The method tests the suitability of an optical material having a radiation-induced absorption, especially of an alkali or alkaline earth halide, for production of an optical element exposed to high-energy irradiation. The method includes pre-irradiating the optical material with laser radiation until rapid damage induced in the optical material with the laser radiation is saturated; subsequently measuring fluorescence of the optical material during and/or immediately after irradiating the optical material with excitation radiation and determining the non-intrinsic fluorescence and intrinsic fluorescence present in the measured fluorescence. Suitability may be preferably determined according to a ratio of the amount of non-intrinsic fluorescence to intrinsic fluorescence. A device for performing the method including a barrier device for blocking scattered excitation radiation is also provided.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for determining the suitability of an optical material for the production of optical elements, to a device for carrying out the method, and to the optical elements made from the optical materials determined to be suitable using the method.
2. Related Art
It is known that materials used to produce optical elements absorb irradiating light to a greater or lesser extent, so that the intensity of the light and/or radiation is typically less after it passes through an optical element than before it passes through. It is also known that the extent of this absorption depends on the wavelength of the light. For optical systems, i.e., for optically transparent systems, the goal, however, is to keep the absorption as low as possible, i.e., they should have a high light permeability or transmission, at least for the particular working wavelength. The absorption is composed of material-specific (intrinsic) portions and portions due to "non-intrinsic" portions, such as inclusions, contamination and/or crystal imperfections. While the intrinsic absorption is independent of the particular quality of the material, the additional radiation absorption of the non-intrinsic absorption results in a degradation of the optical material.
As a result of the intrinsic and non-intrinsic absorption, energy is deposited in the optical material, which results in a temperature rise. The disadvantage of the material heating in this manner is that the optical properties, e.g., the refractive index, change, which results in a change in the reproduction ratios in an optical component used for beam shaping, for example, since the refractive index depends not only on the wavelength of the light, but also on the temperature of the optical material. In addition, a temperature rise in an optical component also results in a change in the lens geometry. These phenomena produce a change in the lens focal point and blurriness in images projected with the heated lens. In photolithography in particular, which is used to produce computer chips and electronic circuits, this results in quality degradations and/or an increase in waste, and is therefore not desired.
With many materials, a portion of the absorbed radiation is not only converted to heat, but is also given off again in the form of fluorescence. The formation of fluorescence on optical materials, in particular on optical crystals, is known per se. For example, W. Triebel et al. describe, in Proceedings SPIE Vol. 4103, pages 1-11, 2000 Triebel, Bark-Zollmann, Mühlig et al. in "Evaluation of Fused Silica for DUV Laser Applications by Short Time Diagnostics", the formation and measurement of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in quartz, particularly in OH-rich quartz and/or a glass matrix. Furthermore, M. Mizuguchi et al. describe, in J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A., Vol. 16, pages 2052-3057 (1998), the formation of optical absorption bands in a calcium fluoride crystal. In addition, M. Mizuguchi et al. describe, in J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, Vol. 16, pages 1153-1159, July 1999, a time-resolved photoluminescence for diagnosing the laser damage done to a calcium fluoride crystal. This article describes the formation of color centers that form photoluminescence via excitation with an ArF excimer laser at 193 nm. To enable measurements of this type, however, crystals with a relatively high amount of impurities are used in this case, and this does not fulfill the high requirements for photolithography. In addition, the fluorescence measurement is carried out in the sample to be investigated after a waiting period of 50 nsec after the laser pulse ends. It has been shown that the fluorescence values obtained in this manner cannot be used for quality control purposes or to determine the extent of the impurity, and therefore cannot be used to form color centers in the high-quality crystals.
It is therefore believed that the determination of radiation-induced fluorescence, in particular laser-induced fluorescence, cannot be used for quality control of high-quality, optical materials, as with high-purity calcium fluoride for photolithography, for example. (Refer also to the presentation by Dr. Mann, Laserlabor Göttingen, SPIE Conference in Seattle, USA, July 2002). It was determined that a correlation cannot be made between laser-induced fluorescence and a claim regarding impurities and the optical quality of a material.

Determining the suitability of an optical material for the production of optical elements, corresponding device, and use of said material


A process to produce solid glucose from a hydrolyzate consisting of a mixture of glucose, water, and an acid used in the hydrolysis of a biomass material is covered herein. In the process, the hydrolyzate is concentrated, as required, to form two phases: a solid glucose phase and an acidic liquid phase. The phases are formed in a vessel where they are separated for recovery of the acidic liquid phase. The solid glucose phase, containing residual acidic liquid phase, is then extracted to remove most of the residual acid to produce solid glucose mostly free of acid. The recovered acid may then be recycled. The solid glucose may be further processed including purification and also drying.

This invention relates to a process for production of solid glucose from biomass materials, and more particularly, for means to separate the acid from the glucose and produce solid glucose for shipping to the end user (such as a gasohol plant) where glucose is fermented to form alcohol for blending with gasoline. The solid glucose can be fermented or purified and used as a food additive.
In the case of glucose fermentation, glucose can be produced from several carbohydrate containing materials such as starchy grains and cellulosic biomass materials. Starchy materials, such as corn, are converted by hydrolysis of starch to glucose by acids or enzymes. For enzyme hydrolysis, grain must be ground into mash to assure that the carbohydrates are accessible to enzymes. The mash must be sterilized before the enzymes are added and kept sterile in order for the enzymes to perform as required. The mash must be temperature and pH adjusted as required by the enzymes. Either acid or base may be required to adjust the pH. The first enzyme will convert the starch to water soluble dextrins. The second enzyme, after required temperature and pH adjustments, will hydrolyze the dextrins to glucose.
Dilute acid hydrolysis of starchy materials converts the starch to glucose. The resulting hydrolyzate must be neutralized with lime or other basic material before glucose can be used for fermentation. Biomass hydrolysis plants producing glucose, are usually operated at or near an ethanol fermenting and distilling process plant to avoid high costs of shipping dilute solutions of glucose.
Enormous amounts of cellulosic materials found in biomass are potentially convertible via hydrolysis to glucose. No practical cost-effective process for converting biomass materials to alcohol via fermentation and distillation has yet been developed. When such a process is available, a gasohol plant for starchy materials can be modified to require only a storage area for glucose. Thus, such a plant could process either starchy materials or glucose. The state of the art process usually adds dilute acid to a biomass in a reactor operating at high pressure and high temperature. Acids used for hydrolysis include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, salts which can be hydrolyzed to form acids, and organic acids such as sulfonic acids. The hydrolyzate from the reactor contains dilute acid and dilute glucose. Large amounts of acid in the hydrolyzate, when neutralized with lime, results in high costs of acid and lime. Lime deposits form as scaling in evaporators and other equipment therefore lime may cause problems. Disposal problems often result in water pollution from neutralization. Separation of acid from the hydrolyzate by electrodialysis, ion exchange, solvent separation or other processes have the disadvantages of short equipment life, high capital costs, high operating costs, and high maintenance costs.
Also, a process for converting biomass to glucose uses low temperature and enzymes. The slow-acting process must use sterilized biomass in sterilized reactors. The costs of the enzymes is much more than that for acids.
Solid glucose manufactured for food requires pure glucose separated from impurities. Glucose from acid hydrolysis of corn starch produces a hydrolyzate that is then neutralized and purified by several steps including filtration, ion exchange, and absorption by activated charcoal to remove most of the impurities. The hydrolyzate is then concentrated via multiple-effect evaporation to remove most of the water. The resulting concentrated mixture is sent to a cooler and then to a crystallizer to form glucose crystals for separation from any remaining impurities. About 72 hours is required to form the glucose crystals. The resulting glucose crystals are separated from adhering liquor by a centrifuge. After water washing, the glucose is dried and stored for shipping.
It is therefore an object of this invention to obviate many of the limitations or disadvantages of the prior art in production of solid glucose by forming a glucose phase from a mixture of glucose and an acid.
Another object of this invention is to form a glucose phase in about 12 hours.
Still another object of this invention is to separate acid from glucose, so acid can be recovered for recycling. Recovered acid may contain glucose and can be recycled with the acid.
Additional purification of solid glucose may also be achieved to remove impurities to produce nearly pure glucose for food usage.
An additional object of this invention is to produce solid glucose from local sources of biomass for shipping to remote fermentation cites.
With the above and other objects in view, this invention relates to the novel features and alternatives and combinations presently described and pointed out in the drawings.


A patient monitoring secondary alarm notification system comprises a plurality of devices, configured to generate an alarm data, and a central station. The central station comprises a processor configured to receive the alarm data from the plurality of devices and monitor a plurality of dynamic conditions. The processor is further configured to assess the alarm data and the dynamic conditions to determine an alarm notification.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to patient monitoring. In particular, the present invention relates to managing a patient monitoring secondary alarm notification system.
Patient monitoring devices, such as devices monitoring patient physiological parameters, including but not limited to blood pressure, temperature and electrocardiogram ("ECG"), are designed to identify physiological problems experienced by the patient and to alert clinicians to those problems. Typically, clinicians are alerted to such problems via the generation of alarms, including primary auditory or visual alarms at the particular device. Secondary alarm notifications are generated in order to notify caregivers that are not in close proximity to the alarming device. These secondary alarms are often sent pagers, phones or smart devices carried by clinicians, or directly to sign boards. Primary and secondary alarms may also be generated by patient monitors when technical problems occur with the monitor itself, such as low battery, disconnection of patient monitoring lead, etc.
Current patient monitoring secondary alarm management systems typically follow static, pre-assigned rule sets. These systems do not, for example, take into account whether the first level or primary responder has recently received an alarm notification from a device or is already responding to an alarm notification from a different device, or numerous other conditions. Additionally, while a responder or clinician may desire to attend to all alarm events, he or she may be unable to respond to alarm events in a timely manner because his or her workflow is too heavy, or he or she is located too far away. Several alarms from different devices and locations may occur at once or within a short period of time, and/or a hospital floor may be understaffed, which may create a scenario in which it is impossible for a single responder or clinician to respond to all alarm events in a timely manner.
Hazards may arise when alarms go unrecognized or are not sent to the proper clinician for response. Unheeded alarms and slow response to alarms negatively affect patient care, and can lead to undesired outcomes for patients as an alarm event may indicate a deterioration of a patient's physiological condition, which often requires immediate attention.
Therefore, an improved method and system are needed for effectively managing a patient monitoring alarm notification system.

System and method for managing patient monitoring alarms


Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to determine traffic volume of a domain name server caused by a host domain. In some examples, a host domain may store page view data that relates to page views requested at the domain name server. The host domain may receive a first query for a resource associated with the host domain. The host domain may add an instruction to the resource to produce a modified resource and send the modified resource to a device. The modified resource may generate a second query that may be used to determine traffic volume. The device may receive the modified resource, and generate the second query that includes an identification of the domain name server. The host domain may receive the second query, detect the identification, and update the page view data. The host domain may determine traffic volume based on the page view data.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A content provider may use a content delivery network to alleviate traffic of an infrastructure of the content provider. The content delivery network may use a domain name system to achieve load balancing. The domain name system may include one or more domain name servers configured to resolve addresses identifying requests for content relating to the content provider.

Domain name server traffic volume estimation


A dual profile doorstop device that holds a door open or keeps a door closed, or partially open or partially closed, as desired. The device is a unitary component containing two different profiles for restraining the movement of a door; a graduated profile at one end and a stop block or handle profile at the other end, with a relatively thin connector portion extending between the two profiles

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of doorstop devices.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Conventional doorstops are utilized by inserting some form of wedge between an open door and the floor or by putting some form of block in front of the open door to keep it from swinging shut. These devices are inherently limited because a user must be able to access the device from the side of the door that is propped open. What is needed is a device that can be accessed and adjusted from either side of the door.


Disclosed is a method for measuring the available remaining hydrogen capacity of a non-replaced hydrogen storage canister. After the original hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister is read, the used hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister is read and remaining hydrogen capacity formula is employed to determine the available remaining hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister. For a fully charged or newly-installed hydrogen storage canister, the process includes reading the number of cycles of operation of the hydrogen storage canister, reading the original hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister, reading the used hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister, and then employing the remaining hydrogen capacity formula to determine the available remaining hydrogen capacity of the hydrogen storage canister.

Hydrogen containers or storage canisters are widely used in for example hydrogen powered vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell systems and related products thereof, and hydrogen generation systems for storage of hydrogen. Currently, mass storage of hydrogen takes three forms including liquid form, high-pressure gas form and low-pressure metal hydrides. Among the three forms the solid metal hydride is the best option in respect of operation safety.
Metal alloys used to store hydrogen in room temperature and low-pressure conditions include TiFe alloy, LaNi5 alloy, and Mg alloy (all of which are in powder form.) These powders are contained in a storage canister for ease of usage and carrying. The storage canister must be properly charged with hydrogen gas before usage and a discharge process must be carried out to release hydrogen from the storage canister to supply for example a hydrogen engine or a hydrogen fuel cell.
In practical operation of the hydrogen storage canister, the available remaining amount of hydrogen remaining in the hydrogen storage canister must be constantly monitored in order to timely recharge the hydrogen storage canister with hydrogen. For example, for a portable fuel cell power generator that obtains hydrogen supply from a hydrogen storage canister, or for an electrical motorcycle/bicycle powered by hydrogen, a user must keep aware of the remaining amount of hydrogen inside the hydrogen storage canister in order to determine the time period within which the device is still operable with proper supply of hydrogen or to determine the time to recharge the hydrogen storage canister with hydrogen or to replace the hydrogen storage canister with a new or a fully charged one.
The performance of a solid alloy powder hydrogen storage is often indicated by a PCT curved that involves the parameters including operation pressure, operation temperature and hydrogen capacity. FIG. 1 of the attached drawings shows PCT curves of TiFe alloy for the storage of hydrogen in different temperatures, while FIG. 2 shows similar curves for LaNi5 alloy in different temperatures. In these drawings, abscissa indicates the hydrogen capacity, and ordinate indicates the relief pressure (atm) of hydrogen gas.
It is clear from the curves of FIGS. 1 and 2 that except for extremely high and low pressures zones the characteristic curves of hydrogen are quite flat with respect to the capacity. In other words, measuring pressure change cannot properly tell the capacity change of a hydrogen storage canister. Further, although the curves of hydrogen capacity are sensitive to temperature, their change with respect to temperature is substantially regular. However, since the hydrogen capacity is also subject to change of pressure, there is no way to determine the hydrogen capacity by simply measuring temperature.
It is very common in laboratories that to determine the hydrogen capacity of a hydrogen storage canister by measuring weight difference; this needs precision instrument to perform precise measurement of the weight of the hydrogen container and calculate the difference between successive measurements to estimate an approximation of available hydrogen capacity for the particular hydrogen container. However, in practical applications, besides the hydrogen container itself, a hydrogen storage/supply system also includes a plurality of related parts/members/components, such as heat exchanger water jacket, fast connector, and cooling water, and variation of overall system weight is great between different systems. Furthermore, installation of weighing devices complicates the construction of whole system. All these factors make it very difficult to estimate hydrogen capacity by weight measuring in most of the practical applications.
In addition, actual hydrogen capacity of solid metal alloy hydrogen storage varies with the purity of hydrogen stored and the poisoning of alloy. Besides, the hydrogen capacity reduces with the operation cycles of charging/discharging of hydrogen. Moreover, what is actually needed is the available remaining hydrogen capacity of a hydrogen storage canister, rather than the overall hydrogen capacity of hydrogen storage canister. The actual available remaining hydrogen capacity is related to the temperature of the hydrogen storage canister, actual hydrogen pressure used, and the flow rate of hydrogen.
Heretofore, no efficient and precise method or device is available for commercial use in measuring the hydrogen capacity of a hydrogen storage canister. This delays the promotion of use of hydrogen in different applications including fuel cells and fuel cell powered electrical vehicles.
Thus, the present invention is aimed to overcome the above-discussed difficulty and to provide a useful method for practically determining the hydrogen storage.

Method for measuring remaining hydrogen capacity of hydrogen storage canister

Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd.


A method for determining an Eyes-Off-The-Road (EOTR) condition exists includes capturing image data corresponding to a driver from a monocular camera device. A detection of whether the driver is wearing eye glasses based on the image data using an eye glasses classifier. When it is detected that the driver is wearing eye glasses, a driver face location is detected from the captured image data and it is determined whether the EOTR condition exists based on the driver face location using an EOTR classifier.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.
Vehicles having the ability to monitor an operator of a vehicle and detect that the operator is not paying attention to the road scene allow for measures to be taken to prevent a vehicle collision due to the operator not paying attention. For instance, warning systems can be enabled to alert the driver that he or she is not paying attention. Further, automatic braking and automatic steering systems can be enabled to bring the vehicle to a stop if it is determined that the driver has not become attentive even after being warned.
It is known to utilize driver-monitoring camera devices configured to monitor a driver and detect an Eyes-Off-The-Road (EOTR) condition indicating that the driver's eyes are off the road based on an estimated gaze direction of the driver. However, performance is degraded when the driver is wearing eye glasses because estimations of the driver's gaze direction are unreliable. Likewise, when the driver is wearing sunglasses estimations of the driver's gaze direction are not available.

Eyes-off-the-road classification with glasses classifier


A drive control method for a variable reluctance type motor capable of improving the motor efficiency by preventing generation of a disturbance torque. In function generators (8A to 8C) of a controller for embodying the method, the motor rotation direction and the motor driving mode are determined based on the generation order of A- and B-phase feedback pulses from a pulse coder (7) and the sign of a torque command (Tc) from a speed loop compensation circuit (1), and, on the basis of the determination results, either one of four excitation patterns is selected. Function signal values corresponding to actual motor electrical angles (.theta.) are generated from the function generators in accordance with the selected excitation pattern, and excitation of individual phases of the motor (6) is controlled by power amplifiers (4A to 4C) which respond to voltage commands derived based on these function signal values. The excitation interruption timing is so determined as to extinguish a winding current before a disturbance torque is generated by the current which is caused to flow, due to the presence of the inductance of the stator winding, in this winding after the excitation interruption.

The present invention relates to a method for drivingly controlling a variable reluctance type motor, and more particularly, to a drive control method of this kind capable of improving the efficiency of a motor.
A variable reluctance type motor, which comprises a stator having a plurality of salient poles around which windings are wound and a rotor having a plurality of salient poles, is so arranged as to rotate the rotor by attracting a rotor salient pole near an excited stator salient pole towards the stator salient pole by a magnetic attraction force caused by the excited stator salient pole. At this time, the rotary torque applied to the rotor acts in a direction to reduce the magnetic resistance between the stator salient pole and the rotor salient pole, irrespective of the direction of a current flowing in the stator winding. That is, during the rotor rotation, the rotary torque acting in the direction of the rotor rotation is applied to the rotor from an instant at which the rotor salient pole starts to face the excited stator salient pole (unalign position) until an instant at which the rotor salient pole is brought to completely face the stator salient pole (align position). Thereafter, when the rotor further continues to rotate in the same direction, the rotary torque acting in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor is applied to the rotor salient pole until the rotor salient pole starts to be deviated from a state where it faces the stator salient pole.
For example, in case that the rotor 21 rotates in a counterclockwise direction relative to the stator 20 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rotary torque acting in the rotor rotation direction or the counterclockwise direction is applied to a rotor salient pole 21a from the time when the leading edge 21a', as viewed in the rotor rotation direction, of the rotor salient pole 21a has reached a position on an extension of the leading edge 20A' of an excited stator salient pole 20A of A-phase and hence the rotor salient pole 21a has reached that rotary position unalign position (electrical angle of 0 degree) of the rotor which is shown in FIG. 4A at which it starts to face the stator salient pole 20A until the time at which the rotor salient pole 21a has reached a rotor rotary position align position (electrical angle of 180 degrees) shown in FIG. 4B at which it completely faces the stator salient pole 20A, with the axes of the rotor salient pole 21a and the stator salient pole 20A brought to be coincide with each other. When the rotor 21 continues to further rotate in the counterclockwise direction after having reached the rotor rotation position shown in FIG. 4B, the rotary torque acting in a direction opposite to the rotor rotation direction or the clockwise direction is applied to the rotor salient pole 21a until the trailing edge 21a" of the rotor salient pole 21a reaches a position on the extension unalign position (again) (electrical angle of 360 degrees) of the trailing edge 20A" of the stator salient pole 20A and hence the rotor salient pole 21a starts to be deviated from a state where it faces the stator salient pole 20A. At the time of releasing from the state where the rotor salient pole 21a faces the stator salient pole 20A, the leading edge 21d' of the next rotor salient pole 21d reaches a position on the extension of the leading edge 20A' of the stator salient pole 20A, so that the rotor salient pole 21d starts to face the stator salient pole 20A.
After all, the acting direction of the rotary torque caused when a stator salient pole of a certain phase is excited is determined in dependence on the rotary position (electrical angle) of the rotor representing the positional relation between the stator salient pole and the rotor salient pole. Thus, in order to cause the variable reluctance type motor to rotate in a desired direction, the respective stator salient poles are sequentially excited in a desired order for a desired period of time in accordance with the rotary position of the rotor. For example, in an example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, if the rotor 21 is to be rotated counterclockwise, an A-phase stator winding (not shown) wound around the stator salient pole 20A is energized in a rotor rotation region represented by an electrical angle region of 0 to 180 degrees. On the other hand, in the case of rotating the rotor 21 clockwise, the A-phase stator winding is energized in a rotor rotation region indicated by an electrical angle region of 180 to 360 degrees. Conventionally, in order to control the drive of the variable reluctance type motor, data is read out from a read only memory, in which the above two types of excitation patterns are previously stored, in accordance with the rotary position of the rotor, so that the stator windings of respective phases are each energized in a desired order for a desired period of time.
However, due to the presence of an inductance of the stator winding, a current continues to flow in the winding for a certain period of time after excitation of the stator winding is interrupted. For example, in a case where the A-phase stator winding is energized for an excitation section T1 corresponding to an electrical angle region of 0 to 180 degrees of the rotor in order to rotate the rotor 21 in the counterclockwise direction, a current will flow in the stator winding even in a section T2 corresponding to rotor electrical angle positions which exceed 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, a disturbance torque acting to rotate the rotor in a direction opposite to the desired rotation direction is generated. Hence, energy is consumed to cancel the disturbance torque, so that the motor efficiency will be lowered.

Method for drivingly controlling a variable reluctance type motor


A system retains a connector connected to a device. The system includes a bail lock capable of connecting to the device, and a retainer capable of connecting to the bail lock. Rotation of the retainer moves the bail lock along the retainer until the connector securely attaches to the device.

Devices (e.g., computing devices, communication devices, etc.) require various connectors (e.g., communication cable connectors, power cords, etc.) to properly function. However, such connectors may become disconnected from devices due to vibrations, earthquakes, accidental removal, etc. This may cause the devices to malfunction. For example, a communication cable or power cord may disconnect from a network device, which may cause the network device to cease transmitting and/or receiving network traffic. This may result in partial or complete failure of a network containing the network device.
Typically, a connector attaches to a device via a port configured to receive a particular connector. Additional brackets or clips may be utilized to retain the connector in the device port. However, such additional brackets or clips may break, and may be expensive and difficult to manipulate.


The present disclosure provides methods to produce para-xylene, toluene, and other compounds from renewable sources (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose) and ethylene in the presence of an acid, such as a Lewis acid. For example, cellulose and/or hemicellulose may be converted into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and 2-methylfuran, which may be converted into para-xylene and toluene, respectively. In particular, para-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid.

There exists a high demand to produce para-xylene and terephthalic acid from renewable biomass resources for use in the manufacture of clothing and plastics. Terephthalic acid is a precursor of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which may be used to manufacture polyester fabrics. Terephthalic acid may be produced by oxidation of para-xylene. Commercial production of para-xylene is typically accomplished by catalyic reforming of petroleum derivatives; however, the use of petroleum-based feedstocks to commercially produce para-xylene (and hence terephthalic acid) generates greenhouse gas emissions and perpetuates reliance on petroleum resources. Alternative methods to produce para-xylene from renewable biomass resources have been under investigation. Biomass containing cellulose and/or hemicellulose can be converted into DMF. Then, DMF may be converted into para-xylene by cycloaddition of ethylene. Specifically, DMF and ethylene may be reacted in the presence of activated carbon to produce para-xylene; however, this reaction produce para-xyelene in low yields, making these conditions commercially impracticable. Thus, what is needed in the art is a method to produce para-xylene and terephthalic acid in higher yields.

Methods of producing para-xylene and terephthalic acid


An organic electroluminescence device includes two or more emitting units disposed between an anode and a cathode, and an intermediate layer, in which the intermediate layer contains a phenanthroline compound, the laminated emitting unit includes a first emitting layer containing a first host material and a second emitting layer containing a second host material, and a triplet energy T1(H1) of the first host material and a triplet energy T1(H2) of the second host material satisfy a relationship of a numerical formula (Numerical Formula 3),T1(H1)>T1(H2)  (Numerical Formula 3).

An organic electroluminescence device (hereinafter, occasionally referred to as "organic EL device") has found its application in a full-color display for mobile phones, televisions and the like. When a voltage is applied to an organic EL device, holes and electrons are injected from an anode and a cathode, respectively, into an emitting layer. The injected holes and electrons are recombined in the emitting layer to form excitons. Specifically, according to the electron spin statistics theory, singlet excitons and triplet excitons are generated at a ratio of 25%:75%.
Various studies have been made for compounds to be used for the organic EL device in order to enhance the performance of the organic EL device (see, for instance, Patent Literatures 1 to 6). For instance, Patent Literatures 6 and 7 have studied on laminating a plurality of emitting layers. In addition, Patent Literature 8 describes a phenomenon where singlet excitons are generated by collision and fusion of two triplet excitons (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a Triplet-Triplet Fusion (TTF) phenomenon) in order to enhance the performance of the organic EL device. The performance of the organic EL device is evaluatable in terms of, for instance, luminance, emission wavelength, chromaticity, emission efficiency, drive voltage, and lifetime.

Organic electroluminescent element and electronic device


A magnetic sensor includes a pair of serially-connected magneto-resistive elements (1a, 1b), one of which serves as a sensing portion (6) made to face a magnetic detecting medium (S), and the other of which serves as a temperature-compensating portion (7). The magnetic sensor also includes a magnet (5) that gives magnetic biases having different types of magnetism to the magneto-resistive elements (1a, 1b), and a detection circuit (8) that applies DC voltage to between ends of the serially-connected magneto-resistive elements (1a, 1b) and detects a potential change of the common connection point of the magneto-resistive elements (1a, 1b).

Conventionally, the printing (application) of a magnetic substance (magnetic ink) onto paper money and the like in the prescribed pattern has been practiced. For example, banking machines including automated teller machines and the like, dispensers, and ticket-vending machines detect the condition of the magnetic substance provided in the prescribed pattern to paper money dropped in each machine or the like by using a magnetic sensor built in each machine, and makes a determination as to whether the paper money or the like is real or false from a magnetic pattern that is detected.
A magnetic sensor of this type uses, for example, a magneto-resistive element (magneto-resistive effect element: MR element). This magnetic sensor catches a change in a magnetic field and the presence of a magnetic substance as a change of the electric resistance value of the magneto-resistive element. To this end, in the magnetic sensor using a magneto-resistive element, the magnetic biasing for providing magnetic flux beforehand to the magneto-resistive element with a permanent magnet is carried out. The magneto-resistive element is used in an area where the strength of the magnetic field and the resistance value have a linear relationship due to the magnetic bias.
A magneto-resistive element of this type has high temperature dependency. For this reason, two magneto-resistive elements are used in a serially-connected state for the purpose of counteracting the temperature dependency. To be specific, in a magnetic sensor disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-18278, two (a pair of) magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b are connected in series with each other through an electrode 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. A common connection point P of the electrode 2 serves as a detection terminal. The magneto-resistive elements are provided with flux (magnetic biases) having the same magnetism, which are emitted from a magnet 5. In an electric equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 1A, the two magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b are connected in series with each other as illustrated in FIG. 1B, and voltage of a DC power source 3 is given to between both ends thereof. Further connected to the electric equivalent circuit is an amplifier 4 for amplifying the potential level of the common connection point P of the magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b. A potential change signal of the common connection point P, which is amplified by the amplifier 4, is transmitted to a detector 8 for discriminating, for example, the kinds of paper money.
According to this magnetic sensor, DC voltage is applied to between both terminals of the serially-connected magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b by using the DC power source 3. The amplifier 4 amplifies the potential change of the common connection point P of the magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b. The magnetic sensor detects the condition (pattern) of the magnetic ink (magnetic substance) printed, for example, on paper money, from the amplified potential change. In other words, this magnetic sensor moves a detection subject S on which a magnetic substance M is printed while bringing the detection subject S close to the magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b, to thereby detect the condition (pattern) of the magnetic substance M.
For instance, FIG. 1A shows that the detection subject S on which the magnetic substance M is printed in stripes is brought close to the magneto-resistive elements 1a and 1b of the magnetic sensor, and at the same time it is moved at the prescribed speed in the direction intersecting the flux emitted from the magnet 5. As illustrated in this figure, the more the magnetic substance M printed on the detection subject S approaches the magneto-resistive element 1a, the more the flux emitted from the permanent magnet 5 converges upon the magnetic substance M. As a result, the flux passing through the magneto-resistive element 1a grows larger. That is to say, the resistance value of the magneto-resistive element 1a is increased, which lowers the potential of the common connection point P.
When the magnetic substance M draws apart from the magneto-resistive element 1a while getting close to the magneto-resistive element 1b, the flux passing through the magneto-resistive element 1a is decreased. Accordingly, the magneto-resistive element 1a is reduced in its resistance value. At the same time, the magnetic substance M approaches the magneto-resistive element 1b, and the flux passing through the magneto-resistive element 1b grows larger. At this point, the resistance value of the magneto-resistive element 1b is increased. This raises the potential of the common connection point P.
On that account, the potential of the common connection point P is, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, gradually reduced as the magnetic substance M printed on the detection subject S in stripes approaches the magneto-resistive element 1a. On the other hand, as the magnetic substance M draws apart from the magneto-resistive element 1a and gets close to the magneto-resistive element 1b, the potential of the common connection point P is increased by degree. When the magnetic substance M draws apart from the magneto-resistive element 1b, the potential of the common connection point P returns to the potential in the initial state. Basically, in magneto-resistive element 1b having the above structure, the potential of the common connection point P has a value different from that of the potential in the steady state along with the displacement of the magnetic substance M. To be concrete, in response to the displacement of the magnetic substance M, the potential of the common connection point P is brought into the state lower than the potential in the steady state (when the magnetic substance M applied to the detection subject S approaches the magneto-resistive element 1a) and the state higher than the potential in the steady state (when the magnetic substance M applied to the detection subject S approaches the magneto-resistive element 1b).
The potential is brought into the low state and the high state along with the displacement of the detection subject on the basis of the potential in the steady state at the common connection point of the serially-connected magneto-resistive elements. This causes the problem that the magnetic sensor for detecting the width of the magnetic substance printed on the detection subject has to include an intricate detection circuit. Moreover, when the front or rear edge of the detection subject reaches the magnetic sensor, the potential is in the low state and the high state. On the other hand, the potential during the magnetic substance passes above the magnetic sensor is equal to the potential without the magnetic substance. As a consequence, there has been the problem that the magnetic sensor has difficulty even in detecting the concentration of the magnetic substance printed on the detection subject.


According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a main processor, a secure operating system (OS) module, a non-secure OS module, a secure monitor memory setting module, a timer, and an address space controller. When receiving a notification of an interrupt from the timer, a secure monitor instructs the secure OS module to execute certain processing. The secure OS module is configured to execute certain processing instructed by the secure monitor and store data of a result of the processing in a first memory area.

Systems implemented as software have been required to prevent secret information such as keys from being illegitimately analyzed by attackers and processing contents from being overwritten. To address such requirements, techniques have been provided that use mechanisms of access control of operating systems (OSs), obfuscate application programs, invalidate functions of debugger used for analyzing applications, or enhance the access control mechanisms in OSs.
The complete elimination of vulnerability of applications and OSs, however, is actually unachievable. Approaches using software have limitations. For general-purpose personal computers (PCs), approaches have been proposed in which OSs that execute processing to be protected and OSs that execute general-purpose processing are separated using virtual machines. In processors for embedded devices, it is not yet widely used that the hardware has a function to assist virtualization. Thus, it is difficult for the embedded processors having performances inferior to those of the PCs to achieve the same systems as the general-purpose PCs using the virtual machines.
As an example of the systems that address such cases in the embedded processors, a processor architecture is proposed in which a main processor has two modes, namely a secure mode and a non-secure mode. A program required to be protected from attacks such as tampering and analysis is executed in the secure mode while a general-purpose program is executed in the non-secure mode. In this architecture, the OSs, which are operating software for the processor to operate in the secure mode and in the non-secure mode, are individually provided, and processing to encrypt or decrypt data is executed by a secure OS running in the secure mode or by application software running on the secure OS. General-purpose processing such as reading data from a secondary storage is executed by a non-secure OS running in the non-secure mode or by application software running on the non-secure OS. In such a structure, processing is executed while performing the transition between the secure mode and the non-secure mode as appropriate.
In addition, the hardware-based access control mechanism to a memory space makes it impossible for a non-secure OS module to read or tamper with the secure OS. This structure can prevent the secure OS or data of applications running on the secure OS from being stolen or tampered with by software running in the non-secure mode, even if defects (bugs) are built in the non-secure OS module or applications running on the non-secure OS module and the defects are illegally used for the eavesdropping or the tampering. The mechanisms thus can prevent attacks that try to tamper with the processing to be protected or acquire the data to be protected.
Thus a mechanism is provided to separate the OSs and prevent the memory access in the non-secure mode as described above. In such a mechanism, the function operated in the secure mode such as encryption is often required to be explicitly called by a program running in the non-secure mode. Although the explicit calling is required, a function is not provided that periodically and forcibly stops the processing executed in the non-secure mode during the execution thereof, performs the transition of the processing in the secure mode, and generates or processes data in the secure mode. No specific way to achieve such a function is also clearly presented. In addition, no way is achieved to encrypt the data in the secure mode and provide the encrypted data to the non-secure OS.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and computer program product


An item selecting apparatus includes a movement detecting unit detecting a movement of a user, a screen displaying image information, a display image storage unit storing data to generate an image to be displayed on the screen, a display image generating unit generating an image to be displayed on the screen, and a control unit controlling so that a plurality of items is displayed on the screen in one of one-, two- and three-dimensional arrangements, in which the control unit receives a signal from the movement detecting unit to measure a movement of the object in at least one of x-, y- and z-axis directions and issues a command to select at least one from among the plurality of items or provides visual feedback thereto, in response to the measured movement of the user and in accordance with the arrangement of the plurality of items on the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the disclosure provided herein relate to selecting an item, and more particularly, to selecting a desired item from among a plurality of items displayed on a screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user interface (UI) typically provides temporary or continuous access to enable a user to communicate with objects, systems, devices or programs, or the like. A UI may include a physical or virtual medium. Generally, a UI may be divided into an input at which a user operates a system and an output at which the response or result to the input to the system is indicated.
The input typically requires an input apparatus to move a cursor, or acquire a manipulation of a user to select a specific object. The output typically requires an output apparatus to operate so that the user can confirm the response to his input with visual, auditory, or touch sensation.
Recently, to provide more convenience to users of devices including televisions and game consoles, a technology to provide a reaction of a UI in response to movement of the user which is input at a remote distance and recognized as an input, has been researched. According to the technology, it is possible to select a desired item from among a plurality of items displayed on a screen, using a UI.

Apparatus and method for selecting item using movement of object


A sensor device including a sensor substrate; and a thin film comprising a porous metal organic framework (MOF) on the substrate that presents more than one transduction mechanism when exposed to an analyte. A method including exposing a porous metal organic framework (MOF) on a substrate to an analyte; and identifying more than one transduction mechanism in response to the exposure to the analyte.

It is generally difficult to identify an analyte in a multicomponent background with high concentrations of interfering species without high false positives. Sensor arrays and separation techniques can address this problem, but add considerable cost and complexity. A reason for this lack of selectivity is in part due to the fact that most materials can detect a given analyte only by a single transduction mechanism (i.e., a way of translating the "event" in which the analyte encounters the sensor into a recognizable signal of some kind—electrical, optical, acoustic, etc.)

Multiaxis sensing using metal organic frameworks


A cleaner of a liquid discharge head having a nozzle surface provided with a liquid discharge nozzle for discharging a predetermined liquid cleans the nozzle surface by moving relative to the liquid discharge head. It includes a cleaning roller for wiping the nozzle surface, the surface of the cleaning roller which comes into contact with the nozzle surface being formed of a fibrous absorbing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaner of a liquid discharge head which discharges a predetermined liquid from liquid discharge nozzles, and a liquid discharger including the cleaner.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, for example, an inkjet printer has been in widespread use as a liquid discharger which discharges from liquid discharge nozzles a predetermined liquid supplied in a liquid discharge head. The inkjet printer performs printing by discharging a very small quantity of ink drops onto a recording sheet from the very small ink discharge nozzles disposed at a nozzle surface of a print head.
In the inkjet printer, if the ink drops are not discharged from the ink discharge nozzles of the print head because the print head does not perform a printing operation for a long period of time, any ink remaining near any of the ink discharge nozzles by previous printing may thicken and harden as a result of undergoing evaporation drying. Therefore, it becomes difficult to properly discharge the ink in subsequent printing operations, as a result of which print quality may be reduced.
Therefore, in the past, the nozzle surface of the print head has been cleaned by wiping and removing the ink that has adhered to the nozzle surface, thickened, and hardened as a result of pushing and sliding a blade, formed of, for example, a somewhat hard rubber, along the nozzle surface of the print head. In relation to this, a technology for further increasing the wiping effect by rotating a plurality of blades mounted to a rotary shaft is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 57-34969 (Patent Document 1).
A wiping member formed of a porous cellular material has been proposed as an improvement of wiping members such as a cleaning blade and a cleaning roller for wiping the nozzle surface of the print head. The improved wiping member wipes any foreign material or dirt while absorbing any ink adhered to the nozzle surface of the print head by making use of capillary force generated in cells formed in the porous cellular material. Making the average of the diameters of the cells formed in the cellular material equal to or less than the diameter of the ink discharge nozzles makes it possible to expect an excellent cleaning effect. (Refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2738855 (Patent Document 2)).

Cleaner of liquid discharger head and liquid discharger


A laced boot having a boot lace and sections of the boot lace run in a continuous one-piece manner as follows: a first section runs from the metatarsal area of the sole over the instep of the boot; a second section runs from the metatarsal area of the sole around the outside of the upper above a heel area of the boot; and a third section runs from the same position of the upper to the instep and back to the cited position of the upper and the three named sections form a triangle, viewed from the side of the boot that covers the ankle joints of the foot.

Laced boots such as snowboard boots, inline skate boots, hiking boots, mountain-climbing boots, etc. are laced by a boot lace threaded through several deflection elements such as, e.g., eyelets on two opposite tabs of the boot and the ends of the boot lace are fixed either by a lacing or by a holding and/or clamping device. Such a laced boot is known from EP 0 474 708 B1, WO 99/09850 A1 and DE 298 14 659 U1.
Most laced boots and in particular snowboard boots are made of flexible material, which provides comfort and also allows a relatively great mobility of the user's foot which is especially desirable in the case of snowboarding. On the other hand, the connection between foot, boot and snowboard must be so firm that the rider can transfer the necessary forces onto the snowboard, especially onto its front and back edges. In order to achieve this, it would actually be necessary to made the boot upper relatively stiff for movements to the front and to the rear, relative to the longitudinal direction of the boot; however, this would limit the comfort, especially when walking.
Another requirement for a good seat of the boot and therewith a good transfer of force during snowboarding onto the front edge is a good heel hold of the foot in the boot. In other words, in particular the heel area of the foot should also rest on the inner side of the sole of the boot when the rider bends his ankle joint forward in order to transfer forces onto the front edge of the snowboard.
EP 0 705 544 B1 suggests to this end that a tightening strap with low expandability in the longitudinal direction be provided for lacing that runs from the instep area of the boot to the heel area and thus presses the heel down and to the rear. In addition, another tightening strap is provided that runs from the front area of the foot around the upper of the boot and thus supports the flexible upper from bending to the rear.
Similar tightening straps are also known from FR 49631, EP 0 646 334 A1, EP 0 057 170 A2, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,660,812 A, 5,408,761 A, 5,499,461 A and 459,616 A.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,671 A shows a laced boot comprising a circumferential cable in addition to the traditional lacing which cable runs from the metatarsal area of the foot through the boot sole and from there on both sides around the boot upper. This cable forms loops in the instep area at which it can be tightened.
However, such additional tightening straps necessitate a greater industrial expense and have the disadvantage in practice that the user, in order to have a good hold, tightens so strongly that the circulation in the foot is adversely affected. This also has an adverse effect on the comfort and increases the danger of an accident. Moreover, in addition to the tightening of the laces one or several tightening straps must also be tightened in further work steps.
EP 0 746 214 B1 shows a low shoe with a shoelace that runs starting from the sole area over the upper part of the shoe and also has a section that runs from the sole area around the heel area and has a section running from the heel area approximately horizontally to the instep area. Finally, a section is also provided that runs from the instep area to the heel area near the sole so that the three cited sections form a triangle when viewed from the side in which, however, the upper, substantially horizontal section is located beneath the ankle of the foot and thus beneath the ankle joints of the foot. Such a lacing is therefore not suitable for a boot with an upper surrounding part of the shinbone of the user.

Goodwell International Ltd. (British Virgin Islands)


This invention relates to an anti-human thymidylate synthase monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing an epitope which exists in a region of 187th to 313th amino acids from an N-terminus in human thymidy late synthase, an anti-human thymidylate synthase monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing an epitope which exists in a region of from an N-terminus to a 61st amino acid in human thymidylate synthase, and also hybridomas capable of producing these monoclonal anti-bodies.

This invention relates to a novel monoclonal antibody to human thymidylate synthase and also to a hybridoma capable of producing the same.
Thymidylate synthase (EC184.108.40.206, hereinafter called xe2x80x9cTSxe2x80x9d) is an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction in which thymidylic acid is formed from deoxyuridylic acid, plays a role to supply thymine which is a base specific to DNAs, and is one of principal rate-limiting enzymes for a DNA precursor supply pathway. Accordingly, its activity is known to become higher in thymi or tumor tissues where cell growth is active.
On the other hand, fluoropyrimidine antitumor drugs such as 5-fluorourasil and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine act against TS as a target enzyme, and for example, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine changes into fluorodeoxyuridylic acid in vivo and inhibits TS. In particular, fluoropyrimidine antitumor drugs are known to show high therapeutic effect and significant life prolongation for patients with a low level of TS expression in tumor cells but to exhibit low therapeutic effect for patients with TS in a high level [xe2x80x9cGan to Kagaku Ryoho (Cancers and Chemotherapy)xe2x80x9d, 24(6), 705-721 (1997)]. The measurement of TS is therefore important, for example, an advance measurement of the expression of TS in an excised tumor upon treatment for a cancer patient gives indications for the determination of a treatment method and for the selection of an antitumor drug.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an anti-human TS monoclonal antibody useful for the immunological measurement of human TS and also a hybridoma capable of producing the same.
With the foregoing circumstances in view, the present inventors have proceeded with various investigations. As a result, novel anti-human TS monoclonal antibodies have been obtained and moreover, these monoclonal antibodies have been confirmed to be useful for the immunological measurement of human TS, leading to the completion of the present invention.
The present invention therefore provides an anti-human TS monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing an epitope which exists in a region of 187th to 313th amino acids from an N-terminus in human TS, an anti-human TS monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing an epitope which exists in a region of from an N-terminus to a 61st amino acid in human TS, and also hybridomas capable of producing these monoclonal antibodies.
Incidentally, the recognition regions by the human TS monoclonal antibodies according to the present invention have been determined in accordance with the amino acid sequence of human TS described, for example, in Nucleic Acids Research, 13(6), 2035-2043 (1985) or the like.

Antihuman thymidylate synthase monoclonal antibodies and hybridomas producing the same

Abstract: These monoclonal antibodies are useful for the immunological measurement of human thymidylate synthase.


A method may include obtaining a dataset including a target Action Unit (AU) combination and labeled images of the target AU combination with at least a first category of intensity for each AU of the target AU combination and a second category of intensity for each AU of the target AU combination. The method may also include determining that the first category of intensity for a first AU has a higher number of labeled images than the second category of intensity for the first AU, and based on the determination, identifying a number of new images to be synthesized in the second category of intensity for the first AU. The method may additionally include synthesizing the number of new images with the second category of intensity for the first AU, and adding the new images to the dataset.

Image analysis can be performed on images of faces to identify which facial expression is being made. Often, these facial expressions are characterized based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) using Action Units (AUs), where each AU may correspond to the relaxation or contraction of a particular muscle or group of muscles. Each AU may further be characterized by an intensity, often labeled 0 and A-E with 0 representing no intensity or the absence of the AU, and A-E ranging from minimum to maximum intensity, respectively. A given emotion may be characterized as a combination of AUs, such as 6+12 (cheek raiser and lip corner puller) representing happiness.


A fuse link that having a body including a rigid member, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A reduced material portion of the body is positioned between the first and second ends, the reduced material portion is configured to fail in response to a predetermined load.

Sports barrier netting installations are becoming increasingly popular at sports facilities. For example, barrier netting can be found throughout many baseball fields and field complexes as foul ball barriers, backstops, and other protective screens to prevent player and spectator injury, prevent property damage, help retain balls in the field of play, etc. Barrier netting can also be found in batting cages. In addition, barrier netting can be found in other types of facilities, including soccer and tennis complexes, golf complexes (e.g., around driving ranges) and at a variety of other multi-sports complexes and arenas.
In these various complexes, a common netting configuration includes barrier netting or fabric supported by a barrier cable in tension between support cables operatively coupled to structural supports. When a barrier cable extends between two support structures to support a barrier net or fabric panel, a force is transmitted to the support cables and structural supports as a function of the distributed load applied to the barrier cable and the geometry that defines the curve (sag) of the cable. Optimally, the barrier cable is tensioned so that the static sag in the barrier cable and netting system is minimized. When a barrier cable is used to support a barrier net or fabric panel, the weight of the net or fabric represents a distributed load under static conditions.
When that net or fabric panel resists an increased or more dynamic load (e.g., due to wind and/or snow loading), the distributed load held by the barrier cable, which was previously tensioned in the static condition to minimize sag, is transmitted (e.g., through one or more support cables) to one or more structural supports.
This transmitted load and forces can be problematic from both a structural integrity and structural design perspective. For example, the anticipated and potential forces on the structural supports can damage the supports or cause them to fail. If the structure supports are not sufficiently designed, the forces transmitted to those supports can damage those supports.
To prevent such damage or failing, the structural supports may be designed to be more robust, larger, wider, thicker, or otherwise stronger, to support potential load without damage and/or failing. However, more robust supports typically cost significantly more than less robust supports.
To prevent damage to the supports while allowing a less robust, less costly support structure to be used in the design, it is known to include a mechanical fuse link between the barrier cable supporting the barrier net or fabric and the support cable operatively coupled to the support structure. These fuse links are designed to shear or break before the forces cause damage to the structural supports. When they break, however, the barrier net and/or barrier cable typically falls to the ground, leading to damage and safety issues and concerns. The damage can be to the net, to the cable, or to other objects or persons below. In addition, when the mechanical link breaks, the end of the support cable previously coupled through the link to the barrier cable is often left remaining near the top of the structural support. To replace the mechanical link and otherwise repair or reset the net barrier, a repair person must retrieve the end of the cable left at the top of the support structure. This can delay repair of the net barrier and also creates its own potential safety issues for the repair person in retrieving the end of the cable.


The present application provides a hook assembly having a latitudinal axis bisecting a body into an upper portion above the latitudinal axis further comprising a first bi-directional pin engagement slot and a lower portion below the latitudinal axis further comprising a second bi-directional pin engagement slot, wherein both the upper portion and the lower portion and the first bi-directional pin engagement slot and the second bi-directional engagement slot are mirror images of one another.

Conventional beds comprising a mattress and box-springs are typically supported using one of two types of support structures. One type is a rectangular frame, which is typically metal, that supports the box-springs on all sides, which comprises four angle-iron members and a leg at each corner. Such frames sometimes also include a cross member with a fifth leg to provide centering support. A headboard and footboard may be connected to the frame but do not provide any support for the mattress in this arrangement. A second type of bed support structure that is used consists of two bed rails attached to and extending between a footboard and a headboard, the rails each having a fixed member extending inwardly to enable support for the box-springs and mattress positioned there between. It will be appreciated that sometimes, the fixed members receive the box-springs and sometimes a plurality of rigid supports—such as wood planks—are placed on the fixed members and which then provide the support surface for hosting the box-springs and mattress. The bed rails are elongated members that include a hooking means at each end configured to mate with a receptacle located in the headboard and footboard. It will be appreciated that one common means for engaging the bed rails with the bed ends are hooks affixed at the end of the bed rails which engage horizontal pins disposed in vertical slots located in legs (or bedposts) of the headboard and footboard. In this arrangement, the footboard and headboard actually support the bed rails and therefore the mattress. It will be appreciated that this standard support mechanism has limitations, however, including providing the bed user with sufficient options for raising or lowering the bed rails in order to adjust to various sized mattresses or to meet the height preferences of the user.
There are many types of box-springs and mattresses available to the consumer. One important variable that distinguishes mattress units is thickness. Additionally, some mattresses do not require the use of box springs. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a new hook assembly 2 that allows a user to raise or lower the height of the mattresses depending upon the thickness of the mattress and the height preference of the user. Such a hook assembly 2 is disclosed herein.


The invention relates to a drive arrangement for a vehicle and a method for gear shifting in a vehicle. The drive arrangement (5) comprises at least a first drive axle (10, 20, 30) operatively connected to a first gear box (11) and a first propulsion unit (12). The drive arrangement (5) further comprises a second gear box (21) and a second propulsion unit (22) operatively connected to the first drive axle (10) or to an optional second drive axle (20, 30). The drive arrangement (5) further comprises at least one electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to govern gear transmission of the first and the second gear boxes (11, 21). The electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to automatically select between shifting gear on the first and the second gear boxes (11, 21) simultaneously, or sequentially. The drive arrangement and the method provides for a very versatile drive arrangement and gear synchronization providing comfort for the driver and the passengers as well as improved vehicle dynamics.

Vehicles having multiple gear boxes operatively connected to two or more drive axles such as electrical vehicles may include the possibility to govern the gear shifting sequentially. Vehicles comprising two driving wheels each equipped with a traction chain comprising an electric motor, a gear change mechanism may be operated to offset over time the gear shifting on the two driving wheels. This is said to carry out a gear change in a gentle manner. One such vehicle and a method for controlling the gear change in the vehicle are disclosed in the published US patent application no. US 2005/0028640A1, assigned to Conception ET Development Michelin S.A. The method carries out a sequence in which the gear of a first drive axle is switched to neutral; the revolution speed of the electric motor is synchronized and engaged with the intended gear on the operated wheel. In a successive phase the gear is changed on the remaining driving wheel.
In the US patent application no. US 2004/0200648 A1 a drive system for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a drive train comprising at least a first drive wheel and a second wheel and a gear box that can be shifted between at least two speed transmission steps. To avoid vehicle speed drops while shifting gear the drive system applies a greater propulsive torque on the drive motor driving the first wheel, shifts gear, and subsequently lowers the propulsive torque of the drive motor driving the first wheel.
The just mentioned disclosures provide for smooth gear changes but do not provide versatile solutions which can be implemented in a vehicle without considerable efforts. The proposed solutions further do not address the problems arising from scenarios in which a driver may need to impart high propulsive torque.
There is thus a need for improving performance, comfort and driveability of vehicles equipped with one or more drive axles such as drive axles driven by electrical motors. More specifically, it appears to be a need to address power or acceleration interrupts during gear-shifting.

Device and a method for gear shift coordination


A flexible, non-birefringent cover and a polarizer on the front of a resistive touch panel reduce touch screen image distortion and obscuration resulting from the reflection of ambient light. Reduced reflection of ambient light is also obtained by touch screens of alternative construction incorporating combinations anti-reflection panels and polarizers located behind the touch panel.

The present invention relates to a touch screen display and, more particularly, to a reflection resistant, touch sensitive display.
A touch screen display permits a user to input information to a computer system by touching an icon or other visual element displayed on a screen or by tracing a symbol on a screen to be identified and interpreted by the computer system. Direct user interaction through a touch sensitive screen is considered to be one of the most intuitive methods of computer input. As a result, touch screens have been widely applied to personal digital equipment; to public access data processing systems, such as self-service fuel pumps, automated teller machines and automated ticketing systems; and to instrumentation and controls for medical equipment, aircraft, and vehicles.
Several types of touch screens have developed to address the needs of the wide variety of potential applications. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) touch screens comprise a glass panel with acoustic transceivers attached to three corners and reflecting stripes arranged along the edges. The transceivers generate inaudible sound waves that travel across the screen. When a user's finger makes contact with the screen, a portion of the wave's energy is absorbed. The touch screen controller detects the energy loss and calculates the coordinates of the contact. A Near Field Imaging (NFI) touch screen comprises a base layer and a front layer of glass separated by a transparent conductive film deposited in a patterned topology. A controller applies an excitation waveform to the conductive layer to generate a low strength electrostatic field in the front layer of glass. The field is modulated when the glass is contacted by a finger or a conductive stylus, producing a differential signal that is detected and spatially resolved by the controller to determine the location of the contact with the screen.
Capacitive touch screens comprise multiple layers of glass with a thin conductive film between a pair of glass layers. A narrow pattern of electrodes is placed between glass layers. The conductive film may be, for example, patterned indium tin oxide (ITO) or a thin wire mesh. An oscillator circuit attached to each corner of the screen induces a low voltage electric field in the coating. When the glass screen is touched, the properties of the electric field change. The touch screen's controller computes the coordinates of the point of contact with the screen by measuring the relative changes of the electric field at a plurality of electrodes.
The most popular type of touch screen is a resistive touch screen. Resistive touch screens comprise a substantially rigid substrate and a flexible cover each having a surface coated with a transparent conductive material, usually indium tin oxide (ITO). The substrate and cover are bonded together with the conductive surfaces facing each other but separated by an air gap produced by a pattern of transparent insulators deployed on one of the surfaces. When a user presses on the flexible cover, the cover is deformed and the conductive surfaces make contact. A controller measures the voltage drop in circuits resulting from contact between the conductive layers to determine the coordinates of the point at which the contact was made.
Resistive and capacitive touch sensitive systems are typically produced as a transparent, touch-sensitive panel that is placed in front of the screen or display surface of the underlying electronic display. The touch sensitive systems are commonly used in conjunction with several types of displays including cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). LCD-based displays are preferred for many touch screen applications because LCDs are lighter, more compact, more rugged, and use less energy than CRT displays.
Generally, an LCD comprises a light valve that controls the intensity of light passing through the panel from a source at the back of the LCD (a "backlight") to a viewer's eyes at the front of the panel. The light valve generally comprises a pair of polarizers separated by layer of liquid crystals filling a cell gap between the polarizers. The optical axes of the two polarizers are arranged relative to each other so that light from the backlight is either blocked or transmitted through the polarizers. The liquid crystals are birefringent and translucent and the relative orientation of the crystals of the layer can be controlled to switch the light valve from a transmitting state where light is transmitted through the two polarizers to a non-transmitting state where light transmission is blocked. For example, the walls of the cell gap may be buffed to create microscopic grooves that orient adjacent molecules of liquid crystal with optical axes of the two polarizers. Liquid crystals exhibit a dipole that attracts neighboring crystals and causing the crystals of columns spanning the liquid crystal layer to align with each other. If the crystals at the limits of the layer are arranged at an angle to each other to align with the optical axis of the polarizers, the crystals of the intervening column will be progressively twisted into alignment by the dipole. The plane of vibration of light transmitted from the first polarizer passing through a column of crystals is also "twisted" so that it is aligned with the optical axis of the second polarizer and visible to the viewer (in a "normally white" LCD). To turn a pixel off and create an image, a voltage is applied to an electrode of an array of electrodes on the walls of the cell gap with reference to a common electrode causing adjacent liquid crystals to be twisted out of alignment with the optical axis of the adjacent polarizer attenuating the light transmitted from the backlight to the viewer. (Conversely, the polarizers of the light valve of a "normally black" LCD are arranged so that the pixel is "off" or "black" when the controlling electrode is not energized and switched "on" or "white" when the electrode is energized.)
While LCDs are the displays of choice for many touch screen applications, the combination of an LCD display device and a touch panel can be problematic. The principal problem is that touch panels are reflective and, when exposed to intense ambient lighting, the luminance of the reflection often overpowers the image being displayed by the LCD.
The reflectivity of a resistive touch panel is principally the result of coating the facing surfaces of the cover and the substrate with the transparent conductive coating of ITO. ITO has a relatively high index of refraction (typically, n=1.83 for light in the green wavelengths) while the air in the gap between the resistive surfaces has an index of refraction of 1.0. The percentage of perpendicularly incident light reflected from a discontinuity in the index of refraction is, approximately:
      R              (      %      )        =            (                                    n            2                    -                      n            1                                                n            2                    +                      n            1                              )        2                  where:                    n2=index of refraction for the optically denser material            n1=index of refraction for the optically less dense material            R=percentage of incident light reflected(It is noted that the aforementioned equation is only accurate for perpendicular viewing directions.) The result of two transitions of the air-to-ITO boundaries by ambient light from the front of the panel is reflection of roughly 17% of the ambient light incident on the panel. This reflection is sufficient to obscure the displayed image under modest to high intensity ambient lighting conditions.
Sawai et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,945, disclose an optical filter for a resistive touch panel that is intended to prevent reflection of external light and obscuration of the displayed image. The optical filter comprises, generally, a filter polarizer in front of the screen of the display. The filter polarizer may be a circular polarizer comprising a combination of a linear polarizer and a quarter wave phase difference plate. Much of the ambient light striking the front of the panel is absorbed by the filter polarizer. In addition, light passing through the filter polarizer and reflecting from the ITO layers passes twice through a quarter wave phase difference plate. The phase difference plate alters the polarization of the reflected light so that the reflected light is blocked by the filter polarizer.
On the other hand, the linear polarized light of the image from the LCD light valve is circular polarized by a second phase difference plate before passing through the touch panel. The optical axis of a circular polarizing, filter polarizer is aligned so that the circular polarized light from the LCD is transmitted through the filter polarizer to the viewer. While a touch panel filter reduces reflection of ambient light, the combination of the filter polarizer and phase difference plates substantially attenuates the light from the light valve reducing the brightness of the image, and the combination of the touch panel and filter substantially distort the image.
What is desired, therefore, is a touch screen providing substantially reduced reflection of ambient light and an undistorted image.
TABLE 1A is a table of alternate reflection resistant touch screen constructions indicating arrangements and characteristics of touch screen elements.
TABLE 1B is a table of the specular reflection contributions from the components of the touch screens of alternate construction described in TABLE 1A.
TABLE 1C is a table of the diffuse reflection contributions from the components of the touch screens of alternate construction described in TABLE 1A.
TABLE 1D is a table illustrating the optical performance of the touch screens of alternate construction described in TABLE 1A.


A nanowire transistor and a manufacture method thereof are provided. The nanowire transistor includes a semiconductor wire, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The semiconductor wire includes a first semiconductor material and includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region, along an axial direction of the semiconductor wire, the channel region is between the source region and the drain region; the semiconductor layer includes a second semiconductor material and covers the channel region of the semiconductor wire; the source electrode is in the source region of the semiconductor wire and is in direct contact with the source region of the semiconductor wire, and the drain electrode is in the drain region of the semiconductor wire and is in direct contact with the drain region of the semiconductor wire.

As the size of the semiconductor device reduces, traditional bulk silicon or planar MOSFET devices have encountered severe short-channel effects and sub-threshold swing degradation. In order to reply this challenge, the ring-gate nanowire transistor has become one of the next generation of potential candidates. Because germanium materials have higher mobility and good compatibility with modern CMOS silicon technology, nanowire transistors with germanium core and silicon shell structure have attracted more and more attention. Based on the core-shell structure, strain effect and band engineering are introduced, which not only helps to improve the carrier transport characteristics, but also has potential applications in chemical sensors, tunnel field effect transistors, and quantum dots.

Nanowire transistor and manufacturing method thereof