A file format that includes a constant section and a varying section. The constant section provides a referencing scheme that references the various components that comprise the scene, as well as a listing of attributes of the scene that are modifiable. Within the same file format, the varying section provides an overriding mechanism to modify the attributes that are available to be modified. Accordingly, the disclosed file format can access cached animated geometry directly and/or aggregate other files via the aforementioned referencing and sparse override semantics. This allows the same set of inspection, manipulation, and rendering tools to be used throughout the rendering pipeline, from asset creation to final rendering.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer graphics and, in particular, to a file format representing a scene.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many computer graphic images are created by mathematically modeling the interaction of light with a three-dimensional (3D) scene from a given viewpoint. This process, called rendering, generates a two-dimensional (2D) image of the scene from the given viewpoint, and is analogous to taking a photograph of a real-world scene. Animated sequences can be created by rendering a sequence of images of a scene as the scene is gradually changed over time. A great deal of effort has been devoted to making realistic-looking and artistically compelling rendered images and animations.
Computer graphics images, animations, and other productions involving computer graphics, such as interactive entertainment software, are created from a number of different components. Generally, components include any data and instructions used to create products and applications that include computer graphics. Components can include three-dimensional models of geometry, texture maps, other arrays of data, lighting, shading programs used to determine the visual appearance of models, and animation data and deformer functions used to specify changes and motion over time. One or more components are typically stored as a digital "asset." These assets can then be used to compose a rendered scene.
Digital production pipelines typically involve modeling, shading, articulation, animation, simulation, layout, lighting, and rendering. Modeling is the creation of the three-dimensional geometry of characters, sets, props, and other objects. Shading is the specification of optical attributes of the surface and interior of objects. Articulation is the specification of joints and other moveable elements of objects. Animation specifies the motion of objects over time in one or more scenes, often with reference to the objects' articulations. Simulation specifies the motion, appearance, and/or behavior of objects. Layout specifies the arrangement of objects and cameras in one or more scenes. Lighting defines the location and other attributes of light in one or more scenes. Rendering produces images or animation from the components.
During one or more of these pipeline phases, a user loads the scene and can manipulate the scene in some fashion. Using conventional techniques, all of the data that the user needs to manipulate the scene, including geometry, lighting, articulation, shading, etc. is typically loaded into memory for manipulation. Loading all of this data into memory can be a very computationally expensive task, especially when the scene is very complicated or intricate, which decreases performance.
As the foregoing illustrates, there is a need in the art for an improved technique that addresses the limitations of current approaches set forth above.


In some aspects, restricted access nodes are assigned to a designated common channel while access terminals that are in active communication with a macro access node may selectively be assigned to the designated channel. In some aspects, an access terminal associated with macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier when the access terminal is in the vicinity of a coverage area of a restricted access node. In some aspects, an access terminal associated with a macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier based on location information. In some aspects, access to a restricted access node is controlled based on policy and/or based on operation of an access terminal associated with the restricted access node.

Field
This application relates generally to wireless communication and more specifically, but not exclusively, to improving communication performance.
Introduction
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication (e.g., voice, data, multimedia services, etc.) to multiple users. As the demand for high-rate and multimedia data services rapidly grows, there lies a challenge to implement efficient and robust communication systems with enhanced performance.
To supplement the base stations of a conventional mobile phone network (e.g., a macro cellular network), small-coverage base stations may be deployed, for example, in a user's home. Such small-coverage base stations are generally known as access point base stations, home NodeBs, or femto cells and may be used to provide more robust indoor wireless coverage to mobile units. Typically, such small-coverage base stations are connected to the Internet and the mobile operator's network via a DSL router or a cable modem.
In a typical macro cellular deployment the radio frequency ("RF") coverage is planned and managed by cellular network operators to optimize coverage. In such a deployment, an access terminal generally will connect to the best base station it hears for service. Here, RF planning may be employed in an attempt to ensure that the signal a given access terminal receives from a serving base station is sufficiently higher than the signals the access terminal receives from any interfering base stations, thereby enabling the access terminal to receive adequate service.
In contrast, deployment of small-coverage base stations may be ad-hoc and RF coverage of these base stations may not be optimized by the mobile operator. Consequently, RF interference, jamming, and out-of-service issues may arise between these base stations and nearby access terminals operating on a macro cell. For example, an access terminal that is not authorized to access a nearby base station (e.g., a femto cell) may be subjected to interference from that base station. Thus, there is a need for improved network interference management for wireless networks.

Method and apparatus for interference management


A vehicle battery unit comprising: a plurality of battery modules; an electric connection box; a battery control device configured to control the plurality of battery modules, a signal line extending from the electric connection box; a voltage detection line extending from the plurality of battery modules; and a battery case which accommodates the plurality of battery modules, the electric connection box, the battery control device, the signal line, and the voltage detection line. The battery control device includes: a first connector to which the signal line is connected on the one side in the front-rear direction; and a second connector to which the voltage detection line is connected on the other side in the front-rear direction. The battery control device is disposed above the plurality of battery modules and further on the one side than a center portion of the plurality of battery modules in the front-rear direction.

JP-A-2017-024481 describes a battery unit in which a plurality of battery modules and a battery ECU are accommodated in a case.
In recent years, the number of battery modules mounted on an electric vehicle has increased, and accordingly, the number of wires or the likes connected to a battery ECU has also increased. The wiring includes a voltage detection line extending from each battery module and a signal line extending from an electric connection box. Depending on the location of the battery ECU, those circuit paths become long.


Disclosed is a gene coding for a protein (a) or (b) showing a high level of resistance to PC herbicides or sulfonylurea herbicides. The protein (a) consists of an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6 and 8, and the protein (b) consists of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6 and 8 by substitution, deletion or addition of at least one or more amino acids, has resistance to a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide, and has acetolactate synthase activity.

Acetolactate synthase (hereinafter referred to as "ALS") is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of branched chain amino acids, such as leucine, valine and isoleucine, and is known as an essential enzyme for the growth of plants. ALS is also known to be present in a wide variety of higher plants. In addition, ALS is found in various microorganisms, such as yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium.
Three types of isoenzymes of ALS are known to be present in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Each of these isoenzymes is a hetero oligomer consisting of catalytic subunits with a large molecular weight that govern catalytic activity of the enzyme and regulatory subunits with a small molecular weight that function as feedback inhibitors by binding of branched-chain amino acids (Chipman et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1385, 401-419, 1998). Catalytic subunits are located at Ilv IH, Ilv GM and Ilv BN operons, respectively. On the other hand, ALS in yeast is a single enzyme, which comprises a catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, as is the case in bacteria (Pang et al., Biochemistry, 38, 5222-5231, 1999). The catalytic protein subunit is located at the locus ILV2.
In plants, ALS is known to consist catalytic subunit(s) and regulatory subunit(s) as is the case in the above microorganisms (Hershey et al., Plant Molecular Biology. 40, 795-806, 1999). For example, the catalytic subunit of ALS in tobacco (dicotyledon) is coded by two gene loci, SuRA and SuRB (Lee et al., EMBO J. 7, 1241-1248, 1988); and that in maize is coded by two gene loci, als 1 and als 2 (Burr et al., Trends in Genetics 7, 55-61, 1991; Lawrence et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18, 1185-1187, 1992). The nucleotide sequences of genes coding for a catalytic subunit have been completely determined for dicotyledonous plants including tobacco, Arabidopsis, rapeseed, cotton, Xanthium, Amaranthus and Kochia (see Chipman et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1385, 401-419, 1998 and domestic re-publication of PCT international publication for patent applications WO97/08327). However, maize and rice (Kaku et al., the 26th Conference of Pesticide Science Society of Japan, Lecture Abstracts, p 101, 2001) are the only monocotyledonous plants whose nucleotide sequences have been completely determined.
Meanwhile, herbicides, for example, sulfonylurea herbicides, imidazolinon herbicides, triazolopyrimidine herbicides and pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicides (hereinafter referred to as "PC herbicides"), are known to suppress the growth of a plant by inhibiting ALS (Ray, Plant Physiol. 75, 827-831, 1984; Shaner et al., Plant Physiol. 76, 545-546, 1984; Subramanian et al., Plant Physiol. 96, 310-313, 1991; Shimizu et al., J. Pestic. Sci. 19, 59-67, 1994).
As shown in Tables 1 and 2, known plants having resistance to these herbicides contain a gene coding for ALS that includes substitution of one or two nucleotides which induces substitution of one or two amino acids in a region conserved among different species.
TABLE 1Mutation in plant ALS which imparts resistance against ALS-inhibiting type herbicide (1)HerbicideCorresponding rice Plant speciesMutationtested ALS amino acidZea maysAla90ThrIMAla96ThrArabidopsis thalianaAla122ValAla96ValXantium strumariumAla100ThrIMAla96ThrBeta vulgarisAla113ThrIM/SUAla96ThrArabidopsis thalianaMet124GluMet98GluArabidopsis thalianaMet124IleMet98IleArabidopsis thalianaMet124HisMet98HisLactuca serriolaPro→HisSUPro171HisKochia scopariaPro189ThrSUPro171ThrKochia scopariaPro189SerSUPro171SerKochia scopariaPro189ArgSUPro171ArgKochia scopariaPro189LeuSUPro171LeuKochia scopariaPro189GlnSUPro171GlnKochia scopariaPro189AlaSUPro171AlaBrassica napusPro173SerPro171SerNicotina tabacumPro196GlnSUPro171GlnNicotina tabacumPro196AlaSUPro171AlaNicotina tabacumPro196SerSUPro171SerArabidopsis thalianaPro197SerSUPro171SerArabidopsis thalianaPro197deletionPro171deletionBeta vulgarisPro188SerIM/SUPro171SerSisymbrium orientalePro→IlePro171IleBrassica tournefortiiPro→AlaPro171AlaScirpus juncoidesPro→LeuSUPro171LeuScirpus juncoidesPro179AlaSUPro171AlaScirpus juncoidesPro179GlnSUPro171GlnScirpus juncoidesPro179SerSUPro171SerScirpus juncoidesPro179LysSUPro171LysLindernia micranthaPro→GlnSUPro171GlnLindernia procumbensPro→SerSUPro171SerLindernia dubia subsp.Pro→SerSUPro171SerLindernia dubiaPro→AlaSUPro171AlaArabidopsis thalianaArg199AlaArg173AlaArabidopsis thalianaArg199GluArg173GluXantium strumariumAla183ValAla179ValArabidopsis thalianaPhe206ArgPhe180Arg
TABLE 2Mutation in plant ALS which imparts resistance to ALS-inhibiting type herbicide (2)HerbicideCorresponding rice Plant speciesMutationtestedALS amino acidKochia scopariaAsp260GlySUAsp242GlyKochia scoporiaTrp487ArgSUTry465ArgKochia scopariaAsn561SerSUAsn539SerKochia scopariaTrp570LeuTrp548LeuGossypium hirsutum L.Trp563CysSU ?Try548CysGossypium hirsutum L.Trp563SerSU ?Try548SerBrassica napusTrp557LeuTry548LeuZea mays L.Trp552LeuIMTry548LeuNicotina tabacum L.Trp537LeuSUTry548LeuArabidopsis thalianaTrp574LeuTry548LeuArabidopsis thalianaTrp574SerTry548SerArabidopsis thalianaTrp574deletionTry548deletionXantium strumariumTrp552LeuIMTry548LeuOryza sativa.Trp548LeuPCTry548LeuAmaranthus sp.Trp569LeuTry548LeuAmaransus rudisTrp569LeuIMITry548LeuSisymbrium orientaleTrp→LeuTry548LeuZea maysSer621AspIMSer627AspZea maysSer621AsnIMSer627AsnArabidopsis thalianaSer653AsnIMSer627AsnArabidopsis thalianaSer653ThrSer627ThrArabidopsis thalianaSer653PheSer627PheArabidopsis thalianaSer653delitionSer627deletionOryza sativaSer627IlePCSer627IleKochia scopariaVal276GluSU
Examples of such a gene include a gene coding for ALS having resistance specific to sulfonylurea herbicides (see Kathleen et al., EMBO J. 7, 1241-1248, 1988; Mourad et al., Planta, 188, 491-497, 1992; Guttieri et al., Weed Sci. 43, 175-178, 1995; Bernasconi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270, 17381-17385, 1995; and JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 63-71184); a gene coding for ALS having resistance specific to imidazolinon herbicides (see Mourad et al., Planta, 188, 491-497, 1992; Lee et al., FEBS Lett. 452, 341-345, 1999; and JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 5-227964); a gene coding for ALS having resistance to both sulfonylurea and imidazolinon herbicides (see Kathleen et al., EMBO J. 7, 1241-1248, 1988; Bernasconi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270, 17381-17385, 1995; Hattori et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 246, 419-425, 1995; Alison et al., Plant Physiol. 111, 1353, 1996; Rajasekarau et al., Plant Sci. 119, 115-124, 1996; JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 63-71184; JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 4-311392; and Bernasconi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,437, 1997); and a gene coding for ALS having a high level of resistance to PC herbicides (Kaku et al., the 26th Conference of Pesticide Science Society of Japan, Lecture Abstracts, p. 101, 2001). The production of a plant body showing resistance to both sulfonylurea and imidazolinon herbicides has been attempted by crossing a plant having ALS showing resistance specific to sulfonylurea herbicides with a plant having ALS showing resistance specific to imidazolinon herbicides (Mourad et al., Mol. Gen. Genet, 243, 178-184, 1994). Furthermore, artificial alteration of a gene coding for ALS into a herbicide resistance gene has been attempted (see Ott et al., J. Mol. Biol. 263, 359-368, 1996, JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 63-71184, JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 5-227964, JP Patent Publication (PCT Translation) No. 11-504213), such that it has been found that a single amino acid deletion causes ALS to show resistance to both sulfonylurea and imidazolinon herbicides (see JP Patent Publication (Unexamined Application) No. 5-227964).
As described above, ALSs having resistance to herbicides, and genes coding for ALS have been aggressively studied. However, only a few cases have been reported concerning a mutant ALS gene having resistance specific to a PC herbicide using resistance to PC herbicides as an indicator. Moreover, there have been also only a few cases reported concerning the study of the resistance to PC herbicides and other herbicides.

National Institute of Agrobiolgical Sciences


A catheter (10), and a method for performing radiation treatment at a site where angio-plasty was performed, are disclosed. The catheter (10) includes a hollow, cylindrical member (12) constructed from a fairly flexible material. The catheter is maneuvered within the body by traveling over a guide wire which was initially maneuvered in the blood vessel to a position beyond the actual site of a stenosis. Stand-off structure (26) having a stand-off balloon (28) surrounds a portion (30) of the outer surface of the catheter (10). The distal end (18) of the catheter (10) includes an inner lumen plug (38), and a distal mandrel (40) extending through the inner lumen plug (38). The distal mandrel (40) is manufactured from shape memory alloy to stiffen, and reinforce the catheter when the catheter is introduced within the blood vessel.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to intravascular catheters used for treating a stenosis in various blood vessels and other bodily conduits with radiation to inhibit restenosis, e.g., after angioplasty or other cardiovascular procedures, and particularly to an intravascular catheter reinforced with at least one stiffening mandrel to improve the pushability and maneuverability of the catheter as it moves through the circulatory system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Various techniques have been developed to treat many different conduits in the body when these conduits have become reduced in size due to the existence of a stenosis or have been completely occluded. These techniques include introducing a deflated balloon catheter to the site of the stenosis or occlusion, inflating the balloon one or more times to reduce the size of the stenosis, deflating the balloon and then removing the balloon catheter from the treatment site.
With respect to the vascular pathways, angioplasty is routinely used to open an artery or blood vessel in the region where the stenosis or the occlusion has occurred. A typical angioplasty procedure consists of making a small incision through the body and into a blood vessel and then maneuvering a guidewire through the vascular system to a point beyond the stenosis or occlusion. A hollow catheter with a deflatable balloon near its distal end is threaded over the guidewire and advanced to the point of stenosis or occlusion. The balloon is then inflated and deflated several times to widen the constricted area, and is then withdrawn from the body.
Unfortunately, although the angioplasty procedure does markedly reduce the area of stenosis or occlusion, many patients exhibit a reoccurrence of the stenosis within a few months of the original procedure. Although the original stenosis occurs by means of the build up of plaque over a relatively long period of time, studies have led many to believe that the reoccurrence of the stenosis after the original angioplasty procedure is unrelated to the cause of the original stenosis. It is believed that the inflation of the balloon catheter used in the angioplasty procedure or the placement of a stent in the area of the stenosis causes irritation to the blood vessel. This irritation produces a mechanism of action called hyperplasia, inducing the inner layer of the blood vessel cells to rapidly reproduce, thereby causing restenosis. It has been discovered that if the blood vessel is irradiated at the point of the stenosis with a radioactive dose immediately following the angioplasty procedure, the mechanism that causes hyperplasia would be inhibited without harming the blood vessel itself.
Accordingly, following the angioplasty procedure, the guide wire is typically left within the patient and an intravascular catheter is introduced over the guide wire. The intravascular catheter is pushed and maneuvered through the circulatory system until a distal end of the catheter is in proximity to the site of the angioplasty procedure. A source wire having at least one radioactive dose at a distal end is then advanced through the interior of the intravascular catheter until the distal end reaches the site of the angioplasty procedure. The radioactive dose is then left inside the catheter for a specific period of time to treat the area of the original stenosis.
It is often difficult to maneuver the intravascular catheter within the circulatory system, especially within narrow blood vessels such as the coronary arteries. To aid in steering and maneuvering the intravascular catheter through the circulatory system, a need exists to stiffen at least a portion of the intravascular catheter for allowing the intravascular catheter to be maneuvered through the circulatory system without crimping.
Additionally, during the radiation procedure, it is important to precisely control the amount of radiation which is directed to the blood vessel wall, since too much radiation could cause tissue damage while too little radiation could fail to inhibit hyperplasia. Therefore, a further need exists for properly positioning the radioactive dose within the blood vessel to address these issues.
The present disclosure is directed to a catheter and a method for performing radiation treatment at a site where angioplasty was performed. The catheter includes a hollow, cylindrical member constructed from a fairly flexible material. The catheter is maneuvered within the body by traveling over a guidewire which was initially maneuvered in the blood vessel to a position beyond the actual site of a stenosis. The catheter is slightly tapered at its distal end to facilitate movement through blood vessels or similar conduits or ducts. Stand-off structure having a stand-off balloon surrounds a portion of the outer surface of the catheter.
The distal end of the catheter includes an inner lumen plug and a distal mandrel extending through the inner lumen plug. The distal mandrel is manufactured from shape memory alloy, such as a nickel-titanium alloy, to stiffen and reinforce the catheter when the catheter is introduced within the blood vessel. This adds strength to the distal end of the catheter which prevents the distal end of the catheter from crimping as the catheter is pushed and maneuvered through the circulatory system.
The stand-off balloon when inflated is preferably smaller in circumference than the circumference of the blood vessel, such that the inflated balloon is bumped-off from the inner surface of the blood vessel to provide some space between the inflated balloon and the blood vessel. This would allow blood to profuse through the space during the radiation treatment.
The method of the present disclosure entails that once the site of a stenosis is determined by appropriate diagnostic procedures and angioplasty is performed, the catheter with the stand-off balloon being deflated is threaded over the guidewire and is advanced such that the stand-off structure is maneuvered to the area where angioplasty was performed. The distal mandrel can also be used in conjunction with a longer fixed or removable stiffening mandrel for assisting in the maneuverability and positioning of the catheter within the circulatory system.
Once the stand-off balloon is verified to be in position, the stand-off balloon is inflated and kept inflated to bump-off the catheter from the walls of the vessel. One or more radioactive sources are provided on, or inside the distal end of a flexible source wire which is advanced through the interior of the cylindrical member of the catheter until it reaches the proper location. The radioactive source is then left inside the catheter for a specific period of time to treat the area of the original stenosis.


A substrate that includes a core layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, at least one first dielectric layer located over a first surface of the core layer, at least one second dielectric layer located over a second surface of the core layer, high-density interconnects located over a surface of the at least one second dielectric layer, interconnects located over the surface of the at least one second dielectric layer, and a solder resist layer located over the surface of the at least one second dielectric layer. A first portion of the solder resist layer that is touching the high-density interconnects includes a first thickness that is equal or less than a thickness of the high-density interconnects. A second portion of the solder resist layer that is touching the interconnects includes a second thickness that is greater than a thickness of the interconnects.

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 100 that includes a substrate 102, an integrated device 104 and an integrated device 106. The substrate 102 includes at least one dielectric layer 120, a plurality of interconnects 122 and a plurality of solder interconnects 124. A plurality of solder interconnects 144 is coupled to the substrate 102 and the integrated device 104. A plurality of solder interconnects 164 is coupled to the substrate 102 and the integrated device 106. Fabricating a substrate that includes high-density interconnects can be expensive. There is an ongoing need to provide a low-cost substrate that includes high-density interconnects.

Substrate comprising interconnects embedded in a solder resist layer


A method of transmitting and receiving a differential self-clocking data stream. The communications link comprises the coding of information signals onto two signal wires using two logic levels on each wire for a total of four possible coding symbols. The four symbols are utilized to encode data and control-states in both electrically differential and common mode manner upon the two signal wires. The coding sequence is chosen so as to facilitate the communications of binary data and control signals along with demarcation of each successive bit boundary by utilizing the consecutive symbol sequences which are nonrepetitive.

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in asynchronous logic circuits. This increased interest is attributable to the fact that asynchronous logic circuits are able to operate at particularly fast speed, much faster, for example, than equivalent clocked circuits and require fewer signal interconnections. Within the communication processing arts, asynchronous logic circuits known as self-clocking have been described which encode the transmitted data sequences in ways which inherently embed clock energy within the encoded signal's frequency spectrum. This embedded clock energy is typically extracted at the receiver and used to regenerate a local copy of the synchronous data clock for sampling and processing of the received bit patterns.
Prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,167 by Goldfarb, describes encoding techniques which vary the pulse width of a binary-1 versus that of a binary-0 in order to allow the receiver to discriminate between the two values by measuring the pulse width relative to a clock reference located at the receiver. This technique has the drawback of being slower to transmit than those that employ symmetrical bit intervals for both binary values. Other prior art, such as the IEEE 802 Local Area Network standards, employ Manchester encoding or 4B5B encoding to create self-clocking data. The latter is a technique where binary characters of some fixed bit length, are encoded into a second binary sequence, comprising a number of bits greater than that of the source characters. The larger sequence utilizes only a subset of the binary codes possible with the larger number of bits. The code subset is chosen to preserve and intensify clock frequency energy to the receiving clock recovery circuit while maintaining long term energy balance to minimize DC offset in the signal. Commercially available circuits of this type presently operate at serial data rates up to several giga-bits per second. However, there are several drawbacks to these prior art approaches. These techniques do not provide a definitive clock edge in their encoding for of every bit interval. For techniques that embed clock energy with extra bit codes, they typically suffer from the inclusion of a relatively large percentage of extra overhead bits. Clock recovery circuits utilized with these techniques often employ phase lock loop (PLL) circuits which must be implemented in some form of mixed signal technology if incorporated within an integrated circuit (IC). Such an approach usually results in increased design complexity and manufacturing expense of the receiver along with inherent restrictions on the number of simultaneous receivers in a single IC package due to crosstalk and noise sensitivity of PLL circuits within the IC.
The prior art in the data processing related applications have centered on asynchronous circuits know as self-timed circuits used for the purpose of data transfer. Some instances of prior art in self-timed circuits use a bi-directional signaling protocol, comprised of the transmit and receive circuits exchanging a request and acknowledgment signals respectively, to complete a data transfer. In the prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,585 by Traylor, a data transfer protocol is described which utilizes a data request issued by the transmitter and a Ready signal from the receiver to perform the handshaking, in much the same manner as performed in earlier asynchronous FIFO circuits. These forms of bi-directional "Request & Acknowledgment" protocols are adequate for fast communication within a single integrated circuit device because of the small physical geometry which result in short signal transit times However, these "Request & Acknowledgment" protocols do not facilitate fast communication between modules when the signal transit delay between the modules may be several nanoseconds due to the relative physical proximity between transmitter and receiver being measured in meters.
Another prior art form of asynchronous data transfer employs dual-rail transition encoding as described by a technical paper by Ebergen, Segers, and Benko entitled Parallel Program and Asynchronous Circuit Design. This paper was included as a chapter in the book titled "Asynchronous Digital Circuit Design", starting at page 59. The book was authored by Birtwistle & Davis and published in 1995. With this method, each bit is implemented using two wires, one wire for the value zero and one wire for the value one. Sending a transition along the `0` wire implements the communication of a zero, and sending a transition along the `1` wire implements the communication of a one. Each transition is non-overlapping with other pulses on the same wire or with transitions on the other wire. The requirement for non-overlapping pulses means that dead time must be inserted between pulses. This dead time reduces or limits the maximum speed of data transmission to values less than could be possible if the pulses could overlap or be adjacent.
As will be described the present invention departs from the strategy of requiring the receiver to regenerate a local copy of the data clock or deliver a data transfer acknowledgment signal. The invention also departs from the practice of adding extra bits to the data to facilitate clock recovery.

Differential encoding of self-clocking data streams


A method of deprocessing a semiconductor structure is provided. The method involves removing a silicide layer over a second poly layer, an interpoly dielectric layer, a first poly layer, an optionally an oxide layer on a substrate. The method may further involve at least one of removing a second poly layer, removing an interpoly dielectric layer, removing a first poly layer, removing an oxide layer, and removing an unimplanted portion of a substrate. The exposed layer/portion of the semiconductor structure can be subjected to an inspection for defects and/or other characteristics. The inspection can aid in defect reduction strategies, among other things, when applied to new technology ramp, monitoring of baseline wafer starts, customer returns, etc.

Semiconductors or integrated circuits (commonly called ICs, or chips) typically consist of multilevel structures. IC circuits fail due to various physical, chemical or mechanical mechanisms such as circular defects, electrical overstress, contamination, or wear out. Some failure analysis approaches and procedures require a die to be delayered down to a particular layer to locate such mechanisms. Methods of delayering a die involve mechanically abrading or polishing the die using a die holder, an abrasive, and a rotatable wheel.
Abrading and polishing the die are often problematic, time-consuming and limited in their usefulness. These problems and limitations result from instability, imprecision and lack of portability of abrading/polishing equipment. Abrading and polishing may damage underlying layers and undercut interconnect metal layers. The mechanical removal of layers can easily scratch, or embed polishing media or slurry into, underlying layers. Certain portions of the die may be abraded or polished at a faster rate, resulting in non-uniform abrading or polishing across the die. The abrading/polishing angle between the die surface and the rotatable wheel may be changed, resulting delayering only one corner of the die. While abrading and polishing the die, the die may break easily.
When more delayering is needed, the user places the die back onto the die holder for more delayering. This may introduce undesired variables in the die position, so that if the die is tilted differently or rotated from its position when previously delayered, the abrading/polishing produces undesired die surface characteristics. The lack of control results in undesired die surface characteristics, which can be detrimental to delayering analysis.
Another method for delayering the die is to use reactive ion etching. The method may produce non-planar etch results due to the in-homogeneity of the target layers. Reactive ion etching may require elevated temperatures, producing non-volatile species that can contaminate other layers.


An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units that form toner images in different color; an image carrier which carries the toner image of each color; a determination unit that determines, in relation to a size of image data instructed to print, whether or not a first area where a misregistration correcting image is formed at an end portion in a width direction of the image carrier is secured; a first control unit that controls the image forming unit; and a detection sensor that detects the misregistration correcting image formed on the image carrier by controlling of the first control unit; wherein the misregistration of the toner image formed by each image forming unit is corrected on a basis of a value detected by the detection sensor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
As an image forming apparatus which performs color printing, there is a tandem type apparatus which includes, for each color, an image forming part (a photoconductor, an exposure device, and the like) that transfers a toner image of each color onto paper.
In this tandem type image forming apparatus, the image forming part for each color (Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and K (black) performs a printing operation onto a paper sheet, and a color image is formed by toner images of four colors.
Therefore, in case that transfer timing onto a transfer belt is slightly different among the image forming parts for the respective colors due to change of temperature and change with time, printing is performed in a state where only a specified color in one image is misaligned, so that a so-called misregistration arises.
As technology of registration adjustment for correcting this misregistration, there is technology in which an image forming part for each color forms on a transfer belt a registration adjustment patch, a sensor detects the amount of deviations in the position of each color registration adjustment patch on the transfer belt from a reference position, and the writing timing at the image forming part is changed so that the amount of this misregistration can be eliminated.

Image forming apparatus having misregistration correction of the toner image formed by each image forming unit


A numbering device is disclosed for marking molded cast parts, the device including a plurality of concentric cylinders having indicia disposed on an end thereof, the cylinders being rotatingly indexable to cause the indicia to move as desired to form the desired mark, the mark is then impressed into a sand mold and subsequently reproduced on the cast part.

It is the practice in the metal casting industry to mark or label each casting to identify the casting for quality control purposes and to aid in obtaining an accurate production count. The identification marks generally contain such information as the hour of the day or the shift during which the casting was made. Proper identification requires the mark to be changed periodically in order to be accurate. Although other information may also be included, the present invention concerns itself with a portion of the mark which requires updating for each casting.
A convenient method of displaying information is by a series of reference marks located about the circumference of a circle and an indicator mark located within the circle and pointing to a desired reference mark. An example of this technique is the face of a clock. When a foundry desires to indicate the hour during which a casting was made, this information is displayed on the surface of the casting as a series of reference marks located in equal intervals about the circumference of a circle and serving as the hour marks. A pointer mark located within the circle acts as an hour hand. Thus, the hour hand mark would point to the two-hour mark for castings made between 2 and 3 o'clock. At 3 o'clock the position of the hour hand mark would be changed. In a similar fashion other information such as the day of the week or the shift during which the casting was produced might be displayed.
A preferred method for producing a lasting mark upon the surface of a casting is to incorporate a marker or series of markers in a pattern as part of its mold-forming surface. As the pattern is employed to form the green sand or other suitable material into the mold, the image of the markers is impressed into the mold surface. The mark is then cast as part of the surface of the metal.
Typically, changing or updating the mark is difficult. Using one method, an operator is required to enter a molding machine in order to reach the pattern surface and manually change the marker. This procedure is not only time consuming, but requires elaborate safety precautions to protect the operator while inside the machine. However, development of a numbering or marking device allowing the operator to change the mark from outside the molding machine has been hampered because of the durable construction necessary to withstand the tremendous jolts and pressure of the mold-forming operations.
It would be desirable to produce a numbering device which facilitates a changing of a mark as desired and maximizes production efficiency.

Numbering device for molded or cast parts


A production method of perfluorocarbon comprising a main reaction step of making a hydrofluorocarbon and fluorine gas of raw materials react in vapor phase with each other to obtain a reaction product gas containing a perfluorocarbon and residual fluorine gas, and a fluorine gas removing step of making the reaction product gas effluent from the main reaction step contact a hydrofluorocarbon having a chemical equivalent not less than 1.1 mol times a chemical equivalent of the fluorine gas contained in the reaction product gas, thereby removing the fluorine gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a perfluorocarbon by reaction between a hydrofluorocarbon and fluorine gas and, more particularly, to a production method of perfluorocarbon for advantageously removing residual fluorine gas existing in a gas of reaction product.
2. Related Background Art
A method for producing a perfluorocarbon by vapor phase reaction between a hydrofluorocarbon and fluorine gas at an elevated temperature is known in general. In order to efficiently produce the perfluorocarbon by this reaction, it is necessary to use an excessive mol of fluorine gas over the hydrofluorocarbon of raw material. Thus, the reaction product gas effluent from this reaction step contains the residual fluorine gas. A variety of proposals have been presented heretofore on methods for removing the fluorine gas from this reaction product gas.
For example, the known methods include a method for burning the fluorine gas in the reaction product gas together with a hydrocarbon and washing the product of hydrogen fluoride with an alkali (Nobuatsu Watanabe, "Fluorine Gas Chemistry and Industry I," p. 42, 1973), a method for making the fluorine gas in the reaction product gas react with an inorganic oxide such as alumina or soda lime to convert it to fluorides, a method for making the fluorine gas react with superheated steam to remove it (for example, Mary Howe-Grant, Editor "Fluorine Chemistry: A Comprehensive Treatment" 1995, p. 20), and so on.


In one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising determining a target operating point for an electronic device, the target operating point including a target operating frequency and a target operating voltage; and dynamically changing a current operating point for the electronic device including a current operating frequency and a current operating voltage by non-contemporaneously changing the current operating frequency to the target operating frequency and a current operating voltage to the target operating voltage, wherein during the changing the electronic device is in an active state.

For the purposes of this specification the term "electronic device" should be interpreted broadly to include any electronic device including, but not limited to, microprocessors (processors), chipsets, graphics processors, graphics accelerators, and other data processing devices. Electronic device frequency has increased approximately ten-fold over the last ten years. For example, in the mid-90's electronic devices operating at a frequency of 133 MHz were commonplace whereas today electronic devices are operated at over 1.6 GHz. This increase in electronic device frequency has led to a steep rise in power consumption due both to the high operating frequency as well as high power leakage associated with electronic devices that operate at these higher frequencies.
Consequently, lowering electronic device power consumption is an important consideration when designing modern electronic devices. Electronic devices that operate at lower power are advantageous in that they may operate for longer periods on battery power without having to re-charge the battery.
One technique for lowering the power consumption of an electronic device is to scale the electronic device's operating frequency and operating voltage dynamically based on power consumption and/or performance criteria. For example, if high performance is not required and an electronic device is operating on battery power then the electronic device may be dynamically scaled or switched to operate at a lower frequency in order to conserve power. When the electronic device is connected to a wall socket (AC source) the device may be scaled up to increase its operating frequency.
Lower power consumptions may be achieved by scaling an electronic device's operating voltage in addition to its operating frequency. However, scaling the operating voltage can introduce operating instability in the electronic device. In order to reduce this operating instability all computations for the period of the voltage change are typically stopped. This period can be over 130 μs to allow the voltage to swing from the minimum operating voltage to the maximum operating voltage, and to allow phase locked loop circuits that control the operating frequency of the electronic device to be reset or relocked. It will be appreciated that stopping all computations for such a long period leads to a degradation in the electronic device performance.
Further, during the voltage change memory traffic is typically halted for at least 130 μs since snoop services into the electronic device's caches during the voltage change or swing period are unavailable. This halting of the memory traffic affects isochronous traffic which, typically, cannot stand a delay of over 10–15 μs before data is lost or audio-visual artifacts are visible to a user. In some cases, the caches have to be flushed prior to the voltage swing. This adversely affects electronic device performance and limits cache size due to the flush time penalty.
As discussed above, achieving changes in the operating voltage in the electronic device can result in a total system performance penalty for each change, thereby effectively limiting the number of changes or switches per minute and thus preventing the power mode of the electronic device to track the current performance needs of the electronic device.

Method and apparatus to dynamically change an operating frequency and operating voltage of an electronic device


An epoxy resin composition comprising (A) a naphthalene ring-containing epoxy resin, (B) a biphenyl-containing epoxy resin, (C) a specific phenolic resin, and (D) an inorganic filler shows good flow and cures to products having low modulus of elasticity, especially at temperatures above Tg, a low coefficient of expansion, high Tg irrespective of low stresses, and minimized water absorption. Then semiconductor devices encapsulated with the present composition remain highly reliable even after being subject to thermal shocks upon surface mounting.

The mainstream of the modern semiconductor industry involves resin encapsulated diodes, transistors, IC, LSI, and super LSI. Among various resin compounds for encapsulating semiconductor devices, epoxy resin compositions comprising curable epoxy resins blended with curing agents and various additives are most widely used because they are generally improved in moldability, adhesion, electrical properties, mechanical properties and moisture resistance over the rest of thermosetting resins. The present day trend for these semiconductor devices is toward an increasingly high degree of integration and increased chip size therewith. Packages, on the other hand, are desired to be smaller and thinner in outer dimensions to meet the demands of compactness and light weight for electronic equipment. Further, as to the attachment of semiconductor parts on circuit boards, surface mounting of semiconductor parts is now often employed for reasons of increased part density on boards and reduced board thickness.
A common approach to the surface mounting of semiconductor parts is to dip entire semiconductor devices in a solder bath or to pass them through a hot zone of molten solder. Thermal shocks associated with this process cause encapsulating resin layers to crack or incur separation at the interface between the lead frames or chips and the encapsulating resin. Such cracks and separation become more outstanding if the semiconductor device encapsulating resin layers have absorbed moisture prior to thermal shocks encountered during surface mounting. Since encapsulating resin layers, however, inevitably absorb moisture in practical manufacturing steps, epoxy resin-encapsulated semiconductor devices after mounting sometimes suffer from a loss of reliability.

Epoxy resin composition and semiconductor devices encapsulated therewith


An ultrasonic fluid measurement instrument is capable of highly accurate fluid measurement. A measurement part is provided forming a plurality of split channels partitioned by partition boards halfway across a fluid channel, and at least a pair of ultrasonic transmitter-receivers for transmitting ultrasonic waves into the fluid flowing through the split channels and receiving ultrasonic waves that have passed through the fluid. Further, an arithmetic unit calculates the flow velocity and/or flow volume of the fluid according to the propagation time of the ultrasonic waves. The measurement part further includes an approach channel for preliminarily rectifying the fluid flowing to the split channels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic fluid measurement instrument that measures flow velocity and flow volume of fluid such as gas and water utilizing the propagation time of ultrasonic waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional ultrasonic fluid measurement instrument that measures flow volume and the like utilizing the propagation time of ultrasonic waves is provided with a measurement part halfway across the fluid channel to measure the flow velocity of fluid flowing through this measurement part according to the propagation time of ultrasonic waves between ultrasonic transmitter-receivers. The flow volume is obtained by multiplying the flow velocity measured above, by the cross-sectional area of the channel in the measurement part, and by a given correction coefficient.
The most significant element that enables highly accurate measurement for flow volume and the like is a flowing state of fluid in the above-mentioned measurement part. In other words, a turbulent fluid flow in the measurement part causes disruption in ultrasonic propagation, disabling highly accurate measurement.
Under the circumstances, the following arrangement has been devised conventionally as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H09-43015. That is, a measurement part is rectangular with its rectangle cross-section, and the short side is partitioned by partition boards to form plural flat split channels in parallel with the long side. The flat split channels effectively make the fluid flow into a laminar flow, namely a two-dimensional stable flow.
Meanwhile, the measurement part composed of the above-mentioned plural flat split channels is significantly large in width compared to the fluid channel for admitting fluid.
Therefore, the measurement part is connected to the fluid channel through a tapered connection part with a larger width at the downstream side.
As a result, this tapered connection part causes a turbulent flow in the fluid, and thus the fluid becomes resistant to flowing evenly through all the split channels, resulting in decreasing measurement accuracy.
The present invention, aiming at solving such conventional problems, provides an ultrasonic fluid measurement instrument that enables highly accurate measurement of fluid flow.

Ultrasonic type fluid measurement device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An environmentally compatible microstrip structure for electromagnetic signals in the microwave frequency range and higher. The microstrip structure according to the invention comprises at least two dielectric bodies made of an inorganic non-metallic material. Conductors of the microstrip structure are disposed on a first dielectric body. The ground plane of the microstrip structure is disposed on a second dielectric body. The dielectric bodies are so oriented that the second dielectric is between the at least one conductor and the ground plane while the first dielectric body is not. At least one cavitity is formed in the second dielectric body around at least one of the conductors to thereby create a composite dielectric comprising gas/air/vacuum of the cavity and the second dielectric body. The composite dielectric giving the microstrip structure adequate performance with dielectrically poor but environmentally compatible dielectric materials forming the dielectric bodies.

The present invention relates generally to a microstrip structure for electromagnetic signals in the microwave frequency range and higher, and more specifically to a microstrip distribution network and/or microstrip antenna, for example a base station antenna for a mobile telephone/communication system.
Microstrip antennas with microstrip distribution networks are traditionally manufactured in the form of boards in a dielectric material made from fibre glass epoxy, fibre glass reinforced PTFE (PTFE--Polytetraflouroethylene--teflon), or the like. These types of dielectrics are usually used because they commonly also act as a carrier for the ground plane and the relevant conductors. From an electrical point of view it would be preferable to have air or vacuum as a dielectric, but that would make mounting of a ground plane at a predetermined and fixed distance from conductors extremely difficult and expensive, if at all possible. Therefore the industry traditionally uses substrates made of fibre glass epoxy, fibre glass reinforced PTFE, or the like, as a compromise between different mechanical and electrical parameters. These dielectrics/carriers have in common that they are made of organic materials which often comprise flourides and/or anti-flame protection with bromides due to a low flame point of the materials. A problem with these dielectrics/ carriers is that they do burn even though they are treated with environmentally unfriendly anti-flame protection. Bromides and/or flourides can be released into the environment when the dielectrics burn. Flourides and bromides are considered to be extremely environmentally unfriendly. Due to the large number of base station antennas in mobile telephone networks, large amounts of bromides and/or flourides can be released into the environment when these antennas are destructed due to replacement or a fire.


An method for designing integrated circuits for a serial scan test using an improved, modular flip-flop cell is presented. The modular flip-flop cell has a delay element strategically placed in the serial scan chain to reduce the occurrence of hold time violations. The delay element is located in a test path along the serial scan chain. The delay element causes the hold time of the test input terminal to be non-positive, ensuring that there are no hold time violations, while not affecting the time delay on the normal data path.

The present invention relates generally to flip-flop cells, and more particularly to flip-flop cells which have been designed to be modularly placed in the serial scan chain of an integrated circuit device. A serial scan chain is used as part of a serial scan test to verify the integrity of the integrated circuit after it has been fabricated. Due to the complexity of modern integrated circuitry, it is not feasible to adequately test newly fabricated devices by simply operating each device in its intended environment. It is therefore necessary to provide an efficient method of more exhaustively testing the devices after manufacture.
A serial scan test is accomplished by "daisy-chaining" all of the flip-flop cells together by connecting the output of one flip-flop cell to the input of the next flip-flop cell to form a serial scan chain. This serial scan chain operates functionally as a serial shift register. Known data is shifted serially into the flip-flop cells through this serial scan chain. Once the data is in place, the output pins of the integrated circuit are sampled and the results are compared with the expected output. If the results are not as expected, the device is known to be defective.
Typically, a flip-flop cell that is used for a serial scan chain has a test input, a data input, a test enable, and a data output line. During normal operation, the flip-flop cell receives input data from the data input line. When the integrated circuit is placed in test mode by asserting the test enable line, the flip-flop cell accepts data from the test input line.
A problem is associated with a serial scan chain built with this typical type of flip-flop cell. This problem relates to the timing specifications of the flip-flop cell. In particular, chaining successive flip-flop cells directly together often causes violations to the hold time specification of the flip-flop cell.
A flip-flop cell typically operates by transferring data on its input line to its output line whenever it senses the appropriate edge of the clock signal. Thereafter, the output line remains the same until the following clock edge. The data on the input line must be held for a period of time after the edge of the clock to ensure that the correct data is transferred to the output. This period of time is the hold time.
In the normal data path, a circuit contains combinational logic between successive flip-flops cells. This combinational logic serves to delay the time before the data on the input lines of subsequent flip-flop cells actually changes after the output of a flip-flop cell is changed. However, in the serial scan chain, the output of one flip-flop cell is connected directly to the input of the next flip-flop cell. With no additional logic between flip-flops cells to cause a delay, the input lines change almost immediately upon the arrival of the clock signal to the preceding flip-flop cell. Frequently, this causes the hold time specifications to be violated.
To remedy this problem, an additional delay element must be manually inserted after the design is completed between flip-flop cells in the serial scan chain to remove the timing violations. For large designs, the task is time-consuming and an inefficient use of resources. As the size of integrated circuitry becomes larger, it is increasingly important to have modular parts that can be inserted into a design without requiring custom fixes to clear up timing violations. Ideally, this should be done without affecting the timing of the normal data path.
Consequently, it is desirable to find an improved method of designing integrated circuits with serial scan chains by the modular placement of improved flip-flop cells which do not have hold time violations in the serial scan chain.


A system for imaging and examination of a cervix, comprising a control module connectable with a changeable head configured to image the cervix and collect a tissue biopsy, the head selected from a group consisting of a digital colposcope module, a transvaginal optical probe module and an endo-cervical endoscope module.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common neoplasms of the female genital tract. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in developing countries and the fourth cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Early diagnosis of abnormal cells in the cervix prevents their development into cervical cancer and thus reduces morbidity and mortality.
The uterine cervix is easily screened for several reasons. First, the tumoral changes occur in a specific area, called the transitional zone, around the "external os" (opening of the cervical canal into the vagina). Second, these are slow growing tumors. Third, this area is external to the body and can be easily observed by a gynecologist.
One common screening method, the Pap test, has been in use for decades. During a Pap test, a large number of cells, obtained by scraping the cervical epithelium, are smeared onto a slide or into a tube of liquid, and are then fixed and stained for cytological examination. Unfortunately, the Pap test is unable to achieve a concurrently high sensitivity and high specificity due to both sampling and analysis errors. Estimations of the sensitivity and specificity of the Pap test range from 11-99% and 14-97%, respectively, where the term sensitivity is defined as the percentage correct in classification of pre-cancerous tissue samples and the term specificity is defined as the percentage correct in classification of normal tissue samples.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), about 55 million Pap tests are performed each year in the USA. Of these, approximately 3.5 million have results defined as "abnormal" and require medical follow-up. On follow-up, most of the "abnormal" tests are found to be false positives, where the test falsely indicated the presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, 3 or invasive cancer.
Additionally, analyzing Pap tests is extremely labor intensive and requires highly trained professionals. A patient with an abnormal Pap test indicating the presence of CIN or invasive cancer needs to then undergo a colposcopic examination to locate abnormal epithelium, and, if needed, undergo a biopsy in the areas indicated by the colposcopic examination, followed by histological confirmation of the clinical diagnosis.
A colposcopic examination involves the systematic evaluation of the lower genital tract including the uterine cervix, with particular emphasis on the superficial epithelium and blood vessels of the underlying stroma. Colposcopic testing is a subjective exam and suffers from the following limitations:                Non-standardized, variable procedure        Subjective, unquantified ace to whitening observations        Accurate identification of optimal biopsy sites can be challenging        Monitoring longitudinal changes is difficult
The examination should be performed by trained personnel in order to ensure an optimum procedure. If abnormal areas are found, biopsies will be taken from such areas; if no obviously abnormal areas are identified, the clinician may randomly take biopsies from the four quadrants of the cervix. Biopsies may cause discomfort and bleeding to the patient, as well as anxiety. Biopsy results are typically provided within 3 weeks.
When performed according to acceptable protocols and assessment methods, colposcopy is traditionally viewed as an accurate diagnostic tool. However, a meta-analysis of nine studies published has estimated the sensitivity and specificity of colposcopy as being 96% and 48%, respectively, for differentiating between normal and abnormal tissue (Wade et al. 2009. Adjunctive colposcopy technologies for examination of the uterine cervix—DySIS, LuViva Advanced Cervical Scan and Niris Imaging System: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment 17(8):1-260). In addition, experience does not appear to improve the performance of colposcopists (Bekkers et al. 2008. Does experience in colposcopy improve identification of high grade abnormalities? Eur J Obstet Reprod Biol 141: 75-78).
In recent years, a number of new technologies have been introduced to advance the practice of colposcopy. Although none have gained widespread clinical use, spectroscopic devices appear to offer the highest level of sensitivity (Tan et al. 2011. New technologies and advances in Colposcopic assessment. Best practices and research clinical obstetrics and gynecology. 25: 667-677).
Light scattering spectroscopy (LSS), is a technique in which the angular and wavelength dependence of elastically scattered light is used to infer the spatial frequency spectrum of a scattering object. Oncogenic transformation of the tissue leads also to morphological and biochemical changes in spectral distribution and angular distribution of the light scattered by the tissue. LSS has been shown to be useful in detecting pre-cancerous tissue (Hunter et al. 2006. Tissue self-affinity and polarized light scattering in the Born approximation: A new model for pre-cancer detection. PRL 97: 138102-1-138102-4 and Collier et al. 2005. Sources of scattering in cervical tissue: determination of the scattering coefficient by confocal microscopy. Applied Optics. 44(11):2072-2081).
Preliminary clinical studies have shown the clinical feasibility of using spectrum analysis in cervical tissue differentiation for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (Zheng et al. 2015. Hyperspectral wide gap second derivative analysis for in vivo detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Journal of Biomedical Optics. 20(12): 121303-1 121303-10).
Patient movement during examination can lead to inaccurate determination of the location of abnormal tissue, which can lead to inaccurate biopsy location and, therefore, false negatives during diagnosis.
There are several instruments developed in the last few years which increase the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic results of colposcopy. A majority of the devices combine results acquired using different optical effects for diagnosis, with the number of optical effects used depending on the device. Combining results leads to a higher diagnostic accuracy than would be possible with a single method.
The prior art discloses local probes used as an addition to a colposcope, which are configured for manual screening and cannot provide a map with the exact locations of suspicious areas (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,380,268, 8,320,650, 8,005,527, US Patent publication no. US2008/0194969, US patent publication no. US2003/0013973, PCT Publication no. WO2014/007759 and J. A. Tidy et al., Accuracy of detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using electrical impedance spectroscopy with colposcopy. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 120, No. 4, pp. 400-411, March 2013).
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,005,527 discloses a system and method for in situ discrimination between healthy and diseased tissue. A fiber optic based probe is employed to direct ultraviolet illumination onto a tissue specimen and to collect the fluorescent response radiation. The response radiation is observed at three selected wavelengths, one of which corresponds to an isosbestic point. In one example, the isosbestic point occurs at about 431 nm. The intensities of the observed signals are normalized using the 431 nm intensity. A score is determined using the ratios in a discriminant analysis. The tissue under examination is resected or not, based on the diagnosis of disease or health, according to the outcome of the discriminant analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,651 discloses an apparatus and method which utilize a device comprising a limited number of interrogation devices which can carry out a large number of measurements on a target tissue. The plurality of detection devices are arranged in a predetermined pattern on a tissue-contacting face of the instrument. The face of the instrument is located adjacent to the target tissue and a plurality of tissue-characteristic measurement are simultaneously conducted. The detection devices are moved to a new position, preferably without moving the tissue contacting face, and a second plurality of tissue-characteristic measurements are simultaneously conducted. By conducting a series of measurement cycles in this manner, the ultimate resolution of the device is increased, without the need to increase the instrument resolution, which reduces potential cross-talk errors. Further, a plurality of tissue characteristics are simultaneously obtained from locations spaced across the target tissue during each measurement cycle.
US patent publication no. US2012/232404 discloses a method and apparatus that interrogate, receive, and analyze full emission spectra for at least one fluorescence excitation wavelength and for at least one reflectance measurement to determine tissue characteristics and correlate the same to photographic images. Further, the system and method accomplish this measurement rapidly by increasing the light throughput by integrating optics into a hand-held unit, avoiding the need for a coherent fiber optic bundle. The method includes illuminating a first portion of a target tissue with optical energy, forming a first image of the target tissue, illuminating a second portion of the target tissue with optical energy, performing spectroscopic measurements on optical energy reflected and/or emitted by the target tissue upon illumination of the second portion of the target tissue with optical energy, and determining tissue characteristics of the target tissue based on the results of the spectroscopic measurements.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,282 discloses a method and a system for discriminating between healthy cervical tissue and pathologic cervical tissue based on the fluorescence response of the tissue to laser excitation (LIF) and the backscatter response to illumination by white light (in the spectral range of 360 to 750 nm). Combining LIF and white light responses, as well as evaluating a spatial correlation between proximate cervical tissue sites in conjunction with a statistically significant "distance" algorithm, such as the Mahalanobis distance between data sets, can improve the discrimination between normal and abnormal tissue. The results may be displayed in the form of a map of the cervix representing the suspected pathology.
None of the abovementioned prior art documents teach use of a colposcope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,932 discloses an apparatus and methods to distinguish in vivo normal and abnormal cervical tissue and to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in a diagnostic cervical tissue sample. Induced fluorescence intensity spectra from known normal cervical tissue and a diagnostic tissue sample are obtained from the same patient. Peak fluorescence intensity values for normal tissue samples are averaged, as are slope measurements from predetermined portions of spectra induced in both normal cervical tissue and the diagnostic tissue sample. Peak fluorescence intensities of diagnostic tissue spectra are divided by average peak fluorescence intensity values for normal tissue in the same patient to yield relative peak fluorescence intensity values. Normal and abnormal cervical tissues are distinguished using a predetermined empirical discriminant function of slope measurements derived from normal tissue spectra and relative peak fluorescence intensity measurements in the same patient. CIN is distinguished from tissue with human papilloma virus infection or inflammation using a predetermined empirical discriminant function of average slope measurements on spectra from known normal tissue and slope measurements on a diagnostic tissue spectrum.
Therefore, there is a long-felt need for an instrument that can differentiate between normal and abnormal tissues and provide a map of normal and of abnormal tissue areas in a scanned region, which does not require highly-skilled personnel to interpret the results, does not require a long interval between testing and diagnosis, and does not provide inaccurate results if a patient moves during testing.

Abstract: The system may additionally comprise light source(s) to illuminate cervix tissue; sensing device(s) to generate signal(s) from light and/or to acquire image(s) of a portion of a cervix; and processor(s) in communication with the sensing device(s). The system is configured to: (i) analyze the signal(s); (ii) detect the size of the cervix; (iii) determine parameters defining properties of the cervix; (iv) determine and distinguish normal tissue from abnormal tissue within the cervix; (v) determine the location of area(s) of abnormal tissue in the cervix; and (vi) generate a panoramic view of the cervix.


The present invention provides for transferring slideshow presentation information from a host computing device to an electronic device that typically has limited resources. A request to display a slideshow presentation on an electronic device is received, the slideshow presentation including image data corresponding to one or more bitmaps. In response to the request, a session of an application is open on the host computer that provides the slideshow presentation data. A video codec is utilized for dynamically converting the slideshow presentation data into a video data stream that represents the slideshow presentation. The video data stream is then transmitted to the electronic device for rendering the slideshow presentation on a display of the electronic device.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to displaying graphical and image data on electronic devices in an entertainment network, e.g., a home entertainment network. More particularly, the present invention provides for dynamically generating video data streams for transferring graphical/image data from a host computing device to an electronic device—that typically has limited resources—for rendering the data.
2. Background and Related Art
Computerized systems provide many advantages towards people's ability to perform tasks. To enable these advantages, computer systems often come equipped with (or are expandable to include) multiple hardware devices that can store or read data or enable a software program to perform a specific action on data. Such devices can include, e.g., a hard drive, a Compact Disk (i.e., CDROM, CDRW, etc.), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device (e.g., a printer, a scanner, etc.), and so on. Present computer systems also commonly have installed there on multiple software (or "applications") programs such as a word processing program, a spread sheet program, an imaging program, and an electronic mail program, which instruct the devices to perform specific actions on the data.
Indeed, the computer system's ability to process information has transformed the way we live and work. Computing systems now take a wide variety of forms including desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet PCs, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Even household devices (such as refrigerators, ovens, sewing machines, security systems, and the like) have varying levels of processing capability and thus may be considered computing systems. Processing capabilities continue to be incorporated into devices that traditionally did not have such processing power. Accordingly, the diversity trend of computing systems will likely increase.
This increase in computing resources has partially driven the need for coupling computer systems to one another to form both wired and wireless computer networks over which the computer systems can communicate electronically to share data. As a result, many tasks performed at a computer system (e.g., voice communication, accessing electronic mail, electronic conferencing, web browsing) include electronic communication with one or more other computer systems via wired and/or wireless computer networks.
More recently, various operating systems and frameworks have allowed single applications to be run simultaneously by multiple users at different computing systems. This "session-oriented" extension turns an ordinary computer into a centralized, timeshared server similar to mainframes and dumb terminals. The difference is that these extensions provide a graphical interface, whereas mainframes provide only character-based interfaces. All the data processing is performed in the server/host computer, and the client displays only the user interface and screen changes. Such centralized processing power, as well as the advancement in consumer electronic devices, has been the catalyst for the movement of the digital-home network.
As the advent of the digital-home network evolves consumers are discovering the benefits of connecting their personal computers to other consumer electronic devices. For example, by storing music, digital photos, movies, and other content on their personal computers and interfacing the host computer with various consumer electronic devices (e.g., network televisions, wireless monitors, DVDs, set-top box (STB), or other digital media), consumers can turn their home network into a complete home entertainment system. Such centralized storage and connectivity allows users to easily search, sort, and reproduce content, at a number of different electronic devices. In addition, by utilizing the advancement of session-oriented processing capabilities of a host computer, users can have a rich user experience of various applications at each consumer electronic device, without having to be physically at the host computer.
Usually, the central or host computer of a home network is more powerful than the consumer electronic devices. Creating a home network in this fashion—i.e., using less powerful electronic devices, for example—alleviates the issues of cost and distribution of computing load. The cost of a home network to a consumer is reduced because the electronic devices typically have limited processing resources and other capabilities, thus they are not as expensive as more intelligent platforms.
Although the reduction in cost is a great benefit, other difficulties arise. For example, in order for an electronic device to render and interact with the user interface (UI) of a session for an application running on the host computer, the consumer electronic device will typically use a UI protocol such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)/Independent Computer Architecture (ICA) or a common language such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML). Such protocols and languages, however, put an extra burden on the electronic device in the form of complexity, hardware capabilities, etc.
Another problem using consumer electronic devices with limited resources in a home network is that a simple processing session for a host computer can appear heavy and burdensome for a consumer electronic device. For example, a slideshow (i.e., the ability to show photos or image data consecutively and in full screens) is typically a very simple process on a host computer. Nevertheless, each image in a slideshow can be several megapixels is size. Accordingly, transferring the data to an electronic device means large bursts across the network—especially wireless networks—and lots of data to be decompressed during playback by the electronic device's central processor unit (CPU). The result is a slideshow that lacks a high level of visual refinement, such as visible painting on the screen, which feels sluggish and cheap to a consumer. This problem is even further elevated by any transitional information associated with the slideshow, such as panning, zooming, etc.
One approach to alleviate the above-identified problem for rendering slideshow presentations on consumer electronic devices is to compile the photos into a video file, which can be transferred to the device. Since the video file must be pre-compiled, however, this approach does not allow for user interactivity for manipulating the slides, which is often desirable. Accordingly there exits a need for being able to more effectively transmit and render graphical/image data at consumer electronic devices with limited resources for enhancing the user experience.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dynamically generating video streams for slideshow presentations


Multi-adaptive processing systems and techniques for enhancing parallelism and performance of computational functions are disclosed which can be employed in a myriad of applications including multi-dimensional pipeline computations for seismic applications, search algorithms, information security, chemical and biological applications, filtering and the like as well as for systolic wavefront computations for fluid flow and structures analysis, bioinformatics etc. Some applications may also employ both the multi-dimensional pipeline and systolic wavefront methodologies disclosed.

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of computing systems and techniques. More particularly, the present invention relates to multi-adaptive processing systems and techniques for enhancing parallelism and performance of computational functions.
Currently, most large software applications achieve high performance operation through the use of parallel processing. This technique allows multiple processors to work simultaneously on the same problem to achieve a solution in a fraction of the time required for a single processor to accomplish the same result. The processors in use may be performing many copies of the same operation, or may be performing totally different operations, but in either case all processors are working simultaneously.
The use of such parallel processing has led to the proliferation of both multi-processor boards and large scale clustered systems. However, as more and more performance is required, so is more parallelism, resulting in ever larger systems. Clusters exist today that have tens of thousands of processors and can occupy football fields of space. Systems of such a large physical size present many obvious downsides, including, among other factors, facility requirements, power, heat generation and reliability.


A portable telephone comprising a GPS receiving section (17) for detecting the current position, an input section (16) having one or more key, a RAM 13 for storing a registered operating order of the keys and registered positional conditions, and a control circuit (11) for executing the operating procedure of the keys stored in the RAM (13) when a current position detected at the GPS receiving section (17) satisfies the positional conditions stored in the RAM (13), wherein the positional conditions specifies one point or the position of an area, and adds a distance exceeding the positional detection accuracy to a specified position.

Some conventionally known portable telephone apparatuses are capable of calculating the current location of themselves by receiving the location of a plurality of base stations, or capable of calculating the current location from the data received by a GPS (global positioning system) receiver. Correspondingly, there have been developed various ways of exploiting such current location information, as by making a portable telephone apparatus perform a predetermined operation according to its current location.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-285382 discloses a portable telephone apparatus that automatically sends an electronic mail message when it reaches a predetermined location. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-160985 discloses a system in which the current location of a portable telephone apparatus is sent to a base station, which then sends back telephone use restriction information so that, according to this information, use of the telephone in, for example, a medical facility, is prohibited.
However, these conventional portable telephone apparatuses exploit current location information simply to perform a previously determined operation, and such a capability is not very frequently used by all users. Inconveniently, this has been preventing the user of such a portable telephone apparatus from enjoying a benefit comparable to the cost of a GPS receiver.

Portable telephone performing a predetermined operation based on location information


In a sensitivity function measuring unit, a CMD for picking up a beam from a light source is arranged through a photographic lens and a liquid crystal lens. A preamplifier, an A/D converter, a subtractor, a sensitivity function memory, a compressor, and R, G, and B sensitivity function memories are sequentially connected to the CMD through a switching circuit. An image reproducing unit for reproducing an original image using a sensitivity function calculated by the sensitivity function measuring unit is connected to a calculator for calculating a reproduced image, a frame memory for storing an image signal picked up by the CMD, and calculators for calculating sensitivity functions stored in the sensitivity function memories. The image reproducing unit is also connected to a display unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image pickup system and, more particularly, to an image pickup system having an image reproducing means for correctly reproducing degraded image data in, e.g., an image pickup system such as an electronic still camera for picking an original image to reproduce the original image.

Image pickup system for reproducing image data using sensitivity function


A two-piece, modular valve manifold adapted to be positioned between a main flowline and a pressure sensor to control fluid flow from the main flowline to the sensor, the manifold comprising a first module that adapts to a pressure sensor, such as a differential pressure transmitter, and a second module that is connected to a source of process fluid, the second module containing a block valve system, the first module containing an equalizer valve system and a vent valve system, the modules being connected together whereby process fluid can be transferred through the first module to the second module and ultimately, to the pressure sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve manifold for controlling fluid flow between a main flowline and a pressure sensor and, more particularly, to such a valve manifold of modular, two-part construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is often desirable to determine the flow or pressure of a fluid, e.g., a gas, through a main flowline, e.g., a pipeline. Typically, this can be accomplished by a flow restriction disposed in the main flowline, there being pressure taps on each side of the restriction for obtaining high and low pressure fluid pressures. Such a flow restriction may comprise an orifice plate, a flow nozzle, a venturi tube, etc. The high and low pressures taken from opposed sides of the flow restriction in the main flowline are detected by a pressure sensor/transmitter assembly that measures and transmits the measured pressures or pressure differential by a suitable mechanical or electronic signal or the like to a remote location, e.g., a control room, where the pressure or pressure differential may be monitored and/or recorded by an operator.
Typically, a valve manifold is mounted between the main flowline and the pressure sensor. The manifold is used to control flow to the pressure sensor while permitting blocking, venting, zero checks, and calibration. The manifold typically includes a plurality of valves, each movable between open and closed positions relative to a flow pathway in the manifold so as to control the flow of fluid through the pathway.
Fluid pressure sensors/transmitters, particularly such sensor/transmitters of the differential pressure type typically employ diaphragms in both the low and high pressure inlets to the pressure sensors to detect the high and low pressures to which they are exposed. One type of pressure transmitter, commonly referred to as the "coplanar transmitter" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,290 to Frick, herein incorporated by reference. As shown in the Frick patent, the diaphragms have fluid facing sides, the peripheries of which are defined by rims, the planes defined by the rims being coplanar with respect to one another. In any event, the diaphragms, as seen in the Frick patent, are closely adjacent the face of the transducer in which they are disposed.
Diaphragms that are used in sensors transmitters such as the sensor transmitter disclosed in the Frick patent are extremely fragile, expensive, and difficult to install in the pressure sensor. Further, in cases where the valve manifold and the pressure sensor are directly coupled to one another, the diaphragms are closely positioned to the face of the manifold to which the pressure sensor is attached. In these direct coupled manifold/pressure sensor assemblies, one face of the manifold, generally referred to as the instrument face, sealingly abuts a face of the pressure sensor, as, for example, face 53 of transducer 14 shown in the Frick patent. The instrument face of the manifold is provided with a low pressure outlet and a high pressure outlet, both of which are relatively shallow, cylindric cavities. The cylindric cavities are in register with the low pressure and high pressure inlets, respectively, in the face of the pressure sensor sealingly abutted by the instrument face of the manifold. Accordingly, when the manifold and pressure sensor are mated, the cylindric cavities cooperate with the diaphragms to form generally cylindric chambers of a small cylindrical height relative to the cylindrical diameter.
Not infrequently, it is necessary for the transmitter to be repaired, necessitating its removal from the manifold. Obviously, when the transmitter is removed from the manifold, and in the usual case, the diaphragms are exposed and, being of such fragile nature, readily susceptible to damage.
One way of avoiding field damage of the diaphragms is to remove the entire manifold/pressure sensor transmitter assembly from the field. However, this requires an additional means of controlling the process fluids emanating from the orifice plate assembly or the like. Typically, this would involve an additional set of block valves installed in the feed lines from the orifice plate assembly so that flow from the main pipeline can be stopped when the manifold/transmitter assembly is removed.
Although not necessary, it is desirable that the transmitter be mounted vertically, i.e., that the diaphragms be disposed generally horizontally and facing downwardly. Prior art solutions to this problem of orienting the transmitter involve various complex passageway constructions within the manifold that will effectively accomplish a "right-hand turn" of the passageway within the manifold body. Frequently, this requires passageways drilled at various angles, which requires expensive tooling and precise machining. Moreover, these complex passageway systems often require "construction holes," which are simply bores in the manifold body that allow certain passageways to be drilled and connected with other passageways interiorly of the manifold. These construction holes, even though they are later plugged, are a potential source of leakage. Alternately, they frequently provide dead spaces within the manifold body where liquid and gas bubbles can collect. Thus, elimination of the construction holes eliminates one possible source of leakage and liquid collection or pooling in the manifold body.


Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.

In the course of assessing and producing hydrocarbon bearing formation and reservoirs, it is important to acquire knowledge of formation and formation fluid properties which influence the productivity and yield from the drilled formation. Typically, such knowledge is acquired by "logging" operations which involve the measurement of a formation parameter or formation fluid parameter as function of location within the wellbore. Formation logging has evolved to include many different types of measurements, including those based on acoustic, electro-magnetic or resistivity, and nuclear interactions, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or neutron capture.
NMR measurements are commonly used in the wellbore to probe the NMR decay behavior of the stationary fluid in the reservoir rock. During these measurements, magnetic fields are established in the formation using suitably arranged magnets. The magnetic fields induce nuclear magnetization, which is flipped or otherwise manipulated with on-resonance radio frequency (RF) pulses. NMR echoes are observed, and their dependence on pulse parameters and time is used to extract information about the formation and the fluids in it.
In particular, NMR has been used in the oilfield industry to obtain information and parameters representative of bound fluids, free fluids, permeability, oil viscosity, gas-to-oil ratio, oil saturation and water saturations. These parameters can be derived from measurements of spin-spin relaxation time, often referred to as T2, spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), and self-diffusion coefficient (D) of the molecules containing hydrogen contained in formation fluids.
On the other hand, fluids are routinely sampled in the well bore with the help of formation testers or formation fluid sampling devices, such as Schlumberger's MDT, a modular dynamic fluid testing tool. Such a tool may include at least one fluid sample bottle, a pump to extract the fluid from the formation or inject fluid into the formation, and a contact pad with a conduit to engage the wall of the borehole.
With the pumping, a flow in the formation is induced by extracting fluid from the formation through the conduit. The fluid flowing through the tool is analyzed in situ using electrical, optical or NMR based methods. Typically, when the fluid is assumed to be 'pure' reservoir fluid, i.e., when having acceptable levels of mud or other contaminants, a sample of the fluid is placed into the sample bottle for later analysis at a surface laboratory. The module is then moved to the next region of interest or station.
Fluid flow into the borehole is also routinely produced using dual packer arrangements which isolate sections of the borehole during fluid and pressure testing. By reversing the flow direction, dual packer arrangements offer the possibility of conducting fracturing operations which are designed to fracture the formation around the isolated section of the borehole.
It is further well established to mount logging tools on either dedicated conveyance means such as wireline cables or coiled tubing (CT) or, alternatively, on a drill string which carries a drill bit at its lower end. The latter case is known in the industry as measurement-while-drilling (MWD) or logging-while-drilling (LWD). In MWD and LWD operations, the parameter of interest is measured by instruments typically mounted close behind the bit or the bottom-hole assembly (BHA).
Applications and measurements designed to exploit the flow generated by tools such as the above formation testing tools in combination with NMR type measurements are described in a number of documents. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,288. Other NMR-based methods for monitoring flow and formation parameters can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,642,715 and 6,856,132. A tool which combines a fluid injection/withdrawal tool with a resistivity imaging tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,542. Borehole tools and methods for measuring permeabilities using sequential injection of water and oil is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,180 and 7,221,158. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,321 details a method to compute fractional flow curves using resistivity measurements at multiple radial depths of investigation.
In a paper prepared for presentation at the SPWLA 1st Annual Middle East Regional Symposium, Apr. 15-19, 2007, authors Cassou, Poirier-Coutansais, and Ramamoorthy demonstrate that the combination of advanced-NMR fluid typing techniques with a dual-packer fluid pumping module can greatly improve the estimation of the saturation parameter in carbonate rocks. The ability to perform 3D-NMR stations immediately before and after pump-outs yields both the water and oil saturations (Sw,Sxo) independently of lithology, resistivity, and salinity, in a complex carbonate environment.


A system and/or method for metering and marking packets of data incoming into a communication system having in some embodiments primary and secondary meter selectors, primary and secondary metering processors and a pipeline and wrapper interface controller. Further methods involve measuring an incoming microflow against one or two specified temporal profiles using a two-level metering hierarchy.

The discussion of any work, publications, sales, or activity anywhere in this submission, including in any documents submitted with this application and in any documents incorporated herein by reference, shall not be taken as an admission by the inventors that any such work constitutes prior art. The discussion of any activity, work, or publication herein is not an admission that such activity, work, or publication existed or was known in any particular jurisdiction.
Metering and marking are generally known techniques in modern communication systems to control the data rate at various points within a communication system. In a typical application, a metering and marking unit and/or process and/or component may be used to limit the rate at which a customer can inject (or transmit or upload) data into a network.
It is further known that when providing network data to a system that allows differentiated services, a user may provide data units (e.g., packets) that are classified at different importance levels. Packets belonging to a particular importance level may be guaranteed priority access to network resources—reducing delay and guaranteeing bandwidth.
Generally, in order to regulate the amount of traffic of a given importance level accepted by the network, the temporal profile of an input data stream (e.g., bytes per second (BPS) or bytes per microsecond (BPμs)) is measured against a pre-configured profile using one or more selected algorithms. Some known algorithms assign as a result of this measuring one of three determinations to input data: (1) in profile, (2) marginally above profile, and (3) in excess of an agreed-to profile. These three determinations can also be referred to as: (1) conformant, (2) partially conformant, and (3) non-conformant. In the art, these determinations can be referred to by color codes, such as GREEN, YELLOW, and RED.

Apparatus and method for metering and marking data in a communication system