A mediation server sequentially supplies, to the image processing device, two or more pieces of screen information for causing a display unit of the image processing device to sequentially display two or more screens including a service selection screen and a communication selection screen when a first type of request is acquired. The mediation server executes a communication for mediating supply of the first type of target data from the target service providing server to the image processing device when it is the first type of communication and executes communication for mediating supply of the second type of target data from the image processing device to the target service providing server when it is the second type of communication.

The present specification discloses a mediation server for mediating provision of a plurality of services from one or more service providing servers to an image processing device, and the image processing device.
It is known a service linking system including a multifunction device and a relay device. When one of plural types of services is selected by a user, the multifunction device executes various communications with the relay device to receive the selected service from a service providing device. For example, the multifunction device sequentially acquires an album owner input UI display command and an album name selection UI display command from the relay device. Accordingly, the multifunction device sequentially displays an album owner input UI and an album name selection UI. Also, the user can execute each setting related to the selected service (for example, input of the album owner name or selection of the album name) in each UI.
Only the configuration in which the album owner input UI and the album name selection UI are always displayed in the multifunction device is not assumed. When a screen for causing the user to execute unnecessary settings is displayed, the user is likely to experience unease in using the multifunction device like. In the present specification, a technology capable of improving convenience of the user is provided.
An aspect of the present disclosure provides the following arrangements:
A mediation server for mediating provision of a plurality of services from at least one service providing server to an image processing device capable of executing two or more types of image processing, the mediation server comprising:                a processor; and
memory storing a computer executable program, when executed by the processor, causing the mediation server to execute:
a request acquisition instruction of acquiring a request for screen information from the image processing device, the request acquisition instruction causing the mediation server to acquire a first type of request from the image processing device when any one of the two or more types of image processing to be executed in the image processing device has not yet been selected by a user of the image processing device, and acquire a second type of request from the image processing device when a specific type of image processing to be executed in the image processing device among the two or more types of image processing has been selected by the user;
a screen information supply instruction of sequentially supplying, to the image processing device, two or more pieces of screen information for causing a display unit of the image processing device to sequentially display two or more screens including a service selection screen and a communication selection screen when the first type of request is acquired, the service selection screen being a screen for selecting a target service from the plurality of services, the communication selection screen being a screen for selecting target communication from plural types of communications including a first type of communication and a second type of communication, the first type of communication including supply of a first type of target data to the image processing device from a target service providing server which provides the target service among the at least one service providing server, the second type of communication including supply of a second type of target data to the target service providing server from the image processing device, the first type of target data being data related to the first type of image processing among the two or more types of image processing, and the second type of target data being data related to the second type of image processing among the two or more type of image processing;
a selection information acquisition instruction of acquiring, from the image processing device, service selection information indicating the target service and communication selection information indicating the target communication when the two or more pieces of screen information are supplied; and
a mediation communication execution instruction of executing first mediation communication for mediating provision of the target service indicated by the service selection information when the service selection information and the communication selection information are acquired, the first mediation communication including communication for mediating supply of the first type of target data from the target service providing server to the image processing device when the communication selection information indicates the first type of communication as the target communication, and the first mediation communication including communication for mediating supply of the second type of target data from the image processing device to the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicates the second type of communication as the target communication,
wherein when the second type of request is acquired, the screen information supply instruction causes the mediation server to sequentially supply, to the image processing device, at least one piece of screen information for causing the display unit to sequentially display at least one screen in which the communication selection screen has been excluded from the two or more screens,
wherein when the at least one piece of screen information are supplied, the selection information acquisition instruction causes the mediation server to acquire, from the image processing device, the service selection information without acquiring the communication selection information,
wherein the mediation communication execution instruction causes the mediation server to execute second mediation communication for mediating provision of the target service indicated by the service selection information when the service selection information is acquired without acquiring the communication selection information, and
wherein the second mediation communication includes communication of target data to be executed between the target service providing server and the image processing device, the communication being for mediating the communication of the target data related to the specific type of image processing.
An image processing device configured to execute two or more types of image processing and communicate with a mediation server for mediating provision of a plurality of services from at least one service providing server to the image processing device, the image processing device comprising:
a display unit; and
a control device configured to execute:
a request supply process of supplying a request for screen information to the mediation server when a predetermined instruction that is a trigger of execution of the image processing is given from a user of the image processing device, the request supply instruction causing the image processing device to supply a first type of request to the mediation server when any one of the two or more types of image processing to be executed has not yet selected by the user, and supply a second type of request to the mediation server when a specific type of image processing to be executed among the two or more types of image processing has been selected by the user;
a screen information acquisition process of sequentially acquiring two or more pieces of screen information from the mediation server in a first case in which the first type of request is supplied;
a first display control process of causing the display unit to sequentially display the two or more screens including a service selection screen and a communication selection screen sequentially using the two or more pieces of screen information in the first case, the service selection screen being a screen for selecting a target service from the plurality of services, the communication selection screen being a screen for selecting a target communication from among plural types of communication including a first type of communication and a second type of communication, the first type of communication including supply of a first type of target data from a target service providing server providing the target service among the at least one service providing server to the image processing device, the second type of communication including supply of a second type of target data from the image processing device to the target service providing server, the first type of target data being data related to a first type of image processing among the two or more types of image processing, and the second type of target data being data related to a second type of image processing among the two or more type of image processing;
a selection information supply process of supplying, to the mediation server, service selection information indicating the target service and communication selection information indicating the target communication in the first case;
a target data acquisition process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to acquire the first type of target data from the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicating the first type of communication is supplied as the target communication in the first case; and
a target data supply process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to supply the second type of target data to the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicating the second type of communication is supplied as the target communication in the first case,
wherein the screen information acquisition process causes the image processing device to sequentially acquire, from the mediation server, at least one piece of screen information for causing the display unit to display at least one screen in which the communication selection screen has been excluded from among the two or more pieces of screen information in a second case in which the second type of request is supplied,
wherein the first display control process causes the image processing device to causes the display unit to sequentially display at least one screen including the service selection screen and not including the communication selection screen sequentially using the at least one piece of screen information in the second case,
wherein the selection information supply process causes the image processing device to supply the service selection information to the mediation server without supplying the communication selection information in the second case, and
wherein the control device execute a target data communication process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to execute communication of the target data related to the specific type of image processing with the target service providing server in the second case.
8. A system comprising:
an image processing device configured to execute two or more types of image processing; and
a mediation server for communicating with the image processing device and mediating provision of a plurality of services from at least one service providing server to the image processing device capable of executing two or more types of image processing,
wherein the mediation server comprises:
a processor; and
memory storing a computer executable program, when executed by the processor, causing the mediation server to execute:
a request acquisition instruction of acquiring a request for screen information from the image processing device, the request acquisition instruction causing the mediation server to acquire a first type of request from the image processing device when any one of the two or more types of image processing to be executed in the image processing device has not yet been selected by a user of the image processing device, and acquire a second type of request from the image processing device when a specific type of image processing to be executed in the image processing device among the two or more types of image processing has been selected by the user;
a screen information supply instruction of sequentially supplying, to the image processing device, two or more pieces of screen information for causing a display unit of the image processing device to sequentially display two or more screens including a service selection screen and a communication selection screen when the first type of request is acquired, the service selection screen being a screen for selecting a target service from the plurality of services, the communication selection screen being a screen for selecting target communication from plural types of communications including a first type of communication and a second type of communication, the first type of communication including supply of a first type of target data to the image processing device from a target service providing server which provides the target service among the at least one service providing server, the second type of communication including supply of a second type of target data to the target service providing server from the image processing device, the first type of target data being data related to the first type of image processing among the two or more types of image processing, and the second type of target data being data related to the second type of image processing among the two or more type of image processing;
a selection information acquisition instruction of acquiring, from the image processing device, service selection information indicating the target service and communication selection information indicating the target communication when the two or more pieces of screen information are supplied; and
a mediation communication execution instruction of executing first mediation communication for mediating provision of the target service indicated by the service selection information when the service selection information and the communication selection information are acquired, the first mediation communication including communication for mediating supply of the first type of target data from the target service providing server to the image processing device when the communication selection information indicates the first type of communication as the target communication, and the first mediation communication including communication for mediating supply of the second type of target data from the image processing device to the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicates the second type of communication as the target communication,
wherein when the second type of request is acquired, the screen information supply instruction causes the mediation server to sequentially supply, to the image processing device, at least one piece of screen information for causing the display unit to sequentially display at least one screen in which the communication selection screen has been excluded from the two or more screens,
wherein when the at least one piece of screen information are supplied, the selection information acquisition instruction causes the mediation server to acquire, from the image processing device, the service selection information without acquiring the communication selection information,
wherein the mediation communication execution instruction causes the mediation server to execute second mediation communication for mediating provision of the target service indicated by the service selection information when the service selection information is acquired without acquiring the communication selection information, and
wherein the second mediation communication includes communication of target data to be executed between the target service providing server and the image processing device, the communication being for mediating the communication of the target data related to the specific type of image processing, and
wherein the image processing device comprises:
a display unit; and
a control device configured to execute:
a request supply process of supplying the request for screen information to the mediation server when a predetermined instruction that is a trigger of execution of the image processing is given from the user;
a screen information acquisition process of sequentially acquiring the two or more pieces of screen information from the mediation server in a first case in which the first type of request is supplied;
a first display control process of causing the display unit to sequentially display the two or more screens including the service selection screen and the communication selection screen sequentially using the two or more pieces of screen information in the first case;
a selection information supply process of supplying, to the mediation server, the service selection information in the first case;
a target data acquisition process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to acquire the first type of target data from the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicating the first type of communication is supplied as the target communication in the first case; and
a target data supply process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to supply the second type of target data to the target service providing server when the communication selection information indicating the second type of communication is supplied as the target communication in the first case,
wherein the screen information acquisition process causes the image processing device to sequentially acquire, from the mediation server, the at least one piece of screen information for causing the display unit to display at least one screen in which the communication selection screen has been excluded from among the two or more pieces of screen information in a second case in which the second type of request is supplied,
wherein the first display control process causes the image processing device to causes the display unit to sequentially display at least one screen including the service selection screen and not including the communication selection screen sequentially using the at least one piece of screen information in the second case,
wherein the selection information supply process causes the image processing device to supply the service selection information to the mediation server without supplying the communication selection information in the second case, and
wherein the control device execute a target data communication process of receiving mediation from the mediation server to execute communication of the target data related to the specific type of image processing with the target service providing server in the second case.

Mediation server and image processing device


A fitness device for strength training can include: a clamshell housing including a front portion and a back portion. The front portion and the back portion can mate together to define an internal volume. The clamshell housing includes first handle portions extending circumferentially around the front portion and second handle portions extending circumferentially around the back portion. The first and second handle portions mate together to define a plurality of handles. The fitness device includes a sealed container defining a fluid chamber. The sealed container can be fixedly received within the internal volume defined by the front portion and the back portion of the clamshell housing. The fluid chamber of the sealed container can contain: a gaseous component, a first fluid component, and a second fluid component.

Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It utilizes the force of gravity in the form of weighted bars, dumbbells or weight stacks in order to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction. Weight training uses a variety of specialized equipment to target specific muscle groups and types of movement.
Strength training is central to several sports, and many more sports include strength training as a part of their training regimen. Strength training is also increasingly important for generally maintaining health and fitness. For example, strength training may help stabilize joints, increase cardiovascular conditioning, improve body-composition, and increase bone density.
Strength training has been performed with many implements. These implements have included objects such as rocks, weight bars, weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, or the like. More modern strength training implements include resistance bands. While strength training implements can provide adequate training opportunity, current implements have limitations that prevent users from achieving many benefits of strength training. Thus, further development to strength training implements are desired.

Variable weight equipment with liquid resistance


Photothermographic compositions comprising a photographic silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent for the organic silver salt, display improved stabilty in the presence of a compound having a nucleus of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: A represents any monovalent group for which the corresponding compound AH functions as a post-processing stabilizer,. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3, are independently hydrogen or methyl and with the proviso that R.sup.1 can represent an aryl group when R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are hydrogen; PA0 R.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; PA0 R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 taken together with the carbon atom to which they are joined form a ring of 4 to 12 atoms; PA0 R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and PA0 n is 0 or 1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to photothermographic materials and in particular to post-processing stabilization of photothermographic silver-containing materials.
2. Background of the Art
Silver halide containing photothermographic imaging materials processed with heat, and without liquid development have been known in the art for many years. These materials, also known as dry silver materials, generally comprise a support having thereon a photographic light-sensitive silver halide, a light-insensitive organic silver salt, and a reducing agent for the organic silver salt.
The light-sensitive silver halide is in catalytic proximity to the light-insensitive organic silver salt so that the latent image, formed by irradiation of the silver halide, serves as a catalyst nucleus for the oxidation-reduction reaction of the organic silver salt with the reducing agent when the emulsion is heated above about 80.degree. C. Such media are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,075, 3,839,049, and 4,260,677. The silver halide may also be generated in the media by a preheating step in which halide ion is released to form silver halide.
A variety of ingredients may be added to these basic components to enhance performance. For example, toning agents may be incorporated to improve the color of the silver image of the photothermographic emulsions, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,846,136; 3,994,732 and 4,021,249. Various methods to produce dye images and multicolor images with photographic color couplers and leuco dyes are known and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,022,617; 3,531,286; 3,180,731; 3,761,270, 4,460,681; 4,883,747 and Research Disclosure, March 1989, item 29963.
A common problem that exists with photothermographic systems is post-processing instability of the image. The photoactive silver halide still present in the developed image may continue to catalyze print-out of metallic silver during room light handling or exposure to heat or humidity. Thus, there exists a need for stabilization of the unreacted silver halide. The addition of separate post-processing image stabilizers has been used to impart post-processing stability. Most often these are sulfur-containing compounds such as mercaptans, thiones, and thioethers as described in Research Disclosure, June 1978, item 17029. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,245,033; 4,837,141 and 4,451,561 describe sulfur compounds that are development restrainers for photothermographic systems. Mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolates as fixing agents and silver halide stabilizers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,424. Substituted 5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles such as 3-amino-5-benzothio-1,2,4-triazole as post-processing stabilizers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,128,557; 4,137,079; 4,138,265, and Research Disclosure, May 1978, items 16977 and 16979. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,158,866 and 5,194,623 describe the use of omega-substituted 2-propionamidoacetyl or 3-propionamidopropionyl stabilizer precursors as post-processing stabilizers in photothermographic emulsions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,081 discribes the use of certain azlactones as stabilizers.
Problems arising from the addition of stabilizers may include thermal fogging during processing and losses in photographic speed, maximum density or contrast at effective stabilizer concentrations.
Stabilizer precursors are materials which have blocking or modifying groups that are usually cleaved during processing with heat and/or alkali. The cleaving provides the primary active stabilizer which can combine with the photoactive silver halide in the unexposed and undeveloped areas of the photographic material. For example, in the presence of a stabilizer precursor in which a sulfur atom is unblocked upon processing, the resulting silver mercaptide will be more stable than the silver halide to light, atmospheric, and ambient conditions.
Various blocking techniques have been utilized in developing the stabilizer precursors. U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,617 describes acyl blocked photographically useful stabilizers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,674,478 and 3,993,661 describe hydroxyarylmethyl blocking groups. Benzylthio releasing groups are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,898. Thiocarbonate blocking groups are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,830, and thioether blocking groups in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,335,200, 4,416,977, and 4,420,554. Photographically useful stabilizers which are blocked as urea or thiourea derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,612. Blocked imidomethyl derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,752, and imide or thioimide derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,268. Removal of all of these aforementioned blocking groups from the photographically useful stabilizers is accomplished by an increase of pH during alkaline processing conditions of the exposed imaging material.
Thermally sensitive blocking groups are also known. These blocking groups are removed by heating the imaging material during processing. Photographically useful stabilizers blocked as thermally sensitive carbamate derivatives are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,844,797 and 4,144,072. These carbamate derivatives presumably regenerate the photographic stabilizer through loss of an isocyanate. Hydroxymethyl blocked photographic reagents which are deblocked through loss of formaldehyde during heating are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,236. Development inhibitor releasing couplers releasing tetrazolylthio moieties are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,457. Substituted benzylthio releasing groups are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,735. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,351,896 and 4,404,390 utilize carboxybenzylthio blocking groups for mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolate stabilizers. Photographic stabilizers that are blocked by a Michael-type addition to the carbon-carbon double bond of either acrylonitrile or alkyl acrylates are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,009,029 and 4,511,644, respectively. Heating of these blocked derivatives causes unblocking by a retro-Michael reaction.
Various disadvantages attend these different blocking techniques. Highly basic solutions necessary to cause deblocking of the alkali sensitive blocked derivatives are corrosive and irritating to the skin. With photographic stabilizers that are blocked with a heat removable group, it is often found that the liberated reagent or by-product can react with other components of the imaging construction and cause adverse effects. Also, inadequate or premature release of the stabilizing moiety during heat processing may occur.
There has been a continued need for improved post-processing stabilizers or stabilizer precursors that do not fog or desensitize photothermographic materials, and for stabilizer precursors that release the stabilizing moiety at the appropriate time and do not have any detrimental effects on the photosensitive material or its user.
Blocking groups which are removed by actinic radiation are discussed in the context of organic synthesis utility in Amit et al., Israel J. Chem.1974, 12, 103; and V. N. R. Pillai, Synthesis, 1980, 1-26. The o-nitrobenzyl group has been known as a photocleavable blocking group for some time (J. Barltrop et al, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm.1966, 822-823.) Various substituted analogues have been prepared in order to maximize the photochemical efficiency and chemical yield, and to suppress colored products of the photolysis. The o-nitrobenzyl group has been used to protect many different functional groups, including carboxylic acids, amines, phenols, phosphates, and thiols.
Photolytically active stabilizer precursors for photothermographic silver imaging compositions which apparently release bromine atoms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,350.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,108 describes the use of thione compounds as a photographic speed enhancing additive, U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,184 describes the use of metal chelating agents to enhance speed in silver halide systems, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,725 describes the use of benzyl alcohol and 2-phenoxyethanol as speed enhancing solvents for photothermographic materials.
Stabilizer precursors of the present invention can be added to photothermographic formulations without the necessity of rebalancing the formulation to compensate for effects on sensitometry, as is often the case with other stabilizers in the art.

Stabilizers for photothermography with nitrile blocking groups

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A vehicle interior accessory retainer includes a base, a base inner and a plate spring. In the base inner, upper and front openings are formed in upper and front parts, respectively, side walls are formed in side parts in the upper opening, a lower part is formed at a position opposite to the upper opening with the side walls in between, and a stay mount part is provided in the lower part. The plate spring has a planar portion, upright portions, and base-retaining pieces. The stay mount part has a projection. A nip part is formed between the projection and the lower part of the base inner. A through hole is formed in the planar portion in the plate spring. A tension applying part is formed between the upper surface of the lower part in the base inner and the projection in the stay mount part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle interior accessory retainer for retaining an accessory in a vehicle interior, e.g., a vehicle interior mirror or a television camera.
2. Related Background Art
A vehicle interior mirror for rearview is provided in a vehicle interior. Recently, there are cases where the vehicle interior mirror, a television camera, etc. are provided in the vehicle interior, in order to improve the functionality of vehicle. Such an accessory is attached to a part of the vehicle interior, e.g., a ceiling or an instrument panel. These accessories are structured so as to be detached from the mount part in the vehicle interior, in order to prevent breakage thereof upon exertion of large impact, e.g., collision with an occupant's head in the event of vehicle collision or the like.
However, if during normal times the accessory is easily detached from the mount part in the vehicle interior, attachment thereof will require some labor and time. For this reason, the vehicle interior accessory retainer described in Patent Document 1 has such a structure that during normal times the accessory is retained with some load and that the accessory is detached only when an impact force over a predetermined magnitude is exerted. Therefore, it is excellent in impact relaxation and is able to securely retain the accessory. Examples of other vehicle interior accessory retainers include an inner mirror device for vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 2, and a dropout rearview mirror mounting bracket disclosed in Patent Document 3.    [Patent Document 1] International Application Published under PCT WO 2003/041999    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-118486    [Patent Document 3] Published Japanese Translation of PCT Application No. Hei.6-507364


An image stabilization system applies a “pinned-edge” or “soft pinned edge” image stabilization technique to digital video to compensate for unwanted camera motion in a captured video. In these stabilization techniques, a warping function is applied to an image frame to achieve a non-uniform shifting of depicted points in the image frame such that a reference point is stabilized with respect to a reference frame. In pinned-edge image stabilization, the final stabilized output video has the same dimensions as the pre-stabilized input video captured by the image sensor. In soft pinned-edge image stabilization, the pre-stabilized input video has slightly larger dimensions than the stabilized output video but these larger dimensions are still reduced compared to traditional electronic image stabilization.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to digital video processing, and more specifically to electronic image stabilization.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Electronic image stabilization (EIS) is a digital image processing technique that compensates for unwanted camera motion during digital video capture. In conventional electronic image stabilization (EIS), an image sensor captures a buffer frame that is significantly larger than the desired field of interest. The buffer frame is then processed to detect and extract the portion of the buffer frame corresponding to the desired field of interest. For example, a conventional buffer frame may have a height and width approximately 10% larger than the field of interest. This means that about 21% of the captured pixels in each frame will end up being discarded following EIS. These additional pixels substantially add to the total count of pixels that are read from the image sensor and processed by the digital signal processor (DSP) and substantially affect bandwidth requirements of the image sensors and DSPs. Furthermore, capturing these additional pixels uses up additional power which can lead to thermal problems with the camera electronics and drain the camera battery more quickly than desired.

Edge-based electronic image stabilization


Compositions comprising a cartilage sheet comprising a plurality of interconnected cartilage tiles and a biocompatible carrier are provided. Methods of manufacturing cartilage compositions comprising a cartilage sheet comprising a plurality of interconnected cartilage tiles are also provided.

Cartilage tissue can be found throughout the human anatomy. The cells within cartilage tissue are called chondrocytes. These cells generate proteins, such as collagen, proteoglycan, and elastin, that are involved in the formation and maintenance of the cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is present on certain bone surfaces, where it is commonly referred to as articular cartilage. Articular cartilage contains significant amounts of collagen (about two-thirds of the dry weight of articular cartilage), and cross-linking of the collagen imparts a high material strength and firmness to the tissue. These mechanical properties are important to the proper performance of the articular cartilage within the body.
Articular cartilage is not vascularized, and when damaged as a result of trauma or degenerative causes, this tissue has little or no capacity for in vivo self-repair. A variety of therapeutic solutions have been proposed for the treatment and repair of damaged or degenerated cartilage. Tissue healing involves cell migration that redistributes cells from the surrounding tissues to the injury site. In cartilage tissue, however, the ability of chondrocytes to migrate from their native lacunae site may be very limited due to the supposed rigidity of the matrix. To compensate for the migration deficiency, various surgical interventions for cartilage repair focus on delivering reparative cells or tissues. For example, marrow stimulation attempts to tap marrow cells by breaching the subchondral bone, although the mechanical durability of resultant fibrocartilage is often unsatisfactory. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) directly establishes a chondrocyte presence in the treatment site through the delivery of culture-expanded chondrocytes. Despite being associated with some measure of clinical success, ACI is associated with technical hurdles such as the cell culture preparation, two-stage surgical procedure, and challenging procedural aspects to place small pieces of cartilage into the defect sites.

Cartilage mosaic compositions and methods


A secondary battery and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the secondary battery includes 1) an electrode assembly comprising an outer surface, 2) an electrolyte, 3) a sealing tape attached to and surrounding at least part of the outer surface of the electrode assembly, wherein the sealing tape comprises i) an adhesive layer contacting the outer surface of the electrode assembly and ii) a base layer formed on the adhesive layer, and wherein the base layer is formed of a material which has directionality and 4) a can accommodating the electrode assembly and sealing tape, wherein the base layer is configured to at least partially lose directionality upon contacting the electrolyte so that at least a portion of the base layer contacts an inner surface of the can.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments relate to a secondary battery and a method of making the secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A can of a secondary battery accommodates an electrode assembly together with electrolyte. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrode plates.
Secondary batteries may be classified into cylinder and prismatic types according to the shapes of cans. In a cylinder type secondary battery, a cylindrical electrode assembly is accommodated in a cylindrical can.

Secondary battery and method of making the secondary battery


A trip planning method by using an automotive product includes: connecting, by an application program, a mobile device to a network server; editing a destination file on the mobile device, skipping to a step 2 after sending out a transfer instruction by a user; the step 2 of detecting, by the application program, whether the mobile device is connected to an automotive product; if yes, sending the destination file to the automotive product, and skipping to a step 4; if not, sending and saving the destination file in the mobile device account, then skipping to a step 3 which includes connecting the mobile device and the automotive product, by the user, to the automotive product and the network server, respectively, and acquiring the destination file from the network server, then skipping to the step 4 which includes carrying out navigation by the automotive product based on the destination file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to method for car navigation, and more particularly to a trip planning method by using an automotive product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the development of science and technology, various automotive products are becoming more and more advanced. For example, automotive audio has been developed from a simple radio to a cassette, CD and DVD player. Even navigation system and Bluetooth are also becoming more common.
Since the navigation device is installed in the car, the user, whining using a conventional navigation device, has to get into the car to set destinations on the navigation device, then the navigation can be carried out.
However, the conventional navigation device still needs to be improved in many respects. For example, since all conventional navigation devices are installed in the car, the user has to stay in the car, otherwise, destination planning and navigation cannot be carried out. Therefore, in the past, users get used to set destinations only after getting into the car, which is time wasting and troublesome.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Trip planning method by using an automotive product


According to the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus in which, even when the apparatus is an information recording apparatus which cannot previously determine that a recording signal with any attribute is inputted, a recording signal conformable to DVD video standards which is recorded in an available optical disc can be prevented from being illegally copied. The information recording apparatus includes a CPU for detecting whether a recording signal to be inputted from the outside is a specific recording signal having characteristics as a recording signal recorded in an available optical disc and, when it is detected that the recording signal is the specific recording signal, inhibiting the recording signal from being recorded in an optical disc.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technical field regarding an information recording apparatus, an information recording method, and an information recording medium in which a program for recording information is recorded so as to be readable through a computer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technical field regarding an information recording apparatus in a personal computer, which is used as a data recorder for the personal computer, an information recording method, and an information recording medium in which an information recording program for the information recording is recorded so as to be readable through a computer including the personal computer.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in a field regarding an optical disc such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), the trend toward higher recording density is pronounced. Lately, an optical disc in which image information and speech information as much as one movie are recorded is being commercially available. A data recorder for the optical disc can also be provided for a personal computer.
The foregoing movie is generally protected by copyright. Copying the movie without asking a copyright holder for permission is prohibited in principle with some exceptions. Accordingly, to prevent the illegal copy, a general video recorder, which originally intends to record the movie in the optical disc, is constructed so that, for example, the presence or absence of recording inhibition information embedded in recording signals corresponding to the movie according to a so-called electronic watermark technique may be detected to prevent the illegal copy.
On the other hand, the data recorder is different from the general video recorder. The data recorder cannot previously determine that any kind of data is inputted to the recorder and is then recorded. Consequently, it is general that the data recorder does not include a configuration for preventing the above-mentioned illegal copy.
On the other hand, recently, recording signals corresponding to the movie can be copied through the personal computer. Accordingly, in the foregoing data recorder, it is also necessary to have the configuration for preventing the illegal copy.
In the illegal copy preventing method by using the above-mentioned electronic watermark technique, however, upon recording in the optical disc, it is necessary to analyze the content of the inputted recording signal in detail and detect the presence or absence of the recording inhibition information. When the data recorder includes the configuration for the above purpose, the circuit scale of the data recorder is exaggeratedly increased.
In many cases, the recording signals of the movie are formed in conformity with so-called DVD video standards. According to the DVD video standards, the recording signals are subjected to a compression processing according to a system such as MPEG-2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) system. Accordingly, the analyzing processing becomes more complicated, so that a circuit for analysis with a large scale is further needed.
Furthermore, in addition to the above circuit for analysis, a circuit for detecting the recording inhibition information from the analyzed recording signal is also needed. The circuit scale of the data recorder becomes larger as a whole.
As for the above-mentioned data recorder for the personal computer, it is necessary to store the recorder into the housing of the personal computer. For this reason, the miniaturization of the data recorder is desired. When the circuit scale is exaggeratedly increased as mentioned above, the miniaturization cannot be realized.

Information recording apparatus, information recording method, and information recording medium in which information recording program is computer-readably recorded


A method of producing a porous composite metal oxide comprising the steps of: dispersing first metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, in a dispersion medium by use of microbeads each with a diameter of not larger than 150 μm, thus obtaining first metal oxide particles, which are 1 nm to 50 nm in average particle diameter, and not less than 80% by mass of which are not larger than 75 nm in diameter; dispersing and mixing up, in a dispersion medium, the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, and which is not larger than 200 nm in average particle diameter, thus obtaining a homogeneously-dispersed solution in which the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed; and drying the homogeneously-dispersed solution, thus obtaining a porous composite metal oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a porous composite metal oxide and a method of producing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a porous composite metal oxide, which is useful as an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst and the like for cleaning exhaust gas of HC, NOx, CO and the like, and to a method of producing the same.
2. Related Background Art
Presence of noxious gases, which are components capable of being present in environments surrounding the humans, and which are likely to affect the human bodies, have been drawing attention as problems in recent years. Development of an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst has been awaited, which can surely clean exhaust gas, for example, of its noxious components, including HC, NOx, CO and the like.
Against such a background, catalysts of various types for cleaning the exhaust gas have been developed. Methods of producing a porous body which has a large specific surface area even at a high temperature exceeding 1,200° C. have been described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Gazettes No. Hei. 6-199582 (hereinafter referred to as "Literature 1") and No. Hei. 7-284672 (hereinafter referred to as "Literature 2"). In the case of Literature 1, alumina particles each with an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 nm, silica particles each with an average particle diameter of less than 50 nm, and the like are mixed up with one another. In the case of Literature 2, alumina particles, not less than 50 percent by mass of which have a particle diameter of not more than 100 nm, silica particles, not less than 50 percent by mass of which have a particle diameter of not more than 100 nm, and the like are mixed up with one another. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Gazette No. Hei. 10-249198 (hereinafter referred to as "Literature 3") has provided descriptions for a method of producing an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst. The catalyst realizes good durability of cleaning activity by mixing up ultra-fine particles, which bear a noble metal and which are 1 nm to 100 nm in average particle diameter, with other particles.
Nowadays, however, increasingly strict restrictions have been imposed on the noxious components in the exhaust gas. In this situation, exhaust gas cleaning catalysts need to meet more and more strict requirements for catalysts to be capable of surely cleaning such noxious components. Consequently, development of an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst has been awaited, which realizes a better durability against high-temperature, in other words, which can maintain a specific surface area and cleaning performance at a higher level even after a high-temperature durability test.

Porous composite metal oxide and method of producing the same


A downhole tool for use in coiled tubing well operations. The tool includes a gamma ray detector for determining well location information for an associated coiled tubing application. The well location information may relate to well depth and/or the locating and identifying of a particular side branch or lateral leg of the well. Additionally, the gamma ray detector may be utilized to monitor dynamic well conditions in real-time such as the flow of injected fluids or the effectiveness of clean out applications via the coiled tubing.

Exploring, drilling and completing hydrocarbon and other wells are generally complicated, time consuming and ultimately very expensive endeavors. In recognition of these expenses, added emphasis has been placed on well logging, profiling and monitoring of well conditions. Over the years, the detecting and monitoring of well conditions has become a more sophisticated and critical part of managing well operations.
Initial gathering of information relative to well and surrounding formation conditions may be obtained by running a logging tool in the well. The logging tool may be configured to acquire temperature, pressure, acidity and other well condition information. A map of the acquired information may be generated resulting in an overall profile of the well which may be of great value in subsequent monitoring and servicing of the well as noted below.
Servicing of the well is often performed by way of coiled tubing applications, particularly in the case of deviated wells. Coiled tubing applications involve the deployment of a string of narrow pipe through the well which is capable of delivering treatment fluids and carrying out a variety of downhole servicing applications. Of course, in order to effectively carry out any given application, the true position or location of the coiled tubing and associated tools should be known. Without such information, an otherwise effective application may be run at the wrong location in the well. By the same token, monitoring of a given application may also help to ensure that the application is effectively initiated and carried out to completion.
Generally, in order to establish the location of coiled tubing, a casing collar locator (CCL) is incorporated into the toolstring at the end of the coiled tubing. In order to provide location information, a CCL relies on the presence of intermittently dispersed casing collars of well casing defining the well. That is, a cased well generally consists of a series of equal length casing segments jointed to one another by casing collars. So, for example, where typical 30 ft. casing segments are employed in defining the inner wall of a cased well, a casing collar may be found every 30 feet throughout the well. In this manner, casing collar detection may be acquired as the application tool is advanced through the well. Thus, accurate positioning of the application tool may be ensured. CCL's are generally available in flow-through configurations and thus, work particularly well with coiled tubing applications.
Unfortunately, CCL's may only be utilized in situations where the well is cased. That is, where no casing or casing collars are present, such as the circumstance of an open-hole well, CCL's are unable to provide any location information. Furthermore, while location in terms of well depth of a cased well may be established with a CCL, other types of location information may not be determined with such a locator. For example, often times the well architecture includes a variety of downhole offshoots or 'lateral legs' which branch off from the main vertical channel of the well. When this is the situation, not even casing of the well and lateral legs would allow a CCL to provide information relative to the particular lateral leg within which the coiled tubing and toolstring are disposed. That is, while sometimes a decent indicator of well depth, the CCL is unable to provide any more specific information as to the whereabouts of the coiled tubing and toolstring.
In addition to the above noted deficiencies of a CCL for open-hole or lateral leg applications, the CCL often fails to provide adequate location information even in cased wells of fairly unsophisticated architecture. For example, accuracy of the CCL requires the detection of every casing collar traversed. That is, with the above casing example in mind, the accuracy of the depth information arising from the CCL will be off by 30 feet for every collar the CCL fails to detect. Unfortunately, failure to detect a collar is not an uncommon occurrence, particularly as wells become deeper and deeper with an ever increasing number of casing collars to be detected. As such, keeping with the noted casing example, the odds of a coiled tubing application being directed to a downhole location that is 30, 60, or 90 feet off target is a distinct possibility. Thus, an ineffective clean out, misapplied fracturing, or other erroneous coiled tubing application may be likely.
As noted above, static well location information, as such relates to the coiled tubing, may play a significant role in the effectiveness of the coiled tubing application to be carried out. As also alluded to, dynamic well condition information, relative to the coiled tubing application, may also be quite beneficial. For example, monitoring a rate or degree of a clean out may avoid significant expenses associated with having to re-run the application due to ineffectiveness or incompleteness. Unfortunately, however, a coiled tubing tool equipped for static well detections such as a CCL is unable to provide such dynamic well condition information.


Using data obtained by varying intra-chip variance, a frequency distribution of a yield corresponding to each intra-chip variance is obtained by a statistical timing analysis. The frequency of a ring oscillator loaded into the chip of an LSI is measured for each chip, and the frequency distribution of the ring oscillator is obtained. The convolution between the frequency distribution of a yield corresponding to each intra-chip variance and the frequency distribution of the ring oscillator is performed. By integrating the results the cumulative probability distribution of the yield of the LSI corresponding to each intra-chip variance is obtained. The fit is rendered between the distribution and the yield distribution of the LSI chip of the past lot, an appropriate intra-chip variance value is obtained, the cumulative probability distribution corresponding to the value is similarly calculated, and the result is defined as an estimated distribution of the yield of the LSI chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for estimating the yield of an LSI satisfying predetermined standards of a frequency operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plurality of LSIs are formed on a wafer segmented from a lot, and each LSI is segmented from the wafer, thereby producing LSIs. However, an LSI has a different frequency characteristic depending on which portion of a wafer it is formed although a plurality of LSIs are produced on the same wafer. Therefore, each LSI chip formed on the same wafer has a variance in frequency characteristic although a plurality of LSI chips are formed on the same wafer. Similarly, since a number of wafers are segmented from one lot, each wafer indicates a variance in frequency characteristic among the chips of LSIs. Especially, an ultrafast LSI chip in the forefront of technology cannot be designed with sufficient specifications of an LSI, but is designed by setting the specifications of the LSI close to a requested operation frequency.
When the operation frequency of an LSI is low, the specifications of the operation frequency can be set higher than a requested operation frequency at the designing stage with the yield of the LSI (yield of the LSI satisfying a predetermined frequency characteristic) taken into account, and designed and produced. Therefore, the yield of the LSI satisfying the requested operation frequency characteristic is high, the number of LSIs to be discarded to satisfy the operation frequency characteristic after the purchase of the LSI can be low, and a wasteful cost can be reduced.
However, since the specification of the operation frequency of an LSI operating at an ultrafast speed cannot be set sufficiently higher than a requested operation frequency at the designing stage, the yield of the LSI satisfying the requested operation frequency becomes lower. Therefore, the yield of the LSI satisfying the requested operation frequency is low and the number of LSIs available for producing a desired device is small. Accordingly, in this case, the yield of the LSI is estimated in advance, the number of LSIs larger than a necessary number are purchased on the basis of the estimated yield, and the LSIs available for a desired device are selected from among the purchased LSIs and used. However, if the yield of the LSI is not correctly estimated, there is a shortage of LSIs or redundant LSIs, thereby incurring an undesired cost condition.
The patent document 1 describes a method for estimating the yield of an integrated circuit. The patent document 2 describes a high-precision simulation method in producing a semiconductor device. The patent document 3 describes a method for enhancing the yield in the semiconductor integrated circuit printing process.                [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-294247        [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-330449        [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-159809
As described above, it is conventionally necessary to estimate the yield of an LSI in advance, and purchase a larger number of LSIs than they are required, and the estimation has depended on the experience and guesswork of a user.


A system of spaces including a residential apartment unit in a multi-unit building arranged on multiple levels that provides the following attributes to all units in the building: Central corridor access to a middle level of each unit; through-unit feature with exposures at opposite sides of the building; a variety of ceiling heights, each appropriate to the function and formality of its respective space, which nest to conserve building height and bulk; and internal balconies and exposed interior stairs enabling vertically displaced spaces to interlock and communicate visually. The resulting unit is contained within a demising envelope whose shape, when rotated 180 degrees about a central public corridor serving a second such unit, forms a complimentary pair. The combined shape of each such pair of units enables it to be stacked vertically and abutted laterally into a simple rectangular solid that allows vertical continuity for optimum efficiency of structural and mechanical support systems.

High-rise development is favored in an increasingly crowded and environmentally challenged world. The higher density afforded by such structures reduces the per capita footprint and consequent impermeable surfaces which cause flooding, pollution of storm water, high albedo effects, and the congestion engendered by sprawling development due to longer travel distances, and consequent fuel consumption, air pollution and other effects of a 'carbon footprint'.
The present invention addresses itself to that mobile class of homeowners whose means and inclinations most commonly result in sprawl. It offers a viable alternative to the private detached dwelling that achieves comparable amenities together with the environmental efficiencies of high-rise development.
Two attributes of the design cannot be claimed as program objectives in efficient apartment planning, but make a positive contribution to a visually complete environment: The stairs permit vantage points that enrich the visual experience, and a modicum of physical rigor that has come to be valued in an increasingly sedentary world. The corridors serve the private zones of the dwelling by imparting a sense of seclusion, and refuge from the boisterous communal functions, as well as providing gallery space for personal expression.
The 'complete visual experience' fulfills a cognitive need inclining humans to three dimensional complexity in the spatial environment. It exercises the faculty of depth perception enabled by stereoscopic vision—a unique adaptive response to the primordial arboreal habitus. This complexity therefore brings into the apartment an element that enables the space to be comfortably occupied for longer periods. It is believed that this is essential to the definition of habitability.


The present invention discloses a signaling method, an apparatus and a computer program for controlled transmission signal deferring utilizing both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands for carrier aggregation. In the method, a connection is established between a User Equipment and a base station. For example, based on a sensed interference level, a transmission deferring indication is generated regarding a secondary component carrier locating on an unlicensed band, in case the secondary component carrier is occupied. This indication may be generated and sent either by the base station or by the User Equipment. Finally, the secondary component carrier is deactivated for data transmission, for deferring data transmission for a certain time period. After the deferring time has passed, the data transmission can be re-performed on the same secondary component carrier, or through switching to another secondary component carrier in unlicensed spectrum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile communication networks, and especially to transmission signal defer controlling e.g. in Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The evolution of cellular wireless communication systems has been marked with different generations. 1st generation (1G) included analog systems such as AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) and NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) cellular phone networks, introduced in the early 1980s. The second generation (2G) introduced digital cellular telephony such as the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard, introduced in the early 1990s, which was standardized by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). GSM applies Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based radio interface. GSM is still the most widespread standard used in mobile communications.
After the 2G networks, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized globally applicable system specification for 3rd generation mobile communication system. An example of such a system is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) which applies Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) in its air interface. Original chip rate in WCDMA was specified as 3.84 Mcps and the nominal carrier spacing as 5 MHz. In 3GPP release 5, the concept of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) has been introduced. It is an enhanced communications protocol in the High-Speed Packet Access family which allows higher data transfer speeds and capacity. With HSPDA, data rates up to 4 Mbps for packet switched data are supported. HSPA+ or "Evolved High-Speed Packet Access" is a subsequent wireless broadband standard, and it was defined in release 7. HSPA+ provides further increase in data rates by using higher order modulation methods (such as 64QAM) and by using multiple antenna techniques such as "multiple-input multiple-output" (MIMO) which means employing several antennas both in the transmitter and the receiver.
In release 8, a concept of Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) was introduced. Instead of the earlier WCDMA based radio access technology, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is applied in LTE. Also, a dual cell HSDPA (DC-HSDPA) is introduced in release 8 which enables single User Equipment (UE) to receive on two adjacent carriers. Dual cell HSDPA is based on a primary and secondary carriers where the primary carrier provides all downlink physical channels together with channels supporting the uplink data transmission, comprising e.g. a first set of High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channels (HS-PDSCHs) and High Speed Shared Control Channels (HS-SCCHs). The secondary carrier is responsible for transmitting a second set of HS-PDSCHs and HS-SCCHs. Release 8 allows data rate around 42 Mbps when dual cell functionality is used with 64QAM modulation.
Release 9 combined the dual cell HSDPA with MIMO functionality and also extends the dual cell approach to uplink direction. Furthermore, the used carriers may locate in two separate bands for downlink transmission, providing a dual band HSDPA (DB-HSDPA) operation. Bands can be distant, e.g. dual band configuration no 1 in release 9 is specified to represent downlink bands 925-960 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz. This aspect has great effect on planning the UE's RF parts so that the receiver is able to receive in these two bands simultaneously.
Release 9 has further been developed to a standard named as "LTE Advanced", represented by release 10 and fulfilling all 4th generation system requirements. The LTE architecture comprises an Evolved UMTS Radio Access Network, abbreviated by E-UTRAN. Release 10 specifies for HSDPA a use of three or four carriers in the downlink direction. This means the UE can receive on four adjacent carriers each having a 5 MHz band. It will provide even higher data rates; with MIMO this approach makes possible data rates up to 168 Mbps.
Generally, multi-antenna techniques cannot continuously increase the transmission rate because there are constraints on the UE size, complexity and also a cost limit for the number of antennas that can be installed to a single UE. In order to fulfill the performance requirements for the release 10, carrier aggregation (CA) has been proposed to aggregate two or more component carriers for supporting high data rate transmission over a wide bandwidth. The bandwidth may be up to 100 MHz for a single UE unit.
There are two types of carrier aggregation, continuous and non-continuous. In continuous carrier aggregation, available multiple component carriers are adjacent to each other. For instance, five adjacent component carriers having a 20 MHz frequency band each, may be aggregated into a 100 MHz wide aggregated frequency band for LTE Advanced use. Instead of that, non-continuous carrier aggregation is achieved when such component carriers are separated along the frequency band. For instance, two carriers each of 20 MHz may be aggregated so that one carrier lies on a first band and another carrier lies on different band. This results in wider available total bandwidth without the spectrum being contiguous. Regarding UE's complexity and especially the hardware implementation, continuous CA is easier to implement. However, regarding spectrum allocation policies and licensing of different frequency bands to different usage, non-continuous CA gives more practical approach. However, besides multiple RF receiving units for a UE, also different propagation characteristics need to be taken into account for the non-continuous CA schemes. Transmission blocks from different component carriers can be aggregated at either the medium access control (MAC) layer or at the physical layer. In a MAC layer data aggregation, each component carrier has its own transmission configuration parameters in the physical layer and also an independent Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) entity in the MAC layer. However, in a physical layer data aggregation, one HARQ entity is used for all aggregated component carriers and also transmission configuration parameters should be specified for the entire aggregated bandwidth.
Regarding HARQ in more detail, it is a combination of Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding and error detection. Redundant bits are added to the data stream and with an appropriate error correction method, some errors due to radio channel quality can be corrected. However, in case of bad channel quality, typically not all errors can be corrected by this way, and therefore the corrupted packet needs to be retransmitted. Earlier corrupted packet can also be saved in the receiver, and it can be used together with the retransmitted packet in order to create an error-free packet. HARQ message is therefore a message from the base station to the UE regarding a certain carrier, and a corresponding acknowledgement message ACK (or NACK, "non-acknowledgement") is created by the UE when receiving the retransmission successfully (or non-successfully). The HARQ messaging can be used in multicarrier transmission so that when the ACK message is sent by the UE as a response to the HARQ retransmission, the test system can determine which downlink carrier the HARQ message relates to.
Regarding radio frequency bands in general, different frequency bands can be licensed to a certain use, or they can be unlicensed. Unlicensed band is basically a shared spectrum where one needs to accept interference from other unknown systems and sources such as in ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) bands. As licensed band operation has been increasingly utilized, portions of the radio spectrum that remain available have become limited. Thus, operators, service providers, communication device manufacturers, and communication system manufacturers, are all seeking efficient solutions to utilize unlicensed shared bands. Communication on an unlicensed shared band is generally based on sharing an available radio channel between different communication devices. Different communication devices may utilize a common radio access technology (RAT), but it is also possible that different communication devices utilize different RATs. In an unlicensed shared band, channel access can be distributed in a manner, where communication devices can be configured to detect a channel, and utilize a channel reservation scheme known to other communication devices in order to reserve a right to access the channel. In such a distributed channel access, a transmitting communication device (e.g. a UE) and a receiving communication device (e.g. "an evolved Node B" or abbreviated later as "eNB"; a base station in 3G and afterwards) are generally not synchronized to any global reference.
Unlicensed bands are naturally shared spectra where one needs to accept interference originating from other unknown systems and interference sources such like different devices applying ISM bands. If deploying unlicensed spectra e.g. for the LTE Advanced networks through some carrier aggregation method, the system needs extensions to be able to operate in such an environment.
One problem in case of uplink carrier aggregation where one or more carriers are allocated on an unlicensed spectrum, the UE may notice after having received a resource allocation request from the eNB (before usage of those resources i.e. during a 4 ms delay from a resource allocate request on the Physical Downlink Control Channel [PDCCH] to actual usage on Physical Uplink Shared Channel [PUSCH]) that there exists significant interference on those unlicensed spectrum resources. In unlicensed band it may be envisioned that also in the future some kind of "listen-before-talk" procedure is desired, thus requiring the device to defer its transmission on unlicensed spectrum. On the other hand, this causes problems in eNB as it waits for the transmission by the UE with certain specified parameters.
Additionally, the eNB itself may also detect notable interference, or noise level increase on resources on the unlicensed spectrum just before the UE or other transmitting is about to start data transmission according to the order by the eNB.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient signaling method for enabling controlled deferring for the transmission applying carrier aggregation with both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands.

Signaling method to enable controlled TX deferring in mixed license and unlicensed spectrum in carrier aggregation in future LTE-A networks


This document provides methods and materials related to determining whether or not a pregnant mammal (e.g., a pregnant human) has preeclampsia. For example, methods and materials related to the use of urinary podocytes to determine whether or not a pregnant human has preeclampsia are provided.

1. Technical Field
This document relates to methods and materials involved in determining whether or not a pregnant mammal has preeclampsia. For example, this document provides methods and materials related to the use of urinary podocytes and/or plasma microvesicles to determine whether or not a pregnant mammal (e.g., a pregnant human) has preeclampsia.
2. Background Information
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease that affects about 5 percent of all pregnancies and remains a leading cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and death worldwide. It is characterized by hypertension (blood pressure, ≧140/90 mm Hg) and proteinuria (≧300 mg in a 24-hour urine sample) that occur after 20 weeks of gestation. Proteinuria in preeclampsia is associated with characteristic renal pathologic changes of glomerular endotheliosis, which is considered to be a hallmark of preeclampsia in humans.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


A method and system for label-based packet forwarding among multiple forwarding elements is described. The system includes a plurality of forwarding elements to forward a data packet from an ingress port at which the data packet is received from a network to an egress port from which the data packet will be transmitted to a next hop in the network and a control element coupled to the plurality of forwarding elements to control the forwarding elements. Each forwarding element has one or more label switch tables with one or entries to label data packets for forwarding along a path from the ingress port of one of the plurality of forwarding elements to the egress port of another of the plurality of forwarding elements.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of network routing and switching, and more specifically to label-based forwarding of a packet among multiple forwarding elements.
2. Background Information and Description of Related Art
A typical router includes a forwarding element (FE) to forward data packets from an ingress port to an egress port and a control element (CE) to control the forwarding element. If a customer desires more ports or forwarding capability, additional routers need to be purchased. Furthermore, if a forwarding element is upgraded, the whole router needs to be upgraded.
One solution is to separate the forwarding element from the control element. The forwarding element can then be purchased or upgraded independent of the control element. The control element may also be able to control multiple forwarding elements and multiple types of forwarding elements. However, it is desired for the multiple forwarding elements controlled by a control element to act as a single router while forwarding a data packet.

Method and system for label-based packet forwarding among multiple forwarding elements


An image sensor circuit including a set of pixels associated with a pixel output node and a reset circuit associated with the set of pixels to set each pixel to a predetermined value.

The invention relates to digital imaging devices and more particularly to pixel layouts or configurations.
Image sensing devices are the light detecting component in digital imaging systems, such as for example, digital cameras, scanners and copiers. An image sensing device, such as a camera, uses light to capture an image at a semiconductor-based chip. The chip replaces film in traditional film-based systems. In a camera, an image sensing devices is configured, in its simplest form, to capture a monochrome or a color image by way of semiconductor devices such as transistors, capacitors, and photodiodes. In one example, the image sensing device is a chip made up of a number of pixels, each pixel is sensitive to light.
A pixel contains a photosensitive structure, such as a photodiode, and other pixel circuitry. The photosensitive structure is the portion of the pixel that respond to light. In a typical operation, a pixel circuit having a photodiode is charged to a predetermined voltage, the photodiode is exposed to light, and the pixel circuit discharges its stored energy depending on the intensity of the light exposure. A three-transistor pixel circuit for example, consists of a reset transistor, a row transistor, a source follower transistor, and a photodiode. A shift register or decoder external to the pixel circuit generates a signal that inverts the reset transistor and the row transistor (through a bit line) to drive the circuit and read out a predetermined value (e.g., Vcc) and the light signal. The difference between the predetermined voltage and the light signal is a measure of the intensity of the light striking the photodiode.
Pixel circuits may be arranged in pixel arrays, such as, for example, several rows and columns of pixel circuits. The individual pixel circuits may be coupled through word and bit lines. The reset signal generated by the shift register or decoder may be global (i.e., entire array) or may be limited to a single pixel or row of pixels. The bit line signals a row to discharge its signal along the word line to a collector such as an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter.
Pixel circuits, such as the three-transistor pixel circuit described above are formed, in one embodiment, in and on a semiconductor-based chip. One goal in forming a pixel circuit or an array of pixel circuits is to maximize the photosensitive area of the circuit and minimize the amount of area required for the additional pixel circuitry.
The trend in digital imaging is towards higher and higher image resolution. One way this is achieved is by reducing the size of pixel circuits. The trend is particularly pushed by charge coupled device (CCD) manufacturers, as one of the main advantages of a CCD manufacturer is a small pixel circuit. One way that CMOS-based image sensors may stay competitive with their CCD-based counterparts is by reducing the pixel size to a size similar to a CCD pixel with comparative sensitivity.
An image sensor circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, the image sensor circuit includes a set of pixels associated with a pixel output node and a reset circuit associated with the set of pixels to set each pixel to a predetermined value.


The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus which directly controls a flow of charged toner particles by a toner particle control electrode and records an image on an image recording medium. The image recording apparatus has a toner particle supply portion for supplying toner particles charged with a first polarity and a toner particle control electrode for controlling the toner particles supplied by the toner particle supply portion according to an image to be recorded. An intermediate recording medium attracts toner particles controlled by the toner particle control portion and a toner image is formed on the intermediate medium. A transferring station transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate recording medium to an image recording medium. A thermal fixing station fixes the toner image which is transferred to the image recording medium by the transferring station, on the image recording medium. Transfer and fixing of the toner image to the image recording medium may occur by use of a heated pressing roll. Images can be recorded on relatively thick recording media by this apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus which directly controls a flow of charged toner particles by a toner particle control electrode and records an image on an image recording medium.
2. Description of Related Art
Image recording apparatus which directly control the flow of toner particles when recording an image on an image recording medium are known. One such image recording apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,935. The construction and the operation of this kind of image recording apparatus are briefly explained as follows.
The image recording apparatus comprises a toner particle supply portion, a toner particle control member, and a back electrode. The toner particle supply portion supplies the charged toner particles below the toner particle control member. The toner particle control member has a plurality of apertures through which the charged toner particles which are supplied from the toner particle supply portion can pass and selectively controls the passage of the toner particles.
The back electrode confronts with the toner particle supply portion through the toner particle control member, and there is a space between the back electrode and the toner particle control member where the image recording medium on which the image will be formed can pass. When the image recording medium passes through the space, the toner particle control member selectively allows the passage of the toner particles through the aperture. The back electrode attracts the toner particles which have passed the aperture of the toner particle control member to the image recording medium on which the image is formed.
The charged toner particles are supplied from the toner particle supply portion to the lower side of the toner particle control member, and a flow of the toner particles is controlled by an electric field in each aperture. The controlled toner particles are attracted in the direction of the back electrode through the aperture, are adhered to the image recording medium which is fed along the back electrode, and the image is formed thereon. A high voltage of about 1 kV (kilovolt) is applied to the back electrode, and the space between the toner particle control member and the back electrode is about 1 millimeter.
However, the image cannot be recorded on a thick image recording medium with this image recording apparatus. That is, the space between the toner particle control member and the back electrode is about 1 millimeter, as mentioned above, so that the image is recorded on the image recording medium when it can pass such a space. But if the image recording medium is thicker than 1 millimeter, it cannot pass through this space and the image cannot be recorded on such an image recording medium.

Image recording apparatus having toner particle control member


The invention relates to a coordinate thermal-cutting machine with a means for automatically setting the initial height of a torch, in particular a plasma torch, above a workpiece surface. In order to achieve a fast and exact setting of the igniting distance above the workpiece surface, the torch (28) is at least partially surrounded by an inner tubular enclosure (7), which is at least partially surrounded by an outer tubular enclosure (10), bearing elements (8, 9 and 29, 30) being arranged between the tubular enclosures (7, 10) in such a way that the inner tubular enclosure (7) is at least longitudinally displaceable with the torch (28), there also being provided a position sensor which senses the longitudinal displacement and, furthermore, the inner enclosure (7) is connected to a compensation device (35) which reduces the weight of the inner enclosure (7) with the torch (28).

The invention relates to a coordinate thermal-cutting machine with a means for automatically setting the initial height of a torch, in particular a plasma cutting torch, above a workpiece surface.
In plasma cutting, a quantity of gas with a high temperature and with a high power density is used; the plasma jet leaves the torch nozzle with such high energy that it is suitable for cutting electrically conducting metal.
"Plasma" is understood to mean a dissociated and partially ionized electrically conducting gas.
The plasma arc for cutting metallic workpieces can only be set up appropriately for the process if the correct igniting distance is maintained between the torch and the workpiece surface. Therefore, it is necessary, before switching on the ignition voltage, to set the cutting torch to an initial height with respect to the workpiece surface which allows the plasma gas to be ignited. Owing to different workpiece thicknesses and surface configurations, this position must be automatically determined in each case.
For setting the initial height of a cutting torch, use is made either of leading electromechanical sensors, which on contact with the workpiece surface emit a stop command to the torch drive, or of proximity switches or approach/analog sensors, which are used contactlessly for switching off the drive.
After igniting the plasma gas, an analog distance sensing system is then further used for distance control in the cutting process or the system switches over to arc-voltage-dependent control.
For cutting processes, until now capacitive or inductive sensors have been used predominantly for distance control. Since these sensors require an opposing workpiece area of at least the same size, they are not suitable for setting the exact initial height of the cutting torches above the workpieces if the sensor is at an edge of the workpiece. In addition, devices with which the cutting torches are protected from being destroyed in the event of a collision are known.
A known means for determining the initial height initially makes the cutting torch approach the workpiece at an adapted approach speed in such a way that it sets down on the workpiece surface. The torch drive is switched off by electrical contact between the tip of the torch and the workpiece or by evaluating the change in the driving force upon setting down. Subsequently, the cutting torch is made to return to the igniting distance by the machine controller (U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,882). In the case of the known means, damage to the cutting torch cannot be ruled out when it is set down on the workpiece. What is more, when working thin sheets, sagging occurs when the cutting torch is set down. The initial height then does not correspond to the unloaded workpiece surface, with the result that the exact igniting distance cannot be maintained. In addition, the unproductive times are increased significantly, since the cutting torch is moved at a low approach speed to the workpiece surface.

Coordinate thermal-cutting machine with a means for automatically setting the initial height of a torch

Messer Griesheim Schweisstechnik GmbH & Co.


A locking mechanism for selectively securing and unsecuring the linkage of individual ladder sections of a telescopic ladder. The locking mechanism is shifted into a locked position by pivoting a lever toward a first rotational trajectory, urging a track follower in a first direction along a guiding track, and linearly displacing at least one securing rod into an aperture through multiple ladder sections, securing the linkage of the ladder sections. A lever-securing mechanism form-fittingly secures the lever within a bridge element of the locking mechanism when in a locked position. The locking mechanism is shifted into an unlocked position by pivoting the lever toward a second rotational trajectory opposite the first rotational trajectory, urging the track follower in an opposite direction along the guiding track, and linearly displacing the securing rods out from the aperture through the multiple ladder sections, unsecuring the linkage of the ladder sections.

Telescopic ladders include multiple ladder sections, where the ladder is extendable or retractable for adjusting the height of the ladder by sliding the ladder sections relative to one another. Such telescopic ladders may employ a locking mechanism to securely fix the position of a first ladder section relative to a second ladder section, thereby preventing relative movement between the ladder sections, and conversely, to release the first ladder section and second ladder section from their fixed positions, thereby enabling relative movement between the ladder sections.
To date, various types of locking mechanisms for usage in association with telescopic columns or ladders have been proposed.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/151195 to Huang, entitled "Telescopic column", discloses a telescopic column that includes a cylinder and a post inserted in the cylinder partially. The post includes a ladder formed thereon. A mount is attached to the cylinder. A positioning element is installed on the mount pivotally. The positioning element includes a dent for engagement with the ladder during an attempt to insert the post into the cylinder and for disengagement from the ladder when the post is extended from the cylinder. A gear is installed on the amount rotationally. A handle is installed on the mount so as to provide pivotal in an active direction and in an idle direction opposite to the active direction. An extending element is installed on the handle movably. The extending element includes a detent for engagement with the gear in the active direction of the pivotal of the handle and for disengagement from the gear in the idle direction of the pivotal of the handle.
U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2,277,952 to Weston, entitled "Catch mechanism", discloses a catch mechanism for mounting on the underside of a rung of a collapsible ladder, comprising a bolt, a spring acting to urge the bolt in a direction to lock two sections of one stile of the ladder to one another in the extended position of the sections and a release lever adapted to be pivotably mounted on the rung for retracting the bolt against the action of the spring. The release lever is pivotably connected to the bolt and the spring for urging the bolt in its locking direction acts between the bolt and the release lever.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/000723 to Kieffer et al, entitled "Ergonomic extendable/retractable ladder", discloses an extendable/retractable ladder assembly that includes a first column and a second column. The first column is nested in the second column. A first rung is coupled to and extends from the second column. A ladder assembly bracket includes a collar portion that extends about the second column, and a rung portion that extends from the collar portion into the first rung. The collar portion includes an outer surface and a recess formed in the outer surface, the recess being oriented and having a width to accommodate a portion of a hand grasping about the second column.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,523 to Krause, entitled "Adjustable ladder", discloses an adjustable ladder that includes a base ladder and at least one extendable ladder movably fastened to the base ladder. The ladder extension can be locked by a locking bracket pivotally fastened on the extendable ladder. Guide rollers are arranged on the base ladder below a rung, and can be fastened by a first plug element serving as a mounting. The mounting is formed of a wire or rod-shaped blank. The mounting almost completely loops around the hollow section of the rung and is thereby bent in the direction of the rung axis. The mounting can be placed through a hollow axis or tube supporting the guide roller and fastened to a spar of the base ladder. The mounting extends through the spar and projects with a first end piece over the outer cheek or surface of the spar far enough that it can be fixed in the direction of the rung axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,654 to Bailey et al, entitled "Extension ladder", discloses an extension ladder having a lower ladder section secured to an upper ladder section so that the upper ladder section can be extended relative to the lower ladder section using a ladder extension rope. Both ladder sections include a pair of spaced ladder stiles with rungs, and both ladder sections have the same width. A clutch mechanism extends between the ladder sections and is movable between a locked position, for maintaining the upper ladder section at a desired extension relative to the lower ladder section, and a released position allowing for relative movement of the ladder sections. A clutch locking mechanism biases the clutch mechanism into the locked position. The stiles of each ladder section has formations for securing the sections relative to one another and allowing the upper section to be extended and retracted relative to the lower ladder section.
Chinese Patent Application Publication No. CN 200971751Y to Fan Gang, entitled "Locking device for telescopic ladder", discloses a locking device of a retractable ladder, which includes a lockpin mechanism. The lockpin mechanism includes a pin body, a locating hole and a spring. The locking device is characterized by an unlocking bevel and a locating bevel, which are fixed alternately on the pin body, on a cross piece of adjacent sections. An embedding cooperation part is mounted in correspondence with the unlocking bevel and the locating bevel. The unlocking bevel faces the head of the pin body and inclines to an adjacent section side with a corresponding embedding cooperation part. The facing direction of the locating bevel is the opposite of the unlocking bevel. When an upper one section or lower one section retracts from the current section, the embedding cooperation part of this section props against the unlocking bevel and pushes the pin body to shrink inside and get away from the locating hole, while at the same time, the other embedding cooperation part contacts with the locating bevel for locating.

Telescopic ladder and locking mechanism thereof


An indoor vacuum cleaner comprises a dirty air inlet, a handle, a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet and a fluid outlet, a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer wall, the outer wall of each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer perimeter, the dirt collection chamber having a cyclone chamber end spaced from a dirt collection floor, a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, the passage configured such that separated dirt travels at least outwardly as the dirt travels through the passage and, an air flow motor.

Cyclonic vacuum cleaners are known in the art. In addition, cyclonic vacuum cleaners which comprise a first stage cyclone and plurality of second stage cyclones are known. An example is shown in Conrad (U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,585). As shown therein, a vacuum cleaner has a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a single first stage cyclone and a second cyclonic cleaning stage downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel.
The plurality of second stage cyclones typically remove particulate matter finer than the particulate matter that is removed in the first cyclonic cleaning stage. Accordingly, the coarsest particulate matter that is entrained in an air stream is removed in the first cyclonic cleaning stage and finer particulate matter is removed in the downstream cyclonic cleaning stage. However, the air exiting the second cyclonic cleaning stage may still contain sufficient particulate matter to damage a suction motor positioned downstream from the second cyclonic cleaning stage. Accordingly, as shown in Conrad, a filter may be positioned downstream from the second cyclonic cleaning stage and upstream from the suction motor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.