Disclosed are global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, including digital spatial nulling arrays, and a method of providing antenna pattern outputs using the same. The digital spatial nulling array receives multiple antenna element inputs. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to the multiple antenna element inputs to obtain frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs. The antenna pattern outputs are provided by the spatial nulling array as a function of the frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs.

GNSS receivers, such as global positioning system (GPS) receivers, receive and process multiple satellite positioning signals simultaneously. Frequently, GNSS receivers operate in the presence of interfering or jamming signals. Generally, when a spatial separation exists between the jamming signals and the desired signals, a spatial nulling array can be used to enhance signal reception.
Typically, a very large number of complex multiplies (i.e., multiplication of complex numbers) are required to implement a spatial nulling array. If the antenna array includes Ne antenna element inputs, and a set of weights corresponding to the tap values for one Nt tap finite impulse response (FIR) filter per element, the array will include Nt*Ne total taps per antenna pattern. To generate the output for one antenna pattern, the outputs of the Ne FIR filters corresponding to that one pattern are summed together. To generate one set of output samples for Np patterns, a total of Np*Nt*Ne complex multiplies are required. Consequently, digital implementations of spatial nulling arrays can consume considerable processing power.

FFT implementation of digital antenna arry processing in GNSS receivers


A method of rate control using a picture-based lookahead sliding window in a dual-pass transcoder/encoder compressed video architecture extracts statistics from an input video signal according to a simple compression standard, the input video signal being a compressed video signal for transcoding or an uncompressed video signal for encoding. A trans-factor is calculated for a current picture based on previous pictures in a sliding window to predict the complexity of the current picture, the trans-factor being a ratio of global complexity measures for the simple compression standard versus a sophisticated compression standard. Bits for the current picture are then allocated based on the complexity of future pictures in the sliding window. After encoding the current picture according to the sophisticated compression standard, the target bits of and the picture complexity in the sliding window, as well as the trans-factor, are updated as the window is moved by one picture. The extraction of the statistics is achieved in a transcoder by using a simple compression standard decoder to produce the statistics from the compressed video signal as the input video signal, and in an encoder by using a simple compression encoder to generate the statistics from the uncompressed video signal as the input video signal.

The present invention relates to compression coding of video signals, and more particularly to rate control with a picture-based lookahead window for dual-pass compression encoding/transcoding.
There are many international standards for digital video compression technologies, such as H.261, MPEG1, MPEG2 (H.262), H.263, H.263+, MPEG4 and H.264 (MPEG4 part 10), that have emerged one after another during the 1990s. Generally algorithms recommended by newer standards are better, but also are usually more complicated to implement. It is easy to find examples of trading algorithm complexity for efficiency. With the fast growth in computation speeds of central processing units (CPUs) and digital signal processing (DSP) chips, implementation of more and more sophisticated algorithms has become practically feasible. It is a trend that video encoders/decoders (codecs) built based on newer standards eventually replace those built based on older standards in applications where specifications overlap, such as for bit-rate, resolution, etc. This replacement procedure takes a long period of time, since it is expensive to replace older video codecs with newer ones. Another reason older codecs continue to be used is that many video streams have already been compressed with the older algorithms, and may easily be decompressed by the older codecs. However where high coding efficiency is desired, there arises the mixed use of both older and newer codecs. In some applications it is desirable to re-transmit video streams compressed with an older codec at a new bit-rate that is lower than the older codec can achieve for the same video quality. Therefore to obtain higher compression efficiency a transcoder having mixed codecs—an older decoder and a newer encoder—is used. A good example is a transcoder that converts MPEG2 compressed video streams to H.264 compressed video streams.
It is recognized by the digital compression industry that dual-pass encoding with a lookahead window provides higher coding efficiency than single-pass encoding. But the cost of dual-pass encoding is much higher than single-pass encoding. The implementation cost is a serious problem for the emerging, more sophisticated, compression technologies, even for single-pass encoding. Using two sophisticated codecs for encoding/transcoding in a dual-pass architecture raises the cost of the encoder/transcoder by almost an order of magnitude over the older technology codecs.
What is desired is the achievement of higher coding efficiency in an encoder/transcoder architecture using mixed codecs for minimal cost.

Rate control with picture-based lookahead window


The present invention relates to the discovery that mutations in SCN9A are causative of Congenital Indifference to Pain (CIP) in humans. The invention also relates to methods of using compounds small organic compounds to treat pain as well as to predict the effect of analgesic agents in patients, such as those possessing gain of function mutations.

This invention is concerned with a hereditary pain disorder known as "Congenital Indifference To Pain" (also referred to herein as "C-I-P"). It is an extremely rare but interesting medical condition. It is an autosomal recessive disorder that interferes with the normal perception of pain (see, Landrieu, P. S. G., and Allaire, C. Ann. Neurology, 27 (5):574-58 (1990) and Comings D E and Amromin G D, 1974. Neurology. September; 24(9):838-48.)
The description of the condition is fascinating. Patients are essentially completely indifferent to sensations that would cause pain in most individuals; yet at the same time they are quite able to distinguish between other sensations, such as thermal (hot/cold) and tactile (sharp/dull) sensations. Tendon reflex and vibration recognition is normal. Patients do not perceive inflammatory pain or dental pain even though there is a normal flare response to intradermal histidine injection, indicating that the peripheral arc reflex is intact. (Landrieu et al, 1990) A general description of C-I-P can be found at Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) reference *243000.
It is highly intriguing that the genetic mutation that underlies this disorder has such a specific and selective medical consequence. The inventors recognize that identification of the mutant gene which is associated with the disorder will provide a therapeutic target against which novel therapeutic agents can act. The inventors recognize that therapeutic agents which are highly selective for this therapeutic target, if they can be designed to mimic the effect of the mutation, have the potential to induce the same kind of analgesia, in the general population, as experienced by C-I-P patients.
It thus serves to examine in detail the physiological consequences of C-I-P. One C-I-P patient (3 years old, female) had no pain sensation but had normal thermal and tactile sensation and deep sensation. She appeared normal physically, although having tissue damage presumably resulting from the disorder, such as a shorter tongue, lack of some fingertips and multiple scars on fingers due to old burns. She learned to walk at 18 months (somewhat delayed). (Guillermo A. and A. Grinspan, "Congenital indifference to pain, a propos of a case with antecedents of consanguinity". Rev Neurol (Paris), 1970. 123(6): 434-5). In a follow up examination at age 34, patient appeared normal. Intelligence was normal. A broken bone not identified by the patient had resulted in an orthopedic deformity. Patient had a dental prosthesis. Sweating was normal. Tendon reflex and vibration recognition was normal. Position sense was normal. Patient was able to discriminate between "hot and cold" and between "sharp and dull" but discrimination between "touch" and "pinprick" was attenuated. Her maternal grandfather and her paternal grandmother were first cousins who had a common cousin who was apparently indifferent to pain. This consanguinity is in support of autosomal recessive inheritance.
Sweating, blood pressure and other autonomic responses are quite normal. No histological abnormalities are present in the peripheral nerves. (see Comings et al (1974) and Hirsch E, Moye D, Dimon J H 3rd. South Med J, 88(8):851-857 (1995)).
Still, to date, no genes or genetic loci responsible for C-I-P have been reported. Karyotype analysis of one C-I-P patient appeared normal. (Amguerra-Escobio, 2001, unpublished observations). One of the confusing aspects that has prevented identification of genes in the past is that there are other patients who have other hereditary pain disorders which have not been properly distinguished from autosomal recessive C-I-P. This makes it significantly harder to identify the common underlying genetic cause of the disorder.
For example, there are autosomal dominant and sporadic cases of congenital indifference to pain. The inventors believe that many of these cases have a different genetic basis than autosomal recessive C-I-P. Reports of these cases may be found at Becak et al, Acta Genet. Statist. Med. 14:133-142 (1964); Comings et al (1974); and in Landrieu et al, (1990).
Further, there is a very different from of the disease known as Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy (HSAN). HSAN is the classic "insensitivity" to pain. It has been classified into types I-V (Reilly, M. M. 1998. J. Neurol. 245(1):6-13). Each of these conditions is linked to an inherited neuropathy of sensory nerves. Some of these conditions have been linked to genes or genetic loci, however, none of these are believed to correspond to the genetic basis underlying C-I-P.
It should be recognized that "insensitivity" and "indifference" are often used interchangeably in the art, but they should be properly distinguished for better understanding of the pathology of the disorder. The term "insensitivity" refers to situations in which sensory pathways are altered leading to lack of painful sensation while "indifference" refers to situations wherein the sensory pathway appears normal but there is a lack of reaction to a painful stimulus. The key distinction between these groupings is that the former are inherited neuropathies in which neuropathy is the primary part of the disease and the sensory pathway is the sole or primary part of the neuropathy, whereas in the latter, the sensory pathway appears, at a microscopic and macroscopic level, to be intact and normal. (Comings et al 1974)
Because this invention is directed towards genes, proteins and other tools which are targets for analgesic agents, an additional area of relevant background relates to existing analgesic agents and their therapeutic targets, where known.
Therapeutic agents for treatment of pain fall into two main classes—the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and the opioids. NSAIDs treat pain in a way similar to the mechanism of aspirin, the most well-known and oldest member of the class. Common NSAIDs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen. These drugs mainly inhibit the body's ability to synthesize prostaglandins. The common mechanism of action for all NSAIDs is the inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). A major commercial success has been achieved with specific inhibitors of COX-2, such as Celebrex™ from Pharmacia/Pfizer, and Vioxx™ from Merck & Co. The recently launched Bextra™ from Pharmacia/Pfizer, which is highly selective for inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1, is also expected to become commercial success.
Opioids act through the opioid receptor family. These drugs include the weak opioids such as codeine and Tylenol 3, and strong opioids such as morphine and methadone. Some are long acting, others are of short duration. Opioid analgesics have a tendency to addiction and dependency, and so are not ideal for long-term or chronic pain management.
Outside of the NSAIDs and opiods, there are a number of other suggested analgesic agents in clinical trials (i.e. not yet approved for marketing) which are believed to have alternative targets. Some clinical trials are attempting to establish that central neuropathic pain may respond to ion channel blockers such as blockers of calcium, sodium and/or NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) channels. For example, in development are low affinity NMDA channel blocking agents for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The literature provides substantial pre-clinical electrophysiological evidence in support of the use of NMDA antagonists in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Such agents also may find use in the control of pain after tolerance to opioid analgesia occurs, particularly in cancer patients.
In accordance with the present invention, the identification of the hereditary basis for Congenital Indifference To Pain will be a key step for developing novel therapeutic agents because it has the potential to be a novel therapeutic target. This therapeutic target can be used to identify and discover more effective analgesics. Discovery of the target will also provide new methods and compositions for diagnosis of C-I-P and for distinguishing between types of inherited pain disorders.

Methods for identifying analgesic agents


A terminal apparatus is connectable to a host station and is responsive to a command to execute an application program to treat music data. In the terminal apparatus, a local storage locally stores an old version of software containing music data and various application programs which are selectively executed to treat the music data. An interface is optionally activated prior to execution of an application program for communication with the host station having a remote storage which remotely stores a new version of software including music data and various application programs which are made available latest by the host station. A controller operates when the interface establishes the communication with the host station for downloading the new version from the remote storage of the host station and for transferring the downloaded new version to the local storage so as to renew the old version stocked in the local storage by the new version. A processor responds to the command for selectively executing the various application programs to treat the music data based on the new version when the interface has been activated and otherwise for selectively executing the various application programs to treat the music data based on the old version when the interface has not been activated. A display graphically presents a map containing various objects corresponding to the various application programs. A pointing tool is manipulated for pointing one of the various objects on the display so as to select one of the various application programs corresponding to the pointed object to thereby input the command.

The present invention generally relates to a music data processing apparatus for processing music data, in which application programs and music data are distributed in a local storage such as a hard disk and a CD-ROM and in a remote storage of a host computer of a network.
A so-called communication karaoke is known as a system for transferring music data over a network. In this system, music data prepared by a host computer is distributed to communication karaoke apparatuses or terminal devices over a communication network. On the other hand, a music training apparatus or the like is constructed as a stand-alone type, in which a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-ROM) drive is connected to an electronic musical instrument and necessary programs and data are stored on a CD-ROM which is loaded into the CD-ROM drive. These programs and data are read from the CD-ROM and the read programs and data are executed or processed for implementing various music training operations using music data. Further, in the field of personal computer communication, an on line service has recently come to be offered in which a map of streets or a town for example is graphically displayed on a video display terminal and the user can virtually trace the map to visit a desired site of the displayed streets or town.
However, the above-mentioned communication karaoke system is restricted in capability only to distribution of music data to local terminals through the network. The above-mentioned music training apparatus of the stand-alone type with a CD-ROM drive connected to an electronic musical instrument is restricted in capability only to use of programs and data stored in a CD-ROM. The above-mentioned virtual system realized on a personal computer network in which the user can walk about displayed streets or town merely uses such a displayed map as a user interface and hence can do nothing more than that.

Music data processing apparatus with communication interface and graphic user interface


The disclosed methods and systems can be used to manage at least one asset, where the methods and systems include associating the at least one asset with at least one user, and providing the at least one user with at least one task list that includes at least one task associated with a vulnerability of the asset and at least one task associated with a configuration standard associated with the asset.

Managing computer information and/or network security can be challenging and a configuration program can be fundamental to the overall success of an Enterprise. The result of a security breach can vary depending on the severity of the breach and the nature of the compromised system. Examples are loss from fraud, theft of information, disruption of service, unauthorized use of resources, loss of customer confidence, and brand erosion. Maintaining an effective computer configuration program, however, can be difficult due to a changing nature of security threats, shortages of information technology (IT) resources, lack of security awareness, implementation difficulties, and other issues.


An apparatus and method for editing isochronous communication data used for communication between various electronic devices. An editing procedure with high accuracy can be conducted without reading the system data of isochronous communication in a system having co-existing isochronous and asynchronous modes of communication for data transmission between the electronic devices. The editing procedure can also be conducted with high accuracy in a system in which an edit controlling device cannot recognize the frame boundary in the information signals. Furthermore, even if there are various time delays associated with the instruction reception and the instruction execution by an electronic device, the editing procedure can be conducted with high accuracy.

The present invention relates to a method of editing isochronous communication data and an edit controlling device used therefor in a system of a plurality of electronic devices connected by a communication control bus in which isochronous and asynchronous modes of communication can co-exist for data transmission between the electronic devices.
A system has been considered for connecting a plurality of devices via a communication control bus in which isochronous communication and asynchronous communication can be present together, such as a serial bus according to the IEEE-P1394 standard (hereinafter simply referred to as "P1394 serial bus") for communication between the devices. Details of the P1394 serial bus are disclosed in "IEEE P1394 Serial Bus Specification" (published on Oct. 14, 1993).
FIG. 10 shows an example of such a system. The system comprises four digital video cassette recorders (hereinafter referred to as "D-CAM"), an editing machine (hereinafter referred to as edit controller) and a digital television receiver (hereinafter referred to as "D-TV"). The devices are connected to each other by a cable using the P1394 serial bus transmission. Since each of the devices has a function of relaying signals transmitted via the cable of the P1394 serial bus, the communication system is equivalent to a communication system in which each of the devices is connected to a common P1394 serial bus.
Signal transmission in the devices having a common bus is conducted by the time division multiplexing on every predetermined communication cycle as shown in FIG. 11 (for example, every 125 .mu.s). For the bus management of the communication cycle, a device referred to as a cycle master transmits a synchronization packet indicating the starting point of the communication cycle (cycle start packet: hereinafter referred to as the "CSP") to other devices on the bus. The CSP designates the start of data transmission in the communication cycle. The cycle master is automatically determined by a method specified according to the IEEE-P1394 standard.
Transmission of signals during one communication cycle includes two modes: isochronous communication for periodically transmitting, for example, video data or audio data and asynchronous communication for transmitting, for example, a connection control command, not periodically but as necessary. The isochronous communication data is transmitted prior to the asynchronous communication data. Channel identification 1, 2, 3, . . . , N is provided with each of isochronous communication packets to distinguish among a plurality of isochronous communication packets. After completing the transfer of the isochronous communication packets of all channels, a period of time until the next CSP is used for the transmission of an asynchronous communication packet.
FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram for each of the devices of FIG. 10. Each device comprises an operation section 1, a display section 2, a microcontroller 3, an isochronous communication data processing block 4 and a communication layer processing block 5. However, the editing machine has no isochronous communication data processing block 4.
The operation section 1 has keys or the like to enable the user to operate the device. The display section 2 displays, for example, the operational state of the device. The microcontroller 3 reads the state of the operation section 1 and prepares various commands for transmitting the desired instructions to other devices. Further, when it receives various types of commands from other devices, the microcontroller 3 controls the isochronous communication data processing block 4 or the communication layer processing block 5 for executing the processing corresponding to the received command. Further, the microcontroller 3 controls the display in the display section 2 in accordance with the operational state of the device.
The isochronous communication data processing block 4 is a recording/regeneration processing section or a tuner section for digital audio/video signals if the device is D-VTR, a monitor section or a tuner section if the device is D-TV, or a recording/regeneration processing section or a camera section for digital audio/video signals if the device is D-CAM.
The communication layer processing block 5 conducts processing operations for converting an isochronous or asynchronous communication packet between the P1394 serial bus format and the format used by the isochronous communication data processing block 4 or the microcontroller 3. The communication layer processing block 5 may also perform arbitration processing for a physical layer and a link layer, such as obtaining or aborting the right to use the P1394 serial bus.
In the communication system of FIG. 10, the editing procedure is conducted, for example, by using D-VCR 1 as a playback machine, and D-VCR 2 as a recording machine via the control of the editing machine. The editing in this case is an assemble mode editing by a so-called 1:1 edit system of dubbing signals regenerated from a video tape (original tape) of a playback machine by superimposing the signals on a portion of an already recorded area on the video tape (master tape) of the recording machine.
In this case, as shown in FIGS. 13C and 13D, the editing machine at first controls the playback machine and the recording machine such that the original tape and master tape are prerolled from their respective regeneration/recording IN points. Then, the editing machine sets the playback machine and the recording machine to the regenerating mode and, subsequently, sets the recording machine to a recording mode simultaneously with the arrival of the IN point. Then, when the required portion is recorded on the master tape, the recording operation is stopped. In this case, external synchronization is applied to the recording machine via a frame sync signal in the regenerated video signals of the playback machine. The operation of the playback machine and the recording machine is controlled such that the instances at which respective tape positions reach the respective IN points coincide with each other.
For conducting such editing with high accuracy, it is necessary for the editing machine to accurately determine tape position information on the playback machine and on the recording machine. It is also necessary for the playback machine and the recording machine to execute an editing control command at the instance designated by the editing machine. Thus, for the editing machine to obtain accurate tape position information on the playback machine and on the recording machine in the system of FIG. 10, it may be necessary to analyze system data added to audio/video data sent by the isochronous communication packet, and to read either an absolute track number (track number appended sequentially from the beginning to the end of the tape to each of the tracks) or a time code. However, for the editing machine to analyze the system data, a hardware equipment is required for separating the system data from the audio/video data and for analyzing the data.
It may also be necessary to request a time code using an inquiry command packet of the asynchronous communication and receive an answer from the corresponding device. However, the time code transmitted by the asynchronous communication packet may sometimes have a delay in relation to the time code in the system data added to the audio/video data transmitted by the isochronous communication packet.
Further, since the command sent from the editing machine to the playback machine and to the recording machine is transmitted by the asynchronous communication packet, there is no time reference for audio/video data. Further, the time at which the editing machine sends a command is different than the time at which the command is actually executed by the playback machine or the recording machine depending on the various conditions such as the type of the command.
Although problems have been described in the case of conducting the editing procedure by the communication system of FIG. 10, similar problems also occur in an editing system in which the editing machine cannot recognize the frame boundary in the video signals in an editing system, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, which comprises a plurality of analog or digital VCRs connected by analog or digital audio/video signal lines and an editing machine, connected to them by control signal lines, for sending and receiving the corresponding command/answer.

Apparatus and method for editing isochronous information transmitted among various devices


In one embodiment, a method may include generating a test code segment including a number of selected opcodes and executing the test code segment for a plurality of iterations. The method may also include saving a first test result of the execution of the test code segment after a first iteration and comparing additional test results of each subsequent iteration with the first test result. The method may further include determining whether any of the additional test results are different than the first test result.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit functional testing and, more particularly, to system level functional testing of microprocessors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices are manufactured using many complex processing steps. In many cases, more complex ICs may require more processing steps. During any of which one or more defects may be introduced into the IC. For example, microscopic airborne particulates that find their way onto the device during manufacture may cause either latent or hard defects. Many ICs are typically manufactured on one wafer (i.e., semiconductor substrate). To reduce manufacturing defects and improve product quality and yield many manufacturers have implemented ongoing quality control in the wafer fabrication and device assembly facilities.
However, there are still a fair number of IC s that are either defective from the start or may have latent defects. Thus, device manufacturers typically test the ICs using various test strategies during the various manufacturing phases. For example, to screen out bad ICs prior to assembling the ICs into device packages, ICs may be tested while still part of the wafer. This type of testing is sometimes referred to as wafer-level test or wafer probe. In addition, since defects may be introduced during the assembly process, each IC may be tested again, after assembly, during what is sometimes referred to as production or final testing.
Production testing may take many forms depending on the various factors including customer requirements. The goal is to screen out all devices that have defects. In some cases, the ICs may be operated under various operational and environmental stresses to allow latent defects to manifest.
The type of testing performed during wafer-level and production final test typically includes the use of testing machines designed to provide necessary voltages and stimuli to the inputs of an IC. During a type of testing referred to as Functional testing, the voltages and stimuli attempts to place the device in as many operational modes as possible thereby simulating device operation. While the device is operating, the IC outputs are monitored and compared against a theoretically known good output signature that is typically stored in a test file in the tester memory. Functional testing uses a large number of test files (also referred to as test patterns) that define the stimulus and response patterns. Functional testing may generally be expected to screen a large number of defects in many fault classes.
An alternative and sometimes complementary test method used to screen defects is referred to as scan testing. Scan testing also uses test patterns. However, unlike functional testing, scan testing doesn't attempt to operate the device in all of its operational modes. Instead scan testing relies on test logic and testability features that have been designed into the IC that enable scan chains consisting of many clocked circuit elements such as flip-flops and some latches, for example, to be loaded with special test patterns. The scan chains may loaded in one mode (e.g., scan) and clocked in another mode (e.g., run). The test patterns are propagated through the IC logic. The scan patterns are clocked out of the device and compared to response patterns stored within tester memory. For certain fault classes such as stuck at faults, for example, scan testing has been known to obtain fault coverages as high as 99% and in some cases 100%.
However, regardless of the test methods used, as IC operating speeds have increased, it has been increasingly difficult to develop testing machines that can adequately operate at the required speeds. This is especially true for microprocessor testing. Testing machines that can operate at the required frequencies are very expensive. Furthermore, neither functional testing nor scan testing may screen all defects in any fault class without using enormous test patterns requiring long test durations. To obtain very high fault coverage for all fault classes, combinations of test methods may be used. For example, due to the parallel nature of superscalar microprocessor core logic, certain types of failures, such as certain speed paths, may not necessarily manifest when an IC is run through a conventional production test flow.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for self-assembling instruction opcodes for a custom random functional test of a microprocessor


In the micro-lens array substrate of the present invention, a micro-lens array formed of a plurality of consecutive concave lens-shaped micro-lenses is directly formed in a surface of a quartz substrate or glass substrate, and the micro-lens array is formed by a transfer method based on dry-etching. In the micro-lens array substrate of the present invention, a taper portion is formed toward the surface of the substrate in a peripheral portion of the micro-lens array in the quartz substrate or glass substrate.

A front AV projector device which has been used for business is gaining ground in a consumer market of a home theater system, for example, with the development of a low-price liquid crystal projector. In the liquid crystal projector, a size thereof has rapidly been reduced and a price thereof has been reduced by improving a degree of integration of components. In addition, a resolution has also been improved with VGA, SVGA, XGA, and SXGA because of the progress of a personal computer, and so a micro-lens array substrate that projects an image of a liquid crystal monitor by efficiently using light from a light source is required also with the improvement in the resolution of the liquid crystal monitor installed in the liquid crystal projector.
In this micro-lens array substrate, a degree of integration of a micro-lens has also been improved in accordance with the improvement in the resolution of the liquid crystal monitor. The micro-lens needs to cope with higher-definition concurrently with higher-brightness; and when a panel size of a liquid crystal display element, for example, becomes small, a pixel size becomes minute proportionally thereto, and therefore an array pitch of the micro-lens itself becomes also small. Accordingly, there is a necessity to make a cover glass thin.
In the past, an application of a wet etching method, a 2P (Photo-Polymerization) method, and the like using a quartz substrate or various glass substrates has been put into practical use for a production of such micro-lens array substrate.
A method for manufacturing a micro-lens array substrate using the wet etching method is shown in FIG. 17. First, a resist mask 32 having a plurality of circular openings 32a correspondingly to the micro-lens array is formed on a substrate 31 made of glass or quartz as shown in FIG. 17A. Next, a plurality of lens-shaped concave portions (spherical concave portions) 33 are formed in a surface of the substrate 31 by isotropic etching through the resist mask 32 using an HF system etchant as shown in FIG. 17B. Next, after the resist mask 32 is removed, the substrate 31 is coated with a resin 34 whose refractive index is different from that of the substrate to fill the concave portion 33 with the resin 34 as shown in FIG. 17C. A micro-lens array 36 in which a plurality of micro-lenses 35 are consecutively arrayed is formed by the resin 34 in the concave portion 33 and the substrate 31. Then, a cover glass plate 37 is bonded on the substrate 31 through the resin 34 and is polished until a required thickness, and further a transparent electrode 38 of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), for example, is formed on the cover glass plate 37 as shown in FIG. 17D and so a micro-lens array substrate 39 is produced.
A method for manufacturing a micro-lens array substrate using the 2P method is shown in FIG. 18. First, a stamper 41 shown in FIG. 18A is prepared in which a micro-lens array shape 43 having a plurality of micro-lens shapes 42 arrayed is integrally formed. Next, a first resin layer 45 is formed on a glass substrate 44, and the micro-lens array shape 43 of the stamper 41 is pressed onto the resin layer 45 as shown in FIG. 18B. Subsequently, the stamper 41 is detached, and thereby a concave portion 46 of the micro-lens array shape is transferred to a surface of the first resin layer 45 as shown in FIG. 18C. Next, the first resin layer 45 is coated with a second resin 47 whose refractive index is different from that of the first resin to fill the concave portion 46 with the second resin 47 as shown in FIG. 18D. A micro-lens array 49 having a plurality of micro-lenses 48 arrayed is formed by the first resin layer 45 and the second resin 47. Subsequently, a cover glass plate 50 is bonded on the glass substrate 44 through the second resin 47, and the cover glass plate 50 is polished until a required thickness as shown in FIG. 18E. Thereafter, a transparent electrode 51 of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), for example, is formed on the cover glass plate 50 to produce a micro-lens array substrate 52.
A method for manufacturing the micro-lens array substrate using the above-described wet etching method is described in the patent reference 1. In addition, a method for manufacturing the micro-lens array substrate using the 2P method is described in the patent reference 2.
[Patent reference 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-231007
[Patent reference 2] Japanese Published Patent Application No. H09-258195
The method for manufacturing the micro-lens array substrate using the above-described 2P method is excellent in mass productivity since the lens shape is transferred to the resin layer 45 by using the stamper 41 in the method. However, it is difficult to control a pattern size of the micro-lens array due to a thermal shrinkage of the resin layer 45 at the time of hardening. In addition, since the concave portion 46 is formed in the resin layer 45, an acute angle cannot be maintained but tends to become round in a boundary portion of the adjacent concave portions 46, that is, at a vertex portion 53 (refer to FIG. 18D), and as a result, the boundary portion becomes a non-lens area. Particularly, when the micro-lens itself is made minute in order to obtain higher resolution, a ratio of this non-lens area increases and it becomes difficult to form the micro-lens array. Also, there have been limits in thermostability and light stability since two kinds of resins are used.
In the method for manufacturing the micro-lens array substrate using the wet etching method, the shape of a micro-lens only becomes spherical since this method is the isotropic etching, and it is not possible to form a micro-lens of other aspheric shapes. That is, there is no controllability upon the lens shape.
On the other hand, in the past, there has been a limit of 30 μm for a cover surface layer thickness that is a thickness from the vertex portion of the concave-shaped lens of the resin layer to the surface layer of the cover glass plate, and it has not been possible to form the thickness thinner than this . A reason therefore is that the resin layer cannot be formed thin due to an influence of a viscosity of resin when forming the resin layer (in actuality, a resin whose viscosity is higher than 100 cp was used).
Further, when the micro-lens array 36 is formed in the above-described quartz substrate or glass substrate, and when this micro-lens array substrate 31 is filled with the resin 34 to be hardened after the cover glass 37 is bonded, an air bubble 30 is generated at a peripheral portion of the micro-lens array 36 formed as shown in FIG. 19. The air bubble 30 is generated due to an occurrence of a distortion by the shrinkage of the resin in the area of micro-lens array 36 and in the peripheral portion, and also due to an occurrence of an abrupt change in the resin thickness. In the case of the micro-lens array substrate using the 2P method, an air bubble is similarly generated between the first resin layer and the second resin layer in a peripheral portion of the micro-lens array area. Even though no air bubble is generated, there is an occasion that a glitter appears on a screen due to the distortion as if the air bubble is generated.

Micro-lens array substrate and production method therefor


A window art display mounting system for attachment to a frame of a window of a home or other building includes a horizontal mounting member that attaches to the window frame. The horizontal mounting member has secured to it a pair of brackets. A further pair of brackets are connected to a frame for the displayed art. Decorative chains extend between the two pairs of brackets to suspend the frame between the top and the bottom of the window so that the translucent pane of the framed and displayed art work is illuminated by light through the window.

Suspension type mounting systems are used for supporting many types of articles for storage or display. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,274, issued to Kramer, discloses a suspension system for storing a bicycle horizontally from a ceiling, while U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,559, issued to Wright, describes a ceiling bicycle rack for storing a bicycle vertically. U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,367, issued to Shimizu, discloses an LCD display suspended so that the viewing angle of the display may be adjusted, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,958, issued to Sander et al., discloses stabilized fittings used in hanging a swing seat from a horizontal top bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,857, issued to Hagberg, discloses a window holding rack to hold a window in a secure vertical position while it is washed. The rack includes a horizontal bracket attached to a horizontal ceiling beam and a pair of hangers mounted to the bracket serving to partially encircle and releasably grip the window frame. A bracket extension attached to the bracket extends in a vertical position along one side of the window frame and holds the frame in place during washing.
While these systems provide for mounting for varying practical purposes, none provides for an attractive mounting and display for window art.
An object of the present invention, then, is to provide a versatile system for attractively mounting window art in a window for illumination. A further object of the present invention is to provide a mounting system for suspending translucent window art from a window frame to receive light passing through a window.

Mounting system for stained glass window art


A movable-blade operation system for a hydraulic machine according to an embodiment includes an oil hydraulic cylinder installed within a rotational shaft, a bidirectional pump, a pump drive motor, a control unit, and an oil head installed in the hydraulic machine. The bidirectional pump selectively feeds pressurized hydraulic oil to one of a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. The oil head couples the rotational shaft rotatably, and the hydraulic oil fed from the bidirectional pump to the first cylinder chamber and the second cylinder chamber flows through the oil head. The bidirectional pump, the pump drive motor, and the control unit are installed outside the hydraulic machine.

A hydraulic machine includes runner vanes that experience a water current force to drive the rotation of an electric generator. The runner vanes in the hydraulic machine such as a bulb turbine or a Kaplan turbine have adjustable opening. To adjust the runner vane opening, a movable-blade operation system is installed. The movable-blade operation system may also be used to adjust the opening of guide vanes installed for regulating a water current flowing into the runner.
Known examples of the movable-blade operation system include a movable-blade operation system with a pressure oil tank and a compressor. In the movable-blade operation system, the compressor increases the pressure of the hydraulic oil contained in the pressure oil tank. The pressurized hydraulic oil in the pressure oil tank is fed to an oil hydraulic cylinder to adjust the opening of the movable blades. Components such as the pressure oil tank and the compressor are installed outside the main body of the hydraulic machine (e.g., the bulb of a bulb turbine).
However, such a movable-blade operation system with a pressure oil tank uses a larger amount of hydraulic oil. Thus, if an oil leakage should happen, a large amount of leakage oil would adversely affect the environment.
As a technique to offset the difficulty, for a small or medium capacity hydraulic machine, an electric-servo movable-blade operation apparatus is known that includes an electric servomotor as an actuator. This operation apparatus may use a smaller amount of hydraulic oil, and even if an oil leakage should happen, its amount may be reduced. The operation apparatus may thus be environment-friendly.
However, in the electric-servo movable-blade operation apparatus, the electric servomotor and each movable blade are connected via a ball screw, which is a special part. Thus, the replacement of a ball screw following a failure or a similar event takes a long time.
To overcome the difficulty, electric-servo movable-blade operation apparatuses for guide vanes have been replaced with direct-pressurizing movable-blade operation systems that include general-purpose components. A direct-pressurizing movable-blade operation system directly feeds hydraulic oil pressurized by a pump or other mechanism to an oil hydraulic cylinder without using the pressure oil tank described above. This system may thus use a smaller amount of hydraulic oil.
However, the oil hydraulic cylinder (oil hydraulic servomotor) for runner vanes is installed within a rotational shaft that rotates together with the runner. Thus, if a direct-pressurizing movable-blade operation system for runner vanes is used, a runner vane controller including a pump for feeding pressurized hydraulic oil to the oil hydraulic cylinder of other mechanism is installed within the main body of the hydraulic machine and near the rotational shaft.
Thus, in order to modify a movable-blade operation system with a pressure oil tank of other mechanism as described above into a direct-pressurizing movable-blade operation system, a runner vane controller is installed within the main body of the hydraulic machine, and the main body of the hydraulic machine is substantially remodeled. This modification of the movable-blade operation system may involve a heavy workload and a long working time.

Movable-blade operation system for hydraulic machine

TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A bobber includes a housing having a casing extended into a receptacle, a circuit board is disposed in the housing, a processor device and one or more light members are attached onto the circuit board, one or more batteries are electrically coupled to the circuit board. A switch device is coupled to the processor device and includes two conductor blades each having a leg extended into the casing, and a ball is disposed in the casing and engageable with the legs of the conductor blades for electrically coupling the legs of the conductor blades together, the ball is arranged to be disengaged from either or both the legs and to switch off the electrical coupling between the legs of the conductor blades when a fish strikes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fishing bobber for fishlines, and more particularly to a fishing bobber having a sensitive light device for generating indicating lights when a fish bites on the line to which the bobber is attached and for guiding the user to pull the fishline at the right time and to suitably catch the fish.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical fishing bobbers comprise one or more light members disposed within a body or housing member, and one or more batteries also disposed within the body or housing member and coupled to the light members for operating or energizing the light members.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,201,588 to Kuhns discloses one of the typical fishing bobbers comprising a bulb supporting bracket slidably disposed within a body or housing member, and a light member or bulb disposed on the bulb supporting bracket, and a battery also disposed within the body or housing member. The bulb supporting bracket is arranged to be slid or moved relative to the housing member in order to selectively actuate the light member to electrically engage with the battery and to allow the light member to be selectively operated or energized by the battery when a fish bites on the fishline to which the bobber is attached.
The bulb supporting bracket is required to be firmly wedged between the battery and a tubular holder for slidably and electrically contacting with the side of the battery. However, the bulb supporting bracket may not be effectively slid or moved relative to the housing member due to the firmly wedge between the battery and the tubular holder. In addition, a friction and rubbings and scrubbings may be generated between the bulb supporting bracket and the battery and the tubular holder and the bulb supporting bracket may not be effectively and electrically contacted and coupled to the light member after use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,484 to Young discloses another typical illuminated fishing floats comprising a conventional pen light disposed within a support member, and a reflector for reflecting the light generated by the pen light. The fishing float is arranged to be submerged when a fish strikes the float, and the disappearance of the normally visible illumination indicates a strike.
However, the pen light may not be effectively switched on or off when the fish strikes the float, i.e., no switch devices may be used to effectively switch on or off the pen light when the fish strikes the float, such that the user also may not precisely know when the fish strikes the float.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional light devices for fishing bobbers.


The disclosed invention provides methods and systems for writing and reading data in systems using multiple FIFO buffer elements. For each buffer element, a determination is made of when the rising edge of the read clock occurs during the second half of the write clock cycle. Responsive to this determination, the data written into the FIFO buffer element is shifted in order to reduce skew.

Multiple asynchronous first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers are sometimes used in applications where it is desired to use data from domains that operate on two clocks that have the same frequency but, have an unknown phase relationship. For each buffer, one of the clocks, called the write clock, is used to write into the FIFO buffer element, and the other clock, called the read clock, is used to read the data from the buffer element. In such an arrangement, write and read operations are necessarily separated in time in order to accommodate the potential phase differences of the two clocks. In systems using multiple FIFO buffer elements, the write clocks and the data to be written may be aligned, but the read clocks may be of arbitrary phase. Accordingly, when more than one buffer element is used in a system, delay due to the potential time differential, also called skew, can result. Data skew is defined herein for the purposes of illustrating the invention as the maximum possible time difference between the time data is read out of the first FIFO element and the time data is read out of the second FIFO element. Skew causes a system to perform more slowly, resulting in decreased throughput and ultimately in higher costs.
Due to these and other problems, improved systems and methods for reading and writing data with reduced skew in systems using multiple FIFO buffer elements would be useful and desirable in the arts.

Methods and systems to reduce data skew in FIFOs


An information terminal according to the present invention is provided where a telephone number is directly extracted from a window displayed, and call dialing is performed based upon the extracted telephone number. In the information terminal, a control OS execution circuit 7 extracts character information 111 including a numeral from a window such as a word processor window displayed the display 6 while a word processor OS is functioning, by designating its contained region with the display inversion, or with a frame enclosing the region. It then extracts no more than a numeral from the character information, and displays it in a telephone call dialing window (a first window), with the help of the telephone OS execution circuit 8. It then call-dials, based upon the displayed numeral, to a telephone line L.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information terminal capable of originating a call to a telephone line. It specifically relates to an information terminal with an operating system (hereafter, referred to as "OS") for displaying a window, a method of originating a telephone call utilized in the information terminal, and a recording medium which stores programs for originating telephone calls.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional OSs exist which display data resulting from the execution of several programs, for example, "Windows 95" made by Microsoft Corporation.
The information terminal in which the OS is installed, has either a telephone line interface for permitting telephone communication through a telephone line or a modem which is connected to the telephone line, so that the telephone communication can be made with the assistance of the OS which can display windows on a monitor. According to the OS, it is possible to display a telephone panel window or telephone key window for inputting a telephone number by clicking with a pointing device connected to the information terminal. The telephone panel window displays a ten-key numeric pad or shortened dialing buttons in the telephone window. When one of either the ten-key numeric pad or shortened dialing buttons is designated by clicking with the pointing device, then a call-dialing to the telephone line is practiced.
However, since telephone calls are practiced only through the telephone panel window. If a user wants to dial a telephone number which is displayed in a work window of a word processing program, the user needs to have the telephone window displayed in the monitor, and then user must enter an identical telephone number to that displayed in the work window, by operating the ten-key numeric keys displayed in the telephone panel window. Therefore, its manipulation is a troublesome task for the user.

Information terminal capable of originating a call, method of originating a call and recording medium which stores the program for originating a call


The inventive system and method distributes information between databases and web servers, via a plurality of interconnected platforms or nodes. The invention includes a session manager, that is resident on only one platform and manages the information flow between the databases and the web servers. The invention also includes a plurality of data gateways, with at least one data gateway resident on each platform. The session manager uses a manager thread to determine which platform will operate on the request. A processing thread of the data gateway invokes an application module to create an application, which retrieves the requested information from the database. The processing thread translates the request into a format useable by the application. The processing thread retrieves a dynamic HTML template file and uses the information retrieved from the database to populate the HTML template file to form the response to the request, and passes the response onto the one global network server.

In existing technologies, access to information is typically provided to terminal devices such as telephones, fax machines, ADSI phones, and data modems, through the telephone network from information servers. The information servers could provide access to information stored in a database by using DTMF protocols, POSI protocols, voice, etc. Such systems include e-mail servers, fax servers, ADSI servers, voice servers, database servers and computer telephone integration (CTI) servers. As the Internet became prevalent, another method to distribute information emerged, which is the HTTP server. However, the information flow in HTTP servers is typically in HTML format, but may be in other formats such as JAVA, XTML, PDF, etc. These formats used by the HTTP server are different from the other types of servers. Moreover, HTTP servers have historically been stand-alone devices, in that they do not normally access information stored in other types of information storage devices. Consequently, there is a problem when the information that the HTTP server needs to distribute is not resident on the HTTP server, but is located on another type of server. Because of the difference in format and their stand-alone nature, HTTP servers have difficulty in accessing data stored in a non-HTTP oriented host. This problem is magnified for information distribution centers, which would often have more than one HTTP server to permit the response to a large volume of requests and/or information flow.
A prior art solution to this problem is that each type of server had to be connected to the HTTP server via a specific set of hardware and software, that would not work for the other types of servers. However, this solution is problematic in that it is inflexible because each type of server being connected to the HTTP server must be separately configured, as it is difficult for the HTTP server to access data on multiple information servers if they are all different from each other. Also, all of the processing involved with information retrieval from the other servers is performed by the HTTP web server, which is inefficient, as the delay time for sending responses to browser requests is increased. Moreover, such connections become unmanageable in trying to connect multiple HTTP web servers into the system.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to have an interface that allows the HTTP server to readily communicate with the other types of information servers, particularly for the HTTP web server have information requests routed to the other servers and for the HTTP server to receive responses from these servers. Moreover, there is a need in the art to have an interface system that is capable of connecting multiple HTTP web servers to multiple interface nodes.

Combined internet and data access system


A port queue includes a first memory portion having a first memory access time and a second memory portion having a second memory access time. The first memory portion includes a cache row. The cache row includes a plurality of queue entries. A packet pointer is enqueued in the port queue by writing the packet pointer in a queue entry in the cache row in the first memory. The cache row is transferred to a packet vector in the second memory. A packet pointer is dequeued from the port queue by reading a queue entry from the packet vector stored in the second memory.

A networking switch receives data packets from a number of ingress ports connected to the switch and provides the data packets to a number of egress ports connected to the switch. The switch determines the egress port to which the data packets are provided dependent on the destination address included in the data packet. A data packet received from an ingress port is stored in memory in the switch before being provided to the egress port.
The memory in the switch may be a common memory, in which all received data packets from all the ingress ports are stored, before being provided to the egress ports. A non-blocking switch allows all data received for all ingress ports to be provided to the egress ports. Non-blocking switches typically include a common memory in order to make the maximum amount of memory available to each port.
Typically, the switch includes a forwarding table implemented in forwarding logic in an ingress engine in the switch. The forwarding table is searched for a forwarding entry. The forwarding entry includes one or more egress ports to which the data packet is to be forwarded dependent on the destination address included in the received data packet.
As a received data packet is stored in the common memory, the location of the data packet in the common memory is stored in one or more egress port queues dependent on the selected forwarding entry. The egress port queues are stored in memory in the switch.
If the received data packet is an IP Multicast data packet, the location of the data packet in the common memory is written in the egress port queue associated with each port in the IP Multicast group. If the received data packet is a broadcast data packet, the location in the common memory is written in all egress port queues. Thus, dependent on the type of data packet received, the location of the data packet in the common memory; that is, a packet pointer may be enqueued on more than one egress port queue in the port cycle in which it is received. However, when transmitting the data packet from multiple queues, only one packet can be transmitted per port cycle. Thus, the location of the data packet in the common memory is dequeued from only one egress port queue per port cycle.
Thus the number of ports supported by the switch is limited by the speed at which the location of the data packet in the common memory can be enqueued on an egress port queue. A queue is typically implemented through a linked list in memory. Each entry in the linked list has two elements, a pointer element for storing the location of the data packet and a next pointer element for storing the location of the next entry on the linked list. Thus, two write accesses to memory are required to add the location of the data packet to the linked list, the first access writes the location of the data packet in common memory in the pointer element and the second access writes the location of the next entry in the next pointer element.
In a non-blocking switch, in which no received data packets are blocked by the switch, the memory speed is selected such that the location of a received data packet stored in common memory can be written to all the egress port queues in a port cycle. Also, a large queue is required in order to store pointers to IP Multicast and broadcast data packets stored in a common memory.
If the egress port queues are implemented in a linked list in Dynamic Random Access Memory ("DRAM") a large queue is provided but the number of pointers that can be enqueued for a received data packet is limited by the speed of the DRAM. The number of pointers that can be enqueued for a received data packet is increased by implementing egress port queues in a Static Random Access Memory ("SRAM") because SRAM is faster than DRAM. However, an SRAM cell is larger than a DRAM cell and therefore requires more area to provide a similar sized queue.


The invention relates to a fuel reservoir of a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle, having at least one fastening portion and one connecting element for fastening to an internal combustion engine, in which the connecting element has at least one first bearing face, which in the installed position points essentially toward the engine, and at least one second bearing face, which in the installed position points essentially away from the engine; and that the fastening portion is received in at least some portions between the bearing faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved fuel reservoir of a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One fuel reservoir of the type with which this invention is concerned can for instance be part of a common rail diesel injection system or part of a direct gasoline injection system and is also known by the name of "rail". A known rail has one or more fastening portions, with which it can be fastened to the internal combustion engine. The connecting elements are formed by screws, which are screwed into the housing of an engine and tightly fasten the fastening portion between the head of the screw and the shaft that is screwed into the engine housing.
The rail is in communication with fuel injection devices, or injectors which can inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine. The injectors are fastened to the engine and can be supplied with fuel from the rail via lines.
From German Patent Disclosure DE 195 46 441 A1, an arrangement comprising a rail and injector is known, in which the injector is received directly in the rail, without using an additional line.

Fuel reservoir of a motor vehicle fuel injection system


Various embodiments of a TAMR head having a magnetic core antenna (MCA) with a recessed plasmon layer are disclosed. An end of the plasmon layer is separated from the ABS by a magnetic layer that transmits the plasmon mode from the plasmon layer and transmits magnetic flux from an adjacent main pole layer. Both of the MCA and magnetic layer may have a triangular shape from an ABS view. There may be a non-magnetic separation layer between the MCA magnetic core and the main pole. Furthermore, a magnetic shield may be included with a side at the ABS, a side facing an end of a waveguide that transmits electromagnetic radiation to the MCA, and a side facing an edge of the plasmon layer. The recessed plasmon layer allows an improved overlay of the thermal heating spot on the magnetic field gradient at the magnetic medium that provides better TAMR performance.

TAMR is expected to be one of the future generations of magnetic recording technologies that will enable recording at ˜1-10 Tb/in2 data densities. TAMR involves raising the temperature of a small region of the magnetic medium to near its Curie temperature where both of its coercivity and anisotropy are significantly reduced and magnetic writing becomes easier to achieve even with weak write fields characteristic of small write heads in high recording density schemes. In TAMR, optical power from a light source is converted into localized heating in a recording medium during a write process to temporarily reduce the field needed to switch the magnetizations of the medium grains. Thus, with a sharp temperature gradient of TAMR acting alone or in combination with a high magnetic field gradient, data storage density can be further improved with respect to current state of the art recording technology.
In addition to the components of conventional write heads, a TAMR head also typically includes an optical wave guide (WG) and a plasmon antenna (PA) or plasmon generator (PG). The wave guide serves as an intermediate path to guide the external laser light to the PA or PG where the light optical mode couples to the local plasmon mode of the PA or to the propagating plasmon mode of the PG. After the optical energy is transformed to plasmon energy, either with local plasmon excitation in the PA or with energy transmission along the PG, it is concentrated at the medium location where heating is desired. Ideally, the heating spot is correctly aligned with the magnetic field from the write head to realize optimum TAMR performance. However, in current TAMR configurations, alignment has been difficult to achieve and there is need for improvement in order to compete with other forms of magnetic recording such as microwave assisting magnetic recording (MAMR).
A thermally assisted magnetic head structure disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0103553 employs an edge plasmon mode that is coupled to a wave guide as represented in FIG. 1a. Conventional components of a magnetic recording structure include a main pole 1, return pole 3, and write coils 5 formed along an air bearing surface (ABS) 8-8. In the ABS view, plasmon generator 2 has a triangular shape with an edge proximate to the waveguide 4. As shown in the cross-sectional view, waveguide (WG) 4 directs the input optical light wave 6 toward the ABS 8-8 and is recessed a certain distance from the ABS. Optical wave 6 couples to the edge plasmon (EP) mode 7 that is excited and propagates along the sharp edge 9 of plasmon generator 2 adjacent to the WG 4. Plasmon mode 7 further delivers the optical power toward the ABS and locally heats a medium (not shown) placed underneath the plasmon generator 2. A plasmon generator is typically made of noble metals such as Ag and Au that are known to be excellent generators of optically driven surface plasmon modes. The local confinement of the edge plasmon mode 7 is determined by the angle and radius of the triangle corner.
In theory, an edge plasmon generator (EPG) can be engineered to achieve a very tiny light spot as well as a high temperature gradient in the medium for a TAMR recording scheme. Moreover, a plasmon generator with a substantial length in a direction perpendicular to the ABS will have a large metal volume that can avoid localized heating damage during TAMR writing compared to an isolated plasmon antenna of smaller volume. In TAMR, a written bit strongly depends on the thermal spot size and shape in the recording layer, and on the alignment between the magnetic gradient and thermal gradient. The magnetic medium is heated by an EPG in which the optical energy is confined around a vertex (tip) of two converging EPG sides thereby forming a so-called edge plasmon mode. Clearly, the confinement of the optical spot or EP mode in this design is a function of the shape, angle, and size of the tip, the metal composition of the EPG, and the dielectric material surrounding the tip.
In the prior art, the objective of correctly aligning the optical heating profile with the magnetic field profile has not been adequately addressed. As FIG. 1b illustrates, state of the art TAMR technology still delivers the heating spot represented by heating profile 9 at the far leading edge of the main pole's magnetic field profile 12. Although this configuration can achieve writing when sufficient heating is applied, it is not the most desired condition for TAMR writing. The full advantage of TAMR recording can be realized when the heating profile 9 slope is aligned at the same y-axis (down-track) position as the slope 10 or 11 of the magnetic trailing edge field. As a result, magnetic and thermal gradients assist each other to achieve the highest effective gradient during magnetic recording. Due to structural waveguide limitations such as thickness and configuration, and the choice of antenna design, a highly effective alignment of magnetic and thermal gradients has not been fabricated yet in TAMR technology. In addition to the issue of down-track mis-alignment as mentioned above, cross-track alignment is also affected by the overlay of the antenna heating spot on the highest head field. Thus, there is a need for a better plasmon antenna design and an optimized TAMR structure so that the alignment of the heating spot and magnetic field is improved during a write process without sacrificing the efficiency of coupling the optical energy into the plasmon mode.
In U.S. Patent Application 2010/0128376, a nearfield light generator is described that applies nearfield light to a minimal area.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,710,686 teaches a nano aperture antenna having a small spot diameter of tens of nanometers.

Magnetic core plasmon antenna with recessed plasmon layer


The present invention relates to cleaning and/or treatment compositions comprising a dye conjugate, and processes of making and using such compositions. Such compositions can provide benefits such as an increase in the whiteness or blackness perception of a situs that is cleaned or treated with such compositions.

Consumers prefer that articles, such as garments, maintain their initial color throughout the lifecycle of the article—even when such articles are repeatedly washed or cleaned. For example, it is preferred that white surfaces remain white as such color is associated with the cleanliness. However, the perception of color, in particular "whiteness" varies amongst consumers and is believed to result from the interaction of a number of parameters that include the cultural color associations of the observer. For example, Egyptian and Mexican consumers typically perceive a blue hue as white, while Indian consumers typically perceive a violet pinkish hue as white. In addition, while certain dyes may improve the whiteness perception of a situs, when employed in a cleaning and/or treatment compositions, such dyes deposit inefficiently and/or build up on a cleaned or treated situs. As a result, the whiteness perception of such situs may in fact be decreased due to discolouration that is believed to be caused by dye build up. While several techniques have been used to increase the efficiency of deposition of materials (See for example WO 2000/18862, WO 99/14245, WO 98/29528, WO 98/00500, WO 95/30042, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,579,842, 6,586,384, 5,972,049, 3,597,304, GB 948678) there remains a need for cleaning and/or treatment compositions that can provide tailored color perceptions, such as "whiteness" or "blackness" without the negatives associated with dye build-up.


Compositions which deliver adsorbents, alone or in combination with active drug “degrading molecules,” in a site-specific manner to the intestine, and which eliminate or at least lower the concentration of residual unwanted material within the intestine, are disclosed. Methods of treatment using the compositions are also disclosed. The material to be eliminated can include residual active antibiotics, metabolites, bacterial or other toxins, and drugs which cause side effects in the gastrointestinal tract. The adsorbents can be formulated in capsules, tablets or any acceptable pharmaceutical composition, and are ideally designed to specifically release the adsorbents in a programmed manner at a specific site of the intestinal tract. The programmed delivery prevents adsorbents from interfering with the normal absorption process of a given molecule after oral absorption, until it reaches the lower part of the small intestine. The compositions can be used to adsorb, and therefore remove, any residual drug, metabolite thereof, or bacterial toxin after oral or parenteral administration which would otherwise cause adverse effects in the lower intestine and/or colon.

When antibiotics are orally administered, they are usually absorbed by the host in the upper parts of the intestinal tract, such as the duodenum or the jejunum. If the administered dose is not completely adsorbed, it travels further along the intestinal tract, through the ileum and the colon. The portion of the dose that is absorbed reaches the blood stream and, depending on the particular pharmacokinetics of the antibiotic, is excreted through the liver through the bile and back in the intestinal tract in either an active form or an inactive form, depending on the metabolism that has occurred in the liver.
The active metabolites reach the ileum and the colon around the same time as the portion of the antibiotic dose that has not been absorbed, as described above. When antibiotics are administered parenterally, part of the administered dose can, however, reach the intestinal tract through biliary excretion, just as the absorbed fraction of an antibiotic administered orally. Whether the antibiotics have been administered orally or parenterally, there is thus a noticeable fraction of the administered dose that reaches the colon in an active form, where it comes into contact with the numerous commensal bacterial populations within the colon of all living species.
The result is the production of commensal bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic administered and, often, to many other antibiotics, because the resistance mechanisms to various antibiotics are often physically linked on genetic elements such as plasmids and integrons and thus can be selected by a single antibiotic pressure.
As a result of this process, the patient, or the animal, that has received the antibiotic treatment becomes highly colonized by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and this can result in further infection by resistant bacteria, and the dissemination of such resistant bacteria in the environment. It is now widely accepted that the selection and dissemination of such resistant bacteria is a major factor that speeds up the dissemination of bacterial resistance to antibiotics both in the community and in the hospitals. Levels of bacterial resistance are currently extremely high, and this is a major public health problem worldwide that could lead to major outbreaks of infections very difficult to treat with available antibiotics either in humans or in animals.
Besides producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotics that reach the colon in active form will also profoundly alter the composition of the commensal flora and kill the susceptible species. Among those are often present anaerobic bacteria that have a major physiological role in the intestine of normal subjects and animals, i.e. that of preventing colonization by exogenous potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as Clostridium difficile and/or Candida sp, and/or multiresistant exogenous bacteria such as Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Thus, resistance to colonization by such potential pathogens is often reduced during antibiotic treatments. This can lead to the appearance of pathologic signs and symptoms, such as post-antibiotic diarrhea or the more severe forms of pseudomembranous colitis, Candida genital infections, particularly in women, or antibiotic-resistant systemic infections in hospitalized patients, particularly patients in intensive care.
In the past, there have been two different approaches, specific and general, for reducing the above mentioned effects of antibiotics on the colonic flora during treatments. A specific approach has been to use enzymes that specifically destroy residual antibiotics in the lower part of the intestine before they can alter the colonic microflora of the treated subjects. This approach is described, for example, in U.S. Application Publication Number 2005/0249716, and can prevent the deleterious effects of beta-lactam antibiotics as well as other antibiotic families, such as the macrolides and the quinolones. A potential limitation of this approach is that the required enzymes or combination of enzymes are sometimes difficult and expensive to produce on large scales, and are only active against a selected class of antibiotic molecules, often against only some of the representatives of this class. That is, the enzymes can inhibit some beta-lactams, or some macrolides, but not all of them. Also, since enzymes are proteins, they tend to be labile, difficult to formulate, and rapidly degraded in the upper part of the intestinal tract by the proteolytic activity found in normal intestinal juices.
It can further be important that the enzymes are not released too early in the intestine, or they will degrade antibiotics before they are significantly absorbed, potentially leading to a decreased activity of the antibiotic treatment. Along a similar line, there have been warnings that the administration of adsorbent materials, such as charcoal, at the same time as antibiotics, can also lead to a decreased efficacy of the antibiotic treatments.
It is worthy of note that antibiotic use in farm animals by far exceeds that in humans, and is a major driving force in the general evolution and dissemination of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
It would be advantageous to provide additional compositions and methods of treatment for removing excess antibiotics and their metabolites from the intestinal tract, in order to reduce undesirable side effects such as diarrhea and the development of antibacterial-resistant bacteria without changing the fate of absorption on the antibiotic and its potential to treat the infection for which it had been administered. The present invention provides such compositions and methods of treatment.

Site-specific intestinal delivery of adsorbents, alone or in combination with degrading molecules


The dispenser for a liquid to pasty product comprises a container (R) containing the product (P) integral with a rigid outer casing (4) provided in its upper part with a subplate (7) to which there is fixed a hand pump (8) surmounted by a push-button (9). The subplate (7) is in the form of a dish engaged in the container (R) and with its concavity directed towards the face opposite the container. The pump (8) is carried by the base (11) of the dish. The depth (h) of the dish is substantially equal to the length (1) of the pump body. The base (11) of the dish is provided with a movable transition component (13) connected to the base so that it projects in relation thereto, the pump body being engaged in the said component and fixed to the transition component (13) at or below the upper level of the subplate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dispenser for a liquid to pasty product, of the type comprising a container containing the product, integral with a rigid outer casing provided in its upper part with a subplate to which there is fixed a hand pump surmounted by a push-button.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hand pumps are generally crimped on to a neck disposed in the upper part of the subplate forming the top of the container. Each pump is usually provided with a metal crimp cap which is itself fixed to the pump by crimping. In order to fix the metal crimp cap to the neck carried by the subplate, a free space is required to effect crimping.
Consequently, the crimp cap is situated substantially higher than the upper part of the subplate, this being disagreeable from an aesthetic point of view as the pump is itself surmounted by the push-button, so that the assembly forms an upper projection perched above the upper level of the subplate.
Moreover, the greater the volume dispensed upon each actuation of the pump, the greater the operating stroke of the pump. Consequently, in the case of pumps intended to dispense large doses, the push-button will be perched even higher above the crimp cap to allow for a large stroke. As the container is picked up at the casing, the finger of the user intended to press the top of the push-button may not be long enough to allow for comfortable operation of the dispenser.
In order to obviate this problem, it is proposed in EP-A 0 282 595 and EP-A 0 340 724 to provide the product dispenser with a dished subplate engaged in the container, the pump being fixed to the base of said dish so that the pump can be disposed in part below the upper level of the container. In these two documents, the pump is fixed directly to the base of the dish. Under these conditions, it is often difficult to mount the pump on the subplate, as this is done at the base of a dish and there is not enough space for the introduction of the various tools required.

Dispenser for a liquid to pasty product and subplate for a dispenser of this kind


A diffuser (D) for atomizers or mist blowers of treatment liquids in agriculture, includes a large tube (1) fed with air under pressure, ending into a narrow fan-shaped opening (2), and elements to cause the treatment liquid to flow into the fan-shaped opening (2) at a very low pressure. The elements include a plurality of sectors (3) for liquid distribution, each of them consisting of two straight tube lengths (4) of synthetic plastic material, provided with gauged holes (5) and mutually connected so as to form a very wide angle between them, and substantially at 90.degree. with a feeding duct (6). The sectors (3) are positioned in succession, in one or more side-by-side rows, along the narrow fan-shaped opening (2), substantially at its center.

The present invention concerns a fan-shaped diffuser for atomizers or mist blowers of treatment liquids in agriculture.
There are already known to be various types of mist blowers or atomizers for treatment liquids to be sprayed on any kind of cultivation (such as fruit trees, vineyards, vegetables, strawberry cultivations, and the like), mounted on wheels to be drawn along the fields, or without wheels and carried through the fields by farm tractors. Among said mist blowers or atomizers, the ones using the so called "low volume" system have successfully developed due to their advantageous characteristics. In such atomizers or mist blowers: on one hand, air is fed at high pressure into a large tube ending into a short narrow duct, where the air blows at a very high speed; on the other hand, said treatment liquid is caused to flow at very low pressure towards delivery holes provided into said narrow duct. In various accomplishments of the Applicant, said narrow duct has the characteristics of a real diffuser, acting as a Venturi tube in order to spray the treatment liquid in tiny drops, with the most rational use of said liquid and thereby avoiding any waste thereof.
There are many practical accomplishments of said diffusers, but the ones produced by the Applicant which have proved to be particularly efficient are the diffusers in which the distribution of the treatment liquid is obtained by placing into the narrow duct, wherein air flows at high speed, a small copper tube having aligned, gauged and equidistant holes on its surface. In some of said diffusers, the narrow duct is fan-shaped and the small tube is placed along its fan-shaped opening.
This arrangement has however proved to involve two serious drawbacks: the first one due to the fact that, especially in certain working positions of the diffuser, the liquid tends to spread in said tube in a scarcely uniform manner and is thus distributed in a fully irregular way through the various gauged holes; the second one due to the fact that said holes tend to become wider, especially with some treatment liquids having corrosive properties, they prevent a correct spraying action and thus comprise the proper working of the mist blower.

Fan-shaped diffuser for atomizers or mist blowers of treatment liquids in agriculture


A synthetic resin bag is used for storing grain or animal feed. The bag includes an inner layer made of polypropylene textile woven in gauze, a coating layer attached to an inside surface of the inner layer, and an outer layer attached to an outside surface of the inner layer. Attaching between the layers is made by polypropylene resin applied thereto. The coating layer is made of high-density polyethylene film, and the outer layer is made of oriented polypropylene film mixed with non-slip material for raising coefficient of friction of the outer layer to 0.5 or more. Also, the outer layer has a printed inside layer. The bag allows inhibiting penetration of moisture in the air and preventing absorption or leakage of fat or oil in contents. Also, the bag is prevented from slipping and falling when stacked or conveyed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a synthetic resin bag. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bag used for packing and storing grain or animal feed, especially powdered feed, feed containing fish oil of high permeation, feed containing much fat and moisture.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that a burlap bag is used chiefly for carrying or storing items, for example, feed for domestic animals such as dog, chicken, cat and fish, or grain such as rice, barley, wheat and corn. In the past, a storage bag for grain or feed was made mainly of paper. The paper bag is, however, easily damaged in use by water or moisture. Furthermore, since the paper bag is not waterproof, contents of the bag can be badly changed in quality or easily lose their freshness by water penetrated into the paper bag. Additionally, in case of packing feed full of fat or oil, such fat or oil is unfavorably absorbed into paper.
A later paper bag is therefore reinforced with additional agents to prevent penetration by water and absorption of fat or oil. This type of a paper bag is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a paper bag 100 is composed of a dual paper structure, i.e., an outer paper layer 102 and an inner paper layer 103. In order to reinforce the paper layers 102 and 103, a layer 104 of polyethylene (PE) resin coats the inner layer 103. Also, a printed portion P partially covers the outer layer 102. The printed portion P is a set of certain figures or words directly printed on the outer layer 102, or alternatively a synthetic resin film printed with figures or words and adhering to the outer layer 102.
Upper and lower ends of the paper bag 100 are fastened by stitching, thereby forming sealing portions 105 and 105′. The upper sealing portion 105′ has a stitching thread 106 and an unstitching thread 107. The unstitching thread 107 facilitates the opening of the bag 100.
Unfortunately, the above-described conventional paper bag 100 has some drawbacks. First, since the outer and inner paper layers 102 and 103, and the PE coating layer 104 are different in material, the paper bag 100 is difficult to recycle and cost-ineffective. Furthermore, since the outer paper layer 103 is still exposed to a damp environment, the strength of the paper bag 100 tends toward lowering over time by moisture in the air. This often causes a damage of the paper bag 100 while packed or conveyed. Additionally, the conventional paper bag 100 is prone to slip and fall due to a low sliding friction while stacked.
Moreover, if powdered feed is packed in the paper bag 100, powdered feed is apt to solidify by exposure to the ventilation of air. To solve such a problem, there is a case where the following steps are added, namely, inserting a vinyl bag into the paper bag, putting powdered feed in the vinyl bag, and tying up the upper end of the vinyl bag with a string. This solution, however, leads to the increases of manufacturing cost and working hours.


An information processing apparatus for classifying documents. The apparatus begins with an input document, and detects related documents. Next, the apparatus converts the document components into element identifying information that indicates the type or role of the document component. In the next stage, an internal document sequence converting section converts each set of repetitive element identifying information into element identifying information indicating the sequence of the element identifying information. Next, an inter-document sequence converting section identifies sets of element identifying information that appear in both a target document and a related document. An inter-document sequence converting section detects the identified sets of element identifying information which appear repeatedly in the target document. Then, a sequence converting identifies information into element identifying information, indicating the sequence of the elements, and structures the target document.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium. In particular, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that classifies the contents of document information, and a program and a recording medium for this information processing apparatus.
2. Background Art
In a World Wide Web (WWW) system such as the Internet, a transcoding technique has hitherto been used to allow mentally handicapped people, the aged, and the like to browse web pages comfortably. For transcoding, information such as annotations added to a web page can be used to rearrange the contents of the web page according to their types or create a table of contents for the web page. Thus, mentally handicapped people, the aged, and the like advantageously browse web pages.
Certain knowledge is required to appropriately add annotations for transcoding. Furthermore, a large amount of work is required to add annotations. Thus, techniques have been proposed to support the addition of annotations (see, e.g., Published Unexamined patent application No. 2003-85087, Published Unexamined patent application No. 2002-245068, and H. Takagi, C. Asakawa, K. Fukuda, J. Maeda, "Site-wide Annotation: Reconstructing Existing Pages to be Accessible", ASSET2002) For example, the technique described in Published Unexamined patent application No. 2002-245068 can classify a web page on the basis of the structure and characteristics of tags which determine the layout of the web page.
However, the above technique cannot appropriately classify the contents of web pages the structures of which vary dynamically. For example, if a web page contains a baseball scoreboard, entrant players, and a list of the players' records, the web page may be constantly updated and varied dynamically. In this case, the above technique cannot determine whether the layout of the web page has changed or the scoreboard, any entrant player's record, or the like has changed in connection with the progress of a baseball game. Thus, a clear need exists to provide an information processing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium which can solve the above problems.

Information processing apparatus, program, and recording medium

International Business Machines Corporation


In an electrically driven dual pump, a cylindrical outer rotor is rotatably disposed with respect to the inner circumferential surface side of the housing and has a plurality of permanent magnets on an outer circumferential surface of the outer rotor to constitute a motor section in cooperation with coils of a housing, a partitioning plate is disposed to partition an inner circumferential side of the outer rotor into a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber, and each of first and second inner rotors is rotatably disposed within the first and second pump chambers with a rotation center of each of the first and second inner rotors eccentric to the center of the outer rotor and constitutes a space against the outer rotor which is communicated with a corresponding one of the suction ports and the corresponding one of the discharge ports.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrically driven oil pump utilized as an oil pump and particularly relates to an electrically driven dual pump in which pump mechanisms of two different systems are equipped.
(2) Description of Related Art
In a hybrid (automotive) vehicle in which an internal combustion engine is stopped under a particular vehicle driving condition which is one of vehicular drive sources, for a hydraulic pressure supply to a transmission during a stop of the engine, it is general practice that the electrically driven oil pump is used. In a case where two hydraulic pressure systems for each of which a requested hydraulic pressure or an oil quantity is different are present, it is desirable to provide a dual pump in which two pump mechanisms of the two systems are equipped.
Each of a Japanese Patent Application First Publication (tokuhyou) No. 2006-517634 published on Jul. 27, 2006 and a Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. Showa 57-083290 published on May 22, 1982 exemplifies a previously proposed composite oil pump.
In the previously proposed composite oil pump, a plurality of pump mechanisms are arranged in parallel to each other within a housing and a single drive shaft drives these pump mechanisms at the same time. In this case, the individual pump mechanisms are constituted by vane pumps, a rotor of each of the pump mechanisms is attached onto a common drive shaft.
In addition, a Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. 2012-067735 published on Apr. 5, 2012 exemplifies another previously proposed electrically driven oil pump. In this other previously proposed electrically driven oil pump, a housing in which coils are equipped and an outer rotor having permanent magnets constitute a kind of an electrically driven motor and an inner rotor is rotated together with the outer rotor to obtain a pump action.