and having a battery. The receiver serves to transfer the high frequency signals emitted from the transmitter into digital signals. The decoder serves to transfer the digital signals into codes. The microprocessor serves to compare the codes with the built-in data. The lock has the affect of immediate alert and communication with legal frequency bands and power. The power source is from the car used handset. Furthermore, two sets of quick dialing numbers are used so that the line busy of the car owner can be avoided.

Currently door lock is assembled to a steering wheel of the car so that the thief cannot rotate the steering wheel. Or the door lock is assembled to a gear switch of a car so that the gear switch cannot be operated. Or the door lock is assembled the oil treadle so that the thief cannot trading the oil treadle to drive the car. However above-mentioned way cannot effectively prevent the thief to steal the car.


A power-on reset circuit is used to initialize a system component upon power-on. The circuit comprises a digital circuit such as a shift register which exhibits a multiplicity of uncertain or random outputs upon power-on. These output are coupled to digital logic such as an AND gate which itself outputs a power-on reset signal when any of the outputs of the shift register is not a predetermined output level. Because the outputs of the shift register are uncertain or arbitrary upon power-on and there are a multiplicity of such outputs, it is not likely that all of the outputs of the shift register will coincidentally exhibit the predetermined levels upon power-on. Consequently, it is very likely that the AND gate will provide the power-on reset signal upon power-on to initialize the system component. Subsequently, when the system is ready for normal operation, the shift register is set with the predetermined levels to terminate the power-on reset signal and thereby enable or condition the system component for normal operation.

The invention relates to power-on reset circuits which establish initial conditions for circuitry immediately after power is turned on.
"Power-on" can occur when the circuitry is installed in a system and a system power switch is subsequently activated or when the circuitry resides on a card which is initially disconnected from the system and then installed in the system after the power switch has been activated. For many types and arrangements of integrated circuits, it is important that the circuitry assume a predetermined "safe" state immediately after power-on and until the circuit begins normal operation. For example, tristate CMOS drivers cannot tolerate large heat dissipation, and this can cause a problem in a computer system where the CMOS drivers face each other in a bidirectional communication line. Overheating could occur if one CMOS driver exhibited a high output state whereby it outputted a high level of drive current and the other CMOS driver simultaneously exhibited a low output state whereby it sunk the high level of drive current supplied by the one CMOS driver. Thus, during the period between power-on and beginning of normal operation, it is important that either both drivers be disabled into the tristate (a high impedance output state), or if enabled that the foregoing condition be avoided. There are many other circuit types and arrangements where the circuit states should be controlled during this period.
In the prior art it was known to sense the power supply voltage during power-on, and when the voltage reached the rated voltage or a predetermined voltage near the rated voltage, then generate a reset pulse to initialize the circuitry to a safe state. Also, some prior art power-on reset circuits included delays to the reset pulse to ensure that all circuitry has attained a stable operating state after the rated voltage or predetermined voltage is reached.
While such voltage sensing power-on reset circuits are effective in many types of circuits, they require analog type circuitry which cannot readily be integrated with some types of digital circuitry used to implement the normal function.
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a power-on reset circuit which utilizes digital circuitry.

Power-on reset circuit with arbitrary output prevention

International Business Machines Corporation


A sipper type capping assembly engageable with a necked container so as not to pool condensation on the disc seal. It has a unitary molding (1) adapted to define a detachable overcap (4) and at least the container engaging skirt (9). An insert (2) and a disc seal member (17) located within molding (1), and a nozzle component (3) above the seal member is carried through the insert yet moveable relative thereto. In a non-dispensing condition, the nozzle component (3) and the insert (2) provide closure. In the dispensing condition of the nozzle component (3) relative to the insert (2) there is defined a liquid egress passageway. The insert and the nozzle component, when in or notionally considered in the non-dispensing condition, define together with the molding a fully enclosed space about part of the nozzle component. When in or notionally considered in at least the dispensing condition, the molding and the disc seal member fully enclose the nozzle component.

There has been a trend towards liquid dispensing containers (hereafter "containers") of a kind having a liquid content capable of being dispensed (e.g. including by pouring, sucking and/or squeezing) reliant on a pull out or the equivalent outlet nozzle of a closure assembly.
It is usual with all such containers to provide some semblance of protection for the outlet nozzle if the container is not to be one to be filled by the purchaser himself or herself, i.e. where a container is being sold as a throwaway or a potential container for reuse.
With such a nozzle outlet assembly it is also usual for some form of seal system to be utilised to prevent contamination of the liquid content of the bottle and/or accidental or deliberate egress of liquid therefrom without evidence of tampering. Usually such a seal system involves a form of removable seal (e.g. whether of a foil, a laminate or a polycell material or otherwise (e.g. "polycell liners")). Such seals can be provided with a tab such that upon removal of, for example, a closure assembly which carries the outlet nozzle, the seal can be removed. Other forms involve a foil or other pierceable membrane capable of being broken without any removal of all of the closure assembly, i.e. it can be punched through by an appropriate manipulation of the outlet nozzle itself and/or some inner extension thereof.
Such containers usually have a neck with an external thread engageable by part of the closure assembly. The containers usually in the form of a bottle or flask and at least most components of the closure assembly are usually manufactured from a fast cycle injection plastics material such as a suitable food grade polypropylene or polyethylene. Reference herein therefore to "moulded components" preferably refers to materials of a plastics type but where appropriate such materials can be substituted by other materials (whether metal or otherwise) or other conventional materials used for cap making. Likewise, membranes as referred to herein as being used to provide a seal of the bottle itself can be of any suitable material whether adapted for tear off, piercing or otherwise.
The present invention recognises an advantage arising from a capability of defining in a preassembled form of such a tamper evident closure assembly (e.g. in a controlled environment) a space not capturing much moisture prior to association with a container, such association, particularly where there is to be a hot filling of the container, being in an environment where the container is exposed to moisture and air. In so doing the volume of moisture and air captured between any such assembly and the sealed container can be minimised.