The present invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of cells lacking normal growth arresting characteristic. The present invention demonstrates that many tumor cells lack normal cell surface α-dystroglycan and thereby lack dystroglycan function. Dystroglycan can be lost from the cell surface by proteolytic shedding of a fragment of α-dystroglycan into the surrounding medium. Upon restoration of dystroglycan function and over-expression of the dystroglycan gene, the once tumorigenic cells revert to non-tumorigenic cells which polarize and arrest cell growth in the presence of basement membrane proteins, demonstrating that dystroglycan functions as a tumor marker and suppressor.

Cell growth is highly regulated in normal tissues by a variety of mechanisms in order to guide normal tissue development and homeostasis. A cell's response to the "microenvironment" is a major portion of the growth regulatory machinery. The microenvironment consists of soluble factors, adjacent cell surfaces and molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Information within the microenvironment is primarily detected by cell surface receptors that bind specific molecules found in the micro environment and elicit varied cell responses for growth, morphogenesis or differentiation.
The work reported here focuses on cell interactions with the ECM in general and a specialized form of ECM, called the basement membrane (BM). This specialized extracellular matrix serves not only as a barrier between cell layers, but also as an active signaling substrate that regulates epithelial cell growth, differentiation and tissue architecture. Key signaling components of the BM are the laminin glycoproteins. Laminin-1 alone can induce cell shape changes, growth arrest, and functional differentiation when added to cultured mammary epithelial cells (MECs). Signals from laminin are mediated by direct binding to multiple cell-surface receptors whose individual functions are not completely defined. It has been hypothesized that the aberrant behavior of tumor cells arises, in part, from alterations in cell-BM interactions. In support of this model, tumor cells frequently demonstrate altered responsiveness to BM proteins, indicating changes in BM receptor functions. Significantly, the laboratory of Dr. Mina Bissell has demonstrated that functionally normal MECs can be distinguished from tumorigenic MECs by their growth characteristics when cultured within a 3-dimensional gel of BM proteins (3D-BM assay); functionally normal MECs cultured within Matrigel will grow from single cells to form multi-cellular, polarized acinar structures that arrest growth, whereas tumorigenic MECs grow as disorganized cell masses with unregulated cell growth. The 3-D basement membrane assays distinguish between normal and tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell behavior. Normal cells growth arrest as acinar structures, whereas tumor cells do not growth arrest. This tumor cell characteristic is referred to as a "tumorigenic phenotype". This growth difference has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,536 incorporated by reference herein. Although it is evident that the cellular machinery that senses the BM is altered in tumorigenic epithelial cells, it is less certain where the critical changes occur. Studies of cell-BM interactions have largely focused on the integrins, an extensively characterized family of heterodimeric receptors. However, integrin signaling generally favors tumor cell growth and metastasis, and no integrin has been unambiguously assigned the role of tumor suppressor, leaving the possibility that other important receptors may still need to be investigated. The present invention relates to the characterization of one such receptor, dystroglycan (DG).
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an assay of dystroglycan expression. This assay may be used to show that the laminin binding portion of a-dystroglycan is lost in tumor cells.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide an assay of dystroglycan proteolysis and shedding through the detection of cell-surface α-dystroglycan. This assay focuses on the relative ratio of α- to β-dystroglycan at the surface of cells, as compared to cells like the BT474 cells (FIG. 2, Lane 2) which shed little or no α-dystroglycan.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide an assay for the generation of dystroglycan fragments that can be used to assay for inhibitors of the metaloproteinase(s) cleaving and shedding α-dystroglycan.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide an assay that utilizes α-dystroglycan protein, or derivative thereof, as a substrate for a cell-free assay measuring the activity of the protease(s) cleaving it. The substrate consists of either the full-length α-dystroglycan molecule, a fragment thereof, or a synthetic peptide capable of being recognized and cleaved by the enzyme cleaving α-dystroglycan.

Drug screens based on the newly found role of dystroglycan proteolysis and restoration of dystroglycan function thereof

The Regents of the University of California


There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus which is easily operated. In the ophthalmologic apparatus, during measurement using an eye examination portion for measuring an optical characteristic of an eye to be examined, the eye examination portion is moved relative to the eye to be examined in up/down and left/right directions by manual input. Then, the eye examination portion is moved relative to the eye to be examined in a forward/backward direction by automatic control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to alignment of an ophthalmologic apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of an eye to be examined.
2. Related Background Art
According to an eye refractive power measuring apparatus serving as an ophthalmologic apparatus, which is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-186585, an alignment reference index is set by projecting an alignment index light flux to an eye to be examined. The alignment between the eye to be examined and the refractive power measuring apparatus is performed using the reference index by so-called auto alignment for electrically driving an eye examination optical portion of the refractive power measuring apparatus relative to the eye to be examined in the left/right, up/down, and forward/backward directions.
In the ophthalmologic apparatus for performing the measurement through such auto alignment, the measurement is always performed on the eye to be examined at the same location thereof. For example, assume that the eye to be examined has opacity resulting from cataract at the central region of the crystalline lens. In this case, even if measurement is tried multiple times, the measurement on the central region including the opacity is repeated by the auto alignment. Therefore, a measurement light flux is blocked by the opacity, so that the measurement light flux cannot be detected. As a result, there is a problem in that the measurement is not completed because a measurement error is repeated.
In addition to such an auto alignment function for performing the alignment measurement, the ophthalmologic apparatus has the same manual measurement function as that of a conventional eye examination apparatus. In the manual measurement function, an operator operates the eye examination optical portion in the left/right, up/down, and forward/backward directions to move the eye examination optical portion to a desirable position. The alignment measurement is performed at the position.
However, when the alignment measurement is manually performed, it is necessary for the operator to operate the eye examination optical portion taking into consideration not only left/right and up/down alignments but also forward/backward alignment (that is, focusing). Thus, the usability of the ophthalmologic apparatus having the auto alignment function impairs under the current circumstances.


A method for producing fishing reel frames and a fishing reel frame employs a starting piece comprising: a longitudinal first side wall; a longitudinal second side wall having a spaced relationship with the first side wall such that the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall; and at least one longitudinal cross-structure holding the first and second side walls in the spaced relationship. The starting piece is preferably an extruded structure. The method comprises the step of machining the starting piece to produce a plurality of individual frames. The method also includes the steps of: (a) forming a series of spool apertures through the first side wall such that each of the individual frames includes a separate one of the spool apertures; (b) forming a series of spool shaft apertures through the second side wall such that each of the individual frames includes a separate one of the spool shaft apertures; and (c) forming feet from those portions of the cross-structure included in the individual frames. The feet are operable for mounting the individual frames on fishing rods. The longitudinal cross-structure is preferably positioned above the bottom of the starting piece whereby the feet formed therefrom are spaced a sufficient distance above the bottoms of the frames to provide low profiles when the frames are mounted on fishing rods.

Baitcast fishing reels are well known in the art. A baitcasting reel will typically comprise: a split frame having a pair of opposing side plates; a foot, extending from the frame, for attaching the reel to a fishing rod; a line spool, rotatably positioned between the frame side plates, for retrieving and holding a fishing line; a spool shaft, on which the spool is secured, having ends extending through the frame side plates; a pinion gear provided on the spool shaft; a manually operable crank handle for rotating the spool in order to retrieve (i.e., wind) the fishing line; a gear train and crankshaft assembly mechanically linking the crank handle to the spool shaft pinion gear; a level-wind mechanism which transverses the spool during winding to ensure that the fishing line is evenly distributed along the length of the spool; an anti-reverse mechanism for preventing reverse rotation of the crank handle and spool; a clutch mechanism for disengaging the pinion gear from the spool shaft to allow the spool to rotate freely during casting; an exterior actuator (typically a thumb lever) for engaging the clutch; and a spool drag or spool braking mechanism.
In most cases, right and left side covers are removably attached to the frame side plates for housing the various reel operating mechanisms. A right-handed baitcasting reel (i.e., a reel designed for a right-handed user) will typically be structured such that: the spool drag or spool braking mechanism is housed under the left side cover; the crank handle is rotatably mounted outside of the right side cover; and the crankshaft, gear train, pinion gear, clutch, and anti-reverse mechanism are housed under the right side cover. Additionally, right-handed baitcasting reels are commonly configured to provide access to the reel spool by removing the left side cover. With the left cover removed, the spool can typically be removed and/or replaced through an aperture provided in the left side plate of the reel frame.
For sake of convenience, a right-handed perspective is used in describing the various reels and reel components discussed herein. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a left-handed version of generally any baitcasting reel can be produced by simply reversing the arrangement and structure of the reel's components such that the left-handed reel is a mirror image of the right-handed version of the reel.
Spool drag or spool braking mechanisms are commonly used in baitcasting reels to alleviate line backlashing problems which can occur when casting. Because they utilize transversely oriented spools which rotate during casting, baitcasting reels are more prone to backlashing problems than are spinning reels and spincasting reels. Such problems result primarily from the rotational momentum carried by the spool. The most common types of spool drag/braking mechanisms used in baitcasting reels are magnetic drag systems and centrifugal braking systems.
Two basic styles of reels dominate the baitcasting market. The first consists of traditional baitcasting reels having high, round profiles. The second consists of low profile, contemporary reels having teardrop or generally oval shapes. As used herein, the term "high profile" refers to a baitcasting reel profile wherein, when the reel is secured to a fishing rod, the top of the reel is spaced a relatively high distance above the top of the rod. In contrast, the term "low profile" refers to a baitcasting reel profile wherein, when the reel is secured to a fishing rod, the top of the reel is spaced a relatively short distance above the top of the rod.
Heretofore, traditional, round baitcasting reels have had relatively high profiles due primarily to two factors. The first is a need to employ large frame side plates in order to obtain a round, traditional shape. The second has been the need to position the reel foot at or below the bottom of the reel frame.
The circular frame side plates used in traditional baitcasting reels have typically been relatively large due to the need to (a) encompass various structures and components positioned between the side plates and (b) house all of the reel's operating mechanisms within the reel's circular side covers. The structures and components positioned between the frame side plates include: the reel spool; the level wind-mechanism; and at least two frame support structures. These structures are encompassed between the frame side plates for proper operation and support. Additionally, these structures and components, as well as all of the reel's operating mechanisms, must be encompassed within the reel's circular profile in order to obtain an overall round, traditional shape.
The typical foot structure heretofore employed in a round baitcasting reel has constituted a separate component attached to the outer (bottom) surface of one of the frame supports. The frame support structures are typically positioned around the spool at or near the perimeters of the circular side plates. Consequently, the reel foot has been positioned at, very near to, or below the bottom of the reel. Thus, when mounted on a fishing rod, substantially the entire, large profile of the reel has been positioned above the top of the rod.
Like traditional baitcasting reels, contemporary baitcasting reels are typically structured such that the reel foot is positioned at or below the bottom of the reel. However, to obtain low profiles, contemporary baitcasting reels have been constructed using oval or teardrop-shaped frames. These contemporary frames have forwardly and rearwardly extending sections which allow the attainment of a low profile by positioning the frame support structures and various operating mechanisms in front of and/or behind the reel spool.
As evidenced by the continuing, sizable market for traditional, round baitcasting reels, many users prefer traditional baitcasting reels over contemporary baitcasting reels. Unfortunately, the high profile nature of the traditional, round baitcasting reel presents certain disadvantages. Some users prefer to "palm" a fishing reel during winding. When palming the fishing reel, the user positions one hand around both the reel and the rod and turns the crank handle with the other hand. Many users find that holding the rod and reel in this manner provides comfort and balance. While palming the reel, the user will also typically hold the fishing line such that, during winding, the line passes between the thumb and forefinger of the palming hand. Thus, palming also serves to remove moisture from the line and promotes efficient winding by maintaining a desirable amount of tension on the line during the winding process.
Thus, a need presently exists for a low profile baitcasting reel which has a traditional, round appearance and which provides the above-mentioned benefits and advantages of traditional baitcasting reels.
The processes heretofore used for producing frames for baitcasting reels have significant shortcomings. The most commonly used processes are: die casting, investment casting, forging, and stamping. Investment casting is comparatively labor intensive. Investment casting also allows only limited alloy selection and can yield undesirably high product porosity levels. Forging processes are typically rather expensive due to high tooling costs and extensive machining requirements. Stamping generally requires the formation and attachment of multiple components. Stamping therefore typically affords much less control over dimensional precision and yields products of relatively low overall strength.
Although generally less costly than other frame production methods, die casting processes typically yield lower quality products. Die cast products commonly exhibit high porosity levels, high contamination levels, and high out-gassing levels. Aluminum die casting processes typically also require the addition of iron and silicone to aid material flow during the molding process and prevent the molded material from sticking to the die wall. Unfortunately, these additives act to prevent the attainment of a thick, bright, anodized finish. Aluminum die cast frames therefore are commonly either painted and/or mildly anodized. Thus, aluminum die cast frames typically have low corrosion and scratch resistance, low strength, low finishability, and low aesthetic appeal. Additionally, in order to allow acceptable flow of material from one side of the die to the other, the support structures extending between the side plates of a die cast frame must typically be relatively thick.
Thus, a need presently exists for a cost effective method of producing high quality frames for baitcasting reels. A need particularly exists for a cost effective method of producing high quality aluminum frames for baitcasting reels. Such method will preferably provide a high level of dimensional precision and will allow the use of superior alloys. Such method will also preferably facilitate the attainment of a bright, anodized finish and will preferably provide high strength, high scratch resistance, and high corrosion resistance.


One or more implementations of the present specification provide a blockchain-based data processing method and device. Block data in a blockchain is synchronized by a data center to a local database of the data center. The data center is connect to the blockchain and a target application. A data usage request sent by the target application is received by the data center. In response to the data usage request, the local database is queried, by the data center, for requested data corresponding to the data usage request. The requested data is returned, by the data center, to the target application.

A blockchain technology, also referred to as a distributed ledger technology, is a new technology in which several computing devices participate in "accounting" to maintain a complete distributed database. In the current blockchain environment, it is extremely difficult to identify, collect, and analyze data in a blockchain. The main reason for this problem is that in the process of storing data in a distributed form in the blockchain, a globally unique hash code is usually used as a parent-child blood link between blocks. No connection can be established between the data information included in the block and the hash code, and no connection can be established between the data included in the block, so the blockchain is an inefficient and expensive way to store data. The blockchain data storage structure makes it difficult for the data stored in the blockchain to be used by the upper-layer application program, and causes a great bottleneck for the promotion and development of the blockchain technology.

Blockchain-based data synchronizing and data block parsing method and device


A two-dimensional discrete cosine transform processor (two-dimensional DCT processor) includes two one-dimensional DCT circuits and a transposition memory interposed therebetween. Each of the two one-dimensional DCT circuits includes a butterfly operation circuit and a distributed arithmetic circuit at the subsequent level. Partial sums of vector inner products based on a constant matrix obtained by multiplying respective elements of a discrete cosine matrix by frequency-depending weighting according to human visual sense are stored in ROMs included in the distributed arithmetic circuit, and the contents of the ROMs are used to obtain a one-dimensional DCT result with weighting given. In this manner, arbitrary weighting can be given to the transform result without using a multiplier. Thus, for example, in a compressing and coding system for image data, the compression efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where weighting is not given to the transform result.

The present invention relates to an orthogonal transform processor suitably used for an image processing, a speech processing, etc.
For example, in a compressing and coding system for image data, a small-size orthogonal transform processor is required for transforming spatial domain signals into frequency domain signals. An encoder adopts a forward orthogonal transform such as a discrete cosine transform (hereinafter referred to as DCT) and a discrete sine transform (hereinafter referred to as DST). A decoder adopts an inverse orthogonal transform such as an inverse discrete cosine transform (hereinafter referred to as IDCT) and an inverse discrete sine transform (hereinafter referred to as IDST).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,598 discloses a two-dimensional DCT processor comprising two one-dimensional DCT circuits and a transposition memory interposed therebetween. Each of the one-dimensional DCT circuits adopts a so-called fast algorithm and a distributed arithmetic (DA) method, and comprises a butterfly operation circuit including plural adders and subtracters, and a distributed arithmetic circuit, disposed at the subsequent level, for obtaining vector inner products by using not a multiplier but a ROM (read only memory). The distributed arithmetic circuit includes plural ROM/accumulators (hereinafter referred to as RACs). Each of the RACs includes a ROM for storing, in a form of a look-up table, partial sums of the vector inner products based on a discrete cosine matrix, and an accumulator for obtaining a vector inner product corresponding to an input vector by adding, with the digits aligned, the partial sums successively retrieved from the ROM with bit slice words using as addresses. In a one-dimensional IDCT circuit, a butterfly operation circuit is disposed at a level subsequent to plural RACs included in a distributed arithmetic circuit.
In general, human visual sense is more insensitive to high frequency components than to low frequency components. Therefore, for the purpose of improvement in compression efficiency in a DVC (digital video cassette) and the like, a low frequency component in the one-dimensional DCT result is multiplied by a large weighting and a high frequency component is multiplied by a small weighting before coding. However, multiplication for such frequency-depending weighting of the one-dimensional DCT result requires an additional multiplier. U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,381 describes a one-dimensional eight-point DCT circuit for limited weighting. In this circuit, a multiplier for executing multiplication of input data by elements of a discrete cosine matrix is used also for giving the weighting.
The one-dimensional DCT circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,381 is disadvantageously limited to application to the eight-point DCT and cannot be applied to arbitrary weighting. Also, this one-dimensional DCT circuit has a problem that the circuit scale and power consumption are larger, owing to the usage of the multiplier, than those of the one-dimensional DCT circuit described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,598.
Furthermore, in dealing with an input data matrix comprising N.times.N elements in the two-dimensional DCT processor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,598, each of the two one-dimensional DCT circuits executes N-point one-dimensional DCT. In this case, each of the two one-dimensional DCT circuits includes N RACs. Specifically, this two-dimensional DCT processor requires to include 2N RACs in total, which disadvantageously increases the circuit scale and power consumption.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A leather surround for decorative articles of the type which could be used with key rings or luggage tags, golf bag tags, and the like includes a pair of leather sheets, one of which includes an opening A decorative article, such as a pictorial work or logo, is inserted between the leather sheets so that the portion to be displayed is visible at the opening. Preferably the article is made from a non-ferrous metal, such as pewter. The article includes a flange surrounding at least a portion of its outer boundary adapted to be received between the two sheets of leather In the preferred embodiment, the leather sheets are stitched together around the outside of the article and flange and an adhesive is applied to the rear surface of the article to assist in bonding the article to the leather sheet and maintaining a desired orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the art of leather articles such as leather fobs or tags of the type used with bags, luggage, key rings, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a leather surround for metallic decorative articles. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing such an article wherein the decorative article is firmly secured and wherein the resulting products have a high level of aesthetic appeal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Key fobs, bag tags, briefcase tags, luggage tags and the like have been known for many years and have been prepared in a variety of sizes and shapes and from a variety of different types of material. Some of such devices have included combinations of different materials, such as flat, painted metal sheets adhered to natural or synthetic leather backing by an adhesive.
Because of the flexibility of the leather, there has been a tendency for the metal portion to break loose from the backing, thereby destroying the function of the tag or fob.
It is also highly desirable to create tags and fobs which have aesthetic appeal, especially when they are employed with higher quality luggage and other merchandise. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly common to have consumers personalize such articles and buy products including artistically detailed displays, including relief images. Such images could be pictorial, graphic, corporate logos and/or combinations of the foregoing with information identifying the purchaser As an example of the latter, it is relatively common to have the initials of a purchaser engraved in luggage tags
Regardless of the type of materials used, when leather is employed as the main support for the decorative article, typically made from a different material than the leather, it is necessary to employ an adhesive. Such adhesives have a tendency to fail, resulting in reduced aesthetics and potential loss of the decorative article. It would be highly desirable to provide a surround for the decorative article which could be in the form of a leather tag or fob, and in which the article is firmly oriented and wherein the aesthetic appeal is enhanced.


A semiconductor device with an ESD protection function has an SOI substrate, first to fourth diffusion layers, and a gate. The SOI substrate has a semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The first diffusion layer is of a first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The second diffusion layer is of the first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The third diffusion layer is of a second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first and second diffusion layers. The fourth diffusion layer is of the second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first diffusion layer and electrically connected to the second diffusion layer. The gate is formed over the third diffusion layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, which in particular is formed on an SOI (silicon on insulation) substrate and has an ESD protection function. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ESD protection circuit which can be formed on this type of semiconductor device.
2. Background Information
In the field of semiconductor devices, especially an integrated circuit with a field effect transistor (hereinafter to be referred to as an MOS transistor), it has been an important subject as to how the device can be protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD) generated from a human body or other devices.
There are various methods and structures for protecting a semiconductor device from electrostatic surge. For example, with respect to a typical MOS transistor formed in a bulk substrate, a method of discharging electrostatic surge using a parasitic diode having a simplex polarity, which is formed within a device structure, may be applied. This parasitic diode is formed between a diffusion layer of a drain and diffusion layers which include a well layer and a layer for power dispatching of the well layer. In this case, for instance, when an output circuit constitutes a bulk structured MOS transistor, the electrostatic surge applied to a drain through an output terminal will be discharged to the power source through a well-electric supply terminal due to forward operation of the parasitic diode.
In recent years, in order to realize lower power consumption, higher efficiency and miniaturization of electronic devices, development of a semiconductor device using an SOI substrate has been actively pursued. Especially, an FD (fully depleted) type SOI-MOS transistor has been attracting attention. In this FD type SOI-MOS transistor, the semiconductor layer (SOI layer) on the insulation film is thin and has a thickness of 50 nm or less, and the transistor operates while the SOI layer is under a fully depleted state. The FD type SOI-MOS transistor can make its threshold voltage smaller, and therefore, it is considered as a very useful device in realizing low power consumption and high speed operation.
For example, one patent reference (Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 2003-209185, pp. 3-4, FIG. 1) discloses such semiconductor device which has a protection function against electrostatic discharge damage. The semiconductor device introduced by this patent reference uses the SOI substrate, and it has a protection element made up of a thyristor. The structure elements are disposed in the lateral direction of the SOI substrate, and connected to an input terminal, by which it discharges electrostatic surge applied from the exterior.
With respect to the above-described FD type SOI-MOS transistor, the SOI layer, which is an element formation region, is made completely separate from the support substrate by an embedded insulation film, and since the SOI layer beneath the channel is under a fully depleted state at the time of operation, a parasitic diode with a simplex polarity will not be formed through the well layer as in the case of the bulk structured MOS transistor. With the FD type SOI-MOS transistor, a parasitic diode having an opposite polarity against a parasitic diode formed between a drain region and a channel region is formed in series between a source region and the channel region. Accordingly, a compound parasitic diode having a bidirectional polarity made up of two parasitic diodes with their cathodes or anodes facing each other is formed. Therefore, if an output circuit is to be constructed of an FD type SOI-MOS transistor, the electrostatic surge applied to the drain through an output terminal has to pass through not only the parasitic diode in the forward direction but also through the parasitic diode in the opposite direction at the same time. Generally, with respect to the FD type SOI-MOS transistor, the degree of damage resistance when the electrostatic surge is applied in the opposite direction of the parasitic diode is about 1/10 to 1/100 of that when the electrostatic surge is applied in the forward direction (proved by HBM testing). Therefore, with respect to the FD type SOI-MOS transistor, because its typical structure has a compound parasitic diode, its damage resistance against electrostatic surge is rather low.
As mentioned above, the semiconductor device as disclosed in the patent reference functions to discharge electrostatic surge by having a thyristor type protection element connected between a MOS transistor that forms an input circuit and an external input terminal, but it does not function to discharge electrostatic surge using a parasitic diode formed within the structure of the MOS transistor.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved semiconductor device having an ESD protection function and an ESD protection circuit which can be formed in such semiconductor device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure

Semiconductor device with ESD protection function and ESD protection circuit


A system for the automated insertion of documents into envelopes. The system includes a plurality of individual document feeding devices that feed individual documents from an assembled stack onto a moving document conveyor. Each of the document feeding devices includes a suction device that pulls the lowermost document into contact with a discharge nip formed between a pair of opposed rotating belts. After being deposited onto the document conveyor, each of the documents enters into a pusher assembly in which each of the documents is accelerated and pushed into an open envelope positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the document conveyor. The stack of opened envelopes is fed by the combination of an envelope feeding device and an envelope conveyor section. The envelope feeding device receives a stack of closed envelopes and feeds and opens each envelope before it is stacked adjacent to the discharge of the document conveyor.

The present invention generally relates to the unloading of documents from a stack or stacks and the subsequent insertion of such documents into envelopes. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automated system that discharges a single document or several documents onto to a discharge conveyor and loads the documents into an open envelope while maintaining the required control over the documents to reduce mishandling.
Currently, many systems exist for the automated insertion of documents into envelopes and the subsequent processing of the envelopes for automated mailing. For envelope insertion operations, it is generally necessary to provide a stack of envelopes which have had the envelope flap opened so that the materials to be inserted may be inserted therein. In typical prior art systems, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,020,615; 4,888,938; and 5,247,780, opening fingers or blades are inserted into the envelope to allow documents or articles to be slid into the opened envelope.
An inherent drawback in envelope inserting systems that includes blades or fingers to open the envelopes is that at higher speeds, the blades or fingers that come into contact with the envelope will tear or otherwise damage the envelope, thereby resulting in system shutdowns and delays. Additionally, high speed operation requires the mechanical fingers to continuously operate, which results in wear and mechanical breakdowns.
Along with the inherent problems that result from the use of insertion fingers or blades is the lack of control over the product as it moves at high speeds throughout the system. A primary reason for the lack of control of articles being inserted into the envelopes is the continual starting and stopping of both the articles and the envelopes throughout the entire production process. Additionally, in many currently available machines and systems, both the documents and envelopes change directions several times during the insertion process. During each of the direction changes, the articles and envelopes suffer from a lack of control which tends to restrict the speed of the production process.
An additional problem with currently available systems running at higher speeds is the deterioration of the gears and cams that are used to operate the unloading devices and the devices used to insert the documents into envelopes. Therefore, a need currently exists for an improved system for the automated insertion of documents and other articles into envelopes that maintains the required control over the documents and envelopes to allow for the high speed stuffing of envelopes. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that maintains the required amount of control over the articles as the individual articles move in a single direction from accumulated stacks of documents to finally being placed within the desired envelope. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an outfeed conveyor assembly that allows multiple envelope insertion lines to be accumulated on a common conveyor system.
The present invention is a system for the high speed and automated insertion of documents into envelopes. The system operates to maintain control over the documents throughout the process and operates in a single, first direction such that the envelopes and documents do not change direction.
The envelope inserter of the present invention includes a document conveyor that extends in a first direction. The document conveyor terminates at a discharge end and includes an endless drive chain having a plurality of tabs. Each of the tabs are spaced along the length of the drive chain and function to engage and move the documents along the length of the document conveyor.
The envelope inserter further includes a plurality of individual document feeding devices spaced along the length of the document conveyor. Each of the document feeding devices includes a stacking bin that receives a stack of documents to be dispensed. The stack of documents contained within the stacking bin can be folded or flat documents, depending upon the type of material to be inserted into the envelopes.
Each of the document feeding devices includes a suction device positioned beneath the bottom end of the stacking bin and is operable to remove the lowermost document from the accumulated stack. The suction device includes a suction cup and support arm that are movable between a grasping position, a discharge position, and a retracted position. When the suction device is in the grasping position, a source of negative air pressure is applied to the lowermost document through a suction cup contained on the suction device. After the supply of negative air pressure is applied to the lowermost document, the suction device can be moved to the discharge position to pull the lowermost document out of the accumulated stack in the stacking bin.
As the suction device pulls the lowermost document from the accumulated stack, the document is pulled into contact with a discharge nip formed between a pair of rotating discharge belts. The discharge belts are operated at substantially the same speed such that when the document enters into the discharge nip and the supply of negative air pressure is removed, the pair of rotating discharge belts act to direct the document onto the document conveyor. One of the discharge belts passes around a drive member that is operable to adjust the position of the discharge nip. Specifically, the drive member operates to move the discharge nip upward to pull the document from the suction device when the suction device is in the discharge position. As the discharge belts engage the document, the suction device moves to the fully retracted position that is completely out of the way of the document as it is pulled from the stack. The operation of each document feeding device is controlled by a control unit that times the discharge of each document such that each document is positioned in contact with one of the moving tabs on the document conveyor.
As the discharged documents are moved along the document conveyor, the discharged documents pass beneath a document insertion device. The document insertion device is positioned near the discharge end of the document conveyor and operates to act upon the documents as the documents approach the discharge end of the document conveyor. The document insertion device includes a continuous belt that operates in-line with the document conveyor in the first direction.
The continuous belt of the document insertion device includes a plurality of pusher members that contact the individual documents supported along the document conveyor. Each of the pusher members contacts the document and pushes the document off of the discharge end of the document conveyor and onto a support platform. The endless belt of the document insertion device is operated at a speed slightly faster than the speed of the document conveyor such that the documents are accelerated by the pusher members of the document insertion device.
A stacking device that includes a stack of opened envelopes is positioned immediately adjacent to the discharge end of the document insertion device such that the pusher members of the document insertion device push the documents into the uppermost envelope of the opened envelope stack. A blast of air is directed into the uppermost envelope of the opened envelope stack to open the envelope prior to insertion of the document by the document insertion device.
The stack of opened envelopes in the stacking device is created by the combination of an envelope feeding device and an envelope conveyor. The envelope feeding device is generally identical to the plurality of document feeding devices and thus includes a stacking bin including a supply of unopened envelopes. The unopened envelopes contained within the stack in the storage bin are fed individually into a discharge nip by a suction device. As the unopened envelopes are fed from the stack, a powerful air blast is used to open the envelope flap prior to the envelope entering into the discharge nip.
The now opened envelopes are fed from the envelope feeding device to an envelope conveyor where a continuous string of opened envelopes are shingled. The shingled, opened envelopes are fed from the envelope conveyor to the bottom of the opened envelope stack contained within the stacking device. The stacking device includes a photoeye that communicates with a control unit such that the control unit can control the operation of both the envelope conveyor and the envelope feeding device to feed envelopes to the stacking device as the height of the opened envelope stack decreases.
After the uppermost envelope in the opened envelope stack is stuffed with a document by the document insertion device, the envelope is lifted off of the stack by a suction device. The envelope is fed by a transfer device to an outfeed conveyor. While on the outfeed conveyor, the envelope flap is wetted and pressed into a closed position. The outfeed conveyor extends in a second direction that is different from the first direction of the document conveyor. From the outfeed conveyor, the closed envelopes are fed to conventional processing equipment, such as mailing and sorting machines.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.


Systems and methods for managing capabilities in a network are described. The method describes receiving a first capabilities data structure having a first dataset from a primary service, and then receiving a second capabilities data structure having a second dataset from one or more secondary services. The method next describes combining at least the first dataset and the second dataset into a combined capabilities data structure and providing services within the network based on the combined capabilities data structure. Another method describes requesting first and second job tickets from first and second services, where the tickets include first and second nodes respectively. The method next describes identifying the first and second job ticket nodes, and determining whether the nodes are capable of being aggregated. Finally, the method describes aggregating the nodes that are capable of being aggregated, and producing a consumable result job ticket that includes the aggregated nodes.

A computer network connects multiple processor-controlled devices. A network allows the connected devices to provide various functions and services. In modern service-based systems, there are frequently many (often thousands) of destinations that may implement a given task. However, each destination may have different capabilities and constraints or limitations with respect to the task. If a client is familiar with a destination, the client can use this information to guide the configuration and invocation of the task. If, though, the client has not chosen the destination at the time of a job invocation (e.g. likely the case if a service is intermediating between the client and the destination), the client does not have a way to understand how to configure the task. Typically, it is not reasonable for the client to know the capabilities of each potential individual destination, as there could possibly be thousands of potential destinations.
Each time the end user or end user application performs a task, the goal is to accurately present all the devices, services features and options that are available on the network. Enterprise distributed network environments are particularly dynamic, and services available to an end user may come on and offline. Software updates can change the feature sets that are available in client software such as drivers. Network managers may need to enforce a policy on services deployed in the network and track usage of the deployed services. Present network systems require prior knowledge by a client service of the other services distributed across the enterprise, which then must tailor their behavior and feature sets accordingly. Such a pre-knowledge requirement for services requires tight coupling of components and services, special tool sets and human administration. It would be desirable therefore, to provide advancements to the art that overcome these and other disadvantages.

System and method for managing capabilities in a network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Drawing-data creating method includes selecting charged beam drawing-apparatus dividing drawing area into main fields, subfields and unit fields (U-fields), dividing design data (D-data) corresponding to pattern drawn on area into first D-data corresponding to main fields, dividing first D-data into second D-data corresponding to subfields, dividing second D-data into third D-data corresponding to U-fields, evaluating resist resolution to predetermined dimension on U-fields, creating table relating U-fields to resolution based on result of evaluating the resolution, judging whether third D-data corresponds to data having the dimension and corresponds to pattern falling in U-field having rejectable resolution is based on the dimension and table, and converting data judged to correspond to the data among third D-data into first drawing-data after coordinate conversion so that the data fall in U-field having acceptable resolution, and converting data judged not to correspond to the data among third D-data into second drawing-data without coordinate conversion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of creating charged beam drawing data used for a charged beam drawing apparatus to draw a pattern on a sample using a charged beam, a charged beam drawing method, a charged beam drawing apparatus and a semiconductor device manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In manufacturing of LSI currently, there is an increasing demand for high precision of pattern transferring and processing dimensions for high integration of wires and devices. To respond to such a demand, recently, an electron beam drawing apparatus has been used for drawing a fine pattern on a sample such as a semiconductor wafer or a mask substrate.
Design data of a device pattern to be drawn on a sample is normally converted beforehand into drawing data corresponding to a drawing apparatus. The drawing data is recorded (stored) into a storage device or the like attached to the drawing apparatus.
The step for converting the design data into the drawing data includes a step of decomposing the device pattern into relatively simple patterns (for example, rectangular patterns), and a step of dividing the design pattern into mesh fields corresponding to the deflection width of an electron beam of the drawing apparatus.
In the pattern drawing by an electron beam drawing apparatus, an electron beam where an electron generated from an electron source is accelerated is formed through a plurality of variable apertures with reference to the drawing data, and this formed electron beam is deflected by two stages or more of deflectors, and focused onto a sample on a movable stage by an electromagnetic lens, thereby a pattern is drawn (Japanese Patent Nos. 3085918, 3125724, and 3168996).
FIG. 14 is a view schematically showing an example of the field division of design data that is performed in electron beam drawing. In FIG. 14, a subfield is divided into 4×4.
In FIG. 14, reference numeral 91 (square shown by a thick solid line) shows a subfield, 92 to 94 (patterns shown by diagonal lines) show design data corresponding to drawing data of relatively large dimensions (for example, 130 nm L&S or pad electrode), 95 to 97 (patterns shown by stripes) show design data corresponding to drawing data of relatively fine dimensions (for example, 60 nm L&S).
At the center of a drawing field, the deflection angle by a corresponding deflector is zero. At the portion that is more apart from the center of the field, the deflection angle of an electron beam becomes larger. When the deflection angle of the electron beam is large, blurring of the beam becomes relatively large owing to aberration of the electromagnetic lens and the like, and as a consequence, the resolution of the pattern drawing becomes lower than that at the center of the field.
FIG. 15 shows results (SEM photos) of an evaluation by an SEM on resist pattern drawn by a conventional drawing method by use of the design data of FIG. 14, and obtained after a developing process and the like.
From FIG. 15, it is known that the resolution of the fine pattern that is near the field center entangled by a dotted line is relatively preferable. Further, it is known that there is not a significant problem in the resolution even in the relatively large pattern at the end of the field outside of the dotted line. However, it is known that, in the fine pattern at the edge of the field, the deterioration of the resolution is conspicuous, and it is extremely difficult to resolve the fine pattern.
As a method for solving this problem, and for resolving fine patterns in the entire drawing area, there is known a method in which the drawing field is set small, and the electron beam deflection width is made small, thereby drawing is performed. However, in the above method, the number of drawing fields increases. Consequently, there occurs a problem that it requires longer drawing time than the above conventional drawing method, and the throughput is decreased.

Charged beam drawing data creation method, charged beam drawing method, charged beam drawing apparatus and semiconductor device manufacturing method


A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table is described. The invention includes a collapsible rigid frame designed to support an enclosure at a predetermined height. The enclosure has padded walls and is sized and shaped to fit over the rigid frame. The back, first and second side walls of the enclosure are of a first height above a floor of the enclosure while the front wall is of a lower height. The floor of the enclosure is designed to be slightly lower that the top surface of a parental bed. A mattress pad is sized and shaped to fit within the enclosure and is segmented to use as a containing cover for the co-sleeper when the frame is collapsed. A strapping member is provided to hold the co-sleeper to the parental bed. A number of variations of this strapping member are provided. Several styles of support members for the enclosure are provided. These include support bars that attach to the rigid frame, a series of hangers that support horizontal bars while hanging from top rails of the frame, and rigid panels and support rods fitted into pockets on the underside of the enclosure. Variants on the invention also include mesh panels for lower portions of the enclosure walls and rigid panels for insertion into pockets in the enclosure walls designed to prevent the formation of unwanted folds in the enclosure walls that could trap a child. The co-sleeper is height adjustable for variations in parental bed height.

Furniture and fixtures for use by babies and small children often presents a problem for parents with limited living space. For this reason it is desirable that such furniture serve more than one purpose. A bedside co-sleeper is very useful for an infant or very young child as it prevents a parent from having to get out of bed to deal with a child requiring minor attention or comforting. If the co-sleeper can then be put to other uses, the parents will save both space and the cost of other furniture. Various examples of such multi-purpose children's furniture have been patented and sold.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,709, issued to Cheng teaches a folding combination playpen and baby bed having an elevated floorboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,470, issued to Shamie discloses a combination foldable playpen and dressing/changing table. U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,336 issued to Mariol adds an upper level to a playpen to provide a bassinet. The short legs of the upper level are inserted into openings in the top of the vertical supports of the playpen. U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,186, issued to Berk et al. discloses a portable combination crib and playpen. U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,176 issued to Saldana teaches a unit designed for home and travel that may be used as a support for a playpen, bassinet or baby chair.
Beside cribs that attached to the parents' bed were known at the turn of the century (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,005; 620,069; 1,138,451; 1,283,169; 1,267,244) but fell out of favor for many years. Recently there has been a resurgence in the practice of having babies adjacent the parents' bed. Such bed-side devices are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,435 to Griffin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,561 to Tharalson et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,655 to Van Winkle et al.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bedside co-sleeper that can be adapted for use as a changing table. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a stand-alone unit that is inexpensive, compact and portable. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the unit be simple to erect and collapsible for transport and storage. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the co-sleeper design consider and address all possible safety considerations related to its use. Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings. The present invention addresses many of the deficiencies of prior art convertible sleeping unit inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combination co-sleeper and changing table


A functional color selection system is provided for automatically generating a palette of coordinated, harmonious, and aesthetically pleasing colors from symmetrically manipulating colorimetrically specified colors in a perceptually uniform color space. The color selections system operates in a calibrated color display gamut using device independent color specifications based on internationally recognized color specification systems. A simple-to-use interface is provided for a user to select a key color on which the palette is to be based, and from the key color to select analogous and complement harmony colors. The user may also select chroma and lightness variations of the key, analogous, and complement harmony colors, and these colors will be computed at predetermined equally spaced intervals from those colors in the uniform color space. Colors are generated according to known color theories for selecting harmonious colors. The coordinated color palette selected may be saved in a palette memory for subsequent reuse in a wide variety of color presentation systems.

Color is playing an increasingly important role in computer graphics. Broader affordability and availability of computer controlled systems with color processing capabilities will promote wider acceptance and use of color in document-intensive industries or document-intensive functional areas of enterprises. As a result, there is a steadily increasing use of computer based color presentation programs by computer users with little or no training in color science and in the aesthetic and technical uses of color. By computer based color presentation programs is meant a wide range of computer based graphics illustrators, page layout programs, graphics editors, business graphics programs and modern spreadsheet programs, publishing systems, image retouching systems, and other similar color presentation programs for using color on computers.
These users are often dissatisfied with the aesthetics of the final product produced by the color tools that are available for existing color presentation systems. There are several reasons for this disappointment. Users of existing computer illustrators, for example, usually first define the shapes of the objects in their graphical compositions through the use of a suitable graphics editor. For coloring these compositions, users then customarily employ color sample sets to pick the colors for their compositions, color by color, without any interactive feedback from the computer beyond whatever conclusions the users are able to draw from their personal reactions to the coloring of their compositions. Known color selection systems typically allow users to select only one color at a time, and users seldom are able to focus on the relationship among the colors. These color selection systems ignore well-known principles of color perception theory that human perception of color is influenced by the effect of adjacent colors, the surround against which a color is viewed, and the illumination under which a color is viewed.
In addition, existing color selection systems often utilize a device dependent color classification model, providing color descriptor classifications, or dimensions, that correspond to the underlying color models that control associated physical devices. Such device dependent color classification models include the additive red, green, and blue (RGB) phosphor color model used to physically generate colors on a color monitor, and the subtractive cyan, magenta, and yellow, plus black (CYMK) color model used to put colored dyes, inks, or toners on paper. In addition, models based on mathematically transforming RGB signals to hue, saturation, and value (HSV) signals have also been used. Color selection systems based on these device dependent color models operate in color spaces that treat color differences and changes in incremental steps along dimensions which are useful to control the physical devices. For example, lookup tables give the users of these existing systems convenient access to the RBG signal values that produce the selected colors on their monitors, thereby facilitating entering the signal specifications for the selected colors into the data files for their composition.
A prior art color selection system utilizing HSV color space is disclosed in Holler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,951, entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Color Selection and Production". An apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a color is selected on the basis of one color characteristic system for implementation in another color characteristic system. Color selection is made from the color characteristic system of hue, saturation, and value (referenced as brightness) (HSV) in the preferred embodiment, and is performed interactively with the operator individually selecting hue, saturation and brightness levels from displays which illustrate the effects of changing each of these characteristics. The displays are comprised of a display bar for each of the hue, saturation and brightness color characteristics, with the selected value or level for each characteristic being shown by a vertical black line, or slide marker, which the operator may move to a selected position. Selected hue, saturation, and brightness color characteristics and the current color selected are illustrated on the display and are immediately updated whenever changes of the H, S, or V occur, in a manner that facilitates a rapid and interactive selection process. The selected values of H, S, and V are converted through the use of appropriate transforms to values of R, G, and B in the red, green, and blue color classification system for display in the current color display.
Device dependent color space models, such as the RGB model or HSV color model, are not necessarily related to how humans visually perceive color, and in such systems it may be difficult for a user to approximate how much change in one dimension is needed to produce a desired change in the color, requiring considerable trial and error to achieve a desired color selection.
A perceptually uniform color space which more closely approximates how humans perceive colors and color differences facilitates color specification tasks. In particular, standardized color notation systems for use in perceptually uniform color spaces have been developed by an international color standards group, Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage (the "CIE"). CIE color specification employs "tristimulus values" to specify colors and to establish device independent color spaces. In 1976, the CIE recommended the use of two approximately uniform color spaces, the CIE 1976 (L*u*v*) or the CIELUV color space, and the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) or the CIELAB color space.
Generally, preference for using one or the other CIE uniform color space is based mainly on convenience of use in particular industrial applications. CIELUV space is often used to capture the color appearance of additive color mixtures, such as those on color display monitors, and as such is used as a standard color space by the television and video industries. CIELAB space is often used to capture the color appearance of subtractive color mixtures, and as such is a standard color descriptor for the paint and dye industries, and is the primary uniform color space used for printed color evaluation. CIE color spaces are widely accepted because measured colors can readily be expressed in these CIE recommended coordinate systems by means of simple mathematical transformations. The functional color selection system of the present invention operates in the CIELAB space, and relevant aspects of the CIE system for specifying colors in the CIELAB color space are discussed in more detail below. However, it is intended that the functional color selection system of the present invention may be implemented in any of the currently defined perceptually uniform color spaces, such as the CIELUV space, the Munsell color space, and the OSA Uniform Color Scales, or in a future newly defined perceptually uniform color space.
Further complicating the color selection process is the effect of color usage on color selection. Colored images can be partitioned into two classes: (1) those that contain so-called "reference colors", and (2) those that utilize "functional colors". Reference colors are colors of naturally occurring objects in the human perceptual world, such as colors of skin, grass, and the sky. On the other hand, functional colors serve a purely symbolic function because these colors are not intended to symbolize objects found in nature. Examples of functional colors are the colors used in thematic maps and in business graphics. Thus, functional color palettes preferably are composed of coordinated harmonious colors to provide color combinations that aesthetically appeal to the ordinary observer. Typically, selecting functional colors for an application requires an understanding of, or at least an appreciation of, how colors combine to form an aesthetically pleasing image. Selecting reference colors requires a somewhat different approach because the goal is to closely match them to colors perceived in nature, thereby facilitating the identification of objects in the computer generated image.
The prior art also discloses a system for using a perceptually uniform color space model for color selection. Taylor et. al., in EP 0 313 796 A3, entitled, "Computer display color control and selection system", disclose an interface system for use in selecting and controlling colors in graphics images generated by a computer system. The interface comprises a mechanism and method for displaying a graphical representation of hue, chroma, and lightness combinations available based on a color appearance type color space and associated mechanism. The interface includes a method for selecting any of the combinations of hue, chroma, and lightness which are graphically displayed as available for use. The graphical representation includes a graph of the range of hues in one dimension and a second graph of the range of chroma and value combinations in two dimensions. The preferred embodiment of the interface makes use of a specially defined HVC color space for graphically displaying, representing, and selecting hue, chroma, and value combinations for a color with a high degree of perceptual uniformity. The preferred embodiment of the system includes a mechanism for operating the interface in three different modes, providing functions corresponding to picture editing, color map editing, and continuous shading.
Other prior art color selection systems perform automatic color selection. Braudaway, G., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,075, entitled, "Method for Selecting Colors" discloses a method for selecting a limited number of presentation colors from a larger palette to provide digitization of a color image. A three-dimensional color histogram of the image is generated, having axes corresponding to red, green, and blue, and a first color is selected based upon the color occurring most frequently in the image. Subsequent colors are selected by choosing one at a time those colors having the highest weighted frequency of occurrence. Final color selection may be made according to a disclosed cluster analysis method for minimizing image entropy.
Lai et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,382, entitled "Image Retouching", disclose an image retouching method and apparatus in which an operator using a color monitor may selectively alter colors of an original, scanned image displayed on the monitor prior to printing the image using a two stage process. An operator displays on a monitor a first range of colors, adjacent colors differing from each other by more than a predetermined amount, and then selects one of the displayed colors. The selection in turn causes a second range of colors centered on the selected color to be displayed, the adjacent colors of the second range differing from each other by less than the predetermined amount. The operator then selects from this second range of colors a tint which is to be the selected tint. The operator may selectively change the intensity or other property of one or both of the first and second range of colors as desired in respected predetermined steps. In the preferred embodiment, the characteristics by which each color is quantified are printing color components, cyan, magenta, yellow, and optionally black such that all colors displayed on the monitor are printable using conventional printing inks.
Guitard and Ware, "A Color Sequence Editoir" published in ACM Transactions on Graphics, Vol. 9, No. 3 (July 1990) at pp. 338-341, disclose a color sequence editing tool to enable the rapid editing of the contents of a color lookup table (LUT). An editing window consists of three plotting areas containing Hue, Saturation, and Value plots and a color sequence feedback area. The horizontal coordinate in a plotting area corresponds to an entry in the LUT; the vertical coordinates give values of Hue, Saturation, and Value, respectively. Each plotting area is actually 256 pixels wide and can be considered as 256 slider bars controlling 256 LUT entries. To edit the color sequence, the user moves the cursor to the desired plotting area and draws or "plots" a curve. This replaces the plot previously drawn and causes a real-time change in the corresponding LUT entries.
Meier, B., in "ACE: A Color Expert System for User Interface Design", Proceedings of the ACM SIGGRAPH Symposium on User Interface Software (October 1988) discloses a production expert system designed to select colors for user interface design. Guidelines, heuristics, and rules of thumb from literature relating to the effective use of color in computer displays were synthesized into a set of strategic and tactical prescriptive rules for color selection, including tactical information for color selection and information related to the relational constraints imposed between a color selection and its function in the user interface. The set of colors selected consisted of ten perceptually different hues, fifteen "brightnesses" between black and white for each hue, and three saturations for each hue/brightness combination, yielding a total of 450 different colors available for selection, 150 of which were shades of gray.
De Corte, W., in "Finding Appropriate Colors for Color Displays" in Color Research and Application, Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 1986, pp. 56-61, discloses a methodology and supporting algorithm to determine high-contrast sets of colors for use on a color CRT under varying conditions of illumination. The method generates colors which are highly contrasting and ergonomically optimal, given the number of colors, N, one wants to display. The color selection algorithm attempts to maximize the minimal between-color distance for a set of N points in the perceptually uniform CIELUV color space in such a way that the resulting colors remain within the gamut of colors which can be displayed by the terminal while meeting constraints derived from research in human vision and human factors.
Beretta, G. B., the named inventor herein, in Selecting Colors for Representing VLSI Layout, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, Technical Report EDL-88-7, 1988, pp. 2-6, discloses a method for selecting discriminable colors for use in designing a VLSI layout using a computer-assisted design (CAD) graphics system. The method divides the layers of the VLSI circuit into functional classes and applies color theory rules to the selection of colors for each layer. Then, colors to be selected are manipulated in CIELAB space in order to more easily determine and uniformly distribute discriminable colors.
The ideal computer-aided color selection system should provide a general purpose, visual color selection mechanism for organizing color in a way that makes it easy to understand color elements and relationships, and which makes preliminary aesthetic determinations for subsequent review and modification by the user. Such a system should also provide an efficient method for choosing from among the millions of colors a color monitor may theoretically be capable of generating and displaying, thereby making color selection and manipulation intuitively predictable and manageable even for the novice color user. Existing systems, even those based on a perceptually uniform color model, generally do not provide such assistance.
Therefore, an interactive color selection system is needed for providing increased color selection assistance to users of a wide variety of color presentation systems for the selection of functional colors. Moreover, it is important to have a relatively simple user interface for this color selection system so that users can apply it to the color selection tasks they are facing, without having to understand or master features of the system that are irrelevant to those tasks.


The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for controlling enrollment and secure persistent SMS texting account servicing communications. A method is provided that includes receiving, at an enrollment web portal, enrollment data including: enrollment credentials identifying a user for authentication, a phone number of a mobile device associated with the user, and consent by the user to persistently interact with an account servicing system via SMS texting. The method includes: processing the received enrollment data, authenticating the user responsive to processing the received enrollment data, storing the phone number of the mobile device associated with the user in a phone number data storage, and generating, responsive to the authenticating, a revocable token for persistent access to a natural dialogue module via a SMS texting gateway for the mobile device identified by the phone number.

Organizations that offer products and/or services associated with customer accounts have traditionally relied on customer service representatives to interact with customers for account servicing. Call centers staffed with human representatives can provide certain advantages, particularly for customers who wish to speak to a human. However, such staffing can be cost-prohibitive. To reduce cost and increase account servicing efficiency, many organizations use interactive voice response (IVR) systems or programs that generate automatic written, auditory, or video responses via web and/or mobile device application channels. Such systems can provide customers with requested information and perform routine account actions without having to maintain a large workforce of customer service agents. While cost effective, existing computerized customer interaction systems tend to provide an impersonal and robotic user experience, limited by scripted questions and responses, and can require a cumbersome authorization process for each customer-service session.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and methods to provide efficient and cost-effective customer interaction systems for account servicing. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to this and other considerations.

Systems and methods for controlling secure persistent electronic communication account servicing with an intelligent assistant


A warning device for the detection of a bearing malfunction in wheel assemblies of large commercial vehicles such as tractors and semi-trailers is disclosed. The warning device is preferably mounted on the stationary axle inside the wheel housing adjacent the brake mounting assembly to remain stationary. The device includes a probe which protrude outwardly so as to have a sensing end extend until it is a predetermined instance from the rotating brake drum, say 25-50 thousandths of an inch. As long as the brake drum is running true, the distance between the sensing end of the probe and the inner braking surface of the brake drum remains constant. If either wheel bearing becomes incapacitated for some reason which permits the brake drum to run out of true, the inner braking surface will contact the end of the sensing probe which activates a signalling device in the cab of the vehicle to alert the driver of the presence of a dangerous condition.

Most, if not all, commercial trucking vehicles use a standard axle and bearing configuration to mount the wheels on the axle. The construction of the axle housing differs somewhat between whether the axle is mounted on a tractor, where a differential gear device is connected to a pair of oppositely extending hollow tubes to provide means to permit the transmission if power from the differential gear device to the wheels, or whether the axle is mounted on a semi-trailer where the axle is a solid body.
Regardless of the application, i.e. tractor or semi-trailer, the wheel assembly and method of mounting the wheel assembly on the axle generally follows a standard pattern and procedure.
The axle whether hollow (tractor) or (trailer) provides a base unit to which a brake shoe anchor bracket is mounted. A splash guard or backing plate for the braking assembly of the vehicle may also be mounted on the axle.
A pair of brake shoes are mounted on the brake shoe anchor bracket and are spring loaded to be normally in a retracted position. The brake shoes are usually activated by a brake camshaft which twists to force the ends opposite the mounting pivots of the brake shoes apart, so as to contact a surrounding rotating brake drum and apply a braking effort.
The brake drum is mounted on a rotor or hub which is mounted on the axle. In either case, the hub or drum is provided with a pair of spaced wheel bearings (usually tapered) which provide the anti-friction means to permit the wheel assembly to rotate with minimum runout and yet endure the forces imposed by gravity, braking, acceleration and shocks due to uneven road surfaces. At the same time, the lateral forces on the two bearings imposed by the twisting torque imposed on the wheel bearings of a trailer during the execution of a turn on a concrete or asphalt surface can be significant.
The hollow rotor or hub assembly is usually partially filled with a lubricating oil to provide a permanent method of lubricating the two wheel bearings. This means that both ends of the rotor must be provided with sealing means to prevent the escape of lubricating oil from the rotor cavity.
The axle itself is usually tapered so that the wheel bearings inside the rotor have markedly different diameters, such that the bearing having larger diameter of the two bearings is located inboard (nearer the differential gear device) and the smaller diameter bearing is outboard.
The inboard seals in the wheel assemblies are subjected to wear, aging, mechanical damage, intrusion of foreign matter in the seal-shaft interface which may cause damage to the sealing membrane of the seal. As a result, the oil level in the rotor hub may drop as the bearing oil gradually leaks past the inboard seal to escape from the hub cavity. As the oil leaks from the cavity, the usual occurrence will be that the outboard wheel bearing (smaller) will be the first bearing to undergo lubrication oil starvation, because it is at a higher level on the axle, (due to its smaller diameter). Usually, this condition will be found during routine maintenance operations, but if it is not detected, the failure of the outboard bearing is almost inevitable.
The two wheel bearings are usually held in compression on the axle by a double-nut-ring locking mechanism which applies compressive forces to the two inside races of the wheel bearings.
If the rollers of the outboard bearing disintegrate due to failure of the lubrication system, the rotor may allow the whole wheel assembly to leave the axle because the diameter of the aperture in the inboard outer bearing race is usually greater than the outer diameter of the inner race of the outboard bearing (which remains captive on the axle, because of the locking mechanism on the axle).
Thus, the failure of the inboard seal can give rise to a lubrication deficit which even though gradual, can lead to the condition where the outboard bearing fails and the wheel-brake drum-rotor assembly may leave the axle. If this occurs on a tractor, the driver may be alerted to the bearing failure by abnormal driving symptoms or the generation of excessive noise. If this malfunction occurs on an axle of a trailer at a distance of some forty feet from the driver during a freight delivery operation, the malfunction or absence of the wheel assembly may go undetected for a considerable distance before the driver of the transport vehicle becomes aware of the problem. As the tapered outboard bearing enters its failured mode, the hub is no longer held in a concentric relationship with the axle spindle, thus the hub moves upwardly and backwardly on the spindle as the bearing rollers begin to disintegrate. The device of this invention is adapted to sense this eccentricity and immediately alert the driver of a pending failure of a wheel bearing before the above described condition deteriorates to the situation where the whole wheel assembly (including brake drum) leaves the vehicle. This device will perform equally well on tractors or trailers.


In an embodiment of the present inventions, a work flow process may be generated by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete tasks including an individual task associated with a first pre-configured executable procedure for implementing the individual task and associating a user selectable image element with the pre-configured first executable procedure used in implementing the individual task. In a currently envisioned embodiment, integratable work flow processes according to the present invention may be provided to a vertical application system.

The present invention relates to work flow management systems in general, and more specifically to work flow engines that may be embedded within a more comprehensive software application, e.g. a healthcare software application system.
A vendor (e.g., a systems integrator, sometimes referred to hereinafter as an "OEM") of software applications amenable to work flow functionality typically needs to supply its end user customer with a means of configuring the customer's work flow supported by the OEM's software system. However, those customers who require such work flow often have to perform substantial work flow configuration processes, including configuring process interface specifications for individual work steps. Thus, an end user customer will also be required to understand not only their own work flow processes but also the intricacies of both interfacing a particular software application to a work flow engine as well as the intricacies of portions of the work flow engine itself.
In traditional systems, an end-user signs on to an information system, performs work tasks, and then signs off. These systems are typically designed to allow the end user to navigate to the functions of choice. Generic work flow engine vendors do not provide requisite functionality for such customers as the generic work flow engine vendors typically do not have knowledge of the work flow relevant capabilities of specific software systems into which their work flow product will be embedded.
Additionally, although work flow engines may be well suited for direct configuration and implementation by end users, work flow engines are not well suited for secondary distribution, e.g. embedding in a second software application environment, in part because they place the entire burden of defining the interaction with the second software application system upon a work flow process designer.
Further, software applications and work flow engines typically provide a single, generic icon to represent a task conducted by an individual, including interfaces to other software systems. The work flow designer typically configures this icon by designating the addressee to whom the task should be assigned. A software application using work flow engines typically assumes that the destination/individual will be able to open a work step, perform the appropriate action, and designate the work step as "completed." Many systems also allow the work flow designer to configure the data entry screen by which the addressee can complete the task. The work flow designer is responsible for configuring this computer system icon with the appropriate parameters needed to execute the desired function in the foreign system.
However, purchasers of a software application, e.g. a specialized or "vertical" system, are buying a solution for a particular market problem. Presumably, individuals in a particular industry will use the system in order to accomplish their own work flow processes as well as other functions afforded by the system.

System and user interface supporting task schedule configuration

Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation


A first evaporator is arranged on a downstream side of an ejector, and a second evaporator is connected to a refrigerant suction inlet of the ejector. A refrigerant evaporation temperature of the second evaporator is lower than that of the first evaporator. The first and second evaporators are used to cool a common subject cooling space and are arranged one after the other in a flow direction of air to be cooled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vapor compression cycle that includes an ejector, which serves as a depressurizing means for depressurizing fluid and which also serves as a momentum transporting pump for transporting the fluid by entraining action of discharged high velocity working fluid, so that such a vapor compression cycle is effectively applicable to, for example, a refrigeration cycle of a vehicle air conditioning and refrigerating system, which performs a passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation and a refrigerator cooling operation through use of multiple evaporators.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent No. 1644707 discloses a vapor compression refrigeration cycle of FIG. 25, in which a portion of a refrigerant passage located downstream of a radiator 13 branches to two passages 51, 52. A cooling air conditioner evaporator 55 for cooling a vehicle passenger compartment is arranged in the passage 51, and a refrigerator evaporator 56 for cooling a refrigerator is arranged in the passage 52.
In the refrigeration cycle of Japanese Patent No. 1644707, the flow of the refrigerant is switched between the flow passage 51 for the passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation and the flow passage 52 for the refrigerator cooling operation by switching solenoid valves 53, 54. In this way, the passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation, which is performed through use of the cooling air conditioner evaporator 55, and the refrigerator cooling operation, which is performed through use of the refrigerator evaporator 56, are balanced.
Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 26, Japanese Patent No. 3322263 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,477,857 and 6,574,987) discloses a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, in which an ejector 14 is used as a refrigerant depressurizing means and a refrigerant circulating means. In the vapor compression cycle, a first evaporator 61 is arranged between a refrigerant outlet of the ejector 14 and a gas-liquid separator 63, and a second evaporator 62 is arranged between a liquid refrigerant outlet of the gas-liquid separator 63 and a suction inlet 14c of the ejector 14.
In the vapor compression cycle of Japanese Patent No. 3322263 shown in FIG. 26, the pressure drop, which is induced by the high velocity flow of the refrigerant at the time of expansion of the refrigerant discharged from a nozzle portion 14a of the ejector 14, is used to draw the gas phase refrigerant, which is discharged from the second evaporator 62, through the suction inlet 14c of the ejector 14. Also, the velocity energy of the refrigerant, which is generated at the time of expansion of the refrigerant in the ejector 14, is converted into the pressure energy at a diffuser portion (a pressurizing portion) 14b to increase the pressure of the refrigerant, which is discharged from the ejector 14. Thus, the pressurized refrigerant is supplied to the compressor 12, and thereby the drive force for driving the compressor 12 can be reduced. Therefore, the operational efficiency of the cycle can be improved.
Furthermore, the two evaporators 61, 62 can be used to absorb heat from and thereby to cool a common space or can be used to absorb heat from and thereby to cool different spaces, respectively.
However, in the case of the refrigeration cycle of Japanese Patent No. 1644707 shown in FIG. 25, the flow passage 51, which is used for the passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation, and the flow passage 52, which is used for refrigerator cooling operation, are switched through use of a timer. Thus, during the refrigerator cooling operation, the passenger compartment cooling operation cannot be performed, so that air conditioning feeling of the passenger may be deteriorated. Furthermore, due to a difference in the states of the evaporators 55, 56 after the switching operation, the discharged refrigerant temperature (i.e., the discharged refrigerant pressure) of the compressor 12 will change significantly. For example, in the case where the thermal load of the currently operated evaporator 55, 56 after the switching operation is relatively large, the compressor 12 could be operated at the maximum capacity to cause development of the abnormally high pressure in the high pressure side pipe line, which, in turn, could cause stop of the entire operation.
In the case of the vapor compression cycle of Japanese Patent No. 3322263 shown in FIG. 26, the compressor 12 should receive only the gas phase refrigerant, and the second evaporator 62 should receive only the liquid state refrigerant. Thus, the gas-liquid separator 63, which separates the refrigerant discharged from the ejector 14 into the gas phase refrigerant and the liquid phase refrigerant, is required. Therefore, the manufacturing costs are disadvantageously increased.
Furthermore, a distributing ratio of the refrigerant to the first evaporator 61 and to the second evaporator 62 needs to be determined using the single ejector 14 while maintaining the refrigerant circulating (gas phase refrigerant drawing) operation of the ejector 14. Thus, it is difficult to appropriately adjust the flow rates of the refrigerant of the first and second evaporators 61, 62.
Furthermore, the two evaporators 61, 62 can be used to absorb heat from and thereby to cool a common space or can be alternatively used to absorb heat from and thereby to cool different spaces, respectively. Also, it is recited that these two evaporators 61, 62 may be used to cool a room.
However, Japanese Patent No. 3322263 does not recite a specific arrangement of the two evaporators 61, 62 for cooling the room by the two evaporators 61, 62.
Furthermore, another previously proposed refrigeration cycle, which includes a plurality of evaporators, is shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration cycle, which includes a previously proposed thermostatic expansion valve 105. In the refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant circulation passage R is divided into two passages R1, R2 at a point located on the downstream side of a radiator 102. One evaporator 104 is provided in the passage R1 and is used to perform, for example, passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation. The other evaporator 106 is provided in the passage R2 and is used to perform, for example, refrigerator cooling operation.
In the case of the refrigeration cycle, which uses the multiple evaporators, such as of a vehicle air conditioning system including a cool box (the refrigerator), the evaporator 104 for the passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation and the evaporator 106 for the refrigerator cooling operation are temperature controlled to the desired evaporation temperatures, respectively, by intermittently opening and closing a solenoid valve 107 arranged in the refrigerant passage R2 for the refrigerator cooling operation to supply the refrigerant to the refrigerant passage R1 for the passenger compartment cooling air conditioning operation. Furthermore, the thermostatic expansion valve 105 and a fixed metering device 108 are provided as a depressurizing means. In FIG. 27, numeral 101 indicates a refrigerant compressor, and numeral 109 indicates a check valve. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram, in which a box type thermostatic expansion valve 105 is provided in the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 27.
In a case where an ejector is used in the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 28, adjustment (e.g., the flow rate adjustment) to correspond with the load changes and effective response to the rapid change in the rotational speed of the compressor are required. To achieve them, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44906 (U.S. patent application Publication No. 2004/0007014A1) discloses an ejector, which shows a high efficiency and a high responsibility throughout the entire load range.
However, for example, when the ejector of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44906 (U.S. patent application Publication No. 2004/0007014A1) is used in the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 28, which includes the box type thermostatic expansion valve 105, the orientation of the ejector is limited. Thus, there is less freedom in designing of the refrigeration cycle, i.e., the vapor compression cycle having the ejector.


An internal combustion engine having a crankcase, a cylinder connected to the crankcase, a compressed air assisted fuel injection system connected between the crankcase and the cylinder, and a reciprocating piston head located in the cylinder. The improvement comprises a fuel delivery system having two carburetor sections with two interconnected rotatable shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a carburetor having two control shafts.
2. Prior Art
The present invention relates to fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines and, more specifically, to the control of a low pressure injection in an internal combustion engine. A particular field of application of the invention is a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The specific application described is to a small high speed two-stroke engine, such as utilized in handheld power equipment such as leaf blowers, string trimmers and hedge trimmers, also in wheeled vehicle applications such as mopeds, motorcycles and scooters, and in small outboard boat engines. The small two-stroke engine has many desirable characteristics, that lend themselves to the above applications, including: simplicity of construction, low cost of manufacturing, high power-to-weight ratios, high speed operational capability and, in many parts of the world, ease of maintenance with simple facilities.
The prominent drawback of the simple two-stroke engine is the loss of a portion of the fresh unburned fuel charge from the cylinder during the scavenging process. This leads to poor fuel economy and, more importantly, high emission of unburned hydrocarbon, thus rendering the simple two-stroke engine incapable of compliance with increasingly stringent governmental pollution restrictions. This drawback can be relieved by separating the scavenging of the cylinder, with fresh air, from the charging of the cylinder, with fuel. This separation can be achieved by injecting the liquid fuel into the cylinder or more preferably by injecting the fuel charge by utilizing a pressurized air source, separate from the fresh air scavenge, to spray the fuel into the cylinder. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the displacement size of the engine is about 16 cc to about 100 cc, but could be larger or smaller. These sizes of engines are used for such things as string trimmers, chain saws, leaf blowers, and other hand held power tools. The engine could also be used on a tool such as a lawn mower, snow blower or motor boat outboard engine.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an internal combustion engine is provided having a crankcase, a cylinder connected to the crankcase, a compressed air assisted fuel injection system connected between the crankcase and the cylinder, and a reciprocating piston head located in the cylinder. The improvement comprises a fuel delivery system having two carburetor sections with two interconnected rotatable shafts.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an internal combustion engine carburetion system is provided comprising a frame having two air flow channels; two throttle shaft assemblies connected to the frame and extending into respective ones of the air flow channels; and a movement system for moving the two throttle shaft assemblies.
In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method of assembling a carburetor for an internal combustion engine is provided comprising steps of providing a frame having two air flow channels through the frame, the frame having a fuel conduit system for supplying fuel to the two air flow channels; connecting two control shaft assemblies to the frame, a first one of the shaft assemblies extending into a first one of the air flow channels; and operably connecting the two control shaft assemblies to each other to coordinate movement of a second one of the shaft assemblies at least partially relative to movement of the first shaft assembly. Movement of the second shaft assembly at least partially controls supply of fuel delivery to a second one of the air flow channels, and wherein movement of the first shaft assembly from a first idle position to a second wide open throttle position has a coordinated movement of the second shaft assembly from a first small or no fuel supply delivery position to the second air flow channel to a second relatively larger fuel supply delivery position with fuel delivery being switched, at least partially, from the first air flow channel to the second air flow channel when the two control shafts are moved between their respective first and second positions.

Engine having compressed air assisted injection with secondary high speed fuel carburetor sandwich

Design and Manufacturing Solutions, Inc.