An apparatus for controlling well fires which has a controllable extension pipe, a clamping base and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a moveable sealing sleeve located between an outer and an inner nesting pipe and plastically deformable sealing material located at one end of the nesting pipes. The sealing assembly is attached to a clamping base. The clamping base can be of two different constructions, a top mount base which, along with the attached sealing assembly, is lowered over the well pipe and a side mount base which clamps from the side with the assembly rotated away from the well pipe. All apparatus controls and method steps can be remotely accomplished.. The top mount base is clamped to the pipe after lowering the apparatus over the well pipe to the point where the well pipe passes through the clamping base and into the interior of the inner nesting pipe. The side mount base is clamped to the well pipe from the side, then the sealing assembly is rotated above the well pipe and lowered to the point where the well pipe is inserted into the inner nesting pipe. The sealing sleeve then forces the sealing material against the well pipe and the inner nesting pipe. The extension pipe is then controlled by actuating a controlling valve, capping the well and extinguishing the fire. The side mount clamping base can be removed from the controlled well for reuse after a clamping jacket is clamped to the exterior nesting pipe and the well pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the capping of gushing wells whether or not such wells are on fire, fire extinguishing and flow control apparatus and method particularly adapted for use in capping wells whose products are both gushing and on fire, and controlling the flow from such wells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of oil well fire extinguishing apparatus have been employed in the art. Several major variations differentiate the apparatus taught by the prior art.
Cones or domes or other inverted containers of various sorts have been suggested as housings to be placed over uncontrolled wellheads to stop both the flow and combustion of escaping oil. The apparatus include those designed to contain the flow from one on-shore well (Howe U.S. Pat. No. 1,830,061; Featherstone U.S. Pat. No. 1,520,288), and similar designs with valves to control the flow of oil once the protective hood is in place above the broken wellhead (Sievern U.S. Pat. No. 1,859,606; Teed U.S. Pat. No. 1,807,498). Similar apparatus have been suggested to contain the flow of escaping oil from offshore wells at the ocean floor (Lunde U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,442).
Other designs seek to enclose entire on-shore oil tanks or wells in order to smother flames and contain uncontrolled oil flow (Cunningham U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,733), or offshore platforms (Chiasson U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,682; Roy U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,278; Chiasson U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,555).
Some of the above mentioned patents are designed only for extinguishing fires and do not provide for the control of the well product after the flames are extinguished. While these devices may be effective when the well contents are not under substantial positive pressure, they do not provide a complete solution for the control of fires on pressurized well heads.
The primary problem with cone or dome designs employed to extinguish fires and control the flow of a pressurized well head is that of preventing the escape of well product around the base of the cone or dome. Some designs rely on the weight of the cone or dome and the firmness of the ground around the well pipe to accomplish this sealing. E.g., Sievern, U.S. Pat. No. 1,859,606 (also employing hooks on the sides of the dome from which could be mounted guy wire anchors for further sealing of the cone against the ground). Others employ the pumping of cement or other adhesive into the dome to obtain a good seal after such adhesive hardens. Teed, U.S. Pat. No. 1,807,498. Still others require that the well head already be mounted in a slab contoured to fit tightly within the dome or cone. Howe, U.S. Pat. No. 1,830,061. Still others require some surface preparation, such as construction of a dike around the well, at the time of employment of the fire extinguishing and capping apparatus. Murphy, U.S. Pat. No. 1,857,788.
None of these devices solves the problem of adequately controlling the flow of pressurized well product. The prior preparation of the ground to receive an extinguishing cone prior to a blowout or other problem is expensive. Furthermore, domes heavy enough to effectively stem the flow of product in highly pressurized wells are unwieldy and expensive to use, especially in remote locations. Evidence of these and other drawbacks to such designs is the lack of use of such designs in fighting well fires despite the fact that they have been known in the art for many years.
Some apparatus seek to divert flames and flow of oil by means of a length of pipe placed around, into, or over the broken wellhead (Nicolesco French Pat. No. 1,219,418; Patton U.S. Pat. No. 2,082,216; Wapanob U.S.S.R. Pat. No. 955,945; U.S.S.R. Pat. No. 903.561; Fleischmann U.S. Pat. No. 1,921,739; Collins U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,009). Such apparatus have a flaw analogous to that described above for domes and cones. Most of these diversion apparatus fail to solve the problem of obtaining an adequate seal between the diversion pipe and the well pipe. Thus, they also fail to control the flow of product from pressurized well heads. Neither the Collins device nor the Fleischmann device adequately address the problem of escaping, pressurized well product.
Two devices to deal with sealing the device to the well pipe in a manner which might create a sufficient seal to prevent the undesired escape of pressurized well product. The Teed patent, and the Patton patent. Teed and Patton are discussed in more detail below.
Although apparatus which fail to obtain complete diversion and prevent the escape of pressurized well product may reduce the flames to the point where the fire can be controlled and the well capped by other means, they do not leave the well in a state where production can be quickly and economically resumed. Therefore they provide at most an incomplete solution to the problem.
The Teed patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,807,498, discloses an extension/diversion pipe connected to a double-walled containment cone or dome and thus, the device would be a hybrid in the classification scheme presented above. The Teed device purports to solve the problem of well product escaping around the base of the cone by pumping an adhesive into the cone in an attempt to cement the cone base firmly to the well pipe.
It employs a product diversion means similar to those in the current invention; however, the adhesive sealing means it employs is very different from the current invention. The device is essentially comprised of a wider and a narrower concentrically disposed cones both attached to one end of a pipe the other end of which is attached to a coupling to which is attached a controlled, vertical "flame pipe" which acts as an extension tube to remove the flaming product from the end of the well pipe to the end of the flame tube, and at least one controlled, horizontal "lead off pipe." The double cone construct is also fitted with two feed tubes, one extending through the inner cone and opening into the interior cone chamber, the other extending only through the outer cone and opening into the outer cone chamber. It appears from the disclosure that the device is to be lowered over the gushing or flaming wellhead with the valve to the flame pipe opened thereby diverting the flame or flow vertically away from the wellhead. Cement or some other adhesive is to be pumped into the inner and outer cone chambers below the wellhead sealing off the flow from the bottom and further forcing the flow upward through the flame pipe. Once the cement has set, the flame pipe valve can be closed and the device capped. Well product can then be diverted into a lead off pipe by opening a lead off pipe valve. The controls on the flame pipe and the lead off pipe are valves which are attached to pulley actuators which are capable of being remotely actuated by pulley belts.
Like the current invention, the Teed patent teaches the use of a controlled extension tube or pipe attached to an apparatus which is fitted over and attached to an uncontrolled, possibly flaming well. Any fire is extinguished primarily by controlling the flow of product with the flame pipe valve. Furthermore, like the current invention, the Teed patent teaches the use of remotely actuated valves. The Teed patent suggests use of pulleys and belts of sufficient length to allow actuation of the valves from a safe distance, while the current invention suggests use of more fire resistant sprockets and chains of sufficient length to allow for safe, remote operation.
The principal differences between the current invention and the Teed apparatus relate to the method of fixing the apparatus to the well pipe. While I do not know whether the Teed method of fixing the device to the well head by use of the cone and pumping in a cement type sealing adhesive has been successful, I believe that the device taught by the Teed patent has not been commercially successful. I believe that the major drawback of the Teed device is the failure of its mechanism for finding the apparatus to the well pipe. In order to work properly the sealing mechanism must be able to complete the seal around the base of the wellhead despite the pressure from the flowing wellhead. It is my belief that the pressure from the gushing well prevents successful sealing by the use of concrete or other adhesive pumped into the Teed double cone construction. Such pressure, even if primarily diverted up through the flame pipe, would still be sufficient to force the wet cement or other adhesive out the bottom of the cone. Furthermore, the Teed device has no mechanism which would force the device into the ground surrounding the wellhead with sufficient force to overcome the wellhead pressure. It must depend on its weight alone to withstand that portion of the wellhead pressure which is not diverted up the flame pipe. Furthermore, even if the inverted dome were forced into the ground around the wellhead, the sealing cone would only be effective where the ground surrounding the wellhead was sufficiently level and firm to prevent the escape of wet cement and well product. Furthermore, in order to work, the Teed device requires the availability of an adhesive, such as concrete, which will remain in its viscous, semisolid state while being pumped into the cone chambers, despite the heat generated by the fire, and then harden. Although a successful diversion of the well flow away from the wellhead up the flame pipe would reduce the flame and heat at the wellhead, the diversion would not be successful until the cones were fully sealed. Therefore, at the time of the introduction of sealing adhesive, there is likely to be significant flame and heat at the wellhead. Finally, even if the device works under real life conditions, the amount of equipment and materials required to operate the device makes it less useful in remote or hostile environments. Wet cement might freeze before use on the Alaskan North Slope. The amount of water needed to mix the cement and the resulting logistical requirements may be a problem in desert conditions. The timing of the mixing of a hardening adhesive, such as cement, might also be a drawback, if the progress of mounting the device could not be accurately predicted. The current invention overcomes all of these drawbacks.
The Patton Device, like the Teed device, employs an extension tube to remove the flame from the well pipe end. The Patton device fixes the extension tube directly to the well pipe by forcing a tapered nozzle into the well pipe and then clamping the nozzle to the well pipe by means of a clamp. The juncture of the nozzle and the well pipe is made leak proof by the introduction of a "liquid sealing material" into the nozzle pipe and through the nozzle pipe into the well head pipe. The extension tube is controlled, fitted with a nozzle with a tapering diameter which is small enough in diameter at the end to fit inside the well head pipe. The suggested method is to position the device over the well head, use a built-in diverting shield to displace the flow of product/flame to the side, force the tapered nozzle into the end of the well pipe and then, once the flame is transferred to the end of the well, clamp the junction of the nozzle and the well pipe together. A liquid sealant is then pumped into the nozzle pipe and forced down into the well pipe where it should seal the junction, forming a permanent seal. The control valve on the flame pipe may then be closed extinguishing the fire.
The drawbacks to the Patton device are several. First, it is difficult to force a pipe of smaller diameter (the nozzle) into a well pipe from which is flowing pressurized and burning well product. Second, it may be difficult to find a sealant which can be pumped into the nozzle, and forced, against the well pressure, down the nozzle and into the junction between the nozzle and the well pipe. Third, the construction of the device does not allow the entire extinguishing job to be accomplished remotely. Workers must bolt the clamp to the junction of the nozzle and the well pipe prior to closing the flame pipe valve.
Despite the wide variety of oil well fire extinguishing apparatus existing in the art to date, as exemplified by the above-discussed designs, there is a continuing need for an improved oil well fire extinguishing and flow control method and apparatus which is easily transported, can be quickly deployed, is structurally and operationally adapted to perform in the hostile environmental conditions, controls the flow of escaping well product, extinguishes combustion quickly, can be remotely operated, and, upon extinguishing the fire and controlling the flow, facilitates prompt resumption of controlled production from the well. However, the prior art does contain adequate solutions for several critical steps in controlling well fires. Means for remotely directing and lowering devices over well pipes are well known. They include use of cranes, booms and positioning cables. Means for remotely activating valves are also well known, including use of chains and sprockets as well as cables or belts and pulleys. Further, remote use of high temperature tolerant hydraulic actuators can be employed to perform many functions involved in the extinguishing of fires, such as the actuation of valves, as well as lowering and raising devices and actuating clamps. Finally, there are many sealing materials which are sufficient to obtain a leak-proof seal around a sealing joint. Various packing and sealing materials are available and are employed by the oil and gas industry which are insoluble in well product, inflammable, temperature tolerant and plastically deformable.
Many well fire extinguishing apparatus simply have not proven themselves in actual service. Current oil well fire extinguishing methods and apparatus actually in use require excessive materials or time before control of the wellhead is achieved and are dangerous to perform or operate. In addition, current oil well fire extinguishing methods and apparatus do not facilitate the simplified resumption of controlled production from the controlled well.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide, in the manner hereinafter set forth, a method and device whereby a gushing well may be expeditiously extinguished and capped regardless of whether or not the product gushing from the well is on fire.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for extinguishing well fires in gushing wells and controlling flow which includes lowering and clamping of a diverting and sealing apparatus to the existing wellhead to divert the gushing well product from the wellhead through the apparatus, sealing the apparatus to the existing wellhead pipe, and closing a valve in the apparatus which controls the flow and extinguishes any product fire by such control.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, highly mobile, and capable of being quickly and effectively deployed in hostile environments using a minimum of resources.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil well fire extinguishing method and apparatus which allows for the control of the flow of escaping oil and gas and halts combustion quickly while allowing for the safety of the operators and facilitating the timely resumption of controlled production from the well.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil well fire extinguishing method and apparatus which greatly reduces the logistical problems inherent in extinguishing oil well fires in remote or hostile environments due to its highly transportable nature and to a reduction in the amount of on-site preparation and material requirements.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide for a method and device for extinguishing wellhead oil fires and controlling the flow of oil by remote operation.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and claims.

c/o William S. Britt, Esq., Britt & Britt, P.O. Box 1525


A buccal tube contains a rotating integral cover attachable over the archwire slot of the tube.

During orthodontic treatment, archwire is placed in the slots of dental brackets that are fixed to the teeth. This archwire is able to guide the teeth toward its desired positions for correct occlusion of the teeth. Typically, the ends of the archwire are held in place by buccal tubes secured to the molars.
Buccal tubes are used by orthodontists during the early stages of the orthodontic treatment; these tubes are similar to the orthodontic brackets in that they have an archwire slot. But, these buccal tubes also have a plate which is capable of closing the slot and forming a typically rectangular tubular opening. The plate is usually removed when desired to open the slot and convert the buccal tube into a dental bracket.
Convertible buccal tubes are used on the molars of younger children who do not yet have second molars. In the early stages of treatment, these buccal tubes serve as anchorage for the ends of the archwire. The cover over the archwire of these buccal tubes in the molars is typically removed before insulation of longer archwires to cover these tubes to dental brackets. Use of these buccal tubes enables the dentist to carry out treatment on the first molars.
Various buccal tubes have been described in the art, and will be provided to the patent office in an information disclosure statement in relation to this patent application.
It has been realized that it is possible for the cover of the archwire slot used in the buccal tubes to be dropped into the mouth during dental procedures. This is particularly true if the dentist is using a typical prying device which is used to remove the buccal tube cap. This represents an inconvenience to the orthodontist as well as to the patient.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Inc.


A computer graphics accelerator apparatus and method determines whether a pixel at predetermined pixel co-ordinates in an area being rasterized is within a triangle defining a sub-area of the area. The coordinate system in relation to which the triangle is defined is translated such that the pixel co-ordinates are disposed at the origin of the coordinate system. Determinants of matrices based on at least two of the coordinate values of at least two of the vertices are calculated and their signs compared. Based on this comparison a determination as to pixel location with respect to the triangle may be made.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and hardware in the field of graphics processing, and, in particular, to the rasterizing of triangles.
2. Description of Related Art
In graphics accelerator chips used in, for example, personal computers (PCs), it is desirable to reduce as far as possible the number of pixels for which textures are retrieved from texture memory. One way this can be reduced is to include a step during rasterization of individual pixels within a predetermined area, representing a screen or the forming a sub-part of a screen, to ascertain whether each pixel being scanned is within a triangle being rasterized. Only those pixels that are within a triangle being rasterized have texture and color mapping performed on them, thereby reducing the load on the texture memory bandwidth.
While this is a desirable procedure in principle, checking whether a given pixel is within a triangle is not a trivial matter, and the resultant calculations can drastically increase the load on the graphics chip central processing unit (CPU). This is exacerbated by the fact that all triangles in a given area need to be tested.
There is accordingly a need for a method and apparatus that ascertains, with reduced processor load, whether a pixel is within a triangle defined in relation to an area.

Computer graphics acceleration method and apparatus for evaluating whether points are inside a triangle


In one aspect, the present invention relates to a drilling-information-management system. The drilling-information management system includes a probe assembly disposed on a drill rod, a first computer interoperably coupled to the probe assembly via a conductor disposed in a drill rod, and a second computer in communication with the first computer. The second computer includes a barcode scanner. The drilling-information management system includes a database in communication with the second computer. Drilling-project data is transferred from the database to the second computer and calibration data is transferred from the second computer to the first computer. The first computer executes a drilling plan according to the drilling-project data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to management systems for drilling projects and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems for managing information associated with an underground directional-drilling project including, for example, drilling plans, drilling data, material consumption, equipment wear, equipment maintenance, and project cost.
2. History of the Related Art
The practice of drilling non-vertical wells via directional drilling (sometimes referred to as "slant drilling") has become very common in energy and mining industries. Directional drilling exposes a larger section of a subterranean reservoir than vertical drilling, and allows multiple subterranean locations to be reached from a single drilling location thereby reducing costs associated with operating multiple drilling rigs. In addition, directional drilling often allows access to subterranean formations where vertical access is difficult or impossible such as, for example, formations located under a populated area or formations located under a body of water or other natural impediment.
Despite the many advantages of directional drilling, high cost associated with completing a well is often cited as the largest shortcoming of directional drilling. This is due to the fact that directional drilling is often much slower than vertical drilling due to requisite data-acquisition steps. Thus, controlling and managing costs becomes a chief concern during directional-drilling.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of and system for drilling information management and resource planning


A method for processing data in a plurality of processing acts includes: configuring a plurality of processing circuits in a first configuration, in such a way that both a first and a second of the plurality of processing circuits execute a first of the plurality of processing acts; and configuring the plurality of processing circuits in a second configuration, in such a way that the first processing circuit executes a second processing act and the second processing circuit executes a third processing act, which is different than the second processing act. An apparatus is designed for carrying out the method.

In order to obtain a high throughput with regard to processing data, a plurality of processing circuits can be used in parallel.
In order to carry out data processing as expediently as possible, processing circuits can be designed differently than one another in accordance with different tasks. By way of example, a plurality of different application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) each designed to handle a different task can be included on a circuit system of a module on a printed circuit board or on a chip.

Method and apparatus for processing data


In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to process a flagging request, which designates a scene within the media content instance as a flagged scene. The processing subsystem is further configured to generate an actionable data module containing additional content corresponding to the flagged scene.

The advent of computers, interactive electronic communication, the Internet, and other advances in the digital realm of consumer electronics have resulted in a great variety of programming, recording, and viewing options for users who view media content such as television programs. In implementing such enhanced programming, the set-top box (STB) has become an important computing device for accessing media content services and the media content within those services. In addition to supporting traditional analog broadcast video functionality, STBs also support an increasing number of two-way digital services such as video-on-demand, internet protocol television (IPTV), and personal video recording.
An STB is typically connected to a cable or satellite, or generally, a subscriber television system, and includes hardware and software necessary to provide the functionality of the subscriber television system at a user site. Conventional STBs include a processor, communication components, and memory and are connected to a television or other display device, such as a personal computer. While many STBs are stand-alone devices that are externally connected to a television, an STB and/or its functionality may be integrated into a television or personal computer or even into an audio device such as a programmable radio, as is known.
An STB is usually configured to provide users with a large number and variety of media content choices. For example, a user may choose to view a variety of television programs, pay-per-view services, video-on-demand programming, Internet services, and audio programming via an STB.
As mentioned, an STB may also include a personal video recording (PVR) application that allows a user to temporarily and/or permanently record selected media content to a storage device. Such recording functionality enables a user to view media content in "trick play," or non-linear, modes. Trick play modes include, but are not limited to, slow motion, fast motion, reverse play, fast forward play, instant replay, jumping, pausing of live broadcast, and scanning. To facilitate trick play modes, the media content is buffered or stored in a temporary memory buffer, often called a live cache buffer, so that it may be replayed non-linearly.
The ability to buffer live broadcasts has had a significant impact on the advertising industry. In the past, the basic business model for broadcast television programming has been free or low cost distribution of media content, subsidized by the insertion of commercials. However, PVRs allow users to easily skip many of these commercials.
In response, advertisers have been forced to turn to other methods of marketing their products. For example, some advertisers have entered into "product placement" agreements with media content creators, where products are purposely included as part of the programming. Although product placement provides exposure to products, its effect is limited by the inability to include detailed descriptions of the products and/or discussion of the benefits of the products. Moreover, product placement does not provide interested viewers with the ability to access additional information regarding the products.
Other advertising techniques intended to target PVR users have also proven ineffective or undesirable. Accordingly, current advertising techniques are generally incapable of effectively reaching PVR users.

Media content access systems and methods


A semiconductor device is provided to ensure electrical connection with a probe needle and also provide ready maintenance of the probe needle. The semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a bonding pad electrode layer formed on the silicon substrate, and a rhenium layer formed on the bonding pad electrode layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and particularly to a semiconductor device with a bonding pad electrode layer for inputting and outputting electrical signals to and from the external.
2. Description of the Background Art
In the processes for manufacturing semiconductor devices, a device referred to as a probe card has been conventionally used to inspect electrical characteristics of the semiconductor devices. FIG. 9 is a cross section illustrating a conventional probe card. The conventional probe card shown in FIG. 9 has an opening 114 formed approximately at the center of a substrate 113. Provided around opening 114 are a plurality of probe needles 115 of tungsten (W) towards the center of opening 114. Probe needle 115 is connected via a wiring to a terminal (not shown) arranged at a periphery of substrate 113. In inspection, the terminal is connected to an inspection device referred to as a prober.
The probe card is opposed to a surface of a semiconductor device subject to inspection and is arranged to allow the tip of probe needle 115 to come in contact with a bonding pad electrode formed on the surface of the semiconductor device. In inspecting electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device, probe needle 115 is brought into contact with the bonding pad electrode formed on the surface of the semiconductor device.
A description will now be provided as to how a probe needle comes into contact with a bonding pad electrode of a semiconductor device in the inspection.
FIG. 10 is a cross section of a bonding pad electrode of a conventional semiconductor device. The semiconductor device shown in FIG. 10 has a bonding pad electrode 102 of aluminum formed on a silicon substrate 101. An SiO.sub.2 -formed protection film 103 is formed to cover silicon substrate 101 and a portion of the upper surface and the side surface of bonding pad electrode 102. Formed on SiO.sub.2 -formed protection film 103 is a polyimide protection film 104. A contact hole 107 reaching bonding pad electrode 102 is formed in polyimide protection film 104 and SiO.sub.2 -formed protection film 103. On a surface of bonding pad electrode 102, aluminum is oxidized and aluminum oxide 106 is thus formed.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views for illustrating a contact between a probe needle and a bonding pad electrode of a semiconductor device subject to inspection in inspecting electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 11, when silicon substrate 101 (note that SiO.sub.2 -formed protection film 103 and polyimide protection film 104 shown in FIG. 10 are omitted in FIGS. 11 and 12) is raised, aluminum oxide 106 formed on a surface of bonding pad electrode 102 comes into contact with a tip 109 of a probe needle 108. Since aluminum oxide 106 is an insulator, a simple contact of tip 109 of the probe needle with aluminum oxide 106 does not result in electrical connection between tip 109 of the probe needle and bonding pad electrode 102.
Accordingly, silicon substrate 101 is further raised, as shown in FIG. 12. This allows the probe needle to be elastically deformed and tip 109 of the probe needle is moved in the horizontal direction. Thus, aluminum oxide 106 on the surface of bonding pad electrode 102 is exfoliated from the surface of bonding pad electrode 102 to allow direct contact between bonding pad electrode 102 and tip 109 of the probe needle so that the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device can be inspected. Electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices can also be inspected in a similar procedure if bonding pad electrode 102 is formed of copper or tungsten.
When the aluminum oxide on the surface of bonding pad electrode 102 or the like is removed as described above, adhesion of the aluminum oxide to the tip of the probe needle or the like will increase contact resistance, which often results in an inaccurate measurement of electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device. Various approaches have been taken in order to solve this problem. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 4-351968 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 7-13364 (Registered Japanese Utility Model No. 3025108) proposed that a probe needle is formed of a material which is abrasion-resistant and to which less foreign matters adhere so that the probe needle has long life span and is less often subjected to unsatisfactory contacts, i.e., ensures electrical contact.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 56-119377 and 7-244074 proposed that the tip of a probe needle to which foreign matters adhere is stuck several times into a resin parent material, such as an elastic silicon rubber mixed with a fines abrasive, such as whetstone, and the tip and side surface of the probe needle are thus scraped off to remove the aluminum oxide resulting in causing unsatisfactory contacts and thus achieve good electrical contact.
However, conventional methods of improving electrical contact are mainly related to probe card and probe needle, as described above, and it can be said that any approaches have hardly been made with respect to bonding pad electrode. Thus, conventional methods of improving electrical contact have not always sufficiently improved electrical contact. Furthermore, the conventional approaches have the disadvantage that the burden of maintenance of probe cards is increased.

Semiconductor device with bonding pad electrode


A tool for operating a vehicle tire chain tensioner and a method of using the same. The tool is a member having spaced apart first and second ends. The first end is configured to engage a first style of chain tensioner and the second end is configured to engage a second style of chain tensioner. The first end includes a leg extending outwardly at ninety degrees from the member in a first direction; and the second end includes spaced apart first and second arms that extend outwardly at ninety degrees from the member in a second direction. The member, leg, and first and second arms are all aligned in the same plane. The leg's free end is complementary to a recess defined in the first style of chain tensioner. A section of the second style of chain tensioner is received in a gap defined between the first and second arms.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to vehicle tire chains used for winter driving. More particularly, this invention relates to equipment for use in conjunction with tensioners and fasteners for vehicle tire chains. Specifically, this invention is directed to a tool that has a first end that is configured to engage a first style of tire chain tensioner or fastener and a second end that is configured to engage a second style of tire chain tensioner or fastener.
2. Background Information
Vehicles used in snowy or icy winter conditions often have to have chains engaged on the tires so that there is adequate traction to keep the vehicle on the road. During the installation process, the chains are laid on the road or wrapped partially around the tires, the vehicle is slowly driven onto the chains, and then the operator will pull each chain up and around the associated tire. It is then necessary to fasten the ends of the chain together and tension the chain so that it tightly grips the tire.
There are a number of different components that may be used to fasten the ends of the chain together and other components which can be used to tension the chain. A first style of tensioner that has gained recent popularity is known as a "cam tensioner". This device is a "C-shaped" plate with an arcuate slot defined in it. The plate is secured between two adjacent links in the chain. A small rectangular recess or hole is provided in the plate and an adjuster tool is inserted into this hole to rotate the plate through about 180° to draw the links attached to the plate toward each other.
An earlier style of fastener or tensioner is a generally S-shaped plate having a first curved region and a second curved region at opposite ends of the plate and an arcuate section between the first and second regions. A first link is slipped into the first region of the fastener and another link is slipped onto the arcuate section. The fastener plate is then rotated through about 90° and the second region engages a third link. The first, second and third links are all drawn toward each other, thereby both fastening and tensioning the chain. In order to install this style of fastener/tensioner, an installer will frequently use their hands or pliers to manipulate the plate. There is a risk of the plate slipping as it is manipulated as described above and this may cause both frustration and injury to the installer.
Both of the older style fasteners/tensioners and the newer style tensioners will be further referred to herein by the term "tensioner".
There remains a need in the art for an improved tool for use with fasteners and tensioners of vehicle tire chains.

Tool for operating tire chain tensioners and method of using the same


The invention relates to an oil scraper ring for pistons of internal combustion engines. The oil scraper ring comprises a disc that is provided with parallel flanks and a bearing surface having an asymmetrical crowned form with a vertex line extending over the periphery of the disc. A bracing spring arranged in a ring groove of the piston and comprising a spring groove side opposing the piston head and a spring groove side facing the piston head presses the disc radially against the friction and the abrasion of the bearing surface. To this end, at least one of the spring groove sides extends at an angle in relation to the piston axis in such a way that it is radially outwardly inclined to the bracing spring end oriented towards the cylinder, the bearing surface of the disc being embodied in such a way that it corresponds to an almost worn end contour in the started engine state, and, when the oil scraper ring is mounted in the piston, the vertex line of the bearing surface is oriented in the direction of the ring groove side opposing the piston head.

The invention relates to an oil wiping ring for pistons of internal combustion engines, having a lamella consisting of strip steel, provided with parallel walls, whose working surface has a barrel-shaped asymmetrical shape, having a vertex line that extends over the circumference of the lamella, whereby a spreading spring disposed in a ring groove of the piston and having one spring groove wall facing away from the piston crown side and one spring groove wall facing the piston crown side presses the lamella radially against the cylinder wall.
In order to prevent too much motor oil from getting into the combustion chamber, which not only results in high oil consumption but also has negative effects on the emission behavior of the engine, a sufficient tangential force of the oil wiping rings is required to produce a radial contact pressure against the cylinder wall and thereby a good oil wiping effect. However, this results in a high surface pressure against the working surfaces of the lamellae, and therefore also a high friction power during engine operation. This friction power worsens the degree of effectiveness of the internal combustion engine and accordingly increases the fuel consumption. The design of the tangential force of the oil wiping rings is therefore always a compromise between minimal friction power and maximal oil wiping effect. All of the measures for reducing the friction power during engine operation, without reducing the tangential force, thereby facilitate the design of the oil wiping rings, i.e. improve the degree of effectiveness of the engine.
Accordingly, an attempt was made, for oil wiping rings of the type stated, aside from a special configuration of the spreading spring, to shape the working surfaces of the lamellae in such a manner that these meet the aforementioned requirements.
Asymmetrical working surfaces of oil wiping rings or piston rings are known from DE 38 33 322 A1, DE 43 00 531 C1, or DE 44 29 649 C2. Likewise, a piston ring is known from DE 33 05 385 C1, which is disposed in a ring groove of a piston, the ring groove side walls of which run preferably parallel, but at a slant to the piston axis, in order to guarantee a better seal. Ring groove side walls that are oriented at a slant and parallel to one another are also known from the Japanese utility model 57-73340. These previously known embodiments, however, relate to compression rings, whose requirements with regard to surface pressure are very low, while oil wiping rings demand great surface pressures.

Oil scraper ring for pistons of internal combustion engines


A composition for gas storage including a mixture of particles of amorphous macroporous organic polymer (MOP) and particles of a metallic organic framework (MOF).

Adsorbed gas technologies have well recorded advantages for the storage of gases compared to compressed or liquefied gas. These advantages include the ability to use lower pressures for volumes equivalent to compressed gas technology, safer storage, the ability to use less expensive storage tanks and increased versatility in tank shape.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are known for use in gas storage. MOFs comprise organic ligands and metal ions or clusters which together form the skeleton of the metal organic framework in which the organic ligand forms links between nodes formed of metal ions or clusters. Examples of MOF and their use in gas storage are disclosed in US Publn. 2003/0148165.
While MOFs or other porous materials may be used in gas storage there is a need for compositions and systems which provide improved overall storage of gases at the desired pressure.

COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION


A role simulation method and a terminal apparatus in a VR scene are provided. The role simulation method in the VR scene includes: obtaining a role obtaining instruction triggered by a hand model in the VR scene, movement of the hand model in the VR scene being controlled by an interaction controller; determining a virtual role from the VR scene according to the role obtaining instruction; dynamically adjusting virtual props in the VR scene according to a music file played in the VR scene; displaying the virtual role in the VR scene through a VR display, and displaying the virtual props that are dynamically adjusted.

At present, a jukebox is widely used, and a video on demand (VOD) system of the jukebox can support a player to select a song to sing from a song database, which can achieve simple interaction between the player and the VOD system. However, such VOD system at present is mainly a standalone version. Therefore, each player can only entertain themselves, and can only sing a song facing a machine like "whistle jigs to a milestone" without an immersive experience.
Karaoke has become one of the most basic social experiences of people. Relatives and friends always get together in a private room of an entertainment venue like a home party or KTV. However, because of limitation by a geographical location, two persons who are far apart cannot experience a feeling in a real KTV.
It can be seen from the foregoing analysis that a traditional juke box and karaoke cannot provide the player with a very good singing experience and cannot provide the player with an immersive role experience.

Role simulation method and terminal apparatus in VR scene

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Provided are a content-based searching method and system for multimedia objects using a high-dimensional feature vector data based on a 2-level signature. The method for searching the high-dimensional data using a signature file includes calculating a first-level query signature and a second-level query signature by using the query feature vector, performing a first filtering operation to obtain a primary candidate cell group by searching a second-level signature file, and performing a secondary filtering operation to obtain a secondary candidate cell group having a high similarity in a primary candidate cell group. Accordingly, the high-dimensional data searching method and system can process a query quickly and accurately and can increase the searching accuracy by using an enhanced signature of the query feature vector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a content-based searching method and system for multimedia objects using high-dimensional feature vector data, which are capable of quickly and exactly processing a query with a 2-level signature.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to developments of computing and media technologies, data are represented in a type of a multimedia including texts, images, audios, and videos. A searching efficiency is a major issue in handling such multimedia information. That is, the major issue is how quickly and exactly a user can search multimedia data containing desired information. A content-based searching method using an extracted high-dimensional feature vector data is generally used for searching data from multimedia objects, such as images, audios, and videos.
In the content-based searching method for such multimedia objects, there are two representative query types, that is, a range query and a k-nearest neighbor query.
The range query is a query for finding multimedia objects satisfying a similarity with a certain range, and the k-nearest neighbor query is a query for finding the k number of objects with a high similarity. In these query, the calculation of the similarity is generally achieved by a method for calculating Euclidean distance.
In order to ensure the fast searching of high-dimensional data, it is important to reduce the calculation of the similarity and the data read. To this end, high-dimensional data indexing schemes have been used, which may be proposed by being largely classified into a tree-based indexing scheme and a filtering-based indexing scheme.
In order to efficiently search objects distributed in a data space, the tree-based indexing scheme (e.g., R-Tree, X-Tree, SR-Tree, M-Tree, etc.) uses rectangles or circles indicating a group of neighbor objects as a searching unit. However, since an overlapping area between the rectangles or the circles, which indicate the group of the neighbor objects, is expanded as data dimension increase, there is raised the curse of dimension problem that the searching performance may be lower than that of a sequential searching by exponentially degrading. Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that can solve the curse of dimension problem.
The filtering-based indexing scheme (e.g., VA-File, CBF, etc.) is to improve the searching performance for high-dimensional data by using signatures and feature vectors, which is a method that sequentially reads all signature files to primarily filter them and thereafter reads the feature vectors.
The filtering-based indexing scheme has a disadvantage that accuracy is lowered when decreasing the bit size of the signature, and that data intended to be read increase when increasing the bit size of the signature.

Method and system for indexing and searching high-dimensional data using signature file

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


To provide a technique in which a phosphorus compound does not inhibit curing of an addition reaction type silicone-based composition even though the addition reaction type silicone-based composition is in contact with a resin molded product containing the phosphorus compound. An integrated molded product including a thermoplastic resin molded product containing a phosphorus compound, an addition reaction type silicone-based composition, and a member, in which: the thermoplastic resin molded product is in contact with the addition reaction type silicone-based composition; and a pentavalent phosphorus compound is used as the phosphorus compound. The thermoplastic resin molded product preferably contains a polybutylene terephthalate resin in light of heat resistance.

A resin molded product obtained by molding a thermoplastic resin is used for various products and parts since it has features such as easy molding and light-weight.
The resin molded product is sometimes bonded with other members depending on applications, etc. There have been known, as a method in which a resin molded product is bonded with other members, methods such as bonding with an adhesive, screw fastening, double-shot molding, hot plate welding, vibration welding, and laser welding. The bonding method is selected taking account of applications and shape of a resin molded product, and a preferable bonding method varies depending on applications, etc. Since it is difficult to use welding processing in the case of bonding with different type resins and metals, techniques such as adhesion, screw fastening, and staking are commonly employed.
An example of bonding a resin molded product with other members includes a case material (case material composed of a resin molded product) which houses a substrate including electronic parts mounted thereon (Patent Document 1). The reason why the substrate is housed in the case material is to relieve damage of electronic parts, caused by dusts and external impact, etc.
Electronic parts housed in the above case material are sometimes subjected to potting. The reason is to prevent electronic parts from rusting by moisture, etc. Examples of electronic parts subjected to the potting include various automobile electronic control systems, sensors, hybrid ICs for automobiles and electric appliances, and semiconductor parts, etc (Patent Document 2).
An adhesive is used to bond the case housing the above substrate and electronic parts with a lid, or to fix them in a case, and an epoxy-based composition and a silicone-based composition, etc. are known as potting agents used to apply potting. In the case of an integrated molded product to which heat resistance and cold resistance, etc. are required, an addition reaction type silicone-based composition (type in which curing is performed using a platinum catalyst) is preferably used. It is known that this addition reaction type silicone-based composition is also used as a sealing agent and a coating agent, etc., in addition to the above adhesive and potting agent.
In the case of using the addition reaction type silicon-based composition, when a phosphorus compound is contained in a resin molded product, this phosphorus compound inhibits an addition reaction due to a platinum catalyst (cure inhibition). As a result, when the addition reaction type silicone-based composition is used as an adhesive, adhesion between a resin molded product and other members is likely to be insufficient. When the addition reaction type silicone-based composition is used as a potting agent, malfunction of electronic parts due to rusts may occur since electronic parts are in contact with air due to cure inhibition.
Usually, the phosphorus compound is added for the purpose of imparting desired physical properties to a resin molded product, etc. For example, the phosphorus compound can be added to a resin as a flame retardant and a stabilizer, and exerts the effect of imparting flame retardance to a resin composition and preventing deterioration of physical properties or discoloration under high-temperature conditions. As mentioned above, the phosphorus compound is known as a useful additive, and the phosphorus compound is often contained in a resin composition as an essential component.
As mentioned above, the phosphorus compound is known as a useful additive, but it would be unsuited to be mixed in a resin molded product which is in contact with an addition reaction type silicone-based composition.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2004-343684
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2009-149736


Compounds represented by Formula (I):

The present invention is directed to pyrrolopyridine-2-carboxylic acid amides. In particular, the present invention is directed to pyrrolopyridine-2-carboxylic acid amides that are inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase.
Insulin dependent Type I diabetes and non-insulin dependent Type II diabetes continue to present treatment difficulties even though clinically accepted regimens that include diet, exercise, hypoglycemic agents, and insulin are available. Treatment is patient dependent—therefore there is a continuing need for novel hypoglycemic agents, particularly ones that may be better tolerated with fewer adverse effects.
The liver and certain other organs produce glucose—thereby raising the blood sugar level—by breaking down glycogen or by synthesizing glucose from small molecule precursors. The breakdown of glycogen is catalyzed by glycogen phosphorylase enzyme. Accordingly, inhibiting glycogen phosphorylase ("GP") may lower the elevated blood sugar level in diabetic patients.
Similarly, hypertension and its associated pathologies such as, for example, atherosclerosis, lipidemia, hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia have been associated with elevated insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia), which can lead to abnormal blood sugar levels. Furthermore, myocardial ischemia can result. Such maladies may be treated with hypoglycemic agents, including compounds that inhibit glycogen phosphorylase. The cardioprotective effects of glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors, for example following reperfusion injury, has also been described (see, for example, Ross et al., American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology, March 2004, 286(3), H1177–84). Accordingly, it is accepted that compounds that inhibit glycogen phosphorylase (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,269) are useful in the treatment of diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis or myocardial ischemia. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to obtain other novel compounds that inhibit glycogen phosphorylase.
R. Kurukulasuriya, J. T. Link, et al., Current Medicinal Chem., 10:99–121 (2003) describes "Prospects for Pharmacologic Inhibition of Hepatic Glucose Production." R. Kurukulasuriya, J. T. Link, et al., Current Medicinal Chem., 10:123–153 (2003) describes "Potential Drug Targets and Progress Towards Pharmacologic Inhibition of Hepatic Glucose Production."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,269 and European Patent Application No. EP 0832066 describe substituted N-(indole-2-carbonyl)amides and derivatives as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,107,329 and 6,277,877 describe substituted N-(indole-2-carbonyl)glycinamides and derivatives as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,601 describes bicyclic pyrrolyl amides as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. European Patent Application Nos. EP 0978276 and EP 1136071 describe inhibitors of human glycogen phosphorylase and their use. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/68055 describes glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,322 describes a method of reducing non-cardiac ischemial tissue damage using glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors.
International Patent Publication No. WO 01/55146 describes arylamidines. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/62775 describes antiarrhythmic peptides. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/96346 describes tricyclic compounds. International Patent Publication No. WO 02/16314 describes substituted polyamine compounds. International Patent Publication No. WO 02/20475 describes serine protease activity inhibitors. International Patent Publication No. WO 02/40469 describes bombesin receptor antagonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 02/46159 describes guanidine and amidine derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 00/69815 describes ureido-substituted cyclic amine derivatives.
International Patent Publication No. WO 00/43384 describes aromatic heterocyclic compounds. International Patent Publication Nos. WO 02/26697 and WO 00/76970 describe aromatic derivatives. International Patent Publication No. WO 01/32622 describes indoles. European Patent Application No. EP 1101759 describes phenylazole compounds. European Patent Application No. EP 1179341 describes cyclic amino compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,325 describes substituted heterocyclic compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,582 describes 4-substituted cyclohexylamine derivatives. European Patent Application No. EP 1201239 describes cyclic amine CCR3 antagonists. International Patent Publication No. WO 98/25617 describes substituted aryl piperazines. U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,810 describes preparing 3-nitrobenzoate compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,153 describes tetrazole compounds. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,174,887 and 6,420,561 describe amide compounds. S. P. Hiremath et al., Acta Ciencia Indica, XVIII:397 (1992) describes the synthesis and biological activities of indolylthiosemicarbazides and semicarbazides. International Patent Publication No. WO 96/36595 describes 3,4-disubstituted phenylsulfonamides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,825 describes combinatorial sulfonamide libraries. European Patent Application No. EP 0810221 describes oxygen-containing heterocyclic derivatives. European Patent Application No. EP 0345990 describes polypeptide compounds. European Patent Application No. EP 0254545 describes diamine compounds.
International Patent Publication No. WO 97/31016 describes inhibitors of SH2-mediated processes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,067 describes serine protease inhibitors. International Patent Publication No. WO 97/17985 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,309 describe hemoregulatory compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,921 describes thrombin inhibitors. U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2292149 describes peptide inhibitors of pro-interleukin-1β converting enzyme. U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,241 describes fibrinogen receptor antagonists.
International Patent Publication No. WO 01/02424 describes peptide boronic acid compounds. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,811, 5,869,455 and 5,618,792 describe oxadiazole, thiadiazole and triazole peptoids. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,885,967, 6,090,787 and 6,124,277 describe thrombin inhibiting peptide derivatives. U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,529 describes adhesion receptor antagonists. U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,684 describes serine protease inhibitors.
International Patent Publication No. WO 01/94310 describes bis-heterocyclic alkaloids. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030004162A1, European Patent Application No. EP 0846464, and International Publication No. WO 96/39384 describe glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors. International Patent Publication No. WO 97/28798 describes pyrrolidine derivatives. U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,907 describes amino acid analogs.

Pyrrolopyridine-2-carboxylic acid amide inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase

Abstract: Compounds represented by Formula (I):

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase and are useful in the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis or tissue ischemia e.g. myocardial ischemia, and as cardioprotectants.


A method and microscope for high-resolution 2D scanning microscopy of a sample, wherein the sample is illuminated with illumination radiation in such a way that the illumination radiation is focused in or on the sample to form a diffraction-limited illumination spot at a point. The point is imaged in a diffraction-limited manner into a diffraction image on a spatially resolving surface detector, wherein the surface detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. Neither an imaging point spread function nor an illumination point spread function is manipulated for producing an asymmetry. The point is displaced relative to the sample into different scanning positions. A 2D image of the sample is produced from the data of the surface detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data. The 2D image has a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit for imaging.

The invention relates to a method and microscope for high-resolution 2D scanning microscopy of a sample.
The sample is illuminated with illumination radiation in such a way that the illumination radiation is focused in or on the sample to form a diffraction-limited illumination spot at a point. The point is imaged in a diffraction-limited manner into a diffraction image on a spatially resolving surface detector. The surface detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image, wherein neither an imaging point spread function nor an illumination point spread function is manipulated for producing an asymmetry. The point is displaced relative to the sample into different scanning positions with a scanning step increment of less than half the diameter of the illumination spot. Thus, a plurality of scanning positions are scanned while the z-location of a focal plane of the imaging is fixed. The surface detector is read, and a 2D image of the sample is produced from the data of the surface detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data. This 2D image has a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit for imaging. The microscope has an illumination beam path for illuminating the sample with illumination radiation, wherein the illumination beam path is free from elements for manipulating an illumination point spread function. An imaging beam path for diffraction-limited imaging of the point into a diffraction image on a spatially resolving surface detector is free from elements for manipulating an imaging point spread function. The surface detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. A scanning device for displacing the point relative to the sample into different scanning positions with an increment of less than half the diameter of the illumination spot scans a plurality of scanning positions at a fixed z-location of a focal plane of the image. An evaluation device produces a 2D image of the sample from the data of the surface detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data. The 2D image has a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit of the imaging beam path.
A classical field of application of light microscopy is laser scanning microscopy (in short also LSM), which uses a confocal detection arrangement to image only that plane of the sample that is situated in the focal plane of the objective. This obtains an optical section, the thickness of which depends on the size of the confocal stop. The recording of multiple optical sections at different depths of the sample permits to generate a three-dimensional image of the sample, which is then made up of the different optical sections. Laser scanning microscopy is therefore suitable for examining thick preparations.
In principle, the optical resolution of a light microscope, including that of an LSM, is diffraction-limited by physical laws. The term "high-resolution" is here used for resolutions beyond the diffraction limit. Overcoming the diffraction limit is achieved by what is known as Airyscan microscopy, which is described e.g. in EP 2317362 A1, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This document combines, in the embodiment illustrated and described in FIG. 5 therein, diffraction-limited illumination of the sample with a surface detector, wherein a scanning device is configured such that the diffraction image of the point that is illuminated with the illumination spot rests on the surface detector. This arrangement is referred to as a "de-scanned" detector arrangement. It is typically achieved by arranging a scanner that deflects the beam path between the combination point between illumination device and imaging device and the sample. Such a scanner acts both on the illumination spot and on the imaging of the point that is illuminated with the illumination spot, with the result that the beam path in the imaging direction after the scanner is static. An alternative to such a scanner is the use of a movable sample stage which displaces the sample. In that case, the diffraction image also rests on the surface detector. In the concept of EP 2317362 A1, the surface detector is provided with a spatial resolution that, with reference to the imaging scale, effects oversampling of the diffraction image and thus permits resolving the structure of the diffraction image.
In classical confocal microscopy, depth resolution is linked inseparably with the size of the confocal pinhole stop. This stop filters out extrafocal light and generates the optical section. Consequently, on the path to ever thinner optical sections, light losses increase, because the stop significantly blocks light. The use of a very small confocal stop indeed results in a very thin optical section, but with a very poor signal-to-noise ratio.
This problem equally arises in Airyscan microscopy, which replaces the pinhole stop used in the classical method (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,467 A) by a 2D sensor, or images the stop plane onto such a detector. The following references: U.S. Pat. No. 8,705,172, DE 102010049627 A1, US 2011/0267688 and the publications by C. Mueller et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 104, 198101, 2010; A. York et al., "Resolution doubling in live, multi-cellular organisms via multifocal Structured Illumination Microscopy," Nature Methods, Vol. 9, 2012; G. De Luca et al., "Re-scan confocal microscopy: scanning twice for better resolution," Biomedical Optics Express, 4 (11), pp. 2644-2656; S. Roth, "Optical photon reassignment microscopy (OPRA)," arXiv: 1306.6230; A. York et al., Nat. Methods 9, 749, 2012, I. Gregor et al., Proc. SPIE 10071, "Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Superresolution Imaging X," 100710C, 24 Apr. 2017, doi: 10.1117/12.2255891; A. Jesacher et al., "Three-dimensional information from two-dimensional scans: a scanning microscope with postacquisition refocusing capability," Optica 2, pp. 210-213, 2015; also address this approach. The latter publication uses a phase mask for z-coding depth information.
In Airyscan microscopy, a 3D image recording is known in which so-called image stacks are recorded, i.e. multiple 2D images are captured in different focal planes. These image stacks can then be used in a 3D deconvolution to generate a depth-resolved image. An image stack can be dispensed with if, due to a targeted modification of the point spread function, an ambiguity which is present otherwise, namely that it is not known a priori whether a defocused point is situated above or below the focal plane, is removed. With z-modulated point spread functions, this ambiguity is removed, and in a 3D reconstruction reconstructing a three-dimensional image from a single 2D image is possible.
Generally, three-dimensional images remedy to a certain extent the problem, described in the introductory part, that the confocal stop sizes and optical section thickness are coupled. Therefore a three-dimensional image is generated first, and then the desired section plane is selected from the three-dimensional image. A disadvantage here is that a three-dimensional image stack must be worked through or a manipulated point spread function must be used. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to improve optical section thickness in 2D Airyscan microscopy without any of these two requirements.

High-resolution 2D microscopy with improved section thickness


An apparatus for inspecting a test lens, such as an intraocular lens, comprising a light source and collimating lens positioned to receive light from the light source and direct collimated light to the test lens. A plurality of targets are positionable at the object focal plane of the collimating lens so that there is an image of the target at the image focal space of the test lens. The image of the target has generally radially extending and alternating first and second sectors with each of the first sectors being relatively light and each of the second sectors being relatively dark. Modulation transfer function is determined by determining the image contrast along a combination of selected ring-shaped regions of the image.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting a test lens, and more particularly to a method and apparatus f or determining an optical quality characteristic such as the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a test lens. Although the apparatus and method are usable for inspecting virtually any test lens, they are particularly adapted for the inspection of monofocal and multifocal intraocular lenses.
Virtually any lens has imperfections which cause an image formed by that lens to vary from the ideal. In order to assure that any imperfections in a test lens are within allowable tolerances, it is important to carefully inspect the lens. Lens inspection is particularly important f or lenses and lens systems where high performance is required. Intraocular lenses, which are adapted to be implanted in the human eye to replace the natural lens of the eye, are one important example of a high performance lens.
One important test for a lens is determining MTF of the lens. Generally MTF is a measure of the efficiency with which a lens or optical system is able to contrast regions of a target at various spatial frequencies. When the modulation transfer function drops to a predetermined level, it is presumed that the image can no longer be resolved, and the corresponding spatial frequency becomes the resolution limit of the system. MTF also provides a quantitative description of contrast and accounts for the effects of both diffraction and different types of aberrations on image quality. MTF is considered to be a more useful measure of lens performance than resolution alone.
MTF can be determined using either indirect or direct techniques. In the indirect method, images of a slit or pinhole are used and complex mathematics are employed to determine MTF. One such indirect system is shown by way of example in Klingman U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,892.
In direct MTF measurement systems, light is directed through a target to a test lens which forms an image of the target. For example, the target may he a grating, in which event the image is of the bars and spaces of the grating. Alternatively, the grating may be replaced with a target having sinusoidally varying light transmissive properties as disclosed, for example, in Kuperman U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,909. In any event, the image formed by the test lens has alternate light and dark regions which enable contrast to be measured at the different spatial frequencies defined by the widths of the light and dark regions of the image. Examples of direct MTF measurement systems are shown in Weiser U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,427 and Holly U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,732.
In order to obtain information on image contrast along different meridians of the test lens, it is known to rotate the target to move the regions of higher and lower spatial frequencies to different meridians. By taking contrast readings at different meridians, modulation transfer function can be calculated. One problem with this system is that the rotation of the target to provide different spatial frequencies along various meridians of the test lens introduces inaccuracies in the measurement needed to determine MTF. This is because these measurements are very sensitive to even very small changes in optical system location.

Apparatus and method for inspecting a test lens, method of making a test lens


System and methods may calibrate an AC rms voltage applied to a coronode of a charging device to achieve a predefined operating current at a target value of DC shield voltage. The target value of DC shield voltage may be set to be substantially below an over-voltage condition. System and methods may use a calibration routine that may determine a minimum AC voltage required to achieve the target value of DC shield voltage. Systems and methods may alternatively, or additionally, sense current and adjust the applied voltage to obtain a target current.

This invention relates to systems and methods for calibrating a charging unit of an image forming apparatus.
In electrophotographic printing, a photoconductive surface, often a photoconductive belt, is charged by a charging unit and then selectively exposed to image data to selectively discharge portions of the charged photoconductive surface. This forms a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductive surface. Charged toner material is applied to the latent image bearing portion of the photoconductive surface to convert the latent electrostatic image into a developed image. Finally, the developed, or toner, image is transferred to a sheet of recording medium, such as paper, by charging the backside of the paper with another charging unit to attract the toner of the developed image from the photoconductive surface to the paper. The toner of the developed image is then at least semi-permanently fixed to the sheet of recording material, such as, for example, by heating a thermoplastic toner material to fuse the toner material to the sheet of recording material. An example of this process is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The device that performs charging of the photoconductive surface and the recording medium may be a dicorotron, which may include an insulated coronode disposed adjacent to a conductive shield and photoconductive surface. The insulated coronode may be driven by an AC signal at a voltage high enough to create a corona plasma in the area surrounding the insulated coronode. When a bias potential is applied to the conductive shield relative to the photoconductive surface, charged particles may flow through the plasma and may be applied to the photoconductive surface. The amount of charge flowing through the plasma and deposited on the photoconductive surface may thus depend on the bias voltage between the conductive shield and the photoconductive surface, as well as on the AC voltage applied to the insulated coronode.
Charge devices such as dicorotrons, scorotrons (which include a conductive grid between the coronode and the photoconductive surface) and corotrons may be located at various places along the path of the photoconductive belt through the image forming device. In particular, the charging units may be located before the exposure units of each color station in a color image forming device, as well as before the transfer station where the toner particles are transferred to the recording medium.

Calibration apparatus and method for charging unit of image forming device


The present invention relates to a method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy, a method of selecting an appropriate chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer, a method of screening or identifying a compound suitable for improving the treatment of a cancer, and corresponding kits. The method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy typically comprises a step a) of determining, in a biological sample from said subject, the presence, absence or expression level of at least one of a soluble B7H6 (sB7H6 or sB7-H6) and a soluble MIC (sMIC) and, when the expression level is determined, a step b) of comparing said expression level to a reference expression level, thereby assessing or monitoring whether the subject having a tumor is responsive or resistant to the chemotherapy.

B7-H6 is a member of the B7 family, which includes ligands (B7-1 and B7-2) for the T cell costimulatory receptor CD28 and the coinhibitory receptor CTLA-4, as well as ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) for the T cell coinhibitory receptor PD-1. Like all known B7 family members, B7-H6 comprises two Ig domains with adjacent phase 1 introns in the extracellular region. Importantly, B7-H6 was not detected in normal human tissues but was selectively expressed on a variety of human tumor cell lines, including T and B lymphomas, melanomas, and carcinomas (Brandt C S et al., 2009, J. Exp. Med., 206:1495). Furthermore, B7-H6 expression on tumor cells triggered NKp30-specific NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion. Thus, B7-H6 functions as a tumor-induced self-molecule that alerts innate immunity to cellular transformation via its interaction with the activating receptor NKp30 (Brandt C S et al., 2009, J. Exp. Med., 206:1495). B7-H6 transcripts have not been detected in most normal adult tissues, consistent with the absence of the protein on circulating cells isolated from healthy individuals.
As used herein, the term "MICA" refers to the MHC class I chain-related protein A encoded by the MICA gene (Gene ID: 100507436). As used herein, the term "MICB" refers to the MHC class I chain-related protein B encoded by the MICB gene (Gene ID: 4277). MICA and MICB are NKG2D ligands as defined above. MICA and MICB are highly related, sharing 85% amino acid identity. The term "MIC" refers to MICA and/or MICB.
"MIC" is a heavily glycosylated protein which is a ligand for the NKG2D type II receptor. Binding of the ligand activates the cytolytic response of natural killer (NK) cells, CD8 alpha beta T cells, and gamma delta T cells which express the receptor. This protein is stress-induced and is similar to MHC class I molecules.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are thought to originate from the neoplastic transformation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, the intestinal pacemaker cells. The true incidence of GISTs remains unknown, but experience from clinical trials suggests an incidence of 4500-6000 new cases per year in the United States. The median age at diagnosis is approximately 58 years.
Historically, GISTs have been targeted by the three traditional cancer therapeutic modalities: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Surgery is effective for patients with resectable disease, but disease may recur in as many as 50% of individuals. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have shown little efficacy (Joensuu H et al., 2002, Lancet Oncol, 3: 655). A major breakthrough occurred in 1998 with the discovery of gain-of-function mutations in the KIT oncogene in GISTs (Hirota S et al., 1998, Science, 279: 577). KIT encodes the transmembrane KIT receptor tyrosine kinase (CD117) that, when activated via binding by its ligand, regulates the intracellular signal transduction process. Constitutive tyrosine kinase activation by mutation results in unregulated cell growth and malignant transformation. More than 90% of GISTs harbour activating KIT mutations (Rubin B P et al., 2001, Cancer Res, 61: 8118). These mutations commonly occur in exon 11 (juxtamembrane domain) in 57-71% of cases, exon 9 (extracellular domain) in 10-18% of cases, exon 13 (tyrosine kinase domain I) in 1-4% of cases, and exon 17 (tyrosine kinase domain II) in 1-4% of cases (Raut C P et al., 2007, Curr Opin Gastroenterol, 23: 149). Approximately 35% of GISTs lacking KIT mutations have activating mutations in a gene encoding a related receptor tyrosine kinase, the platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (PDGFRA) (Heinrich M C et al., 2003, Science, 299: 708). PDGFRA mutations have been identified in exon 12 (1-2% of GISTs), exon 18 (2-6%), and exon 14 (<1%) (Corless C L et al., 2005, J Clin Oncol, 23: 5357). Identification of KIT and PDGFRA mutations led to the development of specific targeted therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Therapy with the TKIs imatinib mesylate (STI571, Gleevec-Novartis) and sunitinib malate (SU11248, Sutent-Pfizer) is effective for unresectable, metastatic, and recurrent disease (Heinrich M C et al., 2003, J Clin Oncol, 21: 4342). Imatinib selectively inhibits several tyrosine kinases including KIT, PDGFRA, and ABL. Data from a phase II imatinib trial revealed that mutational status of KIT was the most important factor predictive of clinical response to imatinib (Heinrich M C et al., 2003, J Clin Oncol, 21: 4342). Patients with GISTs expressing exon 11 KIT mutants who received imatinib had a substantially higher partial response rate, longer median survival, and less likelihood of progressing than those with GISTs expressing wild-type or exon 9 KIT mutants. Imatinib is a dramatically effective agent, but the duration of its benefits is finite. The second targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, sunitinib malate, has been approved for the treatment of imatinib-resistant GISTs after recent encouraging results (Rubin B P et al., 2007, Lancet, 369: 1731). However, as explained previously, drug resistance is an increasingly more common phenomenon (Van Glabbeke M et al., 2005, J Clin Oncol, 23: 5795).
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC, also known as hypernephroma) is a renal cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 80% of cases (Mulders P F et al., 2008, Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 152: 376). It is also known to be the most lethal of all the genitourinary tumors. Initial treatment is most commonly a radical or partial nephrectomy and remains the mainstay of curative treatment (Rini B I et al., 2008, Curr Opin Oncol, 20: 300). Where the tumor is confined to the renal parenchyma, the 5-year survival rate is 60-70%, but this is lowered considerably where metastases have spread. It is relatively resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, although some cases respond to immunotherapy. Targeted cancer therapies such as sunitinib, temsirolimus, bevacizumab, interferon-alpha, and sorafenib have improved the outlook for RCC (progression-free survival), although they have not yet demonstrated improved survival.
Whatever the nature of the cancer, the accurate selection of the patients capable of responding to a particular chemotherapy is a solution for them to receive the most appropriate therapy as soon as possible and typically as soon as they are diagnosed.

Methods of treating gastrointestinal sarcoma patients depending on their sB7H6 serum level

INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE


An anchor mount formed of a stopper having a thrust flange joined to a first end of a stem portion with an axial bore extending there through and a centering portion inclined between an overhanging portion of the flange and the stem portion; a part-spherical coupler presented on the stopper thrust flange opposite from the stem portion; a substantially resiliently deformable plug having an axial bore extended there through; an elongated shaft extendable through the respective axial bores of the stopper and the plug and having a threaded portion thereof extendable from a second end of the plug; an end cap having with an axial bore there through and being structured with an anti-rotation mechanism operable for resisting rotation of the end cap relative to the plug; and a mechanism for reversibly moving the end cap along the elongated shaft relative to the stem portion of the stopper.

Pipe and tube hole plugs are generally well-known as having a tubular or conical shaped compressible member and another member for compressing the compressible member along its longitudinal axis, which in turn expands the compressible member crosswise of its longitudinal axis.
However, known pipe and tube hole plug apparatus are limited in their ability to provide efficient and reliable mounting apparatus external of the plugged pipe or tube.


A system for training a neural network to synthesize vibration data relating to the operation of a machine. The system includes a first sensor operatively coupleable to the machine, the first sensor adapted to obtain at least one vibration signal relating to the operation of the machine. The system further includes a second sensor operatively coupleable to a power lead of the machine, the second sensor adapted to obtain at least one current signal relating to the operation of a machine. Additionally, the system includes a neural network operatively coupleable to the second sensor, the neural network being trainable to generate at least one synthesized vibration signal from the current signal, wherein the synthesized vibration signal is substantially equivalent to the vibration signal obtained from the first sensor.

Electric machines such as motors and generators are widely employed in industrial and commercial facilities. These machines are relied upon to operate with minimal attention and provide for long, reliable operation. Many facilities operate several hundreds or even thousands of such machines concurrently, many of which are integrated into a large interdependent process or system. Like most machinery, at least a small percentage of such induction motors are prone to failure. The majority of such failures can be attributed to either mechanical failures and/or thermal failures of the motor insulation.
Other than normal aging, failures are typically due to: poor or no maintenance; improper application (e.g., wrong enclosure, excessive loading, etc.); and improper installation (e.g., misalignment, bad power, inverter mismatch, etc.). Even with normal aging failures, it is desirable to provide low cost failure prediction information for such machines.
Depending on the application, the failure of a machine in service can possibly lead to system or process down time, inconvenience, and possibly, even a hazardous situation. Thus, it desirable to diagnose the machinery for possible failure or faults early in order to avoid such problems. Absent special monitoring for certain motor problems, the problems may have an insidious effect in that although only a minor problem on the onset the problem could become serious if not detected. For example, insulation problems and electrical problems may not become apparent until irreversible damage has resulted. Likewise, bearing problems due to inadequate lubrication, contamination or other causes may not become apparent until irreversible damage has occurred.
Vibration analysis is the established technique for determining the health of mechanical components in rotating machinery such as induction motors. To obtain vibration data for machinery analysis, accelerometers as well as associated sampling and filtering techniques are often employed. Larger machines and/or systems may employ proximity detectors to determine vibration.
In using accelerometers, the accelerometers are mounted on the machine being monitored, which also requires access to the machine to mount the sensors during testing. The location and orientation of the accelerometers are critical to the characteristics of the signal obtained. A vibration generated in one part of the machine is transmitted through the solids separating the source from the accelerometer. The analysis of the vibration signals taken at various times is dependent on the ability to reproduce the precise location and direction of mounting of the accelerometers. Thus, in most cases, accelerometers and/or their mounting fixtures are permanently installed on the equipment to be monitored.
Since accelerometers sense vibration primarily in one direction, multiple sensors are typically necessary to detect the vibrations generated in other directions and in different parts of some equipment. Thus, in order to sense all significant vibration directions, it may be necessary to install multiple-axis sensors. The results obtained are then combined and analyzed to develop the diagnostic information. To obtain good vibration data in order to perform the analysis it is desired to cover 5 axes with accelerometers (e.g., a 3-axis accelerometer at the load-end of the machine and a 2-axis accelerometer at the other end). However, these accelerometers are generally very expensive, the cost of which may exceed the price of the machine being analyzed.
There are alternative techniques (e.g., current signature analysis) other than vibration analysis for analyzing a machine. However, mechanical problems of a machine usually are manifested most prominently via vibrations. Thus vibration analysis is still the desired method for analyzing a machine for mechanically related problems. Furthermore, since so much of machine analysis and diagnosis has been done through vibration analysis, there is an extensive amount of historical vibration signature data available for use in determining the health of a machine.
Consequently, there is a strong need in the art for a method and/or system for analyzing a machine for mechanical problems using classical vibration analysis technique without having to employ expensive vibration sensors to carry out the analysis.

Method and system for synthesizing vibration data


A method for tracking events using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may include reserving a bit window in a memory on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the bit window having multiple bits, randomly marking one of the bits in the bit window each time a RFID event occurs, counting a number of marked bits in the bit window, and determining a number of the RFID events using the counted number of the marked bits and a size of the bit window.

Many different groups (e.g., governments, companies, research institutes, and other organizations) are interested in information based on atomic actions of (in most cases) humans. For example, companies may attempt to study the habits of their customers and may search for a better understanding of their customers buying and spending habits to optimize their offerings to better server their customers and to increase the opportunity for selling more offering, which may lead to higher profits for the companies.
The more information that is known about customer events related to an offering, the better companies can serve their customers and potential customers. For example, the more detailed event information related to a customer's interaction with a product that can be tracked, then the more understanding the company can gain about the product. However, the more detailed the tracking, the more event and research data that is generated, which may need to be stored for eventual analysis. The enormous amounts of data created from the tracking may create storage and infrastructure problems. Consequently, systems and techniques are desirable to track more detailed events and to gain more data and information, but without the potential overwhelming storage and infrastructure requirements for the data.

RFID-based data reduction system and techniques