A media tray including a first tray portion that has a base, an outer wall that is fixed to the base, and a locking mechanism is disclosed. The locking mechanism is substantially fixed in position relative to the outer wall. The locking mechanism is biased to a locked position and actuatable, along an axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outer wall, for moving the locking mechanism to an unlocked position.

This invention relates to a media supply tray for use with image forming devices such as but not limited to photocopying machines, printers and facsimile machines.
Media trays of a telescopic design are known to be used for accommodating media stacks. The size of these media trays can be adjusted to support stacks of media of different sizes. A telescopic media tray typically includes a first tray portion that is coupled to a second tray portion. The first tray portion is moveable relative to the second tray portion to form a tray having an overall size that is variable depending on the position of the first tray portion relative to the second tray portion. To prevent media supported in the tray from being easily dislodged, the first tray portion is typically locked to the second tray portion after the first tray portion is adjusted to a selected position relative thereto. Media that is dislodged in the tray may result in skew, or worse, media jam when drawn into an image forming device.
A known locking mechanism used for locking the first tray portion to the second tray portion includes a right-angled lever that is pivoted to a sidewall of the first tray portion. The lever is tiltable about the pivot between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lever engages one of a number of slots defined in the second tray portion to thereby lock the first tray portion in position relative to the second tray portion. Some users view such a locking mechanism as not very user-friendly because three separate actions are required to complete the adjustment of the first tray portion from one position to another relative to the second tray portion. The three separate actions are 1) unlocking the first tray portion by flipping the lever in one direction to an unlocked position, 2) grasping the first tray portion and moving it toward or away from the second tray portion, and 3) locking the first tray portion in position by flipping the lever in the other direction to the locked position. Thus, a media tray that is not as cumbersome to operate is desirable.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Methods are provided for determining an operating parameter for an image system. Evaluation images are obtained during composition of an archival image and the evaluation images are stored. The evaluation images are compared to determine common image elements and an area of importance is determined based at least in part upon some of the common image elements. An operating parameter is determined based upon analysis of the area of importance. Imaging systems that perform the methods are also provided.

A wide variety of cameras are known that automatically and semi-automatically adapt the operation of the camera so that the camera can capture an image using exposure settings, focus settings and other operating parameters that are most appropriate for capturing an image under prevailing scene conditions. These cameras enable even novice photographers to capture high-quality images and thus these cameras have greatly contributed to the popularity of photography.
In many of these cameras, the content of a photographic scene is analyzed prior to the capture of an image using any of a variety of algorithms. These algorithms apply various assumptions about what a user would likely find to be important elements of a scene in order to determine camera settings and other operating parameters to be applied during image capture.
For example, some cameras attempt to determine an area of importance in a photographic scene using information from an optical or other type (e.g. ultrasonic) of rangefinder and to make camera focusing adjustments based upon this information. Such a rangefinder typically determines a distance from the camera to one or more areas of the scene and applies algorithms identifying an assumed area of importance in the scene based upon the distance information. The algorithms used by such a range finder use the distance from the camera to the to the assumed area of importance as a focus distance for focusing a motorized lens system. A wide variety of such rangefinders are known to those of skill in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,369 entitled "Compact Camera With Automatic Focal Length Dependent Exposure Adjustments" filed by Tabata et al. on Nov. 30, 1993, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses one such rangefinder.
Other image capture settings and operating parameters can be determined where the area of importance in the scene is known. For example, exposure settings can be adjusted to provide an exposure level that is appropriate for capturing an image of the area of importance with an appropriate level of exposure. This is particularly useful in backlighting situations.
It will be appreciated that the effectiveness of many of such algorithms can be enhanced where there is a positive indication from the photographer as to what portions of the scene comprise an area of importance. Therefore, there is a need for a way to automatically determine from a photographer's actions which area of a photographic scene is an area of importance so that a camera can accurately determine image capture settings and operating parameters.
A variety of digital and non-digital image capture devices are known which attempt to discern which areas of an image of a scene are of importance to a photographer using eye gaze information. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,045, entitled "Camera Capable of Detecting Eye-Gaze" filed on Jun. 7, 1995, by Takagi et al. and Japanese Publication, No. JP 2001-116985, entitled "Camera With Subject Recognizing Function and Subject Recognizing Method" filed by Mitsuru on Oct. 12, 1999, discusses the use of the eye gaze monitoring devices in the viewfinders of the cameras described therein. The cameras described in these publications are automatic focus cameras that utilize multi-spot range finding techniques that divide a photographic scene into a plurality of spots or regions and determine a distance from the camera to each spot. The output of the eye gaze monitoring devices described therein is used to help the camera determine which of these spots are most likely to contain the subject of the image and to focus the camera to capture images at a distance that is associated with the determined spot.
The use of eye gaze monitoring has also been discussed in the context of image compression in digital imaging systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,989, entitled "Foveated Image Coding System and Method for Image Bandwidth Reduction" filed by Geissler on Dec. 23, 1997, discusses a technique termed "foveated imaging" in which an observer's eye gaze position is monitored in real-time and communicated to a real-time image capture system that compresses the image to maintain high frequency information near the observer's point of eye gaze and discards high frequency information in regions that are not near the observer's point of eye gaze.
Thus, cameras are known that are adapted to monitor eye gaze and use information from eye gaze monitoring equipment to make decisions about the photographic or video imaging process.
It will be appreciated that while in many circumstances eye gaze monitoring may provide an indication of which elements in images are important to a user, in other circumstances, eye gaze information may not directly indicate which elements in images are important. For example a user can fixate on an object during composition in order to ensure that an image is composed to reduce the appearance of the object in the image. Accordingly, cameras that rely upon eye gaze direction to make decisions in the image capture process may make these decisions based upon erroneous assumptions about which elements of the image are important. Better imaging decisions can be made using eye gaze information during post capture image processing where more information about the user, the scene and/or the elements of interest are available and where more time and more complex image processing algorithms can be applied to better interpret eye gaze information.
Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/303,978, entitled, "Digital Imaging System With Eye Monitoring" filed Nov. 25, 2002, by Miller et al. describes an image capture system having an eye monitoring system that stores eye information including eye gaze direction information during an image capture sequence and associates the eye information with an image captured during the image capture sequence. In certain embodiments, context information is also captured with the eye information. The context information is also associated with the image. The eye monitoring system described therein is useful for its intended purpose, has commercial value, and has broad application. However, some consumers prefer not to use eye-monitoring systems. Also, the cost of eye monitoring components may deter their usage. Additionally, eye monitoring systems are known to need calibration for each of different users.
Accordingly, what is needed is a camera and method for determining an area of importance from a photographer's action, in composing a scene so that image capture settings and other operating parameters can be adjusted based upon this information.

Imaging method and system for determining camera operating parameter


A firearm security device including a frame to which a fixed plate and a movable plate are attached. A grip pad is attached to each of the opposing inner sides of the fixed and movable plates. A trigger guard stud is attached to and projects from the inner face of the fixed plate. The trigger guard stud inserts through the trigger guard of the firearm. Means are provided for shifting the movable plate from an open position wherein the firearm is positioned with the trigger guard stud projecting through the trigger guard, to a closed position where the movable plate is positioned substantially parallel to the fixed plate and at least a portion of the receiver of the firearm is held in a compressive grip between the grip pads. A lock selectively restricts operation of the shifting means and the movable plate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to firearm security devices, and more particularly to a firearm security device for holding a firearm in a secure manner.
2. Background
The prior art includes a variety of gun racks configured for displaying, holding or securing a variety of firearms. Additionally, the prior art includes a variety of firearm locking assemblies including several that lock through the trigger guard as demonstrated by the lock and chain arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,385 to Clouser, and the cable and lock arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,592 issued to Dingee, Jr.
Additionally many firearms are configured to permit a rapid knockdown of various components including the upper receiver, ammo clips, barrel sections and stock members. Many of the firearm securing devices of the prior art, while capable of securing a firearm in toto, do not prevent against the removal of component parts that are designed for rapid knockdown.
It would be desirable to provide a firearm security device that is configured to secure a firearm in a manner that allows a secure placement or location of the firearm and which also provides the option of allowing the firearm to be locked in the firearm security device thereby increasing firearm security. Additionally, it may be desirable to provide a firearm security device that is specifically adapted to various tactical weapons utilized by the military and law enforcement personnel.
One object of the present invention is to provide a firearm security device that is adaptable to secure a wide variety of firearms, including pistols, rifles, including tactical rifles and shotguns. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm security device that may be configured or adapted to prevent removal of component parts of the firearm while the firearm is secured in the device. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm security device that may be adapted to various tactical weapons utilized by the military and law enforcement personnel.


A novel method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) from an N—protected-D-mannosamine. A compound of formula (I) is a useful intermediate for the preparation of kiftnensine, a potent and selective mannosidase inhibitor. The method includes protecting the hydroxyl group at the C-6 position of an N—protected-D-mannosamine, to give a 6—O—protected—N—protected-D-mannosamine; reducing the C-1 anomeric carbon atom of the 6—O—protected—N—protected-D-mannosamine to give a 6—O—protected—N—protected-D-mannitol; protecting the four hydroxyl groups of the 6—O—protected—N—protected-D-mannitol; and removing the nitrogen atom protecting group and optionally removing the C-6 oxygen atom protecting group to give the compound of formula (I):

Kifunensine was first isolated from the actinomycete Kitasatosporia kifunense No. 9482 in 1987 (M. Iwami, O. Nakayama. H. Terano, M. Kohsaka, H. Aoki and H. Imanaka, J. Antibiot., 40, 612, 1987) and is a cyclic oxamide derivative of 1-amino-mannojirimycin. Its basic framework combines aspects of oxygenated indolizidine alkaloids with those of the aza sugars.

Kiftnensine is a selective and potent mannosidase inhibitor. It is a very effective inhibitor of the plant glycoprotein processing enzyme mannosidase I (an IC50 of about 2–5×10−8 M was observed against the purified enzyme), but is inactive toward plant mannosidase II (A. D. Elbein, J. E. Tropea, M. Mitchell, and G. P. Kaushal, J. Biol. Chem., 265, 15599, 1990). Kifunensine has also shown promising immunomodulatory activity in α-mannosidase inhibition.
The synthesis of kiflinensine has been reported by both Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. (H. Kayakiri, C. Kasahara, T. Oku, and M. Hashimoto, Tetrahedron Lett., 31, 225, 1990, H. Kayakiri, C. Kasahara, K. Nakamura, T. Oku, and M. Hashimoto, Chem. Pharm. Bull., 39, 1392, 1991) and Hudlicky et al. (J. Rouden and T. Hudlicky, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 1095, 1993; J. Rouden, T. Hudlicky, H. Luna and S. Allen, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 116, 5099, 1994).
The Fujisawa route produces kifunensine in 8 synthetic steps from mannosamine hydrochloride, which already possesses much of the desired stereochemistry. The process involves the interchange of the C-1 aldehyde and C-6 hydroxymethyl groups of D-mannosamine. The key step is a double cyclisation of an oxamide-aldehyde precursor with ammonia. An overall yield of 33% was reported. It has been found by the applicant that the Fujisawa route does not respond well to scale up and is prone to marked irreproducibility in the silylation step, resulting in a lower overall yield than that reported.
Hudlicky et al. have synthesised kifunesine in a 13 step process starting from achiral chlorobenzene. Chirality is introduced early via a microbial dihydroxylation using Pseudomonas putida 39D. The Hudlicky route involves a microbial oxidation which introduces many complications on scale up. This route also involves the use of hazardous reagents such as sodium azide, mCPBA and ozone.
The applicant has now found that kifunensine may be synthesised from N—acetyl-D-mannosamine, in a manner which avoids, at least in part, some of the abovementioned problems.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel method of preparing an intermediate[PBl] for the preparation of kifinensine. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method of preparing kifunensine from this intermediate. These objects of the invention are to be read with the alternative object of at least providing the public with a useful choice.

Process for preparing kifunensine intermediate and kifunensine therefrom

Abstract: where R1 and R2 are each independently protecting groups which, together with the oxygen atoms to which they are attached, form a 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered ring; and R3 is hydrogen or a protecting group.


A method and mechanism for automatic or manual winding of a stator. A fixed arbor serves to support the stator during the winding process, as well as a wire feed point and wire guide. A mechanism moves the stator in a back and forth motion along the major axis of the arbor. Proper axial position of the wire is maintained by the outer surface of the arbor and the axial slot itself. The arbor has a channel that serves to guide the wire, allowing it exit in each of the two possible longitudinal directions along the major axis of the arbor.

The present disclosure relates to the manufacture of electric machines, such as a motor or generator, and in particular to a machine that automates wire winding of a stator.
One common type of electric machine is a brushless Direct Current (DC) motor that includes two major elements, a stator and a rotor. The stator typically includes a wire coil having a number of windings. The rotor typically includes permanent magnets. The rotor and stator are arranged such that the rotor can move freely with respect to the mechanically fixed stator. As a result, electromagnetic interaction between the stator and the rotor causes the rotor to move in response to polarity changes in the stator windings.
One common design has the rotor embedded as a shaft that turns inside a cylindrical stator. The rotor assembly typically includes a number of permanent magnets placed about a shaft. The magnets are held on the shaft by an outer sleeve. The rotor assembly is rotatively supported within the cylindrical stator housing via low friction bearings.
The stator is often made by laminating a number of disks formed of a ferrous material to form a "back iron." The disks typically have a center hole with tines formed therein. The laminated stack of disks provides a set of axial slots around which are wrapped copper wire strands to form the motor windings.
It can be appreciated that much of the cost to manufacture an inside wound motor is due to the need to wrap wires around and/or within the axial slots of the stator.
A number of somewhat elaborate machines have been devised to automatically wind a stator. In one common approach, windings are formed by a head that comprises a hollow needle through which a wire strand slides. The needle is supported and controlled by an apparatus to reciprocate within and parallel to the axis of the stator. The needle is thus caused to move about the slots, following a substantially elliptical path. The winding needle(s) are operated by a complex series of mechanical drives and gears to follow the required path. See the machines shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,897 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,256, which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In an approach described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,997, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, the stator is held within a fixture such that it can be rotated through a predetermined angle. A wire stopper is attached to one or more ends of the stator. The wire guiding member is slidably supported by a pair of bearings, and driven by a mechanism, so that it is moved periodically through the central hole of the stator, external of the wire stoppers. This winding apparatus requires various components including a stationary frame, a moveable frame, several wire feeding/carrying means, and a wire guiding member fixed to the stationary frame.

Automatic wire winding of inside brushless stator


A method includes placing a polisher head on platen, the polisher head including a set of first magnets, and controlling a set of second magnets to rotate the polisher head on the platen, wherein controlling the set of second magnets includes reversing the polarity of at least one second magnet of the set of second magnets to produce a magnetic force on at least one first magnet of the set of first magnets, wherein the set of second magnets are external to the polisher head.

Generally, semiconductor devices comprise active components, such as transistors, formed on a substrate. Any number of interconnect layers may be formed over the substrate connecting the active components to each other and to outside devices. The interconnect layers are typically made of low-k dielectric materials comprising metallic trenches/vias.
As the layers of a device are formed, it is sometimes desirable to planarize the device. For example, the formation of metallic features in the substrate or in a metal layer may cause uneven topography. This uneven topography creates difficulties in the formation of subsequent layers. For example, uneven topography may interfere with the photolithographic process used to form various features in a device. It is, therefore, desirable to planarize the surface of the device after various features or layers are formed. One method of planarization is chemical mechanical polishing (CMP).

Chemical mechanical polishing apparatus and method

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


Provided are a light emitting diode (LED) in which a conductive barrier layer surrounding a reflective metal layer is defined by a protective insulating layer, and a method of manufacturing the same. A reflection pattern including a reflective metal layer and a conductive barrier layer is formed on an emission structure in which a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer are formed. The conductive barrier layer prevents diffusion of a reflective metal layer and extends to a protective insulating layer recessed under a photoresist pattern having an overhang structure during a forming process. Accordingly, a phenomenon where the conductive barrier layer is in contact with sidewalls of the photoresist pattern having an over-hang structure and the reflective metal layer forms points is prevented. Thus, LED modules having various shapes may be manufactured.

A light emitting diode (LED) is a device including an n-type semiconductor layer, a p type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the n type and p type semiconductor layers. When a forward electric field is applied to the n type and p type semiconductor layers, electrons and holes may be injected into the active layer and re-combine in the active layer to emit light.
In addition, an LED may include a reflection layer according to the type of a chip. For example, a flip-chip type is characterized by emitting light through a substrate. Accordingly, after a semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate, a reflection layer formed of or includes a metal is introduced on the semiconductor layer or a current spreading layer, and light is reflected by the reflection layer. Also, a barrier layer is provided on the reflection layer. The barrier layer is provided to prevent diffusion of the metal forming the reflection layer.

Light emitting diode for surface mount technology, method of manufacturing the same, and method of manufacturing light emitting diode module


The invention provides a toner composition comprising toner particles and composite metal oxide particles comprising a core consisting of a first metal oxide and a coating consisting of a second metal oxide. The core is substantially spherical and non-aggregated. The invention also provides a method for the preparation of a toner composition.

In order to obtain high image quality, the toner used in an electrophotographic process must have sufficient fluidity. The flow characteristics of the toner are critical to the developing step and the cleaning step. Thus, the toner must be in the form of discrete particles and not agglomerates. A common strategy for controlling and maintaining the fluidity of toner is to add metal oxide particles, such as silica, alumina, and titania, thereto.
Spherical or substantially spherical metal oxide particles are most efficient at improving the fluidity of toner. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,422,214 and 6,479,206. Substantially spherical metal oxide particles act as intervening spacers and reduce the adhesion force between the toner particles by increasing the distance and decreasing the contact area between the toner particles, thereby reducing agglomeration. Preferably, the substantially spherical metal oxide particles are nearly the same size, i.e., diameter, as the toner particles to produce a stable toner composition that does not separate into component toner particles and metal oxide particles.
Additional properties of the metal oxide particles, such as surface area, tribo-charging, and environmental stability, also contribute to the performance of the toner composition. One useful approach for customizing the properties of metal oxide particles for use in toner compositions is to prepare composite metal oxide particles that contain a metal oxide core with a metal oxide a coating. The composite metal oxide particles advantageously combine the preferred properties of the core and the coating.
However, a need still exists for suitable toner compositions and for relatively simple and economical methods of preparing the same. The invention provides such a composition and method. These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

Toner composition and method of preparing same


A process for the preparation of aniline by hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst containing a noble metal is described. The process can be carried out in an improved manner if the catalyst employed is palladium on graphite or petrol coke, as the support, containing 0.001-1% by weight of Pd, based on the total weight of the catalyst, it being possible for the catalyst also to contain, in addition to the Pd, 0.001-0.5% by weight of Ir and/or 0.001-0.3% by weight of Rh, all figures being based on the total weight of the catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of aniline by catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in the gas phase.
Aniline is known to the expert as an important intermediate product, for example for the preparation of dyestuffs and polyurethanes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Palladium-containing supported catalysts are known for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and other nitroaromatics. In addition to the catalytically active metal, the materials employed as the catalyst support are also decisive for the activity of a catalyst. Because of their surface nature, these support materials can lead to the formation of undesirable by-products. Aluminium oxides which have been converted completely or partly into spinel are known as supports from DE-OS (German Published Specification) 2,135,155 and DE-OS (German Published Specification) 2,244,401. Further processes for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene are known from DE-OS (German Published Specification) 2,848,978 and DE-OS (German Published Specification) 2,849,002.
The catalysts known to date for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatics in the gas phase show disadvantages which limit their use in the chemical industry. Thus, although the initial yield in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline is quite high at 99%, the known catalysts rapidly lose their activity, for example by poisoning or by the deposition of tar-like precipitates, so that only short service lives result. In this case,, the hydrogenation must be interrupted in order to regenerate the catalyst. The frequent interruptions and the expensive nature of the regeneration are uneconomical for large-scale industrial plants. A further disadvantage of the catalysts known to date is their irregular activity, which frequently manifests itself in an over-reactivity to give undesirable by-products. If larger concentrations of noble metal or diverse combinations of different elements are used to increase the service life, the high noble metal requirement has the effect of an undesirable cost-causing agent in the industrial realisation of such processes (DE-OS (German Published Specification) 2,849,002). Such catalysts prepared from many elements are moreover more cumbersome to prepare and to dispose of.


An apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site includes an electrode device having a plurality of electrodes, the electrode device positioned proximal the biological site. A power control system supplies power having a controllable phase angle to each of the electrodes. A backplate is also positioned proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrode device and the backplate. The backplate is maintained at the reference voltage level in relation to the power. The power control system controls the phase angle of the power so that the current flow between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate results in the continuity and depth of lesions desired. In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes are arranged in a substantially linear array.

The invention relates generally to an electrophysiological (xe2x80x9cEPxe2x80x9d) apparatus and method for providing energy to biological tissue, and more particularly, to a radio frequency (xe2x80x9cRFxe2x80x9d) ablation apparatus for controlling the flow of current through a biological site so that the volume of ablation lesions may be controlled.
The heart beat in a healthy human is controlled by the sinoatrial node (xe2x80x9cS-A nodexe2x80x9d) located in the wall of the right atrium. The S-A node generates electrical signal potentials that are transmitted through pathways of conductive heart tissue in the atrium to the atrioventricular node (xe2x80x9cA-V nodexe2x80x9d) which in turn transmits the electrical signals throughout the ventricle by means of the His and Purkinje conductive tissues. Improper growth of, or damage to, the conductive tissue in the heart can interfere with the passage of regular electrical signals from the S-A and A-V nodes. Electrical signal irregularities resulting from such interference can disturb the normal rhythm of the heart and cause an abnormal rhythmic condition referred to as xe2x80x9ccardiac arrhythmia.xe2x80x9d
While there are different treatments for cardiac arrhythmia, including the application of anti-arrhythmia drugs, in many cases ablation of the damaged tissue can restore the correct operation of the heart. Such ablation can be performed by percutaneous ablation, a procedure in which a catheter is percutaneously introduced into the patient and directed through an artery to the atrium or ventricle of the heart to perform single or multiple diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or surgical procedures. In such case, an ablation procedure is used to destroy the tissue causing the arrhythmia in an attempt to remove the electrical signal irregularities or create a conductive tissue block to restore normal heart beat or at least an improved heart beat. Successful ablation of the conductive tissue at the arrhythmia initiation site usually terminates the arrhythmia or at least moderates the heart rhythm to acceptable levels. A widely accepted treatment for arrhythmia involves the application of RF energy to the conductive tissue.
In the case of atrial fibrillation (xe2x80x9cAFxe2x80x9d), a procedure published by Cox et al. and known as the xe2x80x9cMaze procedurexe2x80x9d involves continuous atrial incisions to prevent atrial reentry and to allow sinus impulses to activate the entire myocardium. While this procedure has been found to be successful, it involves an intensely invasive approach. It is more desirable to accomplish the same result as the Maze procedure by use of a less invasive approach, such as through the use of an appropriate EP catheter system.
There are two general methods of applying RF energy to cardiac tissue, unipolar and bipolar. In the unipolar method a large surface area electrode; e.g., a backplate, is placed on the chest, back or other external location of the patient to serve as a return. The backplate completes an electrical circuit with one or more electrodes that are introduced into the heart, usually via a catheter, and placed in intimate contact with the aberrant conductive tissue. In the bipolar method, electrodes introduced into the heart have different potentials and complete an electrical circuit between themselves. In the bipolar method, the flux traveling between the two electrodes of the catheter enters the tissue to cause ablation.
During ablation, the electrodes are placed in intimate contact with the target endocardial tissue. RF energy is applied to the electrodes to raise the temperature of the target tissue to a non-viable state. In general, the temperature boundary between viable and non-viable tissue is approximately 48xc2x0 Centigrade. Tissue heated to a temperature above 48xc2x0 C. becomes non-viable and defines the ablation volume. The objective is to elevate the tissue temperature, which is generally at 37xc2x0 C., fairly uniformly to an ablation temperature above 48xc2x0 C., while keeping both the temperature at the tissue surface and the temperature of the electrode below 100xc2x0 C.
A basic configuration of an ablation catheter for applying RF energy includes a distal tip which is fitted with an electrode device. The electrode device is the source of an electrical signal that causes heating of the contacting and neighboring tissue. In the unipolar method, the electrode device may include a single electrode used for emitting RF energy. This single electrode acts as one electrical pole. The other electrical pole is formed by the backplate in contact with a patient""s external body part. A RF source is applied to the electrode. The RF source is typically in the 500 kHz region and produces a sinusoidal voltage. When this is delivered between the distal tip of a standard electrode catheter and a backplate, it produces a localized RF heating effect and produces a well defined, deep acute lesion slightly larger than the tip electrode.
In some procedures a lesion having a larger surface area than that produced by a single electrode in a unipolar arrangement may be required. To this end numerous ablation catheters have been designed. In one catheter designed to provide a larger surface ablation area, an electrode device having four peripheral electrodes which extend from a retracted mode is used. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,011 to Desai. When extended, i.e., fanned out, the four peripheral electrodes and the central electrode form an electrode array that covers a larger surface area of the tissue than a single electrode. When used with a conventional RF power source, and in conjunction with a backplate, the five electrodes produce five lesion spots distributed over the area spanned by the electrode array. The lesions produced are discontinuous in relation to each other and there are areas between the electrodes that remain unablated. This device must be manipulated so that when expanded, all electrodes are in contact with the endocardium. An xe2x80x9cend onxe2x80x9d approach is required such that the end of the catheter, on which all five electrodes are mounted, is in intimate contact with the target tissue.
In another catheter an electrode device having a central electrode and a number of peripheral electrodes which also fan out from a retracted mode is used. During ablation a backplate is not used; instead the central electrode functions as the reference while the peripheral electrodes have multi-phase RF power applied to them. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,917 to Desai et al. While this technique provides a more continuous lesion covering a larger surface area of the tissue, the ablation volume is relatively shallow with a nonuniform depth of the lesion. This arrangement also requires the same manipulation of the catheter such that an end-on contact is made by the expanded electrodes, as discussed above. Lesions having a non-uniform ablation volume are undesirable as the depth at one part of the lesion may not be sufficient to stop the irregular signal pathways. Arrhythmia may reoccur because the irregular signals may pass under such an ablation volume and the procedure must then be repeated to once again attempt to obtain an ablation volume having sufficient depth.
The mechanical configuration of both of the above-described techniques comprises an expanding approach. When used for ablation, an electrode device is typically part of a catheter system. Accordingly, it is desirable to minimize the diameter of the electrode device during introduction to and withdrawal from the patient to lessen trauma to the patient. Therefore, electrode devices having peripheral expandable electrodes must be configured so that the peripheral electrodes are expandable to a large size yet are retractable to as small a size as practical. Such requirements pose design and manufacturing difficulties due to the movement of mechanical parts required for proper operation. Further considerations are the undesirable complexity and increased manufacturing cost associated with an expandable a catheter.
Hence, those skilled in the art have recognized a need for a structurally stable invasive ablation apparatus and method that are capable of controlling the flow of current through a biological site so that lesions with controllable surface and depth characteristics may be produced and the ablation volume thereby controlled. The invention fulfills these needs and others.
Briefly, and in general terms, the invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for controlling the application of energy to a biological site during ablation to thereby control the surface area, the continuity, and the depth of lesion produced during ablation.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site comprising a catheter having a plurality of electrodes at its distal end. The distal end is positionable so that the electrodes are located at the biological site. The apparatus also includes a backplate positionable proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrodes and the backplate and a power control system providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having a duty cycle with an on period and an off period. During the on period of the duty cycle, the power is selected such that at least two electrodes have voltage levels that differ from each other and at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between the two electrodes and between at least one electrode and the backplate. During the off period of the duty cycle, the power is selected such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate.
In more detailed aspects, the power control system provides separate power to each of the plurality of electrodes with the power to each electrode being individually controllable as to duty cycle. In another detailed aspect, the power control system controls the duty cycle of the power to be approximately ten percent. In a further detailed aspect, a temperature sensing device is located at least one of the electrodes for providing a temperature signal to the power control system representative of the temperature at the electrode. The power control system controls the duty cycle of the power in response to the temperature signal. In another detailed aspect, the apparatus includes a measurement device that senses at least one characteristic of the power applied to at least one electrode and provides a power measurement signal and the power control system receives the power measurement signal and determines an impedance measurement based on the power measurement signal and controls the duty cycle of the power in response to the power measurement signal.
In another aspect, an apparatus for delivering energy to heart tissue comprises a catheter having at least three electrodes arranged in a linear array at its distal end. The distal end is positionable so that the electrodes are located at the heart tissue. The apparatus also includes a backplate positionable so that the heart tissue is interposed between the electrodes and the backplate, a power control system providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having a duty cycle with an on period and an off period. During the on period of the duty cycle, at least two of the electrodes have different phase angles and the power applied to at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between said two electrodes and at least one electrode and the backplate. During the off period of the duty cycle, the power is selected such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate.
In yet another aspect, a method for delivering energy to a biological site comprises the steps of positioning a catheter having a plurality of electrodes at its distal end at the biological site; positioning a backplate proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrode device and the backplate; and providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having a duty cycle with an on period and an off period. The method also includes the steps of, during the on period of the duty cycle, selecting the power such that at least two electrodes have voltage levels that differ from each other and at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between the two electrodes and between at least one electrode and the backplate; and during the off period of the duty cycle, terminating the power such that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate.
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the preferred embodiments of the invention.

RF ablation apparatus and method using unipolar and bipolar techniques


A method and system for analytically and dynamically generating a repeatable digital probing signal representing an answer tone. The probing signal may conveniently be used by a modem to determine whether characteristics of the communication path between the modem and another end are sufficiently similar to these of a previous communication path, such that a shortened training sequence can be employed between two ends. When the modem initiates communication, the modem applies a predefined algorithm to dynamically generate a sequence of samples representing an answer tone signal. Next, the modem encodes the generated sequence of samples into a sequence of codewords and sends it to a second modem via a transmission path. When the second modem receives each codeword of the sequence, the second modem dynamically generates a respective codeword and compares it to the received codeword. Using the received sequence of codewords and the dynamically generated sequence of codewords, the second modem may determine whether a shortened training sequence may be employed.

Before two modems can begin to communicate over a communications channel, the modems must first confirm that an adequate connection exists and establish mutually acceptable ground rules for communication. To do so, when a connection is first established between the modems, the modems will engage in a "training sequence" designed to both test the characteristics of the telephone circuit and select an agreed communication protocol. The training sequence is often referred to as "handshaking," by analogy to the human "handshake" that commonly occurs before two people begin to communicate with each other.
The modem handshaking sequence is particularly important, because numerous different modulation protocols or standards exist (defining aspects such as the "handshake method" (XON/XOFF), the baud rate, the parity setting, the number of data bits, and the number of stop bits), and the modems need to establish up front which protocol will be used. Further, the line conditions may preclude or require the use of one or more protocols or protocol-settings, and the modem handshaking sequence can be used to measure those line characteristics and facilitate a determination of what limitations or requirements exist.
1. Exemplary Modem Training Sequence
To initiate communication between two modems on a common telephone circuit, the originating modem first places a call to the answering modem, usually by dialing the phone number of the answering modem over the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The answering modem detects a ring on the telephone line and responsively goes off-hook to answer the call. The answering modem then begins the modem handshaking sequence. By convention, the answering modem begins this handshaking sequence by sending an answer tone of a predefined frequency to the originating modem, which may specify in simple terms (typically by its presence only) a proposed modulation protocol.
An answer tone was originally included in the handshaking protocol so as to disable echo suppressors and echo cancellers in the telephone network. However, as different modulation protocols have evolved, characteristics of the answer tone have been used to identify the presence of specific protocols. By way of example, phase reversals in the answer tone may serve to identify v.32 and v.34 echo-cancelled modems.
According to traditional analog modem communication protocols, such as V.32 and V.34, when the originating modem recognizes the answer tone, it responsively turns on its own transmitter and sends an originating mark carrier of a predefined frequency to the answering modem to confirm its availability to communicate according to the specified protocol. Alternatively, the originating modem may negotiate for the use of some other mutually acceptable protocol. Once the two modems agree on a modulation standard and once they have completed training, the modulated communication of useful information may begin.
According to more recent digital transmission protocols, the "training sequence" may take on other functions. For instance, according to the V.90 standard, after the answering modem sends the answer tone to the originating modem, the modems engage in several stages of a startup sequence, including (i) V.8 or V.8bis negotiation to identify V.90 capabilities and modes of operation (e.g., data mode, text mode, and modulation mode), (ii) line-probing to determine if the telephone circuit can support V.90 transmissions, (iii) training of equalizers and echo cancellers and testing the line for distortion, and (iv) exchange of constellation coding information to facilitate communication. The functions and operation of this training process are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be described in great detail here.
In general, during the line-probing stage, the originating modem and the answering modem transmit to each other probing signals that are made up of complex signals. When each modem receives the probing signal, it may analyze the signal in order to determine characteristics of the subscriber line. Based at least in part on these characteristics, the two modems can then determine whether a V.90 compatible connection is possible or whether a different protocol, such as V.34 or V.32 should be employed instead.
Further, based on an analysis of the respective probing signals that they receive, either or both modems may adjust various operating parameters, in order to optimize communication. As a result, for instance, the modems may adjust the carrier frequency and symbol rates that the modems use for signal transmission. As another example, the modems may engage in an adaptive pre-emphasis process in order to adjust (e.g., spectrally shape) various parts of the signal being transmitted so as to reduce effects of signal-dependent distortion. As still another example, the modems may engage in an adaptive power-control process so as to increase transmission power and increase the signal-to-noise ratio (preferably without introducing substantial echo distortions).
After line probing, the modems train equalizers and echo-cancellers and make measurements (such as signal levels and quantization distortions) that enable one or both modems to determine what impact if any the communication link between the modems has on digital transmissions. This latter procedure is known in the art as a "Digital Impairment Learning" or DIL, and it is commonly used in V.90 compatible communication systems, in which one communication end is terminated with a digital modem and a second communication end is terminated with an analog modem. In a V.90 compatible communication system, a digital modem typically transmits a DIL signal to an analog modem, which receives and processes the DIL signal.
To initiate the DIL process, the analog modem transmits to the digital modem a signal describing a sequence of codewords that the analog modem expects to receive. The description of the sequence of codewords is known as a DIL-descriptor, and the signal is known as a "Ja" signal. When the digital modem receives the "Ja" signal and builds the DIL sequence described by the DIL-descriptor in the "Ja" signal, the digital modem repeatedly transmits to the analog modem the DIL sequence that the analog modem expects to receive.
A DIL-sequence may be vendor-specific; no particular sequence is required by the standards. Thus, for example, of the 128 possible unique 8-bit PCM codewords, the DIL sequence could consist of 117 unique PCM codewords. A predefined signal, such as an "S/Sbar" signal, can then signify the end of the "Ja" signal (and the beginning of the next phase of the training sequence). In general, the "S" signal is a simple predefined signal consisting of two alternating signal points that are 90 degrees apart, and the "Sbar" signal is a signal generated by phase shifting the "S" signal by 180 degrees. The "S" signal and the "Sbar" signal are defined in the V.34 International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication ("ITU-T") standard, which is incorporated herein by reference.
When the digital modem receives the "Ja" signal, the digital modem transmits the DIL sequence described by the DIL-descriptor in the "Ja" signal. Then, when the analog modem receives the codewords of the DIL sequence, the analog modem can collect and store the corresponding amplitudes in a table of 128 rows by 6 columns. Each row of the table may correspond to a particular PCM codeword of the DIL sequence, and each column of the table may correspond to a particular phase in which the symbol was received by the analog modem. Based on some or all entries in this table, the analog modem may then perform DIL processing in a number of stages. For instance, the analog modem might be arranged to perform the DIL processing in two stages.
First, the analog modem seeks to determine what encoding law (e.g., μ-law or A-law) the digital end used to generate the PCM codewords that it transmitted and the extent to which the communications link digitally attenuated the signal. To do this, the analog modem formulates a hypotheses as to what scaling factors the line applied to the signal, and the analog modem then tests the hypotheses by decoding, the values in the table, first with a scaled μ-law compander and then with a scaled A-law compander. The analog modem then compares each decoded value to the value that it expected to have been transmitted by the digital modem and thereby derives a decoding error for each value. A combination of the decoding errors for some or all of the received codewords provides a measure of veracity of the original hypotheses. By performing this process over a number of different hypotheses, each representing a respective scaling value, the analog modem can identify the encoding law and a scaling value that produces the least error and, thus, the analog modem can select a winning hypothesis.
Second, after receiving all of PCM codewords of the DIL sequence, the analog modem maps the transmitted codewords (i.e. expected codewords) with the received codewords. In particular, for instance, the analog modem can generate a number of bitmaps representing the transmitted and respective received codewords. The analog modem may then select a subset of transmitted codewords that maximizes the Euclidean distance between received values and that matches the noise ratio of the channel and the desired error rate. The analog modem may perform this process for several phases and then, in the final stage of the training sequence, may transmit the subsets to the digital modem.
In typical practice, the entire modem training sequence takes on the order of twenty to thirty seconds to complete. During this time, the modems do not communicate user data. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the length of the modem training sequence.
2. Proposed Technique to Shorten the Training Sequence
In many environments, such as in accessing an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a network device such as an analog modem typically establishes a connection with an answering modem over the same subscriber line every time that it connects with the answering modem. Consequently, information that the originating modem and the answering modem obtain about the characteristics of that line during an initial training sequence may be equally applicable in later communication sessions. In a given communication session, if one of the modems can somehow determine that the transmission line characteristics are substantially the same as they were in a previous session, the modems should theoretically be able to cut short the training sequence, omitting some or all of the lengthy line-characteristic analysis described above.
According to a method proposed by Conexant Systems Inc., one way to determine whether a shortened training sequence can be employed is to effectively superimpose a line probing signal on the answer tone that the digital modem initially sends to the analog modem. Conexant refers to this combination signal as an "ANSpcm signal."
More particularly, according to Conexant, the digital modem retrieves from a stored table and transmits to the analog modem a sequence of 320 predefined PCM codewords (consisting of 70 unique codewords) that represent the answer tone signal. Concurrent with its receipt of the answer tone, the analog modem may then compare the received codewords with a stored table of the predefined 320 PCM codewords and, as in the DIL process described above, determine the characteristics of the line.
In this way, the analog modem can effectively kill two birds with one stone: (i) it can receive the answer tone and, simultaneously, (ii) receive a probing signal that allows it to learn the line characteristics so that it can determine whether the connection is the same as before. If the line characteristics are the same as before, the analog modem can then use the same receiver settings, without having to engage in the full training sequence. The modems can then more quickly enter a useful communication session.

Method and system for analytically computing and using an ANSpcm signal


An optical lens including a first light exit surface, a total internal reflection (TIR) surface, a second light exit surface and a third light exit surface connected in an order, and correspondingly has a first intersection, a second intersection and a third intersection therebetween. A first line between the first intersection and a reference point on an optical axis of the optical lens intersects with the optical axis to form a first angle between 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and a first direction of the reference point pointing toward a point on the TIR surface intersects with a normal of the first light exit surface at the point to form a reflecting angle larger than a critical angle of TIR. A second line between the second intersection and the reference point intersects with the first line to form a second angle between 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to an optical component and a light source device, and particularly to an optical lens and a light source device using the optical lens.
2. Description of Related Art
In the recent years, along with the progression of semiconductor technology, light emitting diode (LED) is able to emit light beam having high luminous intensity, and the luminous efficiency of the LED is constantly improved. Compared to some conventional light sources, the LED light source has the advantages of energy efficient, small size and long life expectancy. Therefore, the conventional light sources are gradually replaced with the LED light source, and the LED light source is widely applied in the field of lighting, such as car headlights, street lamps, desk lamps, etc.
The LED light sources used for illumination generally has an angle of half maximum power that is approximately 120 degrees, and the luminous intensity of the LED at the forward direction substantially perpendicular to the light-emitting surface is higher while that at the oblique direction oblique to the forward direction is weaker. In other words, the light emitted by the LED has a Lambertian distribution. Therefore, if the LED light source is directly applied in a conventional light bulb without any modification, the light emission angle of the light bulb having the LED light source would be restricted, and particularly, the light intensity at a side opposite to the light-emitting side of the light source is even weaker. In order to increase the light emission angle of the lamp, some LED light bulbs are accessorized with a lampshade having the scattering effect. By such lampshade, the light intensity in the direction backward to the light-emitting side of the LED light bulb may be increased; however, it is still not enough to meet the requirement of the omnidirectional lighting, such as the Energy Star omnidirectional specification. That is, the Energy Star specifics that luminous intensity (cd) at any angle in the 0° to 135° zone shall not differ from the mean intensity for the entire 0° to 135° zone by more than 20%.


The present invention provides a device for authenticating user's access rights to resources, which comprises first memory means for storing challenging data, second memory means for storing unique identifying information of the user, third memory means for storing proof support information which is a result of executing predetermined computations to the unique identifying information of the user and unique security characteristic information of the device, response generation means for generating a response from the challenging data stored in the first memory means, the unique identifying information stored in the second memory means and the proof support information stored in the third memory means, and verification means for verifying the legitimacy of the response by verifying that the response, the challenging data and the unique security characteristic information of the device satisfy a specific predefined relation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for authenticating user's access rights to resources.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Program execution control technologies are known in the field to which the present invention belongs. The program execution control technologies are technologies to:                1. Embed a routine for user authentication during the use of an application program;        2. Have the routine examine whether the user attempting execution of the application possesses a key for proper authentication; and        3. Continue the program only when the existence of the key for authentication is verified, otherwise to halt execution.
By using these technologies, execution of the application program is enabled only for proper users having the authentication key. The technologies are commercialized in the software marketing field, two examples being Sentine/SuparPro (trade mark) from Rainbow Technologies, Inc. and HASP (trade mark) from Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Ltd.
In the use of program execution control technologies, a user who executes software possesses an authentication key as user identification information. The authentication key is a key for encryption and is distributed to the user by a party who allows use of software, a software vender, for example. The authentication key is securely sealed in a memory, or the like, of hardware to prevent duplication, and is delivered to the user using physical means such as the postal service. The user mounts personal computer/workstation using a designated method. When the user starts up the application program and when the execution of the program reaches the user authentication routine, the program communicates with the hardware in which the authentication key of the user is embedded. Based on the results of the communication, the program identifies the authentication key, and moves the execution to the following step upon confirmation of existence of the correct authentication key. If the communication fails and the verification of the existence of the authentication key is not established, the program stops automatically, discontinuing the execution of subsequent steps.
Identification of the authentication key by the user authentication routine is executed according to the following protocol, for example:                1. The user authentication routine generates and transmits an appropriate number to the hardware in which the key is embedded.        2. The hardware in which the key is embedded encrypts the number using the embedded authentication key and transmits it back to the authentication routine.        3. The authentication routine determines whether or not the number transmitted back is the number expected beforehand, or, in other words, the number obtained by encrypting the number with a correct authentication key.        4. If the number transmitted back coincides with the expected number, the execution of the program is continued, otherwise the execution is halted.        5. In this case, communication between the application program and the hardware in which the authentication key is embedded must be different for each execution even if it is between the same location in the same application with the same hardware.
Otherwise, a user who does not possess the correct authentication key may be able to execute the program by recording once the content of communication during the normal execution process, and by responding to the application program according to the recording each time the subsequent program is executed. Such improper execution of the application program by replaying the communication content is called a replay attack.
In order to prevent a replay attack, in general, a random number is generated and used for each communication as the number to be transmitted to the hardware in which the key is embedded.

Device and method for authenticating user's access rights to resources


The present disclosure provides a touch substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a touch display device. The touch substrate includes a base substrate, a plurality of touch electrodes on the base substrate, and a vanishing pattern insulated from the touch electrodes, in which an orthogonal projection of the vanishing pattern on the base substrate covers at least a portion of an orthogonal projection of a gap between adjacent touch electrodes on the base substrate, and a material of the vanishing pattern and a material of the touch electrodes are the same.

In the related art, in order to realize a flexible touch substrate, a metal mesh is used to prepare a touch electrode of the flexible touch substrate, but the metal mesh has problems of a visible metal and a Moire pattern, so that an Ag composite film can be used instead of a metal mesh to implement the flexible touch substrate.
However, the Ag composite film has a certain absorptivity to light, such that there is a serious shadow elimination problem in the preparation of a touch electrode of a touch substrate using the Ag composite film.

Touch substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and touch display device

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Heat-trapping bulk layers or thermal-boundary film stacks are formed between a heat-assisted active layer and an associated electrode to confine such transient heat to the active layer in a heat-assisted device (e.g., certain types of resistance-switching and selector elements used in non-volatile memory. Preferably, the heat-trapping layers or thermal-boundary stacks are electrically conductive while being thermally insulating or reflective. Heat-trapping layers use bulk absorption and re-radiation to trap heat. Materials may include, without limitation, chalcogenides with Group 6 elements. Thermal-boundary stacks use reflection from interfaces to trap heat and may include film layers as thin as 1-5 monolayers. Effectiveness of a thermal-boundary stack depends on the thermal impedance mismatch between layers of the stack, rendering thermally insulating bulk materials optional for thermal-boundary stack components.

Heat-trapping layers with high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity confine heat inside switchable layers of heat-assisted resistance-switching (RS) cells, such as nonvolatile memory cells, so that switching processes involving Joule heating consume less electrical power. The same approach may reduce power consumption during activation of those types of selectors that require heat to activate (not all selectors use heat).
Resistance-switching NVM, also known as ReRAM or RRAM, is a possible replacement for flash memory and other charge-storage-based forms of nonvolatile memory. Resistance-switching cells repeatedly change their resistance between at least two distinguishable values in response to a signal, such as an applied electric, magnetic, thermal, chemical, optical, or combination stimulus. In the absence of the resistance-changing stimulus, and even in the absence of supplied power, the cell retains its last programmed resistance, making it usable as a static, or nonvolatile, memory element.
In the simplest case, the cell switches between two resistance values, a low-resistance state (LRS) and a high-resistance state (HRS). Such a cell can store one bit of data by assigning one state to "logic-zero" and the other to "logic-one." The cell is written (its resistance is changed) by the application of a write signal (e.g., voltage, current, heat, light, etc.) that is at or above a write-threshold strength. The cell is read (its resistance is sensed without being changed) by applying a voltage (or current) that is below the write-threshold strength, measuring the output current (or voltage), and applying Ohm's law (R=V/I, where R is resistance, V is voltage, and I is current.
Cells that can be repeatedly switched between more than two resistance states have been demonstrated. Such cells may store multiple bits of data.
Although NVM is a leading application of resistance-switching cells, the cells may also be used for other switching applications; for example, as a threshold switch or a logic element that keeps its state when the device is powered down and powered back up.
Some non-limiting examples of resistance-switching modalities include redistribution of conductive metal atoms in an otherwise insulating medium, redox reactions that change the ionic content of the medium, varying the material phase or degree of crystallinity, or varying the ferromagnetic properties. Many types of resistance-switching designs and mechanisms have their own names and acronyms, and some writers treat particular schemata as different from what they term "ReRAM" or "RRAM." For purposes herein, "resistance-switching," "resistance-switchable," and "RS" are interchangeable and refer to any repeatable or reversible resistance changes (i.e., they exclude irreversible changes such as the electrical breakdown that occurs in a fuse or anti-fuse). "RS-NVM" means non-volatile memory based on repeatedly or reversibly induced resistance changes in selected individual memory elements or cells.
Reliable and responsive materials are critical to RS-NVM performance. However, sometimes there are trade-offs between responsivity and reliability because sensitive materials may be sensitive to other stimuli besides the switching signal. Thermal issues are often a cause for concern, more so as memory-cell density increases and memory arrays are placed closer to processor logic arrays. Yet some types of switching make use of heat. Heat may be the dominant switching stimulus in some phase-change and thermochemical switching. In addition, some types of electrical switching in redox, valency-change, crystallinity-change, and metal-migration cells may be assisted by localized heat; that is, switching at a higher temperature consumes less electrical power or has some other advantage.
Therefore, a need exists for controlling thermal conditions in RS-NVM cells and their near neighboring components such as diodes, transistors, other switches, and other cells in the RS-NVM array. Heating is preferably sufficient where it is necessary or beneficial to the intended function, yet preferably it is not so excessive or uncontrolled that performance of other components, or of the device as a whole, is compromised. Operating at lower power reduces the amount of heat dissipated.

Thermal management structure for low-power nonvolatile filamentary switch


A live vaccine comprising an avirulent, invasive and immunogenic strain of a fish pathogenic bacterial species is used for immunization of fish against infectious diseases caused by fish pathogens by immersion of the fish into a suspension of the vaccine strain. Suitable strains for the preparation of said vaccine include Vibrio anguillarum strains DSM 4506, DSM 4507 and DSM 4508.

Infections occurring among cultured fish, principally salmonid fish, are a major source of economic loss in the fish rearing industry all over the world. It has hitherto been attempted to reduce or eliminate losses resulting from certain infections of bacterial etiology (e.g. furunculosis caused by Aeromonas salmonicida, enteric redmouth caused by Yersinia ruckerii and vibriosis caused by Vibrio anguillarum) by means of chemotherapeutic agents such as sulfa drugs or oxytetracycline. The use of antibacterial agents, however, is rather expensive and, furthermore, drug resistant strains of the various pathogenic bacteria have been known to develop. Besides, the use of antibacterial agents offers no protection against diseases of a viral etiology.
Efforts have therefore been made to develop a vaccine against selected fish pathogens. Thus, a vaccine has been developed against Y. ruckerii (Tebbit et al. in: Developments in Biological Standardization, Vol. 49, International Symposium on Fish Biologics: Serodiagnostics and Vaccines, W. Heunessen and D. P. Anderson (eds.), 1981, pp. 395-402), and V. anguillarum (Amend and Johnson in: Developments in Biological Standardization, Vol. 49, International Symposium on Fish Biologics: Serodiagnostics and Vaccines, W. Heunessen and D. P. Anderson (eds.), 1981, pp. 403-418; Agius et al., J. Fish Dis. 6, 1983, pp. 129-134). These vaccines are based on formalin-killed virulent bacteria. The efficacy of these vaccines has been tested and it has been shown that the route of administration of the vaccines plays an important part for the strength of the resulting immune response (Kawano et al., Bull. Jpn. Soc. Sci. Fish. 50, 1984, pp. 771-774; Ward et al., in Fish Immunology, M. J. Manning and M. F. Tatner (eds.), 1985, pp. 221-229). Experiments have shown that injection of a vaccine preparation gives by far the best result with the longest duration of the immunization, while immersion and oral administration give a less efficient protection against the infections in question.
Further, a vaccine comprising chloroform-inactivated whole cells, soluble antigen and combined whole cell and soluble antigen of an avirulent strain of Aeromonas salmonicida has been shown to protect fish against furunculosis (Cipriano et al., J. World Maricul. Soc., 1983, 14, 201-211).
An improved understanding of the pathogenic properties of the fish pathogens against which it is desired to develop a useful immune response is important for the construction of an efficient vaccine. In spite of the widespread occurrence of epizootics in fish farms caused by a variety of different pathogens, both bacterial and viral, studies of the properties contributing to virulence have so far been limited in number. In the case of V. anguillarum, a number of studies have established the existence in this bacterium of a virulence plasmid of 65 kb (kilobase pairs) which encodes a complex system important to the ability of the bacterium to take up Fe.sup.3+ (Crosa, Nature 284, 1980, pp. 566-568). It has been shown for many pathogenic microorganisms that the ability to take up Fe.sup.3+ is important for the bacteria during the process of infection. If V. anguillarum is cured of the virulence plasmid, it becomes avirulent for fish (Crosa et al., Infect. Immun. 27, 1980, pp. 897-902).
Furthermore, a number of publications describe possible virulence determinants such as serum resistance (Trust et al., Infect. Immun. 34, 1981, pp. 702-707), hemolysin (Munn, FEMS Micribiol. Lett. 3, 1978, pp. 265-268), extracellular protease (Inamura et al., Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish. 51, 1985, pp. 1915-1920) and other extracellular factors (Kodama et al., Am. J. Vet. Res. 45, 1984, pp. 2203-2207). It has been possible in one way or another to correlate these virulence determinants to the outbreak of disease. However, it has not yet been conclusively proved that these bacterial products are virulence determinants which are important for the pathogenicity of the bacterium.
In recent years, interest has increased in developing live vaccines based on live attenuated bacterial strains for use in the prevention of human diseases, in particular against enteric agents (Hone et al., J. Inf. Dis. 156, 1987, pp. 167-174; Wahdan et al., J. Inf. Dis. 145, 1982, pp. 292-295). Cipriano and Stasliper, Prog. Fish-Cult., 44, 1982, 167-169, have disclosed a vaccine comprising an attenuated A. salmonicida strain. Live vaccines generally have the advantage over vaccines based on killed pathogens or bacterial components that they confer a higher degree of immunity as well as a more prolonged effect, and is more complete than when single components such as antigens are administered. Furthermore, they may require a smaller efficacious dosage than killed pathogens or single components. Live vaccines may also be less expensive to produce than those based on a purified single component, no purification step being required. It would therefore be an advantage to develop a live vaccine for administration to fish requiring a lower immunization dosage than existing fish vaccines based on killed pathogens or membrane components.
A need clearly exists to develop a vaccine against fish pathogens which can provoke a long-lasting and efficient immunological protection against a broad spectrum of fish pathogens after immersion of the fish into the vaccine. Ideally, such a vaccine should comprise a bacterial strain which possesses as many characteristics of the pathogenic microorganisms as possible, but without their ability to cause disease. It is of special significance to select vaccine strains which can penetrate into and proliferate in the fish body, thereby eliciting a strong immune response.

Fish vaccine comprising an avirulent, invasive bacterium


Aspects of embodiments relate to an optical wavelet transform (WT) or inverse wavelet transform (IWT) medium for implementing optical multiwavelet orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or optical demultiplexing. In embodiments, the optical WT/IWT medium comprises a plurality of N waveguides for receiving in parallel a corresponding number of N modulated optical input signals λ1,MOD to λN,MOD. Each waveguide comprises at least two optical resonators configured such to realize a wavelet filterbank so that the modulated optical signals λ1,MOD to λn,MOD undergo WT/IWT in a manner such to obtain optical wavelet transformed signals that can be orthogonally frequency division multiplexed or demultiplexed.

Optical Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is known as a modulation technique that allows efficient multiplexing i.e., combining of analogue or digital signals, transmission of the combined signals over a shared medium, and respective assigning of the combined signals to a multiplicity of users. Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) are tools used ubiquitously in signal processing and signal analysis applications, including in OFDM. In recent years, the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DFT) is increasingly used to replace FFT in implementing OFDM, as the use of wavelet-based transforms overcomes some of the disadvantages associated with FFT-based OFDM, for example the creation of side lobes due to the use of rectangular windows.
Known multiwavelet-transform (MWT) or multiwavelet-based OFDM (MWT-OFDM) techniques are implemented by employing full-electronic or electro-optical techniques, both of which however require electronic signal processing. As known in the art, optical signal processing is much faster than electronic signal processing. Hence, the electronic processing in (for example) electro-optical techniques is sometimes referred to as "the electronic bottleneck". Full-optical realizations of wavelet transforms are limited to the use of scalar wavelet transforms.
There is therefore a need for, and it would be advantageous to have an architecture that enables multiwavelet-based OFDM and, correspondingly, multiwavelet-based demultiplexing techniques that are implemented fully optically.
The description above is presented as a general overview of related art in this field and should not be construed as an admission that any of the information it contains constitutes prior art against the present patent application.

Full-optical multiwavelet orthogonal frequency divisional multiplexing (OFDM) and demultiplexing


Disclosed herein is a door hinge structure for a refrigerator. The door hinge structure comprises an upper fixture unit which is screwed to a predetermined front upper portion of a refrigerator body, and has an upper hinge pin to be inserted in a top aperture formed at an upper surface of a refrigerator door, an upper hinge unit which is mounted on the upper surface of the door, and has a through opening for allowing a distal end of the upper hinge pin to be slidably inserted therethrough, the upper hinge unit being coupled with the upper fixture unit by making use of a torsion spring so that it is vertically spaced therewith, a lower fixture unit which is screwed to a predetermined front lower portion of the body, and has a lower hinge pin to be inserted in a bottom aperture formed, at a lower surface of the door, a lower hinge unit which is mounted on the lower surface of the door, and has a through opening for the insertion of the lower hinge pin, and a stopper member which is interposed between the lower fixture unit and the lower hinge unit and is adapted to stop pivotal movement of the door at least one time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door hinge structure for a refrigerator, and more particularly to a simplified door hinge structure for a refrigerator which is capable of smoothly keeping a refrigerator door open when food is placed into or taken out of the interior of the refrigerator, thereby enhancing convenience in use of the refrigerator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, refrigerators include a door pivotably coupled to a front side of their body by means of a door hinge. In an open state of the door, the door hinge allows the door to be automatically closed to the body.
Representative prior art of a door hinge structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,986. The configuration and operation of the disclosed door hinge structure will now be explained with reference to FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an important portion of a door hinge structure of the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 10, the door hinge structure for a refrigerator of the prior art comprises: an upper bracket 100 attached to a body 1 of the refrigerator above a refrigerator door 2; and an upper mount 200 in contact with an upper surface of the refrigerator door 2. The upper bracket 100 has a hinge pin 101, and a support shaft 102 attached to a lower surface of the hinge pin 101. The upper mount 200 has a spring housing 202, and a torsion spring 201 disposed within the spring housing 202. In such a state, the hinge pin 101 and the support shaft 102 are inserted in the spring housing 202. The upper mount 200 is assembled with the upper bracket 100 by means of the torsion spring 201.
The above described door hinge structure further comprises: a lower bracket 300 attached to the body 1 below the door 2, through which a lower hinge pin 301 is fastened; a lower mount 400 in contact with a lower surface of the door 2; and a slidable member 500 interposed between the lower bracket 300 and the lower mount 400. Fixed on the lower mount 400 is an insert member 401, which is fitted through the lower surface of the door 2 in a state wherein the lower hinge pin 301 is inserted therein.
With such a door hinge structure of the prior art as stated above, if the door 2 is swung open, the torsion spring 201 will be distorted and tensioned, thereby allowing the door 2 to be automatically closed.
Such a configuration wherein the torsion spring causes the door to move from an open position and to close itself, however, has a problem in that it is impossible to keep the door open for a long time.
Since the door cannot be retained in the open position, and is automatically closed, users suffer inconvenience whenever they place food into or taken it out of the interior of the refrigerator body.
Further, the door hinge structure of the prior art is very complex, and thus is troublesome in manufacturing and installation thereof.

Lotte Engineering & Machinery Mfg., Co., Ltd.


A universal hybrid solid-state switchgear for power transmission or distribution systems incorporates a fast mechanical switch and solid-state power electronics switching circuits to provide circuit breaker and fault current limiting applications.

With the growth of the electricity demand, utilities have been upgrading their systems continuously for higher power transfer capability and consequently, for higher fault current handling capability. There are growing instances in utility distribution and transmission systems wherein the fault current levels are exceeding the interrupting capability of existing substation circuit breakers. This increase in fault current level either requires the replacement of a large number of substation breakers or the development of some means to limit the fault current. Also, many mechanical circuit breakers are operating beyond the capacity originally intended in applications such as capacitor switching. This continual use of mechanical breakers requires intensive maintenance to be performed or periodic replacement of the whole breaker. Also the process of replacing circuit breakers of adequately high fault current interruption capability can become an expensive exercise. Environmental concerns with the use of both Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) gas and oil within mechanical breakers may pose long term problems for many utilities.

Multifunction hybrid solid-state switchgear


Power is conserved by dynamically applying clocks to execution units in a pipeline of a microprocessor. A clock to an execution unit is applied only when an instruction to the execution unit is valid. At other times when the execution unit needs not to be operational, the clock is not applied to the execution unit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a dynamic clock-control unit is used to provide a control signal to a local clock buffer providing a local clock to an execution unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a clock scheme in a microprocessor and, more particularly, to dynamic power management in an execution unit of a microprocessor using pipeline wave flow control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's microprocessors designed in CMOS technology dissipate more and more power. Thus, cooling microprocessors, as well as supplying sufficient power, becomes a challenge. In CMOS technology, power dissipation is due to charging and discharging capacitances introduced by a following stage of circuits and the connecting wires. Typically, power dissipation 'P' is proportional to the frequency 'f' of switching the capacitive load of all circuits and is also proportional to the square of the supply voltage 'Vt'. Thus, P αf* Vt**2.
In addition, as processor speeds increase, execution units within a processor must implement deeper pipelines in order to meet the smaller cycle times. This represents an increase in the amount of power needed due to register clocking and switching. However, execution units typically do not operate at 100% utilization, but operate at 10–20% utilization. Thus, much of this power usage is unnecessary. That is to say, for at least 80% of the time when there are no instructions flowing in the pipelines, power is still being consumed due to register clocking and switching.
Therefore, there is a need for controlling a pipeline of an execution unit in a microprocessor such that when no valid instructions are being executed, the clock to each unused stage in the pipeline is dynamically controlled so that no switching occurs and power is conserved.

Method and apparatus for dynamic power management in an execution unit using pipeline wave flow control

International Business Machines Corporation


A pair of pliers for removing fastening ring includes a pliers head, a pliers handle and a cover, wherein the pliers head comprises a left pliers head and a right pliers head, the pliers handle comprises a left pliers handle and a right pliers handle, and the left pliers head and the right pliers head are connected to a left pliers handle and a right pliers handle via a connecting shaft respectively, wherein the cover is provided at each of both sides of the pliers head via a head shaft, wherein the cutting edge of the left pliers head is blunt, and a projecting element is extended from an upper portion of the cutting edge of the left pliers head, the cutting edge of the right pliers head is a blade, and an adjusting device is provided at an upper portion of the left pliers handle and the right pliers handle.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a specialized hardware tool, and more particularly to a pair of pliers for removing a fastening ring used for connecting a plastic pipe and a pipe joint.
2. Description of Related Arts
The traditional way for connecting the PEX pipe or aluminum plastic pipe can be divided into two categories: K series and J series. K series comprises ear type clamps and copper clamp rings. When the pipe line has to be detached or there is a connecting mistake, it is hard to detach the ear type clamp or copper clamp ring from the pipes or pipe joints, so that the whole ear type clamp or copper clamp ring and pipes have to be abandoned together, which causes wastes and increases connecting cost. Now there are specialized pliers available in the market. However this kind of traditional specialized pliers can not adjust the space between the two cutting edges at head of the pliers. Moreover, during the operation, additional tools have to be used for adjusting the position of the head of the pliers, which causes a lot of trouble for the operation, and will affect the working efficiency and product quality.

Pliers for removing fastening ring with an adjusting device

Hanjiashu Industrial Park Beichen District, Tianjin

Link-Tech (Tianjin) Metal Products Co., Ltd.